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The following fishing report is compiled each Friday
morning by The Houston Home Journal. Lake, weather
and fishing conditions are reported by telephone from
contacts listed at the end of each report. If you would like
additional lakes or rivers listed, please call the newspaper
at 987-1823. If you would like a free picture of a catch you
are proud of printed in the paper, we will be happy to
shoot and publish the photo.
Jackson - The lake is down 11 1/2 feet. Bass fishing is very
slow. Anglers will get a few bites but may land one or two big fish
each day. Fishing improves later in the day as water warms up.
Fish slow-rolled spinnerbaits or Rat-L-Traps in a yo-yo manner for
best results. Crappie activity is good, using Hal-fly's and small jigs
in brush in 8-12 feet of water. Hybrid activity is poor.
- Reported by Van Kersey, kersey's Fish Camp
Seminole - The lake is down almost one foot. Bass fishing has
been good the past few days. Use yellow spinnerbaits and shal
low running chartreuse crankbaits in sparse grass patches in 2-5
feet of water. Crappie activity has slowed some the past week,
but larege fish are being taken each day. Fish river channels with
white or chartreuse jigs tipped with live minnows for best results.
- Reported by Jack Wingate, Wingate's Lunker Lodge
Sinclair - The lake is down 1 1/2 feet. Bass fishing has been fair
lately. Most fish are holding to wood structure in 4-12 feet of wa
ter along creek channel banks. Use Rapala shadroaps or Poe's
400 series crankbaits for best results. Crappie activity is fair,
trolling jigs along creek channelsin 8-12 feet of water. Hybrid and
white bass are being taken in the Beaverdam and Rooty Creek
areas on Thing Popper and bucktail jigs.
- Reported by Glenn Colwell, Little River Park
Oconee - The lake is down seven inches. Bass fishing has
been only fair. Bass are taking only slow rolled spinnerbaits and
Carolina rigged lizards on secondary points. Crappie activity is
good, however with large numbers of slabs coming off of creek
channel ledges in 6-12 feet of water using live minnows.
- Reported by Todd Cronic, Blue Springs Marina
West Point - The lake is down nine feet. Bass fishing has
been very good the past few days. For best action, fish the
stumps up the far reaches of the Chattahoochee River with a jig
and pig. If fish are more aggressive, fish a chartreuse spinnerbait
with gold blades. Crappie action is good in New River, where
standing timber meets the channel. Hybrid activity is poor to fair,
with best action coming on cloudy days in the vicinity of the dam.
• Reported by Ron Savage, Highland Marina
Eufuala - Had one lousy week of weather. Temperatures have
been anywhere from 13 to 81 degrees. They are catching a few
crappie and bass but not many. Weather should hold clear until
Sunday. Have three tournaments this weekend. Guys and dolls
Saturday, Bassing America Sunday, and Country Boy Sunday.
- Reported by Art Cunningham, Lake Point State
Park Resort
Blackshear - The lake is down about four inches and muddy.
About all that is being caught now is catfish.
- Reported by Marian Stewart, Camper's Haven
Shell Point - Weather has been bad. Had a few men
go out gruper fishing but nothing else. Saturday's high
tides are at 11:06 a.m. and 8:36 p.m. while the low tides are at
3:43 a.m. and 2:44 p.m. Sunday high tides are at 12:04 p.m. and
10:29 p.m. while the low tides are at 5:02 a.m. and 4:33 p.m.
Forecast is in mid 60's
- Reported by Peggy Williams, Shell Point Marina
Suwannee - They are catching some red fish, drum, trout and
a few sheephead. Looks like a beautiful weekend. Saturday's
high tides are at 10:40 a.m and 8:05 p.m. while the low tides are
at 3:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday's high tides are at 11:35 a.m.
and 10:00 p.m. while the low is at 445 a.m. and 415 p.m.
