Everyone is concerned about the coronavirus pandemic and among the concerns are our pets. Can they catch it? Can a dog or cat transmit it to people or other pets?

Even your doctor will agree that fishing is a great way to get some much needed physical and mental health benefits during this stressful time. If he doesn’t agree — change doctors.

Anglers turned the page Thursday and officially welcomed the transition of seasons. It’s now springtime on Kentucky Lake and fishermen are treating spring fever as best they can with frequent fishing trips that seem to be the scratch for that itch.

Crappie anglers from several states are in the Paris area this weekend for a Crappie USA Tournament Trail’s Super Event, presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s.

Spring doesn’t officially arrive until next Thursday, yet legions of Kentucky Lake anglers have been treating the spring fever symptoms for weeks now.

Mention squirrel hunting and most folks think about slipping down a sand ditch or creeping along an old logging road to sneak up on a hickory where the bushy tails have been cutting acorns.

Spring weather this week has anglers itching to hit the water and get the forthcoming season jumpstarted.

Now underway is the Great Backyard Bird Count and you’re invited to jump on board and come along for the flight.

Last Saturday’s Big Dog Predator Hunt was indeed a big deal for the area. The field of hunters ventured to Henry County from several towns and states across the region and from all indications it was a successful event.

Coyote hunters around the region are gearing up for Saturday’s annual Big Dog Predator Hunt here in Henry County. 

After a wet week where rainy days dominated the Kentucky Lake winter fishing scene, anglers are hoping for a rebound.

Last year was bad. This year was even worse.

Although the statewide duck season ends today for most folks, youngsters get two more chances at it when special hunts will be conducted Saturday and again on Feb. 8.

The Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge will host a combination bald eagle and waterfowl tour on the Duck River Unit of the refuge on Saturday. Hours of the tour will be noon until 5 p.m.

Tennessee deer hunters harvested just more than 134,000 deer this year, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s data base. The season ended last Sunday at the culmination of the two-day Young Sportsmen’s Deer Hunt.

An overdue cold front now descending south into southern states could help jumpstart what has been a stagnant season for the lion’s share of duck hunters across a vast area.

What started way back on the last Saturday in September will soon draw to a close for Tennessee deer hunters. 

Winter trout stockings return to Paris Eiffel Tower Park pond, located on Eiffel Tower Road extended off Volunteer Drive, on Wednesday. This will be the second stocking as one took place back in early December as well.

The Friends of Land Between the Lakes will host bald eagle viewing cruises and van tours for the public through early February.

The last couple of weeks have been kind to the winter fishing scene on Kentucky Lake. As the New Year begins on a cool note with a few rainy days scattered about the forecast, anglers can’t complain about how the year ended in terms of weather conditions.

The state’s long and liberal deer season is fast drawing to a close. The final segment of the regular gun, muzzleloader and archery season ends Sunday.

It says something about the local duck hunting scene when waterfowlers put down their shotguns and trade them for fishing poles.

WARRENTON, Ore. (AP) — A rare environmental success story is unfolding in waters off the U.S. West Coast. 

Late fall fishing will change over to early winter angling on Saturday as that’s the official start of winter.

When winter skies are gray and gloomy days descend, there aren’t many remedies at the local drug store to help pull you out of the rut of confinement and despair.

Late-fall fishermen and duck hunters sometimes ride in the same boat. Both seem to play the weather this time of year and, as most anglers and waterfowlers know, it’s the weather that often calls the shots.

Bird watchers and all outdoor enthusiasts are invited to attend the forthcoming wildlife event that’s sure to please anyone who appreciates wildlife.

Waterfowlers took to the swamps and marshes last week for a four-day stretch of Tennessee’s 60-day duck season. It was the first segment of a two-segment season that closed Monday and will reopen Saturday for a 56-day straight stretch that will take it all the way through Jan. 31.

After last year’s dreary season that left most duck hunters down in the dumps, waterfowlers across the Tennessee — and really across the Southern — region are hoping things are better this time around.

Duck hunters are busy as bees trying to finalize all those chores. Seems there’s always a few loose ends as opening day creeps up.

Once considered to be the real opening day of Tennessee’s deer season among the ranks of the average deer hunters, the regular gun season begins Saturday. Odds are more hunters will be out across the state’s 95 counties than any other day of the entire deer hunting season.

Deer hunters across the region can pitch in and help feed a lot of folks this fall and winter who are in need of assistance.

The Paris-Henry County chapter of Ducks Unlimited will have its annual membership banquet and auction on Saturday. This year’s event will be at the Henry County Fairgrounds. Hours are 6-10 p.m.

It may not be quite as popular as the opening day of the regular gun season but it’s a close second.

During any given week, Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene will have a variety of weather. The last few weeks have had anglers watching the weekly weather forecasts pretty closely and attempting to pick a few days that were suitable.

BY STEVE McCADAMS

A nip in the air has added pep to the step of Kentucky Lake anglers this week. Long overdue has been normal autumn weather with chilly nights and mild days where light southwest winds allow a slow warmup by midday.