Cikana State Fishery Revisited - US-12023

Here it is, January 5th, 2026.  This year is just flying by.  Today is the first day of my retirement.  I am going to have a calendar made up that shows each week starting on Sunday, followed by six Saturdays. I can get used to this. 

So I got up this morning and was pleased to see the weather report for the day, actually this week is supposed to be way above normal for temperature but with rain toward the end of the week.  So I may get the chance to get out there and work some more POTA before the weekend.  Right now I don't have anything else to do.  That'll be changing soon. 

I had a few stops to make, firstly being at the Indiana DNR office at Atterbury Fish and Wildlife. I wanted to purchase our annual state park pass.  I am now a GOLDEN HOOSIER which means we get our pass for $25 instead of $50.  Being an old retired guy that was an excellent deal worthy of a SCHWIIIING and a HOOO HOO HOOO HOOSIERS! 

I then drove over to Stone Arch Lake in the Atterbury FWA and it was a bit windy and blowing over the lake, too cold for POTA in my opinion.  So I pointed the Trailblazer out of Johnson County and toward Morgan County....destination Cikana State Fishery.  The place we visited last November.  They have a great operating position complete with picnic table and very lovely view of the fish hatchling ponds. 

Cikana State Fish Hatchery - US-12023

One of the ponds - drained for the winter - they have 16 of these

My Alex Loop antenna - Mag Loops are EZ to deploy

My KX-2 and my logbook after about 17 minutes. 20m was good today! 

I started calling CQ POTA at 19:56 UTC and by 20:09 UTC I had 13 in the log, with one dupe from Massachusetts.  Best DX was working Idaho right off the bat.  I got numerous 599's and 579's and I was really happy with the way this loop antenna was working today. Power was 9 watts. 

I hope to make it out again this week....we're showing back to the cold cold after the end of the week...but Friday is looking like maybe 60 degrees, just hoping it doesn't mean rain. 

73 de KB9BVN - Brian