Plenty of water in breeding grounds means plenty of ducks in the fall

Retrieving a downed duck can be a challenge. A good, well-trained dog can make the task easier and hunting more enjoyable.

Duck hunters can anticipate plenty of birds to hunt this fall and winter, assuming the weather continues to cooperate.

North America’s spring duck population is down slightly from record levels, but pond counts are up 24 percent over last year, according to the 2013 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat. 

The survey, which has been conducted annually since 1955 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife service, puts the breeding duck population at 45.6 million, the second-highest level ever recorded. 

“We started with high numbers of breeding ducks, and we have great water in the right places for renesting and duckling survival,” said Frank Rohwer, president of Delta Waterfowl. “Duck production should be excellent.” 

Of the 10 species cited in the survey index, only American wigeon and canvasbacks showed an increase from 2012. Wigeon breeding numbers sit at 2.64 million, up 23 percent from 2012 and two percent above the long-term average for the species. Canvasbacks showed a modest increase of four percent, with the population estimated at 787,000, well above the threshold to have an open season. 

“Wigeon, a species which had many folks concerned about a long term decline have now increased two years in a row,” said Joel Brice, vice president of conservation for Delta Waterfowl. “It is nice to see canvasbacks back to near record populations.” 

Mallards were at 10.37 million, down two percent, but still 36 percent higher than the long-term average. Despite the overall decline, mallards increased locally in the Eastern Dakotas, Southern Manitoba and Southern Saskatchewan. 

Gadwalls dipped seven percent to 3.35 million, but the population remains an impressive 80 percent above the long-term average of 1.86 million. 

average.

Biologist expects strong bird production due to the May pond counts, which is critical to nesting and rearing young.

May pond counts, an index of wetlands across the survey area, were tallied at 6.89 million, a significant and important 24 percent increase over 2012.

“We started with good water, and it got better with rains in May,” Rohwer said. “All research shows that renesting effort and duckling survival are tied to good water conditions.”

May ponds were up 59 percent in the Eastern Dakotas, 44 percent in Southern Manitoba, 40 percent in Southern Alberta and 6 percent in Southern Saskatchewan. 

“Southern Saskatchewan and the Eastern Dakotas are the holy grail for prairie duck production as they hold a very high number of breeding ducks,” Brice said. “This year, duck numbers and wetland conditions are excellent in both places.”

“A number of our staff were concerned in April about the late spring, delayed nesting and a poor frost seal which resulted in poorer than normal run off. However, then the rains came. These rains helped recharge and sustain the small, temporary wetlands that drive duck production. The presence of these wetlands will drive the renesting rate and significantly improve duckling survival.”

Renesting rates are important because many areas of the breeding grounds have poor hatching rates. In drier years, such as 2012, hens that lose a first nest to predators are far less likely to make a new nest and lay more eggs.

“Last year, wetland conditions eroded over the course of the breeding season which is very common, this year conditions improved markedly with spring early summer rains,” Rohwer said. 

Good production translates into a lot of young ducks.

“Young ducks are far more likely to decoy and respond to calling,” Rohwer said.

Indiana is not on a major duck flyway, however many migratory birds pass through the area, and find their way along the Wabash and Ohio Rivers. Posey County’s  Hovey Lake is a major waterfowl hunting area.

Bluegill: Midwest's most popular fish

Lawrence Taylor with a dark-colored bluegill (bream).

Picking a favorite fish is easy for many people. It’s a largemouth bass. Others would ask, “Do you mean to catch or eat”?

For most people in the Midwest, the answer would be “bluegill”.

Bluegill are regionally known as bream (Southeast), brim, sun perch, blue sunfish and copper belly. There also are many popular ”sunfish cousins” such as redear and stumpknockers. 

They are plentiful, fun to catch, and very good eating.

Bluegill probably vary more in coloration than any other sunfish, depending on the water in which they are found. The basic body color ranges from yellow to dark blue--some almost appear black. If you catch them in a relatively sterile quarry, they may look nearly transparent. The adult sides usually are distinguished with six to eight vertical, irregular stripes or bars.

