indiana outdoor news

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GADGETS & GEARPAGE 17

TURKEY HUNTINGPAGE 8

UPLAND FOOD PLOTSPAGE 12

INDIANA'S CHOICE FOR OUTDOOR NEWS AND INFORMATION • SINCE 1994

Vol. 2011 • Number 2 W W W.IN D I A N AOU T D O O RNEW S.N E T February, 2011

MUSKIE FISHINGPAGE 9

BOAT BUYING BASICSPAGE 4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

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FEBRUARY CANADA GOOSE SEASON RETURNS IN SELECT COUNTIES

COMPLIMENTS OF:

DNR REPORT --The Indiana DNR has passed a temporary rule continuing the

February Canada goose hunting season. The dates this year are Feb. 1-15.

The season will be open in selected counties to control the popula-tion of breeding Canada geese around urban areas.

Counties where geese can be hunted during this season include:Adams, Allen, Boone, Clay, DeKalb, Elkhart, Greene, Hamilton,Hancock, Hendricks, Huntington, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaGrange, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, Shelby,Starke, Steuben, St. Joseph, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Wells andWhitley.

Adam Phelps, DNR wildlife biologist, estimates that 5,400 Canadageese were harvested during the February 2010 season, about 900 fewer

Continued on Pg. 5

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Natural Resources

Commission (NRC) approved preliminaryadoption of recommended rule changes fordeer hunting at their January meeting.

Components of the proposed changesinclude modification of the season structure,bag limits, hunting equipment, and licensingrequirements. The proposed changes addressrequests from the NRC and the NRC’sAdvisory Council as part of their comprehen-sive review of fish and wildlife rules.

Key elements of the recommendedchanges would allow use of a crossbow duringthe archery season and the urban zone season;establish separate crossbow and urban zonelicenses; combine the early and late archeryseasons into a single season from Oct. 1through the first Sunday in January; and add aspecial antlerless only firearms season inselect counties from Dec. 26 through the firstSunday in January.

The complete text of the proposed rulepackage and other information can be found atwww.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2362.htm.

Once the rule language is posted on theNRC website (www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm) ,the public will be able to use the convenientonline link to submit comments. Writtencomments also can be mailed to Division ofHearings, Indiana Government Center North,100 North Senate Ave., Room N501,Indianapolis, IN, 46204-2200.

One or more public hearings will bescheduled to collect additional public com-ments before the recommendations go back tothe NRC for consideration of final adoption.NRC chairman Bryan Poynter said it isunlikely any changes would occur in the 2011hunting seasons.

The NRC also voted for final adoption ofrule amendments governing the use of gizzardshad, threadfin and alewife as bait; require-ments for obtaining a wild animal rehabilita-

tion permit; and placement of fish attractorson properties administered by the DNR.

In other actions, the NRC approved:• Dedication of a 743-acre addition to the

existing 859-acre Fourteen Mile Creek NaturePreserve at Charlestown State Park in ClarkCounty;

• Preliminary adoption of a rule toremove Roush State Fish and Wildlife Areafrom lakes subject to drawings for fishingtournaments;

• Preliminary adoption of rule amend-ments to modify size limits on black basstaken from rivers or streams. These proposedchanges were reported in the January editionof Indiana Outdoor News and would replace thecurrent 12” minimum size limit for black bassin Indiana’s rivers and streams with a ruleallowing anglers to keep up to three bassunder 12” and two bass over 15”. All bassfrom 12” and 15” would need to be released.

The State of Indiana says it has too many deer incertain locations. A new deer hunting rule pack-age designed to reduce the state’s deer herd wasgiven preliminary approval by the NRC at theirJanuary meeting. Megan Smith photo.

February brings the best Canada goose hunting of the year for those willingto scout and brave the cold. Howard Communications photo.

than in February 2009. He estimated the total late-season harvestacross all three years to be 15,800 geese.

To meet guidelines from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at least80 percent of the geese harvested during the three-year experimentalperiod needed to be the giant Canada goose. This is the goose that com-monly breeds in Indiana and surrounding states.

“Most of the hunt zone was well over the 80 percent mark,” Phelpssaid, “but the counties around Terre Haute did not meet that criterion.”

The “experimental” status of the season ended in 2010, so most ofthe late goose counties will no longer need to check in geese. However,because the Terre Haute area didn’t meet the 80 percent criterion, geese

Avariety of outdoor shows and exposare on tap throughout the area this month.Look inside for more information!

• Michiana Great OutdoorsSportsman Show: Howe, IN, Feb. 11-12, www.ohiosportsmanshows.com

• Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport andTravel Show: Indiana State Fairgrounds,Indianapolis, IN, Feb. 18-27,www.indysportshow.com

• Indiana Deer, Turkey andWaterfowl Expo: Indiana StateFairgrounds, Indianapolis, IN, Feb. 18-20, www.indysportshow.com

• Michiana Sportsman Show: 59250Keria Trail, South Bend, IN, Feb. 19-20.

• Michigan Deer & TurkeySpectacular: Lansing Ctr., Lansing,MI, Feb. 18-20. www.deerinfo.com

Shimano’s John Mazurkiewicz of South Bendanswers questions on the floor at lastmonth’s Chicago Muskie Show. ION Photo.

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2011© February, 2 0 11 Edition

February, 2 0 11 Edition INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2011©


The boat show season is a great time to buy a boat, as dealers and manufac-turers are doing anything they can to get rid of non-current inventory. Thisyear is an especially good one for buyers, as the marine industry is stillrebounding from the poor economy. Generally speaking, that means con-sumers have a greater inventory of boats to choose from. Do a little onlineresearch on boat prices before heading out to this season’s sports shows andyou’ll know a great deal when you see one!. www.polarkraft.com photo.

JOSHLANTZ

We have multiple outlookson winter in Indiana. Our diverseseasonal attitudes are a big part ofwhat makes us Hoosiers (along,of course, with mulch, basketball,criticizing things we don’t under-stand and having just enough ofan accent that nobody knowswhere we’re from). But, regard-less of how much we may love itor hate it, wintertime will eventu-ally yield and we’ll find some-thing new to debate.

Snow and ice will soon meltfrom the ground’s surface to fillour rivers and streams and feed theeager greens lying matted andfrozen below. Lakes too will onceagain reveal their hidden, liquidsurfaces -- like flashed, calculat-ing smiles -- beckoning all of usto go and find out for ourselveswhat is happening below them.

The first open water fishingof the year is often exploratory.It’s a pretty serious transition formost fish, so anglers often spenda lot of time trying to figurethings out. As spring arrives inearnest, however, the fish beginto sort it all out. So do we, andthe fishing turns from good togreat.

If you could fish anywhere inIndiana on the first day of spring,where would you be? Would youchoose to hunt giant, pre-spawnmuskies on Lake Webster? Howabout crappies and stripers onPatoka? Perhaps you’d head tolake Michigan and enjoy thefastest trout and salmon fishingof the year. All of these greatangling opportunities and morewill present themselves withinthe next few weeks. Will you beready?

Regardless of whether or notyou own one, I probably don’tneed to tell you that access to aboat will add the greatest amountof enjoyment and satisfaction toyour coming fishing season.Shore fishing is fine, but yousimply need to have a boat to cap-italize on the very best fishingopportunities. You know it’s true.

I know. I know. “Boats areexpensive”, you say, “and theeconomy is still in the dumper”.Touche. But the economy is defi-nitely getting better, and a newboat is much more affordable thanyou probably think.

As you wander the aisles atthe great outdoor shows thismonth, do a little legwork aheadof time -- regardless of whether ornot you consider yourself activelyshopping -- and see what hap-pens. Here are some tips to getyou started down the road to theboat ramp.

Know your budgetKnow what you can afford in

terms of a monthly payment.When a dealer asks you where youneed to be, give him or her 80% ofyour actual budget number.

Financing fearsDon’t let the possibility of

not being financed stand in your

way of shopping. If you havedetermined an honest amount youcan truly afford, you are likely tobe financed for that amount.

Have opt ionsIdentify different types of

boats you like in different priceranges. You may want a fiber-glass, 21-footer, but would an 18-foot aluminum model make youhappy? For mst of us, the boat weneed is different than the boat wewant.

Shop before the showCall dealers or research boat

prices online before going to theoutdoor shows. Have an idea ofwhat the boats you are interestedin cost so you can identify a truedeal when you see it.

Start with the spouseOnce you have done some

initial fact-finding, share yourbudget calculations with yourspouse. Be positive. Be con-vincing. Do what you need to doto get her or him on-board withthe idea of shopping or “startingto look” for a boat. Make promis-es. Make bargains. Be prepared tomake sacrifices. Be creative!

