4J Archery 3D Competition 2016 Shoot Out

4J Archery Grand Finale 3D Shoot Off a Success Bill Cooper 9-6-16 4J Archery, north of St. James, is owned and operated by Bryan and Janet Jenkins. In just four years they have brought 4J Archery to the forefront of archery shops and ranges in the Midwest. Over Labor Day weekend they hosted the grande finale 3D competition to wrap 2016 activities. “Archery is a passion for us,” Janet said. “Bryan, my husband, introduced me to archery and I’ve been hooked ever since.” “I’ve bow hunted for well over 20 years, Bryan stated. “I love bowhunting so much, opening a bow shop seemed like a natural step. And there was a need for a quality 3D range in this area, so we took the steps to make it happen.” Quality begets success and the Jenkins have clearly demonstrated they are all about quality, service and hard work. The Labor day weekend shoot provided a perfect example. A phenomenal 133 archers showed up to participate in the Labor Day Weekend 3D Shoot Out. They came from all over central and southern Missouri. Youngsters, men, women and families enjoyed the 3-D course, which meandered its way through an oak-hickory forest, intermittent stream and open fields. A variety of 3-D animal targets placed at various ranges gave competing archers targets to shoot at under realistic conditions. Dent-Phelps R-3 student Anna Howard has been participating in archery competitions for three years as part of the National Archery in the Schools Program. In 2016 she placed 14th among hundreds of Missouri students in her grade. The 4J Archery range is a regular part of her practice routine. Brian and Sheila Arthur, of Edgar Springs, were on the course with their two children Austin and Callie. According to Brian, they have been enjoyed archery for a long time. “We love to shoot,” Brin said. “It is something we can do as a family. Too, it allows us to get outside and get some exercise together.” Mike Turnbough, of Steelvile, shot the course with his two sons, Mikey and Austin. “We love it,” Mike stated. “The folks at 4J maintain an excellent 3D course and they put on some quality events. I recommend this place for anyone who is into archery.” The Turnboughs are definitely into archery. Mike is a Pro Staffer for Commando Hunting Products. Mike took third in the men’s Known Distance Division, while Mikey took first place in the Junior Youth Division and Austin took first in the Cubs Division. Justin Sapp and the crew of “Keepin’ It in the Ozarks” Online TV Show shot through the course as well. Shooting gave them a much needed break from filming and editing shows. After all shooters completed the course, everyone gathered at the range by the archery shop. The top 5 shooters in each category, for the year, then competed for three places. When all scores were tallied, the winers for the Ladies Division were 1. Lacey Crain of Rolla, 2. Kristine Gerbing of Edgar Springs and 3. Sheila Arthur of Edgar Springs. In the Men’s Bowhunter Division, First Place went to Bill Edwards of Rolla, 2nd to Josh McBride of Rolla and 3rd to Lonnie Heinbaugh. In the Men’s Open Division, national archery champion Dusty Snelson, of St. James, tool First Place, while Kevin Stricklin of Sullivan took 2nd and Richard Rawson of Farmington took 3rd. In the Men’s Know Distance competition, once again Dusty Snelson took top honors, with Wes Kinder of Licking taking 2nd and Mike Turnbough of Steelville taking 3rd. In the Kids Cubs Division places were 1st. Austin Turnbough, Steelville, 3rd. Austin Arthur, Edgar Springs, 4th. Harlie King- Newburg. In the Junior Youth Division, 1st. Mikey Turnbough, Steelville, 2nd. Callie Arthur, Edgar Springs, Placed, Zeke Turner, Newburg. In the Youth 14-16 Division, Remington Boyer, of Sullivan, took 1st, while Allen Noltkamper, of Rolla, took second. The competition proved keen in every category. “There were some excellent shooters in the competitions today,” said Dusty Snelson. “I really had to concentrate to make the necessary scores to win.” Sideline activities included marshmallow golf. Many of the archers were fine golfers as well. It took a special finesse with the clubs to chip a fat marshmallow into a Grizzly cooler 10 yards away. What can you say. Competition is competition. Some just can’t resist a challenge. Most of the crowd hung around for drawings for dozens of top quality give-a-ways. Tree stands, quivers, targets and a host of archery supplies sent everyone home happy. Bill Edwards summed up the crowds feelings about 4J Archery. “Bryan and Janet Jenkins are two very fine people. They do an incredible job with the shop and range. Any one needing equipment, service n a bow, or if they simply want to shoot a range, 4J is the place to come.” The Jenkins expressed their gratitude to their customers by providing free concessions for the day. 4j Archery hours are Monday and Tuesday 6pm.-9p.m. and Saturdays 9a.m.-2p.m. The phone number is 573-201-8659. Check them out at www.Facebook.com/4Jarchery, www.aoutdoorstv.com and www.Facebook.com/Outsidealways.

Feeding Spree Creates Fabulous Fall Fishing

As late summer wanes into the early stages of fall an itch develops deep in my soul while an insatiable instinct erupts in the smallmouth populations of the Ozarks. Brown bass begin gorging themselves in preparation for winter and slower metabolisms while I dream of catching one more big brown bass. Tom Gallagher, of Sullivan, is a smallmouth fishing guru when the summer time heat fades away to the cooler temperatures of fall. He has been chasing his favorite fish, the smallmouth, on the Meramec River for over 40 years. “There is nothing in the outdoors quite like catching a big, chunky smallmouth bass,” he said. “They are a powerful fish, period. Their long, slender, muscular bodies are perfectly built for the environment in which thy live. And they are the apex predator of the fish world in the Meramec.” “I’d hate to be a crayfish in the Meramec,” Gallagher laughed. He well knows that smallmouth bass feed heavily on crayfish in his beloved Meramec River. Anytime you check the business end of his rods they are rigged with crayfish imitators. A black and blue jig ‘n pig rig is his favorite bait. “Imitates a big crayfish perfectly,” Sullivan said.” I catch more smallmouth on a jig ‘n pig in the cool weather months than on all other of my baits combined.” Gallagher says, with a grand grin on his face, that deer season is the absolute best time to be on the Meramec River for smallmouth. “I generally have the river to myself. Everyone else is deer hunting. However, the river has calmed down, the fish are settled into regular fall patterns. But, the best part of all is the fact that smallmouth are on a feeding binge, making that last big effort to feed up before the really cold weather sets in and slows their metabolism rates.” If you want to give up your deer season to hunt big smallmouth bass, you can find Gallagher on the Meramec River somewhere between Sullivan and Pacific. Dale Goff, of Rolla, lives to catch big smallmouth bass and is quick to state that fall is the magic time of the year. “I catch smallmouth all year long,” he stated without bragging. “Fall is my absolute favorite, though. I catch good fish throughout the summer when their metabolism is very high and the fish are aggressive. But, as fall approaches, the fish can sense the changes that are coming and they go on the feeding spree of the year to get ready for winter. I look forward to that window of opportunity more than any other and I always take time off work so that I can spend several consecutive days on the water.” Goff’s favorite smallmouth bait is a pearl colored Fluke. “Smallmouth hate those things. They attack the bait with a vengeance. It’s like they can’t help themselves. It’s a reaction bite. The Fluke drifts downward with a dying minnow action that a smallmouth bass cannot ignore.” I made a trip recently with Goff. I paddled the canoe and photographed his catch. I have never seen so many three and four pound smallmouth bass caught on one trip in the Missouri Ozarks. He caught every fish on his beloved pearl colored Fluke. Goff spends most of his smallmouth fishing time on the habitat rich Gasconade and its tributaries. Corey Cottrell, of Huzzah Valley, is one of the best known smallmouth fishermen in the state. Cotrell grew up on the banks of the Huzzah and fishes it regularly, as well as the Courtois and Meramec. Cottrell has never failed to astound me with the shear numbers of smallmouth he catches on every trip we make. He stays “in the zone.” Cotrell agrees with the two aforementioned smallmouth gurus that the fall feeding spree is one of the best times to chase big smallmouth. “I generally head to bigger water when fall arrives,” Cottrell began. “However there is one stretch of the Meramec I like to fish in the fall that is still small water. The stretch of trophy trout water from Highway 8 to the Maramec Spring Branch really gets hot this time of year.” Cotrell fishes the stretch with a Sammy 65 in chartreuse/shad or American shad colors. On the bigger waters of the Meramec, from Steelville to Stanton, Cottrell throws the bigger Sammy, number 100, in the same colors. “Topwater action can be tremendous in fall,” he stated. “Another bait I like to use is a frog bait, either in the buzzbait style or the regular frog with wiggly legs.” Cottrell sticks with topwater baits until November.”Smallmouth turn onto crayfish big time as the temperatures begin to cool,” Cottrell explained. “That is when I turn to crankbaits in crawfish patterns. I like the Storm Wigglewart and Bomber’s crayfish crankbaits. I use them up into December.” Anytime the water gets high and muddy Cottrell switches to a white spinnerbait. “White spinnerbaits are killer baits in December and January around the spring holes.” Cottrell stays on the water all winter. “When the water temperature drops below 48 degrees, I break out the jerkbaits. The Pointer 98 is my favorite.” Cottrell knows the Huzzah, his home stream like no one else. “Going into the fall feeding spree, I use the same baits which I use on the Meramec. I also use a 4-inch Senko in green pumpkin or watermelon. For the deeper water I add a 1/8 ounce jighead.” I would trust my smallmouth fishing life to these three gentlemen. In fact, most of the big smallmouth I have caught in my life I can credit to one of these guys. My next move is to coax one , or all three of them, to take me smallmouth fishing during the fall feeding spree.

