Outdoor Traditions - Spring 2013

Issue 1 • Edition 8

Featured in this issue

EARLY SEASON LARGEMOUTH BASS BY: BERNIE BARRINGER

PLUS MORE! • The Dating Game

By: BILL MARCHEL

• Fishing Guide ‘Snapshots’

By: JIM KALKOFEN

• No More ‘Pouting On Leech • Wild Stories

By: BRIAN S. PETERSON

Excerpts From Conservation Officers’ Weekly Reports

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

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Welcome

By: Mike Holst

HERE COMES SPRINGTIME

SPRING SEEMS TO HAVE A REPUTATION OF ITS OWN AMONGST THE SEASONS OF THE YEAR.

Almost always it evolves around the renewal and rebirth of our earth. For way back last fall, before the earth shed its fading summer colors and the cold winds of winter came forth to put the flora and fauna to sleep — and encapsulate us all in ice and snow — the seeds for this year’s summer scene were sown.

Not only in and on this earth, but also in the warm wombs of a great many animals, that they might replenish themselves and propagate their species.

Mother Nature knows there is only one season for birth in the wild. It’s a season that supplies food for those young, emerging babies and gentle rains with ample warm sunshine to nurture plants. One that only happens in springtime and it happens best right here. Even the birds that flew thousands of miles to escape the rigors of winter come back knowing this is where they need to nest and raise their young.

But beyond all that, something called spring fever happens in the minds of people who have long endured whatever winter had to throw at them. Then, as if on cue, this rebirth comes to fruition. Nowhere is it more prominent than here in the lakes’ country. For nature abounds here and it is such an integral part of life in this land and it’s no accident this place was chosen to showcase it all. No accident at all that this is where it all seems to come together like clockwork.

Where streams, freshened with melting snow and ice, team with fish looking to spawn; and the sky above is filled with birds looking for a place to nest. Musty burrows and dens are

abandoned and creatures that lay forgotten and napping for months now stretch their legs and show off their tiny replicas that were born in the springtime.

I remember being in school, in the springtime, and how hard it was to keep my mind on my studies. How I would go to the pencil sharpener by the classroom window so I could smell the soft breezes that came in the open windows; how the air outside smelled like freshly turned dirt and lilac blossoms.

The maple trees across the street, swelling with buds, would be wet with running sap. The playground was inviting me to a game of marbles and I could almost hear the crack of the bat on the baseball diamond. My daydreams were a brief respite from my studies and from those dreams came a desire to leave the confines of that room to escape to the fields and forest.

I’m older now and I have cashed so many spring coupons from the book of life. The woods are right outside my back door and I go there quite often. No more daydreaming at the pencil sharpener. No more trying to reinvent the wheel or feel the pulse of government. Nothing on this earth compares with the beauty, the peace and serenity that are there just for the taking.

For Molly, my faithful companion, and me, it’s always been there for us come springtime. New sights for me, new smells for her and a new season for all of us as we walk the trails in Mother Nature’s own back yard.

M I K E H O L S T is an author and columnist from

Crosslake.

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Log

The Dating Game During Spring, Finding A Mate Is A Priority For Birds

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Brainerd Area

gtime Crappies n i r p S

Early Season Largemouth Bass .. 5 Fishing Guides Share ‘Snapshots’ from their Memory Banks ............................. 8 No More ‘Pouting On Leech ... 12 What’s My Line? ........................ 14 The Dating Game ..................... 18 Brainerd Area Springtime Crappies ................. 20 Parading The Byway ................. 22 Bluebirds ..................................... 24 Wild Stories ................................. 26 Today In The Outdoors.............. 26

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Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. ®2010 Cover photo by Janet Finger

Early Season

Largemouth

BASS

O K , I ’ L L A D M I T I T . I have lived in the Brainerd area for 12 years but before that I was one of those Iowans that came up to the Brainerd lakes to fish and vacation each year. In fact, from 1980 until 2001, I took about 25 trips to this area, first with fishing buddies and later with my family as they grew. We came here for one primary purpose — fishing. Most of those trips were centered around Memorial Day weekend because of the amazing bass fishing opportunities we found here.

Springtime largemouth bass fishing in the Brainerd Lakes area can provide some of the fastest action of the year.

Photos provided by Bernie Barringer

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six hours of fishing but we were catching so many that we Many times we remarked about the low numbers of bass couldn’t bring ourselves to call it quits. fishermen on opening day and the following week.These are prime times for largemouth bass fishing. We were amused For fishing lily pads, you need a lure that will stay fairly by the focus on walleyes while we could spend most of our weed free when retrieving it.This rules out crankbaits and days enjoying some terrific bass fishing while rarely seeing really anything with open treble hooks hanging from it.This another person fishing for bass.The Brainerd lakes area was a leaves us with basically three categories of lures: spinnerbaits, great place to bass fish but the locals didn’t seem to care and topwaters and jigs. the people from outside the area didn’t seem to know.

Jigs offer a slow-moving presentation that is a great choice Well, that’s all changed. Not for specific locations. Some the fishing opportunities, really, of the largest fish are caught but the numbers of anglers on jigs, but they tend to sink sure have.The bass fishing down into the silt and drag a here is no longer a secret.The lot of debris along with them, first two weeks of bass season making them unattractive to are still prime time for terrific the fish when they are used largemouth fishing but you will in the dark-bottomed shalnot be alone. lows. Jigs are best used where The final week of May and you find the vegetation growthe first week of June offer ing in a bottom with a little terrific bass fishing for two more sand content. Cast them reasons. First, the fish are recuout and pop them along with perating from the rigors of the a lift of your rod tip, taking up spawn and they really put on slack line with a turn of the the feedbag.The water is apreel each time you move it. proaching the 70 degree mark On the other end of the and the fish are aggressively spectrum are the topwaters feeding. Secondly, the bass are such as buzzbaits.These are still shallow where they are fast moving baits with a lot of easy to find and they are in attracting qualities because predictable locations.These they make a lot of commoare locations that you can see, tion. Aggressive bass will as opposed to mid-summer follow from below and try patters when you have to use to attack them as they work your electronics to find subtle through the openings of the changes in deep weedlines to lily pads. Buzzbaits allow you target them. During the early to work through an area and season, if you find lily pads pick off the most aggressive you find the bass. fish. Keep in mind that the Water lilies grow in shalCloudy overcast days often find the largest numbers most aggressive fish are often low, dark-bottomed areas.This smaller ones.The largest bass of bass in the shallows and it’s also the best time to allows the sun’s rays to be in the area often won’t (or catch the biggest bass of your life. collected and the bass seek can’t) go crashing through out the warm water of the areas — not just because they are the weeds to chase down a fast moving bait. a warm water fish but because the food is there, too. Panfish The exceptions to the rule of fast topwaters are the popspawning is over and the shallows are full of food both for pers and the weedless frogs. Poppers work well if there are the bass and for the baitfish the bass eat. plenty of opening in the pads.Toss a popper out and give it a The best time to fish lily pads is before they get too thick. twitch. If a bass doesn’t hit it within a few seconds, flip it to In early summer the lilies will be more scattered with plenty the next opening and try it again.This method calls for accuof openings to get your bait into and with room for the fish rate casting or you will be pulling weeds off your bait.Yankto chase down and capture your bait. By the end of June, waing lilies up by the roots is a sure way to spook the fish in the ter lily flats that were great a month earlier are now too thick area, and likewise, moving your boat over to free a snagged to fish effectively. lure puts an end to the fishing in that area.

Interestingly, I have found that the best fishing occurs durScum frogs are a good compromise.There are several ing cloudy weather. In fact my most amazing day of fishing brands of plastic weedless frogs which work well.They slide the lily pads came during a day-long rain. Despite wearing right across the tops of the lily pads because the hooks are rain gear, my buddy CJ and I were soaked to the skin after pointed upwards and protected with a weed guard.There

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are trade-offs in all things it seems, and because the scum I positioned my boat off the edge of the lily pad flat and frogs are weedless, the hooking percentages are low. Fish casted out towards the shoreline. I gingerly worked the spinthem with your rod tip low to the water and be ready to nerbait through the pads, weaving it back and forth between swing hard as soon as you feel them, sometimes sliding it across the fish on the bait. Notice I said the tops of the pads to let it feel. Don’t set the hook when drop down on the other side. you see the fish slurp it in, wait As the bait came through the until they turn away with it and open areas I would let it flutter you feel pressure.Your odds of down a little, the single Colorado getting a good hookset are much blade spinning like a helicopter. I greater if you wait for the feel knew these pockets of open wabefore you slam them. ter, sometimes no more than the Fishing with topwater baits size of a garbage can lid, can be is one of the most fun ways to the best places to catch a bass. fish bass because it is so visual.

