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.