Chanterelle Mushroom Tacos on the River

The Gravel Bar Gourmet August12, 2016 Bill Cooper The October sun hung low over a multi-colored ridge to the west, bathing my riverside campsite in its last warming rays of fall splendor. The air gradually took on the October chill, while a glowing camp fire nearby worked its counterbalancing magic. It had been a charming fall day on the Meramec River. I had drifted alone, the melancholy of a magical October day had soothed and soaked to my inner core. I’m outdoors often, thus contentment is a part of my everyday life. The outdoors has that effect on the soul of mankind. Most are so far removed from the opportunity to enjoy the stillness of a sunset and the morning chill of an October morn. Regardless of the time and contented state, which I borrow from the outdoors, there are those special moments that take me away to heightened states of mental and spiritual happiness. This afternoon alone on the Meramec proved to be one of those times. My gradual float had paid handsome rewards. Fish, both rainbow trout and smallmouth bass, bit my lures often. Time passes far too quickly when fishing action matches your dreams. Then to enjoy fast fishing action amidst the brilliant fall colors, convinced me that the Creator hand handcrafted my day. I pitched camp early, around 2:30 in the afternoon. I love a comfortable camp and the simple chores required to fashion one. From beginning to end, my camp fell into place in less than 20 minutes. A good stash of firewood completed my chores. I grabbed my breakdown Ruger 10/22 from its bag and took a short walk up the colorful slope just behind camp. Visions of fried squirrel filled my cranium. However, as broke I over the first hillside bench, a colorful spread of bright orange Chanterelle mushrooms blanketed the forest floor. Chanterelle mushrooms often pop up after late summer and early fall rain showers. I had hoped to find a few during my float and camp trip. My wishes had come true. Prepared for the moment, I pulled my plastic bag from a side pocket on my camo pants and started pulling mushrooms. Within a minute, I had gathered more than enough to make Chanterelle tacos for dinner. I sacrificed the rest of my squirrel hunt to return to camp and began preparing my delectable dinner. I quickly cleaned and washed the mushrooms and cut them into large bite-sized pieces. Next, I placed them on ice in my cooler to chill them a bit while I prepared the other ingredients for cooking. I stoked the fire for warmth and light. The sun was fading fast in the western sky. My backpacking stove brought the olive oil and butter to a quick bubble. Chanterelles need to be cooked quickly. As the pieces of fungi quick cooked, I sprinkled them with crushed thyme leaves and stirred in a teaspoon of minced garlic. When the mushrooms were well caramelized, I flipped them over to brown the other side. I glanced towards the river at the sound of a smallmouth chasing minnows in the shallows. A crescent moon had begun to peek over the horizon. The first coyote of the evening howled and yipped excitedly far off in the hills. I ladled the mushrooms onto a paper towel to drain. In the meantime, I grabbed a taco shell, slathered the insides with sour cream, sprinkled in grated cheese, mild banana pepper, onion, lettuce and chopped tomato. On top, I placed a healthy portion of meaty, tasty Chanterelle mushrooms, grabbed my cold drink and sat in my camp recliner by the fire. My contentment had reached new heights.