They range is size depending on water and age. In Northern waters, gills grow a little over an inch a year and a three-year-old fish may be four to six inches in length, and a nine-inch fish may be eight years old. In the South, gills usually spawn more often and grow much faster. Some may reach up to four inches in one year. A half-pound bluegill is a nice fish, and anything over a pound is a lunker.

The Indiana record bluegill is three pounds, four ounces and was caught  back in 1972 by Harold Catey in a Green County farm pond.

Bluegill originally were found from Minnesota to Lake Champlain on the East coast and south to Georgia to Arkansas, however their popularity for farm pond stocking has spread them to much of the South and also further west.

Quiet, weedy waters are preferred by the fish. The smaller gills will be found in shallow water close to shore, and the larger fish like nearby deeper water in the daytime, but will move into the shallower water in the morning and evening to feed.

Bluegill first spawn when the water temperature reaches about 67 degrees, and in the spring they are active just prior to and during the spawn. Depending on the area, they will spawn several times during the summer. However, the first spawn usually is most productive for anglers.

The females lay their eggs in nests located in beds, which may contain only a few or many nests. After the female lays her eggs, she leaves and the male protects the nests for several days. Of the fish caught on nests, nearly all will be males.

A bed of spawning gils can be a delight for a fly fisherman. If the water is shallow enough, they will usually rise to hit poppers, especially in the evening. Otherwise wet fllies or ultra-light leadheads will take them on deeper beds. The females will generally be found in deeper waters nearby the nests.

Rarely will you find or catch a single bluegill. Where you find one, there will be more.

Bluegill have small mouths and small hooks are needed--like Tru-Turn 6 or 8 Aberdeen hooks. Thin wire hooks are the choice for live bait because the bait will live longer and be more attractive to the fish as it squirms. Hooks with long shanks are easier to remove from the small mouths, especially if it swallows the hook.

Bluegill are good eating. They have white, firm flesh. Most fillets aren’t large, but battered and deep fried they are delicious. However my parents never filleted the fish. They simply cut off the head, gutted the fish, and took off the scales. The whole fish was fried and the meat was taken from the fish with a fork. Of course, you had to be careful and watch for stray bones.

Hush puppies, cole slaw and baked beans will top off a meal.

Fourth of July busy for boaters

Fourth of July weekend is the busiest boating time of the year, and caution is important to insure safety. Life jackets are a must for youngsters.

Traditionally, the Fourth of July holiday is the busiest boating weekend. It can be a lot of fun. It can be dangerous.

Boaters will take to the water for relaxation, including fishing, cruising, skiing, swimming, and watching fireworks. It’s a time to reflect on our independence and the freedoms we enjoy, including celebrating in the great outdoors. Many locations have over-the-water fireworks displays, and the exploding shells are beautiful from a boat.

However, congested waterways can be hazardous, and common sense, planning and cautions can make for an fun Fourth, and not a tragic holiday.

 The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water says that making a few extra preparations ahead of time will go a long way towards increasing your family's and friend's safety and fun on the water.

Here are eight tips that will help you stay safe this July Fourth holiday:

Planning is an import element of a good weekend, yet it often is overlooked.

Kids need life jackets and correct size jackets. Everyone wants to be on the boat this holiday weekend, but do you have the right-sized life jacket aboard for any visiting kids?  An adult needs an adult jacket and children need jackets that fit them, and not slip over their heads.

 July Fourth is the one time a year many fair-weather boaters - who may rarely navigate in the dark - venture out after the sun goes down. They stay out to see the fireworks.  The most reported type of boating accident is a collision with another vessel so it's a good idea to keep your speed down, post an extra lookout, and ensure all your navigation lights work.  A spotlight is a must, and ensure all safety gear is readily available and life jackets are worn.  Be extra vigilant about not running over anchor lines in crowded fireworks viewing areas, and don't take shortcuts in the dark. Be especially careful, if you are on the Ohio river. Current can be a problem as well as push boat barges.

Wear life jackets. Many people think they are a nuisance. Wrong. I personally like the self-inflating type that are light weight and not hot. Almost three-quarters of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, and of those, 87 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Accidents can happen very quickly, sometimes leaving no time to don a life jacket. 

