OUTDOOR
GUIDE
May - June 2021
MAGAZINE
SPRING
Fishing Special It’s all about the sport.
Spring Fishing... Pages 13-19
Black carp surprise.... Page 6
Safety first.............Page 11
Try paddling...........Page 22
Geese & bicycles.....Page 29
HUNTING • FISHING • CAMPING • BOATING • SHOOTING • TRAVEL Missouri, Illinois and Other Exciting Outdoor Destinations!
Outdoor Guide
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May-June 2021
Whip-poor-will song airs concerns western edge of the whippoor-will range, and according to most sources, their numbers seem to be declining significantly.
About this time last year we were camping in a remote area of the Missouri Ozarks when a sound in the night brought back some great memories. While all my recollections are likely to fade as I age, it is much more concerning that many people may never experience what served as my reminder. Just as the woods were getting dark and the campfire was blazing, a three-note refrain brought me back to summer nights in the upstairs bedroom at my grandparents’ house in northern Jefferson County. With the windows wide open, the unmistakable sound almost echoed from the
woods. It was a perfect lullaby after a day of picking up hay or chopping weeds in the pasture. “Whip-poor-will, whippoor-will!” I hope you are familiar with the rest of the tune, and I’ll save a lot of column space if I don’t write out all the lyrics. Beautifully, that late May night, it wasn’t just one singer. When the closest bird would eventually stop, you could hear another just a little further in the distance, and later another still deeper in the woods. Even though they are still considered common in Missouri, our state is on the
THAT’S A BIRD? It is only through anecdotal evidence, but I don’t hear them as frequently as I did in the past. Most people I asked said the same thing. Some of my younger acquaintances had never heard a whippoor-will. “That’s a bird?” was the reply from one 20-something who listened to the audio of my campfire video. “You need to get out more, kid,” I replied. About the size of a robin, the eastern whip-poor-will is a ground-nesting insect eater that spends its winters on the Gulf coast of the U.S., in Mexico or central America. From April through September you can hear them in Missouri and just about every other state north and east of here, according to the National Audubon Society. As easy as they are to identify by their endless nighttime
The colors of an eastern whip-poor-will provide great camouflage on the leaves of the forest floor where they make their nests. – American Bird Conservancy
singing, they are equally difficult to see. They spend their days perfectly camouflaged, sleeping on the forest floor and will only flush from close encounters. At dusk and dawn or on moonlit nights they catch moths, beetles, mosquitoes and other flying insects. BIG MOUTH BIRDS Members of the nightjar family, they have large mouths, catch big flying bugs
and actually swallow them whole. According to Audubon research, their slightly larger relative, Chuck-will’swidow, sometimes swallows small birds while on the prowl for bigger bugs. That’s a big mouth. The songs you hear from the whip-poor-will are by males perched in trees, marking their territory and hoping to lure females to their little patches of woods. The courtship ritual
takes place on the ground and includes head bobbing and bowing, according to Audubon. The female lays two eggs directly on the leaf covered forest floor and both parents take turns sitting on the nest, which is no more than a depression in the leaves. Interestingly, their egg laying and incubating usually aligns with the moon cycle, so the young birds hatch about the See WINKELMAN page 15
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Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Page 3
NATURE
healthy is
Exposure to nature contributes to physical well-being, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.
Spending time in nature, conservation areas, woods, backyards, and urban parks may ease stress levels.
Getting away from busy schedules allows people to connect with nature and themselves in a way that brings calm and a sense of well-being.
Feeling tired? Spending just 20 minutes outside can give your brain an energy boost comparable to a cup of coffee.
Taking a nature walk may increase attention spans and creative problem-solving skills by as much as 50 percent.
Get healthy in nature this year. Visit mdc.mo.gov/places-go or download the free MO Outdoors app for ideas on where to go near you. Download for
Android
Outdoor Guide
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May-June 2021
A return to fishing and good friends
Photo and Text By BRENT FRAZEE After what amounted to a lost fishing season in 2020, spring’s arrival was especially welcome this year. A year ago at this time, I was pretty much restricted to my
COVID-19 bunker. Because I am an insulin-dependent diabetic, my doctor warned me to be careful. I was at high risk. If I caught the virus, he told me, I might end up in the hospital. That meant many canceled fishing trips, less time with
fishing buddies and more time inside on beautiful spring days. I guess that is why I am celebrating spring this year even more than I usually do. After my wife and I got both of our vaccine shots, it’s like the gloomy clouds of 2020 have lifted. We’re feeling more freedom and more relief than we have in almost a year. We realize that this terrible
virus isn’t over and that there are still risks. But we also feel that we can loosen the strict quarantine we lived in last year. LAKE OF THE OZARKS For me, that meant hitting the road to make up for the fishing I missed last year. By mid-April, I had already taken more out-of-town trips than I had all of last year.
Spring’s arrival was especially welcome this year after a disappointing 2020.
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I still avoided the crowds of the Missouri trout opener, opting for a better-safe- than-sorry approach. But later in March, I joined my friend Chris Jones at Lake of the Ozarks for several hours of blue cat fishing, and it was a day to remember. Jones, who runs the Catfish Pursuit Guide Service, guessed that blue cats would be moving from their winter haunts to go on a feeding binge on the shallow flats, and he was right. Fishing the upper end of the big lake, we caught and released more than 20 fish, all of them absolutely bulging with the shad they had been feeding on. But this day was about more than just the fishing. It was a chance to get together with a friend I hadn’t seen since the pandemic started and to catch up on things, life and plans. CLINTON LAKE Not long after that trip, I joined Joe Bragg, who runs the Thump-Thirty Guide Service, and fellow outdoors writer David Harrison for a few hours of crappie fishing at Clinton Lake in Kansas. Joe headed the boat for a shallow flat in the Rock Creek arm and immediately started marking some big crappies on his LiveScope unit, We were at least 100 yards from shore, but the water was only 8 feet deep. Schools of crappies chasing shad showed up on the screen and some of those fish bit the pearl-white, Z-Man plastic grubs that Bragg and Harrison dropped in front of them. After one flurry, they had one crappie that weighed 1
pound, 9 ounces and another that was 1-7, plus several others in the 1-pound range. STOCKTON LAKE By early April, I had traveled to Stockton Lake to fish with two of my longtime friends, Ken White and Les Jarman. White was one of the first people I met when I came to Kansas City to work for The Star in 1980. We immediately became friends and we have fished together every year since then except last year. White is 92 years old and still loves to fish and write about it. He continues to write for many small-town newspapers in the Ozarks. I met Jarman at a Kansas City sports show in the 1980s, and he invited me to go fishing with him on Stockton Lake. I took him up on the invitation and we had a great day of white-bass fishing. Ken later joined us, and we formed a tradition, getting together each spring. It felt great to get back. Jarman took Ken in one boat, and Les’ son Luke took me in another boat, and we headed up Turnback Creek to search for spawning white bass and walleyes. It was like reliving history, fishing some of the stretches of river where we caught fish in the past. We caught both of our targeted species, reminisced about trips when we were much younger, and complained about the ravages of old age. But for a day at least, the virus was forgotten. Maybe things are getting back to normal.
Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Page 5
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May-June 2021
Surprise! It’s an invasive black carp
Jesse Hughes of Bonnots Mill in Osage County, MO, was fishing for catfish with friends on March 4 when he hooked into a 112-pound black carp. What a surprise – the Missouri Department of Conservation lists black carp on its prohibited species list, which may not be imported, exported, transported, sold, purchased or possessed alive in Missouri without approval of the MDC director. “We hooked into it and knew it was something big, but I originally thought it was a catfish,” Hughes said. “It was the first I’d heard of a black carp. I didn’t know anything about it, so this has been quite the learning experience.” Black carp are an invasive fish from Asia that eats mussels and snails. The fish damage populations of native
mollusks, many of which are critically endangered. There is a strong possibility the species is becoming established, with breeding populations, in North America. Black carp have been found in the Mississippi River system, including the Osage River, where in 1994 about 30 reportedly escaped from a fish farm during a high-water event and entered that river. SUPPOSED TO BE STERILE Most of the black carp in the U.S. were introduced to control problematic snail populations in commercial fisheries, and these individuals are presumably sterile. Yet fertile individuals can be present, too. Given that black carp can live for 15 years, even the sterile individuals can present a serious long-term problem for native
mollusk populations. “If anglers happen to catch black carp, or any invasive fish, while fishing in Missouri waters, it’s imperative to contact their local conservation agent,” MDC Fisheries Programs Specialist Andrew Branson said. “That way, our fisheries staff can be notified and monitor the spread of these destructive species.” The black carp caught by Hughes is being studied by the U.S. Geological Survey. “It’s a little disappointing, as I don’t think I’ll ever catch a fish that big again,” Hughes said with a grin. “But at least it’s one less invasive fish in Missouri waters.” NOT TRULY BLACK Black carp appear similar to the common grass carp, but the black carp is darker, though not truly black, and some report the adult black
OUTDOOR
GUIDE
May-June 2021
MAGAZINE
HUNTING • FISHING • CAMPING • BOATING • SHOOTING • TRAVEL Volume 29, No. 3 • Published six times a year Office: 505 S. Ewing, St. Louis, MO 63103 News department — 618-972-3744
www.outdoorguidemagazine.com e-mail: news@outdoor-guide.com COVER created by Kathy Crowe, graphic designer.
Carl Green, editor – carl@labortribune.com John Winkelman, associate editor — ogmjohnw@aol.com Bob Whitehead, editor emer. – ogmbobw@aol.com Lynn Fowler, circulation manager Kathy Crowe, graphic designer — Account executives — Dan Braun, marketing director 314-256-4136 Lauren Marshall 314-614-5175 — Regional and specialty editors — Darrell Taylor Ray Eye Brent Frazee Brandon Butler
Curt Hicken Bill Cooper Thayne Smith Steve Jones
Bill Seibel John Neporadny Jr. Rick Story T. J. Mullin
Larry Whiteley Ted Nugent Ron Bice
– In Memoriam —
Joel Vance • Ron Henry Strait • Jared Billings • Charlie Farmer • Richard Engelke • Mark Hubbard • Spence Turner • Hank Reifeiss Kay Hively • Bill Harmon • Barbara Perry Lawton • Danny Hicks • Ron Kruger • TJ Stallings • John Sloan
Scott Pauley Tim Huffman John Meacham Bob Holzhei Jeannie Farmer Jerry Pabst Ryan Miloshewski
— Staff writers —
Claudette Roper Brad Wiegmann Mike Roux Craig Alderman Randall Davis Jo Schaper Jed Nadler
Kenneth Kieser Gerald Scott Russell Hively Roxanne Wilson Gretchen Steele Larry Potterfield Tom Watson
Don Gasaway Terry Wilson Bill Keaton Charlie Slovensky Michael Wardlaw Tyler Mahoney Richard Aites
Jesse Hughes of Osage County was trying for catfish when he hauled in this 112-pound black carp. – MDC photo
carp has a relatively narrower snout. It also has large pharyngeal teeth, or throat teeth,
that resemble human molars. These teeth are used to crush the shells of mollusk and prey.
To learn more about invasive species, go online to https:// short.mdc.mo.gov/ZeV.
Year’s first record catch is a yellow perch Sharon Christopher of Cedar Hill in Jefferson County, who admits she is not great at fishing, hauled in Missouri’s first state record fish for this year on March 7 – a yellow perch at Bull Shoals Lake weighing 2 lbs., 7 ounces. “I got lucky because I am not an avid fisherman,” she said, laughing. “My husband and I were out crappie fishing with some friends of ours when I reeled in this big fish. I wasn’t quite sure what it was, but luckily our friends immediately recognized it as a yellow perch. “The funny thing is, they were in a separate boat pretty far away from us and could tell how big it was,” she added. ‘DON’T TOUCH IT!’ Later that evening, her husband was cleaning the crappie they caught and had saved the big perch for last. As Christopher told the story, “My friend stopped him just in time and said, ‘Don’t touch that fish!’That perch was about to go under the knife, but my friend just said, ‘I think she’s got something.’And sure enough, we put the fish on our scale and saw that it beat the current record.” After getting in touch with Department of Conservation,
Sharon Christopher says she is not an ‘avid fisherman’ but that didn’t keep her from landing this yellow perch at 2 lbs., 7 ounces, the first state record catch of 2021 in Missouri. – MDC photo
the perch was weighed on a certified scale at its Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery in Branson. “I’m super excited,” Christopher said. “Again, I got really lucky. I’m a nurse and work a lot of long hours. I use fishing as a way to relax and enjoy myself, so when I caught this, I was showing everyone I work with the pictures!” The previous record was a 2-lb., 3-ounce fish caught from Bull Shoals Lake in January 2020.
Christopher said her fish is going to be mounted. “The funny thing is I do not eat fish,” she said. “My neighbor’s son is a taxidermist, and he is mounting the fish for us.” Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods that include trotlines, throwlines, limblines, banklines, juglines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, archery, and atlatl. For more information, go online to http://bit.ly/2efqlvl.
Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
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EXPERIENCE ELLINGTON missouri the
&explore outdoors e l l i n g ton mo . com Hike the ozark trail
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~ Only 2 Hours South of St. Louis ~
Clearwater Lake & Webb Creek Park – Hwy H –Bring the family to camp, boat, fish, and unwind on crystal clear Clearwater Lake. This area of the lake is formed where Webb Creek and Logan Creek empty into Clearwater Lake. The lake is known for its crappie, catfish and bass fishing. Camping is available at Webb Creek Recreation Park; plus a full service marina with boat/wave runner rentals on site. Webb Creek Webb Creek Marina Park features over 40 campsites, swim beach, playground, showers, picnic pavilions, boat launch, and more. Services are limited after mid-September but camping is still permitted. Call Webb Creek Marina at 573-461-2344 for marina, boat rental and campsite information or visit www.recreation.gov to make reservations. If you are interested in all the conveniences of home call Webb Creek Cabins for cabin rentals, 573-461-2244. Black River and K Bridge Recreation Area – K Hwy – Float, canoe, fish and explore the beautiful Black River. Enjoy swimming, camping and picnicking right on the banks of the Black River. K Bridge Recreation Area and Campground offers playground, showers, electric and comfort station, visit www. recreation.gov to make reservations. Floats (raft or canoe) can be arranged on site by calling Jeff’s Canoe Rental at 573-598-4555. A small Highway K Camping general store is also available on site.
