Outdoor Traditions - Fall 2012

Issue 3 • Edition 7

Featured in this issue

IN THE CROSS-HAIRS, UNDER A MICROSCOPE BY: BRIAN S. PETERSON PLUS MORE! • Deer Hunting Traditions

By: JIM KALKOFEN

• These ARE the Good Old Days of Muskie Fishing

By: DAVE CSANDA

• Wild Stories

Excerpts From Conservation Officers’ Weekly Reports

• Your Best Shots

Read Online: www.brainerddispatch.com or www.brainerdoutdoors.com

Welcome

By: Mike Holst

SUMMER’S FLEETING MOMENTS

And so now the dog days of summer are upon us. That quiet cove, in the lake you live on, is now overgrown with water lilies and duckweed. The lake seems uncommonly quiet once again, as the energy for playing on jet skies and speedboats amongst the younger set has dissipated, and at least for this year, it’s just not fun anymore. The fishing becomes more difficult with the heat and the bugs and all of the vegetation growing in the lake. People my age are content to just sit in the shade with a cool drink, and watch the last vestiges of summer slide away. We know we can squander the remnants of summer, but we can do little to make it last. Somehow, though, we’re not content to just fritter it away.

My garden is half-picked, and the apple trees are burdened down with fruit. Mowing grass early this spring, which was welcome exercise, has become a chore no one wants to do. You look at the honey-do list you made this spring, and yes, you did get the roof replaced and some new downspouts added, but so many things remain undone.“Maybe tomorrow” you say. Each day you notice that darkness comes earlier and earlier, and you think, wouldn’t it be nice if you lived in a world where every day would be like June 23rd. A world where daytime and nighttime share the clock equally.

I have struggled for years to find an analogy that does justice to my thoughts — of summer winding down. Maybe it’s because for me, summer is the fun time; and maybe it’s because, at least in my mind, the seasons so closely mimic our own waning lives. Old age only serves to bring that thought front and center. August is the time of the year when the foliage may be bruised by summer storms and drought, but still holds its lovely green hue, the dominant background color that Mother Nature uses so well in her verdant pastures. All of the pretty flowers have long

blossomed, and what is left is unexciting and mundane.

The host plants live on but without their colorful blossoms that were their focal point — no one notices them in the garden any more. They are just a silent silhouette of what they once were. I, too, was more attractive in my own springtime; but now I rely on cognition brought on from years of living life, for any recognition that may come my way.

Sometimes, it seems like life begins all over again each summer.

It surely does for the flora and fauna. For some reason, it’s a romantic season full of new surprises every day. In the summertime, a soft rain pulls at the strings of your heart. In the fall, it is just damp and disappointing and reminiscent of the cold months ahead. But I feel, if we could hang onto summer forever, its special qualities would soon fade like the setting sun, for we need its “ups and downs” to make life interesting. Natalie Babbitt wrote, and I quote, “The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn. But the first week of August is motionless and hot.

It is curiously silent too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons and sunsets smeared with too much color.”

M I K E H O L S T is a columnist and author from Crosslake, MN. He has just published his eighth book.

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Welcome ...................................... 3 In the cross-hairs, under the microscope ............... 5 Deer hunting traditions continue year after year ............ 8 Brainerd Man’s Idea Rolls Out as the MN Big Buck Challenge 12 Minnesota Martins ..................... 14 Wild Stories ................................. 16

Deer hunting traditions Page 18

These ARE the Good Old Days of Muskie Fishing ....................... 18 Cryptic Critters ........................... 20 Treading Local Waters: Pelican Lake .............................. 22 Today In The Outdoors.............. 24 Your Best Shots ........................... 26

These ARE the Good Old Days of

MUSKIE FISHING 506 James Street • P.O. Box 974 Brainerd, MN 56401 (218) 829-4705 www.brainerddispatch.com www.brainerdoutdoors.com Visit us on Facebook 4

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STAFF: Publisher .............................................Tim Bogenschutz Advertising Director ................................. Sam Swanson Copy Editor ............................................. Brian Peterson Marketing .....................................................Nikki Lyter Magazine Layout ...................................... Cindy Spilman Ad Design........................... Andy Goble, Jennifer Fuchs, Angie Hoefs, Cindy Spilman and Sue Stark Sales ......................................................... Dave Wentzel Online Sales Manager......................................Phil Seibel Outdoor Traditions is a trademarked magazine published by the Brainerd Dispatch, P.O. Box 976, Brainerd, MN 56401. All rights reserved.

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In the cross-hairs,

under a microscope A lot of eyes will be on Minnesota’s historic first wolf hunt

COUNT GARY DROTTS AMONG THE THRONGS HOPING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST-EVER MINNESOTA WOLF HUNT.

But for Drotts, what would be a highlight for about every other hunter is tempered by a couple of factors.

First, Drotts is the DNR wildlife manager in Brainerd - should he get a license, he admitted there would be those who might think he got it because of that fact.

And second, Drotts isn’t like most of those other would-be wolf hunters.

“I’m not blood-thirsty about killing a wolf,” Drotts said.“I see wolves when I’m out (deer) hunting. I see wolves every year. I’ve had 13 in my crosshairs. At that time they were lucky to be walking by me because I wouldn’t shoot them.”

That was then, this is now.

Years in the making, the wolf hunt is finally a reality in Minnesota.The first of two hunts – there’s also a trapping season – kicks off with the firearms deer hunting opener Nov. 3.The deer hunting opener is typically the highlight of the hunting season in Minnesota, and throwing the historic first wolf hunt into the mix should make for a hunting weekend to remember.

The season follows the transition of wolves from federal protection unGraphs provided by The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

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der the Endangered Species Act to state management.The 2012 Minnesota Legislature passed — and Gov. Mark Dayton signed — a bill providing additional direction for conducting the season.

According to the DNR,“public opinion surveys and attitudes demonstrated during development of the state’s wolf management plan show people view the animal as ecologically important, scientifically fascinating, aesthetically attractive, recreationally appealing and significant for future generations. Only a small minority fear and dislike wolves or believe Minnesota would be a more desirable place without this apex predator.”

But at the same time, after years of protection, Minnesota’s wolf population swelled from an estimated 750 or less animals in the 1950s to approximately 3,000 today – the largest population in the lower 48 states.That population became more and more difficult to manage and many believe the burgeoning wolf population has everything to do with a deer population that doesn’t seem to be as strong as in years gone by.The hunt also will give owners of livestock and domestic pets protection from wolf depredation, the DNR said.

