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Indiana Department of Natural ResourcesDivision of Fish and Wildlife

Fall 2001

Topics this issue...Catching steelhead in Indiana

Ginseng

Timber rattlesnakes

State record flier expedition

Allegheny woodrat — extraordinary packrat

Meet the original packrat — the Allegheny woodrat. Thewoodrat received its nickname from its habit of collectingand storing just about anything it encounters. Itemsfound in woodrat treasure troves are varied, from bottlecaps, coins and cartridges to snail shells, feathers andbones. No one is really sure why they do this.

Allegheny woodrats are found in rocky, wooded bluffareas. In Indiana, they are found along the cliffs of theOhio River. Buds, leaves, stems, fruits, seeds, acorns andother nuts form the mainstay of their diet. Food is stored,especially in late summer and early fall in preparation forwinter. It is common to find food and non-food itemsstashed together.

Although classified as a rat, the Allegheny woodratlooks like a large, white-footed mouse. Its fur is long, softand brownish-gray or cinnamon with a white belly andfeet. Its tail is also furred.

The woodrat is one of Indiana’s endangered species.Found only in Harrison and Crawford counties, theDivision of Fish & Wildlife’s Endangered Wildlife Programis conducting surveys to ascertain the status of thewoodrat. Biologists hope to find new woodrat locationsand information on why woodrat numbers have declined.

No single factor can be blamed for the woodrat’sdwindling numbers. Biologists believe that a decline inacorn production, parasitic raccoon roundworm infection,increased predation, changes in forest composition, severewinter weather and habitat fragmentation have all playeda role.

Woodrat surveys are conducted on a yearly basis. Smallboxtraps are placed in areas frequented by woodrats andin habitat that could support woodrat populations. Whencaptured, the woodrats are weighed and measured and ageis determined. Each woodrat is given an ear tag and amicrochip so it can be identified if captured again. Thewoodrat is then released in the area of its capture.

Although the number of woodrats have declined atsome individual sites, the overall Indiana populationremains small but stable. Three new sites were found inHarrison County during the 1992-1993 survey season.Juveniles are caught each year, which is proof thatreproduction is occurring. These findings, along withfuture management plans to be developed from surveydata, create a sense of cautious optimism for thewoodrat’s future in the state. After all, life would be lessinteresting with no packrats around.

Kathy Quimbach, nongame biologist, Division of Fish and Wildlife

The Allegheny woodrat is nocturnal, making interactions withpeople rare. Woodrats pose no threat to human health or safety.

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Focus on Fish & Wildlife is a quarterlypublication from the Indiana Departmentof Natural Resources Division of Fish andWildlife. Focus on Fish & Wildlife seeksto educate sportsmen and women, con-servationists, wildlife recreationists andall Hoosiers on topics related to the man-agement of Indiana’s fish and wildliferesources.

Larry D. MacklinDepartment of Natural Resources

Director

Bill James Division of Fish and Wildlife

Acting Director

Jon MarshallPublic Affairs Chief

Michael Ellis, EditorJohn Maxwell, Photographer

Focus on Fish & Wildlife is distributed freeof charge. To subscribe, send name, completeaddress, city, state and zip code. Sendaddress changes or subscription requests to:

Focus on Fish and Wildlife402 W. Washington St., Room W273

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2781

If you have questions, please write tothe above address or call (317) 232-4080.

MissionTo manage fish and

wildlife for present

and future

generations,

balancing ecological, recreational and

economic benefits.

Director of

Fish & Wildlife

Printed on recycled paper

Visit the DNRDivision of Fish & Wildlife website:

wildlife.IN.gov

When it’s time, it’s time.

