Woods & Water (267)
A little day dreaming can take you to your favorite lake
Written by Jim LutgensIf you are an avid fisherman wishing for summer you have undoubtedly, at one time or another daydreamed about sitting on your favorite lake somewhere in Minnesota. Maybe I am an exception, but I’ve had the following recurring daydream many times over the past few winters. Occasionally I will take the time to relax, sit back and close my eyes to do a little dreaming. It’s early morning and I can see myself sitting in a boat on my favorite lake fishing the spot that I frequent quite often. The sun is just starting to light up the eastern sky and will soon begin burning off the morning fog.
Picture this: before the morning sun even appears I walk quietly down the dock to my boat. As I look out over the lake there is a light fog hovering a few feet deep atop the surface of the water. I ready my fishing pole, make sure that I have my thermos of coffee standing by and then I take the minnows out of the water, and untie the boat from the dock all the while trying not to make too much noise. After pushing away from the dock I prime the motor and give it a pull and all at once the silence is broken by the sound of the motor as it spits and sputters and then starts to run smoothly as I shift it into gear and head out into the fog in search of that lunker I know is lying in wait for me.
Leading up to this day I have had plenty of time to decide which of my favorite haunts I will visit first. On this particular lake almost every bay, sand bar and rocky point seems to be calling me because they all look like they could be holding fish, but I must stick to my original plan if, for no other reason, I want to prove my theory right. As I have grown older the trusting my instinct or gut feeling thing has been paying off fairly well. The one good thing about fishing alone is if you try something and it doesn’t work nobody knows it.
Early morning has always been my favorite time to be on the lake and for many years that was my alone time when I could try different things until I found what would work. I’ve caught a lot of fish over the years just by trying different methods; this I attribute mostly to longevity, not skill.
Some of my fondest memories are from the days when I had an Eagle Silent Thirty flasher which I became fairly good at reading. I would try to be the first fisherman on the lake each morning so I could stake claim to this certain area that I really liked to work. I liked to back troll along the weed edges using my small trolling motor and I would attach a Shad Rap to my line using a barrel snap with no leader. I basically worked the Shad Rap like a jig to give it extra action as I trolled slowly along the outside weedline. This method has worked quite well for me over the years but there is only a small window of opportunity when this is most effective. The best time to use this method is in June, but once you get to the end of June everything seems to change. During the first part of June you could catch anything from crappie, bass and northern, but that was also when you could catch some dandy walleye hanging around the weed edges early in the morning.
When I used to vacation at Spider Lake I would find myself spending way too much time chasing the elusive walleye when in reality that lake has so much more to offer. I finally decided that fishing walleye early in the day and late in the evening would pay off. The rest of the time I would fish crappie, northern and of course “the great toothed one,” the mighty muskie. When you have kids in the boat you are sort of limited in what type of fishing works best. My wife loves to troll for northern so even when the kids were small and we had a tiny boat, we trolled. When it comes to fishing with kids I probably have more patience than most because, to me, it’s all about the kids. To this day, even though my sons are grown and have families of their own I still get a good feeling whenever I see them land a nice fish. This especially holds true for the grandkids because I feel that I’ve caught my share of fish over the years so now it’s their turn to experience the joy of fishing. I take pride in the fact that I’ve been lucky enough to have introduced all of my grandsons to my way of fishing. I know that they will eventually find methods of their own and fish the way that works best for them. I feel good about being able to have shared with them and I know that some of the “old school” methods will still work for them. I am looking forward to taking my granddaughter Emma fishing this summer and when her sister Ava gets a little older I will take her too. This is what keeps the old guy feeling like that kid again.
Until next time, get out and take a walk in the fresh spring air and also take a little time to enjoy the outdoors and remember; any time is a good time to do a little fishing.
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.
The weather we have been experiencing lately is a welcome reminder that the first day of spring is looming on the horizon. As true Minnesotans, we are allowed to be a little suspicious as if we were, like the old saying goes, waiting for the other shoe to drop. No matter what weather lies ahead, the important thing is that we savor the moment and enjoy it to the fullest.
Once we emerged from the doldrums of winter everyone seemed to have that little extra spring in their step. Folks are outside doing what they can in their yards as the sun slowly melts the snow and starts drying up the ground. People are once again able to enjoy walking in the outdoors and are already taking advantage of the nice trails that we have in our city by the lakes. Yes, spring, sunshine and warmer weather need to be credited with bringing a smile to almost everyone’s face.
This is the time of year that we need to be extra cautious and make sure we exercise caution when around our lakes and streams. Warmer weather brings runoff and although the ice may look safe at first glance, it may be eroding from beneath due to currents. This is what makes venturing out onto the ice at this time of year extremely dangerous. We need to warn our children about the ice and not only urge them to stay off but make sure that they do.
As a kid I took my chances when venturing out onto thin or shaky ice, but I fared better than some because I had only a boot full of water, a wet pant leg and sometimes a sore bottom to show for it. I was warned by my mother many times to stay off the ice on the slough in the spring, but what did she know anyway? There were many times when I proved her right and even that long cold walk home wasn’t as bad as facing my folks when I got there. The conversation always included one or two “I told you so reminders.” This was sometimes followed by my having to retrieve the yardstick and listening to mom tell me about her youth and having to fetch a willow branch from that big old willow on the farm. This was called picking your own punishment and there was definitely a lesson to be learned in that method. In today’s world parents would be punished for disciplining their children in that mannerbut back then it was just the way things were handled. Having respect for your parents and your elders was expected from the youth of those days and although at a certain age (can you say teenager) you might have thought that your parents didn’t know what they were talking about, you certainly didn’t tell them so. As I grew older and entered the service I began to appreciate the life lessons that mom and dad had taught me.
With the first day of spring just around the corner I need to work the rust out of my casting arm and check the line on my reels. If this nice weather has you antsy to wet a line in open water the stream trout season in Southeastern Minnesota is open for catch and release only until Aril 17. Another fix for open water fishing is heading to the “Mighty Mississippi” for some walleye fishing. With this warmup the backwaters should be ready to produce.
Surplus spring turkey hunt licenses go on sale
If you applied for a spring wild turkey license and didn’t get drawn you are eligible to purchase a surplus license on a first-come-first-serve basis beginning on Monday, March 16 at 5 p.m. A total of 2,789 surplus licenses will be available.