- Reported by Ray Taylor, Bill's Fish Camp
Doug's Lunar Times
for hunting and fishing
FEBRUARY 11 EXCELLENT TIMES II GOOD TIMES
„ _ for fishing & hunting for fishing & hunting
1991 A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M.
SAT. 23 4:00- 6:00 4:20- 6:20 10:05- 11:35 10:25- 11:55
SUN. 24 4:50- 6:50 5:10- 7:10 10:55 - 12:25 11:15 - 12:45
MON. 25 5:35- 7:35 5:55- 7:55 11:45 - 1:15 12:05 - 1:35
TUE. 26 6:20- 8:20 6:40- 8:40 12:30- 2:00 12:50- 2:20
WED. 27 7:05- 9:05 7:30- 9:30 1:15- 2:45 1:40- 3:10
THLJ. 28 |l 7:55- 9:55 I 8:15 -10:15 II 2:00 - 3:301 2:20 - 3:50l
MARCH I EXCELLENT TIMES II GOOD TIMES
. _ _ . for fishing & hunting for fishing & hunting
1991 A.M. P.M. A.M. I P.M
FRI. 1 11:35- 1:35 11:55- 1:55 5:40 - 7:10 6:00- 7:30
SAT. 2 12:25- 2:25 12:45- 2:45 6:25- 7:55 6:50- 8:20
SUN. 3 1:20- 3:20 1:40- 3:40 7:15- 8:45 7:35- 9:05
MON. 4 2:00- 4:00 2:20- 4:20 8:00- 9:30 8:20- 9:50
TUE. 5 2;50- 4:50 3:10- 5:10 _ft3L-.lfr2Q 9;IQ-10:40
WED. ,_6 3:35 - 5:35 3:55- 5:55 9:30 - 11:00 9:50 - 11:20
THU. 7 4:25- 5:25 4:50- 6:50 1030-115010:45-12:15
FRI. 8 5:15- 7:15 5:35- 7:35 11:10 - 12:40 11:35 - 1:05
SAT. 9 6:10- 8:10 6:30- 8:30 12:05 - 1:3512:25 - 1:55
SUN. 10 6:55- 8:55 7:15- 9:15 12:50 - 2:20 110 - P4O
MON. 11 7:40- 9:40 8:00-10:00 1:40 - 3:10 2:00 - 3:30
TUE. 12 8:30-10:30 8:50-10:50 2:30 - 4:00 2:50 - 4:20
WED. 13 9:20-11:20 9:45-11:45 3:20- 4:50 3:40 - 5:10
THU. 14 10:10-12:10 9:35-11:35 4:05- 5:35 4:25 - 5-55
FRI. 15 11:05- 1:05 11:25- 1:25 5:00 - 6:30 5:20 - 6:50
SAT, 16 11:55- 1:55 12:15- 2:15 5:55 - 7:25 6:15 - 7:45
SUN. 17 12:45- 2:45 1:05- 3:05 6:50- 8:20 7:10- 8:40
MON. 18 1:35- 3:35 1:55- 3:55 7:40 - 9:10 8:00 - 9:30
TUE. 19 2:20 - 4:20 I 2:40- 414011 8:20 - 9:50 8:45 - 10:15
Sand Hill Cranes are the type of
geese that are seen in our area
During the past week many local
residents have been spotting large
flocks of birds flying in V forma
tions toward the North. I have heard
several comments about the Cana
dian Geese that are migrating
through our area.
These large flocks aren’t Canadian
Geese! The Canadian hasn't mi
grated through Georgia in thirty or
forty years. Large flocks of the
geese used to come over our area
heading for their wintering grounds
at the St. Marks Waterfowl Refuge
in Florida.
The Canadian stopped coming
South when the changing agricul
tural practices in Maryland and Vir
ginia made small grain available for
winter feed in that area. Almost
100% of the migratory geese now
stop in that area and spend the win
ter.
The geese that are seen in our
area are the resident flock that was
FISHARAMA
focuses on
family things
By MARK BLUMEN
Sports Editor
The FISHARAMA began Friday
at the Georgia Agricenter and Exec
utive Director, Jerry McCollum has
dubbed the event a success.
