Woods & Water (267)
The deer hunting season opened this past Saturday and with the waterfowl and pheasant season already underway, it would seem fishing has taken the back seat. This however isn’t totally true as evidenced by the number of people fishing the channel between Fountain and Albert Lea Lakes. The perch bite has been very good and a number of walleye are also being caught. For the most part the smaller walleyes have been very aggressive with a few nice ones mixed in. The sportsmen among us release the smaller ‘eyes with only one over 20 inches being a legal keeper. Legally there is no minimum size on walleye in these waters but I would hope that common sense would prevail.
I have also heard that there are some nice perch and pike being caught on Pickerel Lake. It wasn’t that long ago that the lake was killed off and the DNR plan was implemented. It doesn’t really seem like it has taken all that long for that lake to start producing some descent fishing. This is an exciting time for area fishermen and it looks like things will only be getting better in the future.
When I look back to my days as a youth walking the shores of Fountain Lake, I never dreamt these lakes would become the fishing lakes they are today. As a kid, I can remember catching sunnies and crappies and an occasional northern or bass, but in those days they were few and far between. It seemed like you couldn’t drop a line in the water without catching a bullhead or two. Hey, except for getting stung more times than I could count (math may not have been my best subject) I was still catching fish.
There were also those times when I’d ride my bike back to the mink farm, which was where Bancroft Bay Park is today, to go fishing for a day. The Schneider kids, classmates at Hammer School, lived there and their dads worked at the mink farm. We’d buy a chunk of horse meat and Willy Schneider would cut it into small chunks for us. The big sunnies and bluegills really liked that horse meat and it was tough enough to stay on the hook for many a fish. It sure was a lot of fun catching those big sunfish and bluegills, but we also caught some big old yellow belly bullheads. To be honest, we didn’t seem to care what we were catching as long as it was fish and not a mud turtle, which could really put a damper on things. I don’t believe any one of us kids ever figured out an easy way to take a turtle off the hook. A kid could definitely waste a lot of valuable fishing time on a turtle.
My mother used to refer to the mink farm as “Coney Island” because that was where she and my aunt Ruby and their cousins would go to swim and hang out. According to some old pictures I have there was even a swimming raft. I would guess this area was used for recreation long before someone picked up a Frisbee and created disc golf. I like to drive back to that park from time to time just to reminisce about those days.
Legacy dollars leaving lasting legacy in northern forest
When Minnesotans behold the vast forests of the north, they look much as they did before voters passed the Legacy Amendment to the state constitution in 2008.
Yet the difference is huge and reassuring for recreational users and resource managers who view these lands by looking at property ownership maps.
“What you don’t see from the road is the visionary public policy that has protected more than 210,000 acres of forest in the name of public recreation, sound fish and wildlife management and sustainable supplies of timber for the wood products industry,” said Forrest Boe, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forestry Division director. “That amount of protection would not have happened without the Legacy Amendment.”
It was five years ago that citizens voted to impose a sales tax of three-eighths of 1 percent on themselves for 25 years. Since 2009, when tax revenues began to flow, the Legacy Amendment has generated more than a billion dollars for clean water, parks and trails, habitat conservation and Minnesota’s arts and cultural heritage. Of that amount, $200-plus million has been appropriated to the DNR for its direct use. And of that amount, $41.4 million was allocated to a pioneering project called Minnesota’s Forests for the Future.
“Legacy funds were used to protect 207,441 acres of forest with permanent conservation easements,” Boe said. “Another 2,746 acres were protected by fee acquisition. At an average protection cost of $254 per acre, there was strong support in the hunting, timber industry, legislative and natural resource communities that this was a good investment in Minnesota’s future.”
That investment took the form of appropriations to the DNR totaling $18 million in 2009, $18 million in 2010 and $5.4 million in 2011. These dollars went primarily to a forest conservation easement purchased from the UPM/Blandin Paper Co.
Specifically, Legacy dollars were used to protect 190,000 acres of working forest land in Itasca, Aitkin, St. Louis, Cass, Beltrami, Koochiching and Clearwater counties called the Upper Mississippi Forest Legacy Project. They were also used to protect another 20,000 acres through smaller projects.
Until next time, hunt safe and enjoy some of our areas many natural resources. It’s always time well spent in our great 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.
A little over a week ago, I was preparing to head home from the cabin after spending a few days of fishing with my grandson Dylan.
It had just began snowing that morning as we were packing for the ride home, but luckily we had already done most of the major things that need to be done when closing up the cabin for the winter. Before we pulled out of the driveway, the weather changed from a rain/snow mix to all snow. Once we began driving, you could see that the snow was already sticking to the grass and on the pine trees.
After we had been on the road for a while Dylan told me that he actually kind of liked traveling on a snowy day like today. I don’t know what it is about driving while the snow is falling, but I have always found that to be something that I too have always enjoyed. The ironic thing about what Dylan said is that I had been thinking the exact same thing a few minutes earlier.
Maybe it is the warm or cozy feeling that I seem to get when driving in a warm truck with the snow falling and the temperatures too warm to stick to the road, but cool enough to stick to the grass and trees. When Mother Nature treats us to the sight of snow-covered evergreen trees it is surely a picture that is hard to beat.
I guess I have always found the first snowfall of the season to be kind of an exciting time that still gives me that kid-like feeling of my youth. The neat thing about that day was that Dylan expressed that same fondness for driving in snow and shared it with me. It’s kind of like a good beer or a fine wine that a person can enjoy in moderation, but too much of a good thing – not so much.
The 2013 Minnesota deer hunting opener is just around the corner. From what I’ve heard when talking to some folks in the northern part of the state, there just doesn’t seem to be as many deer around. A hard winter coupled with an increase in the wolf and coyote populations would probably be a major factor in that.
With the firearms deer hunting season slated to open November 9, the Minnesota DNR has issued a news release reminding all hunters to make sure you have permission before setting foot on private land. I believe that any hunter who considers himself a sportsman would just automatically ask permission before setting foot on someone else’s land.
