Crappiethon USA is well underway on Indiana’s Monroe Lake near Bloomington, Ind., where Seth Coffman of Greenwood recently caught “Umbrella Ernie,” one of the Southern Pro Tackle’s tagged fish, which was worth $250. Coffman also received a $500 bonus after catching the fish on a Southern Pro Umbrella Jig.

He purchased his ticket at the Fishin’ Shedd on State Road 446, just north of Cutright Ramp. Coffman caught the tagged fish on a black/blue Southern Pro Tackle’s Umbrella Jig, which he also purchased there.

On May 5, Coffman was awarded the check for $750 by Barb Shedd at the Fishin’ Shedd.

The Crappiethon tagged fish program runs through June 5, with several thousands of dollars in prizes still to be awarded simply by buying a ticket and hitting the lake in pursuit of tagged fish.

Crappiethon tickets can be purchased at the Fishin’ Shedd and many other local sponsors. Tickets are $7 for individuals or $15 for the family ticket.

Local sponsors for Monroe Lake Crappiethon USA Event include: Spencer Bait & Tackle, Buddy Bill’s Bait Barn, Pleasure Craft Marina, Cedar Ridge Camping Resort, Big Marks Tackle, Bloomington Speedway, WHCC 105 Hoosier Country Radio, A Summerhouse Inn, Fourwinds Resort & Marina, Outback Steakhouse, Chapman’s Restaurant and Curtis Fisheries, Inc. The first five sponsors are also official Check-In stations.

In all, more than 1000 tagged fish were released, valued from $20 to $10,000, into Indiana’s Monroe Lake, offering more than $60,000 in cash, prizes and bonuses. For additional information on Crappiethon USA, call 270-395-4204. Brochures listing contest rules may also be picked up at participating local sponsors of the events.


Pack your own hot dogs, but not your own firewood

Visitors to the Hoosier National Forest need to be on the lookout for the emerald ash borer, an exotic pest from Asia that has destroyed millions of ash trees.

The emerald ash borer is a non-native insect first appearing in the United States near Detroit, Mich. It kills every ash tree it infests and to date, has killed an estimated eight to 12 million trees in Michigan alone.

Campers should be aware that the primary way the ash borers are moved to new locations is by larvae-infested firewood. Ken Day, Hoosier National Forest supervisor, is concerned with the movement of firewood.

“The 2007 camping season has begun, and the thousands of visitors who come to the Forest to camp often bring their own firewood,” he said. “They have an important role in preventing the emerald ash borer from infesting the Hoosier National Forest and other public and private forest land.

The message from the Forest Service is clear – leave your firewood at home. Day encourages visitors to obtain their firewood locally, either from private vendors in the area or by collecting dead and downed limbs around their campsites.

Most outbreaks of emerald ash borer have been linked to the introduction of firewood from an infected source.

Campers are allowed to cut fallen, dead trees for personal use while in the Forest, but not standing dead trees because of their wildlife value. “There is often plenty of woody material in any area for campers to build campfires,” said Day.

Campers and individuals can contact Hoosier National Forest offices in Bedford at 812-277-5987 or Tell City at 812-547-7051 for additional information. Detailed descriptions and photographs of the emerald ash borer can be found at www.emeraldashborer.info
Division of Forestry seeks input on forest usage

Hoosiers’ input will be sought in three public meetings this month on whether DNR should provide more recreational opportunities at state forests, and if so, the methods by which the state should pay for them.

The Division of Forestry manages approximately 150,000 acres of forest in 12 State Forests and State Recreation Areas across Indiana.

“The Division of Forestry has a 100-year track record of sustainability, managing this large working forest,” said Jack Seifert, division director. “We routinely seek public input, but since this is a five-year commitment, we want to go directly to the citizens of the state to seek guidance as we shape the next plan.”

The properties are managed for multiple uses and benefits, including hunting, fishing, camping, horseback riding, hiking, mushroom hunting and picnicking. Other benefits from state forest management include timber production, conservation of air, soil and water resources and forest aesthetics.

Management is paid for through property taxes, user fees and timber sale revenue. Management of the lands is guided by a strategic plan. The plan expires this year, so Forestry is preparing a new one to guide forest management through 2012.

Seifert will attend each meeting to report on accomplishments resulting from the current plan. He and other division staff members will outline the general direction of the coming plan, field questions and listen to public comments.

The dates and locations for the three meetings are as follows: May 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Salamonie Reservoir Interpretive Center – from SR 105, turn west onto Lost Bridge west and look for the signs to the center; May 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Indiana Government Center, Conference Room 22, 402 W. Washington St., Indianapolis; and May 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Patoka Reservoir Interpretive Center. The entrance to the center is located west of Wickliffe, four miles off SR 164.

Beekeepers at Potato Creek

A pair of area beekeepers will share what the buzz is about while speaking at The Friends of Potato Creek State Park’s next meeting on May 15 at 7 p.m. at the park’s Nature Center.

The guest speakers are Kay and Dave Laney, members of the Indiana State Beekeepers Association, of which Dave is a past president. The pair will share information about honeybees and beekeeping.

The meeting and talk are free and open to the public. For more information about the Friends of Potato Creek, visit the website at www.friendsofpotato creek.org

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments can contact Jack Spaulding by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.