August 10, 2021

My work got a request to help the Boys & Girls Club that operates in our local school district by providing games, and sport equipment, and balls.  The Mountainburg Boys & Girls Club was started in 2019 and is the first after school program for youth in the city.  The club is located inside the Mountainburg Elementary School but is open to children K-12.  The Mountainburg schools’ partner with the Boys & Girls Club of Diamond Hills to offer the After School Program for students.  The program is provided free for students attending Mountainburg Schools, and is open 3 pm – 6 pm, Monday – Friday while school is in session.  The Club is closed when Mountainburg Schools are closed.   Supper and snacks are provided, and transportation is available for youth from Middle School and High School.  This provides two essentials: safety, and nutrition.

When I checked online, I found the Boys & Girls Clubs of America had its beginnings in Hartford, Connecticut, during 1860.  Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin, and Elizabeth Hammersley believed the boys who roamed the streets should have a positive alternative, and they organized the first Club.  While the cornerstone of the experience was designed as character development, the Club focused on capturing boy’s interests, improving their behavior, and increasing their personal expectations and goals.  The mission of the national club is “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.”  Over the years, the clubs were opened to include girls as well as boys.  To recognize this inclusion, the organization’s name was changed to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1990, and Congress amended and renewed the charter.

The local club has changed just as did the national.  In September 2018 the Alma Club was contacted by Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Office regarding merging the Boys & Girls Club of the Alma Area and the Boys & Girls Club of Paris.  After discussing with the Board of Directors at both Clubs it was agreed that the Clubs would merge.  Shortly after deciding to merge the two clubs the Mountainburg School District reached out about opening an after-school program in the city, and the Mountainburg Boys & Girls Club became a Unit of the Alma Club in August 2019.  In October 2019 the Boys & Girls Club of the Alma Area and the Boys & Girls Club of Paris finalized merging and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Diamond Hills was born.  The Mountainburg Unit is the only club of the three which is school based, with the other two units housed in off-site locations. 

Thoughts:  Safety of young people is a stated priority at every Boys & Girls Clubs location.  Youth who are mentally and physically safe are better able to learn, grow, and thrive.  This is supported by background checks for workers and volunteers and mandatory reporting at all the clubs.  This need was once more proven during turmoil of 2020.  The national and local Clubs worked together to provide a national support strategy to serve local communities during this global pandemic, recognizing now more than ever providing meals, programming, and support to those who need it most is mission critical.  While the clubs can provide support, children also need a stable home environment.  When this is not available the children will suffer.  Do the work.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

August 9, 2021

When I go to the state park near where I work, I like to drive through the camping areas before I settle down to fish.  I am always amazed by the number of RV campers that frequent the park, and it is usually near capacity.  These are mostly in-state campers, but I do see some out-of-state tags.  The real reason I cruise the camping areas is that I have found this a good way to get occasional bird photos (I keep hoping for the Road Runner from last year) as well as interesting animals.  This day was no different as I came on a fawn just off the tree line that had been cut back for people access.  Earlier this year I had seen a small herd of does and fawns, but this one was alone.  I had no doubt the others were not far away hidden in the brush.  The fawn stared at me as I stopped and took a picture, then darted away when my vehicle started to move.  I was glad the herd was still wary despite the proximity of people.  The deer hunting season is just over one month away.

Yellowstone National Park is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states.  This includes a wide diversity of small animals, but the park is known for its predator–prey complex of large mammals.  This includes eight ungulate species (bighorn sheep, bison, elk, moose, mountain goats, mule deer, pronghorn, and white-tailed deer) and seven large predators (black bears, Canada lynx, coyotes, grizzly bears, mountain lions, wolverines, and wolves).  The Park’s goal is to “maintain the ecological processes that sustain these mammals and their habitats while monitoring the changes taking place in their populations.”  There is no hunting allowed in the park, but seasonal or migratory movements take many species across the park boundary.  That means they are open to hunting or may be killed for depredation of livestock.

As I drove the road into the state park there were signs posted advising “No Hunting” in the park.  This is to protect the wildlife in the park, but to also protect the people.  When I checked online, I found that a .308 Winchester bullet can travel up to 4600 yards (over 2.6 miles) when fired horizontal.  If the barrel is held at a 45-degree angle it climbs to 3.5 to 4.5 miles.  While those figures are optimal and do not take trees and ridgelines into account, that is still a long way.  If I were a deer, I think I would decide to live in one of our parks so I would not have to worry about hunting.  Although, that would not protect me from the black bears.  Maybe it is good to be human.

Thoughts:  A friend of mine told of going deer hunting in Utah.  While he did not hunt, he did like the camaraderie around the fire and hiking through the woods.  He hiked his way up a ridge and when he got to the top, he noticed a man watching the slope.  Being polite, my friend asked if he had seen any deer.  The response was, “No, but I have taken a few sound shots.”  He told me that was the last time he went along hunting.  The large mammals that make up the predator-prey complex are unaware of boundaries that provide either safety or risk.  Humans not only make those boundaries, but we choose to ignore them.  Few would venture into a state park when hunting because they understand the risk to others.  Over one third of eligible Americans know the risk to others and still refuse to get vaccinated.  That is why the US is now averaging more than 100,000 new cases a day.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

August 7, 2021

I got a feed yesterday from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that cited an article by Greg Breining in Living Bird magazine (was that convoluted or what?) concerning a switch from pesticides to birds to control insects and voles in America’s orchards and vineyards.  The lead was a cherry orchard in Michigan’s Lee­lanau County.  The area is ideal and grows nearly half of the US production of tart-cherries, along with sweet cherries.  The problem has always been pests.  As the fruit ripens a variety of insects, deer mice and voles, and flocks of fruit-eating birds cover the orchards to feast on the fruit.  Michigan is not alone in facing these pests.  A 2013 study showed that fruit crop damage from birds ranged from $104 per hectare in Oregon tart cherries to $7,267 per hectare in Washington Honeycrisp apples.  Yield losses to rodents and birds in several high-value crops in California were estimated at 5% or greater.  I just thought the birds were bad for my strawberries.

The name Kestrel is given to several members of the falcon genus, Falco.  Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behavior which is to hover at a height of around 35-65 feet (10–20 meters) over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards, or large insects.  The American kestrel is the only New World species termed “kestrel”.  Molecular data and morphological peculiarities support this is not a kestrel at all, and is genetically related to the larger American falcons such as the Aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis), the Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), and Prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus).  Regardless, they are effective in taking care of pests.

The Michigan State University Extension Service began recommended putting up nesting boxes to attract American Kestrels to control fruit-eating pests during the 1990’s.  The kestrel’s resulted in immediate results and the pests declined.  The success in Michigan has been duplicated as farmers, vineyard, and orchard owners enlisted wild birds across America, including raptors and songbirds.  The landowner will erect nest boxes, install raptor perches, or plant inviting native cover to attract the birds.  The birds are a natural way to control the pests and are less expensive than other traditional methods.  Birds are also environmentally benign, while poisons are not.  Pest control birds stay on the job, while pesticides need to be reapplied, and the effect of bird-scaring balloons, hawk silhouettes, and propane cannons quickly wears off.  Birds got to eat.

Thoughts:  When I worked as director at a conference center, we had problems with the swallows, wrens, and pigeons that populated our rural location.  They would roost in the eaves and rafters of the buildings and create an awful mess.  A bigger problem was the swallows pecking through the metal siding to build a nest.  One way to deter the pests was to put an owl statue on the roof.  Initially this worked, but the birds soon realized the owl did not move and they came back.  Interestingly, they never got closer than 20 feet to the fake owl.  Had I known, I could have put up Kestrel nesting boxes.  It is only during the last decades that humans have again learned to use natural predators to control the pests attracted to our artificial environments.  These predators are cheaper, environmentally safer, and far more effective that the pesticides we have grown to rely on.  Even better, they are not passed on to our bodies when we eat.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

August 6, 2021

Yesterday I was able to participate in an appreciation breakfast for the teachers in our local school district.  This is an annual event put on by the women in our community.  While the women arrived early to make sure the meal was ready, I snuck in around 7:10.  I was not worried because I had no cooking duties, and the meal was not scheduled to begin until 7:30.  When I arrived, I was surprised to see the parking lot was full.  When I came into the kitchen the women were efficiently cooking scrambled eggs and ham, the tater tots were coming out of the oven, and the muffins were warming in a roaster oven.  There were already around 50 teachers talking and drinking coffee, waiting for the appreciation event to begin.  Maybe I might be of help after all.

