Steve Merlo
Steve Merlo: Ban on trout planting needs to be adjusted
Everyone seems to be up in arms about the recent judicial ruling halting trout planting in many waters of the state, however, I'm not too certain that most of the rulings are not somewhat justified.
Steve Merlo: DFG needs to be accountable for stamp money
Did you know that there is more than $7 million sitting in a Department of Fish and Game account, unspent and ready to be diverted to other programs than the one it was specifically intended?
Steve Merlo: Guidelines to help you score in trout opener at Lake Evans
Seventeen hundred pounds of hard-fighting rainbow trout are swimming in Lake Evans waters in anticipation of Saturday's 6 a.m. opener at the 82-acre lake.
Steve Merlo: Time for hunters to enjoy
Ah, sweet November. Summer's heat has dissipated, with crisp mornings and cooler days a harbinger of things to come for shotgun hunters.
Steve Merlo: Do your research, and do not waste a vote on Election Day
With more than 50 million outdoor-oriented people of voting age residing in the United States, hunters and fishermen can make their presence felt on Tuesday. No matter whom we might select as our choice for a variety of government offices, each and every one of us needs to educate ourselves on the whos, whats, wheres and whys of each candidate's positions.
Steve Merlo: Quail, chukar hunting
Dog work and quail hunting were made for each other. Hunting over one of my cousin Patrick's Britanies several years ago, I watched the dog slam to a rigid point in mid stride, then hold steady until we arrived.
Steve Merlo: New owners of 4-Seasons making several upgrades
Beau, my standard hunting poodle, tested the air and followed his nose toward a dense clump of sagebrush 20 yards ahead.
Steve Merlo: Waterfowl hunters reap acclaim for saving ducks
What makes a duck hunter arise well before dawn only to trek through faraway, muddy, marshes to sit in cold blinds and stare at sometimes empty skies? What force causes grown men to gather around mantles and open fires, sharing food, stout beverages, jokes and old tales with each other on the eve of the hunt? No one can put an exact finger on the reasons, but they do exist despite the evasiveness of a solid answer.
Steve Merlo: Locals have caught on to bass bonanza in NY
I think my wife and I have created a monster for guide Gaspere Costabile of Niagara Falls, Ontario. "Jasper", as he is known to his friends and clients, fishes out of Buffalo, New York, in Lake Erie, for the huge smallmouth bass living there.
Steve Merlo: Potential record catfish snagged out of Isabella
While Isabella Lake has become known as a trophy largemouth bass fishery over the years, a lot of anglers (me included) have whetted their angling skills on the huge numbers of catfish swimming in its depths. While no blue catfish inhabit the Kern River Valley impoundment, the lake teems with both channel and white catfish.
Steve Merlo: Mountain quail, tree squirrels highlight eastside hunting
My friend Steve Dent and I once sat together in a fall wild turkey blind hoping to surprise a gobbler or two when they walked by. Arriving well before first light and dressing for the bitter cold, we made our way through oaks and manzanita brush to a location I felt was a surefire spot to ambush one of the big birds I knew lived nearby. Thanksgiving was but a week away, and we both hoped to take home a bird for the table, but it was not meant to be. Eventually, the birds were deemed no-shows, but we weren't entirely disappointed.
Steve Merlo: Hunters, friends share love of outdoor pursuits
Each year on opening day of dove season, my long time friends show up to enjoy the camaraderie and excitement of dove season.
Steve Merlo: Cool temperatures keep doves away
Unseasonably cold temperatures kept doves huddled in their roosts Monday morning until well after sunrise, and most hunters reported only fair shooting for the popular opener.
Steve Merlo: There's nothing like the start of dove season
I love waking to the wonderful smell of perking coffee and murmured whispers from my visiting, albeit sleepy friends each year on Sept. 1.
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