My pattern held true on that The sight of a big fish blowing day. As I gave some slack line to up on your bait is a sure fire way allow the bait to drop slowly Spinnerbaits come in a variety of sizes and to get some adrenaline dumped into an opening, I saw the line styles. These are four options for the springtime into your system. Keep the frog move sideways and I immebass angler. Clockwise from upper left, A Mister twitching and moving erratically Twister Spinner for finesse applications, a tandem diately set the hook into that through the weedbed, stopping huge fish. It wasn’t the first fish spinnerbait with one Colorado and one willow momentarily when it reaches an leaf blade for more open areas, A single willow I caught that way and it sure opening.This gives any nearby leaf blade for moving quickly through the weeds, wasn’t the last — I have caught bass time to take it in and may hundreds since — and I still hold and a Stan’s Spin with the helicopter blade for tease them into biting. out hope it won’t be the largest. fishing in the pockets between the pads.

The final category is the We’ll see about that. spinnerbait.This is a compromise between the fast moving Largemouth bass fishing season opens on May 25 this year, buzzbaits and the slow approach of the jig. Spinnerbaits and the first 2-3 weeks of the season will bring one of the are without a doubt the most effective of the three when it best opportunities of the year for fast and exciting bass fishcomes to catching the aggressive fish in any lily pad flat.The ing action.The bass will be in the lily pads at that time and hooking and landing percentages are very good and they are now you know how to catch them. It’s up to you to get out quite weed-free. But it does take some practice to fish them there and make it happen! effectively in the lilies.

B E R N I E B A R R I N G E R is a free-lance writer livI caught my biggest Minnesota largemouth from Love Lake ing near Pine River. He divides his time between hunting in 1992 on a spinnerbait. It was 23 inches and weighed 7 muskies and hunting big game with a bow across North America. You can view his website at pounds, and it took the bait in only two feet of water.The www.bowhuntingroad.com. method I used to catch it is one I have used to catch hundreds of bass over the years.

Photos provided by Bernie Barringer

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Guides SHARE ‘SNAPSHOTS’ FROM THEIR MEMORY BANKS THE BRAINERD-LAKES AREA IS BLESSED W I T H M A N Y L A K E S A N D R I V E R S and has

perhaps one of the most diverse and excellent fisheries anywhere. Anglers have too many options and one person could never fish all of the ponds, small and large lake systems, or the hundreds of miles of streams and rivers. Some fish weekends; others only fish the water they live on; and some are fortunate to get paid to be on the water every day.

We call the guys “guides” who are out daily, showcasing the lakes and teaching people to fish. Over decades of time on the water, they have witnessed or been involved in “stuff.”

Their interesting stories recount a tiny glimpse of careers in the sun and wind.

Some of those adventures follow.

Gary Roach, Merrifield: Gary guided Nick Adams and Sue Brown in the Camp Confidence Fishing Classic a few years ago. Gary and Nick had fished together and known each other for more than 30 years.They had a routine down where Nick would say,“Gary, I have to relieve myself.” Gary, driving a big Lund, had a wash-down system (hose with a heavyGary Roach — the early duty spray nozzle) built into years. The D-Bar-D photo the boat. Nick asked Sue to features the familiar faces turn around. She did, and a of Ron Lindner (left), Al few seconds later Gary hit Lindner (second from right) the water with a jet of spray joining Roach (right). The while Nick began his busiLund tri-hull was Roach’s first ness. Sue, not knowing the guide rig. routine or that Gary even had the hose in hand, thought one thing about a 77-year old man, and exclaimed,“Oh, my God!” Upon realizing what happened, laughter filled their section of Gull Lake.

Tony Roach: Yes, related to Gary, with a busy summer and winter guide service for individuals and groups – roachs-

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guideservice.com, 763-226-6656. It happened one hot, flat calm day on Mille Lacs. He might blame his wife for the new plastic sandals she gave him, the kind with no traction, but Tony is kind and blamed the sandals and the fact he had removed the carpet.The vinyl floor reduced any traction the sandals had. Back-trolling his tiller Lund, with two clients in front of him, a client hooked a nice walleye and both men were occupied with the “fight.”At the same time,Tony reached over to wash night crawler goop off his hands and, off-balance, slipped and quickly exited the boat. Luckily, he grabbed a handle and was hanging on with the boat still in gear.They heard his yelling and were surprised not to see him in his familiar perch. After shifting into neutral and hoisting him aboard (after netting the fish), all had a good laugh. Now, eight years later, he still guides the duo but they bring him reminders, like orange life jackets and water-tight cases for his cell phone.“That was the only time anybody ever fell out of my boat, and it was me!”Tony said.

George Cooper, Jr.: Decades of guiding taught Coop to expect anything, but not this. He was fishing about 25 years ago with Bob, a regular client who weighed 525 pounds. Bob set his new rod and reel on the edge of Coop’s boat and,“Poof, over it went,” he said.

Quick as could be, Big Bob stripped and jumped in, trying to recover it. He didn’t find it and Coop couldn’t budge him into George Cooper Jr. holding a the boat.They tried a monster, 24.5-pound northern nearby bog, but with Bob’s pike he caught in 1986. weight, down went the bog, covering him in weeds and algae. Coop had Bob tie on a life jacket and rigged his anchor rope around him. He towed him two miles back to the ramp.“What a sight that was,” Coop recalled.

Fishing Guides Share ‘Snapshots’ from their Memory Banks

Royal Karels has been fishing for 70 years and guides five days a week (218-829-6672) out of Cragun’s Resort. He worked for Marv Koep as a Nisswa Guide’s League member for many years but started guiding at his grandfather’s resort on Shirt Lake.“With double trips seven days a week, my wife had to “X” off a half day just to see me,” he Royal Karels (left) and clients said. One of the most with a stringer of largemouth interesting trips ocbass caught in June of 1973. curred on Crosslake with an elderly couple.The man demanded to use his own 3-foot metal casting rod with heavy braided line for rigging.

“First thing, he hooked on a night crawler and his hand at the same time. Once freed, he kept letting all the line out.

His wife on the other side of the boat was catching walleyes, even though she only let out six feet of line – and we were in 20 feet of water,” Royal said. When they got to the dock, Royal was about to slip the motor into reverse when the old man reached out and grabbed a dock post. The problem is that the boat was still moving.“He did the splits, and suddenly dropped in. All I saw was his new hat floating with no head attached. I was nervous, and then up he popped. On shore, he stood there dripping wet. His wallet and 20s were soaked.

“I apologized profusely, or tried to. He put up his hand and said ‘STOP!’ Sonny, that’s the most fun I’ve had in years.”

Toby Kvalevog, leisureoutdooradventures.com, 218-8281988, said each trip is special and fond memories are created every time on the water. He commandeered a pontoon when he was a teenager, because brother Shane wanted to go fishing.Toby would do anything for his brother, who survived a car crash with spinal injuries and was in a wheelchair.They were on Lake Bemidji fishing big minnows under bobbers for pike. Shane’s bobber plopped under, but he came up empty.

About the same time, a tremendous splash resounded from the other side of the boat. Toby knew in a flash that his rod had been jerked overboard. He made three giant leaps, the final one being over the side trying to catch up with his rod, which was being towed away from the pontoon. The cork handle kept it slightly buoyant and he grabbed it and yanked back.

Something big was tugging on the other end.Toby side-stroked while “playing” the fish, finally reaching Shane and he lifted the rod to him.“He landed it, and it was his biggest pike ever, 15 pounds,”Toby said, and the day lives on in memories bright.

Glen Belgum was on Whitefish a few years ago. He guides for most things fishy (gmbelgum@q.com or 218-8293732), but this trip was for pike. On a hot summer day, rigging giant chubs, a client got a bite, fed line and set the hook.

The battle was engaged. The rod doubled. He gained line and the “pike” pulled out line against the drag. Other boats stopped and cheered. Glen grabbed the net. Minutes dragged

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by and what could have been the biggest “pike” in the lake was still pulling. Finally, with extra effort, the “fish” got closer and closer, and just as Glen went to net it, the “fish” turned into a complete downrigger. Glen started to laugh; the client thought it hilarious; the other boats added to the raucous commotion. Glen said,“He got to keep the trophy.”