Believe me, I realize that thepast couple years have beenextremely difficult financially. Iknow that a boat just isn’t in thecards for some right now. Butyou won’t know for sure until youstart the process. My job is tomotivate you to improve yourangling and what you get out of it-- and nothing will improve eitherof these things more than owninga boat. I guarantee it.

Go forth and enjoyFebruary’s outdoor shows! If Idon’t see you there, I certainlyhope to see you on the water.

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¤

Volume 2011 • Number 2

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

Editor-in-Chief: Joshua D. LantzSportsmen’s Rights Editor: Rick Story

Field Editor: John Martino, Central IndianaField Photographer: Bill Konway

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS® is the official publication of Raghorn Incorporated, and is pub-lished monthly at the address listed above. For home delivery and subscription rates, look for thesubscription card in this publication. Editorial contributions may be submitted to the aboveaddress. No material can be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope.Photographs are accepted and greatly appreciated. All materials submitted become the propertyof Raghorn Incorporated and are subject to editing to meet the objectives of this publication. Theviews and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors, not the edi-tors, staff or any other representative of RAGHORN’S INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS orRaghorn, Inc. “Raghorn’s Indiana Outdoor News” is a registered Trademark of RaghornIncorporated. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be used or copiedwithout prior written consent of Raghorn Inc. Violation of copyright laws will be prosecuted.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RAGHORN’S INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS, P.O.Box 69, Granger, Indiana 46530.

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Superbowl of bass fishing returns to the Louisiana Delta 2010 Indiana state park deer hunt report available

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NEW ORLEANS — Top bass anglers are gearing

up for the 41st edition of theBassmaster Classic to be held onthe Louisiana Delta Feb. 18-20..Known as the Super Bowl ofbass fishing, the BassmasterClassic includes 50 of the world'sbest anglers and draws spectatorsfrom around the country.

The competition will featuredaily launches at Bayou SegnetteState Park, and official weigh-inswill take place at the New OrleansArena. During the tournament, theErnest Morial Convention Centerwill also play host to the 2011Bassmaster Classic OutdoorsExpo presented by Dick'sSporting Goods, which expands200,000 square feet. The expo isfree to the public and features hun-dreds of boat, motor and tacklemanufacturers for freshwater andsaltwater anglers.

"Louisiana is truly a sports-man's paradise, and we have some of the best fishing waters in the worldhere in the New Orleans area," said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. "I would liketo thank B.A.S.S. for hosting the Classic here again and welcome allthose who are visiting."

Last time the Classic was in Louisiana, the competition attracted arecord 137,700 visitors and had an estimated economic impact of $27million, according to economists at LSU-Shreveport.

"New Orleans has a longstanding reputation as a favorite destina-tion city for major sporting events, and the Greater New Orleans SportsFoundation has a rich history of hosting these events. Add to that thepopularity of Louisiana as an outdoor destination, and our proven rela-tionship with the Classic, and this is the perfect recipe for success,"said Sam Joffray, vice president of communications for Greater NewOrleans Sports Foundation. "The configuration of the arena proves tobe just as exciting for the fans and visitors as the natural resources ofthe Louisiana Delta will be for the anglers. B.A.S.S. will bring athrilling event to our city while delivering our sportsman's paradiseimage and our wetlands conservation message back out to the nation.We couldn't ask for a better partnership."

"This is the fourth time New Orleans has hosted the BassmasterClassic, and we are thrilled to have been chosen for the 2011 competi-tion. The tournament provides great entertainment for the whole fami-ly, and we encourage everyone to come down to the delta for some goodfishing, food and fun," said J. Stephen Perry, president/CEO of the NewOrleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The field is highlighted by reigning Bassmaster Classic and ToyotaTundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year champion Kevin VanDam.VanDam, who won his first Bassmaster Classic in 2001 on theLouisiana Delta, is only the second angler in B.A.S.S. history to holdboth the Classic and Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year titlessimultaneously. He now has three Classic and six AOY titles.

Also qualifying were the top 36 anglers in the 2010 Toyota TundraBassmaster Angler of the Year standings derived from the 2010Bassmaster Elite Series; the top two anglers in the Bass Pro ShopsBassmaster Open points standings in each of three 2010 OpensDivisions; six amateur competitors through the 2010 BassmasterFederation Nation Championship presented by Yamaha and SkeeterBoats; and the winner of theToyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Seriesoperated by American Bass Anglers.

"The Bassmaster Classic is the most prestigious fishing tourna-ment in the world," said Jerry McKinnis, an owner of B.A.S.S. "We areexcited that New Orleans will serve as host for the 41st Classic."

According to B.A.S.S. rules, the Louisiana Delta will become off-limits to Bassmaster Classic participants beginning Monday, Dec. 13,2010. Anglers will get another crack at the fishery during the officialpractice period, set for Feb. 11-13, 2011, and a final look on Feb. 16,2011 .

For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.

DNR REPORT --Volunteer hunters took 1,689 deer during special con-

trolled hunts at 16 state parks last November, according toMike Mycroft, chief of natural resources for the DNRDivision of State Parks and Reservoirs. A full report isavailable at www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/files/sp-DeerRMRR.pdf.

The controlled hunts were Nov. 15-16 and Nov. 29-30,at Brown County, Chain O'Lakes, Charlestown, CliftyFalls, Fort Harrison, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln,McCormick’s Creek, Pokagon, Potato Creek,Prophetstown, Shakamak, Summit Lake, TippecanoeRiver, Versailles, and Whitewater Memorial state parks.

Indiana state parks were among the first in the easternUnited States to use hunting to manage the impacts of deerin protected natural areas that traditionally prohibitedhunting. Many additional agencies, such as Georgia stateparks and other groups, have since adopted similar programs based on Indiana’s model.

“We began our reduction program 18 years ago, and all those years provide a powerful data set thatillustrates habitat recovery as well as healthier, sustained deer populations throughout the parks,”Mycroft said.

The state parks are home to many unique natural communities and rare plants no longer representedthroughout Indiana. The controlled hunts help reduce browsing by deer to a level that helps ecosystemsand associated vegetation recover.

Individual parks are evaluated annually to determine which require a reduction. Decisions are basedon the recovery of vegetation that deer eat and previous harvest information at each park.Approximately one-third of the parks have achieved maintenance status since the program began andregularly take a year off from reductions.

Individual hunters could take up to three deer, which do not count against statewide bag limits andhave no tag fees. Participants were drawn from a pool of eligible applicants in September. Look fordetails regarding 2011 state park deer reductions and applications starting in July athttp://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5834.htm.

This year’s Classic field is highlightedby reigning Bassmaster Classic andToyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler ofthe Year champion Kevin VanDam.Bassmaster.com photo.

Canada Goose -- Continued From Cover

the February season. In additionto a valid hunting license, Indianawaterfowl stamp privilege,signed federal duck stamp, and aHIP (Harvest InformationProgram) number, a free permit isalso required. The free permit isavailable at www.in.gov/dnr/fish-wild/4523.htm or by phone at(317) 232-4200.

Hunters are encouraged to gettheir permits online. That is theeasiest and fastest way to get apermit, since it prints out imme-diately. Hunters are encouragednot to wait until the last minute toobtain a permit.

This temporary rule alsoestablishes a one-year season forsnow and Ross's geese. In most ofthe state, the light goose conser-

vation order, as it’s called, isopen Feb. 1–March 31, 2011 .

However, federal regulationsprevent the late Canada gooseseason and the light goose con-servation order from being openat the same time, so if you hunt inone of the counties listed in thethird paragraph, the snow andRoss’s geese season doesn’t openuntil Feb. 16. It then runs throughMarch 31. The HIP number andfederal duck stamp are not requiredto take snow or Ross's geese.

The DNR director has exclu-sive authority to adopt temporaryrules regarding such issues. Suchrules are valid for a maximum ofone year and can be renewed bythe director for an additional peri-od not to exceed one year.

harvested in those counties --Clay, Greene, Parke, Sullivan,Vermillion, and Vigo -- still needto be checked in.

“The U.S. Fish and WildlifeService gave us the option of con-tinuing the experiment in theTerre Haute area to see if it willcome into compliance with addi-tional data collection,” Phelpssaid.

When checked, geese musthave the head, a fully featheredwing, and reproductive parts stillattached. Station staff check theage and sex of each bird, andremove and keep the head of alladult birds checked.

Data collected from theseheads are used to determinewhether the late season will con-tinue in future years. Even ifIndiana’s season meets federalguidelines, the season may beclosed in the future if local Canadagoose populations are sufficient-ly reduced.