“The animal’s population has been brought back,” Drotts said.“They should be managed. I’d take the opportunity to harvest one.”

The northwest zone, which includes the greater Brainerd lakes area, sets up to be the heart of the hunt: Of the state’s target harvest of 400 wolves, 265 are allotted for the sprawling northwest zone, with 117 in the northeast zone and 18 in the east-central zone.

When harvest targets are reached, that zone will be closed and hunters will only be able to hunt in an open zone.

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“There are a lot of wolves (in the Brainerd area),” Drotts said.“And two packs in the camp (Camp Ripley near Little Falls). And there’s a pack hanging around north of Merrifield and a pack by Pillsbury forest by Pillager.”

The DNR has not established a maximum population goal, and wolves are allowed to naturally expand their range. But a statewide winter population of 1,600 is the minimum goal, the DNR said. Should Minnesota’s wolf population fall below that number, the DNR said it “will take immediate and appropriate management actions to reverse the decline and restore the population to its minimum level in the shortest possible time.”

DNR types won’t be the only ones paying close attention to this first hunt. Advocacy groups and individuals who opposed the hunt are sure to scrutinize it and Drotts stressed helping the DNR get a handle on exact harvest numbers this inaugural season.

“We’re under a microscope about how we do this,” Drotts said.“To do this properly we have to have fairly accurate (harvest) numbers. People (hunters) need to realize they’re part of the process. … To help document where we’re at.

“We could lose this all again.”

BRIAN S. PETERSON,

is a freelance outdoors writer based in northwestern Minnesota.

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Deer hunting traditions continue year after year

raditi T

THROUGHOUT THE UPPER MIDWEST, HUNTERS ARE HEADING INTO THE WOODS MUCH AS THEY DID A CENTURY AGO.

retail sales, with a total economic impact of about $460 million.

During the past hundred years or so, hunting has been passed down from fathers to sons and daughters; and via gun clubs, 4-H, Scouts, DVDs and neighbors. Mostly, however, it is families that hunt together that pass along the love and lore of the sport.

OK, maybe they’re not Hunting lessons were heading into the woods passed down in my famiexactly like they did in ly, also.

What I’ve learned 1912, because our transmight fi ll a book, but in portation has improved a this issue, will occupy a bit since then. But, once few pages.

My fi rst hunt in the woods, they are occurred at the age of hunting like their great12, some 52 seasons ago. great-grandfathers.

Back then, I thought To become a tradition, 15 was old and 20 was something has to work. almost antique. NothThat is the case with the ing even crossed my deer hunting traditions mind that a half century of stand hunting, driving later I might still be so deer and stalking/still enthused about deer. hunting.These traditions In fact, two years ago have been modified I was shaking so much; somewhat due to more I waited 45 minutes to hunters and smaller parclimb out of the stand cels of private property. to walk 80 yards to the In the early 1900’s, the biggest buck of my life. number of deer hunters That’s another story for The father is Cobi Hood and son James. was minimal because the “book,” but not here, there weren’t many deer. even though it was a successful elevated-stand hunt.

Stand huntIn fact, by 1930 the entire United States whitetail population had decreased to an estimated 300,000 animals.Today, approximately ing may be the preferred tactic for deer hunting in the BrainerdLakes area.

30,000,000 whitetails roam coast to coast.

Early “stands” were atop large pine stumps that littered northThis year about 500,000 hunters will purchase rifle or shotgun ern Minnesota. When the second-growth came back, it provided licenses in Minnesota, about 100,000 will buy archery deer perfect forage and deer thrived. Stumps gave way to boards licenses and another 10,000 muzzleloaders will enjoy their sport. nailed into trees, which grew into manufactured platforms, then Collectively, Minnesota hunters represent nearly $300 million in

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Deer hunting traditions continue year after year

ladder stands, and even houses built on stilts. Getting above deer and out of their olfactory scent range has been the key. Seeing down through brush gave hunters the advantage. Shooting down was also much safer.

Some hunters think if they find a tree and erect a stand that deer will magically appear. When they don’t, these hunters com-

ions

plain for the next 11 months because they didn’t see anything.

Stands don’t make the hunter; they only make the hunting easier.

A hunter needs to consider many factors. Number one is other hunters. Are there other stands on the property? What about

Photos provided by Jim Kalkofen

adjacent property? How many trucks are parked around the land being hunted? Where do those hunters go and how far do they venture into the woods? A good rule is to check the area during the season, maybe on a Tuesday; see if deer are still moving about. Where did the hunters go? Where did they park? Are ground blinds or tree stands still up?

Better yet, use a good topographic map to determine how to get farther back into the woods (with a relatively good trail or a series of deer trails) than anybody else, and make an educated guess where the deer go when they vacate the “front” of the woods due to people pressure. Depending on the size of the area and access roads, being one-half to a mile back will make a big difference.

Even with others in the woods, the smart money is being setup on the best deer travel corridors.These are discovered the old-fashioned way, by scouting before season. In the next few months, look for feeding areas (like oak ridges), because the does will bring bucks chasing and cruising during the rut. Major deer runs stand out, and really show themselves right after the snow melts. I call it “spring-hunting.”

Big bucks don’t necessarily follow major runways.They are often 50 to 100 yards to the side, paralleling well-traveled runs. If bucks can stay hidden they will, but the mating urge drives them, and that’s why stand hunting swings the odds to the hunter. Best advice from my dad:“Don’t leave your stand. I’ll see you at dark.”

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I thought at times that was the dumbest thing ever. But, I also to be on stand all day. Dress for a cool-walk. A hunter should know how many deer tipped over in front or back of my stand never work up a sweat. Wear good hiking boots. Clothing should between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. allow a hunter to creep to a likely vantage spot and stand for 15 More fatherly advice: If the platform is exposed, movement to 20 minutes, longer at times. When within sight of a few does, must be minimal. Search with eyes and ears, not by swiveling the objective is to keep an eye on them while checking the pebody or neck.Turn slowly when necessary. Wear outer clothing riphery for bucks. that doesn’t make noise when scraped against itself or the tree.