Hunters urged to review trespass law, ask landowners first
With Minnesota’s small game, waterfowl, and archery deer seasons underway, and the firearm deer season set to begin Nov. 9, conservation officers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) remind hunters that there is one sure way to avoid landowner concerns associated with trespassing: “Always ask first.”
“Trespass is the biggest problem landowners have with hunters,” said Col. Ken Soring, DNR enforcement director. “It is critical for hunters to have good relationships with landowners, especially when you consider that in some parts of the state such as Southwestern Minnesota, about 95 percent of the land is privately owned.”
“If hunters and other outdoor recreationists would just make it a standard practice to always ask for permission before entering any private land, those relationships would improve a lot.”
Soring encourages all hunters and landowners to obtain a copy of the 2013 Hunting and Trapping booklet and review the trespass information beginning on Page 6.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is to be very familiar with the trespass law,” said Soring.
Trespass penalties range from a $50 civil fine to a criminal penalty of several thousand dollars, confiscation of vehicles and hunting equipment, and revocation of hunting privileges for two years.
Unlike urban law enforcement agencies, conservation officer response times to trespass calls may be longer, especially during the firearms deer season.
Callers are urged to contact the Turn In Poachers (TIP) hotline at 800-652-9093 to report any alleged wildlife violation, including hunter trespass. Cell phone users can dial #TIP.
Information must include precise time and location, along with a full description including a license plate number of any vehicle believed to be involved.
Until next time, with the deer hunting opener fast approaching and pheasant and duck hunting now open, be sure to obey the laws, “hunt safe” and enjoy the time spent in 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.
This past weekend I headed north to the cabin with my grandson Dylan to do some late fall fishing. He had visions of “the great toothed one” (musky) slamming his new lure dancing in his head and I had hoped to put him on one of the big fish. Unfortunately the lake we chose to fish for that fish was more like the Dead Sea than a good musky lake. I guess I’m getting ahead of myself so let’s go back to the beginning.
Dylan and I headed north over the MEA break from school, leaving home at about 3:30 a.m. Once we arrived at the cabin the temperature was about 45 degrees so we lit a fire to toasty up the cabin. It was supposed to do the rain/snow mix the next day so we wanted plenty of dry firewood for the next couple of days.
That afternoon we took my small boat and headed to a nearby lake that I knew held some nice northern. The lake didn’t disappoint us because it wasn’t long before Dylan was reeling in a dandy pike. After we had boated the fish he said “now this is what I’ve been looking for” and I could tell by his ear-to-ear smile that this trip was already a success. After taking numerous pictures I worked the fish alongside the boat until he splashed my face with water and disappeared into the depths to fight another time. We caught 4 other fish in the short time we were on that little lake before we’d had enough of the cold and headed for the cabin.
That evening as we enjoyed the warmth of the woodstove Dylan had to remind me that the fish that I had caught that day were quite a bit smaller than the ones he’d caught and that was just fine with me. The temperatures dipped into the mid-20’s as the night wore on and there just seemed to be something magical about it as the full moon treated us to a battery free yard light. The moonlight shining through the windows of the cabin as we slept gave me the feeling that all was right with the world at that particular moment. The next morning was a reality check for me; the wood stove was reduced to embers as we slept and when I went to make breakfast I found that the eggs had frozen. Improvising is the key to making things work when things go bad. I found two whole eggs that hadn’t cracked and put them in a pan of water and heated them up so as not to over-boil them. My plan had been to make my self-proclaimed awesome French toast for breakfast. I eventually made breakfast and then it was off to hunt muskies. We had to wait for an hour or so for it to stop raining and then we were off – sort of. First we couldn’t get the boat on the hitch because I couldn’t get my trailer jack to work. We eventually tested our back strength and got the boat hooked up.
We were finally on the way to North Star Lake which is a pretty good musky lake just south of Marcell. After we launched the boat I went to pump the gas primer and gas shot out everywhere through this large crack in the hose. I knew I had to get the clamp off and reassert the hose on the fitting. This little task seemed almost impossible because after I had sawed through that thick hard and brittle gas line I couldn’t get the clamp loose. After about fifteen minutes that seemed like more than an hour I had it off and finally got the new line on.
All systems were go – full speed ahead Muskies here we come!
Well they must have seen us coming and were hiding in the shadows belly laughing because after spending 4 hours beating the water without as much as a follow all we had to show for that trip were some very cold fingers. At one time it had gotten pretty dark and started to sprinkle and the sprinkles soon turned to corn snow and it really came down for a short time. Even though we caught no fish that day and a lot of things didn’t go too smoothly I don’t think I would have traded it for a warm sunny day.
There is something about fall fishing that just feels good at times even when you experience a few hiccups. On our last day there we decided to fish a lake that I had always thought I’d like to fish but up until a year ago it had no public access. This particular day was the coldest one so far and the temperatures never rose above the high 30’s.
We both managed to catch fish on that cold fall day and when we left that lake we knew that we would be coming back to try our luck again another time.
When we first decided to take this trip I had told Dylan that fall fishing can be feast or famine and if you can find the fish then it can be pretty good but if you can’t then it could make for a long cold day on the water. Even that, to me is considered a good fishing day; especially when I get to spend time fishing with my grandson.
Over the years I have acquired a lot of fond memories on fall fishing trips and when the memories are of good friends & family they are priceless.
Until next time, with pheasant and duck hunting now open be sure to “hunt safe” and enjoy the time spent in 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.
I have often wondered just how much influence man has had on the growing population of some of the wildlife in our area. With the reduction of habitat and hunting land available to hunters, it seems like some critters have adapted pretty well to co-existing with man. Before I went into the service in the mid-60s, I drove milk truck for Conger Creamery and spent most of my time driving country roads, loading and unloading milk cans and talking to farmers. The talk back then was about the packs of wild dogs running amuck in the countryside. Today there is a growing population of coyotes and with more and more land being owned by fewer folks, the availability of hunting land has lessened. It seems like the coyotes have become brave enough to be seen in folks’ yards and even on the edge of small towns.
