5-17-26 - Guest Levi Simms, Karson Stone and Coach Cody Napier

Jim and Scott talk about multi-species fishing opportunities around the region and interviewed KY High School State Bass Fishing Champions Levi Simms, Karson Stone and Coach Cody Napier about Muhlenburg County's eight state championships. Also covered wildlife news around the region.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
News Radio eight forty whas welcomes you to Jim Straighter Outdoors,
the region's leading authority on hunting, fishing, and conservation. Jim
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(00:25):
for agriculture, lawn care, archery and pet products. Kentucky Cabincare
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(00:46):
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(01:06):
four inside Louisville and one one hundred four four four
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and relax and enjoy the best two hours of live
outdoor radio Jim Straighter Outdoors right here on News Radio
eight forty whas.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
Good evening, everybody, Jim Straighter here and great to be
with you. As always. Scott and I have a great
show tonight for you because we both have been very,
very active around the region fishing, hunting, et cetera. And
we got a lot of tips to share with you.

(01:42):
We've got field reports from anglers from around the state
in an addition to our own travels, and we're gonna
talk to you a lot about some wildlife management tips
that of course are designed to help you maximize your
wildlife on your proper which is always a big goal

(02:02):
of ours. That's one of the things we enjoy talking
about as much as anything really, because we love to
catch them, we love to take them, and we love
to eat them, but we also love management. So we're
gonna talk to you about all those things. And then
in the second hour of this evening, we have some
individuals that are gonna be on there with us. It's

(02:24):
the Meehlenberg County State champion bass Fishermen, and these folks
have done a tremendous job down there. The coach Cody
Napier has taken these kids through the years to heights
that are almost unimaginable. And we're going to talk to
the coach Napier and these kids that just recently won

(02:46):
the state championship again. And we're gonna talk to the
girls or about the girls rather that have come in
as runner up, and coach Napier coaches them as well.
So we've got a well rounded program tonight that I
think you're going to really enjoy it. It's got the weather,

(03:07):
in some ways continues to be the dominant factor, doesn't it.

Speaker 3 (03:12):
It really is.

Speaker 4 (03:12):
It feels almost like in August day and we're not
even you know, through May yet, so and we're dealing
with a pretty rough drought.

Speaker 3 (03:22):
A lot of fish pulled.

Speaker 4 (03:23):
Back from their spawning activity because of the cool front
that come through, and of course some other nature's got
tad pods that are beginning to show their face, and
fawns are starting to pop here and there, and there's
even a few reports of some early turkey pots that
are on the ground and running, so a lot going

(03:44):
on very strange conditions. It's made for some really enjoyable
times on the water and in the field, but it's
also made for some very tough and challenging.

Speaker 3 (03:54):
Patterns to put together.

Speaker 4 (03:56):
So here we are wrapping up turkey season and now
we're keeping our fil a knife hot and catfish are
about ready to be full fledge into what they do
best on the rocks and these spawning areas here in
just a few days. And I'm sure we'll capitalize and
talk about that tonight too.

Speaker 2 (04:14):
Again, yes, sir, well, that's all spot on, and again
we'll cover all these things after the break. The break
is presented by SMI Marine. They're ready, willing and able
to take care of all your boating needs. They obviously
have lots of boats for sale over there, some really
good deals on some used boats. Go see them. Tim

(04:35):
Addington and his staff will become friends a minute you
come through the door and understand how they can help you.
And remember you never get soaked by my friends at
SMI Marine. Scott one of the things that continues to
puzzle up, and I'm sure lots of our listeners is
the low water levels at several our lakes around the region.

(05:00):
Two most notable, of course, or Rough River and No End.
But bearing's right there with them, and it's a bit
understandable because of the drought. But on the other hand,
with normal holdback, it would be impossible to me to
feel like these lakes could be anywhere from twelve to

(05:24):
fifteen or more feet below level. And you and I
have tried to kind of get to the bottom of that,
and honestly, what we're told is this the drought, but
maybe it is. But either way, we need to let
folks know that there does not seem to be any

(05:47):
relief in sight on those water levels number one and
number two. It could be dangerous, especially for example, at
No End with all that standing timber that's in some
of those coals and shallow areas. And I went down
there to the lake here recently and I was flabbergasted

(06:08):
by what I saw. Honestly, the fishing is good, you
know they're catching fish, but I think it's public service.
We need to let people know that there's gravel bars, sandbars,
standing timber, all kinds of things that gets you in
trouble and I don't want to deter anybody from the

(06:28):
fishing because the fishing has been good. But on the
other hand, it's a weird scenario, isn't it. And it is.

Speaker 4 (06:34):
It's like the Louisville area code five O two that's
the current water level at No.

Speaker 3 (06:39):
L Inn and just like to see it come up.

Speaker 4 (06:42):
The reason why is because it makes several of us
wonder does the lake have some type of issue going
on with a leak or is there something going on
that we just see that others haven't brought attention to yet.
And you know, lakes in Kentucky are not subject to

(07:03):
have problems. You know, we've had several lakes over the.

Speaker 3 (07:06):
Past few years.

Speaker 4 (07:07):
You look at Cumberland and some of the water levels
and what had to be done, it wouldn't be, you know,
shocking to find out if we've seen a report in
the news that something was going on with no end.
Reason why is that water level has.

Speaker 3 (07:22):
Been a little bit scary to the lower unit.

Speaker 4 (07:25):
It's just been a little bit scary to the eye
because water level really doesn't seem like it's changing much.
Since being over there in the winter time to get
out and do some fishing and moving and migrating through
the spring fishing season. And you've got a few folks
that live on the lake and around the lake that
are just wondering if there's something going on. And I

(07:48):
don't know, but I do have concern each time that
I'm in and around the ramps and on the water
over there, because that shoreline is definitely showing water level
that's not typical for this time of year.

Speaker 2 (08:03):
Well, I'm hoping and praying that this is only temporary,
and by temporary, I mean it may go through the
entire summer period, and if it does, we could see
a boost in shoreline cover and vegetation that will spill
over into good habitat like having at Lake Cumberland, you know,

(08:25):
back when they had their problems. But by the same token,
it also can create some difficult situations for you know,
some of the spawn. You know, what's their survival rate
when they don't have pool level, what's the oxygen levels
when you don't have pool level. You know, it just

(08:45):
raises a lot of questions. You and I will research
this even more deeply, But our main reason for mentioning
it tonight is navigation in a big way, because we
don't want to see anybody hurt out there. Oh now,
all right, let's talk through the numbers here. Let's talk
about bass fishing. I'm gonna let you cover the western

(09:08):
part of the state. I'll cover stuff up this way.
I will start with no l End. Despite that water,
bass fishing has been really really good.

