Southern Traditions Outdoors is a free publication providing articles, photography, and places of interest for the outdoor sportsmen in the mid-south. Publications are printed every two months: Jan/Feb, March/April, May/June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct and Nov/Dec, and include articles on hunting, fishing and the outdoors. You can always find sections dedicated to children, veterans, women, and the physically challenged in our publication encouraging outdoor participation. You can find our publication throughout Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas and Kentucky at any of our advertisers as well as many marinas, vehicle and ATV dealers, TWRA license agents, resorts and outdoor related retailers.
1. 1 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020
www.southerntraditionsoutdoors.com
Please tell our advertisers you saw their ad in southern traditions outdoors magazine!
FREE
RUNNING RABBITS
WINTER CRAPPIE
SAVE THE BEES
SCOUT YOUR DEER LAND
4. 4 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
Advertising Information:
Southern Traditions Outdoors | Rob Somerville
(731) 446-8052 stomag1@gmail.com
DISCLAIMER - Neither the authors nor Southern Traditions Outdoors
Magazine LLC assume any responsibility or liability for any actions
by readers who utilize any information contained within. Readers
are advised that the use of any and all information contained within
Southern Traditions Outdoors is at their own risk.
On the Cover
Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine Mission Statement:
Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine vows to put forth a publication to
promote the outdoors lifestyle in a positive manner. We will strive to encourage
veteran and novice outdoorsmen, women, kids, and the physically challenged
to participate in the outdoors in a safe and ethical manner. Our publication will
bring positive attention to the wondrous beauty of the world of Nature in the
mid-south.
Garry Mason
Walter Wilkerson
Terry Wilkerson
Steve McCadams
Kelley Powers
Shawn Todd
Eddie Brunswick
Larry Self
Cody Rodriquez
John Sloan
Richard Simms
Dana Watford
Buck Gardner
Richard Hines
Ed Lankford
Drew Brooks
John Latham
Will Gregory
John Roberts
Richard Hines
Rob Hurt
Mark Buehler
Richard A. Fagan
Neill McLaurin
Sam Bradshaw
Daryl Ratajczak
Jonathon Holden
Field Staff Editors
Owners - Eddie Anderson
Rob Somerville
Kevin Griffith
Publisher - Eddie Anderson
Editor - Rob Somerville
Advertising Sales
Rob Somerville - Managing
Partner
Distribution
Johnathan Anderson
Mike Robinson
Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine, LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
There is something magical in the “hound music” of baying beagles, as they are hot on the scent
of a running rabbit. Photo by Rob Somerville
PG..................... ARTICLE ............................................................AUTHOR
6 ......................... Running Rabits and Baying Beagles.................................Steve McCadams
14 ......................... Scouting Deer Land .........................................................Rob Somerville
24 ......................... Farming for Christmas Trees.............................................Jonathan Holden
25 ........................ Save the Bees...................................................................Jonathan Holden
36 ......................... War on Asian Carp Part 2..................................................Steve McCadams
40 ......................... Reelfoot Spillway Fishing..................................................STO
46 ......................... Winter Crappie...................................................................Richard Hines
52 ......................... Trophy Room.....................................................................STO
5. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 5
From the Desk of Rob S omer v ille
Letter from the Editor
One of the most precious natural resources we are fortunate to have in Tennessee is Reelfoot
Lake. It is also one of the greatest tourist attractions in our state. Reelfoot Lake draws hunters, fish-
ermen, campers, wildlife enthusiasts, history buffs, family vacationers and photographers from all
over the world.
The Quake Lake is a magnet, which draws tourists from every section of the nation. Reelfoot is
considered to be one of the top fisheries along the Mississippi flyway renowned for trophy bream,
bass, catfish – and its “world class” crappie. It is also a waterfowl hunter’s paradise offering several
species of ducks and geese. Many love the lake for its large population of wild and nesting American
bald eagles as well. Here lies the beauty spot, Reelfoot Lake, which has attracted nation-wide admi-
ration. It is a land of delight for the naturalists, the photographer, the angler and the hunter. You
and your family can enjoy this historic and natural area in many ways. Here are just a few events
coming up in the next few months.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT REELFOOT LAKE
January/February:
• Reelfoot Lake Eagle & Waterfowl Tours begin (731-253-9652)
• Annual Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival – January 31st, February 1st
and 2nd, – visit our “Eagle Festival Page” for more details
• Saturday night Guests Speakers Programs at State Park
March:
• Deep Swamp Canoe Trips with Reelfoot State Park each
weekend in March & April
• Early Bass Fishing is great
• Crappie fishing is great in deep water
• Bass Tournament at Kirby’s Pocket
April:
• Guided canoe trips with US Fish & Wildlife
• Bluegill (Bream) Fishing is great around trees through June
• Crappie fishing is excellent in April
For more information on Reelfoot Lake, visit our friends at Reelfoot
Lake Tourism’s website at reelfoottourism.com/reelfootlake. There you
can find upcoming events, as well as lodging and restaurant information.
6. 6 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
When winter skies are gray
and gloomy days descend there
aren’t many remedies at the lo-
cal drug store to help pull you
out of the rut of confinement and
despair.
There is, however, a recipe
for riddance and it doesn’t come
from a pill bottle or magic potion
mixed up in a solution by the lo-
cal pharmacist.
Treating the symptoms and
finding the cure can be done on
the installment plan. I’m talking
frequent trips to the rolling hills,
river bottoms and thick hedge-
rows of a Tennessee backcountry
farm with the accompaniment of
a pack of “eager beaver” beagle
hounds. When the tailgate drops;
depression and despair stops!
When these little black and
tan bundles of joy burst out of the
dog box, as though the gate just
jerked up at the Kentucky Derby,
it is huge fun to follow them on
a path of excitement and enjoy-
ment. Just the association will do
you good.
Every time I get invited to go
on a rabbit hunt, I feel better for
having been there. Once these lit-
tle rascals jump a cottontail and
RUNNING
& BAYING BEAGLES
RABBITS
By Steve McCadams
Share a day or two in the woods or swamps with baying beagles and buddies and you’ll feel better for
having done it.
Photo by Steve McCadams
7. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 7
dart toward the lead dog, with
tails erect and ears cocked, their
voices form a choir and sing to
the high heavens.
