The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 50

11 Ruby's report on outdoors mm Slab hunting adds zest to any croppie fishing By A Courier-Journal Times Outdoors Editor 9 op I till Jb I with us. Charley sighed with relief when he got out. "If I ever rob a bank I know where I'll hide out," he said. "Not even the FBI could find me at this place." We quickly changed clothes and were about to shove off in a rented boat when Al and Tom Miles, also of Eastwood, drove up. They had trailed us down, but stopped for gas.

In less than 15 minutes all of us were on the water. There wasn't another boat in sight. Bud bags one "The way I figure it," said Bud," is that the water is far too clear for anything but an idiot croppie to stay in the bushes within sight of a Maybe the small ones might try it, but not the slabs. The big fellows have got to be down at least six feet. That means we've got to keep pretty far from shore and use our casting rods with slip-type bobbers adjusted to six feet or more." Well, it took us the better part of the morning to case the inlet and find underwater stumps, brush and logs.

We did this by holding an anchor just off the bottom and moving slowly about until the anchor got hung. When this happened "We're going back to Kentucky Lake after croppie," C. E. (Bud) Waits of Eastwood said on the phone. "We'd like for "you to come along, but I'll have to tell you we're going hunting only for slabs." Slab hunting is a refinement in croppie fishing which adds sport and zest to what otherwise might be simple bait-dunking.

You fish only for slabs weighing 112 pounds and up. You avoid areas where small croppie predominate and toss back any small stragglers which might tackle your minnow. We picked up several dozen lively minnows before we left. They ranged from middle-size to large. No small ones.

We carried them in the trunk in two large white foam coolers and didn't lose even one. Leaving Louisville at 5 a.m., we stopped on the Western Kentucky Parkway for breakfast and arrived at the lake at 9 a.m. our time, and 8 a.m. Murray time, which is 7 a.m. sun time.

We turned down a gravel road a few miles west of the Kenlake lodge and pulled up at a weatherboard cottage at a private boat ramp on a remote inlet, far from the noise of any major boat dock. Charley Peyton, a retired Jefferson County policeman from Middletown was we fished awhile, always casting over the brush toward the shore. It wasn't long before Bud's plug went under. "You've got one!" cried Charley. Bud pulled in a croppie about seven inches long.

Bud gently extricated his hook and minnow from the mouth of his catch and threw the croppie back. "Hey," cried Charley, "That was a good Floyds Fork size croppie. "I aren't after Floyd's Fork babies today," said Bud. Not long afterward Bud tied into a big one. "Get the net!" he cried.

Charley grabbed our net and extended it out into the water. "Come to daddy," he said with a grin, and Bud led his prize over the net. "Now you're looking at a slab," said Bud. "You don't have to tell me," said Charley. "I never would have believed croppie grew that big." I reached into my tackle box for a tape measure.

The fish measured just under 16 inches long. Most of our catches thereafter were 12 inches or longer. The longest 17 inches. We stopped for lunch about noon and again for a snack about 4 p.m., then fished until almost dark, always moving, looking for hidden stumps and brush, lifting ever-increasing strings of fish in and out, and two anchors in and out. When we got back to camp Charley Staff Photo by Earl Ruby tucky Lake.

With Peyton threw one MIDDLETOWN angler Charles Peyton didn't be-lieve croppie came this big until he fished at Ken healthy croppie as those we cleaned that night. We found chunks of fatty substance surrounding the eggs. Yes, they all still carried their eggs, but bright red veins through the eggs indicated that spawning was just days away. Squirrels entertained us, romping through the trees, as we cleaned the fish. And owls and whippoorwills haunted us all night.

We were out on the water at daybreak the next day and again boated more than three dozen slabs before the weekend party fishermen arrived. We started at six feet, dropped to eight, then back to Donahue scores at Lime Rock; England's Hill ivins comeback mum mi iH nniinr -Tuiiiii1i SfeT I HOOT SMITH (left) of Burkesville and Dave Sharp of Glasgow show an unusual catch of eight smallmouth bass caught in Dale Hollow, near Celina, Tenn. Two of the lunkers weighed 6 pounds. five or so as the morning wore on, and the depth of the lake varied with each new area we fished, our best catches, however, were made between six and eight feet. While we caught several males which showed signs of spawning activity, we found eggs in virtually all females.

