I remember the morning I received the phone call from my old pal and hunting partner, Steve Merlo. It was about 35 years ago, and we were planning a Canada goose hunt the next morning on the Tulare Lake Water District ponds located above the Kern Refuge.

Our mutual friend, Paul Dargatz, would be joining us, and Steve wanted to know if I thought we would have room for one of his fishing friends from the Fresno area. I said no problem, and he told me the guys name was Daryle Lamonica. I gasped, and replied, "That Daryle Lamonica?"

Ken Barnes is a record setting shooter and longtime outdoorsman from Kern County. Email him at ken.barnes@aol.com with comments or column ideas.