Speaker 5 (09:19):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (09:20):
And it's funny because the small mouth and the spotted
bass are very active, seems to have totally you know,
finished in the large bouths, however, are continuing to have
a secondary spawn. And we've got a May this year,
this month this year, which is really unusual. We got

(09:43):
two full moons in one month. And we're right now
as of yesterday, on the dark phase of the moon.
What does that mean for lakes like grouugh Ban, noel End,
et cetera, and the Central to a certain extent, comembling
some of the lakes out east. I think because of

(10:04):
these weird conditions, you know, cool fronts hitting real warm water,
a lot of fish spawned early. And I'm talking about
bass here, no doubt about it, almost statewide because folks, remember,
we had that real long period where we had record temperatures. However,
then we had cool downs during the normal period on

(10:26):
the moon phases, which I firmly believe in moon phases,
if the temperatures are right and conditions are right, they
dictate what goes on. Why did I say that? Because
I've seen it for more than at this point sixty years.
And here's why those semi permeable membranes, which is a

(10:50):
cute way of saying eggsacts tend to really expand on
a full moon. Why well, because of full moon pulls
the Pacific Ocean twenty two feet for goodness sake. So
to those daysayers out there, I say, well, you better
wake up. And folks that have spent a lifetime in

(11:14):
that door Scott the way you and I have, we
know what this means. So what does it mean? I
think we're gonna see a strong secondary spawn. Do I
think it's gonna be big? No? Do I think it's
gonna be evident? Yes? What's say it to you down west?

Speaker 4 (11:33):
Well, basically a topic that we don't get to talk
about every year that's happening right now is the quality
of the fishing on our river systems. Because of the
lack of rain and with the water clarity and the
water levels being pretty consistent, on a lot of our rivers.
It's allowed for folks to get out and do quite

(11:55):
a bit of fishing, and to be frank about it,
it really takes local and folks that have been around
for a few years to understand and remember how good
those systems are to us when it comes to fishing
whenever we're not dealing with typical spring rain flow and
the amount of precipitation that's normal this time of year.

(12:16):
And so that's been a big blessing on the big
lakes as far as Kentucky and Barkley. Fish can be
all over the place right now with bass fishing some
of our other lakes that's going on.

Speaker 3 (12:30):
You've got for sheer, of course, from alone, you've got
no land there.

Speaker 4 (12:34):
And what seems to be going on for the folks
that like to get out on the lake before the
sun comes up is the top water early morning bite
has begun to the point to where you can actually
find enough active fish to get in and do some
top water fishing. Secret right now is to kind of
get below those fish that are blowing up on the

(12:57):
surface to get into some of your bigger fish. But
then it becomes on what you want to do do
you want to go and try to start fishing for
bass that are more or less being protectors and guardians
of some of the beds that were in place. Do
you want to find some fish that are coming off
of postpond and get into some of that activity and

(13:19):
start targeting schools of fish that are moving out towards
ledges and individually targeting.

Speaker 3 (13:25):
Fish with the forward facing soar.

Speaker 4 (13:28):
There's a lot of things that's working right now, but
trying to find a pattern is something that is just
really up to you and what you want to do.

Speaker 3 (13:37):
Now. What's a little bit.

Speaker 4 (13:38):
On the surprising side is some of the fish that
are being caught as far as especially in these tournaments,
that you've got some fish that are coming in and
it goes to what you were saying, they're a little
bit on the thin side. They're looking healthy, but they're
thin because of that spawning taking place. But you've got
other fish that are being caught. They've got a they've

(14:01):
got a sack full of eggs, and we're talking some
large mouth and a small mouth you know species here.
So it's not all over yet definitely into more of
a post spawn activity.

Speaker 3 (14:14):
What is really good though, is how.

Speaker 4 (14:17):
Aggressive the fish are biting. When you find the fish
that are actively feeding, and that's what's gonna keep you
in the in the money right now, what I would
suggest for folks that aren't really keen on any of
the sonar or the grafts and the boat is to
really target fish that are capitalizing, especially on the mayfly hatches,

(14:42):
where the shade is prevalent, the structures prevalent around the
cypress trees and vegetation, especially where there's green growth. Try
to focus where there's that transitional area. Maybe it may
be a clay bank going into some pea gravel, or
it may be more timber going up into some vegetation.

Speaker 3 (15:03):
But we're starting to have enough.

Speaker 4 (15:06):
Growth gem of vegetation both in the water and on
the bank's edge that those fish are definitely getting up
in there and they're capitalizing on all the new things that.

Speaker 3 (15:17):
Are there available for them to eat.

Speaker 4 (15:19):
So that early morning and late evening bite is a
lot of fun and it's a great time of year
if you want to get out.

Speaker 3 (15:26):
And enjoy that top water bite that it has begun.

Speaker 2 (15:30):
Yes, sir, and I want to expand upon that a
little bit because what you said is great information there
on the lakes that are low. I want folks to
use their minds to consider what I'm getting ready to say.
The crawfish are a very very important part of best diet.
We all know that, but think about what that low

(15:51):
water meant. Now, those crawfish went through the winter period
the way they always do, but now that those lakes
are drawn down, a crank bait now in shallow water
is more effective than average in a normal year. Things

(16:12):
that imitate crawfish can be really, really deadly right now.
And I'm talking about you know, two blors and crank
baits that mitate crawfish, etc. Especially on rock outcroppings and
rock banks, because those crawfish are concentrated because they don't
have that extra twelve to thirteen foot of habitat and

(16:35):
by that I mean water level, not just bank level
for them to operate in. So that's a big deal.
And as we move into June and being on those
moon phases or when those crawfish start to mold and
to reproduce. So that's another thing I want to throw
into the mix. And it's goot, you tickle this. I'm

(16:55):
going to expand upon it a little bit and we're
going to talk about this here after the bottom of
our break. Bouegill had been spawning since April. It's the
craziest bluegill spawn I've ever seen in my life, and
they continue to spawn and their fry are very, very active.

(17:17):
Croppy fryer active and bast fry are active in the
backs of these bays and coals in our river type
of reservoirs. And that's what's the key to that top
water action you were talking about. And i'd really encourage
people to kill on that if they like top water fishing,

(17:37):
which I'm a junkie I don't mind saying, and Scott
you are too. And it's going to really be a
fun time to be on the water because of that.
All right, folks, I got to go to break here.
It's presented by our friends at sm I Marine. Tim
Addington and staff are best spurts you've ever met at

(18:00):
trouble shooting problems on your boat. They're good to put
electronics on your boat, show you how to use them. Remember,
you'd never get soaked by my friends at s in
my Marine. You know, Scott, you and I have been
talking about how weird the weather is one of the
most important things on our radar are certainly anyone who's

(18:20):
been trying to fish on a daily basis has been.

Speaker 4 (18:24):
The wind, and the winds bound and harder than the
bluegill on the bobber Man.

Speaker 3 (18:29):
It's uh, the.

Speaker 4 (18:36):
Amount of enjoyment that's taken away from fishing because of
the wind.

Speaker 3 (18:40):
There's no joke this year.

Speaker 4 (18:42):
And it's not just a safety factor when you get
onto bigger bodies of water with having to handle the boat,
but just trying to hold your spot. Even with technologies
that we have and trolling motors and hose and and
everything else, it's just you still got to stand on

(19:03):
your two feet and fish on the platform.

Speaker 2 (19:05):
Of your boat.

Speaker 4 (19:07):
And it has just been a little bit more of
a challenge this year than any year that I can
recall when it comes to doing anything because of the wind,
and fishing is just one of those things that's had
to take.

