Woods & Water (267)
I have often mentioned there are times when I have the urge to head north to the cabin in the dead of winter just to spend a few days hanging out and ice fishing. This past week, my grandson Trevor had been trying to get a couple of his friends to go up for an extended weekend of fishing.
Trevor had always talked about heading up there in the winter and had finally decided to give it a try. The plans eventually fell through and I could tell he was a little disappointed, but he is young and there will be plenty of opportunities ahead for him.
Yes, I’ve often thought about spending time there, and I actually did so last April when a friend and I went up for a few days to do some work on the cabin. While we were there we received about 8 inches of new snow.
It rained first and then turned to snow which caused a power outage. It didn’t affect us though as we had no electricity. It did cause a lot of trees to fall under the weight of the ice and snow so we literally had to saw our way out because of trees blocking the road.
I’ve been at the cabin in April a couple of different times but never to do ice fishing. Last year, the ice was actually off most of the lakes by the time we went in April, so going a little earlier might be better if I want to get in any ice fishing. This is still a dream of mine; Trevor and I just might make that trip in March.
I would really enjoy sitting in the cabin on a moonlit winter evening watching the fire blazing away in the woodstove while the wind is busy moving the fallen snow from place to place. This is what I’d call living my dream but that, however, is a story to be continued later.
If you are not all that excited about venturing out onto the ice this winter, there is an alternative that may turn out to be a very rewarding experience. Trout fishing in the Southeastern part of the state is open now and might just be the fix that most open water fishermen are seeking. With that said, the Minnesota DNR has issued the following news release:
Southeast trout streams offer alternative to ice fishing
If the thought of sitting around and staring through a hole in the ice doesn’t exactly jibe with the idea of fishing, take heart — there’s an alternative even in the coldest part of the year.
Winter trout fishing opened on Jan. 1 and continues through March 31 on about 135 miles of trout water on 38 stream reaches in southeastern Minnesota. Fed by warmer groundwater, many streams there remain relatively ice free all winter, and the trout living in these streams more often than not cooperate with anglers to provide excellent winter fishing opportunities.
This winter’s trout season may find DNR fisheries staff conducting an angler survey. Anglers may find a postcard questionnaire on their vehicle at the end of a day’s fishing, or they may encounter a clerk asking a few questions.
Until next time, go out and enjoy the many things that make winter a special outdoors. Remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
As we work our way into the month of January, I get that familiar feeling I get whenever I am coming down with a cold or flu. This time the onset isn’t physical but mental, and although I know it’s too early for it to happen, I think I have a touch of the dreaded “cabin fever.” Once it comes, one of the remedies that usually works is to think about some of the places I long to be and go there, if only in my imagination.
As I started to think about Spider Lake and how I came to fish it in the first place, I considered myself lucky to have stumbled onto it years ago and to have been able to enjoy the many good times our family has had there over the years. Fishing Spider was no accident, but when I first fished it I had no idea what was in store.
I was working at the Tribune in the middle ‘70s and Charlie Thompson, a fellow worker, and I had laid plans for a fall fishing trip. Charlie and I had fished together quite a few times in the past.
Charlie said he wanted to bring his boat which was a 12-ft. Lund with a 6-hp Johnson outboard. Not a big lake rig by any means, but a good fishing boat nonetheless. We weren’t sure where we wanted to go this time, but we had both fished the Grand Rapids area in the past, so we decided to check it out.
For many years, there was a bait shop in Grand Rapids called Rapids Tackle and each year they published a book called the “Blue Book,” which listed by category the fish, date caught and lake in Itasca County it was caught on during the previous season. If you caught a fish of a certain size and species, you could register it for the book.
They had weekly contests and awarded gift certificates for the largest fish in each category. I still have many of these books and occasionally refer back to them whenever I get the itch to try a different lake.
Upon looking at one of these books when planning our trip, I found Spider Lake and it had a lot of fish listed for each category, so I thought it would be a perfect place to try our luck.
Charlie was an avid panfisherman and I was more of northern/walleye kind of guy back then, but we were looking forward to fishing a lake that would offer us the best of both worlds. Aldy, the resort owner, said he could give us a few tips on what areas could be holding fish.
Charlie was all ears when it came to crappies. I, on the other hand, was more interested in bigger things because back in those days I had the philosophy that I didn’t sit around all winter dreaming about panfish.
I had bigger things in mind. Funny how your priorities change over time; today a mess of crappies sounds mighty good to me.
Aldy’s tip paid off and each morning we were at the same spot. The crappies would start biting within a few minutes of the previous day.
We could also count on catching a pike if the crappies suddenly quit biting. Overall, it was a pretty good fishing trip and although it was early fall and the fishing wasn’t super, we did manage to catch some dandy crappies with a few northern and bass thrown in the mix. We ate a couple of meals of fish and brought some back, so life was good.
One day while we were fishing on a part of the lake called Third Lake by those that know it, there was a couple fishing just a little ways away from us. We noticed a man was fighting what was obviously a good sized fish for quite some time, so we stopped fishing and just watched.
After a few minutes, the fish rolled on the surface by the boat and I could see it was a huge northern. Its fins seemed to resemble giant oak leaves.
Just about then, the man in the boat hollered over and asked if we had a landing net. The one we had was too small to land a fish that size, plus we didn’t want to get too close fearing that “monster” would wrap around our motor and break his line.
After what seemed like an eternity, the fish finally broke water and danced on its tail. And in that moment, I knew I was “hooked” on this lake. When it broke water it spit the hook and I estimated it to have been well over 20 lbs.
When the fish got off his line, the man and his wife just sat there for a moment in silence and then he turned to us and said, “Now that was fun.” To him, it was an experience of a lifetime because he was only fishing for crappies.
I would play that scene over in my mind many times in the years to come; usually in February during “cabin fever” season. Yes, this is one of the things that has always made Spider Lake special to me.
It’s not always about the fish you put in the boat, it’s also about the beauty of the lake and knowing that on any given day that “big one” could be lurking just under the surface waiting for my next cast. That’s what makes me always want to revisit what I still consider my favorite lake.
