Waiting to wet a line
Phil Taunton, Special to The Gazette
Friday, February 1, 2008
Sunshine, blue sky, please come my way.
I’ve been in the house too long and want to go outside and play.
Heaven forbid! With pheasant and turkey hunting season over and more snowy, cold weather upon us, I have found myself surfing the Internet for outdoor-related adventures. There is a lot of good information to be found in Cyberspace, but I would rather be outside with sun on my face, the wind blowing through my hair ... if only I still had hair!
Last Sunday morning, a break in the weather had me and the pups out in the country hoping to fill our last fall season turkey tag. What a great hunt we had, highlighted by finding a covey of 12 to 15 quail.
“Psycho” Sue made the initial point and Cassie’s honor was classic. Made my heart proud!
Quail season was over. As I was walking to each dog, giving encouraging rubs, telling them what good dogs they were and cautioning them with gentle whoa commands, I saw the quail walk into a bordering CRP field from the brushy shrubs where Sue found them. The dogs remained steady, awaiting my release.
Sue, being a work in progress, was given her nickname by Wifeus. Now if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black! And I don’t expect things to get much better around here after what the Wildcats did to her Jayhawks Wednesday night!
The flush of a big turkey just out of shotgun range broke my reminiscing about old dogs and how quail hunting used to be. I released the pups and they quickly relocated and pointed the quail once again. With a tip of the hat and a wish for quail to restore their numbers, not for me, but for generations of bird hunters and pointing dogs to come, I flushed the birds and left them in peace.
Getting back to business, it didn’t take long to harvest my last turkey in the tall grass. On the way back to the truck, the pups had a ball pointing several more.
Topeka Boat and Outdoor Show
The Topeka Boat and Outdoor Show promises to be a premier outdoors experience indoors starting next Friday at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka. I’m looking for this event to remedy the cabin and fishing fever I’m now experiencing.
Former Emporian “Clyde the Guide” Holscher will be on hand all weekend to offer advice on fishing for crappie, all species of bass and walleye. Visit Clyde’s Web site www.clydetheguide.com for more information concerning the best times to fish Clinton, Coffey County, Melvern, Perry and Pomona lakes and for what species to fish for. I found by visiting his site that I was almost outside on the water, landing big fish that always eluded me in years past. Clyde is dedicated to making you the most skilled and knowledgeable fisherman you can be.
Jason Geockler, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Aquatic Nuisance Coordinator, also of Emporia, will be on hand to discuss invasion of our native waters by zebra mussels and Asian carp.
Want to learn more about fly-fishing? Jeff Frye and the Free State Fly Fishers (www.freestateflyfishers.org) will be at the show to offer advice on fly-fishing. This is another great Web site to get you outdoors while the cold weather and hard waters keep you inside. The Fly Fisher seminars, held each day of the boat show, will introduce you to fly-fishing, different techniques used, equipment rigging and fly-tying. An outdoor “hands on” demonstration is also planned if the weather cooperates.
This promises to be one great event. Ned Kehde, an In-Fisherman magazine field editor, will tell you the best ways to catch bass in the Midwest, and Jim Kenny and Joel Hartman of Ambush Lures will discuss seasonal bass patterns. Several pro staff members of Ozawkie Marine also will give seminars on crappie and walleye fishing.
Morel mushroom hunting seminars, Missouri Freak Trophy Deer Display ... Wifeus get your coat — this isn’t all about me! The KU Calendar girls also will be there.
For you canine lovers, Mose Hugghis Jr. of MoKan Kennels in Topeka will give a seminar on basic canine obedience.
For more information contact: www.TopekaBoat.com or call 1-800-756-4788.