The last holiday weekend is upon us and folks across the country are headed to the lake, pool or ocean to enjoy a day of fun, surf and swimming. To help you stay safe at the beach or pool here are a few safety tips to keep in mind.

 * Keep young children at arm's reach at all times. Never, even for a moment, leave small children alone or in the care of another young child while swimming. Drowning is silent.

  * Learn how to perform CPR. It’s probably too late to do it before this weekend but take a class before next season.

  * Avoid alcohol use while swimming and boating. Have a designated driver.

  * Alcohol is prohibited at some public beaches, state parks and pools.

  * Don’t take glass bottles to the beach or pool. This doesn’t need any explaining.

  * Stay within the roped area of the lake or in the end of the pool you are comfortable in.

  * Swim with a buddy.

  * Obey posted signs and flags.

  * Wear a life jacket or some kind of personal flotation device especially on young children. It floats, they don’t.

  * Use sunscreen and reapply every hour or so.

  * Drink water as needed. Stay hydrated.

  * Most public beaches do not have lifeguards on duty as do most pools at hotels and motels.

  * Pick up your trash. Leave nothing but foot prints.

  * Use common sense. If you think it’s a bad idea it probably is.

  * Have fun and make happy memories.

  I’ve heard lots of “knowledgeable’ fishermen repeat the old saw about fish not biting when it’s too hot. Or the fish don’t bite when the sun is high, or the wind is from the east or you’re wearing bright clothes. There are, it seems, an endless reason or excuse as to why the fish don’t bite. Those are usually voiced by the angler with an empty stringer.

  Now that those lazy, hazy days of August are here, if those were true it would make for a disappointing outing, however, I disagree with them. Oh sure, the fish aren’t nearly as eager to chase after food when the water temp is up in the higher degrees, but there still are ways to entice a big ole bucket mouth to strike.

  Bluegills are always good for a day’s fun with the kids. These always hungry and these feisty little guys are the perfect fish for the young ones. They are plentiful, eat almost anything and can put up a decent scrap. The blue gill is probably the reason so many of us developed a love of fishing in the first place. They are what I call a gateway game fish. This is the perfect way to get kids to enjoy the great outdoors. Once they’ve hooked a scrappy blue gill, they’re probably hooked too! What a great outdoor activity for kids. And pond raised bluegills are as tasty as any fish you’ll ever bite into!

  Ooops, I digress. Back to how to get those too-hot-to-fish-day strikes.

  We’ll just have to literally scratch the surface.

  Yep, surface or topwater fishing is a great way to get the most fun out of warm weather fishing. One effective method is casting a simple cork or plastic spider using a 5 or 6 weight fly rod and a tapered leader.

  Fly fishing is, however, an art not really suited for the five to ten year olds so let them use the same lures with an ultralight spinning reel or more realistically, a Zebco 33 and monofilament line with a clear casting bobber.

  Monofilament line is the obvious choice for surface fishing. This line is a bit ’stretchy’, an important quality when using treble hooks. It also floats better allowing improved topwater lure action.

  Other very effective topwater lure is a black popper, a one and a half inch grasshopper, and some floating flies. In waters that see lots of fishing pressure, a slider like a Sneaky Pete work better on those ‘once burned, twice shy’, bluegills.

  Color of the lures is important to some extent. On overcast, lowlight days a popper in chartreuse is a good choice. White with red or black spots works well in most light and water conditions. Yellow and black are also recommended if the others aren’t bringing the gills up to the surface.

  A method that has worked for me for oh so many years is to let the lure just lay on the surface once it hits the water. Bluegill never miss anything landing on the water. That’s how many get most of their meals. They are very curious. Let the lure sit for fifteen to twenty seconds then give it a little twitch.

  If using the grasshopper and the twitch doesn’t get a strike, retrieve it like a shallow running crankbait just below the surface. Close to cover, this method may also attract the attention of ole bucket mouth. Never heard of anyone complaining about landing a big old bass!

  I can’t guarantee you’ll limit out, but your chances will improve. Besides there’s a lot more to fishing than just catching fish! I can’t think of a better way to bond with children of all ages than to get ‘em hooked - on fishing! Warm weather fishing is fun fishing with kids.

  Due to the small size of doves, most hunters chose only to save only the breast meat. The breasts are meaty and make even servings. Portion size varies, but plan on three to four breasts per person.

 To clean a dove for just the breast meat;

 1) Hold the bird on its back in one hand. Grasp the outside wing with the other hand and give it a good twist; the wing will snap off. Repeat with the other wing. You can also use a pair of kitchen shears to remove the wings.

 2) Lay the bird again on its back in one hand and poke your free thumb into the body cavity just below and up under the breastbone. It’s a good idea to use gloves while doing this.

 3) All in the same motion, pry the bird apart by moving your two hands apart. A quick jerk will separate the breast from the rest of the bird.

 4) Pluck the feathers off the breast or peel off the skin.

 5) Wash them thoroughly and remove any shot before freezing.

 6) Cook and enjoy.