Become a line-watcher to catch more fish. Game fish often hit lures as they sink or "drop" and most fishermen miss this light touch on slack line. During the drop, with the line slack, you are literally out of touch with your lure and unless you notice a telltale twitch of the line you never know the fish was there. Spinner baits, jigs, grubs and plastic worms are often purposely fished on the drop by veteran anglers. They are retrieved a few feet and then stopped, at which point they begin to sink. Why this is so attractive to fish is unknown but it works. It also works in reverse. When a diving plug is stopped, it begins to float toward the surface. Again fish will often hit it then. Unless you are watching your line, you will never know. To set the hook, reel the slack out of your line and snap the rod tip upward sharply. Remember, you don

Summer storms can blow up in a hurry and they often contain thunder and lightning. Thunder is noisy but no problem. Lightning can be dangerous and annually kills more people than tornadoes and hurricanes combined. Carrying more than 100 million volts, a lightning bolt is worth avoiding. Outdoors people should be very cautious of lightning storms. The basic rule is don't be or be near the tallest object in the area. Avoid hilltops and open meadows and never take cover under a lone tree. Also avoid utility poles, towers, windmills, pipelines, fences, rails and metal gates. Don't hold long or metallic objects such as golf clubs, guns or even fishing rods. On land seek shelter in a low area or in low brush. Cars, except convertibles, offer very good lightning protection. Boats are another matter. Avoid boating when storms are imminent and run to shore if caught in open water. Boaters should also beware of high winds that may accompany the storm.

Generally speaking, fish don't like light. Their individual tolerance varies by species from walleyes, which really hate it, to bass, which merely dislike it. Summertime has three factors that make fishing tough. Clear water allows sunlight to penetrate deeper. A high sun angle enhances light penetration. Warm temperatures and the increasing strength of the sun's radiation make surface waters too warm to be comfortable to most fish. Each gamefish species has its own preferred temperature range and will "suspend" where temperature and light are right for it. Learn the preferred temperatures and use an underwater thermometer to find the "comfort zone" of the species you are after. Fish in shaded areas such as under and around boat docks, bridge pilings and floating or rooted vegetation. Also, fish on cloudy days and after summer rain storms. Rainy day fishing is good because it's cloudy (low light penetration) and that, with the cooling rain, lowers water temperatures. In run-off areas, the rain also washes in food which may start sluggish fish feeding.

Virtually all formal shooting ranges require shooters to wear eye and ear protection while shooting. These rules make excellent safety sense and should be obeyed. Further, recreational shooters on non-formal ranges should take heed and follow suit. Impact-resistant glass or plastic goggles protect the eyes from windblown dust and grit as well as particles of burned powder, wadding, clay targets and the uncommon but not impossible pierced primer. Hearing loss is permanent and irreversible. Sounds above 100 decibels damage the sound receptor cells of the inner ear. Virtually all firearms (including the .22 rimfire) produce muzzle blast at or above this threshold of potential damage. Ear-muff type protectors are the most effective, but even the cheap disposable foam ear plugs help a lot. New technology has brought us electronic muffs and plugs. These allow normal sounds, such as conversation, to be heard and even amplified, but slam an electronic "door" on loud peaking sounds like gunshots. Such devices are excellent for hunters who wish to protect their hearing.

The old "take a kid fishing" concept is rapidly being expanded to take a kid outdoors. Be it fishing, hunting, hiking or camping. As mature outdoor-loving adults, we have a responsibility to pass along both the pleasures and the skills that are part of the outdoor recreational experience. Start with your own kids and try to include their friends who may not have outdoor-oriented parents. Not so sure about your own skills? There are many programs available to help families and non-outdoor veterans enjoy the outdoors. There are even programs aimed at single parents. Realtree has supported many of these, including the National Wild Turkey Federation's JAKES program, Ducks Unlimited's Greenwings, and the American Sportfishing Association's Future Fishermen Foundation. Most state wildlife agencies have (indeed require) hunter safety education and promote other programs as well, such as the Becoming an Outdoor Woman program. Call your state wildlife agency for more information on hunter safety and other outdoor education programs for the family.