Tri-State Outdoor News

Early spring is a time when the outdoors comes to life and most anglers begin to prepare crappie poles and sharpen jigs for some deep brush jigging or spider rigging. There’s no doubt early spring is a great time for some cruising crappies, but it can be just as good for channel cats as old man winter loses ground.

It wasn’t long after moving to Indiana that I found the lakes around here to be full of catfish. I was amazed at the size of channel cats and quickly began targeting them often – and a great time to pursue these big channel cats is in the spring.

The important thing with early spring cat fishing is water temperature. Finding the warmer water on any lake will be the focus during early spring and just a few degrees can make the difference. Water 1 to 5 feet deep, with a mud bottom, is a great place to look as the sun is drawn to the dark, mud- bottom causing the water to warm quicker in these areas. The warmer water stimulates the cold-blooded cats causing them to feed more aggressively and what brings these fish to these shallow coves is food!

In the winter there is a natural die off of fish that occurs and if your lake has shad, then the amount of food floating below the surface of the lake can be extraordinary. This die off provides catfish with a much needed food source before time to spawn. Instinct will prevail and the catfish will find these wind swept coves with lots of dead shad from the winter-kill taking advantage of this natural occurrence.

Wind to an angler can be a nuisance or a great ally. In the case of early spring cat fishing, wind is your ally. Wind mixes the water helping to warm these shallow coves while at the same time pushing dead shad into these coves. The important thing is to find the combination of a large shallow cove and a wind that blows directly into that cove. If the wind is not blowing directly into the cove then at least locate the bank being lapped with the wind blown water and start there.

The choice of bait seems obvious. Cut shad is the way to go for this time of year but try mixing it up a little. Most of the fish will focus on dead shad so you definitely want a rig with cut shad but you should rig a pole or two with something different just in case it stimulates a fish that might be attracted to something new. I have to say that sometimes the different bait far outperforms the shad but always have cut shad in the boat, as it will work best most of the time. Some other baits I use are shrimp, and where legal, fresh bluegill fillets and heads.

Some will argue that the smellier the bait the better. I can only say that fresh bait has always worked well for me and seems to attract the larger fish. I keep the stinky stuff out of my boat and stick to fresh or fresh frozen. I have caught fish on the rotten stuff but I seemed to waste a lot of time with smaller fish. Since going strictly fresh, the bite action has slowed but the hook-up action on bigger fish has increased as I waste little time worrying with those little fish and more time fighting nice size channels to the boat, which brings us to the tackle you want to use to catch these catfish.

You want to start with a medium heavy rod as big channel cats can put up a great fight.  I set all my rigs to free spool just in case I miss a bite he can keep running until I can get to the rod. If I see the bite I set the hook immediately.  A lot of anglers like to tight line their rigs but it seems as though this results in dropped bites when they feel the rod, leaving no time to set the hook.

One stick is all it takes. A common mistake that I used to make was to stick the bait numerous times and cover the entire hook with the bait for fear the fish might feel the hook and spook. I now leave the hook point uncovered and stick the bait only once so that when the fish inhales the bait the point is exposed, and even if it decides to spit it out, there is a better chance for a hook up. This may seem trivial but really does make a difference in the number of hook-ups you will have.

Terminal tackle should consist of a solid hook and a monofilament leader, 20 to 30 pound test, with a barrel swivel between it and the main line. On the main line, above the swivel, there should be a single bead to protect the knot, and then a slider for your sinker; these sliders are inexpensive and are much less abrasive on your line and allows you to easily change sinker size as conditions dictate. The sinkers ability to slide on the main line is very important as these fish are very sensitive to pressure and if they feel any at all, they will drop the bait. The reason I choose mono for my leader is its ability to withstand the abrasion effects of heavy brush a little better than braided line. My main line is 50 to 60 pound braid, which allows more line on a more compact reel, which I like to use.  I set the hook hard on these big cats so I choose the octopus over the circle as my choice in hooks. Quick hook sets are important to get those big cats away from the cover that they are sure to head for when hooked. This is the reason I use a compact rod and reel, to have more control of the fight.

Spring cat fishing may not be as popular as some of the other early spring fishing but with a little patience you might find an exciting early spring activity for yourself and your family and enjoy some great fishing fun as well as some great fillets for the table.

The email was stinging and contained some harsh criticism of Indiana’s deer management. It’s clear this group of Indiana hunters is quite disgruntled with current DNR management and is now organizing a grass-roots effort to “take on the DNR.”

The issue of antlerless permits be it too many, too few, or just the right amount, is one discussed throughout the state. Casual observation, however, indicates that a great deal of hunters feel that Indiana is simply too liberal with bonus-county permits.