People who did not participate in the lottery may purchase any remaining surplus licenses starting at noon on March 18 when all remaining licenses will be made available to anyone. Unlimited over-the-counter licenses for time period D-H also go on sale at this time.
Surplus licenses will be available at any statewide Electronic License System agent or online. You will also find a list of hunting dates, permit areas and the number of surplus permits available in each area online.
I heard part of a news story on the radio that someone introduced a bill to legalize silencers for guns. Really...? I am all for protecting our second Amendment rights and our right to bear arms but I find it hard to believe that a silencer has any meaningful purpose to the average sportsman. Obviously there are legislators that have nothing better to do for their district so they have come up with this. There have to be more important issues like education and our infrastructure that should be focused on. This reminds me of that guy, we all know one, who talks just to hear himself talk.
Until next time, get out and take a walk in the fresh spring air and also take a little time to enjoy the outdoors and remember; spring is just around the corner.
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.
As we inch closer and closer to that magical first day of spring, I find myself getting antsy and drifting off into thoughts of warm summer days spent relaxing by or on any body of water that holds fish. They say it is healthy to have a vivid imagination so I guess that would make me mentally healthy but physically maybe not so much.
As a kid I always had a good imagination and would daydream from time to time about my heroes like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hoppy, Sgt. Preston of the Yukon and other cowboy heroes along with Tarzan and Superman. These folks along with my favorite football players gave me someone to look up to. I am not sure that in this day and age there are actually any real heroes except for sports figures. It seems as if TV kid’s shows have actually become pretty complicated; whatever happened to the simple cartoons like Tom & Jerry and Bugs Bunny?
Television has replaced the good old sitcoms with shows that don’t really make you laugh but tend to relay some message. When I watch a comedy I want something that will make me laugh out loud and not make me look for some hidden meaning. Being the old guy that I am I still remember fondly going to the movies to see Abbott and Costello, Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, Ma and Pa Kettle, Francis the Talking Mule and many more. These shows weren’t made to make you think but to make you laugh.
I always enjoyed late night TV as a kid because you could, from time to time, see movies with Jack Benny, Red Skelton, Mickey Rooney and others. Granted, there have been a few good sitcoms over the years but in today’s world they are being replaced by more and more reality shows. A few years ago I had watched about 5 minutes of some reality show and stated that they couldn’t possibly get any worse. Boy was I ever wrong; but enough said about that.
The other night as I was looking out into my backyard with a full moon — making it seem almost like daylight — a peaceful and relaxed feeling came over me. We have a little brush pile in the backyard that I didn’t get a chance to clean up last fall and it has now become home to a pair of rabbits. Even though I live in the city, there is still plenty of wildlife to entertain me. The rabbits are always fun to watch and of course there are the neighborhood squirrels. Over the years I have not been a big fan of those bushy tailed rats that seem to want to get into everything. Because of these two squirrels that reside in the area I no longer am feeding the birds.
Earlier this winter they figured out how to get into one feeder and could empty it in about a day. After they had emptied the first feeder, they turned their attention to the other feeder and eventually totally destroyed it. I know that a lot of folks enjoy feeding the squirrels and watching them play. I am all for that (the playing part), but when they start getting into my garage, shed and destroy my feeders, I have visions of watching these particular squirrels in the sight of my BB gun. The other vision I have is more realistic: a live trap with those two critters inside riding in the back of my pickup to their new home far, far away from the neighborhood.
I have always enjoyed watching critters in the outdoors and am amazed at how wild animals adjust to living in the city around humans. Over the years I have seen an occasional deer running through the backyards of the neighborhood, a woodchuck, and a few blocks away I spotted a fox trotting down the middle of Newton Avenue like it owned the street. There have been the aforementioned rabbits and squirrels, and of course numerous birds, not to mention a pair of mallards that seem to drop by every spring. My sense of smell has also warned me from time to time when a skunk was nearby.
Yes, living in town can give you plenty of chances to observe wildlife, and the best thing about it is you won’t even have to leave the house. I plan on doing a little shopping and hopefully I will find that squirrel-proof feeder that I am looking for so that I can once again start feeding my feathered friends and not those busy-tailed rodents.
As the weather warms and the birds begin chirping and are busily building their nests, we have to remember to keep our cats indoors. Baby birds and rabbits are easy prey for a house cat that is left to roam freely about a neighborhood.
Until next time, take some time to enjoy the outdoors and remember; spring is just around the corner.
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 seems like we are destined to be blessed with cold temperatures for a while. I know we are all getting sick of the cold weather, but every time I find myself beginning to whine I think about those poor folks out East and realize that I don’t have to shovel the cold.
My brother-in-law Lynn, who lives in Nome, Alaska, calls me just about every time we are having below-zero temps and Nome is in the 30s. They have had above normal temperatures and below normal snowfall for the past couple of years, which is not a good thing for folks who hunt, trap and fish in that area. It took quite a while before the rivers were safe enough to travel on with snow machines, which is what they call snowmobiles up there. They need ice on the rivers to get to the areas they want to trap. Falling through the ice in frigid temperatures can be deadly, especially when you are miles from help.
Three years ago Lynn was able to do a lot of trapping and I believe he got 27 fox that season plus a wolf, wolverine and martin. The last two years the weather hasn’t been trapper friendly. A few weeks ago he was able to put out some crab pots on the Bering Sea. Soon after he had put the pots out he suffered a setback when he hit an ice heave that had been covered with snow and injured his ribs. After he felt good enough to go back he started sending me pictures of his catch. He has gotten as many as 12 Alaskan King Crabs in a single day, some pretty good eating no doubt.
Light goose hunt is now open
A spring conservation hunt on light geese began Sunday, March 1, and runs through Thursday, April 30. Light geese are snow geese, blue-phased snow geese and the smaller Ross’s goose.
A federal conservation order, which permits the take of light geese during the spring, is in place to reduce the population of snow geese and Ross’s geese that breed in Arctic coastal areas and around Hudson Bay. High populations of the birds have caused considerable habitat damage to these fragile ecosystems.
Minnesota has participated in this spring conservation action each year since 2000. Harvest of light geese in Minnesota has varied from a few hundred to several thousand birds each spring.
To participate, a spring light goose permit is required and may be obtained through any Minnesota DNR license agent, via telephone at 888-665-4236 or at www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense>online. There is a $3.50 application fee to cover the cost of issuing the permit. No other license, stamp or permit is required.