Don’t overload your boat. Resist the urge to invite more friends or family to the fireworks show than what your boat was designed to carry.  Heavily loaded small boats, and those with little freeboard such as bass boats, are more susceptible to swamping from weather or wake action associated with heavy July Fourth boating traffic.

It’s one of the longest days of the year, and a great one to enjoy. If you are going to have an alcoholic drink, make sure you have a designated driver, who knows how to properly drive the boat. A full day in the sun will increase alcohol's effects on the body, so it's better to wait until you're safely back at the dock or home before breaking out the libations. (Kentucky law prohibits boat operators or passengers from drinking alcohol on the water.} 

Also bring lots of water, and check the weather reports to avoid storms. The long-range forecast at this writing does forecast possible thunderstorms.

Know how to get back into the boat. A fall overboard can turn into a life-threatening situation pretty quickly, especially for small boats without built-in boarding ladders. 

Don’t run the engine with swimmers in the water. Raft-ups, or groups of boats tied together in a protected anchorage, is a great way to spend the holiday with fellow boating friends, especially at today’s gasoline prices. 

However boaters should never run an engine, or a generator for that matter, with swimmers in the water near exhaust ports or props. 

Whether you boat or just enjoy a picnic and fireworks, the weekend should be a fond memory, not an unhappy one. Be safe.

Remember song, "Poke Salad Annie"?

Pokeweed roots and berries are poisonous, but young, tender leaves can make a tasty salad.

It’s a large. tall rapidly growing plant that appeared in the small flower garden plot on the west side of my deck. It grew with jack-in-the-bean stock rapidity.

Wife Phyllis and I stayed longer in Florida this spring due to a series of leg surgeries she had scheduled. When we returned home our wonderful neighbors, Scott and Sherry Wahl, plus daughter Shayna, had already cleaned out our flower beds.

(Nice to help out the old folks.)

Scott and Sherry encouraged me to leave this plant in flower bed and thought it was a flower.

I was convinced it is a big weed. Several similar plants appeared along the fence row, and I chopped them down. They did look vaguely familiar.

 Know there is little difference from flowers to weeds. It’s a matter of perception. The best and simplest explanation I’ve heard is that a weed is a plant that make a gardner unhappy.

The plant in the flower garden isn’t making me happy. It has reached in excess of six-foot tall. So, weed is on my mind, not flower. But before I whacked it, I thought I would take a picture and use modern media, e.g. Facebook, to see if any of my outdoor friends could identify this soon to become weed plant.

So, I grabbed the old Nikon, snapped a couple of photos, posted one on Facebook, and add that the plant, “... does have some kind of flower or berry type blossom. Anyone know what it is before I chop it down.”

Within minutes, outdoor writer friend Alan Clemmons, managing editor of Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine from Huntsville, Alabama, posted the answer. It was pokeweed Alan says it also is known as polk, and when consumed as poke salad. A popular song years ago, (even sung by Elvis) was “Poke Salad Annie”.

Soon after Alan identified the weed (at least it is a weed from my perspective), a number of other folks sent me information about the plant.

“Smaller, younger leaves and stems are edible but only with knowledge of how and when to use/eat. Berries turn purple, ooze a juice that stains. Birds eat 'em and poop out the seeds, helping it spread. I think Native Americans and folks in the 1800s used the berry juice as a stain for clothing, arrow shafts, etc.

“It's not necessarily a bad plant but it can overtake. I'd hack it unless you just want to keep it,” added Alan

And a key factor is the roots. berries and older leaves like in my photo are poisonous, according to Alan and others.

Carol Smith Gamble wrote,  “It's "poke" Phil. The root system is huge. The berries & stems are "poisonous" - don't know how much so though. We eat the tender leaves cooked like turnip greens. Tastes good. I try to keep the berries cut off. Birds eat them like crazy and then plant them with their special brand of fertilizer. We have them everywhere here (Missouri).