Getting back to earth, I see the fishing village that we have on the channel is keeping pretty busy with traffic. The word was that the walleye were biting earlier but have tapered off some lately.
There are, however, some panfish being caught on Fountain Lake. I usually don’t have much luck when it comes to ice fishing, but as long as my grandson Trevor and I can get together and spend a few hours on the ice, the fishing will always be good.
Until next time, take some time to enjoy the winter outdoors.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
It doesn’t seem possible that another year is in the books. Looking back, I find myself wondering where 2012 went.
I am looking forward to 2013 and spending more time on the water and in the woods. Of course, this means more time spent at the cabin.
On more than one occasion, my son Brian and I have both said that we’d like to venture up north in the winter just to see what a few winter days spent in the woods would be like. I’d also like to spend some time doing a little ice fishing on our lake and on a couple of area lakes that we frequent during the open water season.
To me, there is always something special about spending time in the outdoors on a moonlit night. It is almost a serene, peaceful feeling that I get when I spend a wintery night outdoors with a full moon shining down across a snow-covered countryside.
This may make a person feel like they are more connected to nature than at any other time. This is a good time to pause for a moment and just take it all in, although I never really do seem to take enough time doing that to the extent that I get that “full” feeling; you know kind of like the one that you get after eating a big meal.
Something as simple as shoveling snow can be an exhilarating and fulfilling experience. I can imagine that someone reading this last statement might think that I am not playing with a full deck, but it doesn’t always take much to entertain me.
When I look back to my childhood and growing up in the country I can probably pinpoint the reason that I enjoy things simple. As kids we would go sledding and a lot of that was done on weeknights.
There were a couple of years when we built a fast sled track on the hill by our neighbor to the south. We iced the track for extra speed and boy did you ever fly. I didn’t want to wipe out on that track because there was usually someone flying down the hill right behind you and getting hit by a fast moving sled wasn’t a good thing.
Speaking of flying, I had a Radio Flyer sled which was appropriately named because it could definitely do just that. There were two sled options back then, a shorter version for one kid and the longer version for two or more.
I had gotten the shorter version for Christmas one year and while a couple of the other kids had gotten the bigger model, this didn’t make any difference to me because I had my own sled and with it came the fun.
Yes, winter was a good time to be a kid; snow forts, snowball fights, sledding and trekking to a far away hill to sled on our version of uncharted territory. Occasionally as I drive on Bridge Avenue, I will look out over the slough to the east.
I can still see that hill although, for some reason, it doesn’t seem to be as big as it was when I was ten. I’ve told the story a few times about trekking through the slough to get to that little hill; it is a fond memory.
In those days, we didn’t seem to do anything without pretending to be someone else. When we spent part of a winter day on an adventure walking across the slough, sleds in tow, we’d be one of our frontier heroes like Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone or maybe even Sargent Preston of the Yukon.
During football season, we’d be one of our favorite football players and if two kids wanted to be the same guy, the oldest one most always won out; usually without a fight.
Yes, it was the simple things that made us happy. Spending a winter afternoon in the “slew” meant that you’d be heading home wet and cold. My feet would start hurting before I ever sat down in front of the old heat register.
I can still feel the burn of my feet thawing out, but that was short lived. And, it was usually followed by a cup of hot chocolate topped with one or two big marshmallows. Maybe the way kids entertain themselves today has changed, but I’d bet that a cup of hot chocolate with a marshmallow on top is still a big hit with most.
I think that I’m onto something here! Maybe the reason that I like moonlit winter nights is that it reminds me of those days gone by and the simple pleasures we enjoyed by creating our own brand of fun.
According to my grandson, Trevor, the walleyes are still biting on the channel and judging by the number of fish houses on the ice on any given day, fishing must be fairly good. I do believe that the idea of the fishing being better on “early ice” has some merit.
I really do believe that the more traffic that you have on shallow water ice, the more skittish the fish will become. According to some experts, the best bite is usually right before, during and immediately after sunset. Whatever the time of day; I know that any time spent fishing is time well spent.
Until next time, take some time to enjoy the winter outdoors, even if it’s something as simple as watching the moonlight as it lights up the fallen snow.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
Looking back over the past few weeks, I have to wonder where the time has gone. As a kid, I used to get excited about Christmas almost before my uncles Harvey and Orville were done picking the turkey out of their dentures.
Yes, it was an exciting time for me as a kid. I almost think that the anticipation was half of it. Once that magical time arrived, it seemed to go by way too fast and before you knew what had happened, it was time to go back to school.
Now, with my childhood days well behind me, I still find myself getting that little kid feeling when I think about Christmas. I think that I inherited that from my mother who always loved that special time of year.
To me, it’s no longer about what I am getting, but about what I am giving. I can remember saying that I always wanted my kids to have the things that I could only wish for as a kid.
Although I don’t feel that I spoiled them, I did try to make Christmas as good as possible. As a kid, I don’t ever think I felt that I’d had a bad Christmas because my folks always made it seem special even if I didn’t always get the things on my wish list. I know that my mother had a certain gift when it came to making Christmas feel warm and cozy no matter what material things you did or didn’t have.
Now that Christmas is officially in the books and the Mayan Apocalypse, for those of you that were worried, is behind us, I can look back on the year and appreciate all the things that went on.
I had to overcome a few health issues, but now it’s “full speed ahead” or at least as speedy as a guy my age can go. I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time at the cabin this past year which I really enjoyed.
Jean and I especially enjoyed spending time there with our grandkids and having our granddaughter, Emma visit the cabin for the very first time. I couldn’t believe how she took to the cabin life.
Although the walleye fishing was a little slow this year, it didn’t bother me that much because the majority of my time is spent fishing for northern, bass and crappie. The fishing was some of the best that I can remember for nice sized bass, but the crappie fishing wasn’t as good as in other years. We did get a lot of work done on the inside of the cabin this past summer, and with the help of my friend Mark, we were able to get it sheet rocked in the spring.
As far as spending time in the outdoors, I think that I did my share of fishing again this year. Brian and his family took their annual October hunting trip to the cabin and the boys did all right grouse hunting.