Oddly, in all of our fishing those two days we caught only one bass. He was a two-pounder who took my minnow just as it hit the water by a fallen tree which still was sprouting green leaves. We caught no more than half-dozen small croppie, all of which we threw back. From what I saw I would say that the Donohue had little to worry about after his chief rival, Parnelli Jones, retired his 1971 Mustang in the early laps. Jones was forced off course in a first lip incident with Peter Revson's 1971 Javelin and, although Jones was able to get back into the race for a few circuits, the damage to his car was too great for him to continue.

At Silverstone, England, Graham Hill, former double world champion and oldest man in Grand Prix racing, won the Daily Express International Trophy Race, his first Formula One victory since smashing both legs nearly two years ago. The 42-year-old Hill, in a Brabham, finished third and first in the two-part race to score an over-all triumph on aggregate score. WE PURCHASED AT AUCTION over $10,000 of Sutcliffe's large fishing inventory and we're ready to pass on a large savings to you on such items as: UGLY BUGS, 1 17 Rocky Jr. or Sr I HOT SHOTS, all lizet $43 CARDINAL REEL, only $3.00 TEMPERATURE THERMOMETERS, only. $19.50 FLY TIEING SET, J33 $117 $1795 $1 50 MO95 Plus great unmentionable savings on worm canteens and Johnson spoons.

WATCH FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF SURPLUS BAIT BARN 2, 3924 FRANKFORT IN THE HEART OF ST. MATTHEWS. SURPLUS BAIT BARN 1740 W. MARKET Mitchell, Byington among best schoolboys him is C. E.

Waits of Eastwood. back measuring 7 inches. croppie run had not hit its peak this past week, but might easily move into high any time we luck into two or three hot, sunny days in a row. Provided, of course, that heavy rains muck up the water a bit. Big Bass Dave Sharp of Glasgow and Hoot Smith of Burkesville boated eight smallmouth bass at Dale Hollow recently.

Fishing with surface plugs near Celina, they bagged two 5-pounders and two which weighed almost 6 12 pounds. Unusual Catch Hugh Withers and Ray Tarter of Louisville boated an unusual catch of bass and croppie at Green River Lake this past week. Their catch included 38 bass averaging more than 13 inches in length and 200 croppie, of which some weighed two pounds. They used live minnows in 10 feet of water. National SCCA CHAMPION Class Production TRIUMPH SPITFIRE TAFEL MOTORS 839 E.

Broadway 584-4305 MODEL STOCKS Si pgga pi hit the sack almost before I could cook dinner, never knew fishermen could fish so long and so hard," he said. "If I wasn't a real good sport I would have swum back to camp three hours ago." Invasion It was only by fishing hard and long that we were able to locate the slabs and bring two dozen to boat before the weekend party fishing boats arrived. By 3 p.m. I counted 17 boats within shouting distance. Most zoomed in at full speed, roared up to a fallen tree or overhang, cut the motor, fished a few minutes, then roared off to try another spot.

I wasn't surprised that I did not see one of them catch a fish. Only one of the invaders really surprised me. He was one of that new breed of bass fishermen, enthroned on a high seat in the front of his boat, an electric trolling moter locked four feet up. Using a foot accelerator, he came around the bend at full speed. He cut a gash in the water and sent great waves out on both sides almost swamping several small croppie boats.

He zoomed to the far side of the inlet, cast the bank for 10 minutes or so, then gunned his motor and created another disturbing wake as he departed. I trust he wasn't a bass club member. I'm told they are taught better than that. a boat pulling two skiers circled the inlet for no reason at all, there being plenty of open water in the lake. All anglers smiled when the boat conked out and the noisy crowd had to sit quietly for almost an hour while their pilot worked at finding his trouble.

