We don't need these nightmares with airport security
It doesn't do any good to complain, but the traveling public must be made aware of what goes on in our nation's airports, if they don't already know.
My tale of woe began long before the Sept. 11 tragedy. I was flying south to visit my mother, and this was a time when my naiveté obscured my common sense.
On the flight to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., I carried on my short, hard-bodied fly rod case packed with two fly rods. I packed two fly reels in my suitcase along with a small fly box.
And, of course, the suitcase was unlocked. When I arrived, the reels were gone, along with a pair of shoes.
After Sept. 11, I started using TSA-approved locks on all checked luggage. On a trip back from California, one of the security locks was sliced off, and the contents rifled. After a quick inventory, I discovered some clothing missing.
Several years ago, during a flight from a sub-Arctic pike expedition ago, photographer Mike Seeling and I discovered that no matter how carefully we packed our rods, the airline found a way to destroy the contents of our normally indestructible rod case. The rods were cushioned with foam inserts and towels to absorb any shock that could occur when transferred from luggage carts to the belly of the aircraft.
It took more than six months, and a few heated exchanges with airline representatives, to get reimbursed for the damage.
Some of you will suggest I should opt for driving to a fishing and hunting destination. That's all fine if one has all the time in the world, but that's hardly ever the case for me. Time is a precious commodity.
One suburban angler who retired from an engineering job six years ago and spends lots of his free time traveling to various fishing locales around this country told me another tale of woe.
The security changes have made him feel "a lot safer" but he has had difficult with the personnel enforcing the rules.
I had met this angler, Gary, a few years back while traveling to Winnipeg. He recently called me about an incident as he passed through the security checkpoints at the ever-busy LAX airport in Los Angeles.
"I'm a type-2 diabetic and take medicine instead of having to inject insulin," he said. "I planned to carry my four-piece fly rod on board in a very short, hard case. I also had my glucometer (blood sugar meter) with me in my jacket.
"The security person refused to let me bring the rod case on board and then attempted to confiscate the sugar meter. I explained that I needed to monitor my blood sugar several times a day because of my diabetes, but he just didn't get it. I won't say this guy was stupid, but rather totally uninformed. A supervisor came by and resolved the matter."
Because I go through a lot of airports around this country and Canada, I have experienced major inconsistencies with the security people in the way they allow some fishing gear to go on a plane while turning thumbs down on other similar gear. Is it better to drive and not worry whether or not you have 3 or 10 ounces of shampoo in your bag? You bet.
Is it any easier to drive to Florida for a week's worth of saltwater angling than to be treated like a potential wrongdoer and then move along the long lines to get on a cramped airplane? Absolutely.
We are at the mercy of a security system that has employees more in tune with what Britney Spears has dangling from her navel than understanding that a glucometer and small fishing rod are hardly a threat to passenger safety.
'Positive propaganda' from the Illinois DNR
I have always been a staunch supporter of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the dedicated biologists and competent managers working there.
But with the massive budget cuts in that agency, cuts demanded by the governor, the amount of positive propaganda coming from the DNR is incredible.
Here's the latest blurb:
"Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police Officers made 42 arrests on charges of operating under the influence or driving under the influence during the recent Labor Day holiday weekend as part of an enhanced enforcement effort intended to improve safety at state parks and boat access areas."
What the DNR release didn't say was these dedicated officers have always been on the job, doing the exact same thing all year long without any fanfare from Springfield.
Fishing report
Fox Chain: Speaking of fanfare, some of the best bluegill and crappie angling is going on now on Lake Marie and Channel Lake. The walleye action gets better every day, especially on Marie and Petite Lakes. The fall muskie bite has yet to kick into high gear.
Fox River: Small, in-line spinners are a good choice for smallmouth at Batavia, while plastic lures and live bait are doing a number on fish in Elgin. Once again a few walleyes are showing up at the McHenry Dam.
Bangs Lake: There's decent crappie activity in the 10-12 foot depths.
Lake Michigan: Perching is starting to pick up steam at Waukegan, while kings and coho occupy the hearts and minds of many anglers working Chicago's lakefront.
• Mike's Jackson's radio program can be heard Sunday mornings at 6-7 a.m. on WSBC 1240-AM.