Butch Blasing of S & W Guide Service, 218-828-8347, said the highlight of his career was guiding the legendary basketball coach Bobby Knight.“Either Bobby or Coach, not Mr. Knight, I learned,” said Butch.The pick-up was supposed to be at Grandview’s dock, but with 3-foot rollers pounding into the dock, we met at Zorbaz. “It was raining and miserable and when they arrived, the question was if they really wanted to go out,” Butch explained. He didn’t want to risk the main lake, so he fished Booming Out Bay. Coach is an avid fisherman, but dragging Lindy rigs around the Bay was, as he told Butch,“The most boring fishing ever.”They did catch a few walleyes, pike and bass, but the highlight for Butch was getting to know such a caring, common, successful man with such a passion.“That trip was priceless,” he said.

Marv Koep is recognized as the Master among local guides. Perhaps among statewide guides. He currently runs out of S & W Guide Service (218-829-7010), and while relating stories said he always was so serious in the boat, but several times, kids caught him unawares. One youngster perplexed him once with this question,“Mister, have you ever had a real job?”

After some consideration, Marv replied,“I guess not.” Another 10-year old wondered if he was an Indian or “just burnt.” Marv went with the “burnt” Marv Koep (right) and answer after spending Carl Lowrance, founder every May, June, July and of the pioneering marine August day on the water. electronics company, pose At one of the Governor’s with a stringer of walleye Openers in the Brainerd caught with the aid of lakes area, Marv guided Lowrance’s Little Green Jesse Ventura.“They were Box, the advent of portable an hour late, hung-over sonar unit. and I went through more aspirin that morning that I did shiners.” Getting back to being too serious, Marv recalled the day some “friends” pulled a fastone on him.The clients jumped in the boat. Marv said,“One guy held the spinning rod with the reel on top despite my pleading how to do it right. I was really frustrated. When he asked if he needed a fishing license I headed to the dock. He didn’t think it necessary because we weren’t catching fish.

He wore me out. He wouldn’t listen. It was the worst day on the water ever. When we got to the dock, I was introduced to

Fishing Guides Share ‘Snapshots’ from their Memory Banks

Wendy Koep, Marv Koep’s daughter, holds her first big rock bass caught on a jig and minnow on North Long Lake. “Every time she catches a fish she’ll ask dad if it’s big enough to get her picture taken.” this guy, who was one of the top walleye pro anglers.They really got me.Yes, I may be too serious.”

Tom Neustrom, mnfishingconnections.com or 218327-2312, goes out of his way to please clients. One cold October day stretched even his limits. Back-tolling into the wind, the client said,“I got a bite.”Tom said,“What I didn’t realize is she had flipped her rig behind the boat and opened the bail. She didn’t say anything for about a minute, and set the hook when all 140 yards were stripped off the reel and wound onto my prop shaft.” Tom headed to shore, stripped and wearing only underwear and a sweat shirt, jumped in and began to hack line off the prop. With 25 mph winds and 50-degree water temps, and no pockets in his shorts, he held the knife in his teeth when pulling line free. He finally climbed in, put on rain gear and shivered from 20 minutes in the water.“I motored away from shore and she looked at me without even a thought of an apology. Her question was,‘Tom, do you have another rod and reel for me to use?’ I wonder to this day if she thinks this kind of thing happens all the time on a guide trip.”

He said the biggest growth in the guide business is with couples wanting to fish and learn more about fishing.

WalleyeDan Eigen, walleyedan.com, 218-839-5598, knows that not all guide trips are created equal. Sometimes the kids are the highlight; others, its people catching their first fish. In this case, it was the same group as the past 10 years, a trio of “low-stress, catch fish or not” clients.Tony McDonald, Rick Lupient and Paul Strangis were drifting along the White House Bar. WalleyeDan related the story:“Tony reeled up and asked for a new red tail. I saw it had some life and told him we would be out of there soon, and to drop it back. He did.The rig hit the bottom and the drag immediately started to squeal under the pressure of a good fish. I rushed up with the net but suddenly the fish darted under the boat to the other side, and completely launched itself out of the water and fell with a thud into the boat. It hit the floor and if it could have talked, we would have expected it to say,‘I give up!’The pike was about 12 pounds,and all the boats around us witnessed the excitement.”

Times on the water are always better in person, but the memories brighten the long, cold days before new dreams can be created. Hopefully these stories cause each reader to pause and recall a favorite moment. Better yet, create some special memories 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.

Photos provided by Jim Kalkofen

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TREADING LOCAL WATERS: LEECH LAKE

No More ‘Pouting On Leech Now It’s All About Walleyes On Booming Fishery

THERE WAS A TIME NOT LONG AGO According to the DNR’s last “Status of the Fishery” (as of when the ‘Pout Festival was THE draw at Leech Lake.

July 1, 2011):“Since the Large Lake Program began in 1983, But no pouting, walleye anglers. Not anymore, anyway. walleye gillnet catch rates have ranged from 4.6 fish/net Yes, another successful Eelpout Festival wrapped up on the (1993) to 13.4 fish/net (1988).The 2011 catch of walleye per lake just last month. But instead of what was a huge down experimental gillnet set was 8.08 fish/net and remains above time — basically from one ‘Pout Fest to the next — Leech the 1983-2011 average of 7.6 fish/net.The improvements in Lake is on the verge of coming alive again with the kickoff the walleye population can be largely contributed to aboveof this year’s open-water season — the wallaverage year classes of walleye produced eye fishing opener Saturday, May 11. And even during 2005-2008. Walleye sampled in experiimmediately following the 34th annual ‘Pout mental gillnets ranged in length from 6 to 26 Fest, attention quickly turned back to walleyes inches. Observed median lengths of the 2010, through the ice for the last two weeks of the 2009, and 2008 year classes were approximate2012-13 walleye season. ly 9, 12, and 15 inches TL, respectively.

Since the return of walleyes to prominance on “Statistics from the 2011 creel survey deLeech in about 2008, each year has seen signifiscribed another good walleye angling season cant growth in fish numbers over the previous on Leech Lake. Walleye were caught at a rate of year. And all signs are pointing to a better-than0.232 fish/hour and harvested at a rate of 0.079 ever open-water season on the lake in 2013. fish/hour across all anglers. Anglers specifically The once highly regarded walleye fishery targeting walleye caught fish at a rate of 0.584 was all but dried up in 2005. But following walleye/hour and harvested fish at a rate of three years of aggressive stocking by the DNR, 0.177 walleye/hour.These statistics, in particular the thinning of flocks of walleye-devouring the targeting catch and harvest rates, are compacormorants and a move from a daily limit of You’ll see many unique rable to estimates collected during the 1990s.” six walleyes to four, Leech was on the rebound.

The lake is essentially the home base for fish houses and displays The possession limit remains four, with a proLeisure Outdoor Adventures, a fishing outfitter at the Annual ‘Pout tected slot of 18 to 26 inches (one trophy fish headquartered on the shores of Leech Lake in Festival on Leech Lake. over 26 inches also may count toward that posWalker. Jim Ernster, a guide for Leisure Outdoor session limit).The last creel survey on the lake Adventures, knows the lake well — and knows what it takes — in 2011 — described another good season on Leech.That to tap into the healthy walleye numbers on this monstrous continued in 2012 and should mean the same in 2013.

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Photos provided by Kelly Humphrey/Brainerd Dispatch

100,000-plus-acre lake this upcoming spring and summer.

It’s as basic as, well, keeping it basic. And playing the wind.

“The opener on Leech means a jig and a minnow.You can make it more complicated, but why?” Ernster said.“Narrowing your search means playing the wind. Wind concentrates baitfish, which in turn brings the walleyes in with their feedbags on. Further, zeroing in on inside turns, sand grass or rock structures will allow you to be more precise with your location as well. Points are classicly targeted — for example, Ottertail, Stony or Pine point, and have stood the test of time.That being said, shorelines can also be good if you put in the time to find the features that make a certain 100-yard stretch more enticing from the next. Areas to check in the spring include the west Goose Flats, Sheep’s Pastures or the Federal Dam area. Depending on the wind, walleyes will be found anywhere from two feet to 10 feet of water.The windier the day, the shallower these fish will be, no matter if it is a point or shoreline structure.

“As we transition from the opener to early Summer, walleyes can still be targeted with jigs, but be sure to explore other presentation options like Lindy rigging and spinners.

Classic Lindy rigs involve leeches, but spot-tail shiners are a great choice for rigging on Leech Lake. While minnows are the most common choice on Leech, night crawlers and leeches are good choices, especially as the water temps begin to rise. When Lindy rigging leeches and crawlers, be sure to use light monofilament line (4- to 8-pound test) and a small hook (size 6 or 8).The lighter the rig, the more authentic and life-like presentation your bait will have.Trolling spinners can also put fish in the boat and afford you the opportunity to cover water. Some of the best areas to pull spinners will be the rocks scattered throughout the main lake. Crawlers are the top choice, yet sometimes leeches will offer a change-up and trigger bites. Locations include Submarine,The Annex or Pelican Island.”