A summary of regulations is available at www.mndnr.gov/hunting/waterfowl/lightgoose>online, from license vendors, DNR wildlife offices or by calling the DNR Information Center at 888-646-6367.
I know my grandson Trevor will be taking part in the light goose hunt again this year. Goose hunting is probably his favorite thing to do when it comes to hunting and last year he did quite well.
If hunting doesn’t do anything for your “cabin fever” then maybe getting together with fellow fishermen and talking about the upcoming season will help. Ray Hangge of Muskies, Inc. has sent me the latest news release from the area chapter.
MUSKY TALK NEWS
The March meeting of Cross Roads Chapter 54, Muskies Inc. will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, at Eagles Club in Owatonna. Our guest speaker will be Trvis Nielsen of Winnebago. Trvis guides on Southern Minnesota and North Iowa lakes. Our meetings are second Wednesday of the month and include informative speakers, (as available), updates, door prizes, raffle and lots of musky talk. You need not be a member to attend. Bring a friend, and help improve musky fishing in Southern Minnesota. Mark your calendar, for the 2015 Minnesota Musky Expo, April 10, 11, 12.
Until next time, stay warm, check those tackle boxes, take some time to enjoy the outdoors and remember; spring is just around the corner.
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.
You couldn’t really tell it by the cold weather we have been experiencing, but spring is not all that far away. As I had written in my previous column March too can be full of surprises. Every time I watch the news and see the amount of snow that they have been receiving back East I feel lucky because like it or not you don’t have to shovel cold.
In order to keep our sanity we must look to spring and that reminds me of the many outdoors recreation shows that will be occurring in the upcoming weeks. I can’t think of a better way to pacify our need for open water fishing and warmer weather than to attend a sportsman’s show. I also find myself looking forward to watching fishing shows that don’t involve pulling a fish through a little hole in the ice. I have nothing against ice fishing, but it will soon be time to move on.
Just the thought of hearing the sound of a lure being cast as it “plops” onto the water gets the adrenaline flowing. I long to feel the wind and mist in my face as I drive the boat across open water in search of that “hot spot” that I know will produce the fish that I seek. This is what dreams are made of and this is also what helps me get through the winter. I have not yet taken the time to inventory my tackle boxes, but I can see that day looming on the horizon. This is also a good way to get a person psyched for the upcoming season.
I don’t know of any fisherman that opens his tackle box in the spring and thinks that there is nothing that he needs. It just doesn’t happen, at least to the folks that I know and fish with. Let’s face it; there are numerous tackle companies out there that are always coming up with that sure-fire “killer bait” that we just have to have. We know that they catch fish because the commercials tell us that they do. I don’t know how many lures I have in my possession that I’ve bought because they were supposed to be the next big thing. Sadly, what hooks the fisherman doesn’t always hook the fish.
If you want to get an early start on open water fishing, the stream trout season for Southeast Minnesota opens on March 18th.
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The Minnesota DNR is reminding us that the time is drawing near for the removal of what we call “permanent” fish houses. Dark houses, fish houses and portables must be off the ice no later than midnight for each of the dates given in the following categories.
Border Waters
• Minnesota–Iowa - Feb. 20
• Minnesota–Wisconsin - March 1
• Minnesota–North and South Dakota - March 5
• Minnesota–Canada - March 31
Inland Waters
Dates of removal are determined by an east west line formed by U.S. Hwy. 10, east along Hwy. 34 to Minnesota Hwy. 200, east along Hwy. 200 to U.S. Hwy. 2, and east along Hwy. 2 to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border.
• South of line - March 2, 2015
• North of line - March 16, 2015
If shelters are not removed, owners will be prosecuted, and the structure and contents may be confiscated and removed, or destroyed by a conservation officer.
After removal dates, shelters may remain on the ice between midnight and one hour before sunrise only when occupied or attended.
Storing or leaving shelters on a public access is prohibited.
It is unlawful to improperly dispose of ice fishing shacks anywhere in the state. Please clean up around your shack and check with local refuse providers or landfills for ice shelter disposal information.
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Until next time, stay warm, check those tackle boxes and always take some time to enjoy the 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.
As we pass the mid-point of February I find myself fighting off that dreaded cabin fever virus that seems to have gotten a foothold in my mind. With each passing day I find myself daydreaming of those warm summer days spent by a lake. In all reality I know that those days are just around the corner, but that old saying “so near, yet so far” keeps popping up in my head.
I usually don’t mind winter, but the weather at this time of year can go from one extreme to the other in a heartbeat. I always have the memory of the spring of ’65 when I was driving milk truck for Conger Creamery. It was the first part of March and after a long snowy winter I was ready for spring. I had just started driving to Albert Lea with a load of skim milk when a freezing rain started, and by the time I had reached the edge of town all the streets and roads were glare ice. I had decided to outsmart the storm by taking the gravel and coming in the back way. That may very well have worked out, but for one small glitch. There was one steep hill on that road and at the top of that hill sat a van sideways in the road which I didn’t notice until I was about half way up the hill and had to back down without sliding in the ditch. Once the freezing rain stopped, the snow began and to this day I cannot recall experiencing a worse blizzard than that one. It took almost a week to run its course because the storm , and just as folks started digging out, another blast hit.
It was hard on the farmers because we couldn’t get to them with the milk trucks and some roads were drifted in so bad that anywhere there was a hill the tops of the power lines were barely visible sticking out of the snow. When the farmers had no way to get the milk to town they had to dump it down the drain and because winter is the time when cows produce the most milk, it resulted in a lot of lost revenue. Yes, those were the good old days and I probably shoveled more snow in that year than I have the rest of my life.
Although it hasn’t been a particularly harsh winter, bring on those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer and I will embrace them. Looking back, which I do quite frequently, I can recall the days when folks would drop in for a visit on a Sunday afternoon on the spur of the moment, whatever that means. My mom always had the fixin’s in the refrigerator for her famous potato salad and she also had cold meat and cheese on hand for sandwiches because visitors never went home without having lunch. Somewhere in our busy lives these types of occurrences have almost gone the way of speaking face to face with someone. I know it is the sign of the times, and the electronics of today have made talking to someone easier but also a lot less personal.
Mom and Dad had some close friends from Mason City named Chuck and Juanita who would stop by quite often and the folks in turn would visit them. Back in those days you didn’t call someone “long distance” just to see if they were home. You took a chance and hoped they were around or you set a date in advance. Looking back on those days I believe that some of the best times are the ones that just happen and are not planned. It seems as if we sometimes get too busy with our hectic lives to really take time to just enjoy the little things.
Ice fishing in the area has been pretty steady and judging by the number of houses on Fountain Lake a lot of folks are enjoying the season. If Albert Lea Lake had not frozen out last year a lot of these folks would, no doubt, be sitting on the ice in the channel. Hopefully we will make it through this year with no fish kill on any of our area lakes and the fish that have been stocked will get a chance to grow. It would be nice to see the big lake once again become a viable fishery.
My grandson Trevor just returned from a few days at the cabin and he fished a couple of bigger lakes in the area, namely Winnibigoshish and Bowstring, and he said that the fishing wasn’t the best, but they did manage to get a few jumbo perch and some northern. Fishing a big lake on your own can be a challenge if you have never been there before and he said that when he does it again he will try some smaller, more familiar, area lakes closer to the cabin. I’d have to think that it would be a fun experience for him and one that he will learn from. Not all visions of lunker walleye and slab crappie become reality, but then that’s just another part of fishing and it’s what keeps you coming back.
Until next time, stay warm and enjoy the beauty of winter and always take some time to enjoy the 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.
That chubby little rodent named Phil has once again predicted six more weeks of winter. As was pointed out by one of our local radio station DJ’s the calendar has winter ending just a few days after the predicted six weeks so there is really no risk involved in that prediction unless we have an early spring. An early spring is what was reportedly forecast by another of our furry prognosticators from Wisconsin. It seems that as the mayor of Sun Prairie Wisconsin was telling the media about their groundhog named Jimmy’s prediction of an early spring Jimmy must have had enough of the nonsense and bit the mayor on the ear. In all reality the mayor had it wrong and I suppose that that particular chubby little rodent was just letting him know so. I know that there is a long tradition of Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of spring and whether it will be early or late but really? I sometimes wonder if the weather folks aren’t consulting with Phil at times.
February is a time for cabin fever and planning for spring and summer. This is the month when I usually start opening my tackle boxes and take inventory. This is a necessity and it helps keep my mind off the fact that spring is still a ways away and open water fishing might be even farther off.
Oh how I long for some open water to wet a line in about now. I guess I will have to settle for closing my eyes and doing a little daydreaming. If I listen closely I can hear the wind blowing as the waves of the lake rush gently to shore. The sound of loons calling brings about a peaceful feeling that is, to me, the true sound of the North Country.
I long for the day that I will be once again sitting in a boat on some remote lake in Northern Minnesota as a light fog engulfs the lake just before the morning sun makes its appearance. This is the time of day that I dream of; when I am alone on the lake in early morning with only the sound of an occasional fish jumping or the early morning of loons calling. This is a peaceful time where material things are unimportant and although fishing is the objective enjoying that fleeting moment is the ultimate in total satisfaction.
I can recall many times when I have ventured out onto my favorite lake (Spider) in early morning with a layer of fog hovering just inches above the water’s surface. This is always a scary time for navigating any distance on a lake but if a person knows the lake and doesn’t get in a hurry it can be rewarding once you reach your chosen “hot spot” where you anticipate a fish on almost every cast. It is kind of funny how big fish sound when they jump and you are unable to see them because of the fog. As the fog slowly lifts you begin to see the shoreline and the sounds of fish jumping are verified by the ripples that they send off.
This is the time of day that can really get the adrenaline flowing but there is only a short time period when that happens so it is important for me to be on the lake to savor every glorious moment. This is when the sun first starts to peek through the tree line working its way to the peak of day that some old timers would call high noon. Yes, at times it was almost sad to see the sun appear and be fully visible above the tree lines. In the mid or late summer days the noon sun is usually hot and unless you know some great secret it is usually not the most productive time to be on the lake.
Like anything else in nature fishing can always be a little unpredictable. Over the years I have seen many things that are totally against what the so-called experts tell us we should or should not do to catch fish. This is what makes fishing so much fun; there is always a little mystery involved that keeps us coming back.
Other variables that will peak the interest are what lures or bait to use under certain conditions. I have fished with my favorite lure that only a week or so ago was a “killer bait” and not caught a thing in the same exact spot that I fished previously. This is truly one of the things that make fishing fun for me; the unknown or the X- factor.
There is still plenty of hard water fishing to be had and we not only have a good fishery right in our own back yard but St. Olaf and Beaver Lakes are other nearby lakes that can be good at times. I have also heard that Clear Lake in Waseca was pretty hot for crappie only a week or so ago.
The February meeting of Cross Roads Chapter 54 of Muskies Inc. was Wednesday, February 11 at 7 p.m. at Eagles Club in Owatonna. Our meetings are second Wednesday of every month and include raffle, door prizes, updates and announcements, informative speaker as available. Also lots of musky talk. Need not be a member to attend. Bring a friend and help improve musky fishing in Southern Minnesota.
Until next time, stay warm and enjoy the beauty of winter and always take some time to enjoy the 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.
Now is typically the time of year when the dreaded “cabin fever” virus usually sets in but with the weather temperatures hovering above freezing most of the time winter hasn’t been quite as hard to take. I’m not saying that I miss the days of sitting in the house with the wind whipping snow past my window but when the temperatures remain in the 30’s and cloudy I feel like I am in limbo. The other day when the sun was shining brightly and the temperatures were hovering around 40 I had that “spring fever” feeling which is much better than the other one.
There is a part of me that feels that it is only a matter of time before we get hit with some very real Minnesota weather. A few days ago New York State was ready to pull the plug and pretty much shut everything down in anticipation of that great storm that never really materialized. Have we become so paranoid that the first time we hear of some possible bad weather we shut down schools and close businesses to sit by the window and watch for the forecast to become reality? Even with all of the modern technology that we have available to us nature still has the final say.
The fishing on Fountain Lake is still going strong but I am not too sure about the catching part. I have heard that the heavy action that fishermen were experiencing a couple of weeks ago has lessened. Drilling a couple of holes and wetting a line is still a great way to spend a few hours enjoying the winter outdoors.
I have thought many times that I would like to head north to the cabin for a few days of hard water fishing on a couple of the lakes that I usually fish in the summer. It would be fun just to see how different the fishing might be on those same lakes in the winter. It seems as if the DNR is forever changing or posting new regulations on many of our state’s lakes and now they have released new changes for the upcoming season. The following is a part of the new or changed regulations and you can find more information on this by visiting the Fish Minnesota web page.
