From Papa Duck: Happy Father’s Day 2021!

Times Outdoors Columnist 'Father,' 'Dad,' 'Daddy,' 'Da-Da,' 'Pop,' 'Papa,' or whatever your favorite name is, he’s the same person.

He is the man that showed you how to tie your shoes, the man who taught you how to throw and hit a baseball, the man who taught you how to bait a hook, take the fish off the hook and clean it, the man who taught you how to ease through the woods looking for squirrels, and the man who taught you how to shoot, blow a duck call, and really enjoy the Great Outdoors.

Papa Duck is very fortunate because this was the same man. Papa. My daddy was the smartest man I have ever known. He had a 7th grade education and could do my college math that I had no clue how to work it. We had a restaurant and motel on the East end of West Memphis and he could make, fix, or do anything, including the air conditioning units and TVs. We hunted and fished together and he was always patient and loving with me. I remember coming back from trips and I would wake up with my head in his lap and he rubbing my back. He was an artist with a fly rod and a popping bug and we fished Green Lake where he had a cabin. He had a cypress boat with a 3 horse Johnson motor that he taught me how to run when I was 8 or 9. He taught me to slow down and give a fisherman plenty of room so as not to disturb the fishing.

I was seven years old when we went on the first squirrel hunt in the woods near Green Lake following an old logging road surrounded by big pecan and oak trees. At daylight we had motored down the lake in the homemade cypress boat with a three hp Johnson motor. I had my 410 shotgun and plenty of Winchester #6 shells along with my hunting coat that had a great big game bag.

It was not long before Papa pointed out a gray squirrel cutting pecans not very high up a tree. I made a good one shot kill and the squirrel fell dead in the road. Papa and I hugged and loved on each other as only a father and son that had just shared a happening can understand. I managed to bag three more bushy tails.

We went back to the camp to clean game and later that evening, Papa fried up those pecan fat squirrels.

Squirrels have never tasted as good as the first ones.

Papa and I hunted and fished until his health prevented it. I look back at the times I did not go with him because I wanted to be with my hunting and fishing buddies. I know that had to hurt him not to have his favorite fishing partner with him. If only those missed trips could be recalled. I wish Keith, Owen, and Anna could have known his wisdom and love. Mama and Papa both passed away in 1967.

In April of 1977, my wife, Colleen, presented me with my own fishing partner, Owen Keith Criner. We live out in the Proctor area on Old Lake Rest and the boy grew up fishing and hunting with me. He caught his first fish when he was still in diapers, got a BB gun at around 5 years old, and my old 20 gauge shotgun Papa had given me after he cut down the stock to make it fit me. Keith grew up in the 101 Club and got his first squirrel and first duck, a mallard drake, on and around Stimpson Lake.

We hunted almost every weekend and would fish at the lake for several days at a time. We have shared many hours together in a boat catching fish and duck hunting. This does not count the hours spent in the truck going to the hunting and fishing holes. Keith is now a doctor at NEA/Baptist hospital in Jonesboro and we do not get to hunt and fish nearly as much as I would like, but he has his family and profession. As a daddy and granddaddy, I hope for

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Submitted photo FATHER’S DAY (cont.)

many more trips to the woods and waters with my boy and grandkids. I have seen Owen’s [who gave me the Papa Duck name] and Anna’s first fish and look forward to the first squirrel and especially that first duck.

Kids, go with your father and enjoy your time with him. Dads, take that kid and you can make some wonderful memories. When out in the woods and waters, there is a special bonding that only Mother Nature can make happen.

Take plenty of pictures.

They will become very valuable. I regret we did not take many pictures when Papa and I were together. I cherish the few I have. Hunt around and find some gift for Father’s Day.

It does not have to be fancy. It’s the thought that lasts. Let him know you love him.

A couple of Christmas ago Dr. Keith had given me a very nice DuxBak down coat and I had texted him saying that you give and do many things for me and I appreciate them. I only wish I could do something for you. He replied ”You’ve given me more than I’ll ever need from paddling my tail to loving me and always being there. You’re a good daddy and I love you. This simple statement brings tears to my eyes. I only hope I deserved them. On this day to honor our Fathers, I am sure Papa is looking down from that Big Duck Blind In The Sky enjoying the legacy he left to us.

This story does not have much local fishing news and information. We can catch up with regional fishing reports later. The fishing has remained consistent with Horseshoe, Wapanocca, and the park lakes getting the most fishermen. The river is now out of Midway and the ramp and bait shop are open and the big river bream are really biting. White bass fishing on crank baits is spectacular. For fishermen that do not have a boat, pier fishing can be enjoyed for $5 a person.

Fathers, enjoy your day!

John Criner is a hunting and fishing columnist for the Evening Times and an avid outdoorsman. He is the owner of Lakeside Taxidermy. Contact him at jhcriner@ hotmail. com.