Woods & Water (267)
Well, we can’t say we haven’t been experiencing some summer weather. Do you remember not that long ago when we were wishing for summer weather? Well we’ve got it and it’s time to enjoy!
On one of my morning walks to Frank Hall Park, I encountered quite a bit of wildlife. First I saw a couple of rabbits, and then a hawk that must have had a blackbird in its talons. I suspect that is the case because as it flew away, it was being escorted by quite a few other blackbirds that were chirping loudly. I always thought chirping was a happy sound.
The next thing I came upon was a crow that flew across my path. He was carrying a small bullhead, which I assumed was going to be breakfast. As I got closer to the access, there was a flock of turkey vultures that seem to be there most mornings as I pass by (hopefully not waiting for me). There were also several geese with their little ones in tow close by.
Seeing all these natural wonders within a couple of minutes tells me that there is a lot of wildlife to be observed right here close to home. I have some rabbits hanging out in my yard. Of course, there are gray squirrels always seeming to enjoy spending a fair amount of time in my garage too.
Whatever your outdoors activity of choice, now is the time to take advantage of the nice weather, so get out and enjoy. We have an abundance of nice parks in the area that offer everything from basketball and tennis to disc golf. With all the walking trails we have in the area, just a nice evening stroll is a great way to get outdoors and get rid of that day to day stress.
Pioneer Park has some nice facilities. It’s kind of a special place to me because it was one of those places my folks would take me for a little family picnic. We didn’t always do the hot dog thing. Sometimes, Mom would make cold meat sandwiches, and we’d have Van Camps beans and her out-of-this-world potato salad which I loved.
I can still recall the time that I had come home for a short leave before heading overseas. As a kid, Beaver Lake was one of my favorite places to go fishing, so Mom and Dad thought I’d like it if we went to Beaver Lake for a picnic and some shore fishing.
It was in June, but I can remember it being cold and windy with an off and on again rain. Mom felt really bad about the weather because, of course, she wanted it to be perfect. I told her it really didn’t matter because we were doing it as a family and it brought back a lot of fond memories of my younger years. I don’t think the fishing was very good, but the hotdogs, her famous potato salad and the beans were as good as I ever remembered. The memory of that day is still priceless.
This is just an example of what the outdoors experience is really all about. It is not always about catching fish or winning a game; it’s about being there making memories that will last a lifetime. If you introduce a kid to something as simple as having a picnic and roasting hot dogs on one of the barbecue pits that our parks offer, it can make those memories.
My boys will from time to time bring up something that we did as a family when they were growing up. I am sometimes amazed that it made such a lasting impression on them.
Frank Hall Park has a lot to offer with its two small pavilions. There are also barbecue pits scattered along the walking path back towards the public access. It also has easy access to fishing and also has a nice fishing pier.
I guess you can say the same for quite a few of our area parks. Bancroft Bay Park has a beautiful setting, plus the aforementioned disc golf course. Edgewater has a fishing pier and pavilions to accommodate any number of people.
I have enjoyed some good shore fishing at Edgewater Park over the years. It’s a great way to spend a family outing. Many times when the kids were small, we’d take them there for a little picnic and some fishing. The area offers so many different ways to enjoy a summer evening or a weekend afternoon in the outdoors.
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I see that the bike lanes are now in place to test our driving skills. I have seen plenty of cars, a person on a “Rascal” and a guy riding a stand-up motorized scooter in my numerous trips on Front Street since the painting was finished, but I’ve only seen one bicyclist.
One person that I talked to, mentioned that the bicyclist that he saw came to a four-way stop, but didn’t bother to stop. The car in the opposing lane was attempting a left turn, and the bicyclist gave him a verbal scolding and a finger shaking.
I may be wrong, but I always thought that a bicyclist had to adhere to the same rules of the road as a person driving a motorized vehicle. I do think that bicycling is great exercise. What a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors.
Yet, it seems that all the rules of the road for navigating this maze that are published in the paper are for car drivers. The cyclists need to adhere to at least one rule - the “common sense” rule. You need to remember one thing – even if you are in the right, in a collision between a car and a bike, the bike always loses.
Until next time; enjoy a picnic in one of our parks, do a little fish’n and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!
Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country, so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms that we have today.
Each year, we celebrate Memorial Day to pay tribute to our fallen service men and women and to honor those who served. This past week, we also saw the soldiers of Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division deployed for active duty in Kuwait. As a veteran, I can only wish them well and say that I’m proud to call them my neighbors.
In looking back over the years, I can say that I have done my share of camping and fishing on Memorial Day weekend. There were very few of them that were sunny, mild and dry. It seemed that every Memorial Day weekend was either rainy, cool or both, but that has never stopped me from trying it again.
There were many years that a group of us would stay at the same campground in Waterville on that weekend. I always brought the boat and my fishing gear along just in case the weather was nice enough for fishing. I finally am able to admit that camping without fishing was pretty hard for me to do.
Over the years, we actually had some pretty good luck fishing on that weekend. On one of those occasions, my friend Russ and I ventured to a little lake west of Waterville. I am sure that Russ had the same line on his reel that came with it when he bought it. I, on the other hand, had meticulously taken my reels apart and greased and lubed all the moveable parts. After the maintenance was done, I replaced all the line with new as instructed by Al Linder who I considered “the” fishing guru back then. According to In-Fisherman, “the fisherman’s bible,” I was set to go.
As we started fishing on that little lake, I noticed Russ had about five split shots on his line from past years, along with this dusty old Mister Twister jig. I mentioned to him that he didn’t need all that weight and should probably use a different jig, but he said he was fine and would stick with what he had. After he had reeled in his fifth or sixth fish and I had finally battled my first one to the boat, I decided that giving fishing advice should probably be left up to others.
On one of those memorable weekends, it rained almost the whole time and we were still tenting at that time. Brad, my youngest, came down with “pink-eye,” but by the time we noticed it, he had already shared it with the other kids that were camping with us. I think that we heard about that from their parents for quite a few years to follow.
Over the years, I have been able to start each of my grandsons out on their fishing endeavors with some pretty good success. Trevor, my oldest grandson, has turned out to be quite the fisherman. His love for fishing and the outdoors reminds me of when I was younger. As a kid I lived to fish, especially in the summertime. Trevor fishes pretty much year-round except for a little break in the fall when he takes time out to hunt.
It makes me feel good when I watch him and his brother Taylor enjoy fishing and hunting as much as they do. Their cousin Dylan also likes to fish and has also started to hunt.
Trevor still likes to go to Twin Lakes and fish for carp in the “crick” whenever he has time. Grant, the youngest of my grandsons, also enjoys hunting carp in Twin Lakes, although spearing is more to his liking. His older brothers said that he usually just bounces the spear off the fish. When they are done fishing, they still take all the carp that they catch home and plant them in the garden for fertilizer.
