IndianaOutdoorNewsOctoberNovember2015

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OCTOBER-NOVEMBER OUTDOOR CALENDARS - PAGE 3

®

VOL. 2015 • No. 9

INSIDE:

NEW OWNER OF ION PAGE 2

BEHIND THE BADGE PAGE 6

MAIER PHEASANT FARM PAGE 8

www.IndianaOutdoorNews.net

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 2015

WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN HUNTING IS INCREASING What do Eva Shockey, Melissa Bachman, Katniss Everdeen, and 1.5 million women in the United States have in common?

They're hunters.

Shockey and Bachman are hosts of TV hunting shows, and Everdeen is the main character in the “Hunger Games” m ovie fra nch i s e.

They represent a wave of female hunters, whose nu m b e rs increased by 85 percent from 2001 to 2013, a c c o rding to the Nat i o n a l Sporting Goods Association's a n nual participation survey.

In Indiana, the number of hunting licenses sold to women increased by 93 percent from 2006 to 2014, and female youth hunters - those under age 18 - skyro cke t e d 114 percent from 2006 to 2014.

“Two major reasons come to mind,” said Mary Zeiss Stange, author of “Woman the Hunter,” a study of women's cultural and historical relationship to hunting.

“One is that women have gained sufficient ground socially and economically and have disposable income comparable to men's.

And ve ry importantly, among yo u n ger women ¬- the 'millennials' and whatever this next upcoming ge n e ration will be called - there is ve ry little patience with the idea that an activity like hunt-

ing is 'unfeminine.' Indeed, they thrive on the idea of adve n t u re.”

Stange, a professor and director of religious studies at S k i d m o re College in Pennsylvania, also said: “It's reasonable to assume that women's growing participation in hunting mirrors our increased participation in the entire array of social and cultura l a c t ivities that were formerly masculine territory. That's the 'scholarly' answer. The practical reason, of course, is that hunting is fun and deeply rewa rding.”

The Department of Natural Resources has played an active role in opening the door with eve n t s s p e c i f i c a l ly geared to women: o Becoming an OutdoorsWoman, an annual we e kend workshop near Lafayette that offers t raining in a variety of outdoor activities, including game cl ea n i n g, bowh u n t i n g, and introduction to deer, turkey and small game hunting o Women's days at DNRm a n aged shooting ranges o Women's special hunts at D N R - m a n aged fish and wildlife areas The DNR's online video series “CookIN Gone Wild: Field to Tabl e ” has a female host, which is by design. DNR Hunt, Fish, Eat workshops and National Wild

Turkey Federation's Women In The Outdoors (WITO) progra m s are additional examples of l ow pressure events that help get women into the field.

Outdoor events for women appear to gain in popularity wh e n the instructors are women, according to Responsive Management, a Virginia-based re s e a rch firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor re c re ation issues.

Responsive Management also seems to have discovered a diffe rence between male and female h u n t e rs. In a nationwide survey, re s e a rchers asked hunters if their primary reason for hunting was for the meat, to be with friends and fa m i ly, for the sport or re c re-

ation, or to be close to nature. The re s e a rch e rs found significant differences between men and women in every cat egory: o Hunt for meat - females 47 perc e n t , males 22 percent o To be with friends and family - females 27 percent, males 11 perc e n t o For sport or re c re ation females 20 perc e n t , males 45 percent o To be close to nat u re females 7 perc e n t , males 22 percent.

Female firearms ownership also is rising. From 2012 to 2014, gun permits issued to women in Indiana increased by 42 percent. A National Shooting Sports

Continued on Page 5

NRC GIVES FINAL APPROVAL OF NEW CATFISH RULES

GADGETS & GEAR PAGE 11

FISHING PAGE 12

GONE AFIELD PAGE 15

The Indiana Nat u ral Resources Commission on Tu e s d ay gave final approval to rule ch a n ges that gove rn commercial fishing and sport fishing for catfish.

The new rules raise the m i n i mum size from 10 to 13 inches for catfish caught in r ivers and streams, including the Ohio Rive r, and limit the nu mber of large catfish caught in l a ke s, reservo i rs, streams and r ivers (including the Ohio River) to no more than one each per d ay of channel catfish at least 28 i n ches long, blue catfish at least 35 inches long, and fl athead catfish at least 35 inches long.

The ch a n ges ap p ly to both commercial fishing and sport fishing.

The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife proposed the ch a n ges in order to increase surv ival of yo u n ger catfish and ensure continued large or “trop hy ” catfish opportunities for both sport and commercial fishing. Larger catfish also have higher reproductive potential and can help control populations of fo rage species such as gizzard shad and Asian carp.

The Commission granted preliminary approval to the rule changes in November, after

wh i ch a public comment period including one public hearing.

The rule ch a n ges will not be in effect until approved by the Attorney General's Office and Governor's Office and published in the Indiana Register.

The Commission also dedic ated two nat u re preserves in Wayne County, bringing to 269 the number of state-dedicated n at u re preserves in Indiana.

Old Nort h west Boundary Line Nat u re Preserve is a 92acre site ch a ra c t e r i zed by reforested uplands and dissected by ravines that drain into Lick C re e k . The second site is Old Hamilton Road Nature Preserve, whose deep valley fe at u res springs, seeps and a significant fen wetland. Several notewo rthy endangered or rare species occur on the 27-acre site.

Whitewater Valley Land Trust owns and manages both properties. Indiana Heritage Trust helped buy the Old Northwest Boundary Line preserve, and the Bicentennial Nat u re Trust helped buy the Old Hamilton Road preserve.

In other actions, the NRC: o Readopted rules that govern trails and scenic rivers

(312 IAC 7); timber bu yers, their agents, and timber growers (312 IAC 14); forest and resource management (312 IAC 15); and standards regarding oil and gas exploration (312 IAC 16 and 312 IAC 17). o Approved changes to the roster of Indiana animals, insects and plants that are extirpated, endangered, threatened or rare. Ruffed grouse and rufa red knot we re added to bird species of special concern, and the name of northern cavefish was ch a n ged to Hoosier cavefish. Scientific names for seve ra l species were modified to reflect current names. o Turned down a citizen

COMPLIMENTS OF:

petition to amend the rule governing issuance of nuisance wild animal control permits to reduce conflicts of interest.

The NRC is an autonomous board that add resses topics pertaining to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

NRC members include the DNR dire c t o r, heads of three other state agencies (Environmental Management, Tourism Development, and Transportation), six citizens appointed by the governor on a bipartisan basis, the chair of the NRC's advisory council, and the president of the Indiana A c a d e my of S c i e n c e.

Page 2

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

October-November 2015

Greetings From Your New Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

MEGANSMITH I am both proud and excited to announce that I have assumed the positions of Publisher and Editor- i n - C h i e f o f Indiana Outdoor New s from the previous Publ i s h e r, who also happens to be my father and greatest role model, Brian Smith.

When I was only two years old, my father took me along on my first hunt; we would later come to realize that that hunt was only the

b eginning of an obsession with the outdoors. I live for hunting season; during the o ff - s e a s o n s, I'm biting my nails waiting for opening day, dreaming of bagging that trop hy 12-pointer or boss tom. I am tru ly blessed to have grown up so immersed in the outdoors, to have been taught everything I know from my father and uncle, to have harvested so many tro p h i e s, memories and meals. Hunting and fishing are my life.

As I grew older, I became invo l ved in helping my father run Indiana Outdoor News.

Anything I could help with, I jumped at the opport u n i t y.

From passing out magazines at tradeshows to mailing subscriptions, to picking up freshly printed papers and making deliveries across the state, I loved helping out. I always knew that one day I wo u l d take over the family business, so when my father came to me and proposed the idea of my

new ownership of ION I was overj oyed. Finally, my chance to continue on my fat h e r ' s legacy had come.

The timing could not be more perfect. Not only have I taken ow n e rship of ION, but I am also majoring in Jo u rnalism with a doubl e minor in Photograp hy and G raphic Design at Indiana U n ive rsity of South Bend.

Not only will my courses at IU supplement my new endeavo r with ION, but as well my experiences as Publisher and E d i t o r- i n - C h i e f will supplement my coursewo rk. It's the perfect win-win situation.

There are so many new ideas and changes to the magazine that I am excited to try.

As a young woman with a passion for the outdoors, I will be adding a fresh, new perspect ive as well as new technologies to ION. Being more intune with the new technologies of the times than my father wa s, I am eager to

A Father’s Legacy: Passing it On to the Next Generation By Brian Smith Days are growing shorter marking the beginning of fall.

Though there will still be plenty of end of summer and back to school activities on our agenda, I can't help but let my mind ponder the excitement of the coming hunting seasons here in Indiana. Amid all the pre-season preparations I have begun to reflect on the history of Indiana Outdoor News, the trials and successes. And just as our seasons transition so are we.

This issue will mark the beginning of a new beginning for ION. A new generation is taking over the reigns, picking

up the proverbial ball and running with it. My oldest daughter, Miss Megan Smith, has been named the new Publisher as well as Editor-In-Chief. I choke back the tears of joy thinking about the first time Megan and I went hunting together. She was two years old at the time, however to my surprise and amazement she was completely in tune with the days events. As I watched her grow into a beautiful young woman and yes to her fathers chagrin began to have boys chase her, I noticed her love for outdoor pursuits never wearied.

In fact, they grew stronger.

On many occasions Megan would set out on her own when Dad could not tag along.

Coming home with successful harvests and stories of the days hunting or fishing activities.

Most times she out shot everyone in the blind or guided a first timer to a turkey or landed the largest fish on the boat. All stories confirmed by photos and those who shared in the day's events. Each story filling me with pride I realized that her mother and I raised her properly.

Instilling in her the responsibility of a well educated and dedicated outdoorswoman.

introduce ION to more social m e d i a , i n cl u ding Twitter and I n s t agra m , a s well as incorp o rate smartphone ap p s that will bring the maga z i n e to life in the palms of o u r readers' hands. These My father and I on my first hunt ever, when I was only 2 years old. a re only a select few of the plethora of time, but I am here to prove ideas that I plan to incorpo- them wrong. I believe that no rate into ION. With that said, matter how crazy a dream may h oweve r, the main purp o s e seem, as long as you set your and traditions of I n d i a n a mind and heart to it, as long as Outdoor News will alway s you believe in yourself and remain the same: providing it's have a passion for your wo rk, readers with the latest outdoor absolutely nothing is impossit i p s, s t o r i e s, and news in the ble. I am incredibly enthusiasstat e. tic and optimistic about my Yes, there are many who n ew adve n t u re, and I am do not believe that I am capa- gre at ly looking fo r wa rd to ble of running my own busi- grow i n g, expanding and ness at such a young age or enhancing eve ry aspect of whilst attending college full- Indiana Outdoor News.

Instinctively applying these ethics to her everyday life, Megan has grown into a very well rounded and successful young woman.

When I was faced with the uncertainty that new technology was bombarding our company with, Megan stepped up to the plate and insisted that she take the lead. It is no secret that Indiana Outdoor News was my first baby, and now my first child wanted to sit in the drivers seat. Having grown and groomed both the irony of a legacy hit me full force. I am equally proud of both and I know that Megan will take ION to new heights and larger successes.