Friend Patrick Gomer Roberson from Pikeville, TN, wrote, “Poke salad is said to be poisonous, however eating it ain't killed me yet! in the spring when you see it come up, pick the tender greens and boil. pour off the first batch of water and boil again, drain then fry up a batch of bacon, save the grease, chop an onion, add drained poke and onion in the grease and fry it up, crumble the bacon, add several scrambled eggs and enjoy some great eating. 

“The stalk, when it is about an inch thick, slice like okra, corn meal then fry in hot grease, will taste almost like okra. I have also heard of saving the berries to treat arthritis as an elderly indian lady said she never had any problem with joint pain as she ate one berry every day. She froze enough for the entire year...” (yes, they are considered posionous).

Poke gets its name from an Indian word "pokan" which means any plant used to produce a red or yellow dye. It even has a political connection. Leaves of pokeberry were worn on the lapels of supporters of the first dark-horse candidate for president, James Polk who served from 1845 to 1849 and for whom Polk County is named.

Try poke salad if you like, but stay away from roots and berries, using only young leaves properly prepared.

Father's Day brings back many fond memories of time spent outdoors

Father and son activities create memories.

Father’s Day always brings back memories of my Dad. 

Honestly, I don’t remember a gift or a card, but I do remember my dad.

Although my father passed away when I was in my early twenties,, thinking of Father’s Day still brings fond memories of the many good times we had in the outdoors, and the things I learned from dad.

He primarily was a fisherman. He hunted, but back in those days, the hunting was limited where I grew up in East Central Illinois. There were squirrels and rabbits, but no deer or turkey.

Like most people those days, my dad was a live bait fisherman. He had a few old plugs in a metal box he used for tackle, but I don’t remember him ever using them. He did have a casting rod with a reel containing linen fishing line. However, most of our fishing was limited to cane poles. We did morel mushroom hunt.

During my pre-teen years, we didn’t have a car or truck. Our transportation was our feet. I remember walking several blocks to the Big Four railroad track, and then proceeding a couple miles north to where a railroad bridge crossed Big Creek. There usually were deep pools in the creek around the bridge, and that’s where we fished.

It often was a hot walk to the creek, but trees lined the bank and it was refreshingly cool when we arrived. We rarely caught big fish; mostly, bluegill and sunfish. But after we carried them back home, they made a tasty meal, cooked by mother, who also usually walked to the creek with us.

Sometime around my 10th or 12th birthday, my folks gathered enough money for a down payment on a used Studebaker pickup (yes, Studebaker made one). . That red truck changed our fishing horizons, we could venture to the backwaters of Wabash River, the Embrass River, and several farm ponds. That also meant we could catch catfish.

A prized bait was catalpa worms. My job was to help pick the ugly worms off catalpa tree leaves during the brief period of the summer when they were available. My dad thought they among the best baits for catfish. He also used chicken livers, night crawlers and cheese stink baits. He raised the night crawlers himself. One of the key components in the earth mix where he raised the crawlers was coffee grounds.

Dad had a special recipe for dough balls he used to catch carp. We didn’t fish for carp a lot, but when we caught small ones during early spring in clear water, they were pretty good eating. The secret ingredient in dad’s dough balls was strawberry jello,

The old Studebaker also brought about our first fishing vacation. It was a week at Freeman Lake in north central Indiana. We stayed in a little cabin, complete with a boat and small motor. The boat was just what we needed to put out trot lines. The lines contained as many as 50 hooks and primarily were baited for catfish.

We had good luck and hooked plenty of channel cats. My dad let me run the lines with him several times a day. It was fun to hold the heavy line and feel the cats hooked somewhere ahead tug and pull. I would lean over and hold the big line, while dad netted the fish, and took them off the line.

Fortunately, I have a wealth of fond memories of fishing with dad.

Old catalpa tree provided my refuge; bait for catching catfish

Catalpa trees often host ugly green and black worms in early summer.
 Despite their appearance they are good catfish bait.

Down at the corner of the property grew a large catalpa tree. It was a special tree. It was my favorite tree. It was a special place. 

The broad leaves made a huge canopy roof, keeping out the sun, and light rain. The tree was very climbable for a youngster like me. About eight feet off the ground were limbs that easily adapted to a tree house. Well, it wasn’t really a tree house. I  simply placed several boards on which I could sit and oversee my kingdom below. I could peer out and watch for advancing enemy armies.