Carp fishing in the spring in that fast moving stream of water is really a challenge and it can be a load of fun. I have hooked into a few of them. One fish took me on a run down the “crick” before it finally prevailed, spit the hook and lived to swim another day.
It is sad to think there are less and less fishing and hunting licenses being sold each year. We need to “unplug” and introduce our youth to the natural entertainment that exists in this great state of ours. We have to remember that the youth of today are our sportsmen of tomorrow.
If you take a little time to go fishing with a kid, it will introduce them to a sport they can enjoy for the rest of their lives. Taking the time to share the outdoors with our youth will ensure that we have future sportsmen to carry on our outdoors heritage.
Until next time, let’s go fishin’ because now is a great time to enjoy our great Minnesota outdoors.
Remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers.
After I had attended this years Governor’s fishing opener in Grand Rapids I headed back north to enjoy a few more days at the cabin which is a little over 30 miles from there. I guess I could almost call this my “quality time” with only the critters for company I got some work done and was able to go fishing on one of my many “favorite” lakes in the area. With so many beautiful little lakes to choose from it is hard to single out just one. The one I chose to fish has a small rustic camping that has been area set aside by the Forest Service. It is first-come first-serve with no fees charged. Going there on a weekday can pretty much ensure that you will have this little lake to yourself. It is pretty much a northern lake but then that’s primarily what I fish for most of the time. There are plenty of small pike to be had and occasionally you will have a “big one” on. The day that I was there I did have two fish break my line and I was using a leader, which I don’t normally do.
Spending a few hours on this quiet little lake wasn’t without its challenges. After trolling for a short while I noticed something trailing the boat that looked just like my anchor rope, just then my motor quit and, of course the rope had slipped out of the boat and tangled in the prop. With the rope fastened securely to the front of the boat and tangled in the prop there was no way to lift the motor. Alas, I had to cut the rope from the front and slowly untangle the rope from the motor. Finally it was free and I was on my way again in search of another challenge.
Even with a few minor glitches the time spent up north was indeed my quality time. I have a couple of bird feeders set up outside the cabin that Brian and his family gave me for Christmas. I have never considered myself a bird watcher but without television bird watching at the cabin has replaced the need for that electronic pacifier. Sitting on the steps watching all the different birds plus a couple of red squirrels and an occasional chipmunk I almost felt like I was doing an imitation of Grizzly Adams.
I awoke one morning to a different sound than what I usually hear coming from our lake. Normally it is the sound of the resident loons or even a beaver slapping its tail on the water but on this particular morning the sound was strange and loud. As I walked towards the lake I could see them as the flapped their wings and flew just above the water across the lake. It was a pair of Trumpeter Swans which was great to observe and also to hear. I had hoped they were going to nest on our lake but after spending most of the day they moved on.
Yes, watching wildlife is an important part of my life and there is always something fulfilling about observing nature at work. I guess that is what I like most about being on the edge of the wilderness – you never know what you will see next.
The one thing about enjoying wildlife is that you don’t have to go way up north to observe it. I like to take early morning walks because there are less people out and about at that time. I used to walk after I had finished work and I even walked on the Blazing Star trail when it was still a gravel path. Once it was finished and the trail was made “user friendly” it became like it is today a place for roller bladders, bikers (non-motorized), walkers and joggers. What a great asset to have in our city. We have since expanded and added a trail by Bookside that extends behind Pioneer Park and is a great addition for those that walk around the lake.
With all the improvements comes more and more traffic which is what you want to see, people taking advantage of all these opportunities. I am a person that likes things simple and sometimes walking on one of the trails in the afternoon can be crowded with an almost mall-like atmosphere. This is why I like the early morning walks which have another advantage, wildlife. The waterfowl abound at this time of year and there are many little critters to been seen. Over the years I’ve seen of course the usual squirrels and rabbits but even an occasional woodchuck. Just the other day there was a whole flock of turkey vultures down by the access at Frank Hall Park. When I saw one of them circling overhead I was hoping this was not an omen, as you get older you start noticing those things.
The fishing in the area has been less than great and we can attribute most of that to the unstable weather we have been having. Not too many walleye have been caught so far and the crappies bite was pretty good early but is in a bit of a holding pattern right now. Hopefully we will get some stable weather and normal temperatures to get the season shifted into high gear. Bass fishing opens on Memorial Day weekend and musky season follows a week later.
Until next time; lets get out and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors and do a little camping and fishing!
Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms that we have today.
SERENE SCENE — This is a peaceful early morning picture of one of the many small Grand Rapids area lakes. (Photo by Dick Herfindahl) 2001 Governor's Fishing Opener This past weekend I was once again invited to take part in the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener, which started a new era with Governor Mark Dayton. The Governor, like a lot of us, did manage to catch a northern on his first official opener. The Governor ventured out at midnight on Lake Pokegama in Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids is a beautiful city located in northewast Minnesota, just three hours – 180 miles — north of the Twin Cities metro area. Grand Rapids is close enough to be convenient, but just far enough away to provide you with a real escape. With over 1,200 area lakes and one million acres of public and industrial forestland, the Grand Rapids area is a well known destination for families, groups and business travelers. Grand Rapids has 13,900 residents and during the peak of the tourist season it serves as a service center and regional hub of commerce to more than 43,000 people daily and tens of thousands of visitors annually. Each year when I attend the opener, I am always excited about learning about the area that will be hosting the event. This year I was way ahead of the game because I have been coming to this area since my Uncle Ben took me to Big Sand Lake as a kid. I fell in love with the Grand Rapids area right away and when I finished serving my country in 1969, I was determined to renew my relationship with this great area of the state. My family and I have vacationed in this area ever since and have not missed a year that I can recall. We eventually purchased some land north of Grand Rapids and are now able to enjoy hunting and fishing in this great part of the state. I don’t believe there is another area of the state that can offer as much as Grand Rapids in terms of things to do. There are numerous forest service campsites that dot area lakes. Some are on remote little lakes and others on larger lakes. There are also National Forest campgrounds with campsites for RVs as well as tenters. These sites are available at a minimal fee and, although semi-rustic, they offer public water and toilet facilities. If you want to experience some great scenery, take Scenic Hwy. 38 north out of Grand Rapids. It has many lakes along the way and if you take that drive in the fall, the colors will amaze you. Each year I choose to fish with a local host, and although this year I already had a few favorite area fishing lakes, I still wanted to learn more. This is where fishing with someone who lives here and knows and loves the area can really teach you a lot. My friend, Jeff Anderson from Watertown S.D., and I were lucky enough to have Dave Johnson as our fishing host/guide. I could tell right away Dave loved the area and was serious about putting us on some