Each dog has his or her own
distinct yelp. Together they blend
and the music soon echoes across
the hills and hollers, fading at
times when the wise ole’ swamp
rabbit takes them across wet bogs
and feeder creeks in an attempt to
lose the pack as he exercises his
home court advantage.
Sometimes a quick hush oc-
curs, as though the choir has lost
the page or dropped the hymnal.
The silence of the swamp sudden-
ly takes on an eerie tranquility.
Has the race come to a halt?
Has the wise ole’ swamper lost
the dogs, as he took them on a
journey across flowing ditches
and murky waters, before taking
to the water himself and perhaps
swimming across to the opposite
creek bank?
From the silence comes the
rat-tat-tat of a red headed wood
pecker going at it on a dead snag
above that was never heard or no-
ticed when the dogs were going at
it. A crow sounds off a warning
alarm to the whole woods, an-
nouncing the arrival of intruders
to all God’s critters.
Then suddenly, one of the dogs
hits on a fresh track and lets off
a yelp to the rest of the pack that
signals the start of another verse
of “run-rabbit-run”!
From several different direc-
tions the beagles converge on the
jump dog’s locale, bringing sup-
port just like the calvary riding in
during one of those old western
movies. The dog’s bark signals a
code that only his fellow beagle
brigade understands.
The wide old hare’s tricks
worked for a few minutes, but
several different dogs working
several different directions soon
kick the wise old rabbit from his
secret hiding spot and off he goes
with the pack in hot pursuit.
A high pitch yelp here, fol-
lowed by a long southern drawl
there. Each dog’s enthusiasm lev-
el peaks as they sing out to the
hunters and direct the where-
abouts of where this race may
end up.
Blending the voices of 5 or
6 different dogs at the same
time, hot on the trail of a freshly
jumped rabbit, makes time stands
still. Off they go on a journey of
which no one knows the duration
or destination.
Beneficiaries of this whole or-
deal are the hunters themselves.
A glance at my watch shows over
an hour has slipped away. Where
did it go? Lost in the moment
are the hunters who’ve witnessed
these little lovable canines living
up to their breed’s reputation.
Wagging tails, sometimes
slightly bleeding from the battle
with briar thickets, help convey
the dog’s delight. They’re loving
every bit of the race and are up
to the challenge.
It is then I pause and absorb
the moment, taking in all the out-
doors has to offer. I forgot about
Maybe it’s considered small game, but the sport of rabbit hunting is a
big deal among the ranks of sportsmen who take pride in their dogs.
Photo by Steve McCadams
8. 8 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
my aches and pains once the dogs
took off barking. It is the age-old
story of the hare and the hound;
alive and well in the rural South-
ern South.
Mud caked around my boots
now feels heavy and dampness
has creeped through the soles,
putting a chill to my tired feet.
All the time the race was
on, I never once noticed any of
the obstacles. The race between
the bunny and the beagles com-
manded all my attention. Pushed
back and lost somewhere are tri-
als and tribulations. Chores un-
done and looming deadlines seem
unimportant.
Health concerns and finan-
cial issues suddenly seem less im-
portant. They have fallen prey to
the singing of the hounds whose
voices seem to say - pause and
listen as we rid you of everyday
troubles!
Every time I lose myself in the
rural countryside of a rabbit hunt,
I scold myself for not doing this
more often.
Hearing the sounds of the
backwoods and watching nature’s
critters carry on their daily rou-
tines is therapy for whatever ails
you.
Bagging a few rabbits is fine,
but the hunt itself is a catalyst for
soothing the mind and perhaps a
reevaluation of priorities.
No traffic jams out here with
the pups. Phones don’t ring and
while it may take an hour or two
to come under the spell, one re-
alizes there’s nothing anyone can
do at this moment in time to slow
the speed at which the world
turns. Best to just hold on for the
ride, letting go of the things you
can’t control.
Rabbit hunts with your bud-
dies and listening to baying bea-
gles just might be the scratch for
your itch. It sure works for me.
Down the old logging roads
or deer paths of life I often find
myself reliving youth with old
buddies come and gone.
I don’t recall the bounty tak-
en, or whether we shot any rab-
bits at all, on those hunts from
yesteryear. What is clear is that
the races still ring pleasant tones
in my ears. The voices and faces
of my childhood buddies seem to
reappear in clear focus when just
yesterday I couldn’t remember
what I had for supper!
Decades have come and gone.
People and old dogs have passed,
leaving a legacy that seems to res-
urrect itself once I give it a chance
in settings like this.
Why wait so long to do this?
The answer is I don’t know. Pro-
crastination is often a demon.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned
not to wait too long to visit a sick
friend or accept the invitation
to go on a rabbit hunt. No one
knows when the race might end!
Rabbit hunts with friends and family live on long after the races have
gone silent. Listening to the dogs run will help cure whatever ails you.
Photo by Rob Somerville
9. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 9
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11. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 11
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13. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 13
Sportsman’s Resort North & South
Our two Campgrounds have full hookup with water, electricity and
sewer. They are located at the lake’s edge. We offer yearly, nightly or
weekly campsites. The south campground has a boat ramp. Our yearly
rates start January 1 and run through December 31st. We also offer 3
day camping packages that include the R.V. spot, boat, motor, gas and
bait. Please check out our web site for more information.
North Campground has in-ground pool for guests of either location!
SOUTH CAMPGROUND
NORTH CAMPGROUND
Sportsman’s Resort
100 Sportsman’s Resort Lane
Tiptonville, Tn. 38079
731-253-6581 or 731-334-2309
www.reelfootlake.com
14. 14 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
hen do you do your
deer scouting? If you’re like
most hunters, you start glass-
ing fields around the mid-
dle of August. I’m not saying
that this method isn’t
productive. It serves
the purpose of letting
you get an idea of the
amount of deer in the
local herd, the doe
to buck ratio, and if you have
any bucks of trophy poten-
tial. In my opinion, the best
time to scout for deer is right
now, after the last season. I’ll
explain the benefits of scout-
ing post season in this article.
Why scout now?
