5 Things To Do This Spring

As you sit and read this edition of the Journal….you may be thinking or preparing to head out for spring break; our schools will be on spring break from Saturday, March 9 through Friday, March 16. Vickie and I will be spending our time just west of Lebanon, Missouri…at Bennet Spring State Park. I have a new super duper float tube (the Voyager by Creek Company) that I hope to put in and float the Niangua River in search of smallmouth and trout. I have written many times about Bennet and all it has to offer but if you are ever looking for an awesome place to visit and experience…keep in mind that the park is only about 6 hours away; once you experience it’s beauty…it will be forever with you.

So, the list that follows is a small Indiana bucket list of things to do this spring; all of these items are very doable and fairly cheap, so keep this list handy and start to plan your “small vacations”.

First on the list is to fish a strip pit. Indiana is rich in great waters to fish and southwestern Indiana is the hotspot for many of these great bodies of water formed while removing the coal that was below the surface. Greene-Sullivan is located to our southwest, just a few miles west of Linton. I can’t begin to discuss all of the lakes in this area that are open and free to fish…but one of my favorites is the Wampler Lake complex. This is a large lake that is divided up by hills and areas that didn’t get sliced off in search of coal. Wampler Lake is only a few miles south and west of Linton and offers some excellent spring fishing for all types of native Indiana fish; you will also experience a wide variety of ‘other’ wildlife and critters. One extra note, Wampler is only a few miles from the excellent Amish buffet located on highway 54 on the west end of Linton…this makes for a great treat at the end of  a good fishing day.

Number 2 on our list is to scout/hunt for a wild turkey. If you are already a turkey hunter then I am preaching to the choir, however if you are new to turkey hunting, or have been thinking about trying this for a while…then by all means get going and give it a try. Your biggest and first concern will be a place to hunt and if you start asking now or get in your vehicle and drive a bit, with a polite inquiry you will find a place to hunt as most landowners know and can see that we have an abundance of turkey here in southern Indiana. Most folks just starting out think way too much about turkey hunting and with our access to the internet and other sources of info…almost everyone can be successful with a little forethought. What you will find is that both scouting and hunting takes place during some of our most beautiful times of the spring. Redbuds and Dogwoods are in full bloom and it seems like Indiana can and often does resemble Ireland with its vast greenness!

Third on our list of spring to-do’s is to visit a state park, SRA (State Recreational Area), or FWA (Fish and Wildlife Area).  One of our local FWA’s that has received lots of attention over the past few years is Goose Pond FWA. Here is the web link for the map of Goose Pond. The phone number for the site is 812-659-9901 and the address is 1815 W. Highway 59 South, Linton. This FWA is over 8000 acres of marsh and wetlands that are chocked full of various birds and others critters well worth the drive.

Number 4 on our list is to hunt for our local delicacies, the morel mushroom. North America actually has 16 different types of morels; we here in Indiana and the Midwest actually hunt for three varieties…the Black, Yellow and Deliciosa morels. I think most of us can narrow it down to the yellow and grey sponge variety of morels. Now this may shock you…but I am not a fan, hard to believe since my dad will and still does walk many miles in search of these ground dwellers, just isn’t a taste I have developed. Now, that being said, I always carry a bread sack with me while turkey hunting…just in case I run across a batch! The bottom line is pretty simple…how often can you take an enjoyable walk and live off the land at the same time?

Last on our list of 5 to-do’s is to take a long, family hike. Now I totally agree that you don’t have to go anywhere special to take a hike, but let me suggest to you a special Indiana location that is perfect for a family hike; Starve Hollow SRA is located just a few miles south of Brownstown, Indiana which is about 10 miles west of Seymour on I-65. Starve Hollow is a great complex of about 280 acres with a nice lake, re-modeled campground and a series of hiking trails located on the south side of the lake (let me add that the hiking trails are also shared with mountain bikers). My favorite trail is the 5.6 mile long Turkey Roost/Orange Trail. The trailhead starts from the campground and works its way around the lake and through a series of hills and hollows that are plump with beauty…you will not be disappointed. April 27 is Earth Day and anyone visiting the SRA that day will receive a free tree; the Vallonia State Nursery is adjacent to Starve Hollow. The phone number for Starve Hollow is 812-358-3464.

So….there you go, 5 things you can do this spring that won’t break the bank and might just get you in shape and draw your family a little closer; hope to see you along the trail or lake as we all Enjoy the Great Outdoors.