The Monday Review // February 15, 2021
The Monday Review // February 15, 2021
Snowpocalypse '21 edition, ice fishing in full swing, wetlands bill draws fire, new DNR fishing guide, a big hoosier buck story, and more
Welcome to the first big snow of the ‘20-’21 winter season. Barring actual danger to life and limb, I love inclimate weather. A heavy snow is nothing if not a reminder that Mother Nature is still in charge. So we might as well take it easy, hunker down, build a fire and enjoy it. And not that you need an excuse for four-wheel-drive and aggressive tires, but here it is. Stay safe and stay warm.
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- Ben Shadley // Editor & Publisher
Ice fishing dominates outdoor news
The local outdoor press is devoting ink to ice fishing, and rightfully so as the conditions over most of our region have been spot-on, if not blizzard-like. If forecasts are correct, temperatures will remain low for the next few days, continuing to motivate hardy, or stir-crazy, sportsmen and women to take to the ice.
Read FOTR (friend of the The Report) Jack Spaulding’s latest column, “Ice fishing finally arrives.” In a slightly different take, Ken Mitchell educates on the technique of “ice fishing without ice.” Hint: it includes making simultaneous use of docks as fishing platforms and productive fish cover. Read Mitchell’s latest column here.
Wetlands bill continues to draw criticism, generate news, and one more low head dam gone
Senate Bill 389, aiming to drastically reduce protections for Indiana wetlands, continues to hold the attention of Hoosiers and advocacy groups with even a mild interest in the environment. Thanks to the sharp reporting of London Gibson and Sarah Bowman, the Indy Star is keeping pace with the story:
In other news likely to be better-received by proponents of the environment, the IN Carbon Market Bill Passes Its First Hurdle in State Senate, as reported by the Indiana Environmental Reporter.
Locally, the city of Crawfordsville, IN, received a matching grant from the IN Dept. of Natural Resources enabling it to remove a low head dam on Sugar Creek in the west central part of the state.
Low head dams are drowning risks for paddlers and other waterway users, and typically disrupt a river’s natural ecology. Removing this one is good news for the popular (smallmouth!) fishing and boating destination.
Indiana DNR releases ‘21-’22 fishing guide, seasons, and more
The IN Dept. of Natural Resources released the 2021-22 fishing guide and regulations, as well as hunting and trapping seasons for the same period.
This information and more is included in their February Wild Bulletin email, which is an informative read for all things DNR and DNR-related. Highlights include:
Read the full Wild Bulletin, and sign up, here.
The mid-week read
The mid-week read is, yes, a big buck story from Field & Stream. But this one’s a Field & Stream big buck story that takes place in Indiana. And while I’m gently teasing about the cliche, this is a great story that, for most of us, is close to home. Give it a look: Indiana Hunter Tags 225-Inch Manure-Spreader Monster Buck.