I’ve talked about retiring for a least a year now,so I guess it’s time to set the date. On July 1, Istepped down as Director of the Division of Fishand Wildlife and assumed the position ofdirector of special projects for the division.Director Macklin appointed Bill James as actingdirector. My position has been advertisednationally and a new director will be hiredsoon. I’ve had many good jobs in my career, butbeing director of the Division of Fish andWildlife has been most fulfilling and

personally rewarding of anything I have ever done. I’ve been veryfortunate to have good bosses that have given me a lot of room to run.But mostly I have been so privileged to be surrounded by the bestnatural resource staff that there is. One of our division goals has been tobe recognized as leaders in the field of fish and wildlife management atthe national level. Indeed, the International Association of Fish andWildlife Agencies recognized our professional fish and wildlifemanagement capabilities when they met here in Indianapolis lastSeptember.

The future will be full of challenges with state and national economicconcerns affecting everything we do. But there will also be significantopportunities coming along such as CARA. We will receive $850,000 forthis year and a good possibility of twice that amount next year forwildlife programs.

This is just a year-by-year funding source that we cannot depend on,but will be a great help while we work on permanent funding.

As of the August Congressional break, this year’s CARA (HR 701), hasover 239 House members as co-sponsors. This funding source couldprovide over $29 million to DNR. The Indiana coalition has played a veryimportant role in the progress that CARA has made. I encourage you allto join the coalition in supporting this historic piece of natural resourcefunding for the future.

I want to thank you all for your support of the division and for givingme the privilege of working with you in protecting and managingIndiana’s valuable fish and wildlife resources. See you on the other side.

Gary Doxtater

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Big fish on thin sticksFly-fishing for steelhead in the Midwest

Before engineers choked westernU.S. rivers with concrete, migratoryswarms of steelhead trout left thePacific, entered the Columbia River,followed tributaries acrossWashington, skirted Idaho’s desertplateau, and stopped in the foothillsof the Rockies. They stopped tospawn at gravel beds in rivers ofMontana, three states away from theocean. From the same gravel beds,their smolts — the young steelhead —returned to the Pacific Ocean.

First-time flycasters are generallyshell-shocked with awe at their firststeelhead. It is as if somehow oceantides, swollen rivers, and the strengthof mountains have been squeezedinto the shape of a fish. From thewater fly-anglers can connect to thecontinent, even if only briefly,through a long thin stick.

While you could make a trip west,the truth is that North America’s bestfly-casting for steelhead now occursin the Midwest, in those tributaries of

the freshwater oceans of the GreatLakes. Steelheading in Indiana,Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio is but aday trip away for Hoosier anglers.

Anglers making the leap from spin-fishing to fly-casting generally havetwo concerns: cost and the learningcurve.

The good news is that mostcompanies make entry level gear thatis within reach of generally everyoneand no more costly than a good spin-fishing outfit. My advice is to buy thebest reel that you can afford and, ifyou’re going to compromise,compromise on your first rod. Yourfirst rod for salmon and steelheadought to be a 9 foot, 8-weight rod.This rod will also serve as a goodpopper rod for bass.

Is fly-casting difficult to learn? No,it is not. But, the truth be told, Idon’t think I have ever run acrossanyone that managed to do a great orquick job of teaching themselves.

Find a fly-shop, a club, or a friend

that will take an hour to show youthe basics. If you need to, stop a fly-caster on the water and ask for apointer. Fly-casting tends to attract

the sort of people willing to showyou what’s working and how to getit into the water.

From the St. Joe to the PereMarquette River, I’m never withoutcertain flies. By far and away thenumber one fly for Midweststeelhead is an imitation of thegreen rock worm, a caddis nymph.Stone fly nymphs and leeches areindispensable additions to any flybox. Egg flies are a staple duringfall and spring runs. During thesummer run, streamers, particularlywhite followed by nymphs,consistently produce strikes.Some things you will learn quickly.Others will take time — lots of timeon the water. And, if you thinkabout it, that doesn’t sound so badeither.

Clark D. McCreedy, wildlife biologist, Divi-sion of Fish and Wildlife.

