Rainy Days

Rainy Days

Outdoors Columnist It has been raining steady for about a week and we have had almost seven inches here at Lakeside Taxidermy in Proctor. The water is over some roads in both towns and country in Crittenden County and the weatherman is promising some more. To a fisherman or late season snow goose hunter, enough is enough. If you think there is noting to do, let’s think about what needs to be done.

I had hoped to get a fishing trip or two in this past week, but Mother Nature had other thoughts. So it was time to do some things that I tend to put off. To start off, I remembered it was time to get the rods and reels out and clean them up and put new line on the reels. Changing out fishing line at least once a year is a good idea. You would hate to lose that trophy bass, crappie or bream due to a busted line. Solve that problem now while you are thinking about it.

Clean up those lures and sharpen the hooks. You probably need new skirts on the spinner baits. How about that junk in the tackle box? The $2.50 candy bar from the country store has probably lost its flavor or worse.

How about your boat? Is that duck blind still on it, or decoys in a sack just laying there in the weather? Those decoys need to be cleaned and put in storage. If you need new line or anchors this would be the time before you put them up till duck season.

You did clean up the waders from that last trip before they were hung up for next several moths.

Back to the boat, you remembered to run the gas out of the motor. The battery was acting up those last few trips and would not hold a charge. Time to check it out before it makes you paddle because it was not strong enough to run the trolling motor. If the motor was nut running smoothly, there are several good boat mechanics in the county that could get to it quickly before the fishing rush starts. On there rainy days they would be glad to service you.

With hunting season over except for a little snow goose hunting (and that has been very poor lately) remember to take the deer rifle out of the case and give it a good cleaning before putting it in the gun case. Your FFP, better known as the “Faithful Fowling Piece” probably needs a final cleaning from that last trip to the duck hole. It probably did not get a lot of cleaning during waterfowl season.

Remember to take out the choke and oil the threads.

Its easy now before the rust sets in. If you can, make a gun cleaning party with your hunting buddies.

It makes it easier and its fun to talk about the hunts and what the future holds.

Turkey season is next and a choke change is needed.

Do it now. If the guns need serious work, there are couple of good gun smiths that are probably not too busy at this time.

Since the weather is keeping us off the fishing waters, it’s a good time to do some of “Little Mama’s” projects she has been after you to get done.

This a great time to get them done and then yo can go fishing instead of sneaking off. This is experience speaking.

This rain won’t last forever and Horseshoe and Wapanocca will have great fishing. It will take a few days for the lakes to clear and the fish get hungry. Be ready to go.

On Saturday afternoon there was only a light drizzle, so I decided to check out Wapanooca. To my surprise, there were twenty plus boats at the free ramp and more pulling in. I did not talk to anyone that was coming in with fish. So I drove around past the headquarters and visited with folks fishing from the bank. There were quite a few fishermen, but not had very many fish. The bayou was very high and muddy and trying to get into the main lake. The fishing was slow and the bank was very muddy. These fishermen were dedicated to brave these elements.

I want to thank my readers for the pictures and nice comments. They are greatly appreciated. Take that boy or girl out to visit Mother Nature. You will be blessed and enjoy the outing more than the kids.

That trip you missed will never come again, enjoy the moment. Once again, that is experience speaking.

Papa Duck Lakeside Taxidermy 870-732-0455 or 901-4823430 jhcriner@hotmail.com

By John Criner