The Great Outdoors 3-18-10

   While a majority of undergraduates may be heading to Panama City, Cancun and the Bahamas for Spring Break, many students graduating this spring will be pounding the pavement looking for a lead on a job come May. One industry that may be overlooked on the job market is outdoor-related careers.
    One look at some of the alumni of Murray State University shows its rich production of outdoor industry graduates. Most notably are the professional anglers like Mark Menendez, Dan Morehead and Terry Bolton. Host of Ducks Unlimited TV Wade Bourne is also a former Murray State student, and Will Brantley, who used to write this very column, can be read in all sorts of outdoor publications as a freelance writer.
    Opportunities, however, do not stop at the tournament trail, television or magazines, though. I know many graduates of Murray State that work behind the scenes or away from the public eye in the outdoor industry, and it seems every major can go in the direction of outdoor jobs.
    Many biology students go on to take jobs with the fish and wildlife service around the country. The list goes on and on: outdoor physical therapists, travel agents for outdoor adventures, ski-resort paramedics, wilderness guides, park rangers.
    What I am getting at is there are ways to make a livelihood from your passion of the outdoors.
    Though they may be untraditional and often ignored, outdoor jobs can be a great source of income and unique in their rewards for those who cannot tolerate the thought of spending their days cooped up in an office cubicle.
    While you may be learning the foundations of a specific discipline here in school, there is no replacement for passion when it comes to outdoor jobs.
    Experience can be important, but many positions offer on-the-job training and simply require open-mindedness and willingness to break away from the mainstream.
    Murray State University and its backyard of recreation resources are a perfect place to hone your skills for an outdoor-oriented career.
    Those entering the workforce this spring should look long and hard at some of the opportunities out there for adventurists and nontraditional employment.
OUTDOOR HIGHLIGHTS
    Spring Break Adventures: Spring Break destinations often offer some of the best fishing grounds in the world. If you are headed to a tropical or exotic locale, I urge you to take at least one day to sample the local fishing. After all, it is difficult for a diehard angler to be around so much water and not wet a line.
    Wherever you may be heading, there are opportunities to suit any budget, group size and skill level. The best advice I can give is to stop at a local tackle shop and ask where the fish have been biting. They should be able to put you on some good locations.
    Kentucky Lake Spring Break: If you are not going anywhere for Spring Break, spend some time on Kentucky Lake for the best time to fish all year. Many make Kentucky Lake their destination for Spring Break for its prime spring fishing. The bass and crappie should be in a full-throttle feeding mode the next two weeks as the spawn nears.
    If bass is your quarry, start fishing points on the main and then work your way back in the shallow creeks and bays. Depending on the variables of water temperature, weather and stage of spawn the fish are likely to be found anywhere. Find one, and you should find a bunch. Then look for similar areas (water depth, structure, etc.) in other bays and you should duplicate the results.
    The migration of spring crappie is similar to the bass. Large numbers of fish will move deep and shallow in accordance with the particular conditions. Most of the black crappies are being caught in shallow water (2-8 feet) close to lay downs and brush piles. The white crappies are in deeper water (10-16 feet) waiting for a little warmer water to move up and spawn. Slip bobbers with live bait, small spinners and plastics should produce large numbers of fish for the frying pan this time of year.
    Contact Miller at steven.miller@murraystate.edu.