Patience is virtue during a bad day on the lake

August 22, 2020

Some fishing days are easier than others. Thursday was not one of the easy days, but it provided yet another learning experience. I hitched up the BassCat in the cool inkiness before sunrise and arrived at Mosquito Lake just as dawn broke in a molten gold splash across the lake over Cortland. The morning seemed to hold promise as I met fishing friends “Fast Freddie” Woak and his son, Tyler, at the ramp. With two boats and cell phones to share success, figuring out a productive approach seemed like a slam dunk. The fish, however, had other plans. Perhaps they slept in. ...

Spring ball isn’t all bad for Penguins

August 20, 2020

Let's start this column with a game. It’s called, “Words I never want to hear again after 2020.” 1. Social distancing. 2. COVID-19. 3. Mask up. 4. Fluid situation. 5. Spring football. Feel free to email me your list. I’m curious to see which ones drive you mad. I don’t know if Youngstown State football coach Doug Phillips would agree with me in regards to the “spring football” choice. Sure, Phillips would have liked to coach some games in the fall as much as anyone. The first-time college head coach is a competitor and almost certainly wants to see how he can do as the ...

OHSAA plan more about its budget

August 13, 2020

A flexible regular-season schedule of at least six games with expanded high school football playoffs is the new plan. The Ohio High School Athletic Association lost its spring sports season and, more importantly, the winter sports postseason because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Money was lost by the OHSAA. According to the organization’s financial statements ending the 2018-19 school year, the basketball state tournament amassed $843,041, track and field was $575,216, state wrestling was $532,094 and girls state basketball was $456,135. Those are the second through fifth top moneymakers ...

Six weeks are better than none

August 9, 2020

So, the Ohio High School Athletic Association went and did it. The organizing body for high school sports in the state conferred with all the right people — school superintendents, principals, athletic administrators and coaches — and came up with a plan for high school football this fall that is designed to have something for everyone. Of course, since they didn’t confer with each individual Joe Fan in Ohio, most of them will think the plan is terrible. Whatever the decision the OHSAA came up with — and it still hinges on Gov. Mike DeWine’s office allowing football to be ...

Joys of fishing about more than casting, reeling

August 8, 2020

Experienced anglers understand that fishing is a lot more than casting, reeling and unhooking fish. To succeed on the water, anglers need to be prepared. Preparation starts at home, in the garage or workshop, and extends through the drive to the lake and all of the various actions that we execute during our hours on the water. Sometimes, of course, even the best-prepared anglers suffer hiccups. Recently, toward the end of a successful day on the lake, I clicked the trolling motor’s “on” switch with my foot. Nothing happened. The electric motor that turns the prop ...

Decision on season will come eventually

August 2, 2020

Let me start by saying, “I don’t know.” I don’t know what should be done about high school fall sports. I know that plenty of people on various social media know exactly what should happen, but they aren’t the people who actually have to make the decision — and neither am I. I also know that for each person who knows what to do, there is someone else who also knows, but their solution is the opposite of the first person’s solution. Those who will end up making decisions are understandably playing a waiting game, hoping for things to change in a positive ...