Last week we were at my wife Jean’s home place in Twin Lakes and she had promised to take our granddaughter Emma to the park just across the creek from the house. They were at the park with sunset approaching when she heard the howling of coyotes close by, so she grabbed Emma and headed for the house. You can usually hear those critters howling on a regular basis around or shortly after sunset. I don’t really believe that they would be a threat to humans, but when critters start to get comfortable being around man they can be pretty brave and, after all, they are still wild animals. I guess I’d hate to hear the “dingo ate my baby” phrase modified to fit the coyote.
My son Brian lives just east of Lunder Church and there are many nights when he can hear coyotes howling not far from his house. On one occasion, the dogs were in their kennels and barking loudly, causing the boys to look out the window where they observed the silhouette of some coyotes on the crest of the hill in their yard not far from the dog kennel. This could be one reason for the decline in the pheasant population and it could also explain why Brian’s cats have all disappeared. Come to think of it, I can’t remember the last time that I’ve seen a jackrabbit in this area.
In the Bricelyn area a man came out of his house early in the morning to go to work and spotted a cougar sitting in a tree in his yard. He did get a picture of it, which a person would probably need to substantiate a story like that. This is not the first sighting of cougars in that area and it probably won’t be the last. The cat that some of us grew up calling a mountain lion seems to be getting more and more comfortable in our environment.
I have mentioned from time to time the amount of wildlife I have in my backyard. There are the various small birds, the noisy and sometimes annoying crows and of course there are also squirrels, rabbits and an occasional woodchuck has been seen wandering through the yard from time to time. I kind of enjoy watching the squirrels when they are not seen going in or out of my garage and shed or hanging out on the roof of my house.
On my early morning walks I usually end up walking by the access on the channel at Frank Hall Park. Over the years I have spotted a variety of wildlife while on my morning walk. This year alone I have seen the usual pelicans, ducks and geese, but there is also an eagle stopping by from time to time and I have also seen swans and cranes. It doesn’t seem like the turkey vultures have been following me as much as of late so that is a comforting thought in itself. On one of my walks there was a woodchuck with a couple of its young, and that critter just didn’t seem to be all that friendly so I made sure I gave it plenty of space. I know I have quite a few pounds on the critter, but the thought of a crabby rodent gnawing on my ankle didn’t seem too appealing. Last fall as I was walking along Newton Street just a little ways from the old Ramsey School, I spotted something out of the corner of my eye walking in the road parallel to me. At first I thought it was a dog, but I soon realized it was a red fox and it was prancing along as if it were on a mission. It soon crossed the road just ahead of me and disappeared into some heavy brush behind the Front Street apartments. I have to believe this ranks right up there with the time two deer ran in front of me just down the hill from the Community Child Care Center.
For a lover of nature like myself, I find the stories of wildlife inside the city limits and the surrounding area fascinating and almost comforting in a way.
Until next time, with pheasant and duck hunting now open be sure to hunt safe and enjoy the time spent in 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.
Great fall fishing can be found right around here
Written by Jim LutgensThe northern one third of the state is at or past peak for fall colors and the rest of the state is anywhere from 25 to 75%, depending on your area. If you enjoy the outdoors, whether just watching nature or participating in an outdoors activity, now is a perfect time to be outdoors.
I have heard the perch are active on area lakes with some northern and walleye also being caught. With the nice weather we’ve been fortunate enough to have this fall, it doesn’t seem possible we’re almost half way through October.
Before we bought our place in Northern Minnesota, I enjoyed camping at Best Point Resort on Lake Tetonka in Waterville. Spending time at the lake was great, especially in the fall when camping for most folks started to taper off. When I’d fish that lake in the fall there were times when you’d hardly see another boat. One such day in early October, I took I had a hunch that trolling the outside edges of a large weedy flat could produce fish. I decided to try a rig that I’d used many times in the past but had sort of forgotten about when I moved on to “new and improved” methods. This particular technique simply involved a Beetle Spin lure tipped with a fathead minnow. Over the years I have always found it a “go-to” bait, but, like many other things, when something different works the old tried and true is sometimes forgotten.
Getting back to the story at hand; I trolled the weed edges in hopes of enticing a walleye or two to take the bait but instead of walleye I found the northern still had a fondness for that bait. I caught a nice limit of pike and had decided they would make a nice late fall meal of fish for the family. One of the things I’d always enjoyed about that lake was that you always seemed to be able to catch fish from Labor Day on. Tetonka holds a nice variety of fish and if you’re not locked in on one particular species, then you will catch fish.
Another good late fall lake, if you like catching bass, is Frances, which is just a few miles to the west of Waterville in the town of Elysian. I once knew a fisherman that would catch frogs right after the first hard frost and head to Lake Frances in search of big bass that are lurking in those waters. His trick was to cast the frog to the top of a lily pad and then flip it off the pad like it was jumping. He said that it was a technique that the bass found hard to resist and he had a 5-1/2 lb. largemouth on the wall to back it up.
Yes, there are many good lakes in this area of the state that can be very good fall fishing lakes. I have found I actually get a lot of enjoyment out of just spending a nice fall day driving around and checking out a few of them. What a great way to spend a day and take in the beauty of the fall colors in our area of Southern Minnesota. Another great fall drive is to head east to the Mississippi River and take a drive along that mighty river. The fall colors should be at their best for the next couple of weeks, so it’s a great time to enjoy what a river drive has to offer.
Over the years I have had the opportunity to fish many of the lakes in the Waterville/Elysian area. I have to admit I have only fished Elysian Lake a couple of times in my adult life, but I did fish it a few times as a kid. I can still remember the first time my Uncle Ben took me to that lake. We had to go through a gate on this farm place and had to pay a fee by dropping the money into a coin box made of pipe. Back in those days it seems like the “honor system” actually meant something. On that day we caught quite a few fish, but none were considered big enough to keep by Uncle Ben. The size didn’t really matter much to me because I was excited to be catching “real” fish and not bullheads or rubber tails like I was used to catching on Fountain Lake in those days. Ahh, the memories of a simpler time when fishing usually involved nothing more than a hook, sinker and a bobber.