When we read the email from Pike County resident Alan Nelson, it really contained nothing this magazine hasn’t heard before; hunters are seeing far fewer deer these days. Many blame the state’s excessive use of bonus-county permits, others blame two summers of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) that took a heavy toll on southern Indiana deer herds. Astute critics blame both plus the state for not responding to EHD die-offs by reducing the number of bonus-county permits.

But the message that came through more than anything was the letter writer’s disgust at how he and others in a coalition (that included two state representatives) were treated by the DNR staff that  included its Director, Rob Carter and eight others.

“They were arrogant, paid little attention to us. They were rude and already had their minds made up to ignore any and all suggestions made by us,” said Alan Nelson of Winslow.

Nelson is part of a group of nearly 30 hunters from Pike, Gibson, Knox, Warrick and Vanderburgh counties who have come together to discuss Indiana’s deer management, and other areas of DNR management as well.

Nelson said the group came together a couple of months ago and have met twice to discuss DNR management, primarily deer management, but other issues have been raised as well, such as supplemental fish stocking on DNR properties.

Three representatives, that included Nelson and two others along with state representative Mark Messmer and state senator Lindel Hume, sat down with the DNR in Indianapolis to air the groups concerns.

“It was clear by the DNR’s reaction that they weren’t going to listen to us and at one point simply told us ‘we’re not going to change a thing,’” Nelson said.

Nelson added even the two state representatives commented that they too were dismayed at how the DNR treated them and indicated that maybe it’s time for an overhaul of the Indiana DNR.

“Lindel Hume wasn’t happy at all with how the DNR conducted themselves,” Nelson said.

The core of the current unhappiness lies with what many see has a deer population in trouble simply because the DNR wants to sell deer tags. While the DNR touts record population levels, deer hunters and deer processors disagree.

“I know there are areas of Indiana that still have high numbers of deer, but from what I’m hearing from other deer hunters throughout the state, the numbers aren’t as high as the DNR wants us to think,” Nelson said.

Nelson cites his own experience on several hundred acres of prime deer habitat that he alone hunts and the fact he only saw two deer in 27 outings this year. Others tell him the same type of stories.

“We were hit hard by EHD two years in a row down here (Pike County). It really slammed us,” Nelson said.

Nelson went on to add that he also consulted with a friend in the insurance business that researched car-deer collisions and found these to be down 43 percent. When Nelson called 10 area deer check stations they all said their check-ins were way down and area deer processors also indicated fewer deer. But Nelson said it was the deer processors who really opened his eyes when these folks reported that the average weight of deer being processed was only 60 pounds.

“Where are the big does?” Nelson asked. In his mind, two years worth of EHD claimed these.

But deer hunting isn’t the only issue the group is taking to task. Nelson said they also asked about the state doing supplemental fish stockings because a lot of the guys are fishermen and have seen the quality of fishing decline on several of the public lakes. He said the DNR’s reception to this idea was also one of arrogance and rudeness.

Nelson said the Pike County group isn’t alone in their thinking. “I was talking to Rep. Messmer following our meeting with the DNR and he told me a group of sportsmen from Dubois County have also gathered and signed a petition to send to the state.”

“Indiana has really started to whack the sportsman with fees,” Nelson said citing the cost of deer tags and other fees such as boat registration, trailer tags, launch fees and lake enhancement fees just to list a few. “It’s cheaper to go to Kentucky to fish than it is here,” he said. “Plus they have a lot more to offer.”

Nelson said that it’s becoming clear that the Indiana DNR is more about making money on deer tags than it is in preserving the quality of hunting, and they do this by way of bonus-county permits.

“We’re just rallying the hunters right now,” Nelson said. “We’re taking on the state and this group is going to take off and we’re going to have to use politics to do it,” Nelson said in reference to the DNR’s administration that is based on the politics of the sitting Governor.

“We’re beginning our petition process and we’re focusing our efforts on the Governor. We’ve already got two state representatives behind us,” Nelson said.

Nelson is inviting anyone who concerned about deer hunting and other DNR matters to attend a meeting on Feb. 16, 2010 at the Trading Post located south of Winslow on St. Rd. 61. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Those who can’t attend the meeting can get involved by contacting on of the following: Alan Nelson, 812-789-2860 or by email at alannelson28@ msn.com; Ron Beadles, 812-789-3054 or by email at truearchery@aol.com or Todd Harker, 812-766-9050 or by email at trappertodd@psci.net.

Call it reckless and senseless! Call it outrageous and despicable! Just how do you describe the irresponsible shooting of a whooping crane? Even more revolting is the fact that it happened here in Indiana.

News of the shooting first hit Operation Migration’s web site (www.operationmigration.org) on Dec. 3, 2009, the day whooping crane #217 was found dead in Vermillion County near the town of Cayuga by tracker Eva Szyskoski. Eva is Tracking Field Manager for the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCRP) and the International Crane Foundation (ICF). Vermillion County is a traditional migration stop for this crane and its mate, #211.