There didn’t seem to be as many ducks around as in previous years. It’s not always about numbers when it comes to hunting and fishing. It’s really about time spent in the outdoors and doing what you enjoy.
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On Christmas Day, Jean and I were enjoying a quiet drive to Bricelyn to visit our son Brad and his family. There is a sort of peaceful feeling that I get whenever I drive on a country road in the winter time.
On the way over, it was sunny and the Christmas music that was playing on the radio gave it a cozy, “just right” sort of feeling. On the trip back, we decided to take the road straight east out of Bricelyn, which is gravel most of the way and goes past the north end of Bear Lake ending at Hwy. 69 just south of Twin Lakes.
I always enjoy that drive as there is always a chance of spotting wildlife along the way. It was late afternoon and the sun was slowly sinking in the west.
At the same time, the moon was high in the eastern sky. We actually didn’t spot any wildlife until we drove past Bear Lake where we spotted some deer in a clearing by some woods.
The drive was peaceful and except for the three cars that we met along the way, we seemed to have the whole countryside to ourselves. If you’ve ever driven the road that goes over what some call “Kiester Mountain,” you know what a sight that is to behold. You can see for miles and take in the whole countryside from atop that hill; what a view that was on a super clear, crisp and sunny winter afternoon.
When we arrived at Brian’s, he and his family had just came from playing a little “pond hockey” on Pickerel Lake. Grandson Trevor set up a portable fish house to use as a warming house and they spent the afternoon playing hockey.
It’s really hard to imagine Trevor putting a fish house on a lake without wetting a line. What they did that Christmas Day reminded me of my youth and how we made our own entertainment. You could call that “old school” because it was just good old fashioned family fun.
It sounds like the early ice fishing has been pretty good on the channel, but while the fishing was good for a while it tapered off, temporarily, I hope. I do believe that when there is a lot of traffic on a lake your chance for success decreases. With the low water levels this year, we can only wish for the best when it comes to freeze-outs of some of our area waters.
Until next time, take a little time to enjoy the winter outdoors even if it’s something as simple as a drive in the country.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers in the New Year because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
As we celebrate this holiday season, we should be extra thankful for family and friends when we gather to celebrate Christmas. I find it hard to imagine the grief that the families of those small children and teachers of Newtown are suffering during what is supposed to be a most joyous time of the year for all. As a parent and grandparent, I find it incomprehensible that anyone could do such an act.
My first reaction was anger, then sadness and finally a feeling of helplessness when I think about the direction that some in our society are heading. The first thing to be brought up is gun control; yup, stricter gun laws will solve the problem, right?
There are laws against illegal drugs. How’s that working out for us? We really need to find the reason why the person or persons on the other end of the gun do these despicable acts.
Just a thought: there are many video games out there where the object is to blow up or kill your opponent. Does this make it difficult for some people to distinguish the difference between fantasy and reality?
With that being said, please keep the families of those who left us much too soon in your thoughts and prayers. I know I will.
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With the first hardening of the water on our area lakes, there were portable fish houses and buckets popping up all over the channel by Frank Hall Park. Evidently, these fishermen are light on their feet because the same day that they were standing on 2 inches of new ice, law enforcement officials were chasing kids off Fountain Lake.
I know that I am missing out on the early-ice fishing, which is supposed to be the best time of the season for hard water fishing. I will never be able to attest to this success as I personally am just a hard water version of the fair weather fisherman.
I really desire “thick ice” under my feet before I venture out. This could probably be the reason why I usually don’t have much luck when it comes to ice fishing.
I will, however, be looking forward to fishing with my oldest grandson, Trevor, at least a couple of times this winter. He has a new fish house this year so it’s a given that he’ll be spending a lot of time on the ice.
Trevor knows how to catch fish and I’d like to think that time spent hanging out with grandpa over the years has had some influence on him. Like his grandpa, he sure loves spending time in the outdoors.
In my case, the main ingredient for mixing up a recipe for successful fishing is “time;” yes, time spent on a lake increases your chances of success. Trevor spends a lot of his time doing whatever outdoor activity the season warrants.
I rarely see him during hunting season because when he isn’t working, he is hunting and the same can be said for the fishing season. I don’t know which season is his favorite; “hard water fishing” or the open water of summer. Whichever it is, he is very good at it.
This past week, I also had a chance to spend time with my old friend, the “scoop,” which came in handy for moving the snow our first winter storm had left us with.
I had gotten the scoop from Uncle Ben many years ago. A friend of his that worked at Queens made them and since Ben had bought a snow blower, he didn’t feel like he needed it any more.
I had now graduated from a shovel to the scoop. To me, making this step up from the old shovel to the scoop was almost like when the caveman (Ed) discovered fire. It sure made my life easier on those snowy winter days.
The first significant snowfall always seems to bring out that “kid” feeling in me. While I have never really minded shoveling snow, there are some times when it can be a little overwhelming.
Some winters, we have had so much snow that eventually a person runs out of places to put it. That’s when a snow blower does come in handy. I actually have a snow blower that I haven’t taken the time to dig out of my shed yet, but I actually do like hanging out with the old scoop whenever I can.
It was just a couple of weeks ago that I had my granddaughter Emma at the house when a few snowflakes started falling. She started calling out excitedly, “Papa, Papa, it’s snowing”!
It’s fun to see how excited a child can get over something as simple as a few snowflakes. She’s only three, but I’d bet that as much as she likes playing outdoors she was probably thinking: If we get enough of these snowflakes, I’ll be playing in the snow.
Until next time, have very Merry Christmas and remember the “true” meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it with family and friends.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers this Christmas season and in the future because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
As the days of the calendar inch closer to Christmas, it is time to think of my annual fishing trip. This is the trip I will need no boat for as I will be trolling the meat departments of local grocery stores checking out the price of lutefisk.
While the days until Christmas slowly dwindle away, the excitement mounts in the anticipation of the feast that lies ahead. I will soon be buying the fish that will serve as the fine cuisine for our traditional Christmas Eve supper.