DNR announces new special angling regulations
Angling regulations will change on nearly three dozen waters this year, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Among the changes: Anglers will see more restrictive walleye regulations in and around Saganaga Lake in Cook County. Lake Winnibigoshish will have a relaxed, or narrower, protected slot limit for walleye. And northern pike special regulations will be removed on Big Birch Lake in Todd County.
Changed and new special and experimental regulations will be posted at public accesses on affected lakes and become effective March 1, except for those involving Sand Lake in Itasca County and connected waters, which will be effective in 2016.
New regulations
Saganaga, Sea Gull, and Gull lakes (Cook County) and connected waters – Walleye will have a 17-inch minimum length restriction and a bag limit of three established to protect small walleye to make the most of limited production of those fish from natural reproduction or stocking. Fish managers have been concerned for several years about low numbers of young walleye seen in these lakes, and the possibility that without some protection, those low numbers would result in even lower numbers of adult fish, with further reductions in spawning success. Effects of this regulation will be studied for the next 10 years, and will be reviewed with the public in 2024.
Sauk River chain of lakes (Stearns County) – Anglers will have an expanded opportunity to harvest channel catfish, which became established in the late 1970s and since have become very abundant. A bag limit of 10, but with only one of the 10 longer than 24 inches, is to provide the opportunity for more harvest yet still provide a healthy population of catfish.
Lake George (Hubbard County) – Bass will have a protected slot limit of 14-to 20-inches, with one longer than 20 inches allowed in a possession limit of six. The lake has a healthy population of bass shorter than 15 inches but fewer larger bass compared to other nearby lakes and the regulation is designed to boost numbers of larger bass.
Sand Lake (Itasca County) and connected waters (Birdseye, Portage and Little Sand lakes) –Starting in May of 2016, walleye will have a 17- to 26-inch protected slot limit with one fish longer than 26 inches allowed in a possession limit of six. This experimental regulation is intended to increase abundance of spawning-age walleye, stabilize reproduction, and end boom-and-bust cycles of fishing success for walleye. The regulation will be monitored for 10 years and its effect on walleye and fishing will be reviewed with the public in 2025.
Modified regulations
Lake Winnibigoshish – Walleye will have an 18- to 23-inch protected slot, with only one longer than 23 inches, relaxed from the previous 17- to 26-inch protected slot. This is to allow for more harvest opportunities while still maintaining protection to spawning-age fish. In recent years the slot limit on Winnibigoshish has consistently met objectives established for the regulation.
Clitherall and Sewell lakes (Otter Tail County) – On Clitherall Lake, smallmouth bass will have 14- to 20-inch protected slot limit with one longer than 20 inches allowed in a possession of six. This regulation replaces the catch and release regulation that has been in place for the last 10 years. The regulation for largemouth and smallmouth bass on Sewell Lake has also been changed to a 14- to 20-inch protected slot limit. This replaces the 12- to 20-inch protected slot limit. Both lakes have quality populations of bass but managers believe these lakes can sustain quality fish while allowing additional harvest for bass shorter than 14 inches.
Big Mantrap (Hubbard County) – Black crappie will no longer have a 10-inch minimum length restriction but will continue to have a restricted bag limit of five. The minimum length limit was determined to be ineffective at increasing the size of crappie in Big Mantrap Lake.
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Until next time, stay warm and enjoy the beauty of winter and always respect the environment.
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.
As we venture further into the hard water fishing season there are many things to consider. One of them is not only treating fellow fishermen with respect, but the environment. There have been many springs when I have taken a walk past the channel near Frank Hall Park and seen the trash that has been left on the ice by irresponsible fishermen.
Most of us who fish respect the environment and pick up after ourselves so that we leave the area as clean as and sometimes even cleaner than we found it. On the other hand, there are those few who seem to show up at almost any outdoor activity with little or no regard for the environment. There are also those who are looking for a shortcut or seem determined to save themselves time by driving on thin ice instead of walking, or not checking before heading out on the ice. These are usually the folks you read about who have had to have their vehicles extracted from a lake or river. We have all witnessed “that guy” at one time or another whether it is on open water, hard water or at an access. It’s the guy that is always in a hurry and whose time is so valuable that he can’t wait. These are the folks that sometimes end up on America’s Funniest. I have known a few folks like this and usually their mistakes are due to being oblivious to the surroundings or, even in some cases, a little too much cheer before going onto the lake.
One instance that comes to mind is the time that a friend of mine, who we will call Larry, had gone out fishing in the evening after consuming a couple of beverages. As evening set in he decided to call it a night and was in the process of driving his boat onto the lift when I noticed that his motor was revving at high RPMs. I turned to see what he was doing just as the trolling motor which he had left down finally broke off, sending him lunging forward onto the lift. His friend who was in the front of the boat held up the motor that had broken into two pieces with the wiring on the inside still holding it all together. This was quite a site and I have to say that by that time my sides were hurting from laughing, at Larry’s expense of course, I don’t think that he ever quite saw the humor in it. There is a moral to this particular story and that of course is the drinking and fishing do not mix thing. If you feel the need to have a strong beverage, it’s best saved for sitting by the evening campfire or back at the cabin.
Whenever I take a drive in the country and pass by a natural stream that has not been altered by man I get a good feeling inside. To me the beauty of a natural stream, especially in winter, is always a thing of wonder. A stream that is flowing the way nature intended takes on a personality all its own and has a sort of freedom that still makes me excited when wondering what could be lurking just out of sight around the next bend. I have been that way since I was a young boy and nothing about that has changed, except for the young boy part.
Yes, nature still has a lot of great adventures for us to see and experience that you just won’t find by watching TV or surfing the Internet. Just the act of walking on a trail, visiting a park or relaxing by the shore of a lake can be very rewarding in itself, especially if you take pause to reflect on what is around you and enjoy what nature has to offer. I usually try to do a lot of walking outdoors in the non-winter months and I have often been guilty of being in a hurry and not taking time to savor the moment.
Speaking of savoring; my grandson Trevor has been having some pretty good luck fishing through the ice on Fountain Lake this winter. He has caught some dandy crappie and some sunnies with an occasional pike thrown in. I have heard from other folks that there are also some dandy walleye being caught in the low light hours. Yes, we have to consider ourselves lucky to have such a fine fishery for us to enjoy right here in our own back yard.
