Indiana Outdoor News March 2015

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MARCH OUTDOOR CALENDAR - PAGE 13

®

VOL. 2015 • No. 3

INSIDE:

SPRING TURKEY PAGES 3&4

DROPSHOT PANFISH PAGE 5

HUNTING HERITAGE PAGE 6

FOOD PLOTS PAGE 7

www.IndianaOutdoorNews.net

RESERVED YOUTH TURKEY HUNT DEADLINE IS MARCH 27 INDIANAPOLIS - Youth hunters can apply for a reservation to hunt one of 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 Mississinewa lakes.

The number of hunters allowed on each property will be limited.

Interested hunters or an adult representing them must register in person or by phone with the property they wish to hunt. Hunters should register during normal office hours, March 16-27. Hunters can register for only one property.

Those wanting to sign up for Chinook hunts may do so at Deer Creek FWA. Those wanting to sign up for Fairbanks Landing, Hillenbrand or Minnehaha hunts may do so at Goose Pond FWA. At properties where the number of registered hunters exceeds the spots available, a drawing will be held on March 30. A youth hunter may be drawn for either one or both hunt days, depending on the number of applicants. 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 with a game bird habitat stamp privilege, or Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting License. Apprentice hunting licenses of the types named above also may be used.

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

Youth hunters selected for the hunt may check in at any time each day until the end of legal hunting hours for that property. Properties will not have a daily “no-show” drawing. Hunters interested in possible unfilled quotas at a property should call that property for more information before showing up.

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

The youth hunter may use any legal shotgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow. 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 to possess a turkey hunting license unless the youth is using an apprentice license, or unless the adult is calling turkeys.

Phone numbers for information or to register at a specific property are as follows: Atterbury (812) 526-2051, Crosley (812) 346-5596, Deer Creek (765) 653-0453, Glendale (812) 644-7711, Goose Pond (812) 6599901, Hovey Lake (812) 838-2927, Jasper-Pulaski (219) 843-4841, Kankakee (574) 896-3522, Kingsbury (219) 393-3612, LaSalle (219) 9923019, Pigeon River (260) 367-2164 , Roush Lake (260) 468-2165 , Sugar Ridge (812) 789-2724 , Tri-County (574) 834-4461 , Winamac (574) 9464422 , Willow Slough (219) 285-2704 , Mississinewa Lake (765) 4736528, and Salamonie Lake (260) 468-2125.

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

For wild turkey hunting regulations go to dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/huntguide1/hunting1.htm.

LAST ICE PAGE 8

THE LAST THOUGHT PAGE 15

MARCH, 2015

Time to Scout Your

TOM!

Indiana’s spring turkey season is right around the corner.

Scout your turkey hunting properties now to tilt the odds in your favor come opening morning. Need some inspiration? See page 3 for a few turkey scouting tips you may not have considered. Josh Lantz photo.

Still Time For

ICE Late ice is a great time for catching fish like this crappie held by Nikki Groceman of Chesterton. See page 8 for insights on tracking down late ice crappies and catching them on large northern lakes like Wawasee and James as they migrate into spring spawning areas. Photo provided.

COMPLIMENTS OF:

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

Page 2

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

March 2015

March 2015

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS Ž 2015Š

Page 3

Pre-Season Turkey Scouting Tips

JOSHLANTZ Most experienced turkey hunters have a pre-season scouting routine, especially those who have the good fortune to hunt their own land or, at the very least, a property they are familiar with. But less experienced hunters may not know where to start when it comes to patching together the pieces of the puzzle that will help them bag a bird once the redbuds start to bloom.

I leaned on my friend, Alex Rutledge, to provide all of us with a few turkey scouting tips that might help us be more succcesful this season. The Birch Tree, Missouri native's 30-plus years of workmanlike hunting experience have taught him not only the benefits of pre-season scouting, but also a thing or two about the best ways to go about it. Rutledge combines old school, boots-to-the-ground scouting principles with today's technology and gear to create his own success in the turkey woods. “Success in any hunt comes down to scouting,� says Rutledge, who in addition to serving as pro staff for Tenzing Outdoors and Mossy Oak, also hosts Bloodline TV and Radio.

Look Before You Leap Regardless of how familiar you may be with the property you'll be hunting, it's always a good idea to go online and print out an aerial photo to study. Better yet, carry this information with you right on your phone. “Learn the lay of the land ahead of time and make references

in the field by downloading an aerial photo of your hunting property from Google Earth,� says Rutledge, who pays particular attention to fence lines, creeks, swamps, or any other obstacles that might cause a tom to hang up.

Familiarize yourself with the field edges and woodlots, too. Try to identify likely roosting areas, feeding areas and strutting zones -- then take a drive, but stay in the truck.

In the mixed woodlots and agricultural fields of Indiana, birds feeding on waste grain are often visible from the roadways. Make notes on the number of toms and the total number of birds observed in individual fields, along with the various times you see them. If possible, follow birds from the road in late afternoon and stick with them long enough to see if you can get a visual on where they go to roost.

Listen for gobbling or other vocalizations if you lose sight of them.

Of course, trail cameras provide another quality source of scouting information, and may serve as the ideal way to monitor bird movements -- especially in the more hilly and densely wooded areas where roadside observation is less viable.

Rutledge prefers cameras with high trigger speeds to capture all the action, as well as models which send those images directly to his phone or computer. He uses this technology to keep track of turkeys all year long, placing his cameras on food plots, clearings and other likely strutting zones. “You need to keep track of the information your cameras are providing if they are going to be of any use to you,� says Rutlege. “These cameras provide the images and related data remotely, so I may never need to risk disturbing the birds,� he continues.

Hit the Ground Once you have a general understanding of the lay of the land and have observed birds from afar, it's time to sneak in and take a closer look at those likely roosting,

feeding and strutting areas.

Rutledge employs a variety of gear for his ground attack, including everything he needs to remain comfortable and undetected. “The last thing I want to do while scouting is impact the birds and their normal routines,� he says, “so I pack my gear so it is accessible with a minimal amount of movement on my part,� he concludes.

Central to Rutledge's scouting forrays is his unique pack. “Tenzing's TZ TP14 Turkey Pack has plenty of room for my scouting gear, and also doubles as a comfortable hunting chair,� he says, referring to the pack's integral spring loaded support legs and fold down, padded seat. “When I glass or attempt to pin down a gobbler's position with a locator call, I want to remain totally undetected... that means tucking down in a fencerow, deadfall or some other available cover,� continues Rutledge. “The unique TP14 deploys and stows quickly and silently, allowing me to sit quietly for as long as I need and move my base of observation from spot to spot.�

Inside his pack, Rutledge keeps essential scouting items and provisions neat, secure and accessible, including his cell phone, binoculars, snacks, water, first-aid kit, and a variety of locator calls and turkey calls.

Interpreting Ground Signs Tracks, scratchings feathers, dusting sites and scat are the primary ground signs hunters look for when scouting for high-use turkey areas.

Scratchings are evidenced by the small piles of leaves and grass turkeys make while foraging for food, and Rutledge investigates these sites for the clues they hold regarding turkey movements. “If the leaves are pulled left to right, it tells me the birds are generally moving to the left. This kind of information is really helpful when trying to determine general travel

Turkey pro Alex Rutlege advises against alerting birds to your presence at all cost while scouting. This means making sure you are tucked away and motionless while calling like this hunter is. Josh Lantz photo. patterns,� he says.

He also investigates to see if hens or toms did the work. Hens typically leave popcorn-shaped droppings, while larger, “J�-shaped droppings are left by gobblers.

Feathers provide clues, too, as darker, black-tipped feathers provide additional evidence of toms.

Of course, the tracks themselves will also give toms away. “The track of a gobbler is an inch or an inch-and-a-half larger than that of a hen,� Rutlege says.