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Current River & Log Yard Gravel Bar – Hwy 106 to
HH Highway- Fish, swim, camp and relax on majestic Current River. Great place to explore Current River. This area is often referred to as Cardareva by locals and is a favorite summer hangout. Primitive camping is available right on the river bank, camping is also available at the nearby School Yard with picnic tables, lantern hooks and fire pits. These sites are available on a first come basis. Bring your canoes, rafts and kayaks; Camp Current Riv er a perfect day float….Powder Mill to Log Yard. Boat launch available. Powder Mill Recreation Area and Campground re-opened. Camping available with views of the Current River. Picnic table, firepit & lantern hook available at each site, reservations not available. Water/elect not provided.
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Current River, Blue Spring & Powder Mill Recreation Area – Hwy 106 near Current River bridge
Powder Mill reopened summer 2020. Camping is available with views of the river, picnic tables, fire pit and lantern hook. Reservations are not available. Powder Mill is a perfect camp base for day trips to area attractions like Blue Spring, Rocky Falls, Peck Ranch, Johnson Shut-Ins, Elephant Rocks and more. Wild horses are often seen in the fields near the bridge. The Ozarks offers countless options for family adventure.
Blue Spring
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Rocky Falls- NN Hwy- A cascading crystal Rocky Creek
drops from the Ozark Mountains into a lazy pool which eventually winds through the Ozarks to Current River. A must see if you are in the area and fun for all ages. Wear non-slip shoes and use caution when climbing on the falls. Picnic tables provided.
Current River Conservation Area –Consists of 28,000 acres of state land. Deer, turkey, eagles, elk and a multitude of wildlife can be seen. UTV’s, ATV’s and vehicle traffic are welcome on miles of gravel roads and trails that wind through some 60+ food plots. Buford Pond, Missouri’s first fire tower, a 1926 log cabin and an earthen Fort Barnesville can all be found here. Buford Pond provides fishing and picnicking and is a favorite location of all. For hunting enthusiasts an unstaffed rifle and archery range are provided. Current River Conservation Area is home to the Missouri Ozark Ecosystem Project, the world’s most comprehensive forest management study. This 100 year project spans over 9,000 acres. Main park entrance located on South Road in Ellington, other entrances located off Hwy 106 and HH highway. Primitive camping is available. Elk viewing and maps of the area are available at the main park entrance.
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Local Flavor – While in town you won’t want to miss the Reynolds County Museum. This Museum is filled with relicts from days gone by and the rich history of the Ozarks. Volunteers staff the establishment and are happy to answer questions; Open March-November, Reynolds Co Museum Tues-Fri, 10-4 or by appointment. Call 573-663-3233 for more information. Want some nostalgia from a couple decades back; how about a drive in movie? One of only a few drive-ins left in the Midwest is located just south of Ellington Wild Horses on highway 21. 21 Drive-In opens in May with summer family favorites and offers movie events into the fall including Halloween and Christmas.
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Blair Creek- Hwy 106 – This area is a favorite of the local’s spring, summer and fall. For the person who is looking for the unknown, adventure into the wild Ozark hills for the beautiful views, caves, swimming, picnicking. Here riding the back roads in ATV’s, UTV’s and 4-wheel drives is exciting and fun. Entrance located North of Hwy 106 across from Blair Creek Blue Spring entrance.
10 Ozark Trail
- Hwy 106- Blair Creek & Current River section; Hwy 106 – Whether you are looking for a one day hike or want to make a few days of it; hiking these sections of the Ozark Trail is rewarding and adventurous. Such splendid locations as Rocky Falls, Klepzig Mill and Buzzard Mountain Shut-Ins are located right on the trail. For the adventurous visitor Klepzig Mill this is a must!
11 Peck Ranch
- H Highway, Shannon County- Listen for the bugle this fall! Elk are now roaming the hills of the Ozarks and can be seen in Peck Ranch, Current River Conservation Area and the surrounding region. Thanks to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s recent Elk Restoration Program elk were released into the elk zone beginning in the summer of 2011. With the third release the Elk summer of 2013 the elk herd is nearing 200 bulls, cows and calves. Peck Ranch is open from sunrise/sunset daily and offers a driving tour. Bugling occurs in the fall, Sept-Nov. Check the Missouri Dept of Conservation website for park closing details. Maps are available at park entrance.
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Scenic Highway 106 - This 26
mile drive between Ellington and Eminence is known state wide for its scenic views and beauty, and is especially a favorite in the fall. This section of highway is also home to the Trans-America Trail and sees many bicycle travelers from April-October. Bicycle enthusiasts say it’s one of the “toughest sections on TransAmerica Trail the trail” and known for the steep hills & hollers.
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Ellington Chamber of Commerce | www.ellingtonmo.com | Find us
Outdoor Guide
Page 8
Get ready for the turkey hunt Photo and Text By BRANDON BUTLER It’s not all fun and games. Being an avid sportsman takes work and dedication. Firearm turkey season in Missouri lasts through May 9 and returns for the month of October, and the first order of business is making sure your turkey gun is ready to go. N o w, i f you’re like me, you treat your gun like a tool, not a fine European sports car. I can hear Grandpa harping at me still, “Boy, you’d better take care of that shotgun.” And I do, to a point. I’m not what one would call an abusive gun owner, but I probably don’t give my firearms all the attention they deserve. So it’s time to make sure the old shotgun still functions properly. This begins with a simple check of the mechanics. Does the action still work? Does it cycle properly? Add a little oil here, tighten a screw there. Then take it out back and fire a load at a target. Is it still shooting straight? If your pattern is good, be stingy on the practice rounds. STILL RATTLING AROUND Hopefully, you still have a few shells from last year rattling around in your gear box. There are many different specialized turkey loads on the market available in different load size and shell length. Longer shells usually hold more powder and pellets than shorter ones. Shot sizes of 4, 5 and 6 are all adequate and commonly used. A turkey choke tightens your load of pellets for an extended range, meaning more pellets hit the target down range. When shooting a turkey, aim for the head. A tighter group allows you to shoot turkeys further away. A 40-yard shot is a long one. I caution you not to try shots any further than that. CAMOUFLAGE MATTERS The older I get, the more I deer-hunt in blue jeans or rugged brown pants. You can do this with turkey hunting, but camouflage clothing is much more important when chasing gobblers, because they see in color. Turkeys are also very keen at detecting
Editorial
motion. Being covered from head to toe in a camouflage pattern that blends with your surroundings helps you remain undetected. You should also wear a facemask and gloves. Having a good camouflage rain suit is also important if you are not hunting in a blind. Weather is often unpredictable during spring, so be sure to have a collection of clothes adequate for a wide range of temperatures and conditions. The grass is usually wet with dew in the morning, and the smallest of creeks can quickly fill with rushing water, so knee-high rubber boots are the way to go. VEST OR PACK? My turkey vest has seen its better days, but I still wear it. I find the vest the most convenient way of storing, organizing and accessing my gear. There are many models available, from the very basic with a few pockets, to technologically advanced systems with built in hydration packs or back support poles. The right vest for you should have enough pockets to keep all your gear secure, without being too bulky when moving through the woods. If you are planning to take more along in the turkey woods than the basic necessities, then you can carry a backpack or fanny pack. They’ll hold much more turkey hunting equipment, like a thermos of coffee or good book, than a turkey hunting vest does. ABOUT CALLS… With so many different calls on the market, choosing one style over another can be overwhelming to a beginning turkey hunter. Mouth calls, slate calls, box calls, push button calls, wing bone calls and locator calls all have their place in the grand scheme of turkey calling. When you’re first learning, box calls and push button calls are the easiest to use. Practice is important before hitting the woods. Even with the simplest call in hand, you still need to produce a realistic sound. There are thousands of videos on YouTube. Nothing compares to learning from the real thing, though. Spend time in the woods just listening for turkeys. Eventually, you’ll hear clucks, putts, cackles, cutts, purrs, yelps, kee kees, gobbles and more. Work on producing clucks and yelps. These two calls have led to the demise of more gobblers than all the rest combined.
Good camouflage, a few calls and an accurate shotgun are all you need to tackle turkey hunting.
May-June 2021
The Life Outdoors Backyard archery is great fun and a good stress reliever By RICHARD AITES MY FIRST BOW It was the early ‘80s, and I was in junior high school when I happened upon the little recurve bow at a local garage sale. My father was able to talk the original owner down to 10 bucks, which included three slightly used arrows. Both the bow (a Fred Bear Golden Fox) and the arrows were made of solid fiberglass. I remember painting the arrow nocks with florescent-orange model paint, because money was tight back then and I couldn’t afford to lose any of my arrows. I also fashioned a finger tab from a piece of worn shoe leather and constructed a target from a heavy-ply cardboard box packed tightly with old clothes and linens. Grandfather’s place sat high atop a hill in rural Venango County, PA. Behind his meager house was a small orchard, and beyond the half-dozen or so apple trees were thousands of acres of state game land. Many late afternoons, after school, were spent in that orchard flinging arrows at my homemade target. Eventually, after much practice, I found my form and became good enough to occasionally split an apple at 20 paces. Confident in my newly acquired skill, it wasn’t long before I began exploring the woods behind my Grandpa’s property with the little bow in tow. GREAT FUN, SMALL GAME Because it had only a 30- or 35-lb. draw weight, the little recurve wasn’t adequate or legal for deer, but it was plenty powerful for small game and varmints. A friend of mine suggested that I place a small metal washer behind each field point to add weight for more knockdown power. This also helped to keep the arrows from being lost in the brush. I found this set-up worked quite well for anything from bullfrogs to carp to rabbits. Though misses were more common than hits, if I got close enough and did my part, no small game animal was safe from the mystical flight of my arrow (as Uncle Ted would say). One warm, autumn day, I was able to stalk to within 20 yards of a portly groundhog that was grazing in a nearby meadow. With a perfectly placed arrow, the plump “woodchuck” would become the largest critter I’d ever take with that bow. And if my memory serves me well, I took quite a few squirrels and a couple of rabbits with the little bow. On one occasion I even knocked some tail feathers off a grouse (but that’s another story). ‘ROBIN HOOD’ GROWS UP In 1985 I graduated from high school and went into the military. Upon completion of my service, I relocated to the Midwest, where I have been ever since. Through the years I’ve owned a couple of compound bows and even harvested a deer with one, but just recently, after nearly four decades, I found myself longing
for a more traditional-style bow again. I came across a Samick Sage on Amazon for a decent price and decided to give it a try. This take-down recurve came with 45-lb. limbs and is perfect for me because it is comfortable to draw and shoot and is legal for hunting here in Missouri. More recently, my wife gave me a one-piece recurve bow for Christmas. It’s also a Samick (Red Stag) and its sleek lines and handsome laminations make it a delight to own and shoot. BACKYARD RANGE I am fortunate to have a decent-sized (half-acre) backyard with a privacy fence that surrounds most of the property. I can shoot my bows at known ranges of 5 to 30 yards and do it safely because I have reinforced the tall fencing behind the target area. As for targets, I like to use the standard “block” or the heavy bag targets like Morrell produces. Just remember that SAFETY is the number one priority. Whenever you release an arrow, you are responsible for it. Whether that arrow is moving 100 fps or 400 fps (feet per second), equipped with field point or hunting broadhead, it is your responsibility to assure that the impact is limited to your intended target. And I can’t reiterate enough the importance of knowing what’s behind your target at all times. If you are not fortunate enough to have a secluded backyard or your local ordinances do not permit the use of archery equipment within city limits, there are alternatives. Some conservation areas like August A. Busch here in St. Charles, have wonderful static and 3-D ranges available to the public. My brother’s hometown in north St. Louis County allows resident archers to use the outdoor range at the municipal sports complex. The range is within a half- mile of his house. You could even join a local archery club. GIVE IT A TRY I find traditional archery a great reliever of stress. If I’ve had a long day at work, there’s nothing more relaxing or gratifying (other than an alcoholic beverage or two) then sticking a few dozen arrows into a target at varying ranges. Now, at 54, it’s taking me a little longer to hone my skills, but the fun of being 14 again, at least for the moment, has returned. And if I become proficient enough to split an apple at 20 paces, I may return to the woods with one of my new bows during Missouri’s generously long archery season. Traditional archery is relatively inexpensive if you shop around. You can find Samick recurve bows on Amazon or EBay for around $120 to $200, depending on the model. The SAS Spirit, which is also a good beginners’bow, can be had for under $100. Carbon arrows are all over the internet and can be relatively cheap. Remember, you don’t need high-quality hunting arrows for backyard target shooting. If you give traditional archery a try, I’m sure you’ll find it a relaxing, if not rewarding,
Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
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Page 9
Outdoor Guide
Page 10
May-June 2021
Claudette’s Kitchen
Asparagus, spring’s finest gift
By CLAUDETTE ROPER
It’s hard to believe that our garden, which not long ago was piled high with snow, soon was yielding one of our favorite spring vegetables – asparagus. While it gets rave reviews in our family, I have encountered folks who say they don’t like it. It’s interesting how many people come to dinner and say they don’t like asparagus, only to try it and like it. So what’s that all about? I don’t think they lied, because they had second helpings. It’s no secret that the quality of the vegetable and the mode of preparation are crucial. Regarding the latter, I liked how they phrase it at the Bon Appétit website: “heinous crimes against asparagus.” We are going to explore some of these crimes and debunk a few myths. THIN STALKS OR FAT? A dear friend told me that she doesn’t often prepare asparagus, although she loves it, because she can’t often find the very thin, tender spears at the grocery store. Some “experts” claim that the thinner stalks are more tender and fat stalks are not. If you’ve cooked enough asparagus, you have discovered
that this is just not true. Being the tightwad that I am, it’s pretty hard for me to lay down the cash for a bunch of asparagus at the grocery store, let alone buying several bunches just to experiment. However, thanks to Mountain Man, we have almost 200 square feet of asparagus beds. He manages to keep them producing from spring well into the summer. This has afforded me the opportunity to pick any length and any thickness desired. The results? Some thin ones are very tough, as are some fat ones! I’m sure you don’t find that very helpful except to say that you’ll occasionally get a tough one. We also learned that if the stalk is skinny it won’t get much thicker as it gets taller. From a practical standpoint, it is ideal to have similar-sized stalks so they will cook evenly. Realistically, I’m going to cook all sizes and, to deal with concerns about overcooking the thin ones, they get added a little after the bigger ones go in. MYTH OF PEELING Peeling your asparagus is another myth (in my humble opinion). Anyone who has read my articles for any amount of time knows that I’m not big on gadgets. Somewhere in this house there’s still an asparagus peeler tucked away. It was my mom’s – I can still see the pink plastic handle in my mind. It’s nostalgia, nothing more. She was an unbelievably good
People who don’t like asparagus may have just not had it done right, like this dish of peeled but not snapped asparagus. – Cook’s Illustrated photo.
