Anyone who’s ever knocked a rod overboard and watched it sink out of sight may want to check out the “rod floaters” available from Blakemore Lure Co. These foam tubes slip onto your rod and are secured in place with Velcro straps. If your rod falls or is pulled into the water, it will bob upright thanks to the floats. Some users have said you may need to trim the floaters to keep line on a spinning rod from slapping it, but that they work even when trimmed. The floats come in two sizes, an eight-inch model meant to fit casting, flipping and medium-to-heavy spinning rods and a six-inch version for crappie, ultralight and children’s rods. Suggested retail price is $9.99 for a three-pack. For information: write: TTI Companies, 100 Red Eagle Road, P.O. Box 1177, Wetumpka, Ala. 36092-1177; call 334-567-2011.

Lure of the week Lure: Hot Tip Spider Company: Stopper Lures Lure type: Floating spider imitation Sizes and colors: This fly comes in three sizes, 10, 12 and 14, and four colors, black, yellow, white, and orange. Target species: Trout and panfish. Technique: Cast this spider around the edges of cover, like weeds, boat docks, downed trees, and the like. Let is sit on the water, then twitch it periodically to imitate a spider that’s dropped onto the surface film to attract the attention of fish. Sugg. retail price: $2.29 for a two-pack. Notable: These foam spiders come with white rubber legs tipped with bright fluorescent orange paint. The body has a fluorescent dot on the back, too.

Tip of the week Spring turkey season is little more than a month away, so now is the time to get your shotgun ready. First, shoot it at a turkey head target to see how it patterns. Guns that shoot nearly a foot off target are not unheard of, so find out just where you need to aim. Second, try several loads to see which shoots best in your gun. Third, find out how far you can shoot and still have an acceptable pattern. For most 12 gauges, that’s 40 yards. For 20 gauge shotguns, it’s often 30 yards.

Recipe of the week Bass Hash Ingredients &#149 2 pounds bass (cooked) &#149 1 pound hash browns (thawed) &#149 1/2 cup green pepper (chopped) &#149 1/2 onion (chopped) &#149 v pound bacon, cooked and crumbled (save the grease) &#149 lemon pepper &#149 chili powder &#149 garlic powder &#149 salt and pepper to taste Directions Take the oil from the bacon and put it into a sauce pan. Saute the onions and green peppers and set them aside. Add the hash browns, frying until slightly browned. Finally, add the lemon pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and fish, then serve.

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