This summer has brought us more hot days than I really care to experience. When I look back to my days as a youth, I can remember spending some pretty miserable nights trying to sleep while drenched in sweat. On some of those nights I would savor any tiny bit of breeze that would make its way through the window. I wonder if that was one of the “little things” that people are referring to when they say it’s the little things that mean the most.
August brings us warm summer days and cool nights, so we can have the best of both worlds. I am not saying that I like the days hot after all, in my perfect world my days high would be in the low to mid 70’s. We actually have had a few stretches like that this August. I find it hard to believe that the kids are going back to school, or some reasonable version of it.
As a kid I would look forward to the fair all summer and when it came I was excited but, in the blink of an eye, it would be gone. After that the only thing to look forward to was the start of school. I always looked forward to the start of school, not because I especially liked sitting in a classroom. My reason was that it marked the beginning of football season and fall, which was, and still is, my favorite season.
I believe that, from what I’ve seen and heard, there are some “big” fish being caught in our area lakes. I know that those who do a lot of fishing on Fountain Lake will attest to the fact that there are some huge northern swimming in those waters. A few years ago the DNR stocked some adult pike in Goose Lake and I truly believe that this has had a positive effect on the northern pike population in the watershed as a whole. Goose Lake flows into Bancroft Bay and continues on into Fountain Lake, and Goose Lake is a perfect place for those pike to spawn.
Yes, I truly believe that we have one of the best fisheries in southern Minnesota right here in our area. The Watershed folks have been working hard on cleaning up the area lakes. The last month or so, the water in these lakes has been less than crystal clear. I believe that the lack of rain, hot temperatures and chemical runoff from yards and fields all have an adverse effect on water quality. I am not any sort of an expert and this is just my opinion.
Getting back to the fish, there have been a lot of nice sized bass being caught this open water season. Panfish are abundant and, if you are a catfish person, Fountain Lake has one of the best populations of channel cats of any southern Minnesota lake. We can’t forget the walleye, although they are not as plentiful in mid-summer, they are definitely in there. I have witnessed a few and, especially last year, I have caught a few descent ones.
When the dredging is finished and all of the dust (mud) settles, the fishing should be even better in the future. Speaking of future, the Albert Lea Anglers Fishing Club has done a lot to peak our area youth’s interest in the sport of fishing. I also believe that, when we hosted the 2019 Governor’s fishing Opener, it had a very positive effect on how folks from around the state view our area. As part of the committee that helped organize the event, I was cautiously optimistic that the fishing would be good. I was not disappointed, and as the day went on, I began hearing reports that folks were catching fish. Most of the folks did catch fish on that day and, if you had a chance to drive by the access on Hwy. 13, you witnessed a full parking lot almost every weekend.
Fishing is picking up a bit statewide now that water temperatures are beginning to drop. For walleye, try a live bait rig as close to the bottom as possible, especially at first and last light. Bass remain eager to bite. Again, low light hours have been best.
While dropping, water temperatures remain near peak summer highs, so fish are still very vulnerable. Please bring along the right equipment to quickly unhook fish, so they can be returned to the water as soon as possible. Another tip for walleye is to troll a floating Rapala or any shallow running stick bait over bars and shallows in the evening and or after dark if light permits.
Until next time: anglers are asked to fish bodies of water close to home, and practice social distancing at the boat landings and shorelines.
Please take a few moments also to honor those who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms that we enjoy today. Also take a little extra time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, those who have served and those troops that are serving today.