Blaze orange safety requirement reduces hunting accidents
With Minnesota’s small game hunting season underway and the firearm deer season set to begin Nov. 9, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says making a blaze orange fashion statement this fall might not get you on the best-dressed list, but it just might save your life.
“Wearing blaze orange clothing is a safety requirement to hunt or trap during Minnesota’s small game season or deer season,” said Capt. Mike Hammer, DNR enforcement education program coordinator. “It’s important to be seen by others.”
Small Game Seasons: At least one visible article of clothing above the waist must be blaze orange when taking small game, except when hunting wild turkeys, migratory birds, raccoons, predators, when hunting by falconry, trapping or while hunting deer by archery while stationary.
Deer Season: The visible portion of a cap and outer clothing above the waist, excluding sleeves and gloves, must be blaze orange when hunting or trapping during any open season where deer may be taken by firearms (including special hunts, early antlerless, youth seasons and muzzleloader). Blaze orange includes a camouflage pattern of at least 50 percent blaze orange within each square foot. This restriction does not apply to migratory bird hunters on waters or in stationary shooting locations or to trappers on waters.
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Until next time, this is a great time for hunting and fishing and to take a drive and take in the beauty of the fall colors in 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.
I have stated many times fall is my favorite season and nothing has changed in that department. The fall colors in the northern part of the state are getting close to peak in some areas and half of the state is at least 50% turned. Although the weather can always be unpredictable in the fall, and at times it can even seem to be the poster child for sudden change, it is still a great time to be outdoors. One thing I really enjoy in the fall is taking a drive in the country to enjoy the transition of colors. I have found it can also be therapeutic and a great way to get some relief from any stress you may have built up. Looking back a few years to a day when I had arrived home from work feeling a little stressed out, on the spur of the moment I decided to take a little drive with no particular destination in mind. As I pulled out of the driveway I decided to visit a few of our country roads I hadn’t driven on for many years. Along the way I spotted a fox in a freshly picked cornfield obviously digging for field mice or some other critter trying to avoid being its supper. After watching the fox I moved on and also saw a couple of red tailed hawks, the usual crows and an eagle. As I drove around the countryside observing the natural beauty of a nice fall afternoon and observing some of nature’s creatures at work, I got that “life is good” feeling that the simple things nature shares with us can give you. That was the stress reliever I was looking for and it worked like a charm.
There have been many fall fishing trips for this writer over the years and I have found this is when you really need to be prepared for change. Looking back, I am reminded of a time when a friend of mine and I took a fall trip to a little lake north of Marcell, not far from where I now have a cabin. On our first day of fishing it was cool, cloudy and a little rainy with temperatures in the low 60s. The fishing was good and we thought we’d hit it at the right time. The next morning we awoke to sunshine and calm winds, which helped the temperatures soar into the mid 80s. Guess what? The fishing followed the cold front out of the area and we were hard pressed to catch a fish the rest of the trip. I do believe fall fishing can be affected by weather more than any other season, or maybe I just haven’t figured it out yet.
Fall is also the time of year when I start to think muskies. The thought of having one of the “toothed ones” on the other end of my line still gets the adrenaline flowing. I love to troll for them, although I’ve probably caught more of them while casting; but both tactics can give a person the ultimate fishing thrill. I have always thought speed trolling a big lure and almost having your rod ripped out of your hands when a big musky hits it was the ultimate thrill. On the other hand, I can’t think of a better fishing experience than casting a lure and having a big fish explode out of the water at the exact time the lure hits the water.
I am planning a fall trip to the cabin with my grandson Dylan with hopes of maybe doing a little musky fishing. Like I stated earlier, the weather can always have an effect on outdoor activities in the fall, but it can never dampen the experience of spending time up north with a grandson. I have spotted quite a few grouse in the area of our cabin this past summer, so we may even get in a little hunting while we are there.
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MUSKY TALK
The Southern Crossroads Chapter 54 of Muskies Inc. meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Eagles Club in Owatonna. They include informative speakers, updates, raffle and door prizes and musky talk. You do not need to be a member to attend. Bring a friend and help improve musky fishing in Southern Minnesota.
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It’s just an observation:
Would there be a government shutdown if the folks in congress had to quit getting paid? I think not! Congress needs to start thinking about the good of the American people they represent and quit worrying about party lines.
Is it just me, or have the commercials on television actually gotten louder since the FCC said they had to tone them down? Have you noticed that in those E Harmony commercials, it looks like the guy who started it is now going on the dates with those couples?
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Until next time, this is a great time for hunting and fishing and to take a drive and take in the beauty of the fall colors in 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.
So long to an avid outoorsman and a great man
Written by Jim LutgensThe past week I was saddened to hear of the passing of Orrie Jirele, who was taken from us all too soon. Orrie was a very good basketball coach; he was fiery and coached with passion and when you attended a basketball game there was always a question of not if, but when he would shed the coat and tie. If you attended a high school sporting event you could usually count on seeing him there supporting the team. He was also a teacher, counselor and accomplished violinist and an avid sportsman who loved the outdoors. I always knew he liked to fish, but I also knew that hunting waterfowl was his favorite. It is ironic he left us doing something he loved and, I think, at times we’ve all had that thought, if only for a fleeting moment.
Orrie was many things to many different people but he was above all the real deal. I first met him when he coached my oldest son Brian on the high school tennis team and right away I felt like I’d known him for years. Although I was not a writer in those days, he knew from talking to Brian that I liked to frequent the same area of Northern Minnesota that he did. He mentioned to me he liked to vacation with his family at Bowstring Lake, northwest of Grand Rapids. In those days Bowstring was known for its big crappies and he said he really enjoyed fishing for them. Orrie once confided in me that he occasionally liked to take the boat out alone, light up a good cigar, sit back and just take it all in. I think it’s a “guy thing,” meaning that most guys have some little thing they do to treat themselves to something they don’t ordinarily get to enjoy.
