Last week, following our last hard frost and freeze warning, the Dark-eyed Juncos finally went North. They were here at least a good two or maybe three weeks longer than in previous years. They are a cute little bird, but I sure don’t like the bitter cold weather coming with the arrival of the “snow birds!”
Action around the bird feeders has really been fast and furious. Protein demand for our feathered friends is at an all-time high with nest building and egg development. Many birds’ main source of protein may come from insects which haven’t really developed high population levels as of yet. I’ve been going through up to 2 gallons of sunflower seed and two suet cakes a day,
A couple weeks ago, I saw my first fully colored Gold Finch. Through the winter months, the finches would show up in their drab winter coats, but now, the males are beginning to put on their vibrant golden show.
A couple days ago, I spied a beautiful Eastern Towhee scrounging for tidbits in the leaf litter near the sunflower feeder. As I watched the towhee, I witnessed something for the first time… a robin actively and intently feeding on sunflower crumbs on the concrete slab directly under the feeder.
The hummingbirds should be showing up soon. I’ve heard reports of the first arriving just to the south of us.
Stream trout season opened April 26
The Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife planned to stock nearly 35,000 rainbow and brown trout across Indiana this spring in preparation for this year’s inland trout fishing season, which opened April 26 for inland streams. Nineteen streams across 13 counties were expected to receive fish before and after opening day.
Most of the lake stockings of rainbow trout were done starting the week of March 24. Anglers don’t have to wait to fish for trout as trout fishing on inland lakes is open year-round.
For streams, about 21,000 rainbow trout were expected to be stocked in the days leading up to opening day. Several sites will get additional rainbow trout stockings until Memorial Day weekend. In addition to the rainbow trout stockings, 10 bodies of water will receive brown trout stockings in May.
To find a stocked stream near you, see the 2025 trout stocking plan at on.IN.gov/fish-stocking.
Trout will bite on a variety of artificial baits such as spinners and flies, but natural baits such as worms and bee moths tend to be the most popular. Even small balls of processed cheese have proven effective.
The bag limit for trout in inland waters other than Lake Michigan and its tributaries is five per day with a minimum size of 7 inches. No more than one of an angler’s catch may be a brown trout. There is no size limit for trout on inland lakes except for any brown trout caught below the Brookville Lake tailwater or from Oliver, Olin or Martin lakes. The trout must be 18 inches or larger to be kept.
To fish for trout, anglers age 18 and older need an Indiana fishing license and a trout/salmon stamp. To purchase yours for this year, visit GoOutdoorsIN.com.
Frankfort man dies in ORV accident
Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a fatal off-road vehicle (ORV) accident that occurred the night of April 20 in Clinton County.
Around 8 p.m., Clinton County Central Dispatch received a 911 call of an ORV crash with injury in the 5400 block of West Manson Colfax Road.
Clinton County deputies and other first responders found one of the occupants near the location, finding Roger Burton Jr., 42, of Frankfort, unresponsive. Their lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful, and Burton was pronounced dead at the scene. One juvenile who was in the ORV at the time of the accident was transported to St. Elizabeth hospital in Lafayette with minor injuries.
The investigation is ongoing. Neither of the occupants was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, and only the operator was wearing a seatbelt.
Indiana Conservation Officers remind the public that ORV operators and passengers should always wear a helmet, protective riding gear, and use all ORV safety restraints. For information on ORV laws and safe operating procedures, please visit offroad-ed.com/in/handbook/ and on.IN.gov/offroading.
Fairmount man dies at Goose Lake
Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a possible drowning which occurred April 13 at Goose Lake in Whitley County.
Around 2:45 p.m., the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call about a possible drowning near the Goose Lake public access site.
Upon arrival, officers discovered 60-year-old Daniel Watson and 49-year-old Nicholas George, both of Fairmount, had been fishing from a watercraft when Watson fell overboard, causing the watercraft to capsize.
George got Watson to shore where a nearby good samaritan called for help. Despite lifesaving efforts, Watson was pronounced dead on scene.
Life jackets were found in the capsized watercraft but were not in use at the time of the accident. Conservation officers would like to remind the public to always wear a life jacket when participating in water-related activities.
‘till next time,
Jack
Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication or e-mail Jack at jackspaulding1971@outlook.com
Spaulding’s books, “The Best Of Spaulding Outdoors” and “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com as a paperback or Kindle download.