cook, but she was wrong on this one. HOW MUCH TO CUT? Deciding how much to cut off from the bottom is another challenge. They say that if you bend an asparagus spear to the point of breaking, it’ll snap off exactly at the woody, tough part. I was doing that for a while, but it seemed so wasteful. Still, if done cautiously, it seems to be the best way. See CAUDETTE’S page 12
Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Page 11
Think safety first, gobblers second By GERALD J. SCOTT In terms of either fatalities or injuries per number of participants, hunting is among the safest outdoor recreational activities. It’s so safe, in fact, that if safety were subject to the law of probability, there would never be a firearms-related hunting accident. But accidents don’t obey the law of probability; they obey the law of sheer chance. The truth is it doesn’t matter how large the “x” factor is in a one-out-of-x equation, if you’re the “one.” Turkey hunting is – albeit relatively speaking – more dangerous than the average shooting or hunting sport. In fact, in states where turkey hunting is popular, the sport accounts for as much as 25-30 percent of all firearms-related hunting accidents. BEARD IS WHAT COUNTS According to their post-accident statements, a large percentage of the shooters claim they mistook their victims for turkeys. They’re quick to point out that turkey hunters wear camouflage, hide and make turkey sounds. That’s true, of course, but it’s also irrelevant. Like almost every state that has a spring turkey season, only bearded turkeys are legal game in Missouri. Other criteria (e.g. size, color, spread tail feathers, vocalizations, etc.) can and should be used to help identify male turkeys, but the presence of a visible beard is the only one that counts. In other words, if your finger’s inside your shotgun’s trigger guard before you’ve positively confirmed the presence of a beard, at worst, you’re guilty of criminal negligence, and, at best, you’re guilty of attempting to shoot an illegal bird. SELF-DEFENSE TIPS In a perfect world, that would be the end of the mistaken-for-game discussion, but ours isn’t a perfect world. But you can: • Practice self-defense by not wearing red, white, blue or black. • Call only with a tree wider than your shoulders behind
your back.
• Wear a blaze orange cap to
and from your hunting area.
• After taking the obligatory gobbler over your shoulder
trophy photo, put the bird into a blaze orange backpack for the hike back to your vehicle. Almost all other firearms-related, turkey-hunting accidents are variations on the theme: Never allow the muzzle of a firearm to point at anything you don’t intend to shoot. Back in that aforementioned perfect world, following that one rule will make it impossible to have a firearms accident that causes anything more than embarrassment. Nothing can replace the muzzle rule in the real world either, but there are things we can add to it. Most shotguns have some type of safety mechanism. Use it whenever the shotgun is loaded, but never trust it. Safeties are backups. They were never intended to be substitutes for proper firearms-handling procedures. Never bring a loaded firearm into camp, a building or a vehicle. Whether in or out of the turkey woods, never lean a firearm against a tree, a vehicle or anything else. Always assume that the adage, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong,” is fully operational. HOW NOT TO SHOOT YOURSELF It’s actually difficult to shoot yourself with a shotgun, but it can be done. The easiest way to accomplish it is to pull a shotgun out of a vehicle barrel-first. If you or someone else forgot to unload it and the trigger catches on something, you’ll fire a .62 caliber blob of hot metal into your chest. But what if you don’t want to shoot yourself quite that dramatically? It’s far from original, but you could let the muzzle of your shotgun rest on top of your foot while you do whatever it is that people do at such times. I’ll always think that all firearms accidents are the shooter’s fault, but there’s an admittedly effective new tactic that pushes that belief nearly to its limit. The enterprising turkey hunter hides behind a store-bought gobbler silhouette while belly crawling across an open field toward an otherwise inaccessible tom. Said tom
is supposed to think an interloper is encroaching on his territory. Given that the tom doesn’t get so excited that he charges the decoy before the hunter can get ready to shoot, the tactic supposedly works pretty well. To the best of my knowledge there haven’t been any accidents involving these decoy and mini-blind combos here in Missouri, but there have been fatal accidents in other states.
Every safety manual I read while researching this column said a hunter who observes another hunter approaching should remain still and shout. The “remaining still” part is definitely a must, but I know a man who was shot repeatedly, despite his shouts. I carry the same referee’s whistle I use to call my beagles. It’s louder than I can shout and doesn’t sound like anything except what it is.
A couple of Missouri tom turkeys go looking for their next meal. – MDC photo
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Outdoor Guide
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May-June 2021
Access improved to Idaho elk habitat
It is a ways off the beaten path, but a 1,300-acre slice of western Idaho elk country is now much more accessible and greatly improves public access to surrounding federal and state lands as well. Originally donated to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, it is now known as the Joseph Plains Wildlife Habitat Area (JPWHA) and lies high above the Salmon River near the small town of White Bird, not far from the Oregon border.
“We appreciate our partners at the Idaho Fish and Game Department and the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation for working with us,” said Kyle Weaver, the Elk Foundation president and CEO. “As snow in high country melts, hunters and others will now find it much easier to access this scenic landscape that’s teaming with wildlife.” The three groups provided funding for the recent access work including fencing, gravel
and installation of improved signage and kiosks leading to the property’s main entry point. “It’s kind of a hidden gem – both secluded and gorgeous,” said Brandi Felts, the regional habitat biologist. “You definitely need hiking boots and strong legs to take full advantage of it, but I challenge anyone to come here. It reaches into your soul, grabs hold of you and instantly becomes a part of you.”
SALMON-RIVER BOUND Lying at the head of the Sotin, Howard and Gregory Creek drainages, which flow into the Salmon River, the area features steep canyons, sharp ridges and forestland that provide prime habitat for elk, deer, black bears, mountain lions and other wildlife. The Elk Foundation holds a conservation easement that forever protects the property’s wildlife values.
The Joseph Plains Wildlife Habitat Area is called “secluded and gorgeous” – Big Country News photo
Fish and Wildlife Foundation oversees management of the area by Fish and Game for both habitat and access with the agency’s help, but if it ever seeks to dispose of the property, ownership automatically reverts to the Elk Foundation to ensure it stays intact and open to the public. Since the parcel is not officially state land, it appears as private land on ownership maps.
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8.1 MILLION ACRES Founded more than 36 years ago, fueled by hunters and a membership of more than 231,000, The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has conserved more than 8.1 million acres for elk and other wildlife. It also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Go online to rmef.org or call 1-800-225-5355 (CALL ELK).
• Claudette’s
from page 10
It’s a little easier here on the farm, because the chickens will have fun with the scraps, but even as plentiful as ours are, being wasteful is problematic for me. If you’re not careful, you’ll snap it in half, losing way too much. With store-bought asparagus being a little more consistent, you might test one, applying just enough pressure so that it breaks off naturally. Cut through the rest of the spears at that same point. Sometimes I break them off a little shorter and make soup from the rest. DON’T FEAR STINKY PEE Aside from being delicious while cooked in many different ways, consider that this green beauty boosts energy, cleanses the urinary tract and neutralizes any excess ammonia (that explains the stinky pee). It’s high in anti-inflammatory nutrients, minerals and trace minerals. Some of these are considered to be important in brain function and helping insulin do its job. It is extremely low in calories, has no fat and is low in sodium. You can correct those last two things in the cooking process. Still don’t care? Consider this: In ancient times it was touted as an aphrodisiac and currently it is prized for a detoxifying compound to destroy carcinogens. COOKING IN THE BENEFITS Quite frankly, we just like the taste of it, but since there are health benefits, we like to cook it in a way that maintains those benefits. Usually, I lightly stir fry it in a blend of olive and coconut oil or butter. Sprinkle it with salt and add a few crushed garlic cloves close to the end of cooking. Wrapping in foil with pats of real butter and grilling is good too. Have fun with it; just don’t overcook it. Maybe you can turn around one of the poor souls who have had to suffer through limp, overcooked, bland asparagus. It’s spring – plate up some fresh fish, morels and asparagus. It doesn’t get better than that!
Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Page 13
SPRING
Fishing Special It’s all about the sport. Page 13 through Page 19
Crappie and disappearing floats Photos and Text By TIM HUFFMAN Most of us learned to fish by using floats. We usually graduate to multi-pole fishing or jigging. However, the thrill of a disappearing float never gets old, no matter how old the fisherman. Whether you call it a float, cork, bobber or strike indicator, it’s a great tool for catching crappie. STRUCTURE TACTICS • Casting to wood on points
– One structure to help find different species of fish is the point. Points have a variety of depths where crappie can move shallow or deep without traveling too far. Include some brush or stumps, and a
point becomes prime crappie property. “In the spring, crappie are migrating to shallower water, so along the way they stop at good spots where they can ambush food,” Missouri guide Barry Morrow said. “A shallow brush pile on a point is a good place. The fish may position in one to four feet of water over the tops of the brush. A lightweight 1/16-ounce jig gives a slow fall under a float. The key is to work it slowly. It’s important to work over the top and the sides of the brush.” Morrow says it’s simple fishing. Cast the jig-float combo past the brush, bring it back rapidly until it reaches the brush and then stop it. The jig swings down from the float to the cover. If a fish
is there, he’ll nail it. There will be some hang-ups, but that’s part of it. • Shallow flats – An ideal situation is to find a flat that has a ditch or small channel. Stay 20 or 30 yards from the drop and cast to it. Crappie in transition, both to and from spawning sites, will be using the drop. Water may be eight or nine feet, but it can be as shallow as two or three feet. The water on the flat warms first so baitfish are present, and it’s a travel path for spawning. A 1/8-ounce jig under a weighted float is good for getting distance. Fan-cast to spots along the drop to find the best concentration of fish. Try popping the float four times, not moving it far with the popping, followed by a rest period of 10 to 15 seconds. A crappie will hit while the jig is at rest. • Steep, sloping banks
Barry Morrow uses a long pole to pitch a float and jig beside a log. The result was a quick hit and nice slab crappie.
– “This is my favorite spot to fish during the spawn,” Morrow said. “I like to fish by pitching to the bank instead of casting when the situation allows. Riprap, rock and rock/ mud banks with a nearby channel are perfect areas.” Morrow uses an 11-foot Huckabee pole, 1/8-ounce jig and a slip-float. The float stays against the jig during the pitch so it adds distance and accuracy to the pitch. The pitch is nothing more than swinging the bait back with the long pole and swinging it back forward. “This works on any bank when crappie are holding relatively shallow,” he added. “Stained lakes work best to avoid spooking the crappie. It’s also a great tactic during high water when fish go shallow.” Morrow says young fishermen should cast the slip-float
instead of pitch. A lively minnow is easier to fish than a jig when it comes to seeing a bite and setting the hook. PTO TACTICS Robert Carlile has been one of the hottest fishermen on the national tournament trails. He says there are times when a float will catch more fish. “I was fishing in a 2020 tournament in Florida,” he said. “I was using a little hair jig, four-pound-test line and a Huckabee six-foot rod. I was shooting most of the time because I was getting hung when I casted. The float was a little generic 2-inch fixed float.” Why does the float work? “There are several reasons,” he said. “A fisherman can slow or stop the bait, a precise depth can be set, it can be fished as shallow as needed, and I believe that popping the cork helps get a response. “I work the float like a bass fisherman works a Spook topwater bait. I’m popping and walking it like a topwater bait. The bait is being jerked so it creates a reaction bite. Noise helps it. I’ll fish it as shallow as needed but a maximum of five feet deep.” SIX FEET OR LESS Russ Bailey, host of Brushpile Fishing TV, said lakes he fishes are usually six feet deep or less. “We use using a small float and jig,” he said. “We don’t have the drop-offs and ledges or natural cover, but we do have manmade covers. But my main targets are boat docks.” Bailey uses his signature series 10.5-foot pole, a small Styrofoam cork and a 1/48-ounce jig. He uses Bonehead jigs and is a firm
A float and jig or float and minnow combo are great for pitching to spawning crappie, casting to cover in staging areas and working over good crappie beds. Match the float size to the jig weight or sinker weight so it takes little pressure for the float to indicate a bite.
believer in Crappie Nibbles. “When the fish are finicky from a cold front, they may not take the cork under. A slight twitch lets you know they have it. It’s important for fishermen to go as tiny as possible with the cork and be able to see tiny bites. The days when we used big corks, we were missing so many bites and didn’t know it. “May is a great time to fish in the northern half of the country. Weather is stabilizing, fish are up shallow and the presentation can be
a little faster. My favorite cover is an aluminum boat dock with lifts and docks. It has several advantages including warming the water a degree or two when the sun shines. Baitfish and crappie love it.” Watching a float never gets old. Now is the time to get out and enjoy it. Tim Huffman’s latest two books, Limiting Out for Crappie and 300+ Crappie Fishing Tips, are available from Grizzly Jig Company at 800-305-9866 or Amazon.com.