Careful Calling Once Rutledge finds enough ground sign to be confident numbers of birds are actively using an area, he uses an owl or a crow call to solicit shock gobbles from any toms within earshot. But proceed with caution, he warns. “The last thing a hunter wants to do is to fire off a locator call in the wide open and have a nearby tom pick him off,� says Rutledge, who makes sure he's tucked away in his TP14 and out of sight first. If a tom gobbles back, Rutledge stops calling immediately and makes note of the bird's apparent location. “My goal with calling while scouting is to simply mark the

birds' locations, not influence their behavior,� he says. It’s the same reason bass pros often remove or bend the treble hooks closed on their lures while pre-fishing a tournament. They want to locate the fish and see what they are doing, not impact their behavior. “If I can shock gobble a tom and then leave him alone, that's a bird I can work once I start hunting,� Rutledge says.

Keys to Success Pre-season scouting covers three of Rutlege's four keys to turkey hunting success: know your property; assure you have an abundance of game; and have a plan of attack. “You're only as successful as the dirt you stand on,� says Rutlege, who uses scouting to help determine whether or not a specific property is even worthy of hunting. “If it is,� he says, “that same scouting effort will help you put together a game plan for opening day, and a backup if that game plan falls through.�

And Rutledge’s fourth key?

Well, that involves employing your calling and shooting skills to finish the job once the hunting season actually begins.

Volume 2015 • Number 3

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

March 2015

RESERVED TURKEY HUNT DEADLINE MARCH 15

DNR STOCKED NEARLY 32 MILLION FISH IN 2014

DNR REPORT - Reserved turkey hunts will be offered again this spring at various DNR-managed properties and at two national wildlife refuges.

Applications will be accepted online until March 15. Hunt locations and dates are: • Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge: April 1819, 22-23, 24-25, 26-27, and 28-29.

• Aukiki Wetland Conservation Area, Deer Creek FWA, Glendale FWA, J.E. Roush FWA, JasperPulaski FWA, Kingsbury FWA, LaSalle FWA, Mississinewa Lake, Pigeon River FWA, Salamonie Lake, Tri-County FWA, Willow Slough FWA, and Winamac FWA: April 22-24, 25-26, 27-29, April 30May 2, May 3-5, 6-8, and 9-10.

• Atterbury FWA, Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, Chinook FWA, Crosley FWA, Fairbanks Landing FWA, Hillenbrand FWA, Hovey Lake FWA and 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 season. Applicants can apply for one property and choose from the available dates for that property.

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

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

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

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

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

The DNR and organizations with a DNR permit stocked 31.9 million fish in 70 counties in 2014.

In a typical year, stocking numbers are between 22 million and 24 million fish.

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

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

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

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

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

District fisheries biologists evaluate fish populations to determine the best sites for stocking. For questions about stocking at a specific location, contact your district fisheries biologist. 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 on qualifying fishing equipment.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED RULE CHANGES DNR REPORT - The Natural Resources Commission has scheduled three hearings to accept public comment on a package of proposed rule changes, including rules that would allow the use of high-powered rifles for deer hunting, a 25-fish daily bag limit on sunfish panfish (that includes bluegill), and suspension of the ruffed grouse hunting season. For a complete list of proposed amendments with additional information about each proposal, 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 State Park, 6002 N. Post Rd.Road, Indianapolis.

• Wednesday, March 25, 5:30 p.m. at the DNR Northeast Regional Office, 1353 Governors Dr.Drive, Columbia City.

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

BASS PRO SHOPS ROUND-UP PROGRAM BENEFITS NWTF SPRINGFIELD, MO – Bass Pro Shops is showing its support in a new way this March for the National Wild Turkey Federation and its members. During NWTF month, shoppers at participating Bass Pro Shops stores are invited to donate their change to the leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation by rounding up their purchase total to the nearest dollar.

“The NWTF is thankful for the unending support from Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops,” said George Thorton, NWTF CEO. “They continue to create opportunities for our shared audiences to further conservation efforts in this country.”

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

With recent declines in wild turkey populations and an estimated 2.2 million acres of wildlife habitat lost each year, conservation is more important than ever before. NWTF’s Save the 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 upland wildlife habitat, create 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting, shooting and outdoor enjoyment.

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

OUTDOOR COOKING MERIT BADGE CLINIC, APRIL 10-11 Wabash Valley District scouts can learn to cook outdoors and earn their cooking merit badges at a special clinic at Ouabache State Park, April 10 and 11.

Each troop should bring separated trail mix ingredients for Friday night, such as pretzels, nuts, cereal, chocolate and dried fruit. Troops are responsible for Saturday breakfast and any meals if they choose to stay Sunday.

The cost is $15 per adult and $25 per scout. This fee 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.

This month’s puzzle on Page 13

March 2015

SPRING PANFISH Amazing that such a versatile rig- this prefect presenter of soft plastics and livebait- would be so little employed by panfish fans. In reality, a dropshot rig can be as productive as a bobber and bait, or even a tiny jig. It's even possible that the dropshot is the most versatile rig of all, providing instant depth control; fishes heavy without impairing or impeding the presentation; shines in shallow and deep water; and activates softbaits like no other presentation.

Despite the rig's “advanced” connotation, the dropshot couldn't be simpler. Think split-shot rig in reverse. As a softbait delivery method, the dropshot excels for bass. So it's no surprise that small baits twitched and wiggled in new and tantalizing ways hold equal appeal for crappies, sunfish and big perch. If you can cast, you're in. If you can tie a Palomar knot, you can master a dropshot rig.

Dropshot Baits Tons of small softbaits now give panfish angler's an arsenal of sweet options. Yet, while shapes like twister tail grubs excel on a jig, a dropshot activates straight tail worms, minnows and other subtle shapes. Moreover, many classic softbait shapes traditionally threaded onto 1/8 to 1/64-ounce jigheads spring to new life when pinned to a plain hook above a sinker.

Consider the Custom Jigs & Spins Wedgee, a lively microbait “twitcher” that marries perfectly with a dropshot. Impaled onto a #10 or #12 short-shank hook above a dropshot sinker, the Wedgee and other wispy sliver-tail baits can be almost magic for palm-stretching pans. Deployed with a _- to 3/8ounce weight, these tiny morsels

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

Dropshot Panfish: The Best Rig You’ve Never Fished? move with spellbinding action.

Other microbaits like Custom Jigs & Spins Finesse Plastics and Noodel and Northland Tackle's Impulse Bro Bloodworm perform truly captivating dropshot dances.

Anything with nice soft appendages and a fine quivering tail is a potentially perfect dropshot enticement. So long as you can nose hook it on a #6 to a #12 finewire hook, such as an Eagle Claw L2B, nearly any miniature morsel can be made to tempt bites, including livebait.

“Any time I need to put a bait at an exact level and keep it in the fish's face,” contends guide and panfish pioneer Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, “a dropshot is priceless.

Not only can I cast a dropshot and simply twitch it in place, I can also drag the rig, swim it, troll it or even work it vertically beneath the boat or a hole in the ice.”

As with any presentation, of course, limitations exist. Shallow dense cover areas, such as thick vegetation or brush are largely off limits. Fish suspended higher than three feet above bottom are also better served with other approaches. But even this situation has exceptions. When crappies or sunfish suspend in treetops or sparse brush deep enough to fish vertically beneath your boat, a dropshot can be the perfect presentation.

cover, depth and other conditions, a well-armed dropshot can be built with an array of possible componentry. “To detect bites,” says Bro, “I use a 4- to 8-pound test braided mainline, joining it to an 18- to 36inch section of mono or fluorocarbon, using back-to-back Uni knots or an Improved Albright knot.”

Often, when hunting fish within a foot of bottom, Bro says, an 18inch length of 4- to 6- pound test mono is perfect.

The most critical aspect of the dropshot is tying the Palomar knot so the hookpoint faces up. Bro interjects that an exception to the standard dropshot rig often becomes necessary with light biting fish. “Big bluegills often mouth a softbait like humans taste red hot food. So it's sometimes best to rig with a short dropper, or pair of droppers jutting from the mainline, as opposed to pinning the bait to the line with a Palomar.” Beyond the obvious advantage of allowing

Rigging the Drop Based on countless

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

Page 5

By Ted Pilgrim with Brian “Bro” Brosdahl

Bass don't have an exclusive on dropshotting. Variations of the technique are effective for crappies, bluegills, perch and even walleyes. fish to more easily flush a bait entirely into its craw-thanks to the semi-slack dropper line-Bro also extols the 'flutter factor.'

