Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2B
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008
Outdoors With Skipper
Close, but still not able to get it in the net
W ith the travel trailer
loaded and steaks
in the ice chest,
Len Carmen and I headed to
Moccasin Creek Campground
last Thursday for an overnight
stay.
After getting everything set up,
and with a little bit of concern
about the thunderstorms that
were forecasted, we headed for a
late afternoon of fishing.
If you recall in a previous story
I felt so bad about my catching
a couple of big trout on our last
outing and not being able to get
a nice fish on Len’s hook. Well
this trip, I decided I would give
him a head start. I would just
sit and visit, while he fished. At
least I would for a few minutes
anyway.
We started off with a bunch
of horny heads, one of the most
aggravating fish, in my book.
We knew we had a trout of
five pounds or better where we
were as we occasionally caught
a glimpse of him. Trout were
breaking all around us in the
river. Then it happened. The big
one was on Len’s rod.
At least, for a short time. Then
his line grew slack, and the big
one was gone. That sure was bet
ter than the previous trip.
We changed locations, and I
ended up with a two or three
pounder, and he a one pounder.
Those went into the cooler and
would eventually end up in
Len’s freezer.
It was now
around 6:30,
and then it
happened
once more.
A real nice
big trout was
on his line, it
raised its big
head out of
the water so
we could see
it. Then it too, was gone.
Well, those were two real nice
fish. Heading back to the camp
ground, and with it raining, we
cooked inside. After a nice meal,
I introduced Len to a card game
I enjoy called “Phase 10.”
It was his first time play
ing this game, though he and
his wife were Bridge players.
Len thoroughly whipped me on
his first try. I have decided not
to play cards with him again,
maybe Monopoly or something
else.
Friday morning, we decided
to make the rounds looking
for a few “stocker” trout for
his freezer. The first stop was
Unicoi, but too many fishermen
there.
We headed to the Soque but
there were some six trucks there.
We tried another spot on the
Soque but couldn’t catch a thing.
It might have been the muddied
up water from Thursday night’s
rain.
Our last resort was to head
back to Moccasin Creek at the
campground. Upon arriving, we
found that they had just stocked
it ten minutes earlier.
Fish were being pulled in left
and right. Len used worms, and I
used crickets. It wasn’t too long
before both our stringers were
full and he was heading to the
cleaning table.
We had made it just in time,
for it wasn’t too long afterward
that the fish were pretty well
thinned out by a host of older
fishermen and fisherwomen.
With 18 trout in the cooler from
the two days of fishing, Len was
already figuring how good they
would taste.
Hooking up the camper, two
tired older fellows were now
headed back home to Homer.
The next trip ought to be the one
where the big one is caught and
released. I know Len is counting
on that one.
By the way, turkey season ends
this week on the 15th. I had 12
jakes in my back yard Sunday,
after the rain and storms on
Saturday night.
If you have an outdoors story
give me a call.
Skipper Smith is an outdoors
columnist for The Banks County
News. His column appears
weekly. Let him know about your
hunting or fishing adventure at
706-677-1520.
skipper
smith
Get your record catch recognized by state DNR
Each year, the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources,
Wildlife Resources Division
(WRD) recognizes anglers for
outstanding and state-record
catches.
Submit a clear photograph of
the fish for proper identifica
tion and length verification (the
photo should at least show the
entire length of the fish and the
ruler or tape used to measure the
fish).
In addition, a photo of the
angler with the fish is also
required. Complete an applica
tion and submit with photos.
State record applications must
be received within 90 days of
the catch.
Information regarding angler
awards and state record fish can
be found on the WRD website
at www.gofishgeorgia.com or
in the Georgia Sport Fishing
Regulations Guidebook avail
able at all WRD offices.
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Spring Football... continued from page 1B
•Donations for purchasing snacks
for away games.
•Towels (white only as dictated by
Georgia High School Association
rules).
“Many schools are going to
admissions like this for their spring
games,” Armstrong said. “We were
talking with the parents and coach
es and felt it would be a good
thing for us to do. This way it goes
directly into the football program.
These are items we use plenty of
throughout the season.”
The spring scrimmage will see
the No. 1 offense facing the “best
of the rest,” Armstrong said while
the No. 1 defense will also face the
“best of the rest.”
“We will have only had 10 days
to work so the veterans will be
fine,” the coach said. “Our new
guys will struggle a little because
of the learning curve.”
Following Saurday, players will
continue offseason work.
WATCHFUL EYES
Banks County High School football coaches (from left) Brandon
Worley, Chuck Hudson and Blair Armstrong oversee a spring
practice session. Photo by Chris Bridges
BCMS Football
Sixth graders to play in 'Elite Jr. Leopard' program
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Banks County Middle School
and the Banks County Recreation
Department are teaming up to
form a new Elite Junior Leopard
football program.
This program will be used in
the future, beginning next fall,
for sixth grade football players.
Sixth grade football players will
be encouraged to participate in this
11-12-year-old program since they
will no longer be allowed to play
on the team at BCMS.
Banks County High School ath
letic director and head football
coach Blair Armstrong, who is
working closely with the middle
school program and coach Vince
Lehotsky, said the new program
will be a positive one.
“Sometimes sixth graders aren’t
quite big enough to compete with
the eighth graders on the middle
school team,” he said. “Or, they
may be good enough to play some
on that team, but then they are tak
ing up a spot of a seventh grader
who maybe hasn’t developed as
much.”
By playing on a separate team,
the sixth graders will help the
recreation department field more
competitive squads.
Armstrong said recreation direc
tor Phillip Cronic and his staff have
been “so helpful and cooperative
in our joint plan to improve the
opportunities for the sixth grade
players.”
Coaches have meet with Cronic
and his staff several times to see
how they best can help each other
since eventually all the things done
by the recreation department will
help the middle school and high
school programs.
“I am very excited about the
cooperation and the advice they
have given us as we plan for the
overall success of football in Banks
County,” Armstrong said.
Spring football practice is cur
rently ongoing at BCMS, as it is
at BCHS.
Coach Lehotsky and his BCMS
staff are currently working with
rising seventh and eighth grader
players.
Lehotsky said the middle school
will mirror the offense and defense
used by the BCHS varsity Leopard
team to establish consistency
between the programs and to cut
down on the “re-learning factor”
from one level to the next.
■
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