I can't recall ever seeing such fat and at Hopkinsville, shooting 72-68 140 (for 36 holes, of course). That was good enough for second place, two shots behind Stacy Russell, the ex-Scottsville High whiz who won the 1968 State Tournament. "I've been playing real well this year," the blond-haired Mitchell said by telephone from his home in Princeton. "When I shot that 68," Mitchell said, "I started off par-bogey-bogey. Then I birdied seven of the next 10 holes.

I'd like to do that again Tuesday and then again two weeks from now." Mitchell enters regional play Tuesday on his home course, the Princeton Golf and Country Club where his father is manager and his mother is the hostess. "I shot a 64 (31-33) there last year, but it wasn't in competition," Mitchell said. The first two teams in each of the 11 boys' regionals advance to the State Team Tournament May 18-19 at Ft. Knox's Lindsey course. The low eight players qualify for the State Individual Tournament May 25-26 at Ft.

Knox's Anderson layout. There are now eight girls' regionals, twice as many as last year. The two low teams plus the low five girls not on qualifying teams earn spots in the State Tournament May 18-19 at the Maysville Country Club. Mitchell, who carries a 36.8-stroke average for nine holes, considers Rob Stansel the Kentucky Invitational Tournament champion from Covington Catholic as a top title contender. "Rob always will be up there close to the lead," Mitchell said.

He also tabbed Tates Creek's Byington and Barnhart and the Waggener duo of Eddie Lowry and Jim Hutson as strong challengers. "Madisonville has the best 1-2 punch in the state in Brad Fabel and Jim Riddle," Mitchell said. Steve Rogers of Bowling Green, winner of the Dixie High SAVE 4Wo 0 COLLAPSIBLE CAMPER TRAVEL 9 By BOB WHITE Courier-Journal Times Staff Writer Ed Mudd, golf coach at Butler High School, remembers the days when it was easy to pick the favorite for the regional i or state tournament. "The Bobby Nichols, Frank Beards and Jim Ferriells clearly stood out above the others," Mudd recalled recently. "However, in the last five or six years, there hasn't been that one standout player.

There are more good players all pret-; ty even in ability, and anybody can win." As regional eliminations (19 of them) open this week in Kentucky, the battle for the boys' state crown seems wide open although Myra Van Hoose of Lexington Lafayette is favored to repeat as girls' state champion. The king's men Associated Press Mark Donohue, driving an American Motors 1971 Javelin, slogged through the rain and cold at Lime Rock Park in Lime Rock, yesterday to win the first TransAmerican championship race for sports sedan of the season. Donohue, who finished five laps ahead of a 1970 Mustang driver by Tony DeLorenzo, averaged an unofficial 75.041 miles per hour for the 200-mile event and picked up $5,600. Taking third was the 1969 Camaro of. Juan Agor.

Among other finishers, Gene Harrington of Louisville was seventh and Warren Tope 10th. way Invitational and Western Kentucky Conference Tourney, is another title hopeful. So anybody could win, cduldn't they? Western, the KIT titlist, and Flaget winner of the Dixie Highway tourney head a field of 15 teams in the West Jefferson County Regional, starting at 10 a.m. Monday at Shawnee. Butler and Doss also have highly regarded teams.

"Ten or 12 boys could win our regional," said Mudd. "Joe Buecker of Flaget shot a 34 against us at Shawnee last Monday and one of my boys, Mike Perpich, carries a 38-stroke average." St. Xavier, winner of five regionals in the past seven years under coach Donlon; defending champion Trinity, Ballard and Waggner are considered the best teams in the 15-school East Jefferson County Regional, which starts at 5 a.m. Tuesday at Seneca. "Eastern and Seneca could qualify, too," Donlon said.

"Ballard's best boy, Tim Pocock, moved to New York after the KIT but the other Ballard kids have hitched up their belts and played real well since then." Chip Montgomery of, St. is the defending champion. "Hutson of Waggner has been playing well," Donlon said. "He shot a three-under-par 33 against us at Big Spring." Six teams Ballard, Eastern, Fern Creek, Kentucky Home, Sacred Heart and Waggener will compete in the Girls Jefferson County Regional, beginning at a.m. Tuesday at Cherokee.