I have mentioned to Trevor that Grandpa sure likes crappies and a few fillets would fit nicely in my frying pan but so far he hasn’t taken the hint (bait).
Until next time, stay warm and enjoy the beauty of winter and always respect the environment.
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.
Another day in paradise is about how I feel when the temperatures get into the 20s in January. We have been experiencing some downright cold temperatures for the past couple of weeks, but now it is getting to be more livable, so enjoy it while it lasts. Funny how we put things in perspective: in the fall 40 degrees is really very cold to us, but in the spring or late winter it almost seems like sunscreen and T-shirt weather.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not pining for the days of high humidity and swatting mosquitoes for exercise just yet, but if we end up having a long winter those days might start looking pretty good. The one thing about living in Minnesota is that we will never run out of things to whine about. Too cold, too hot, too much snow, not enough moisture, will it ever quit raining, and on and on it goes. This is part of our heritage, and we Minnesotans have fine-tuned the art of weather talk and actually have taken it to another level. I wonder how many times we’ve watched national news channels and they have some reporter saying it was 20 degrees in another state and we have just scoffed and thought that it’s “nothing like Minnesota weather?” Then there was the snow storm in Buffalo, New York that left them with 8 feet of snow; I guess we can stop feeling sorry for ourselves after that one.
After a late start, the outdoor ice rinks are in good shape and being used. The milder weather should make for some great outdoors fun at a neighborhood rink. As a kid, my skating was pretty much confined to the local pond that existed at one time just about straight across Bridge Avenue from where Oak Park Place is today. Our other option was to skate on the lake which involved some travel. Our world in those days didn’t involve parents just dropping kids off and picking them up like in today’s world.
We had to make our own fun and if we wanted to get adventuresome and explore new horizons it involved walking in the winter or riding your bike in the summer. When we got old enough to get a driver’s license our whole world expanded. Kenny my neighbor had a sister who lived on the lake and we went there a couple of times for a skating party. We had a fire going and when we decided to take a break it was time for hot chocolate. Being mobile also meant that we could have sledding parties and we would get permission from Joe Juve, who owned the farm where the high school is today. I had a toboggan that I had gotten for Christmas a few years earlier and that baby would fly down that hill. We would try to do the sledding parties on a moonlit night so that we could see where we were going. The biggest problem with the hill in that pasture was maneuvering around a few oak trees that dotted the hillside. Going to someone’s house after sledding or skating for hot chocolate was a great way to top off a fun night. Those were fun times and an inexpensive way to enjoy an evening of fun with a bunch of friends.
I have written before about the times when we were in high school and would take the toboggan, a long sturdy rope and head out on a snow-packed country road for a little harmless fun. I did say harmless fun but I did not say safe fun. This is probably where I should say “kids, don’t try this at home,” because it can lead to no good. My friend Pat’s folks were out of town so we used their Jeep Wagoneer for this great adventure. We tied the rope to the toboggan and to the bumper of the vehicle and would take turns getting pulled along bounding from ditch to ditch being careful to avoid a field drive. This was a real rush, but like all good things it came to an abrupt end when Pat got too close to the edge of the road and we rolled the Jeep Wagoneer. Luckily we all escaped unscathed except for a few minor bumps and bruises.
After getting a nice farmer to pull us out of the ditch and help us get the vehicle upright we were able to get it started and drive away. We spent the next morning trying to kick the dent out of the roof in a ridiculous and feeble attempt to save Pat’s hide. We were pretty desperate to even think that nobody would notice the roof had sunken in. It took a while for that one to blow over and that also ended our sledding behind a moving vehicle.
Yes, those were the “good old days” when you made your own fun, but sometimes we couldn’t tell the difference between safe fun and dumb fun. As a kid growing up in that era it seemed like me and my friends always seemed to think that it was more fun if you played just a little closer to the edge.
I haven’t heard many recent fishing reports from area lakes, but from earlier I had heard that fishermen on Fountain Lake there were catching panfish, perch and a few walleye and northern were also being caught. Remember that there is no such thing as safe ice so always know the conditions before venturing out.
Until next time, try spending a little time outdoors and making some “safe” fun of your own.
Please keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers during the upcoming year. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we enjoy today.
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I know that the cold weather and bone chilling wind have a lot of folks hunkered down in their easy chairs and rightfully so. As an outdoors enthusiast and a youth hockey coach my easy chair nights don’t come as often as I’d sometimes like. On the other hand I find that coaching and staying active usually makes me feel that I am actually younger than my years. There was a posting on Facebook that kind of sums it up; it said “inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the H#@* happened.”
In a way I don’t mind the cold because you don’t have to shovel it but cold combined with snow and wind are a whole different story. The other morning as I was shoveling the driveway with a bone chilling wind attacking my body I realized that my chopper mittens were not doing the job and my fingers began to get that old feeling I’d get as a kid when I had overstayed my visit while playing in the outdoors. My fingers began to tingle and hurt which means that when I get inside to warm up things would only get worse.
As a kid I had chopper mittens with wool liners to keep my hands from freezing. Back then wool was our “good old days” version of Thinsulate. We also wore wool stocking caps, scarves, mittens, shirts, union suits, etc. you get the idea. Those days are long gone only to be replaced by the days of Thinsulate and Gortex where everything is lighter, warmer and drier.
Getting back to the winter thing; when the temperatures get as cold as they have been lately even the snow makes noise when you walk on it. When walking on snow in sub-zero temps it seems to crackle, squeak and moan whenever you take a step. Yes this does bring back that memory of winters past when I’d be bundled up in all that wool with a scarf draped across my face to keep from breathing in the cold air while I was playing outdoors in the frigid cold. Breathing through that scarf was not without its own set of issues because your warm moist breath would eventually cause the scarf to ice up.
Back then there wasn’t much that could keep us kids from being outside, let’s face it; the alternative was staying inside and listening to the radio, re-reading old comic books and playing with the same toys you had played with a thousand times. I can still remember how excited I was on the day that my Dad bought our 19-inch Zenith TV. We were probably the last ones in the neighborhood to have a TV and we were the ones that could least afford it but Dad decided to throw caution to the wind and buy it. I believe the place he purchased it was called Gordon Electric at the time and he could afford it because they let him make payments. Those were the days before credit cards and credit checks; it was a time when store owners trusted a man’s word which was as good as his signature.