News of the death was quite saddening to say the least. When I was first alerted to the death and the fact that it had occurred in our neck of the woods, my first thought was, ‘Please let it be natural or a coyote kill.’ On Dec. 9 the dreaded news release came from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Whooping crane #217 died of a gunshot wound.

“This is likely the most important bird in the entire Eastern Migratory Population,” said Operation Migration CEO Joe Duff. “We are all saddened by the loss and troubled by the motive behind the act.” This particular crane and her mate were the only whooping cranes in the eastern Migratory Population who thus far have successfully reared young.

The shooting occurred sometime between Nov. 28, when trackers last recorded her, and Dec. 1, when her carcass was found. During an aerial search the male whooper was spotted but #217 was not visible. Her transmitter signal was tracked to a location a few miles away.

Was this most dreadful act committed by someone calling himself a hunter? It is not yet known, but soon after I heard the news, I telephoned a journalism colleague of mine, Dave Staver, who is also a birdwatcher and golfer extraordinaire, and this is what he had to say; “Crow, we have a saying in golf. ‘There are people who are golfers and people who play golf.’ Likewise, there are hunters and people who hunt. People who hunt are generally idiots with guns who like to shoot things, whereas hunters are people who respect the ethics and nuances of hunting. You’re a hunter and I’m a golfer.”

All whooping cranes are special, but #217 was really special. She and her mate were the parents of #W601, the first whooping crane born in the wild in more than a century. The three of them were dubbed The First Family. A second chick, W602, was also born to the pair, but was unfortunately predated in the late summer of 2006. At least predation is a more respectable death than being shot out of the sky by some idiot with a gun.

Maybe the killing was just an act of cruel, juvenile vandalism or perhaps a hunting mistake. But even if she had been mistaken for a mute swan (legal game in Indiana) and shot by someone hunting (I would suspect a duck or goose hunter), a mistake of this magnitude should never occur. I am outraged and ashamed that shooter might consider himself a hunter.

The odds of ever finding out what really happened are slim. Perhaps the $10,000 reward will entice someone to speak.  Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation officers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents are conducting a joint investigation into the shooting. In addition to the Endangered Species Act, whooping cranes are protected by state laws and

The initial reward of $2,500, leading to information, arrest and conviction of the perpetrator, has grown to $10,000 and includes contributions from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Defenders of Wildlife (a national non-profit conservation organization), and the Indiana Turn in a Poacher or a Polluter Program, plus one anonymous contributor.

“To kill and abandon one of 500 remaining members of a species shows a lack of reverence for life and an absence of simple common sense,” said John Christian, FWS Assistant Regional Director for Migratory Birds. “It is inconceivable that someone would have such little regard for conservation.”

Sadly, this isn’t the only senseless and reckless setback the whooping crane reintroduction crew experienced last fall. On Nov. 20, 2009, unknown individuals broke into the airplane hanger at the Necedah, Wisconsin airport and did more than $30,000 damage to ultra-light aircraft and other equipment used to lead first year whooping cranes south for their first migration. Operation Migration is based out of the nearby Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. Since then, whooping crane lovers (also called ‘craniacs’) and various other groups have come together to make up for that loss through generous donations.

Some readers may not fully understand my appreciation for whooping cranes. Many of you will remember the large photo spread in April 2009 as seven of these birds made a stopover at the Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area. Indiana is in a rather unique position, geographically, when it comes to migrating whooping cranes – we’re in the heart of their migration route.

At the time this issue of the Tri-State Outdoor News went to press, there were still 28 whooping cranes in the Hoosier state including the counties of Knox, Greene, Vermillion and Vigo counties, the heart of this magazine’s circulation area. The Vermillion County bird is the widower of the crane that was shot. Gibson County is also a favorite area although no birds have been sighted there this fall. Many of the birds are repeat visitors.

Folks in eastern Illinois are also fortunate as Operation Migration is now leading birds south using an Illinois route. There were two cranes listed in Wayne County also as of this printing.

Bringing back endangered species such as the whooping crane, whose numbers had dwindled to as few as 15 in the 1940s, takes time and money, with most of the tab being picked up by generous corporate and individual donors. Each year, like so many other conservation projects, Operation Migration never knows if it will have the needed funds to cover their expenses. But thanks to these generous donors who sponsor migration miles, and more recently began contributing to the “Give a Whoop!” Fund for as little as $10 per whoop (see web site for more information), another year’s class of whooping cranes find their wings causing the population to grow.

Anyone with information of the shooting should call the Indiana DNR’s 24-hour hotline at 1-800-TIP IDNR (800-847-4367), or the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at 317346-7016. Callers can remain anonymous.

(The class of 2009 has 20 first year flyers, and at the time of this writing is in Franklin County Alabama, halfway through their journey south to Florida.)