I picked up Bob Lusk at the Sioux Falls airport today. Bob’s flight arrived 12 minutes early!?!

Dr. Willis called me on my cell phone and asked, “Have you got him?”. As panic set in, I said, “I will be there shortly”.

There was a red light at every intersection.

Bob is safely in Brookings and I am safely home with Buck chewing on my leg because he didn’t get to go along.

perhaps, at least, you recieved a beneficial osmotic transfer of wisdom during the car ride.

Thanks again, Dwight, for that delivery service. How would have ever thought that airlines would be early?????

I was not a good guide on the first day of pheasant hunting. However, we've got two days left and hope springs eternal.

Bob talks to one of our classes and our American Fisheries Society student subunit tonight, so we're looking forward to that.

Other than uncooperative birds, we're having a good time. Bob just went out the front door so I better get rolling.

OK, Dwight. We did better today! Bob got his first rooster over a solid point and good retrieve! He also exhibited his Pond Bass Boss skills with a jig and twister tail when we stopped at one of the ponds. Had to quit early today to run back in so Bob could give his seminar to the students at 6 pm. Heading out for another hunt tomorrow with Pond Boss/Pondmeister Peter Maffei.

Dave - How do you get a job like that?

Bob and Dave did a fantastic job! Everyone looked completely absorbed with what Bob was saying. It's a part of the fisheries profession that most student don't ever get exposed to. Looking at the number of students asking questions after the seminar, Bob really did spark a lot of interest. Ultimately though, it was us old foggies that ended the session. That's probably because we actually have ponds and have very specific questions. If you ever get a chance to go to one of the mini seminars, don't ever pass it by.

Hey i just attended a great seminar by Lusk at SDSU. I am a senior this year at South Dakota State in the wildlife and fisheries department. I would love to have a private business in the fisheries profession after I graduate. I am from Iowa, and if anyone is willing to show me the ropes and help me out that would be great!! please let me know. Thanks for the talk Bob, it was inspiring.

Welcome aboard Tyler. You and Chris Steelman need to talk as he is also a fisheries student. Look under the user list and email him.

Dwight -- it's a tough job, but darn it, someone has to do it! How else can we get Bob Lusk here to stimulate future professionals like Tyler??

Welcome Tyler. I am majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology here at Arkansas Tech. I have only had a few fisheries classes so far, but I have been enjoying it.

This semester I am taking Ichthyology. Arkansas is a good area for this because of all the varying habitats. The campus is located within miles of the Arkansas River and also the Ozark and Ouachita mountains. We can sample upland streams all the way down to a big river. Back in September we did a rotenone sample with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on Lake Dardanelle, which is formed by damming the Arkansas River. Last week we went to a swamp and did some seining. In two weeks we are going backpack shocking in some upland streams.

Last semester I took Aquaculture. Arkansas is great because of all state and commercial hatcheries are all within a few hours’ drive. We went to a few state trout hatcheries, some commercial goldfish and minnow hatcheries, and to a few research facilities.

Dave - Where is the final report on the pheasant hunting? I imagine you limited out?

Nope, never did hit limits. However, gracious Bob seemed pleased with the overall experience. We had great fun at Peter Maffei's place yesterday. Bob said he would post the story and the pheasant pictures when he got home tonight. Bob was able to take his nine roosters home with him on the plane, however!

Is it legal to transport nine pheasant roosters in your carry-on luggage on a jet plane across multiple state lines?

I knew that was coming!

I checked them....in three one-day increments.
I'll tell you guys. Dave & Susie Willis are outstanding, gracious hosts. Those four days were fabulous. We hunted, toured the campus, hunted some more, saw hundreds of birds, gave a speech, hunted, met Peter & Cindy Maffei, hunted, ate great food, hunted, walked through chest high grasses, wetlands, swamps, corn fields and food plots. My boots are still wet, a comfy, cozy wet.
This was Lusk's first time to hunt pheasants and by the end of my stay, I was just getting the hang of it and my legs had stopped protesting the abuse. My mind was rolling, my smile was strapped all the way across my 50-something face, and my soul was completely at peace.
It was a great trip.
See a few photos in the blog.

While we're doing all this back-patting, let me report one more thing. Bob did a fabulous job with our students. They are still talking about it today, and his talk was back on tuesday night! I asked him to talk about the private sector in fisheries management. He did that, and did that well. However, he also got strongly into passion, caring for and about our natural resources, etc. That information applied not only to those thinking about private sector jobs, but also those who are interested in state or federal agency positions. Thanks again, Bob!