Speaker 3 (19:23):
The blunt end of it as well. And I just
you know, it's weird when you look.

Speaker 4 (19:30):
At how it's staging bait fish and how fish are
adapting to it. Just how to position your boat, how
to throw into the wind or to put the wind
at your back. It's just not normal for Kentucky. And
it's something that everybody's talking about. It's not just like
me or you're having a bad day and got a
chip on our shoulder with the weather man. Our weather

(19:55):
is to the point now to where our climate is changing.

Speaker 3 (19:59):
You know.

Speaker 4 (19:59):
It's it's not just the weather. It's not just a
daily thing. It's this has gone on for two or
three years now. And I'm just wondering from your perspective
of years of being on the water, that creates a
ton of erosion on our shoreline. It definitely altercates how

(20:20):
fish move because of.

Speaker 3 (20:22):
What they're feeding on.

Speaker 4 (20:24):
What's your experience from this wind, because it's it's not
just been one or two bad days, it's been the
entire spring.

Speaker 2 (20:32):
Well, there's no doubt and your spot all of that.
I can tell you the comments that I've received from
folks that I talk to that have, you know, got
a few years on their calendars. Here's the most common
comment that I hear. When did we get the wind

(20:53):
that Kansas and and Island and those western states have?
When did this happen? And it's that way? I mean
it's that way every week. There's if you look at
the wind in Axus. Across the board, there are hardly
a day or a couple of days that you don't

(21:14):
see wind fifteen twenty up to thirty mile an hour.
And we're not used to that here. And so here's
what I hear from my farmer friends. Boy, we're really
worried about evaporation rates on our crops because we're already
in a drought. These crops have had some rains enough

(21:36):
to get some root systems to get a start. But
what's going to happen if we don't get more rain
than we have evaporation winds? And we all know what
that does. Heck the dirt that folks are turning that
everyone tells me it's, you know about like concrete for example.

(21:57):
You turn around, you look at the fishing side of things.
There's more people staying at home on days when normally
in May. You know, may's the month. I've always said,
if you can't catch them in May, you can't catch them,
And I will hang my head on that as a
normal course of things. But guess what, it's not normal.

(22:18):
There's been too many days when folks couldn't get out there.
How do you deal with it? Well? Number one you
can and should try to seek some shelter in mays,
whether you have ramps where you can get away from
the wind. In other words, don't go to your same
old ramp and fight the wind. If you know it's
going to bite you on the butt. Be smart enough

(22:41):
to look at the late map or figure out ways
to shield yourself from it, which is what I do
quite frankly. Number two, Realize that wind does stack plankton
and put mentos at risk for foraging by predator species

(23:01):
like bass, you know, like muskies, like whatever you want
to talk about. Predator fish. They know what a windy
bank means. It means their prey species are a disadvantage.
And so while it may be really tough to fish,
and I'm a bad one to fight it, but I
fight it because I know what it can produce. So

(23:26):
you just got to what's saying, you know, adapt and prosper.
So that's what I tend to do and try to do,
and that's what I think most of us need to
think about, because there's no change in it. You know,
I've looked at this week's forecast and thank god, it's
got rain in it, but it's also got a lot

(23:46):
of wind same as it's offspring.

Speaker 4 (23:50):
Long, so that the bite itself has just diminished at
certain points in times, depending on Yeah, it's good to
have a little bit of wind, I think, unless you're
just absolutely wanting that glass finished for some top water stuff,
or you know, sight fishing, which is a really unique
thing to do this time of year, whether it's fish

(24:12):
on bed or this fish blowing up on feeding patterns
getting in a frenzy. But it's almost to the point
I felt that the wind has gotten up to such
speeds it's really taking quite a bit of the shallow
water bite away. And when that wind starts to back

(24:33):
back down, and it's not because of getting later in
the evenings or you know, the sun setting on the horizon,
it seems like the fish will fire up and get
a little.

Speaker 3 (24:42):
Bit more active.

Speaker 4 (24:42):
So it's really made that bass bite.

Speaker 3 (24:48):
Out in the middle of the lakes.

Speaker 4 (24:49):
I guess what people would associate with ledge fishing or
fishing any type of road beds, anything like that. It's
just it's played havoc in one way and it's played
blessings in another, and it's a learning curve for me.
I guess we're never too old to learn and this
has been a spring that's taught me a lot, and

(25:09):
it's it's got me watching the weather more and more.
And I know my neighbor and several other guys that
I talked to about fishing on a regular basis. It
goes to what you're saying, there's more people this year, Jim,
that I know have not started the truck and pulled
the boat to the lake because the wind gets up
so quickly and so rough, or if people are fishing

(25:33):
here noticing that unless they're in a tournament, they're fishing
for a few hours in the morning and a few
hours in the evening. It's almost like they're on August
fishing patterns of when the temperatures go up and down
in the most enjoyable times of the day to fish
based on temperture, but instead it's it's based off wind.

Speaker 2 (25:50):
I think that is a great, great commentary about the
way it is, because that's quite frankly, what I've been
doing to your point, you know, the offshore fishing for
the ledges, et cetera. Man, it'll pound you to death
and it takes a lot of the fun out of
it and can obviously in a way be dangerous. So well,

(26:13):
let's switch gears a little bit and talk about bluegill fishing,
because it has been phenomenal this year a variety of reasons,
the primary one of which it started way early. Blue
gill and read or sun finish or shell prackers as
I like to call them, came to the banks in

(26:35):
April in a surge on that warm spell we had,
and that worm spell coincided with moon face boom. They
went to work and I never have caught as many
spawning blue yell in April as I did this year,
never in all many years of fishing, and I've been

(26:56):
around for a while. The fish leading into May has
been awesome. I mentioned earlier we had a full moon
the first of May, which was killer, and yesterday we
entered the dark moon. That's gonna be another surge. I'm
really not prepared to make a prediction about what will

(27:17):
happen the end of this month, because obviously we're going
to be kissing June. But it's just been really really
good fishing.

Speaker 4 (27:27):
Yeah, and it's not just been a bluegill spawn. It's
been a bluegill swarm.

Speaker 2 (27:32):
Man.

Speaker 4 (27:32):
The amount of activity, especially late in the evening of
fish getting up and you know, patrolling and going through
their process of finding protecting bed areas has been pretty unique.
I had more reports this year if people in and
around golf courses and out on the lake sending me

(27:52):
videos asking me what's going on with these fish? And
it's just a substantial amount of fish. And I think
some of that comes to gym from where we had
such high waters last spring from all the rains. While
people did get out and fish in the higher water levels,
the amount of structure that the fish had to utilize

(28:15):
because of the higher waters, it didn't concentrate fish is
like a normal year. And so I think that our
blogill readier population is a lot like our crappie population
from all of the states that dealt with the flooding
last spring.

Speaker 3 (28:33):
And I think numbers are.

Speaker 2 (28:34):
Up, there's no question. And let's talk about crappie a
bed even though you know that easy bite is over,
but we do have magnificent croppy numbers in almost every
lake in the state because of that high water last year.
You know, we always fuss about the core drawdowns, but

(28:56):
they gotta do what they gotta do. You know, those
lakes were built for navigation and water management or control
for flooding. But when we were fortunate enough to have
all that water last year, it's set the stage for
a spawn like we've not seen in probably fifteen years.

