Fishing with friends

M emories are a major part of _shing. Their pleasures reach back through the years to trips catching _sh, but most important, the people you enjoyed the trip with.

Papa Duck was fortunate last week to be invited to _sh with one of my former students and trapshooters.

Aaron Throckmorton was one of “my kids” back in the day. Aaron was a “Swamp Rat” and an outstanding trapshooter, winning many state shooting titles. He has been very successful in the oil and gas business and is now able to own a very nice boat and to _sh and hunt in outstanding clubs. Wednesday he called and said to meet him at Horseshoe Lake because he knew where the crappie were biting. He was right.

After trying several spots, we hit the honey hole of big slabs. We ended up with 39 big crappie in about four hours of _shing. The _shing was great but getting to visit and talk about trips in the past brought back many memories of faces and places. Fishing and visiting with Aaron will be stored in the memory bank. “Remember when we…?”

In other news:

■ Turkey season ended this week with the close of Zone 2. Hunting season is over in Arkansas until Dove season in September.

■ If you enjoy pulling the trigger, The Jonesboro Shooting Sports Complex is now open to the public.

There are ranges for trap and skeet, pistol and rie, and archery. Memberships are available but walk-ups are welcome (but cost more per round). The hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The range is off the interstate before you go into Jonesboro. Phone number is 870-933-4604. Targets are furnished but there is no ammo for sale.

■ Fishing is picking up with the nice sunny weather.

Crappie are being caught at both Horseshoe and Midway. Papa Duck caught them in the woods. If it’s big river bream you want, go to Midway. They are good and will get better the next few weeks. Put in at Ed’s Camp. All kinds of bait are available along with drinks, basic tackle, and sandwiches. Cat_shing is good at all the lakes.

■ On Saturday May 21, there is a _shing rodeo at the Marion Sports Complex.

It is under the supervision of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission and part of their Community Fishing Program. Archery, shooting, and other outdoor activities will also be available at no charge. The lake will be stocked with cat_sh for the event. More about it next week.

It’s _shing time! Make the best of it and send Papa Duck pictures of the kids and family. Lakeside Taxidermy is mounting some outstanding _sh. We would enjoy doing yours at a reasonable rate, fast service, and they sure look good.

Papa Duck, Lakeside Taxidermy 901-482-3430 jhcriner@hotmail.com

Aaron Throckmorton holds up a nice crappie caught at Horseshoe. Aaron was Papa Duck’s fishing partner this weekend.

Photos by John Criner

Larry and Clay Edrington caught a crop of catfish at Horseshoe Lake on limb lines using hot dogs.

Kenneth Skillern shows off a nice brown trout he hooked on Lake Norfork.

Jahnae Cook got her gobbler for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner.

John Criner

Outdoors Columnist