Ushering in the new genera-

tion and a new chapter of life will also strike a monumental chord with the rest of the outdoor industry. With this announcement, Megan Smith will become the first woman publisher of a hook and bullet magazine. Historically outdoor (hunting and fishing) magazines have been the target of men.

Just as new technology encompasses the world, so does the fact that more than ever before women are establishing themselves as hunters and fishers and trappers. This new era is exciting for all of us. Especially me with the passing of the torch to not only an excellent writer, publisher and educated young lady but also an in-the-field outdoorswoman.

Subscription Request

Volume 2015 • Number 9 Publisher: Megan E. Smith Assistant Publisher: Brian E. Smith & Mark C. Smith Editor-in-Chief: Megan E. Smith Assistant Editor-in-Chief: Joshua Lantz Field Editor: John Martino, Central Indiana Field Photographer: Bill Konway, www.BillKonway.com Advertising Sales: Contact@ION4U.net Distribution Manager: Megan E. Smith Editorial Submissions: submit@raghorn.com Subscription Info: Subscriptions@Raghorn.com Web Site: www.IndianaOutdoorNews.net Business & Publication Office: Mailing Address: P.O. Box 69, Granger, Indiana 46530 Toll Free: 844-RAGHORN (724-4676) or 800-309-8260 Email: Publisher@Raghorn.com

Indiana Outdoor News is published bi-monthly and distributes six big issues per year! Not a subscriber? Sign up today! Share the joy of the Indiana outdoors all year long with friends and family! ION also makes a great gift!

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS® is the official publication of Raghorn Incorporated, and is published monthly at 16828 Barryknoll Way, Granger, IN 46530. For home delivery, look for the subscription card in this publication. Editorial contributions may be submitted to the above address. No material can be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope.

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October-November 2015

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

Indiana Outdoor Calendar October thru November 2015 October 1: Deer Archery season opener October 1 - November 1: Fall Archery Wild Turkey season October 15 - Red and Gray Fox, Coyote, Striped Skunk season opener October 21-November 1: Fall Firearm Wild Turkey season October 23-24: Monroe Lake’s annual Halloween event, the Ghostly Gathering, at Paynetown State Recreation Area. More info at stateparks.IN.gov/2954.htm October 30-31: Mounds State Park’s annual Halloween festivities. More info at stateparks.IN.gov/2977.htm November 1: Pheasant, Quail, and Rabbit season opener November 14-29: Deer Firearms 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.

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Page 3

October’s Best Hunting & Fishing Times...

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

A.M. Minor 10:26 11:32 12:31p 11:09p 11:09p 12:07 1:06 2:05 3:04 4:03 5:02 6:00 6:59 7:59 8:58 9:56 10:52 11:45 12:35p 11:22p 11:22p 12:30 1:41 2:55 4:12 5:29 6:46 8:01 9:12 10:17 11:14

A.M Major 2:33 3:30 4:25 5:19 6:10 6:59 7:46 8:31 9:15 9:57 11:03p 11:46p 12:30 1:15 2:01 2:50 3:40 4:32 5:24 6:18 7:11 8:05 9:00 9:55 10:51 11:17p 11:17p 12:15 1:13 2:11 3:07

P. M. Minor 8:32 9:21 10:31 1:23 2:07 2:46 3:19 3:49 4:17 4:43 5:10 5:36 6:04 6:35 7:09 7:48 8:32 9:23 10:20 1:20 2:01 2:39 3:15 3:49 4:24 4:59 5:38 6:21 7:08 8:01 8:57

P.M. Major 3:03 3:59 4:54 5:47 6:37 7:25 8:11 8:55 12:38 10:21 10:40a 11:22a 12:05 12:50 1:36 2:23 3:13 4:04 4:56 5:49 6:42 7:36 8:30 9:25 10:21 11:19 11:48a 12:46 1:44 2:41 3:37

Sunrise 7:12 7:13 7:15 7:16 7:17 7:19 7:20 7:21 7:23 7:24 7:25 7:27 7:28 7:30 7:31 7:32 7:34 7:35 7:36 7:38 7:39 7:41 7:42 7:43 7:45 7:46 7:48 7:49 7:51 7:52 7:53

Sunset 6:54 6:52 6:50 6:48 6:46 6:45 6:43 6:41 6:39 6:37 6:35 6:33 6:31 6:30 6:28 6:26 6:24 6:22 6:21 6:19 6:17 6:15 6:14 6:12 6:10 6:09 6:07 6:06 6:04 6:02 6:01

Quality / Notes Poor/ Waning Gibbous Poor Poor Poor/ Last Quarter Poor/ Waning Crescent Poor Poor Poor Poor Fair Fair Excellent/ New Moon Excellent/ Waxing Crescent Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor/ First Quarter Poor/ Waxing Gibbous Poor Poor Poor Fair Fair Excellent/ Full Moon Poor/ Waning Gibbous Poor Poor Poor

All times are for the Eastern Time zone and are calibrated for Indianapolis

November’s Best Hunting & Fishing Times...

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

A.M. Minor 11:03 11:45 12:21p 11:56p 11:56p 12:55 1:54 2:53 3:52 4:52 5:51 6:50 7:48 8:43 9:34 10:20 11:02 11:40 11:38p 11:38p 12:50 2:04 3:19 4:34 5:47 6:56 7:59 8:53 9:40 10:19

A.M Major 3:02 3:53 4:42 5:28 6:13 6:55 7:38 8:20 9:03 9:47 10:59p 11:47p 12:37 1:29 2:21 3:13 4:06 4:58 7:36 6:43 7:36 8:31 9:28 10:25 10:52p 10:52p 11:51p 12:47 1:42 2:33

P. M. Minor 8:56 9:56 10:56 12:52 1:21 1:47 2:13 2:40 3:07 3:37 4:10 4:47 5:30 6:19 7:14 8:14 9:19 10:27 1:38 12:48 1:21 1:54 2:30 3:10 3:54 4:44 5:39 6:39 7:40 8:42

P.M. Major 3:30 4:20 5:07 5:52 6:36 7:19 8:01 8:43 9:27 10:12 10:33a 11:20a 12:10 1:01 1:53 2:45 3:38 4:30 5:22 6:14 7:07 8:01 8:57 9:54 10:54 11:24a 12:21 1:17 2:10 3:00

Sunrise Sunset 6:55 4:59 6:56 4:58 6:58 4:57 6:59 4:55 7:01 4:54 7:02 4:52 7:04 4:51 7:05 4:50 7:06 4:48 7:08 4:47 7:09 4:46 7:11 4:45 7:12 4:44 7:14 4:42 7:15 4:41 7:17 4:40 7:18 4:39 7:19 4:38 7:21 4:37 7:22 4;36 7:23 4:36 7:25 4:35 7:26 4:34 7:28 4:33 7:29 4:33 7:30 4:32 7:31 4:31 7:33 4:31 7:34 4:30 7:35 4:30

Quality / Notes Poor Poor Poor/ Last Quarter Poor/ Waning Crescent Poor Poor Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent/ New Moon Good/Waxing Crescent Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor/ First Quarter Poor/ Waxing Gibbous Poor Poor Poor Fair Excellent/ Full Moon Fair/ Waning Gibbous Poor Poor Poor Poor

Page 4

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

DNR WILL IMPROVE FISH HABITAT IN NEW PROGRAM WITH AID FROM PARTNERS A new D NR p ar t n e rsh ip will b u i l d fish hab i t at in r e s e r vo i rs wh e r e nat u ra l s t r u c t u re is lack i n g.

T h e Re s e r vo i r A q u a t i c H a b i t a t Enhancement Prog ram (RAHEP) will start in the winter of 2016 with i m p rovement s at Sullivan Lake, a 451a c re re s e r vo ir in Sulliva n .

Pa r t n e r s i n c l u d e Jo n e s a n d S o n s C o n c r e t e , B a s s U n l i m i t e d , S u l l iva n Co un ty Pa rks an d Sullivan County Ja i l .

I n m at es f rom t he Sullivan Co unt y Jail will cut lumber for fish cr ib s. T h e s e s t r u c t u res are made fro m g reen po plar an d loo k like a small lo g cab i n , c re at i n g re f u g e fo r fish . I n m a tes will wo rk with S u l l ivan Co unt y Pa rks and Lake staff e rs durin g winter t o pr ep a r e materials and as sist with bu i l d i n g.

Oth er str u c t u res will include b r u s h p i l e s, G e o r gia Cubes ( a PVC cub e with c o r r u g ated pip e wound inside) and bl a ck bass n es tin g plat fo r m s. Jo nes and Son s C o n c rete in Bloo mfield has d onated 200 cind er bl o ck s. Bass Un limited, a n onp r o f i t a n g l i n g g r o u p b a s e d i n Te r r e H a u t e, h as p ledg ed m at erials an d vo l u nt e e rs to h elp with str u c t u re con str u ction.

“Because Bass Un limited is funded by angl e rs and conser vat i o n i s t s, it is a n at u ral fit to par tn er with Ind ian a DN R

and assist in this t yp e of p ro j e c t ,” B a s s Un limited pr esiden t Wil N ewlin said.

N ewlin believes th e new p rog ram will enhance aquatic b io dive rsity and therefo re imp rove re c re at io nal fishing ex p e r ie n c e s, wh i ch is p ar t o f Bass Unlimited ’s mission.

S u l l ivan Lake was ch osen as th e p rog ra m ’s first lake because it ho ld s lit tle a q u at ic veg e t ation an d has b een awa rd e d a g r an t for sh orelin e st ab i l i z ation pro ject t hro ugh the Ind ian a Lakes and Rive rs Enhancement Prog ram ( LARE). “ T h e re ar e a lot of p o s i t ive th in gs g oing on at Sullivan Lake, and th ese i m p rovement s will make fish in g b et ter,” said San dy Clark - Ko l a k s, DN R souther n fisheries r e s e a rch b io lo g i s t . “ We hop e to put more than 100 str uctures into S u l l ivan L ake in 2016, and it will take m a ny hand s to build t hem all.”

M o st o f I n d i a n a ’s r e s e r vo i rs we r e built in the 1950s and 1960s. O ver th e ye a rs, t he tre e s, l ogs an d ro ots t hat p rovided cover fo r fish have deg raded and decomposed.

October-November 2015

AVIAN INFLUENZA SAMPLING TO OCCUR AT SEVERAL STATE PROP-

ERTIES

This fall and winter, the Indiana DNR will be testing hunter- h a rvested wild ducks for avian influenza as part of a national surveillance effort.

Duck hunters at eight properties will be asked to help by returning to the check station after a successful hunt to allow their birds to be tested. Birds will be tested as quickly as possible. Birds are the hunter’s to keep. The testing process is not invasive and does not damage meat.

The first round of testing will be conducted during opening weekend of duck season at the following properties: Oct. 24-25: Willow Slough, Kankakee, Pigeon River and TriCounty fish & wildlife areas.

Oct. 31-Nov. 1: Goose Pond and Hovey Lake fish & wildlife areas; Brookville Lake (in the basement of the main office at Mounds State Recreation Area), and Monroe Lake, at the Stillwater Marsh check station on Kent Road.