There are several reasons
why scouting for deer during
the months of February and
early March is an excellent
strategy. First of all, the foli-
age is off of the trees, which
makes visibility good even in
the thickest part of the woods.
N o w
W
to Scout for Deer!
is the Best time
Do you want to know if any big bucks made it through the season and are still using your land as their
home range? STO FILE PHOTO
By Rob Somerville
15. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 15
Deer trails, which have been
used all season, are easy to see
because all of the grass and
vegetation having died out.
One of the key reasons I like
to scout this time of year is
that you can go deep into the
woods and invade the deer’s
bedding areas, without wor-
rying about jumping them
up. If you happen to jump
deer up during this excursion,
who cares? They will have six
months left to comfortably get
set back in to their routines.
Let’s look at some scouting
tactics, taking us step by step
in post season deer scouting.
Nothing else to do
Deer, duck, and goose sea-
sons are over. It’s too windy
and too cold to go fishing.
You have cleaned all of your
guns, neatly folded your camo,
and are tired of watching re-
runs on the Outdoor Chan-
nel. So get up and get started
in some of the most beneficial
deer scouting you can pursue.
And while you’re at it, you can
do a little early turkey scout-
ing also.
What to look for?
The first step to take in
post-season scouting is to walk
the perimeter woods border-
ing agricultural fields, look-
ing for trails leading from the
edge of the woods to the food
or water source. These trails
will be easy to identify due to
dormant plant growth during
the winter months. They will
be basically bare ground. I like
to follow these trails from one
end to the other learning the
deer herd’s daily travel pattern
from sleeping area to feed-
ing area. I don’t go deep in to
the core bedding area when
it is close to, or during hunt-
ing season, for fear of spook-
ing my quarry. But, this time
of year, I welcome the sight
of white tails being jumped
form their beds and waving
good-bye to me, because now
I know where they sleep.
If they liked it once - they’ll
return next year
If you find an area with
lots of rubs, torn up licking
branches over old scrapes,
or bedding areas with fresh
deer droppings all over, mark
them. Unless severe changes
are made in the habitat, weath-
er, or predator pressure, deer
will use these places again and
Now is the time to explore all the deep trails of your woods, when you don’t care if you “bump” a deer.
STO FILE PHOTO
16. 16 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
again. It only makes sense. If a
deer found comfort, security,
food, or shelter last year, they
will also find it in the same
area next year. For instance, if
you took a nice buck off of a
rut-line this year, don’t think
the area won’t produce next
year. Unless pressured, deer
are like humans. They will
travel the least path of resis-
tance, as long as they feel safe.
Now is the time to explore all
the deep trails of your woods,
when you don’t care if you
“bump” a deer.
Snip and mark
If I slipped into your liv-
ing room and moved your
favorite recliner, would you
notice it? Many hunters trim
shooting lanes, and erect deer
stands immediately before or
during season. The woods are
the deer’s home. Whitetails
will notice even subtle chang-
es. Therefore you should mark
your stands access trail, and
erect any permanent stands
you will be using now. This
method allows the woods a
six-month window to “cool
down.”
Is he still around?
Do you want to know if any
big bucks made it through the
season and are still using your
land as their home range?
Now is the perfect time to tell.
Wait until after a good rain
and look for big tracks, sunk-
en deep in to the mud with
trailing dew claws. You can
also search for sheds. Sheds
are the antlers, which fall off
the bucks shortly after the end
of January.
The best therapy
You can also search for sheds. Sheds are the antlers, which fall off the bucks shortly after the end of January.
STO FILE PHOTO
17. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 17
Whether or not you find any
big buck sign or not, Mother
Nature is still the best rem-
edy for relaxing from stress.
Take this scouting foray as
an opportunity to introduce a
young boy or girl into woods-
manship. Sit down under a
tree, as the afternoon sun goes
down, and just breathe in the
fresh air. Believe me, if you
scout for deer this time of year
it can pay high dividends to-
wards next season.
See ya, Rob.
If you find an area with lots of rubs, torn up licking branches over old scrapes, or bedding areas with
fresh deer droppings all over, mark them.
STO FILE PHOTO
19. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 19
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the heart of “Duck Heaven” in Southeast
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expert team of guides have decades of duck
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takes to give their clients the duck hunting
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At Grassy Water our number one goal is
to give every client a memorable hunt that
they will never forget!
Jeffrey Daniels at 731-413-8688 Amber Garrett at 731-413-6504
danielsfarms99@yahoo.com
www.grassywater.com
AlBradshaw
1960-1999
421 W. COURT ST.
DYERSBURG, TENNESSEE
731-285-5767
sam@bradshaw4insurance.com
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Contact information:
20. 20 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
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626 US HWY 51 BYPASS E.
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21. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 21
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22. 22 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
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24. 24 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
“Load up the kids. We are go-
ing out to find the perfect Christ-
mas tree.” That is what a lot of
fathers tell their families when
it was time to go to the local
tree farm to pick out that special
family tree. Then the family will
load up and head to a farm like
Crenshaw’s Tree Farm located in
Trenton, Tennessee like we did
and get ready to find that special
tree. Once you arrive you take
out the saw and go and pick out
your family tree. Once the tree is
picked out, then comes the saw-
ing and cutting the tree down,
after which the workers come
and put it on a dolly. Next, they
wrap netting around it and then
put it in the back of your truck.
While you are at most of these
family tree farms they also have
concessions and other fun activ-
ities that are for the kids. There
are always fun agendas happening
on different weekends at most of
the farms.
One farm that I have en-
countered when exploring the
great Smokey Mountains and
agri-tourism in that area is the
Wilson Glyn Christmas tree farm.
In the remote community of Boo-
gertown, a narrow gravel road
threads its way to the end of Wil-
son Hollow and a farm cradled in
seclusion a few miles from Gat-
linburg, Tennessee. In 1870, one
month before President Ulysses
S. Grant declared Christmas a
federal holiday, Civil War veter-
an William Wilson purchased the
land for $150.
Today, the land that has unit-
The Tennessee Christmas Tree Growers Association (TCTGA) was
officially organized as a non-profit entity on September 11, 1971.