fish. After talking to him for just a short while I could tell he was an avid outdoorsman and Grand Rapids was someplace he was proud to call home. Dave said he usually brings his chocolate lab along fishing but he opted to leave his fishing buddy home for the day. He said he takes his lab with him when he fishes Lake Winnibigoshish, which is a little northwest of Grand Rapids and is Dave’s favorite walleye haunt. He told me to call him sometime I’m up in the area and he’d take me to Winnie walleye fishing. I may just have to take him up on that. Dave moved to Grand Rapids on a permanent basis after retiring from 30 years in the construction business in St. Paul. He had hunted and fished the area most of his life and like a lot of us felt it was the best area in the state for a sportsman. Dave likes to hunt grouse and deer and, when it comes to fishing, walleyes are the name of the game. He works part-time for one of the marine dealers in town and also for North Homes Juvenile Center mentoring troubled teens. He said it can, at times, be a thankless job, but whenever you are able to make a difference it is a very rewarding experience. On this day we fished Lake Pokegama, which I’d never fished before and was really excited about trying. To show you what a perfect host he was Dave gave up his opening day of fishing to strictly run the boat and try to put his two guests on some fish. We fished that big lake from one end to the other in less-than-ideal weather conditions in search of the wily walleye. Alas, there were no walleye caught from our boat, but I did manage to boat two small northern (which Dave called “snot rockets”), a 27-inch northern, one perch and a dandy 18-inch smallmouth bass. I felt sorry for my friend Jeff because on this day he only managed to catch the dreaded skunk. I have been attending these openers since 1995 and I have to say that I’ve never enjoyed spending a day in the boat more than I did with Dave. Both Jeff and I agreed that even with the bad weather, he made this one of the most enjoyable openers we attended. If the community of Grand Rapids were looking for an ambassador, Dave would be my pick. I know Jeff took some good Grand Rapids memories with him back to South Dakota and I luckily didn’t have to wait long before wetting a line again. I headed north to our cabin for two additional days of fishing and enjoying more of the outdoors in the “great” Grand Rapids area. Until next time, let’s do a little camping and fishing because it’s a great time to get out and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors! Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms that we have today.
The community of Grand Rapids did an excellent job of letting the media know about their great community. Hosting an event like this is a big undertaking and there were upwards of 300 volunteers and 70 sponsors working together to make it happen. The idea of this event is to promote tourism in the host area and they did a great job of doing that. Tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry in Minnesota and it definitely plays a big part in the Grand Rapids economy.
With the gas prices nearing record highs a lot of you may want to think about a vacation that's a little closer to home. Our own state of Minnesota has a lot to offer in terms of things to see and do, especially when it comes to the outdoors. Camping is a great way to enjoy nature and see a lot of the wonderful things it has to offer.
I have said it many times that even if you haven’t camped before, it doesn’t cost a lot to get started and it’s a great way to spend some quality family time. I guess if I was to put together a starter kit for campers it would be pretty basic. Start with a tent, sleeping bags, some sort of cook stove and a few cooking and eating utensils. You’d also want a lantern and some camp chairs along with matches, a hatchet and a sharp knife. A good cooler for food is a must and you are pretty much ready for your first camping experience. Oh, did I mention some mosquito repellent?
You will want to have a campfire and of course no good campfire is complete without the making of s’mores. Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over a campfire is something that will always be enjoyed by kids of all ages. If you don’t have hot dog forks and there are plenty of trees and bushes around you can whittle your own. This actually makes the whole experience just a little more special.
It is against the law to transport firewood from one part of the state to another. This is a preventive measure to try and curb the spread of tree diseases. You will need to purchase your firewood from a DNR approved vendor. Most state parks and campgrounds have firewood available for you to purchase. If you purchase from an approved vendor be sure to keep the receipt. I know some folks that bring boxes of scrap wood from their home projects and use them for their campfires.
There are many campgrounds throughout the state for you to enjoy. If you like to fish like I do, there are many state parks and national forest campgrounds that offer reasonable rates for camping with fishing access.
Surrounding this year’s Governor’s Fishing Opener in the Grand Rapids area are some of Minnesota’s most popular state parks, where anglers can wet their lines against backdrops that include scenic waterfalls, rocky shorelines and virgin pine forests.
Area highlights worth a side trip, include: to the west - Itasca State Park, where the Mississippi River begins its 2,552-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico to the east - Gooseberry Falls State Park, where the waterfalls are spectacular and the Gooseberry River is stocked with rainbow trout to the north - Bear Head Lake State Park, voted America’s Favorite Park in an online contest sponsored by Coca-Cola in 2010 to the south - Cuyuga Country State Recreation Area, where 25 miles of single-track mountain bike trails opened this spring.
A change in state law made it possible for residents to fish without a license at most lakes within Minnesota state parks. Details about the free fishing, which went into effect in July 2009, can be found at www.mndnr.gov.
In addition to stocking Minnesota lakes and streams with fish, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) also stocks 30 Minnesota state parks with fishing rods and tackle that they loan out free to visitors in hopes of luring new anglers to the sport.
In the northeast region, the free fishing kits, which include a pole and tackle, are available at Banning, Bear Head Lake, Jay Cooke, McCarthy Beach, St. Croix, Savanna Portage, Scenic, and Tettegouche state parks. Check out the complete list of where to find free loaner equipment (also including GPS units, binoculars and bird guides, and activities for kids) www.mndnr.gov/state_parks/free_fishing.html>online.
Beginning anglers of all ages can learn basic skills at free I Can Fish! Workshops offered statewide throughout the summer. These hands-on workshops cover fish identification, casting, knot-tying, and more. Fishing gear is provided for use during the workshops, and fishing licenses are not required. Veteran anglers demonstrate skills and then give participants plenty of time to practice. Check out the Web site www.dnr.state.mn.us/events/index.html>onlinecalendar for a complete schedule.
For more information on what there is to see and do at Minnesota state parks in the northeast region, visit the Web site www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/index.html>mndnr.gov/state_parks or call the DNR Information Center, 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The free fishing offer is one that the state and the DNR has initiated to try and get people “hooked on fishing” and believe me it is a great opportunity to try it out.
Until next time; let’s do a little camping and fishing because it’s a great time to get out and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!
Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms that we have today.
The 2011 Minnesota fishing opener is less than a week away and Mother’s day will already have been celebrated. For many years, Mother’s Day was always on the same weekend as the opener. A couple of years ago, the DNR decided to move the opener back a week, for scientific reasons I assume. I don’t think anyone in power would have been influenced to make that move by their wife – or could they? The way it stands now, there is no longer a conflict and everyone seems happy.
The later opener was implemented to give the fish more time to spawn. I guess with all the modern technology they have today someone decided to try and level the playing field. I have found that using my fish locator doesn’t necessarily mean that I’ll be boating my limit every time I hit the water.