Clark McCreedy holds a steelhead trout caught using a fly rod. Indiana’s steelhead program providesanglers with the best summer steelhead fishery in the Great Lakes. DNR’s fishery biologists have madeIndiana the number one source for summer run steelhead eggs, fry and fingerlings.

Steelhead are one of several west coast im-ported trout and salmon species in the GreatLakes. Fabulous stream fishing opportunitiesoccur when they return to their stocked (natal)stream for spawning. These “silver bullets” useLake Michigan as their ocean and streams forproducing their young. Most steelhead in LakeMichigan originate from hatchery stockings, butsome natural reproduction does occur. Thestream fishing calendar for steelhead variesseasonally, but they are often present in Hoo-sier streams ten months out of the year.

Dave Umberger

Dave Umberger

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The anatomy of a ginseng plantGinseng grows throughout most of

Indiana. From the central stem comesone or more leaf stalks. The three tofive toothed leaves at the base ofeach stalk are actually leaflets. Theseleaflets and their stalk make up oneleaf (or prong).

Ginseng does not reproduce untilit‘s three or four years old. At thattime it bears a round cluster of palegreen flowers. The flowers produce afruit-cluster that turns bright redwhen ripe in the middle of August.

First year ginseng plants are about2 inches tall and have one leaf(prong) with three leaflets.

Second and third year plants havetwo prongs with five leaflets each.

Plants four years and older are 12to 14 inches tall and have threeprongs with five leaflets. The twoleaflets at the prong base are smallerthan the other three.

Plants older than four years mayhave three to five prongs, each withfive leaflets.

A large taproot, often with smallertails forking off the main root,

develops over several years. It is thistaproot that has economic value.

Contact a ginseng dealer for furtheradvice on digging and drying ginseng.The easiest way to find a ginsengdealer is to check with the fur buyersin your area.

Harvesting requirementsThe plant must have three or more

prongs and a flowering or fruitingstalk and four internodes on thetaproot (rhizome). Fruits and seedscannot be sold or removed from theharvested area. The seeds must beplanted at the harvesting site in amanner that encourages germination.

Harvest seasonFrom Sept. 1 to Dec. 31 of each

year, harvesters can legally dig wildginseng. Harvesters do not need alicense to dig ginseng nor sell ginsengto a licensed dealer.

Harvesting on state propertyHarvesting is not allowed on any

state property.

Harvesting on private propertyHarvesting is not allowed on

private property without the owner’spermission.

Possession of ginsengA harvester cannot be in

possession of ginseng after Dec. 31unless it is certified. A dealer cannotbe in possession of ginseng afterMarch 31 unless it is certified.Ginseng certification must be done byan Indiana conservation officer.

An annual summary report is dueto the Division of Nature Preserves nolater than April 30 (which is 30 daysafter the last day of the sellingseason, March 31).

Selling seasonFrom Sept. 1 of current year

through March 31 of the next year,

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The ginseng thingThings you’ll need to know if you harvest, buy or sell ginseng

dealers can legally purchase ginsengfrom harvesters.

When reselling ginseng purchaseddirectly from harvesters, the dealermust fill out a form certifying theginseng’s origin and weight.

Ginseng that is bought for resalemust be certified by a conservationofficer. A copy of the certificationmust accompany the ginseng when itis shipped. By monitoring reportsfrom dealers, the Division of NaturePreserves may better determine thestatus of ginseng.

Dealer license yearSept. 1 of current year through

Aug. 31 of next year.

Important new informationThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

limits the export of wild ginseng totaproots that are five years of age orolder. Federal inspectors will not allowthe export of ginseng with fewer thanfive internodes.

Indiana’s ginseng law requiresginseng taproots to have four or moreinternodes.

Michael Ellis, program director, Division of Fishand Wildlife

To maintain a healthy ginseng crop in Indiana,it’s illegal to dig the taproot until a plant has 3or 4 prongs. Harvesting younger plants preventsthem from forming the seeds they need for re-production.