Outdoor Guide
Page 14
May-June 2021
Arkansas stockers leaned to baitfish By JIM HARRIS Arkansas Wildlife
When there are more mouths to feed, the focus turns to providing those mouths with food. That’s the evolving stance at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) when it pertains to fish production and stockings. Yes, the commission still raises many hundred thousands of mature fish for stocking lakes, streams and
ponds, but in 2020, the total fish produced at the hatcheries leaned toward baitfish over culture, according to Tommy Laird, assistant chief in the FisheriesDivision. “We were heavy on baitfish,” Laird said. “We produced a large percentage of baitfish for the state in shad, golden shiners, bluegill, redear and fathead minnows. Over half of what we produced went into the state waters as baitfish – about 60 percent – to provide
forage for predator fish.” GREERS FERRY LAKE The Arkansas hatcheries produced 17.6 million fish. But rather than producing more hungry, grown-up fish to stock in major lakes, biologists have concluded that the lakes are well-populated with adults that need forage to grow. One of the prime examples of this recent strategy, Laird pointed out, is Greers Ferry Lake and its stockings of thread-fin shad
in north-central Arkansas. “We’re really pushing habitat improvement on lakes and more forage where there is a poor forage base,” he said. “At Greers Ferry Lake, we’ve been pushing forage there for a lot of years, and it’s made a big difference. Hatcheries have moved from stocking a large number of predator fish to producing the forage for those predator fish.” The second most produced and stocked fish in 2020 was
An angler looks for trout in the cool tailwaters of Greers Ferry Lake. – Arkansas Online photo
black bass. The commission produced and stocked a record 2.5 million Florida-strain black bass last year. Along with northern strain bass and smallmouth stockings, the overall black bass stockings reached three million. Florida-strain largemouth bass were stocked mostly in warmer south Arkansas lakes where biologists are trying to maintain or establish a healthy Florida bass population. THE BIG FISH Tiny baitfish make up a huge number of the fish produced, but they don’t account for the most weight. The commission realizes there are human mouths to feed as well, which is why such species as catfish and trout are grown to table-ready size for stocking in specific locations, for fishing derbies and to boost the population where a species such as rainbow trout doesn’t reproduce. Channel catfish production numbered 472,000, small compared to forage stockings of such species as shad and minnows, but in total poundage topped 250,000 pounds, or 40 percent of the total tonnage produced at the hatcheries in 2020, Laird said. The coronavirus pandemic, which surfaced in Arkansas in mid-March, changed the way the commission stocked catfish. In a typical year, Laird noted, catfish would be stocked throughout the state on a weekly basis through the spring and into summer. But changes in hatchery work structure and the cancellation of all of the usual spring and summer fishing derbies in Arkansas last year led the commission to stock the table-ready size catfish in two
major stockings. The first came in early June in the run-up to the state’s Free Fishing Weekend, while another occurred in September just before National Hunting and Fishing Day. The stockings were carried out over several days and required hatcheries staff to focus totally on the catfish during that time, Laird said. A CHALLENGING YEAR It also required hatcheries to keep many of the readyto-stock catfish for longer than usual. A typical channel catfish requires 16-19 months of development from the egg stage to “table-ready” stocking size. The AGFC plans on that amount of time in the annual budget. But COVID-19 required some catfish to be kept longer, and fed longer with a maintenance diet, which added to the cost of production. “We stocked 50,000 before the free fishing weekend,” Laird said. “It was a logistical nightmare. It changed the structure for when other fish had to be harvested and moved. We had to shut everything down for a two-week period and just get catfish out all over the state. That put a lot of stress on the staff. That was the biggest thing. “My guys did wonders at all the hatcheries. They pulled it together like they always do. There never seems to be a hurdle they can’t handle.” While baitfish and catfish made up the majority of the stockings in the state, the hatcheries also produced large numbers of other species, such as about 990,000 crappie (black, white and blacknosed) and 254,000 walleye fingerlings.
Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Page 15
Erie has plenty of fish after strong hatches By BRIAN PLASTERS Ohio Natural Resources Following a run of strong walleye hatches dating back to 2015 and accelerating in 2018, there now are plenty of fish in Lake Erie for anglers to catch this spring, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife reports. “Ohio’s portion of Lake Erie – better known as ‘The
Walleye Capital of the World’ – is one of the most productive freshwater fisheries in the world,” said Travis Hartman, Lake Erie Fisheries Program Administrator. “Anglers will find plenty of keeper-sized walleye, measuring at least 15 inches long, from the 2014 to 2019 hatches. Many of the 2-year-old fish will reach the minimum length by the end of the 2021
summer.” The average harvest rate for Lake Erie walleye has recently been documented as a record four keeper walleye per five hours of fishing, meaning there is no better time to pursue this fan-favorite fish. TROPHY WALLEYES Additionally, trophy-sized walleye are increasing. A Lake Erie walleye 28 inches or longer qualifies anglers for
recognition of a noteworthy catch from the Fish Ohio program. Records show that Lake Erie walleye entries have increased every year since 2017, culminating in 1,901 submissions in 2020. More information can be found on the Fishing Lake Erie page at wildohio.gov. Lake Erie’s open water isn’t the only productive walleye fishing location. March and April are great times to fish
in the Maumee and Sandusky rivers during the spring walleye run. Walleye return to the rivers to spawn during this time, providing shoreline opportunities for many anglers who enjoy the rush of river fishing. Anglers are reminded that everyone 16 years and older needs a valid Ohio fishing license when fishing in all public waters in the state. An annual resident license is $25. Three-year, five-year,
10-year, and lifetime licenses are also available to Ohio residents. The daily limit for Lake Erie and its tributaries is six walleye, with a minimum length of 15 inches to be kept. More information can be found in the Ohio Fishing Regulations guide. Go to wildohio.gov to find public access locations to fish for walleye and other species, as well as fishing forecasts and species information.
bullseyebaitandtackle.net
A run of strong walleye hatches starting in 2015 now has Lake Erie well stocked, Ohio fisheries officials report.
• Winkelman same time as the full moon appears in the night sky to allow Mom and Dad the best hunting opportunity to catch enough for their nestlings, which will walk out of the nest in about a week and begin to fly in about 20 days. NATURAL PREDATORS Among the challenges young whip-poor-wills face are roaming dogs and cats that catch and kill the fledglings. They also must deal with more natural predators like snakes, skunks and raccoons that eat the birds and their eggs. Livestock using woods as pasture also diminishes the birds’ habitat. The other shoe that drops for all bug-eating birds is our reliance on insecticides and pesticides to kill the food that they rely on. While it seems like there are always mosquitoes that can find my bare arms and legs on summer evenings, and the moths still fly toward the porch light, there were always a lot more of them not so many moons ago.
from page 2 CLIMATE DISASTER Audubon.org posts a range map that shows how climate change resulting in higher average temperatures of just 1.5 degrees Celsius would likely eliminate Missouri from the Eastern Whip-poor-will range. That same warming would expand the Chuck-will’s-widow further north into Missouri. Right now he sings in the states that are south and east of Missouri. Hopefully the whip-poorwill’s song will continue here for years to come, with the same endlessness of that familiar summer tune. When was the last time you heard a whip-poor-will sing? It would be sad if that was the last time you heard it. John J. Winkelman is sales and marketing director at Liguori Publications in Barnhart, Mo. If you have news for Outdoor Guide Magazine, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com and you can follow John on Twitter at @johnjwink99.
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Outdoor Guide
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May-June 2021
Your Guide to
GREAT GEAR Spin-style hook was developed over years Walleye anglers across the Midwest have learned to use spinstyle hooks for walleye rigs. Gamakatsu has taken years of development to perfect its version of this hook. The unique bend allows the hook to spin at slow speeds, which helps when anglers are facing a cold front, high fishing pressure, or if the walleye are just being finicky. Reduced resistance provided by the Nano Smooth Coat finish lets the hook penetrate faster and surer. Gamakatsu added its own swivel independent of the hook, giving the hook more freedom to spin while reducing line twist. The hook has an added bait keeper for keeping bait secure. It comes in sizes 4, 2, 1 and 1/20. See the Spin Bait hook at www.gamakatsu.com. Prices start at $4.80.
Eureka Gonzo system can be grill, griddle or even a stove Eureka’s most flexible compact cook system, the Gonzo Grill System functions as either a grill, griddle or a stove, all in a compact package. The simmer control valve generates a precise cooking flame with the turn of a dial. The reversible cook surface switches from a griddle top to a grill surface. Remove the cast iron and the recessed stove grate allows for boiling water and sautéing vegetables. Its cast-iron construction is designed to maximize radiant heat transfer so your food doesn’t dry out while cooking. A dishwasher-safe drip tray makes for the easiest cleanup of any camp grill system, and the whole thing measures 13.8” in diameter and 11” tall and weighs 14 pounds. An output port allows connecting multiple grills or stoves running from a single propane fuel source. The Gonzo Grill Cook System lists for $189.95. See it at eurekacamping.johnsonoutdoors.com.
Nesting bowls set is sturdy, spacious and great for camping Camp Casual’s nesting bowls come in a set of four, complete with lids, made out of 100 percent heavyweight melamine, BPA-free and FDA approved. The lids are made of plastic and are also BPA-free. The whole set is top-shelf dishwasher safe. The bowls are great for dining, preparing and storing leftovers in the RV or on a camping or tailgating trip. A set includes bowls of 3 cups, 6 cups, 9.25 cups and 13.5 cups. Autoplicity.com was selling these for $29.48 and several other stores had them for about $35.
Be your own captain – build your own boat Nobody can repossess the boat you build yourself. But you need a good plan. One is the Brede Pram & Dinghy, using plans you can order from Paul’s Boat Shed at Etsy.com. The Brede Pram is a small, flat-bottom rowing dinghy that can be used for fishing on local inland waters or as a tender for a larger boat. It measures 7 feet, 5 inches long, 3 feet 11 inches wide and will be light enough to be carried by one person and transported on the roof rack of about any car or trailer. An electric motor can be used to power the vessel. This set of plans is for a hull shell with one seat. It will take two sheets of plywood, four boards and epoxy, fiberglass tape and cable ties for the basic rowing version. Dry weight will be about 45 pounds. The Brede Pram & Dinghy plans are available for $35.96 at etsy.com. Paul’s Boat Shed has plans for other boats, too at Etsy.
Portable fire pit uses propane for a handy fire anytime Outland Living’s portable fire pit uses propane to make a handy fire anywhere and at any time. The lightweight gadget is easy to set up and simple to use, weighing just 22 pounds with no assembly required in its basic size. The fire pit comes with a pre-attached 10-foot propane hose and regulator, a 4.4 lb. natural lava rock set and a propane tank stabilizer ring. A chrome valve knob adjusts the flame height. The burners and fasteners are stainless steel. Outland Living sells propane fire pits ranging from $119.99 to $179.99. See them online at outland living.com.
Droplet trailer adds solar panel for power even in shade Droplet Trailers has partnered with LightLeaf Solar to provide a solar panel in a size mated to its lightweight teardrop-style trailer. The solar panel is easily detachable from the tiny camper, which allows the owner to use the trailer in the shade and yet place the panel in direct sunlight. This innovation has become one of the most popular add-ons to the Droplet Trailer. The Lightleaf Solar panel lists for $1,195.The basic Droplet trailer lists at $14,950, and can be rented to reduce the price. See them at the droplet-trailer.com/shop/
Flow Max Cleaner gives you power with just a bucket The Flow Max 40-volt Portable Power Cleaner, by Lippert, provides a handy solution at home or on the road for RV owners, boaters and homeowners that doesn’t need a spigot to work. Just drop the included hose line into a bucket of water and spray it. It comes with a six-way spray attachment, soap bottle, long nozzle and rotating nozzle. It’s easy to store out of the way, too. The Flow Max can be found at many RV dealers and online retailers including campingworld.com, amazon.com, ganderoutdoors.com for prizes ranging from $242 to $275.
Touchpad lock system is the next generation in keyless security The next generation in keyless technology from Bauer Products is an upgrade from its popular touchpad lock system. The new Bluetooth NE lock is an outside entrance door handle with Bauer’s Close Field Technology that allows the lock to operate with the touch of a screen. It works with Android and iOS apps and can be paired with multiple devices. The keyless entry system retains the position of the deadbolt, indicates battery strength and provides audible feedback. Best of all, if the user forgets the code or the battery dies, the key still works, too. The Bluetooth NE lock system lists for $239.99. This and other Bauer products can be seen at etrailer.com, amazon. com and bauerproducts.com.
Titan sewer hose support set solves a big problem simply Thetford RV has a simple, elegant solution to what can be a big problem. How do you route your sewage away from the RV to the dump port where it’s supposed to go? Thetford’s Titan hose support is a set of five graduated 24” sections that support up to 15 feet of hose, all made of durable poly material and ready to use out of the box with no small parts. Set-up is quick and easy in all terrains from grass to gravel. The supports are stackable, washable and stow in a handy bag. The supports are compatible with Titan sewer hose systems and other hoses. Thetford’s Titan Sewer Hose Support can be seen at thetford.com and sells for about $50 at retailers.
Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Page 17
Get your VHF radio ready for boating Photo and Text By BOAT US In recreational boating, cellphones are just fine for routine communications. So why do you need a VHF radio on your boat, either a handheld or fixedmount version? Because in an emergency, it’s the only thing that can directly connect you to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Rescue 21 system, giving you access to high-tech emergency response and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capabilities that can hasten your rescue. Here are five tips from the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water to get your radio ready. • Check the antenna, power and ground to the VHF
radio and the batteries. Rusty or ill-fitting connections rob your radio of range. Hand-held
VHF batteries need to be fully charged. • Read your radio’s manual so you know features like squelch, scan and hi/lo power settings. Familiarize yourself with the most important VHF radio channels. • For those with non-DSC VHF radios, automated VHF
radio-check systems are no longer available. However, you can make a short radio-check voice call on VHF channel 9. Using channel 9 will not tie up distress channel 16 nor potentially delay emergency communications by another boat to the U.S. Coast Guard.
• For those with DSC VHF radios, enter the U.S. Coast
Guard coast station group identity 003669999 into the radio’s DSC memory. Once stored, select “test call” from the radio’s DSC menu, select the U.S. Coast Guard number
Five tips to protect our waterways
By BOAT US Foundation
Back in 1970 on the first Earth Day, going out boating often meant tolerating polluted waterways. We’ve come a long way since then. Largely gone are the foul-smelling air and un-swimmable waters, remnants of a prior age. How can boat owners keep the momentum going? The BoatUS Foundation offers five simple Earth Day tips for boaters to follow all summer long. • TAKE TIME to prepare your boat’s shrinkwrap for recycling by removing vents, strapping or zippers. Only the plastic film can be recycled. Many shrinkwrap recycling programs today are offered at the local level, so if your marina does not recycle, ask your county government. Some boaters have found that by carefully removing the wrap, it can be reused for a second season. • IF YOU TRAILER your boat to different waterways each summer, leave the uninvited aquatic hitchhikers at home by following “Clean, Drain, Dry,” ensuring your boat, trailer and motor are cleaned thoroughly (including any tackle or water sports gear) and allowed to dry completely before splashing in a different body of water. • THE EARTH may be 71 percent water, but it’s no place for trash. Always have a trash
receptacle aboard, and when under way, ensure nothing goes overboard. (A waste can with a closable lid helps.) A second receptacle for recyclables also helps honor Earth Day. • PREVENT A SPILL by refueling your boat with care. Always have an absorbent pad, fuel nozzle absorbent “donut” or “bib” (to soak up back splashes) when you pump.Actively listen to fuel being dispensed into the fuel nozzle receptacle. Slow down the dispensing pump as fuel reaches the top of the tank – usually when you start to hear bubbling or gurgling noises rising from the fuel filler tube. Refuel portable tanks ashore. • HELP KEEP discarded fishing line and soft baits out of the water by building a fishing line recycling bin and placing it in your community. To learn how, go to BoatUS.org/Monofilament. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating. Funded primarily by donations from the more than 700,000 members of Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS), the nonprofit provides innovative educational outreach directly to boaters and anglers with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities. A range of boating safety co
you just entered and transmit the call. Your DSC VHF radio’s display should indicate when that test call is acknowledged and display the acknowledging station’s nine-digit identity. Note that the identity may be different than the group identity you previously entered. • Get your DSC-VHF radio’s Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number by
going to BoatUS.com/MMSI. The MMSI numbers are free for BoatUS members or $25
for non-members. Don’t forget to enter the new MMSI number into your radio and ensure that GPS connection is made (if the radio doesn’t do so internally). The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water promotes safe, clean and responsible boating, funded primarily by the 700,000 members of Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS). Boating safety courses can be found at BoatUS.org/Courses.
While it may take time and some help from the owner’s manual, ensure your DSC VHF radio is connected to your GPS.
“It’s better to see
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thousand times”
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Outdoor Guide
Page 18
May-June 2021
Catching Gulf redfish beats the cold Photo and Text By BRANDON BUTLER The brutal cold snap not long ago was the final straw. After years of turning down invitations from my good friend Kevin Morlock to join him on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana for a few days of fly fishing for redfish, I hopped on a commercial plane for the first time in a year and headed to New Orleans. A short drive later, I was watching the sunset while sitting on the dock of the bay eating fresh, roasted oysters. FISHING FOR ‘REDS’ When friends ask what fishing for “reds” is all about, I tell them it’s like tangling with a 10 to 30 pound smallmouth. They fight like freight trains. The fishing takes place around scenery hard to
explain. If you’ve never experienced the marsh in the Gulf of Mexico, you can’t imagine the vastness. It’s endless chucks of land scattered throughout shallow water. Dolphins porpoise all around you, and there are countless species of birds to watch that you’ve likely never seen before. But the redfish remain the star of the show. Of all my friends, Kevin Morlock has life figured out. At least for him. “Know thyself” is an Ancient Greek aphorism holding true to this day. Morlock knows himself. He’s hands down one of the best fisherman I have ever known. The reason being, he’s one of the most intelligent fishermen I’ve ever known. He studies the fish and the fisheries where he outfits. He works to improve
those fisheries and environments. And he outfits where he wants to be, when he wants to be there. FROM MICHIGAN TO THE GULF Morlock has been guiding salmon and steelhead anglers on western Michigan’s Pere Marquette River for more than 20 years. Over the last decade, he’s turned little-known Beaver Island in northern Lake Michigan into perhaps the top fly fishing destination in the world for carp. Now he’s making a name for himself guiding fly anglers for reds in Louisiana. So he spends spring and fall in west Michigan, summer on a quaint remote island in the Great Lakes and winters on the Gulf of Mexico. It leaves you scratching your head wondering how he got
it so right, while the rest of us on the more “normal” path dream of being him. WHAT FLY FISHING IS For those in the know, fly fishing is an exciting and challenging method of pursing just about any species of fish. Way too many folks think fly fishing is reserved for trout in mountainous terrain. That’s simply a misconception painted by literary works turned into romanticized Hollywood productions. The fact of the matter is, fly fishing is just as productive and fun for bluegills as it is for trout. It’s even more fun when you tangle with fish that fight back. Nothing I’ve ever caught on a fly fights back as hard as a redfish. Once you have experienced redfish in the marsh, it’s tough to imagine not
going back every year. The sunrise boat rides flying through narrow passages, the camaraderie amongst anglers, the Cajun culture, and the sound of a screaming drag as a redfish rips line and you do your best to weather the storm. These are just a few of the reasons why a redfish trip to the Gulf Coast of Louisiana is a good idea. Booking Kevin Morlock as your guide is a great idea. If you want to learn more about Kevin and hear him talk about fishing in his own words, I recently recorded a podcast with him. It’s Episode 62 of the Driftwood Outdoors Podcast, which you can find on all podcasting platforms or at www. driftwoodoutdoors.com. To reach out to Kevin, look him up through his website, www. indigoguideservice.com.
Kevin Morlock searches for redfish in the marsh on the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana.
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Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Page 19
Fishing for Missouri’s whiskered wonder Photos and Text By DON GASAWAY
It is catfish time as other fishing begins to slow. Following the prime spring spawning seasons and increasing summer temperatures, the catfish action becomes prime. It is a time when a sharp pull on a line that works away from the
The majority of catfishing in Missouri is shore fishing. Ample public bank fishing opportunities provide anglers with recreational activity and food for the table.
angler signals that catfish dinner is just a short time away. In Missouri, catfish are in abundance. The variety of waters and state stocking programs result in a catfish fishery second to none. In summer, catfish tend to hole up in areas downstream from dams and other manmade structures. They seek out deep holes resting on the upstream side out of the current. Absent a hole, cats lay up behind a piece of structure out of the current. In this way they conserve energy and yet are able to move out into the current to partake of some hapless piece of forage that might float past. EASY TO LEARN Cat fishing is an inexpensive sport that is also easy to learn. To be successful does not require a large investment. Basic spinning, spin casting, or bait casting reels on long rods are the bulwark of the sport. Terminal tackle consists of heavy lead weights, circle hooks, and a float to suspend the bait at a desired depth. Because of the heavy
‘Fiddler’ channel catfish are the most common and popular eating catfish species found in Missouri waters.
weight and fighting ability of many catfish, braided line is often used. Otherwise, line in the heavier weight classes is best. The choice of tackle is often the result of experience and the preference of the angler. The choice of bait for cat fishing often tends to be a matter of just how much your stomach can stand. Catfish baits are notorious for the strong odors they emit. Catfish seek out food sources by scent, including such things as cuts of shad, night crawlers and minnows. In small ponds, the catfish will greedily devour night crawlers, red worms and
cheese baits. In medium-size rivers, the preferred baits are chicken and turkey liver, or dip worm coated with stinky cheese bait. In big rivers, all of the above are applicable, but so too are live fish, cut shad and crank baits. Bluegills and shad are the preferred live fish baits. BEST TIMES OF DAY Regardless of the type of water, catfish tend to feed in the evening, early morning and nighttime during the summer. It is probably due to their remaining deep in cool water during the day for comfort. Then, as the shallow water begins to cool, they will
move up to feed on the natural feed available. The exception is when it rains. Following a summer shower, the water cools a little and it seems to encourage feeding habits of the catfish. It is also possible that rain washes some of the terrestrial insects into the water and the fish find them tasty. There are probably more catfish taken from shore than from a boat. However, boated fish tend to be larger. This is more a function of the ability to get to where the big ones hide. Most shore-caught fish are part of a put-and-take situation. Small ponds and lakes are often stocked by wildlife agencies as part of programs to introduce kids and novice anglers to the sport of fishing. These programs are very popular, and most public waters contain stocked catfish. The hatchery-raised fish are stocked by various private and public organizations. IN BIGGER WATERS Medium-sized lakes and some of the larger rivers
are also accessible to shore anglers. In the evenings and early morning, the cats in these waters will move about in the shallows to feed. The rest of the day, they hole up in deep holes or near stumps. The key to success is to fish all the water, both horizontally and vertically. Anglers will cast to the holes with bait suspended beneath an adjustable float. If no fish bites within 20 minutes, the angler retrieves his bait, moves to another location, and then repeats the process. The systematic angler will fish the bottom of the water column first. If no bite is received, the middle of the column depth is tried and finally the top portion. Most fish are in either the bottom or the top one foot of depth. Contrary to George Gershwin’s popular song, “Summertime,” the catfish do not usually jump. But here in Missouri, they are still biting and fighting. Give it a try this summer. Don Gasaway, from Marion IL, has a blog at www.facebook.com/donsbankfishing/.
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5935 S. LINDBERGH BLVD., ST. LOUIS, MO 63123 MUNGENASTMOTORSPORTS.COM | (314) 649-1200 For optimum performance and safety we recommend you read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment. Specifications subject to change without notice. All images contained herein are either owned by American Honda Lawn Mower Co., Inc., or used under a valid license. It is a violation of federal law to reproduce these imags without express written permission from American Honda Motor Co., Inc., or the individual copyright owner of such images. All rights reserved. Honda, Honda Lawn Mower model names and their trade dress are trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. used under license from American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Many Honda engine, trimmer, lawn mower, power equipment and veicle model names, and associated trade dress may be seen at ww.honda.com © 2108 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. C0579 Please read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment and never use in an enclosed or partially enclosed area where you could be exposed to odorless, poisonous carbon monoxide. Connection of a generator to house power requires a transfer device to avoid possible injury to power company personnel. Consult a qualified electrician. Specifications subject to change without notice.
Outdoor Guide
Page 20
May-June 2021
Wildlife Wrangling and Outdoor Ramblings
A drippy farewell to a dear friend
Photo and Text By RANDALL P. DAVIS
It’s a dark, somber morning here at the Davis household. A thick pall rests heavily within the confines of the kitchen and spills out into the living room. It’s been just 24 hours since it happened, and yet the grief and loss is more intense now than then. I’m numb. I still have the shakes. I’m a bundle of nerves. This is all because yesterday, I accidentally killed one of my new best friends. I’d only known him for three months and yet we developed such a close bond. He was always up early and had coffee ready, knowing well I needed a boost before the daily wrangling of raccoons, rodents and other sundry varmints. And even after supper, he provided a soothing balm for the day’s workload hassle. It’s tough to write about this, but I thought it best to do it now as there may be a few of you who will notice a change in the normally calm delivery of these words. There may be bouts of
instant anger, perhaps more caustic sentiments, and even a lashing out of vitriol prose never seen before in these pages. JUST ONE NANO-SECOND My friend died by electrocution. And it was directly by my hand. One nano-second of exposure to several thousand volts of electricity instantly snuffed out a young life. One so promising. One so full of stimulating friendship. You see, yesterday I put to death my Keurig coffee machine with a single touch of a finger. I had finished making breakfast and went to retrieve the freshly made coffee. My index finger was an inch from the metal lever when a blue vein of static electricity bolted from my gnarled digit and struck the defenseless appliance head-on. The audible “pop” had more authority than a lion trainer’s whip ... and the jolting discharge rocked me back. It was then I saw Mr. Keurig, dark and lifeless.
FISHING
It was time to say ‘See you down the road’ to my trusty little friend.
Despite various resuscitative efforts (repeatedly pushing the on button, unplugging and re-plugging the device 14 times, and physically shaking it) the patient was pronounced dead. What a tragedy. And I hung my head in remorse. (Actually
But I did have condolences for this tragic event. A dear friend suggested reverting back to old-school methods and dumping some coffee grounds into a dirty sock, then pouring boiling water over it. You know, real cowboy stuff. She said it gives it character. I’m sure in just a few days this will have enormous gourmet intrigue that I will eagerly explore. A FINAL FAREWELL I’ll now go bury my friend in a quiet place, where I enjoyed his daily gifts in solitude, and say a final farewell. And as long as I relish the nectar provided by his ilk, my friend will never be forgotten. So my message to you is to go now and hug your coffeemaker. Give it a little cleaning maintenance, polish him or her, show the appreciation it deserves. Because you never know. It can all leave in a flash. Then, you’ll likely end up like me, clawing through the laundry basket for one of last week’s socks.