Stalking hunters have one key rule to remember. Always move Don’t smoke or cough. Make sure into the wind. Use the wind. If it the stand is downwind of where switches, change direction. Use you expect the deer to be movtrees, blow-downs, logs and brush ing. Use hand heaters and wear as cover. Use runways and watch the best boots money can buy. each step; be quiet. Peer over Stay all day. each hill, as small as it might be, Oh, when on public lands, by surveying the landscape. Each use a leaning ladder stand or a step will reveal more terrain. Don’t climbing ladder that straps to the silhouette yourself. With snow on tree – no nails! Anywhere your the ground, the meandering of deer tree stand goes use a safety strap will amaze. Be watchful.Tracks will (comes with almost all new tree materialize into bedded and feedstands). When using screw-in ing deer. climbing steps, triple-check them.

When stalking, I wear a backOne such “misstep” caused Pastor pack with long-johns and a fleece Max Day from Brainerd to fall in case I find a good spot for a with his hand on the last “step.” couple hours of waiting, an extra He was pulling himself onto his pair of socks, rain gear, handheld platform last season when the GPS with extra batteries, choppers “step” pulled out. with wool liners, pocket handAfter 48 days in the hospital warmers, igniter (like used for and rehabilitation unit, he still charcoal grills), a second compass, undergoes physical therapy, drag rope, orange wool cap, extra and is in pain continuously. He ammo, a cell phone, plenty of spends about six hours daily out water and lunch. I wear binoculars of his neck brace, but remains with a shoulder strap and use them paralyzed.The associate pastor often. A good pair of binoculars at Faith Baptist church preaches may be as important as a rifle or and teaches how the Lord has bow. I have talked to archers who sustained him.“I’m trying to have become even better hunters serve the Lord as best I can,” he by spending a portion of each day said. While using tree stands, he sneaking through the woods. StillJim Kalkofen with his biggest buck ever, urged hunters to be overly cauhunting is usually an all-day affair, from near Brainerd tious. and works best in the big woods. It “Still-hunting” or stalking taught me more about deer than anycan be practiced long after the season ends. thing else. Where I grew up the woods were seemingly endless, The third style of hunting is deer drives. According to my “old” with hundreds of square miles of county, state and national forest friends, and those guys who taught me about hunting, drives used land – similar to the Brainerd-Lakes area. Logging trails were for to be the norm. I learned as a youngster that my legs and lungs logging, and after the pulp-cutters departed, many of these “roads” were appreciated; the seniors sat on the other end of drives, using reverted to their natural state. Access was significantly more their straight-shooting experience to claim the deer. In my early limited than today. days, many of these were World War II vets who were deadeyes My grandpa called it still-hunting, and it was the biggest chapter with open-sighted rifles. The stories over campfires were filled in my deer education. Dad was so fond of it, that stalking was with stories of bygone days and far-flung adventures. part of his nature, well into his 80s.The advice from my dad was Drives can be done most effectively if standers move quietly equally simple:Take one step. Watch for two. to their pre-determined positions, and drivers likewise ease into “If you think you’re going too slow, slow down,” he repeated. I the starting gates.The typical barking and yelling and banging on covered miles and miles, and as Yogi Berra said,“You can observe a trees works, but our most successful drives have been with a few lot just by watching.” drivers moving through the woods, weaving back and forth, but in This method of hunting means NOT dressing as if you’re going the same general direction and in a relatively straight line. Bucks

10 D e e r h u n t i n g t r a d i t i o n s c o n t i n u e y e a r a f t e r y e a r

don’t sneak back through the ranks of drivers as much during “silent” drives.

Smaller drives with a few standers and drivers can push deer around, maybe not always to the ultimate destination, but my dad’s wisdom still prevails today:“You can drive a deer wherever he wants to go.” Safety is even more critical on drives. In our camp, drivers do not carry rifles, or if they do, they don’t shoot.

Drivers must know where any shot will go. After half a century of this style of hunting, the shorter, concentrated drives work better than the mile-long marches. Archery drives with one or two standers and one or two drivers – with drivers almost stillhunting – has been very productive. Good planning makes all the difference.

Deer hunting starts in a few weeks, and the seasons are always too short. For some of us, deer hunting lasts all year.The talking about it, the scouting, the thinking, the dreaming, the map studying, the watching shorelines while fishing, and hiking are big parts of the sport. Whatever your deer hunting pleasure, on stand, stillhunting or drives, share it with a youngster this season.

J I M K A L K O F E N has been in and around boats all his life. He has been director of the largest walleye tournament circuits for two decades, and was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.

This year about 500,000 hunters will purchase rifle or shotgun licenses in Minnesota, about 100,000 will buy archery deer licenses and another 10,000 muzzleloaders will enjoy their sport.

Safe Hunting Everyone!

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Brainerd Man’s Idea Rolls Out as the MN Big Buck Challenge MINNESOTA DEER HUNTERS WILL SOON KNOW WHERE THE BIGGEST BUCKS RESIDE.

This fall they will be able to accurately weigh their deer.

The Big Buck Challenge is an idea spawned in a deer stand by a Brainerd-lakes area hunter, Chauncey Hanson. His concept is currently being rolled out statewide.

Hanson feels the Big Buck Challenge will generate excitement in the hunting ranks, get the younger crowd more involved, create more talk about the coming season, and is open to all hunters in all corners of forest and field.

“During the Nov. 3 to 11 season, the Big Buck Challenge was intended to be friendly competition with prizes,” he said.

“This could be the best way to settle those deer camp wagers about who shoots the biggest buck. It sure will make for bragging rights in our hunting family, and I hope many other families,” With 20 weigh stations manned by Big Buck Challenge personnel in communities like Brainerd, McGregor, Backus, St. Cloud, Grand Rapids, Onamia and many others, he said:“Hunters can stack their deer against those of their buddies across the state. Will the southeastern hill-country bucks along the Mississippi River prove heavier than some of those giants in

the Iron Range or right here in the Brainerd-Lakes area? I look forward to seeing the results.”

Company personnel with exact standards will operate all weigh stations.The scales will weigh to the 1/100th of a pound and hunters will know the rules for each deer they bring to a weigh station. Weights will be recorded, saved with hunters receiving weigh tickets and all information forwarded to the Big Buck website – mnbigbuck.com.

There will be 25 major prizes for bucks weighing more than 200 pounds, with $15,000 to the heaviest buck.The top 25 with bucks weighing less than 200 pounds (199.99 pounds and down) will also be winners, with the biggest paying $10,000.

Second thru 25th in each buck division win ATVs, rifles, binoculars, box blinds, rangefinders, tree stands, a gun safe and more. The same quality of prizes will be awarded for the best 10 does.