For administrative questionscontact:Division of Nature Preserves402 W. Washington St.Room W267Indianapolis IN 46204317-232-4052 or fax 317-233-0133

For questions concerning laws andenforcement contact:Law Enforcement Division402 W. Washington St.Room W255DIndianapolis IN 46204317-232-4010 or fax 317-232-8035

Internodes (6 shown)

Leaf (one prong)

Taproot

CB

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Acquiring, restoring, enhancing and protecting Hoosier habitatIn southwest Indiana, where four

rivers join — a group of conservationpartners have joined together topurchase and develop waterfowlhabitat. The focus area includes thewatersheds of the Ohio, Wabash,White and Patoka Rivers.

International agreementThe Four Rivers Project is part of

the North American WaterfowlManagement Plan (NAWMP), aninternational wildlife managementagreement among the United States,Canada and Mexico. It’s one of themost ambitious continental wildlifeconservation programs attempted.The plan provides:• A strong biological foundation to

restore waterfowl numbers• A landscape approach to

conservation by acquiring anddeveloping proper habitat

• A public-private partnership thatencompasses other migratory birdinterests and initiatives.The NAWMP strives to maintain the

current diversity of duck speciesthroughout North America andprovide a breeding population of 62million ducks during years of averageenvironmental conditions. Reachingthis goal will support a fall flight of100 million ducks. The plan also

establishes population goals for 30populations of six species of geese.

Habitat is the keyProper habitat is important to

migrating waterfowl, and neotropical,wading and shore birds as well asother wildlife.

Acquiring, restoring, enhancing,and protecting significant tracts ofbottomland hardwoods in southwestIndiana provides a critical steppingstone along North America’s migrationroutes.

A partnershipThirteen major partners make up

the partnership that includesindividuals, corporations, conserva-tion organizations, and federal andstate natural resource agencies.

FundingFunding comes from an $800,000

North American WaterfowlConservation Act agreement with theDNR and the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService. The balance of $2,210,413comes from partners.

Most of the land is managed by thePatoka National Wildlife Refuge andHovey Lake Fish and Wildlife Area.

Ed Theroff, wildlife research supervisor, Divi-sion of Fish and Wildlife

The Project proposal• Acquire 1,115 acres of wetlands

and associated uplands• Restore 1,132 acres of wetlands• Enhance 644 acres of wetlands• Create 120 acres of wetlands.

What was accomplished• 1,165 acres involving 16 tracts

of land were acquired• 1,139 acres were restored to

bottomland hardwood• Warm and cool season grasses

were planted to benefitwaterfowl nesting

• Creation of seasonally floodedareas

• 655 acres were enhanced byplanting bottomlandhardwoods, placement of woodduck nest boxes, and acornplantings

• 130 acres of wetlands werecreated by constructing levees,installing water controlstructures and installing awell.

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The Southwest Indiana Four Rivers project

The Southwest Indiana Four Rivers Project is one of three North American Waterfowl ManagementPlan projects in Indiana. Two of the projects are in northern Indiana.

The North American Waterfowl ManagementPlan will help restore waterfowl populations to1970s levels—considered a benchmark decadefor waterfowl.

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The timber rattlesnakeEven the species name Crotalus horridus, strikes fear in the hearts of

Of all our fears and phobias, snakessurely must rate near the top of thelist. Snakes, especially venomous oneslike the timber rattlesnake, can senda double chill up the spine. Even theirspecies name “horridus,” connotes analmost unspeakable horror.

But what’s the real story aboutrattlesnakes? Read on — you are infor some surprising answers.

In the springtime, many reptilesand amphibians begin to emerge fromhibernation. Spring peepers andchorus frogs fill the air with theirsong, salamanders begin to creeptoward small breeding ponds, andsnakes slowly emerge from their dens.As the sun warms the earth, thetimber rattlesnake begins to stir.

Indiana is home to about 35 snakespecies. The timber rattlesnake is one

of Indiana’s four venomous snakes,and is considered state endangered.