The bag limit for theFebruary season is five Canadageese per day, with a possessionlimit of 10, same as for theSeptember season. Shootinghours are from a half-hour beforesunrise to sunset.

The same regulations andrestrictions that apply during theSeptember season apply during


Say goodbye to 2010, whichwas a pretty darn good one formost Michiana sportsmen.

It was a season of bigwalleyes, heavy antlered deer, andgood bluegill action. LakeMichigan trout and salmon fish-ing was spectacular at times andthe spring turkey hunt was prettydarn good on both sides of thestate line.

I reference both sides of thestate line because much of whathappens in southwest Michiganimpacts Hoosiers, too. In addi-tion to the fact many of us like tofish and hunt in the nearby state,there is an overlap in policiesthat impact Lake Michigan andrivers.

It wasn't a perfect year,though. The St. Joseph Riversteelhead run was miserable(again) and bass fishing was lessthan spectacular for most of us.

And, as always, there weresome political issues that poppedup throughout the year that left asour taste in sportsmen's mouths.

So, as we look ahead into anew year, here are some seasonalleftovers to ponder:

Will the deer regulationchanges that the Indiana DNRproposed in January be wellreceived by sportsmen?

Can Hoosier deer hunters beconvinced to kill enough antler-less deer to reduce the herd in trou-blesome areas?

Will Indiana wildlife man-agers finally admit that the con-tinued increase in trophy buckkills is due to the one-buck rulethat so many hunters embrace?

Will the EHD disease thatkilled several deer last fall innorthern Indiana and southwestMichigan come back this year?

What has happened to the St.Joseph River's Skamania?

Can the coho stocking pro-gram Indiana is implementing forthe St. Joe this year help fill thevoid created by poor steelheadruns?

Will we get enough precipita-tion to bring river and lake waterlevels back to normal?

Can the larger walleyesstocked in the St. Joseph twoyears ago meet angler expecta-tions of more keepers and biggerfish this year and next?

Will someone break theIndiana walleye record in LakeMichigan this year?

When the new 6 Span BridgePublic Boat Launch opens thisspring, how much will ElkhartCounty officials charge boaters touse the facility?

Will the launch proceeds gotoward future access maintenance -

Outdoors stuff to ponder for 2011

LOUIESTOUT

as they should - or will the cash behanded over to the river associa-tion as officials have suggested?

Do you think IndianaGovernor Mitch Daniels will real-ly return dedicated LakeEnhancement funds he raided fromthe DNR last year to pad generalfund coffers?

Doesn't the EPA understandthat more ethanol additives togasoline threaten the perform-ance of our outboards and smallengines?

Could this be the year thatfish managers declare LakeManitou free of hydrilla and openit to year-round boating?

How many fender benders andheated arguments will arise thisyear at the poorly redesigned JunoPublic Access?

Have Michigan engineerswho design public accesses everlaunched a boat?

Bass tourney schedulesSome of Michiana's popular

tournament organizations haveannounced 2011 schedules.

MATS: The Michiana AnglersTournament Series will return thisseason under the leadership ofChris Shreve and Bill Chris.

Tournament entry fee is $60plus an annual fee of $20 perteam. The circuit will limit entriesto 30 boats per event.

The 2011 schedule is April23, Koontz; May 21, BarbeeChain; June 18, St. Joseph Riverat Six Span; July 16, Eagle/Juno;

Wawasee (DNR Ramp); Aug. 27,Winona Lake (Fairgrounds); Sept.17, Wawasee (DNR Ramp); andOct. 15, St. Joe River (MaggiesLanding).

Hoosier Pro entry is $110plus $40 team membership. Thatschedule is April 17, LaPorte'sPine and Stone lakes, (Stone LakeRamp); May 1 Lake Tippecanoe(Dance Hall); June 12, Manitou(DNR Ramp); Aug. 6, Wawasee (DNR Ramp);Aug. 21, Winona Lake(Fairgrounds); Sept. 25,Maxinkuckee (DNR Ramp); andOct. 9, Classic, St. Joe River(Maggies).

For information, call MitchHayes at (219) 716-4808.

Aug. 13, Paw Paw; Sept. 3,Palmer; and Sept. 24, Classic.

For more information, callShreve at (574) 298 2001.

R&B Bass Circuit:Tournament dates are April 17,Manitou Lake; May 15, LakeMaxinkuckee; June 4; LakeWawasee, July 23, Klinger Lake;Aug. 20, Webster Lake; Sept. 10,Palmer Lake; and Oct. 1 Classic.

Entry Fee is $70 per eventwith an annual $25 membershipfee, all of which goes into theClassic payoff. All entries in theevents are paid back in prize win-nings.

For more information visitwww.randbbasscircuit.com or callAndy Buss, (574) 993-3028.

Angler's Choiceand Hoosier Pro tour-naments: Entry feefor Angler's Choiceis $160 plus a $35per person member-ship.

The scheduleincludes April 23,Wawasee (DNRRamp); May 7, LakeTippecanoe (DanceHall); June 4,Manitou (DNRRamp), Aug. 13

The author with anice LaPorte Countylargemouth. Photoby Josh Lantz.


JIMBIDDLE

name of the game is bluegill --especially at Macy’s Slip onWawasee. Lake Webster is pro-ducing some bass with tip ups,and Chapman is the place to tryfor crappie. Gary is expectingnorthern pike action to reallystart heating up toward the end ofthe month.

Saint Joseph RiverDick Parker at Parker’s

Central Bait & Tackle inMishawaka says the wintersteelheading is slow. Areaanglers are taking some smallbluegill and crappie on beemoths and spikes.

West Central IndianaTerry Raines from Twin

Lakes Fish & Game inMonticello tells me the bluegillaction is pretty good around TallTimbers Marina. Terry saysfolks are waiting for the ice togo out and for the walleyes tostart hitting -- hopefully laterthis month.

Southeast IndianaTag Nobbe at Brookville

Lake Guide Services inBrookville says the small pondsin the area are producing somenice bluegills. If want to dosome brown trout fishing (artifi-cial lures, catch & release only)you can give it a shot in the riverbelow the dam. Tag says youcan fish open water on the theupper half of the lake for a cat-fish or possibly a walleye.

northern pike are being caughtout of the Kankakee River nearEnglish Lake with large goldenroaches.

Southwest IndianaRick Shedd from the Fishin

Shedd says Monroe is prettyslow this time of year and sug-gests that bluegill and crappieanglers head to Ogle Lake,Griffey Lake or a local farm pond

with some bee moths.

From the sound of thingsyou may have to work at it if youwant to catch fish this month.Somehow, work and fishingdon’t seem to go together dothey?

S e eyou next

month.

East Central IndianaEd Gipson at Peacepipe Bait

& Tackle at Andrews reportssome great crappie action. Edsays they’re pulling in somereally nice slabs using beemoths, spikes, minnows and icej igs . Ed expects catfish tostarting biting again when theice goes out.

Lake MichiganEd McCain from Mik-Lurch

Tackle in Hammond says the har-bors are iced up, so most of thearea’s action can be found in thesmall ponds around the area.Willow Slough is the spot forcrappies and some nice sizednorthern pike are also beingcaught on tip-ups with big gold-en roaches.

Central IndianaKatie McCalla from the Bait

Barn in Indianapolis reportsgreat crappie action on Geist,Summit Lake and the coves onEagle Creek. Bee moths andspikes are what they seem tolike. Kay says the local pondsare a good bet too, and the BaitBarn has all the equipment youneed for ice fishing.

Northwest IndianaMike Waller at A&L Bait &

Tackle in North Judson tells meBass Lake is hot for bluegill,crappie and walleye. Bee mothswill get you the bluegills andcrappies, while minnows willare taking the walleyes. Good

Welcome to February.The best thing about

February is that it’s followed byMarch. I don’t know about you,but I’m getting tired of the coldand snow.

If you like ice fishing, it hasbeen great this year. Ed McCainat Mik-Lurch Tackle says there’sbeen a real surge in the number offolks getting into the sport.

Personally, I think Februaryis a great month to get ready forfishing. Put on new line, cleanout your tackle box and put allyour lures in the right spots. Ofcourse, after you get your tacklebox in order, make plans toattend the Ford IndianapolisBoat, Sport and Travel Show thismonth. Attending the show willget you pumped up for the springfishing season and also help youfill any voids in that nice, neattackle box you created.

Now let’s see what the peo-ple who know say aboutIndiana’s fishing prospects thismonth.

