Outdoors Opportunities Aplenty

Outdoors Opportunities Aplenty

Jarrod E. Stephens

The Ashland Beacon

It only seems a blink ago that we were staring out our windows at a frozen winter tundra that refused to go away. It took a brave outdoorsman to face those elements. Well friends, spring has arrived and with it comes plenty of opportunities to disappear in the Creation in search of fun and tasty vittles.

A Time to Fish

If fishing is your desire, then now is the time to get your gear and head to your nearest lake for some pre-spawn action. Bass and bluegill are eagerly feeding as the water begins to warm. Using a slow-moving worm or lizard can land you a trophy as you fish along points and structure. Redear and bluegill are starting to bite really well at Greenbo.

If you are trying to get a kid involved in the action, there’s no better time to take them to a farm pond. Since ponds are smaller than our lakes and typically don’t have a lot of running water, the water temperature will rise faster than other bodies of water and lead to some tight lines. When small kids are involved it’s best to leave your personal gear at home and just be the designated hook baiter. Simple redworm bait and patience will be all you need.  

The last trout stocking event at Greenbo was in February, and when the sky is overcast you can easily reach your eight rainbow trout limit. Remember that you can only keep one brown trout per day and it must be at least 16 inches long. Using Powerbait and allowing it to float around 18-20 inches from the bottom will keep it suspended above the hydrilla plants that have invaded much of the shallow areas. Trout will grab the bait and run.

Morel Mushrooms

When I was a kid, I could not wait for warming spring nights and rain showers. Sure, for a farmer such conditions are perfect for sprouting seeds. However, what I was interested in were little morel mushrooms that would spring up and be ready for picking.

Morels are actually sometimes called “dry land fish” because of the fact that they taste a lot like fried fish. Find eastern or northern slopes where poplar and gum trees are plentiful and you’re in the right location. Throughout the month of April, the spores that produce the morels flourish after rain and they can even be found growing in fields and along roadsides. Seemingly every hunter has their own “secret” location where they hunt. It’s amazing that so many different sizes and colors can be found throughout the morel season. The length of the morel season is dependent on the amount of rainfall and the temperature.

Spring Turkey Season

For a hunter, the spring turkey season is one of the most exciting times of year. Hearing the thunderous gobble of a tom turkey as you call it into range can make your heart beat out your chest. I remember my first hunt just like it was yesterday and it never gets old.

For two years we have had a good hatch, and last year’s cicadas provided the essential nutrition that the poults needed to thrive. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife forecasts a good number of two-year-old toms should be present this year. Two-year-old toms are typically the most vocal and easy to call.

April. 18 to May. 10 will be the spring season dates. Our recent warm temperatures will have the toms gobbling strong off the roost, and as they follow their hens around. While calling a gobbler away from the hens is difficult, it is not impossible. Don’t be discouraged if the tom comes close enough to see your decoys and then goes away. As his hens feed and then go on nest, there’s good chance he’ll come back.

Good camo and patience are key for successful turkey hunting. Not enough can be said about the keenness of a wild turkey’s vision. They can see the slightest movement at a long distance and head-to-toe camouflage is a necessity.

Another way to beat the turkey’s amazing vision is to use a ground blind. A ground blind is especially important when hunting with a squirmy kid. Although the designated youth season was the first weekend of April, youth are also allowed to hunt during the general season. Before heading out be certain to practice shooting your preferred turkey loads to learn the pattern for your shot.

All excuses to stay indoors and stare out the window have been removed. It’s the time we’ve all been waiting for, so get out and enjoy what the outdoors has to offer.