Indiana Outdoor News

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

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Vol. 2011 • Number 1 Like ION in print? Like us on

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

ICE FISHING PAGES 7 & 13

THE BIRTHDAY BUCK PAGE 9

TURKEY TRACKS PAGE 10

GONE AFIELD PAGE 14

TRAPPING PAGE 18

W W W. I N D I A N A O U T D O O R N E W S . N E T

RELAXED FISHING REGS IN PLACE AT WILLOW SLOUGH DNR REPORT -Fishing regulations designed to promote quality bluegill fishing at Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area’s J.C. Murphey Lake were temporarily relaxed starting Dec. 15. The change addresses the 1,000-acre Newton County lake’s unusually low winter water levels and allows anglers to take additional fish home rather than have them succumb to low oxygen levels under the ice and go to waste.

The 25-fish aggregate bag limit on panfish (i.e., bluegill, redear, and crappie) has been lifted, as was the 18-inch minimum size limit and two-fish daily bag limit on largemouth bass. In their place, statewide bag and size limits now apply for all species.

The change is necessary because of the combination of the lake’s low water levels, ice and snow cover, and fertile waters.

DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife biologists fear that many of the lake’s quality game fish will suffer an extensive fish kill this winter.

The lake, which was originally designed as a waterfowl hunting marsh, has long been renowned for its quality fishing opportunities; however, the same shallow, fertile waters that make for quality fishing make it especially prone to winter fish kills.

“Murphey is a high-

MICHIGAN REG CHANGE WILL BENEFIT INDIANA ANGLERS

Relaxed fishing regulations are in place at J.C. Murphy Lake until further notice. ION photo. risk/high-reward system when it comes to fish management,” said DNR fisheries biologist Jeremy Price. “Unlike most northern Indiana lakes, there fish kills are a very real possibility nearly every winter. However, the phenomenal panfish populations that can develop between major fish kill events make it well worth the effort to manage.”

The temporary relaxation of the regulations is scheduled to expire Feb. 28, at which time the 25-fish aggregate bag limit on panfish and the 18-inch bass size limit (and two-bass bag limit) will go back in effect. If conditions improve and the lake level rises significantly before then, the more restrictive original regulations may be reinstated sooner.

Continued on Pg. 4

FEDERAL RULING DEALS BLOW TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION USSA REPORT --The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a lower court ruling which protected active wildlife conservation efforts on National Wildlife Refuge lands.

In 2007, environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) after the FWS had restored wildlife watering devices within the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona on lands designated as “wilderness areas.” The watering devices are critical to the survival of bighorn sheep and other desert species.

The groups’ lawsuit claimed that the Wilderness Act prohibited the FWS from constructing the watering devices because the Act required that wilderness areas be left totally unaffected by human activities.

The Service, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation

January, 2011

(USSAF), and a host of other conservation groups argued that the wilderness designation within the Refuge did not prohibit the FWS from engaging in active wildlife conservation efforts. Overall, the USSAF argued that the Refuge was required to be managed to conserve wildlife pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, even on lands designated as wilderness areas.

In 2008, Judge Mary H. Murguia of the U.S. District Court for Arizona sided with the FWS and USSAF and found that the Wilderness Act did not prohibit active wildlife management in the Kofa areas.

By a 2 to 1 vote, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that decision. The Court found that the FWS could not construct or maintain watering devices unless it found that such

Continued on Pg. 15

Ryan Murrin photo.

DNR REPORT -The state of Michigan’s lake trout regulations will change in 2 0 11, and again in 2012.

According to Indiana DNR fisheries biologist Brian Breidert for the Hoosier portion of Lake Michigan, Indiana anglers could benefit by both changes.

In 2011, the state of Michigan’s lake trout season will open April 1 and end Oct. 31. In recent previous years, it opened May 1 and ended Sept. 30. In 2012, Michigan’s lake trout season will open Jan. 1 and close Oct. 31. Indiana does not have a closed season on lakers.

According to Breidert, as water temperatures warm each spring in Lake Michigan, Hoosier anglers have fantastic fishing opportunities for trout and salmon.

Breidert said that although Indiana has no closed season on lake trout, Hoosier anglers do not typically catch them in large numbers in Indiana waters. The reason is that lake trout are a long-lived species usually found in depths greater than 60 feet.

Those waters are primarily outside of Indiana’s boundaries of Lake Michigan.

Michigan’s regulation change should increase the harvest of lake trout coming back to Indiana ports in the spring.

COMPLIMENTS OF:

Michigan’s change also will simplify regulations for Hoosiers on one front but possibly create confusion on another. Indiana has a daily bag limit of five trout and salmon of which no more than two can be lake trout greater than 14 inches; Michigan has the same five-trout-and-salmon catch aggregate while no more than three may be lake trout, brown trout or steelhead trout with a size limit of 20 inches for lake trout.

“Increasing the fishing season could certainly show some increase in lake trout harvest, especially in the spring,” Breidert said. “For anglers fishing in April, I am sure many will see this as a positive move.”

Indiana anglers often fish within Michigan waters. In previous years they were required to release any lake trout they caught. Now they will be able to be included as part of the catch.

“As a result, we may see fewer salmon brought back to Indiana during the spring fishing season,” Breidert said. “The spring catch will be monitored during our annual creel program through which we analyze the long-term catch and harvest coming back to Indiana ports on southern Lake Michigan. Undoubtedly, we will see changes in our spring catch composition as a result of this change.”

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

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Calling All Smallmouth Anglers

River Bass Regulation Changes in the Works

JOSHLANTZ Like to catch smallmouth bass? Me too. Especially in Indiana’s rivers and streams.

These great, hard-fighting fish are found in nearly any Hoosier stream and are available to anyone willing to get their feet wet.

Black bass species (smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass) used to be largely unregulated in Indiana’s rivers and streams.

Thankfully, the State of Indiana afforded these fish some protection in 1998, when it established a 12” minimum size limit and a 5 fish daily bag limit.

Most of Indiana’s rivers and streams are still covered by these regulations, although discussions of a 14” minimum size limit have been taking place between anglers and biologists since the original regs were established in 1998. These discussions resulted in some additional “special” regulations for Sugar Creek and the Big Blue River making it through the rulemaking process. Since 2006, Sugar Creek bass anglers may only keep one bass over 20”, while Big Blue anglers must release all their bass between a 12 and 15” “slot limit”. These special regulations recognize that Indiana’s streams and watersheds are different and support and grow their smallmouth populations in different ways. Sugar Creek and Big Blue anglers tell us that these specialized regs have been successful in improving the quality of these two distinct and different smallmouth fisheries.

Lately, Indiana anglers have once again been asking for consideration of an increased minimum size limit for smallmouth bass in Indiana’s rivers and streams.

The issue was brought to the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) in 2009, but it was tabled due to the DNR’s work at that time on a strategic rivers and streams plan that, of course, included consideration of the smallmouth bass.

The issue resurfaced and appeared on the agenda at last month’s NRC advisory council meeting, where the IDNR proposed a 12-15” slot limit (similar to the special regulations already in place on the Big Blue) for black bass on ten of Indiana’s larger rivers and streams. This proposal came in place of the blanket 14” minimum size limit that was being proposed and asked for by many anglers and the Indiana Sportsmen’s Roundtable.

After healthy discussion, apparent compromise was reached on an alternative proposal which would apply the DNR’s recommended 12-15” slot limit statewide (as opposed to the ten rivers initially recommended by the DNR). It is my understanding that the existing, more restrictive

regs in place on Sugar Creek would remain unchanged under the compromise proposal.

The council voted to place the 12-15” slot limit proposal on the agenda of the full NRC. So, it seems likely that the proposal will be adopted by that rulemaking body. Once that happens, there will be multiple opportunities for public review and comment. If favorable comments are received, the proposed rule could become law. This entire process could take 12-18 months.

So, to be clear on what is being proposed, river and stream anglers would be able to keep up to 3 bass up to 12” in length and up to 2 bass over 15” in length.

Any bass in the 12”-15” slot would need to be released.

As stated earlier, folks can currently keep up to five bass

over 12” in most of Indiana’s rivers and streams, so the proposed change would serve to protect a larger number of bigger smallies from harvest while allowing them to reach an even larger size. That’s good if you like to catch bigger bass. The downside? There is none. Folks can still take home five bass to eat and will still be able to keep a trophy for the wall.

Indiana Outdoor News will keep our readers informed on this issue and will let you know where and when formal public comment on this matter is being requested.

Until then, remember what the real issue is here. The most important factors affecting the

Continued on Pg. 16

This months answers From Puzzle on Page 17

Some say more restrictive smallmouth regulations would only benefit catch and release anglers or “an elite few”. C’mon, man! Stan Zarnowiecki caught and released this 19-incher on the Saint Joseph River in South Bend. If someone else caught Stan’s fish, catch and release worked. Jay Anglin / www.anglinoutdoors.com photo.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

Register now for Upper Wabash Eagle Watch, Feb. 18-19 DNR REPORT -View bald eagles in the wild during the annual Upper Wabash Eagle Watch, Feb. 18 and 19, 2011. On Feb. 18, participants will meet at the Salamonie Interpretive Center at 5 p.m. and travel by caravan to the roost site, with one stop along the way. Coffee will be available at the roost site for a donation. This evening is for those who are unable to spend an entire afternoon watching eagles. On Feb. 19, participants will meet at the interpretive center at 3 p.m. and caravan to several locations on the way to the roost. Once at the roost, the Wabash Valley Coonhunters Association will be offering chili, coffee or hot chocolate IDNR/Outdoor Indiana photo. for a $3 donation.

The sessions begin with a talk about bald eagles at the interpretive center. Then participants will travel to popular eagle spots. A stop will be made at a nearby roost site to watch the bald eagles fly in for the night. These areas have had many eagles in years past.

Be sure to dress for the weather, bring binoculars, snacks, drinks, and a full tank of gas.

Registration is required. There will be van seats available for a limited number of people. The number of cars to be included in the caravan will also be limited. Register early to secure a seat in the van or your place in the caravan.

To register, call (260) 468-2127 or visit the Salamonie Interpretive Center in the Lost Bridge West Recreation Area, 3691 S. New Holland Road, Andrews, IN 46702.

For more information, visit the Upper Wabash Reservoirs Interpretive Services website at www.dnr.IN.gov/uwis.

FWS announces intent to delist Western Great Lakes Wolves The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has announced that, subject to receipt of further public comment, it intends to remove wolves in the Western Great Lakes region as a listed species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Earlier this year, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (USSAF) and several other sportsmena and conservation groups began the delisting process by filing formal petitions seeking to delist wolves in the Western Great Lakes region. After the FWS failed to respond to the petitions, the USSAF and its supporters then sent a letter threatening legal action against the FWS if it did USFWS photo. not start the delisting process.

In September, the FWS started the delisting process citing the USSAF petition as well as other petitions.

The latest announcement came after U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) called upon Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to expedite the delisting process for the Western Great Lakes wolves. Senator Klobuchar also indicated that she plans to introduce legislation as a backup option to ensure that delisting occurs.

In response, the FWS indicated that it will publish a new delisting proposal for the wolves by April 2011 and will wrap up the process by the end of 2011 . In its press release, the FWS noted that “wolves continue to exceed recovery goals and are no longer threatened with extinction.”

Removing wolves in the Western Great Lakes region from the Endangered Species List would allow wolves in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan to be managed by the states.

“We are encouraged by this recent announcement by the FWS,” said Rob Sexton, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation vice president of government affairs. “However, we must remain cautious as animal rights groups will surely try to derail the process.”

Two previous efforts by FWS to delist the wolves were reversed as a result of lawsuits filed by animal rights groups. In both cases, the reversals dealt with technical legal issues. They did not overturn the findings by the FWS that wolves have met recovery plan objectives.

¤

Slough -- From Cover “Our ultimate goal is to emerge next spring with as many adult gamefish in the lake as possible,” continued Price, “so if conditions improve and appear adequate to ensure survival until ice off, we’ll act accordingly and reimpose the special bass and panfish regulations.”

While all statewide bag limits and minimum size limits will be in effect, some Willow Slough property rules and restrictions will still be in place. As an added measure to conserve spawning stock, no fishing will be allowed in the immediate vicinity of the aerated, open-water area near the main office.

FWS director nominated President Obama has nominated Dan Ashe to be the next Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Ashe will succeed Sam Hamilton who passed away last February.

Dan Ashe has worked for the FWS since 1995 and has held a number of positions including Science Advisor to the Director, Chief of the National Refuge System, and Assistant Director for External Affairs. Currently, Mr. Ashe serves as FWS Deputy Director.

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DNR plugs in with THINK City electric cars INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mitch Daniels accepted delivery of 15 THINK City all-electric vehicles late last month to be used at Department of Natural Resources properties. The cars were shipped from THINK’s production facility in Elkhart and are the first U.S.-built, federally certified electric cars delivered to a fleet in the country.

The THINK City is an all-electric, zero emission vehicle designed for fleet and urban commuters. It is safety certified for highway driving in the United States and has a range of 100 miles with its advance lithium-ion battery that is assembled in Indianapolis by Ener1.

Energy Systems Network used a combination of federal stimulus funds and private donations to purchase the vehicles, then donated the vehicles to the state at no cost.

“THINK found a great place to establish its business in Elkhart, and we’re proud to be the first customer,” said the governor, who was at Fort Harrison State Park for the delivery with THINK CEO Barry Engle. “We believe that the coming era of electric cars, like THINK, will find its home here.”

The vehicles will be used at Brown County, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, McCormick’s Creek, Shakamak, Spring Mill and Versailles state parks; Brookville Reservoir/Whitewater State Park complex; Lake Monroe; Glendale Fish & Wildlife Area; and GreeneSullivan State Forest.

“We’re looking at the THINK City as a multi-purpose vehicle with any number of practical uses,” DNR director Robert E. Carter Jr. said.

“In the daytime, it can be used for trips into town to purchase supplies or pick up mail from the post office. In the evening, it can provide security staff quiet transportation to patrol camping areas.”

Dan Bortner, director of the DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs, said: “It’s only natural that we broaden our existing environmental commitment by partnering with green technology. These vehicles are a wonderful way to accelerate our movement in that direction.”

Governor Mitch Daniels (r) accepts delivery of 15 THINK City all-electric vehicles assembled in Elkhart from THINK CEO Barry Engle. DNR photo.

® Volume 2011 • Number 1 Publisher: Brian E. Smith Assistant Publisher: Mark C. Smith Editor-in-Chief: Joshua D. Lantz Sportsmen’s Rights Editor: Rick Story Field Editor: John Martino, Central Indiana Field Photographer: Bill Konway Graphic Design: graphics@ION4U.net Office Manager: Shannon E. Smith Advertising Sales: (877) 251-2112 E-Mail: contact@ION4U.net Web Site: www.IndianaOutdoorNews.net Business & Publication Office: Mailing Address: P.O. Box 69, Granger, Indiana 46530 Phone: (877) 251-2112 • Fax: (800) 496-8075 INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS® is the official publication of Raghorn Incorporated, and is published monthly at the address listed above. For home delivery and subscription rates, look for the subscription card in this publication. Editorial contributions may be submitted to the above address. No material can be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope.

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Was Trophy Walleye a Record?

LOUIESTOUT You can't blame Tripp Gilreath for wincing when the topic of state record walleyes comes up.

The Westville angler will forever wonder if the fish he caught late one night from the Michigan City harbor eclipsed the 36-year old record.

Unfortunately, the fish's official weight of 13-4 wasn't certified until more than 48 hours after the catch. That left it a pound shy of the existing record set in 1974 and tied in 1979.

“I weighed it on a hand-held scale right after I caught it and it was 14-8,” says Gilreath. “I know my scales are darn accurate because I've tested them.”

Gilreath says he normally releases the walleyes he catches.

He kept this one to get it certified because of its record potential.

However, the walleye was landed around 9:30 p.m. that chilly, mid-November Friday night and died before he could get it to the DNR Lake Michigan station the following Monday.

When fish die, they lose

weight, says Lake Michigan fish manager Brian Breidert. “It's quite possible the fish lost a pound,” the biologist explained.

“They lose body fluids through their skin. Had the fish been kept in slurry of ice, it might have retained more of its weight.”

They shrink, too. Gilreath says his monster walleye measured 31-1/2 inches long and had a 20-1/2 inch girth shortly after he caught it. When the DNR measured it, it was 31 inches long and the girth shrunk to 19 inches.

“Oh well,” he shrugged.

“There are more out there.”

Gilreath, a scuba diver, has seen them up close.

“I scuba dive around the government pier, and I've seen fish I know would break the record,” he insisted. “I saw one I know was between 16 and 17 pounds.”

Gilreath knows big walleyes.

His recent trophy was the third weighing more than 10 pounds that he and partner Sam Johns have caught from Michigan City this year. Others weighed 11-0 and 11-8.

“Yeah, it's been kind of a secret, but after this, I guess it won't be anymore,” Gilreath grinned.

Gilreath discovered the fishery in 2005 when he heard about people catching walleyes off the Michigan City pier at night.

“Sam and I went down there and started casting around and I

caught a 12-1/2 pounder,” he said. “It's hanging on my wall right now.”

They decided to explore the fishery further and began launching Sam's boat where they troll the harbor mouth between the lake and the Franklin Street Bridge.

Last year they caught eight big walleyes.

“You don't catch many, but the ones you catch are big -- 20 to 30 inches,” he said. “But you have to be a diehard. This isn't easy fishing.”

They troll “stick baits” at least 60 feet behind the boat with 15-pound monofilament line.

Stick baits are minnow imitating plugs, such as the Storm ThunderSticks, Rapalas and Smithwick Rogues.

Johns says it's a tactic that works at the mouth of all southern Lake Michigan tributaries once cold weather hits in early winter.

“It's hard fishing,” he offered. “You get skunked a lot, and it gets so cold the reels stop working because they freeze up.

That's when we know it's time to go home.”

Most of their fish come fair-

ly shallow, although Gilreath's trophy came out of 9 feet of water.

“The big ones move into the tributary mouths at night during full moon periods,” he said. “This fish hit about 9:30, but our best action usually occurs between midnight and 3 a.m.”

The walleye was taken on a Smithwick Rogue that Gilreath has had since 1985.

“It has caught 90 percent of my walleyes over the years,” noted Gilreath, who has at least a dozen 10-pound-plus walleyes to his credit. “I broke the lip out of it once and replaced it with one from another Rogue and it still catches fish.”

The color pattern chartreuse and yellow with a black back and red belly - is no longer offered by the company, he said.

“Sam catches some on a similar color, but this bait has a special magic about it and I don't know why, ” Gilreath laughed. “I carry a lure retriever just to make sure that if it snags, I can get it back.”

Gilreath said he's going to have the fish mounted and

Tripp Gilreath of Westville shows off the giant walleye he caught from Lake Michigan. The fish was a pound shy of the Indiana record when it was weighed several hours afterwards, but some speculate it might have broken the record if weighed sooner. (photo provided)

donate it to the Lake Michigan office for others to see.

“I know the next state record is out there and it's our goal to catch it,” he says.

If given a second chance, you can bet he'll find some certified scales and document it sooner.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

JIMBIDDLE January If December weather is any indication of what’s coming in January and February, I’m nervous! My old 1954 Case tractor came in mighty handy plowing the 30 inches of lake effect snow that fell on my place last month.

Living up a long lane is nice for privacy, but it’s a pain in the you know what when you have to clear off the snow. On the other hand, the photographer in me thought it was kind of pretty.

This is the time of year to take in some of the sport shows.

Check out dates and places in Indiana Outdoor News and other magazines. I’m sure you will find one in your area. When you go to one of the sport shows be sure and take a young fisherman with you.

Of course, fishing is a viable option this month too. If you really want to try out that new equipment you got for Christmas and burn off some of the calories you consumed over the holidays here’s what’s happening on a lake, reservoir, pond, river or stream near you.

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Lake Michigan Joe Anderson at Mik-Lurch Tackle in Hammond says come on out the ice is on. Willow Slough is a hotspot for Bluegill.

If you can’t make it to Willow Slough go to Wolf Lake. The bluegills are hitting there too.

Be sure and take plenty of bee moths and spikes, as that’s what they’re hitting on. The DNR removed the panfish limit at Willow Slough and dropped the bass limit to 14 inches due to fears of a winter fish kil --so com and get them before Mother Nature does.

Mishawaka says they have plenty of ice and lots of action from the bluegill and crappie with spikes and waxworms on area lakes. The lower Michigan area of the Saint Joe River is the spot to go for a nice Northern with a big shiner.

Northwest Indiana Mike Walker of A.L. Bait & Tackle in North Judson tells me he has everything you need for ice fishing on BassLake, Maxinkuckee, or anywhere elde in the aea, so stop in.

East Central Ed Gipson from Peacepipe Bait & Tackle at Andrews is also reporting good bluegill and crappie action on Salamonie, Mississinewa and Huntington Reservoirs with bee moths and spikes. Ed says in places the ice is up to 6 inches thick.

North Central Indiana Dave Garber from Ye Old Tackle Box in North Webster tells me all the channels are hot for bluegills, and the crappies are starting. Spikes and bee moths will get them. The largemouth bass are hitting on Rapalas and bass minnows.

Smokey’s Wawasee Landing in Syracuse may not be open but they have bait outside 24/7 available on the honor system.

Saint Joseph River Dick Parker from Parker’s Central Bait & Tackle in

Central Indiana Katy McCalla at the Bait Barn in Indianapolis reports lots of bluegill and crappie action on Giest, Eagle Creek and Morse eservoir. She says the ice was around 4 inches thick at press time.

bluegill -- especially in the local ponds.

This whole report could be summed up with four words: bluegill, crappie, waxworms and spikes. I guess I could add an all-important fifth word word -ice. So my advice for January is to put on your Carharts, grab your ice fishing gear and head out. As for me, I think I’ll just

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lounge around in my sweats and fry the fish I caught last summer.

Hey, enjoy it out there but be careful and remember the old adage, “if in doubt don’t go out!”

Well that’s about it, so have at it and maybe I’ll see you at one of the sport shows. Until then, remember what OL JB always says, “angling is the name given to fishing by people who can’t fish.” See you next month.