Photo by Jon Holden
FARMING FOR
TREES
CHRISTMAS
By Jonathan Holden
25. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 25
ed family for five generations
has been revived by the Wilsons’
great-great grandson Hal, and his
wife Sandy. It wasn’t some elabo-
rate makeover that breathed new
life into the farm; it was Christ-
mas trees. Wilson Glyn serves
mostly local customers, but there
are the occasional tourists will-
ing to drive home with a tree
strapped to their car. “Some folks,
even tourists, are repeat custom-
ers so we try to have something
different each year. It might be
nothing more than a wagon or
old farm sled we can use for hay
rides,” Hal said. “But this year
I’ve built an outdoor fireplace.
The fireplace is special because
the stones came from homes de-
stroyed in the massive wildfires
that swept through our area in
November, 2016.”
Along with the house Hal
shared with his parents and eight
siblings, another focal point, and
the hub of Christmas-time festivi-
ties at Wilson Glyn, is the cantile-
ver barn. This unique form of ar-
chitecture had long intrigued Hal,
and he spent hours in Cades Cove
studying the barn at Tipton Place.
The inspiration for Wilson
Glyn Christmas Tree Farm came
in a brightly-wrapped package; a
Christmas gift from the Wilsons’
daughter, Kellie. Hal and Sandy
were fascinated by the gift, Robert
Wray’s, Christmas Trees for Plea-
sure and Profit, and before long
they were picturing Christmas
trees growing on the rims and
ridges surrounding their home
in Boogertown. “Our dream,”
Hal said, “was to create a Christ-
mas tree farm as a way to pre-
serve our ancestors’ legacy, to
hold on to the land, and to share
its unspoiled natural beauty with
others.”
Much of Wilson Glyn’s ap-
peal lies in these history-inspired
structures—and the timeless joy
of cutting down a Christmas
tree—but also in the burble of
Wilson Creek, the red, faded-to-
pink ‘53 Ford pickup that’s been
put out to pasture near the barn,
the vintage sleds mounted to a
barn wall, and the nose-tingling
aroma of wood smoke, spicy cider
and freshly-cut evergreens. The
back-to-nature vibe de-stress-
es weary Christmas shoppers,
their cares seemingly lost in the
moment.
There’s nothing like the smell
of a fresh Christmas tree. Visi-
tors will find trees in several areas
around the farm and in all stages
of growth, many still years from
harvesting. Live, bluegrass-style
Christmas music each Saturday
provided by the Wilson family
- Hal included, if he’s not net-
ting a tree or handing out saws
- keeps people lingering around
the fire long after they’ve found
what they came for. “This ven-
ture has deepened our connec-
tion to the land,” Hal said. Every
year, since those first seedlings
surprised them by surviving, the
Wilsons have planted at least
800 additional trees. Along with
the Fraser fir, they grow Canaan
fir, Concolor fir, Norway spruce,
and White pine. Wilson Glyn is
Hal Wilson - Owner at Wilson Glyn Christmas Tree Farm gets in a new
shipment of seedlings to plant. The farm plants around 800 trees a year
Photo by Jon Holden
26. 26 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
a choose-and-cut farm, but they
also offer the convenience of larg-
er, pre-cut trees for those who
want the Christmas tree farm ex-
perience without wielding a saw.
Many farms like Wilson Glyn
have a deep rooted history and a
feeling that brings you back year
after year.
The farmers will be planting
trees in February and March for
the 2029 tree harvest. Christmas
trees are a cyclical thing where
they have to plant every single
year. So, if you plant 2,000 trees,
then 10 years later 2,000 will be
ready. But, if you have some bad
years, then you will have less in
ten years. The Fraser fir is the
most popular variety, and it’s in
the shortest supply.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas
tree – hope you’re not too pricey.
Turkeys were at the lowest price
in a decade, but the trees used for
Christmas décor will not be low
in price. If you have bought a real
tree or an artificial tree, then you
paid 10 to 20 dollars more than
you did last year. Due to a bad
winter several years ago and the
deer feeding on their boughs, the
selection of nice trees has been
scarce. But it’s clear prices are
higher this year, and they could
climb higher next year if addi-
tional tariffs are applied on Dec.
15th.
Harman in June testified
before the Office of the United
States Trade Representative on
behalf of the American Christ-
mas Tree Association, caution-
ing against the tariffs. Nearly six
months later, he still feels like
they ultimately hurt consum-
ers. Sometime after his testimo-
ny, Christmas trees were placed
in the last group to be tariffed.
The higher prices on those goods
coming from China would be ap-
plied on Dec. 15, meaning they
would affect next year’s trees.
Industry research shows arti-
ficial trees sell at about the same
pace as real trees. Prices typically
range on artificial trees, depend-
ing on size and quality, from $40
to more than $1,000 this year.
This year was the most expen-
sive season for Christmas trees
in history.
With Christmas a week away
the fresh cut trees were in tight
supply for some parts of the
country. Oregon produces the
most Christmas trees followed
by the states of North Caroli-
na, Washington and Michigan.
At Bluebird Christmas Tree Farm, the Tennessee Christmas Tree Growers Association held a Field Day.
Photo by Jon Holden
27. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 27
There are a lot of reasons for
this shortage like heavy rains,
hot weather, the 2008 recession
and almost a week-shorter pe-
riod between Thanksgiving and
Christmas. The dry, hot sum-
mers of 2017 and 2018 devastated
thousands of young trees in Or-
egon and North Carolina, while
heavy rains through the last year
damaged supply in Missouri. The
higher amount of rain in Missou-
ri this year caused scotch pine
trees at one farm to be infected
by a fungus and contributed to
the smaller supply.
The recession of 2008, when
people cut back a lot on spend-
ing, made the farmers plant few-
er trees as the economy dipped.
“It was a challenging time,” said
Tim O’Connor, executive di-
rector of the National Christ-
mas Tree Association. Oregon
and North Carolina, which ex-
port trees across the U.S., are hit
the hardest. When consumers
trimmed their budgets and spent
less, this led to an oversupply of
trees on the market. This drove
the prices below the cost the tree
farmers could produce them. In
2008 a lot of tree farmers either
went out of business or couldn’t
plant the trees that year, so now
ten years later we are seeing the
consequences of one bad year. Al-
though there is a tree shortage it
is not expected to affect the Trees
for Troops program, which pro-
vides trees to U.S. military mem-
bers and their families stationed
in the U.S. and around the world.