The Timber rattlesnake is typicallybrownish to yellow in color with arust colored band along the length ofits back. Additionally, there are 18 to25 cross bands, or “chevrons,” whichrun along the length of the snake.These colors provide a camouflageideal for laying on the forest floor,allowing the rattlesnake to remainhidden from both predator and prey.Timber rattlesnakes will lie motionlesswhen approached in hopes that theywill not be seen. Even whenencountered, this timid creature willattempt to flee if it feels threatened.

After therattlesnake emergesfrom its den, itremains in theimmediate areabasking for a fewdays before movingoff to its summerrange — which canextend up to twomiles. Once insideits summer range,the rattlesnakebegins to search forfood and shelter.Areas near fallenlogs and thickground vegetation,provide cover and asource of food.

The rattlesnakeeats small rodents,ranging from miceto squirrels, smallbirds, and otherwarm bloodedanimals.

A timberrattlesnake willforage beside afallen log or treewere it has smelledits prey. It will wait,

with its head resting on a log, for theperfect moment to strike. As the preyruns along the log, it strikes. Afterbiting its prey, the rattlesnake willwait for the venom to do its work.After the prey has died, the snaketracks it down by its scent and thenswallows the prey head first.

If a snake doesn’t have luck at onespot, it moves on in about a week toa new spot.

Rattlesnakes breed in August.Males travel extensive distanceslooking for females. It has beendocumented that an adult male canmove nearly two miles in a few dayswhile searching for females. Once a

Rattlesnakes are cold blooded. After eating they will move to warm areas for digand basking. Key characteristics for identifying a timber rattlesnake include: pit

Rattlesnake research is not for the faint-of-heart. Wildlife biologist Zachary Walker gets alot of interesting reactions from folks who askhim what he does for a living.

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f many people

It’s not possible to age a rattlesnake by the number of buttons in its rattle. Rattlesnakes add onebutton every time that they shed their skin. Younger snakes grow more quickly and can add up tothree buttons in a year, while older snakes may only shed once a year. In the wild, timber rattle-snakes have been known to live up to 25 years.

female is found, he will stay near herfor a few days keeping other malesaway until they mate. After mating,the female will not give birth untilthe following year. In the spring, shewill fertilize her eggs and move to asmall open area where she will stayfor the remainder of the summer,incubating the eggs within her. In theearly fall, she will give live birth to10 to 12 “neonates” (young). Shewill remain with them for about aweek. After leaving her young, shewill move toward her den searchingfor food as she travels.

During pregnancy, the female doesnot eat and loses considerable weight.

She has to regain her fat reservesbefore breeding again. She may notgive birth again for up to five years.

The young snakes are born venomcapable, and with one button on their

gestiont organs,

rattle. The young are usually slategrey in color. They have blackchevrons and a pinkish white belly.The second week after birth, thejuvenile rattlesnakes — now about 7to 9 inches long, will shed their skinsand gain another button. After thesecond shedding, the young snakesneed to find a den in which tohibernate. To do this, they track scenttrails left by the adult snakes tonearby dens. These dens will be theirhome for the upcoming years.

Young timber rattlesnakes arethought to have only about a 50percent chance of making it througha year during their first three years.

After breeding season in latesummer and the birth of neonates inearly fall, rattlesnakes will try to getanother meal before starting to moveto their dens. Once they arrive at theden site, they usually share the dennot only with other rattlesnakes, butmany other types of snakes. It’spossible to find garter snakes, blackrat snakes, copperheads, and blackracers denning together.

As winter approaches, shadowsgrow longer, skies turn a bleak grey,temperatures begin to drop, and thesnakes move underground. There theywait patiently, in darkness andsilence, for the return of spring.Spring warmth renews life to theearth and to the timber rattlesnake.

Zachary Walker, wildlife biologist, Division ofFish and Wildlife

elliptical pupils, keeled scales, fangs (modified teeth for delivering venom—a modified formof saliva), an undivided anal plate, and tail rattle.