Additional testing will occur throughout the fall and winter as large numbers of birds move through the various properties. Properties will post notices when they are taking samples.

A n gl e r s and t he public can help durin g a wo rk d ay in spring 2016. A dat e is yet to b e deter m i n e d . Vo l u n t e e rs will l i ke l y h e l p a s s e m b l e s t r u c t u r e s f r o m re a dy mat e r i a l s.

LASALLE’S BLACK OAK BAYOUR TO BE WATERFOWL REST AREA Black Oak Bayou will become LaSalle Fish & Wildlife Area's new waterfow l rest i n g are a , g iv i ng wat e r f ow l , s h o r e b ir d s, an d o th er s pe cie s acces s to a n u nd i s t u r b e d a r e a o f th e p r o p e r t y du r i ng t h e i r a n nu a l m i g r a t i o n s.

L o c a t e d i n n o r t h w e s t I n d i a n a , L a S a l l e F WA m a i n t a i n s a l m o s t 3 , 8 0 0 a c r e s o f h a r dwo od fo r e s t s, c r o pl a n d a n d f a l l ow fi e l d s, m a r s h e s, b r u s h a n d o pe n wa t e r. B i se c t e d by th e K a n k a ke e R ive r, i t is a n i d e a l s to p ove r fo r m ig ra t or y b i r d s.

The goal is to reestablish Black Oak as an emergent wetland that mimics the natural rising and falling water levels that the bayou was subject to before it wa s closed off from the river.

Each spring, water levels will be lowered enough to create a diversity of depths throughout the bayou that will encourage the highest diversity of wetland plants to f lourish. T he restored wetland will attract a larg e varie t y o f w e t l a n d s p e c i e s e a c h y e a r . Wa t e r l e v e l s w i l l b e r a i s e d g r a d u a l l y t o n o r m a l p o o l i n J u l y a n d A u g u s t e a c h y e a r . B y r a i s i n g t h e w a t e r s l o w l y, a n abundant amount of seed will become available forage for wetland s p e c i e s.

With the area's new management designation, Black Oak Bayou will be open for public access from the end of the waterfowl hunting season or c o m p l e t e i c e u p ( w h i c h e v e r c o m e s f i r s t ) t h r o u g h A u g. 1 4 e a c h y e a r .

H u n t i n g a n d g e n e r a l p u b l i c a c c e s s w i l l n o t b e a l l o we d f r o m Au g. 1 5 t o t h e end of the waterfowl season or complete ice up (whichever comes first).

A c c e s s d u r i n g t h a t t i m e w i l l b e l i m i t e d t o p r o p e r t y s t a f f o n l y.

W h i t e O a k B a y o u a l s o w i l l u n d e r g o c h a n g e s t o i m p r o v e o v e r a l l q u a l i t y.

Plans include sediment removal in the channel connecting White Oak B a y o u t o t h e K a n k a k e e R i v e r , i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a n e w b o a t r a m p, a n d t h e e v e n t u a l a d d i t i o n o f a n A DA - a c c e s s i b l e f i s h i n g p i e r. T h e s e d i m e n t removal will enhance access to the K ankakee River from White Oak, which will allow water levels to naturally raise and lower through the year and improve the bayou's overall habitat.

CHILDREN ARE A BIG PART OF THE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE S o u t h w i ck A s s o c i ates - Many sportsmen have fond memories of special times outdoors hunting and shooting with a parent or gra n d p a re n t . And it seems as adults, m a ny are only too hap py to p rovide those same gre at experiences for the yo u n ger ge n e rat i o n s.

In a recent joint survey by ShooterSurvey.com and H u n t e r S u rvey. c o m , re s e a rch e rs learned as many as 50 percent of those sportsmen surveyed had taken a child shooting in the past 12 months, while 37 percent had taken a child hunting.

As one might ex p e c t , the majority of those ch i l d ren take n o u t d o o rs we re the sons and daughters of those surveyed with 47 p e rcent of those taken shooting being a son or daughter and 54 p e rcent of those taken hunting a child of the re s p o n d e n t .

S eventeen percent of h u n t e rs took more than one child out in the past 12 months and 24 percent of re c re ational shooters took a kid s h o o t i n g. I n t e re s t i n gly, as many as 19 percent of h u n t e rs share d hunting with a young person not re l ated to them, while 21 perc e n t o f s h o o t e rs did. The remainder we re gra n d ch i l d re n , nieces and n ep h ew s. “ Passing a love for hunting and shooting along to the nex t ge n e ration is a vital part of the total outdoor ex p e r i e n c e.

E ve ryone has special memories of time spent in the woods or at the ra n ge with their parents or other mentors as a young pers o n , and it is clear today's adults want to ke ep that tradition alive fo r their kids,” s ays Rob Southwick , p resident of S o u t h w i ck A s s o c i at e s, wh i ch designs and conducts the surveys at H u n t e r S u rvey. c o m , S h o o t e r S u rvey.com and A n gl e r S u rvey. c o m .

To help continu a l ly improve, p rotect and advance hunting, shooting and other outdoor re c re at i o n , all sportsmen and sport swomen are encouraged to part i c i p ate in the bi-monthly surveys at H u n t e r S u r vey. c o m , S h o o t e r S u rvey.com and/or A n gl e r S u rvey. c o m . E ve ry other month, p a rticipants who complete the surveys are entered into a drawing for one of f ive $100 gift cert i f i c ates to the sporting goods retailer of their ch o i c e.

October-November 2015

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

CHECKIN GAME PHONE NUMBER WRONG IN HUNT GUIDE The phone number for deer and turkey hunters to rep o rt their harvested animals is wrong in the printed ve rsion of the 2015-16 DNR Hunting & Trapping Reg u l ations booklet.

The correct number is 800-419-1326.

Th at number ap p e a rs on page 12 of the booklet but is incorrect on pages 26 and 38.

H u n t e rs are re q u i red to register their harvested deer or turkey within 48 hours either online t h rough the DNR's CheckIN Game system (Check I N G a m e. d n r. I N. gov ) ; finding a ch e ck stat i o n , license vendor or retailer who will enter the info rm ation through CheckIN Game; or by calling 800-419-1326.

The DNR regrets the error and ap o l og i zes for any inconvenience it may have caused.

ADDITIONAL WATERFOWL OPPORTUNITIES AT REYNOLDS CREEK GAMEBIRD HABITAT AREA Reynolds Creek Gameb i rd Hab i t at A rea in Po rter County now has two units ava i l able fo r wat e r fowl hunting.

These units will be included in the daily draw at the Kingsbu ry Fish & Wi l d l i fe A re a ch e ck - s t ation at 4:30 a.m. C e n t ral T i m e.

Th e re will be one party (2 or 3 hunters per party) per unit with hunts offe red on Sunday s and We d n e s d ays only.

Shooting times will be 1/2 hour befo re sunrise to 1 p. m . C e n t ral T i m e. In addition to all s t ate and fe d e ral reg u l at i o n s, h u n t e rs are limited to 25 shot-shells per hunter per day.

For additional info rm ation call the Kingsbu ry office at (219) 393-3612. O ffice hours are M o n d ay through Fr i d ay, 7:30 a.m. until 2 p. m . C e n t ral T i m e.

FALL COLORS VARYING ACROSS STATE; CENTRAL INDIANA IN FULL SWING C e n t ral Indiana is like ly to outperfo r m the rest of the state in fall color display this ye a r, a c c o rding to DNR community and urban fo rester Carrie Ta u s ch e r. “ C e n t ral Indiana lucked out,” she said. “ The colors are getting pretty hot. Th at cold snap at the end of S eptember and beginning of October re a l ly got things mov i n g. E s p e c i a l ly the suga r m ap l e s.”

The best fall color fo r m ation happens when there are bright, wa rm day s, cool nights and moist soils.

While all of Indiana has experienced the necessary bright, wa rm days and cool nights, s o i l m o i s t u re varies dra m at i c a l ly throughout the stat e. Most of s o u t h e rn Indiana is curre n t ly cl a ssified through the United States Drought Monitor as “ab n o r m a l ly dry ” or in “moderat e d ro u g h t .”

M u ch of n o rt h e rn and southern Indiana is curre n t ly a dull green to ye l l ow, Ta u s cher said. “ Those trees don’t have the moisture re q u i red for the chemical reactions that produce vibra n t c o l o r,” Ta u s cher said.

N o n e t h e l e s s, the tourist towns of s o u t h e rn Indiana such as Nashville, Madison and M e d o ra shouldn’t fre t , Ta u s cher said. S a s s a f ras and sweetgum trees in fo rest understories and along roadsides are giving a gre at show of re d , o ra n ge and ye l l ow, and red oaks and bl a ck tupelo seem to[CT1] be making good color, despite the lack of m o i s t u re.

And fall colors aside, this fall has given Hoosiers all over the state excellent we ather fo r t raveling and outdoor re c re at i o n . Extended fo recasts show the trend continu i n g, with plenty of sunshine and daytime high temperat u res in the 60s and 70s. “ We ’ve had some of the most beautiful fall days that I’ve ever experienced in Indiana,” Ta u s cher said. “ With all the events going on in parks and orch a rds and other fall destinat i o n s, yo u ’re going to enjoy the ambiance no matter wh at . Just get outside and enjoy the fa l l .”

L e aves produce pigments that give them color. During spring and summer, the green pigment, ch l o ro p hy l l , is dominant. When days become short e r, other pigments in the leaf become visible as the amount of ch l o ro p hyll dw i n d l e s.

The fo rest firewo rks show in central Indiana should continue for seve ral weeks as oaks b egin to turn , Ta u s cher said.

Once the leaves fa l l , Ta u s cher said Hoosiers should consider mu l ching their ya rd leave s instead of b agging them and sending them to a landfill. One option is to mow the leaves and let them be absorbed back into your law n , p roviding nutrients for the next growing season.

Another is to layer them onto planting beds, wh i ch provides nutrients and protects aga i n s t wind ero s i o n .

“It kills me when people throw all those good leaves on the curb,” she said.

INDIANA RECEIVES CHINOOK SALMON EGGS FROM WISCONSIN TO MEET PRODUCTION GOALS Wisconsin and Indiana fisheries biologists wo rked together earlier this month to save Indiana’s plan for stocking Chinook salmon in Lake Mich i gan in 2016.

Indiana norm a l ly re c e ives Chinook eggs each year from Mich i ga n , but re c o rd - l ow nu m b e rs of fish re t u rning to streams from Lake Mich i gan to spawn left Mich i gan unable to spare eggs fo r Indiana.

On short notice, the Wisconsin DNR offe red to let Indiana use the Root River Steelhead Facility in Ra c i n e, Wi s c o n s i n , as a backup source for Chinook salmon egg s.

On Oct. 1 0 , Indiana DNR biologists and hat ch e ry staff wo rked alongside Wisconsin DNR staff to spawn more than 100 pairs of C h i n o o k s. Ap p rox i m at e ly 539,000 viable eggs are now resting in i n c u b ation trays at Mixsawbah State Fish Hat ch e ry near Wa l ke rt o n . Th at is like ly more than enough to meet the 2016 production goal of 200,000 finge rl i n g s.

Had the Indiana DNR not taken adva n t age of Wisconsin DNR’s offe r, no Chinooks would be s t o cked in Indiana wat e rs in 2016.

