You are caught

You are caught

Outdoors Columnist

Last week I had to take my wife to the NEA/Baptist hospital in Jonesboro for a sprained ankle. While there I was reminded of my last trip to the emergency room for the removal of a treble hook in my hand. I had been bass fishing at the lake behind my house and had caught several nice fish on a Hula Popper with two sets of trebles when a five pounder hit and I got him in the boat. While taking the fish off the hooks he flounced and drove the hooks into my hand. Fortunately my fishing partner had a pair of side cutters and cut the hooks off the plug. I now use a fish grabber to remove the hooks. Back at the boat landing I hopped in the truck and drove to the local hospital. After quite a bit of paper work, I was told to take a seat and wait for the next doctor. After a five hour wait, the doctor removed the hooks. I know a fish hook is not a serious emergency, but it sure did hurt. Our trip to NEA/Baptist was the opposite of the hook trip. It was a very positive experience. Dr. Skip Baker and his staff were very efficient and pleasant. I hope you never have to go to the ER, but it’s worth the extra few minutes to Jonesboro. The hospital is past the ASU campus on the way to Paragould.

When hunting or fishing, always be prepared for the unexpected. In your tackle box keep a pair of long nosed pliers and a pair of side cutters that can clip a hook in two. When you start fishing take them out of the tackle box and put them where you can easily reach them. While filling up the tackle box, put in some aspirin and bandages or at least some band-aids. Hopefully you will never need them.

The fishing is starting to get better at the local lakes. The crappie seem to be slowing down but the bream are getting much better. The week before the next full moon should be great. The bream will be on the beds and that makes for coolers full of blue gills and shell crackers. Bass have been pretty steady all spring when the heavy rains have not muddied the waters and the fisherman did not wash away. The boat ramps at the local lakes have been full. Please be courteous to your fellow fishermen. It just takes a few minutes to put in or take out a boat. If someone is having a problem, be the good guy and offer to help. While visiting the Horseshoe area, I stopped by Bond’s Store to visit with fishermen. Bonds has plenty of live bait and fishing equipment. They also have all the paper plates, drinks, ice and other things for the lake. They make a terrific hamburger with onion rings.

Saturday afternoon I visited some folks fishing at Tilden Rodgers Lake and they were really catching the catfish. Most of the fish were from a pound to three pounds and caught on shrimp and worms. There were several families with kids and lawn chairs enjoying the nice weather. Plus they were getting the makings for a fish fry.

Hunting is now over and it’s fishing time until dove season. Take a kid and go catch a fish. Take pictures and send me pictures and fishing stories. Remember, Lakeside Taxidermy mounts a beautiful fish.

Papa Duck Lakeside Taxidermy 870-735-0455 or 901-4823430 jhcriner@hotmail.com

By John Criner