It’s going to be another two to
three years before you see an up-
tick in supply, but everybody who
wants a real tree this year will be
able to find one.”
Since the millennials are choos-
ing to go with renewable options
this tradition is gaining popular-
ity. There has been a ten percent
increase in sales in the past five
years, with a four million increase
in sales of real trees sold in 2018
than the previous year. This year
there has been more in demand
than there is a supply. “Some
Christmas tree growers have few-
er trees to sell this year than they
wish they had. They have fewer
trees to cut than in years past,”
said Doug Hundley, spokesman
for the National Christmas Tree
Association, a trade group that
represents about 5,100 growers.
Many states are reporting that
they are running out of trees and
still there is a demand which is
driving up the cost. the last 10
years, a growing demand of real
tree sales and a tight supply have
ballooned the average price of
living trees from $36.50 in 2008
to $78 in 2018, according to the
The cantilever barn is a German design brought to Tennessee by the settlers. This unique form of archi-
tecture had long intrigued Hal, and he spent hours in Cades Cove studying the barn at Tipton Place.
Photo by Jon Holden
28. 28 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
National Christmas Tree Associ-
ation. The $78 price last year was
up $3 from $75 in 2017. This year,
the average cost is expected to in-
crease another $3 to $81. But it’s
important to note that $81 is an
average. Prices range on various
farms and lots from about $30 to
more than $100, depending on
the size and variety.
Did You Know?
• Eastern red cedar is actually a
member of the juniper family. A
traditional Christmas tree in Ap-
palachian households, its distinct
fragrance has repelled moths and
lined hope chests for centuries.
Several northern pencil compa-
nies established wood mills in
Tennessee to be near the abun-
dant trees. Half a dozen pencil
manufacturers operated in Bed-
ford county alone where in the
1950s Shelbyville was dubbed
Pencil City, USA
• Fraser fir was named for Scot-
tish botanist John Fraser who ex-
plored the southern Appalachians
in the 1700s. One of the most
popular Christmas trees, it has
graced the White House’s Blue
Room more than any other
• Canaan fir is pronounced “Ka-
naan,” and is named for a valley
in West Virginia. Relatively new
to the Christmas tree market, it
has a high-elevation growth area
that limits accessibility
• Colorado blue spruce was a
traditional medicinal plant of the
Navajo. Its color makes it a stand-
out in landscapes, but it isn’t rec-
ommended for homes with small
children; the sharp needles can
injure little fingers
• Balsam fir was used medici-
nally by Native Americans and a
resin balm was applied to wounds
during the Civil War. The sap was
once used in mounting specimens
for microscopic study
• Virginia pine, a newcomer at
many Christmas tree lots, has
been extremely effective in strip
mine site reclamation. It has a
yellowish winter color, but some
trees are actually dyed green be-
fore being shipped
• Norway spruce has cones that
cling to the weeping branches like
ornaments. It is most often cho-
sen to be erected at Rockefeller
Center in New York City every
year. This tree makes beautiful
music, too; the wood is used in
some stringed instruments.
Editor’s note: Jonathan Holden is
an Agriculture Education Teach-
er at Dresden High School. His
background is in Agriculture and
Animal Science.
Christmas trees growing in the fields. There are many different ages of trees growing in the fields. Consum-
ers get to pick from different sizes and ages when visiting these farms.
Photo by Jon Holden
29. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 29
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30. 30 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
SAVE
THE
BEESBy Jonathan Holden
Chances are you have bees to
thank for a lot of the foods you
consume throughout the day.
Our everyday nutrition depends
on the bee population. Honey
bees carry out about eighty per-
cent of pollination all over the
world. One bee colony can pol-
linate millions of flowers and
plants every day. Food crops such
as vegetables, fruits, and nuts are
pollinated by bees. Honey bees
are super pollinators, meaning
that they are very good at help-
ing flowers and plants reproduce.
When a honey bee lands on the
flower of a plant, pollen from the
flower will stick to the hairs on
the bee’s body. The honey bee will
then carry that pollen to another
flower where it comes in contact
with another flower creating the
opportunity for fertilization. It’s
a symbiotic relationship; the bee
Mike is checking his hives and looking at activity, if there is any debris in it, and which entries are being
used and guarded.
Photo by Jon Holden
31. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 31
gets important nutrients from the
flower’s nectar and pollen, while
the flower gets a chance at repro-
duction. Honey bees are general-
ists, meaning that they aren’t very
picky about which flowers they
choose to land on. This is good
for the bee, because it does not
need to go in search of a specif-
ic flower. Plants can also benefit
because the bee is likely to visit
multiple species of flowers over
a period of time.
Mike Harris is a local grower
at Logan’s Lake Honey, in Dyers-
burg and west Tennessee. They
produce their own honey in ru-
ral west Tennessee and the bees
work the tulip poplars, wildflow-
ers, soybean, and cotton crops
in the fields. These bees will pol-
linate between the Mississippi
and Tennessee Rivers. They also
do honey bee swarm removals in
west Tennessee and surrounding
areas. If you want to try their
honey they sell it in Finley, TN
at the Junction convenient store
and in Jackson. Local honey can
help you out if you have allergies.
Over recent years, bees have
been dying at a rate the United
States government says is eco-
nomically unsustainable. Honey
bees pollinate plants that produce
about a quarter of the food con-
sumed by Americans including
apples, watermelons and beans.
“The problem is serious, and
poses a significant challenge that
needs to be addressed to ensure
the sustainability of our food
production systems,” the White
House said.
Scientists understand that bees
are dying from a variety of fac-
tors. Although there is not one
source to blame, there are sever-
al factors that contribute to the
dying bee species. The recent in-
creased loss of honey bee colonies
These are called hive bodies, deeps, or brood boxes. They make up the “living quarters” of the hive. This
is the place where the eggs are laid and the brood is raised
Photo by Jon Holden
32. 32 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
is thought to be caused by factors
including a loss of natural forage
and inadequate diets, mite infes-
tations and diseases, loss of ge-
netic diversity, and exposure to
certain pesticides. As cities grow
larger and agriculture becomes
more demanding, bees are losing
their space in the wild hedgerows
and meadows where they can find
flowers and food. Unfortunately,
humans are responsible for the
two largest causes: certain pesti-
cides and habitat loss.
