Finally, an outdoors show that hits closer to home

Most any angler who's ever watched a fishing show on television likely has wondered what a TV production might look like if the venue was Lake Milton or some other familiar water compared to a bass-filled lake in the mountains of Mexico.
And deer hunters enjoy shows shot in Alabama, Canada and other far-flung locales, but who's to say a great hunt couldn't be filmed in Ohio's woods?
D'Arcy Egan says it can be done. And he's doing it.
Egan, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's outdoors writer for 28 years, has spread his wings this year to produce a new TV show called "Outdoors Ohio with D'Arcy Egan." It recently debuted on Sports Time Ohio, airing several times a week between Cleveland Indians games and other STO programming.
Quotable
"The folks at Sports Time Ohio really wanted local Ohio programming and that's what we're producing," said Egan, who also hosts and produces "Inside the Great Outdoors Radio Show" on WKNR-850 AM. "Those of us who fish and hunt here know Ohio is a great place for our favorite activities, and our new TV show is featuring all of our great outdoor sports opportunities."
Egan was taping a show Thursday at Lake Milton with pro bass angler Frank Scalish.
"We're showcasing the great fishing right here close to home," Egan said. "While it's great to go shoot in the Florida Keys, that's not what our show is all about."
At Milton, Scalish and Egan were targeting largemouth and smallmouth bass with Carolina rigs and deep-diving crankbaits. Other recent shoots have been in the Cleveland Harbor and other Lake Erie marinas.
"We're focusing on places where anybody can fish, not just Lake Erie charters, but locations where you can go for free -- like the harbors, the inland reservoirs and even ponds," Egan said.
Other locations that will be visited by the "Outdoors Ohio" crew include Berlin, Pymatuning, Leesville, Clendening and Piedmont. Eventually, Egan's crew will visit just about all of Ohio's best fishing and hunting spots.
"We've even got a boat rigged with a 9.9-hp outboard so we can hit the limited-horsepower lakes, which have fantastic fishing and are very popular with Ohio's fishermen," he said.
Other subjects
Ohio deer, waterfowl, bird and small game hunting also will be featured as the show spans the seasons.
Scalish, a Clevelander who competed this year in pro bass fishing's major league Bassmaster Elite Series, will be a frequent guest on Egan's show as he uses his talent and experience to demonstrate the excellent bass fishing opportunities in our backyard waters.
Egan's wife, Laura Brown Egan, an artist and Lake Erie fishing guide, also will appear on many shows.
Walleye, muskies, steelhead, panfish and just about every other Ohio fish will be included in the show's broadcast lineup.
Those who want to view "Outdoors Ohio" can catch the show at 5:30 today and again at 6:30 and 10:30 p.m. Sunday. For information on future broadcast schedules, check out the show's Web site: www.outdoorsohio.com.
jwwollitz@aol.com