Yes that TV was the start of an era for me, not because it made me give up the outdoors but because when I was not playing outdoors I could watch old movies, the Little Rascals, Laurel and Hardy and so many good shows of that time. Old cowboy movies were probably my favorite along with Sgt. Preston of the Yukon. Before we had TV I would hurry home from school and run next door to my Aunt Ruby’s to watch Johnny Weissmuller as Jungle Jim wrestling alligators and saving folks from man-eating lions. TV reception in those days wasn’t exactly great and I can still see my Dad adjusting the picture by moving the ball of ‘tin foil” that we had wrapped around the antenna wire. We usually got three channels and on a good day, which was Saturday in my world, I might be able to bring in WCCO so I could watch Axle and his dog, Roundhouse Rodney or Soupy Sales.
TV was only a pacifier to get me through until us neighborhood kids got together to do what we loved best and that was play outdoors and explore the vast wilderness of the slough. Winter was our favorite time because we could trek through the snow on top of the ice and spend countless hours exploring and playing without getting too wet. Wet would happen if you spent too much time rolling around in the snow or if you stepped next to the slough grass and your foot went through the hollow ice. Wool socks and long Johns were no help when you had an overshoe full of water and were a long ways from home. This happening would always mean the end of a fun day for the unlucky explorer that filled his boot with slough water. Believe me, it was a long walk back home when you have a cold, wet foot and the temperatures are well below freezing. In case you haven’t figured it out, I had that happen to me on more than one occasion but I still kept coming back for more.
Until next time, stay warm and remember that it’s always time well spent when you spend it in cur great Minnesota outdoors.
Please keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers during the upcoming year. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we enjoy today.
Old man winter has once again reminded us that we still live in Minnesota and cold weather is part of the deal. Just when we start to buy into the global warming thing frigid temperatures and snow are there to let us know that winter is still winter. The other morning when we were shivering in -6 degree temps with a -24 wind chill my brother-in-law Lynn called from Nome Alaska to let me know that it was 34 and raining in Nome. Now this was not unusual for him to do because when we are sweltering in high 80 or even 90 degree temperatures he will call to let me know that it is sunny and 60 in Nome.
The reality of all this is that for the past two years Nome has had above normal temperatures and that has made believers of many naysayers when the global warming thing comes up. Lynn said that last year was not a good year for trapping because of the uncertain ice conditions of the nearby rivers and this year doesn’t look to be any better.
The weather here in Minnesota has been cold but the snow depths throughout the state are less than needed for most winter outdoors activities. Ski and snowmobile trail conditions throughout the state are either in poor condition or are closed. The outdoor skating rinks have taken a real hit this year with the warmer weather we had been experiencing up until just after Christmas.
The cold then warm then cold again weather we have been experiencing have made ice fishing conditions questionable on many area lakes. If you are venturing out for some fishing on one of the lakes in our area please use caution and by all means do not be driving on the ice. It may be fairly thick in some places while other areas of the same lake may be unsafe. The weather conditions may have made the ice unstable especially along the shoreline. The best and safest way to fish these lakes is on foot and with a portable fish house. The hole and 5 gallon pail method might be old school but it is less work, usually a lot safer and can be a lot of fun if you dress warm and it’s not brutally cold outside.
DNR, partners working on 4-year plan to boost pheasant numbers
Citizen input from the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Summit soon will be converted into a four-year action plan to increase and enhance grassland habitat on public and private lands.
Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr said agency staff and partner organizations are analyzing dozens of recommendations from the Dec. 13 summit in Marshall.
This first summit brought together Gov. Mark Dayton and 300-plus hunters, farmers and conservation experts, including those from Pheasants Forever. Together, they focused on pheasant habitat, pheasant biology and they spent much of the day identifying potential solutions to the plight of a bird whose numbers are declining at a significant rate.
“Citizens talked. We listened. The next step is to convert words into actions,” Landwehr said.
Landwehr said citizen input will be used to develop a summary of the Pheasant Summit recommendations that will be shared with the public in mid-January.
“The focus will be about increasing bird numbers not government regulations,” Landwehr said. “Realistically, that means zeroing in on the interests and needs of private landowners as they own 95 percent of the property in the pheasant range.”
Landwehr said the action plan to be completed in 2015 will include recommendations for increasing the quality and quantity of public grasslands but “the inescapable truth is what happens on private farmland is what drives pheasant numbers because of the vastly higher proportion of acres in private ownership.”
The summit was emceed by Minnesota conservationist Ron Schara, who termed the pheasant the proverbial canary in a coal mine.
“As pheasant numbers go, so go our bobolinks, butterflies, pollinators and more,” he said.
Both Schara and Dayton urged the group to focus on strategies that will increase pheasant numbers, improve habitat, and make sure future generations have the opportunity to enjoy one of the state’s most popular game birds.
“I was pleased we could have a candid conversation about habitat loss and its impact on our pheasant population,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson. “The summit produced a good variety of strategies to consider as we work to improve the future for pheasants in Minnesota.”
I actually had a chance to speak with Ron Schara at the Governor’s deer hunting opener a few years back. He noticed where I was from and said that he had just recently been in the Albert Lea area hunting pheasants. Small world; but I guess that was back when we actually had some descent pheasant numbers in this area.
Until next time, stay warm and remember that it’s always time well spent when you spend it in cur great Minnesota outdoors.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers; especially during this Holiday Season. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we enjoy today.
It’s almost Christmas and the sound of the season can be heard playing in stores and on the radio. It’s the time of year for church Christmas programs along with choir, band and orchestra concerts. I had the chance to attend the high school orchestra and band Christmas concert the other night and was totally impressed. We have a lot of talented kids in our school system and that should make us very proud.
When I was a kid each year I looked forward to the school Christmas program even though I played no instrument and would never impress anyone with my singing prowess. It is really all about celebrating the birth of Christ and spending time with family. I don’t think that I, as a person realized how important this was to me until I spent time in the service away from home on Christmas. We would stand in line on Christmas day to use the phone to make a 5 minute call home where family gathered around waiting their turn to talk.
A long wait in line to have a short conversation with family back home was a pretty big deal. The only time we were allowed to call home was Christmas or family emergency but I am not whining or complaining because that is how it was back then and we just dealt with it. Yes, it was totally different back then; no Skype, cell phones or email, just regular mail. I considered myself lucky that year because many of my fellow servicemen didn’t even have the luxury of a phone call.