The Chinooks will be given a coded wire tag in March 2016, and stocked in late April 2016.

These tagged fish will be identified by having a missing adipose fin, and be the fifth-year class of Chinook salmon marked under the lake-wide fe d e ral Gre at Lakes Mass Marking Progra m .

The rap i d ly changing Lake Mich i gan ecosystem further unders c o res the need for age n c i e s a round the lake to wo rk together to manage the fishery. These part n e rships have been in ex i s t e n c e for decades but the part n e rs invo l ved expect their importance to incre a s e.

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Continued From Cover Foundation study released earlier this year reported that more than one-third of the women participating in an NSSF-commissioned study said they purchased their first firearm within the last three years. Nearly all of them (95 percent) have tried target shooting, more than half (58 percent) have hunted and 73 perc e n t said they have taken at least one training class.

The DNR is re a ching out to those wanting to learn firearms safety and shooting tech n i ques. The shooting ra n ges at Atterbury, J. E. Roush, and Kingsbury fish and wildlife areas offer onsite instruction at events through the spring and summer that accommodate women and families in a safe, friendly env i ronment.

“Our motto is that if you want to hunt, we want to help,” said Amanda Wuestefeld, assistant director of the DNR Division of Fish & Wi l d l i fe. “As Hoosier hunters, if we are going to ke ep the tradition of hunting strong in Indiana, it looks like female hunters may very well play a key role in our success.”

DRIVERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF DEER THIS FALL As days shorten and the breeding season for deer appro a ch e s, the chance of encountering deer on roadways increases significantly.

Deer- ve h i cle accidents can be minimized by practicing defe n s ive driv i n g.

Nearly 50 percent of all vehicle accidents involving white-tailed deer occur b e t ween October and December, a c c o rding to Patrick Mayer of the DNR D ivision of Fish & Wildlife.

Knowing the fo l l owing information and practicing defe n s ive driv i n g will help reduce your chances of becoming a deer- vehicle collision statistic: - Deer are most active between sunset and sunrise.

- Deer often travel in groups, so if you see one, another is like ly nearby.

- Be especially careful in areas where you have seen deer before.

- Use high beams when there is no opposing traffic; scan for deer's illuminated eyes or dark silhouettes along the side of the road.

- If you see a deer, s l ow your speed drastically, even if it is far away.

- Exe rcise ex t reme caution along woodlot edges, at hills, or blind turns.

- Never swe rve to avoid hitting a deer; most serious crashes occur when d r ivers try to miss a deer but hit something else.

According to Maye r, drive rs should pay attention to traffic signs wa rning of deer crossings. Deer crossing signs have proven effe c t ive at notifying motorists of areas wh e re caution should be exercised, but drive rs tend to get accustomed to such signage, reducing their effe c t iveness over time.

If you hit a deer, remain calm.

“Although gentle in nature, deer that are injured or stressed can be ex t re m e ly dangerous,” M ayer said. “They have sharp hooves and a powe rful kick . Do not approach the animal unless you are positive it has expired.”

M ayer said that deer can be found anywh e re in Indiana, including in urban settings, so drivers should be on the lookout no matter wh e re they are. Motorist also should exe rcise increased vigilance between sunset and sunrise.

MONROE LAKE ANGLERS MUST TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST ASIAN CARP I nva s ive Asian carp are knocking on Monroe Lake's d o o r, and DNR officials are warning anglers not to let them in.

S i l ver and bighead carp (collective ly referred to as Asian carp) have been found in Salt Creek, directly below the Monroe Lake dam. The dam prevents the carp from entering the lake.

But fisheries biologists with the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife are concerned that anglers collecting baitfish from Salt Creek might mistake juvenile Asian carp for gizzard shad and introduce the carp into Monroe Lake.

Using live gizzard shad is a common way to fish for hybrid striped bass at Monroe Lake. The method is legal at Monroe Lake as long as the fish were collected in the lake.

Collecting live gizzard shad in Salt Creek and using them at Monroe Lake is against the law. It is also difficult to distinguish gizzard shad from juvenile Asian carp.

Earlier this month, DNR research e rs cast a net in Salt Creek below the dam to determine the prevalence of Asian carp and how easy it would be to cat ch them while targeting gizzard shad. In just six casts, they caught 52 juvenile Asian carp.

Anglers fishing Monroe Lake are reminded to collect their bait fish in Monroe Lake only. Do not transport fish from one body of water to another.

Anglers also should dispose of all unused baitfish, including fish parts, on shore, in a trash can. Never release bait into the water.

Asian carp can cause enormous damage to native species by outcompeting existing fish for food, specifically plankton. By consuming so mu ch plankton, the carp affect the entire aquatic food ch a i n , including sport fish that feed on plankton-eating fish.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

October-November 2015

CONTINUED FROM JUNE ISSUEthe scent, his tail is circling around. By watching Kenobi, Knach ALANGARBERS DNR K-9 Officers are amazing creatures. I was lucky enough to knows how to react and help get Kenobi back on course. talk with ICO Levi Knach while he demonstrated the abilities of This kind of relationship doesn't happen overnight. It can his K-9 partner, Kenobi. take up to two years for the team to truly know each other. During One of the capabilities of a dog like Kenobi is an “article that time, they can feel a great deal of pressure to succeed. search”. Like the name implies, the team is looking for an article, One of Knach and Kenobi's first big cases was a possible usually related to a crime. suicide. The man had ran off into a wooded area. His grandfaTo get the dog in the right frame of mind, ICO Knach goes ther had attempted to find him, but it was to no avail. While the into a set routine using special gear. For an article search Knach grandfather's concern and attempt to find the man was underputs a different harness of Kenobi. Not that there's something standable, it made tracking more difficult. special about the harness other than Kenobi associates that partic“Now I have two tracks,” Knach said, “and I just hope ular harness with an article search. The routine is the same each we're on the right one.” The issue was, whatever track Kenobi time. Knach shows Kenobi the harness and then goes through a started with was what he would end with. The concern was comritual of putting it one. The right foot always goes through first, pounded after a few moments. “As we're tracking, we come to a followed by the left. Knach even goes so far as to use clips that fork.” Kenobi headed to the right. The track lead out to a field makes a specific sound. All of this gets Kenobi excited about and right back to where they started. They realized then that they doing a specific job; finding something. had followed the grandfather.

The ultimate goal is to get a dog to find an object and once However, during the track, Kenobi had turned his head, it's found, stay with it and make their human partner aware that which was an indicator that he had scented another person at that they found something. This is called “alerting”. spot. “We went back to that spot where Kenobi had given me To train Kenobi, Knach started out in a short grass area with what we call a “negative”.” After getting on the new track, it dida used shotgun shell. When Kenobi stumbled across the shotgun n't take long to find the man, alive, safe and sound. shell, Knach rewarded Kenobi. By doing this repeatedly Kenobi Knach and Kenobi continue to work together, always grew to know that finding items that smelled of gunpowder meant improving their skills as a team. a reward. But, Knach threw in another twist. He started stepping The desolation of State Fish and Wildlife areas attract on the shotgun shell so that Kenobi couldn't reach it. In frustraunsavory people that want to hide their activities from public tion Kenobi started scratching in an attempt to get to the shotgun shell. This led to Kenobi view. “People will make meth using the one-pot method back in the Tri-County Fish and scratching when he alerts on an article that he is trained to hit on.

Wildlife Area, so we're actively look for them,” Knach explained. “We came up on a vehicle.

Another ability is wildlife detection. To train Kenobi, Knach takes a piece of the animal, Hunting season isn't in yet, mushroom season is past, so I decided to run a track.” Kenobi and such as venison, and places it in a special rolled up play towel that Kenobi loves. When Kenobi Knach followed the scent around one and a half miles, through woods and fields, and finally get the venison out, it is replaced with another piece. As days go by, Knach hides the venison spotted a man in camo clothing hiding in the foliage. It turned out that the man was a wildlife impregnated towel inside a vehicle and other enclosures. It doesn't take long for Kenobi to find photographer. While the man wasn't doing anything illegal, it was terrific training for Kenobi his towel while learning to search vehicles for venison and other wild game. and Knach.

Using the same process Kenobi has learned to alert on deer, turkey, waterfowl, and ginseng.

ICO Knach approached the wildlife photographer and explained what he was doing and If you've ever watched an IDNR K-9 team, you've noticed they are always tethered. This how it helped train the dog. The photographer was amazed and appreciative of the dog's abiliis for several reasons. The first is to hold the dog back. When the dog is tracking it can get so ties. Now every time Knach sees the man's van he uses him as a training exercise. “The phoexcited it could overheat or blow right past a turn that the subject made. Plus, it keeps the man tographer can't believe we can keep finding him, so now he's really trying to hide! In reality, and dog within sight of each other. While Kenobi is the primary tracker, Knach keeps a close that's the best training I can get for Kenobi.” Someday, perhaps when someone is lost or hurteye on him to read his tracking profile. If Kenobi is on the track, his tail is rigid. If he has lost ing, that training will truly be a blessing.

October-November 2015

HUNTING I f yo u ' ve ever throw n away an old wooden duck call or sold one for a buck at a garage sale, you might have made a big mistake. Some of the most sought after vintage calls sell for well ove r $10,000. And a really special one might be worth enough to pay off your mortgage.

Last we e kend, I attended the Fin and Feather Expo at Blue Bank Resort on Reelfoot L a ke. This event replaced the old Re e l foot Wat e r fow l Fe s t ival that had go n e defunct a few ye a rs back .

There was a great mix of new and old, with all the latest and greatest products and a ton of vintage calls. It was the old stuff that drew my attention.

I had no idea there wa s s u ch an interest in old custom made duck calls, but it is serious bu s i n e s s. Th e re we re hundreds of folks in attendance hoping to find a special piece of history to add to their collection. M a ny of them we re carrying around brief cases full of goods, like they we re in a James Bond m ov i e.

I learned there are certain types of collections. Some people collect Reelfoot Lake

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

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Duck Call Culture Rich with History By Brandon Butler calls. Others collect Arkansas calls or Missouri calls or Louisiana calls. There are Big Lake calls, metal reed calls, double reed calls and many other types of collectibles.

The whole culture is extremely interesting.

Rob Hurt is a serious collector from the Reelfoot Lake area. So naturally, he specializes in Reelfoot Lake calls. He was glad to see so mu ch activity taking place at the expo.

“Moving to Blue Bank has made this a very successful eve n t . The number of ve n d o rs doubled from 18 to 36. The crowd more than doubled. And we had call makers and collectors from 21 states,” Hurt said.

H u rt had nu m e ro u s tables lined with calls for sale or tra d e. Most of these tables we re outside, but he had a special table set up inside his room where the big deals took place. He is so into collecting he actually has a business focused on it called Feathered Finds.

“The most I know of any call selling for was $18,000. I personally sold seven calls for over $5,000 each . I also bought two collections that

included calls made by Doc Tay l o r, Val Leonard and Johnny Marsh,” Hurt said.

Johnny Marsh was a we l l k n own Reelfoot Lake metal reed call maker who started building during the 1940s. He passed away in 1983. N ow his calls sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars. Hurt has 148 of his calls.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to purchase my f i rst collectible duck call.

