My daughter Jourdan and I have turned a page in our lives. No longer do I have to cart her around. Jourdan now has her permanent driver’s license. Her independence has already allowed me to take a morning to go fishing.

I had tried to ice fish this pit a couple of times last winter, but the ice was too thin. The owner doesn’t permit many people to fish, so I considered myself lucky to get the invite. The pond owner was also kind enough to leave a two-man bass boat tied to the pier for my use.

This is the pit where I took my grandsons, Grant and Nick, to fish a few weeks ago. We stood on the dock and caught several bluegill and crappie.

The first time around the lake, I fished for bass with a Slider worm. I caught several largemouth, but none measuring more than 14 inches. I made a mental note each time a bluegill tapped my plastic offering.

Finally, I picked up my ultra-light rigged with a Muey A&A; bluegill jig and began casting to a shallow flat. The bait landed in inches of water. My 1/32nd-ounce lure tipped with a bee moth had only moved a foot when a big, orange breasted male slammed it. This action continued nonstop for several minutes.

The male bluegill were on the shallow flats guarding nests. If I wanted to catch a female, I would have retrieve the jig through 10 feet of water. The males are brightly colored. The females have a grayish or green color that is dull in comparison to the male. This is much like the difference between a male and female cardinal.

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My doctor told me to get in shape, lose weight and get healthy. I told him that I do a lot of walking during deer season. He said walking to my tree stand a few times a year wasn’t a regular regimen.

Last Monday morning, I left home on shank’s pony headed for the bridge on Lick Creek and beyond. As I passed a high-tension tower, a red-tailed hawk screeched at me in protest. I said, “Good morning.” The hawk stayed put on his high perch and continued to screech.

I passed an old apple tree that hung over the road. Strong winds had ripped many of the maturing apples from their stems, and they were lying along the edge of the less traveled county road.

When I reached the bridge and looked over the edge, I saw three soft-shelled turtles sunning themselves on big rocks. While the turtles were sliding into the water, movement caught my eye from the bank. A mother groundhog and her young of the year scuttled to a burrow under the bridge.

On a fence row up the hill from the bridge, I noticed raspberries that were just a few days away from being ripe. In fact, one was ripe.  It’s about time for my “Pies For Dumb Guys” recipe. I’ll try to get that in next week.

On my way back past the tower, I had forgotten about the hawk, but his screech turned my head again. This was his turf, and I was trespassing.

There are many things to notice an enjoy on a walk down a quiet country road — try it.



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An article in the July issue of Field & Stream is a must-read for deer hunters. “The New Science Behind Better Deer Hunting” turns many long-held beliefs into myths. The piece, authored by Bill Heavy, uses scientific research to explain how deer see, hear and react to certain situations.

The author tells us that the “Doe in heat bleat” never happens. Yet he explains why a bleat call works. Research has revealed that rut movement is far different than we suspect. Think the dominant buck breeds the majority of the does because they win most of the fights. Better read the facts.

We have been led to believe we can manage a property for big buck by culling ones with inferior racks. Read why this only works in small fenced areas. What is important about camo? It’s is not the pattern. Find out what is important in the July issue of Field & Stream. Finally, is there one color a deer can distinguish? The answer is yes, and it is not blaze orange.



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Have you ever thought about what you would do if you, a family member or a friend were injured and there was no immediate medical help available? Now there is something you can do to help.

The Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs, in cooperation with St. Vincent Hospital, is offering two, 2-day Wilderness First Aid courses at two state parks this summer. One course is at Prophetstown State Park on July 12 and 13. A second course will be at McCormick’s Creek State Park on Aug. 2 and 3. Classes for the courses run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. They will provide participants with the opportunity to earn WFA certification in a fun and interactive environment taught by qualified EMS educators. Only one weekend needs to be attended.

Wilderness medicine involves providing first aid or more advanced patient care to the sick and injured that are more than one hour from definitive medical care. Situations involving wilderness medicine can include hiking, camping, hunting and fishing in remote areas, or providing care in an urban environment that has been ravaged by a natural or man-made disaster.

The course is $130 per person and includes textbook, handouts, WFA certification good for three years, and gate entrance fee. Minimum age for participation is 14. A parental consent signature on the application form is required for participants younger than 18.

Space is limited. The registration deadline for the Prophetstown State Park course is June 27. The registration deadline for the McCormick’s Creek State Park course is July 18. For further details and a registration form, visit www.interpretiveservices.in.gov or call (317) 338-4354.



Rick Bramwell’s column publishes Thursdays in The Herald Bulletin sports section. To contact him, e-mail rickbramwell@aol.com.