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Garold Spoonmore retired Sept. 1,after working 47 years in the DNR —at the same fish and wildlife property.That sounds like a lot of time, but tohim, it’s more like the blink of an eye.

For someone with Garold’s numberof years in the DNR, you would thinkhe would like to talk about his manyaccomplishments, but not Garold. He’salways generously shared the creditwith others. If you don’t know it by

now, Garold is a modest man.When asked what he liked most

about the job, Garold replied that “helikes the people and the job.”

Garold was 19 years old in 1953when he began his DNR career as alaborer at the Avoca Fish Hatchery. Itwasn’t too long before he was namedforeman, and then Avoca’s propertymanager in 1982. A position he helduntil his retirement.

The job as hatchery manager haschanged based on the needs of thehatchery programs, which supply fishto DNR properties all over the state.

He helped stock all nine of thestate reservoirs as they were built forflood control by the Army Corps ofEngineers.

For several years, Garold drovealmost one hundred thousand miles ayear to the several southern Indianahatcheries to repair equipment andbring fish.

Many things can go wrong at ahatchery, from power outages, tobroken aerators and pumps, to vehiclebreakdowns, vandalism and fishrustling.

Speaking of fish rustling, Garoldadmits that as a young boy he triedto sneak into the hatchery and anglefor a prize fish. So, he doesn’t get tooangry with local kids who try to dothe same. He doesn’t allow it, but hesmiles with an understanding heart.

Garold Spoonmore grew up inAvoca and plans to spend now andforever there. Before he came to theDNR, Garold worked on several localfamily farms. After doing his choresat home, he did some of the worknobody likes to do, such as puttingup hay and working in grain bins.

What’s in the future for Garold?He’s purchased a piece of property upon the hill from the fish hatchery —just above the cave spring thatsupplies the hatchery its water. He’sbuilding a new home for his wife of42 years, Arretta. Their three growndaughters have blessed him with fivegranddaughters and one grandson.

Garold also likes to restore old cars.He’s got a 1938 Ford sedan, a 1955Ford convertible, a 1956 Buick andtwo 1951 Chevys. Garold said hemight even find time to do somefishing.

Steve Polston is editor of Outdoor Indianamagazine

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Garold Spoonmore - ah, the memories47 years with the DNR, on the same property

Garold Spoonmore, Avoca State Fish Hatchery manager, worked for the DNR’s Division of Fish andWildlife for 47 years.

Steve Polston

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DNR’s fish of the year programYou’ve earned the right to brag

Go ahead and brag...Last year, thirty-nine anglers

participated in Indiana’s “Fish of theYear” program, and 22 of themreceived special recognition.

Could my fish have won?If you didn’t enter, you’ll never

know. There were no entries for anumber of commonly caught Indianasportfish. If you had filled out theform in the 2001 Indiana FishingGuide and sent it in for any of thefollowing species, your fish wouldhave been recognized as a “Fish ofthe Year.” You would have gotten asmart-looking patch and certificatefrom the DNR.

No entries were received for:Atlantic salmon bowfinbrook trout brown troutbuffalo bullheadburbot fliergreen sunfish hybrid walleyelake trout paddlefishpink salmon rainbow troutredear sunfish saugersucker tiger muskietiger trout warmouthwhite bass yellow perch

My catch wasn’t that bigMany anglers don’t realize their

fish could be eligible for Fish-of-the-Year honors even if it isn’t larger thanthe state record. The DNR’s Fish of theYear program recognizes anglers whocatch the largest fish each year in 47different categories.

Catch and release anglersCatch and release anglers can

participate, too. A fish’s weight is notrequired for Fish of the Year. Only thelength of the fish, a photo that canbe used to identify the fish species,and two witnesses are needed. Fish

with your rod and reel and completethe catch with your camera. Weightmeasurement on a certified scale isstill required for state recordconsideration.

