The first week of turkey season is over. Hopefully, some sportsmen have experienced success. I did not make it out due to work. Reports indicate that gobbling is sporadic and many old toms are feeling call shy.

If you feel that the turkeys are not co-operating, they soon will be. Once hens hit the nest, expect more gobblers to be frustrated while looking for love. Gobblers will be responsive to calls.

The recent high water comes at a bad time. I assume that bass in the Little Kanawha River are getting ready to spawn. High flows, with added siltation, are not good for nests that bass make. The failure of a spawn class of fish has affects for years to come. Two facts I try to remember are: not all fish spawn and not all fish of a species spawn at the exact same time.

The upcoming backwaters should be great for muskies. I believe that muskies have already finished their spawning. Try some huge baits for huge fish. Remember, please release muskies. They are too precious of a resource to be caught only once.

I would love to hear about the successes of Calhoun County residents. Email photos and stories to Coryboothe@verizon.net. If you have killed a big gobbler or caught a big fish in Calhoun, let me know.

Editor’s Note: Cory is the son of Ronzel and Karen Boothe of Russett. He is a 1996 graduate of Calhoun County High School and is a teacher at Meadow Bridge Elementary, Fayette County. He resides near Summersville.)