I can remember going to my Aunt Ruby and Uncle Harvey’s on Christmas day when they would call my cousin Tom who was in California. We would all gather around the phone hoping to say a few words and just hear his voice for a moment or two. Calling “long distance” all the way to California in those days it was a huge deal and if someone called “collect” it was pretty darned spendy but Christmas time was no time to skimp.
Getting back to the present; it’s almost time to boil the fish and melt the butter that is the key to any good lutefisk eater’s dining experience. My dad always said you are a true Norske when you roll up your sleeves, roll the fish in a lefse and pour on enough butter so that it runs down your arm. I learned to cheat just a little so that’s why I always eat my fish on lefse with some potatoes mixed in and topped with a lot of butter, salt and pepper. I don’t believe that you would find this fine dining experience listed on the Blue Zone to do list or on Mayo’s list of healthy eating habits. It is only once (or maybe twice) a year so I guess that like any other Christmas I will be throwing caution to the wind and enjoying it once again. My mouth is starting to water in anticipation of that delicious Norwegian delicacy that I know will be awaiting me on Christmas Eve.
Although we have had a few in my lifetime I just have a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit without just a little snow covering the ground. Christmas vacation as a kid always seemed to be about sledding, snow forts and snowball fights. I can’t remember too many winters where there was a lack of snow but I know there were some. I guess that I like to push the not so pleasant memories to the back and dwell on the good so that might be why I remember the “good old days” as being so darned good.
I am not really sure how to read the ice right now when it comes to being safe. There have been many fishermen out on Fountain Lake and I’ve heard mixed reports ranging everywhere from folks catching only small ones to slab crappies and nice pike with a few walleyes thrown into the mix. Hey, that’s fishing folks; not everyone is going to catch their limit of lunkers and not everyone is going to get “skunked” so the best thing to do is give it your best shot and enjoy the experience of being there. Most importantly you need to know that the ice is safe before venturing out.
Fishing reports from around the area for the past week have also been mixed. Fairmont has reported anywhere from 3-7 inches of ice on area lakes with some crappie, bluegill, perch and a few walleye being caught. Mankato reported some low light crappie action on Madison and Washington Lakes with a few walleye on Washington. The Waterville area had unsafe ice conditions before the warmup and looked for things to deteriorate after that. Driving past the channel by Frank Hall Park the other day I observed some fishermen standing in water while fishing through the ice. I have become fairly cautious as I have grown older but fish or no fish that just didn’t look like anything I’d be interested in doing.
Until next time, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and remember it’s always time well spent when you spend it in cur great Minnesota outdoors.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers; especially during this Holiday Season. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we enjoy today.
It is the time of year when I seem to get restless and start thinking about Christmas and all of the festivities. This was always my Mother’s favorite time of year and I still get that kid-like feeling whenever I hear the old standby Christmas carols being played in stores and over the radio. I really believe that the Christmas season brings out the kid in a lot of us.
As a kid I used to love walking along Broadway and seeing all the store windows nicely decorated for the season. You always knew it was that magical time of the year when the talking mechanical Santa would appear in the window of the Skinner-Chamberlain Department Store. Santa could be many places at once because there was another one that sat above the door at the Queen Stoves factory. You can actually see that same Santa today if you drive on Front Street because he is above the door of Lou-Rich waving just like he has done for years.
All the shopping was done Downtown and there were many stores to visit. Not only were JC Penney, Montgomery Wards and Sears located there but there were many clothing stores plus Gambles, Coast-to-Coast and of course the Skinner Chamberlain Department store. I can remember what an occasion it was when Skinner’s got that escalator put in. My friend Kenny asked his mom and dad if I could ride along with them to town to see the escalator. What a marvel that was and what a state of the art store it was for our little town. Not only did it have an elevator with an operator but now it had that escalator – just like the big cities. Us kids couldn’t get enough of that thing on that Friday night.
The stores were usually open late on Friday nights and before Christmas they would be also stay open late on Thursdays. Driving down Broadway at night during the Christmas season was always special because the colorful Christmas lights were crisscrossed across the intersections on Broadway and even on the Northside for a few years. It seems that like so many old traditions Christmas is more about “Black Friday” and the deals you can get than the celebration itself. Years ago you could drive around town and most houses had some sort of Christmas lights now it almost seems like Halloween has more lights than Christmas. I was lucky enough to attend country school (Hammer) where each year we had a Christmas program that I always looked forward to.
As a kid, the season, to me was about the music, the yummy goodies that you never got the rest of the year and of course the presents. I can remember my mother setting up the ironing board to use for wrapping presents and I always got that certain tingling of excitement whenever she would ask me to leave the room because I knew that she was wrapping a present for me.
Christmas isn’t all about presents but to a young child it is the more than likely the best part. The Sunday School Christmas program was our chance to celebrate the reason that we have this season in the first place. It was a big event and we would spend the Saturdays before the big day rehearsing our parts. Our little church would be filled to the point of overflowing and after the program we always got that brown paper sack of goodies which contained hard candy, cream chocolate drops, peanuts and an apple.
I don’t believe that there is a better experience than hearing the laughter and the excitement in the voices of little children at Christmas. As a parent I always wanted to give the boys things that I would have wanted to get when I was a child. It’s never foolproof however especially with my oldest son Brian because it never seemed to fail that the present that he wanted most in the whole world would be discarded a day or two before the magical night and be replaced by something totally different. Unfortunately Santa already had the first gift in the bag so the new one would have to wait for the next year. Speaking of Santa, we had a visit from him one Christmas Eve at my Grandpa and Grandma Herfindahl’s. He came busting through the front door handing out goody bags of candy and apples to us kids all the while laughing a jolly laugh that reminded me a lot of Uncle Ben’s. Come to think of it, where was Uncle Ben?
Each year at about this time I start scouting the grocery stores looking to see who has my favorite delicacy, the cherished dish that we Norwegians call lutefisk. Yes I will be trolling the grocery aisles in search of that tasty morsel so that we can eat our fill on Christmas Eve.
I have told the story many times of my coming of age in the eyes of my elders by being permitted to sit at the “adult table” and partake of that tasty dish. My cousin Bill on my mother’s side liked to eat lutefisk but his wife Cleo would not let him fix it in their house because of the smell. I guess that I have become immune to any kind of odor that it may or may not give off while being boiled because it all smells like Christmas to me.
Until next time, be careful when venturing out on the thin ice and remember it’s always time well spent when you spend it in our great Minnesota outdoors.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers; especially during this holiday season. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we enjoy today.