Speaker 3 (29:16):
Honestly, you know a numbers. It was great size of
fish too, yes.

Speaker 2 (29:22):
Sir, yes, sir, because people couldn't get to them, and
so that all played a factor in setting the stage
for a good, really good number of fish and a
quality of fish that's led into this season and we've
been facing the weather challenge. So yeah, you gotta go
with better nature gives you, betty. That's that's just the

(29:44):
way it is going west, and the best week can
do is tell people how to capitalize on it. I'm
gonna go to break here. Coming back from break, we're
gonna talk about some hot action with some other species
and we will fill you in as best we can
on how to capitalize on that. The break is presented
by s M. I Marine. Go see them. They'll take

(30:06):
great care of it. They know how to troubleshoot, they
know how to set you up. They've got all kinds
of boats for sale. And remember you never get soaked
by my friends at s and my Marine's got let's
round out bluegill a little bit because there's a lot
of things we can talk about. Number One, there's definitely
gonna be fish still on the beds. That's a primary

(30:29):
thing to talk about, and a lot of that's been
kind of what's the right word I'm looking for, stalled
out because of these cool temperatures that we've had overnight.
So there's gonna be another surge of fish. Definitely gonna
be on the beds. But the poort thing I want

(30:52):
to impart the folks is the shallow water fishing for
bluegill won't get any better than it is right now.
If you're fly rod guy, if you like to bubber fish,
whatever you like to do, it's game on. There's no
doubt I've probably had as good as bluegill fishing last
two weeks as I mean, it's as good as it

(31:12):
can get.

Speaker 4 (31:13):
Really Yeah, And don't be surprised to find beds and
a little bit deeper water, especially on the later spawning fish.
And don't overlook that woody vegetation and cover that those
fish can capitalize on, because they not all the time
we'll be on that bed, they'll pull off of it,

(31:36):
and that can be for lots of different reasons, whether
that's them getting spooked by the boat getting in there,
the amount of sun, cloud cover, lots of different things,
and bluegill hang out in large schools, and it's easy
to pull some fish off of a certain depth of
water and then only to move three or four foot

(31:56):
out a little bit deeper, and then it's almost like
you're into completely different new group of fish. And I
like personally that little bit deeper water bite. I love
fishing for bluegill on the bottom, and I love a
little bit deeper beds because I feel like those fish,
for whatever reason, are just a little bit more spunky,
and that gives you a little bit more of a

(32:18):
fight that it's hard to beat the pull on the
line when you're putting.

Speaker 3 (32:23):
Fifty to one hundred and fifty fish.

Speaker 4 (32:24):
In a boat per day without even really trying, you know,
and folks that are listening and thinking, man, that's a
whole lot of fish. But you know, a pretty typical
day right now for getting out and catching blue gill.
You shouldn't have any problem putting a hundred fish in
a boat if you're fishing with a partner.

Speaker 3 (32:42):
After three or four hours of fishing.

Speaker 2 (32:44):
Yes, sir, let's switch to catfish, because that's a whole
lot of people's favorite. By that we're talking about channel cats.

Speaker 4 (32:51):
It's coming, yeah, man, you know, the grocery stores are
going to be selling out of that strawberry jellow, you know.
So that's that's a little secret this time of year.
If you don't catfish and you're wondering why there's no
strawberry jello in the grocery store, it's because every guy

(33:12):
like myself is buying a couple of packets of it
here and there to soak some shrimp and chicken in
to get these channel catfish up on the rocks. And
you're gonna start to see, I believe a little bit
more talk on the western end of the state on

(33:33):
the blue cats, because the amount of blues that are
getting into the lakes and the size and the quality
of them are unbelievable. But right now, for the next
two to three weeks, a lot of folks will be
taking their time off to going tent camp or set
up their RV or standing in a hotel or lodge.

(33:56):
It's pretty typical for Barklayn, Kentucky. Lake Barkley, maybe a
little bit more.

Speaker 3 (34:02):
And this is.

Speaker 4 (34:03):
A lot of folks of vacations for the year, and
they'll get down and capitalize on the range of fish.
Everybody likes a little something different as far as when
it comes to catfish in this time of year, but
most folks are looking for that fish that they can
make a mess out of and put up for the

(34:25):
whole year. And when we get on the air and
we talk about fishing, we fish as much for the
enjoyment as.

Speaker 3 (34:33):
We do for the food.

Speaker 4 (34:35):
But we've got to remember there's still a lot of
people that will capitalize on this catfish spawn to put
enough fish up for the year, and it's their vacation,
it's their strategy, and it's it's.

Speaker 3 (34:51):
Not a hard tactic. It doesn't take much.

Speaker 4 (34:54):
You can do it from a kayit to john boat,
nice aluminum boat or fiberglass and if if you can
find rocks, then you can find catfish this time of year.
And a great thing about it is it's gonna run
through about the tenth of fifteenth of June to give
you a pretty productive bike.

Speaker 2 (35:12):
Yes, sir, and I look at to start to peak
as we moved through May, and to your point, we'll
continue up into mid June, so it's a pretty big window.
So that's the story that we're telling them. You can
pretty well bank on it, all right, folks got to
go to break here. It's presented by SMI Marine, Tim

(35:34):
Maddington and the staff are going to do a great
job of helping you with problems. They will get your
boat set up with electronics if you need to do that.
They'll even show you how to use them. Just remember this,
you never get soaked by my friends. And that's to
my marine Scott. We've got something that seems to be

(35:56):
a recurrent situation with the Kentucky High School Bass Fishing Championships,
and that is the Muhlenberg County High School is once
again top of the rock. And this we've had coach
Napier and his kids on in the past several times.

(36:17):
And uh, first off, I want to put congratulations out
there to Levi Simms and Carson Stone, and I also
want to give kudos to the girls state runner ups
at the same school, Muhlenberger County High Alexis Latham and
Bradley Chandler. And oddly enough, coach Cody Napier coaches both

(36:44):
sides of that and We're going to talk a good
bit about that as we go forward. Uh, Coach, it
never gets old, winning, does it?

Speaker 5 (36:58):
Every year's different, man. It's just I try to take
you every year at a time and just soak it up, man,
look forward to the next one.

Speaker 2 (37:07):
Well, I'm going to roll all this out here in
a minute in a big way, because it's very obvious
the amount of dedication and excellence that you help these
children excel in it. It's pretty unimaginable. Really. I've been
around a lot of coaches in my life. For some

(37:29):
reason or another, I've always gravitated towards winning coaches. I've
hunting fished with Coach Crumb for years, Coach Joby Hall
for years. I go on and on, and that's because
I'm fascinated by people that understand how to motivate people.
And it's patently obvious from your career running here that

(37:52):
you are very very good at that. In addition to
have knowledge and expertise about bass fishing, that's it's pretty
mind bogged with. Actually. At any rate, let's talk if
we can to the young gentlemen that are this year's
state champions. That's Levi Sims and Carson Stone and guys.

(38:14):
I usually do this alphabetically, but since you're both ss,
I guess I'll start with Levi. Levi, are you able
to hear me? Okay?

