New Park for Me!

US-12023 Cikana State Fish Hatchery

The Cikana State Fish Hatchery is one of the newer parks that has been added to the Parks on the Air program. It's a very nice state property that has hiking trails, and picnic tables for observing the local wildlife.  Where there are fish ponds, there are numerous birds and other animals around for your viewing pleasure.  

The fish raised here are not for sale to the public.  These fish are for stocking the public waters of Indiana.  Indiana currently uses the site for raising bluegill, largemouth bass, red ear sunfish, black crappie, sauger, channel catfish, and walleye. 

This state property is open from dawn to dusk, and the office here is opened Monday through Friday from 8AM to 4:00PM, closed for all state holidays. 

When I got to the site, I came in off State Road 44, on my way home from Martinsville.  The entrance is clearly marked and there is a information kiosk thing about 250 yards into the property.  Behind the kiosk is a couple of picnic tables overlooking some of the ponds, and the woods. 

Information Kiosk at Cikana 

A couple of the hatchery ponds 

Welcome and some information about the property

Since I was going to be using my KX-2 and the portable AX-1 antenna, I was perfectly at home at this picnic table.  I was ready to get on the air about 3PM EDT.  Like my beer glass coffee mug? 

KB9BVN about to jump into action

Spotted, on 14062 Khz, and ready to copy the POTA hunters!

So, here's where things started to not go as planned.  I fired up the KX-2 at 10 watts...in almost an hour I had worked one station.  N4CD at a park in Oklahoma.  So I shut down, and raised the Eagle One hitch mounted vertical on my SUV, tossed out a couple of radials, and tried it again. 

This was a good move, I nailed down another eleven contacts in about 30 more minutes.  Covering OK, TX, LA, MO, ID, NY, MN, SD, and FL.  Not a bad effort.  I had 12 in the log and it was time to pack up and go home.  

I checked the space weather for band conditions and today it wasn't good.  Normally I don't have any issues working DX with the AX-1 antenna...but that was not happening today.

Band Conditions: SSN:90 SFI:148 A:34 K:3  

NOT GREAT!!!

Lots of opportunities when I come back! 

73 de KB9BVN