Where Would I Be?

I was scrolling through my photo storage recently, looking for a particular image when I came across a photo my wife took in Colorado last year. It's one of my favorites of me and the big black dog trout fishing. I've always said Creede (the lab) isn't good at fishing, but he knows it's important. You can see it in his eyes, and you can see the joy on my face. The photo immediately immersed me in memories of fishing the Rio Grande. Then I wondered if those experiences would be as important and whether I'd be looking forward to our trip this fall as much if I hadn't grown up fishing with Granddad and Dad. Where would I be today with that in my past?

It's a scary thought, but it isn't real because I did grow up with that in my life. I don't dwell on the past other than to reminisce about good times, but when I think about how much those experiences have meant to me, I get pretty sentimental. Spending time outdoors with my family has been an enormous guiding factor in my life, and I'm indescribably happy that I have that. It's something to think about next time you're wondering if you have time for a short fishing trip with the kids. 

Try Panfish Now

Most kids learn to fish by catching panfish -- bluegill and green sunfish. Panfish are present in all waters, and in most small lakes and ponds, they are numerous. They're always hungry and easy to catch. I don't know too many veteran anglers who don't fondly reminisce about watching a bobber bounce as bluegill nibbled on the bait. As we progress as anglers, we often leave panfish behind while we pursue more "grownup" fish species. However, whatever your age, you can't deny that bluegills and green sunfish can be a blast to catch. And now is the time to catch them. Check out the 2012 Kansas Fishing Atlas  Find a pond, state fishing lake or community lake and fish the shallows. Bluegill have been on the spawning beds  for some time, but they're still shallow in many lakes. They'll hit small jigs, but the best way to catch them is still a small bobber and a hook baited with a piece of worm. It's hard to believe a fish that small can pull that hard, and if you're lucky enough to find some big bluegills -- 9- to 11-inchers -- hang on! Take a youngster and you'll find yourself watching the bobber through young eyes, and you'll feel 10 years old again.

Summer Practice

While the calendar might not make it officially summer, the temperature certainly does. Turkey season runs through the end of May, and Squirrel season opens June 1, but for most hunters, summer is the long wait for hunting seasons to re-open. Hunters may use the off-season to maintain gear, stay in shape and generally bide their time until Sept. 1 when the dove season opens. However, for wingshooters, summer is the time to practice shotgun skills. Most Kansas communities, large and small, have a local trap and skeet club or sporting clays course. Nearly all clubs have a designated evening for practice, and members always welcome new and young shooters. An evening at the shooting range is a great way to improve your wingshooting skills, and you'll likely meet some interesting, like-minded people. Kids are always welcome, and rigid gun safety protocol at gun clubs is great reinforcement for young shooters. Take a young shooter to the gun club this summer; you'll both have a ball.

A Creek Runs Through It

When I was a kid, a creek was like a magnet to me. If it had running water and fish in it, I could not stay away. I remember a tiny creek that ran through a golf course where me and a friend spent countless hours catching creek chubs and crawdads. Even though we both owned fishing poles, making due with wood slats, fishing line, hooks and some hot dogs and raw bacon seemed like more fun or more primitive. We probably caught more crawdads as we did fish, but they were just as exciting. Wherever I went, a creek or stream with running water drew me in. Of course fishing was the most fun, but even an intermittent drainage can provide opportunities for frog catching, wading, and just exploring the mud and cattails. Every kid should know the fun of exploring a creek. It doesn't require any planning or preparation. Just turn them loose on the creek and stand back. Making a fishing pole from a willow branch and catching a grasshopper or worm for bait will dramatically enhance the experience. Catching a fish would be just icing on the cake. Any nearby creek, large our small, will do. Get the kids out this weekend and let them explore the magic of a creek.

PASS IT ON WITH PATIENCE

This spring, one of my co-workers came in to discuss his plans for his son's first turkey hunt. Dustin's boy, Hunter, is 8 and has been accompanying his mother and father in the field since he was old enough to walk. This spring, Hunter was ready to shoot a turkey. Dustin borrowed a youth-model, 20 ga. semi-automatic shotgun, and the two practiced shooting stationary targets for a couple of weeks before the youth season opened. On their second hunt, Hunter made a great shot on a nice tom. Father and son were thrilled and proud. That experience gave Hunter the confidence to learn to shoot flying targets. Dustin brought him to the local gun club on a recent evening and before members started shooting five-stand, Hunter was allowed to shoot an incoming target. After a a little instruction, Hunter smoked the target on his first attempt. Hunter appeared elated with his success, but when asked if he wanted to shoot again, he declined. He rubbed his shoulder, which was smarting a little from the recoil, and there was obviously some anxiety about shooting in front of other shooters. I thought, "Maybe this kid knows to quit while he's ahead." We all bragged about him breaking his first target and that his break percentage was 100 percent. We didn't push him to shoot more. He and Dad hung around and watched others shoot five-stand and trap. In no time, Hunter was champing at the bit to shoot again. When the trap shooters were done, Dad let him shoot a few trap targets from just behind the house. He broke the first one before missing a couple. He was satisfied and ready to quit. And again, we didn't push him to shoot more than he wanted. When he left that evening, Hunter was jabbering about how much fun he'd had, thanking members who helped him, and making plans to return next week. The point is, Hunter was allowed to progress at his own speed. He made the decision when and how much he shot, and he came away with a positive experience. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of a young shooter's initial success and not pay attention to their emotions and feelings. Be patient. Always ask if they want to shoot again, and avoid putting them in situations that could embarrass them or make them feel uncomfortable. Remember that learning outdoor skills such as wingshooting is a life-long process and it's all part of the journey to becoming a hunter. Take time to enjoy every step.

Shooting Fun

I'll never forget the summer I was 12 years old, and Dad took me to shoot trap at the Kinsley Gun Club. We had started pheasant hunting the previous fall, and improving our shotgun skills was a primary motivation. Neither of us knew anything about trap shooting, but local club members welcomed us and were generous with helpful hints. One shooter from Greensburg, Larry Schmidt, took special interest in helping me and even loaned me a gun that first year. We shot regularly for a couple of summers before I got busy with other activities and stopped making time for shooting. However, I never forgot the fun and great friendships we made. Much later in life, I became associated with another gun club and found the same kind of welcoming, friendly attitude. I've consistently met good people at gun clubs and shooting events, and I've seen new and young shooters welcomed everywhere I've been. Shooting at a local gun club is an inexpensive, safe and enjoyable activity for youngsters, and it could keep them from other less wholesome activities. Get involved with your local gun club or inquire with your local 4-H club to see if it sponsors a 4-H Shooting Sports Program. You and your young shooters will meet great people and have a great time. And you'll develop shotgun skills that will make next fall's hunting seasons much more enjoyable. By the way, the Kinsley Gun Club is still going strong and welcoming young shooters. Each fall, the club hosts the Kinsley Kids Klassic when young shooters from around the state gather for a competition. I'll keep you informed about his year's event.

Mentoring Payback

I've written several entries about some of the wonderful mentors I've been fortunate enough to have in my life. One was a good friend I met at college who introduced me to hunting ducks over decoys. Kurt grew up hunting Cheyenne Bottoms, and he passed on his love of duck hunting to me. I've been hunting ducks over decoys ever since, and I've been indebted to Kurt for his generous help. However, while turkey hunting the other morning, I reminisced about past hunts, and I remembered one from more than 25 years ago. Though I wasn't exactly an expert spring turkey hunter or caller, I had a couple of spring toms under my belt, and I wanted Kurt to experience that thrill. We hunted for a day-and-a-half without results, then while driving to a new spot, we spotted a tom crossing a field. We had permission on the land, so we hurriedly moved to intercept the bird. We eased down an old shelterbelt and started calling. The bird was moving faster than we thought, and we were well behind it, but it was in the mood for love and gobbled immediately to my amateurish calls. We scrambled to get into shooting position, and I called again. Another gobble, this time closer. We both spotted the top of the bird's fan at the same time. The tom was strutting back toward us, but he had a creek and fence to cross. I knew enough at the time to be anxious about whether the bird would cross those obstacles, but I underestimated this bird again. Without the slightest hesitation, the tom flapped across the creek and went right back into strut, maintaining on a beeline toward our position. Then a cow and calf trotted between us and the bird. Again, the tom was undeterred. When it got to the fence, it was in range, but before I could tell Kurt to shoot, the bird squeezed under the bottom wire and went right back into its strut. Now it was in the clear and well within shotgun range, and Kurt made the shot. We were both elated, but the normally even-keyed Kurt was as excited as I'd ever seen him. I'd like think I paid him back in mentoring, but I think I enjoyed the turkey hunt as much as Kurt did.