Over the past few years there have been occasions when I have been able to spend time alone at our cabin in the north woods. There are special moments when there is nothing better than to be able to take a step back and observe the wonders of nature first hand. One such instance occurred on my last visit to the cabin.
As I ventured out into the woods in early morning I paused as I noticed the sunlight shining through the trees was magnifying the brilliance of a spider web. It was then I realized how simple yet complex nature’s beings really are. I cannot even begin to imagine the time it took to make such an intricate piece of nature. The astounding thing about it is that it is just another day at the office for the spider and a part of its plan to put food on the table.
If a person pauses and looks at nature from a little different perspective it can almost be overwhelming. Take for example a beaver lodge; a beaver spends its whole life making a home for it to raise its family and keep them safe from predators. Another water related critter is the muskrat, which builds its houses on ponds for the same reason. Some of us may think the muskrat houses are built primarily for us to make predictions for the upcoming winter. I think the old saying goes like this: if the houses are close to shore it will be a mild winter, but if they are farther towards the middle it will be a harsh winter. Acorns are another sign, when there are more acorns falling early it is said there will be a hard winter. In all reality if you want to predict the upcoming season, you always have a 50/50 chance of being right.
There is a lake just down the road from our cabin that I fish quite frequently. Over the years I have seen otters playing in the lily pads while eagles and osprey soared in the sky above. Along the eastern shoreline there is an eagle’s nest in one of the old dead trees. Call it coincidence or superstition if you like, but it always seemed like whenever that resident eagle would perch on a certain dead tree in my favorite bay, we would catch fish. It almost seemed like a sign from old Mother Nature herself saying this is where you must fish. I know there was probably nothing to it (or was there?) but I have always taken it as a good sign, which meant we were destined to have good luck that day.
I don’t consider myself a superstitious person, but being a fisherman I do certain things by habit that may seem strange to the average person. No, I don’t spit on the hook or any of that scientific stuff, but I do have a natural sequence with which I select a lure to entice fish. I usually start with a lure that I have a “gut feeling” about. I will pick one that feels just right for the conditions and usually in the course of a day, depending on its effectiveness, I will stick with it. I always have a couple of “old dependable” lures that I don’t break out until I really need them. These are lures that have been tried and proven to catch fish. Now this is where you may ask; why not start with them? In my mind the answer is quite simple: if you start with your best stuff and it doesn’t work, then you can psyche yourself out and get the feeling that nothing you do will catch fish. Call it superstition if you want, but I always want the feeling I haven’t tipped my hand yet and still have that trump card in case I need it.
One thing I enjoy about being up north in the fall is the Aurora Borealis, or northern lights. That spectacular sight can be seen from the deck of our cabin, which faces due north. This is just another of the wonders nature provides for our viewing pleasure while visiting the north woods.
You don’t have to be in the north woods to enjoy one of nature’s best displays of natural beauty. The colors of autumn will be coming to light shortly and the natural beauty of this area is surely a sight to enjoy. There is nothing more relaxing than taking a leisurely fall drive and enjoying the colorful countryside. We have plenty to enjoy right here in our area and all of the lakes that we have available to us only serve to amplify the beauty of fall.
The waterfowl season opened on Saturday the 21st of September. Remember to have a life jacket along when in a boat and more importantly, wear it! Hunt safe and enjoy the moment.
Until next time, this is a great time for hunting and fishing but most of all its fun to just get out and enjoy the natural beauty of our great Minnesota outdoors.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.