When I looked online, I found the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new covid-19 guidance for schools on Monday that supports in-person learning and recommends universal masking, regardless of vaccination status.  This is a stricter position than was taken earlier this month by the CDC.   “The AAP believes that the benefits of in-person school outweigh the risks in all circumstances.”  One of the interventions put forward by the AAP is that all students over the age of 2 and all school staff wear masks at school unless they have a developmental or medical condition that prohibits wearing.  Reasons for the recommendation include a significant proportion of the student population is not yet eligible for vaccination, masking protects those who are not vaccinated and reduces transmission, and a difficulty in monitoring or enforcing mask policies for those who are not vaccinated.  I am not sure the teachers and staff receive enough appreciation (let alone pay) for the risk they gladly take on.

Dr. Sara Bode, chair-elect of the AAP Council on School Health Executive Committee, said Monday there are many children and others who cannot be vaccinated.  Therefore, it’s important to use every tool to safeguard children from covid-19.  Universal masking is one of those tools.  Masking is also the most effective strategy to create a consistent message and expectation among students.  It is an approach that does not create the added burden of trying to monitor the vaccination status of others.  The AAP’s recommendation on universal masking is different from guidance by CDC, which also prioritized in-person learning but advised that fully vaccinated students, teachers, and staff don’t need to wear masks at school.  It seems the AAP has a greater appreciation for the virus than the CDC.

Thoughts:  I have wondered about how every law maker who complains about mask mandates and social distancing is countered by a child who understands the gravity of the pandemic and their role in it.   Children seem to have a greater appreciation for the risks they are facing.  Perhaps it is because they cannot be vaccinated and are now beginning to face the brunt of the pandemic.  If the adults who are eligible to receive the vaccine would have a greater appreciation for the children who are at risk, we could ensure the safety of all.  Since we are not able to trust adults to “do the right thing,” the onus falls on the children.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

August 5, 2021

As I stopped among the rocks at the edge of the reservoir last week a small lizard came out to take advantage of the sun that was poking through the clouds.  The mostly black lizard was about four inches long and had distinctive white spots on its side and tail along with a white neck collar and a splash of blue under its front legs.  It was such a striking animal that I assumed it would be easy to recognize with one of my identification apps.  When my phone app failed to identify the species (no, it was not an iguana), I searched through the online guides and images for several hours to no avail.  None of the online descriptions or images matched the distinctive patterns of this lizard. 

There are thirteen species and subspecies of lizards found in Arkansas with their common names including legless, collared, horned, and fence lizards; skinks; and racerunners.  The Western Slender Glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) is a legless lizard and is often mistaken for a snake.  The Eastern Collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) is the most colorful of the Arkansas lizards ranging from blue to green to yellow and has a distinctive black band around its neck.  This common species is found in exposed rock outcroppings throughout most of the Interior Highlands of Arkansas.  The Skinks are among the most common lizards, and the Southern Prairie Skink (Eumeces septentrionalis) and the Southern Coal Skink (Eumeces anthracinus) look strikingly similar.  All six different species of skinks have shiny, smooth scales, and posse tails that easily break when handled.

The lizard I had photographed matched several descriptions, although none had the mottle white neck found on my lizard.  What I finally settled on was the Eastern Fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) in the Phrynosomatidae family.  The species is said to be found along forest edges, rock piles (where it was), and rotting logs or stumps.   Fence lizard bodies are gray to brown in color, but males and females can be distinguished by certain color variations (i.e., black with white spots?).  The males have patches of bright blue scales on their bellies and throats.  There is where I need to trust my instincts and go with the best guess scenario.  Maybe someone will see my blog and confirm or deny my finding.

Thoughts:  There are times when I photograph an animal or plant and I know exactly what it is.  There are other times when I must do some research (or ask an expert) to make an identification.  Then there are times like today where the species is so distinctive, it should be easy to identify, yet I am unable to do so with certainty.  The same may be said about life.  There are times when we know exactly how we should behave (even if we do not).  There are times when we are uncertain and turn to experts or resources to know what to do.  Then there are times when we are unsure and follow the best guess we can.  The CDC reaction to the pandemic has included all three responses.  Just because the guidelines have changed does not mean they have not been based on the best information available.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

August 4, 2021

After I got off work yesterday, I decided I would give the magnet another try.  I have fished Lake Fort Smith (a reservoir) five or six times but have not had much luck, although I have always fished from the bank.  I have several friends who fish the lake from boats and tell me there are good fish present, if you can find them.  I started by dropping a bobber along a rock ledge next to a tree and got an immediate fish, then tangled in the rocks and lost my bobber.  I switched to my magnet and was not having much action.   Just as I told myself the trout magnet may not be the magic I thought, I was slammed by two quick fish.  As I pulled the second fish from the water, I realized it was different than anything I had ever seen.  I later found out this was a Warmouth Bass.