While the big news on Leech in recent years has been the return of the walleye, it remains a solid multi-species fishery.

Big muskies and northern pike have long been a staple of the lake and, like many fisheries in the greater Brainerd lakes area, it’s fast becoming known for its bass-fishing opportunities, too.

“Northern can be loads of fun this time of year, especially for numbers,” Ernster said of spring and the opener, which also kicks off the pike season.“Find the warmer water in some of the many back bays, grab a spinning rod and start casting.You can cover water with spinner baits that should be cast adjacent to weed edges. Swim-baits can be cast in these same areas and drive pike nuts. When making these Map provided by Brian S. Peterson

casts, braided line works best and a fluorocarbon leader will decrease ‘bite-offs’ from toothy pike. If bigger northerns are what you’re after, tie up some spinners using 20-pound Fluorocarbon leaders, approximately four feet long, bigger Jolly Roger Tackle beads and blades.Trolling spinners allows you to cover ground and pick off active feeders.Trolling bigger sucker minnows is a great way to find northern looking for a big meal post-spawn.You will need to be patient as this is not a numbers game, but when you come across one, it will have shoulders.”

That goes for bass in general on Leech, Ernster said.

“Recent creel surveys show the average size bass anglers’ catch on Leech Lake runs right around the 3-pound mark. It is definitely not uncommon to see fish as large as 5 or even 6 pounds pulled from this trophy-type fishery.

“Bass fishing opportunities on Leech Lake have made it somewhat of a hidden gem for many years. With all the wild rice they have for cover, it’s easy to understand why they still remain somewhat of an untapped resource. Just like the panfish population, most of the bass numbers will be found in the north arms and shallow bays of the lake, which are jam-packed with wild rice. It is here that lunker largies lay patiently, just waiting. Seek out any type of vegetation in shallow water areas such as Boy Bay, Waboose Bay and Moonlight Bay for these trophy-sized largemouth. Make sure to spool a heavy braid-type line as you will likely be pulling these fish from all different kinds of slop and cover. A top-water frog twitched through the rice beds or a Jig & Pig worked along the edges should take fish all day long.

Northland Jawbreaker spoons pulled through the rice should produce a fish or two as well. Keep in mind that almost all of these bass will be found in five feet of water or less.”

According to the DNR, aquatic invasive species currently found in Leech include rusty crayfish, heterosporosis, curlyleaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife and banded mystery snail. Currently, invasive plant species are not widely distributed within Leech, the agency added.

That, and the removal of another “invasive” of sorts on — those once-pesky cormorants — and continued significant walleye stocking efforts have given anglers cause to smile on Leech.

No pouting. Not anymore.

BRIAN S. PETERSON,

is a freelance outdoors writer based in northwestern Minnesota.

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I REMEMBER BACK TO THE DAY WHEN YOU HAD TWO CHOICES OF FISHING L I N E — monofilament and braided Dacron. My grandfa-

What’s My Line?

Matching the Right Line to Fishing Conditions 14

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ther’s braided Dacron was thick, black and tough but definitely short on finesse. My Dad’s new-fangled monofilament was clear and flexible, better suited for fishing live baits, jigs and small or lightweight lures.

Basically, it was Old School vs. New School. Dacron was on the way out. Mono was the line of the future.

Fast forward to today and line choices have become vast and confusing. So many brands.Too many types. What’s an angler to do?

Tell you what. Let’s boil down the confusion to four basic line categories and discuss their strengths and weaknesses.

That way, you can match your fishing lines to the tactics you’re using and feel pretty comfortable that you’re getting the most out of your selections.

First, a couple of ground rules.This feature is not about brand names, but about line types or categories.There are many brands of line on the market. I would advise caution about buying inexpensive bulk spools of “discount” brands, and suggest sticking with major, familiar name brands that are available just about everywhere fishing tackle is sold.

That way, you can be assured of getting maximum performance for your investment.

Monofilament Lines Monofilament or “mono” lines originated in the late 1950s and were extruded from nylon.

DuPont Stren became famous as a general-purpose line with an all-purpose blend of properties like flexibility, knot strength, break strength, castability, durability, etc.

Later, line formulas were tweaked to create lines that were geared toward either finesse or toughness, leading to Berkley’s immensely popular Trilene XL and XT. In more modern times, line formulations have escalated into a Rubik’s Cube of confusing properties and formulations that bewilder anglers with scientific terminology.

For simplicity’s sake, we’ll focus on two main monofilament types: Finesse and Tough. Beyond that, feel free to experiment with lines enhanced to favor some blend of properties, be they mono, copolymer, co-filament or some other space age technology. Just remember the general rule: all extruded mono lines have a combination of properties and the more that companies tweak line formulas to favor one or two characteristics, the more risk there is of other characteristics diminishing or suffering.

Finesse monofilament is thin, supple and resists forming those aggravating kinky loops (called memory) when it comes off your reel, making it ideal for fishing on spinning reels and for fishing in cold weather or ice fishing. It casts lightweight or small lures well and excels for all forms of finesse presentations — from jigs and livebait rigs to bobber fishing. Anglers immediately equate it with walleye,

smallmouth and panfish tactics, using anywhere from 4- to 10-pound –test.

Tough monofilament lines are comparatively stiffer and low-stretch, with enhanced abrasion resistance and shock resistance. Largemouth bass and many pike anglers opt for heavier 14- to 30-pound-test mono for many mid-range applications on bait casting tackle.

All monofilaments stretch a bit to some degree — particularly when you set the hook — but also when you lift a jig on and off bottom.This inherent stretch softens the motion of your lure, the importance of which we’ll discuss later. More importantly, anglers have become conditioned to slamming the hook home on the hook set to remove line stretch and bury the hook point.

To complicate matters, monofilament and similar lines come in colors, from subtle clear to tinted to glaring high-vis lines that stand out clearly amidst their surroundings. Anglers theorize all sorts of applications for these, ranging from blending in with their surroundings to fooling fish into biting, to standing out like a sore thumb to permit good line visibility to better detect bites and enhance casting accuracy.

The best way to handle this is to say that it all boils down to personal preference and confidence. Some anglers are

Photos provided by Dave Csanda

afraid to use high-vis lines because they might spook fish; others love them, and say they don’t affect the bite. In the end, there is no definitive evidence either way—only perception.Yet to anglers, perception directly affects confidence and willingness to use a product. Use whatever you become used to and feel confident in fishing.

No matter which mono lines you use, try not to leave them exposed to sunlight more than necessary. Over time, they can become brittle and subject to breakage. When not in use, store rods and reels in rod lockers, storage sheds or your garage as opposed to lying in the boat dockside all summer.

When storing unboxed spools of mono lines, avoid exposure to fluorescent lights. Most anglers don’t have this problem, although long exposure to fluorescent lights in retail stores can also cause deterioration.

Favored knots: Improved Clinch,Trilene Knot.

No-Stretch Superlines Superlines originated in the last 20 years, and have become a popular and important line category, taking market share away from traditional monofilament.

The vast majority of all superlines are comprised of gel-spun polyethylene or Dyneema fibers. Dyneema is more expensive, leading

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to higher costs. A few recent introductions also incorporate a Gore fiber into the line for enhanced castability and performance. In general, superlines are more expensive than monofilaments.

Most superlines are woven braids.The tighter they are woven, the more water-repellent and better performing lines they tend to be.

A few superlines are fused, meaning the fibers are strung together and then heated to form a bond.These tend to cast and perform very well, and are especially easy to tie knots with, although they are slightly thicker than woven braids of the same pound-test.

All superlines share common characteristics: no-stretch, enhanced sensitivity, thin diameters that allow diving lures to run deeper either casting or trolling, extreme hook-setting power, long-distance casting. So much so, that you’d wonder why anyone would use anything else.

Not so fast…

If you’re used to fishing monofilament lines and want to try superlines, adjustments are in order.

First, back off on your hooksets. Slam the hook home like you’re used to, and you might break the knot, line, your rod, or rip the hook out of the fish’s jaw.There’s no give, so you have to give a bit. Lift firmly to set the hook, but don’t slam it home.You might even consider using a lighter-action rod to help absorb the shock. Or even a smaller reel, because their reduced line diameter requires less spool room for storage.

Second, because there’s no stretch in the line, your bait or lure will move an equal amount every time you lift your rod tip.Think about it: If you’re used to putting an 18-inch lift on your jig for walleyes, it really only moves a few inches to perhaps a foot with mono, because part of your lift is used to remove line stretch. But with superlines, it’s a full 18 inches.