Looking back to Mother’s Day and remembering what my Mom meant to me when I was growing up, I appreciate even more of the things she taught me about enjoying the outdoors. She was the one who encouraged me to go fishing whenever I could. She taught me the basics of fishing and some of those tricks I still use today. Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of fancy fishing equipment – just hook, line and sinker so to speak. When I first started fishing, I used a cane pole and I’d use a throw line when I rode my bike to “the mink farm” for a day of fishing and hanging out.
My dad worked six and sometimes seven days a week, so he had little time to spend and he really wasn’t a fisherman by any stretch of the imagination. So Mom was my teacher. When Dad did have time off there were many Sunday afternoons when we’d go to St. Olaf or Beaver Lakes so we could enjoy a little picnic and I’d get to do a little fishing.
As I got older, I’d ride my bike to town to fish and Mom would always greet me with enthusiasm when I came home with a stringer of fish, even though she was usually the one who had to clean them. Many of those times the fish were on the stringer most of the day and were not in edible condition. She told me it was a waste, so I learned about catch-and-release at a fairly young age. I’ve told the following story many times, but I always feel that it’s worth repeating.
When I was growing up there were so many questions I’d want answered, and at times I would worry about different things and at times I wasn’t able to sleep. Mom would offer me this advice, “Pray, talk to God, and think of some fun place you would really like to be and go there; it works for me.” I have found that after all these years, it still works for me too.
Our old neighbors, Florence and Lyle Rupp, bought a resort on Leech Lake and one summer they invited us up for a week. My dad couldn’t find any way to get time away from his gas station so Mom, my sister Judy and I went. I had my driver’s license, so I did most of the driving and as a new driver I jumped at the chance. We had a ’52 Ford that ran great except for one small glitch; it would vapor lock. Whenever you’d stop it took awhile to get it started again, but luckily it always started. This is a problem that used to be pretty common in a lot of cars years ago.
A family vacation was almost unheard of for us back then, so we really enjoyed that week. My sister got to spend time with her good friend Sherry and Mom and I got to do a lot of fishing. The Rupps’ oldest daughter, Jeannette, took us northern fishing and Mom had a ball. I still have that red and white “River Runt” lure that was the killer lure that summer. The weather turned rainy and windy for a few days, but we fished off of the long dock and caught walleyes. I can remember Mom standing on the dock and the waves rolling in and splashing almost all the way up to her waist, but she just kept on fishing. Later that day she got a huge fish on and fought it for about 10 minutes before it finally started coming in and as it got close to the dock we could see that it was a big muskie. Before I could get it into the landing net, it wrapped around one of the posts on the dock and snapped the line. It was pretty quiet for a while before Mom broke the silence and said, “Now that was fun!” I guess that’s where I get the idea that it’s not always about catching fish as much as it is about enjoying the experience.
Getting back to the Mother’s Day thing, there was this time that I gave my mother a rod and reel for her birthday. I knew how much she liked that rod and reel and for some unknown reason it gave me this “brainstorm” of an idea that my wife would just love to get a rod and reel for Mother’s Day. I can still see the look on her face when the boys and I proudly presented her with that “great” Mother’s Day gift. I do believe it took about 10 years before she finally quit reminding me about the sentimental gift I gave her on that one unforgettable Mother’s Day. That was definitely what you’d call a life lesson!
Until next time; it’s time to do a little fishing so get out and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!
Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms that we have today.
The 2011 fishing opener is just around the corner and I don’t know if I am ready. It seems like I wait all winter for the season to open, but always wait until the last minute to get myself into that “ready-to-go” mode.
As a kid, I could tell you exactly how many days there were until that magic time. In fact, I probably had it dissected into hours. Opening day – that was the big one! Even into my 30s, I would be busily checking and rechecking my tackle boxes and at least once during the late winter or early spring I’d clean them all out and rearrange them to make sure all was ready for that big day. I would even take the reels apart and oil and grease them at some time during the winter months.
My father-in-law, Orville, had a much simpler solution to readying for the opener. Rather than replace the line or try to fix them, he’d simply throw away the old Zebco 202s and buy new ones for the upcoming season. In their family, all the kids got the same rod and reel every year — the old Zebco 202 — and they caught fish.
There was one time when he and I had gone fishing on Clear Lake in Waseca and it was getting close to the end of summer. Orv said, “The reel’s not working quite right, time to lubricate it,” and he dunked it in the water and kept right on fishing. Now I don’t know if that actually worked, but he said it did. I think that he probably did that just to make me wonder. He had a way of doing that from time to time, knowing that I was kind of particular about my fishing tackle.
We did a lot of fishing around this area in those days. We fished bullheads early in the spring and caught some dandy ones. My mother-in law Shirley would fry them up that same evening and we’d feast on bullheads, Van Camps beans and fried potatoes. I don’t care what you say, that was some mighty good grub.
There were quite a few lakes in the area that had some dandy bullheads in them. We also tried our hand at fishing the south shore of State Line Lake a few times and usually had some pretty good luck. One thing I learned was that when bobber fishing from shore in the presence of my mother-in-law, you needed to have your head on a swivel. When she went to set the hook, she meant business, and after a couple of near misses with flying bullheads, I learned to keep my distance. I think she just might have passed that trait on to her oldest son Lynn.
Pickerel Lake used to be loaded with bullheads, and I can remember cars lined along the highway in the spring. I recall the time my uncle Harvey Christensen took me there. I believe I was about 10 years old at the time and the fishing was almost elbow to elbow. I can remember thinking I’d never fished around this many people, but because I’d never fished that lake before, I thought it was great, and we were catching fish.
You just don’t see many folks fishing for bullheads these days and I don’t know if it’s because there aren’t that many swimming in our lakes or if they are now considered a rough fish. I do feel the bullhead population has gone down and my own theory is the carp have taken over the primary areas of lakes that bullheads used to roam.
As a kid, I never really set out in search of any certain species of fish. I was just going fishing. It was pretty simple back then. Go in the back yard and dig up some “angle worms” and put them in an old tin can with a little dirt grab some extra hooks, sinkers and a cork, and you had the fixings for a day of fun. Although I never set out to catch bullheads, they were usually the fish I’d catch most, but that really didn’t matter as long as I was fishing and catching a few. Some things never change no matter what your age.
I have to admit that in the time it takes to clean a bullhead you may clean two or three perch. This may be one reason not as many people fish them. Another is probably the obvious: they are not a pretty fish and looks alone may kill the appetite of a lot of today’s fishermen. The stingers on a bullhead can leave a lasting impression on you. Getting one rammed into your hand or finger can definitely make you leery. Anyone who grew up in my time knows exactly what I’m talking about. It almost became a challenge to us kids when we’d catch bullheads and try to get them off the hook without getting stung. The bigger ones were easier, but the smaller they got the harder it was to avoid those side stingers.