Proven Tactics for Ozark Smallmouth Bass

PROVEN TACTICS FOR OZARK SMALLMOUTH Bill Cooper for RDN Pursuing smallmouth bass on one of the many splendid clear water streams that course their way through the Ozark Mountains is a favorite pastime of thousands of anglers each year. Understandably, as is in all sports, some fishermen stand far and above the masses of anglers who call the smallmouth bass “King.” Tactics separate the consistently successful smallmouth anglers from those who occasionally hook a big one. I have had the good fortune to spend some long days and nights chasing Ozark smallmouth bass with several of the best fishermen to ever ply the waters the brown bass call home. All the great fishermen have one thing in common; they revere the smallmouth bass. That reverence comes, in part, to the fish that got away, the ones seen and not caught, the clear memories of bruiser bass caught under idyllic conditions and the rivers visited and the friends with which the angler shared such moments. Too, these dedicated anglers stand constantly on vigil, looking for a new tactic that will help them catch more of the wariest fish to swim our Ozark streams – the smallmouth bass. I caught my very first smallmouth bass from the Meramec River in the late 1960s and immediately fell in love with the muscular, bronze colored fish with the red eyes. The 14-inch fish hit a white marabou jig with bulldog force. My light rod arched to the point of breaking. I gasped as the bass tail-walked across the surface of the Meramec, shaking its head violently to free itself from the jig in its maw. My heart raced as the fish jumped five more times before I slid it to hand and grasped its lower jaw. Its raw, wild beauty left me spellbound. That moment began a lifetime love affair with smallmouth bass. I have since traveled thousands of miles and talked to hundreds of fishermen who, too, love the smallmouth. From them I learned – tactics are everything. Smallmouth bass can be caught from our Ozark streams all year long. However, the season on black bass is closed from the end of February to Memorial Day weekend. Smallmouth bass spawn during this time. The closed season helps to sustain populations by leaving egg-laden females in the rivers. Cold weather is a top notch time to chase smallmouth bass. “One of the advantages to smallmouth fishing during cold weather is that there is very little competition,” says Mike Jones of Hufstedler’s Canoe Rental in Riverton. Mike is a long time fishing guide on the Eleven Point River. “I guide mostly for rainbow trout, but the Eleven Point is a tremendous smallmouth stream as well. I use a lot of live bait, primarily big minnows which I seine from the river, for trout and smallmouth. However, my favorite time to go after big smallmouth bass is in February. The bass ball up in the deeper holes. If there is a spring seeping into the bottom of the river, smallmouth will concentrate around it.” Jones catches smallmouth on a variety of lures and big minnows. On one trip I shared with him, he clobbered both trout and smallmouth on a rough, deer hair jig he had tied himself. It consisted of a wad of white deer hair, about 5-inches long, tied to an eighth-ounce lead head jig. Bass ate it up as he bumped it slowly across the bottom. “Trout and bass both scavenge on the bottom,” Jones explained. “A dying minnow, or its imitation, or a totally dead minnow rolling across the bottom is an easy target for smallmouth. Too, really big fish are smart. They don’t want to expend any more energy than is necessary to get a meal. A big dead, or dying minnow, or something that imitates it, will catch these fish.” Jones also tosses black RoosterTails and minnow imitators, but the darnedest thing I ever witnessed was Jones throwing a big dead minnow. He used a slow retrieve that made the oversized minnow wobble in the current. That tactic drove fish nuts. “My favorite lure to throw at smallmouth during the high water of February is a one-eighth ounce brown Roadrunner,” Jones said... They work like a charm in the murky water, but you do have to know where the fish are congregated. That only comes from time spent on the water.” Tom Gallagher, of Sullivan, is another avid cold weather smallmouth fisherman. He spends most of his time on the Meramec. “November, right in the middle of deer season, is my favorite to be on the Meramec chasing bruiser smallmouth bass,” Gallagher confidently instructed. Being an engineer by trade, Gallagher is death on detail. “Being prepared is an important part of my fishing tactics,” he admitted. “I do not want to have problems with my boat, motor or my fishing equipment while I am on the river. I am there to catch smallmouth and have a good time. I check my equipment after every trip and I check it again the night before I head out on a trip. Makes for more of what I like to do- fish.” Gallagher, too, likes to use live minnows for smallmouth. He sets traps baited with crackers, or his favorite, Fruit Loops cereal. Gallagher has fished the Meramec for four decades (conservative estimate) in the Stanton area. He knows it well. “Minnows are common in the Meramec and make great bait, but smallmouth also love crayfish,” he began. “I often fish soft plastic baits which resemble crayfish, especially Chompers. Green pumpkin is an excellent color.” “You can have all the best baits in the world, but if you don’t put them in the right place, you might as well stay home,” Gallagher continued. “Big smallmouths are creatures of habit, not unlike humans. I know that food at home is in the kitchen. Bass tend to find their food in the same places, or types of places all the time. The trick is to learn where those ‘bass kitchens’ are located. I have found many of them over the years and consistently catch smallmouth year after year in the same locations. That is not to say that the river doesn’t move the fish’s refrigerators once in a while. Every flood changes the river, and often the hangouts of big bass. That just adds to the challenge.” Upon returning from deer camp this year, empty-handed, posted on my e-mail, I found a blaring photo of Gallagher with a 4-1/2-pound smallmouth bass. Unfortunately, most fishermen are fair weather fishermen. They miss a lot of action. However, there is lots of smallmouth fishing to be had during the warmer months of the year. During the spawn is a fabulous time to fish for smallmouth bass on our Ozark streams. The stealthy fisherman can catch some of the biggest fish of the year, egg laden females on the nest. However, every angler should remember that these girls are producing the fish of the future and should be treated with proper respect. Sight fishing for big nesting smallmouths is as fun as it gets – almost. Smallmouths seek shallow spots associated with cover to build their nests. “The buddy system works well to approach these fish in a canoe,” says Corey Cottrell of Huzzah Valley Resort. “One guy perches in the front. Standing up offers a much better view, but you had better make sure your paddling buddy in the rear of the canoe is paying attention.” Once a fish is spotted, the paddler must bring the canoe to a quiet halt and hold in position while his partner tosses a bait to the fish. That is one tough assignment! “The angler must be deadly accurate with his cast,” Cottrell continued. “The bait needs to land in the nest. Bass instinct is to protect the nest, so the nester will usually viciously attack anything that falls into or near the nest. She will then swim away from the nest, crushing the intruder in her mouth as she swims, and then spits it out several feet away from the nest. This can all happen quickly, so the trick is to set the hook swiftly. Miss a strike, and you will be assigned to the back of the canoe. There is little mercy among nest fishing anglers.” If a bass refuses to take your bait for some reason, do not continue to harass that fish. Move on. There will be more. Salamanders are the favored bait to throw at spawning bass. The “water dogs” are common marauders of bass nests, and smallmouths attack them religiously. Jigs, plastic craws, and small worms and grubs will also entice nesting bass. After the spawn, bass are thin and hungry. They are ready to eat and put on to restore their bodies to normal conditions. However, tactics must change. The fish will have changed locations looking for food. The post-spawn period can be one of the toughest to fish, simply because the fish have changed locations. “You simply have to ask yourself where the food sources are,” says avid smallmouth angler Dale Goff, of Rolla. “By this time of year the weather is warming and the metabolism rate of fish is picking up. They need to eat and are more willing to chase a bait. The strikes can be awesome.” Smallmouths hide out in rocks, rubble and around logs and brush. Crayfish and minnows are plentiful there. However, boulder cover near deep water is another favorite lair from which to ambush unsuspecting prey. “I like to toss a spinnerbait this time of year,” Goff said. “A spinnerbait is a great prospecting bait because I can cover a lot of water with it quickly... Once I get a few strikes, I often change rods and pick one with a crawdad colored crankbait or some sort of plastic bait like a Chomper or a Brushhog. I then work out the same areas thoroughly, trying to poke a bait into every likely looking piece of cover. It takes a lot of time, but it is amazing what I pull out of those. Lots of guys like to hurry to the next place. In the process, they miss many quality fish. Slowing down is a key tactic to rooting out these fish.” Vern Clements, of Rolla, was the best smallmouth fishermen I ever had the pleasure to meet. Clements loved the Gasconade. It became his last resting place. Clements tossed giant buzzbaits at summertime smallies, sometimes all day long. “I love to so those mean bass blow up on a big bait,” Clements used to say. “There ain’t nothing meaner in the water than a hungry smallmouth. They attack like they mean business. I know as soon as one hits, that it is a smallmouth. They hit like a freight train!” Clements was famous for floating his river jon on the upper and middle portions of the Gasconade. “The big boats can’t run up here,” he would say. “It is quiet and peaceful up here. Too, the smallies get big up here. I know I have caught some of them a dozen times over the years.” An incredible expert with jig and pig and crawdad colored wiggle warts, Clements was something to behold on the river. “Watch this,” he once said to me as we floated near a rocky point jutting into the river. He pointed his rod tip towards a trio of rocks at the end of the point. “I will get that three-pounder hanging there. Caught him twice already this summer.” I watched, thinking he was nuts. The Wiggle Wart plunked down exactly where Clements said it would. Three fast cranks of the reel handle put the bait down and fleeing from the rocks. “Whissh,” he set the hook. “Gotcha, you dummy,” Clements laughed as he hauled the three-pound smallmouth to the boat. Only the “King” of the Kings would call a smallmouth bass dumb!