Although the turnout has been
very minimal, McCollum feels that
the majority of the people are ex
pected today and Sunday.
"We anticipate that (being slow)
in a working town where people
don't get off work until 5 o’clock,"
McCollum explained. "We're talk
ing about people out in the country
side and we understand that"
McCollum added that he expects
to see about 3-4,000 people come
to the show and that if this happens
he will feel thaSthe show was suc
cessful.
"Two or three things that will be
a real interest. One thing is that
you have every conceivable Ashing
tackle here to renew your baits for
the coming Ashing year," he ex
plained. "But, also we'll have a
casting contest sponsored by Zebco
for kids 16-and-under so they can
win them a rod and reel.”
For children 12-and-under, the
FISHARAMA will have a trout
tank so the participants may fish
for trout. "It’s a great opportunity
for small kids to catch their first
Ash," he said. "They can have mom
and dad right there with them to at
tend to it."
McCollum explained that this
FISHARAMA focuses on the fam
ily.
"We have seminars going on all
day tomorrow and Sunday," he
added. "There are fishing tackle ex-
When woodcocks visit, fun shooting abounds
Most hunters are familiar with
our native quail (bobwhite), but
little is written about two winter
transients in our area, the woodcock
or timber-doodle, as it is sometimes
called, and Wilson's snipe.
Some people even doubt the
existence of snipe because of an old
practical joke that was sometimes
played on gullible city slickers by
country folks who were more
knowledgeable in woodlore.
The identified victim was told he
was going snipe hunting and that
snipe only moved late at night
along country dirt roads. The victim
was then taken several miles out of
town to a lonely dirt road and told
to stand in the ditch with a croaker
sack.
The object of this, it was ex
plained, was the catch the snipe in
the bag as it was driven down the
ditch by the pranksters. Those or
ganizing the "snipe drive" then got
in the car, drove back to town and
supposedly had a good laugh. It was
funny to everybody but the unlucky
guy who was left on the isolated
dirt road to walk back into town.
Although 40 years ago this
might have been considered a
harmless joke by some, I'm of the
opinion that it was as cruel a prank
then as it would be now. But roads
were safer then than they are now.
Leaving someone alone on a dirt
road today would be downright dan
gerous, so please don’t play this
trick on anyone.
The type of person that would
fall for such a prank would proba-
Bobby
established by the Department of
Natural Resources over the past ten
years. They do not migrate and stay
in the local area where they were
raised.
The large flocks of high flying
birds that are being seen are Sand
Hill Cranes. These birds migrate
through our area each year in the
early fall heading for their wintering
grounds in South Georgia and
Florida. They start their annual trek
back to their nesting grounds in the
spring.
The Sand Hill Crane is a large
majestic bird. The adult male bird is
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His firstioar
Rob Tuggle, Mike Gibson and Charlie Lundgren pose with boar shot by Lundgren
last Monday near Grovania. Lundgren, who is from Phoenix, Arizona shot the 300-
350 pound Russian bari with a 30-06 rifle. This is the first time Lundgren has been
able to bay a bear after two previous trips to Georgia.
hibits, boats, campers, 4-wheelerrs,
all-terrain and some of the best
taxidermists in the world are right
here in our state and they are here
exhibiting."
World renowned bow and arrow
trick shot artist, Galen Shinkle will
be performing.
Other features that are on display
at the FISHARAMA are clothes,
tents, and wildlife blinds.
Perry was chosen to hold the
event because of "per capita there
are probably more hunters and fish
ermen, than in Atlanta."
K * WWF
Trussell fL , |
bly panic, and their actions could
have possibly dire consequences.
This story is only used to illustrate
one of the misconceptions about
snipe hunting.
But I do assure you that snipe do
exist and, along with the woodcock,
they are a welcome addition to the
upland bird hunter's game bag. Al
though few hunters solely go after
snipe and woodcock, they are rou
tinely bagged while quail hunting.
In northern states where there are
few quail, the woodcock is a top
gamebird.