H u rt sold me a Jo h n n i e C o ch ran. Johnnie was a third generation duck call make r from Reelfoot Lake. I couldn't afford a call made by his gra n d fat h e r, S u n d ow n C o ch ran, or his father, Son Cochran. They go for big bu ck s. I heard of a trade that took place for a Sundown call valued at $16,900.

Billy Hat ch is 82 years old and has been building calls since high sch o o l . He turned his first on a lathe in shop class. Hatch builds Reelfoot L a ke metal reed and A rkansas style calls. After speaking with him for a little wh i l e, I went ahead and purchased one of his calls, too. He told me what makes his calls special is that they sound

Youth Hunt Success By Dominic Trzaskowski 5 a.m. mornings waking up to the smell of coffee and the sights of filling the bag limit for that day. Fifteen-year-old me, armed with a thermos of coffee, duck blind waders, a lanyard of duck calls, and my trusty new shotgun. I didn't have a boat, nor a dog, nor decoys, just the calls around my neck and mother nature surrounding me. With no mentor to look up to I was on my own to learn the tricks of the trade. Two boxes of shells and 15 laughing ducks later, I was really starting to get down on myself. Then there it was: the one meant for me flying in from the southwest, low and slow. I pulled up from my makeshift duck blind and BANG! Heart pounding, legs twitching, ears ringing, after hours of watching ducks mock me, I finally got one. The self confidence and idea of self reliance was so great I thought I could do anything. Now with six years of experience under my belt I am able to share my experiences and passion with those who look up to me: my brothers.

The cycle begins again. One major difference separates the two scenarios: an experienced hunter willing and wanting to teach youth about the waterfowl hunter's way of life. October 17th, 2015, youth duck weekend: a day to be remembered. With a spread of two dozen decoys, an excited little brother, and a beautiful day for hunting his chances looked incredible.

Dim overcast skies lasted throughout much of the morning, keeping the blind and the excited young hunter well hidden. Many ducks flew over to start, but they were clearly headed back to an adjacent lake.

Thirty minutes passed legal shooting time, no shots fired, and the young hunter started to get antsy. From behind us the high pitched call of wood ducks could be heard. As the sounds got closer the young hunter's head started to swing in all directions trying to locate the birds.

I gave him a firm look and somehow he was able to restrain his excitement and adrenaline rush. He was used to the mallards that usually circle once or twice before landing, so he was surprised to see the two ducks swoop in from the tree line and begin the make a swift descent into the decoy spread. Astonished by the swift actions of the wood ducks the youth sat there frozen with awe. “ Go ahead then shoot 'em,” I said. After a few moments of insistence that they were out of range, he pulls the trigger. Down goes the bird in one loud shot.

With sunrise right around the corner it was hard to immediately distinguish the sex of the bird. I trudged through waist-high water and knee deep muck hoping that I would walk up on the fantastic beauty of the male wood duck. With a prominent hood and beautiful, vivid colors of the bill, the wood duck is definitely a unique bird and a great mounting piece for duck enthusiasts. As I retrieved the woody from the waist deep water I confirmed the young hunter's accomplishment. I was filled with excitement as I looked at the duck, instantly being reminded of my first wood duck.

The young hunter spent more time admiring his new trophy than looking to the skies for his next kill. Time continued to pass as the skies remained clear of ducks; it was time to pack it in and get some breakfast. As I sat there rowing the boat in the middle of picking up our decoys, a hen mallard decided to join the not yet retrieved decoys. No instructions to shoot were needed this time, as my brother instantly drops the decoys in his hands, picks up his gun, and fires. A miss. The duck, not at all phased by the shot, calmly landed in the weeds nearby. The chase was on. Rowing close to the spot where we last saw the duck, the hunter was ready. Suddenly, the hen burst out of the weeds and was met mid flight with a tight pattern of 4 shot steel.

My brother was happy with his accomplishments, and I was just as excited that I was able to share the experience with him and create memories that will be told to generations to come. That's what it's all about.

Rob Hurt is a a serious duck call collector from Northwest tennessee who specializes in Reelfoot Lake area calls.

“ d u cky.” I figure someday it'll be worth a lot more than what I paid for it.

“Earl Denison was the first custom call maker I ever knew. I watched him make calls in his shop in Newburn, TN. Once a year he held a d u ck calling contest in his store. That's how I got interested,” Hatch said.

Those attending the expo looking for modern day waterfowl equipment we ren't disappointed, either. Tons of

d e c oy s, clothing and accessories we re sold.

“As far as the ve nue goes, you couldn't ask for anything b e t t e r. Being right on the water at one of the most historic duck hunting lakes in the country made the event mu ch more enjoyabl e. I think it was a big success,” said Glen Cunningham, President at Muddy Water Camo.

See you down the trail…

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

October-November 2015

Marv Would Be Smiling About What’s Going On Here By Megan Smith Following the end of the C ivil Wa r, a small house on an 8 0 - a c re plot of land in N o rt h e rn Indiana was purchased directly from the gove rn m e n t . G e n e ration after generation, the property was passed from father to son until its ow n e rship was gained by Marv Maier. The farm was the o n ly life Marv had eve r k n ow n , h aving been born in the house and grown up on the property.

Soon after becoming ow n e r, M a rv began making purchases until most of the ava i l able land surrounding the original 80-acre plot was his.

Marv soon fell in love with South Bend-native Josephine, and the couple settled on the Maier property.

In 1946, M a rv and Jo s ephine established the property as a pheasant farm.

Raising pheasants began solely as a hobby for the couple until t h ey made the decision to ch a n ge hunting in the state of Indiana foreve r. In 1953, the couple went directly to the Indiana legislature to sponsor a bill that would allow preserve hunts in the state. Thanks to Marv and Josephine's incredible hard wo rk and passion for pheasant hunting, the firs t hunting season began on October 1, 1 9 5 5 . M a i e r Pheasant farm had become the first hunting preserve in the stat e, and today the first pres e rve hunt license - with license number one - is framed

and hung in lodge wh e re t o d ay's hunters stay. For years, the couple managed their hunting preserve on their ow n ; Marv tended to the pheasants and guided hunts wh i l e Josephine kept tra ck of the books. They we re set in their ways and we re hap py with managing the farm by thems e l ve s.

In the summer of 1972, a t we l ve - ye a r-old boy named Gary Grubbs came to Marv looking for wo rk in order to buy a brand new bike. Marv took the boy under his wing, g iving him a job cleaning and repairing pens, feeding and watering birds, weeding, and making boxe s. After two years of doing the dirty wo rk of the operation, Gary finally graduated to farming and running traps at the age of fourteen.

By 1980, another young man sought work at Maier. Gary S chmeltz was hire d , a n d though he was already in the fa rming bu s i n e s s, he wa s required to start at the bottom and work his way up the ladder just like Gary Gru bbs had d o n e. S chmeltz had the responsibility of fe at h e r i n g and gutting bird s, re l e a s i n g birds and driving hunts, feeding and watering birds and general upke ep and repair of the grounds and pens.

Together the two young men grew up at Maier, bu i l d i n g incredible life skills and making memories as well as lifelong friends.

During the fall of 1993, S chmetlz and Grubbs began guiding hunts when Marv wa s d i agnosed with cancer. Th e cancer had taken its course by the beginning of 1994, when Marv succumbed to his illness and passed away. Jo s ep h i n e c o n t i nued to keep the books while the guys took over guiding hunts and running the preserve.

S chmeltz and Gru bb s eve n t u a l ly became ow n e rs of the entire Maier property and pheasant fa rm after Josephine's passing in 2006.

To this day, the guys have not ch a n ged a thing; t h ey have kept to Marv and Josephine's original ways and traditions, running the preserve exactly as they did for so many years.

On a we t , snowy February night in 2012, a deva s t ating fire destroyed the original barn on the property that had been built in 1910 that held so mu ch history and the entire business.

In the intense glow of the fire, listening to the eerie bangs and pops of the ammunition supp ly eru p t i n g, S chmeltz and Grubbs watched as their part o f their livelihood wa s destroyed, as five of the best hunting dogs they had eve r had lost their lives in the fl a m e s. Though it's easy to assume that the guys would h ave given up on the preserve after such a deva s t ating loss, it only fueled their passion for the farm, for carrying on Marv and Josephine's dreams. Later

that ye a r, the guys rebuilt a new lodge in the place of the old barn. E ve ry piece of lumber used to build it came from the Maier pro p e rty - right down to the mantle on the fireplace. Re flecting on how s u ch a tragedy could turn into something so positive and beautiful, Gary Grubbs, with tears in his eyes, remarked, “It's kinda funny how fat e wo rks.”

The fire and the construction of the new lodge marke d the beginning of a bright future for the guys and Maier Pheasant Farm. When thinking about the future, S ch m e l t z and Grubbs know that though a few cosmetic ch a n ges may be n e c e s s a ry, t h ey will alway s stick to Marv and Josephine's original values and traditions.

When asked if they had any specific plans for the future, Gary Grubbs answered, “As for the future, who know s ?

We'll take what comes and go with it.”

The goal of the guys and Maier Pheasant Farm continues to be that of Marv when he began the operation: no hunter leaves unhap py.

Schmeltz and Grubbs will be whatever they can, eve rything in their power to give hunters their money's worth as well as a fantastic time. They will not quit until the unique needs of eve ry hunter are met. “ I t ' s hard to describe the feeling of satisfaction you get when dealing with people to show them a good time,” remarks, Gary Schmeltz.

Maier Pheasant Fa rm is the premier spot for pheasant, quail, ch u k a r, and Europeanstyle hunts. Rich in beauty, bounty, and history, Maier is an extraordinary place to relax and have a great time. “I can feel the hand on my shoulder…I think they're wat ch i n g over us. Marv would be smiling about wh at's going on here,” remarks Gary Grubbs, tearing up once again.

Page 10

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

October-November 2015

Don’t Overlook Fall Turkey Hunting

BRANDONBUTLER Wild turkeys were once just a memory in Indiana. By the early 1900s, they were completely eliminated from the state.

This was the case across most of the Midwest. Thankfully, conservation efforts have restored wild turkeys to the majority of their native lands and hunters are now able to experience the thrill of chasing them in both the spring and fall.

Fall turkey hunting is nowhere near as popular as spring turkey hunting. During the fall, there is a lot of competition for the time and attention of hunters. Deer, ducks, small game and migratory birds all pull hunters in different directions.

For the hardcore turkey hunters out there, fall can be a great time to pursue these magnificent birds without much competition in the field.

Fall turkey hunting is completely different. Gobblers bunch up in the fall and spend most of their time feeding. They

don't gobble regularly like they do in the spring while chasing hens, but they still vocalize.

There's plenty of ways to kill a fall gobbler. Busting up a flock and calling them back together is an exciting favorite tactic.

Turkeys can be patterned in the fall. If a hunter knows the local birds regular roosting feeding areas, then the hunter may be able to set up on a travel route.

This tactic has worked for me in the past. After watching turkeys on numerous occasions during scouting trips, I'll set up on a particular field edge in hopes of catching a turkey on his way from his roost to feeding, or vice versa.