I have to admit I’m not thinking bullheads right now because I have my sights set on a different species, but it sure is fun to look back and relish those days of the past.
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The May meeting of Crossroads Chapter 54 of Muskies, Inc. will be Wednesday, May 11. Our special program will be a tour of the Waterville Fish Hatchery. We will meet at 6:45 p.m., at Casey's Convenience Store, on Highway 13, coming in from the south. Anyone interested in muskie fishing is always welcome. Our meetings are second Wednesday of every month and include informative speakers. Check our Web sight at www.michapter54.com. Our goal is to improve muskie fishing and opportunity in southern Minnesota. Also, there’s muskie talk and tips to help members catch more muskies.
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Until next time; it’s time to do a little fishing and get out and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!
Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms that we have today.
Once again we have suffered a minor setback in the weather department. It seems like every time I get revved up for spring, something happens to change the glass from half full to half empty. I’m usually a pretty positive guy, but there are times when I feel like I’m being tested.
This past weekend my wife Jean, oldest son Brian and I headed north to the cabin for a few short days. We went to mainly see if it had survived the winter and to bring up a few things in anticipation of the upcoming season. As we approached the Grand Rapids area I started meeting vehicles heading south with significant snow piled on their roofs. I was thinking to myself this can’t be a good sign, and indeed it was a sign of things to come.
As we started passing some of the lakes along the way, the ice had barely started to melt along the shoreline on some and not at all on others. Once we arrived at our lake, there was plenty of snow on the road and half way up our driveway a pine tree had fallen across. Luckily, Brian had his chain saw along and we made short work of cutting the tree up and moving it. I began to look back to last year when I came up and there was a large birch tree that had fallen across the drive and all I had to work with was an axe and a hand saw. This is all part of being in the woods and I wouldn’t have it any other way, although I’d rather not have to cut a tree up every time I go there.
Sunday was cold and windy, but Monday proved to be sunny and without that blustery wind it made even the high of 37 degrees seem nice. Brian split a bunch of wood and I helped him stack it (need to take credit when I can). This wood will be ready to burn in the fall when the weather turns cold again. We sat around the fire ring that afternoon talking and enjoying just being there in the outdoors, watching all the birds that were visiting the new feeders that we had just put up.
There was also a chipmunk, and this one red squirrel in particular seemed to be trying to take over one of the feeders. Brian was throwing snowballs at the squirrel hoping to chase it away. Fortunately for the squirrel, it seemed to have Brian’s number and when he threw the squirrel would move only a few inches to avoid being hit and then it would just sit there and stare at him as if to taunt him. This went on for most of the time we were there, with the squirrel not being deterred by the snowball-throwing Brian. I told him he would have to take it easy or he’d be in line for Tommy John surgery on his arm.
When I was packing to head for the cabin, I looked at my winter boots and thought, “I won’t need them, I’ll just take my old Red Wings”. It seems that my old Red Wings have no tread left on the bottom, so it’s more like wearing a pair of skis when it comes to walking on snow. I can now imagine what a newborn deer must feel like when it tries to walk on a frozen pond for the first time. I could get absolutely no traction and was slipping and sliding everywhere. This, no doubt, was not a pretty sight and although my wife and her eldest kept their chuckles to a minimum, I knew they were laughing on the inside.
Being able to see a lot of wildlife is always one of the rewards of being up in the north woods. On this trip we saw plenty of deer, some wild turkey and both bald and golden eagles. There is no substitute for seeing these critters in the wild. The morning we were getting ready to leave, our resident loons let us know they had indeed returned to the lake for another season. Although the lake wasn’t totally open, there was enough open water for them to enjoy.
There is just a special feeling I get each time I’m outdoors in the north woods. When you add in a little snow on the ground and a campfire, it makes it even better. I don’t think you can match the quiet beauty of the woods in the winter. Our cabin has no running water or electricity, so you might say in some ways it is pretty primitive, but I wouldn’t really want it any other way. We have an awesome wood stove that keeps that cabin toasty, a good cook stove and a radio, so it just doesn’t seem like it could get any better.
The fishing opener is just not that far off and, by the looks of the north country, old Mother Nature has a little catching up to do. I have no doubt the lakes statewide will be ready in plenty of time for the opener.
Until next time, it’s time to do a little fishing and get out and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!
Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms we have today.
Over the years I have found that at times although I have been quite obsessed with buying fishing lures I am not in this thing alone. There are many forms of addiction; alcohol, drugs and Robert Palmer even had a song about being addicted to love. I on the other hand suspect that I may be addicted to lures. In talking with a friend at coffee the other day I found out that he too is quite a lure collector. In fact, after a little conversation I began to feel like small potatoes compared to him.
It seems that as each fishing season opener draws nearer I find myself feeling a void, sort of like I am missing something. Once I diagnose the problem I begin to realize that I just don’t have the necessary tackle to start another fishing season. There is new line to be bought, jigs and plastic bodies that need to be replaced and, of course, there is that “new and improved” lure that just hit the market and not having it would be the only thing standing between me and a season of fishing success.
Over the years I have become much more discreet with my purchases or maybe it’s just that my wife has learned to accept the fact that I will always be buying at least one new lure at this time of year. When the boys were still living at home and we were going on our family vacations to Spider Lake she must have finally felt enough was enough and decided on an intervention. She just asked me: why are you buying all those artificial lures when most of our fishing involves live bait? It was a question for which I had no reasonable explanation. I didn’t purposely quit buying lures but every time I would pick up one of the latest “sure fire” lures her words of wisdom would pop into my head.
I must admit that although I’ve not quit buying new lures I have been limiting my purchases. I do think that some of these new lures we see advertised on fishing shows are designed to catch the biggest fish of all – the fisherman! I have to admit I have bought a couple of muskie lures after watching a guy on TV hammering the fish with his latest “Hawg Chaser” or whatever it was named. I bought one lure that I think was called Pig in the Poke or something like that. This guy was just raking in the muskies with that lure so I had to have it. I think that the thing must weigh about 4 lbs. because it is one heavy lure. I know I must have pumped up my casting arm by quite a bit when using it. I have more than my share of lures that have escaped unscathed from the jaws of numerous muskies.
I can still justify the purchasing of a new lure if one has been lost to a “giant” fish. This is a free pass to the candy land of fishermen. I know that the lure should be replaced because didn’t it just get taken by a monster fish that I didn’t see but just knew would have been my own personal record. While I’m at it I may just have to buy another of a little different color.
Fishing has been heating up
Fishing in two Albert Lea area lakes has been picking up. There are perch being caught from the Front Street Bridge or off the fishing pier in the channel by Frank Hall Park. Crappies and sunnies have been biting in Edgewater Bay. Crappies are being caught along the shore on Hwy. 13 and sunnies can be had off of the fishing pier in the park itself. There have also been some crappies being caught in Dane Bay. Now is a just a great time to fish the early season panfish and perch and you should be able to find them almost anywhere along the shore of Fountain Lake.