There is another tradition that my sister Judy and I started a few years ago – lefse making. Although it started out as a rotating location, we have been going to her house for the annual lefse making day for the past few years. It has also become a tradition that my wife Jean and I host the annual Christmas Eve celebration and supper at our house.
Preparing the fish has been an annual ritual for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up the fish would be soaked in water for a few days prior to the big day; that process involved changing the water at least once a day.
The fish was preserved with lye and shipped to the stores; directly from Norway (no doubt), so the need to soak it was very real. Eventually, soaking it was really not necessary, but I have found that by soaking it for a couple of days, it seems to get flakier when cooked.
Over the years, there have been a couple of instances where the fish resembled a bowl of white Jell-O-looking matter rather than the white flaky fish that it should be. That “jiggly” fish makes it less palatable, even to a diehard fish eater like me.
The art of lefse making is also not an exact science, but over the years, we have become pretty good at it. The idea of a lefse (in our family) is that it is thick enough to hold the fish, some potatoes (optional) and of course a substantial amount of melted butter.
Roll up the sleeves before attempting “the lift” because the butter should run down your arms if done properly. This is what my Dad always said was the proper way to eat this delicacy. A good lefse should have just the right thickness; too thin it falls apart; too thick it resembles a hubcap.
The lutefisk feast has been a part of Christmas for me for as long as I can remember. We’d go to my Grandma Herfindahls every Christmas Eve for the feast and of course the opening of gifts.
I can remember one Christmas when my grandparents lived in the large house next to the Fairgrounds on Bridge Avenue. On a couple of those Christmas Eves, Santa visited us and although I wasn’t very old at the time, I can still remember thinking that when Santa laughed he sounded an awful lot like Uncle Ben; and by the way where was Uncle Ben?
There were a couple of Christmas seasons that were pretty lean. One in particular has always stuck in my mind.
We couldn’t afford the usual nice tree and as it grew closer to Christmas Eve, there was still no tree. My mom, as always, had decorated our small house with garland, candles and wreaths and had it looking cozy.
Finally, on Christmas Eve Day my dad came home with a tree that he had gotten off the lot at the last minute. It was pretty scraggly looking and because they didn’t think anyone would buy it, they gave him a good deal on it.
He said it wasn’t the tree that he’d like to have gotten for us, but it was a Christmas tree all the same. My mom worked her magic on that tree; that was one of the nicest trees that we ever had and the one that I remember the most.
This time of the year, you hear of some “Good Samaritan” that does a good deed for someone on Christmas. Well, there were some mighty nice folks that stepped up and made that Christmas a little better for us.
My mother’s cousin Dorothy and her husband Curt took us to the Stables for a chicken dinner with their family. We very seldom went to a restaurant to eat so this was really something special.
A couple of days later, Santa appeared at the door one evening with presents for my sister, me and our mom and dad. It turned out to be a gentleman named Malcolm Ernest.
My mother was a hairdresser and his wife Eve was a customer. She and Malcolm had just made our Christmas a little better with a gesture that will never be forgotten.
Until next time, have very Merry Christmas and remember the “true” meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it with family and friends.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers this Christmas season and in the future as they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
Here we are well into December and we’re only flirting with ice-over on most lakes. This is the time of year when a person has to use caution along with a little common sense before venturing out onto area lakes.
I know there have already been some folks that have ventured out onto thin ice in search of those “golden” fish that they must think are lurking below a couple of inches of ice. Falling through the ice can not only result in getting wet and cold, it can be fatal.
The experts say the fishing is the best at early ice-over, especially for perch. Personally, I feel that no matter how much I like to catch and eat fish; there isn’t any fish that is worth that risk.
The Minnesota DNR has a few simple safety tips for ice fishermen.
For new, clear ice only:
• 2" or less - STAY OFF
• 4" - Ice fishing or other activities on foot
• 5" - Snowmobile or ATV
• 8" - 12" - Car or small pickup
• 12" - 15" - Medium truck
Before heading out on ice:
1. Contact a local bait shop or lakeside resort to ask about ice conditions.
2. Check ice thickness once you get there. Temperature, snow cover, currents, springs and rough fish all affect the relative safety of ice. Ice is seldom the same thickness over a single body of water; it can be two feet thick in one place and one inch thick a few yards away. Check the ice every 150 feet.
These are just some of the recommended safety guidelines for ice fishing when you do decide to venture out.
Deer hunting has all but finished for most of the hunters. However, the archery season will continue until the end of the month.
I have a few friends that hunt with muzzleloaders for deer. One of them said that he has seen a lot of does in the area but has yet to get a shot at that elusive buck which he is seeking. He also told me that a big part of his hunting is just about watching the wildlife.
Whenever I go out of town, I enjoy taking back roads instead of the interstate whenever possible. Although I do not hunt deer, I probably get the same rush that a hunter would get whenever I see a deer on the edge of a field or next to a grove of trees.
The reason that I enjoy this is not so much that it is a deer, but more so that it is an animal in the wild. As more wooded land is cleared and wetlands are tiled, the habitat for this wildlife will slowly disappear. This is why Wildlife Management Areas and CRP land are such valuable resources and will assure that there will be habitat for future generations of sportsmen to enjoy.
A few years ago, I had taken a drive out past Big Island just to relax and enjoy a late afternoon fall day. I happened to spot a fox in a field of corn that had been picked but not yet plowed under.
I stopped along the road and watched as it was busily digging in the ground for what I assumed to be field mice which are one of a foxes’ favorite foods. Just watching that fox jump around oblivious to the fact that someone was watching was a real treat.
There is always something special about watching critters in the wild. Sitting on a lake and watching eagles soar overhead can be almost as rewarding as the fishing itself.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to observe otters, beavers, eagles, falcons, hawks, bears, wolves, moose, deer and even a badger. I was driving back to one of my favorite northern Minnesota lakes when this badger crossed the road ahead of me.
It seemed as if the critter had an attitude because it took its own sweet time crossing the road and making its way into the woods. Just being able to observe all of this wildlife in its natural habitat makes me a lucky person. It is no doubt one of the greatest rewards that a person can garner from spending time in the outdoors.