Same with hopping a plastic worm for bass. Sometimes, that’s too much action and motion for the conditions. So you may have to subdue the way you’re used to working lures to get the hang of things with superlines.

The easiest way to get used to superlines is trolling. Back off your drags to slip easier and fight hooked fish gingerly so you don’t tear out the hooks. Enjoy how your crankbaits run 10 to 30 percent deeper due to the thinner line diameter. And how the wiggling rod tip better detects lure action — or the lack of it — if you pick up a weed on your line or lure.

That being said, largemouth bass anglers also use 30- to 40-pound-test superlines to pitch or flip weedless lures into heavy weed or wood cover and then rip hooked fish up and out of the cover before they know what hit ‘em. Pike anglers like 30- to 50-pound-test. Muskie anglers use heavy woven braids of 65- to 100-pound-test to fling giant lures.

Yet at the same time, walleye anglers use lightweight 6- to 8-pound-test superlines to help detect bites in deep water.

And smallmouth anglers use it for long-distance casting to spooky fish. So it has many applications, once you learn how and where to use it. Interestingly, anglers new to the sport don’t have to unlearn old habits and perhaps adapt to superlines more quickly than veterans used to fishing with mono!

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Favored Knots: Palomar, Uni-Knot. If you’re worried about colored superlines spooking fish, add a 5- or 6-foot leader of clear fluorocarbon, using a Double Uni-Knot or Loop-to-Loop connection.

Fluorocarbon Lines Fluorocarbon looks a lot like monofilament, but it’s a different material. It originated as leader material for use in saltwater, due to two factors. One, it’s nearly invisible in water.Two, it’s tough stuff that resists big, tough, toothy critters, in both saltwater and freshwater (like muskies!).

Early fluorocarbon lines were stiff, difficult to cast and terrible to tie knots with. But advancing technology has eliminated most problems.

Today, fluorocarbon is increasingly popular with all angling fraternities. Walleye anglers love its invisible nature for fooling fussy fish, making livebait leaders from it and using it as a main line in deep-water tactics. It’s abrasion-resistance makes it ideal for constructing spinner harnesses.

Bass anglers love it for its enhanced sensitivity; tough, nononsense hook setting; and abrasion resistance in cover. But it requires a few adjustments.

For instance, fluorocarbon is heavier than mono and is not a good choice for fishing surface lures for bass, or retrieving lures in very shallow water, because it drags lures down — although it also makes lures like crankbaits and spinnerbaits run deeper, if that’s what you prefer. So like most aspects of line choice, it’s a tradeoff.

Favored Knots: Improved Clinch,Trilene Knot.Tip: ALWAYS wet the knot prior to pulling it tight. If you don’t, the line will heat up and potentially break at the knot—either immediately or under the stress of a hookset.

Leadcore Lines Of all line mentioned here, leadcore lines are the least used by Brainerd area anglers, although they are picking up in popularity. Especially on Mille Lacs Lake, where they are used to troll small diving crankbaits for walleyes, across and just above the deep basin from mid-July through August.

Leadcore lines feature a braided outer sheath of Dacron or other woven material surrounding an internal filament of lead. Basically, the entire length of line is a living sinker; the more line you let out, the more weight that’s in the water and the deeper your trolled lures run. As a guideline, your lures will run about 5 feet deeper for every 10 yards of leadcore in the water.

Notice I said trolled. Don’t try to cast it, or you’ll backlash big-time!

Leadcore is superb for precise depth control in deep water.

Let out just enough line to feel your line ticking bottom, then reel in a couple of feet, and your lure will be running inches off bottom. It’ll also stay there as long as your trolling speed

remains consistent. Set your rods in rod holders, and sit back and enjoy the ride.

Leadcore line is typically marked a different color every ten yards, providing instant orientation to how much line you have out. If you prefer, use a line counter reel for trolling, using the numbered counter to provide the same information. Just be sure to use a large enough reel to hold 100 yards of bulky leadcore. Eighteen-pound-test is the most popular line size.

Always attach a 5- to 10-foot leader of fluorocarbon or monofilament between your leadcore and the snap that attaches to your lure, to enhance lure action. A 10-pound-test leader is about right for walleyes.

Long, moderately heavy trolling rods of 8 to 10 feet in length are generally preferred to spread trolled lines and withstand the rigors of extended trolling.

Preferred Knots: Double Uni-Knot or Loop-to-Loop connecting for attaching leadcore lines to monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders.

Your Angling Lineup Admittedly, we didn’t cover all lines available to anglers today. Notably: ultra-flexible and water-repellent ice lines (mono, braided and tip-up lines); braided and solid wire trolling lines; and the somewhat bewildering array of flylines

that range from floating to sinking at different rates, and are specifically matched to the weight (power) of your fly rod. Let’s save those for another day.

In the meantime, if you focus on the line categories discussed here and apply them correctly to your fishing situations, they will definitely help you catch more and bigger fish of all species. Because correctly used, they make you a better, more effective angler. And who could ask for more than that?

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.

Comparative Lines While this article is not about brands, we can’t really leave you without mentioning a least a few of the most popular brand choices widely available in the Midwest. Here’s a quick assortment of some of their major line offerings. (There are many more!) Collectively, they likely account for the majority of line sales in the Brainerd lakes area.

Note: Major sporting goods retailers often sell their own custom house brands of line, as do some tackle companies. Many of these are also good lines, and are well worth trying.

As in most things fishing, personal preference and brand loyalty play a big part in the tackle and equipment you choose and use!

Line Category Mono—Finesse Mono--Tough Superline--Braided Superline--Fused Fluorocarbon Leadcore

Sufix Sufix Elite Sufix Siege Sufix 832 Sufix Performance Fuse Sufix Castable Invisiline 100% Fluorocarbon Sufix 832 Advanced Leadcore

Photos provided by Dave Csanda

Berkley Trilene XL Trilene XT FireLine Braid Fireline Fused Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon

Power Pro

Power Pro Braided

Dave

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The Dating Game During Spring, Finding A Mate Is A Priority For Birds

A strutting tom turkey is a sight to behold. His warty neck glows blood red, his face is sky blue, and the top of his head is snow white. The tom’s iridescent feathers are ablaze with bronze, green, purple and copper. An old turkey hunter once said, “When he gobbles, it’ll raise the hair on your head so high your cap will fall off.”

IT’S ALMOST SPRING AND, AMONG BIRDS, COURTSHIP RITUALS ARE UNDERWAY. PROCREATION IS ON THEIR MINDS.

Observe a marsh or lake during spring and one will see “flocks” of ducks that contain only one hen surrounded by numerous drakes. Close scrutiny will show the drakes gathered tightly about the hen as she leads the flock while Although many bird species began searching for a mate flying aimlessly around the marsh.The group will often dive, months ago – and some birds mate for life – springtime is redart and suddenly change directions, even nearly stopping served for those birds’ with more in flight, all while the drakes are prominent courtship rituals. grunting, clucking and otherwise For example, what better signicarrying on.These activities are unfies the arrival of spring than the characteristic for waterfowl on the gobble of mature tom turkey as he wing. Unless they are courting. struts among the oaks? He is both These noisy midair chases an audio and visual delight to us — are called courtship flights. It is and apparently to hen turkeys, too. thought the drake that stays nearOr how about the dull “thump, est the hen during these flights thump, thump” of a drumming will be her mate. ruffed grouse vigorously beating Other harbingers of spring are his wings against the air from a log the songbirds. From atop a puffy nestled among the aspen trees? cattail a male red-winged blackbird In farm country, a spring dawn will flash its bright red should Male ruffed grouse will strut from their would be incomplete without the drumming log when a female or competing patches as its sings to attract a crowing of a rooster pheasant, his mate, and to ward off other males. male approaches. swollen red wattles ablaze with Mourning doves will coo from color and iridescent plumage glowing in the morning sun. power lines, robins will warble from backyards and song And on the prairie, male sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chick- sparrows will chant from willow perches. ens gather for a good old fashion hoedown as they dance and It’s almost spring, and among birds love is in the air. yodel under the discerning eye of females.

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Male ruffed grouse will strut from their drumming log when a female or competing male approaches.

A male ruffed grouse is drumming from his log perch.

The drumming sound, which can be heard up to a half mile away, is made as the bird strikes the air with its wings vigorously enough to create a brief vacuum, causing in effect, a sonic boom.

During spring songbirds, like this male redwinged blackbird, will stake out a territory where they vocalize to attract a mate, and to ward off competing males. At the same time, they flash their colorful red shoulder patches, or epaulets.

To attract a mate, a rooster pheasant will stand tall, raise its colorful head and emit a raucous call, all the while flapping it wings.