A couple of other area lakes that may be worth a look are St. Olaf Lake by New Richland, which has some quality size crappies both white and black. St. Olaf also has some nice northern in it but there is are some size restrictions that you can find posted at the access. Beaver Lake near Ellendale has both black crappie and bluegill but the size range for both is relatively small. It also has a good walleye population with a nice size range. Both lakes offer fishing piers if you don’t have a boat or just don’t want to drop your boat in. Both lakes could be a great place for a family outing with picnic areas available.
Until next time; it’s time to do a little fishing and get out and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!
Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms we have today.
On April 2nd Rep. Rich Murray from Dist. 27A met with a group of area sportsmen to discuss some of the issues that concerned them. Murray told the group that he was there to listen to their ideas and learn, leaving plenty to talk about.
As of late, Murray has been meeting with various sportsmen's groups from throughout his district to hear what their concerns are. This particular session was very productive with a lot of important issues brought up, including some very good ideas on improving habitat. The sportsmen in attendance were from various outdoors organizations like Minnesota Deer Hunters, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, Minnesota Waterfowl Association, Fountain Lake Sportsmen's Club, Muskies Inc. and others.
Jack Adams of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association’s local chapter arranged the meeting and went over the topics the sportsmen wanted to address. Representative Murray listened intently to the many concerns and ideas, and assured the group he would follow up on a number of these issues.
This group of sportsmen was not there to complain about how things were. Instead, their mission was to find out how to get things done. One of the big concerns was land acquisition, which is a hot topic in the legislature right now. With the Lessard SAMS bill now in place, there is money available to purchase Wildlife Management land.
However, the argument in the legislature is that the DNR cannot take care of the land they already have. Jack Adams called it a two part problem, "no net gain" or "no net loss," which basically does nothing to improve wildlife habitat in our part of the state.
Discussion also centered on the land available in the southern part of the state. It was decided that action needs to be taken as quickly as possible, as there is just not that much land that becomes available in our part of the state. A question was also raised regarding how receptive the DNR acts towards volunteers from the area working on wildlife management areas such as Grass Lake.
Their efforts would in fact make it a viable and healthy WMA. Rep. Murray said he would check into that, on the thought that it was a good idea. There seemed to be a general consensus that finding volunteers to do the work would be no problem.
The group then brought up the possible increase in license fees. All present felt that if this change would help ease the crunch on the DNR budget, they were all for it. They also concurred that because the cost of an out of state license in Minnesota is much lower than in the surrounding states, they felt the cost should also be raised, in accordance to the state the resident is from.
Of course, the counterpoint to this is that the legislature believes we need the tourist business. It was pointed out that if someone is willing to spend the money to travel up north to hunt deer, they will be willing to spend the money for a license.
One member of the group stated that he hunts deer in our area during the season, in the public land that is available. Although there are quite a few other hunters hunting the same area, he doesn't really mind because he is still able to hunt. He said he actually buys an Iowa license and also hunts during their deer season.
The out of state license costs him $500, which seems pretty spendy when compared to the $141 for a non-resident firearms license in Minnesota. This makes a pretty good argument for raising the non-resident license fees proportionately.
Another area of concern voiced by Ray Hangge, a member of Southern Crossroads Chapter 54 of Muskies Inc., was the Minnesota DNR's decision to indefinitely postpone the stocking of muskies in Lake Tetonka in the Waterville area, due to local issues pending resolution. The main reason for opposition to this is dark house spearing, which is banned on most muskie lakes, but it’s pretty hard to practice catch and release with a spear.
The bottom line in all the issues was the preserving and improving of our habitat for future generations. The days of finding a friendly farmer who will let you hunt his land are pretty much gone. Today, there are fewer farmers, who then own more land, but the hunting land is usually spoken for well in advance. This is why WMA's are so important to the future of the outdoors. We need to make sure that our future sportsmen have a place to hunt and fish.
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MUSKIE TALK
The April meeting of Southern Crossroads Chapter 54 of Muskies, Inc. was Wednesday April 13, at the Eagles Club in Owatonna at 7 p.m.
April 16 and 17 is the Cabela's kids casting event. Volunteers needed.
Our meetings are the second Wednesday of each month. Our goal is to improve muskie fishing and more opportunities in Southern Minnesota. Check out our website at michapter54.com. Anyone interested in muskie fishing is always welcome.
Until next time; think spring, camping and fishing and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!
Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms we have today.
More...
It’s April and no foolin’ the ice is almost gone
Written by Jim LutgensThe season opener for game fish is a little over a month away, but fishing for crappies and perch should be good as soon as the lakes are free of ice. Look to shallow bays and lagoons for spawning crappies. Although I haven’t fished them for a few years, the lagoons on Lake Tetonka in Waterville were usually pretty good for early spring crappies.
Now is the time of year when I begin to feel that urge to jump in the truck and head to Cabela’s in search of some fishing tackle. It’s not that I like to spend my money out of town. Cabelas is just a place to find the largest assortment of much needed and very necessary fishing lures and tackle. If you venture to Owatonna, it is always worthwhile to visit Mills Fleet Farm and check out their large assortment of tackle; the prices are usually pretty reasonable.
Although I have enough fishing tackle, (according to the wife) I always seem inclined to think it is not enough. Lately, I’ve tried to limit my purchases to the necessities such as jigs and plastic bodies. Inevitably, I am destined to spend some time in the lure section of a sporting goods store, as a lot of those lures are designed to catch the biggest of fish (me) that can’t resist them. I always end up being lured to the section where the muskie lures lay in wait for an unsuspecting fisherman.
I can usually recall seeing most of those lures on sports channels being used by various muskie experts who are cranking fish in left and right. The more honest hosts will actually tell you how long it takes them to boat two or three fish.
I have watched a lot of those fishing shows over the years and I can sometimes feel their excitement when one of those guys ties into a fish. I don’t remember which particular show it was, but I recall two seemingly average guys fishing in Wisconsin who had caught three muskies in two days and also had numerous follows. They called this trip a success and, to be honest, if you are fishing for the toothed one and get one on your line, then you can consider it a successful trip. These fish are often called the “fish of 10,000 casts” and believe me, it does take a lot of time and patience to be a successful muskie fisherman.
I do not consider myself a muskie fisherman because I just don’t spend enough time doing it. I like to fish for them, but usually only have a limited window of opportunity to do so. It’s pretty hard to fish muskies when you have grandkids in the boat and feel the need to be catching fish on a more consistent basis. I’ve had my best luck when fishing with one or two other folks in the boat.
