Lessons learned while fishing

Repetition -- The term is often associated with too much of the same thing. In the case of fishing it relates to muscle and joint issues. This would explain why my neck, arms, hands, wrists, shoulders and elbows constantly ache. This malady happens less while fishing and more when I am called upon to do chores around the house.

Nature -- The word brings about visions of beautiful sunsets and peaceful surroundings. In my case, it refers to the state of those animals and fish that I seek. Animals in the four-legged variety simply eat and produce. Simple enough, unless you paid big bucks to locate big bucks and don't encounter a sight or sound of anything larger than a varmint. And fish ... ah yes, the fish. These lesser vertebrates like to play games with rules not known or shared. All of which shows me how little I know about the sport or the quarry I pursue.

Exercise -- The doc keeps telling me that exercise will help the problems associated with repetition (see above). I can concur, given the fact that most of my day is spent standing on the bow of a slippery boat trying to dislodge a stray cast from a tree limb, or having to stretch and reach to remove the snag from overhead. (This also might account for sore hands and wrists.) The strain of pulling on a fishing rod with 20-pound test line while wrapped around an oyster bed or underwater structure can affect one's physical condition if done so repeatedly. Not to mention throwing a cast net over a mound of pluff mud.

The doc also says exercise will help keep me from gaining weight in the latter years. That's somewhat true in fishing. Most of the time on the water I tend to forget my lunch. It's not that I forget to eat in all the excitement, I simply forget where I put it.

Physics & Math -- My parents said to study hard and the ability to reason and calculate sums would pay off some day. They were right. I have found that for many fishermen, numbers are more consistent with the size and weight of their fish as their audience grows. Also, these same numbers have a tendency to double or triple when the audience is lacking any witness to the catch. And when one tries to jump from the bow to the dock, the relative distance when viewed from above the water is much greater than from the dock. From this same perspective, it is also much closer if given the "just jump" signal from your fishing partner.

Murphy's Law and Psychology -- If the nature of things proves that humans are the only intelligent animal, why do so many of the quarry I seek manage to elude hook and shot? Furthermore, if all fish are cold-blooded, why is it that their reflexes are faster than mine when I set the hook? I also have concluded that when all else goes wrong, don't be fooled into thinking it has.

Language Skills -- While visiting the great outdoors, be it fishing, hunting, camping or other such interests, there is a word for every event. I have found that most of these words are not suitable for print, mixed company or any form of social posturing. That is, unless these words are shared among others with like interest and a declining grasp of the English language.

TURKEY HUNTING

The wild turkey season runs April 1 through May 1 for all Wildlife Management Areas where turkey hunting is allowed and on private lands in 34 counties that make up Game Zones 1-5. The season opens March 15 and runs through May 1 on private lands only in Game Zone 6: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton, Jasper and Orangeburg counties.

Hunters are reminded that although they must still possess and use turkey tags, taking harvested turkeys to check stations is not required. Turkey tags now include security features that require the hunter to notch or mark the day and month of kill when tagging their gobbler.

SUPPORT WATER SEARCH & RESCUE

Beaufort Water Search & Rescue and Fripp Island Sea Rescue are hosting their only fund-raiser of the year, the seventh annual St. Patrick's Day golf tournament, on March 20 at Fripp Island's Ocean Creek course.

There will be prizes for the top three scores, net and gross, as well as closest to the pin and longest drive prizes. A hole-in-one wins a golf cart -- and possibly an automobile. A number of door prizes and other gifts will be awarded.

These water rescue units are made up of volunteers who serve the recreational and commercial boating community in emergencies. Both organizations require equipment and maintenance to provide these services.

For information, call Ted Michals at 843-838-5788.

PALMETTO SPORTSMEN'S CLASSIC

The 26th annual Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic will be held March 26-28 at the state fairgrounds in Columbia.

Admission is $6 and parking is $2. Seniors 60 and over get in for $5, while children 10 and under are admitted free. Visitors bringing five itesm of canned food for Harvest Hope Food Bank receive $1 off admission. On March 28, free entry will be granted for those in military uniform, and $1 off admission for any veteran with proper ID.

Show hours: March 26, noon to 8 p.m.; March 27, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; March 28, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

HILTON HEAD WAHOO TOURNAMENT

The sixth annual Hilton Head Harbor wahoo tournament will be held April 22-24. Several prizes will be up for grabs, including a $500 fuel voucher at the Hilton Head Harbor fuel dock for those who enter by the early-registration deadline of April 10. The grand prize for the sixth annual tournament will be $10,000 (based on 34 entries). There also will be a cash prize for the lucky 13th-place finisher, last place (smallest wahoo), as well as top youth and female angler prizes.

For more information, registration and rules, contact Capt. Marc Pincus at wahooshootout@aol.com or go to www.islandshootout.com.

TACKLE TIP

Too often a good catch is lost due to angler oversight or downright stupidity. Knowing how to properly set the drag on your fishing reel is essential. Here are the steps for doing it easily and correctly every time:

The correct reel drag is measured in pounds. You can find the setting by dividing the test weight of your line by four. All quality fishing line is sold with a label specifying the test (strength of the line). For example, 20-pound test monofilament at 25 percent (divided by four) would give you a drag setting of five (5 pounds).

To adjust the drag on your reel, you will need a spring-loaded fish scale attached to a stationary object. Don't pull the line directly from the reel. Be sure to have your reel attached to a fishing rod. Run your line the entire length of the fishing rod and attach the terminal end to the scale. Tighten the drag on your reel and with a normal arc to the rod, pull the line until is tight. Slowly loosen the reel drag until it starts to slip, which should be around five pounds. Don't be fooled into thinking this is too light.