One issue is certain; pesticides
that are used on crops to kill and
control pests. They can harm bees
by damaging their central ner-
vous system, causing disorien-
tation, and even death. Honey
bees also face another huge threat
from the varroa mite, which at-
taches itself to the honey bee and
sucks its blood. When the bee re-
turns to the hive, the Varroa Mite
can spread and bring viruses and
disease with them. If a Varro Mite
enters a colony, it can wipe it out
in a matter of two to three years.
Habitat loss is also a major factor
in the Honey bee colony demise.
Do you enjoy eating fresh
fruits and vegetables such as ber-
ries, apples, broccoli or aspar-
agus? Without honey bees and
other bee species, you can say
goodbye to the majority of all
these fresh, nutritious foods. In
fact, if it weren’t for bees, about
one third of the food that hu-
mans eat would not be available.
This information alone should
grab your attention and cause
concern for the bee population.
If you love the outdoors, breath-
ing in fresh air, or even taking a
walk to enjoy nature, thank a bee.
While they aren’t the sole reason
you are able to enjoy these lux-
uries, they do play a large role.
Without bees and other pollina-
tors, our world would look very
different. Pollinator-dependent
plants would be unable to re-
The bee keeper will first get the honey to optimal temperature, and then uncap the honey, and finally they
will extract the honey.
Photo by Jon Holden
33. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 33
produce and spread across the
landscape. Consider the impor-
tance of flowering plants and fruit
trees for other insects, birds, and
wildlife. Without these sources
of food, bees would have a more
difficult time finding food. This in
turn would impact the rest of the
food chain, including carnivores
and omnivores such as wolves,
bears, and humans. Due to these
powerful connections, the honey
bee is a huge contributor to our
ecosystems.
“Honey bee pollination alone
adds more than $15 billion in val-
ue to agricultural crops each year
in the United States,” the White
House said in a statement. There
are several ways that we can help
to save the honey bee colonies. As
cities grow larger, we take away
from a honey bee’s wild habitat,
which means bees sometimes
have to travel far away to find
food. We can help by planting
their favorite flowers in our gar-
dens. Also, buying local can help
the honey bee population. Local
beekeepers and farmers are far
more likely to engage in helpful
practices that support the honey
bee, rather than commercial pro-
ducers. Another way we can help
the colonies is by adopting a bee
hive, which in turn, supports lo-
cal beekeepers. Because beekeep-
ers lose a portion of their hives
every year, and it is expensive
to replace bees and attributes to
a loss in production, adopting a
hive is a way to keep conscious
beekeepers resilient. Bees need
hydration, just like the rest of us,
although it is not as easy for them
to finding a good water source.
Bees can literally work themselves
to death by becoming dehydrated
and then not have the energy to
find water. Have fun with it and
create a spot in your garden so
that, they too, have water readi-
ly available. Also, if you ever see
bees swarming in public place
or around your home, contact a
bee keeper. Swarming is a natu-
ral process that occurs when colo-
nies of honey bees have outgrown
their hive. There are many bee
keepers who will happily collect
swarms to relocate them to a saf-
er place. Honeybees in a swarm
are actually very gentle and pose
very little danger to you. Howev-
er, they can be made aggressive if
disturbed. Just leave them alone
and wait for help to arrive.
Although we cannot mirac-
ulously make our bee problem go
away, we can help it by doing our
part. The “Bee-tles” said it best,
“I get by with a little help from
my friends.”
This is a jar of Logan Lake’s pure raw honey. There hives are located
in Finley and Jackson, Tennessee. They also do honey bee removal
Photo by Jon Holden
34. 34 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
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36. 36 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
A recent column I wrote in
STO Magazine dealt with some
history of the Asian Carp’s in-
troduction into our waterways
and a new tool - a Bio-Acoustic
Fish Fence (BAFF) - about to be
introduced that will enhance the
ability of fish and wildlife agen-
cies to curtail migration.
A few members of the media,
along with fisheries biologists
from Tennessee and Kentucky
plus representatives of sever-
al federal agencies such as U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S.
Army Corps of Engineers and U.
S. Geological Survey were invited
to see, first hand, what the BAFF
was all about.
We also witnessed a shock-
ing demonstration by Kentucky
Fish and Wildlife that showed
just how many carp can stage in
a small area below locks, awaiting
the opportunity to pass through
the open doors, clearing the path
for mass migration into such res-
ervoirs as Barkley and Kentucky.
The video of thousands of carp
erupting has since gone viral on
social media plus received a lot
of national exposure in news-
papers and television as well. I
was standing right over the boat
when the shocking occurred and
it sounded like a waterfall when
many fish jumped. It was an eye
opener!
Meanwhile, a United King-
dom based company known as
Fish Guidance Systems hopes to
have the BAFF---a bubble cur-
tain with light and high frequen-
cy sound---installed by October if
not sooner. Initial plans intend-
ASIAN CARP
WAR ON
PART II
By Steve McCadams
Asian carp pose a threat to gamefish and are also a safety hazard,
because they get agitated and jump from the water at the sound and
vibration of an outboard motor.
37. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 37
ed it to be up and running before
now but high water below Bark-
ley Dam delayed the project this
past spring and summer.
THE BIG PICTURE
The War on Asian Carp is
complex and being fought on
many fronts. Far from the flowing
waters of Barkley and Kentucky
Lakes, where the fish have tak-
en center stage lately over a once
thriving sport fishery and tourism
mecca, are the halls of Congress.
Problems with the carp don’t
stop and start at state lines. The
enormity of the saga is almost
overwhelming.
When the problems first be-
gan to show up a few short years
ago it was clear state fish and
wildlife agencies wouldn’t be able
to combat the invasion on their
own. State agencies simply didn’t
have the money and manpower to
tackle such a big issue.
It was also a learning curve
for fisheries biologists who didn’t
have a lot of experience managing
and battling this new intruder.
Sport fishermen began to howl
with discontent. Bass, crappie and
bluegill fishing started to decline.
