Alphabet soup alters acronyms
By Tom Wiest | (wiest.tom@gmail.com)
There will be a name change for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission on July 1. The new name for the governing body of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will become the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC). So there is a new acronym to get used to. The TFWC is the group of political appointees that regulates the wildlife biologists and wildlife law enforcement officers of the TWRA.
• Now in nature: Deer have finished fawning; wild turkey hens are teaching their poults to fly; wood ducks are hatching; box turtle eggs are hatching; catfish are spawning all month; bullfrog breeding peaks; Canada geese will soon begin to molt; willow flies will soon begin their respective hatches. As the onslaught of ticks diminishes somewhat, chiggers are out in force.
Chipmunks and raccoons are being born; young opossums are leaving their mothers’ pouches and are clinging to their backs; largemouth bass are ending their eight weeks of spawning; catfish will begin to spawn as water temperatures reach 75 degrees; shad minnows are beginning to school, which causes those roiling fish jumps of summer.
• Just in time for summer reading. The popular Fish On Kids chapter books for ages eight to 12 are now available as e-books on Kindle, iPad and Nook. Four books in the chronological series by K.J. Houtman are currently available starting at $2.99: A Whirlwind Opener (No. 1), Driving Me Crazy (No. 2), Spare the Rod (No. 3) and Duck, Duck Deuce (No. 4). The fifth book entitled Born to be Wild will be released in paperback and digitally November 1. The books highlight the adventures of an avid outdoors kid, Gus Roberts.
• The 2012 Summer Olympics Games begin on July 27 in London, broadcast on NBC. While only the most popular events will get televised, NBC plans to stream live every event on the Web at http://www.nbcolympics.com . That is where you are likely to find the shooting sports.
The 15 shooting events will begin on Saturday, July 28. The various disciplines for men and for women are: Rimfire rifle and pistol, air rifle and pistol, and shotguns for trap and skeet.
One shooter in particular could set U.S. Olympics history. If Kim Rhode medals in women’s skeet, she will be the first U.S. athlete to medal in five consecutive Games in an individual sport.
• The fishing world has lost one of its great personalities and communicators. “Uncle” Homer Circle passed away on June 22 in Ocala, Florida. Even at age 97 Circle was actively writing and fishing, and his sudden death took many by surprise.
Several generations of sportsmen have enjoyed Circle’s writings. Today’s younger bass anglers know him as the author of “Ask Uncle Homer,” a monthly column in Bassmaster magazine. Many of us grew up learning about fishing from his articles in Sports Afield magazine from 1968 to 2002.
His books, classics for aspiring anglers, include: The Art of Plug Fishing, New Guide to Bass Fishing, Circle on Bass, and Bass Wisdom.
If you that have a personal story about how Homer Circle touched your life, email it to (editorial@bassmaster.com) ; they will be collected and forwarded to family members.
In closing, here is the ever-popular poem Circle wrote: “The Fisherman’s Prayer.”
God grant that I may fish
Until my dying day;
And when at last I come to rest,
I will then humbly pray;
When in His landing net
I lie in final sleep;
That in His mercy I’ll be judged
As good enough to keep!
Tom Wiest welcomes news, questions and comments from readers. Contact him at (wiest.tom@gmail.com)