Until next time, take a little time to enjoy the outdoors experience and always be safety conscious when fishing or hunting.
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.
One of the things I appreciate about our area of the state is the number of outdoors recreational opportunities we have available to us. As a kid, I always felt that I could pretty much roam freely on any land that I wished without raising the ire of a landowner.
As my choice of weapon was my trusty Red Ryder BB gun, most land owners and critters felt pretty secure with me in the area. Today, most of the private land is posted.
So unless you know someone, wildlife management areas are crucial for continuing the sport of hunting. In Freeborn County alone, we are lucky enough to have 11 such areas scattered throughout the county.
Small game hunting is a great way to make use of this land and introduce our youth to the sport. Hunting for rabbits and squirrels can be both fun and challenging to a youth. It is also important to stress the idea of not wasting the meat by killing an animal just for the sake of killing.
My mother-in-law was not one to waste anything edible. She would fix squirrel whenever someone would shoot one, and as far as I know, it was pretty good eating. (I’m sure it must have tasted just like chicken.)
On the other hand, my brother-in-law Mike had shot a rabbit and decided to fry it up. It might look like a good idea when you watch “Survivor Man” roasting it on a stick over an open fire but, needless to say, if you don’t know what you’re doing it can be pretty nasty.
I do believe that boiling it first before frying would have made it tender enough to chew. I guess you could compare it to what my mother would call “an old stewing hen,” which she would boil before baking or frying.
Trial and error is part of the deal when it comes to preparing wild game. Some folks can make anything taste good and others, well not so much.
My mother-in-law would fix the best pheasant by slow frying it first and then simmering it in that creamy white gravy she would make. Yummmm… it’s making me hungry just thinking about it.
But, of course, you need to come up with the main ingredient first; a pheasant. I have spotted a few in the Bricelyn/Frost area but most of them were hens. I’ll take that as a sign that there are better days ahead for bird hunters.
With another deer hunting firearms season behind us, we still have the archery and muzzleloader seasons to look forward to. With that in mind the Minnesota DNR has issued the following news release that may be of interest to those hunters that didn’t tag a deer during the firearms season:
DNR reminds hunters to not throw away unused either-sex deer permits
Hunters who failed to tag a deer or use their either-sex permit during the firearms season may still have a chance to put some venison in the freezer.
“An either-sex permit from the firearms season remains valid for the muzzleloader season if you have the appropriate license,” said Leslie McInenly, DNR big game program leader. “The either-sex permit is valid for either season, in the same area, provided you have a license for that season.”
The provision applies only to the lottery areas.
McInenly reminds hunters in the lottery areas that they are only allowed to tag one deer during the 2012 hunting season. They may not use bonus tags. They may be able to harvest additional deer in managed, intensive or special hunt areas.
Hunters who wish to take advantage of this change must have a license for the muzzleloader season. Licenses can be purchased at any of the 1,500 license agent locations in the state, via telephone at 888-665-4236 or online. A convenience fee is added to telephone and Internet license purchases.
The Minnesota muzzleloader season runs Saturday, Nov. 24 until Sunday, Dec. 9. Minnesota hunters harvested 151,400 deer so far during the 2012 early firearm season, according to preliminary numbers announced by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Overall, antlered buck harvest increased 9 percent and antlerless deer harvest decreased 21 percent compared to 2011. In total, firearm harvest was off 7 percent, which was expected given the conservative allocation of antlerless deer permits.
Until next time, take a little time to enjoy the outdoors experience and always be safety conscious while hunting.
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 is the time of year I usually consider the “down time” for fishing. There is ice on the lakes, but it is too thin to walk on so fishing is usually in limbo.
This year – not a problem! The lakes and streams that still have any water in them are open.
I spoke with one local sportsman the other day. He told me that the crappies were still biting on Fountain Lake.
He also informed me that fishing was the best in the evening. Or, late afternoon, now that we’ve switched from daylight savings time.
This fisherman is “old school” because the old hook-line-and sinker is all that he needs. I guess sometimes simpler is just better.
Tip that hook with a crappie minnow and get ready to fill the bucket. Now that I mention it; a meal of crappies fresh out of the lake would be mighty tasty.
Some area bass fishermen have also been hitting the lake.
The amount of moisture that we are lacking in our area’s lakes, ponds and streams is a little concerning to a lot of local sportsmen. You could probably play a baseball game in upper Twin Lake these days. A lot of folks, me included, feel that a freeze-out is eminent if we have any kind of a winter at all.
Public TV has been showing a documentary on the dust bowl that happened in the 30’s in Texas and Oklahoma. That’s a scary thought.
You see, no matter what modern day technology comes up with, nature still has the last say in our day-to-day lives. I am sure that there are scientists out there that are getting paid the “big bucks” to find a way to control that too.
I spoke with a person the other day that had gone pheasant hunting in South Dakota. He has hunted the same area for the last 10 years and now it is changing.
The farmer that owned much of the CRP land that they hunted is gone and the new owners are plowing it all up and even taking out the wind rows, all for the mighty dollar. I know the farmer is in it to make a living, but most of the ones that I know are also aware of the effect that preserving habitat has on the environment.
We need to have CRP and Wildlife Management land to sustain our areas wildlife.
There is not a lot of noise being made about local pheasant hunting this season, but I do know that the DNR did predict low numbers this season. My grandson Trevor is still in hunting mode.
However, with him, it is mostly waterfowl. He has had some pretty good luck this season.
He hunts a lot, and I guess the same thing I always say about fishing holds true to hunting: you need to put in the time to have success.
Speaking of fishing I still have my old 14-ft. fishing boat anchored in the back yard. I will have to start looking for a bigger motor for it.
The old 10 hp Evinrude sort of pushes it through the water like a barge. Maybe a 15 or 25 horse will do the trick.
Quite a few years ago, when the boys were younger, (me too) the whole family fished out of that boat. And, when we went from one end of Spider Lake to the other, we almost felt like a sack lunch would have been mighty handy.