“More than $100,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded much like the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza, with ATVs and rifles interspersed with rangefinders and binoculars,” Hanson said. “These are quality names like Browning, Liberty Safe, Vortex binoculars, Big Game tree stands, Polaris or Arctic Cat, Remington and Savage,” he said.

12 B r a i n e r d M a n ’ s I d e a R o l l s O u t a s t h e M N B i g B u c k C h a l l e n g e

Big Buck tickets are $20 each, and each ticket-holder is entitled to weigh one buck and one doe.

Hunters always want to know the details, and Hanson said much more information, weigh station locations, rules and entry blanks can be located at mnbigbuck. com, his website.

“It’s being created and will become a source of data about the challenge and deer in general. One thing it will do is list the areas where big bucks and does are being registered, with the names of the successful hunters,” he said.

Hanson made a special offer to MDHA chapter members, because he knows how much they do for the state’s deer and wildlife. If the winning bucks of each division are registered by MDHA members, their respective chapters will receive $500.

The Big Buck Challenge will run during rifle season, Nov. 3-11, this first year. Deer may be taken with any legal weapon, rifle, shotgun or archery gear. On both weekends, Nov. 3-5 and 9-11, weigh stations will be open from noon to 8 p.m. During the week, Nov. 6-8, weigh stations will be open 3 to 7 p.m.

Hanson, originally from the Thief River Falls area, still hunts the familiar woods of his childhood. He shot a buck pushing the scales over the 200-pound mark twice, and felt especially thrilled at those accomplishments.

“But each time I did it, my brother’s bucks weighed more in a little contest in northern Minnesota,” he said. It has remained a close rivalry, and something talked about in camp every night – and every morning. In the Brainerd area, Hanson is a builder.

The website with online registration, weigh station maps, complete prize list and more details is mnbigbuck.com. A portion of the proceeds has already been earmarked for the Brainerd Campus of Minnesota Teen Challenge; a cause Hanson strongly believes is making a difference.

J I M K A L K O F E N has been in

and around boats all his life. He has been director of the largest walleye tournament circuits for two decades, and was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.

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Minnesota

MARTINS

An estimated 50,000 Purple Martins used this roost site.

THE PURPLE MARTIN (PROGNE SUBIS) IS THE ONLY MARTIN SPECIES IN MINNESOTA AND IS THE LARGEST M E M B E R O F T H E S W A L L O W F A M I L Y — are

rimental to martins early in the spring. There is also some the only songbird in North America that is dependent on evidence of issues with pesticide use and habitat destruction man-made housing; and have been a part of our natural hisin Brazil, where a majority of the martins spend the winter. tory for a long time — John James Audubon chose lodging New martin landlords have started to reverse this decline by that only had Purple Martins during his travels. installing and maintaining proper housing.

The martins also had a very close relationship with the naOnly a small percentage of people who place housing attive people who provided natural gourds that were hung on tract Purple Martins.To be successful, martin landlords must poles. In the U.S. more than 1 million people place housing try to avoid some common mistakes. One is placing the out each year to attract Purple Martins. housing in the wrong location Purple Martins are about 7.5 and or habitat; an area that is inches in length with a 15.5too enclosed or under trees is inch wingspan.Their name not suitable for martins. Martins comes from their iridescent are easily repelled by the more dark blue-purple color with aggressive House Sparrow and brown blackish wings. The Starling, so it’s important to stay males appear to be darker or active with the prevention of more purple than the females, these species. Both of them will who tend to be more brownremove or destroy martin eggs ish-black with some white on and also kill the nestlings.The the breast. In flight they look color of the house can also be a bold and black with a forked factor. Studies show that white tail and wings that are long and houses are much more successtapered.This gives them the ful because they reflect heat. speed and agility to catch their Finally, any plantings under the prey – flying insects.They can housing or climbing vines up often be seen perched on telethe tower should be removed. phone lines in large numbers With some of the following where housing is often placed management tips, you can inor during migration. crease your chances of attracting Purple Martins have gone This is one of many public sites found throughout the martins and being successful through a drastic change in state. This colony is managed by Kelly Applegate at martin landlords. Study your population during the past 30 site as the location can make a Eddy’s Resort on Lake Mille Lacs. years or so. Just in the great huge difference. Martin housing lakes region the population declined by 80 percent. should be centered in the largest opening available, 30–100 There are many contributing factors to this decline. One feet away from human housing and 60 feet clear of trees (at is that their natural tree cavities became less available and/or a minimum).The two most common types of housing used were dominated by non-native house sparrows and starlings. for martins are gourds or houses or a combination.The height Cold weather that limits insect activity can also be det should be between 10 to 15 feet high.This will help you

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prepare your site if you are just starting or lost your colony closely with weekly nest checks. to one of the factors above. Only use manageable housing Because of their decline, forms can be downloaded to help that allows you to lower it for monitoring and you keep good records of your nest checks and mainted n d a e cleaning the individual compartments. nance of your colony.These forms can be mailed s e i g s n u dete ho rs P ed Each compartment floor dimenin to help with the recovery effort. g ur a pl sion should be at least 6 x 6 One of the misconceptions about an e m inches, but 7 x 12 inches can Purple Martins is that they exclusively offer better protection from eat mosquitoes, which is false. Purple predators and the weather.

Martins actually feed during the The entrance hole is day at heights of 150 feet or higher also critical for martin where very few mosquitoes exist. success.The standard Instead they can be seen chasing round holes or starling and catching larger flying insects resistant crescent holes like dragonflies. During cold snaps need to be accurate. when the martins have nestlings, The best housing can supplemental feeding might be be built or purchased required. With some patience and using the recommend practice they will accept crickets, guidelines that are remealworms and scrambled eggs. searched and endorsed by The Minnesota Purple Martin Workthe Purple Martin Conservaing Group (PMWG) was started in tion Association www.pur2008 and is directed by Kelly Applegate. plemartin.org, the Purple Martin The purpose of the working group is to Society www.purplemartins.com, increase martin populations in the state or other similar groups such as MN through its many partnerships who engage the Martins www.mnmartin.org.There you public and communities about Purple Martin conwill find more information about the hole diservation with education, research and public Purple mensions depending on which style you choose.

Martin sites.The working group also hosts Martin Fest each What you see locally may not be the best for attracting year at one of its members’ homes.This is a great event for learning about martins and talking with local martin landand keeping Purple Martins, so it’s important to spend some lords.There are usually a few vendors to help with housing time researching. and supplies to help you achieve success with your colony.