North Central IndianaGary Enos at Ye Old Tackle

Box in North Webster says the

Last month, Louie Stout reportedon a giant Lake Michigan wall-eye caught by angler TripGillreath in the Michigan Cityharbor. The story inspiredBob Sliwa of North Judsonto send us this photo of the33” monster he caughtwhile casting a Fat Rapfrom the breakwall atthe mouth of BurnsDitch in Portage,4:30pm onNovember 21. Bobsaid he hated to killthe big fish, but hebelieved it might be astate record. It mayhave been. After sev-eral hours trying totrack down a certi-fied scale, the big‘eye weighed 13 lbs.4 oz. Photo provided.


The Best Turkey Guide I Ever Met

RICKSTORY

A good turkey hunting guideknows how to hunt, set up and callfor his clients. A great turkeyguide has all those skill down patand also has an intimate knowl-edge of the whereabouts andhabits of the gobblers in hishunting area.

He doesn't know just some ofthe gobblers he hunts… he knowsall of them!

The best turkey guide I evermet is Kevin Small of KT'sTrophy Hunts near Memphis,Missouri, that gobbler Mecca ofthe Show-Me state. He's been inoperation with his son, Tyler, forthe better part of the last twodecades, has thousands of acres ofland in northern Missouri andsouthern Iowa and has a near-per-fect success rate on behalf of hisclients year- in and year- out.

He is a turkey hunting phe-nomenon, a force of nature in asport that forgives very few mis-takes. His clients come back timeand again to experience perhapsthe finest hunting for eastern wildturkeys that America has to offer.

Northern Missouri's turkey

hunting hot spots are legendaryamong that legion of gobbler get-ters who travel to five, six, sevenor more states each year to pursuethe greatest hunting sport in thenation. An early morning visit toa breakfast restaurant inKirksville, Memphis, Lancasteror any number of other northernMissouri hunting communitiesmay yield sightings of turkeygurus from Missourians Ray Eyeand the Drury brothers to NewYork's Ernie Callandrelli orGeorgia's Michael Waddell.Everybody wants to hunt northernMissouri's out-sized, loud-voicedgobblers and Kevin Small andKT's Trophy Hunts are right in themiddle of the action!

A Spring, 2010 hunting tripwith Small and TV producersBrian and Mark Smith ofLightfield's Wild Adventures(Sportsman Channel, checklocal listings), yielded plenty ofbirds, some great hunts and, liter-ally, a graduate course in turkeyhunting. Small, as friendly anddownright comedic hunting guideas you'll ever meet, hosted us athis comfortable lodge nearMemphis and served as expertchef, chauffeur, hunting guide,substitute camera man and mentorfor the TV shoot.

Each evening found us scout-ing turkeys for the next morn-ing's hunt. Small would send hisother, working guides out to vari-ous properties he leases exclu-sively for his hunters to keep asharp eye peeled for lonely gob-

blers likely to come to a call thenext morning.

“A major key to making sureour hunters have success is know-ing what the various gobblers aredoing every day,” he explained. “If we have gobblers with hens, wetend to let them move through thebreeding cycle a little longerbefore we put our hunters onthem. “By putting in our timewith a pair of binoculars and someshoe leather, we tend to not spenda lot of time trying to work birdsthat are not likely to be receptiveto our calling.”

It's a before- dawn- to-aftersundown kind of existence forSmall and his crew of local turkeyguides, virtually all of whom grewup in the area and know the hunt-ing spots as well as their ownbackyards.

Scouting turkeys in northernMissouri is aided greatly by thebirds themselves, which have apenchant for strutting and other-wise hanging out in green fields,pastures, picked crop fields andany other open spot they canfind.

“You get a real chance to seewhat the birds are doing whenthey're hitting the fields,” Smallsaid. “You not only get to see ifgobblers are in the area, you getto see how they're responding tothe hens, to the jakes and to othermature Toms. That really helpswhen you're deciding on huntingtactics.”

Hunting gobblers in fieldscan be a tremendous challenge for

many hunters, but a few sessionswith a field hunting expert likeSmall can really help clarify thetactics that work when callingturkeys that can see your callingposition from hundreds of yardsaway.

“We don't always use decoys,but under the right conditions,they are very helpful, dependingon where we are in the breedingcycle, which decoys we use andhow we set them up,” he advises.“We stay away from blinds,though. I know they aren't a prob-lem in many parts of the country,but our experience has shown thatthese turkeys of ours just don'trespond very well when there's ahunting blind on their turf.”

The Wild Adventures TV crewtrip with Small in May 2010 last-ed two mornings andyielded three downedgobblers, all big,mature Missouri birds.It also produced somegreat video shots ofaction-packed hunts,including one of aboss bird who trav-

The author (R) andLightfield WildAdventures TV host,Mark Smith (L) displaythe results of theirhunts with KT’s trophyHunts in northern MO.

elled the better part of 400 yardsacross an open field to do battlewith a jake decoy that, he wasconvinced, challenged him andwas trying to steal his hens!

How did Small work that lit-tle piece of magic? Why don't youcheck him out for yourself? Ipromise that you'll learn as muchabout turkey hunting in his areaas anyone else in the commercialguiding business can possiblyteach you in just a few mornings.His prices are extremely reason-able, his food is wonderful and thesleeping arrangements at hislodge are perfectly comfortable.Contact him at KT's TrophyHunts, RR1, Box 170, Rutledge,MO, 63563. Phone (660) 651-0655. And check out his websiteat www.ktshunts.com.


The appeal of Indiana’s muskie fishing is the high density of fish present inlakes like Webster in Kosciusko County, where biologists have estimated oversix adult muskies per acre Here, the author holds a Lake Webster fish push-ing 40-inches caught with fishing guide Chris Walker.

MUSKIE FISHING

Few realize how fortunate weare in Indiana. We have some ofthe best muskie fisheries in thecountry right out our back door.

I recently had the chance togo fishing with muskie hunterand guide, Chris Walker ofIndiana Fishing Adventures, onKosciusko County’s LakeWebster and Lake Tippecanoe.While fishing was tough I did gettwo fish in the boat, which,instead of climaxing a lifelongdream, made me hunger for moreof these massive toothy critters.Like many other newbies, I cameaway with more questions thananswers. I recently caught upwith Chris, and he gave me theanswers I was looking for.

AG -- Every article I have readsays to hunt muskie on the out-side edge of vegetation, yet youare wildly successful targetingfish suspended over deep water.What do you know that otherexperts aren't telling? CW --They will move shallow tospawn, but once that is done theyfollow the baitfish back out intodeeper water, and suspend two totwelve feet down. The muskies wefished for were targeting balls ofbluegill in deep water.

AG -- Many experts claim smallerbass-size stick baits work fine onmuskie, yet every lure on yourboat was over 8” long. Why?CW -- When over open water, youwant to use a larger bait that real-ly moves a lot of water so the fishcan sense it on their lateral lineand key in on it.

AG -- If a newbie like me is inter-

ested in becoming a muskiehunter, what gear should we startout with? CW -- You never want aweak link in the chain. The mostcommon mistake is to use a cheapleader and hook it to a thirty-dol-lar bait and try to catch a forty-five inch muskie. I prefer to useeighty-pound braided line, notbecause the muskie is going tobreak your line; if you rat-nestand suddenly stop your line with abig bait you're going to snap alighter line and lose your bait.

AG -- The gear you use sees muchmore use and abuse than that ofthe average fisherman. What doyou use? CW -- I like a heavy-action eight or nine-foot St.Croix muskie rod, eighty poundtest braided line, a one-hundredthirty pound test fluorocarbonleader and a Shimano Calcuttareel. The reel has to stand up tocasting and working big baits.You'll end up spending more inthe long run if you go cheap.

AG -- Articles claim a muskiehunter should have a bucktail rigand a stick bait rig. What is thedifference? CW -- A bucktail rigneeds to be more limber to throwlighter baits. A stick bait rig isusually shorter and has morebackbone to throw and workheavy stick baits. If you use amore limber rod, it's not going towork the bait well.

AG -- If you were limited to threelures, what would they be? CW --I like top waters. I use a walk-the-dog type bait, like a Zara Spook,but larger. I also like a doublecowgirl-style bait, which is a

large, double-bladed bucktail.Since they have come out, theyhave won more tournaments andcaught more trophy fish than anybait on the market. The lastwould be a big swim bait like aBull Dawg or Kickin' Minnow.You can't beat a big rubber bait onIndiana fish.

AG -- Every tackle shop inAmerica sells steel leaders forpike and muskie, yet you use fluo-rocarbon. Why? CW -- The fluo-rocarbon leader lasts muchlonger, without kinking.