Regional manager Matilda Walker of Ballard rates Kentucky Home (1970 state champ) as the team favorite and Marilyn Burns of Waggener, Beth Radford and Weezie Crawford of Kentucky Home and Mary Fredericks of Sacred Heart as the top individual contenders. On Your Vacation RENT or BUY TRAILER TRUCK CAMPER "With Bubba Clements (the 1970 state titlist from Trinity who became ineligible when he turned 19 on Christmas Day) gone the title's up for grabs," St. Xavier coach Marty Donlon noted. Jim Byington, the handsome senior from Lexington Tates Creek who lost to Clements in a sudden-death playoff a year ago, returns. So does his teammate Norm Barnhart, who along with Bill Mitchell of Caldwell County, finished in a five-way tie for third place in the 1970 state meet.

Mitchell hopes for repeat Mitchell may be the golfer to watch. Two weeks ago, the 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior played in the Skyline Invitational Here's an excellent example of Mark Taimanov's style. (Bobby Fischer take note!) Before playing, consider the diagram. Black has just moved 21 Q-K2. How does White (Taimanov) respond? wm p.

mim i'atf mm mm 31 ill w3 fWi Fischer-Taimanov match starts Thursday in Canada I Sun. Afternoon, May 16 IAIN DATE MAY 23 1st ANNUAL MIUPWIEST 50 FOR NEW LATE By MERRILL DOWDEN Courier-Journal Chess Writer Will Bobby Fischer of New York and California bring the chess championship of the world to the United States at long last? Critics disagree on his chances. One thing is certain, however. Fischer can take a giant step in that direction by winning the world championship quarterfinals match with the Soviet Union's Mark Taimanov. The two will open this struggle Thursday in Vancouver, Canada.

The games will continue through June 7. What does Fischer himself think of his chances? "I believe it will now be the first time that both finalists in the candidates matches are not from the Soviet Union," he said in an interview. "I don't think 'that Taimanov in our group can defeat both me and Larsen. (Bent Larsen, the Danish grandmaster.) I hope it will be 'either me or Larsen who plays for the -title against (Boris) Spassky, but it is to make predictions. In short matches surprises are possible." Caution seems to have replaced cockiness in Fischer's outlook.

Although he was the absolute winner of the Inter-' zonal at Palma, he added: "I am not in the best shape. I feel I am not sufficiently played in; I need more tournaments. Candidates matches require thorough preparation. I have so far played matches only with Cardoso 1956) and Reshevsky (1961)." Such modesty is hardly in the Fischer image. Still, the guess here is that when the chips are down, he will do very well for himself.

AND SPORTSMAN CARS Time Trials 1:00 P.M. Races 2:30 P.M. EST SEE OUTSTANDING DRIVERS FROM INDIANAPOLIS, 0WENSB0R0, CINCINNATI, OHIO LOUISVILLE, KY. A ptfPMi TROPHYDASH 6 EVENTS 50 feature SALEM SPEIEHDWAW 40 minutes from Louisville, on Ind. 56.

Take 1-65 to Hamburg-Salem exit, then Ind. 60 to Salem, then Ind. 56 West to Track. Gen. Adm.

$3, Covered Stands $4, Children 12 Under 50c NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENSE M. Taimanov M. Bruno 1 P-Q4 N-KB3 13 B-B2 N-KN5 2 P-QB4 P-K3 Q-Q3 P-N3 3 N-QB3 B-N5 1J B-N3 K-R2 4 P-K3 P-B4 16 QR-Q1 P-K4 5 N-B3 P-Q4 17 P-Q5 NxB 6 B-K2 O-O 18 BPxN P-K5 7 O-O PxBP 19 NxP! B-KB4 8 BxP N-B3 20 Q-B3 BxN 9 P-QR3 B-R4 21 PxN Q-K2 10 B-03! PxP 22 Q7I B4 11 PxP B-N3 23 RxPeh Resign! 12 B-K3 P-KR3 Reserve yours NOW, Call 447-1752 ill mi Bowling Green, Ky. 781-3214 CHARLIE Vacation Trailers 4717 DIXIE HIGHWAY LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY If 24 PxN; 25 RxRch; K-R3; 26 Q-N7ch, etc..