“Once the sinker hits bottom,” he says, “a short 3- to 8- inch dropper gives your bait a nice fluttering effect-more movement-as the dropper and bait slowly descend to catch up. I also like that a dropper gives baits a little extra whipping action when you move the rod-tip.”

Situational Droppin' “Best rig there is for fishing just inches above low growing grass or small rocks, keeping a bait clean and at eye-level with the fish,” Bro asserts. “With a 1/4ounce sinker and 4-pound test, I can even get down to 20 feet of water fast, and fish with finesse and precision.

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

down to a certain level-tops of the trees or mere inches above the level of fish I'm marking on the Humminbird. With Spot-Lock engaged on my iPilot, I'll hover directly above and simply shake the rod tip to activate the bait's tiny tail. The control you have with this presentation is unbelievable.”

For casting to shallow spring panfish, a dropshot can be powerful medicine. “Fish that have just moved up onto shallow flats aren't real active yet. I use a 7-foot St. Croix Panfish Series rod to pitch a compact dropshot rig past the fish and slowly work it into position.

Once there, give the rod-tip periodic nervous shakes, so the sinker stays put, but the bait's little tail quivers like a defenseless invertebrate, inches above bottom.

“A dropshot is absolutely beautiful for putting a bait at the fish's eye level-right where they've got no choice but to eat it.”

Page 6

HOOSIER HERITAGE Born in December of 1940, Bristow, Indiana resident M.R. James became one of the modern pioneers of archery. His hunts and passion for the animals he hunts has been documented throughout his life, and I am honored to share what I have learnt from this man.

Bowhunting has grown since the invention of the compound bow, but from the very beginning there was a magazine that was helping the sport grow as well.

Walk through any check-out line at the local store, walk into an archery shop, visit a bowhunter’s home, or maybe even on your own coffee table, and you are likely to notice a copy of Bowhunter Magazine.

Bowhunter has been a staple for archery hunters for more than 40 years and is still going strong.

Recently, I was able to talk with the founder and past Editor of Bowhunter and dig a little deeper into his passion for bowhunting and what the sport means to him. It is an honor to call this man a friend, hear his stories throughout this past deer season and listen and learn from his advice.

Above all else, M.R. is a bowhunter -- a bowhunter with a fire burning strong and one who I envy.

Q: Growing up as a child what was your favorite animal to hunt?

M.R.: I hunted squirrels, cottontails, quail and waterfowl while growing up in Wabash County, Illinois during the 1940s and 1950s. There were no deer around in those days, but I loved hunting small game and birds, including doves. Squirrel hunting was my favorite. I learned to stalk close enough for a good shot while remaining undetected. It was great training for the bowhunting I would do later.

Q: Have you always only been an archery hunter, or was there a time you used firearms?

M.R.: I hunted with both 20 and 12 gauge shotguns, as well as .22 rifle for bushytails. But it got easier as I got better, so I switched almost exclusively to bow and arrow hunting.

I especially liked spot and stalk hunting for groundhogs. I have only shot a handful of deer with firearms and always felt as if I was cheating when I did.

Q: You still hunt whitetails almost daily during the season. Is there any other animal you wish you could hunt more?

M.R.: I am a deer hunter first and always, and I love whitetails. I've been blessed to bowhunt most of the North American big game species and collect more than 20 of the 29 species recognized by the Pope and Young Club. Next to deer, my favorite species is bear. I

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

March 2015

M.R. James: Hunter, Hall of Fame Member and Writer have always been bruins and have over the decades. watching and bears. They are

fascinated with tagged dozens I simply enjoy photographing amazing crea-

tures. Most of the time they know you are there and do not care.

They are at the top of the food chain; you are a curiosity they'll check out. I can't count the times I have had them climb a tree I'm in or walk up to my ground blind to see what I am. Only two have reacted aggressively and forced me to kill them.

That element of unpredictability and danger is appealing to me.

Q: Is there a hunt in particular that stands out among the rest?

M.R.: I can't single out any particular hunt that stands out because there've been too many. I enjoyed the physical challenge of hunting sheep and mountain goats because of the high, remote, and rugged country they inhabit. Goat hunting is the only bowhunting I've done that made me realize I was one slip and fall away from dying. One hunt that will always stand out is a bowhunt for muskox.

Riding in a sled behind a s n o w machine across frozen tundra for 100 miles to reach the hunting area with the temperature 20 to 25 degrees below zero with a 20 mph wind - is unforgettable. That's also true of these beasts which time has not changed since prehistoric days.

Stalking close enough to make a killing shot was challenging, to say the least. And I was lucky to take a bull that was a mere one inch off the bowhunting World Record.

Regardless, many of my deer hunts hold a very special place in my heart because of the bucks I saw or the friends I was with.

Q: How did Bowhunter get its start?

M.R.: Bowhunter was born out of a need I saw, namely to create a magazine written for, by, and about bowhunters. Starting in the mid1960s, I'd written and sold features for the three existing archery magazines of the day - Archery, Archery World, and Bow & Arrow. But all three covered all aspects of archery, and I was interested only in bowhunting. In 1971, three friends and I published the first issue of Bowhunter after about a year of study, research, and preparation. It was an instant hit with readers.

Subscriptions and ads poured in. We quickly caught and passed our competition with a paid circulation larger than all three other magazines combined. Popularity of the newly created compound bow swelled the ranks of archery hunters who were thirsty for how-to and where-to-hunt information.

We provided the information needed and grew as the sport grew.

Q: One of the highest honors bestowed to any bowhunter is being inducted into the Hall of Fame. What did that mean to you?

M.R.: Being inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame on a first ballot vote in 2003 was truly humbling. I was the AHOF's 54th member, elected as a Bowhunter, a Contributor to the Sport, and an Influence on the Sport. To be recognized by my peers for doing what I loved, for a sport I loved, meant a lot, as did seeing my name included with true legends like Howard Hill, Fred Bear, Ben Pearson, Glenn St. Charles, Jim Dougherty, Dr. Saxton Pope and Arthur Young, to name only a few of my personal heroes, was a dream come true. The fact I was inducted at a Pope and Young Club banquet with my wife and our adult children present, made it especially meaningful.

Q: What advice do you have for deer hunters?

M.R.: Advice? Be patient and proficient. Realize that you don't have to have an animal on the ground and blood on an arrow to have a successful bowhunt. Most hunts will end without a shot taken. Accept the challenge of doing it “the hard way” and realize that occasional success will be more meaningful that consistently killing game with firearms.

Q: Is there something or someplace you have not hunted and would like to?

M.R.: As mentioned previously, I've been blessed to hunt places and animals all across this continent for more than five decades.

There is no hunt or animal on my bucket list that I feel I need to take.

I'm perfectly content to hunt deer on my own farm or share camps and hunts elsewhere with friends.

While I'll continue to pursue other game, my heart belongs to the bucks that millions of other bowhunters pursue with a passion only they can truly understand.

Q: As past President of the Pope and Young Club I know the organization holds a special place in your heart. What would you like readers to know about the Pope and Young Club that they might not know?

M.R.: The Pope and Young Club was originally founded to prove that archery equipment was adequate for hunting and harvesting big game animals, and to record for posterity the information about animals taken with archery equipment. Those goals have been adequately met since the Club was born in 1961. Today the club promotes legal fair chase bowhunting and donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to conservation of our native wildlife. Its pro-conservation efforts benefit hunter and nonhunter alike by ensuring the future of species that might otherwise disappear from our modern world.

Q: Some hunters feel they have not been successful unless they are recognized by a record keeping organization. What are your thoughts on this?

M.R.: I have never counted or cared about the number of

personal entries in the Pope and Young Records. Over the years I suspect I've had dozens of trophy-class animals recognized, which is more than some but only a handful compared to some serious trophy hunters I know. I enter my animals in the records because I know the money from entry fees is used wisely in the club's pro-hunting, pro-conservation efforts.

Q: I know readers are curious about your biggest whitetail. What

By Jason Houser

do you have to say about that?