AG -- I normally catch fish twen-ty to twenty-eight inches, yet wedidn't catch anything smallerthan thirty-eight inches. What isyour secret? CW -- We were tar-geting bigger fish out over openwater. Smaller fish hang nearweeds and shallower water so theywon't get eaten by their biggersisters.

AG -- Muskies have a habit of fol-lowing a bait and striking right atthe boat. You did a study on this.What was that percentage? CW --Forty-seven percent, so almosthalf of the fish hit at the boat. Bynot doing a figure eight, you aremissing half your fish.

AG -- Standard muskie tactics callfor doing a figure eight at the endof each cast to entice those fol-lowers. Any advice on that? CW-- Keep your circles as big as pos-sible. That's the biggest mistakepeople make. Big fish can't turnaround and bite their own tail.You also want to speed up in theturns, slow down on the

straights, and work the bait upand down in the water column.

AG -- When using circle hooks onlive bait, you've seen too manyfolks try to set the hook too soonand lose the fish. What is theproper technique? CW -- With acircle hook sticking up thoughthe bait's nose let the fish goabout forty-five seconds so theystart moving away from you.Give the rod a light sweep so thefish feels tension. They will jerktheir heads in the opposite direc-tion and pull that circle hook

right into the corner of theirmouth, and it is a caught fish.

AG -- What size and brand of cir-cle hook do you prefer? CW -- Iuse a Gamakatsu 4/0 to a 6/0 withlive bluegills and smaller suck-ers.

AG -- If you were going to amuskie lake you have never beento before, how would you pre-pare? CW -- I am going to find

By Alan Garbers

Continued on Pg. 16

25 Questions with an Indiana Muskie Guide

0 INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2011© February, 2 0 11 Edition

Roman Catholic Priest,Father David Hassertrades his white collar forcamouflage and blazeorange during Indiana’sdeer hunting seasons.Photo by author.

Father David Hasser said aprayer for a safe and fruitful day.But this particular morning hetraded his white collar for camou-flage clothing. Then, in the pre-dawn darkness, he shouldered theThompson Center 50-calibermuzzleloader and began his slowwalk down a rural lane, eventual-ly disappearing into a thicket ofhardwoods.

He was heeding another call-ing. His first was immersinghimself into the life of a RomanCatholic priest. His second wasthat of a hunter.

The associate pastor of St.Patrick and St. Joan of Arc churchtook his seat in the naturalground blind he had found weeksearlier. Then, as the sun made itsslow ascent to the heavens, hebegan taking in the beauty ofGod's creation. Birds chirped,squirrels barked and the scream ofa hawk pierced the cold morningair. Trees seemed to bow in uni-son, pushed by a strong northwind.

For him, hunting is profound-ly more than simply harvestinggame. During Mass he offersCommunion to parishioners.During deer season he finds anadditional way to commune withGod and nature.

In rural Tippecanoe County,Father Hasser grew up a typicalyoung boy. He enjoyed playingin small creeks, strolling thoughfarm fields and exploring neigh-boring woodlots. The outdoorswas always part of his life.Growing up in the country, heknew about hard work. He helpedhis family harvest crops, cleared

and worked ground and tended toother outdoor related chores. Hewitnessed firsthand the relation-ship between our natural environ-ment and human subsistence.

Even though he was raised inthe country, it wasn't until afterhis ordination from seminaryschool that he quenched his thirstfor hunting. Ironically his birth-day coincides with the openingof deer season.

The very first year he hunted hesucceeded in taking a doe. Was itdivine intervention? This seasonhe collected his first trophybuck, a beautiful eight-pointerthat will soon grace the wall ofthe parish rectory.

“I hope to start hunting water-fowl in the near future,” saidFather Hasser. “It will give meadditional opportunities to enjoythe outdoors when deer seasonends.”

He isn't the only clergymanwho enjoys hunting. “There areother priests in our diocese whohunt deer, squirrels and gamebirds,” he noted. “We have a con-crete perspective on the beautifulcreation and how to live a Godlylife within it.”

For those who may think it iswrong for a person who epito-mizes true holiness to take partin the hunting tradition, guessagain. “I see God in everything Ido and I would never do anythingincompatible with my faith,'Father Hasser said respectfully.

For those who believe theBible contradicts the tradition ofhunting, nothing could be fartherfrom the truth. Hunting, as anactivity, is as old as man himself

and has been preserved throughthe scriptures. The Church evenlists Saint Hubert as the patronSaint of hunters.

“The Bible is loaded with refer-ences to hunting, fishing andarchery,” he explained. “It alsogives some of the most beautifuldescriptions of wildlife andnature ever written. Sure somepeople may interpret things dif-ferently, but there is no doubtGod provides different forms oflife with different roles and differ-ent values.”

The outdoors connection runsdeep among the priests of St.Pats and St. Joan. Even FatherTed Dudzinski, pastor of theparish, originally held a careerwithin Indiana's state park sys-tem prior to choosing his voca-tion among the Catholic reli-gion.

If you would see them on theroad, they may be hard to recog-nize. Both priests gave up moretraditional modes of transporta-tion and now drive JeepWranglers. Father Hasser's evensports additional off-road stylelights mounted to the sides of hiswindshield. “Parts of our Dioceseare pretty rural and the Jeep helpsme fulfill parish duties, especial-ly during times of inclementweather” he said. ”Of course italso comes in handy when I get togo hunting,” he added, with ayouthful smile.

“Priests are still human andhave hobbies like everyoneelse,” Father Hasser explained.“We live the same life in the sameworld as everyone else, evenwhile our vocation is a call to

OUTDOORSMAN PROFILE From Hunting to Homilies By John Martino

prepare for eternal life in heav-en.” The catholic priest went onto explain how he sees hunters asmore than mere spectators of cre-ation. “Ethical sportsmen andwomen immerse themselves com-pletely in God's creation and takean active, hands-on role in help-ing manage the gift he gave us.”

Father Hasser also believeshunting has drawn him closer tomany of his parishioners. “Interms of my ministry, it's some-thing many people can relatetoo,” he explained. “When theyfind out I enjoy hunting, it makesthem feel more comfortable andthey realize I am a normal personfollowing Jesus' call.”

“Catholics, as well as allhunters, should remember theirrole as stewards,” Father Hasserreiterated. “Hunters shouldn't beout there just to take;they must give back aswell.” “There is a greatchallenge in hunting. Icould never hunt any-thing I wouldn't make fulluse off.”

For many, includingFather Hasser, our naturalworld is physical proof ofa Being far greater thanman. “Being out in ourgreat outdoors and

enveloped among the toweringtrees is like being in God's per-sonal cathedral,” he stated. “Thisis totally his place.”

And for the many days spent inthe woods, only to come homeempty handed, Father Hasser stillconsiders it time well spent.“God speaks to us in many differ-ent circumstances,” he noted.“But one of the most direct isthrough nature.”

“For me, the experience ofbeing alone in the woods withnothing but your thoughts andprayers is spiritual,” he contin-ued. “When I'm in the woods Ifeel I have a front row seat tosome of the most beautiful, awe-some places the Lord has made.“For him, immersing himself inour natural environment truly isspending time in God's country!

February, 2 0 11 Edition INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® 2011© Page 1 1


It's been another ugly winter acrossthe upper-Midwest. Heavy snows blew inearly and winter storms kept pounding us.The birds have been beaten up by this con-stant barrage from Mother Nature. Sheneeds to display a little benevolence. I'dlike to know what it was that got her somad. When we get weather that is hard onthe bird population there is a lot of discus-sion on the effects on wildlife and what's tobe done about it. It's time again to revivethe argument about whether food plots are agood thing for pheasants and quail.Sportsmen, landowners and wildlife biolo-gists have been debating it for years. Thecamps break down to those who favor morenesting cover and those that like a morebalanced approach.

The nesting cover camp says that foodplots aren't needed, since winter food isgenerally abundant and is not a limitingfactor during most years for pheasants,quail and other wildlife. And indeed, theyare right; starvation is very rare, particular-ly for pheasants. Better, they say, to putlimited space for habitat into a cover thatproduces young.

Those with a broader view of the com-plex of annual habitat necessary for gamebirds view things differently. They reasonthat the relationship between food, wintercover, movement and bird mortality makefood plots a critical component in uplandwildlife management. The point is thatwhen infrequent catastrophic winters dooccur, they are the exclamation points thatdrive home the importance of food plots forthe kind of weather emergencies that can-not be predicted. They say it's easier tobring your birds in for a soft landing byplanning for the worst and investing infood plots each year, than it is to rejuve-nate a decimated post-crash population?

What's Game Bird Biology Got ToDo With Food?

