Get Out with Ord: Grab a pole and go fish

As warmer temperatures and longer days bring students outside, some species of the university community may find themselves the object of unwanted attention.

Many people are taking advantage of the weather to try their luck with a fishing rod at Campus Lake, and they hope the fish are biting.

Quinton Phelps, a doctoral student from Coffeyville, Kan. in fisheries, said springtime is an excellent time to fish because the weather is warm and many fish, such as black crappie, are in their spawning season, making them easier to catch.

He said fishing is a great means to enjoy the outdoors and spend time in a relaxing atmosphere.

James Clancy, a freshman from Lindenhurst in business, said that the opportunity for relaxation is one of his favorite aspects of the activity, too.

“Fishing isn’t really about catching fish,” he said. “It’s about getting outside. You have time to think.”

Clancy said he began fishing as a child with his father. When he gets the opportunity, he said he spends almost three hours on the lake.

The patience required for fishing can be hard to come by in a society of fast food and quick-paced reality shows, but Phelps said the activity is about slowing down and enjoying the outdoors.

Stephen Crawley, a sophomore from New Orleans studying art at John A. Logan College, said the waiting game is not a fun one for some people.

“If they’re not biting, it can be a pain,” he said. “After three hours of not catching a fish, it wears on you. Some people want to give up.”

Crawley said he tries to fish three or four times a week when the weather is good, and often spends five hours at a time with a rod in his hands. Though the time spent waiting for a bite might outweigh the number of catches, he said the thrill of catching a fish is there no matter how many he has reeled in.

Despite occasional lulls where nothing is biting, he said he has had a good deal of luck at Campus Lake recently. Much of this is due to the spawning crappies, which stay in the shallow areas of the lake to lay their eggs, Crawley said.

For students interested in fishing, either on Campus Lake or one of the many surrounding possibilities, they need more than patience, bait and a rod. A fishing license is also required in the state of Illinois for potential anglers.

Fortunately, there are several easy ways to acquire one, Phelps said.

He said the several bait and tackle shops in the area carry licenses, as do Wal-Mart and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The cost for a license is $13.

Purchasing a license is important because the money spent goes back to help efforts to conserve and preserve aquatic ecosystems, he said.

Once somebody is outfitted with the proper gear and permit, fishing is about enjoying the outdoors and having fun, regardless of the success rate, Phelps said.

“You can still have a great time when you’re skunked, because you’re still fishing,” he said. “There’s nothing better to do than fish.”

    Genna Ord can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 275.