With wings extended and tail pointed skyward, a male sharp-tailed grouse dances to attract a female from a lek or dancing ground. The animated birds cluck, gobble and otherwise carry on while displaying their brilliant yellow eye combs and fleshy purple neck sacks.

These mallard ducks are engaged in what is called a courtship flight. During these displays, male ducks numbering from a few, up to as many as 25, will chase a single hen while in flight. Each drake does its best to woo the unpaired hen. Some biologists believe the drake that stays nearest the hen will likely win her favors.

Why male wood ducks preen the heads of hens during courtship is not fully understood, but with a little imagination we might speculate that sweet nothings are being whispered.

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

doors 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

Photos provided by Bill Marchel

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Brainerd Area

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FEW FISHING EVENTS ARE ANTICIPATED AS MUCH AS THE SPRINGTIME CRAPPIE FISHING IN THE BRAINERD LAKES A R E A . It’s predictable, it’s something everyone can partic-

north sides of small lakes warm first because they get the full affect of the sun’s spring rays and are protected from the winds. Look for bays with dark, silty bottoms less than 4 feet deep. If you find water lilies in these bays that is generally an ipate in and it’s fun. Crappies are great eating and are sought indication of the fertile bottoms we are looking for.The fish out all across the area each spring before the will be found in the warmest water in these seasons open for walleyes, northern pike and bays, often in less than a foot of depth. bass. If you get them dialed in the fishing can Many times there will be no fish found in be fantastic. these areas during the morning hours, but by The key to figuring out springtime crappies mid afternoon the water has warmed up a few is to first understand that the action doesn’t degrees and the fish are there. Come back the take place on all lakes at the same time. Lakes next morning and they are gone. A cold front with an abundance of shallow, dark-bottomed can put them down for two to three days, but bays will warm up more quickly and water a few days of warm sunny weather can make temperature is the key to finding and catchthem move shallow in large numbers. ing crappies. Lakes with a little stain to them, These fish are hard to catch.They are very meaning the water isn’t as clear, will also skittish and any disturbance sends them warm earlier than lakes with clear water. scooting for deeper water.Tossing a bobber If you spend the time to figure out where among a school of these crappies will send the action is happening, you can set up a “milk them scattering in all directions. One of the run” so to speak of the best action spots where best ways to catch them is to cruise the shalyou go from lake to lake during the entire lows with an electric trolling motor to sight Crappies are in the spring season, fishing for crappies during the them. It’s often difficult to see them until it is peak bite on each of them.You can find terrific shallows and vulnerable too late, so it’s a good idea to mark down the during the spring. It’s a shallow crappie action from ice-out to Memospots you saw them, then come back an hour good time to get the rial Day. Let’s look at the most productive craplater when they have settled down, and fish family involved in fishing. them from a distance. pie locations through the spring season.

Ice Out For this I use a 9-foot rod with a tiny slip bobber and a Soon after the ice leaves the lakes, crappies begin to move small minnow on a plain hook. If possible I cast beyond the into the shallow areas where the water is the warmest.The fish and slowly pull it to them.The key is to try to keep the

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bait within a foot or two of their mouth. Seeing that minnow struggling right in front of them can be more than the most lethargic crappie can resist. It may take a moment, but they will usually slowly move over and suck it in.The key is to keep it there as long as possible.

You’ll want to set your slip bobber at the fish’s level or slightly above them. Crappies rarely move deeper to take a bait; they prefer to move towards a bait that is a little above their eye level. Crappie fishing at this time can be challenging but working them while you can see them — and they can see you — is a challenge I relish.

Pre-Spawn The ice has been off the lakes for a couple weeks, there is some green-up around the area and the crappies are positioning themselves near their spawning areas. Water temps are in the 50s and the crappies become quite predictable and catchable.This is prime time to catch crappies.

At this time, the crappies are in the bulrushes and emerging lily pads, they will also be found around the edges of cattail patches and near any wood laying the water.They are becoming more aggressive as the water warms and actively bite either live bait or artificials at this time.The month of May is a great time to be a crappie angler.

Sight fishing is great at this time; if you can get a bait within sight of a crappie, a bite is very likely. On clear lakes, look for the warmest areas that have cover.The fish may no longer be in the back bays, but are more likely to be associated with some type of cover in 2-4 feet of water. One of my favorite places to find crappies at this time is beaver lodges.The wood absorbs the sun’s rays and heats up the area, plus the wood in the water offers a home to all kinds of tiny organisms that are food for the crappies. A warm sunny afternoon activates the food chain and the bite can be frantic around these crappie magnets.

This is also a good time to fish in the evenings. Crappies often suspend in loose groups over deeper water near the areas of cover, and move in to feed in the evenings.The last hour of daylight can provide some fast-paced action. Find a spot where the bulrushes slope off into deep water and anchor up with a slip bobber and a minnow. When the fish start to move in the bobbers start to go down.

During the day, you can find a few stragglers in these bulrushes or around the woody cover. But there won’t be as many active fish so you must be on the move to put your bait in front of as many as possible. In this situation, a tiny bobber with a small jig suspended about two feet below it is dynamite. Cast the rig out and let it sit for a moment. When you reel in a turn of the handle or lift your rod tip, the bobber comes towards you and the jig proceeds at an upward angle, settling back down when you stop. Crappies can’t stand it.

Jigs should be 1/16th ounce or smaller and there are several colors that work but pink, white and chartreuse or a combination of these colors are at the top of the list.

The Spawn By the time the water temperature reaches 60 degrees the spawn is in full swing and the crappies are cruising through Photos courtesy of Bernie Barringer

the spawning areas or sitting on the beds.This is where a lake with clear water and lots of bulrushes in the shallows will offer plenty of action.The perfect day to fish them is a calm sunny day where you can see them from a distance and sneak up on them quietly.

An electric trolling motor on the bow of the boat is the most effective way to target these fish, but I have known people who get quite a few of these spawners by wading with stealth and patience through the shallow areas.

Some of the largest Crappies on the beds are crappies of the year can aggressive and will readily be caught in the spring. bite a small jig or minnow Sight fishing is an exciting when you drop it in front of and productive way to them. Drop it right in the bed catch them. and they will even go right down and suck it up.They don’t like foreign matter in their spawning beds. If you accidently spook a crappie off the bed, come back in 15 minutes and try again.The fish will be back.

Crappies are particularly vulnerable to overharvest during the spawn so use restraint in how many you keep and release some of the larger specimens to pass along their genes. We all benefit not only from eating crappies but also from good stewardship of our resources.

Post Spawn After the crappies move off the beds, they hang around the spawning area for a short time and recuperate by alternating between resting and feeding. Once again, the best fishing can be in the evening near cover. Minnows and small panfish are now spawning in the shallows so the crappies move in and actively feed each evening. Here is another window of opportunity to anchor and catch them in the right spot and the action can be fast and furious when the sun hits the tops of the trees.

By the end of May to early June, the crappies are moving out into deep water where they will spend the summer months suspended.The spring prime time crappie fishing is over for the year, but if you took the time to learn the spots, you can file them away for next year.The action takes place in predictable locations year after year. Within a couple seasons, you will have your own milk run so you can stay with the peak bite throughout the spring season.

B E R N I E B A R R I N G E R is a free-lance writer liv-

ing near Pine River. He divides his time between hunting muskies and hunting big game with a bow across North America. You can view his website at www.bowhuntingroad.com.

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Parading The Byway Area’s Best-Kept Secret On Display In Spring, Crosslake And Beyond

THE ROUTE IS A FAMILIAR ONE — FOR BOTH PAUL BUNYAN AND THE CROSSLAKE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE.

Beach, Barclay Township, Gail Lake Township and the city of Pine River. And the Byway — more than anything, maybe — is a reflection of the offerings in those communities.

For years Paul and the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway AssociaThere’s something to see or do in all directions and in all tion float have traversed “downtown” Crosslake in the popular seasons — stunning scenery and recreational opportuniparade. And so it was again this weekend (March 16) as the cen- ties year-round along the Byway’s navigable roads with 13 terpiece of the annual Crosslake St. Patrick’s Day celebration. interpretive kiosk sites; miles of walking and biking trails and But Paul’s backyard stretches well beyond this place, and bikeways featuring user-friendly, extra-wide eight-foot shoulstarting with the St. Patty’s Day celebration ders; and access to lakes, brooks and rivers, it will come alive with spring and summer including the historic Whitefish Chain and possibilities. And while Paul may or may not the Pine River. be a mythical figure — in these parts, he’s Lynn Scharenbroich knows more than very real — it’s as if his Byway playground most anyone about this place — or places is sometimes mythical, too.