Whenever I would attend my grandson’s tennis matches I could always count on talking to Orrie; he would be there supporting the team and talking to the kids and parents. When he asked you how you were or if you’d been fishing, he was genuinely interested in what you had to say. We all know someone that slaps you on the back asks how you are and before you get a word out they are moving on like they are walking barefoot on hot coals – not Orrie, he was genuine. He played tennis with my grandson Taylor this past summer and also hunted with Trevor my oldest grandson. The last time I spoke with him we talked about his latest fishing trip with the family and he also told me to be sure and tell Trevor to give him a call if he was doing the early goose hunt.
Yes, Orrie had a zest for life and was a man that touched the lives of many in our community; he will be missed.
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Grand Rapids area waterfowl season opener is average
Hunter success was about average on three popular waterfowl lakes for the 2013 waterfowl hunting opener in the Grand Rapids area.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife staff conducted waterfowl bag checks on opening day, Sept. 21, on Big White Oak Lake, Mud Lake (both near Deer River) and Big Rice Lake near Remer.
Hunter success in terms of ducks bagged per hunter varied from a low of 1.6 ducks per hunter at White Oak Lake, to 2.2 ducks per hunter at Mud Lake. Over the five year average, hunter success was about average for each lake.
Mallards, wood ducks and blue-winged teal were the most common birds in the bag with blue-winged teal being the most commonly bagged bird at White Oak Lake, mallard being the most commonly bagged bird at Big Rice Lake and wood duck being the most commonly bagged bird at Mud Lake.
Based on car counts, hunter numbers were down about 15 percent from the five year average.
“Noticeably absent in the bag this year were ring-necked ducks which often represent 50% or more of the opening day harvest,” said area wildlife manager Perry Loegering. “Ring-necks usually start migrating into the state in late September, but weren’t here yet.”
This year’s duck hunting season is 60 days in length. The duck bag limit is six ducks daily and may not include more than any combination of the following: four mallards (two hen mallard), three scaup, three wood ducks, two pintails, two redheads, one black duck, and/or two canvasback. If not listed, up to six ducks of a species may be taken. The daily bag limit for coot and moorhen is 15. The daily bag limit for merganser is five, no more than two of which may be a hooded merganser.
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.
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.
As we head into the heart of the fall hunting season, the Minnesota DNR has released their latest survey on the pheasant numbers in Minnesota. They are not painting a pretty picture for those of us who spend time afield in search of most hunters’ favorite bird, which opens October 12 this year.
Although I have not been an avid pheasant hunter for many years, I am still concerned about the decline of the sport in our state. There are many things that factor in when looking for answers. I am not a statistician, but I feel very strongly that the loss of hunting habitat is the biggest contributor to the declining numbers. Weather can have an adverse effect on a hunting season, no matter what critter you are seeking to hunt, but that is only a temporary situation.
I’d hope most landowners would choose to keep some habitat available for wildlife because if we let the chase for the mighty dollar destroy the environment then we’ll also destroy our outdoor heritage. I know farmers need to make a living and they are the backbone of our community, but it does make me feel a little sad when I see marshland being tiled, groves of trees being cut down and habitat being plowed under. The Lessard-Sams Amendment we voted in a few years back has played a very important role in habitat preservation, but the portion of the bill that makes land acquisition possible has been under attack by some legislators from day one. A year ago there was a proposal that would have required the DNR to sell some public land before it purchased more. That didn’t make any sense to me because you weren’t gaining a thing. We in Freeborn County are lucky enough to have 11 WMAs available for public use and there are also landowners in the county that have set land aside for habitat. We need both public and private habitat to ensure our outdoor heritage will be preserved for future generations.
The Minnesota DNR has issued the following news release about pheasant numbers for the upcoming season:
Minnesota’s pheasant index down 29 percent from 2012
A long winter followed by a cold, wet spring contributed to a significant decrease in Minnesota’s pheasant count, which declined 29 percent from 2012.
“Minnesota’s results reflect what we’re seeing in other states,” said Rachel Curtis, DNR wildlife research biologist. “South Dakota had a 64 percent decrease in its brood survey. North Dakota’s most recent rooster crowing count is down 11 percent from last year. And Iowa reported a 19 percent decrease in its August roadside count.”
Minnesota’s 2013 pheasant index is 64 percent below the 10-year average and 72 percent below the long-term average.
Pheasant hunters still are expected to harvest about 246,000 roosters this fall. That’s down 44,000 from last year’s estimate and is less than half the number of pheasants taken during the 2005-2008 seasons when hunting was exceptionally good.
The highest pheasant counts were in the southwest region, where observers reported 51 birds per 100 miles of survey driven. Hunters should find good harvest opportunities in west-central, east-central and south-central Minnesota.
“Pheasant populations respond to habitat abundance and changes in weather,” Curtis said. “The steady downward trend in Minnesota’s pheasant population during the past several years is primarily due to habitat loss. Weather has caused minor fluctuations.”
The most important habitat for pheasants is grassland that remains undisturbed during the nesting season. Protected grasslands account for about 6 percent of the state’s pheasant range. Farmland retirement programs such as Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Reinvest in Minnesota and Wetlands Reserve Program make up the largest portion of protected grasslands in the state.
High land rental rates and competing uses for farmland diminish the economic attractiveness of farmland conservation programs. CRP enrollment declined by 63,700 acres in Minnesota’s pheasant range over the last year and contracts for nearly 400,000 acres of statewide CRP lands are scheduled to expire during the next 3 years. If not re-enrolled, this would reduce CRP acres in Minnesota by 30 percent.