M.R.: I've taken a few whitetail bucks that measure in the 160s, but I've never racked that 170-inch mark that would qualify it for entry in both the Pope and Young and Boone and Crockett record books. I missed the largest buck I've ever shot at a year ago in Illinois, a huge deer that easily would have scored in the 170s or 180s. He's still out there and I'm hoping for another close encounter next fall.

As for my best deer, he's a tall-tined 9-pointer I shot in the early 1980s in northern Indiana only 100 yards or so from my rural home's back door. My wife had seen an even bigger buck there earlier. Such is the unpredictability and magic of hunting whitetails.

Q: Just for fun, in the Midwest where you live and do a lot of your hunting there are two “big game” animals that have an archery season. They are the whitetail and turkey. Which is tougher?

M.R.: Bowhunting deer and turkeys can be very difficult or relatively easy, depending on the game populations, conditions, and hunting methods. Where good numbers of birds or deer are found, hunting deer from elevated stands or gobblers from legal ground blinds (with calls and decoys) can be undertaken with reasonable expectations of shots and success.

H o w e v e r, stalking within good bow range of either deer or turkeys is u s u a l l y tremendously challenging. For my m o n e y , shooting at a broadside buck under my tree is less difficult than hitting the much smaller kill area of a fully fanned longbeard hidden beneath fluffed up feathers. The old turkey hunter's advice to bowhunters, “Hit 'em low and watch 'em go, or hit 'em high and watch 'em die,” is well founded in bird anatomy and fact. For deer, there's no more lethal shot than a double-lung hit with a razor-sharp head penetrating both lungs. Hit either “where they live” and they'll go down in a hurry.

March 2015

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT Pigweed (Palmer Amaranth) has been a frequent topic of conversation among farmers and food plot guys in the last several years.

Pigweed has been causing severe problems because of its rapid growth and in many parts of the county, resistance to glyphosate which leads to problems in glyphosate resistant crops that are being grown. In warm season food plots, whether it is a spring planted perennial or annual blend, pigweed can very quickly become a problem and overtake the plot.

When left to mature and go to seed, pigweed grows a substantial amount of seeds that can continue to cause problems for years down the road. The key to killing and controlling pigweed is early identification and proper herbicide application. Imazamox is a great broadleaf control herbicide with chemistry that has excellent results and residual control on pigweed and other broadleaf weeds.

Imazamox (brand names Weed Reaper or Raptor) can be sprayed over legumes including clover, alfalfa, beans, peas, and lablab.

Ideally, broadleaf weeds should be less than 6 inches in height for the best kill.

My first experience in testing Imazamox was on a severe infestation of pigweed on over 10 acres of spring planted Lablab a few years ago. The Lablab was less than two weeks out of the ground when I noticed a solid carpet of pigweed beginning to emerge. Left untreated, the Lablab would have easily been outgrown by the rapid growth of pigweed and my summer crops would have been non-existent. I tested BioLogic Weed Reaper (imazamox- active ingredient) at a rate of 4oz per acre with AMS

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS Ž 2015Š

Early Spring Herbicide Tips & Food Plot Preparation (ammonium sulfate) and a surfactant as a tank additive. I was pleasantly surprised on my return trip to the fields to find a 95% + kill on all broadleaf weeds including the solid carpet of pigweed that was completely nuked. The only areas I could find with less than ideal results were due to inconsistent spots in the spray pattern and not failure on the herbicide. These were all at the end of my turn rows where I didn't get quite enough overlap. If you have trouble growing warm season plots because of broadleaf weeds, Imazamox may be your answer. Nobody likes to spend the money and effort of planting only to have it ruined by problematic weeds.

One of the most common problems in food plots, especially perennials, is weed competition.

Weeds rob your plot of essential nutrients, water, and root space.

Given time and opportunity, weeds will quickly mature, produce seed, and overtake a well intended food plot. The use of herbicides is one of the greatest tools a wildlife manager can utilize to keep weeds under control and get the most out of your plantings. Here are a few tips to get the most from your efforts.

1.

Read the label - the information on the herbicide labels contain great info and will identify what weeds they control and what crops it is designed to protect.

2. Spray when grasses or broadleaf weeds are young and thriving. If you wait to spray when they are tall and mature, the results will often be less than desirable. If weeds are already tall and maturing, mow first and return 7-10 days later to spray the new re-growth.

3. Spray in good conditions.

Cloudy and still days are best.

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

4. Make sure spraying equipment is functioning properly and carry some spare spray rig parts to the field. There's nothing worse than having a busted hose or clogged tip in the field and be without the tools to fix it.

5. Make sure to add a surfactant or crop oil when called for, many grass specific herbicides do not work well without one.

6. For optimal results, use AMS (ammonium sulfate) or add BioLogic M.E.E.N Green (a water soluble fertilizer) to your tank mix when spraying selective herbicides.

AMS or M.E.E.N Green will increase the effectiveness of the herbicide by helping the weeds readily trans-locate it to the roots for a good kill, at the same time it will foliar feed the plot with essential macro and micro nutrients.

7. Know the size of the fields you are going to be spraying so you can apply the appropriate amount of solution. To practice and calibrate your sprayer, find a field and measure it with a GPS or use a range finder to determine the acreage. Fill your spray tank with just water and take note of the speed you travel and the amount of water you apply over the known area. This will help take a lot of guess work on applying the correct amount. Most herbicides work best when 12-20 gallons of water are used over an acre with the appropriate herbicide.

Another very common problem is the flush of weeds you get after planting warm season annuals such as soybeans, peas, or lablab.

Anytime you disturb the ground with a piece of equipment like a disc, harrow, or tiller you are likely

to get a fine crop of weeds that germinate from seeds that have been in your soil profile for years waiting on their chance to grow. Many times these weeds will outgrow the crop you have planted and end up choking it out. I typically use this sequence in the spring when planting my warm season annuals, keep in mind that glyphosate (round-up) is a contact and non residual herbicide. If it doesn't contact something green and growing it is basically in-active. It does not have any residual activity in the soil and will not affect seeds you are preparing to plant.

I generally spray the area to be planted after a good portion or all of the plot has a good flush of spring weeds. In the South this is usually around early to mid April.

Wait around a week and go in and work the soil with a disc or tiller or whatever your primary tillage equipment is. This disturbance of

Page 7

By Austin Delano

the soil should create a new flush of weeds over the plot in a relatively short period of time, after I see a good carpet of weeds starting to emerge, I spray again with 41 % glyphosate (generic round-up).

Wait just 3-5 days and lightly prepare the top couple 3-4 inches of soil again and plant. This second spray application seems to really cut down on early weed problems in spring planted plots. Giving the plot you are planting time to get established and canopy out to shade the soil will drastically cut down on the amount of weeds that can grow.

Would you like to learn more about improving your hunting and get discounts on the products you need? Learn from the experts by joining the new Mossy Oak GameKeepers Club at www.gamekeepersclub.com. Or call 662-4959292.

Page 8

DESTINATIONS It’s no secret. Big water grows big crappies. Large, deep lakes have an abundance of forage and more places for crappies to hide, feed and grow. Find a big lake with relatively low angling pressure, and you’ve set the stage for potentially epic crappie fishing.

But you’ve got to find them before you can catch them.

Anglers who do a little research, drill enough holes, stay mobile and fish speedy baits will be rewarded with success.

Seasonal Crappie Movements In smaller, shallower lakes, crappies are typically located and caught throughout much of the winter season over main-lake basins. In large, deep lakes, however, they tend to avoid the deepest areas and use flats, humps and basins ranging from 20 to 40 feet deep. But crappies are also notorious for suspending. Depending upon conditions, they can be found anywhere in the water column, creating an additional variable in the angling equation.

As the ice-fishing season nears its end, crappies transition from their deepwater wintering areas towards shallow bays, channels and river mouths in preparation for spawning. Depending on where and when you fish, concentrations of crappies will be present along a relatively straight line between these distinct areas.

During the late-ice period, take a stab at identifying some of these likely travel paths between wintering areas and spawning areas on a map of the lake you plan to fish.

Look for potential staging locations where cover, structure or current variations are present along those paths.

Drill ‘Em Out Once you’ve identified attractive areas, gas up the auger and get to work. Use your GPS to confirm your location on the ice, and pick a variety of sweet spots over the particular structure you plan to fish.