Resort and restaurants along the
lakes started seeing visitors de-
cline, leaving their dollars behind
that once nourished a healthy,
diverse recreational wonderland.
It quickly became clear the
encroachment of Asian Carp
was having a negative rippling
effect that reached far and wide.
It wasn’t just the lake area that
was suffering! Practically every-
one had ideas and suggestions
on what to do and how to do it.
Commercial harvest of the
carp is now underway. While
thousands of pounds are being
caught many ask if it is even mak-
ing a dent in the population.
Asian carp can out-compete
native species for food. One ma-
ture female Asian carp can pro-
duce more than 1 million eggs
each year!
Were they spawning here in
the Tennessee and Kentucky lake
areas? Could they be stopped or
slowed as to their migration from
the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers
into local waterways? Was eradi-
cation possible or would we have
to learn to live with this invasive
fish?
Were the carp to blame for the
disappearance of aquatic vegeta-
A fishery biologist with dozens of Asian carp, netted to study.
38. 38 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
tion, which had helped sportfish-
ing, waterfowl and more thrive?
Was the decline in shad popu-
lations affecting the whole food
chain and influencing the degra-
dation of bass and crappie num-
bers? There were so many ques-
tions; yet so few answers.
Quickly emerging in this enor-
mous endeavor was the need for
local, state and federal assistance.
It was going to take a lot of agen-
cies pooling their resources to
stop the carp invasion.
Where would the funding
come from to utilize new tech-
nology and research? The clock
was and is ticking. Carp keep
swimming and thriving with few
enemies.
With all the questions it be-
came clear the war would never
be won unless funding was se-
cured on the federal level. That’s
why the war will have to be fought
on another battlefield in addition
to the creeks, dams, and rivers.
P O L I T I C A L S U P P O R T
NEEDED
Politicians at all levels are get-
ting their ears bent. Their sup-
port base has raised awareness
about Asian carp. “For the past
five years, the Tennessee Wild-
life Federation has been hard at
work fighting for solutions and
resources to combat the inva-
sion,” said Mike Butler, Chief Ex-
ecutive Officer of The Tennessee
Wildlife Federation. “Practically
speaking our work has focused
in three areas.”
“The first has been informing
the public on what is happening
with Asian carp and the threat
these fish pose to our native fish
and river recreation. We have
spent considerable time and re-
sources getting the message on
this crisis out to media outlets,
social media, and the public at
large. People need to understand
the severity of the problem in or-
der to help us with supporting the
solutions.”
“The second has been to en-
gage and motivate citizens, pro-
fessionals, and elected officials to
get to work on those solutions,
primarily securing the finan-
cial resources to put solutions
in place. Specifically, we hold a
monthly Asian carp conference
call to bring together all relevant
decision makers, so that we are
all on the same page coordinat-
ing the efforts being made, the
needs we face, and the strategies
we need to work together on to
Boat loads of Asian carp are being harvested by commercial fishermen, using gill nets on Kentucky and
Barkley Lakes, as they attempt to lower the population.
Photo by Steve McCadams
39. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 39
fix this problem.
“We also are launching a sec-
ond call to further organize all
the grassroots efforts that we have
generated and that we see being
generated in Tennessee and the
region, so that they can become
an effective force for support-
ing solutions that combat Asian
carp.”
“The third is working direct-
ly with members of congress, the
state house of representatives,
and the governor’s office to keep
them apprised of what we need to
effectively address this Asian carp
crisis. This work began when we
helped pass the state Asian Carp
Task Force legislation that elevat-
ed this issue and began the sup-
port for commercial fishermen
three years ago.
To date, our elected officials’
response to the problem has been
positive. Of course what matters
most is results, and we will have
an opportunity to see if those re-
sults can be achieved when the fi-
nal federal budget is announced.
Senator Lamar Alexander is ac-
tively working with Senate Lead-
er Mitch McConnell and Chair-
man Shelby toward a $25 million
appropriation that would provide
critical funding to support bar-
riers on our river locks and in-
centivize commercial fishermen
to remove Asian carp from our
public rivers,” continued Butler.
“Additionally, we are working
with Governor Bill Lee and his
administration toward a broader
state response that could further
assist TWRA and their ongoing
work in attacking this problem.”
“One thing that is import-
ant to realize is that we are still
in the early stages of effectively
combating the Asian carp prob-
lem. In order for us to protect
our native fisheries and our out-
door recreation lifestyle on the
Tennessee and Cumberland riv-
ers, we are going to need every-
one’s help, and we are going to
need sustained financial resources
from our elected officials over the
long term.”
“If we don’t take advantage of
this opportunity now,” says But-
ler, “the cost to attack this prob-
lem will skyrocket. Being aggres-
sive and resolute right now is
critical to any chance of future
success.”
Editor’s note: Steve McCadams is
a professional guide and outdoor
writer from Paris, TN.
Combining commercial harvest of Asian Carp with new technology
that should diminish the migration of the fish through navigational
locks at dams, could see the tide turn on the war on carp.
Photo by Steve McCadams
43. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 43
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44. 44 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
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45. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 45
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46. 46 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
I remember one day we were
crappie fishing and it was cold,
so cold that we pulled over to
the shore and built a fire. One
of my friends, who had never
winter fished before,
wanted to try it and
he had all he could
stand by mid-morn-
ing. To tell you the
truth I was ready too
because my old army
fatigue jacket, sweat-
shirt, and cotton long
johns just weren’t do-
ing their job. That was
back in the early 1970s
and while I think we
caught a few fish that
day, I know it’s the
only time I stopped
a boat to build a fire
during a fishing trip.
Move ahead a few
years and bring on
Gore-Tex and all the
top-end clothing {not
to mention overall
better equipment} and
a winter crappie fish-
ing trip is not near-
ly as bad as that one
back in the 1970’s. You just
didn’t see many people fishing
during the coldest months, and
I was always told crappie shut
down in the winter. Old tim-
ers would sat, “They don’t eat a
thing,” which was code for it’s
too cold!
Crappie are active during the
winter months and a good num-
ber of anglers have
learned how to pattern
crappie during what is
widely considered to
be their slow time of
the year. Recent stud-
ies by biologists show
that crappie feeding
activity was heavi-
est in June through
October, moderate
during April, May
and November and
you guessed it, lowest
in the winter months.