I have many memories from those days that we fished and camped without a lot of frills. Those were times that you didn’t need a camera for; just have someone bring up an instance that happened and you’d be taking a trip down memory lane.
From time to time, one of the boys will start a story with, “do you remember when?” Those were some good times that you can’t relive but you can surely revisit.
Until next time, take a little time to enjoy the outdoors experience and take advantage of the open water.
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 year’s firearms deer hunting season is over in our area. There were reports of some nice bucks being taken, and after witnessing the closeness of annual deer camps a few years ago, I can understand what makes it a special time.
Brandi Hagen, the Tribune sports editor, got her first buck this year and it was a dandy 10-pointer. She has been hunting with her family since the day she passed her firearms safety course. She was hunting with her Dad the day that she got the deer, and she felt that it was only fitting that he was there with her because he had taken her on her first hunt when she was younger.
Brandi went on to say that she and the other grandchildren would go along with their grandfather and carry BB guns when they were too young to actually hunt. What a great way to introduce the next generation to the sport.
This is how family traditions are carried on and/or started. It is great to know that she and her family will be carrying their hunting traditions to future generations.
I believe that watching your children and grandchildren enjoy a sport that you yourself have enjoyed for many years makes you feel proud to be passing it on.
I have talked to a few deer hunters that said they had a pretty good hunt this year. One particular hunter was pretty excited about the fact that his son had gotten an 8 pointer on their hunt. The dad had also gotten a smaller buck, but when talking to him, it was all about what his son had accomplished. These are moments to be cherished; what a great way to start a tradition of their own.
The mild winter that we experienced last year has to be a contributing factor in the hunting success experienced by many this season. We can only hope that this year’s winter won’t be a payback for last year.
Hunting is a great sport. It doesn’t matter if you hunt birds or four legged critters, it is all about the outdoors.
In looking back at my youth, I can still remember walking the cornfield that once occupied the land where the disc golf course is at Bancroft Park.
It was on Thanksgiving Day. I was with my two uncles; Harvey and Orville, along with my cousins Bill and Tom. My Uncle Orv had let me use his double barrel .410, which was quite a step up from the trusty Red Ryder BB gun that I toted whenever I ventured out into the wilds of the slough.
Although I no longer pheasant hunt, I still cherish the times that I spent walking the fields in search of that elusive bird. Each season seems to have its own distinct smell.
Fall is probably the one that I like the best. It’s hard to describe, but the dead grass and weeds along with the fallen leaves give fall a sort of musty and dry but overall “good” smell. Anyone that has ever spent any time in the woods on a fall day can relate to that smell.
There is no better experience than walking through the woods on the dry and crisp fallen leaves as they crackle under your footsteps.
My son Brian has taken me to a couple of spots in the Bricelyn-Frost area that he used to bow hunt. I could never understand why he liked bow hunting so much until I went with him on that day.
That’s when I realized that it wasn’t just about the hunt but the whole package. Just spending the time in the woods on a crisp fall day anticipating the appearance of that big buck could sometimes be enough.
Although the ultimate goal is to get your deer, sometimes experiencing “the thrill of the hunt” is really what it’s all about.
With a longer season to hunt, most bow hunters spend a lot of time trying to get that deer. I would venture to guess that if you asked a bow hunter if it is worth it, the answer would be absolutely!
You don’t have to be a hunter to enjoy the outdoors experience. Take a drive to one of the many parks or Wildlife Management Areas that we have available in Freeborn County and see for yourself what nature has to offer.
Until next time, take a little time to enjoy the outdoors experience and the world of nature that surrounds us.
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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This is the time of year when I start feeling guilty about not taking advantage of the still open water on the area lakes. I always think that I am going to take “one more cast,” but it usually doesn’t happen so I have to settle for remembering the one I did take a few weeks previous.
Growing up, the idea of fishing was usually gone once school started; it would be replaced by football. And, as I grew a little older, cars came into the mix along with some pheasant hunting in the fall.
After I returned from the service, the fall fishing thing really appealed to me and it’s been in my plans each year since.
There were a few of us kids in the old neighborhood that would play football right up to and including the winter months. Football in late fall was fun, but once the ground froze, the chance of hurting yourself escalated.
There were many football games played in my Aunt Ruby’s front yard because it was open. We only had one tree to contend with.
If the ground was hard and the weather was dry, she left us alone. But if it was wet and rainy, she would come out and shoo us off so we wouldn’t tear up her yard.
I always thought that the muddier you were the more you looked like a “real” football player; although my Mother probably didn’t see it quite that way. Looking back, I’d have to say that any kid who ever played a backyard football game was a “real” player.
Playing football in a snow storm was the best. I can remember playing in the mud and snow and pretending that I was one of the big time running backs of the time.
One year, we were invited to some family friend’s house for pheasant dinner and to watch football. I will always remember that game because Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns ran over and through folks, showing the world that he was the absolute best running back of the time and maybe of all time.
I’m not so sure that the kids of today have heroes like we did in those days. When we played a neighborhood football game, we’d all claim to be some great football player of the times.
I had a Tobin Rote football that I was really proud of. I doubt that there are too many folks around today that even know who he was.
Some of my favorite football players were Harlan Hill a tight end, Rick Caseras, a fullback, and Bill George, a middle linebacker. All played for the Chicago Bears.
The Bears were my favorite team growing up. I can still hear the unmistakable voice of Lindsay Nelson calling those Bears games on TV. It was kind of the same with the Chicago Blackhawks; they were my favorite hockey team until the North Stars came along.
Heroes weren’t just sports stars, there were also the cowboys that you’d get to see at the Saturday Matinee in the old Rivoli Theater. I always liked Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.
Another of my favorites was Randolph Scott. And, I can’t forget Hoppy.
I had a few of the Red Ryder comic books and went to see most of the movies at the matinees inside the old Rivoli. Red Ryder’s sidekick was named Little Beaver who was played by Robert Blake. The Daisy Red Ryder BB gun was actually named after the Red Ryder character.
I spent a lot of Saturday afternoons at the movies and it didn’t cost an arm and a leg back then. Twenty Cents would get you in and sometimes that was for a double feature.