A larger fishing party is beneficial because you can share the

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

March 2015

Late-Ice Crappie Dreams

By Josh Lantz Ice fishing for crappies continues well into April at Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods work of drilling holes and checking them for fish with sonar. Once you mark fish, take the time to drill more holes. It’ll save you time in the long run as you’ll waste less time fishing an unproductive hole when an entire school may be located just 10 or 15 feet away.

Mobility is Key Once the crappies are located, hole hopping is the key to keeping busy catching them.

“Here on Lake of the Woods, the guys who are willing to leave the comfort of their fish houses and use their electronics to fish from hole to hole are the ones who catch the most crappies,” says Lake of the Woods Minnesota Tourism director and avid angler, Joe Henry.

“The best crappie anglers won’t waste time fishing a hole that doesn’t produce a mark on their flasher. They’ll keep moving—drilling more holes if necessary—until they get a sonar return,” he continues. “Then they’ll drop down, catch a fish or two and move on once the action slows.”

Effective as it may be, hole hopping requires some specialized gear – especially at the very top of the continental United States on Lake of the Woods, where daytime temperatures can often remain below zero. Quality boots and outerwear are a must. A piece of gear like Frabill’s Tackle PackHand Muff is also indispensable, keeping tackle organized and at the ready, while also serving as a vital and cozy refuge for off-duty hands.

Fish Fast Crappies display a variety of moods, and their responsiveness to various presentations can change throughout the day – often rapidly.

Late-ice crappie anglers should be prepared with a variety of offerings, from small tungsten jigs tipped with thin plastics to relatively large jigging spoons.

“When crappies are aggressive, it’s hard to beat a Slender Spoon or a Buckshot Rattle Spoon tipped with a minnow head or tail,” says Henry, who prefers variations

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

Jigging spoons are a great choice for targeting crappies in most situations. This one fell for the author’s Custom Jigs and Spins Slender Spoon in Gold/Glow. Dan Stefanich Photo. of gold and glow red for Lake of America’s best trophy crappie fish- classic and reliable Bombardier eries. track vehicles to transport their the Woods’ stained waters.

Crappie fishing at Lake of the customers. It’s a unique experiWhen a fish is showing on sonar, Henry advises stopping the Woods, however, takes a bit more ence that adds value to an already spoon 4 to 5 feet above it and slow- work and planning. Some of the exceptional fishing trip. “They’ll ly working it down if necessary. best crappie fishing on the lake get you comfortably to and from the best bites, which may “A lot of times you’ll see be in Minnesota or the fish begin drifting up Canadian waters,” contintowards your bait immediues Henry. ately,” Henry says. “If Sliding up into Canada they do that, I’ll slowly is a relatively easy option raise the spoon while for anyone traveling to the twitching it ever so slightNorthwest Angle. ly and make them chase Canadian fishing licenses it… Once you get them are easy to obtain at the moving, they’ll usually lodge, and a simple phone charge it,” he continues. call to Canadian authorities Aside from a jigging is all that’s needed to gain spoon’s larger profile, legal entry for fishing – Henry prefers them for Frabill’s Tackle Pack-Hand Muff is engineered for hole for walleye, pike, muskie, another reason. “Spoons fish heavy,” he says, referhopping, combining convenient and mobile tackle stor- perch or, of course, slab Canadian crappies. ring to their ability to age with hand- and core-warming technology.

Ice fishing for crappies punch through a slushy hole and get back down to other takes place around the Northwest extends into April at Lake of the fish quickly once one has been Angle, a thin strip of U.S. land and Woods, providing yet another caught. “If you’re marking a fish water extending north into Canada. super reason to visit this outstand“Crappie anglers interested in ing angling destination. For more down there, a spoon is going to get down to it quickly… hopefully coming to Lake of the Woods information, call Joe Henry at Lake should consider staying at one of of the Woods Tourism at 800-382before it leaves,” he adds.

Crappies aren’t usually too the lodges up at the Northwest FISH (3474), email info@lakeofthewoodsmn.com, or visit difficult to catch. But they can be Angle,” says Henry.

There are several lodges to www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com. Be hard to locate, especially on a vast piece of water. Do your home- choose from, and any of them will sure to ask about walleye, sturgeon work ahead of time, be willing to work with you to meet your specif- and other four-season angling drill a lot of holes, fish fast and ic angling objectives. Most use opportunities, too. move if necessary. Some call it ice trolling because of the amount of water one can cover this way in a single day. Of course, if you really want to tip the odds in your favor, consider hiring a guide or consider fishing out of a full-service lodge.

Trophy Waters At over one million acres, Lake of the Woods, Minnesota is a prolific fishery. Best known for its walleye, sauger, yellow perch and northern pike – all of which can be caught in great numbers all winter long from the comfort of countless heated ice houses placed and maintained by a number of full-service lodges – Lake of the Woods is also one of North

March 2015

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

Page 9

ICAST 2014: New Products for Anglers

BILLTAKACS Every year tackle manufacturers from all over the world gather for their (ICAST) trade show.

Besides displaying their complete product lines, the manufacturers introduce new products that (they hope) will generate excitement from the fishing public. Last summer’s show was no exception.

Here are are several new products for salmon, trout, walleye, smallmouth bass and perch that I found interesting. You may, too.

Perch fishing on the Great Lakes is a long-time tradition and the Lindy Perch Talker from Lindy Legendary Tackle should get the job done. Designed originally for ice fishing applications, the Perch Talker should be ideal for deep water, vertical presentations throughout the open water season as well. When gently jigged, the colored brass beads create a clicking and rattling noise while the shiny surfaces reflect light and color to attract fish with both sound and sight. The discs displace water and activate fish. The Perch Talker dropper chain separates your bait to a safe distance from the bold attraction of the beads and discs, also appealing to fish in a negative or neutral mood. The Perch Talker comes in 2 sizes, small and medium, and 6 color combinations. For more information go to www.lindyfishingtackle.com.

Based on last year's successful introduction of the Storm Silent Square Arashis, the new Rattling Square Arashi models 3 and 5 feature a multi-ball rattle system that imitates the sound of baitfish and produces better in dirty-water environments. The numbers in the name refer to the baits maximum diving depth and both run with a rolling action and a pronounced tail kick that should really appeal to smallmouth bass.

Featuring a s t u r d y , square, circuit-board lip and available in 12 color patterns, both Rattling Square Arashis have a self-tuning line tie that allows the bait to recover quicker after deflecting off cover and also permits a “burning” retrieve. For more information go to www.stormlures.com.

New from the folks at Rapala, the BX (Balsa Xtreme) Waking Minnow is a surface-waking bait that swims with incredible, strikeinducing performance. Measuring

5-1/4inches long and weighing 3/4ounce, the Waking Minnow boasts a balsa core encased in a durable copolymer shell. The BX Waking Minnow features lifelike 3D eyes, finite scale and gill detail paired with an internal holographic foil for attraction. It is available in six color patterns. With its dynamic flashing, rolling action, it will pull fish out of the cover. For more information go to www.rapala.com.

Great Lakes anglers are faced with some of the most abrasive environments like the razor-sharp shells of zebra mussels and numerous piles of rock rip-rap used to build piers, harbors and breakwalls.

Berkley's new version of IRONSilk monofilament line is up to 33 percent more abrasion resistant than other lines of the same diameter. The line is a reinforced polymer matrix with no coating, which means it has structural toughness at the molecular level.

IRONSilk also boasts ultra-low memory, maximum UV resistance, and comes in 6- to 20pound test. For more information go to www.berkleyfishing.com.

Storage always seems to be a problem no matter how big your boat. The folds at Plano Molding have come up with a solution.

Their Marine Trunks are available in three introductory sizes 56-Quart Model 161, 68-Quart Model 171 and super-sized 108Quart Model 191. The Marine Trunks are made tough to withstand realworld use like rough seas, off-road transport and shoves from dock onto deck.

All sizes feature an o-ring seal to keep contents dry and out of the elements. Outside, the trunks are treated with a U V protective coating that resists fading, heat damage and ensures durability for years of use. The Marine Trunks also feature sturdy, easy to open / close buckles and molded ports to secure your trunks with standard tie-down straps and padlocks. For more information go to www.planomolding.com.