Regardless of winter severity, manybiologists and plenty of sportsmen consid-er food plots an essential part of good gamebird management. Their reasoning isstraightforward: Well-planned food andcover plots help establish safe foragingpatterns. That provides high-energy foodnear cover, minimizing movements whichhelps carry more birds through the winter.

It makes perfect sense. This time ofthe year there is no bird wanderlust. Theprotective nature of cover on the landscapehas been transformed as stubble and weedpatches become buried in blowing snow.Birds concentrate in heavy roosting covermost of the time, catching a little sun whenthey can. They venture only as far as need-ed for food, and those forced to forage fur-ther from escape cover are exposed togreater threat of predation. Food near theseislands of heavy winter habitat can bequickly reduced, even without deer andturkey's munching on it, too. Even in amild winter, the closer secure winter coverand food are positioned to each other, the

more upland wildlife will benefit. And,adjacent food plots with the correct designenhance the ability of even modest wintershelter and significantly reduce mortality.

Besides keeping birds close to escapecover, there is one more basic reason forfood plots. Movement in winter has bio-energy costs. Female pheasants and bob-whites must do more than stay alive--theymust actively gain weight through the win-ter. There is a strong correlation betweenspring body weight and successful chickproduction. Well-placed food patchesrestrict unnecessary travel, save energy,and provide dependable food to carry femalebirds to spring in peak condition. Then, ifall the other stars line up (like favorablenesting and brood rearing weather), youshould see more birds next fall.

What's Food?

There's nothing mysterious about thecrops that work well for game bird foodplots. Consider the diverse grain countrythat pheasants thrive in across the US andyou know that they are not picky eaters,and there are some food habits clues there.Here in the Midwest corn and sorghums arestaple foods (see Table). Planted separatelyor in combinations, they retain grain onstalks, stand well in winter weather andprovide very high-energy food. Largeblocks of corn, and combinations of grainand forage sorghums can also provideexcellent cover. By comparison, wheat,soybeans, millets, rye and buckwheat --good food sources -- are often buried bysnow.

There are also some great food plotmixes available commercially. They comein combinations that target specific situa-tions for wildlife. With mixes, it is impor-tant to select the combinations and maturi-ty appropriate for your area and realize that

If You Want More Birds Food Plots Ar

Howard Communications Photo.


these, too, are crops - you must fertilize theplot and control weeds to avoid excessivecompetition.

And speaking of weeds, natural foodsshould be encouraged, too. There are somepretty simple ways to get that job done.Ragweed, for example, makes folks miser-able with pollen while producing an abun-dant fat and protein rich seed crop thatstays on the plants into the winter-nutri-tious stuff that quail and songbirds love.During the summer, ragweed greens aredined on by deer and provide brood habitatfor many gamebirds.

You could buy ragweed seed for a lot ofmoney, but I would suggest just disturbingthe soil for the price of a couple gallons offuel. Since ragweed seed persists in the soilfor decades--all you have to do is rip and

tear! Best management includes simplespring and early summer disking, sprayingherbicides like glyphosate (Round-Up) tokill grass and encourage useful annualbroadleaves, and burning to set back natu-ral succession.

What's Enough and Where?

Food plots can be established almostanywhere, including CRP and WRP lands,or right next to your farm grove-and thecritical design factors are location and size.The key is locating next to heavy wintercover frequented by upland wildlife. Block-type food plots are preferable to smaller,linear food plantings. Putting large foodplots on the windward side of heavy woodyand herbaceous winter cover (generally the

northwest) will make that cover more effec-tive. If this is not possible, then link thefood plots to traditional winter cover withcorridors of escape cover that create safetravel. Where winter cover is scarce, 10-acre-plus food plots can provide all thefood and shelter that birds need.

What if there is a corn field on the nextdoor neighbor's place that the birds feed ineach year? Does that reduce the need foryour food plots? Use the old settler's rule.If you have to cross Indian Territory to getto the feed bunk, better bring the herd clos-er to the barn. Birds moving significantdistances from cover to food invite lossesto predation and weather. Take an objectivelook at your area's habitat and the cover onadjacent properties, and factor in a toughwinter. Then common sense, and maybesome advice from a wildlife professional,can help you to determine how to proceed.

If your plots must be small, minimizedrifting by establishing snow traps (leave4-6 rows windward, then harvest 12+ adja-cent rows as a snow catch). This sameapproach can be used to make wetlands, andsmall patches of woody cover more effec-tive wintering areas-by placing food plotson their windward side to catch snow beforeit enters the winter roosting cover. Linkany nearby satellite food plots to the bestwinter cover with travel corridors of heavyvegetation.

Remember-if you are establishing foodplots, plan for each new year to hold thewinter from hell, even though it likely isnot coming. Don't create food plots that

will be buried by the first blizzard. Thereare two objectives you are trying toachieve, restricting unnecessary travel,and providing high quality food all winterlong to carry more females to breeding sea-son in good condition. If you have donethose things, and paid attention to thehabitat needed in spring and summer forreproduction and chick survival, you willhave done your part. Then, cross your fin-gers , because the rest is up to MotherNature. If she decides to smile during thenesting and brood rearing season, next fallshould see more birds.

re an Absolute Necessity


I’ve spent more than a few days making getawayplans during the month of February. The weather is toocold to do much outdoors and the outdoor sports showsserve up a smorgasbord of vacation possibilities.

But there are always challenges. I look for three things in a vacation -- hunting, fish-

ing and family. I’m happiest when I can hunt or fish for afew days while also joining my family in doing the thingsthat they like to do while exploring a new and excitingarea. But let’s face it. In today’s economy it is extremelydifficult to find these types of family-oriented outdoorvacations at a price an outdoor writer can afford. That’swhy I’m so excited to tell you about the Fox Road Cabins.

Located near the City of Washington in SouthwestIndiana -- less than a gas tank away from anyplace in thestate -- the Fox Road Cabins will quickly become a favored destination for any sportsman who stays there. Theaccommodations themselves will surprise you. The cabinsare tucked well off the road and are well out of sight of anyother buildings. The views are truly pristine.

New, clean and beautifully furnished, the cabins sleepseven to nine adults in three separate bedrooms. Like afine, western lodge, it is the kind of place where a familycan totally relax. They also feature full, modern kitchensand full bathrooms. Enjoy the massive, stone, wood burn-ing fireplaces created from Indiana limestone or fish rightoff of the wrap-around porch of your cabin.

When I say the cabins sit right over the water, I mean that they sit right over the water -- which, by the way, isthe beautiful, private, stocked 18-acre Lake Coopemmadithat owners Tony and Mikki Graber built themselves.

My kids and I fished the lake extensively on our firstvisit to the Fox Road Cabins last June. Expect to catch afish on almost every cast. We did. Tony and Mikki provideguests with small boats to explore every corner of thelake. There is also a screened in private fish cleaning sta-tion with full electricity, running water and room for up tosix adults. There is a beautiful hiking trail goes all the wayaround the lake, as well as a concrete boat ramp in case youwant to bring your own boat.

In the event you and your family get tired of catchingfish out of the backyard, there are two exceptional fishing destinations within ten miles of the cabin. Dogwood Lakelies just down the road at the Glendale State Fish andWildlife Area. There are two public ramps servingDogwood Lake’s 1,400 acres, and the lake is known for itslarge panfish -- including bluegill and redear sunfish up to

13-inches. Boat rentals are available at the DNR office forless than $30, and multiple ponds dot the rest of Glendaleand provide additional fishing opportunities.

The other fishing attraction is nearby West BoggsLake -- a body of water that is well known to Indiana’slargemouth bass anglers. While a variety of species areavailable at West Boggs, there may be no better place inIndiana to catch a true, lunker largemouth. Many tourna-ments are held at West Boggs each year, and it isn’tuncommon to see seven and eight-pound fish at the weigh- ins -- sometimes more than one per boat. West Boggs Parkhas a great boat ramp with ample parking, a beach, golfcourse, and an Amish buffet-style restaurant. All of thislies just down the road from the Fox Road Cabins.

This scenic part of Indiana offers much to visitors inaddition to great fishing. The area’s Amish influence adds richness to the experience -- especially if your family is inthe market for quilts, furniture, or baked goods! The areaalso supports a variety of great restaurants, antiques,shopping, and unique festivals. If you are interested ingaming, Fox Road Cabins is situated less than 30 milesfrom the 84,000 square foot French Lick Casino, wherevisitors can enjoy over 1,200 slots, table games, and a12-table poker room.