Can children participate?Yes they can. Four children won

fish-of-the-year awards last year.Billy Bonebrake, a 10-year-old from

Russellville, Ind. out-muscled andout-hustled a 58-pound, 4-ounceflathead catfish from his “secret spot”on Cecil M. Harden Lake. The 52-inchfish was the longest and heaviestsportfish officially reported to theDNR in 2000.

Billy likes to fish for flatheadcatfish because he feels that“they’re good-lookin’ fish.”

Billy and his dad showed off thefish to neighbors by trucking itaround in an aerated horse troughbefore releasing the healthycatfish back into the lake.

The youngest winner was seven-year-old Nicole Cummings ofSchererville, Ind. She was surprisedwhen she landed a 9.25-inch rockbass onto a Lake Michigan dock lastJune. Nicole tricked the rock basswith her tried-and-true “Snoopy pole”and night crawler combo.

Children and youth sponsors maybecome more familiar with fishingtechniques by participating in the GoFishIN program. To learn more aboutthe program, check out the websiteat:www.state.in.us/dnr/fishwild/about/edcenter/gofishin.htm

What does it cost to enter?There’s no cost to submit your

catch as a state record fish or as afish of the year. Procedures forsubmitting an entry are in theDNR’s 2001 Indiana Fishing Guide andon the web at:fishing.IN.gov

How is my information used?Your information will be added to

state record fish data and lorecollected since the early ‘60s —records that show the largemouthbass state record has been brokenseveral times since the first 10-pound,5-ounce record was set in 1963.

The records also show March, April,May and June appear to be the bestmonths to catch large bluegill. Moststate records were taken early in thefishing season. Big catfish are usuallytaken in July and August. Entriesshow that every region in Indiana iscapable of producing a big fish.

Is there a deadline?Fish of the Year entries must be

postmarked by Dec. 31, 2001, for anyfish caught during this calendar year.

John Maxwell, program director, Division ofFish and Wildlife

While fishing in a “secret spot” with his dad,Billy Bonebrake enticed this behemoth flatheadcatfish to take an 8-inch live sucker baitdangled from a spinning rod. Billy always goesfishing with his dad right before his birthday.He and his dad have caught some big flatheadsin that same spot.

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At the end of the road farthestfrom Everywhere Else, Ind., lives analmost mythical forgotten fish. Downlow in the Patoka territories, wherefishing hole names all include thewords “swamp”, “snake” or “snakey,”old men and grizzled fisheriesbiologists sit around winter stovesmumbling about a rare fishoccasionally caught or seen duringtheir sunny days of youth. A fishrarely seen before or since. A fishcalled the flier.

In the summer of 2001, a smallintrepid band of anglers struck outinto these misty vine-entangledswamps to reconnoiter and fish for anew state flier size record. A recordthat has stood for almost 20 years.

The flier is a pint-sized crossbetween a sunfish and a yeti, or acrappie and a sasquatch. The species’range includes the lowlands of thesoutheastern and midwestern UnitedStates, but it is rarely abundant. Theflier is more tolerant of acidity thanother sunfish, and prefers clear weedywaters. The streamlined panfish isnamed for its enthusiastic habit ofjumping over the water’s surface inpursuit of insects.

It’s not the biggest, but it’sthe smallest

The largest flier caught in Indianaweighed a whopping 3.5 ounces, andwas caught in 1983 from a tributaryto the Muscatatuck River — anothersnakey, gristly Indiana low spot.

“I thought it might go seveninches,” says Harold Otte. Otte’s keenlength estimate was good, as the tapemeasure stretched seven inches fromthe tip of the fish’s snapping jaws onout to the broad fan-shaped tail.

Otte lived in Seymour during thosedays of glory, but now lives nearGreenwood. The fishing championsays he has had a lot of fun over the

years joking with his friends abouthis record fish, and he even got thefish preserved and mounted withoutcharge at a taxidermy shop that had astanding offer to mount any staterecord fish for free. The fish is nowhandsomely displayed against a hand-sized piece of driftwood.