Snipe are related to shore birds
and somewhat resemble a killdeer in
habits and flight patterns. They are
normally found in open wet-bottom
situations like flooded farm fields.
When flushed, the group of birds
will zoom off like rockets to al
most disappear overhead. But if the
patient hunter waits, the birds will
sometimes circle and come back
down for a landing, offering a
shooting opportunity. Since wood
cock are much more common in
our area than snipe, we will confine
our discussion to them.
Woodcock have been pretty much
of a mystery bird over the years due
f The Houston Home §
Journal
about 4 feet in length and has a
wingspan of about 80 to 84 inches.
The bird is slaty blue in coloration
and has a brownish tinge to the
wings and back.
The male and female cranes are
identical in plumage and cannot be
distinguished apart. They both have
a patch of red skin that extends
from the birds' bill around his head.
Usually the cranes that are spot
ted in our area are flying at a very
high altitude in large V's. Several
hundred birds may be spotted at one
time. At times the V will break up
into disarray and the birds will mill
This youngster enjoys looking at the All-terrain vehicle that is
on display at the FISHARAMA held at the Georgia Agricenter.
to their secretive nature and noctur
nal habits. Migrating at night, a
fiight of birds would suddenly arrive
in an area only to seemingly vanish
a few days later.
I saw this season's first woodcock
Hying in the pre-dawn light during
the latter part of August, but the
majority of birds don’t arrive until
December and January.
Woodcock feed by night, flying
into fields and woodland openings
to feed on earthworms, which con
stitute a major part of their diet.
Woodcock are seldom seen by day
except when they are flushed by
hunters from their resting places in
the swamp and on adjacent hill
sides.
The distinctive long bill of the
woodcock particularly adapts it for
securing its favored food, using the
long, flexible bill as a probe, the
birds find and catch earthworms un
derground. Therefore, moist, soft
earth and a plentiful supply of
worms are prime consideration for
woodcock cover.
The recognition of good wood
cock habitat is the key to successful
hunting, for the coverts tend to
concentrate the birds and provide
around like a Chinese fire drill.
They will straighten out after a few
minutes, form their V and continue
North.
The first thing that usually
attracts people to the flights of
cranes is the sounds of their voice.
They have one of the most resonant
voices of any bird and it carries over
long distances. You can usually
hear the birds long before the flocks
come into sight and long after they
are gone.
Their voice has a guttural sound
which is followed by a tremolo ef
fect at the end of it. It does not
sound anything like a Canadian
goose.
The next time you see these high
flying V's, remember that these are
the majestic Sand Hill cranes re
turning to their nesting grounds in
the great wilderness of British
Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and
the Hudson Bay Area.
consistent shooting. In Middle
Georgia this is usually a river or
creek bottom where fertile soil as
sures plenty of earthworms. A good
cover of honeysuckle, greenbriars
and switch cane seem especially at
tractive to the birds.
Woodcock signs to look lor in
the woods include probe holes and
chalky white droppings. Since
woodcock hunting means walking,
don't dress too warmly, but a good
pair of briar-proof pants will pre
vent a lot of bloodshed. A safety
orange hat for each hunter is also an
excellent idea.
The American woodcock's brain
is upside-down, but that's not why
it's in trouble.
The woodcock is truly a wonder
of nature, a shorebird that has
evolved to live in the woods. To
adapt to its wooded habitat, the
woodcock's eyes have migrated far
back on its head, enabling it to see
a full 360 degrees. In the process,
its brain flip-flopped to an upside
down position. The woodcock also
evolved short, rounded wings so it
can fly through dense cover.
The woodcock's habit of remain
ing motionless, camouflaged by us
mottled-brown plumage, makes it
popular with hunters who use
highly-trained bird dogs. Woodcock
are also a favorite of birdwatchers
because of their spectacular
courtship flights. At dusk or dawn
(or all night when the moon is
full), the male woodcock finds a
clearing known as a "singing
Please see TRUSSELL, Page 5B