I can still remember the excitement I’d feel when one of my favorite heroes would be featured on the posters in the theater lobby. Yes, we had our heroes back then. Whether it was on the football field or on the screen, we loved ‘em.
Over the years, I have listened to many Gopher football games on the radio on a Saturday afternoon. I can’t really remember anything that I enjoyed more.
Although I was pretty young, I remember listening to Gunsmoke on Saturday nights with my grandpa sitting in his chair by the radio. Roy Rogers was another Saturday radio favorite and there was Gangbusters, which would come roaring into the living room later at night with the machine guns blasting away.
Until next time, take a little time to enjoy the outdoors experience and the world of nature that surrounds us.
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.
Outdoors, a little common sense goes a long way
Written by Jim LutgensWe are already into the deer hunting season. The Minnesota DNR predicted a good hunt for Minnesota hunters.
The mild winter that we experienced last year really helped the survival rate. As far as Northern Minnesota, I can definitely say that I have seen more deer this year than in past years. The deer numbers were not only good but they were very healthy looking.
Although I am not a deer hunter, I actually find myself getting excited about the season. Maybe it is the fact that I have friends that hunt.
I always enjoy hearing stories about their latest escapades. Just like a fishing trip; deer stories can be both entertaining and downright funny at times.
One such story involved a couple of guys that I once worked with at Wilsons. It seems that they had gone to the Little Falls area to do a little bow hunting for the weekend.
The night before they had celebrated just a little too much. One of them evidently decided to keep on celebrating the next day and that morning as they were perched in their deer stands, the other one heard a loud thump and went to check it out.
It seems that the other fellow had reached his limit and passed out, ultimately falling out of his deer stand and resting peacefully on the ground. You’ve heard the saying “don’t try this at home.” Well, this is just an example of something you should not do while hunting. Whether fishing or hunting the two sports do not mix well with alcohol.
Over the years, I have had many strange things happen while fishing that had nothing to do with alcohol. I always figure that I need all the edge that I can get when I’m trying to outsmart a fish.
One of those times that comes to mind is when I got a No. 5 countdown Rapala embedded in my hand. I was hoisting a fish out of the water when it spit the lure out and it came flying towards my face; I reacted by putting my hand out-ouch!
Although the barb was sticking out, I couldn’t get ahold of it to back it out. I then tried to cut the end off with a pliers, but couldn’t get it close enough.
My final option was to get a good hold on it and rip it out. This was the least appealing to me but I was alone in the boat and felt that it was my only choice. It didn’t feel very good at the time but it did get the job done.
It’s funny how you can get all kinds of advice about how to do something when it’s too late. I have never had that happen since then, probably because the pain of that experience still seems fresh in my mind.
There are always things that can happen to you in the outdoors so make sure to exercise caution while hunting on land or on the water.
Itasca State Park offers winter lodging at reduced rates
Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice fishing and snowmobiling opportunities will be right outside the door when people reserve a winter getaway—at a reduced rate—at Itasca State Park in Park Rapids. The Douglas Lodge six-plex (Itasca Suites) is located within the park and priced at an off-peak rate of $99/night, Nov. 1 through May 19.
Each suite has its own bathroom with a shower and tub; log furniture complete with bedding and linens; a kitchenette with pots and pans, a microwave, a refrigerator, and a dishwasher; and amenities such as a color TV, Internet access and a phone. Most of the suites accommodate four adults or a family of up to six, and adjacent units can connect though an interior door. Two units are fully accessible, including showers, and sleep two. Interior and exterior photos can be viewed on line.
Established in 1891, Itasca State Park is Minnesota’s oldest state park and one of its busiest. More than 500,000 people visited the 30,553-acre park in 2010. Year-round attractions include the headwaters of the Mississippi River, the towering pines of Preacher’s Grove and a scenic Wilderness Drive.
Interpretive nature programs are offered year-round. Winter recreation opportunities include more than 25 miles of cross-country ski trails (including classic and skate skiing) and more than 30 miles of snowmobile trails, along with ice fishing and snowshoeing. Snowshoe rental is available for $6/day. For reservations, visit www.mndnr.gov/reservations or call toll-free 866-857-2757.
For a list of upcoming programs and special events or to take a virtual tour of the park online, visit the DNR website.
Until next time, take a little time to enjoy the outdoors experience and the world of nature that surrounds us.
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.
The Minnesota deer hunting season begins on November 3. It doesn’t seem possible that it is already here.
Although I am not a deer hunter myself, I do keep up with how some friends that hunt have fared.
A few years ago, I attended the Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener in the Brainerd area. I was invited to ride along with some nice folks from the DNR as they checked in with hunters at various deer camps to see how they were doing.
It was really an interesting time. I was impressed by the close-knit feeling that I took away from visiting those different deer camps.
Many of these camps were made up of generations of hunters that have been coming to the same area for many years. Most of these camps were started by a group of friends or a family that had one main thing in common, the love of hunting.
Deer camps have been a part of the Minnesota deer hunting scene for as long as I can remember. I had often heard friends talking about “deer camp,” but after witnessing it firsthand, I could see what was so special about it.
Some of these folks had introduced their kids and grandkids to the sport and were still there hunting right alongside of them.
Sharing a tradition with the next generation is what being a sportsman is all about. It can give you a real sense of accomplishment and for me it makes spending time in the outdoors even more enjoyable.
Although I don’t hunt much anymore, it is fun to watch the grandkids get excited about the sport. A couple of weeks ago, my son Brian and his family were spending some time at our cabin.
The weather wasn’t the best, but they still managed to bag a couple of grouse on our land. Grant, the youngest of the three boys, got his first grouse on this trip which made everyone happy.
I have said more than once that it isn’t always about how many fish you catch or birds that you bag, it’s about being there and the whole outdoors experience. I don’t know what is the matter with me lately, because even though the lakes aren’t even frozen over yet, I am already looking forward to spring.
This winter, I am planning on spending a little time on the “hard water” with my grandson Trevor. He can be the guide because, unlike his grandpa, he knows where and how to catch fish through the ice.