Chasing Bullfrogs on the River

When the sun goes down, the dark world of a flowing river comes to life. Wildlife abounds along water courses and many critters wait until nightfall to begin their secretive explorations of the watery world for food. There is no better way to see and hear the animals that prowl, howl, hoot, swim, fly and croak than to go on a night time frog gigging trip. It is an adventure like none other. Jason Parsons, Pat Ybarra and his two sons, Lance and Gavin, joined me for a fun filled evening of frog gigging on the Meramec River recently. The boys were especially excited as I pulled into Ybarra’s place to pick everyone up. We stowed everyone’s gear and packed ourselves into my pickup truck for the drive to the river. The boys asked a thousand questions as we drove down the highway. They wanted to know everything from how many frogs we would get to who would trying gigging first. It promised to be an interesting evening. Everyone helped get the boat into the water and all of the lifejackets and other gear transferred from the truck to the boat. All five of us loaded up to take a little boat ride until darkness neared. The ride gave everyone a chance to become comfortable with the boat before we began our night’s work. We drifted slowly downriver taking in all of the sights and recalled the places where, several years previously, all the girls in the family had gigged their first frogs. J.P. and and I relived some laughs from that night so long ago. I had a particular slough in mind to begin searching for frogs. We motored slowly downstream about a half mile to the entrance to the backwater slough. We had to climb out of the boat and drag it through the narrow, shallow entrance to the shallow water area which was surrounded by fallen trees and willows. Soon after we entered the slough the first frog bellowed at the far end of the waterway. Thirty minutes of daylight remained. The Ybarra boys began building sand castles on a spit of sand they had discovered. Pat Ybarra and Jason Parsons decided to do a little daylight stalking on shore. They had each heard frogs in different locations and decided to test their skills. I watched. I heard Parsons mumbling, then he jabbed with his gig. More mumbling followed. It seemed the frog heard him coming and hightailed it through the weeds to higher ground. Parsons vowed to return for revenge. Soon bats began to fly. We made our last preparations before shoving off into the oncoming darkness. I poled the boat slowly down the shoreline while Ybarra shined a big light along the banks. Parsons manned the front of the boat as the first gigger. Only minutes into the trip, Ybarra spotted the first frog of the evening. I cocked the boat just slightly so that I could see the frog illuminated by the powerful light. The boys whispered and pointed at the frog as I maneuvered the long, narrow boat into position. Ten feet, five feet and moving. Parsons readied his gig as I closed the distance to two feet. A quick jab and Parsons had his first bullfrog of the evening. The Ybarra boys entertained themselves by checking out the frog while we continued the hunt. Within minutes we were on the second frog. Everyone had their job down pat. Ybarra held the light steadily on the frog while I maneuvered the boat. Parsons, poised for to strike with his gig, leaned far forward to make the kill. He struck the frog with a great deal of force. However, when he started to raise the frog up out of the mud and moss it managed to wriggle off the gig and get away. All of us in the boat razzed Parsons about letting a little frog outdo him. He reached the far end of the slough. Ybarra’s light picked up a couple of frogs in very shallow water ahead of us. He and Parsons stepped out of the boat and slowly crept towards the frogs. Ten minutes later they returned to the boat with the pair of bullfrogs in hand. Ybarra and Parsons switched places in the boat. Ybarra had become the gigger and Parsons the spot lighter. Frogs groaned up and down the slough. The evening promised to provide several more frogs. It didn’t take long for Ybarra to find and spear the next frog. We quickly located another frog about 20 yards down the bank. As we neared the location, we discovered that the frog was well hid back up under the foliage of a fallen tree. Ybarra, determined to get to the critter, slid over the gunwale into the dark water and black mud on the bottom. He quickly sank to his thighs in the slough mud, but insisted on pursuing the treetop frog. The situation looked doubtful. Ybarra would have to wade through limbs and mud and logs to get near the frog. Then he would have to reach up over a high log and gig downwards to stick the frog which had perched on another log. All bets were on the frog as Ybarra made his final step and tiptoed to get over the log in front of him. He took long seconds to steady himself. He eased the gig slowly downwards and made a swift jab. Everybody in the boat began quizzing him about the results. “Of course I got it,” came his reply. Ybarra managed to nail a couple more respectable frogs. As we neared the river end of the slough, where we had entered, Parson’s light caught a frog sitting on a mud flat. Lance, the youngest of the Ybarra boys asked if he could try to get that frog. Lance and his dad, Pat, slid over the side of the boat together. They quickly sank into the black, stinky, swamp mud. However, Lance was determined and continued his approach. When he reached the bank, he sank so deep into the mud he could not pull his feet out. When he finally pulled one foot free, it was without a boot. Lance slogged onward. When his stealthy, muddy approach had brought him to within 8 feet of the frog, the frog had had enough and hopped into the slough. Everyone heaved a big sigh for Lance and congratulated him for a grand effort. Midnight neared. Everyone, tired and muddy, agreed to head for home.

Take a Kid Fishing - A few Tips

Take a Kid Fishing - A few Tips Bill Cooper I’ve been fishing for a very long time, over 60 years in fact. Fishing is truly an interactive pursuit that appeals to most human beings, simply because it is fun. I’ve witnessed thousands of people fishing over the decades and have conducted research into why people fish. Reasons range from a basic desire to get meat to eat, to connecting with God. A great source of discussion in outdoor circles these days is the topic of taking children fishing. In my day, kids went fishing, because dad did. However, we quickly developed a sense of pride, because we were helping put meat on the family table. Fishing was also great fun and an escape from the hard labor on the family farm. Children today face an unimaginable amount of pressure and influence from a wired, plugged-in society. Fishing may be entirely foreign to them. However, the state of our society does not reduce the values of fishing. In fact, it increases the value of a resource based, nature connecting, esteem building outdoor activity. Following are a few tips that will help you take a child fishing. Pick a location with which the child is familiar, if possible. A small pond or stream that is known to hold lots of fish is best. Quick success at catching that first fish is paramount to maintaining their interest. Having an area to play, or explore is important, too, in case the fishing is slow. Build anticipation. Talk about fishing with your child. Tell a few fishing tales, or find someone who can. Grandpas are great for this. It builds excitement. Read children’s stories about fishing. Christine Hautmann has published a series of books on about children’s fishing adventures. Cover the rules surrounding fishing. Children are accustomed to rules. Understanding the concepts of fishing regulations, such as numbers and types of fish whcih may be kept will et boundaries fro them. Discuss safety issues as well, such as wearing life jacket and being careful with sharp hooks. Get organized. Make a list of what you need to take on the trip. Snacks are a top priority. Kids love to eat. But, don’t forget bug spray, lots of water to stay hydrated, antibacterial wipes, chairs, blankets and of course, fishing gear. Let your child help with the choice of bait you will use. Bait is good for beginning fishermen. They will not have to cast as much. A container of earthworms is a remarkable choice. Not only are they great for simple fishing, they provide an endless source of entertainment for children. Study up bout worms, too. There will be lots of questions. Should your child, be really squeamish, select another bait, such as dough balls. Select the right tackle. Keep it simple. An old cane pole is fun, but few use them anymore. Simple push button reels with a short rod are ideal fro children. They will learn to cast quickly and earn a sense of accomplishment as their skills progress. Bring bobbers, too. Bobbers are fascinating to fishermen, old and new. Watching a bobber disappear as a fish pulls it under sets imaginations on fire. Every angler wonders about what is on that line. Too, kids can play at a reasonable distance and still watch their bobber fro telltale signs of a bite. Too, chasing a rod down the bank as a big fish runs off with it creates fond memories and incredible fish stories. Involve the child in the job of fishing. Don’t do it all for them. They can hand you bait and eventually participate in getting that wriggly worm on the hook. Allow children to touch any fish that is caught and encourage them to release fish or place them in a bucket to take home. Make it fun. Fishing is really great fun, when the fish are biting. However, if the bite slows, so will interest in fishing. Be prepared to help your child have a good time regardless. Take a break. Explore. Catch frogs or crayfish. Look at wildflowers. Pick berries. Have a picnic. Sing songs or make up silly poems. You both will enjoy the activities as well as your time together. Remember to keep the trip short. A child’s attention span is short. If they loose interest quickly, don’t despair. They will gain more interest in fishing with each trip you make. A good wrap up to a trip makes it memorable as well. And don’t be hurt , if your child talks more about the ice cream cone you stopped for on the way home, rather than the fishing trip. Talk with your child about being responsible while fishing. Most places you go, you will find trash. Explain to your child why it is not a good idea to throw thrash on the ground. Encourage them to learn to love the natural beauty around them and explain that they are an important person to help keep the area clean, so that others can enjoy the area, too. Also explain that trash is dangerous to fish and wild animals and that we owe it to the to keep their place clean, too. I recently mad a short fishing trip with my 5-year-old grandson, Ronnie. Our first order of business was to clean up a bunch of trash someone had left. Nest, we threw rocks into the stream, right where we were going to fish. It was OK. We didn’t catch a fish. However, Ronnie brought his boogie board along. He floated downstream about 75 yards at least 50 times. On the walk back upstream he chased minnows and crayfish. After sitting in the stream and eating watermelon, we stopped at a pond on the way home for 15 minutes. Ronnie caught a 14-inch bass, which he would not hold, and two monster bluegills. He’s hooked.