Protecting your housing from predators is also highly One member from the Purple Martin Working Group is recommended. A predator guard attached to the pole at 4 Larry Lenard from Brainerd. He has one of the most successfeet will prevent most predators from getting access to the ful nesting colonies in the state. Since about 2008 his colony housing. Some housing can accommodate external predator consists of eight houses on separate towers that range from guards which prevent nightly raids by owls and other birds six to 14 compartments each. During the past 11 years 1,318 that could reach inside. Be prepared to be active landlords Continued on page 17 and to commit time to care for and monitor your colonies s.

Photos provided by Judd Brink

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Wild Stories

Excerpts from conservation officers’ weekly reports in 2012 (EDITOR’S NOTE: Reports appear as they were written by conservation officers.)

AUG. 13

JULY 16

• CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River). Many calls were taken on the dead Cisco/Whitefish floating in Upper Whitefish Lake.

• CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) investigated the report of a deer causing multiple injuries to a rural Fertile man.The individual was struck several times with the whitetail buck’s front hooves.The deer was dispatched after the attack.

• Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart (Grand Rapids).The first migratory blue wing teal were sighted.

• CO Bob Geving (Mankato).The pheasant count was way down as only a handful of birds were observed between the survey routes.

• CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit). One angler trolling outside of Silver Bay fell asleep in the hazy sun of a quiet afternoon. He was quite surprised to wake up and find two officers in a boat a few feet away when he was a mile off shore. He reported fishing had been slow.

• CO Mike Lee (Isle), along with Officer Verkuilen, received information on a possible wanton waste and possible over limit case on an area lake. Officers located the individuals and discovered an over limit.The individuals were in possession of 110 sunfish over their limits and in possession of six largemouth bass over their limits as well.

• CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood).Time was spent investigating a trespass complaint where parties drove past no trespassing signs, onto private property, only to get stuck with multiple vehicles. A TIP complaint was also handled involving over length fish being cleaned on the lake.The party was found, stopped and asked if any fish were on board.

Two perch were presented. After talking with the party, the location of the fish was disclosed. An illegal walleye fillet was then found in the rod locker.

• CO Mike Martin (St. Cloud) assisted a local Sheriffís Dept. in a search for an escapee who was being transported to Duluth and jumped out of the transport van when it stopped at an intersection, Officer Martin ended up apprehending the subject after a several hour search.

• CO Tom Hemker (Winona) received several rattle snake calls and assisted a person with a snake found in a home at 4:00 a.m.

AUG. 6 • CO Duke Broughten (Longville) checked a group of five anglers that stated their licenses were back at the cabin. While checking licenses at the cabin one of the anglers stated he had a license but couldn’t find it. During the check on the angler’s license status it was found that the angler purchased a license via the internet at the cabin while the officer was checking the other members’ licenses. Angler confessed he did not have a license while he was fishing and appropriate enforcement action was taken.

• CO Scott Staples (Carlton). Assistance was given to the Carlton Sheriff’s Dept. on a call of an abandoned vehicle in a remote area.They found that the owner of the vehicle was reported missing from the metro area and may have some mental or health issues. K9 Schody was brought in to assist in locating the missing person. After a short track, it was determined that the person had gone up the driveway to the complainant’s house.

Schody was called off at this time because we were notified that the person had been found in another county.The complainant still wanted help in checking his property. So we walked toward the direction K9 Schody was heading and the complainant realized one of his cars was gone and most likely stolen by the person we were looking for.The information was passed on to the Sheriff’s Office for possible vehicle theft charges.

• CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin). A group of young men from Ontario traveling to WE Fest found out that is illegal to pitch beer cans into our road ditches.

• CO Aaron Kahre (Minnetonka) investigated a TIP call about some “scoundrels” netting on a lake.Turns out it was the DNR fisheries crew doing lake surveys.

• CO Kevin Neitzke (Ft. Snelling) patrolled Ft. Snelling State Park & responded to a call of a lady stuck in the mud while jogging there.

16 W i l d S t o r i e s

JULY 9 • CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake). One boater encountered a scary situation when he jumped in the water after his efforts with his fire extinguisher failed to put out an engine fire.The boater was fine after being picked up by another boater.The fire burned out a short time later and the boat was towed to shore.

• CO Shane Siltala (Water Resource Enforcement Officer) happened to drive by a residence when he noticed smoke rising into the air. He then noticed a boat was parked in the yard in close proximity to other vehicles and the house, and the motor was fully engulfed in flames. When he turned around and drove into the yard, he found part of the motor had fallen from the boat, and a small grass fire had started. He quickly put out the fire with his fire extinguisher. No one was home at the time, but later the homeowner was very grateful the officer happened to be driving by at the right time.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Continued from page 15

Purple Martins fledged from his yard to start new colonies or to nest as adults back where they were hatched. This past year 44 compartments were occupied, producing 242 eggs with 208 hatching and 198 fledged, or 95 percent success. He dedicates several hours each week doing nest checks and nest replacements to ensure a productive and healthy colony. Larry is a great example of what it means to be a Purple Martin landlord. With his care and watchful eye, his colony has grown very rapidly with great results.

As a member of the Purple Martin Working Group, I had an opportunity to witness a spectacular event last August – the fall roost.These staging events are part of their annual migration to Brazil and back. Several of us met at a public boat landing near Avon to board a pontoon boat. Our destination was a large cattail island in the center of the lake where we waited for the martins to descend. At sunset we could see in the distance and in all directions these tiny black dots and we all yelled “here they come”. Slowly more and more appeared and within half an hour we were surrounded by thousands and thousands of Purple Martins — it was unbelievable. We estimated that this roost had about 50,000 birds.

The Brainerd lakes area offers a great opportunity to establish and increase the area’s Purple Martins.The public Purple Martin site for Brainerd is located at Central Lakes College, where it’s managed by the natural resources class.

With the number of golf courses and resorts found here the number of potential sites looks good for martins in the future.

Happy Birding!

J U D D B R I N K is the owner of MN Backyard Birds offering birdscap-

ing packages using bird feeding stations for your enjoyment. We install and maintain bird feeding stations for commercial and residential customers in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Judd also leads bird-guided walks and tours in the area. He can be contacted at jb@mnbackyardbirds.com

Minnesota

M a r t i n s 17

These ARE the Good Old Days of

FISHING LEGEND HAS IT THAT MUSKIES ARE THE FISH OF 10,000 CASTS, AND THAT SPENDING ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF TIME ON THE WATER IS THE KEY TO CATCHING THEM.