— and for years has worked feverishly, Or maybe, for whatever reasons, the Paul along with the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Bunyan Scenic Byway is just the best-kept Association, to put the Byway on the map, secret in the heart of Paul Bunyan country. including the creation of that all-encomThe Byway tour map, which includes passing Byway map. For years she essenbut mostly stretches well beyond greater tially directed the group. And although she’s Brainerd, essentially runs from just north of slowly moved out of that position in the Pequot Lakes, all the way up beyond Upper last year or so and is more of an associate, Whitefish and all the way to Crosslake to the the Byway and the group that essentially East and bordering Minnesota Highway 371 governs it remain important to her. as it slants slightly west to Pine River. And “How about a cornucopia of everything Biking - here along County it’s dotted with mostly outdoors and recrefrom interpretive-panel stories to woodland Road 16 northeast of Pequot trail walks to a kiss from an Irish-loving ational opportunities, from bicycling to golf.

Lakes - is one of the many And maybe that’s the problem — why Paul Bunyan at a local St. Patrick’s Day recreational opportunities the Byway and all of its offerings are still parade?” Scharenbroich, who runs the Black afforded by the Paul Bunyan Pine Beach Resort on the Whitefish Chain a bit of an unknown in the area, even an Scenic Byway. area known as an outdoors and recreational with husband Bob, said of what makes destination. It’s spread out a bit across this the Byway noteworthy.“The Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway has vast area. always been about big fun, and for the burly outdoors types, Or maybe it’s the name. Bicycling and trail usage are the opportunities for good times are Bunyanesque. popular along the Byway, as well as on the well-known Paul “All the lakes in the Byway area,” she continued.“fishing Bunyan State Trail, which borders a good chunk of the Byway (winter or summer), turtle hunting, water-skiing, stand-up on the west.That confusion may have something to do with paddle-boarding, driftwood hunting, Big Island and the trail it — folks thinking of the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway as part through the Old Growth Forest there, seeing the (walleye) of the Paul Bunyan Trail when actually, to a certain extent, it’s fish stripping in the spring, canoeing the Pine River, huntthe other way around. ing opportunities along the north side of the Byway in the But there’s much more to the Byway than bicycling.Yes, the Old Grade area — both birds, grouse especially, and deer are Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway is made up of 54 miles of paved, plentiful up there — walking trails all over the place, Uppwide-shouldered county roads that traverse scenic northern gaard and its guided nature walks every summer Wednesday Crow Wing County and a bit of Cass County, offering prime morning, Chiarella (trail) boasting one of the best examples road-cycling possibilities. But the Byway route also winds of a replanted pine forest, Veterans (trail) with its unique Wetthrough 14 local government jurisdictions: city of Jenkins, lands Walk and the unusual woods trail feature of a walking Jenkins Township, Ideal Township, city of Crosslake, Mission bridge across a navigable creek, Rice Lake with its textbookTownship, Pelican Township, Breezy Township, city of Pequot perfect example of a shallow lake and all the environmental Lakes, Wilson Township,Timothy Township, city of Manhattan hoopla that goes along with having a healthy shallow lake in

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the area, particularly so close to an elementary school that it’s practically an outdoor classroom. Plus the Christmas Bird Count done along the Byway by Byway folks under the guidance of birder Judd Brink.”

Also, according to Scharenbroich: • “PBSB is a nationally designated route.To become nationally designated, one main characteristic has to be selected from a list of six choices (natural, scenic, historic, archaeological, cultural, recreational). Our selection (based on a whole lot of input and ranking criteria) ended up to be recreational. So for those who love that kind of thing, what better place to be than on a route that has earned national designation based on exactly what they love to do?

• “The effort to create an officially designated scenic byway originated because funds that had been collected for County Road 16 shoulder paving to provide safer access to the Paul Bunyan Trail were in jeopardy of being commandeered for other purposes since it was taking so long for the county to secure funds to accompany those raised locally in order to cover the full cost of the shoulder paving.

Regional tourism representative Carol Altepeter suggested that maybe if our road could qualify for the then-new scenic byway program’s state route designation, that would provide the impetus the county needed to get approval to move forward with the shoulder paving. It worked. In 1997, the paperwork was submitted and we were a designated byway in 1998. Shortly thereafter, the shoulders were paved and the money raised locally to do that paving was turned over to the county. So again, recreation (bicycling, blading, even just walking) ruled the day.

• “(According to the) ‘Why Drive the Byway’ flier, there are two ways to enjoy the Byway: 1) Just driving and looking; 2) Driving a bit and getting out to explore or do some recreating.There’s even the ‘advanced recreational choice’ of finding a watercraft of some kind and boating out to the Rollie Johnson Natural and Recreational Area (aka as Big Island, Steamboat Island and Little Island) to swim, play on the beach and hike the island trails through the old-growth forest.”

Other Byway offerings listed by Scharenbroich: • “Hike trails (Chiarella, Veterans, Uppgaard and the new trails being added at the Crosslake Community Center).

• “Walk off the beaten path (Rice Lake walking path on the south side of the lake, dike paths like the one at Dike 16, Pelican Woods Cemetery, along West Shore Drive, etc.)

• “Climb the historic Fire Tower located along County Road 11.

• “Bike or roller-blade along the byway on eight-foot-wide paved shoulders.

• “Birdwatch — take along the Birds of the Byway brochure, watch for the birding signs along the route and/or hire birding guide Judd Brink (birdsofthebyway.com) for an extra-special birding experience.

• “Cross-country ski and/or snowshoe at Veterans Trail, in the Old Grade area, on the Boyd Lodge trails, city of Breezy Point ski trails, across the lakes.

• “Boat/ski/tube in summer — take advantage of the many Photo Courtesy Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association

public accesses along the Byway route.

• “Fish in both summer and winter (spearing/angling) with boat and fish-house rentals both available along the Byway route (Bertha Marina, Al’s Marine, Bait Box Marina, C&C Boatworks in the summer; Heath’s Resort for fish houses in the winter).

• “Swim at public beaches at the Crosslake Corps of Engineers Campground, Rollie Johnson Natural and Recreational Area, Pelican Lake Public Beach, Pine River Dam Swimming Area.

• “Golf and mini-golf at the courses along the route (golf Whitefish Golf Club, Crosswoods Golf, Wildwedge Golf Course; mini-golf - Wildwedge Mini Golf, Whistling Wolf and Dark Moon).

Looking ahead, Scharenbroich said,“One thing I know is coming up is a Paul Bunyan/Corps history blend of landscaping design on the east lawn of the Corps Administrative Building” and “working on getting the history walk panels developed and installed at the Jenkins Veterans Park.”

For more on the Byway, go to http:// www.paulbunyanscenicbyway.org.

BRIAN S. PETERSON,

is a freelance outdoors writer based in northwestern Minnesota.

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23

Bluebirds

BLUEBIRDS ARE A FAVORITE FOR MANY WHO ENJOY THEIR SONGS AND B R I L L I A N T B L U E C O L O R . There are three species

of Bluebirds found in the United States.Two of them are western species, the Mountain Bluebird and the Western Bluebird.

The third species is the Eastern Bluebird, which is the only one found east of the Mississippi River.

The first documented Bluebird for Minnesota was by a doctor in the town of Lanesboro on March 21, 1903.The Northland Arboretum is the only Important Bird Area found in the Brainerd lakes area that provides excellent opportunities for viewing Bluebirds.The Eastern Bluebird migrates back to our area in March/ April, with males arriving first. Nesting starts in April/May and they can raise two to three broods each summer.

The males are bright blue with a chestnut colored chest and white belly.The females are very similar, but less colorful than the males.The Eastern Bluebird is about 7 inches tall with a 12-inch wingspan.They feed mostly on insects during the summer but change their diets to more fruit and seeds during the fall and winter seasons. Most of our Bluebirds do migrate to find more suitable weather and a food source. Bluebirds rarely visit bird feeders unless you provide suet or mealworms.

Bluebirds nest in natural tree cavities or nest boxes when provided. At one time many of them used dead trees or wooden fence posts that were commonly found around cattle or crop farms. Since they don’t excavate their own cavities the primary source most likely came from woodpeckers.The Bluebird population started to decline between 1930s through 1970s for several reasons; increased nest competition from non-native House Sparrows and European Starlings, fence posts replacement and the removal of dead or dying trees.This caused a decline in suitable nesting locations and habitat for them. With the lack of dead trees or wooden fence post cavities many people started placing nest boxes out, which are readily accepted by Bluebirds. One of

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the most popular and successful houses for Bluebirds is the “Peterson’s” Bluebird house.This design quickly became a favorite after he responded back to a newspaper article about bluebirds in decline stating that his house was being used successfully. Soon after others found success with this house, which led eventually to the Minnesota Bluebird Recovery program established in 1979.