To help offset continued habitat losses caused by reductions in conservation set-aside acreage, the DNR has accelerated acquisition of wildlife management areas in the farmland region of Minnesota. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service also acquires and protects habitat across the state. In addition, the DNR supports habitat conservation on private lands by working with a variety of partners in the Farm Bill Assistance Partnership and Working Lands Initiative.
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Until next time, fall is a great time to do a little hunting or fishing but most of all; to just get out and spend some time in 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.
After spending a few days in Northern Minnesota, I am re-charged and ready to go. Go where? I don’t really know, but I always feel revitalized after spending time in the north woods. There is just something about it that makes being closer to nature feel right.
Over the past several years I have made an annual trip north in October and at that time of year the weather can go either way. There have been years when it’s been sunny with fairly good temperatures and then there have been the snowy, windy and cold days. The one predictable thing about fall weather in the North Country is that it is totally unpredictable.
One of the most memorable October trips I have taken was with my eldest son, Brian. We had planned a combination hunting and fishing trip and were staying in a cabin on Spider Lake. It had snowed a few days prior to our arrival and the temperatures never rose above the high 30s the whole time. Brian was into bow hunting for deer at the time and Dave, the resort owner, had told him of a place where he could put his stand that would give him the best chance of spotting deer. Spider is in the middle of the Chippewa National Forest which is public land.
Each morning Brian would rise early and take that short drive to his stand where he’d sit for a couple of hours waiting for a good shot. The place where he had put his stand was actually on a well-worn deer trail, and in the time we were there he had seen quite a few deer but wasn’t able to get a clean shot at any of them. After a couple of hours in the stand he would come back to the cabin for breakfast and then we were ready to hit the lake. Now I still have vivid memories of the time spent on the lake trying to get my cold fingers to bait a hook or tie a jig; it was like my brain couldn’t convince my fingers to follow directions. I don’t think that we could spend more than two hours at one time on the lake. It was windy and cold with a few snow squalls thrown in just to make it that much more memorable. As I sat on the lake with “corn snow” pelting me in the face I thought that this must be what it feels like to get shot by a bb gun.
After spending time on the lake in those conditions, that warm cabin with its oil stove was a welcome relief. We would warm up and have a bite to eat and settle in for a little nap before hitting the lake again for another couple of hours. We didn’t catch a lot of fish on that trip nor did Brian bag that deer that he was seeking, but I still cherish the memory of that trip and the time that we spent together one cold week in October.
Now that we have a cabin of our own, Brian and I have almost made that October trip a yearly tradition. He hasn’t bow hunted for a few years but likes to hunt grouse and waterfowl. Over the past few years we have been able to get out fishing a few times and the late fall northern fishing has been pretty good on some of the area lakes we like to frequent.
There is something that just feels right about spending time at the cabin with a fire burning in the woodstove while snowflakes flutter past the window. I have been at the cabin many times over the years when there has been some snow on the ground and although it lessens the desire to fish, there is still something special about that experience.
I don’t know if Brian and I will make that trip this year, but I am planning on heading to the cabin in mid-October with my grandson Dylan and hopefully Brad, his dad, will be able to go along too. Dylan has become pretty excited about musky fishing so hopefully the weather will cooperate and we’ll be able to spend at least one day at Spider Lake searching for the toothed ones. Late fall is supposed to be the best time for big musky and if you are seeking a trophy of almost any species it is the best time of year to get that “wall hanger”. I have had pretty good luck fishing late in the fall and now I hope that I will be able to see Dylan catch that “lunker” he is looking for.
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Until next time, fall is a great time to enjoy a little time in the 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.
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Just when I think I have things pretty much figured out weather-wise, old Mother Nature throws a wrench into it and brings me back to reality. If there is one thing predictable it is the fact we still can’t control the weather. Being a lifelong Minnesotan I have learned that with every streak of near-perfect weather we receive, there is inevitably a payback. That said, we can only hope for some more seasonal weather in September.
I am once again writing my column from our cabin in the north woods while being entertained by a herd of chipmunks that seem to have taken over the bird feeders. I have always enjoyed watching the little critters, but one or two is enough. I hope these mischievous little rodents haven’t started thinking this is home.
On my drive up to the cabin I decided to take a side trip and check out the access on Spider Lake. A couple of years ago the water was so low I could barely launch my boat, so I thought it was a good idea to make sure that it was okay for launching.
After I left the access I passed by the road leading to the resort we vacationed at for many years. I had already driven past it, but on a whim I decided to turn around and go back to see what had changed. When I drove in I noticed the deck was enclosed and had now become a porch and the area where we used to camp was all permanent sites now. After meeting the owner I told him we had vacationed at this resort for many years right up until we got our own place. He said, “You must be taking a little trip down memory lane” and told me I could walk around and check the place out if I wanted.
Looking around the resort brought back a lot of good memories. The campground was always busy and where else could you camp for eight bucks a night and for another buck have electricity? Those were good times and the owners were folks I came to know and consider friends. It was owned by Bid and Ginny Gramke and their daughter and son-in-law Lynn and Dave Rauck. The thing that impressed me the most was how they treated folks, because it didn’t matter whether you were staying in their finest cabin or sleeping in a tent, they treated you the same.
Bid was pretty much the focal point of all the guests. Everyone enjoyed talking to him and he had a gift of gab and was always more than willing to spin a tale or two. He was a retired Cincinnati policeman who had been vacationing at Spider for many years before buying the place. Eventually he sold his half of the business to his daughter and son-in-law and he and Ginny moved to her home state of Alabama.
On one of my last vacations there he happened to be there, so we sat and talked for a while. I told him he had a knack for making me want to fish. I remember one particular August vacation when the fishing wasn’t the best and after spending a few fruitless hours on the lake I was feeling a little frustrated. When Bid asked me how fishing was I told him it was pretty tough and then he proceeded to talk about catching fish in August. The next thing I knew I wanted to hit the lake as soon as possible with a renewed enthusiasm.
On that last visit with him I had to tell him that nobody could get me excited about fishing like he did, but I also told him I always knew most of what he was telling me was BS. We both had a good laugh over that one and then he told me he always remembered me for being able to catch fish when nobody else was catching them. I suspected he might have been at it again, but I took the compliment anyway.