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there was considerable barking on my part about manufacturing such a delicate, frost-flowered device and dispensing it to the public. Hanging my head was because it gave me a headache and I hadn’t had my coffee.) Then I think, why can’t I
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Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Page 21
Wild Wine Life
Sicilian spedini is a treat with turkey
Photo and Text By RAY MAXWELL
There are more than just a few spedini versions out in the world. It almost seems that every family with roots to Sicily has its own recipe. If you seek something that provides a tender, moist and
flavorful meal with an old tough spring tom turkey, you might enjoy trying this Sicilian-based meal. INGREDIENTS • 1 turkey breast, de-boned and sliced into fillet strips. • 1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs. • 1/3 cup panko crumbs. • 1/3 cup parmesan cheese. • 3 slices prosciutto ham,
chopped.
minced.
• Pasta sauce , visit Wild
Wine Life on Facebook or YouTube for how to make homemade. • 2 teaspoons white pepper. • 1 teaspoon salt. • 2 teaspoons basil. • 2 teaspoons lemon peel,
grated.
• 2 t e a s p o o n s g a r l i c ,
minced. • 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• 2 tablespoons butter ,
Relax! • Half red bell pepper ,
melted.
SICILIAN SPEDINI
• Combine the Italian bread
crumbs, panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, white pepper, salt, basil, lemon peel and minced garlic in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. • Place the pasta sauce, prosciutto ham and red bell pepper into separate small bowls. Mix the olive oil and melted butter in another bowl. Soften the red bell pepper after it is minced See WINE LIFE page 23
Sicilian families have their own versions of spedini.
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Outdoor Guide
Page 22
Tips, Tricks and Thoughts for the Great Outdoors
Paddle away your worries
By LARRY WHITELEY Are you lucky enough to own a canoe or kayak? If not, go buy or borrow one. Load it on your vehicle, grab the paddles and life jackets and get away from the stress and worries of the world we live in today on a secluded lake cove, pond, strip pit or river. Take along the fishing rods if you want. Take short, lightweight fishing combos that are easier to handle in a canoe or kayak and make any size of fish fun to catch. Use smaller artificial baits, and always take an assortment of different colors and sizes of jigs. Live baits you dig, catch or buy are also good choices. Worms and minnows will always catch fish. Don’t forget a stringer or small cooler if you want to take some fish home with you. If you’re not into fishing or want to take a break from catching all those fish, just float around and listen to bird songs and watch for wildlife. Or pull your canoe or kayak
up onto the bank or gravel bar. Now sit quietly and clear your mind of all worries. Enjoy the nature around you. If you’re going to think about anything, think about your blessings. Have your smart phone ready to take pictures. Use your phone’s voice recorder to capture the sounds of nature around you. Just make sure you mute the alerts and text messages – if you truly want to paddle away your worries. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” – Anne Frank
GO TAKE A HIKE Finding a good place to go hiking is another great way to get away from the worries and stress of life. If you really want to really get away, avoid crowds of other hikers. If you drive to a hiking area and there are lots of cars by the trailhead, you might want to look for another place. Look for secluded places to hike. Enjoy wildflowers and colorful trees along your hike. When you reach a beautiful photo spot along the trail, take a selfie and send it to friends to show them what they are missing. Now, sit down and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature as you escape from a crazy world
for just a little while. Did you know studies have shown that fresh air and sunshine are actually anti-bacterial and kill germs? Nature has also been shown to reduce feelings of depression, loneliness and anxiety, so going outside can alleviate some of the worry and fear you might be feeling. So what are you waiting for? Go take a hike! MORE TO THINK ABOUT “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover
Grab the paddles and life jackets and get away from the stress. – Ozark Outdoors Resort photo
May-June 2021
LARRY L. WHITELEY is the host of the internationally syndicated Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World Radio and nationally syndicated Outdoor World newspaper and magazine tips.
that I had not lived.” – Henry David Thoreau THE GREAT ESCAPE Here’s a great, fun way for the family or just couples to escape worries and stress and never leave home. If you have camping gear stored away, get it out and go camping in your own backyard. The nice thing about backyard camping is that the bathroom and shower are close when you need them and so is the refrigerator. The stove is too, but try doing all your cooking outdoors on your grill or better yet, the campfire. Getting the kids away from video games and yourself away from all the negative news on TV is a good thing to do. Leave the smart phones and electronic games in the house if you want to truly escape. Search the internet, before you go out, for games you can play and even camp songs you can sing.
When you discover how much fun camping can be, start looking for places to camp close to home and then go try them, too. Before you know it you will have turned into a camping family. If you’re outside camping and making s’mores or telling stories around a campfire, you won’t be thinking about what’s going on in the rest of the world. Sitting around the campfire at night watching the flames dance and looking up to see thousands of stars in a dark night sky is really special. The bonus is all the great memories you will make during your great escape. ONE LAST THOUGHT FROM HENRY “The fire is the main comfort of the camp, whether in summer or winter, and is about as ample at one season as at another. It is as well for cheerfulness as for warmth and dryness.” – Henry David Thoreau
Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Annual DNR photo contest has begun The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is now accepting entries for its annual photo contest. Winning entries will be featured on the department’s social media platforms. The deadline to submit photos is Oct. 1. Entries can include images from anywhere in Missouri, featuring beautiful natural resources, unique state parks and historic sites, natural phenomena, outdoor recreation, scenic landscapes, weather, wildlife and people enjoying the outdoors. Contestants can submit entries in the following categories: • Natural Resources – Pho-
• Wine Life
by placing it in the microwave for 45 seconds or sautée it in some olive oil until softened. I find the microwave the easiest method. • Place some wax paper or plastic wrap over the turkey and pound it with a mallet until the turkey is 1/8-inch thick. This also tenderizes the meat a great deal. If the fillets are too large, you can cut them into more manageable strips. • Dip the turkey into the olive oil and melted butter and then into the bread-crumb seasoning bowl. Make sure the turkey fillet has the seasoning on both sides, and feel free to sprinkle a little extra seasoning onto the fillet once you place it onto a plate. • Drizzle some pasta sauce
onto the turkey fillet center from one end to the other. Then sprinkle the prosciutto ham and minced red bell pepper over the sauce. Then roll the turkey and hold it together with toothpicks to secure. • If you decide to bake rather than grill the dish, set the oven at 400 degrees and cook for about 20 minutes. • If you decide to grill – and this is my favorite version – add some metal skewers allowing you to more easily handle and flip several pieces at once. • Cook until you have an internal temperature at 160 degrees, or cut into the meat and visually check to see that it is cooked. Remove from the grill or oven and serve. • The turkey cuttings that are too small for the spedini can be
tographs of Missouri’s air, landscapes and waterways. • Unique Places – Photographs taken within one of Missouri’s state parks and historic sites. For a list of all parks and sites, go online to mostateparks.com. • People Outdoors – Photographs of people enjoying and exploring Missouri’s great outdoors. Judges will choose first-, second- and third-place and honorable mention winners for each category. For more information or to submit photos, go to dnr.mo.gov/ photocontest. Send questions about the contest to socialmedia@dny.mo.gov.
from page 21 cooked and used in omelets, fried rice or some other dish. TWO FINE WINES Wine pairings that work very well with this dish are Les Bourgeois Vineyards Brut Sparkling Wine NV, and Cerreto Arneis Blange 2019. Both wines offer a complementary taste profile that will leave you wanting to alternate between the spedini and wine. • Les Bourgeois Vineyards Brut NV is a wonderful Missouri
sparkling wine made primarily with Vidal Blanc Grapes by traditional methods. The wine has a wonderful effervescence with a clean, dry finish. Remember that sparkling wine pairs with all food. The citrus notes in this wine truly complement this dish. This is a simple way to celebrate a successful spring turkey hunt and can be found for under $30 per bottle. • Cerreto Arneis Blange 2019
is a wonderful Italian wine from the Langhe region of Piedmont. This white wine is crisp and clean and has wonderful mineral notes, with great lemon and pear flavors. The wine is unoaked and is not buttery. If you would like something heavier than Pinot Grigio and you’re tired of Chardonnay, this is your wine. You can find it for under $25 per bottle. Feel free to reach out to us at Wild Wine Life on Facebook or Youtube with questions and please follow us for recipes, wine pairings and other things.
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Rural Ramblings
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Hunting, Fishing, Boating, Camping and Outdoor Travel is NOW available for pick-up at over 80 locations. If your advertising needs an extra punch, consider taking advantage of the expanded reach of Outdoor Guide Magazine. ILLINOIS Moto Mart-Rte 157 Caseys General Store Randalls Wine and Spirits Eckerts Belleville Sports Sales Town Hall Archery Rural King Rural King Moto Mart Caseys General Store Dori Marine Moto Mart Gary’s Restaurant Rural King Caseys General Store Toms Market Rural King Schneiders Market ST. LOUIS COUNTY Chesterfield Power Sports Sybergs Smokee Mo’s BBQ Top Gun Shooting Sports Clancys Irish Pub / Grill Randalls Wines Uncle Bills Balabans Daves World Famous Bar/Grill Terra inside Ace Hardware Bones French Quarter
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By RUSSELL HIVELY
May and June are early summer in Missouri. These are months when everything is usually green, growing and blooming. On a negative tune, it is also the time when chiggers and ticks are hungry for blood. Today’s sprays help eliminate these pests, but those who venture outdoors need to be alert. *** Farmers tend to be conservationists, too. They do everything to avoid pheasant or killdeer nests while working their fields. Sadly, foxes and coyotes also know that clumps of unmowed hay in a newly mown field can mean a snack awaits within. *** Corn grows quickly in the months of May and June. Some old-timers claim that a person with good hearing can actually hear corn growing. Some who add to their stories claim the corn grows so fast that its shade brings out lightning bugs. *** Most people know to avoid vultures and their chicks. As a last resort for safety, a vulture will vomit on you. *** The majority of white-tailed bucks drop their antlers by March 1. Still, a person may find one later in the year. Sometimes late finds have been chewed on by small creatures. Finding a dropped antler is said to bring good luck. *** Missouri is a state with many caves. Did you realize that sometimes, early trains would stop so passengers could hide in the safety of some cave? *** Only about 400 deer ran free in Missouri in 1925. Now an estimated one million whitetails roam in cities, corn fields, woods, and small towns all over that state. They have become so numerous in some towns and villages that special bow hunting is allowed within the city limits. ***
Eagles, too, have made a comeback. Outdoorsmen in some areas of Missouri report seeing 30 or more eagles gathered in one field. *** Did you realize that many Missouri mines are now filled with water? *** Today we complain about the roads. Did you realize that many areas of Missouri had only plank roads to bounce over at one time? *** Did you realize that seeds at one time came in the bulk and were sold by shopkeepers by the spoonful?Afew stores continue the bulk seed practice, to their customers’ delight. *** Today there seems to be more salvaging of building parts than ever. Surprisingly, many outdoorsmen find unusual items while hunting and later select a place to display the “find” in their “man cave.” *** The average person consumes about 242 eggs per year. Most of the eggs are part of the recipes of products purchased. *** Purple martins are birds that are appreciated because they consume many insects like mosquitos. When migrating, purple martins will form in flocks of a half-million birds. *** Did you realize crows can have blue eyes until maturity? *** Elephant Rocks State Park’s giant boulders are an interesting place to walk, climb and observe. At one time, the granite from which the rocks are formed was mined and used especially as St. Louis street paving. *** Early summer is a good time to enjoy Missouri’s weather. Many days are just perfect for doing anything, especially outdoors.Any, that’s what this rural ramblers believes and does.
Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Page 25
Don’t overlook local fishing holes
By DON GASAWAY
It is easy to overlook some of summer’s best fishing. We spend so much of our fishing attention on lakes, reservoirs, and rivers while overlooking those ponds so close to home. These are not only in the country, but many towns and cities have ponds, small lakes and water retention ponds. The countryside is dotted with ponds ranging from less than an acre to those several hundred acres. They are often tailor-made for curing your “Fishing Fix” during the week. There are usually more fish per acre in ponds than in a larger lake or reservoir. Ponds that receive light fishing pressure can be productive, if one adapts his approach. When fishing ponds, you may run across bluegill, sunfish, catfish or bass. Some pond owners also add crappies, usually appropriated from some nearby large body of water. If managed well, pond fish do quite well. ALGAE AND FISH KILLS Good fishery management includes fertilization and harvest control. Fertilization adds to the nutrient base and controls undesirable vegetation in much the same way a farmer tends his fields.
Ponds experience algae problems during the warmer months. Two species in particular can be harmful, filamentous algae and bluegreen algae. Filamentous is a stringy type of vegetation. The bluegreen algae forms light green, frothy mats on the surface. It is best to destroy these algae before adding fertilizer. Unfortunately, many landowners do not want to take the time or invest the money in their ponds. They still can be good fishing holes. It’s just that they are frustrating to the angler whose lure tangles in the vegetation. Fish kills also occur from time to time on small ponds. If just a few fish or one species of fish dies, then it is probably a disease that is killing them. However, if fish of several species die overnight, it is most likely a chemical problem. Chemical problems can be low oxygen, insecticide or herbicide contamination. Assuming the pond you have found contains healthy fish there still are other considerations. Fishing a pond can be as challenging as fishing larger bodies of water, just different. DO’S AND DON’TS Ponds are the angler’s version of shooting fish in a barrel. He still needs to apply
You don’t always need a big lake or river to find some good fishing.
sound fishing knowledge of seasonal patterns, activity and location of specific species. Bass in a pond follow the same daily movement patterns as fish anywhere. Channel catfish tend to want to school and move around the pond at regular intervals. Anglers have to move with them. The pond angler needs to use smaller baits and wear clothing that protects them from insects and plants found around a pond. He needs to be quiet when walking and casting. Cast parallel to the bank rather than out to the middle of
Save a turkey feather for science research The Missouri Department of Conservation is asking Missouri turkey hunters to save and share feathers from the wild turkeys they harvest this fall as part of a new research project to help improve wild turkey management in Missouri. Hunters who successfully harvest turkeys during either the Archery Deer and Turkey season (Sept. 15 to Nov. 13 and Nov. 25 to Jan. 15, 2021) or the Fall Firearms Turkey Season (Oct. 1-31) can voluntarily submit feathers from their turkeys, at no cost to them. If you are interested in submitting feathers from your harvested turkey, retain the turkey carcass OR re-
move a wing from the turkey and several feathers from the lower portion of the breast, as shown in the illustration.
