Neglecting to vary the way you present a lure can make all the difference no matter what species of fish you hope to catch My favorite pond has been yielding bluegill plenty big enough to filet for the 20-odd years I’ve been fishing it....... Full story

Regular readers may recall the day early last summer when a two-month-old beagle puppy named Amy joined the already firmly established team of Gerald and Grace, the latter being a 10-year-old canine superstar. My plan was for Grace to teach Amy...... Full story

Winners of two straight, outscoring opponents by a 49-30 average margin and situated in second place in the American Professional Football League standings at 3-1, the Mid-Missouri Outlaws (4-1 overall) head into the final bye week of the season...... Full story

When I walked into a local pharmacy about a week ago, one of the women behind the counter said, “This is a bad turkey season.” A wave of panic swept over me. Had she been following me? Did she work for Homeland Security? A millisecond...... Full story

Few of us will ever get to cast a lure into a  private pond packed with big bass, but we can all fish in Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) impoundments. My consultations with biologists and local experts have produced one impoundment...... Full story

Largemouth bass evolved in small, shallow bodies of water. While there’s no denying that the species has adapted well to large reservoirs, it’s logical to assume a higher percentage of the largemouths living in small bodies of water will...... Full story

I have no idea how many hats I’ve owned over the years, but it’s well over 100. Out of this constantly changing sea of headgear, four have gained immortality. They are what one of my first writing mentors called “vault...... Full story

Madison Meloy, 12, of Sedalia, shot a 24-pound tom April 1 during the state’s youth turkey hunt. The turkey had a double beard — one measuring 11 inches and the other seven inches. The bird had one-inch spurs. Madison was hunting with...... Full story

These days I do most of my spring turkey hunting in blocks of timber scarcely bigger than wood lots interspersed within broad expanses of cropland and pasture.   I’m not complaining. How could I be? The number of turkeys and the number...... Full story

The State Fair Lions Club Crappie Tournament will be April 14 at Bucksaw Marina on Truman Lake. The cost is $40 per boat and is due April 13. Entries will be allowed on tournament day but will cost $50. Fishermen must check in between 5 and 6:45...... Full story