Yes, I am glad that I made that little side trip to Spider Shores Resort. Even though there is a new owner and things have changed some, in many ways it still looked pretty much the same. I can still see the daily volleyball game they played in the driveway and hear the kids screaming excitedly when a skunk would show up in their hiding place when playing hide and seek.
I don’t ever remember seeing so many skunks in one place; they were like cats and as you sat around the campfire at night one could suddenly appear under your chair looking for scraps of food. I can remember one Saturday morning as people were checking out, I spotted two or three skunks standing under the deck watching people leave. I can’t believe nobody ever got sprayed or bit for that matter.
Yes, those were good times spent with good folks and now I have rekindled those good memories to enjoy once again.
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Until next time, stop and take a little time to enjoy the 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.
Some things are just hard to understand; like the fact that even though the temperatures have been at mid-summer highs for the past week or so I still get the same feeling I get when fall is in the air. It is kind of hard to describe, but whenever I feel a breeze I sense a breath of coolness that says fall is lurking in the shadows. With that being said September is just around the corner and for the hunters out there the season is about to begin.
The early fall goose season starts on September 1st and youth waterfowl day follows on the 7th. The small game season for rabbit and squirrel starts on the 14th of September along with Sharptailed Grouse, Ruffed and Spruce Grouse & Hungarian Partridge. The deer hunting archery season also starts on the 14th.
The small game season is a great way for our youth to get started on the great lifelong sport of hunting. I started hunting as a youth with my trusty Daisy Red Ryder BB gun. I wasn’t taking down any deer, bear or mountain lions with my high powered gun, but in my imagination I was that rugged mountain man surviving in the wilderness of the local slough. Actually all critters both big and small were pretty much safe from me and my trusty BB gun. I don’t recall anyone ever calling me “sure shot” when I was growing up, but then to me it’s always just been about being there. I really believe that a lot of today’s youth are not taking advantage of what the great Minnesota outdoors has to offer them. As adults we need to encourage youth’s participation in outdoor activities whether it is hunting, fishing, canoeing, hiking, disc golf or some other outdoor activity.
Just a reminder: there are 11 WMAs (Wildlife Management Areas) in Freeborn County alone that are there for public use. In the event you don’t have access to private land, you can visit one of these areas that are sprinkled throughout the county. If you are unsure where to find them go to the DNR Web site www.dnr.state.mn.us/wmas and select Freeborn County.
Remember that whether hunting private or public land, you need to respect it and leave it as good as or better than you found it. There is an old saying that goes like this: Abuse it - you lose it.
Deer licenses now on sale; lottery applications due Sept. 5th
Hunters should carefully review the list of lottery areas, particularly in extreme Northwestern Minnesota and the Iron Range area of Northeastern Minnesota. The following permit areas are designated as lottery this year but were not last year: 176, 101, 105, 111, 267 and 268. Elsewhere, other permit area designations have changed too in response to local deer population changes.
Regulations are detailed in Minnesota’s 2013 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook and Deer Season Map, which now are available wherever hunting and angling licenses are sold, online at www.mndnr.gov/regulations and in many DNR offices across the state.
Fifty-eight of the state’s 129 permit areas are lottery areas. The number of permit areas designated as lottery is unchanged from 2012. The number of either-sex permits available has increased about 10 percent.
People can purchase a deer license and apply for the lottery or a special hunt at any DNR license agent, by telephone at 888-665-4236 or online at www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense. Lottery winners will be notified in October.
Hunters can apply for lottery deer areas and special hunts using both their firearm and muzzleloader licenses. Although a hunter can be selected for both licenses, successful applicants can only take one deer in lottery permit areas. In the case of special hunts, a person may draw both a firearm and muzzleloader permit, in which case he or she must adhere to the bag limits established by each special hunt.
Lottery deer areas in 2013 are permit areas 101, 103, 105, 108, 110, 111, 118, 119, 122, 169, 171, 172, 176, 183, 184, 197, 199, 234, 237, 238, 250, 251, 252, 253, 260, 261, 262, 263, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 288, 289, 290, 291, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298 and 299.
DNR encourages hunters to review new deer hunting regulations, permit area designations and boundary changes before applying. Current and up-to-date information is available online at www.mndnr.gov/hunting/deer and www.mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting.
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Until next time, whether you are a hunter or not, visiting one of our counties WMAs can be a great way to enjoy the 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.
I do believe we couldn’t ask for any better weather than we have been experiencing this past couple of weeks. But, on the other hand, I have already heard rumblings from some folks it is too early for fall. I am actually a little biased in that area because fall, after all, is my favorite time of year. August is almost the perfect month because the temperatures still usually get into the 80s during the day but cool off nicely as the sun goes down. It’s hard to beat the refreshing feeling you get as the sun goes down and the temperatures cool as evening sets in on a clear August day. Even though I know what comes after the fall season it is, to me, still the best time of year.
I have heard reports that, although maybe not quite as big as earlier, there are still plenty of panfish being caught in Fountain Lake. This is a great time to get out and enjoy some fishing, especially in the early morning or evening. Although the channel is usually a productive place to fish I just can’t bring myself to do the elbow-to-elbow thing. For some reason it takes away from the serene part of fishing for me. I’d rather sit on the bank in an out of the way place and watch a bobber dance on the waves. Maybe that’s just me, but I’ve never judged a good day of fishing by how many fillets I can put in the freezer.
When I am up north, there is nothing more relaxing than being on the lake just as the sun starts to take that first peek over the treetops. It is exciting when the tranquility of the morning is disturbed only by the sound of a fish breaking the surface in search of breakfast. I can recall a few times when I’d actually get mad at myself for breaking the silence by dropping something as small as a split shot sinker on the floor of my old fishing boat. It wasn’t about scaring the fish, but it almost made me feel I had broken that peaceful bond that existed between me and nature. I just can’t think of a more exhilarating feeling than being on the lake at the crack of dawn and making the first cast of the day with a light layer of fog painting the shoreline. Good stuff; and if the fish are biting then it’s pretty much a time when you can say that “it just doesn’t get any better that this.”