In the past few years, I have ventured out from time to time and tried my hand at ice fishing. The key to having a successful outing is to start early in the season as soon as the ice is safe enough to venture out on.
I’m getting a little ahead of myself though as we still have open water. I want to take a little time to get that one more - one more cast in.
Still being that kid at heart, I am definitely guilty of being “that guy.” You know the one who says it’s time to go, but has to get in a few more casts just to satisfy his need to fish. At times, I feel that I do this because in my mind, I can see this “lunker” lying there waiting for me to make that perfect cast.
Having the need to satisfy that urge sometimes has not ended well for me. Many years ago, I was shingling my garage on a November Saturday and I was supposed go to a birthday party for my niece.
My wife and the boys went on ahead while I finished what I was doing. I had just bought a new fishing rod at Bergland Sporting Goods store’s closeout sale and decided to try it out before heading to Freeborn for the festivities.
I drove around Fountain Lake looking for a spot to cast. After a few casts, I had caught a small northern so I took that as a good sign and headed home to put the fishing pole away and clean up.
I leaned the rod against the car while I retrieved my tackle box but wouldn’t you know it, a gust of wind came up and blew the car door shut at about the same time my rod started falling over. It was shut in the car door and that crunching noise told me it wasn’t going to be good.
Sure enough, it was broken off just above the handle which made it unfixable for me. So much for my new rod and that one more cast thing.
This story did have a happy ending. I shipped it to the company (Browning) and explained what had happened and asked if they could fix it.
A couple of weeks later, a long package arrived containing a brand new rod with an invoice that said they were replacing the broken one because of a factory defect. Evidently, the good folks at Browning felt sorry for the dummy that broke his fishing pole the first time he went to use it.
Who would have thought that having to make just one more cast could create a problem? The funny thing is; the kid in me still feels the need to make that one more cast.
Until next time, enjoy the outdoors and take a little time to share the experience with our youth.
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.
Looking back over the summer months, I have to ask one question. Where did it go?
It seems like only yesterday we were flirting with temperatures in the 90s and, on lakes that I fished the most, in Northern Minnesota, the surface temperature of many was in the high 70s. I am sure this may have had a lot to do with the observation of most fishermen that fishing was totally out of whack.
If you were a walleye fisherman, it maybe wasn’t the ideal year. But for many bass and northern fishermen, like myself, fishing was pretty darned good.
I can truthfully (fishermen don’t exaggerate) say I probably caught as many or more bass this season than in any other. No, I’m not going to go out and buy a jumpsuit with imaginary sponsors plastered all over it, but I did feel pretty good about the season.
Fishing is a fun sport and to me it is all about keeping it simple. I have always fished with just a little tweak here and there to make me think I’m keeping up with the times.
Probably some of the most enjoyable times this year were when I fished with that little 12-ft. Lund with the old 5.5 hp Evinrude. No ph levels or water temperatures to check, no locator to go by; just go to where a person thinks fish will be and wet a line, whether it be trolling the shoreline or casting weed edges.
With all the little lakes in the area of Minnesota we frequently fish, there is very little boat traffic and a lot of times, you have the lake to yourself. This, to me, is what it is really all about.
This past week, while my son Brian and I were at the cabin on our annual October trip, we were able to see a variety of wildlife. The deer were really on the move and they were pretty much everywhere we went.
A couple of grouse were spotted hanging out at the end of our driveway. Once again, there were eagles soaring over our small lake. One particular golden eagle has taken a liking to the dead tree that still stands just a little ways from our dock.
On one trip to town, we spotted about four ravens feasting on a deer carcass; they were joined by two bald eagles and between them all, they had that carcass just about picked clean. (This is the cycle of nature at work, and in this area of the state, it’s obvious that nothing goes to waste.)
Going “up north” isn’t always about fishing for me anymore; it’s about just spending time in the north woods observing nature at work. There was one day last week we toyed with the idea of dropping the boat in and trying a little fishing.
The wind was pretty strong and we decided it would be a lot colder on the lake so we opted for Plan B. That plan involved throwing a fishing pole in the truck and driving around to different lakes just checking out the accesses and doing a little shore fishing.
Both Brian and I enjoy doing that. Each year, we try to explore at least one lake we’ve never visited before. We never really do expect to catch much doing this, but we sure do enjoy exploring new territories.
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Last year, in one of my columns, I mentioned the lack of WMA land in some Southwestern Minnesota counties. The DNR has released the following information that will surely be welcome news to those folks that hunt in that area of the state.
Walk-In Access program grows in second year, adding more hunting land in Southwestern Minnesota
Hunters in southwestern Minnesota will have access to additional land this fall as the state’s Walk-In Access (WIA) program continues to grow in its second year, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.
The walk-in program provides public hunting access to private land across 21 counties. Nearly 60 more sites were added this year, growing the program to more than 15,000 acres.
Last year, 86 sites totaling 9,000 acres were available to hunters. Five counties have more than 1,000 acres enrolled: Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Murray, Pipestone and Yellow Medicine.
“When we’ve done surveys in the past, one of the most frequently-cited reasons that hunters quit hunting is a lack of quality places to hunt,” said Marybeth Block, DNR program coordinator. “Walk-ins help address that and offer some very nice new ground for people to hunt.”
Hunters can use walk-in parcels during any open hunting season, including spring turkey, with no landowner contacts necessary. Locations are clearly marked with signs, plus all parcels are mapped on a printed atlas and on the DNR website.
Walk-in land is for public hunting only. No target practice, trapping, dog training, camping, horseback riding or fires are allowed. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on WIA land. Parking is along roads or in designated parking areas.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture funded the first two years of the program and the Minnesota State Legislature has approved additional funding that will allow it to continue for at least two more years. Also, resident hunters have the opportunity to donate $1, $3 or $5 to the program when purchasing a small game or deer license.
“Hunter support is key to this program,” Block said. “Using the land, respecting the land and donating to the program will help build walk-in lands for future hunters.”
Walk-in land is open to hunting from Sept. 1 to May 31 each year.
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Until next time, take a little time to enjoy the world of nature.
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.