Hunters are allowed to harvest one turkey of either sex during the fall. Fall turkey hunting is open statewide to archery hunters. This includes hunters using crossbows. The statewide archery season is from Oct. 1 Nov. 1, 2015 and Dec. 5, 2015 to Jan. 3, 2016. The firearms portion of the fall turkey season is Oct. 21 to Nov. 1, 2015, but is only open in these counties: B a r t h o l o m e w, Brown, Clark, C l a y, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, DeKalb, Dubois, Fayette, Floyd, Fountain, Franklin, Gibson, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Jeff e r s o n , Jennings, Knox, LaGrange, LaPorte, Lawrence, Marshall, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Orange, Owen, Parke, Perry,

Pike, Posey, Putnam, Ripley, Scott, Spencer, St. Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Sullivan, Switzerland, Union, Va n d e r b u rgh, Vermillion, Vigo, Warren, Warrick, Washington.

You need a valid turkey hunting license and a valid game bird habitat stamp to hunt wild turkey. Spring and fall turkey licenses are different. You need a d i fferent license for each season.

Turkeys can be hunted with 10-, 12-, 16- or 20-gauge shotguns and muzzleloading shotguns.

You can only use pellet of sizes No. 4, 5, 6, 7 or 7_. You can also use bows and crossbows. Legal shooting hours for turkeys is from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Once you have killed a turkey, you must immediately complete and attach a temporary transportation tag. You make your own out of a piece of piece paper. Include the hunter's full name, address, sex of the turkey, license number, and the date the turkey was taken before transporting the turkey from the field.

You then need to register your bird within 48 hours, either onlin at CheckINGame.dnr.IN.gov, by calling 800-419-1326 ($3 fee for using the phone service) or at a traditional check station. Yo u can find a complete these online at http://www. i n . g o v / d n r / f i s hwild/6271.htm.

See you down the trail...

Hunters will often find gobblers traveling in flocks during the fall season.

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October-November 2015

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

Page 11

ThermaCELL’s Heat Packs: Found at Local Retailers, Not Under Your Seat

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Frabill’s New Bro Series Spinning Combos Address Every Possible Angle Under the Ice Picture ice fishing front man, Brian “Bro” Brosdahl swaggering into a pool hall – a surreal visual to say the least. Where the veteran billiard jockey would tote his or her signature stick in a single, we l l - wo rn violin case, Bro would enter carrying a halfdozen selections; his handler and better- h a l f Heather, following along with another select few cues.

Bro’d have one each for breaking, banking, hopping, combinat i o n s, cross-tabl e s, dead-balling, even the controve rsial “gra n d m a ” cue for halls with loose ru l e s.

Fortunately, Bro blows at pool, instead investing the winter months refining presentations and his wide assortment of Bro Series Spinning Combos. And for ice fishing 2015-16, the masterfully crafted rod and reel pairings are sinking even more 8 balls…corner pocket.

The self-described “Northwoods Viking” is bullish about the updated series, and isn’t short on wo rds describing each individual species- and technique-specific model.

But before drilling down to the details, let’s talk about general construction of the rods and reels.

The rod blanks are purely premium. Fashioned on solid graphite (except Quick-Tip, Noodle and Deadstick actions) through-handle bl a n k s, Bro Series rods are trimmed with titanium guides (exc ept Noodle action). Bro seized the opportunity to pump the upsides of incorporating titanium: “Frabill’s titanium guides are all about making the rods more sensitive, and at the same time durable and lightweight. You’ll really feel the benefit of titanium when a slab crappie ever-so-lightly bites in deep water.

“Clunky guides need not apply. We aim for futuristicfinesse whether you’re bombing for lake trout, swim darting for walleyes or slow falling to choosy bluegills.”

Further defining Bro Series Ro d s, the handles are solid cork while lightweight and durable graphite composes the reel seat s. Each model sports a deluxe hook-keeper as we l l .

Another Frabill exclusive feature graces select models in the 2015-16 Bro Series Spinning Combo family – the Bro Band. D o n’t be fooled by the mundane appearance of a black ring encircling the cork. Bro explains: “It’s a live bait feeding tool. The Bro Band tethers your line while the bail is open to suspend bait whatever distance from the bottom you want. The technique is commonly known as ‘deadsticking’.

When a fish takes and ru n s, the line slips out of the Bro Band, letting the fish run without resistance. You can adjust for the size and spunkiness of live bait by how much line you tuck under the Bro Band.”

The reel makes the man, the Bro Man. Technical looking, the Bro Series Spinning Reel churns like butter on a 5 + 1 ball-bearing system, fully smothered

The bitter cold of winter is just around the corner, which means haters of cold hands will be stocking up on plastic packets of hand warmers that provide one-time inconsistent heat and will inevitably disappear until next summer when they are found under car seats.

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ThermaCELL's Heat Packs are available in two different sizes smaller Hand Warmers (2-pack) and larger Pocket Warmers (1-pack).

They last up to 6 hours per charge and feature materials that have thermal properties that allow for more effective transfer of heat to the body.

ThermaCELL's Heat Packs are also easy to use. Instead of exposing packets of chemical compounds to the air and wondering if they have mixed enough or are even working, simply turn on the Heat Pack's switch, select your preferred heat setting, place in your glove or pocket, and enjoy peace of mind and comfort from the cold.

Product Key Features: Thin and Lightweight - one of the lightest and thinnest rechargeable warmers on the market today Water-Resistant - can withstand winter's harshest elements Versatile, Portable and Transferrable- great for jackets, pants, gloves, or anywhere you need extra warmth Recharges in 4 hours or less, and will last for hundreds of charges Heated surface is lined with medical-grade silicone that is soft to the touch and will stand up to frequent use Shock Resistant & Easy to Grip molded Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) material on non-silicone side Three Regulated Heat Levels: High = 116°F, Medium = 110°F, Low = 106°F Product Functionality: Easy push-button for ON/OFF and changing of temperatures LED light indicates temperature setting Charges in a matter of hours (Wall Charger provided) Charge time for Hand Warmers is 2-3 hours Charge time for Pocket Warmers is 3-4 hours Certifications: Products meet all U.S., Canada and EU battery, materials, and UL requirements

internally with Frabill’s exclusive Sub-Zero® lubricant. Precision parts also account for the Bro Series Spinning Re e l ’s fluid drag system. “The drag is silky smooth,” said Bro. And with a fish on the run - sensitivity in your hands dulled by the cold - a reliable dragsystem makes all the differe n c e. Technically speaking, the front-loading drag operates on multi-discs (good thing) interlaced with a machined aluminum spool. To that, the drag knob is tapered to eliminate line catch. (Primitive square knobs are notorious for snagging line. ) Time for the pool shark to run the table. In rapid fire succession, Bro spins through each model in the series, citing their particular uses and advantage s.

35” Quick-Tip (Model 690012) and 30” Quick-Tip (Model 690011) “All the finesse you need for light biting panfish. The length lets you keep a distance from the hole on clear lake s, as well as early or snow-free ice when fish are more easily spooked. The soft tip reveals even the slightest bites. It’s the ultimate long-rod for panfish aficionados.”

25” Light (Model 690013) and 30” Light (Model 690014) “Best rods for jigging micro spoons for perch and panfish, even light walleye s. More anglers are realizing that downsized versions of conventional heavy spoons are deadly on perch and panfish, especially the bigge r, more aggressive fish. I drop a spoon to agitate big panfish before downsizing to jigs.”

32” Medium-Light (Model 690016) “Perfect for finesse fishing walleyes and perch with light to medium weight jigging spoons and jigs. These are good allaround sticks for multi-species and about every technique.

Great choice if yo u ’re adding one new combo to the arsenal this season.”

28” Medium (Model 690017) “Things start getting serious with the Bro Series Medium action… This is my preferred rod for walleye s, whitefish and trout when I need more backbone on the hookset. Fishes best with midsize spoons and swimming jigs.”

30” Medium-Heavy (Model 690018) “Now we’re talking big game, like catch-and-release sized walleyes and trout, even pike.

Even though the blank feels firm e r, it flexes in all the right places for fighting large fish.

Great for ?-ounce and larger jigging spoons and swimming jigs.”

28” Deadstick (690019) “This gets into super-specialty fishing. Deadstick ro d s, like the Bro Series 28-inch Deadstick, feature a noodle-ish tip for telegraphing strikes, but taper into a forceful blank to set the hook. Frabill really nailed this one.”

28” Noodle (690020) “Noodle rods are sort of a throwback. There was a reason your grandpa used them. Now on a modern, premium blank, the Bros Series 28-inch Noodle Rod delicately dabbles smaller offerings and reveals the slightest smooch from a crappie, bluegill or perch .”

Page 12

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS Ž 2015Š

Late-Season Walleyes By Gary Roach

FISHING Winter walleye fishing will soon be upon us, but there is still plenty of time where we can take advantage of the great fall opportunities at our disposal. There are two things that make me want to hit the water this time of year.

One is that you won't have a lot of company on those prime locations because many anglers have stowed their boats in favor of a shotgun or rifle and the second is that the big fish are biting.

I find that minnows are my first choice when it comes to baiting the hook. I've been relying on leeches and nightcrawlers all summer long, but now fatheads, suckers and shiners are the only bait you'll find in my boat.

The Roach Rig is what I'll use to present the bait to the deep walleyes. I use a jig or crankbaits for the walleyes that are in water ten feet deep or less.

I start my search on long sand/rubble points with a jig and minnow. The walleyes won't be schooled on this structure. They spread out over it and you'll pick up one here and one there.

I make a long cast with the jig. When the minnowtipped lure touches bottom I just raise the rod tip about a foot and drag the jig before

October-November 2015

giving it a little pop and letting that lure settle to start the process over. Those shallow walleyes will suck the jig right off the bottom and many times all you feel is a slight bit of resistance. That tells you to set the hook.

On some bodies of water a shallow point might be topped with vegetation. These are great spots too; you just need to modify your approach.

When I'm fishing the sand/rubble points I like a jig with a stand-up head. For the vegetation-topped points I prefer the standard roundheaded jig.

Position your boat right on the edge of the vedge and use a short pitch to the weedline. Let the jig settle to the bottom and then just ease the jig through the cabbage, coontail or milfoil. Snapping the jig when it gets hung up will strip off the minnow. If you just ease the jig out of a snag you'll keep the bait on the hook and get more bites.

A simple under-handed pitching approach with a slow retrieve is the right style on those late-season weedline walleyes.

All of the lakes have turned over and walleyes can be anywhere in the lake. T h i s changes from the summer patterns where walleyes hug

structure or suspend above the thermocline. Even on the deep structure the fish will be spread out which means you catch one here and one there.

The advantage of deep structure is you can see fish on the s o n a r.

During the late-season period I actually find myself t a rgeting those one or two fish I'm seeing on the screen.

I'll drop down a Roach Rig with a shiner on it and let that minnow swim and dance in front of that fish's nose until it commits. For this presentation you need lively minnows.

The livelier the bait, the bett e r. This is why I check the minnow often and replace it if it looks like that bait is getting sluggish.

Late season is a great time for walleyes to go on a night bite. For this I like trolling a shallow-running crankbait over the rock piles and reefs. There is no secret to this type of fishing. Yo u just long-line a crankbait straight out behind the boat and slow troll over the tops of the rccks. It can't get any simpler than that.