The Warmouth Bass (Lepomis gulosus) is a freshwater fish of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) that is found throughout the southeastern United States.  The adult warmouth is dark back, with a mottled brown coloration.  The belly is generally golden, and the male has a bright-orange spot at the base of the dorsal fin.  Three to five reddish-brown streaks radiate from the eyes, and the gill flaps are often red.  It has three spines in the anal fin, 10 spines in the dorsal fin, and small teeth are present on the tongue.  These fish range in size from 4 to 10 inches (10.2 to 25 cm) but can grow to over 12 inches (31 cm) and weigh up to 2.25 pounds (1 kg).  The Warmouth is occasionally confused with the Rock Bass or Green Sunfish, both of which share its relatively large mouth and heavy body.  When I checked the app on my phone, both the Rock bass and Warmouth bass were suggestions (with several others).  The online site noted one difference is that the Warmouth tends to be a bit larger in size than either of the other two species.  I found it hard to determine “bigger” on a single five-inch fish.

The reason I found out it was a Warmouth Bass was because I asked.  Not just once, but several times (I know, not a typical male response).  I took the picture to the marina and the worker suggested I take it to the information office.  The three workers at the headquarters did not know.  I knew I would drive past a big fly-fishing store in Fort Smith, so I decided to stop and see if they knew what it was.  I was directed to two different employees who said, “Never seen one before,” although they thought it might be a Rock bass.   As I was leaving one of the workers said, “Oh, ask her, she is a fisheries biologist.”  This woman confirmed the Warmouth, Rock, and several others have similar colors and striations but have different spots.  One of the best ways to identify the Warmouth is by the red tint in their eyes.  When she enlarged the photo, she confirmed it was a Warmouth.  Who would have thought to ask an expert?

Thoughts:  While Warmouth range across southern rivers and ponds from Florida to Louisiana, in Arkansas they are generally confined to the waters of the Ozarks.  Other than the lake I had fished, where I rarely catch fish, I do not get into these waters often.  I was surprised that none of the regular anglers knew what the Warmouth was.   While I got many suggestions on what the fish might be, none of them was right.  Even my phone app took me in the wrong direction.  I asked the biologist I was reminded that if you really want to know, ask an expert.  The same could be said for the different recommendations and explanations for why the covid virus is ramping out of control.  The answer is obvious, you just need to ask the experts.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

August 3, 2021

I decided to go back to the mallard lake yesterday to see if I could continue my luck with the magnet.  When I arrived, I noticed the gazebo that juts out into the lake was empty.  I pulled in, loaded up my poles and gear and went out to the shade offered by the covering.  I decided that rather than going directly to my fly rod, I would put out my cat pole and my bobber to get the process started.  I baited the hook with a chartreuse worm, set the bobber about four feet up on the line, and tossed it into the lake.  I saw a turtle further out in the lake but did not think much of it.  I baited the cat pole with magic bait and tossed it out toward the middle of the lake.  Finally, I put together my fly rod.  By that time, my bobber had disappeared, and I reeled in a small channel cat.  The first fish of the day is always best.

I was watching River Monsters several months ago and it featured the rising number of Bull Sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) that are invading freshwater rivers.  The Bull Shark is commonly found worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers., and is known for its aggressive behavior.  While Bull Sharks are a saltwater animal, they have the ability to thrive in both salt and fresh water and have been known to travel up the Mississippi River as far as Alton, Illinois, or about 700 miles (1100 km) from the ocean.  While few human-shark interactions have been recorded in freshwater, larger bull sharks are responsible for a majority of near-shore shark attacks, even those attributed to other species.  Luckily my mallard lake was a reservoir, without access to the Mississippi.  Avoiding the turtle was enough.

