with Ken Hunter… The Lure of Fishing

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Contrary to what the title may seem to be suggesting, this is not a piece about what causes or entices one to fish but rather what lures one uses to catch fish.

I got to thinking about this topic when someone just getting into fly fishing asked me if a half dozen flies would be enough to get started. When I got to thinking about what lures one needs to be successful on our lakes and streams, I began to realize how complex a subject it actually is, so I tried to break it down into various categories to help simplify things.

There are several basic things to consider; first, what species of fish are being targeted, secondly what type of equipment is being used and finally, where in the water column are the fish being targeted?

The more you know about what the fish you are after likes to eat, the better your chances of hooking up.

Ken Hunter

For example, you would have almost no chance whatsoever of coaxing a 17-20 inch largemouth bass to take a number-16 bluewinged olive dry fly, but it’s entirely possible to hook one or more 17-20 inch trout on that same fly on any given day.

Of course, another important factor when considering lure selection is what works best with the type of equipment being used. Size and weight are very important factors. For example, you can’t cast a 6-inch Rapala minnow lure with a flyrod, and you can’t cast musky-sized lures with an ultralight open-faced spinning rod and reel.

While the first two considerations in the previous paragraphs are rather obvious, the one regarding where in the water column you intend to fish may be a bit more complicated.

Fish can be found anywhere in the water column at any given time. What makes all of this more complicated is that different species of fish behave differently. For example, I would almost never attempt to catch crappies on the surface of a lake with some kind of surface lure. Why? Because crappies are not known to feed on the surface, they are more often found suspended farther down in the water column. The same is probably true for yellow perch.

On the other hand, if I were after bluegills on a summer afternoon, I would be checking out shallow bays with some kind of surface lure like a popper on a flyrod.

Understanding the behavior of the fish you are pursuing and where to find it under different circumstances can go a long way toward more hookups. Obviously, having a good selection of lures that are made for being utilized in each of the various parts of the water column is important as well with the vast amount of lures available today, that can be a real challenge.

Fish will feed at various parts of the water column depending on the season or time of day. For example, largemouth bass will often feed in shallow, weedy flats in or near bays late in the evening, after dark, or in the early morning. If I want to work the surface of a weedy portion of a lake for largemouth bass, I’ll use a floating lure like a Jitterbug or maybe a floating type lure with spinner blades front and back. If I decide to pursue bass in deeper water-say 15 feet down on the bottom, I’m switching to a Texasrigged soft plastic worm. Before the day is over, I may search the middepth range with a spinnerbait type lure. Trust me, there are plenty of lures made for every situation, so finding what you need shouldn’t be a problem, and if fact, the problem is usually limiting yourself. So, what’s the bottom line? Know the fish’s behavior and know what lures will work where in the water column and when, and you will likely end up with tackle boxes full of lures like the rest of us.

Scott on Sports

Oliveri Leads Lycoming’s Baseball Revival

Although the calendar read January 29, for Lycoming College baseball coach Rick Oliveri and his inaugural Warrior team, it felt like Christmas morning. After a 52-year hiatus, baseball was back on the Lycoming campus under the tutelage of Oliveri as the blue & gold began practice for the 2023 season. After a national search, Oliveri — with more than a decade as a Division I coach — was announced as the first full-time baseball coach in Lycoming’s history last June.

“We are incredibly excited to bring back baseball to Lycoming College,” said athletic director Mike Clark. Rick stood out to the hiring committee for many reasons. He has been a part of many admirable baseball programs, working as both a pitching and hitting coach. At every step of the way, his bosses have recommended him for his organizational skills, work ethic, and knowledge of the game.” who made me feel welcomed, and I enjoyed that. It was easy to tell that all had a lot of pride in Lycoming College.

Oliveri’s arrival in Williamsport came following the past five seasons at George Washington University. He’d previously served at Monmouth University and Radford University.

