It is the middle of August and I feel like there are so many summer projects I have not completed (see started). It must be an age thing because I seem to be waiting for the perfect time to start a project and that time has been elusive.
Even though it is still summer it is mid-August and fall is lurking just around the corner. I have always considered fall my favorite time of year, but we all know what follows. Wait, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
My grandson Trevor is already scouting and lining up land to hunt for the early goose season. He always seeks permission from landowners to hunt their property and treats their land with respect. This is how hunters can gain access to hunting land and create a good relationship between hunters and landowners. Not everyone wants folks hunting their land and we need to understand it is perfectly all right to refuse permission to a hunter or hunters. You also need to treat the property you are hunting with respect; this can be said for public as well as private land. We are lucky here in Freeborn County in that we have 11 Wildlife Management Areas available for public use.
Nature is always changing, but the unstable weather we have been experiencing the past couple of years has made some of those changes more drastic. Last year, for example, the Blue Earth River in the Walnut Lake area had pretty much dried up by late August. This August there is still ample water flowing. Although we are no longer in a drought, the long-term effects of last year can still be seen. Some sloughs are still showing the effects of last year’s dry weather.
Although the thought of hunting is starting to creep into our minds, we should not forget there is still plenty of fishing to be done. I am planning on going to the Waterville area and wet a line before summer ends. I spent quite a few years camping in that area and there are a lot of good fishing lakes to choose from. My favorite for many years was Reeds Lake which is located a short ways south of Elysian. This little lake was good to me on many openers and produced some nice opening day walleye and northern, but eventually it just became a little too crowded to fish, at least on opening day. The DNR hasn’t stocked walleye in this lake for quite some time, but there are still a few “eyes” roaming the depths of the little lake. You can also find some nice black crappie along with bluegill, northern pike and largemouth bass.
I have not given much thought to most of those lakes in recent years, but I think it would be fun to try a couple of them this fall. Tetonka Lake can yield some nice bluegill, crappie, big cats and some dandy pike. The lake can also be very good for bass and it even held the state record for largemouth for a few years. Quite a few years back Tetonka was on Ron Schara’s top 10 list for opening day walleye lakes and that made for one crowded public access with plenty of fishermen on hand hoping the prognosis would hold true. There are definitely walleye swimming in that lake if you can find them.
Francis, also located near Elysian, is another lake that has an abundance of fish that include walleye, northern, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill that can make for a fun day of fishing. Francis has always been an excellent bass lake, especially in the fall. Madison Lake can be a great lake for sunnies and crappies and it can also give up some nice walleye and northern pike.
If it’s muskies that you are seeking you will want to head a little farther east to the Faribault area and try French Lake. It has been called the best muskie lake south of the Twin Cities by many that seek the “great toothed one.” It also has some very good crappie fishing along with good numbers of bluegill and walleye. It is primarily stocked for walleye and muskie. The access can make it a little hard to launch your boat when the water is low.
With all these lakes to choose from there is surely one that will give you a good day of fishing. I have usually found the best late summer fishing on any one of these lakes is around Labor Day or later. No matter which lake you choose, spending a day on the lake is always a day well spent.
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Odds & ends:
Have you ever wondered why advertising folks think that someone or something (green lizard) talking with a British accent will make you want to buy their products?
Each year Minnesota sports fans follow their teams religiously entering each upcoming season with visions of a winning season dancing in their heads. Of course if you are a Twins fan there is some comfort in knowing that it could be worse – you could be a Cubs fan. As far as the Vikings go I am still not sure if Christian Ponder is the one who can lead us to the “promised land” of football. I am one of those fans who is always hoping for a winning season from the Vikes but as a true Minnesotan I wouldn’t dare to expect too much.
Until next time, enjoy the outdoors and maybe even take a little time to try out a new lake and make a few good memories.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.