Regardless of what
folks say, crappie
feed…all winter long!
Winter is a
tough time for this
cold-blooded fish, and
it seems a temperature
of 39° is the breaking
point where activity
slows tremendously.
If you are fishing
smaller lakes, obvious-
WINTER CRAPPIE
By Richard Hines
Josh Gowan {professional crappie angler} holds up a nice,
winter slab at Reelfoot Lake. TN.
Photo by Author
47. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 47
ly keying in on some of the old
spots from last spring are a good
ticket item, but I sometimes tell
folks to forget the brush piles in
cold weather. During the win-
ter months don’t be afraid to
fish the open water. While some
crappie will be around normal
structures, use most of your
time looking at the depth find-
er. Look for ridges, old creek
channels, or rock ledges. Steep
drop-offs are more productive
than gradual drop-offs.
Aside from the structure,
one of the first items I key in on
during winter is the location of
fresh water running into lakes.
In this part of the country we
can always count on an occa-
sional rain and local creeks and
other small feeder streams gen-
erally mean warmer water flow-
ing in. Anytime the temperature
is getting above 39° fish will be
feeding. Additionally, the inflow
of fresh water also increases dis-
solved oxygen levels, making
conditions better helping pep
up sluggish fish.
While fishing at creek run
ins, I still use more tradition-
al methods such as ultra-light
STO Editor - Rob Somerville holds up a hefty, cold-weather slab
crappie from Kentucky Lake.
This winter crappie angler is marking a drop off that is holding a school of crappie.
Photo by Author
48. 48 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
equipment and 4-pound test
line {sometimes 6-pound}.
While many go to a lighter line,
I sometimes use heavier line.
Because, it is just a little more
resistant it allows baits to fall
slower. Sometimes it’s the per-
fect way to present a 1/16 to
1/8-ounce curly tail jig. Consid-
er tipping your jigs with a min-
now to help entice a slow slab.
If you are anchored over any
type of cover, vertical jigs are
also effective for sluggish crap-
pie hanging out in brushy areas.
While most anglers are ac-
customed to fishing for crap-
pie in the brush, why not chase
them into their winter haunts?
Yes, the spring spawn is obvi-
ously the best time to fish for
crappie, but this pattern is short
and many times erratic depend-
ing on weather, but both sum-
mer and even winter can be
consistent in some respects.
When crappie get set into
their winter pattern, breaking
with tradition might be produc-
tive, like getting into crankbaits.
I had been using this method
during the summer and tried
it last winter on some Corps of
Engineers Reservoirs. Just like
the summer, I was using a Strike
King Series III to intercept fish
that were hanging along rock
ledges or drop offs along the
lower portion of the water col-
umn. Again, slow trolling is the
best way.
I have a friend who intro-
duced me to this type fishing.
He starts out with at least six
to eight rods. Setting one rod
with 90 feet of line out, anoth-
er one at 110, 120 and even 150
feet out. Remember crappie feed
up, not down so if you are just
above the school they will come
up. It’s important to keep track
of which rod you catch a fish. If
you catch several at one depth,
then adjust every crank bait to
that depth. Also, use the same
method testing which colors are
working best. Start with at least
Jigs are always worth a try when cold weather crappie are being pursued.
Photo by Author
49. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 49
four colors.
If you hit fish, remember most
of the school will face the same
direction so turn and go through
the school from the same direc-
tion, but make wide sweeping
turns so you don’t tangle lines.
Obviously, this is not effective
on smaller lakes, but it does
break the monotony on slow
days.
While Kentucky and Barkley
continue to be consistent crap-
pie producers’ other lakes may
be showing signs of some dete-
rioration from being impound-
ed so many years ago. When
reservoirs are first impounded,
the response of fish is unbeliev-
able. Cover is unlimited with
stumps, logs and weeds creating
a mecca for fish production. As
reservoirs age, cover begins rot-
ting and degrading to the point
that once productive fishing
spots are devoid of cover. This
is not just the
case with reser-
voirs in in the
STO region but
across the U.S.
T W R A
and other state
fishery biolo-
gists are work-
ing on habitat
improvement
projects creat-
ing new cover with “artificial
reefs”. Hopefully, as these im-
provement projects are expand-
ed each year, anglers should
start seeing a bump in both
numbers and size of crappie.
Overall, crappie are slow
in the winter and what might
work today might not work
next week. Break things up and
do some experimenting. I keep
a well-stocked box of curly tail,
marabou, and other jigs handy.
It’s hard to break old habits, so
I still use traditional methods.
But some of the new techniques
are worth looking at. The first
time I stepped out of my tradi-
tional box and caught a winter
crappie on a crankbait, I knew
tradition was going to be tough
to maintain. I now keep this in
my normal box of tricks.
Good luck stacking slabs!
Traditional tactics, such as spider rigging with minnows, pay off on shelfs and ledges during winter months.
Photo by Author
50. 50 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
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51. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 51
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52. 52 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 202052 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
Chris Ferrell, from Brownsville, shot this wide
beamed, 8-pointer during an afternoon hunt
this season.
Robert “Doc” Jackson fishes
year-round at Pickwick Lake.
Here he is with a nice
December largemouth bass.
My guess is that it will be a long
and happy marriage, as shown in
this photo of Holly McGee Chilli-
cut, with her afternoon 8-pointer.
She is the fiancée of Chris Ferrell.
Jon Johnson from Dyersburg,
Tennessee took this nice 11-point
buck during muzzleloader season
on November 16th 2019, with a 40
yard shot in Obion County.!
53. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 53MAY - JUNE 2019 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 53JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 53
Mary Malone Adcock shot this trophy 10-point buck while
on a family hunt with her father, David Adcock.
Pictured after a great day of duck hunting are {L to R}
Landon Hoopee, Alex Allman and Josh Dallas - with a hard
working dog named Tank.
Photo submitted by Tina Joy Wiley
Here is Logan Webb with a quality whitetail buck.
Landon Pritchard – age 10 - from Clarksburg,
Tennessee caught this huge catfish.
Photo submitted by John L. Sanders – Maddox
Insurance – Huntingdon, TN.
55. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 55JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 55
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JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 55