Floating the Upper Jacks Fork

Outdoor Revelations Bill Cooper June

2016

On the upper Jacks Fork River wilderness reigns. There are no road overpasses, hordes of humans nor drone of jetboat engines. A few strokes of the paddle and my floating partner, Ron Kruger and I, are swept into the speedy current, away from the simple access at Blue Spring and into a wild, watery world which few people ever experience. The Jacks Fork is a tributary of the much larger Current River. Combined these two rivers form the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, America’s first designated national park for a wild river stream system and the longest protected, free-flowing waterways in the nation. I have lived in the Ozarks for over 40 years and have floated lower sections of the Jacks Fork, which are spectacular. The upper reaches of the river have evaded me for decades. Floatable usually only in early spring, the upper portions of the river lack enough water to float a canoe the rest of the year. The working life, obligations and bad timing had kept me from exploring this most wild and scenic portion of any of our Ozark rivers, until now. Blue Spring emerges from a cave at the base of a bluff almost three miles below Buck Hollow at Highway 17, the usual spring time put-in for the upper river. The spring adds 3 million gallons of some of the purest water in the state to the Jacks Fork’s flow. We silently pushed our kayaks into the current and were immediately swept into a world of natural wonderment. Gin clear water allowed a magical clear view of every rock and living thing on the bottom of the river, which lay three feet below, yet appeared to be at the surface. Towering, multi-colored bluffs and emerald green, deep pools greeted us at every turn. I soon understood why the Jacks Fork is called the Mozart of Ozark streams. It truly is a step above the rest, an amazing wild collection of water, geologic features and plant and animal life. Engulfed in the beauty that surround3ed me, I felt like I had been ushered into my idea of heaven on earth. Less than two miles downstream we entered the Jacks Fork Natural Area, which is accessible only by canoe. The river flows three miles though this designated natural area, known for its extensive and unique biodiversity, which includes over 450 native plant species. We round a curve and flow with the current, now to the south. According to maps, near the south end of the west-facing slope is the little-known Jacks Fork Natural Arch. It is a few hundred feet u a steep, forested hillside hidden from summertime floaters. Most float on by oblivious to its existence. I will visit it this fall or winter, when the leaves are down. A sea of ferns drape the faces of shaded, seep-dampened, dolomite bluffs. My favorite, ebony spleenwort is prolific. Walking ferns and maidenhairs feed the eery, mysterious atmosphere of these hidden places. I fully expect to spot Leprechauns. Rare plants, relics of our last Ice Age, some 12,000 years ago, cling to life here among the cooler north-facing slopes. Glacial relics like the harebell and false bugbane still exist, tucked into their micro-habitats. Kruger photographed the bugbane, to add to his collection of over 500 wildflowers. Every stretch of the upper Jacks Fork is magnificent beyond words. One could spend a lifetime here absorbing the elixir of the wild and scenic that soothes our souls like nothing else. The Creation is exemplified here by its very nature of existence. If only the hurting of the world could experience, the peace, the tranquility, the transcendence of the spirit above body and mind. All exposed to the wonder would leave renewed and inspired. The Jacks Fork continues to reveal itself to us as we drift downstream. A mere three miles from Blue Spring we round the bend and are struck by the magnificent opening of Jam Up Cave. A cathedral-sized archway, an enormous 80x100 feet leaves us spellbound. My imagination runs wild. How many eons did the power of water droplets take to shape this amazing creation? How long is the passage? What lives there? One of the most spectacular cave entrances in the state, Jam Up Cave holds many mysteries. I understand that it is gated far back in the cave to protect breeding bats. Old writings indicate that the cave may be explored in daylight hours back to a lake which is the plunge-basin for falls from the upper section. The upper section may be entered from a sinkhole in Lost Hollow. The Jacks Fork is home to an amazing variety of aquatic life including 67 species of fish, such as smallmouth bass, suckers, long-ear sunfish, goggle-eye, largemouth bass, gar and chain pickerel. Forty of the species are native and six are found nowhere outside the Ozarks: Ozark shiners, Ozark madtoms, checkered madtoms, Current River saddled darters, Ozark chubs and Ozark sculpins. Although Kruger and I love every spectacular aspect of the Jacks Fork, we had smallmouth bass on our minds, too. This section of the river is a designated smallmouth management area by the Missouri Department of Conservation. During the open season on stream bass, from Memorial Day until the end of February, only one smallmouth of 18-inches or better may be kept per day. However, I highly encourage anglers to release these rare fish. An 18-inch smallmouth may be a dozen years old. Few live long enough to reach those proportions. Let them go to thrill another angler and live their lives out in the wilds of the Jacks Fork River. Weather front and dropping water foiled our smallmouth fishing plans, but the prolific long-ear sunfish, or pumpkinseed, kept our flyrods bouncing. All to soon, we reached our take-out at Rhymers Access. We had experienced an incredible day afloat on the Jacks Fork. I’ll be this fall to float the “Jacks Fork Canyon once more.”