West Central Indiana Terry Raines at Twin Lakes Fish & Game at Monticello echoes the news -- bluegill and crappie in the local ponds and the bay areas. Terry says the ice is a little thin in places so be careful. The local ponds are definitely a bit safer. Waxworms are the bait to use he says.

Southwest Indiana Dedra Hawkins of the Fishin Shedd in Bloomington says the name of the game is crappies and

Jacek Gawlinski caught this January steelhead while centerpinning on the Little Calumet River near Portage. Josh Lantz photo.

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ICE FISHING When it comes to fish position and activity levels, zooplankton-tiniest of underwater animals-move mountains with their daily up and down migrations. More on the details as we go, but if you've ever wondered why the fishing can be so good early and late in the day, Dave Genz says it's all because of zooplankton.

For years, Genz dealt with the fact that his Vexilar display filled with dancing flickers during the prime time evening and early morning bites, sometimes blindly jigging in the mass of writhing sonar signals and waiting for a thunk of a bite-which came soon enough in most cases.

How and Why of Prime Ti m e s On most days, on most waters, there are two distinct prime times: sunrise and sunset.

These periods of rapidly changing light levels appear to be the cause of 'vertical migration' of zooplankton. These teeny-tiny animals make a variety of movements, but the dominant one is upward at dusk (eventually to, or near, the surface) and downward near dawn.

When the water column fills with this microscopic life, it triggers increased activity in everything from burrowing insects to fish of all sizes. It's nature's rush hour. Even at the risk of being eaten by a pike or other predator, panfish move in active pursuit of calories.

This is the time when you can sit tight on a good spot and catch a lot of fish in a few minutes.

Genz has a plausible theory

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

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Zooplankton Triggers Everything! that guides our overall approach.

“When the zooplankton begin moving upward around sunset,” he says, “they're concentrated within a few feet of the bottom.

Because they're so thick (in one depth zone), bluegills and other panfish species can feed efficiently by just opening their mouths and swimming.”

After darkness falls and zooplankton continue to rise toward the surface, they're not as concentrated, 'stringing out' like traffic on a rural highway. At this point, Genz thinks, black crappies can still feed efficiently on them, having relatively larger mouths than sunfish, but extremely fine gill rakers suitable for the purpose.

“That explains why you catch crappies through the night sometimes,” says Dave, “but the bluegills quit when it gets dark.”

The Classic Pattern Holds Study the scientific literature and you'll see that zooplankton migration is a complex subject full of variables. But in most 'icefishing lakes' there seems to be this classic pattern of most zooplankton remaining deep in the water column during the day (when light levels are high), either on bottom or suspended at a level where they are hard to see.

Then, as sunset approaches, massive swarms (sometimes called patches) of zooplankton rise toward the surface, where they feed on phytoplankton (tiny plants) at night. Then, when light levels increase as sunrise approaches, zooplankton reverse the migration and move back into deeper water.

Today, we think we know more than ever, and yet it's still correlation, mainly. We can't say for certain that zooplankton movements are the cause of panfish location and activity levels.

But Genz is perfectly confident saying it.

Connecting All the Dots In the winter, under a coating of ice, panfish eat mainly zooplankton and a variety of burrowing insects when they can get them. In the winter, pike, walleyes and other large predators eat a lot of panfish, along with other small baitfish.

All creatures develop feeding and evasion strategies that take advantage of peak opportunities.

In a nutshell, here's what seems to drive the whole under-ice routine…

Zooplankton are tiny animals. Phytoplankton are tiny plants. Zooplankton eat phytoplankton. “Planktivorous” fish (panfish) are the major predators of zooplankton.

The prevailing theory is that, over ages of time, zooplankton evolved strategies to hide from predators during daylight hours, then rise to feed on surface clusters of phytoplankton under the cloak of darkness. Most planktivorous fish are sight feeders, requiring decent visibility for efficient eating.

So, the classic daily movements of zooplankton are 'vertical migrations' that occur as darkness comes on in the evening and again as light levels increase toward daybreak. As darkness descends in the winter -- which

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By Mark Strand with Dave Genz

Zooplankton triggers everything! Here, Dave Genz holds a dandy crappie taken during what essentially became a mid-afternoon 'prime time' period.

When heavy clouds roll in during the day, the rapidly lowering light levels can trigger zooplankton migration, which can get fish moving around and actively feeding. On sunny days, expect these peak periods right before sunrise and around sunset. (Photo: davegenz.com) happens about the time most of us get off work -- masses of zooplankton rise from the bottom and begin a rush hour move to the surface, where they will eat phytoplankton during the night. As it

starts to get light toward morning, the zooplankton head down to the bottom again, to hide from

Continued on Pg. 16

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January, 2 0 11 Edition

Reality Check: Conservation for the Next Generation

T.R.MICHELS THE SUNDAY DRIVE Many of us over forty who were brought up in rural areas or small towns -- before the mass movement of Americans into major metropolitan areas -remember the term "Sunday Drive". The term "Sunday Driver" usually means someone who drives slow to the youth of today, and that is not far from wrong.

When I was young, Mom and Dad would get us up early on Sunday morning to take us to church. Afterwards we would go for a Sunday Drive.

Dad would steer the 1954 Chevrolet station wagon with the simulated wood sides out of town and down the nearest gravel road toward the series of creeks, lakes and sloughs surrounded by farm country where we used to hunt.

He would drive slowly, as would many other people we saw.

I don't know what they were doing, but we were doing what has come to be known as scouting to

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most hunters, and observing to me.

We would drive by the sloughs and fields looking for ducks, pheasants and deer. We would check out the farm fields to see what crops were growing in them so we knew where the best places to hunt for pheasant and deer were. We often saw animals on these drives. I can remember seeing my first partially white mallard and my first egret, which wasn't common in the northern states when I was a child. In late summer we checked the sloughs to see how the duck population was doing, and how high the water was in preparation for the duck season. Dad would often stop the car along the road side so my brother and sisters could pick wild raspberries, grapes, strawberries, plums and cherries. The tart taste of those fruits is never far from my mind because I often take my own children on Sunday Drives.

I understand why Americans have gotten away from taking Sunday Drives. Many of them live in or near large cities and don't have access to rural areas. In most families both parents work, and they don't have time to spend with the family. They are too busy trying to make a living.

Some of them are single parent families, usually a woman, who has more than enough trouble trying to raise children in our societ y. Raising children by themselves is a tough job for anyone,

and those who accomplish this task have my admiration.

Unfortunately this lack of time, and distance from rural living and nature, can have serious side effects. Many children today have little knowledge of how nature really works. The only time many of them actually see a wild animal is when they go to a zoo.

How can anyone, especially children, understand the complexities of nature when they are so far removed from it? How can they understand that it takes a whole ecosystem to support wildlife when the have forgotten or don't realize that it takes a whole community to raise a child? How can they understand that in order for fish and waterfowl to live and reproduce they need clean water, and that in order to have clean water we have to stop filling in the wetlands to build new condominiums and offices. And that we have to leave the cattail sloughs intact to filter the toxic runoff we produce when we fertilize our lawns and farm fields in order to create a more aesthetic landscape in our backyard and to produce more food.

How can children enjoy the beauty the Great Creator left us to manage when we continue to destroy it; unless they experience it? How can they enjoy nature through bird watching, hiking, biking, hunting, fishing and trapping; unless they are exposed to it? How can we who enjoy the out-

of-doors expect to preserve our outdoor heritage; unless we expose others, young and old, male and female, to the beauty and the wonder of nature? How can we expect to keep our city, county, state and national parks, forests and wildlife management areas; unless we introduce our friends, neighbors and those of the inner city to the out-of-doors, show them our love for it, educate them and get them interested in preserving it?