People talk about the lateseason fish putting on the feedbag, but remember these fish are cold-blooded creatures so their metabolism is slower now. While they may

be eating, those feeding periods are sporadic. This means you might get a flurry of activity for a short time during two distinct time periods and then go hours without a bite. That's the one drawback to late-season fishing. T h e bite is not something that is consistently productive all through the day, but instead it's a flash here and a flash there. The timing of the feed-

ing period can be consistent from one day to the next, so there can be a pattern to it.

Just don't count on a consistent biting action.

Spring and summer provided good walleye fishing for me all over the country and I expect that this late-season period will be outstanding too. I just need to squeeze some time in around the hunting, and you should too.

October-November 2015

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

Page 13

Stalking Stream Salmon and Trout By Bill Takacs As I knelt, peering over the s t reamside grasses, only the first t h ree feet of line from my rod tip was visible to me, yet I could tell t h at the dow n s t ream movement of the unweighted spawn cluster had been stopped. S l ow ly tightening my line, I set the hook with all the force that I dared and braced myself for the battle that would s u re ly fo l l ow !

My sudden movements frightened the beautiful female steelhead t h at had positioned hers e l f mids t ream in the gin-clear waters, not m o re than eight feet in front of me. Her alarm was evidenced by the large “boil” and wa ke produced by the fleeing fish as she shot across the sand-bottomed flat to the safety of a hole and log-jam some twenty ye a rs upstre a m .

S u dd e n ly, my reverie was shat t e red by the spectacular leap and dow ns t ream surge of the crimsonch e e ked fish at the end of my line!

After a ten minute battle and mu ch careful playing of the steelhead in the narrow creek bord e re d by nu m e rous fallen logs and trees, I lifted a nine pound male in full spawning colors and placed him on the stringer.

Yes, I have been lucky enough to take larger steelhead from the s t reams on occasion, but that particular fish gave me a feeling of p e rsonal satisfaction that I had “adjusted” to existing conditions; a feeling certainly heightened by the fact that I had been fishing since d awn without a “ke eper” fish!

It had been a long and frust rating day. Baitfishing with fresh spawn and casting a variety of spinners had only produced several n ew ly-stocked hat ch e ry salmon and trout -not saying mu ch for seven hours of fishing, especially considering that I had been a witness to a “steady parade” of ch inook, coho and steelhead u p s t ream through the area since d aw n !

Not wanting to violate my own personal rule of “never run away from the fish,” I had ch o s e n to stay and fish that one peaceful s t re t ch of water all day long if necessary! After all, the area contained one of the best holding pools that I knew of on Trail Creek - an almost right angle bend in the course of the stream with the current on the outside bend c re ating a five to six foot hole for a distance of about twe l ve feet.

This was not only the longest s t re t ch of deep water for over a mile of stream, but also a widening pool with slack water to provide a resting area out of the s t e a dy current for the migrat i n g fish. Add a sand bottom with s c at t e red small ro cks and grave l and you have all of the elements necessary to hold fish and create a super fishing hole.

Around two o'cl o ck in the afternoon, a series of loud splashes drew my attention to a section of water just forty ya rds downs t ream from my hole. I know the a rea we l l . It was basically a long, shallow, sand flat with an average depth of o n ly two feet. Only one very small, four-foot hole on the opposite bank next to a fallen tre e

and logjam provided any depth or security in that area. With nothing doing on the large pool, I decided to pick up my rod and landing net and go take a closer look. Wearing a camouflage rainsuit, taking slow and deliberate steps, and crouching to provide a low profile proved to be of no avail as I “spooke d ” the fish from at least thirty feet away!

Since I don't normally we a r wa d e rs, my only course of action was to go back upstream about a quarter mile and cross over an old ra i l road bridge to re a ch the other side of the creek.

Once on the other side, I took gre at pains to take advantage of any streamside bushes or trees to conceal my ap p roach and never got any closer than fifteen feet to the water's edge until I re a ched the hole.

For many years I have been wearing Polaroid sunglasses to cut d own surface glare from the water and to enable me to locate fish.

Again, not letting me dow n , the Polaroids revealed a female steelhead, holding in the middle of the creek, nervously finning and making minor adjustments in her position. Remaining eight to ten feet b a ck from the water and keeping a l ow profile, I made a lob-cast to the opposite shore and we l l upstream of the steelhead. The current swept the fresh spaw n right past her nose, but her only reaction was to swim away from my offering and re-settle some three or four feet away. On my next cast, noticing that even my small split shot made a loud “plop” when entering the water and cre ated a series of ripples that we re reflected on the sandy stream bottom in the two foot wat e r, I had an idea. I had never fished without a weight before, but why not? Re m oving my split shot and tempora r i ly ignoring the big fe m a l e, I made a short lob-cast upstream of the small hole. That brings us to the battle re l ated at the beginning of my article.

The ab ove episode was told not to discourage you from stream fishing for fall-run salmonids but to point out that a little know ledge, e ffort, pat i e n c e, and willingness to adjust to the mood of the fish will result in cat ches of coho and chinook salmon, steelhead t rout and an occasional brow n t rout when they migrate up Indiana's three tributaries to Lake Michigan - Trail Creek in Mich i gan City, the Little Calumet River via Burns Wat e r way in Portage, and the St. Joseph River in South B e n d / M i s h awaka. All of my trips are not as frustrating as that day, and the legal limit of five fish can be taken with a little luck and knowledge of the habits of the fish once they enter the streams.

Once these fish enter the tributaries they are no longer active ly fe e d i n g, but direct all of their energies to the spawning ritual.

There fo re, you are now dealing with a fish in a negat ive feeding at t i t u d e, and it is a must to present your bait or lures right in front of the fish to provo ke strikes. I feel that most strikes are “triggered” out of aggravation or anger.

Additional reasons could include aggressive n e s s, natural instinct, excitement, or even curiosity.

How you present your lure or bait is pro b ably the most important factor in fishing for the fall-run salmon and trout!

Techniques Driftfishing is presenting a bait or l u re in the most natural manner by s i m p ly allowing the current to bounce your offering along the s t ream bottom where most of the fish lie. The majority of s t r i ke s a re merely a slow - d own or halt in this movement, so feel is very important here. Keep your rod tip high and set the hook at the slightest indication of a fish! Standard driftfishing techniques call for a quartering cast upstre a m , allowing your rig or lure to reach the bottom and bounce natura l ly with the curre n t . Ke ep a close wat ch on your line at the end of the drift as the current sweeps your offering d i re c t ly dow n s t ream. M a ny fish choose to hit at this time.

Stillfishing techniques often work well in those areas where fish a re holding. Deeper pools with s l a ck water allow the fish to rest on their upstream journ ey.

Another good area to present a stationary bait is in a deeper, reg ularly traveled section of the stream wh e re it seems to narrow dow n .

Equipment As in all types of fishing, your equipment plays an important role when fishing the tributaries. I k n ow that personal pre fe rence will d i c t ate your ch o i c e, but here is wh at has performed the best for me over the years. The Eagle Claw eight and one half foot steelhead rod gets my choice for casting artificial plugs and spinners, while the 10 _ footer is used for stillfishing and drifting situations with spawn or live bait. The longer rods provide better leverage when fighting a fish and will also help you to have better feel of your lure or bait set-up in a strong current by keeping more line ab ove the faster moving surface water. Using a nine to twe l ve foot slow action graphite rod for your bait fishing will also enable you to use lighter test lines because the fish has to fight the pre s s u re of the big curve or big “C” as Michigan steelheaders re fer to it.

Graphite is also lighter in we i g h t than a comparable length of fiberglass and more sensitive to the deli c ate “taps” of the steelhead when fishing spawn or nightcraw l e rs.

Teamed with the ro d s, any good quality, medium-sized spinning reels can do the job for yo u .

L a rger reels with huge line cap a c ities are not really necessary for fishing Indiana's tributaries. One hundred ya rds of line should be s u fficient to subdue the runs of most salmon and steelhead. Let's face it - in the narrow log-strewn confines of our streams, it take s very little effort for a fish to find a h a n dy snag, and more line just cannot help you! Ap p lying suff icient rod pre s s u re seems to be the o n ly answer when fighting these “bruisers”! A smooth and dependable drag system is a must, of course.

Steelhead trout are one of the most exciting fish to catch in the fall months.

Most stream anglers wisely choose a good quality monofilament line or fluorocarbon.

Cheaper quality or “bargain” lines will not hold up on a day - t o - d ay basis. A line with good abrasion resistance is necessary because of the many logs and other debris encountered. My personal ch o i c e is Trilene Sensat i o n ; it has proven to be dependable over the ye a rs.

There are two schools of thought concerning the color of the line you use. Line with a fluorescent quality will aid in driftfishing by a l l owing you to more quick ly detect delicate hits and to direct your line of drift. However, the fluorescent line is more visible to the fish in our shallow, clear, Hoosier streams and can cost yo u a fish or two under these conditions. For this reason, I now use a clear monofilament and find that it does make a diffe re n c e.

Which ever color you ch o o s e, try to use as light a line as the mood of the fish and stream conditions will allow. Line test varying fro m eight to twe l ve lbs. can be used to mat ch the clarity of the water and the activity level of the fish.

Lighter lines can be used successfully in the late fall and throughout the winter months when the fish are more sluggish.

Presentation My fishing log reveals that bait fishing has accounted for about seventy percent of my salmon and t rout in the stre a m s. While fresh spawn chunks or cl u s t e rs are usua l ly my top pro d u c e r, l ive nightc raw l e rs have taken fish when spawn wouldn't, especially in early fall and through the winter months. Fishing these baits with a Lindy rig, Wolf R iver rig with thre e - way swivel, or just a couple of split shots and an Eagle Claw #182 steelhead hook (size 4) provides the most action. Even try an u n weighted offering in shallow water as I did, or when fish are ex t re m e ly “spooky”!

Artificial lures take a mu ch smaller perc e n t age of my fish, but can produce when nothing else will. They also seem to take larger coho, ch i n o o k, and steelhead than l ive bait methods. Most times, fall-run salmon and trout will not chase a fa s t - m oving lure. It is also

important to ke ep your lure moving right ab ove the stream bottom where most fish will lie in the s l ower- m oving curre n t . Plugs with a tight wo bbling action such as the #030 size Hot Shot in fluorescent red, chart reuse with red dots and gold prism-lite with bl a ck scale h ave been the dow n fall of m a ny steelhead and ch i n o o k. Fl atfish, wh i ch have a wider, s l ower wo bbl e, are also good ch o i c e s. Try the X4 or X5 size in ch ro m e, gold, or any of the ab ove listed finishes.

Another fa m i ly of artificial baits that can turn the tide in yo u r favor in mu rky water conditions is the spinner. The flash and vibration of the spinning blade are equally pro d u c t ive in cl e a rer waters and spinners are quick ly becoming one of my most reliable lures.

Blue Fox Vi b rax (#3 or#4 blade) and Mepps (#4&#5 blade) have produced many fish over the years.

One thing to remember wh e n using spinners - it is necessary to use a quality ball-bearing sw ive l with coastlock snap such as the Sampo to prevent pro blems with line twist, wh i ch are complicated further by the current.