Then, send your name, mailing address, and Telecheck ID of the harvested turkey. You may include your email address and phone number. MDC’s Wild Turkey Management Program will mail you the packet of materials needed to submit your feathers. This packet will include an instruction form, with diagrams explaining which feathers to submit from the harvested turkey, and a postage-paid envelope for the feathers to be placed inside and mailed back to MDC. If you have any questions, email the Wild Turkey Management Program at wildturkeymgmt@mdc.mo.gov.
the pond. If there is an aerator in the middle, chances are the fish will migrate toward the highly oxygenated water. If using a float (bobber) then the smaller the better. The relatively shallow water demands one not make a big splash during casting. A small float does not produce a large overhead image to frighten fish.
– Riptidefish.com photo
On cool days bass feed below the surface and usually take underwater lures and baits presently slowly. As the water warms, they strike surface lures near the shoreline early in the morning or late in the evening. During daylight, fish migrate to locations near stumps, fallen trees, and point jutting out from shore.
LIVE BAIT TYPES If live bait is preferred, then minnows, crayfish, frogs and nightcrawlers are the ticket. Hook sizes of 1/0 to 6/0 are the usual choices. Bluegills and sunfish are vulnerable as they take to the spawning beds or along weed beds near submerged brush. The simple cane pole, small float, and number 8 to 12 hook baited with earthworms, crickets, catalpa worms, leeches or maggots are popular choices. Jiggle the bait up and down off the bottom. Sometimes you leave it motionless on the bottom. Catfish shun the light and feed near the bottom. Most of their feeding is in low light or at night. The pole and line method described above works with number 2 or 4 circle hooks. Bait is usually pieces of fish, crayfish, blood bait, chicken or turkey livers, cheese or stink baits. For information on lodging and outdoor activities in southern Illinois, go online to visitSI.com, call (800) 433-7399 or email info@visitSI.com.
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May-June 2021
Outdoor Gallery Send in your favorite outdoor photo to news@outdoor-guide.com and you could be the winner of a $50 gift card from Kenrick’s Meats & Catering.
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RIVER HILLS PRIZE – Joel Shipman of Greentop, Mo, took this nice doe in the Ozarks River Hills area with a .45 White Shooting Systems muzzleloader during Missouri’s 2020 alternative deer season. BOWMAN TIM – Tim Sheahan of Chesterfield, MO, reports that he went into Kansas, just north of Topeka, for a bow hunt at the Foggy Bottom Ranch in late October. He shot this monster at about 25 feet from a tree stand. Said Tim: “I had to sit down and shoot because I was shaking so bad. It was awesome!”
JON WAS ON – Veteran Ozarks guide Jon Sabati took this Rio Grande on the big island in Hawaii during the fall turkey season. He also guides for turkey and sheep hunters. He was working out of Parker Ranch, at 1-877-885-7999.
NIC’S PICK – Young Nic Arnotti shot his first deer the first morning of shotgun season on private land north of Ramsey IL using his ATA Arms CY 12-gauge shotgun with Winchester 3-inch rifled slugs. It had seven points and may have had 10 before a left-side injury.
EARNED HIS SPURS – Dan Clark of Collinsville bagged this turkey in Massac County, IL, on private grounds during the second firearms season. It had spurs of 1 5/8” and a 12” braid.
10-POINT TEEN – Lucas Breeze, 17, of Festus MO, killed this 10-point buck while hunting with his uncle Richie Cook on Cook’s property in Ste. Genevieve County.
Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Page 27
Why not bicycling on conservation roads? By GERALD J. SCOTT During the January meeting of the Conservation Commission, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) received initial approval of a regulation change that will allow the use of bicycles on “most” of the interior access roads on “most” of the properties the agency owns or manages, effective March 1, 2022. The MDC is also considering amending its original proposal to include battery-powered “e-bikes.” The next step in the process was a 30-day period for public comment. It was my understanding that comments could be submitted via the MDC’s website. I found links I could have used to comment on at least a dozen proposed regulation changes, none of which had anything to do with bicycles. Part of me assumes that I have the dates of the comment period wrong, but a more cynical part of me assumes the MDC is continuing to make progress toward its apparent goal of making its website as useless as possible. But be all of that as it may or may not be, I’m sure this regulatory change will be controversial enough to deserve public comment from all sides.
Using the same trails as pedaled bikes By MICAH TOLL ElekTrek website
In a move being heralded by the electric bicycle community, e-bikes are now permitted for use in all national parks on any trails open to pedal bicycles. The decree came in the form of an order signed under the Trump Administration by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. It reclassifies electric bicycles as “non-motorized bicycles” on national park land, removing them from the category of dirt bikes, motorcycles and other gas-powered single or dual-track vehicles. The move comes at a time when electric bicycles were becoming increasingly affordable and thus more popular, with many models starting at just $500-$600.
INK BY THE BARREL Fortunately, as politicians used to say before Al Gore invented the Internet, members of the press “buy ink by the barrel” and can, therefore, always give their opinions some public exposure. I’m at least 100 percent in favor of allowing bicycles on service roads in conservation areas.And that very much includes e-bikes, because there’s no valid reason not to allow them. E-bikes are whisper quiet, they’re slow and they don’t pollute. This is probably where I should admit that I have a dog in this fight, because I have an e-bike. I hope to spend a lot of time on it, exploring the hidden corners of the many large conservation areas in central Missouri. If doing likewise sounds good to you, there are a few things you need to know before you leave home. The most important of these is that any resemblance between a service road and the Katy Trail is purely coincidental and won’t last more than a few yards. Service roads are used by heavy farm machinery and by young devil-may-care MDC employees in agency-owned 4WD pickups. They receive the minimum amount of maintenance needed for their intended purpose.
E-bikes are already allowed on many National Parks Service roads. – Interior Department photo
NOT FOR RACING BIKES There are some exceptions to that description of service roads, of course, but don’t count on finding them. In other words, this type of bicycling isn’t suited for ultralight frames, rock-hard seats and pencil thin tires. Both my conventional offroad bike and my e-bike have sturdy, reinforced frames, comfortable saddle seats and tires that measure four inches over the curve from rim to rim. Both bikes have seven gears,
and I’ve used every one of them at one time or another. Even so, I think I could get along nicely with four gears. My e-bike has fenders, because I’ve never been able to figure out anything fun about having wheels throwing muddy water all over me. There’s a small, but heavy-duty flat cargo carrier over the rear tire. I added saddle bags. They’re big enough to hold the small number of tools I might need to work on the bike – a tire patch kit and a small air pump – while
leaving plenty of room for daytrip supplies. TOO FAR TO HIKE I know of several ponds on conservation areas that seldom get fished, because they’re farther from the parking lot than most people – including me – want to hike. I also see making a lot of use of bicycles to search out hot spots for squirrel hunting, mushroom gathering and maybe even turkey hunting. I don’t see too much use for bicycles for public-land deer
E-bikes now allowed on national park trails
Previously, electric bicycles were often forbidden from cycling trails in national parks, though Class 1 e-bikes were allowed in some areas. In the United States, Class 1 e-bikes can reach speeds of up to 20 mph but require the rider to pedal to engage the motor. Class 2 e-bikes can reach similar speeds but have an additional hand throttle, meaning they can be ridden like motorcycles and do not require pedal input to activate the motor (though most also have pedal assist systems to function like Class 1 e-bikes). Class 3 e-bikes are similar to Class 2 e-bikes, except that they can reach higher speeds of up to 28 mph. THE NEW RULES The new law allows all three classes of e-bikes on cycling trails in national parks, though Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes are not allowed to use the throttle control. Those e-bikes must be pedaled like standard Class 1
E-bikes like these can now be see in the great western national parks.
e-bikes while on national park trails. Thus far it appears this will be handled on the honor system. We’ll see how that goes. This is great news, generally speaking. Obviously I’m a bit biased here, as I’m a pretty outspoken member of the electric bicycle community. But look at it from our perspective. We’re cycling enthu-
siasts who enjoy being able to ride farther and explore deeper thanks to our e-bikes, and yet we have often been excluded from entering some of the best cycling areas in the country, and perhaps the world. At a time when pedal bicycle sales are plummeting to record lows, e-bike sales are actually soaring. E-bikes are responsible for keeping more people
on two wheels. Whether its getting them active on trails or out of cars for their commutes, e-bikes are a net positive for society. And whether you ride an acoustic or electric bike, you can’t argue that fact. Electric bicycles simply open the door to get more people on two wheels. WORRYING WORRIES I believe that many of the arguments against sharing trails with e-bikes simply come from misinformed individuals. I often hear people worrying about getting hit by an electric bike. While this is a fair concern, I don’t see how it is any more common than being hit by a pedal bicycle. Both can reach speeds of 20 mph easily, and I have many cyclist friends who pedal at speeds much higher. Are e-bikes heavier? Sure. But perhaps by 20 lb. The average bike and rider is going to be somewhere around 200 lb. anyway, so we’re talking about a difference of under 10 percent in
hunting in any capacity other than transportation to and from pre-positioned stands. Without ever trying it, I’m convinced that trying to drag a deer behind an e-bike would create an excellent excuse to buy a new e-bike – and not much else. ROADS, NOT TRAILS While I’m thinking about deer hunting, I know of a number of deer trails on public land that are plenty wide enough to ride a bicycle on. You probably do, too. Do not yield to the temptation! The intention of the regulatory change is to allow bicycles to use already established roads built for the use of larger vehicles. Off-road use of bicycles will still be illegal. Bicyclists who confine themselves to hard-surfaced roads and groomed trails know that it can be a thirsty hobby. Biking on surfaces that wouldn’t be recognizable as roads if a sign didn’t say they were roads requires even more hydration. Carry water if that’s the only option, but I prefer to carry only a water-purification straw. Drunk through the straw, the water in the springs and small creeks that dot most conservation areas will be colder and taste better than city water that’s been in a plastic bottle for several hours.
most cases. That’s the difference between a pedal cyclist who kept his or her new year’s resolution and one who didn’t. What I can understand is the argument where cyclists worry that inexperienced new riders on e-bikes will get themselves or others into trouble by riding past their abilities on some of these popular trails. And that’s a legitimate concern. But the answer is rider education, not blanket banning. If we banned cars after they were first invented once we learned that people could get themselves into trouble, where would we be as a society? So I applaud the news that pedal-assist electric bicycles will finally be treated like the bicycles they are, at least in national parks. Micah Toll is a personal electric vehicle enthusiast, battery nerd and author of DIY Lithium Batteries, DIY Solar Power and the Ultimate DIY Ebike Guide.
Page 28
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Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Page 29
A look back with Joel Vance…
Bicycling with giant geese in Rochester Home of the Mayo Clinic both loves and hates its geese Editor’s note: Fabled Missouri outdoor communicator Joel Vance died last Dec. 9 after a long career of outdoor adventures, story telling and important issues discussions. He was a regular columnist in the Outdoor Guide throughout its history. In this issue, we seek to honor Mr. Vance by running one of his columns that we had never used, about the rebirth of Giant Canada geese and how they interact with bike-trail riders in Rochester, MN, which aspires to be both goose- and biker-friendly, sometimes in the same places. How he came up with that topic, we don’t know, but after reading the story, we’re glad he did. We hope you enjoy it. – Carl Green, editor By JOEL M. VANCE No one would confuse Dr. Charles and Dr. William Mayo with Dr. Frankenstein, but they created a monster nonetheless. In 1932, Dr. Charlie and Dr. Will bought three pair of Canadensis maxima, the largest subspecies of Canada goose, which had been used as live decoys (the practice was outlawed in 1935). And today 18,000 Giant Canadas clog the city of Rochester MN like plaque in an artery. Rochester is the home of the Mayo Brothers Clinic which dominates the city economy, so the city fathers aren’t about to tell Mayo to get its damn geese out of town, but the flock of geese is a whole lot more healthy than most of the folks who visit the clinic. Benumbed by geese and goose droppings, Rochester frets about how to introduce Zero Population Growth into the avian world. Egg shaking and other contraceptive ideas have trimmed the flock back to its present level, but there still is a world of geese, winter and summer. It could be worse – in fact it was. At peak, the flock topped 30,000. Giant Canadas, as they are popularly known, tend to resident-nest rather than migrate and in Rochester, they have a lake kept ice-free all year by warm water from a power plant discharge – their own
Vance
little hot tub. WHERE GEESE AND BIKES MEET As annoying as the geese are (they do have terrible bathroom habits), they provide scenic accompaniment to a bicycle ride along the Zumbro River, which bisects the city of 103,500. Other than having to bicycle through copious goose poop, the animals create no problems on the city’s more than 80 miles of bike trails. Rochester is among the nation’s most “bike friendly” communities, along with its larger northern neighbor Minneapolis. Many of the biking trails wind along the Zumbro and around several lakes within the city. Other trails eddy out from the city, creating a network. Goose droppings and feathers litter the green belt along the river, a less-than-attractive mess. But the geese are a perfect example of one man’s poison being another man’s passion (or in one case anyway, the passion of teenage girls). A friend, jogging the bike/hike trail (and dodging avian fecal landmines) said, “Two days in a row I saw a pair of teenage girls – I swear the same ones – feeding Cheetos to the geese. A
Goslings are well cared-for in the goose-friendly environment, often right next to the bike trails.