When I threw the bobber line back out, I saw another small turtle had noticed the activity.  He popped his head up to investigate my bobber, and then went back under.  Shortly after that “something” attacked my worm.  I rebaited and threw out again.  This time it was a Bluegill that found a meal (and hook).  By now my turtle friend was more active, so I threw the line farther to escape the turtle.  This time he popped up, saw my bobber about 20 feet away, and made a beeline for the float.  About two feet from the bobber, he again disappeared, and my bobber began to dance.  The turtle chased the baited worms until I finally gave up.  I had come to test the magnet anyway.  Although I saw three bass over 12 inches patrolling the shoreline, I could never get them to bite.

Thoughts:  It seems the turtle had learned that where there were bobbers, there were worms.  The Bull Sharks in Australia have gained a similar knowledge.  They follow the fishing boats trolling in the estuaries waiting for a fish to get caught.  Then they swoop in and snap the fish off the line.  So far, they have not attacked the people who are swimming in the water along the shore.  Other animals are highly adaptable to repetitive human behavior.  Both the turtle and the sharks have figured out how to get what they want.  It is too bad humans do not seem to be able to learn and adapt their behavior to new repetitive situations like the virus.  Maybe it is just not what they want.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

August 02, 2021

I was amazed by the changes I saw at the city reservoir last week.  I have been consistently fishing the lake for the last three years but have not been there for several months.  Late last year the city put in information kiosks (one notice posted) and did rock work to form small patios on both sides of the boat ramp.  The road leading to the ramp has always been dirt, and even graded it consistently had ruts from the small spring that seeped out of the hillside.  When I arrive last week, I was surprised to see asphalt leading away from the highway.  As I turned, I saw the parking lot had been paved, drainage installed to whisk away the water from the spring, and the rock patios were now lined with rock benches.  They had spent a lot of money to make this a quality boat ramp and lake access.  The changes looked nice.

When I looked online, I found the difference between a lake and a reservoir is whether it is natural, or human made.  Reservoirs are different sizes and used for different purposes, but all have two things in common.  First, humans take water from the reservoirs when we need it, causing the water level to change in different ways than natural lakes.  Second, the dams that create reservoirs can prevent or limit species movement, both upstream and downstream, by the way they alter the flow of water.  Humans have built so many big dams that only one-third of the world’s longest rivers flow freely.  The rest have at least one dam.  Areas like Texas have limited natural lakes, but the rivers have been dammed to create thousands of reservoirs.   Minnesota’s “land of 10,000 lakes” are actuality 11,842, and most of the lakes are natural.  Minnesota’s lakes allow free species movement while Texas’ do not.

Since our reservoir is used for drinking, the water has a strict ban on swimming and gas-powered motors.  These regulations are in place for most small reservoirs, although larger reservoirs allow one or both.  While I understand the gas ban, the swimming ban always seemed odd.  Fish obviously swim in the water (among other things).  The water is also filtered and purified prior to being pumped through the pipes that bring it to individual households.  We have only recently overcome the “boil” order that was on our system for as long as Melissa can remember.  I guess the improved water quality prompted the improved access.  I noticed that as new as the changes were at the reservoir, someone had already backed into a bench and broken the rock top off.  Nice only seems to last so long.

Thoughts:  The changes created by a human-made reservoir influence the species that can live in the ecosystem.  While we have ideas for reducing the effect of dams and reservoirs on our river ecosystems, governments have not kept accurate records of where they are.  Scientists and researchers are trying to track down each reservoir on the planet, creating a GPS reference called the Global River Obstruction Database (GROD), while Europe is using the Adaptive Management of Barriers in European Rivers (AMBER) smartphone app.  If you build it, they will come.  At least the app cannot be rammed by a truck.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

July 31, 2021

As I left after fishing the reservoir earlier this week, I passed two trees that had infestations of webworms in their upper branches.  These moths lay their eggs on the tree leaves, and then wrap the nesting area in a silky web.  These must have been laid recently as the area of webbing was still relatively small.  As the eggs hatch and the 100’s of caterpillars (larvae) begin to grow, they encase ever larger areas of leaves beneath their web.  As the colony consumes the initial leaves in the vicinity of where the inch-wide white moth (adult) laid its eggs, the size of the webby mass increases.

The fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) is a moth in the family Erebidae known principally for its larval stage, which creates the characteristic webbed nests on the tree limbs of a wide variety of hardwoods.  While it is considered a pest because of its unsightly web, it does not harm healthy trees.  When I looked online at the University of Arkansas Extension Service, I found the visible signs of infestation occur when the beige-brown webs begin to enclose the ends of the tree’s upper branches.  Fall webworms are a native moth that occurs throughout North America.  The web stage of the moth usually appears from June through August in Arkansas, but if a second generation is produced, can extend into October.  Fall webworm infestations tend to be episodic in nature with back-to-back bad webworm years occurring about once a decade, but some webworms are seen almost every season.

There are two different types of fall webworm found in Arkansas: the two-generation-a-year black-headed version and the single-generation-a-year orange-headed form.  Both occur across the South, but the orange-headed form is more common.  The moth usually lays her eggs around mid-June, and about 60-70 days are required to go from egg to pupal stage.  The black-headed form begins about four weeks earlier and can squeeze in a second generation.  I could not get close enough to determine which version was nesting high up in the trees.  I was just glad it was not my yard.

Thoughts:  I have been fascinated by the four-part life cycle of insects since I learned of it in elementary school.  What they did not teach is there are other types of insect metamorphosis.  The ametabolous (Greek for “having no metamorphosis”) insects look like tiny adults when they emerge from the egg.  Hemimetabolous (from “hemi” meaning part) insects have three distinct stages: egg, nymph, and adult.  Holometabolous (from “holo,” meaning “total”) insects have the four-part cycle (egg, larvae, pupae, adult).  Most of the world’s insect species are holometabolous, including butterflies, moths, true flies, ants, bees, and beetles.  I am constantly surprised by the difference between what I was taught in K-12 and the known reality found with further research.  I wonder if educators take the Jack Nicholson approach (“You can’t handle the truth!”), or if they do not know themselves.  For most of us, it seems we do not know.  We need to be willing to get the know “the rest of the story,” especially when it comes to issues of race and poverty.  Do the work.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

July 30, 2021

When Melissa and I went fishing on the White River last year I checked online to see what was the most effective artificial for the big Brown Trout that famously stalk the waters.  The local guides recommend two baits, depending on the type of fishing you do.  For baitcasting they recommended a trout magnet, and for fly fishing it was a sow bug.  Since I prefer fly fishing, I looked in the local stores and everyone was sold out of sow bugs.  I finally found a few online and had them shipped well before we left for the river.  It was not until this year that I again thought about the trout magnet.  I had received a gift card from my son Alex for Father’s Day to one of the big outfitters and stopped in Tulsa to see what they had.  When I came across the magnet, I decided to buy several and see if they really worked.

To be clear, a trout magnet is not a magnet.  It is a small split tailed plastic that is reported to attract fish “like a magnet.”  When I checked online, I found it was part of a series or plastics that are configured slightly different to attract a variety of fish (i.e., crappie magnet, panfish magnet).  The magnet is said to be irresistible because its “balanced design allows it to fall with a lifelike horizontal profile rather than a vertical plunge.”  It can be used with or without a float, and like natural forage, it flows along with the stream.  The trout magnet has quickly become one of the most successful baits for trout when fishing in creeks, rivers, and even lakes.  It worked for me.

Even though the magnet was recommended to be tossed on the end of a bait casting reel, I decided to try my magnet on a fly rod.  I attached a thing-a-ma-bobber to the line to get the right depth and cast along the shoreline of the lake.  I quickly caught four small but aggressive bluegill and got even more strikes.  I took a morning trip this week when the temps were still low (fells like 95F) to see if my earlier outing was a fluke or a valid technique.  Once again, I immediately got strikes and quickly caught four more fish.  It was the sun and not a lack of fish that finally forced me off the water.  It seems the trout magnet is effective for panfish as well.

Thoughts:  It has been so hot that I had not been too keen on fishing.  I decided to stay close and try the bluegill at the “tiny fish” pond near our house.  When I approached, the fish franticly scooted away from the shore, but the heat had caused the pond to be covered in a layer of scum.  Every cast came back draped with water grass.  I left to go to the small lake nearby which is where I again caught fish.  Prior to fly fishing I rarely used artificial bait, and live bait are still said to have the advantage.  The plastics, like my magnet, are becoming so lifelike they are giving naturals a run for their money.  The science that goes into these baits requires years of research and testing, but once the basic concept is developed it can be quickly adapted for the type of fish you are hoping to catch.  That is also the reason for the rapid development of the covid vaccine.  The years of research had already taken place, it just needed to be adapted to the specific virus.  Like my magnet, the vaccine works.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.