| 2-16-09
Well, it must be spring, or at least nigh onto
it. Leastwise, the 55th annual edition of the Indianapolis Boat, Sport
& Travel Show opens a 10-day run at the Indiana State Fairgrounds at
3 p.m. Friday, February 20. That is spring to me even if “the north
wind doth blow.”
Having chronicled this momentous outdoor-indoor
event for more than half a century, I am compelled to say that this chapter
of the show, hatched by the late Harry Renfro some 55 years ago, appears
as big as ever in the face of adverse economic conditions. Time will tell
that story.
As noted above, the show opens Friday (Feb. 20)
and continues daily through Mar. 1. If that isn’t spring, I don’t know
how to cajole it up.
Hours daily, by dates, will be 3 to 9 p. m. on
the coming Friday; Feb. 21, 28 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Feb. 22 and March 1,
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Feb. 27 1 to 9 p.m.
Admission fees will be $9 for adults and seniors,
$7 for children 6 to 12 years old, with those 5 years old and younger admitted
free. The two-day ticket goes for $18.
The annual turkey-deer exposition is scheduled
for the first three days of the show.
For additional information on the sports show,
call 1-877-892-1723.
ATTERBURY TURKEY
-- The military are at Atterbury area has informed the Department of Natural
Resources that military exercises will make it impossible to hunt that
area this spring for wild turkey. Those who applied for hunting at the
military area will be permitted to make another hunt selection by the DNR.
SUCKER TIME
--We have not yet heard of anyone catching suckers on hook and line, or
with gig (spear). However, this chilly-to-warm fluctuations of weather
we are experiencing now is sucker time.
Smaller streams are still above normal but falling
to spring levels and are clearing . . . ideal conditions for suckers. It
should happen soon, and while I prefer garden worms as bait, the leftover
bee moth larva is pretty good fare for old puckermouth. An eight or nine-foot
flyrod with dark braided line is a great way to go. The two or three feet
of line immediately above the hook works well as monofilament. The sucker
is a wary fish . . . very good on the table.
LATE GOOSE
-- The extended season on Canada geese ended Sunday . . . as hunters were
doing well in many methods of gunning. Maybe the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and the Department of Natural Resources (the nest wreckers) should
let the season run a bit longer instead of advocating the wrecking of goose
nests and eggs later in spring. Their plan is already before us.
Our Canada goose flock is something to be protected,
no matter how squishy their droppings are between the toes of humans. The
governor and president should be stepping in to halt forever this base
plan of people we hire to do the exact opposite. So Canada geese are a
bit greasy. They still help fill hungry stomachs in times of need
. . . which is NOW according to my watch and calendar.
There may be 1,000 Hoosiers who abhor geese for
many reasons. Five million more citizens -- or somewhere along that line
-- like the aesthetic smack that geese freely give to Hoosierland by being
residents.
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