Speaker 6 (38:24):
Yes, sir?

Speaker 2 (38:26):
And uh perchance, are you guys on a phone? Right?
And talk to both of you at the same time? Yes, sir,
all right, great Carson, Uh, kudos both of you. I
know this has been an odyssey and something that really
honestly has become kind of a tradition with Miuhlenberger County

(38:49):
High School. And put some weight on your shoulders. Tell
us about the odyssey and how the year has gone,
and what's inspired you to take the bite and say
say it and compete in bass fishing. M leave, I'll

(39:12):
start with you.

Speaker 6 (39:13):
All right, Well it's just let's stay here.

Speaker 2 (39:23):
What's motivating?

Speaker 5 (39:26):
What got you the fishing?

Speaker 3 (39:28):
Really?

Speaker 6 (39:28):
My brother Levi Smith, me and him started fishing probably
middle school. I was in middle school. He got me
in the tournament fishing down up like Malone, No, And
we won a few tournaments down there every now and again,
and it's just ever since then, you know, it just
kept coming back to it.

Speaker 2 (39:49):
Okay, how did you start fishing? Did you start with
other species? Or were you introduced to bass and that's
what captured your fancy.

Speaker 6 (39:59):
I always fish for baths. It's gonna sound weird, but
I started my grandfather's palling with a cat fishing pole
and a hot dog.

Speaker 2 (40:08):
All right, there ain't nothing wrong with that.

Speaker 6 (40:14):
I catch some pretty good ones.

Speaker 2 (40:15):
And there tell you, yes, sir, Okay and Carson, how
about you? How'd you start fishing? And you know what?
What got you interested in competitive side of things?

Speaker 7 (40:27):
I really got to start fishing with my papaw out
of the pond across the road from his house, catching
bluegill and catfish, and then started bass fishing over there,
and then in high school joined the fishing team first
time I ever fished with trout tournament, had a blast,
and just stuck with it.

Speaker 2 (40:48):
Okay, I've got an easy question for both of you, fellas.
Uh it's fantastic. I think that the society in general
has developed where bass fish has become, you know, one
of the sports through high school. Can both of you
talk about a little bit about what it's meant to

(41:09):
you and the amount of fun you had and and
you know what, what are some of your greatest uh
points of interest about it? Leave I'll start with you. Yeah,
you know what about it turns you on? What? What?

(41:29):
What did you encounter through your competition that sticks with you?

Speaker 7 (41:35):
Oh?

Speaker 6 (41:35):
Man, it's just the early mornings out there, watching the
watching the sun come up, enjoying God's creation out there, man,
And it's not always about the fish. It's out there
and enjoying his creation. And now to getting him blessed
you with some good fish.

Speaker 2 (41:54):
Well that's very well, said Carson.

Speaker 7 (41:58):
I really just liked hanging out of the teams, like
four tournament stuff, hanging out all is one big team
and then just going out in the water and fishing
and having fun.

Speaker 2 (42:09):
Okay, And uh, obviously you fellas have encountered multiple species,
large mouth, small mouth, spotted bass. I know a lot
of your wins have come with small mouth. Uh what
what are your thoughts about those species of fish and
what they provide? Leave out? Leave it off with you again,

(42:34):
all right.

Speaker 6 (42:34):
Well, small mouth is a lot more fun of a
catch for me because it's more of a challenge. Once
they get a little bit bigger into that four five
pound range, they'll jump up. You got to keep them
down and all they'll check that hook out. And with
large mouth it's more of just a steady pool. Sometimes
jump up and uh that's kind of my thing with them, okay, Carson.

Speaker 7 (43:02):
Yeah, I'd rather cause a bunch of small mouths. It
gets it's more fun to catch them when you're looking
for a big fish. I'd rather catch your big larde's mouth.

Speaker 2 (43:11):
Okay, all right? Cool? And what has it been like
for both of you to compete? You know, what is it?
Obviously you're excellent at barren down and making it work.
There's times when the fish don't bite. What can you
share the other youngsters that might encounter that? And what
are you all? You know, what's been the highlight of

(43:32):
your year? And relearn to that? Leave I lead off.

Speaker 6 (43:36):
It's really all in your head. You got to keep
your head down, keep fishing, put your faith in God.
You know that's the gist of it right there.

Speaker 2 (43:47):
Okay Carson.

Speaker 7 (43:49):
Yeah, Like you said, it's really on your head. You
got to stay confident and keep with it.

Speaker 6 (43:52):
You can't give up.

Speaker 2 (43:55):
Yeah, there's days when the fish just slow to bite.
That's just the way it is. You know how pressureselves
and other things can affect that. You fellows have competed
all throughout the year. What was the pressure like or
did you really pay attention to pressure? You know, how

(44:16):
did you handle that competitive side to get where you
were state champions?

Speaker 6 (44:21):
Levi, you can't really let the pressure get into your head, man,
that you got to look at it. There's no pressure,
you know, And I didn't really let it get to
me too bad.

Speaker 2 (44:33):
You know.

Speaker 6 (44:33):
There's of course there's always a little bit of pressure.
You know, went at three in a row, now four.

Speaker 7 (44:41):
Okay, Carson, Yeah, I really didn't feel too much pressure,
but like throughout the whole season to been like regionals
that have a little pressure because you got to make
it a state. But then once state came, I just
stayed calm and I prayed a lot on state for
stay calmon.

Speaker 6 (44:57):
No pressure.

Speaker 2 (44:58):
Cool. Now you were the regional champs as well? Where
was the regional tournament.

Speaker 5 (45:06):
Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake Okay.

Speaker 2 (45:09):
State championship was there as well? Yeah, okay, what do
you guys feel the fishery is like there? Just I
know you're youngsters, but to me, it's phenomenal. They've helped
control the Asian carp and that's made a real difference,
and especially with the small mouth, it seems like what

(45:32):
are your thoughts after having fish there?

Speaker 6 (45:38):
I'll tell you they still need to get rid of
some of the Asian cots down there.

Speaker 2 (45:44):
Yes, sir, yes, sir, okay.

Speaker 6 (45:47):
Cool a big batch down there as well, you know
fifteen inches?

Speaker 2 (45:55):
Yes, okay, great, all right, I'm gonna take a break here.
Coming back from break, we're gonna to coach Napier about
what these boys accomplished. And I'm gonna dive deep into
his career as a coach because it's it's quite a
story actually, and we'll do that right after this break.
The break is presented by s m I Marine. They'll

(46:16):
help troubleshoot your boat. They'll help you put on electronics,
they'll show you how to use them. And they got
lots of new, used and new boats for sale. Go
see them. Remember you never get soaked by my friends
at SMI Marine. Coach Napier, I got to say something
before I start to interview you, because I'm really super

(46:41):
impressed since I've come to know you when we've reported
about your championships the last couple of years. But what's
come to my attention is the following, and folks, if
this doesn't impress you, I don't know what would state
high school state champions in bass fishing twenty fourteen, twenty fifteen,

(47:05):
twenty seventeen, twenty twenty one, twenty twenty three, twenty twenty four,
twenty twenty five, and thanks to these youngsters that we
just talked to twenty twenty six and runner ups in sixteen,
eighteen and nineteen. Coach, this is like, I don't know

(47:32):
how to describe the excellence I see. But most importantly,
I heard these youngsters talk about their faith and I
know fully well where that probably comes from. Brother, hats
off to you.