We can't.

Unless each of us does something to protect our environment, and our outdoor sports, we may lose what we all love. If you know someone who has a passing interest in an outdoor activity take time out to share your knowledge with them. If you hunt, fish, enjoy hiking or bird watching, offer to take them along. If you

bring home wild game or fruit, give some away. It may spark an interest you didn't know was there, and it may help someone become more aware of nature and take an interest in preserving the great outdoors.

A good way to start is by taking time out for a Sunday Drive after church with your own children. Take along a wildlife or plant reference book. It's a great way to spend time with family, learn more about nature, teach others, and preserve our way of life.

T.R. Michels is a nationally recognized big game researcher, speaker and writer. Contact him via e-mail at trmichels@yahoo.com or visit his website, Trinity Mountain Outdoors at www.outsideconnections.com.

January, 2 0 11 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

The Birthday Buck

BIG BUCK PROFILE If you could have anything you wanted for your birthday, what would you want? A new truck? A new boat? How about a once-in-a-lifetime buck? Forget the truck and boat; I would take the buck, hands down. Save the boat and truck for next year!

Unbelievably, a record book buck is just what Kyle Bolen got for his birthday. OK, it was a week early, but who doesn’t like to get presents early?

Fourteen-year old Kyle and his dad, Earl were heading out to go deer hunting in Noble County near Kendallville on the afternoon of Indiana’s firearms opener, November fourteenth. Kyle was ready to go, but Earl still had a few chores to complete before he’d be ready. Knowing Kyle was anxious to go hunting, Earl suggested Kyle look for does bedding near their pond.

Going out for the first time by himself and armed with a scoped single-shot H&R fortyfour magnum rifle, Kyle crept through the brush behind their barn. To his surprise he saw a buck sneaking up to get a drink from the pond.

Looking through the scope, Kyle got an ever bigger surprise. He could only see one antler, but he could see a lot of points. “I thought he was an eight-point!” Kyle said.

Now, every great story contains a little conflict and action, and this story is no different. As Kyle was getting into position, he stepped on a stick, snapping i t . The buck went into high alert, but Kyle had a clear shot

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and took it. The buck took off but piled up within fifty yards, and the rest is history. “When I got up to him, it about blew me away,” Kyle said.

Amazingly, this all happened while dad was getting his boots on! “He wasn’t gone for more than ten minutes,” Jewell, Kyle’s mom said. Hearing the shot, Earl came out to see what Kyle had gotten. Kyle met him on the way, his face beaming the story. “Dad! I got a buck!” Kyle exclaimed.

“A BIG buck!”

Saying that Kyle was excited would be a serious understatement.

When Earl saw the massive 240 pound buck, he called Jewell on his cell phone, “You’re not going to believe what this child just shot! It’s a monster buck!”

They instantly decided to have it mounted for Kyle. “The rack is just beautiful,” Jewell said.

Concerned that they may ruin the cape if they tried to skin the buck themselves, Earl and Kyle took the deer to D & D Processing in Corunna. Once there, Doug and Deb Treesh carefully removed the head and skin so it could be sent to the taxidermist. Kyle donated all of the meat to Doug and Deb, who are agents for the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program (www.fhfh.org) - a decision that undoubtedly made someone in need very happy during the holidays.

No matter how you look at it, the buck was a trophy. At first glance the unique antlers appear to have drop tines, however the

main beams bend down, giving the illusion of drop tines. The buck’s extremely tall brow tines are forked. This deer is impressive everywhere you look. With a non-typical green score of 219, Kyle’s buck was an instant sensation, even as it was being processed. “There were fifty people here in our driveway taking pictures,” Kyle said.

Countless hunters took photos, some of which got uploaded to various hunting websites.

Ironically, Kyle’s family does not have internet access and Kyle had no idea what a sensation his story had made. Within days rumors started flying that one of the major outfitting stores had offered Kyle $40,000 for the trophy buck. Kyle was surprised to hear about that, and said no offers had been made.

The following Monday Kyle was a celebrity at school. News of his buck had spread like wildfire in the small town and the eighth-grader received more notoriety for his deer than any play he ever made as fullback on the school’s football team.

What’s next for the young hunter? Earl has every confidence in his son. “Kyle is a good shot. I attribute that to the thousands of BBs he’s shot!” So, is it lion hunting in Africa with a sling shot? Stalking a grizzly bear with just a bowie knife?

Who knows! He’s young so there’s no pressure. I can tell you one thing. If he gets another buck like that, he’s going to have a new next door neighbor…ME!

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By Alan Garbers

Kyle Bolen, an eighth-grader at East Noble Middle School in Kendallville took this trophy whitetail buck on opening day of Indiana’s firearms season.

The only thing more incredible than the buck itself is the story of how it all happened. Photo Provided.

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January, 2 0 11 Edition

Turkey Tracks!

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A person has an opportunity to do something special, I mean really special, maybe once in their lifetime -- one time in their entire life, if they are really, really lucky. Well, I know a young man who has had it happen twice in two years, and has created a foundation to make sure it continues for years to come.

23-year-old Eric Corey was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease) when he was just a teenager.

Eric's grandfather, Eugene Corey, also had ALS, so Eric's parents, Doug and Carol, knew all to well how debilitating this disease could be. Doug and Carol made it their mission to make sure that Eric would have every opportunity possible to make his hunting dreams come true. Through the generosity of Hunt of a Lifetime and numerous other individuals and organizations, Eric has had the chance to hunt from Quebec to Africa and many points in between. Eric has truly been blessed, having hunted in some of the most awesome and remote hunting destinations in the world -- and his trophy room shows it.

Eric realized that so many people had done so much for him and he wanted to give a little back. That's right, a kid with ALS -- a kid who is at times confined to a wheelchair, who has a little trouble getting around himself -wanted to host some hunters who share some of those same hurdles.

In April of 2009, Eric hosted

an event he called “Turkey Tracks”. Ten hunters were at that event, with nearly the same number of disabilities ranging from cancer to cerebral palsy to MS. For months, the Corey's spent countless hours every day getting permission from land owners to hunt, finding local hunters to act as guides, arranging for hunting equipment, camo, food and accommodations for the hunters. The first event ran from Friday night thru Sunday and was headquartered out of the KnoxCenter Township Fire Dept. The Friday night dinner had the firehouse bursting at the seams with hunters, guides, landowners, sponsors and volunteers. Turkey Tracks was up and running.

By the end of the weekend, six of the ten hunters had bagged a turkey, and the event had captured the hearts of every last person who took part in it, including the hunters.

The Corey's had mobilized a small army of volunteers from our little community and they weren't ready to stop.

Plans were immediately made for the next event.

Before the 2010 turkey opener, 19 disabled hunters had signed up for Turkey Tracks, some traveling from out of state. Eric wanted to make sure that every hunter, could participate, regardless of their financial situation.

Accommodations had to be made for hunting licenses, hotel rooms, and food for each hunter and their parents. They had no

money and 19 hunters, so the Corey's rolled up their sleeves and got to work. They sold hot dogs outside the doors of a sporting goods store and raised the first $300. Sponsorships were sold called “adopt a hunter” that would cover the licenses and hotel for each hunter. Fish frys, raffles, and donations made up the rest. Every last penny was hard earned, but they did it.

Somewhere along the way they hooked up with the Northern Indiana and Starke County Community Foundations and established the Eric Corey Turkey Tracks Foundation.