Scott Lowery

“I fell in love with the place and the people I got to meet when I first came to visit. Coach Clark, Coach Ditzler, Joe Gustina, President Tracke, the folks in admissions, and everyone I spoke with were real down-to-earth individuals

“Lycoming College has been really good in many sports for a long time. A big part of being successful is being around people who have experienced success and having a positive environment. Having that kind of an environment that has been good for so long presents a place where kids want to come to school, and once they are here, they like it. Add to that the support of the administration and alumni, it was evident to me that Lycoming College is ahead of the game in meeting the challenges small colleges are facing today.”

As a first-year program, challenges also

West End Babe Ruth Registration

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2023 ORIGINAL LEAGUE BASEBALL REGISTRATION At the Original Clubhouse

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COME PLAY AT THE HISTORICAL CARL E. STOTZ FIELD “THE BIRTHPLACE OF LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL” await on the baseball diamond.

“Having a roster comprised almost entirely of freshmen is a challenge due to a lack of upper-class college experience and leadership a traditional roster would have,” Oliveri explained. “One of the things that worried me was what we were going to do with a roster full of 18 & 19-year-olds. Would we be up against it? But we have a really good core group of guys who don’t act like freshmen and have baseball talent.

“An immediate challenge was the baseball facilities themselves. Lycoming is committed to finding a home for the team in the near future, but last fall, we were able to use the baseball field in South Williamsport for practices. That was a great field to be able to use. The college has added indoor batting cages, and things are moving in a positive direction.”

Oliveri added Williamsport’s rich baseball tradition was a positive influence on his interest in Lycoming College.

“That certainly was a positive factor. When I call a prospective studentathlete on the phone, I get immediate brand recognition. That may not be true in other sports, but it is in baseball. Our roster has kids from all over the country. I’ve talked with kids from Washington, California, Hawaii, Texas, all over the place who grew up watching the Little League World Series and are interested to come here and play baseball.

“The kids are absolutely overflowing with excitement to get out and play. They are anxious to prove that we’re not just some rag-tag bunch of freshmen who are going to get our butts kicked. They have the attitude that we’re good, and we’re going to be a problem in this region of college baseball for years to come.

“The interest we’ve received regarding our recruiting has been unbelievable. Very rarely have I talked to anyone who told me they weren’t interested. There have been players we’ve had to turn away. We have guys on the team that see this as a great opportunity and were excited about coming here from the very first phone call. They’ve bought into the vision of the program and have adapted well to the college and the community. We had 34 players on our fall roster, and they’ve all returned for the spring semester ready to go.”

Lycoming’s roster included players from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, New York, Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, Utah, and Nebraska. Area players on the Lycoming roster include South Williamsport pitcher Grant Bachman; Millville infielder Landon Evans; Montoursville outfielder Nick Reeder; and Loyalsock first baseman Matt Worth.

Lycoming College’s 2023 schedule is comprised of the full 40 games permitted by the NCAA for Division III.

The team is a member of the MAC Freedom Division and includes early season trips to Greensboro, NC, February 17-19, and Aberdeen, MD, February 24-26.

“We are very grateful to the City of Williamsport and Major League Baseball for allowing us to play games this year at Bowman Field. The kids are familiar with Bowman Field because of the MLB/Little League Classic. They are like 11-year-olds having the opportunity to play there. They know of the history of the ballpark, and we’re games there and are committed to taking care of the facility when we do,”

Imentioned that my father and I are currently building a two-car garage and in-law suite. I am doing my best to chronicle the entire experience. This is episode four. Oh my, folks. There is never a dull moment with our project. My weekly updates continue to turn heads. Our lack of progress and foolish mistakes are still trending. We are slowly getting there, but everyone is questioning. Why didn’t they just hire someone? Yes. The entire neighborhood is watching.

We had some delays with our permits. It also didn’t help that my mates are super busy. My father was hoping to start sooner than later. But unfortunately, we had to push everything to late September. My pops now lives in California. And he has been with us off and on since the beginning. He has built a few homes in his day. Rough carpentry. But that was when he was much, much younger. Smarter. Better looking. Stronger. By now, you should see where I am going.

