New in equipment: The Icon rifle
• Thompson/Center Firearms was recently purchased by Smith & Wesson, but it's still in business. And one of its newest products is a rifle called the Icon. The bolt-action rifle features a checkered walnut stock, a butter knife-style bolt handle, and white-metal highlights throughout the blued assembly. It has an adjustable trigger, too. Its barrel, meanwhile, has what the company calls "5R" rifling, which is said to reduce stripping of bullet jacketing, thereby keeping the rifle more accurate longer. The rifle also comes with a multipurpose tool meant to make field maintenance practical. It is being offered in four calibers: .22-250, .243, .308 and the .30TC. Suggested retail price is $800. For information: visit www.tcarms.com , write Thompson/Center, PO Box 5002, Rochester, NH 03866, or call 603-332-2333.
Lure of the week Moss Boss
Company: Heddon Lures.
Lure type: Weedless surface spoon
Sizes and colors: Available in 1/4- and 3/8-ounce sizes in four colors: black scale, bullfrog, chartreuse/black scale, and white/scale.
Target species: Bass, northern pike and walleyes.
Technique: Keep your rod tip low and pump the lure in using 4-6 inch jerks; cast it out, let it sit, then retrieve it quickly with your rod tip high to skip it in; or keep your rod tip at waist level and reel in quick, short jerks on a slightly slack line to swim it in.
Sugg. retail price: $3.59 to $3.69
Notable: This spoon is designed to glide easily over and through thick cover like moss, weed-beds and brush-choked coves.
Tip of the week
If you're going to introduce a child to fishing, keep it simple and fun. Give them simple tackle -- a closed faced real, bobber and live bait -- and remember they'll probably prefer catching lots of smaller fish, like bluegills, to one or two larger fish. Remember, too, that kids have short attention spans, so if they want to take a break to look for bugs, skip stones, or explore, let them. After all, the idea is not to bring home a stringer of fish, it's to show kids that fishing is fun.
Recipe of the week Red pepper wild turkey
Ingredients
• 2 thinly-sliced wild turkey breasts• soft herb and garlic cheese spread• 1 jar roasted red peppers• 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs• paprika to taste
Directions
Coat a baking dish with cooking spray, then place the turkey breasts onto a sheet of wax paper. Pour bred crumbs onto a second sheet, then spray one side of the turkey with cooking spray and coat the other side with cheese spread.
Place a slice of roasted red pepper on top of the cheese. Dip the sprayed side of the turkey into the crumbs, coating completely. Roll the turkey and place it seam-side down in the baking dish. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 10 minutes. Spoon pan drippings over turkey, sprinkle it with paprika and serve immediately.
-- Bob Frye