Speaker 7 (47:49):
Appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (47:50):
Man, Well, this is it's just crazy good. I'd like
you to talk about your passion for I'd like you
to talk about how you instill confidence in these youngsters.
And this goes for the girls as well. Again, I
want to mention the girls were runners up twenty twenty four,

(48:12):
they were regional champs this year, state runners up this year. Yeah,
a guy like you could go out on a circuit
and do whatever he wanted to do. Quite frankly, I
know what this means, and it's very impressive. But I
want you to talk about what inspires you to do it.

(48:33):
You know what turns you on, and then I'm gonna
talk to you a little bit about the resources if
you don't mind, but lead in with why do you
do this?

Speaker 5 (48:40):
If you don't mind, well, I want to start at
the beginning, if that's okay, So good grace. Yeah, so
we we. When I when I was in college, I
had the opportunity to fish for college. You know, didn't
have didn't have the opportunity in high school because they
didn't have it. But when I got to college, that
was the first year, my freshman year that FLW started

(49:03):
college fishing, So I got to experience that and be
a part of that. And when I after I graduated,
I actually felt like, you know, I was praying, you
know or send me you know, where do you want
me to go? What do you want me to do?
And I thought I was going to be either a teacher, engineer,
or a professional bass fisherman. So I tried all three

(49:24):
of them, and I actually went out and was started
trying to fish professionally, going to fishing some bfls and stuff.
From the first BFL I went to, we had to
fall delay and I ended up getting a phone call
from my boss for a job interview. You know, and
so the Lord wanted me at home here in Millenberg
County to coach the high school fishing team and keep

(49:47):
me local and be close to my family. And it's
what God has called me to do. And I just
have a passion for it and love. And that's the
cool thing about this thing is, you know, every three
to four years, I get year, I get a group
of new anglers, you know, coming in, and I've got
a group of anglers graduating, and uh, I get four
years with them, you know, with a lot of them,

(50:09):
and so I try to teach them as much as
I can, uh in that time period and to instill
fishing practicing, you know, and trying to prepare to be
the best that they can be, not just on the water,
but also off the water. And you know, these boys
shared well go about you know, the state regional state

(50:29):
champing ship.

Speaker 2 (50:30):
You know.

Speaker 5 (50:30):
The confidence it's not just confidence and going and catching them,
it's the confidence they put the work in and then
going out there and doing it. And that's what I
try instill in them and trying to prepare them and
the success. It's just it's part of just the work ethic,

(50:51):
you know. And and that's what I love, just you know,
and just keeps me driving. I've got actually a son
coming up, and got some daughters, you know. That's the
Lord's will you know them to fish, then we'll fish,
you know, but hopefully soon which we started a junior
league and hopefully have a feeder program here in Ulenberg County,
so hopefully we'll continue to grow the sport and grow

(51:13):
you know, at a younger age too, So we're excited
about that.

Speaker 2 (51:18):
Well, Cody, what's so different about what you coach is
the intricacies of fish behavior. You know. It's not like
it's two kids, you know, going toe to toe at
the land on the football field or you know, a
picture facing a battery. You're you're you're all are competing

(51:38):
against a fish with other folks, of course, where the
way in determines who wins. But the similarities in there
because you're mentoring these youngsters a to be competitors. But
what's cool about it is what you're teaching them about fishing,
and uh excuse bath fraze here. Lord knows you're you're

(52:03):
a pretty serious fishermen to be able to teach them.
Talk a little bit about how you impart that knowledge
about the biology and stuff to these kids.

Speaker 5 (52:12):
You know, it's just spending time on the water in
the classroom too, you know, we spend time and meetings,
you know, breaking down you know, and teaching about fishing
what you can in the in the classroom, but then
also on the water, uh, spending twice a week from
daylight saving time to the regional championship, we're on the water.

(52:32):
And then every Saturday we're on the water. So we
practiced twice a week on our local lake here at
Lake Malone, and we spend you know, two and a
half three hours, uh, practicing different techniques, you know, and
then also you know, also trying to break down fishing
and patterns and just different things to prepare them, you know,

(52:53):
to catch these fish well.

Speaker 2 (52:56):
And you all have won championships on Lake Cumberland addition
to the western part the state, and that's a whole
different aquatic system obviously, Yes, what it enaghbors you to
help these kids to you know, catch these fish in
different environments with different weather conditions.

Speaker 5 (53:16):
You know, a bass is a bass and that's the
one thing I do try to teach. I know, there
are two different lakes and a lot of these fish
set up. But you know a lot of these fish
will set up similar to different lakes that we fish,
like even Lake Malone. There's things on Lake Malone that's
the similarity to Cumberland that and we fish other lakes also.

(53:36):
We fish Rough River Lake before and I've got to
experience fishing Barren and some other lakes. So I try
to fish similar lakes, you know, preparing just like on
Kentucky and Barker spending time down there, but just trying
to teach them and how these fish set up, and
you know migration we talk about that. You know, different

(53:57):
times of year how these fish migrate, and you know,
majority of these fish and how they set up, and
you know, depending on water temperature. You said, front post, frontal,
Just different things to try to prepare these anglers to
be successful in catching fish. Like you said, it's different
than a lot of other sports.

Speaker 2 (54:15):
You know.

Speaker 5 (54:15):
I know you've got to be physical to go out
there and fish for eight hours, you know, but then
also to be able to get ready to catch them.
You know, it's really really important.

Speaker 2 (54:28):
Yes, sir, coming back from break, I want to dive
a little deeper on some of your seasonal pattern ideas
and where you think the fisheries are in Kentucky because
we're very blessed with a lot of water here compared
to many other states. So if you don't mind, hang on, folks,
got to go to break here. This break is presented
by my buddies at s in my Marine, Tim Addington

(54:50):
and staff for five Star. You will find new friends
when you go over there, and I promise you they
will treat you with the utmost respect and give you
all kinds of advice, good advice about what your boat
needs and what can keep you on the water. Remember,
you never get soaked by my friends and SMI coaching Napier.

(55:13):
You mentioned a couple of things there when we were
talking through the break and some things I hope you
would share with the audience about fish patterns and where
you think the fisheries in our likes here in the
state are right now because you compete in them and
you know your your kids have to learn the key

(55:34):
on those changes.

Speaker 5 (55:37):
Yeah. So again we got the experiences at the state championship,
you know, being made you know, first of May, these
fisher and especially we've had a warm spring, these fish
are and pretty much everything I mean we literally that
caught fish you know, Upshalla, caught fish on uh, caught fish,

(56:02):
garden fry, uh, caught fish and brush piles kind of
in between, you know, post spawn fish, and then also
caught some fish out on the ledges, you know, out
it's cold up. So uh these fish right now that
what we've seen is in the mixture of multiple uh,
but it seems like more and more each day as
we've seen practice in the state championship. Uh, these fish

(56:24):
are moving, you know, to their summer pattern, moving out
deep brush piles and welledges.

