Go fish! Not as in the famous card game but out in the local streams and lakes that could be ringing the final bell for the trout fishing action with the official closure of that stocking season.

But don’t fret, the bass, catfish and other warmer water fishes are picking up where the trout left off.

For youngsters 17 and under, don’t miss out on the Saturday (June 19) third annual Logan Area Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) Jakes cat-fishing day.

The event will be held at the Camp Chief Logan Boy Scout Camp Lake along Garrett’s Fork near Chapmanville from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

No fishing experience is necessary. Call Doyle Gore at 239-2025 or Roger Wolfe at 792-7250 for questions or more information.

The prior events provided for some hot fishing action and prizes that could be a sequel for this year’s event. For the young angler that told his dad in all sincerity that the fishing he had was the best day of his entire life, we can only wish the same excitement for all of this year’s young anglers.

For another reminder, the Logan County Airport Pond is open to all anglers not just youngsters as of June 1 of each year.

Trout there and at the other locally stocked Laurel Lake in Mingo County and Chief Logan State Park Lake are not likely to

survive the summer months so go ahead and make a meal out of them.

The latter two lakes have also recently been stocked by DNR with catchable size channel catfish.

For the more adventuresome anglers, the Guyandotte, Little Coal and Tug Fork Rivers may be some of the most underutilized fisheries in the state.

Whether you wade or float fish in a johnboat or canoe, there is a wide selection of warm water species available.

The same can be said for their major of their major tributary streams from Pigeon Creek in Mingo County to Huff and Buffalo Creeks in Logan County to Spruce Fork and Pond Fork in Boone County.

The Guyandotte River boasts a particularly rich assemblage of warm water fish species prospects.

It harbors white bass, all three species of black bass, walleye, sauger, carp, gar, drum, suckers, bowfin, rock bass, both channel and mud catfish and the various varieties of bluegills and sunfish. Regarding the Tug Fork River , former DNR District Fisheries Biologist Mike Hoeft always raved about the channel catfish populations he surveyed there.

Several of the adult readers have also told of excellent angling days on the local waters.

All it takes is a hook and a worm. So even on the local scene and after the trout stocking has ended, there’s plenty of reason to go fish.