I don’t mind fishing alone, and from time to time, I’ve been fortunate enough to have some decent muskies on. I’ve even boated a couple while fishing alone. Although I like fishing with others, there is always something peaceful about fishing alone. My favorite time to be on the water is early morning when the sun has just started thinking about making an appearance in the eastern sky and everything seems to be starting fresh.
The one thing early morning fishing gives me is that feeling of anticipation, kind of like that of a little kid. There’s a certain feeling of mystery and suspense that early morning fishing gives me. It seems like you can catch almost any type of fish at that time of day. I’ve caught walleyes in places where I usually catch bass or pike.
I’ve caught some dandy smallmouth in my favorite walleye haunts. There is a certain feeling of serenity I thoroughly enjoy being on the water early with a light haze hovering over the water and the sound of fish jumping around you. If you’ve ever been there, you know what I’m talking about. To me, it’s just what fishing is all about, just enjoying nature and the outdoors.
The Minnesota DNR has decided to postpone indefinitely the stocking of muskies in Lake Tetonka in the Waterville area pending the resolution of local issues. The DNR will collect additional information on recreation use and user attitudes in the Lake Tetonka area and expand its public outreach efforts before reconsidering stocking muskie in Tetonka.
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Once again our legislators are trying to play politics with the Lessard SAMS Bill that we voted on and passed in 2008. A bill has been introduced that would do away with the 12 member citizens council and replace them with an all legislative (can you say politics) panel. I voted for that bill with the understanding that there would be a panel made up of citizens who would sift through applications and make recommendations to the legislature. This bill which is Bill no. HF1073, was introduced by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL, So. St. Paul). It also seems that once again the politicians are trying to use these funds to subsidize funding already in place, instead of using it to enhance like it was intended. They are also determined to only acquire land, if land that is already owned by the DNR is sold off. Make sense? Doesn’t it defeat the purpose of the bill we voted for in the first place? I guess there will always be politicians trying to figure out a way to use our money for things other than what it was intended. If this concerns you, you can do what I did and contact your legislator to voice your opinion and find out how he or she stands on Bill No: HF 1073.
Until next time; think spring, camping and fishing and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!
Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms we have today.
This past Monday, I had received a call from Jim Malepsy, one of our local outdoorsmen and a member of Ducks Unlimited. He said one of our local Boy Scout troops was going to be at Halvorson School that evening assembling wood duck houses and wondered if I’d like to stop by and see what it was all about.
I was more than happy to check it out and was glad that I did. I found out from Scout Leader Doug Lind that Troop 7 was the group involved in doing the work and that the kids were more than excited to be a part of it. Troop 7 has 35 members ranging from ages 10-17 with 10 kids joining this year and it has had nine Eagle Scouts in the past 5 years. There were a lot of dads and other troop leaders there to help, but the part that got me was how enthusiastic all of these kids were to be doing this project.
The wood was donated to them by Freeborn Lumber Co. and was cut to size by some members of the local chapter of Ducks Unlimited. With the kids’ help, they will be able to distribute 24 wood duck houses this year to different places around the area. They are given to people who have access to a stream or body of water that is considered good waterfowl habitat.
When the houses are set up they have to be protected by a critter guard to keep their eggs from being eaten by skunks, weasels and coons. The inside of the houses have a small piece of screen leading from the bottom to the opening so that the baby ducks can climb up the inside to the opening and drop down to the shore. The screen has to be the type with fairly large squares so they can grasp them. The bottom of the house is filled with wood shavings for nesting.
When the time is right, the baby chicks will emerge from the house and drop to the ground and into the water. I have witnessed this event once in my lifetime and that was at Spider Lake. I was trolling along the shoreline and spotted a baby wood duck perched on the edge of the hole of its house. The small duckling dropped to the ground bouncing once before entering the water. As soon as the first one hit the water, a second one dropped, and this was repeated a total of 10 times. It was quite a sight to behold and one of those things that I just feel lucky to have had a chance to observe it.
Getting our youth involved in a project like this sets the groundwork for protecting the future of our outdoors heritage. When we get our youth interested in anything outdoors we are protecting the future of our great Minnesota outdoors. These days there are far too many distractions (electronics) that take away from time that could be spent outdoors learning about nature.
Organizations such as D.U., Minnesota Deer Hunters, Minnesota Waterfowl Association and Pheasants Forever are just a few of the organizations that do their part to encourage our youth to get involved in different sports and the outdoors in general.
It is a known fact there are fewer hunting and fishing licenses being sold, and this means there are less people using our natural resources. It is very important that we as sportsmen do our part to pass on our interest in the outdoors to our future generations because they are the future of our outdoor heritage.
It can be as easy as taking a kid fishing on a summer afternoon or teaching someone how to hunt. Just taking someone camping and teaching them about starting a campfire and cooking over an open fire can have a lasting impression. As long as you make it a positive experience, they will want to do it again. These are just a few ways that we can pass on our love of the outdoors to future generations.
Until next time, get ready for spring fishing and be sure to get out and enjoy our great Minnesota outdoors!
Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms that we have today.
With the onset of spring and the thaw that has been making the snow cover slowly disappear, I’m almost beginning to feel like a new person. It’s funny how spending a lot of time indoors during the winter can give you that “stale” feeling. I have a pretty full plate in the winter with coaching hockey and watching the grandkids in their endeavors, but there is that little gap between winter sports and spring which officially began on the 20th of March. For someone that is on the go pretty much the whole winter, it’s almost like giving up an addiction cold turkey.
Once spring arrives and the sun gets higher in the sky, the birds start singing their happy songs and life is good. It’s amazing how a little warm sunshine after a long winter can make everyone seem like they have that extra spring in their step.
When you look around and take the time to enjoy our “critters” we have right in our neighborhoods, it is pretty exciting. The snowbirds will soon be returning and I’m not talking about the “part-time Minnesotans,” but the feathered kind. And of course there are the neighborhood rabbits and squirrels that have been leaving those tracks in the snow around our house.
With the return of our feathered friends, there is also the feline factor to consider. If you have a cat and like to let it out for a daily prowl, keep in mind that in a few weeks the birds will be nesting and their young are easy prey for the common house cat. I can attest to this first-hand because there is a neighborhood cat that seems to think it lives in my backyard just to prey on birds. It has been known to take up part-time residence in our garage, which makes my wife less than happy. I don’t know which she dislikes more, squirrels or stray cats, but I’d not want to be either one of them if she ever got a hold of one of them.
If you do let “Fluffy” out for a prowl on a daily basis and begin to wonder why there are no birds frequenting your feeder, I think that you can probably figure out the answer. Please keep your cats inside during the spring when the birds are nesting so that everyone can enjoy our fine feathered friends. We think birds are pretty, but somehow I think that the cat is thinking they are looking mighty tasty.