Perhaps back in the day…but no way today!

While patience is indeed a virtue, knowledge is the real key to muskie fishing success. Because once you understand your quarry, you can present the right lures, in the right places, under the right conditions to generate a response.

Even muskies!

Muskie Mystique vs. Modern Mechanics Like any other fish species, muskies have their own quirks, habits and instincts.Their tendencies to ride high in the water, and to follow lures to the boat, both taunt and haunt anglers, leaving the false impression that muskies are smarter and wilier than the average fish. In reality, it’s simply what they do when they’re not locked into full in feeding mode, or when your presentation isn’t quite right for the conditions. As such, it drives most anglers bonkers, and understandably so.

Get things right, however, and even muskies throw caution to the winds, pouncing upon lures with wild abandon.

Smashing strikes, slashing runs and high-flying acrobatics convert high-efficiency casting or trolling tactics into heartpounding excitement.

Establishing a Milk Route Most experienced anglers would agree that finding muskies is the first step toward catching them, which seems remarkably obvious yet is subtly profound. Because if the first step is locating them, the second is relocating them over and again, in an attempt to be there at the right time and place when the magic happens.

18 T h e s e

A typical muskie day on the water involves lots of casting or trolling, interspersed with brief flurries where you spot fish that follow your lures or rise to your baits. Even if fish don’t strike on the first sighting — which is oh-so common — you’ve found them and can enter a waypoint on your GPS to mark their location.This also stores the potential location of other muskies which may happen to gravitate to the same area, drawn by some productive combination of depth, cover and forage.

Even the biggest fish are seldom loners; several more of equally magnificent proportions my be lurking nearby.

So you fish likely areas: points, bay mouths, humps, rock reefs, large weed flats or other prominent structures with high likelihoods of attracting muskies, at least some of the time. Sighting fish allows you to begin formulating a pattern as to the depth, type of structure and form of cover they’re using. Something as simple as realizing that fish are currently relating to rocks vs. weeds — or vice versa — eliminates a lot of unproductive water, and allows you to focus your efforts in areas fish are actually using.

While large structures tend to attract numbers of fish it is remarkable how small, key features on those structures — like large boulders, turns along the deep outside weedline, the crests of humps, certain reed clumps, or other distinguishable areas — repeatedly hold the most active fish.Time and again, you can return to these key spots and literally expect someone to be home.They may not always be in a biting mood — much of the time, muskies may simply follow lures to the boat and then turn away at the last moment — but at least you know they’re around and that knowledge breeds confidence and draws you back for a return engagement.

Establishing a milk route of key spots allows you to jump from spot to spot, fire a few casts to the highest-percentage

ARE the Good Old Days of Muskie Fishing

areas for fish contact, and then move on to the next spot, and the next and so on.The strategy hinges upon the fact that, sooner or later, fish are going to turn on, become more aggressive and increase your odds of catching them. As storm fronts roll in, daylight wanes, the wind picks up, or some other trigger flips their switch, the fish start getting serious about feeding. When they do, they may blast your lures with a vengeance as soon as your baits hit the water.

More likely, an aggressive muskie may follow tightly behind the lure, flexing its gills and body while nipping at the lure’s tail, or repeatedly lunging at it as it sweeps, swims or

glides through the water.You can literally tell the difference between a lazy and an aggressive fish just by looking at its behavior in the water. Lazy fish may be incapable of being caught, but when they’re on the chew, it’s prime time to take

advantage of their enhanced vulnerability.The moment of truth, so to speak.

First and foremost, when an aggressive fish follows tightly behind your lure, don’t lift the bait out of the water. Don’t even slow your retrieve. In fact, do the opposite, increasing its pace. As the lure reaches a position about 3 feet off your rod tip, plunge the rod tip into the water and execute a broad, sweeping, figure eight maneuver, rapidly swirling it back and forth in an infinity symbol pattern well beneath the surface.

Large, sweeping motions allow big, long fish to turn their bodies and follow baits; conversely, little flip-flops of a lure cause

the fish to lose eye contact and interest. Don’t be afraid to churn the lake for 15 to 30 seconds if a active fish is around.You might look ridiculous, but beneath the surface, your lure appears good enough to eat.

Continued on page 25

Photos provided by Dave Csanda

D a v e

C s a n d a 19

If it weren’t for the dark eye, this woodcock would be nearly impossible to spot as it sits on the forest floor.

Cryptic (krip’tik) adj. Having hidden or vague qualities. Ghostlike. Secret.

Concealment.

Great gray owls are well-camouflaged as they while away the day perched next to a tree trunk.

THE CRITTERS THAT INHABIT OUR FIELDS, FORESTS AND WETLANDS HAVE E V O L V E D various methods in which to avoid being

eaten by other critters.

Some rely on fleetness of foot or wing, and escape predators by running or flying for cover. Others depend on cam-

You’ll have to look closely to spot a hen wild turkey as it feeds in a picked cornfield.

20 C r y p t i c

Critters

The male ring-necked pheasant is gaudy, but the female nearly disappears in its grassy habitat. ouflage and use their remarkable cryptic coloration to avoid detection by predators.

For instance, the snowshoe hare is brown-colored during summer and blends well with its shadowy surroundings. But, when Old Man Winter arrives and blankets the forests with snow, snowshoe hares shed their summer fur and grow a

warm coat of thick white hair.Their new fur affords them near perfect camouflage against their frosty surroundings.

Snowshoe hares also sprout a profusion of hair on their outsized hind feet allowing them to dash easily across the surface of the snow.

The females of most bird species are dull in color to help them hide from predators during nesting and while raising their young. I’m sure you have noticed how visible a rooster pheasant can be with its gaudy plumage, yet a hen dressed in her drab feathers of brown, black and cinnamon is nearly invisible even in short grass.

But not all male birds are brightly plumed.The king of camouflage is, perhaps, the American bittern.These longlegged marsh birds — males and females — blend extremely well with their swampy surroundings. When predators are nearby they stand statue-like with their bills pointed skyward in an attempt to mimic the reeds and cattails among which they hide.

Ruffed grouse and woodcock, two forest game birds popular among hunters, are other examples of birds where both the females and males wear camouflage.These two upland bird species blend so well with their woodland habitat they are seldom seen until they move, well hidden by plumes dappled with hues of brown, rust, tan and black.