In anticipation of the large crowd in 2010, the venue was changed to the Knox VFW. Once again, the Friday night dinner was bursting out of the doors and there was standing room only.

On hand to speak to the crowd was retired executive director of the U.S. Sportsman Alliance, Rick Story, along with local Conservation Officer, Keith Wildeman. The crowd was entertained by Colton Cole, one of the hunters afflicted with cerebral palsy, with comedy and singing.

To close the evening, comedian Don Tersigni had the crowd laughing to tears.

Even though Saturday morning dawned windy and raining, four birds were brought in.

Sunday saw much better weather and a lot more birds -- six more -bringing the total to ten successful hunters for the weekend.

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Starke County man creates lasting opportunities for disabled hunters Interestingly, the five most physically challenged hunters were among the first to get their birds. Jake Hemphill came back two weekends later and bagged a nice tom with volunteer guides Harry Rust and Ron Rotering.

That was made possible due to the efforts of the hard working group of volunteer “guides”.

One guide that deserves special mention is Harry Rust. Harry is an avid hunter, is passionate about turkey hunting, a great taxidermist, and a personal friend of mine for many years. Harry has achieved the phenomenal feat of going six for six. He took two hunters last year, both of whom bagged birds, and four this year that also all got birds. Harry was interviewed after the event by local news host, Ted Hayes from WKVI Radio, and with tears in his eyes he told Ted that he didn't care if he personally ever shot another turkey as long as he could continue to take these kids hunting.

That is the kind of effect this event has on you.

I have told everyone that I have spoken to about this event that you have to be there in the room or in the woods with these special hunters to fully understand how it touches your very soul.

Eric has accomplished something that few ever will. He has created something special -something that has really changed the lives of all of those involved, the hunters, the guides,

and the volunteers. If you don't believe me, look at the faces of the hunters in the pictures surrounding this article. Look at the faces of the guides. Listen to the quiver in their voices when retelling the tales from the hunt.

Watch them swallow hard and fight back a tear. And watch them line up at the door to participate in the next event.

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Yes, You Can Help!

Monetary contributions can be made to the “Eric Corey Turkey Tracks Foundation” c/o Northern Indiana Community Foundation, po box 807, Rochester, IN 46975. The Community Foundation is a not for profit organization made possible through the generosity of the Lilly Foundation. Of course, your contributions are tax deductible. If you would like to volunteer or if you have property in the Starke County area available for turkey hunting, contact Carol Corey at cscorey@kconline.com. Carol is also currently taking applications for the 2011 turkey tracks hunt, so if you know anyone interested please contact her for an application.

Plans are currently being made for a fund raising event. Date and location will be announced in an upcoming edition of ION.

By Mark C. Smith

1) Turkey Tracks organizers Carol, Eric and Doug Corey; 2) Darren Kahl; 3) Kyle Aubrey; 4) Zachary Lorenz; 5) Dusty Hantz; 6) Cody and Colton Cole; 7) Lucas Vervynckt; 8) Andy Schoberg; 9) Kurt Bradley, Eric Corey and Matt Michoige.

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January, 2 0 11 Edition

Looking for Sheds Will Make You a Better Hunter

BABEWINKELMAN He’s still alive; I thought as I reached down and picked up 71 inches of calcified happiness on my hunting land in central Minnesota. The shed antler I held belonged to a buck I saw once during the 2006 hunting season.

He’s a symmetrical 5x5 with an inside spread of about 20 inches, putting him in the 160+ category.

Finding his left shed told me that this bruiser had made it through both the hunting season and winter unscathed. Given the mild winter we’ve had, I have no doubt he’s in good health as spring arrives.

I’ve since scoured the area looking for his other shed, but haven’t found it yet. YET! I’ll keep searching, in part because I desperately want his matched set.

And also because I just love shed hunting. It’s a late winter/early spring ritual that offers excitement, exercise and also makes me intimately familiar with travel patterns of the deer I hunt.

If you haven’t tried shed hunting yourself, I strongly

encourage you to do so. There are few things more thrilling than wrapping your hand around a big antler, even if the antler isn’t attached to a deer you’ve harvested.

So to help you get started, I’ve compiled a list of tips that might help as you go in search of that elusive whitetail headgear.

And remember, if you find a big shed, it could be lying in the heart of that buck’s core area. I say could because a deer’s wintering grounds might be in a different location (based primarily on food sources) than where you’re likely to find the same animal during hunting season.

At any rate, you’ll know a particular buck is alive and will gain some insight on setting up a possible ambush point for him during the next season. Even if you don’t find any sheds -- the trails, rub lines, scrapes, bedding areas and other things you discover will make you a better hunter come fall.

HAVE THEY DROPPED? Whitetails can drop their antlers over a wide span of time.

Here in the Midwest, one buck might shed in December, while another male in the same area may not drop his antlers until March.

Health, stress level and many unknowns can account for when a particular animal sheds. The best way I monitor when the deer in my area are shedding is to put my

Cuddeback cameras out where most of my deer activity is taking place. By routinely checking your Cuddebacks in late winter/early spring, you can unequivocally discern when the drop is on.

THINK LIKE A DEER AND FIND THE RIGHT SPOTS Simple advice, but you won’t find a buck’s artifacts unless you’re crawling around where he lives. The savvy shed hunter is one who is prepared to put in some miles walking. An ATV can really help you cover more ground too. I’ll hop on my Honda and slowly drive my food plot edges first, keeping a watchful eye for antlers as I go.

Focus most of your efforts at or near food sources, because that’s where most antlers will be found. During the winter, whitetails must feed heavily. And they also need to conserve energ y. So you’ll find that most deer will bed close to feeding areas, to minimize the energy spent walking to and from their food. When you find these concentrated areas, there’s a good chance you’ll find antlers too.

When I cut well-used trails that connect main food sources to bedding areas, I go on foot and walk the trails. When on the trails, pay close attention to spots with thick overhanging cover that can snag a loose antler and knock it free. Also, fence

lines, creeks and ravines that force deer to jump can also be falling-off points for treasured antlers.

When you find the thickest, nastiest cover in a bedding area, get right into it. Having a bit of snow on the ground will help you locate actual beds in these areas and sometimes, an antler or two will lie right there next to a big bed.

Also, investigate the highest ground on the property you’re searching. Bucks like to bed on these vantage points to have a good, defensive viewing position. Plus, high spots and the south-facing slopes of these locations typically have less snow cover than low-lying areas. This means easier browsing opportunities for deer and an increased likelihood that a buck has dropped his antlers nearby.

When you find a nice shed, keep searching the area for the matched set. Often times it will be within a couple hundred yards from the first one. When good tracking snow is still on the ground, back-tracking and forward-tracking the buck can lead you right to the match. From my experience, it seems like the bigger the rack, the more likely the antlers will be dropped in close proximity to one another. This could be because a big-racked buck doesn’t like the lopsided weight on one side of his head, and intentionally shakes the

other side free.

TIPS FOR SPOTTING ANTLERS First of all, try to look for parts of an antler vs. looking for the whole enchilada. Keep an eye out for the curve of a main beam, the tips of tines, etc. You can even train yourself to spot these telltale things by tossing an antler into tall grass, leaves and brush and then hunting it up.

When you take to the field, wear your polarized fishing glasses. They’ll cut down glare if there’s still snow on the ground and will also improve contrast for better spotting. And never go out shed hunting without a good pair of binoculars. I recommend Nikon Premier 10x42s. They’re compact, lightweight, powerful and crystal-clear. Binoculars are the key for surveying fields, hillsides and other open stretches.