Otte says he caught the state-record fish while tight-lining anightcrawler for bluegill and crappie.He says his son had battled, and losta bigger flier on the same day. Hebelieves the fish, induced by a heavyspring water flow, swam up from theMuscatatuck River.

The first state record flierexpedition begins

The first “State Record FlierExpedition” (SRFE) headed to thewater-logged Patoka River mire in

May 2001. The mission: catch a bigflier. Fish scientist Dan Carnahan fromWinslow, Ind. photographer JohnMaxwell from Indianapolis, tacticianJon Marshall from Lizton, Ind. and aguy named Tom made up the firstIndiana SRFE. Young Tom showed upwith Carnahan, and could lift aflatbottom boat, so he was in.

At 14:00 hours the expeditionlaunched onto a small Patoka Riveroxbow lake near Sugar Ridge Fish andWildlife Area. Carnahan said he hadseen several fliers while surveying thelake’s fish population. Rubber spiderflies, spinners, and crickets or smallnightcrawlers were deployed aroundseveral flatbottom boats.

Bluegill, drum, redear sunfish,bowfin, gar, white bass, crappie and acertain state-record red spottedsunfish were caught, but no fliers.

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Let the flier bewareAngling for a new state fish record – the expedition begins

The mightiest Hoosier flier was lifted from Mill Creek by Harold Otte of Greenwood, Ind. In 1983,Otte used a spinning reel to winch the historical fish from Mill Creek below Starve Hollow Dam.

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Carnahan returned the certainstate-record 2-inch-long spottedsunfish back into the lake becausethe state does not track the species.Weather: heavy rain. Expedition pullsout of lake at 18:00 hours.

The next day at 06:00 hours theexpedition launched one boat intothe Snakey Point Swamp near OaklandCity. The swamp is part of the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service’s PatokaRiver National Wildlife Refuge.Carnahan said old locals reportedseeing fliers in the swamp’s murky,gassy mist.

Baits, lures and flies were againdeployed. Dozens of redear sunfishwere caught, but no fliers. No otheranglers were seen through the drivingrain, but a dingo type dog wasspotted.

Weather: light to heavy rain. At13:00 hours the first state record flierexpedition members bail out boat andreturn to civilization. A second flierexpedition is possible.

Indiana’s record fish listingsFor almost 40 years, Indiana’s

record fish program has recorded thelargest fish of 47 different speciescaught on hook and line in Indiana.Notable fish that are smaller than thestate record fish are eligible for thefish-of-the-year honors (see page 9for details).

John Maxwell, photographer (member of theflier expedition), Division of Fish and Wildlife

Dan Carnahan catches the wrong big little fish.Carnahan returned the certain state-record 2-inch-long spotted sunfish back into the waterbecause the state does not track the species.

Jon (left) and young Tom ready the state record flierexpedition boat at Snakey Point Swamp.

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Find out where the fish are biting,how to spot rare wild birds, and how thisyear’s hunting season is shaping up – allthrough Wild Bulletin, a FREE e-mailinformation service offered by the DNRDivision of Fish and Wildlife. Wild Bulletin provides frequentupdates about Indiana’s natural resourcesand recreation through e-mail. Sign on toreceive information about hunting andfishing season dates, regulation updates, wildlifeand fisheries research status reports, tips onwildlife watching and reminders aboutIMPORTANT DATES for Hoosier outdoorenthusiasts. You’ll also get updates about newinformation available on the DNR web page. To subscribe to Wild Bulletin, sendan e-mail to: majordomo@ai.org with themessage body: subscribe wildbulletin<your e-mail address> Leave the subjectof the message blank. To subscribe to Wild Bulletin on theDNR web site, go to:wildlife.IN.gov

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDINDIANAPOLIS, IN

PERMIT #7429

Division of Fish and WildlifeDepartment of Natural Resources402 W. Washington St., Room W273Indianapolis, IN 46204-2781317/232-4080

Address Service Requested