perversion!” POPULATION BOMB But while I recognized the sputtering population bomb, I had to stop and enjoy the sight of 10 goslings being herded across the bike path by their watchful parents. The babies, not long out of the egg, scooted in front of me, while the gander and goose hissed a distinct warning, shaking their heads – you don’t mess with the family life of a Giant Canada goose without risking contusions and shed blood. This is a hunted flock, assuming it flies out of the city limits to feed during goose season but is protected by city ordinance. They tolerate bicyclists and joggers equably. Canada geese, being birds, are not intellectual giants, but they are among the most intelligent birds, and to them a shotgun blast anywhere within hearing means to draw into the urban sprawl and enjoy human watching. “Rochester is among the country’s most bicycle-friendly cities, along with Minneapolis in Minnesota. You can link with 60 miles of bicycle trails from downtown,” said Brad Jones, former head of the Rochester Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. And those in turn link with many more miles through the Root, Cannon and Zumbro river valleys. The 20-mile Root River Trail is a rails-to-trails conversion that offers level riding. The 20-mile Cannon Valley Trail is on what used to be the Chicago Great Western Railroad line, which connected the towns of Cannon Falls, Welch and Red Wing. And there is the 55-mile Douglas Trail. I stayed at the historic Kahler Hotel, Rochester’s original way-stop for Mayo Clinic-bound patients. I wheeled my bicycle into my room from the parking garage and rode out from the garage into downtown traffic. It’s a three-block ride to the river bicycle trail, but once there automobile hazards vanish. THE ANGRY GOOSE AT LUNCHTIME Always there are the geese, lounging by the riverside, herding their kids, bobbing in the chop of the lakes. Canada geese are a sociable lot – I’ve never seen a squabble among them, although they undoubtedly get ticked off from time to time. In fact, a ticked-off Canada goose, especially of the giant variety, can be a formidable opponent. I vividly recall when I worked at the Missouri Department of Conservation, one of the assistant directors was returning from lunch at a nearby cafeteria along a path guarded by a large male goose. The goose sent him in full flight, much to the amusement of those employees
The flock is hunted only when they fly outside of the city limits to feed during goose season.
lucky enough to see it happen. I think there was some talk about entering him in the Olympic sprints, but it didn’t happen. However, he ate his lunches out of a sack in the office until the nesting season was over. Every spring for years, department employees would round up flightless geese during their molt so they could be examined and if need be transplanted to other locations. The wildlife workers handling the geese usually wore welding gloves or something similarly protective because the geese have toenails like the claws on a Bengal tiger. They also can flog you with their wings, which is somewhat like being beaten with a baseball bat. And they have powerful bills that can snap shut like a rat trap – altogether a long way from a helpless creature. TO THE BRINK AND BACK The Rochester flock has the distinction of having provided seed stock for restoration of a creature once thought to be extinct. The giant Canada geese once nested and probably still do in the bluffs along the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark saw them on their historic journey up the Missouri and commented on them. Hatchling geese as light as feathers would leap off of their bluff nests and flutter to the ground far below them without injury. Then they had the daunting task of trying to make it to the river before some hungry predator discovered them. It turned out the most daunting predator was man. Over-harvest and other human-related perils brought the geese to the brink of extinction. Once numerous, by the middle of the 20th century they were thought to be extinct. Lewis and Clark wrote about many of their encounters with wildlife but didn’t mention any narrow escapes from pursuit by angry ganders. If they did have such an encounter, it probably paled in comparison with a narrow
escape that a Private Bratton had after being chased a half a mile by an angry grizzly bear. Then there was the time that Jim Fowler, host of television’s Wild Kingdom, literally ran for his life and climbed a tree just ahead of the claws of a grizzly bear that had awakened from a tranquilizer a little bit too soon. On the whole, I prefer an encounter with an angry Canada goose to one with a 1,000-pound bear. Restoration of the giant Canada goose has been ongoing for more than 60 years to the point that the geese now have become nuisances in many communities where they eat gardens, foul golf courses and generally act like 1,000-pound grizzly bears. They’ve come a long way from a species once thought extinct. LEAVE IT TO MAYO In 1954 Jean Delcour in his book “Waterfowl of the World” said that the giant goose appeared to be extinct. But Forrest Lee, a biologist with the Fish and Wildlife Service, noticed Canada geese roosting on a warm-water lake at a power plant in Rochester. Lee invited Harold Hanson of the Illinois Natural History Survey to take a look at the huge geese on Rochester’s Silver Lake. The geese, remnants of historic live decoy flocks, proved to be Branta canadensis maxima – the giant Canada goose of Lewis and Clark fame. Geese transplanted from that seed stock to other areas began to breed, and now there is a nationwide flock of epic proportions, hunted and cursed, sometimes with equal velocity. But they can be a charming sidelight to a bicycling trip in downtown Rochester, if you don’t mind squishing through goose droppings along the way. And if you do somehow run afoul of a fowl, you’re only a block or two from the Mayo Clinic, where they are fully equipped to take care of goose wounds.
Outdoor Guide
Page 30
May-June 2021
Lures succeed, when conditions are right Photos and Text By KENNETH L. KIESER
Many years ago, an old man told me that the majority of lures were designed to catch fishermen, not fish. But this is a falsehood. Truthfully, every lure is effective – in certain conditions. Sporting goods store shelves are filled with the newest innovations in fishing lures that imitate live bait, especially crawfish, baitfish, insects, worms or snakes. Larger fish like big bass love easy meals that require burning limited energy. Most lures are designed to imitate exactly that. Lures are manufactured in every color imaginable. White, yellow, black and chartreuse have always been old-time favorites, but every color has a purpose. You can find charts on the internet showing the best colors to use for time of day or night and different shades of water clarity. Imagine being a newcomer to fishing and walking into a sporting goods shop where
a dozen shelves are loaded with lures – a blur of shapes, sizes and colors. So where do you start? Let’s go old school and begin with these favorites: • INLINE SPINNERS – Mepps, Roostertails, Panther Martins, Shysters and others have a metallic shaped blade, weighted body and dressed treble hook attached to the wire of the lure. Inline versions work best when you maintain a constant retrieve to keep the spinner turning. The constant spinning creates flashes in the water and a fish-attracting vibration. • SAFETY PIN SPINNERS
– Spinnerbaits were once called “safety pin” lures because their shape resembles that of an open safety pin. A lead head of varying weight is combined with a wire framework, a sharp hook and one or more flashing spinner blades. This type of spinner is a proven big bass lure. Most are tipped with pork rind or plastic tails and fished over heavy cover. There are numerous quality versions on the market. • SPOONS – Al’s Gold Fish, Daredevils, Johnson Silver
Minnows, Little Cleo’s and others are excellent for a variety of fish. Plated spoons like Al’s Gold Fish twist sideto-side on the drop, creating a light-reflecting flash that makes predator fish think a wounded baitfish is falling and thus, an easy meal. They work well on a slow-to-medium speed retrieve, making fish think a minnow or shad is trying to escape. Spoons like the Johnson’s Silver Minnow work best when tipped with pork rind or plastics with plenty of movement and color. Daredevils are occasionally tipped with a smaller piece of pork rind or plastic. • WORMS – Few lures have made more of an impact on fishing than plastic worms. This important addition to angling was first introduced in a harness with spinners. Eventually the harness disappeared, and anglers started Texas-rigging worms by sticking the hook in, then pushing it through the worm and back into the side, making it weedless. Many of the worms were commercially scented with
bass-appealing smells. Today anglers use worms with Ned Rigs, Shaky Heads, Nose Hook Rigging, Do Nothing, Wacky Rigging, pegging worm weights and Texas Rigging. There are other ways, and all are effective when conditions are correct. Plastic worms should be fished slowly. I let mine sink, then gently lift my rod, keep the line tight, then let the worm drop. You might just feel light pressure, see the line moving sideways or the bass may take off like a runaway train. You might only feel a couple of taps – good reason to use a sensitive but stout rod with at least ten-pound test line. • TOPWATERS – There are few moments more exciting than watching a big bass blow up the surface while taking your topwater lure. They hit hard by design, to kill or stun their prey for an easy meal. Jitterbugs, Hula poppers, Zara Spooks, Tiny Torpedoes, Devil Horse, Rebel Pop-R, various plastic frogs or mice and many other versions are excellent. The best topwater fishing is generally at dawn, dusk or possibly under heavy, dark cloud cover. Topwaters are best fished slowly with twitches and pauses. Bass love to find an easy dinner, and you are selling that vision. A lure fished faster, for example a Zara Spook, may too trigger strikes. Let the bass show you what they want. • CRANKBAITS – Crankbaits are fishing lures made from hard plastic or carved from wood with a plastic lip designed to push it under the surface. Different angles of the lip determine depths. Some are lipless and shallow divers.
There is no end to the types of lures, and most will work under the right conditions.
These unique lures mimic the swimming action of a baitfish, crayfish or other prey. Hungry predator fish attack crankbaits while hoping for an easy meal. Crankbaits were so named in the 1970s because you are constantly turning the reel handle to give them life. There are a zillion ways to fish a crankbait, depending on the lure and conditions. Luhr Jensen, Rapala, Rebel, Bomber, Strike King, Cordell, Norman and other companies all offer top-quality crankbaits. A WARNING Avoid bargain-barn lures that are cheaper but with little
useful quality. They may look like a brand-name version, but there are many differences you can’t see. For example, occasionally a big fish will pull the hooks out of cheaper lures. I have seen this happen, especially with large bass or big trout. Finally, check the internet for ways to fish these time-proven lures. Start fishing with the basics before trying expert tactics. Have fun learning your fishing techniques and soon you will be fishing like an old pro. Sometimes old school is best!
There are even enough of these mousy lures to keep an angler choosing for weeks.
Outdoor Guide
May-June 2021
Page 31
Volunteers clear new conservation area By DAN ZARLENGA Department of Conservation
The Missouri Department of Conservation’s Young Conservation Area, south of Eureka in Jefferson County, is about to get about 5 percent bigger with help from the Open Space Council of the St. Louis Region and 25 volunteers who gathered March 27 to help make the new section ready for public use. The cleanup was sponsored by the department, the council and the Missouri Stream Team Program using a grant from the Conservation Federation of Missouri. Volunteer litter bashers included Stream Team members and six master naturalists from the Miramiguoa Chapter in Franklin County, working with department and council staff. “These things definitely take a partnership effort to put on,” said Bonnie Harper, the council’s executive director. The new 70-acre parcel adds to the existing 1,300-acre Young area, adjoining at the northeast border. Funds to buy the land, formerly owned by the Click
Some two dozen volunteers spent four hours clearing out 8.5 tons of debris including 66 tires.
family, came from donors and fundraising efforts of the Open Space Council. The purchase was completed last year and the Council presented it to MDC to be an addition to the Young area. A number of steps were needed before the site could be ready for public use, including clearing it of trash. “It takes a lot of staff hours to clean trash,” said Raenhard Wesselschmidt, MDC district supervisor. “The work of these volunteers allows us to concentrate more on the resource management and not just the cleanup part.” FILLING UP THE CANS The volunteers spent nearly four hours removing garbage,
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metal, glass and tires from the addition. It was a socially distanced opportunity for the volunteers to make a significant contribution to returning the area to its natural state. “It’s pretty satisfying to start seeing the ground again and see those trash cans fill up and know that you’re bringing it back down to what it used to be,” said volunteer Lynn Stephenson of St. Louis, who attended the event with her son and husband. “It’s a great way of getting the family together and doing something. Everyone has a good time and at the end of the day, while tired, we’ve done something good.” One challenge was gathering up glass and other debris on a
hillside near the former residence on the area, much of the litter having been there from past generations. “A lot of the cans are just flakes, and the two metal rims around the top and the bottom are all that’s left of them. So I think we’re talking about really old trash” said Master Naturalist Janis Schweitzer, who brought her husband Rick. PROTECTING LABARQUE In addition to providing recreation for the public, the addition will join Young and other MDC conservation areas in the vicinity to help protect the Labarque Creek watershed. Missouri Stream Team
Assistant Brian Waldrop said Labarque is one of the most pristine streams in Missouri and has an exceptionally diverse fish and invertebrate population. “The water quality is spectacular. It’s a precious gem,” Waldrop said. “Everything flows downstream, and that means downhill from this ridge. If that tire gets loose or that piece of plastic, it will migrate down to the small tributary, then to a slightly larger one, and then to Labarque Creek, and down to the Meramec and out to the Mississippi.” TONS OF TRASH GONE The cleanup work on March 27 helped to prevent that from happening. The final trash tally was 66 tires, 5,740 pounds of metal and a boat trailer, in addition to 40 cubic yards of trash. Altogether the team removed 8.5 tons of debris. “I’m just amazed. We have two giant dumpsters totally overflowing,” Bonnie Harper said. The tires will be shredded and recycled along with the metal. “We tried to minimize what went into the landfill as much as we could,” Wesselschmidt said.
The next stages include removing several structures, final grading and getting rid of invasive species. Wesselschmidt said woodland habitat management is in the property’s work plan, as well as trail connections to the existing Young area. The day’s work was a big initial step. “I think we made some real progress in getting this site on the road to becoming a really great natural area for everyone,” Harper said. “I’m excited for new things to come and the continued progress.”
A volunteer finds old trash to clear from the conservation area.
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Outdoor Guide
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May-June 2021
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