They can also save you a long walk for what you think is an antler off in the distance.

Good (shed) Hunting.

Babe Winkelman is a nationallyknown outdoorsman who has taught people to fish and hunt for more than 25 years. Watch the award-winning Good Fishing and Outdoor Secrets television shows on Versus, Fox Sports Net, WILD TV, WFN and many local networks.Visit www.winkelman.com for air times where you live.

January, 2 0 11 Edition

PANFISH Pulling panfish from frigid water with tiny treats is the modern ice angler's most popular ploy, no doubt. But while fishing in micro mode is a most excellent plan, there are moments when the flash of a fluttering or fast falling spoon will out-produce an ultra miniature morsel.

Picking pans from under the ice with stamped steel or molded metals is nothing new; the fact is anglers have been hauling huge spoon-caught bluegills, sunfish, crappie and perch through holes in the ice since man fashioned the tools needed for shaping these precious metals. Since then, anglers have found spoons work well when employed on their own, and, when coupled in conjunction with aforementioned tiny temptations as well live-bait tactics.

But there's more to fooling panfish with jigging spoons than one can shake a rod at. The best lure for the job depends on the action of the day that trips the trigger of your target species, and, where that target species is located in the water column.

Falling all spoons All spoons are not created equal; this is a good thing as it's the diversity in how different spoons flutter and fall that is often the defining point as to whether or not they get hit.

The first spoon style I'll mention is what I call the single spoon. This is a spoon molded with either lead or brass, stamped metal, or a combination of them all, with a single hook rigidly

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

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Try Spoons for Giant Panfish attached to the body. The spoons pre-tied to my ice rods that fit this bill are Northland's Forage Minnow Jig, Forage Minnow Fry, and Eye-Dropper Jig. On the lift, single spoons made from cast metals tend to raise quickly and then see-saw on the fall. Stamped ones, however, quiver on their way down. This style spoon is perfect when combined with large tasty treats like a glob of threaded maggots or a whole minnow nipped through its lips.

The next spoon is the treble spoon. These spoons have a treble hook attached so that it swings freely from the lure, usually via a split ring, and are the most commonly used for ice fishing. Northland's new Moxie Minnow Spoon and Fish Fry Minnow Spoon-both with High Definition (HD) Live Forage print- are in this category.

But treble spoons can take on other lively looks, such as the Live Forage Fish-Fry Minnow Trap does. With hooks on one end and on the belly, and line clip on the side, the Fish-Fry Minnow Trap vibrates voraciously, sending out sonic waves on the lift, and shimmies as it falls.

Next are stamped spoons.

More than likely made of lightweight steel; these are stamped narrow and thin, similar to a trolling spoon. They're great for fishing shallow-water environments as their slow tumble includes side-to-side action as they fall, thus they cover a wide swath under the ice.

Stamped spoons have plenty

of erratic flash. The Live Forage Moxie Minnow, which falls into this category, has a thin, cupped design with lifelike digital image of forage fishes so it looks like the real deal in conjunction with chrome-gold flash.

Lastly are solid spoons of lead or brass. These spoons are heavy and have little wobble as they plummet. However, they excel when I need to get a lure real deep, real fast. I use them as a “qualifier” for when I spot fish down deep on my sonar and need to get a lure to bottom quickly before they swim off.

Jigging spoons like the aforementioned Macho Minnow and Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon are good examples of this style lure.

But instead of adding a whole minnow when scent's needed, I'll reach in to the Frabill Aqua-Life Bait Station, grab a minnow, and snip off just the head and add it to the hook. Nipping several wax worms onto the hook so they wriggle in squid-like fashion when the lure's at rest is another option.

And… action!

Looks can be deceiving.

Take, for example, the Live Forage Moxie Minnow Spoon and Live Forage Fish-Fry Spoon.

Through the packaging they have a similar look, each with the perfect high-definition image of a minnow or young-of-the-year fish. But jig the two side-by-side and you'll see the difference.

The Moxie Minnow is a thin, stamped spoon that frantically flutters and flies off to the side on

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By Brian “Bro” Brosdahl

Spoons with single hooks - like this Live Forage Minnow Jig that fooled this cannibalistic bluegill for the author - see-saw on the fall, even with live bait affixed. Northland Fishing Tackle photo. the drop, while the Fish-Fry, thicker and made of heavy brass, falls faster with only a light wobble.

I carry a variety of spoons with me, in assorted shapes, weights and colors, and if I don't get bit on one I'm switching to another. But I don't like to waste time re-tying; instead I have my lures pre-rigged on rods of different actions perfectly combined for the spoons.

In shallow water, when I'm peering through the hole from within my Frabill portable shant y, I'll use the 24-inch Bro Series Combo for light flutter spoon applications. This shorter rod, when used in the Bro-sized Pro shanty-with articulating seat that goes forward, back, and side to side-allows me plenty of room for

fighting slab crappie and gargantuan 'gills.

The 26-inch combo is a match set for heavier spoons such as Buck-Shots or larger Live Forage Moxies or Fish Frys.

Whether using the 24- of 26-inch combos, I tie my spoons on directly to 3-pound-test Bionic Ice fishing line, no snap or swivel.

When downsizing spoons, I'll switchover to the 27-inch Quick Tip combo spooled with 2pound-test Bionic Ice line. The 'loose' tip of this rod is forgiving, allows a panfish to grab a bait and swim off without alarming it that it's about to be hoodwinked.

Cont. on Pg. 15

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January, 2 0 11 Edition

Ryan Trojanski of Hammond caugt this 26-inch walleye on Wolf Lake last sumer. Nice!

Kurt Stuhlmacher took this awesome Starke County 11-pointer in the middle of a CRP field during the firearms season.

Travis Guisinger of Angola took this unique buck on opening day during a hunt with his dad. The buck green scored 161 inches and sports two main beams on his left side. Congrats, Travis!

Gary Aker Sr. of Culver took this heavy, tall 10pointer during the firearms season. Great success!

Courtney Bergdall of Garrett, age 13, took her first deer ever with her bow this past season.

The big doe weighed 158 lbs.after field dressing. Congratulations, Courtney!

6-year-old Garrison with one of two deer he took this past season in LaGrange County with his Rossi Youth .20 gauge single-shot. Way to go, Garrison!

Gone Afield monthly photo contest. . .

It’s EASY! It’s FUN! Fill out this form and send it in with your favorite outdoor photograph.

A winner will be randomly selected each month to win a great outdoor prize!

Entry Information: Person submitting the photo: Name(s) of person(s) pictured: Other information describing the photo: If I’m selected as this month’s random winner, please send my prize to:

Send your photos to: Gone Afield P.O. Box 69 Granger, IN 46530 E-mail submissions welcome at: www.contact@ION4U.net.

If mailing photos, please include a SASE if you’d like us to return them to you ION reader, Capt. Gregg Arnold of New Orleans says the fishing in the Gulf is better than ever. Come down now for giant redfish! www.fishinthelandofgiants.com.

CONTEST RULES: Raghorn, Inc. shall retain the right to publish or not publish any images submitted in any of it’s media outlets. Winners chosen at random. Prizes are subject to change and contest may cease without notice.

January, 2 0 11 Edition

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

Panfish Spoons -- Continued From Pg. 13 Hang on loosely If you're a newcomer to ice-fishing, especially for perch, then I have to let you in on a little secret: Perch can't pass up the morsels of food (scales and meaty chunks) that fall to bottom off injured forage. I've seen this often on the screen of my sonar - fish darting in and out under a freshly hooked minnow, gobbling up the microscopic particles falling off as it franticly darts around above.

