Why October Is A Favorite Month
Of the twelve months that constitute a calendar year, one month stands out as my favorite. October can be rather interesting. The temperature, as it likely will be this year, might tend to be on the warm side. Other Octobers, we can get chilly temps, maybe even an occasional frost.
Before delving into why this month is a favorite, I decided to do a little probing to learn the history of the month of October.
October is the 10th months of the year in our modern calendar but interestingly, it’s name comes from the Latin word “octo”, which means eight.
The ancient Roman calendar began in March, making October the eighth month of a 10-month year.
October always had 31 days in the Roman system and this length never changed. Then somewhere along the way, calendar reforms added January and February to the start of the year, moving October to the 10th position while keeping it’s original numerical name.
The Anglo-Saxons had a name for it because winter was believed to start at the full moon in October. Old England called it “Winmonath” because it was the time for making wine.
How did Halloween get its start? Ancient Celts celebrated Samhain on October 31 to mark summer’s end and welcome winter. This festival later turned into modern Halloween.
As a side note, Christopher Columbus reached the Americas on October 12, 1492 and the United Nations was founded on October 14, 1945.
Okay, that’s enough history. Why is October so important to me? If I had to name one reason, it has to do with squirrel hunting which always begins in early October.
When I was just a kid growing up, I admired my dad when he would come home with a sack of squirrels he had bagged and I secretly longed for the day when I could go hunting with him.
That time came when I was probably five or six years old when one day as dad gathered his gear to head for the woods, he stopped before heading out the door and asked me, his oldest son, how would you like to go with me. Oh boy, it didn’t take me but a second to say yes sir!
I probably had on blue jeans and tennis shoes as we piled in dad’s car and headed for the woods, a dad and an extremely excited youngster.
As dad stepped into the woods with me at his heels, he paused and cautioned me about something of utmost importance if you’re going to sneak up on a squirrel. Be quiet; watch where you step and avoid stepping on dry leaves because of the noise it created. I did a fair job of keeping quiet although I had to be cautioned several times to watch where I stepped.
I don’t remember if dad killed a squirrel on that first foray with me along but on trips when he took me, there were a few times when he cautioned me to be particularly still because he had spotted a squirrel and was trying to sneak up on it.
Finally, dad thought I had progressed enough that he placed a little .22 rifle in my hands as we headed out. I’ll never forget the first time he let me sneak up on a squirrel, take the shot and rush to the squirrel as it tumbled to the ground.
The look on his face as he watched his son bag his first squirrel is still etched in my memory.
Why do I love October? I think by now, you know.
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Bass are fair around the grass early on topwaters. Reports are that bass are schooling early mornings and late afternoons and hitting shad imitations and soft plastics. Crappie are around the deeper tops and are hitting jigs and shiners. Bream are slow. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Crappie are deep and are fair on shiners or jigs. Some bass are being caught early on topwaters and later using soft plastics and crank baits around deeper brush. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – Bass are fair on crank baits and soft plastics. Crappie are fair in the river lakes. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass are overall slow but best on topwaters early with some schooling activity noted. Crappie are in deep water in the channel and fair on jigs and shiners. The bream are slow. Catfish are fair on red wigglers and night crawlers fished just off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie are suspended where there is more oxygen. Bass are in the shallows early hitting topwaters with some reportedly schooling. Bream are slow. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water level is slightly rising. Catfish are being caught on trotlines and noodles and buffalo caught in nets. No reports yet on crappie and bass. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.