Speaker 2 (56:30):
Yes, Sir Scott and I talked in the first hour
about how this has been a weird year weatherwise, with
you know, cool fronts, one fronts, et cetera. You agree
with that and what what that caused you to do
in your strategies.

Speaker 5 (56:45):
Yeah, we uh, you know, we always look to the
regional championship first, you know, and we uh all spring.
I was like, oh man, this is you know, being
a warm spring. I'm hoping these fish will be out
on ledges because that's really my favorite thing to go do. Uh.
And these kids haven't got to experience a lot of
that because Kentucky and Barkley hasn't been you know what

(57:05):
you were talking about earlier. The population of bass hasn't
been that great for the last probably five or six years,
seven years. In the last couple of years, it's actually
starting to come on, you know. And I look forward
to the Regional state every year, especially on Kentucky, you know,
with the ledge fishing, and it was different, Like I

(57:25):
was really hoping that these fishes, fish would be out there.
You know. We had did find a couple of schools,
but there just wasn't many out there, you know, like
I thought that would be. It's just been weird.

Speaker 6 (57:35):
You know.

Speaker 5 (57:35):
We had a warm spring and then it cooled off
right there at the Regional state championship, So I don't know,
it kind of put these fish in multiple you know patterns.

Speaker 2 (57:46):
Yeah. Sure, Now I know you're pointing these youngsters towards
the nationals. Tell us a little bit about that and
maybe obviously best of luck to you fellas. What what
what do you say? He there and what do you
you know? What are your thoughts?

Speaker 5 (58:04):
Yeah, So, I mean it looks like, you know, Nationals
be coming up sometime late in June. We was talking
about it a little bit ago. Uh, you know, summertime,
these fish are going to move out deep, you know,
and so you're going to be looking for deep deep
fish or suspending fish under bait balls and things like that.
So yeah, I mean Lake Cumbling is a different type

(58:26):
of laker fishery, but a bass is a bass. Uh,
And so that's something that when you get down there
to Lake Cumberland, which will be the Nationals this year,
the first time ever. Really it's pretty cool for the
state of Kentucky. So we're excited for his boys.

Speaker 2 (58:41):
And you know, it really is and I know you
you love to fish for suspended fish. From what I
get they're talking to Scott, Uh that lake lends to that.
How do you feel about your chances?

Speaker 5 (58:56):
Honestly, yeah, I think so. I mean again, and we
don't we don't have a lot of experience uncovering, but again, uh,
the opportunity to get down there and learn these boys, Uh,
they've they've got some experience with that. So uh, you know,
we just got you's gotta go down and get on them,
find the fish and they put them in the boat.

Speaker 2 (59:17):
Well, every team that's down there is gonna face the
same challenge and obviously you help them rise to the occasion. Listen,
hat talk to you, Pardner. It's just unbelievable to me
the record you put together. And I'm most inspired, I
think by the fact that you teach the resource and
the Lord that created it, and that helps these kids

(59:40):
to stay focused when they're when they're in competition. It's
first thing I have hurt out there my mouth tonight
was you know, you just do what you do and
have faith in the Lord. Well, buddy, that's life in general,
isn't it.

Speaker 5 (59:55):
That's right, That's right, and you know, and that's where
my foundation's at, you know, is own God. And and uh,
I wouldn't be where I am today without them. And
I do want to give them all glory and honor.
And you know, we can't do it without them. I
know I can't. And with this community, you know, I know, Uh,
this team has been a blessing uh to me. But

(01:00:17):
then also with this community to come together. It's every
year and I think what's cool with people's asked me,
you know, how how is this success? You know, how
can we continue this? And it's the community. It's the program.
You know, a lot of boys has come back, uh,
and girls has come back and and and helped out
in the program to teach and you know, because I
can't be on every boat at every time, you know,

(01:00:38):
that's the whole thing I want to be. But uh,
we've got some anglers that's came back and and uh
you know, gave back to the program and try to
teach and train these kids. And uh, that's that's what
helps continue this, you know. It's just nothing about me.
It's a community effort.

Speaker 7 (01:00:55):
Definitely.

Speaker 2 (01:00:57):
Well, I appreciate your humility and it's well deserved because
you produce and when you produce, you don't have to brag.
So brother, hats off to you. I am super impressive
in the whole state to be rooting for you all
in the nationals. I really I'm gonna make a prediction
you will definitely be right there in the heat. So

(01:01:20):
good luck to you all. And appreciate you being on
with this coach and bringing the scared to them the sport.
It's just it's really heartwarming.

Speaker 5 (01:01:29):
Well, thank you. We appreciate you having us own.

Speaker 2 (01:01:32):
Yes sir, all right, folks, gotta go to break here.
My friends at SMI invite you over to get your
boat ready, to get your boat fixed. Or to get
your boat equipped with new electronics. They can help you
with all the above. Remember you never gets soaked by
my friends at SMI God, there's a whole lot of

(01:01:53):
things popping on the wildlife side of things out there.
We've talked a lot of fishing tonight because that's because
it's fishing season. Guess what, it's also a squirrel season.
I'm gonna let you lead in with that because you
love this early squirrel season in a big way.

Speaker 4 (01:02:11):
I do, and I'm gonna tell on myself a little bit.
I don't have a field report because I've got some
trips ahead of me that will be bringing folks. But
that's not to say that the squirrel activity has not
been seen from where I'm standing, whether it's around neighborhoods
or out in the woods driving back and forth to work,

(01:02:31):
just doing work outside, squirrels are extremely active. I think
it goes back to this spring that.

Speaker 3 (01:02:38):
We've hit on tonight.

Speaker 4 (01:02:39):
In the past few weeks, there's a lot to forage on,
a lot of soft mass that sometimes is overlooked in
squirrels or foragers in general. But they've just been really active,
and it seems that squirrel numbers are on the up
and up at least with our young squirrels, and the

(01:03:03):
temperatures have really just made the activity I think really
predominant early in the morning and late in the evening
because on average.

Speaker 3 (01:03:13):
I not the weather.

Speaker 4 (01:03:15):
Man, but I would say we're averaging eight to ten
degrees above normal weather with those daytime temperatures.

Speaker 3 (01:03:22):
In the middle of the day, sale squirrel activities.

Speaker 4 (01:03:24):
Been down, but yeah, they've been out and about and
they're forging along water's eds. They're forging a long pastures
and that's my favorite place to hunt early squirrel season
is urban areas inside of wood lots where there's some
areas that are mowed down or cattle pastures, and fox
squirrel numbers seem to be up, and that's coming from

(01:03:47):
spring turkey season.

Speaker 3 (01:03:49):
Walking and being out and about.

Speaker 4 (01:03:52):
And I want to encourage folks that one of the
greatest resources that we have for small game hunting seasons
is our public lands. It's a great way to get
out and enjoy being able to take a pretty extensive walk,
and most of those areas as well allow for a

(01:04:13):
place to do some shallow water boat launch or just
do some bank fishing.

Speaker 3 (01:04:18):
When you get done.

Speaker 4 (01:04:20):
And of course if folks aren't ready to tackle the
squirrel hunting gym, they can get out the frog gigs
or grab the twenty two and go after the bullfrogs,
because that.

