By Larry Dablemont
Down at the pool hall when I was a kid, I heard some front bench regulars talking about the funeral they had went to. They said of the fellow being laid to rest that he was a guy who would give you the shirt off his back. I thought about how I would like to think they will say that about me at my funeral, if I was lucky enough to have one--- Some kid who lived the life I lived on the river could never be sure of that. But I thought how great it would be if I was referred to as “A kid who would give someone the shirt off his back.”
Outdoors
Topwater bass fishing action picks up
By Bill Cooper
There is nothing in the fishing world that compares to the thrill of seeing a big largemouth bass crash a topwater bait. That time of year is here. Water temperatures are up, and so is bass metabolism. Their appetites are ravenous, and they will attack anything that will fit into their big bucket mouths.
Camping opportunities return - safety still needed
By Bill Cooper
U.S. campgrounds have received word they can open for the summer season. The news has sparked interest among newbies and veteran campers alike. The COVID-19 pandemic kept many outdoor enthusiasts at bay for weeks. Now the tents, backpacks, and sleeping bags are being dusted off and packed up for an outdoor adventure.
A bait dealer's delight
By Larry Dablemont
I have a bait box in my basement that is made for crickets. Personally, I never used crickets, I always had minnows and night-crawlers and crayfish for most of my serious fishing as a kid. On one occasion, I used a big grasshopper on my Uncle Roy's farm pond. My cousin Butch and I had a pair of old cane poles, and I took the lead weight off the line and hooked the grasshopper so he would float and kick. A big old hefty bass, (which was only about two pounds...but back in my youth, that was a dandy) came up and nailed it. That was an exciting day.
Missouri State Parks announces 12-month camping reservation window beginning June 30
Missouri State Parks, a division of the Department of Natural Resources, today announced an expanded reservation window for campgrounds, increasing from a six-month period to a 12-month period.