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PACE 2B THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008 Outdoors With Skipper Not many fish, but still a good time I t all began with a phone call from Rick asking if I would like to go fishing at the dam at Lake Burton. I told him I certainly would like to give it a try. I had read about fishing for big browns at the dam and now I jumped at the opportu nity. Our crew consisted of Bennie, Ron, Len, Rick, and yours truly. We decided to meet at Rick's pontoon boat at the lake around 8 a.m. last Friday. Len came over and picked me up, and on the way, we stopped and added Ron to our threesome. The next stop was in the woods, where we were able to get a cou ple dozen blue back herring for bait from a local guide who had bait tanks at his house. As we arrived at the dock, Bennie and Rick greeted us. Rick had a golf cart waiting, which was a big help in getting the bait, food and gear down to the boat. Soon we were all aboard and comfortable on Rick’s boat. For us older guys, a pontoon boat is nice, big and roomy, with comfort able seats, and the ability to walk around a bit. The lake was calm and the scen ery beauti ful. After a 20-minute ride, we were at the dam. There were a couple of others boats trolling near by. Rick had brought night crawlers and minnows to go with our blue backs. It wasn't long before we looked like a boat rigged for crap- pie fishing. Nine rods stuck out over the side like spider legs. Ron was our fish finder reader, and kept us posted on the water depth and where the fish were showing. “Thirty feet” was his continual call for the fish. We trolled and trolled, talked and teased each other. We noticed a guide boat nearby boat a couple of fish, but that was all. Then Ron hollered to Bennie, “grab your rod, it’s bending double” Bennie did just that and the battle was on. Now Bennie is the senior member of our group, being some 73 years young, and a hunter and fisherman for many years. He played it like the expert he is, and soon Rick had the five-pound Brown in the net. That sure got our adrenalin going. We all eagerly anticipated the next fish, but nothing happened the rest of the trip. At least, we knew they were around. Bennie made us take several pictures of “his” fish, first with Rick's camera, then mine, and when we thought the picture taking was over, he made us use his camera. Lunch time came, and the favorite pound cake that my wife makes, topped off the sandwiches. Rick ribbed Bennie about only providing a water bottle and some crackers when he went fishing with him, not a full blown lunch like we were enjoying. Rick, Bennie and Ron, remem bered that cake when we were together some months ago, and finished our meal with a piece of that pound cake. Rick said I would get thrown overboard if the cake wasn’t part of our meal. Now, we all agreed that the reason Bennie caught the first and only fish was because of his new fishing hat, which you see in the picture. Bennie claims he has another one and will sell it at a price to the highest bidder. With all his years of fishing, Bennie has a lot of secrets. Now and then he will part with one of them, and others he doesn’t share at all. Well, we had a great time, enjoyed the trip, and each other’s company. Perhaps they will bite better next time. But if they always did we would call it catch ing and not fishing. Let me know about your out doors story. 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. NICE HAT Bennie Smith shows off his five-pound brown trout, the lone catch from a recent outing of some area "expert” fishermen. V skipper smith EXERCISE YOUR FREEDOM OF CHOICE! You choose the term that’s right for you. 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MEMBER FDIC WRESTLING CAMP Members of the Banks County High School wrestling team took part in a summer camp hosted by Alex Tucker, the former coach at Kennesaw State University. Local Wrestling Camp gives local athletes chance to learn BY CHRIS BRIDGES Local wrestlers had the chance to learn from a top level instructor earlier this summer as coach Alex Tucker conducted a camp for area competitors. A former wrestling coach at Kennesaw State University, Tucker is known for teaching “chain moves” to grapplers. “This summer's wrestling camp was a great chance for our wrestlers to get a fresh look at some of our own moves and to pick up some new ones,” said Banks County High School varsity coach Kasey Hanley. In fact, Hanley is looking into hav ing Tucker return to help start the 2008-09 season with another camp. The wrestlers who attended the summer session all benefited, Hanley said. “When attending a wrestling camp or hosting one, a coach hopes to find one or two moves that their wrestlers will use,” Hanley said. “Coach Tim Boling and I were extremely pleased that there were several moves our wrestlers liked and want to use next season. We also practiced on our own this summer and were able to attend some summer matches at Clarke Central against 10 or so dif ferent teams.” The BCHS Mat Leopard coach said he is looking forward to work ing with the varsity wrestlers he has returning along with those who are moving up from Sam Baxter’s middle school program. Hanley credited Baxter, Chris Sayne and Jason Payne for playing a “major role” in getting the wrestlers ready for competition in the middle school and USA levels. “Many of these wrestlers have also attended camps this summer and were very successful in their respec tive tournaments,” Hanley said. In addition, Hanley said the boost er club helped with the cost of the summer camp. He also thanked the wrestling parents who helped during the event. All-Sports Booster Club wrapping up program sales The Banks County High School All-Sports Booster Club is finish ing up sales for its 2008 fall athletic program. All ads and money must be turned in Friday, Aug. 1. Ads and payments will be collected this Friday between 6-7 p.m. in front of Banks County High School. For information on ads, contact Julia McEntire at 770-654-5076 or bchsab@banks.kl2.ga.us. Buy One Get Two Free UM150 USB Modem Moto W755 2GB Memory Card ifelail Frier. 5232.99 he*CimaTfr Discqyjrrl- Hjii'in Remit: S5P.00 z-rurCtinirjti Pri«r 5o.cn Rf tail fins; Now CuSLulU; - DiSidun!: StZi.DO MJ l-in RttalK 550.00 Polo Cord Puroftaio DiscouM 5*9.99 MfurEsutfact Prito: $5.00 Offer exclusively available at: Commerce 305 Steven B. Tanger Dr. just past Home Depot 706-335-9821 Jefferson US-129 S/GA-I1S £ Old Pendergrass Rd. 706-387-0653 Cellular Center v- ven on wireless Your neighborhood wireless store 'Our SurfKdf!]^ linr i F#4 i.rvy *1 li! 5 * nlTnf*rstadii £ hi i 7C R-fiiulrti-yy £ fl5£ Anmrfmu.vri«ii'iTFn#|tai, E oy ar».i ■ .vr* ros* ris*t irirljifv ta&a . ipFr r . I J-L.-S IT I.m luHtanjrt iCa-'jT .1:1:1 IDP’-s In yiu- : H Ail Tl*r St 5 iSJ^Cn «■; ii-i'.u r F r■■ ly SlutiaPUflT I.W nr. 1 ?iyi AqmKfc IU0*Qf?T|UfT TClNfTLIMrR' •ftrQPU'ATlft^ I & CirilcwiHir JLgrtii, l^ll-ng Iprffl A tydiffi: Ufr tb 5fT5 fefininv & 4Jl|lu*i (. $-19VMH-i n; I Molll** ■fib Hrtfl krhWfljt. varying try wry nf. net *vd -dble wi?i i pwBt<E fleUriri Latof wp Ev 6 vtffts. ihiyu -Liiarge* -ii*-,. flupU Uet-.i. t utMfr iil-ps: iVJJ i thjrijps b ..cnddiunv appbr. MeIikm and enrefaiK- maps jt iicfItcmk e esTuCom. Mwlh-Y alccm dbCounC} an net awj. .jtle cm Lrtimrtetf Anvl.mr utriute LGans-. Limited lime ul?r. White u£nr teaL Avdto&v onJr al Ctf u-'ai tcnlcr <ocat.-cn. H?iCca for new jrfhvlkm ordnarv i rt er-iy. ^kWl'l SiO l« mat jddIv. Dire*! & twrjuc varvinq Iw sirvice. rod j*jii»-c everywhere. “Dire* - tuotrci July Jl 2000. C ZOOS Cellular Center