Now in Minnesota there are thousands and thousands of the Peterson style houses that are found just about everywhere in suitable habitat.

When Bluebird Boxes are used the negative impacts from nest competitors are greatly reduced, which is a huge contributing factor of the return of the Bluebird across its range.There are other boxes to choose from as well but the Peterson is the most common and is often recommend.

The entrance hole for the Peterson style Bluebird house is 1 3/8-inch — this needs to be exact, any larger could invite unwanted house sparrows.

You can attract Bluebirds to nest near you by providing nest boxes that are properly placed in favorable locations.

Bluebirds prefer large open lawns, clearings and fields with short to medium height vegetation where they can find insects on or near the ground. With the proper housing and placement in the right habitat Bluebirds have accepted these so-called “Bluebird trails”. These new trails have become very popular and successful that has greatly increased the number of Bluebirds here and elsewhere.The number of boxes placed on a trail will depend on how much space and habitat that is available. Most of the trails that you see today are boxes that are paired at a certain distance between a second pair of boxes and so on.This pairing is usually recommended when Tree Swallows occupy the same area. In most cases the Bluebirds will use one box and the Tree Swallow will use the other as they don’t compete with each other. Boxes should be about 15-20 feet apart and at least 300 to 500 feet between the next pair of boxes. If the paired boxes are not properly spaced you may end up with less Bluebirds and

more tree swallows because Bluebirds are territorial and will defend other Bluebirds from nesting to close.These numbers vary a little depending on what you can find but having more space between the paired boxes will yield more Bluebirds.

Houses should be placed where they can be easily and safely be monitored like old fields or large mowed areas. Once you have placed your box at the right height and location you can feed Bluebirds live food such as mealworms. Mealworms will be available in April from MN Backyard Birds.

The boxes should be mounted using half-inch rebar and three-quarter-inch electrical conduit with the metal conduit going over the rebar and using two half-inch hole straps to attach the box 5-6 feet above ground facing northeast/southeast or east.The rebar can be pounded 8-12 inches into the ground using a small sledge hammer depending on the soil type.This method is highly recommended for Bluebird trails and also deters predators. Bluebirds prefer large open area with some scattered trees for shelter and for the fledged birds to go.Today Bluebirds are commonly seen at golf courses, parks and cemeteries. Whichever box you choose to use, even if it’s just one, make sure that the box can be opened for checking and cleaning. Do not place nest boxes on trees or fence posts this will only result in poor nesting success and nest failures.This situation also increases the number of predators with easy access.

By the end of April the house or Bluebird trail should be ready to go for the nesting season, the boxes can be checked weekly throughout the nesting season May-August. Regardless of the number of houses it’s very important to properly maintain to ensure healthy birds. When checking boxes you might also discover other birds using them like House Wren, Chickadee and Tree Swallow.The House Wren is known to toss out or puncture eggs from any of the birds listed above before it takes over the box. House Wrens can be discouraged from doing this by avoiding locations that are near wooded edges or any area that is more wooded than open. This is why box placement becomes very important. So how do you know who is nesting in your box? When checking the boxes you can identify what bird is nesting by looking at the nesting material and or the eggs. For example Tree Swallows will almost include feathers in their nest and have white eggs, House Wrens will fill the box with many tiny sticks using no grass or feathers, Chickadees will use fur/hair and moss.

The Bluebird nest will be mostly all grasses with some pine needles placed in a cup shape and have blue eggs.

In the spring of 2011 I took the Minnesota Master NatuPhotos courtesy of Judd Brink

ralist training course held at the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd. At the end of the course each student had to submit their capstone project prior to graduation. My capstone project was to remove the old Bluebird boxes (unable to open to clean or check) and redesign a new Bluebird trail using the proper boxes placed in the correct habitat.The Bluebird trail has 20 new boxes with about half being the Peterson style, the houses were also numbered and mapped using a GPS. All nest boxes are monitored on a weekly basis to ensure a successful Bluebird Trail.The first box on the trail hosted the first pair of Bluebirds with four eggs recorded on May 7, 2012, which successfully fledged on or near June 8, 2012.The trail had two other boxes with Bluebirds that also were successful. Bluebirds can have up to two/three broods each nesting season containing four to seven eggs.The goal is to rebuild the local Bluebird population at the Northland Arboretum through continued monitoring and maintenance of boxes.

Bluebirds continue to be increasing in number because of the efforts of numerous concerned individuals and the creation of Bluebird trails. If you are interested in building a nest box, a great resource is the DNR book “Wood Working for Wildlife” by Carrol Henderson. Building nesting boxes and providing food can be a very entertaining and rewarding experience for anyone who is interested in ensuring the Eastern Bluebirds’ continued success in Minnesota.

The next time you visit the Northland Arboretum you can see more than just blue skies but more Bluebirds too! The bluebird trail needs more volunteer trail monitors for this summer and in the future. Monitoring the trail is a fun opportunity to see and learn more about Bluebirds. This is a good project for other master naturalist or anyone who is interested in helping the trail to be successful. For more information you can contact Judd Brink the Bluebird trail coordinator for the Northland Arboretum at 218-838-4784 or by email jb@mnbackyardbirds.com or you can contact the Northland Arboretum at 218-829-8770.You can help bring back the Bluebirds for others to enjoy.

Happy Birding!

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

offering birdscaping 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

J u d d

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Wild Stories

Excerpts from conservation officers’ weekly reports in 2013 (EDITOR’S NOTE: Reports appear as they were written by conservation officers.)

FEB. 11 • CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) congratulated the 2012 Snowmobile Instructor of the Year, Marvin Dorn of Pierz.The 83-year old has been active in snowmobile trail development since the 70’s and a safety instructor for 25 years. Marvin talked about his first sled, a 12 horse Ski-Doo that he hauled home from the Cities in the trunk of his 1959 Chevy.

• CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) observed free trade in nature during the week. One day he saw three moose crossing from Ontario to Minnesota. A short time later he observed a pack of wolf tracks heading to Ontario. Add three to the moose count.

• CO Dan Baumbarger (Glenwood) finished investigating a northern pike over-limit case which resulted in the violator being in possession of 28 northern pike over his limit.

Charges were filed on the case.

• CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing). An angler who claimed he had an angling license (and signed the written warning affidavit stating he had the license) tried to cover his tracks by buying the license 44 minutes after the fact. He apparently did not know that the license purchases are date and time stamped. He will be rewarded with a summons for no angling license and signing a false affidavit.

• CO Jen Mueller (Hutchinson). Crappies appeared to be biting well in the early evening till just after sundown judging by the numbers of nice size fish in the pails. One couple boasted that it didn’t take them long before they were almost at their limit, it was then noticed they had two extra lines down. Enforcement action was taken on the fishing with extra lines.

FEB. 4 • CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria). While working on Lake Mary, Lawler came across an individual ice fishing who had an outstanding warrant.The individual was arrested and transported by snowmobile to the lake access where sheriff’s deputies were waiting to transport to jail.

JAN. 28 • CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) handled a TIP call that a fisherman placed a large musky looking fish in the trunk of a car.

Subsequent investigation revealed it to be an illegal length northern (34 inches) that was hid under the spare tire cover in the trunk of car.

• CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte). A few snowmobilers rode illegally down the road, on the wrong side, and almost collided with the Game Wardens patrol vehicle.

Outdoors

today in the MARCH

18 Ice-fishing houses must be off the ice each night unless attended north of Highway 10, Highway 34, Highway 200 and Highway 2 31 Lake and stream trout winter seasons close 31 Crow season closes (first season)

APRIL 1 13 17 30 30

Stream trout southeast spring catch-and-release season opens Stream trout season opens Spring turkey opener Trapping season (beavers) closes Goose spring light season closes

11 Walleye, sauger, northern pike opener 11 Largemouth and smallmouth bass seasons open (north and east of U.S. Highway 53 from Duluth to International Falls and Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County) 11 Lake trout summer season opens 11 Stream trout in lakes season opens 11-12 Take-a-Mom Fishing Weekend 25 Largemouth and smallmouth bass seasons open (south and west of U.S. Highway 53 from Duluth to International Falls and Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County) 25 Outdoor photography workshop, Mille Lacs Kathio State Park 31 Elk hunt lottery deadline

MAY

JUNE

1 5

1

Rough fish spearing and bowfishing season opens Bear hunt lottery deadline

26

Wild Stories

Muskellunge season opens

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

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