We all know that most species of owls hunt at night, but where do they go during the day? Some species hide in

Photos provided by Bill Marchel

hollow trees but others, like the great gray owl and boreal owl, spend the daytime snuggled up to a tree truck for a long snooze.The owls’ spotted and barred plumage remarkably resembles the bark of the tree against which they are napping, making them very difficult to spot.

Animals as large as white-tailed deer are extremely well camouflaged, and can sometimes seem to disappear before our eyes, even though they were standing in the open. Often we don’t see them until they dash off, flashing their big white tails as they retreat.

Study the images on these pages and marvel at nature’s camouflage. Next time you are out in the fields, forests or wetlands, see if you can spot some of these cryptic critters.

B I L L M A R C H E L is a wildlife and outdoors

photographer and writer who lives near Fort Ripley. His work has appeared in many regional and national publications and he writes a monthly column for the Brainerd Dispatch. He can be reached at bill@billmarchel.com

B i l l

M a r c h e l 21

TREADING LOCAL WATERS: PELICAN LAKE

Pelican:Taking flight in the fall BREEZY POINT — It might take a major fall foliage occur rence to get folks to flock to Pelican Lake this autumn.

And even then, they wouldn’t be there for the fish. But for the few anglers who enjoy the fall bite on Pelican, that’s just fine. For at least one area fishing guide, it’s puzzling.

“Pelican Lake is one of the better lakes in the Brainerd lakes area to fish in the fall,” said Jim Ernster, a guide for Leisure Outdoor Adventures.“While hordes flock to Gull, Pelican remains relatively unpressured, and it shouldn’t.”

At 8,253 acres, Pelican is one of the largest lakes in the Brainerd area. And one of the most popular, too, at least in summertime.The discovery of zebra mussels in the lake this summer shouldn’t change that, and maybe the lake will finally get its due as a prime fall fishery.The bite was reportedly slow on the lake for much of the summer, but that was the case across the greater Brainerd lakes area.

At 8,253 acres, Pelican lake is one of the largest - and most popular - lakes in the Brainerd area and features Breezy Point Resort, a youth camp, four public accesses and a public swimming beach.

“It has been slow everywhere for about three weeks - typical for the time of year,” Ernster said back in early August.“If temps do start to fall, the fish will start to take notice and begin to feed more consistently. I know Pelican will follow suit and the key will be to find the pattern - spinners, cranks and jigs are all great options for Pelican this fall.”

Marc Bacigalupi, area fisheries supervisor in Brainerd, paid more attention than usual to Pelican over the summer with the zebra mussels discovery. He even got out recently to fish the lake.

“Real nice size of bass,” Bacigalupi said of his catch.“All over 15-1/2 inches.”

Yes, like many other lakes in the area, Pelican boasts a healthy bass population. But there’s a reason the lake has hosted the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener four times, the last time in 2008: Lots of walleyes. Big ones, too. But, Bacigalupi said, that hasn’t necessarily been the case in recent years.

“I’ve heard for a couple years it’s been slow and there’s been a possible dip in the population of walleyes,” he said.“But there are several things going on out there.The forage base is really abundant now, which is making fishing slow. But we’re stepping up fisheries monitoring on the lake and in the fall we should see a good batch of young walleyes. What’s keeping them from becoming keepers is the million-dollar question.”

Keepers or not, Ernster shared tactics on getting Pelican walleyes to bite this fall.

“With its classic steep breaks it can be a riggers paradise,” he said of Pelican.“Using bigger red-tails and creek chubs on live-bait rigs is the best way to attack walleyes that begin to feed as winter approaches.

22 P e l i c a n :

Taking

flight

“If you are new to the lake, tie a spinner rig with a crawler or a minnow and target the weed lines, which can extend out to 22 feet in Pelican’s crystal-clear waters. As the water temps continue to drop, switch to a jig and a minnow for consistent walleye action. Whether you are rigging or jigging, fish can be found anywhere from 10 to 60 feet of water, so good electronics are a key to finding fish. If you are looking for starting spots, look to Lincoln Point and the rifle site.”

Because of the lake’s size, finding walleyes can indeed be a daunting task on Pelican. And the most recent survey on the lake, in 2009, backed Bacigalupi’s take on Pelican’s walleye numbers.

According to the study,“The 2009 walleye catch showed a significant decline and dropped to near the lake’s first quartile value for the first time since 1971.Young fish remain abundant in fall electrofishing samples, however. Fish from years of both fry and fingerling stockings were fairly common in the catch.

Average size was 15.8 inches and 1.55 pounds, up slightly from their 2006 values. Eleven year classes were sampled, with the 2005 and 2006 classes being most abundant in the catch.”

While yellow perch numbers also were down and crappie and bluegill catches were about where they were in the previous survey, northern pike catches were up signifantly over that previous study, both in size and numbers, the survey said.

That fact hasn’t been lost on Ernster.

“Northern pike have a solid presence in the Pelican Lake system,” he said.“To find quality northern, you will have to sift through your fair share of hammer-handles, but quality pike do exist on Pelican to be sure. Additionally, a lot of guys will catch plenty of pike while walleye fishing using standard live-bait rigs.”

in

the

fall

The fact that panfish numbers have held steady on Pelican isn’t a bad thing. And according to Ernster, there are plenty of good panfish holes on Pelican.

“Panfish can be found in all of Pelican’s prominent bays such as Jones, Nelson or Halverson. Bluegills and pumpkinseeds are what will make up the bulk of your catch, but there is a chance at an occasional crappie.”

And, of course, there’s that burgeoning bass population.

“Look to the pencils scattered around the lake that can stretch out to as deep as 12 to 15 feet of water,” Ernster said.

“The bass on Pelican are numerous and there is a tremendous population of quality bass as well.”

There are four public accesses on the lake, which is crucial as the lake is heavily developed, with 22.9 homes/cabins per shoreline mile, according to that last report on the lake in 2009.

Two resorts remain on the lake along with a youth camp and there’s also a public swimming beach.

According to the report, the maximum depth is 104 feet and about 47 percent of the lake is 15 feet deep or less.

“Shallow water substrates consist primarily of sand, although areas of gravel, rubble, marl and silt are also common,” the report said.“The aquatic plant community is quite diverse, and with 38 species present, is critical to maintaining healthy fish populations. Emergent plants such as bulrush are important for shoreline protection, maintaining water quality and they provide essential spawning habitat for bass and panfish species.

Submerged plants provide food and cover needed by fish and other aquatic species.”

That sandy bottom is a big reason that Bacigalupi said the zebra mussel situation on Pelican isn’t as dire as, say, it is on Gull Lake, which now has a full-blown infestation after the mussels were first found in the lake in October 2010.