For spring and fall fishing on the Great Lakes and wintertime steelhead fishing on the tributary streams, protective headgear is a must. Simms' 50% wool / 50%

acrylic knit jacquard Visor Beanie offers cold weather protection.

The Beanie's fulltime brim cuts glare and keeps the elements away from your face.

The wool also draws sweat away from the skin and absorbs and releases 10 times the moisture than synthetic fibers. For more information log onto www.simmsfishing.com.

Smallmouth bass anglers generally prefer bait casting reels for most presentations on the Great Lakes and Abu Garcia has introduced their (made in Sweden) Morrum ZX round bait caster.

From its compact machined aluminum frame and sideplates to bent carbon handle and flat EVA knobs, no detail was spared in design. It features 10 stainless steel HPCR bearings plus 1 roller bearing for increased corro-

sion protection.

The Carbon Matrix drag system provides smooth, consistent drag pressure across the entire drag range.

Infinitely Variable Centrifugal Brake gives very precise brake adjustments allowing anglers to easily cast a wide variety of baits. The Morrum ZX comes in right or left hand retrieve, weighs just 7.34 ounces and has a gear ratio of 6.3:1. For more information go to www.abugarcia.com.

2014 ICAST Best of Show Freshwater Rod – Duckett Fishing Micro Magic Pro Freshwater Reel – Abu-Revo Beast Combo – Lew’s American Hero Baitcast Combo Fly Fishing Rod – G. Loomis PRO4x Short Stix Fly Reel – 3TAND TF-70 Hard Lure – SPRO BBZ-1 Rat Soft Lure – Okuma Savage Gear 3D PVC Crab Kids’ Tackle – ZEBCO Splash Combos Technical Apparel – STORMR Fusion Bib Boating Accessory – Minn Kota Ulterra Trolling Motor Boats – Predator XL Kayak Electronics – Humminbird ONIX 8SI Fishing Accessory – Lit Coolers FishSmart Tackle – Cuda Grip & Scale

For details on other new fishing products honored with “Best of Show” awards at ICAST 2014, go to: http://asafishing.org/newsroom.

Line – Berkley IronSilk Terminal Tackle – Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle

Page 10

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

March 2015

Being an Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) means empty lantern fuel can and flung it back into the woods.

Who Knows What Evil Lurks in the Hearts of Men? late hours. Darkness emboldens those that are trying to “I’m ready, now,” he replied. hide nefarious activities. But, darkness also allows an ICO Beville stopped dead in his tracks. One of Beville’s pet ALANGARBERS to monitor that same activity without being observed. Part peeves is littering by fishermen, and after seeing that flaof the technique is to watch suspects for a period to see who grant act of disrespect to a public attraction, his blood startall is involved and what they are doing. Staying hidden can ed to boil. As the two men headed for their vehicle, Beville also prove fruitful if the suspects are taking an over limit of followed them in the darkness. When they got to their fish, using drugs, or some other sort of casual activity. pickup truck, Beville was right behind them.

The best technique is to get close enough to be able to “As he set his fishing pole down I was at his shoulder,” see all that is going on and what is being said. This can Beville said. As Beville spun him around, the man lead to comic results when an ICO's passion for their job is screamed like a little girl at the sight of the ICO loaming tempered with a sense of humor. over him in the darkness. “You’re the reason this lake It was a warm summer night when ICO Bill Beville looks like a trash heap!” Beville berated the man. “Do you noticed a lantern shining down a lane that led to a local fishhave any trash bags in your truck?” The man produced ing spot. With an hour left in his shift Beville decided to several plastic shopping bags. With Beville at his side the ease down the lane on foot and investigate what was going litter bug proceeded to the lake shore and filled all of the on. “I assumed they were doing some cat fishing.” As bags and then placed them in a nearby dumpster. He was Beville quietly walked down the lane he spotted someone then cited for littering. heading towards him. Beville silently stepped aside. The It was early fall in Decatur County when ICO Beville man passed him in the darkness, never realizing the ICO and a partner spotted a vehicle parked along a wooded road was mere feet away. one night. They stopped and listened in the still night air.

Beville continued down the lane and stopped in the In the distance they could hear hounds baying, as if they shadows a few yards away from a second fisherman. In a were in a chase. Raccoon season was not in yet, so while moment, the first fisherman ran back down the road, “The “running” the dogs was allowed, the hunters were not game warden’s out on the road!” The second fisherman allowed to have firearms with them. seemed full of bluster. “Let’em come! I’ll whip his ass!”

The two ICOs went up the road to where a lane separatHaving warned his friend, the first fisherman walked ed two fields of crops. Getting out of their vehicle, they back up the lane to go on his beer and bait run. A few minutes later Beville quietly went started up the lane towards the shadowy woods at the far end. As they reached the halfway back up the lane and moved his truck out of sight, and then returned to the fishing spot, never mark, they spotted lights bobbing out of the woods. Not wanting to be seen until they knew making his presence known. It wasn’t long until the first fisherman returned and the two what was going on, the two ICOs melted into the shadows of the standing corn. fishermen started chattering away. Beville hadn’t noticed any violations, but protocol still Beville’s partner had night-vision optics and could see everything the approaching required that he check the men’s fishing licenses, but he was going to have a little fun while hunters were doing. Beville had his hand on his partner’s shoulder and he could sense the doing it. other ICO’s rising excitement. “They’ve got a gun!” he hissed.

Beville eased on out until his was just a few feet away. “Here I am!” his voice cut through Within moments the hunters were passing the two hidden ICOs. In the excitement one the darkness, “Let’s go!” of the ICOs rattled a dry corn stalk, startling the hunters. One of the hunters yelled out, The startled men turned. “W-W-What?”

“Who’s there?!?”

“You said you were going to whip my ass,” Beville replied. “Let’s go! Let’s do it!”

Beville flipped his light on and yelled, “Conservation Officers! Put the gun down and The fisherman lost all his bluster. “Well, I-I-I—“ put your hands up!”

As Beville checked their licenses, he chuckled, “You really need to watch what you say The men were had dead to rights, so the ICOs started writing tickets for everyone in the because you never know who is listening.” party for hunting raccoons in a closed season.

A few years ago, when the water level in Jennings County’s Brush Creek Reservoir was As Beville got to the last man, he noticed that the hunter’s overalls appeared darker from low, a flat was exposed that drew fishermen. Beville was making his rounds in the wee the groin down. Beville didn’t want to embarrass the man, so he didn’t say anything. hours of the morning, when he spotted a lantern out on the flats. After parking his truck he As the two ICOs walked back to their truck, Beville commented to his partner, “I think started down a trail to the flat to perform a spot check. When he was in ear-shot, he heard we scared the pee out of the one guy.” The ICO nodded in agreement. “I think we did. one of the men ask the other, “Are you ready to go?” The second fishermen picked up his You noticed it too?”

March 2015

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS Ž 2015Š

Page 11

! " !# $

S t e r l i n g Publishing is proud to announce the upcoming publication of Ken Schultz’s The Complete Guide to North American Fishing (April 2015; $39.95).

The man ESPN calls “Mr. Fishing USA� shares his angling expertise in this gloriously illustrated exploration of fishing in North America. Former Field & Stream Fishing Editor Ken Schultz provides details on major saltwater and freshwater fish, analyzes all the latest equipment, offers advice on techniques, and gives the pros and cons of different types of locations. The stunning photographs of beautiful places and great catches will whet every angler’s appetite.

It’s often said the simplest solutions are the best answers to life’s little tribulations.

Take, for example, the quandary of keeping your soft plastics in the same pristine shape as they were the day you bought them. You know, having them remain in the very fish-catching forms they were designed to be even after seasons of storage later.

Gone are the days anglers would take softbaits from their original wrappings, tuck them into heavy-duty resalable plastic bags and then squeeze as many as of those they could into totes. All it took was one cast with one of these compressed creatures just a few days later to realize this was not the right way to go about it.

The end result? What was once a package of expensive swimbaits, grubs, minnows, worms, lizards and the like were mashed, smashed and mutilated; basically each and every bait rendered worthless because they got bent out of shape and stayed that way.