Nowadays, my panfish arsenal includes Northland's new Bait-Chain Dropper Hook - a small, gold single or treble hook on a fine link chain.

By removing the standard hook off a spoon, such as a Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon, and replacing it with a BaitChain Dropper Hook, I can nip on a tidbit of bait and imitate a meaty piece that's falling to bottom.

Perch almost seem entranced by the dangling chain, then strike out at the bait. It'll also fool finicky bluegills and crappie.

Big to small When fish are neutral mood, I'll first send down the largest spoon I have (with a meaty bribe skewered onto the hook), which decoys active fish in under my hole from a distance. Over-sized spoons will often trigger strikes from even the most lethargic fish. As the day progresses and the village idiots have been duped, I'll attempt to finesse the rest by switching to smaller spoons.

Overall, the panfish of a lifetime is only a spoon feed away.

Figure out the fastness of the fall and the action of the day that sends panfish into a feeding frenzy and hang on. And once the bite slows, go smaller until all options are exhausted.

Bro used Northland's Live Forage Fish-Fry Minnow Trap, which vibrates voraciously, to grab the attention of this low-light crappie. Northland Fishing Tackle photo.

Ruling -- Continued From Cover devices were “necessary” for bighorn sheep conservation. It also found that the FWS could not show that the devices were “necessary” for sheep conservation until the FWS showed first that banning hunting, banning sheep translocations, controlling mountain lions, and restricting other forms of human visitation would not sufficiently conserve the sheep.

“This is truly a misguided and unfortunate ruling by the Ninth Circuit,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSAF president and CEO. “Precedent from this lawsuit could severely handicap the FWS’s wildlife conservation efforts in the future.”

In light of the recent decision, the USSAF and other conservation groups will be examining all remaining options to minimize the effects of the Ninth Circuit’s ruling.

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Ice Fishing -- from Pg. 7 the mean old panfish.

Panfish, having their own evolutionary talents, have figured out the schedule and make their move to eat when zooplankton begin rising off bottom in the evening. (Again, more like late afternoon in winter.) Panfish try to avoid being eaten by pike, walleyes and other mean old fish, so they lay low during daylight hours, too. But when zooplankton rise off bottom in massive numbers, while they are still concentrated enough to give panfish gills a shot at raking in mouthfuls at a time, active panfish feeding takes place.

During this peak period,

INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ® there's still enough light for panfish to see what they're doing.

Poor little zooplankton rise up just a little too early to be safe.

Everything is on the move, which is why you can sit over one good hole and catch a bunch of fish, when you would sit fishless, over that same hole, at other times of day.

At dawn, massive clouds of zooplankton concentrate near bottom again, as they tuck into hiding for the day. Another terrific, but brief, feeding opportunity, and panfish action can be excellent if you know where the fish are going to be and drill holes before it gets light.

This classic scenario plays out day after day, year after year,

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on lakes across the Ice Belt. Now you know more about why Genz is always talking about drilling a lot of holes and moving during the day, then settling in over a few good holes come prime time.

Dave Genz, known as Mr. Ice Fishing, was the primary driver of the modern ice fishing revolution. He has been enshrined in the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport. For more fishing tips, go to www.davegenz.com.

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Smallmouth -- from Pg. 3 quality of our smallmouth bass fisheries -- size and numbers of fish, survival, recruitment and growth -- are environmental factors like sedimentation, agricultural runoff and point-source pollution from combined sewer overflows and other sources. Kudos to the Indiana DNR for working to identify and address these issues in their Strategic Plan for Rivers and Streams, but the real work on this front takes place at the local and regional levels. If you have a particular river or stream you enjoy fishing, there is probably a local or regional watershed group in place to monitor threats to its environmental quality and implement projects and programs that improve the resource. From the creation of watershed plans that influence local development decisions to Saturday afternoon river clean-ups, these groups do the hard work of protecting and improving the quality of our rivers and streams. Purdue University’s School of Engineering has developed an inventory of these organizations in Indiana and put it online at https://engineering.purdue.edu/~iwla/inventory /. Check it out and get involved with one of these groups where you fish.

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

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INDIANA OUTDOOR NEWS ®

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January, 2 0 11 Edition

Skunked!

The Last Thought MIKESCHOONVELD Most outdoorsmen and women have come home skunked at some point. I’m talking skunked in the figurative sense of the word. Empty handed. No fish, no game. Nothing tangible for their efforts. It happens all the time and it’s why it’s called fishing, not catching and hunting, not finding.

Luckily, most outdoor skunks are figurative. Except for trappers. Anyone setting traps to catch raccoons, foxes, coyotes or other land-based fur bearers has a better than average opportunity of coming home skunked in the literal sense of the word. The bait, lure and sets which will capture the ‘coons and coyotes are equally attractive to skunks.

Skunk smell is one of the most powerful odors known to man. Under perfect conditions, a human can detect the smell up to 2 miles away. It lingers, clings and lasts for days.

I am a trapper and there’s a reason my family calls the pickup truck I use when I’m trapping the

“Skunk Truck”. I’ve had my share of encounters with Hoosierland’s Pepe Le Pew population. None so bad as when I tried what was supposed to be a “fool-proof” method of removing a skunk from a trap.

Surprisingly, it takes a lot to get a skunk concerned enough to actually unload it’s load of olfactory grief. Most skunks don’t spray when they get caught.

That’s good and bad. It’s good you don’t have to contend with a freshly contaminated area around the trap site, but it’s bad because it’s still armed with a full load when you arrive on the scene.

Though being caught isn’t enough to make a skunk discharge, a trapper walking up to the trap to release it will do it every time. The answer is to dispatch the skunk before approaching the trap. A brain-shot causes an instant demise, but the result will be it’s own parting shot from the other end of the animal. A .22 into the heart and lungs is just as lethal, and lowers the odds of a final spray to about 50-50. So when I heard of trappers euthanising trapped skunks by lethal injection with a 99% success rate, I geared up with one of the “syringe on a stick” tools.

According to the proponents of the method, skunks don’t know what a syringe and needle is, so unlike humans, when they see it

coming, they don’t anticipate getting punctured. Calm the animal down by singing a lullaby until it goes off full alert, creep into range (my syringe stick is 6 feet long), inject the skunk and in a short time the job is done so you can remove an odorless animal from the trap.

Several weeks later I caught a skunk. I circled downwind and decided the animal had not yet sprayed so I assembled my skunk pole, loaded the syringe and approached slowly while singing Rockabye Baby. In a couple of minutes the tail was down and the issue became getting in position to administer the injection just behind the front leg.

I soon learned skunks tend to want to either face the trapper -sniffing and trying to see them with their relatively poor eyesight -- or they want to turn the other way to be in firing mode. I also learned that though they may not know what a hypodermic needle is, being poked with one isn’t perceived to be just another mosquito bite.

The skunk jumped back before I could push the plunger, bit the syringe and lofted a partial load but not in my direction. So much for the first try.

I switched tunes to “Hush Little Baby,” approached again and the skunk backed away, but facing me -- until it tumbled into a

foot deep hole it had excavated while waiting for me to arrive.

I mean tumbled in the gymnastic sense of the word. Backflip, somersault, end-over-end, three-quarters of the way around ending abruptly with the tail up, head down and an instant geyser up into the air high enough I could hear droplets land on the bill of my cap.

SKUNKED, for sure!

Forget tomato juice. A back-porch scrubbing using an on-line recipe consisting of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dishwashing soap got me back in the house. As far as cap and coveralls? Well, I needed new ones, anyway.

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