I had so much fun during my first visit, I returned tothe Fox Road Cabins in December. It is so close and soaffordable that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a late

season muzzleloader hunt. In addition to white-tailed deer, the Glendale State

Fish and Wildlife Area (which actually abuts the Fox Road cabins property) provides great hunting for pheasant,quail, rabbit, squirrel and turkey. In addition to a fat doe, Ibagged the most beautiful coyote I’ve ever seen. The rugwill serve as a permanent reminder of what has becomeone of my favorite locations for a weekend getaway!

Owners Tony and Mikki Graber have outdone them-selves in creating the ultimate outdoor retreat. The FoxRoad Cabins are so close and so affordable, but stayingthere makes you feel like you are hundreds of miles awayfrom life’s distractions.

Always interested in satisfying their visitors’requests, the Graber’s are currently working on a plan tobuild a new, one room, cabin that will suit the needs ofcouples looking for a smaller, more intimate setting. Youcan be assured that the new cabin will maintain the aspectof seclusion enjoyed by all visitors with an emphasis onromance for couples to enjoy.

So while you are shopping vacations while walkingthe floors of the outdoor sport and travel shows thismonth, don’t forget about the Fox Road Cabins in nearby Daviess County, Indiana. Better yet, call Tony and MikkiGraber at (812) 698-1142 to reserve your own great fami-ly getaway at the Fox Road Cabins right now, or find moreinformation online at www.foxroadcabins.com.

OUTDOOR GETAWAYS A Cabin on the Water: Daviess County Delight By Lance Davidson


www.zolmantire.com


25 Questions - Continued From Pg. 9

out what forage they have. I alsoneed to know what phase of thespawn the fish will be in. You cancall local guides, most will giveyou the information you need,even if you don't hire them.Lastly, get a map of the lake andbreak it down so you can targetthe areas they are going to be inthat time of year and what they aregoing to be eating.

AG -- What is you most excitingtechnique? CW -- Top-water, byfar. Muskie can blow a ten-foothole in the water or jump six-feetin the air and do back-flips.

AG -- If a muskie snaps at a topwater lure and misses, like theyoften do, should I keep reeling orpause the bait? CW -- Keepgoing, but don't set the hook andjerk the bait away from the fish.

AG -- What is the most commonmistake you see clients make?CW -- They have a follow anddon't go into their figure eight.They stop reeling, point at thefish and say, “OMG, there's one!”and the fish looses interest andswims away. Catch the fish first,and then be amazed!

AG -- If you could be on anymuskie lake in North Americaright now, where would it be? CW-- In Indiana it would be Webster,Tippecanoe, the Barbee Chain,and Bass Lake in southernIndiana. They are loaded with bigmuskies. Out of the state, itwould be Lake St. Clair. You canhave ten muskie days with someof them pushing fifty-three inch-es.

AG -- Is there a difference between

the way muskies act in LakeWebster, Lake Huron, or LeechLake? CW -- Yes, the muskieshere in Indiana have more compe-tition so they are more likely tobite. In other states there mightbe one muskie per acre. InWebster, there's seven muskiesper acre.

AG -- What is the best time ofyear to catch that once in a life-time fish? CW -- Pre-spawn.You're going to have femalesloaded with eggs and activelychasing bait fish.

AG -- Does catching a muskie everget old? CW -- No, it just makesyou feel old. Throwing big baitsand fighting big fish takes itstoll. I have carpel tunnel in myhands, shoulder issues, and kneeproblems from kneeling downdoing figure eights. I'm onlyfort y, but I feel like I'm eighty. Italso mentally wears you out. Ifyou get twenty-seven follows aday and none of them bite, itwears you down.

AG -- Fishing for shorelinemuskies seems impossible. Anyadvice for those muskie hunterswithout a boat. CW -- Because offlooding, muskies are now in theTippecanoe River and below theOakdale Dam near Monticello.Muskies are river fish, so yes,you can catch them from shorealong a river or below the dams.People also catch them off theirdocks using live suckers.

AG -- You practice catch andrelease. How do you convince aclient to let that once-in-a-life-time fish go? CW -- I let peopleknow up front I practice catch and

release only. If they don't likethat, they don't get in the boat.Also, replicas are so good thesedays you don't need to keep thefish. Joe Fittante (www.fittan-tereplicas.com) is considered oneof the best in the world, and hewill match your fish to a tee, andyou won't be able to tell the dif-ference, plus the fish is there tocatch again.

AG -- What have been the majoradvancements in musky fishingsince you have been fishing? CW-- Rods and leaders. Old rodsweighed a ton and wouldn't givethe action the baits needed. Nowthey're lighter, stronger, and bet-ter. It also used to be you could-n't get strong leaders, now youcan get one-hundred thirty poundfluorocarbon leaders that workgreat.

AG -- What is your most memo-rable muskie? CW -- Every onethat my clients catch is memo-rable. Plus, I catch muskies inLake Huron that go forty-eight tofifty-five pounds every year.

AG -- If you were King of Indianafor a day, what one regulationwould you change? CW -- I wouldraise the minimum size from thir-ty-six to forty-eight inches tomake Indiana lakes true trophyfisheries.

If you want to ask Chris aquestion of your own, visitwww.indianafishingadventures.co m, or visit him at theIndianapolis Ford Boat, Sport,and Travel Show Feb. 18-27where he will be giving seminarson Indiana muskie and small-mouth fishing.

This months answers From

Puzzle on Page 20

Muskie stocking ends at Loon Lake

DNR REPORT --The DNR Division of Fish

and Wildlife (DFW) plans to endits 32-year muskie stocking pro-gram at Loon Lake in WhitleyCounty.

The DNR first stockedmuskies in the 222-acre naturallake in 1978 to boost predationon small, over-abundant bluegillsand create muskie fishing oppor-tunities.

By stocking muskies in LoonLake, biologists theorizedbluegills that escaped predationwould have more food to eat andwould be able to grow larger.

“So much for theories,” saidJed Pearson, DNR biologist whohas managed the Loon Lakemuskie stocking program since itbegan. “What we hoped wouldoccur once muskies were in thelake just never happened.”

“Muskies won’t disappearfrom Loon Lake overnight,”Pearson said. “Fishermen willstill be able to fish for them formany years. Fingerlings that werejust stocked last fall could bearound for 10 years or more.”

Nearby muskie lakes includeWebster, Tippecanoe, James andthe Barbee chain.


The new FISH-FRY MINNOW® JIG from Northland®Fishing Tackle’s LIVE-FORAGE® BAITS series is thefirst ultra-realistic minnow-replica jighead. It’s aminnow, it’s a jig, it’s alive! It is part ofNorthland’s amazing lifelike series ofLIVE-FORAGE® BAITS that aredesigned to replicate fish fry andbaitfish to perfection. Each luresports hand-sculpted fins andtail, and is molded from light-weight metal to provide aslow injured baitfish actionwhen jigged, dragged ordropped on the freefall. www.northlandtackle.com

The Winchester SUPER X3 NWTF EXTREMETURKEY SHOTGUN comes in both 12 and 20 gaugemodels. The 12 ga. is a 3-1/2” chambered gun and the20 ga is a 3” chambered gun. Both feature a 24” Back-Bored barrel and an Invector-Plus Extra-Full ExtendedTurkey choke tube. The fully camouflaged guns featureMossy Oak Break-Up Infinity camo and the stock and fore-arm are covered with the protective Dura-Touch ArmorCoating. The guns have an adjustable rear sight and aTRUGLO fiber-optic front sight, and each is equipped withsteel sling swivel studs. An Inflex Technology recoil padhelps reduce felt recoil. Suggested retail is $1,399.99 -$1,559.99, and sales help raise funds for the NWTF’s crit-ical wild turkey conservation programs. www.winchester-guns.com

The new LUND IMPACT SERIES loads up on featuresand scales back on price. The all new 1775 Lund Impact isavailable with custom side console/windshield (SS) or fullwindshield (Sport) model. At 17-feet, 9-inches with anample 94-inch beam, the 1775 Impact will greatlyimprove your time on the water without denting your wal-let. Impact is also offered in the larger 1875 and econom-ical 1675 models. www.lundboats.com


FORT WAYNE --Got cabin fever? Venture out

from winter hibernation to planand book your next outdooradventure, customize your veryown rustic dream home, or simplyenjoy yourself at the 2nd annualOutdoor Sports, Lake & CabinShow, March 18-20 at the AllenCounty Memorial Coliseum inFort Wayne.

“If you love spending timeoutside and enjoying nature'sbounty, this is a show you won'twant to miss!” said DavidMarquart, director of operationsfor Coliseum Productions. “Ourshow is a total-lifestyle eventthat focuses on the things peoplelove to do, as well as the 'where'and 'how' people want to live.”