So what’s the uncomplicated answer to the wormwarping predicament these days? Plano Elite KVD Speedbag Wormfiles – rugged gear that allow anglers to keep their precious plastics in their original packaging and perfectly organized and easily sorted. And the Elite KVD Speedbag Wormfile is constructed tough enough for the world’s most well-know and respected angler, Kevin Van Dam (KVD), to initial them. “The Plano Elite KVD Speedbag Wormfile is the most efficient system for storing soft plastics, and they allow quick and easy access to your baits for when the bite suddenly changes,� says seven-time Angler of the Year Van Dam. “You can load these bags up yet still keep the integrity of your softbaits. And using only the most reliable plastics is more important than many anglers realize.�

The Plano KVD Speedbag Wormfile features a unique aperture that folds out and opens wide to allow easy access to each and every package of plastics, and then closes tight via a heavy-duty zipper with pulls that are easy to grip, even with gloves on. Durable nylon handles make transportation by hand a breeze.

New for 2015, the Plano Elite KVD Speedbag Wormfile 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 20 packs of plastics, while its bigger brother, the 480670, is a 9.5� x 4.5� x 6.25� totes up to 20 magnum packages with room to spare. And then there’s the massive 480770, which at 14� x 4.5� x 5.5� can house up to 40 packs of your favorite plastics while still keeping its contents un-crushed.

Plano’s Elite KVD Speedbag Wormfiles retail for around $14.99 - $24.99. Learn more at www.planomolding.com.

Having a good grip is pivotal to premium performance. Consider the carpenter. Without a solid grip of his hammer-handle, there’s little chance of sending a nail true and deep. A NASCAR driver would eat the wall coming off turn-two without gloves planted firmly on the wheel. And the angler?

Well, let’s just say feeble handling can result in a lunker dumped boatside, or worse, that same animal going psycho onboard, injuring itself, even you.

Adult-strength fish-grippers have been subduing aquatic brutes for decades. First finding their way onto crusty commercial boats and saltwater charters, fish-grippers have long tamed oceangoing savages like barracuda and billfish. Today, freshwater anglers manage mega-fish like striped bass and leg-length catfish with these now must-have, handheld devices.

Catfish experts Rippin Lips is following the successful release of their original gripper with the new, beefier, simple to operate, PRO Big Fish Lip Gripper. The tool’s burly clamps clutch a fish’s jaw in a single, one-handed motion.

Just as easily, a temperamental fish can be released in a solo

stroke, making the PRO Big Fish Gripper ideal for both crews and oneman operations.

Defying rust and the nemesis of saltwater, the PRO Big Fish Gripper is constructed of non-corrosive stainless steel, affording years of flawless operation. Giving grip to the gripper – the angler – the solid-state tool features a non-slip rubberized handle with adjustable wrist-strap, yielding even more control.

Rippin Lips cofounder and professional catfish angler John Jamison is a control freak when it comes to dealing with tape-measure catfish. “Safety is number one,� says the decorated tournament champion. “A giant blue, flathead or channel can tear you up. Getting gashed by a dorsal or pectoral fin will ruin your day. The PRO Big Fish Gripper helps hold a giant cat solidly in place while you remove the hook, take photos and measurements, and bring her right back 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 to 50-lbs of fins, scales and fillets. Anything bigger and you’re probably going to round up for storytelling purposes anyway.

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

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Almost every fishing boat has a livewell. Some have dedicated 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 introduces oxygen – to help keep fish and bait alive. But how well are the livewells and baitwells on your boat actually working?

The best way to improve livewell and baitwell performance is to introduce more dissolved oxygen. And the best way 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 of fresh 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-connector, 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 power and 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 DC Aerator is the perfect solution for the delivery of high performance, cost-effective oxygenation whenever a 12-volt power source is required. Frabill’s AQUA LIFE family of Aerators also includes two 110-volt models for added convenience 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.

* + ,$ - . !

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

To this end, the engineers at St. Croix have created two new models for the popular, affordable Triumph series of rods. One spinning and one casting; both medium-heavy-power rods excel when it comes to handling 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 like you’re fishing with a one-piece rod; both when casting and when loaded up with a big fish on the line,� says Jason Brunner, director of engineering at St. Croix, in Park Falls, Wisconsin. “With our specialized computer programming, we’re able to see exactly how a rod will flex at the ferrules long before the first one is ever manufactured. And the entire series of Triumph rods are proof that anglers can purchase a high-quality rod, travel rods included, without 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-ounce baits on 8- to 17-pound-test line, while the TRC66MH4 is a 6-foot 6-inch baitcasting wonder that weighs in at 5.4 ounces 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 premiumquality SCII graphite blanks for superior strength, sensitivity and hook sets. Each is adorned with hard aluminumoxide guides encased in two coats of Flex Coat slow-cure finish and feature premium-grade cork handles. The spinning model comes with a quality Fuji DPS reel seat, while the casting model features a Fuji ECS reel seat. Both include 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 new Triumph medium-heavy travel rod and you’ll always be ready. Of course, if you’re headed to the middle of nowhere for 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.

Page 12

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

March 2015

Deer Hunting Changes on the Horizon?

BRANDONBUTLER Deer hunting sure has changed. Just 20 years ago, we took to the woods with little more than the hope of seeing and shooting a buck. Not a specific buck identified with motion activated cameras, just a buck that happened to walk within range. There were no “hit lists” of deer we had named. We just went hunting, and if we got one, we weighed it to see how much meat we had harvested.

Today, deer hunting is different. Ego and competition have poisoned one of the purest pursuits on the planet. What was once about gathering nourishment for your body and soul has been manipulated into a quest for chest thumping based only on the size of the rack atop a deer's head. The value of the experience, the hunt, has been greatly diminished by the value of the outcome.

Unfortunately, I see little hope for returning to our roots. The outdoor media, especially television shows, have created a platform for

marketing today's sad misconception of success. The outdoor media industry has been manipulated by billions of dollars of product promotion, and it's only becoming worse. Hunting has become NASCAR, meaning sponsors and corporate allegiances take precedence over all else. The observant public follows suit, with delusions of grandeur that they too one day will be standing in victory lane hoisting above their heads a deer rack worthy of public praise and attention as confetti showers down.

The pursuit of large antlers has become so horrendously perverted that those with the financial means can skip the entire hunting process all together. In many states, including Indiana, a captive deer industry exists to cater to those who just want to shoot a “trophy buck.” These properties are surrounded by a high-fence, so the deer have absolutely no chance of escape. You can pick out the one you want to kill from photographs and then go find it in the enclosure and shoot it. Or, in some cases you can wait to see what comes by and choose to shoot a deer based on the cost attributed to the color of the tag hanging from its ear. A small, but very vocal, contingent of people actually believe this is hunting.

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

Photo provided.

So now those of us desperately holding on to the heritage of what hunting truly is are losing ground every time we turn around.

Product manufactures keep producing tools to further disadvantage our quarry. Politicians are approving lesser rules for deer breeding operations, even though nearly every wildlife biologist in the country warns about the dangers of disease associated with

RAM Trucks named official tow vehicle of FLW FLW, the world’s premier tournamentfishing organization, and the Ram Truck brand announced today a strategic marketing agreement that names Ram the official tow vehicle of FLW. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“With its best-in-class fuel economy, best-in-class towing, bestin-class payload and best-in-class torque, Ram will find an appreciative audience among the hundreds of thousands of anglers that FLW touches each month,” said Trish Blake, President of FLW Marketing. “This loyal group of truck buyers will embrace Ram like no other consumer group the company currently targets.”

Ram trucks will be displayed at all FLW Tour Expos and prominently featured at the 20th anniversary Forrest Wood Cup in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Aug. 20-23. The sponsorship also includes exposure for Ram across all FLW media platforms, including FLWFishing.com, FantasyFishing.com, FLW Bass Fishing magazine, social media and FLW TV, which airs on the NBC Sports Network WFN and Pursuit.

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

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

these confined animal operations.

