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.