Whitehall-Coplay Press

With temperatures forecast to be in or close to 100 degrees this week, these dog days of summer make for tough fishing in local streams, rivers and lakes. If you crave big, good eating fish, head to the Jersey shore for some saltwater action.

With all the heavy rain we’ve been having, stream and river fishing has been curtailed. During these times, anglers are best advised to fish lakes and ponds that aren’t affected as severely. As such, selected local waters are fishing fairly productively.

At this time of year, a good many outdoors oriented folks head to the hiking trails, be in the in Pocono Mountains or the vast Appalachian Trail that runs locally through the Blue Mountains and beyond through 14 states. As such, keep in mind there are hazards along the way. Namely, rattlesnakes.

As this is Fourth of July week, boaters and paddle craft enthusiasts will be out in force. And if you’re of the latter, whether kayak fishing or just out for a quiet day on the water, proper and efficient kayak paddling will help increase speed and momentum so you can travel farther with less fatigue, say the folks at YakGear, a Houston, Texas company that markets a variety of paddle craft gear.

The pros at YakGear offer these general tips for new and seasoned paddlers to make the most of the day on the water.

Now that school is out and you have youngsters that may be into ball sports or addicted to video games, their smartphones and iPads, it may be a good idea to give them a more rounded, different experience by enrolling them in the upcoming National Wild Turkey Federations (NWTF), JAKES Youth Field Day set for Aug. 3.

The event, held at Ontelaunee Rod & Gun Club in New Tripoli, educates approximately 150 children, ages 8-12 and 12-16.

Southwick Associates just released their March/April angler survey, wherein they interview anglers online to get their preferred angling methods, gear, locations, general interest and fishing opinions.

The questions and respective percentages indicate the most annoying problems with angling today. They are as follows:

Q: What is the biggest problem facing fishing today?

While the deer hunting season closed in January, it doesn’t have to end if you take to the woods and fields in search of antler sheds.

According to Pennsylvania resident Bob Foulkrod, a RedHead Pro Hunting Team member, outdoor TV personality and outdoor writer, “From a practical standpoint, hunting sheds is a tremendous aid in hunting the deer that grew them. Finding shed antlers in your hunting area in late January and into February and March, can tell you a great deal about the number and quality of bucks you are likely to see during next hunting season.”

With Memorial Day traditionally kicking off the pleasure boating season, and if you own a boat or watercraft, this list, prepared by the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS), tallies the most popular boat names.

The tradition dates back a quarter century, with the list derived from adding up requests for boat name designs from BoatUS Boat Graphics. Each reveals something about the personality of the vessel’s owner. And the list is entertaining to say the least.

The 2019 BoatUS Top 10 Boat Names:

At this time of year, wildlife is blooming with newborns - be it songbirds, geese, ducks, foxes and deer fawns. The Pennsylvania Game Commission asks that people avoid disturbing or picking them up, especially deer fawns.

Most deer fawns are born in late May and the first and second weeks of June, according to the PGC. During this time, it’s best to keep your distance because the fawn’s mother is almost always nearby. When people see a small fawn alone, they often mistakenly assume it is helpless, lost or needing to be rescued.

Youngsters 15 years of age and under are invited to enter the free 2019 Annual Fishing Derby on May 25, 2019, at Hokey Park located on Lehigh Street in Whitehall.

The derby is open only to children and is hosted by the Whitehall Township Recreation Department with sponsorship from Willie’s Bait & Tackle Shop in Cementon, who provides the prizes for the winners.