Fish and turkey await spring outdoors enthusiasts

This is the time of year to think about spring fishing and turkey hunting. Fishermen, you should mark your calendars for Saturday, April 28, because it’s the traditional opening day fishing tournament at Sluice Pond sponsored by the Lynn Fish and Game Protective Association. This annual event has been taking place at Sluice Pond for as long as I can remember. All the activities that will take place are held rain or shine and are free of charge and open to anyone. Starting at 7 a.m. and continuing until noon, trophies will be awarded for the largest trout to fishermen in the following categories: adult male, adult female, boy and girl each from ages 8 to 14, and peewee boy and girl each age 7 and younger. As an added bonus, there may also be a special award for the largest salmon taken the morning of the tournament. The awards ceremony will be at the weigh station at the Briar Cliff Lodge boat ramp on Lynnfield St., Lynn. If you are planning to fish the day of the tournament, you may want to enter the Lynn Club’s “Super Trout” contest that also starts on April 28 and runs until Oct. 31. Several large trout will be tagged and stocked by the Lynn Club before opening day. The tags will say “LFG” and have a number assigned to them. One special fish is worth $300, 2 fish are worth $100, and 5 fish are worth $50. This contest is also open to the public, with an entry fee of $15 for adults and $10 for youngsters under 14 and seniors over 65. Stop by Ippi’s Bait and Tackle on Parkland Ave. or R&R American (Lynnfield St.) to register. All proceeds from the tournament are used to stock Sluice Pond. The state also tags trout as part of the Massachusetts Tags “N” Trout program that could also be worth a prize. Incidentally, Ippi’s Bait and Tackle will have extended hours for your last minute tournament angling needs and they are stocked up and ready to provide you with all the right bait and tackle to make your next outing a successful one, especially at Sluice.As a friendly reminder to all of those who fish from a kayak or canoe this time of year, remember, the state law requires all canoeists and kayakers to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) at all times through May 15. Wearing a life jacket could save someone’s life and could also make an encounter with the Environmental Police or other enforcement officer a positive experience.Now for those who enjoy the field experience of outdoor sports: Opening day for Massachusetts turkey hunters is April 30. Do you have your turkey permits? In order to legally hunt turkeys, licensed hunters must obtain a turkey permit. With the new electronic MassFishHunt system, there is no longer a deadline to apply for a turkey permit; hunters may simply purchase a permit online at www.mass.gov/massfishhunt or by visiting a license vendor or DFW office to get their permit. Hopefully by now you have done your scouting and know where birds will be roosting, so you can be set up waiting for them prior to first light on opening morning. Select a position where you can place your back against a tree large enough to break up your human outline and offer you good visibility. Try a few clucks while a gobbler is still on roost; just enough to let him know a hen is nearby. Call again when the turkey flies down from his roost. If the gobbler goes silent, you never know for sure if he left or if he is coming in silently. So pay attention because they can appear from any direction. Spring turkey hunting can be an exciting and memorable experience, but it has associated dangers that the hunter must keep in mind. The wild turkey has a keen sense of sight and can easily detect movement and colors that are out of place in the woods. Making use of complete camouflage or drab colored clothing is a must. Don’t stalk birds; sit or stand and call the turkeys to you. Don’t wear red, white, blue or black anywhere on your body where the colors might be exposed during your hunt, to avoid being mistaken for a turkey by another hunte