Westover Farms Offers Unique Trout Experience

Outdoor Revelations Bill Cooper 6/29/16 Trout fishing opportunities abound in Missouri. Trying some place new is rather easy for the average trout fisherman. Four trout parks, Maramec Spring Park, owned by the James Foundation, Montauk State Park, Bennett Spring State Park and Roaring River State Park all offer put and take trout fishing from March 1 util the end of October. Taneycomo Lake is famous for its trout fishery. Hundreds of thousands of trout are stocked annually in this river-like lake. Fishermen come from all over the world to enjoy the fantastic fishing found there. Not only can anglers find large numbers of trout at Taneycomo, they can also expect to occasionally catch a trophy rainbow as well. And, brown trout grow to behemoth sizes in the food rich waters of Taneycomo Lake. Missouri also sports numerous rivers and streams which are stocked at intervals throughout the year. They are divided into Blue Ribbon, Red Ribbon and White Ribbon streams. Blue Ribbon streams are not stocked. Trout in those streams are wild, reproducing fish, which descended from stockings in the late 1800’s. Red Ribbon streams receive stocking, including brown trout, while White Ribbon streams receive stockings of rainbows various rates throughout the year. Metropolitan area lakes also are stocked throughout the winter months, providing thousands of city anglers with opportunities to trout fish. The public waters mentioned above give Missourians ample opportunities to try their hand at trout fishing. However, there is a wide variety of private trout fishing opportunities available in Missouri as well. I visited Westover Farms, southeast of Steelville, recently. A charming atmosphere welcomes anglers. Reconstructed log homes and German style stone buildings create an aura of elegance found in few trout fishing destinations. Larry Pearcy, an accomplished fly fisherman from Rolla accompanied me to Westover. Pearcy had the honor of fishing while I photographed and videoed his experience. A mile of cold, clear, spring fed water accompanied by well over a mile of Dry Creek waters, gives anglers a variety of opportunities to ply their skills against chunky rainbow trout found there. Pearcy and I met at 7 a.m., hoping to get an early start. As we prepared our equipment for the morning, Westover manager Tom Schlueter stopped by to check on us. “Say, Bill, you guys should hop on the tail gate of my truck,” Tom said excitedly. “ I can haul you way downstream away from the other fishermen. There are a lot of fish stacked in a couple of holes down there. I think you guys will love it.” Pearcy and I laughed and reminisced as the pickup truck bounced across a pasture field bordering Dry Creek. Decades had faded away since either of us had ridden on the tail gate of a pickup truck. We enjoyed the adventure. Tom pulled into neatly mowed pull out and instructed us to follow him down over a grassy bank to the waters edge. “There is a 40 yard stretch here that is heavy with fish,” he said. A hundred yards downstream is another hole the same way. Lots of fish.” Tom took a handful of trout food and cast it across the stream. Dozens of chunky rainbows rolled up to accept the offering. Pearcy and I looked at each other in awe. “This is nice,” he said. “Gonna be sweet,” I replied. “And, I didn’t bring a rod.” Pearcy spent most of his life working for Kelty, a maker of high end packs and tents. He is no stranger to the outdoors and fished in many locations around the world. He also ties his own flies. I anxiously awaited to see what this experienced fly fisherman would tie on to the business end of his fly line. He quickly rigged a tandem setup. A beadhead Hare’s Ear nymph tipped his leader. A duplicate fly adorned his line 18 inches above the first. Pearcy quietly waded into the cold stream. The temperature had climbed steadily. Therefore, Pearcy waded in shorts rather than his usual waders. I watched with great excitement as Pearcy made his first cast. I could sense his anticipation. His first drift went without a hint of a strike. Pearcy used the strength of his 3-weight Sage rod to pick up his fly line and make his second cast upstream. Ten feet into the drift, he lifted his rod high and a heavy arc indicated a good fish was on. The scrappy rainbow raced downstream. Pearcy turned completely around to accommodate the fleeing fish. When he applied a little pressure, the magnificent trout turned and sped upstream as fast as it ha come down. The action looked good on the LED screen of my video camera. The scene played out in my screen. The brightly colored trout shot into the air, writhing like a captured snake. Nymph and fish parted company in mid-air. “Quick release,” Pearcy laughed. The rainbow sped to deeper water as Pearcy regained control of his fly line, checked his nymphs and began his next false cast to roll his flyline and fake bug offerings back upstream to awaiting trout. We’d found the Nirvana of trout fishing fun and there was not another human being in sight. Pearcy hooked a half dozen rainbows before the action began to slow. We explored elsewhere for 30 minutes and returned to the hotspot. We repeated the process a half dozen times and Pearcy caught fish each time. Back at our vehicles, we chugged a bottle of water and began dismantling our gear. Tom stopped by. “Catch any? he queried. Pearcy and I smiled. I winked at Tom. Tom grinned through a tanned face and hurried on his busy way. Westover Farms is the premiere private trout fishing destination in the Ozarks. Check them out at www.westoverfarms.com. If you would like to view Larry Pearcy’s Westover experience, check my website at” www.aoutdoorstv.com, under fishing shows.

Outdoor Revelations Bill Cooper 6/15/16 Bass Fishing in the Rain Some of my most memorable fishing trips have been in the rain. Other memorable trips have been with youngsters. Recently I combined the two for one of the most enjoyable trips I have ever experienced. Eighteen year old Julian Brown and 15-year-old Keegan Finch joined me for a day of bass fishing on a nearby lake. The boys live down the rod from me. The pair of anxious fishermen walked up to my house about 7:30 a.m. It had begun raining softly. We elected to cook a big breakfast of sausage, fried potatoes, eggs and toast and hoped that in the meantime the rain would stop. The big breakfast filled the bill for the energy we would need for the day that lay ahead of us. However, to make sure we survived, the boys made up a batch of sandwiches to take long. Rain pelted down steadily as we pulled out of my driveway. However, everyone’s spirits were high. We were determined to go fishing. As we broke into view of the remote lake, the chattered excitedly about the prospects of catching lots of fish fro the beautiful 10acre lake that lay before them. Julian and Keegan are both originally from Texas and hd not had the opportunity to do a lot of fishing. They were in for the thrill of their lives. I had fished the lake numerous times and knew that it was full of largemouth bass, which usually eager to hit a lure. We rigged three rods each, with a different lure on each. We could readily fish the top, middle and bottom of the water columns. Keegan and I teemed up in a canoe. Julian sailed alone in a kayak. I was still rigging rods when Julian took off paddling parallel to the dam of the lake. He intended to catch the first fish. I rigged one of Keegan’s rods with a Fluke, which he hd not fished previously. I made one cast along the shoreline, before we shoved off, to demonstrate to him how to fish the Fluke. A Fluke is a minnow shaped piece of plastic, which sinks slowly and when twitched slightly, darts to and fro like dying minnow. They are deadly. Keegan gasped with disbelief as respectable bass rolled up on my first cast. I missed the strike. We shoved the canoe off of the bank. Rain continued to pepper down. I paddled to put Keegan into perfect casting position. I explained that he needed to cast the weedless Fluke as close to the shoreline as possible, right into the tangles of weeds and brush. He kept casting his lure about two feet short of the target. I instructed him to watch my cast. The Fluke landed six inches from the shore amidst a clump of sedge grasses. I twitched the Fluke one time and let it sink. My rod arched and I set the hook. The scrappy bass managed to throw the hook. Keegan and I laughed and moved on. When we caught up with Julian, he had not had strike. He asked what we were throwing, but Keegan was reluctant to tell. I told Keegan we were going to paddle on across the face of the dam to quickly get to the east bank. I had caught a lot of bass there the week previous. I pointed out a break in the shoreline vegetation and told him to cast his bait into that spot. Keegan made a perfect cast. The water erupted and he had his first bass of the day hooked. He yelled at Julian to watch. The fish came off. “There’s plenty more” I instructed. A few casts later, Keegan was hooked up again. He lost that fish, too. On my next cast, I hooked one and managed to land it. The action was heating up, so Julian paddle over to join in on the fun. What occurred over the next three hours proved nothing less than phenomenal. The rain continued and apparently put the fish into a feeding frenzy. We continued down the east bank, catching fish at a steady pace. As we approached the north end of the lake, hook-ups increased dramatically. One of us had a fish on almost constantly. A small creek enters the lake at the north end. Previous rains hd brought the lake up a bit and grassy flats were covered in water. New food constantly poured into the lake from the run off. Bass had stacked on the grass flats to intercept the new food sources entering the lake. The boys laughed and goaded one another as, bass, after bass after bass fell to their flukes. “This is so much fun,” they both kept repeating. Fun indeed. Even as many thousands of bass I had caught in my lifetime, few times had I ever seen bass that active. Then with the thrills the boys were enjoying, the day quickly became one of the most memorable trips of my life. I tied on a topwater Sammy lure. I hooked good bass on my very first cast. The boys switched, too. Topwater fishing is as fun as it gets and Keegan and Julian received a baptism extraordinaire. As a dark cloud approached from the south, I indicated that we needed to get off the lake. Their moans sounded like thunder rumbling. I explained that we had boated well over 150 bass and had hooked and lost many ore than that. We had, in fact, enjoyed a day of bass fishing like few people have ever enjoyed. Half way across the lake, the rain came down in sheets. We looked like a trio of drowned rats by the time we reached the truck. We kept just enough fish for a fish fry. The boys helped clean the catch and I soon had filets bubbling in hot oil. My only regret. I wish I’d had a recorder on to capture the tails those two told during dinner. I’m sure they will tell their grandchildren about the day they caught a 150 bass in the rain.

