ON THE OUTDOORS: Youth fishing league kicks off season

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SHABBONA – The record still stands.

Seven years have passed and Steven Urda’s 28-inch catfish remains the gold standard catch for the Young Anglers Fishing League sponsored by the Shabbona Lake Sportsmen’s Club.

A veteran angler, now at age 13, Steven said there was a bit of chance and luck involved in the catch as he stood by his father Tom Urda’s side for the record catch.

“I hooked a bass and it swallowed the hook so my dad helped to get it out,” Steven said. “I asked if I could use his reel and when I set the hook I felt some tension and suddenly this big catfish comes up.”

As the 2009 YAFL got under way Wednesday night with a sign-up and practice round at Shabbona Lake State Park, the Seattle-like rain that had pelted DeKalb County for the majority of the afternoon gave way to a scenic late-evening descending sun that painted the partly-sunny skies with orange and red hues.

The rain, which had just stopped falling, probably contributed to less than stellar fishing conditions. Steven came up empty several times. A father and his two sons caught a small bass before departing. A young member of the YAFL, 6-year-old Casey Dyon, and Steven will be teammates for the second straight year. Casey practiced with his mother, Nellie Dyon, on the pier Wednesday.

“I got four trophies last year,” Casey said with his mother by his side. “And I scored the highest points in one season. I watch my lures and stuff and my dad taught me when the line goes straight out a fish is coming.”

Casey explained to me his technique for catching a fish, and said he gets excited when one is on the reel, then later snagged his hook on a tree branch.

Rich McElligott and Tom Urda of the SLSC were handling sign-up paperwork and greeting participants when they noticed Casey’s snafu.

On a slow night for fishing, McElligott jokingly asked Casey what type of tree he caught and laughingly said he’d get the trophy for “largest tree caught.”

While the weather kept some participants away on a sign-up and practice night, McElligott received several phone calls and said he expects about seven teams to be participating when the league becomes official next week.

Steven and Casey, though, got a week of practice in on the competition that stayed home.

“It’s the hard work you put in and patience,” Steven said. “Walleye aren’t caught like crappie, which you catch all the time. I’ll try leaches or nightcrawlers or switch to a smaller hook if I am not catching anything. But mostly, it’s fun to be out here. It’s fun to see kids come out for their first time. I love being out here and doing what I love to do.”

New Habitat and Rescue

McElligott said the SLSC dumped two truck loads, 40 tons to be exact, of rock into Shabbona Lake last week.

“It’s shot rock,” McElligott said. “Some of it is small, some is oven-sized. More rock equals more insect homes and places for minnows to spawn.”

The SLSC also rescued 22 muskies and six walleye that had wandered out of the lake into the creek when waters were high. The water was clear, which allowed SLSC members to see they had cleared out any remaining fish.

The numbers and the healthy size of the fish are reflective of the SLSC being paid back by Mother Nature for its constant attention to the lake.

“The [Department of Natural Resources] also helps to manage the lake well,” McElligott said. “The SLSC has bought walleye and they are starting to show up in bigger numbers. We also have a bigger fish stock where we put in 8- to 11-inch fish now, which have a better survival rate.”

ALEX BOWDEN

Team Type 1 wanted to return to the top of the Race Across America podium.

When the cycling team crossed the finish line in Annapolis, Md,, on June 26, five days, nine hours and nine minutes after starting in Oceanside, Calif., its mission was accomplished. In his second year on the Team Type 1 Elite/RAAM team, DeKalb’s Alex Bowden said the experience of finishing the 3,021-mile race before every other team in the eight-man division and setting a world record in the process was amazing.

“After finishing second last year, we wanted to take the title back,” Bowden said. “We wanted to set the record again.”

All members of Team Type 1 have Type 1 diabetes and provide a powerful message to other people with the disease that you can live a normal life and that exercise is an excellent form of disease management.

As for the race, Bowden said Team Type 1 didn’t make any huge changes after finishing second in 2008. It simply tweaked some techniques that allowed it to return to the first-place form of 2007.

“I don’t think there was a big difference,” Bowden said. “I think the individual riders worked harder to smooth out the rider transitions, which helped to increase our speed.

“Halfway through the race we noticed we were far ahead. I think we just focused on setting the record again. We were up 2 1/2 hours and it is almost impossible to be beat with such a big lead.”

Since climbing off the medal stand, Bowden has been taking it easy, letting his body recuperate from the grueling ride. The only riding he’s done has been to the coffee shop in the morning. He is in Virginia to train with the Team Type 1 Developmental Team.

“I’m excited to be working out here,” Bowden said. “I want to transition from the RAAM team to ride with the professionals. The Pro Team is making big strides and Team Type 1 is also growing.”

The professional team has a full calendar and Team Type 1 now has five different divisions.  There are now a professional male, professional female, RAAM, a triathlon team and a Team Type 2 in competition.

Through his journey and quest to become a professional, the sight of supporters never gets old for Bowden.

“Just seeing all the people out there saying thanks for what you are doing is great,” Bowden said. “There are people there all hours of the day and the support they offer is great.”

KATIE VISCO FINAL THOUGHTS

After running two miles with Katie Visco on McGill Road south of DeKalb on Wednesday on her quest to become the youngest woman ever to run across the United States, I was overwhelmed by her positive vibes, can-do attitude and overall sincerity.

It was hard to believe that someone is so friendly and positive. After our run, chat and subsequent interview, I actually felt like a better person. It might sound crazy but her karma has left a lasting imprint. Follow her or offer support at  paveyourlane.com. It’s an amazing story crafted by an amazing person.

THE NEW OAK CLUB

When I returned to an old favorite for a round of golf last Friday, some things remained the same and some things changed.

The Oak Club of Genoa offered its usually challenging fare on the front nine. The course was in good shape and after passing a threesome on the fifth hole, I had the entire track to myself, which always makes for a nice enjoyable afternoon with nature.

But to my surprise the back nine had undergone a complete face-lift. To cast a metaphor, I still was dancing with the same girl; she just had a new hair cut. The No. 10 tee plays the same, but after that the changes begin to reveal themselves.

The 11th tee is moved up to create a par 3, and the 12th tee now is a winding ride away from the houses of the old tee box. Having No. 12 removed is fine with me, because I can honestly say in 20 or so rounds at the Oak Club I never once posted a green-in regulation on that hole and managed a handful of up-and-down pars.

As for the changes, the entire back nine has been re-routed, new fairways utilized and greens created. There are at least four brand new holes that show their youth, are playable now and will be excellent additions to the layout as a whole once they mature.

The 13th tee is still one of my favorite holes. The inward nine wraps up a bit of a ride from the clubhouse but 18 is a par 4 that begs you to hit driver with a dangerous pair of ponds within striking distance.

Look for more information on the new back nine holes at the Oak Club next week.

My planned trip to Orchard Valley Golf Course last Sunday had to be postponed because I had family in from out of town for the holiday weekend. But I plan to get out to the gem on Orchard Road soon.