Trespassing is a pro bl e m , so it is best to ask permission before you start to fish! Trail Creek does h ave a State Public Access Area in M i ch i gan City off Route 35 where a good many fish are taken each fall. Access is also possible by the nu m e rous small bridges wh i ch cross Trail Creek and the east branch of the Little Calumet River in Chesterton.

Hopefully, this article has sparked your interest to give stream fishing a try this month.

But remember that you are trying to lure salmon and trout that are in a negat ive feeding at t i t u d e.

Ke ep experimenting with your presentation - diffe rent baits or lures presented from va r i o u s angles. Walk ve ry softly along the stream bank, trying not to cast a s h a d ow over the wat e r. Wear camouflage raingear to blend in with your surroundings and Polaroid sunglasses to enable you to spot those fish before you “spook” them! Learn to stalk salmonids in their new, thin water environment in the fall months - the results should please you!

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

October-November 2015

MirroCraft 160 Agressor: Do-Everything Tiller-Steer Boat Our Project Boat and How We Rigged It By Dave Mull A backtroller/tiller-steer allaround fishing boat has been high on my list of big toys ever since I sold my fiberglass Skeeter walleye boat, the 1650, with its 60-hp Mariner tiller outboard.

That was close to 20 years ago, and the charm of a backtroller I found with that boat, I have found with the new MirroCraft 160 Aggressor recently bought from and rigged by Starboard Choice Marine in Mishawaka, Indiana.

“Wait a minute,” I hear some readers thinking, “You aren't from Minnesota? What's with the lack of a steering wheel?”

You're right. I'm born a Hoosier and have lived in Michigan for nearly 30 years.

But here's why I like a backtroller, and how this Aggressor is set up. For one, the absence of a console delivers a lot more room inside the boat. I can very comfortably fish with three buddies out of this 17-foot, 6-inch boat. I also like being in the stern of the boat when steering in bigger waves-less bouncing on my aging back while I sit on the rear deck.

What I wanted with this boat was something that could do anything and go just about anywhere. The Aggressor 160 is great for trolling, whether on the big water or on inland lakes. All I have to do is tighten the tension on the 75-h.p. Evinrude so it points straight ahead. With the Minn Kota Terrova bowmount trolling motor in the water, I can

steer either with the i-Pilot link-a walkie-talkie-size control-or with the footpad, which is on a cable long enough to reach the back deck. I can sit back there, watch my Humminbird 999 Sonar/GPS/Chartplotter, noting upcoming changes in depth on the Navionics chip inside, while also monitoring all the rods. I just adjust the heading on the front trolling motor and the autopilot brings the boat in line with exactly where I want to go. The i-Pilot also has an “anchor” feature. Hit the anchor symbol on it, and the motor counters wind and current to keep you in that exact position.

The gear that made this MirroCraft into a serious Great Lakes trolling boat is the Traxstech track and rod-holder system. Jeff Miller, owner of Traxstech, installed the 48-inch tracks himself at the company plant in Chesaning, Michigan. He commented at how well-suited the MirroCraft gunnels are for the installation, with a nice lip that provides a place for the bolts. The track accommodates downrigger stanchions with my manual Cannon riggers, two ratcheting rod holders in front of the riggers, then a planer board holder and, most impressive, a f o u r-rod tree that also includes a holder that folds forward and holds a landing net.

The MirroCraft has it's own sort of track system, and, with advice from Andy Peterson at Starboard Choice Marine in Mishawaka, Indiana where I

bought the boat, we used the factory track to hold a FishHawk X4 Speed and Temperature unit.

It's right above the Humminbird display so I can watch both at the same time. For a marine radio, Andy installed one on the front wall of the rear deck, almost in the corner. Since this boat will see a lot of action in rivers and small lakes where no radio is necessary, Andy made the antenna removable-it just slides in and out of the MirroCraft track, well forward of the port-side rod tree.

The antenna wire runs on the inside of the boat back to the radio.

I also had some White Cap Boat Splashguards installed at the rear to avoid taking water over the transom (had a boat sink because of just that a few years ago). I also had Starboard Choice install a second bilge pump that comes on automatically. I can turn both on if water gets inside the boat.

After using the boat for a few weeks, the only things I might add will be some sort of anchoring system, probably a simple manual set-up from Anchor Wizard, and mainly for river steelhead fishing. I also feel the need for a couple more rod holders toward the corners of the boat to let me run a couple rods down the chute.

What I really like about this boat is my smallish Nissan Xterra can tow it easily, even with the overbuilt Trailmaster trailer.

Since this is the last boat package

Don’t Miss the Skinny Wasteland for Autumn Smallies Super shallow and non-structured bottoms entice cold water smallmouth bass By Mitch Eeagan Cool days and even colder nights have water temperatures tumbling; bug hatches are coming to a halt. The once wa rm summer rains are turning bitter, too – craw l e rs and the like burrowing deep rather than getting washed into the drink. Youngof-the-year fishes that have avoided being eaten since birth have learned to be on the lookout for predators better than ever.

Captain Chris Noffsinger sporting smallmouth bling, which were caught from super-shallow water during the fall season.

To say the food sources of smallmouth bass dwindle as autumn arrives is an understatement.

As fall starts showing its face, a smallie’s diet turns to the only forage left: baitfish and cray f i s h ; with the latter becoming scarcer as the season wa n e s. It’s this forage - vanishing-act that has bronze-finned prowlers on the m ove. It's also what makes them easier to catch this time of year.

But smallmouths are n’t

always roaming where you might think. Classic deep water haunts, weedbeds, reefs and sunken timber are n’t providing sustenance.

So where might one find smallies when the leaves start turning?

In depths registering only in the single digits; that’s 2 to 5 feet, even in ultra-clear water.

Wide Open Spaces Enter Captain Chris Noffsinger, bass aficionado and fulltime guide on the waterways surrounding Traverse City, Michigan. Smallmouths have populated the Great Lakes and natural inland lakes here since the last glacier receded nearly 10,000 years ago. The fishery is loaded with trophy-size bass; many which are caught in places the ave rage angler wo u l d n’t even consider casting.

“Sometimes my clients get a dumbfounded look on their faces when I tell them where to cast,” said Noffsinger. “But I don’t blame them, because, after all, we ’re on giant sand flats with not a stitch of cover to be found exc ept maybe some gravel or sand grass.

“The key to finding fish here lies in finding minnow s,” adds Noffsinger. “You’ll see them near shore through your polarized glasses. And if you look closely, you’ll see smallies

there, too.”

C over and Cast With trolling motor dep l oyed, Noffsinger covers as much water as possibl e. Overall, the trick is using lures that imitate minnow s, but at the same time, won’t dive into the dirt – spinnerbaits being a prime examp l e. The captain's favorite is Re d Dirt Bait Company’s 1/2- and 3/4-ouncers, with painted will ow - l e a f bl a d e s, because they can be cast fa r, fished fast and his clients can cover a lot of water.

Spoons can be worked slowly, all the while staying in the strike zone without dredging bottom. Spoons, howeve r, are

Lures that don’t dive into the dirt, like spinnerbaits and the Fin-Wing (pictured) imitate the minnows smallmouth chase in autumn. rarely thought of as a smallmouth bait, yet do catch fish, and deserve more respect.

The #-3 Fin-Wing can be

I plan on buying for awhile, I had the trailer customized. I wanted tandem axles as an extra safety measure; also because the trailer has a removable rack that can carry a couple of my Hobie kayaks above the boat.

Granted, the boat is a bit small for anything the Great Lakes can throw at it, but all boats are small on the Great Lakes. The nice thing about this one is, if it gets lumpy on the big water, I can slide out the rod holders and riggers in a matter of minutes and take it inland to cast for walleyes, bass or panfish. I have a Humminbird 1159 GPS/Sonar on the bow, to use with the trolling motor.

The boat has two livewells, front and back. It also has ample storage for tackle in three front storage compartments. A separate center rod compartment not only

can accommodate six short rods, but also a bunch of tackle. The side locker can hold rods up to 8 feet long, and lots of them.

As for performance, the boat with a full tank of gas and four people can get right on plane and top out at about 34 mph. With just me and less gas I've gotten it to 38. It trolls right down thanks to a throttle toggle switch on the tiller handle that allows me to reduce the rpms. It will troll at 1.8 mph without trolling bags, which are accessories I'll be adding to enhance boat control in windy situations. Amish Outfitter Trolling Bags have been on my last several boats and work without fail.

Someone once said that the key to happiness is to “want what you have.” With this new MirroCraft package, rigged out the way it is, I'm one happy guy.

retrieved at a steady pace in s u p e r- s h a l l ow water without snagging up. It's stamped from metal, but its wide, swimming wobble is nothing like that of an ordinary spoon. Because of the Fin-Wing’s unique shape, light reflects off it at multiple angles and the lure gets noticed like the flashing blades of a spinnerbait.

Increase the speed of yo u r retrieve and the Fin-Wing turns towa rd the sun and creates a wa ke, even rides the surface with a wa l k - t h e - d og action; perfect for first light in the shallows.

solid hookset, which can be challenging with so much line out.

Seventeen-pound-test fluorocarbon coursing through a St. Croix 7-foot Mojo Bass Spinnerbait casting rod, for example, will whip a spinnerbait a country mile and still stick a hook. The low stretch of fluoro helps ove rsized hooks penetrate a bass' boney jaw, making the line perfect for spoons and spinnerbaits. Meanwhile, a 7-foot medium-power fast-action St. Croix Avid X, for instance, has the ability to properly launch a lighter soft plastic on 8-poundtest fluoro.

Soft Side Noffsinger and his guests also throw soft-bodied lures like un-weighted flukes, aka soft jerkbaits. When retrieved with a twitch, these lures dart side to side wildly like an injured minnow.

If the smallies are n’t responding to the erratic motion of fl u ke s, large grubs on a lightweight jig head, fished with a steady retrieve will often do the trick. BFishN's 5-inch K Grub on a H20 Precision Jig is a great option as the grub’s mega tail has more than enough whirl to emit vibrations.

Stick it to 'Em Making long casts is a must in such cl e a r, shallow water.

Seven foot plus rods will get your bait farther from the boat.

But fishin' sticks must also have enough backbone to make a

Going Nowhere Fast If yo u ' re looking to catch big smallies this fall, explore the shallow wa s t e l a n d s.

Position your boat on a shallow flat, cast shorewa rd and cover water with baitfish imitating lures. Make long casts and employ a rod and line that support solid hooksets at long distances.

You know all those featureless shallow flats you buzzed by all summer long? Time to put on the brakes and commence casting.

October-November 2015

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2015©

Photo Information, clockwise from left. . .

1) Mark Smith harvested his Starke County 11pointer with his crossbow.

2) Domoinic Trzaskowski of South Bend, IN with his beautiful mallard drake. 3) Mack Young of Florida harvested his monster 10-pointer on a trip to Marshall Country, IN. 4) Doni Lori and her super fall duck season harvest. 5) 13-year-old Chase Trzaskowski of South Bend, IN with his first mallard drake harvest!

6) Harry Russ with his beautiful Marshall County archery harvest.

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