It Should Be A Holiday, Too

Bill Cooper It should be a holiday, too. Monday, May 30, is Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor those who gave their lives in defense of our country. I consider it one of the most important holidays on our calendar, out-shined only by Christmas and Easter. Combined the three holidays carry great significance for our beloved United States of America. The weekend before Memorial Day is the opening day of the Missouri squirrel season and catch and keep black bass season in most streams south of the Missouri River. Tens of thousands of anglers and hunters anticipate this opening each year. Many consider it the official arrival of summer, though a bit early. Although squirrel hunting is not the popular event it was a few decades ago, many still enjoy pursuing the wily critters. Squirrels are however, heavily engrained in our national history. Many historians contend the British were essentially defeated by a bunch of muzzleloading squirrel hunters. The new Americans were, obviously, expert woodsmen and darn good shots, skills they acquired through endless hours stalking and hunting game in the fields and forests near their villages. More often than not, jittery squirrels were the most plentiful game available and made their way to almost every families stew pot. And every settler family that had access to rivers, streams and lakes pursued fish as a source of high protein and fertilizer for their gardens. Hunting and fishing have always been a part of the American lifestyle. Interest in the sports grew exponentially following WWII, when hundreds of thousands of troops returned from theaters around the world. Filled with adventures and hardships from their experiences in far off lands, man still longed for the rigors and challenges of outdoor living. Hunting and fishing filled the bill. Much good came from the interests and efforts of these thrill seeking outdoorsmen. Modern conservation movements began in force. Outdoorsmen needed large tracts of land, rivers and lakes to pursue their hearts desires. Conservation efforts grew steadily across the country. Outdoorsmen also insisted on taxing themselves when they bought hunting and fishing equipment. Billions of dollars have been generated in the mean time to support sound conservation efforts both at the state and national levels. No place in the world can match the United States for its conservation efforts in establishing national forests, national parks, a national wildlife refuge system, state park systems and conservation areas in individual states. Outdoorsmen have carried their dreams further in the last few decades with the establishment of single species conservation groups like the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever,Tout Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Quality Deer Management Association. Again, millions of dollars have been generated to purchase lands help improve habitat for a variety of species. In the process, man other species of animals bird and fish have benefitted as well. Two dozen cities take credit for having created the first Decoration Day, later changed to Memorial Day. President Lydnon Johnson, in May, 1966, declared Waterloo, New York as the birth place of Memorial Day. General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic during the Civil War, established the esteemed holiday, then called Decoration Day. His General Order No. 14 stated that the 30th of May, 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country in the recent revolution. On the first Decoration Day in 1868, 5,000 participants decorated the graves of 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Without a doubt, the vast majority of the soldiers who fought in the Civil War were also squirrel hunters and fishermen before, during and after the great conflict. And those soldiers who returned from WWII developed the beloved sport of squirrel hunting into a past time as popular as baseball and apple pie. By the 1950’s squirrel hunting had become the most popular hunting sport in Missouri. Much of Missouri’s population remained rural. Most school age boys could hurry home after school, grab the .22 rifle and walk out the back door to a woodlot or small patch of woods to squirrel hunt. Many country boys grew into manhood both enjoying their squirrel hunting adventures and providing high quality meat for their families. As deer herds returned to the Ozark hills, through massive conservation efforts, deer hunting gained popularity quickly and interest in squirrel hunting began to wane. Another outdoor interest that developed quickly in Missouri and across the nation was trophy bass fishing. Conservation departments began to manage for various bass species, setting seasons and regulations. Catch and release began to be highly encouraged as well. Once again Missouri stayed in the forefront of conservation efforts and established trophy bass management areas on many of Ozark rivers. Today several of our streams are recognized nationally for being top quality smallmouth bass fishing streams. Memorial Day is indeed a holiday of pride and remembrance as we honor those who made great sacrifices to keep us free. Likewise, the weekend of opening day for squirrel season and black bass season in our streams has great historical significance in or country as well. Largely because of squirrels, we defeated the British. The tasty critters provided not only lots of target practice, but food for the bellies of freedom loving Americans. So, I believe the opening weekend of squirrel season and black bass season should be holidays as well. Then we could celebrate for three days. Most of us will anyway. www.Facebook.com/Outsidealways www.aoutdoorstv.com.

South Florida Adventures for Kids

South Florida Adventures for Kids Bill Cooper 5/12/16 “Whooooooah,” accompanied by wide spread eyes, provided evidence of surprise and awe as our 5-year-old grandson, Ronnie Cooper Austin, first laid eyes on the Gulf of Mexico. Dian and I had planned a surprise trip to the beach for our inquisitive grandson and his initial response kicked our week of adventure off on the right foot. “It’s awesome,” Ronnie repeated continuously in between his questions: “Can I play in the water, can I make a sand castle, can I get sea shells?” The magic of the ocean struck our grandson full force and his resulting excitement proved our hunches to be correct. We knew he would love the experience and planned a week of adventures in and around the salty water of St. Petersburg, Florida. Dian booked a small cottage within a block of Pass-A-Grille Beach, a beautiful location in the St. Pete’s Beach area. We immediately felt at home. The peaceful quietness of this urban beach community surpassed all our expectations. There were no loud parties or disturbances and we settled in quickly. We leisurely strolled down 22nd Street, lined with moderate to expensive retirement homes, all well concealed by palm trees and landscapes of native vegetation. Lizards scurried everywhere. Mesmerized by the quick little scrub lizards, Ronnie chased them incessantly to no avail. The whole affair provided an endless source of entertainment while walking to and from the beach. Ronnie and I waded into the waves, immersing ourselves into a world of wonder and excitement. He held my hand tightly as we walked further out and quickly learned about the power of the ocean as a roller swept him off of his feet. He came up spitting and sputtering, all the while yelling, “awesome, I want to do it again, papa.” Our first full day of exploration began with a trip to the South Florida Museum’s Parker Manatee Aquarium in Bradenton, Florida. Snooty, a male Florida manatee, is the main attraction. Snooty is one of the first recorded captive manatee births. Born in 1948, Snooty is now 67 years old and holds the Guinness's Book of World Record as the oldest manatee in captivity. Snooty is kept company by injured and abandoned manatees, which are much younger. They are rehabilitated and returned to the wild. The Parker Museum housed a myriad of educational displays about the fishes and animals of the ocean. Sharks and colorful fishes held Ronnie spellbound. He particularly liked the hands on exhibits where he could hold and inspect bones, skulls and artifacts. His favorite, however, was a play station where he dug in the sand and water to find live starfish and other small seas critters. Fabulous small restaurants provided a sense of adventure as well, all with ocean views as dramatic back drops. Sea Critters, The Wharf and Crabby Bill’s teased Ronnie’s palette with new culinary adventures as he tasted fresh shrimp, grouper and alligator, which became his favorite. Our day two adventure took us to Dinosaur World in Plant City, Florida. Over 20 acres of lush vegetation contains over 200 life size replicas of a variety of dinosaur species which once roamed the earth. Every little boy loves dinosaurs. Ronnie became spellbound immediately. He happily climbed aboard the first dinosaur we encountered, just outside the compound. We wandered through an intriguing jungle and a surprise greeted us around every corner. The astounding sizes of ancient creatures made us feel miniscule. Argentinosaurus, the largest of the plant eaters at 100 tons, towered 70 feet into the air. Tyrannosaurus Rex, one of the largest meat eaters weighed in at 8 tons. Dian and I were amazed at how much Ronnie already knew about about dinosaurs, including their names. Dinosaur World, however, gave him a whole new perspective and the incredible world of the majestic creatures of the past that called earth home. Our next day of adventure lead us to the pirate ship Royal Conquest at Tampa Bay’s John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk. The two hour family cruise included music, dancing, water gun battles, a treasure hunt, face painting, dolphin watching and incredible pirate stories from a bunch of swashbucklers. Every little boy wants to be a pirate. Ronnie passed all the tests with flying colors and graduated as a certified pirate. His pirate degree now hangs on his wall. Every little boy loves Legos, too. Off to LegoLand we went for our next adventure. LegoLand is located only 45 minutes from Orlando. An interactive family theme park, it is designed specifically for families with children 2 to 12 years old. Covering 50-acres, there is an amazing variety of rides, attractions, shows, restaurants, shopping and breathtaking views of botanical gardens and lakes. Ten theme zones including, Imagination Zone, LEGO City, Daytona, International Speedway, Florida, Kennedy Space Center, Pirate’s Shores and much more. Ronnie’s imagination soared upon entering the DUPLO village where he could fly a plane, drive a car and explore a town, scaled to his size. He traveled back to Medieval Times in LEGO Kingdoms to meet knights, damsels and dragons. He searched for treasure and explored hidden tombs in Land of Adventure. His imagination ran wild s he created, built and tested his own structures in Imagination Zone. A gigantic ice cream cone and a Legos set to take home wound up what Ronnie called, “my best day ever.” To plan your own family vacation to the Tampa, St. Petersburg area of Florida, check the following: www.southfloridamuseum.org, www.dinosaurworld.com, www.boattoursjohnpass.com, www.LEGOLAND.com.