The old catalpa tree (some call them catawba trees, and to others they are cigar trees) grew large pod-like seed capsules, which dangled from the tree and were a foot to a foot and a half long. They became swords or other fun “toys” for me and my young friends.

The catalpa has beautiful blossoms that look a bit like an orchid, and the wood of the tree makes very good fence posts. But nobody was going to cut or harm my tree. Actually, it was on my uncle’s property, but it was my tree--at least in my mind.

My dad took a strong interest in the tree for another reason. Later, we shared the interest.

The big green leaves attracted large black and green worms (caterpillar), which commonly are referred to as catalpa worms. They are ugly and messy, and love to munch on the leaves and can do damage to the trees, although they never seemed to hurt my old tree.

My dad learned as much as the worms love to munch on the catalpa leaves, catfish love to munch on catalpa worms.

Dad had a two part metal minnow bucket. The outside was simply a bucket with a handle. It would hold water. An inner bucket had holes in the sides. It also had a handle. You could lift up the inner bucket, some water would drain, and that made it much easier to catch the minnows.

The inner bucket also made a great container to keep catalpa worms for a catfish fishing trip. Dad would hand me the bucket and send me to the tree to collect worms. First, I was to place leaves inside the bucket. Next, I was to pick off all the worms I could reach and place in the bucket. It had a lid to keep the worms captive.

As I recall, the worms made their appearance during early summer. Sometimes there would be a second infestation.

References to their use for bait reportedly date back to the 1870s. When put on a hook, which according to some should be a circle hook with heavy sinkers to make sure the bait rests on the bottom, a bright fluorescent green fluid oozes from its body that smells sweet, which is its attractiveness. It is also reported to "wiggle forever on a hook." This sweet aroma and liveliness of this worm apparently make it appealing to catfish. 

Photographer writer John Maxwell said, “ think my dad used to cut them in half and turn them inside out, which was icky enough for me to try chicken livers instead.”

Friend Teresa Bragg Rice, former publisher of the Mt. Vernon Democrat, recalls, “We had a large catalpa tree in our back yard near Benton, KY. It sat pretty close to the back door of our house. 

“My dad, Bobby Bragg, was an avid fisherman. Every summer the big greenish worms with a black stripe down their backs would show up on the tree. Dad would pluck several of them off, place them in a jar and head off to various places on Kentucky Lake. 

“He used them exclusively for fishing for catfish. They worked pretty good, and he hauled in several fish over the years using them. Mom wasn't too fond of the tree because the worms can be pretty messy. She finally insisted on it being cut down. That was the end of some pretty good and free fishing bait.”

Catalpa worms are an old-time bait that bring back old time memories. 

Kentucky experiences April record hunting, fishing license growth

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources sold more than seven million dollars worth of hunting and fishing licenses in April – an all-time record for the month. That bucks a recent national trend.

"People realize that hunting and fishing are great ways to spend a beautiful spring day with their families," said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett, Ph.D. "This record month shows our hard work to improve opportunities for the public is paying dividends."

KDFWR Budget Director Scott King said the April sales were encouraging news. "We broke the previous record for the month of April by $140,000," he said. "It's also $800,000 more than our average for April. This is much needed revenue for an agency that's driven by its license sales."

The department in recent years has aggressively pursued both convenience and opportunities for its customers.

A mobile app unveiled by the department last year allows anglers to use their GPS-enabled smart phones to find the nearest place to fish. Hunters can use their smart phones to buy a permit, check their deer or find season dates for all game.

The department's Internet site, which includes a wide range of information about outdoor opportunities in Kentucky, received 17 million hits last year. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's Facebook site, launched in 2009, now has more than 44,000 followers.

The department's Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) program now stocks fish in 39 community lakes across the state. FINs Coordinator Dane Balsman said the program has generated huge interest among anglers.

In the past few years, the department has established a marketing division to help spread the word about Kentucky's many opportunities: From its 10,000-strong elk herd to generous fish stocking programs to its top five status for trophy deer.