In the previous installments, I shared a few tales of our mishaps. Oh, it has been quite the adventure. The Spencer gals have completely lost their patience. Who frames a wall with an upside-down door? That pushed us back even further. The folks on YouTube make it look so easy. You can’t make it up, kids. We make several trips to Lowes each day. The customer service desk and I are on a first-name basis. This will be a three-year project. Maybe four.

Day 67. THE LL BEAN FLEECE.

I scored her in my senior year in high school. But this ugly blue jacket has been in my father’s closet ever since. I have hundreds of photos of him sporting it. He wears this fleece wherever he goes. It currently smells like tar and sawdust. Jim isn’t allowed to wear it inside the house anymore. Pops said goodbye at 5:45 p.m. He is driving back to California. Jim plans to drive south to miss the impending weather. He has a king-sized mattress and a pillow in the back. Big Spence tends to frequent a few Walmart parking lots. He left his tools and trailer behind. Yes. I already called a few guys. Teach made him a cute little care package: trail mix and a case of Diet Pepsi. Jensen now thinks he is free of holding ladders and scrambling for nails. Believe it or not. We already miss him. Who knows when he plans on returning? Most folks track Santa this time of year. But we are now watching Jim Spencer as he drives cross country. He is wearing a LL Bean Fleece. Day 84. THE TUB.

Big Jim is back in town. He drove all the way to California to spend Christmas with Mom. Spence purchased a one-way plane ticket, and we have no idea how long he is staying. Why do I have to ask him? Jensen and I are learning a great deal, but we want to throw in the towel. Our morale is at an all-time low. Plus, it is getting cold. Big Jim is our fearless leader, and he will never quit. Pops moves like a turtle, but he is doing great. You seriously can’t make this up. There is no easy way to get a 75 x 80 x 36 single-tub unit into a house unharmed. New or existing. It’s tough. I hate to point any fingers, but Jim’s plan sucked. It was an absolute disaster. We were doomed from the start. Teach was crying, and the F-bombs were flying. We took some measurements. Nope. We removed a section of drywall and pushed. Negative. We banged out a few studs, but that only made things worse — two hours of total bedlam. Boards and drywall were everywhere. My brother-inlaw pulled a muscle, and I was spent. Jensen threatened to call the township. There was no way in hell this tub was going in. WHY DON’T WE JUST REMOVE THE DOOR AND GO THROUGH THE ADDITION? It took us 10 minutes the next morning. And we spent the rest of the day fixing the hall. DUH. Two steps forward. Moonwalk back. That’s our new motto. Day 92. RETAINERS.

Special thanks to Tim Bair from Bair Excavation. He is the only guy on this project who actually hits his deadlines. Big Jim and I just asked Teach for another extension. Tim has been a huge help from the very start. Today he finished our 5-foot FAUX retaining wall. Man. It looks sharp. Great stuff, brother. I appreciate your friendship, and I was dead serious about the I WILL MENTION YOUR NAME IN THE WEBB WEEKLY discount.

Day 107. HOLD MY LADDER.

We have pushed this off for the past two months. Our temporary tarps worked fine, but it was time to man up. We needed to sheath the gable end. Both Spence and I considered several different techniques. A few might have set up some scaffolding. The smart folks would have rented a boom. Heck. Most people would hire a professional. But that isn’t our style. We only needed Curt Wolfhope.

Curt was an absolute animal. He was such a big help. Watching him gave me the confidence I desperately needed. We were 30 feet in the air, routinely using our tool belts. We got her done. I didn’t fall. Those 8 x 4 zips didn’t have a chance. It worked. We now have the addition totally enclosed. But why did we wait until the freezing temperatures?

So, I am starting to get the hang of this building thing. No. I will not give up my day job and all my part-time gigs. Having my father around sure is grand. I keep telling myself that he means well. And we all appreciate his efforts. Big Jim is our hero. Yes. I sometimes complain. There is a four-inch difference between 2’1” and 21”, but my dad is OK. Cheers.

“Whole” as it gets.

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