By Chris Erwin
On Friday Oct. 12, outdoor writers from across three states came together in Morehead to attend the Kentucky Outdoor Press Association annual fall conference.
For the last few years, KOPA has elected to have their conference on Cave Run Lake. While the conferences main goal is to serve its members and conduct business meetings, all members are encouraged to explore the area and write about all the outdoor opportunities it has to offer.
Spreading the word about the Daniel Boone National Forest and Cave Run Lake area has been the object of many articles coming from the writers who have attended this conference for the last few years. It has helped to put this area, coined the “Muskie Capital of the South,” on the radar of many outdoor enthusiasts, boosting the tourism to the area.
An announcement by Crash Mullins, a local guide who has a TV show on the outdoor channel, that he will be inducted into the Fresh Water Hall of Fame was only one of many highlights of the conference.
Wanda Clay, treasure, and Joan Mattox, a retired scientist for U.S. Fish and Wildlife, received KOPA’s Sam & Annie Roberson awards for their contribution to KOPA. Clay and Mattox both donate their time and skills in aiding the operational goals of KOPA. I am humbled to announce, I was awarded the Cutting Edge Award for my “continued, valued contributions to outdoor communication excellence.” This award has only been given four times in the history of KOPA. I was deeply honored to receive it. I serve as KOPA’s secretary.
One of the valued guests who attended the conference was the owner and founder of AC Shiner Lure Company. At 86, Mr. Art Shultise still runs the business, which produces some 96,000 baits a year. AC Shiner lures have been respected in the world of fishing for 45 years as one of the best baits you can have in your tackle box.
Shultise was gracious enough to sign one of his new baits for me. The word is he may not continue making his baits much longer. If that happens, it will be a loss to fishermen everywhere. There are very few baits on the market that produce as well as the AC Shiner. If you have ever wondered what the AC stood for, it is: “Action Certified.”
After the conference, I took my boat out of the water and pulled it to Popin Rock where my fish camp is located. While on the ramp, I heard from across the parking lot… “Hey Chris, you must really like to fish!” I looked up to see Art as he was putting away his gear in a john boat he had set up for fishing. I walked across the parking lot to speak to him and shake his hand one more time. I could hardly believe this 86-year-old man was up on this end of the lake fishing by himself.
After shaking his hand, I asked him, “Art, what are you doing on this end of the lake?” He just grinned at me and said, “Same thing you’re doing! I have been fishing and getting out of the wind.” I had to quiz him on where he had been fishing and how he did. I was just taken back by how he managed to launch his boat alone and take his boat out of the water without help at his age.
As I walked back to my boat the thought shot though my head, “Oh Lord, let me be in his shape at 86.”
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