“Pelican has got broad sand flats and sandy basins for the most part. Zebra mussels don’t settle on sand, they prefer a solid surface,” Bacigalupi said.

“We caught it at such an early stage. It’s three, four or five years behind Gull in the stage of infestation. It could explode in the next several years, but we caught it early and are taking steps to monitor it. We’re planning some water sampling, monitoring counts, actually monitoring the population itself. We hope the (zebra mussels) habitat is limited on Pelican. It’s been a unique case. But it’s hard to predict.”

BRIAN S. PETERSON,

is a freelance outdoors writer based in northwestern Minnesota.

B r i a n

S .

P e t e r s o n 23

Outdoors

today in the

SEPTEMBER 15 15 15 15

Deer season opens (archery) Grouse, gray partridge, rabbit, squirrel season open Sandhill crane season opens (northwest zone) Stream trout in southeast streams (catch and release through Sept. 30) 21 Early Canada goose season closes 22 First day of fall 22 - Waterfowl season opens 22 - Woodcock season opens 22-23 Take a Kid Hunting Weekend29 - Northeast moose season opens (by lottery) 29 Fall turkey season opens (by lottery; 30 days) 29 Moose season opens (northeast) 29 Archaeology Day, Mille Lacs Kathio State Park 30 Lake trout summer season inland waters closes 30 Stream trout in streams season closes

OCTOBER 7 Lake trout summer season on Lake Superior closes 13 Pheasant season opens 14 Bear season closes 15 Crow season closes 18-19 Camp Ripley first deer season 18-21 Special youth deer hunt 20 Gray and red fox, badger, opossum and raccoon seasons open 20 Prairie chicken season opens (by permit) 27 Mink, muskrat, otter and beaver furbearer trapping seasons open (north and south zone)

24 C a l e n d a r

o f

E v e n t s

27-28 Camp Ripley second deer season 28 Fall wild turkey season closes 30 Mourning dove season closes 31 Stream trout in lakes season closes (summer) 31 Halloween

NOVEMBER 3 Deer firearms season opens 3 Wolf early season opens 5 Rail, woodcock and snipe season closes 15 Dark house spearing season opens 17 3B deer firearms season opens 22 Thanksgiving Day 24 Wolf late season hunting/trapping season opens 24 Bobcat, fisher and pine marten seasons open 24 Deer muzzleloader season opens 30 Sharp-tailed grouse season closes 30-Dec. 2 Ice Fishing, Snowmobile and Winter Sport Show, RiverCentre, St. Paul

DECEMBER 1 Muskie season closes 1 Lake trout season opens (Lake Superior)

Continued from page 15

Many times, a following fish will come back to make one or more passes at the lure, and hopefully, be triggered into striking. It’s the best way to convert follows into strikes. And on just 3 feet of line, it’s a memorable jolt when they do.

You’d best have your drag on your reel set to slip under sudden extreme prejudice.

Where They Lurk The Brainerd lakes area is home to a surprising number of muskie waters; stocked lakes like Alexander, Shamineau and Cedar provide outstanding opportunities for catching goodsized fish, even if you’re not a hardcore muskie enthusiast.

If you’re after a monster — and who isn’t — two bodies of water really shine: Lake Mille Lacs and the Mississippi River, where 30-pounders are common, and truly huge fish exceeding 40 pounds are possible.

The Mississippi River is traditional muskie water, with a long history of producing big fish. With DNR regulations stipulating that this stretch of the river is a catch-and-release fishery for muskie, the fish grow large. Fishing pressure is light compared to most other muskie waters, at least in part because most anglers do not understand the seasonal habits of river muskie. And likely because of the need to fish from small boats that are capable of running shallow-water stretches and avoiding treacherous rocks and stumps.

River fish make seasonal use of different forms of areas: notably, current breaks in summer, and deep holes at river bends in fall.The shallow, relatively stained water means you don’t have to fish deep, most of the time.Traditional bucktails, jerkbaits and especially topwaters are great for action. In late fall, it’s hard to beat a large sucker suspended a few feet below a bobber.

While the Mille Lacs fishery is comparatively new to the muskie game — about 20 years in the making since early stockings created a viable fishery — the potential for catching huge fish is unmatched. Every fall, muskies in the

Your

50-pound class are caught and released by hardcore anglers willing to brave the winds and waves of October and November, with Thanksgiving prime time for catching the fish of a lifetime.

In summer, most anglers tend to toss large inline bucktails spinners, opting for speedy presentations that trigger strikes through speed and coverage. Others prefer large wooden jerkbaits or crankbaits that introduce erratic side-to-side or diving actions to large lures. In any case, forget the small stuff.These baits are real mouthfuls, big and bulky enough to attract the attention of large predators — and to wear you down after hours of repeated casting.

In fall, the odds shift to huge softbaits like Bull Dawg Pounders, cast and retrieved with a lift-drop swim back to the boat. Massive 8-foot muskie rods spooled with 80-to 100-pound-test superlines and equally stout wire or fluorocarbon leaders are en vogue. Flinging these baits is indeed a true test of endurance, akin to an Iron Man competition.

Which somewhat explains why I like muskie fishing: It feels so good when I stop.

Even so, it’s important to acknowledge that muskie fishing requires more than sheer hours of extreme effort, hoping to get lucky from time to time. Rather, it’s a game of playing percentages, locating fish, matching lure styles to depths and conditions, recognizing and fishing prime conditions like approaching storm fronts, and being in the right place at the right time when the fish decide to cooperate.That’s playing the odds, and tipping them in your favor.

D A V E C S A N D A is a veteran outdoor communicator/TV co-host who works at Lindner’s Angling Edge Television in Baxter. He is also president of the Brainerd Lakes Area Chapter of Let’s Go Fishing (www.lgfwsbrainerdarea.com), a Minnesotabased non-profit volunteer organization that takes seniors, youths and veterans fishing for free.

Best Shots

Gina Rudolph Gabrial with his first pheasant hunting in South Dakota Jaden with his first grouse ever with a 2 birds 1 shot.

T h e s e A R E t h e G o o d O l d D a y s o f M u s k i e F i s h i n g 25

Your

Best Shots

LaVonne Danzl ors” can be great!

Even right in town the “Outdo

RoAnn Trout Visiting Rosebreasted Grosbeak!

26 Y o u r

B e s t

S h o t s

RoAnn Trout Beaty of Nature!