Right now, we are in what I call the “dead zone” between hard water fishing and open water fishing. There still are a few diehards who have been sitting on the ice in the channel with open water nearby. The rest of us are playing that waiting game until the ice is out and we can start fishing perch and panfish.
If you are thinking about trying a little trout fishing, the season for them in Southeastern Minnesota runs from April 1st through April 15th (this is catch-and-release only). The regular season begins April 16th and extends through September 14th. I have not been much of a trout fisherman in all my years of fishing, and that has a lot to do with logistics. Having been raised in this area of the state, my primary fishing has been for walleye, northern, bass and panfish and, reluctantly, more than my share of bullheads thrown in.
Don’t get me wrong. A lot of folks enjoy eating bullheads and, when caught early in the spring, they can be pretty tasty. My mother-in-law Shirley would always tell us whenever we caught any bullheads, we were to save them for her. She would clean them herself, fry them up right away and serve them with fried potatoes, treating them like a delicacy. I have been known to indulge in a meal of them on occasion and it is pretty darned good, but I haven’t enjoyed that meal since she passed.
It seems to me there are getting to be fewer bullheads in area lakes than in the past. I have to believe it has a lot to do with the amount of rough fish that are now inhabiting many of the lakes on the region. Waterville is the self-proclaimed “Bullhead Capitol of the World,” yet the number of bullheads found in Lake Tetonka seems to be diminishing a little more each year. I know that most of us treat the bullhead as a rough fish, but then I guess it’s a matter of taste.
There are some folks who have smokers, and they say that carp is really good smoked. I have a hard time imagining carp being good for anything other than garden fertilizer. They are, on the other hand, fierce fighters and a lot of fun to catch on a hook and line. I assume that my grandsons will once again be fishing in the “crick” in Twin Lakes for those carp when they start running.
I’ve fished with them a few times and it is really a rush to tie into one of those big carp in that current. I fought one for about 10 minutes before it finally broke me off. I put on a lot of walking distance up and down the banks of the creek that day.
Catching is the one thing about fishing that never gets old. It doesn’t make any difference what the species, if you are a kid or just a kid at heart, it’s all fun. There is something about fishing that always brings out the kid in this old guy. It’s a way to leave all the stress of our day-to-day lives behind and be one with nature.
You don’t have to have an expensive boat or the latest rod and reel. Some of us grew up with the old bamboo cane pole. which was what I used before I got a rod and reel. Last spring, I bought one at a sporting goods store just to revisit the past, but so far I haven’t given it a try. Shore fishing was what I did the most of as a kid and it can still be a rewarding and relaxing experience. So get ready, because hopefully it won’t be long before the ice is out and we’ll be fishing on the shore of our favorite lake or stream.
Until next time; think spring, fishing and plan to enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!
Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms that we have today.
The one thing that I always seem to take comfort in whenever I’m shoveling snow in March is that it will only last for a little while. I guess that is like when I was a kid and would injure myself and my mother, in an attempt to comfort me, would say “it will only hurt for a little while.” Sometimes that little while seemed like an eternity, but I guess that after a long and harsh winter anything that is piled on us now only seems like a temporary setback.
There are many ways to anticipate the arrival of spring, but one sure way to get the fire started is planning a summer vacation. I know that I’ve mentioned it many times before, but I feel that camping is one of the best ways to enjoy a family vacation. The cost of renting a cabin for a week has skyrocketed, which is probably why a lot of the smaller resorts have gone away and many people have found different ways to spend their vacation. I know the operating costs of a resort have risen and of course when that happens, the cost ends up getting passed on to the customer.
If you’ve never tried camping but are interested in giving it a try you can outfit yourself with a pretty minimal investment. A family vacation spent camping can be pretty inexpensive if you tent or even have a camper and know where to go. I have mentioned in past columns about the numerous National Forest Campgrounds available. We also have a great State Park system that offers camping for a minimal fee. Go to a nearby state park and spend the day. Take a walk on the trails available to visitors and check out the campground to see if it is something you’d like. You can have access to any State Park in Minnesota by purchasing a vehicle permit for $25 for a 1-year period and $18 for an additional vehicle. The sticker is good for one year from time of purchase. A state park sticker is a great way to test the waters if you are just curious about camping and want to see what it is all about.
For many years, our family vacations were spent camping and fishing. We started out with a tent, but eventually purchased a pick-up camper that we enjoyed for many years. For some reason, the idea of camping made me feel like I was one with nature and of course, I could never go anywhere without my fishing equipment. It was sort of a “guy thing” with the fishing and being skipper of the fishing vessel. Maybe I was actually more like the outdoors version of Tim the Tool Man.
Once the fishing was over and we were sitting around the campfire, the rest of the family took charge. The boys would beg to start the campfire and, after running the ship all day and cleaning the day’s catch, the skipper was too tired to care much about a fire. Their mother was the master of the campfire and she could and still can have a nice campfire blazing in no time flat.
I really have to say that a hot dog never tastes as good as when it’s roasted over a campfire. We’d roast marshmallows and hotdogs over the fire, have chips and Van camp’s beans for at least a couple of evening meals and top that off with s’mores - it just doesn’t get any better than that. Even though we now have a cabin, there are still times when we do the hot dogs on the campfire thing for supper just because it’s easy and everyone looks forward to it.
So, keeping the simple life in mind, give some thought to trying camping as a fun way to spend time with family. It can be pretty rewarding. Following is some information about camping and lodging at Minnesota State Parks.
Camping / Lodging
• Whether you're roughing it in a tent, or taking it easy in a cabin, you can find the perfect spot for a vacation in a Minnesota state forest or state park.
• State forests provide more than 2,000 miles of forest roads and thousands of logging trails, including 46 campgrounds with 1,000 campsites. State parks offer more than 5,000 campsites or a variety of cabins, guesthouses and other lodging. Plus, there are thousands of miles of rugged or paved state trails and water trails that can lead you there.
• How do you begin? Just use the following information to find places to go, and then check the maps for campgrounds and campsites.
• Reminder: Protect our trees from bad bugs - www.dnr.state.mn.us. Don't move firewood!
Plan Ahead Perfection: Camping reservations may be made up to one year in advance of your first night’s stay. Whether it is the night before, or the year before, we will have a spot waiting for you. Now you can search by date to find the perfect time for your overnight stay.
Spur of the Moment: up to 30% of the campsites in our parks and state recreation areas are non-reservable. These sites are rented on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Make a Reservation
On line reservations can be made 24 hours a day, except for the first day a reservation becomes available. On that first day, reservations cannot be made online before 8 a.m. go to the website: wwwstayatmnparks.com.
Phone reservations can be made by phone, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Phone: 1-866-85PARKS (1-866-857-2757)
Until next time; think spring, camping and fishing and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!
Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms that we have today.