An anticipated 13,000 out-door enthusiasts will find morethan a hundred exhibitors, attrac-tions, seminars and clinics fea-tured in the following featureareas:

• Vacation and Travel• Hunting and Fishing• Log Cabin and Cottage Living• RVs and Motor Sports• Boating and Water Sports• Biking, Hiking and Fitness

“Last year's show was a hugesuccess, so this year we're takingit to another level-more contests,giveaways and deals than you canimagine!” Marquart said. “Weeven have a fishing outfitter set-ting up an immense 800 square-foot 'store on the floor,' full ofthe latest must-have products.”

Features you won't want tomiss include:

• National 'King of Corn'Contest sponsored by IndyCustom Cornhole. Whether youcall it 'bags' or 'cornhole,' enjoythis popular Midwestern gamewith tournaments, high-scorecontests, prizes and plenty of funfor kids of all ages and players ofall skill levels!

• Fly-fishing Contests. Gethands on with this exclusivesport all weekend long with freecasting, fly-tying lessons andclinics for all levels. Valuableprizes will be available for theexpert fly-fishermen, brought toyou by FlyMasters ofIndianapolis.

• 3D Pop-Up, Moving-TargetArchery Range, for kids andadults, beginners and experts.This extraordinary archery simu-lator is as close as you can get tobow hunting indoors! Feel free tobring your own bow if you prefer,or use ours. Prizes will be givenaway to the show's most talentedarchers.

• Bring your own deer mountfor free admission, and yourmount will be displayed in a spe-cial area. As an added benefit forsharing your hunt, you will auto-matically be registered to win amusket rifle.

• Handcrafted Log Home, builtand customized on location in a40'x40' space by Pioneer LogHomes Midwest. Feast your eyeson this jaw-dropping masterpiecewhile you dream about havingone of your very own someday!

• Seminars, demos, and more.Listen and watch fishing andarchery professionals, masterhunters, log and timber-framehome designers, leading travelexperts and more as they educatevisitors on a wide variety of top-ics on several stages throughoutthe show.

• Door prizes given awayevery hour, every day! Everyattendee will receive coupons andstore bucks from Dick's SportingGoods and Gander Mountain.Every hour, at least one luckyshowgoer wins a fabulous prize,such as a three-day fishing trip toHorwood Lake Lodge in Ontario,Canada or a VIP package to theMiranda Lambert concert March24 at the Coliseum, courtesy ofK105 FM.

• Massive 40-foot video gamearcade will offer free play to allattendees, including multi-playerhunting and fishing games.

• Fun activities for children.Northern Indiana LAKES maga-zine is bringing the beach to yourchildren-inside the Coliseum!Kids will have the opportunity tobuild sandcastles as they play inthe 400 square-foot “indoorbeach.”.

• Climb the Coliseum! Guestsof all ages can get a workoutwhile practicing their rock-climbing skills with the return ofthe climbing wall.

Show hours are Friday, 12noon to 9 pm; Saturday, 10 am to

9 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm.Admission is $10 per person;children 12 and under are admittedfree of charge.

This year, tickets are validthroughout the entire weekend.“Get the most bang for your buckby coming out to the show early!”Marquart said.

Showgoers can obtain $3discount coupons at the FortWayne Gander Mountain andDick's Sporting Goods stores fora limited period of time.

All visitors to the OutdoorSports, Lake & Cabin Show willreceive $10 in Gander bucks,along with a free subscription toLog Cabin Homes magazine, andcomplimentary copy of NorthernIndiana LAKES magazine.

The Memorial Coliseum

offers safe, secure and lightedparking for $4 per car. There is aconvenient drop-off and pick-upzone located in the circle drive,just off eastbound ColiseumBoulevard.

For more information on theOutdoor Sports, Lake & CabinShow, call 317.227.7419 or logon www.outdoorsportslakecabin-show.com.

Coliseum Productions is a team ofseasoned consumer event man-agement and sales professionalsthat produces top-notch showsacross the country. Their man-agement team has more than 50years of experience with morethan 3,000 events in 250 citiesin the US and Canada.

OUTDOOR EVENTS Adventure begins at Fort Wayne’s Outdoor Sports, Lake & Cabin Show


Crossword Answers

on page 16!

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Fly fishing and light tackle angling for trophybass and steelhead trout close to home inSouthwest Michigan & Northwest Indiana.Just an hour-and-a-half from Chicago, twohours from Fort Wayne and three hours fromIndianapolis. Drift boat/wade fishing forsteelhead, salmon and smallmouth bass.Trophy largemouth bass trips are done from awell-equipped 19’ center console. All forms oflight tackle are welcome. Full or half-day trips.Equipment provided! Want to learn to fly fish?I’ll teach you. Book now for best Spring dates.


Captain Reese was a busyman. We were a dozen miles offCarabelle, Florida in the Gulf ofMexico. There was what lookedto be an ICBM jutting up from thesea’s floor a few yards away, thewind was blowing enough to tossthe boat hazardously as we driftedpast the tower and Ken and I wereboth hooked up with some thingsunder the boat which were pullingvery hard.

The missile was actually oneof many communication towersthe U.S. Air Force has installed inthe northeastern Gulf of Mexicoused in training and missionscoming from Eglin, Tyndall andMacDill air bases. We were theretargeting snappers, groupers,barracuda, amberjack and any-thing else which gathered aroundthe structure and neither Ken or Ihad a clue what we were hooked tounder the boat.

Ken’s fish turned out to be ababy amberjack which the cap-tain hurriedly unhooked anddumped overboard, my fish wasmore substantial. Rather than

The Upperman Story

sorting out Ken’s tackle and dig-ging in the bait container foranother pinfish, he unracked aspinning outfit fitted with aplain, white jig, then handed it toKen and said, “Cast it as far as youcan towards the tower. Then let itsettle and once it sinks deep, startworking it back to the boat.

My fish continued to dog-down deep. It turned out to be anamberjack, but not a baby likeKen’s . This one’s first name mayhave been amber and it’s lastname jack, but it’s middle namewas “pull.” By the time I wasdone with it, I’d renamed it “OneTough Customer.”

But this story isn’t aboutAmber, Jack or the customer. It’sabout the seemingly commonwhite jig tied on the end of Ken’sline.

At the beginning of WorldWar II when the U.S. was gearingup to push Japan’s imperialistforces back towards their home-land, Navy planners realized a lotof the effort was going to be madeby sailors and aviators, some ofwhich were going to become warstatistics. Ships were fitted withlifeboats to offer a scant chanceof survival to Marines and Navy-men aboard torpedoed ships.Aviators were given life raftswhich could be inflated if theirplanes were hit over the ocean andgoing down.

Even with these safety nets,survival was no sure thing.

Accounts of men floating forweeks and months before rescueare common. One of the keys totheir survival was a simple, whitebuck-tail jig.

A Navy strategy team con-tacted Michael Learner, then thePresident of the InternationalGame Fishing Association, andposed what they thought would bea tough question. “If you wereputting together a survival kit tostock on lifeboats, what one fish-ing lure would you put in the kit?”

Learner’s answer was quickand too the point. “AnUpperman Jig.”

It had nothing to do withexpense, availability or anythingother than effectiveness. Thefact they were cheap, durable andcould be quickly manufactured insufficient numbers was only a sidebenefit. How many lives weresaved (and are still being saved)by these lures will never beknown.

The head of the jig is a limabean shape which gives it a morebaitfish-like silhouette. The tailof the jig is made of bucktail --white hairs off the tail of a white-tail deer, tied on with whitethread. It has a strong hook andmost importantly, nearly anypredator fish in the sea will mis-take the jig for something to eat.

Ken cast the jig and followedthe captain’s instructions, lettingit sink. Though I was still con-centrating on my amber-pull-

The Last ThoughtMIKESCHOONVELD

jack, I heard Ken announce he washooked-up but it wasn’t until myfish was flopping on the deckcould I give his action full atten-tion.

His fish turned out to be alarge, gag grouper.

“My favorite lure,” CaptainReese said. “I keep all my spin-ning outfits rigged up with them.Grab one and make a few castswhile I get things cleaned up andput us ready for action.”

It took me 4 casts before oneof the fish below slurped up theUpperman on the end of my line.Though I was fishing with a pieceof history, at the time I was moreinterested in just hanging on.

Look in most survival kitsstocked for today’s fliers andmariners and you’ll find a whitejig with 50 feet of fishing linewrapped around a sliver of card-board. Some things simplystand the test of time.

To schedule a trip with Capt.Reese, go to www. naturalworld-charters.com.

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