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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. www.mainstreetnews.com fcl A Payments |t| V Interest 6 Months THEN 1.9% Next 36 Months DOES NOT INCLUDE WALK/POWER MOWERS, SNOW THROWERS OR TRACTORS BUY NOW—PAY LATER As a proud supplier of the Toro Company's full-line of Landscape Contractor Equipment, we would like to invite you to come by and have a look around. With great financing offers such as NO PAYMENTS, DEFERRED INTEREST FOR 6 MONTHS THEN 1.9% FOR 36 MONTHS* and full featured commercial ZTR products starting at $5,999, there is no reason to wait. LARRYS OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT TEL 770.586.5899 FAX 770.868.1451 79 N. Broad Street • Winder GA 30680 Give us a call today and let us help put a plan together to grow your business! 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Minimum finance charge $1.50. Subject to approval by GE Money Bank. 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. ■ Gear up for summer with all the hot deals at Cellular Center!