Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a two part series.
By Chris Erwin
If last week got you to think about putting a primitive camping-hunting-fishing trip together, there are a few things that will make your trip a lot more fun. Before we get to that, let me take you along and give you a quick look at what going primitive can be and why now is the time to plan your trip.
Last week I told you about my brother-in-law Hershell Crum, who has been my hunting and fishing partner for 20 years. We have explored the banks of the Licking River one cove at a time over the last two decades; together we will take you up the Licking River, where we will set up camp for the night.
We put our boats in at the Bangor Boat ramp just off Ky. 1274; load all our gear into the two boats and head up the river until we get to our favorite cove. The mouth of the cove has a perfect place to set up camp, huge pine trees provide an open area very close to the water. Deer tracks bear witness to the fact that they are using this area with some regularly.
We unload our boats and begin building our camp.
We packed six sacks of provisions including 20 lbs. of potatoes along with two duffel bags of clothes, a first-aid kit, our hunting bows and climbing deer stands. Along with one large cooler that was packed with frozen blocks of ice, pots and pans, two mantel lanterns and Coleman fuel.
Since we don’t care much for washing dishes we also have paper plates, bowels, plastic forks and spoons that can all be burned after each meal. Our gear is rounded off with a blow-up raised air bed.
This is a 10-day trip, and we have no plans to return for any provisions. With our camp ready it’s time to catch a little evening fishing before we cook dinner and plan our first day in the woods.
By the second day, we have our deer stands set up along the deer trails. We are pumped that we have seen a lot of deer signs only steps from our camp. Our plans are to hunt early and once the fog burns off. We will meet at the camp at 1 p.m. to eat a bite and then decided if we are going to fish or hunt in the evening.
Four days into our trip Crum has bagged his dear. It is a nice eight point, so we do have to go in for him to check in his deer. This proves to be a good time to pick up a few snacks and some more ice. While he has been hunting most of the time we have been camped, I have been spending most of my time on the water. The musky have been on the flats early, and I have had a ball.
With the morning fog still lying on the water like a smoldering fire, my Buzzbait chops along making a sound so loud in the still of the morning it’s the only thing I can hear. Just as it becomes visible, a musky breaks the water turning a circle on the bait that’s as large as a wash-tub! I set the hook, with a sweeping motion, that rocks the boat. Down she goes stripping line! I see Crum standing by the fire, I yell to him: “Get in your boat and dip this fish”!
He jumps in his boat setting down his trolling motor and heads my way. In minutes my fish is in the net. It is a nice 37 inch fat musky. While I didn’t get my deer, the fishing made up for it.
If you think, this is something you would like to try you’re welcome to write me for more information.
Till next time
Good fishing!
Chris Erwin is the founder and publisher of Kentucky Angling News an online, outdoor news magazine available at www.KentuckyAngling.com/magazine. To reach Chris, e-mail him at trimmer308@windstream.net
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