And even state agencies are beginning to cave to the cries of the antler-crazed crowd. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources included. This new generation of deer hunters has amassed enough size and strength to begin influencing rules and regulations, and they want some changes made in Indiana.

Personally, I see nothing

wrong with the pursuit of mature bucks. I am looking for mature bucks myself, when I'm in the woods. But the size of the rack should not be the main motivation for hunting. I support rule changes that increase the opportunity for recruitment and retention of hunters, and oppose those only rooted in increasing the number of bucks with big antlers.

See you down trail…

March 2015

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

Page 13

March’s Best Hunting & Fishing Times...

Indiana Outdoor Calendar March 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 info@safesidellc.com 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 Jillian.Stasiak@cabelas.com.

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

01 Sun 02 Mon 03 Tue 04 Wed 05 Thu 06 Fri 07 Sat 08 Sun 09 Mon 10 Tue 11 Wed 12 Thu 13 Fri 14 Sat 15 Sun 16 Mon 17 Tue 18 Wed 19 Thu 20 Fri 21 Sat 22 Sun 23 Mon 24 Tue 25 Wed 26 Thu 27 Fri 28 Sat 29 Sun 30 Mon 31 Tue

A.M. Minor

A.M Major

P. M. Minor

P.M. Major

Sunrise

Sunset

Fishing Quality / Notes

3:41 4:20 4:55 5:27 5:58 6:27 6:57 7:26 8:59 9:33 10:12 10:55 11:43 2:24 3:16 4:05 4:51 5:33 6:14 6:53 7:32 8:12 8:55 9:40 10:28 11:19 1:54 2:39 3:19 3:56 4:29

8:56 9:43 10:28 11:12 11:55 12:10 12:53 1:35 2:52 4:16 4:53 5:44 6:36 7:31 8:28 9:26 10:24 11:21 ----12:38 1:33 2:30 3:26 4:22 5:17 6:11 7:03 7:52 8:40 9:26 10:10

2:12 3:07 4:02 4:58 5:53 6:49 7:45 8:41 10:38 ----------------12:39 1:40 2:47 3:57 5:09 6:23 7:35 8:48 9:58 ----------------12:12 1:06 2:01 2:57 3:52

9:16 10:01 10:44 --------12:38 1:21 2:03 3:48 4:34 5:22 6:12 7:03 7:57 8:52 9:49 10:45 ----12:18 1:14 2:10 3:05 3:59 4:53 5:45 6:36 7:25 8:12 8:58 9:43 10:26

7:18 7:17 7:15 7:14 7:12 7:11 7:09 7:08 8:06 8:04 8:03 8:01 8:00 7:58 7:57 7:55 7:53 7:52 7:50 7:49 7:47 7:45 7:44 7:42 7:41 7:39 7:37 7:36 7:34 7:33 7:31

6:36 6:37 6:38 6:40 6:41 6:42 6:43 6:44 7:45 7:46 7:47 7:48 7:49 7:50 7:52 7:53 7:54 7:55 7:56 7:57 7:58 7:59 8:00 8:01 8:02 8:03 8:04 8:05 8:05 8:06 8:07

Poor Fair Fair Fair Poor Fair / Full Moon Fair Fair Fair / Daylight Savings Time Fair Poor Poor Fair / Waning Half Moon Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Good Good / New Moon Good Good Fair Fair Fair Poor Poor / Waxing Half Moon Fair Fair Poor Poor

• 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

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ACROSS

DOWN

1 The antlers 5 Ants, gnats 8 Type of bullet, _____ jacket 10 Used for bait at times 11 The wild pig 12 Hunting and fishing equipment 14 Appendage on a turkey's foot 15 A station for still hunting 16 Male turkeys 19 A deer lure, scent ___ 21 A group of decoys 23 Number game, fish, fowl allowed 24 This controlls spread of shot pellets 26 A male dall 27 Where you fish for the brookie 30 A deer and squirrel food source 33 Name for the whitetail of the North 34 A species of duck 35 Parts of antlers 38 Popular, tasty icefishing catch 41 This brings a catch into the boat 43 Fly pattern term for the steelhead 44 Outdoor activity regulation 45 A food fish of Florida shores 46 Term for crack in a bow stave

1 Jolt from a fired gun 2 A brook trout 3 Term for the 20 gauge gun 4 Commercial fishing equipment 5 A Northern freahwater fish 6 A fighting bass species 7 An aid to icefishing 9 A buck mating period 12 A Rocky Mountain game 13 To closely follow a game 15 Camo slip-ons for a bow 17 A silvery minnow bait 18 A wood used in arrow shafts 20 The hunter;s quarry 22 He hunts with a snare 25 Rules for hunting and fishing 28 A species of duck 29 Sought by thr trapper 31 Squirrels gather them 32 A predator to the wild turkey 33 A type of fly lure 36 A type of open sight 37 Female dalls 38 Deer food source 39 An artificial bait 40 Line grommets on a fish rod 41 A Gun Organization 42 To construct a fly lure

Answers on Page 4

Page 14

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

March 2015

Fishing the Fifty

tion.

The Last Thought MIKESCHOONVELD It’s well known I run a fishing charter business on Lake Michigan. I don’t use this column to promote my business, but it does present me with interesting experiences worthy of passing on to you occasionally. This story is about one of my customers who, unbeknownst to me, was on a quest when he fished with me a few years ago.

I don’t know if David Howard was actually on a “quest” at that time or if it was just something stirring in the back of his mind.

The story he told me at the time of our trip was he would watch airfares available from airports near his home in Virginia and when he found an inexpensive flight to somewhere, he’d check out what sort of fishing was available at that destination, check the timing of when the best fishing times for specific species occurred and then check his life list of fish he’d caught previously. If everything aligned, he’d contact a guide in the area and make the plane reserva-

My website has a “fishing calendar” on it that shows what kinds of Lake Michigan fish are most likely to be hitting each month.

The month of June caught his eye because other than brown trout, one never knows what species of fish is likely to bite next. Coho and king salmon as well as lake trout and steelhead trout are common catches all month. Howard had never caught a steelhead, coho salmon or lake trout.

The weatherman threw us a bit of a curve the day we scheduled. A cold front had come through the night before and when we got to the lake, the waves were three to five feet. The area I hoped to fish was several miles offshore and traveling that far in those conditions would be out of the question for safety reasons as well as comfort. That crossed Mr. Lake Trout off the list, right away. In the summer, lakers are deepwater fish and deepwater in Indiana is not available close to shore.

However, Indiana does have one thing going for it in late June.

The Indiana DNR stocks a summer-run strain of steelhead called Skamania.

Skamanias invade the shallows in June, offering a solid chance for Howard to catch at least one of the species he’d traveled so far to catch.

The waves still made for

somewhat uncomfortable fishing, but not unsafe, so I set some lures to see what would happen. Action came quickly. It didn‚t take long before a beautiful, 14-pound steelhead started the party, Howard’s first steelhead - another species he could add to his lifetime list. He was happy, I was happy and the party wasn’t over.

The next fish to bite was a pleasant surprise. Though his laker quest was stymied, a brown trout crashed the party. Browns are commonly caught in March and April, but when the water warms, they become only an occasional visitor.

Most years my customers only catch a handful of browns all summer long. David had caught stream browns in Virginia previously, fish that are measured in inches. This one, over nine pounds was, easily (and still is) the largest brown trout he’d ever caught As the morning progressed, the waves died down as the wind slackened. We were able to move offshore a little way to see if we could find a bit of cooler water and the next fish that bit was a coho pulling the scale down past the seven pound mark. A beautiful fish and another fish for his life list!

That outing with Howard occurred a few summers ago and evidently, with time, his quest morphed from filling his fishing life list to something more grandiose.

I don’t know how many states

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

David had visited previously, but he eventually revised his quest from simply adding species to his list to a quest to visit each state in the USA and fish for a trophy fish available in that state. He’s currently only one state away from fulfilling that quest. A trip to Hawaii, his one missing state, is planned for

April of 2015. He’s set up a website with photos and short essays from each of the states he’s visited.

It’s impressive. Spend some time clicking the map on his site, reading his essays and looking at the photos. If you would like to check out David’s adventures, go to www.fishingthefifty.com.

March 2015

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

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