I know a lot of folks are already shifting gears and anticipating the upcoming hunting seasons. This is great, but just remember there are still plenty of fish to be hunted before the water turns hard. Each year when I head north to the cabin I like to drive around and explore new lakes I haven’t fished before. There are always some surprises when it comes to fishing, like catching walleye in a lake that is not known for them or catching that big pike while casting for bass.
It is a fact that most trophy fish of many species are caught in the fall. The trick is finding them because once a lake turns over they can become less predictable. The one thing you can count on is that if you find the bait fish, you will find bigger fish. Fish, especially in late fall, are filling their bellies for the winter months that lie ahead. This is when you may encounter the one fish that memories are made of. For some reason I have one such encounter that has stuck with me. It was a cool, but sunny September day when I was fishing a bay on Spider Lake and had just cast a Suick jerk bait towards some lily pads. Just as the lure hit the water, it exploded and a northern came shooting out of the water like a missile and danced on its tail with the lure crosswise in its jaws. The fish was only about a 5-pounder, but the surprise element coupled with the picture of it dancing on its tail with that lure in its mouth has etched that picture forever in my mind. It was almost like pictures I had seen more than once in a Sports Afield or Outdoor Life magazine. This is what fishing, to me, is all about; making good memories and enjoying the outdoors experience.
We still have the late summer patterns to explore, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves and venture too far into fall. With Labor Day just around the corner I am reminded of some good days of fishing on Tetonka Lake in Waterville where I have caught some dandy bluegills and sunnies along with nice sized perch and largemouth bass. I have always seemed to have pretty good luck on that lake in late August and into the fall months. There may even be a trip to Waterville in the works for one of the upcoming fall days. Once school starts, the vacation season is pretty much over and the boat traffic is at a minimum so there is still plenty of fishing to be done and you just might want to take a day trip and give that area a try.
Until next time, enjoy the outdoors and maybe even take a little time to try out a new lake and make a few good memories.
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.
It is the middle of August and I feel like there are so many summer projects I have not completed (see started). It must be an age thing because I seem to be waiting for the perfect time to start a project and that time has been elusive.
Even though it is still summer it is mid-August and fall is lurking just around the corner. I have always considered fall my favorite time of year, but we all know what follows. Wait, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
My grandson Trevor is already scouting and lining up land to hunt for the early goose season. He always seeks permission from landowners to hunt their property and treats their land with respect. This is how hunters can gain access to hunting land and create a good relationship between hunters and landowners. Not everyone wants folks hunting their land and we need to understand it is perfectly all right to refuse permission to a hunter or hunters. You also need to treat the property you are hunting with respect; this can be said for public as well as private land. We are lucky here in Freeborn County in that we have 11 Wildlife Management Areas available for public use.
Nature is always changing, but the unstable weather we have been experiencing the past couple of years has made some of those changes more drastic. Last year, for example, the Blue Earth River in the Walnut Lake area had pretty much dried up by late August. This August there is still ample water flowing. Although we are no longer in a drought, the long-term effects of last year can still be seen. Some sloughs are still showing the effects of last year’s dry weather.
Although the thought of hunting is starting to creep into our minds, we should not forget there is still plenty of fishing to be done. I am planning on going to the Waterville area and wet a line before summer ends. I spent quite a few years camping in that area and there are a lot of good fishing lakes to choose from. My favorite for many years was Reeds Lake which is located a short ways south of Elysian. This little lake was good to me on many openers and produced some nice opening day walleye and northern, but eventually it just became a little too crowded to fish, at least on opening day. The DNR hasn’t stocked walleye in this lake for quite some time, but there are still a few “eyes” roaming the depths of the little lake. You can also find some nice black crappie along with bluegill, northern pike and largemouth bass.
I have not given much thought to most of those lakes in recent years, but I think it would be fun to try a couple of them this fall. Tetonka Lake can yield some nice bluegill, crappie, big cats and some dandy pike. The lake can also be very good for bass and it even held the state record for largemouth for a few years. Quite a few years back Tetonka was on Ron Schara’s top 10 list for opening day walleye lakes and that made for one crowded public access with plenty of fishermen on hand hoping the prognosis would hold true. There are definitely walleye swimming in that lake if you can find them.
Francis, also located near Elysian, is another lake that has an abundance of fish that include walleye, northern, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill that can make for a fun day of fishing. Francis has always been an excellent bass lake, especially in the fall. Madison Lake can be a great lake for sunnies and crappies and it can also give up some nice walleye and northern pike.
If it’s muskies that you are seeking you will want to head a little farther east to the Faribault area and try French Lake. It has been called the best muskie lake south of the Twin Cities by many that seek the “great toothed one.” It also has some very good crappie fishing along with good numbers of bluegill and walleye. It is primarily stocked for walleye and muskie. The access can make it a little hard to launch your boat when the water is low.
With all these lakes to choose from there is surely one that will give you a good day of fishing. I have usually found the best late summer fishing on any one of these lakes is around Labor Day or later. No matter which lake you choose, spending a day on the lake is always a day well spent.
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Odds & ends:
Have you ever wondered why advertising folks think that someone or something (green lizard) talking with a British accent will make you want to buy their products?
Each year Minnesota sports fans follow their teams religiously entering each upcoming season with visions of a winning season dancing in their heads. Of course if you are a Twins fan there is some comfort in knowing that it could be worse – you could be a Cubs fan. As far as the Vikings go I am still not sure if Christian Ponder is the one who can lead us to the “promised land” of football. I am one of those fans who is always hoping for a winning season from the Vikes but as a true Minnesotan I wouldn’t dare to expect too much.
Until next time, enjoy the outdoors and maybe even take a little time to try out a new lake and make a few good memories.
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.