One Eyed Willy's Hosts Outdoor Writers

One Eyed Willy’s Hosts Outdoor Writers Bill Cooper 4/30/16 A plump English Bull Dog by the name Deacon waddled towards me, plopped her rump down on my feet and stared at me with big, dark eyes. The aroma of Ray Ray’s Smokehouse BBQ, from Cabool, Missouri teased my sense of smell more than Deacon’s longing eyes teased my sense of sharing. Ok, I did sneak her a tiny bite. Fifteen outdoor media members from the Missouri Outdoor Communicators enjoyed the fabulous Ray Ray’s BBQ as part of the 2016 Lebanon/Bennett Spring Area Cast and Blast sponsored by the Conservation Federation of Missouri, Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, Ozark Ridge Calls and zMax Micro-Lubricant. One Eyed Willy’s Campground and Canoe Outfitter provided Lodging and meeting rooms. Meals were provided by Bennett Spring State Park, One Eyed Willy’s, Ray Ray’s Smokehouse BBQ and the City of Lebanon. The City of Lebanon has three times been named to Outdoor Life’s annual “Top 200 Towns for Sportsmen” list. From the great outdoors to the great indoors, Lebanon offers the experienced traveler a wide variety of options. Fishing, hiking, hunting, concerts, shows, pieces of America’s storied history on Route 66 and much more all can be found in the Lebanon area. Cast and Blast participants experienced the best of Lebanon area turkey hunting, floating and fishing the Niangua River, kayaking, hiking and trout fishing at Bennett Spring State Park. Other activities included a tour of the Missouri Department of Conservation Fish Hatchery, casting lessons and a demonstration from former St. James resident and fly fishing expert Jim Rogers, a spring tour and exploring park grounds. One Eyed Willy’s is “The Place to be on the Niangua!” Willy’s is a full-service campground and canoe outfitter located on the Niangua River. Lodging options include an assortment of rustic yet comfortable cabins and primitive camp sites. Visitors may rent canoes, kayak, and rafts to float and fish. The Whiskey River Antique Store and Gift Shop, Pete’s Place restaurant and Fire in the Hole concession make life on the river grand. www.OneEyedWillys.com. Ray Ray’s Smokehouse Barbecue is a family-owned business committed to bringing you the very best in award winning bbq sauce and rub products. Ray Ray’s was name the 2012 Grand Champion of the First Annual Fin to Fur Smoke Off. Ray Ray’s products may be found in area grocery stores. www.TinyURL.com/RayRaysBBQ.com. zMax Micro-lubricant is a science-based product with molecules smaller than those of conventional oils. Once zMax is applied to the internal parts of a firearm, it disperses carbon and other harmful deposits, protecting the firearm from the inside out. www.zmax.com/products/firearms/. Bill Green of Ozark Ridge Turkey Calls has been making quality calls for over 20 years. Each call is developed using materials and techniques that cannot be duplicated by today’s modern mass produced calls. Ozark Ridge Turkey Calls are the finest handmade calls available. www.OzarkRidgeCalls.com. Bennett Spring State Park is the fourth largest spring in Missouri, with a daily flow of over 1000 million gallons of water per day. One of Missouri’s most popular state parks, Bennett Spring offers a variety of lodging options and fabulous trout fishing. www.BennettSpringStatePark.com. The Conservation Federation of Missouri is a a private organization made up of thousands of Missourians who work together to better our natural resources and represents Missouri’s citizen conservationists. CFM speaks for sportsmen whenever and wherever it is necessary, to support our collective opinions on the future of Missouri outdoors. www.ConFedMo.org. The Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization founded in 1997 to help meet financial needs placed on natural resource conservation and conservation-related outdoor recreation. MCHF advances conservation and appreciation of forest, fish and wildlife resources by applying financial resources to the priorities of the Missouri Department of Conservation in collaboration with donors and other partners. www.MOCHF.org. Outdoor communicators from Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Oklahoma participated in the 2016 MOC Cast and Blast. The Lebanon, Missouri area will greatly benefit from the media efforts of the participants. Participants included Brent Frazee, of the Kansas City Star, Barb Ostmann, travel writer, Bobby Whitehead of Outdoor Guide Magazine, Brad Wiegmann, social media guru, Dale Bowman, of SBC Global, Dennis Whiteside, of Streamguide, Gretcehn Steele, an Illinois journalist, Jason Jenkins, of Rural Missouri, Kenny Kieser, from Kansas City, Thayne and Jeannine Farmer, Tim Kjellesvik, The Thinking Woodsman podcast and Bill Cooper, of Outside Again Adventures TV-Online. The media material produced by participants of such events provides a virtual media blitz for hosting communities, agencies and businesses. The 2016 Missouri Outdoor Communicators Cast and Blast was organized by the Missouri Outdoor Communicators executive directors, the Beenders Walker Group. Contact Kyle Stewart at 573-619-3296 fro further information. EDITOR’S NOTE: Bill Cooper is an award winning outdoor writer who may be followed on www.aoutdoorstv.com, www.facebook.com/Outsidealways, www.outsideagainadventures.blogspot.com and blogs in www.leaderjournalcom, www.therolladailynews.com, www.waynesvilledailyguide.com, and www.lakenewsonline.com. Bill Cooper lives in rural St. James with his lovely, award winning photographer wife, Dian.