Speaker 3 (01:04:29):
Opened up this past weekend as well.

Speaker 2 (01:04:33):
Yes, sir, I want to interject something here because I
think it's really exciting for those folks that do enjoy
thoroughly squirrel season, which, incidentally, Scott, I know you're at
the forefront of this is taking kids out to squirrel hunt,
to teach them to hunt, to teach them woodland skills,

(01:04:54):
to teach them you know, how to move, when to
hold still, when to do all the things that makes
you a good hunter. And that is the old timers
used to refer to the spring season, even back, you know,
before there were seasons as mulberry season. I have never
seen mulberries as ready or as profuse as they are

(01:05:18):
right now, So it is gonna be a killer time
and if folks can kill on them. And they're also,
as you were very aware, even though you've not been hunting,
you've seen this. The I call them helicopter seedlings. With
the maples and some of the river species of trees,

(01:05:40):
they're cutting those like crazy. So the best dudes I
give is they're on the ground a lot. You know.
Everywhere I'm going, I'm seeing these young squirrels forging around
on the ground for mulberries that were write and drop
for the seedlings, etc. That we talked about. It's really

(01:06:01):
gonna be a good, good season for folks.

Speaker 3 (01:06:05):
They're right for the picking is what they are, sir.

Speaker 2 (01:06:08):
Now, we got to give a caution. We have to
give it, and we're going to keep hammering on it.
Ticks are horrible.

Speaker 3 (01:06:20):
Yeah, it's uh.

Speaker 4 (01:06:22):
Promethine is your best friend on your clothing and Piccardian
is your best friend on your skin. And it's not
just the ticks right now, there's a from no sims
to mosquitoes that we're not going to be short this
year on being pestered by the pest.

Speaker 3 (01:06:43):
And those insects provide a lot of.

Speaker 4 (01:06:46):
Food for our wildlife, but they also provide a lot
of scratching, a lot of weapon for us. And it's
just going to be a good year to have your
your sunscreen handy with the way that the temperatures have
been in the like of rain, and to have your
bug dope ready to go and have your clothing treated
and clothing on to deal with that.

Speaker 3 (01:07:05):
But it goes back to our topic on fish too.

Speaker 4 (01:07:10):
That early morning and in late evening is going to
be the time to capitalize on this because of the
amount of wind and a lot of folks like myself,
you really depend on those first few leaves shaken or
that first limb taking that big swaying bounce at the
crack of daylight or there towards the evening hours at

(01:07:31):
sunsets of that squirrel activity and movement, and it's a
great time to get out too with a shotgun.

Speaker 3 (01:07:37):
It's one of the few times that.

Speaker 4 (01:07:41):
I'll put a shotgun up over our rim fire unless
I'm hunting around some cattle pastures or some open woodlock
areas in urban areas. But you know, we got a
lot of vegetation going on right now. And with the
subgage shotgun category where it's gotten more popular, especially with
turkey hunters in the last few years, there's a lot

(01:08:03):
of action for the four to ten in twenty eight gage,
sixteen gauge and twenty gauge, yes, sir, And.

Speaker 2 (01:08:11):
Then that four ten is playing it not to kill
early squirrels. So if you got a youth and you
want to introduce them to honey, and you want to
teach them to identify trees. This is a great time
of years to take advantage of that. Let's switch gears
here Mineral. We've talked about mineral repeatedly, but there's no

(01:08:32):
reason not to talk about it again because the fawn
drop is upon us in a big, big way, and
it started a little earlier. We had a lot of
early breeding in late October last year because of the
way again the moon phases lined up. Let's talk about
that because it's so essential to well, it's a double phase. Actually,

(01:08:58):
it's essential to the who are drawn down by having
to produce milk for their fawns. And it's essential for
the bucks to accelerate antler growth to make all that
it can be in this year. And folks tend, unfortunately,

(01:09:18):
to ride along with what they put out last fall
and they ain't gonna cut it. You got to go
back and now's the time to make double sure that
everything's in good shape to give them all they can get.

Speaker 4 (01:09:31):
Yep, Mineral does three key things really for your females.

Speaker 3 (01:09:35):
It definitely aids in lactation.

Speaker 4 (01:09:38):
And the point of having a year round mineral at
free choice, those females can go and obtain that mineral
w W. They're carrying the term of that pregnancy until
they reach partraition, and so during their whole gestation they've
got what they need go in their body bucks the

(01:09:58):
antler development. But this deer in general, mineral sites serve
for just all around body health, body conditioning, and not
that you get a ton of activity from game species
in general, but all of us have seen where a
rabbit or whatever has gone in and utilized a mineral site.

(01:10:21):
So their primary focus is for deer, and you need
to make sure that you're established in those areas where
there is a little bit of moisture in the ground.
If you're using a loose mineral, that's very important to
have some type of higher clay content or in and
around a creek or near a pond swampy area where

(01:10:44):
it can hold some moisture. That tends to help with
the deer being able to get that and extract it
from the soil. That's how they naturally like to uptake it.
But this has been the year I think this will
be the second time we've mentioned it, but this is
the year where I'm going to advocate more, not with
sponsorship or trying to sell anything through marketing, but I'm

(01:11:06):
going to advocate for the trophy rock and trophy rock specifically,
not any of the off brands that try to mimic
what trophy rock is. It comes out of the West
and it's naturally mined and it's crushed up and it's
made into a.

Speaker 3 (01:11:22):
Smaller granular for livestock.

Speaker 4 (01:11:25):
But when you can buy it is a trophy rock,
you do pay a little bit more for it versus
the livestock mineral. But in years in which the droughts exist,
and this is one of those years, when you can
get those rocks up off the ground, the deer can
go and lick them and their intake is that much better.
So this isn't a commercial. It's about doing what's best

(01:11:47):
for wildlife. And right now, ten to one, I'm gonna
buy a trophy rock over loose mineral this year.

Speaker 2 (01:11:52):
Jim Well amen on that I got on that train
twenty years ago when it first came out, and I'll
tell everybody why if you research it. It's got everything
in it that God provides for animals to get what
they need. It really does. Now you can you can
add to that by you know, adding some other stuff,

(01:12:14):
but it's pretty much got it all in there, and
it's basically sea salt that they mind out of these
minds out in Utah and other places where you know,
that's what God provided. Hey, we got to talk about
something real quick before we end out here. Mo if
you have to. If you're a farmer and you got

(01:12:34):
to get hay off, we understand. But perky nests are there,
poults are there, and my goodness, there's lots of fauns
in those fields. Please be careful about that. Closing thoughts
got real quick, man.

Speaker 4 (01:12:49):
It just hit on a bull's eye. It's going to
be a fatal year for a fawn crop, I'm afraid.
But we've got to make hay when you can make
cay if you know what I mean.

Speaker 2 (01:12:57):
Yes, sir, I surely do. But trying to do what
you can. If you see a thawing bowl around every
or even move it, they tell you not to move it,
move it because I'll tell you one thing. If you
run over it with a hey machine, it's a dead thawn.
You can't change that, all right, Folks really enjoyed me
with you tonight. Please be careful rut there. God bless everybody.