Folks looking for some imaginative ideas to help whittle down the fall's venison supply should consider picking up a copy of "Quality Venison Cookbook," an impressive collection of recipes from the Butler County kitchen of Steve and Gale Loder.

While "Quality Venison Cookbook," is a compilation of more than 400 simple, yet delicious, recipes, it also is much more.

The book opens with a chapter that includes information on caring for and processing venison. It then moves on to the recipes, which are cleverly categorized by way of cooking methods. Ample attention is given to traditional grilling, frying and broiling techniques.

Then comes a section on crockery cooking. Other groupings include Italian, Southern and "Loder Family Favorites," as well as a section on marinades and sauces.

Fueled by the Loders' more than 30 years of in-kitchen experience and experimentation, "Quality Venison Cookbook" will be a dog-eared reference book for many a venison chef.

Autographed copies of this hardback, which is published by Stackpole Books, can be ordered from www.qualityvenisoncookbooks.com or by calling 724-824-2501.

Butler Fishing Show

The Butler Fishing Show will be held Feb. 7 to 8 at Butler High.

The show will feature a variety of tackle vendors, guides and charter captains. Saturday's seminar schedule includes muskie programs by Scott Salchi, Bob Brunner and Howard Wagner. I will provide a seminar on smallmouth bass and walleye fishing on the Allegheny River.

Sunday's seminar slate will include a muskie seminar by noted guide Gregg Thomas. I also will do a program on the use of soft stickbaits for largemouth and smallmouth bass.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 7; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 8. Admission is $5 for adults. Children 12 and under will be admitted free. Visit www.butlerfishingshow.com for information.

Conneaut Lake report

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission recently released its report of a lake survey the agency conducted last spring.

An impressive panfish population highlighted the findings, a fish population that should keep ice anglers busy this winter, as well as open water anglers this spring.

The report states that panfish were the most abundant species collected in trapnets. Bluegill, black crappie, rock bass, pumpkinseed and yellow perch added up to a total of 642 captured. Nearly 90 percent of the bluegills were longer than 5 inches while crappies averaged 9 to 11 inches.

In addition to the panfish, night electrofishing efforts revealed a solid bass population comprised of both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Other gamefish species collected included northern pike. Walleye were absent.

In 2007, the commission added fingerling stage walleyes to its stocking program, in hopes of a better recruitment than the fry stage walleyes have exhibited the past decade.

Conneaut Lake is located in Crawford County, six miles west of Meadville.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle