Trekkin‘ Winter trekking, yurts help make most of winter Inside o
Wintertime saunas
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How to hunt late-season ruffed grouse
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What’s Ron Lindner up to these days?
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Ice fishing for walleyes, pike and panfish
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Cross-country skiing WINTER 2015
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Contents
Issue 10 • Edition 4
Features
5
Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian S. Peterson
6
Hitting the trails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kate Perkins
The end — and just the beginning
Cross-country tips from an experienced skier
10 Similar tactics, different locales . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Csanda Catching winter bluegills, perch and crappies
14 Winter hunting for the birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill Marchel How to find ruffed grouse during late season
18 Off the beaten path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kate Perkins Winter trekking, yurts make for winter adventure
22 No slowing down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Kalkofen Ageless wonder Ron Lindner is still at it
24 All eyes on the ’eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Csanda Hard-water walleyes at first ice
26 The hot seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kate Perkins The joy of the sauna in the heart of winter
32 Tipping the odds in your favor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Csanda Through the ice, tip-ups and pike go hand-in-hand
F Bill
Marchel
On the Cover: Grant Schnell treks through fresh powder with his gear and dog Leidy. Photo by Ashley Schnell
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A publication of the Brainerd Dispatch
. Tim Bogenschutz Editor . . . . Brian S. Peterson Marketing . . . .Leo Miller Designer . . . Becca Clemens Advertising . . . Nikki Lyter
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OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
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Brian S. Peterson, right, rides the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area mountain bike trails for the Northland Outdoors television pilot. F Greg
Goodbye, Outdoor Traditions; Hello, Northland Outdoors Magazine Kaiser/Northland Outdoors
Welcome
It’s not so much an end as it is a beginning. Maybe even a bit of a continuation.
But definitely a beginning. It’s fitting that, after almost 10 years, this winter edition is the final issue of Outdoor Traditions. Winter is an ending, much as spring is a beginning. And for Outdoor Traditions country — and well beyond — a new beginning will come with Northland Outdoors magazine, which debuts in the spring of 2016. For the last decade, readers of the Brainerd Dispatch — and, recently, the Dispatch’s sister paper in Bemidji — were treated to outdoors features and news through Outdoor Traditions. A quarterly, Outdoor Traditions typically was 30 pages or so with a glossy magazine-like cover followed by heavier newspaperstock pages filled with stories of outdoor life in the area. It was a nice little publication that was embraced by the local outdoors community. Earlier this year, the Dispatch’s parent company, Forum Communications, started the Northland Outdoors Network. Currently based in the Dispatch offices, Northland
Outdoors features a website (www.northlandoutdoors.com) encompassing all things outdoors, and soon, that also will be embraced in television and radio, all playing to an audience that spans four Upper Midwest states (Minnesota, Wisconsin and North and South Dakota).
And then there’s the magazine. While Outdoor Traditions covered a variety of things outdoors, it was heavy on hunting and fishing. They’re two important components of the outdoors here, and remain important across Forum Communications country. But, simply put, Northland Outdoors will be much more — the goal is a minimum of 64 pages, for starters. Also a quarterly, it will be glossy from cover to cover, with an emphasis on the photos and
By BRIAN S. PETERSON visuals that make the outdoors and magazines a perfect complement. A coffee-table addition, for sure. And instead of stories from just right here in the lakes area from local outdoors journalists, writers from Northland Outdoors and Forum Communications will take you across the north country. And for free — complimentary one-year subscriptions are now available at http://www. northlandoutdoors.com/ subscribe/. Outdoor Traditions was a pioneer publication of sorts for the Dispatch and the local outdoors landscape. And plans are to give it a tip of the camo cap in Northland Outdoors, with a regular piece paying tribute to our many outdoor traditions here in the Northland. This new magazine will be all of that. And so much more.
BRIAN S. PETERSON Director of Content, Northland Outdoors Network
www.northlandoutdoors.com
5
Hit the trails Cross-country tips from an experienced skier
M
By KATE PERKINS
Monte Miller hated winter. He hated the snow, and he hated the cold. He spent most of the winter daydreaming about summer days spent in his canoe.
“Then my son Mark started cross-country skiing and I went out and watched him,” Miller said. He was 58 at the time, and saw that there were a lot of people his age enjoying the sport. It looked like they were having fun, so he gave it a try. “I became very passionate about cross-country skiing, and I’ve loved it ever since,” he said. He’s now 79. More than 20 years after his start in skiing, Miller has now competed in Worldloppet crosscountry ski marathons in 16 countries, with races ranging in distance from 26 miles to nearly 56 miles. He’s skied all over the world, and he’s also been the volunteer coach for the Osseo High School Nordic ski team for 20 years. Miller, who has a cabin in Crosslake, often skis the area. He
6
F Monte
Miller
Although he didn’t start cross-country skiing until he was 58, Monte Miller has made up for lost time — and in a big way.
loves to promote cross-country skiing, and offers advice to anyone who’s interested in the sport. Getting started Miller suggests that anyone wanting to cross-country ski give it a try with borrowed or rented gear before spending hundreds of dollars on skis and boots. He also recommends taking a class or lesson or getting some instruction from a friend who knows what they’re doing. “It’s much harder to unlearn bad habits than learn to do something right the first time,” Miller said. While it’s not necessary to take a lesson, it’s wise. There are two types of
OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
cross-country skiing — classic and skate. Classic is the more common type, which involves keeping the skis parallel to each other. Skate skiing is just like it sounds There are two common types of classic skis. One has scales at the middle of the ski, just under the boot, which point toward the heel. In forward movement, the snow glides over the scales; when the skis slide backward, the snow catches. The other type of classic ski uses kick wax, rather than scales, to keep the skier from sliding backward. Miller recommends trying crosscountry skiing with the scaled skis first as finding the right kind of wax to match the temperatures and conditions can be a pain for the beginner. The scaled skis, however, tend to be slower. Skate skis use neither kick wax nor scales, but use glide wax to help
them move along the snow. Basic pointers “As in any sport, there’s some basic fundamentals you have to learn,” Miller said. Kicking is one of them. In classic cross-country skiing, kicking is a motion that combines the work of both feet, pressing down with one ski and kicking the other forward. Many people don’t know how to kick while classic cross-country skiing. Often skiers end up simply walking with the skis on. Miller said this is fine, but not nearly as fun or efficient. Transferring weight from one ski to the other also is an important aspect of both skate and classic skiing. By transferring your weight, you gain glide. The more glide, the less effort needed. When skiers keep their weight spread out over both skis, skiing becomes much more difficult. As for skate skiing, the motion is much the same as ice skating. Miller said that the motion of skate skiing is similar to skating with hockey skates. However, in hockey, you push back with your feet, while with skate skiing, you push out to the side. Many people find skate skiing to be easier than classic cross-country skiing, though Miller personally did not find that to be the case. Trail etiquette Just as in biking, skiers passing one another should call out, “On your left,” to signal the pass. Cross-country ski trails generally are groomed with two parallel tracks for classic skiing. Miller said it’s important that skate skiers not skate over those tracks, which would ruin them. Snowshoers also should stay off the tracks made specially for classic skiing There’s nothing wrong,
though, with classic skiers leaving the tracks. Often, Miller said, it’s safer to hop out of the tracks when going down hills to offer the skier a bit more room. Next steps “If you’re serious about the sport and enjoy racing, it’s pretty important that you train most of the year,” Miller said. Skiing year-round might not be possible, but crosstraining year-round can improve winter skiing. Miller suggested swimming, biking, lifting weights or even simply getting out and walking. Roller skiing is a popular summer activity among skate skiers. Roller skis are like rollerblades but are longer, have only two wheels and have bindings that allow skate ski boots to clip on. “If you’re serious, you’ll want to stay in shape. If you’re just out for the fun and enjoyment of winter and skiing, you can pick your own level,” Miller said. Where to go Miller, with a cabin in Crosslake, favors the Nordic Ridge Recreation Area, which is near the Crosslake Community Center. However, there are many trails in the area groomed for cross-country skiing. While some trails such as Nordic Ridge are free to use, others require the Minnesota Ski Pass, which is available through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. It’s $20 for a year or $6 for a day. The pass may be purchased online or at any location that sells DNR licenses. Money from the passes goes toward grant-in-aid ski trails, including the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd and several others in the area. Miller is living proof that it’s
never too late to start a new sport and never too late to hit the trails. He encourages anyone with an interest to give it a try. Strap on the skis and hit the long, snowy trail.
Area ski trails
Nordic Ridge Recreation Area Location: Adjacent to the Crosslake Community Center, 14126 Daggett Pine Rd, Crosslake Fee: None, MN Ski Pass not required Trail distance: about 10 kilometers Northland Arboretum Location: 14250 Conservation Drive, Brainerd Fee: $5 for parking (free to Arboretum members), MN Ski Pass from DNR required Trail distance: 12 kilometers groomed; 4.5 kilometers lit until 10 p.m. Cut Lake Location: 10.5 miles west of Pine River on County Road 2 Fee: MN Ski Pass from DNR required Trail distance: 16.5 kilometers French Rapids Location: Use the Brainerd Airport exit from 210; watch for signs Fee: MN Ski Pass from DNR required Trail distance: 16 kilometers Pine Beach Location: South of Gull Lake, with parking at Kavanaugh’s Resort or in Pillsbury State Forest Fee: MN Ski Pass from DNR required Trail distance: 40 kilometers Ski rental Martin’s Sport Shop: 25451 Main St., Nisswa; 218-963-2341; Cost: $20 for 24 hours Easy Riders: 415 Washington St., Brainerd; 218-829-5516; Cost: $15 for 3 hours, $20 for 24 hours, $40 for 3 days, $60 for one week
KATE PERKINS, a former Echo Publishing staff writer, is a freelance writer from northern Minnesota.
www.northlandoutdoors.com
7
By
This red-bellied woodpecker, as if summoned by a bird-call app, appeared at the bird feeder put out by the author. F Tim
Bogenschutz/Northland Outdoors
Calling a favorite bird in from the wild –
My curious grandson and I were sitting there, watching birds coming and going from the bird feeder, when we heard the distinct call of a red-bellied woodpecker. It caught my grandson’s attention, and he asked, “What was that, grandpa?” I said, “That is one of my favorite birds,” and pulled out my iPhone. “Listen to this, Omar.” I quickly brought my iBird Pro app to life, typing into the search box R E D - B E L LI E D … And there it was. I hit the sound button, which immediately played back a recording of the bird’s call. Then, even to my amazement, within a couple of seconds, a real-life woodpecker
appeared eye-level, right there on the tree in front of us. To my grandson’s delight, it mimicked
Bogenschutz/NorthlandOutdoors
L
Last summer while I was sitting on our porch, I had a chance to see the world anew through the eyes of a 6-yearold. It was one of those special times when you have the chance to excite the learning instincts of a young mind.
F Tim
By TIM BOGENSCHUTZ
and a child into the outdoors
For bird-lovers, and the curious, an app provides the “voices” of our feathered friends.
my call perfectly, and loud enough to even startle him a bit. His eyes were wide open in awe and wonderment, and he blurted out, “How did you do that?” I had to be honest and told him. We were lucky this time — using recorded calls of a bird or animal
will do the trick sometimes, but not all the time. But I knew this was extraspecial in that, this time it worked, and the two of us had just shared something that we probably will remember for the rest of our lives. Plus, to my delight, I had got him hooked a little more on the outdoors. Instead of playing games on his iPad in the house, he was now reaching for my iPhone. He was pushing the sound button of the app to hear what other sounds this pretty incredible bird can make? A footnote: The iBird Pro app is just one of many apps that can enhance your outdoor learning and experiences. Many of these apps are free. This one might not be for you because of the cost. I found it to be excellent in content, but more expensive than any I have ever purchased. TIM BOGENSCHUTZ Publisher of the Brainerd Dispatch, and avid outdoorsman. He has a passion for Photography while spending time outdoors.
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9
Similar tactics,
different locales
Catching winter bluegills, perch and crappies
A
By DAVE CSANDA
10
OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
F Bill
Downsized lures in combination with livebait tend to rule the ice fishing game, especially where livebait and multi-species fishing interest go hand-in-hand. Which species you catch depends upon where you fish, because each displays its own depth and habitat preferences, even under the ice. Beginning with bluegills Bluegills have darned-near microscopic vision, and often approach within inches and stare at your lures for long periods before deciding to ease in and lightly inhale your bait. But if anything looks phony — such as placing too much action on a lure, or using too heavy a line — they refuse to bite. That’s why panfish ice anglers often rely on 1- to 2-pound test
Lindner Photography
Ask panfish anglers how they fish during winter, and most bluegill fishermen would opt for a teeny, tiny jig tipped with a waxworm; most perch anglers, a small spoon baited with a minnow head; and most crappie fishermen, either a tiny spoon or a jig, dressed with a live minnow.
A depth finder can come in handy for winter blugills.
A variety of panfish jigs.
them. The good news is, you generally don’t have to fish too deep, so you can quickly check a variety of areas until you establish contact. Watch your depth finder to spot the presence and depth of fish, drop your lure down, and then reel up your bait so it’s right above their heads. Hold it there, then jiggle it up slightly, and hold again. Patience is a virtue; don’t be in a hurry to move it. In ice fishing, subtle movement attracts, but pauses indicate vulnerability and trigger the bite. Underwater cameras greatly enhance your effectiveness and angling experience for finicky bluegills. There’s nothing quite like the confidence that comes with actually seeing fish, and how they react to variations in lure motion.
Proceeding to perch Perch, by comparison, are less fussy, and usually more aggressive than bluegills. Like walleyes, they often strike a fluttering spoon tipped with a minnow head, although smaller 1-inch spoons tend to favor perch, while slightly larger 1½-inchers tend to be better for walleyes. Still, 4-pound-test and a bit more jiggle and wiggle tend to make perch bite spoons. Lift, then flutter the spoon downward to attract their attention. Then let it dangle, spinning ever so slowly due to line twist unfurling beneath the hole. The lift-flutter attracts, but the vulnerable pause is what triggers strikes. By comparison, when you’re using softbaits, keep the action to a minimum and let the softbait work its natural magic. Impart occasional quivers, followed by
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monofilament line, teeny jigs tipped with live waxworms, and plenty of patience for bluegills. Dangle them near motionless, with only the occasional slight quiver to attract ’gills to come in for a closer look; then try to hold them still to get fussy fish to bite. That being said, pint-size softbaits are increasingly capturing the imagination of ice anglers, particularly for panfish. As mentioned earlier, a growing number of panfish ice anglers are replacing minnows and grubs with tiny, flexible softbaits that retain their quivering, lifelike appearance, even in ultra-cold water. Northland Fishing Tackle’s Bro Bug lineup is tough to beat. It features teeny jigheads with size #14 or #12 hooks, dressed with soft plastic imitations of natural forage items: Bro’s Bloodworm (reddish bloodworms), the Slug Bug (general insect larvae), and the Scud Bug (shrimp imitation). “Sometimes, the biggest bluegills, crappies and perch eat the smallest critters that camouflage themselves in drab colors,” said panfish expert and lure designer Brian Brosdahl of Max, Minnesota. “Especially in clear waters, where fish can detect the smallest faults in your presentation.” Weeds, weeds, weeds Prominent mainlake weedbeds and moderately deep weedy bays tend to draw the largest bluegills. Fish may be atop flats, along deep weedlines, or even lying in a deep carpet of sandgrass adjacent to the deepest tall weeds. So you have to do some hunting to find
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extended pauses, letting the lure hang near-motionless in place. They’re especially good when perch are using shallower water and flats. Spoons are tops when the fish are deeper. Off the edge Walleye anglers tend to tightly hug dropoffs rimming the perimeters of large mainlake structures meeting fairly deep water. Hard bottom along these edges often concentrates walleyes along twists and turns in the contour. Perch, while often nearby, do not find these areas as inviting. Perch are more soft-bottom basin critters, likely to munch on
chiefly during the day. Perch are active and on the prowl when the sun shines. But once light levels drop, they tend to settle to the bottom, resting their little fin tips on the basin, like a kid plopping his elbows on the table at dinnertime. Magically, just about the time the perch bite begins to taper, the walleye bite begins to kick in, with bigger ’eyes munching on their smaller relatives. The best way to find perch is to find the dropoff along a prime midlake bar or hump, and then drill a swiss-cheese pattern of holes across the nearby basin. True, this is a relatively flat area,
bloodworms or other insects and larvae emerging from the mud. Yet they often are found very close to structure — like just off the edges. As such, the transition from hard bottom at the base of a dropoff to the soft bottom of the adjacent basin is a perfect place for walleyes and perch to interface. Fish vertically, right on the dropoff, and you’re likely to catch walleyes, especially during the lowlight transition periods of sunrise and sunset. Fish a few feet or yards out onto the adjacent mud flat, and you’re probably going to run into perch,
but don’t worry. This is where perch live and feed on critters that live in and emerge from the mud, or on little minnows that happen to wander through their territory, making perch equalopportunity feeders. Catering to crappies Basically, smaller “bluegillish” softbaits of an inch or so in length will catch shallow in weeds or deep weedlines. But once crappies move deep to their usual winter haunts — down the edges of dropoffs, and out across soft basin areas of 30-odd feet in depth — tiny jigs tipped with softbaits become very difficult to
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OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
fish effectively in deeper water. For sheer effectiveness, slightly heavier baits like small spoons, #5 Jigging Rapalas, and perhaps 1/32-ounce jigs tipped with live minnows tend to work better for crappies. It’s just too hard to fish tiny softbaits on featherweight 1/64- or 1/80-ounce jigs in deep water. Not too deep Deep is a relative thing, however. Crappies don’t like cavernous deep basins; in lakes where 70 to 100 feet of water is available, they typically ignore these sections in favor of lake areas where the basin is considerably shallower. Thus, the portions of the lake bottoming out at 30 or 40 feet tend to hold the most crappies. Leave the deeper stuff to walleye anglers. In shallow soup-bowl lakes with little structure, crappies routinely roam and prowl their way across the open basin of the lake, settling temporarily in areas with the best combination of food. On an extremely shallow lake, a small, deep hole of the proper depth might draw most of the crappies in the lake into a very limited area. Each lake is different, so you need to evaluate what they offer to the fish, and plan your fishing accordingly. In early winter, crappies often are very bottom-oriented. By midwinter, however, oxygen depletion begins taking place in the deepest portions of the basins. Rather than leaving these areas completely, the fish usually respond by rising higher in the water column, perhaps suspending 20 feet down over 30 feet of water, where oxygen is still suitable. Crappies now patrol these levels in search of minnows, which likewise roam, occasionally moving into the area
A tiny spoon got this bluegill through the ice.
beneath your hole. As they do, these fish become clearly visible on your electronics, indicating not only where to fish, but how deep to fish. You never want to dangle your lures below the level of the fish, where they won’t see them. Rather, position your lures or baits at or slightly above the fish eye level, where they can visually detect them, becoming interested as they rise to examine your offering. Crappie anglers fish for these suspended fish in several ways. The first, and perhaps easiest method, is with a slip-bobber rig, suspending a live minnow at the fish level. Nick the minnow lightly below the dorsal fin on a small #6 hook, and send it down. As the minnow dangles and struggles, it tempts crappies to move in for the kill. When a crappie inhales it, the resulting quiver imparted to the bobber may be so subtle that you barely see it. At the slightest suspicious motion of the bobber, set the hook. Anglers also use tiny ice spoons for crappies, tipped with a minnow, minnow head or live waxworm. The idea is to drop the spoon down to the fish, then let it settle. Jiggle it a bit, then let it settle again. This lures them in for a look, while the pause entices them to move in even
closer, hopefully to bite. You can readily witness this phenomenon on a good portable depth finder like a Humminbird ICE 45 or 55. The spoon appears on the screen as a small, brightly colored mark, and the crappie a larger one. When the big mark moves up toward the smaller one, and the two merge, you know the fish is barely inches away, eyeballing your lure. Shortly thereafter, if the rod tip suddenly dips, indicating a strike, set the hook. Tempt and tease If the fish doesn’t strike within a few seconds, however, don’t just let the bait continue to dangle — especially if you see the fish begin
to lose interest and start dropping toward bottom. Instead, reel the bait up a foot or two, jiggle it, and then pause again. Many times, the fish will become reinterested and rise to follow. Sometimes, you need to do this a few times to convince fish to bite. You’ll notice that every time you can get them to rise, they tend to become more active and interested. The same trick works for bluegills, perch — even walleyes. DAVE CSANDA is a veteran outdoor communicator/ TV co-host who works at Lindner‘s Angling Edge Television in Baxter. He has been inducted into both the Minnesota and National Fresh Water Fishing Halls of Fame, and volunteers with the Brainerd Lakes Area Chapter of Let’s Go Fishing.
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By BILL MARCHEL
How To
Find ruffed grouse during late season
B
BRAINERD, Minn. — For the versatile hunter, October in Minnesota has much to offer — ducks, geese, bow hunting for deer. That’s the reason I tend to wait for December to hunt ruffed grouse.
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OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
Marchel
favored by grouse earlier in the fall will have all but disappeared by December, the birds will be feeding mostly on buds and catkins. Grouse will pick away at a variety of edibles, but the catkins of hazel are their favorite early winter food. Ruffs definitely prefer the larger catkins plucked from hazel shrubs growing in areas exposed to the sun. Thus, look for the best hazel thickets to be in forest openings and on woodland edges. Overgrown cattle pastures are almost always good spots, especially when close to typical ruffed grouse cover of aspen, alder and dogwood. Ruffed grouse also feed on ironwood and birch buds during December and, as winter progresses, aspen buds.
F Bill
December grouse hunts, though, bear little resemblance to October jaunts. Locating grouse during December can be difficult since the birds are usually concentrated in small areas. Once found, they often are wary, rarely holding for a pointing dog, let alone for a hunter trudging through noisy, crusted snow. Despite those adversities — in some cases, because of them — I love hunting grouse during late season. Many hunters have trouble finding ruffed grouse during December, even with the aid of snow. Since ruffs are usually grouped around any available food sources, it may take a bit of walking to find them. Therefore, I find it best to hunt at a fast pace until tracks in the snow indicate a group of grouse has been feeding in an area. Then I slow down and hunt that territory thoroughly. Since the fruits and greens
A ruffed grouse is perched in a tree in stretched-out position. Hunters call it the bowling pin position.
A ruffed grouse hunter displays a bagged grouse during a late-season hunt.
F Bill
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Grouse also relish highbush cranberries, and unlike many other woodland fruits, the colorful red berries remain on the stems through the winter, or until hungry grouse pluck them. Examine the crops of the birds you kill because that will help you determine what they are eating. On cold days, grouse will often feed only in the late afternoon, forgoing their breakfast. They will, however, usually be loafing within a quarter mile or so of their favorite food source. If the snow is deep, grouse may spend the day roosting under a blanket of powder. Otherwise they often will hunker next to a log or tree trunk in a sunny spot out of the wind. Oftentimes, they may hide in evergreens such as balsam fir or spruce. Once flushed, late-season grouse often land in a tree.
Marchel
Hwy. 18 West • Garrison, MN 320-692-4341
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15
When snow and cold invade the uplands, grouse often sit in a sunny location close to a tree trunk or log.
F Bill
Astute grouse hunters check the crops of bagged birds to determine what the birds have been feeding on. This bird’s crop contains primarily hazel, catkins and aspen buds.
F Bill
16
Marchel
When attempting to follow and re-flush a grouse, a hunter should watch for the telltale “bowling pin” (an alert grouse standing tall) perched on a branch. Since late-season ruffed grouse are often jumpy, hunters should consider using a tighter choke and larger shot than they would use earlier, when leaves are on the trees. I go with a modified choke and No. 6 shot. It’s easy to overdress when hunting late-season grouse. Active hunters require surprisingly little outwear.
OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
Marchel
A good rule to follow is, if you aren’t a bit chilled when you initially enter the woods, you’re probably wearing too much clothing. Enjoy your time afield during late season, even if you don’t flush many grouse. I really like observing the tracks of woodland creatures while hunting December grouse. The season on ruffed grouse continues through January 3, 2016. The daily limit is five birds, with 10 in possession. Shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise and sunset. BILL MARCHEL is a wildlife and outdoors photographer and writer whose work appears in many regional and national publications as well as the Brainerd Dispatch. He may be reached at bill@billmarchel. com.
Late-season grouse hunters should learn to recognize the tracks of ruffed grouse in the snow. Concentrate your hunting efforts in areas where grouse tracks are prevalent. F Bill
Marchel
BE PART OF AN ASSOCIATION THAT GIVES BACK! Did you know: • Each year MDHA chapters provide nearly $180,000 in scholarships to MDHA Forkhorn Camps across the state which provide outdoor and hunting education for nearly 900 youth annually. • MDHA, through partnerships, has spent over $27 million to restore and rehabilitate critical wildlife habitat and high quality deer and wildlife habitat on public lands. • MDHA’s Hides for Habitat Program has collected over 820,000 hides and raised $4.9 million for habitat projects throughout Minnesota. • MDHA is a Forest Legacy Initiative Partner, obtaining easements on large private corporate forest lands to allow public hunting for generations to come. • MDHA employs a full time lobbyist in the St. Paul to uphold MDHA members’ interests from across the state. Annually, MDHA invests about $50,000 in direct legislative efforts. More importantly, we inform and enable MDHA members to become involved.
NOW is the time to join one of MDHA’s 62 Chapters and be part of the largest Minnesota based conservation organization to preserve our deer hunting heritage. For more information on MDHA programs and to become a member, please visit our website www.mndeerhunters.com or call 1-800-450-3337 001327762r1
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OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
F Ashley
Grant Schnell treks through fresh powder on a winter camping trip in Chippewa National Forest. He tows his gear in a pulk, or a sled pulled by rigid poles, that’s harnessed to his waist. His dog, Leidy, runs alongside him.
Schnell
By KATE PERKINS
Winter trekking, yurts help make the most of winter
F
For adventurers who love to backpack or visit the boundary waters in the summer, the winter season can seem a bit bland. But there are other ways to get out in winter.
Winter trekking and warm, cozy yurts are allowing summertime explorers to see the coldest season in a new light. Grant and Ashley Schnell, of St. Cloud, are passionate winter trekkers. Carrying their gear behind them on a sled, Grant says that winter trekking includes many of the same enjoyable aspects of backpacking or canoeing. “I would consider it fairly similar, just with a different mode of travel but with the same benefits of being outside and being in the wilderness,” Grant said.
Grant and Ashley own SkiPulk com, a website devoted SkiPulk.com, to selling gear specialized for man-powered trips through the snow. They sell pulks, which are sleds that are pulled with two rigid poles that attach to a harness at the puller’s waist. Rather than carrying the weight on one’s back, the pulk transfers the weight to the ground to be pulled through the wilderness. The Schnells got into the ski pulk business through Grant’s work with Ed Bouffard, a wilderness enthusiast who developed his own pulk system for wilderness travel called
Ed’s Wilderness System (or the “EWS”). When Bouffard retired, “EWS”) the Schnells purchased Bouffard’s business, which has continued to grow. SkiPulk.com now sells various pulk systems to winter enthusiasts all over the world. They also offer a free PDF book on their website about how to make your own pulk. Grant said pulks often are towed while on skis or snowshoes, though some pull them behind snowmobiles, while kite skiing, or even behind fat bikes. The Schnells recommend trekking the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
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though, Grant points out that the risks of winter camping, such as staying warm and dry, can be minimized. But the cold, in general, can be prepared for. “You can dress for most cold temps,” Grant said. Having the right camping gear, like a good sleeping bag and a good sleeping pad, also is necessary. “For those of Grant’s favorite trip to date was one he and Ashley took us who seek that several years ago into the BWCAW with friends. After sort of adventure, hiking in, they set up a base it’s definitely camp where they stayed for four nights, fishing, exploring, something people cooking and generally enjoying the wilderness. should experience.” “The feeling you get gliding - Peter Hark through the untracked snow for miles is just great,” Grant said. But for those who still are states. But why go on a multi-day camping trip, with no motorized easing their way into winter, or perhaps don’t want to undertake transportation, in the dead of so much work for their trip, other winter? options are available throughout “For me, winter travel is enjoyable because it’s much more the state. Boundary Country slow-paced than summer. There’s Yurts, off the Gunflint Trail in northeast Minnesota, offers cozy more emphasis placed on being dwellings in the woods — and outside.” they’ll carry your gear in for you. Grant said that, in the Ted and Barbara Young own summer, often the goal of making Boundary Country Trekking, a destination or travelling a which includes two yurts located certain number of miles can make a trip more fast-paced and, along a ski trail on the border of the Boundary Waters. Yurts in some cases, stressful. But, in are round canvas tents with winter, the concerns of the day wood frames and wood floors. are whittled down to the basics: staying warm, hydrated, well-fed, Boundary Country offers trips in which visitors start at the and enjoying the surroundings. Boundary Country Bed and The Schnells load their pulks with a tipi-shaped “hot tent” — a Breakfast and ski from yurt to yurt before finishing their trip at tent equipped with a woodstove. the end of the trail. When skiers “When it’s zero out you can arrive at each yurt, their food and have it 80 degrees in there if gear is waiting for them and a fire you want to,” Grant said. “It’s is roaring in the woodstove. comfortable.” Three Minnesota state parks “Cold camping,” or camping also now offer yurts. At Afton in an unheated four-season tent, also is an option. With a hot tent, State Park and Cuyuna Country (BWCAW), Chippewa National Forest and Superior National Forest, among other areas. “And that’s just Minnesota,” Grant said. “You head west into the mountains and the sky’s the limit.” Much of the SkiPulk business, he said, goes to the mountain
“
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”
OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
State Recreation area, the yurts are only a few hundred yards from the parking lot. At Glendalough State Park, the yurts require a quarter- to half-mile hike on the trail or ski across the lake. Peter Hark, the state parks and trails operations manager, said the Glendalough yurts were purposely place a little ways off the beaten path to offer extra solitude. Yurts at all three locations have been even more successful than the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources expected. The DNR yurts are equipped with a woodstove, bunk beds, and a table and chairs. Wood is provided in the wintertime, and most yurts sleep up to seven people. Cooking and open flames are not allowed inside the state park yurts, but a fire ring with a grill is outside the yurt for cooking. Hark said that while the yurts have seen just one winter season so far, they’ve been very popular. Boundary Country Trekking, meanwhile, has been renting yurts for more than 30 years, and winter is their best season. Winter trekking and yurts share a common goal — offering the ability to enjoy the wilderness in what might be Minnesota’s least popular season. Grant recommends it to anyone who enjoys the outdoors. “For those of us who seek that sort of adventure, it’s definitely something people should experience,” he said. KATE PERKINS, a former Echo Publishing staff writer, is a freelance writer from northern Minnesota.
Schnell F Ashley
Resources
• Ski Pulk: www.SkiPulk.com • Boundary Country Trekking: www. boundarycountry.com; 800-322-8327 • DNR State Park Yurts: http://www.dnr.state. mn.us/state_parks/yurts.html; reservations available online or at 866-857-2757
Grant Schnell is shown trekking through Chippewa National Forest pulling one of his company’s pulks. Pulks are sleds towed by rigid poles. They transfer weight that would have been on Grant’s back to the ground.
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RON LINDER
Kalkofen
Ageless wonder, – and still at it
F Jim
R
Ron Lindner has done it all during his prolific career. But he’s not done yet — far from it.
By JIM KALKOFEN
Ron Lindner deserves every accolade ever bestowed on him. Inventor. Idea Man. Original. Hall of Famer. Salesman extraordinaire. Publisher. TV host. Writer.
This legacy has been built with 60 years in the trenches of the fishing industry industry. He has seen it all, written about it all, coined terms for most of it, created some of the best tackle, shared concepts with dozens of manufacturers for better products, and more. Most people at age 81 would be sitting on the beach or playing cribbage with their buddies. Linder is not retired; never will be (he said); and busier than ever. His brain churns out plans. His command of social media is amazing. He pushes those around him to achieve new heights. And he’s always thinking. Fishing was always his game. Still is. His waking moments revolve around fishing. Likely, fishing occupies his dreams. He knows everyone in the business. When he calls, they pick up the phone. Now, he is busy with a new project, and wants everyone to join him at targetwalleye.com. Open-water walleyes and all species during the ice fishing season are covered extensively in Lindner’s new project. It is a free digital format, which means subscribers get the fishing information a couple times each week via emails on their
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smartphones, tablets, computers or related devices. Lindner started and published In-Fisherman with his brother, Al. It developed into one of the most famous educational fishing magazines. He knows a thing or two about delivering news to anglers. He is one of the creative forces behind Lindner Media Productions, Lindner’s Angling Edge TV, and now Target Walleye. Now, he distributes the news without paper, mailing or subscription renewals. Most importantly, the news is NOT six months old when it reaches subscribers. “With Target Walleye, they get it when it’s happening,” he said. The difference between his new project and the paper format is that everything is digital, and it’s free. “I love delivering these emails. They’re loaded with tips and information, and up to the minute,” he said. Target Walleye now is transitioning into its winter version called Target Walleye/Ice. “Walleyes most of the year, but with more ice fishing – all species
OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
– in the winter. Sportsmen don’t stop fishing, they just trade in their boats for their ice fishing houses and shelters. They chase whatever bites in the winter,” he said. “Fishermen in the north country don’t stop fishing, they just change tactics from open water to hard water.” The innovations, gadgets and gear for ice fishermen have expanded at an exponential rate, with so much available to make a trip on the ice comfortable, warm and productive. “We cover the tactics and how to use the new tackle, plus cover what’s biting and where,” Lindner said. “And, you won’t believe the photos of really nice fish coming from all across the ice-scape.” That’s one of his projects. Another is examining closely the latest fisheries knowledge combined with mapping and many other sciences. With considerable research, he crafted a map showing where walleyes swim today, their original range, and the southern “border” of the normal ice range, and formalized a picture of the popularity of walleyes. “Some states don’t get it, and are doing their utmost to destroy
tournament trail, the Lindner populations of giant walleyes, empire was a forerunner in despite strong opposition, but all this info-sharing) and now that’s another story for another social media quickly tells people day,” Lindner said. everything they need to know. With the growing subscriber “A guy with plenty of money base of Target Walleye, more and time and a few skills can people will be made aware of now enter the tournament game some of these local issues. and do fairly well rather quickly, Target Walleye/Ice now is because his quest is shortened by reaching 9,000 subscribers twice a decade or two. The spread of each week, Facebook followers information is a game-changer,” number in excess of 150,000 per Lindner said. week, and the Instagram site is Third on his list is safety. the largest walleye-only site in the social media world. For those With GPS, maps, depth finders, boat sizes and boat floatation, wondering why they haven’t big outboards, kickers, and heard about Target Walleye, it cellphones, anglers can safely could be because it’s not yet one fish big waters with an eye to the year old. sky, but weather conditions are Lindner arrived at this point not as much a factor with today’s in his life the old-fashioned equipment. way – with hard work. When Talking about Lindner in he began the journey, he was general doesn’t do him justice. fishing from 12-foot boats with Following are some of the 5-horsepower outboards (or oars). Depth finders were weights projects and innovations where tied to strings. GPS was lining up his hands and brains came into play: two trees with a cabin on shore. “Times sure have changed,” • Invented the Lindy rig. he said, as if not realizing he was • Invented the “R” bend for responsible for many of those spinner baits. changes. • Invented the stand-up jig jig. The top three fishing innovations Lindner has observed over the last six decades may not be what most anglers would expect, but No. 1 is a slamdunk. “The Colt of the west was called the equalizer,” he said, “And today, the GPS combined with the depth finder is the equalizer. What took some guides 25 years to learn, any angler can do by looking at a map and punching in a destination and going right to it.” The second greatest innovation in his estimation has been the transfer of information. The media (with radio, TV, magazines, seminars and a
WALLEYE
WHEREABOUTS Walleye popularity as a game fish, as a great fish to eat and one that challenges serious competitors, continues to grow. They swim in a very broad range throughout North America. They can be caught in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the Great Lakes with tactics that sometimes demand a simple bobber and a worm to the most advanced electronics, gear and skills. Walleye boats could be 14 feet with a small outboard to a pontoon or kayak to a 20-foot deep-vee hull loaded like a spaceship. Walleyes fascinate anglers and have a reputation for confounding fishermen. Where they go, why they move, how to find them and when to fish are some of the answers revealed at Target Walleye/Ice. This map, compiled by the experts at Target Walleye/Ice, shows where walleyes live. It also outlines the typical “ice” line, because Target Walleye/Ice covers everything about walleyes, and in winter, all aspects for all species pursued by ice anglers. Target Walleye/Ice sends free emails twice a week to subscribers (targetwalleye.com to sign up).
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Hard-water walleyes
I
By DAVE CSANDA
at first ice
In the North Country, five months of ice cover is common, and ice fishing is a way of life, complete with its own unique clothing, equipment and strategies.
As soon as the ice becomes thick enough to walk on, generally right after Thanksgiving, ice fishermen are ready, willing and eager to make their first few tentative steps across the glassy surface. Some folks wait for 5 to 8 inches of firm, new ice to form, which the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says is necessary for supporting the weight of snowmobiles and fourwheelers. Yet treading lightly on foot across 2 to 3 inches of clear ice has major advantages. First and foremost, you’re the first ones on the prime spots, and early birds definitely get in on the best bite. During the last few weeks of open water, blustery winds, cold weather, and a rim of ice along shorelines makes it nearly impossible to get your boat out to deep mid-lake structures. The fish enjoy a two- or threeweek reprieve from fishing pressure, and become ripe for the plucking for the first few lures dangling below an ice hole. Toss a modest amount of equipment on a lightweight plastic sled: a Styrofoam minnow bucket with a few dozen minnows; a portable depth finder; an ice scoop; a spud bar (5-foot-long chisel) or 8-inch diameter hand auger; a couple of jigging rods and reels spooled with 8- to
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10-pound-test and thin, flexible monofilament; a small 5- x 8-inch tackle box with an assortment of tackle; pliers and nail clipper; a pocket-sized GPS, flashlight and a Coleman lantern for night fishing; a couple of granola bars in your pocket; a cell phone, rope and ice picks for emergencies — and not much else. With air temperatures still mild — 30 degrees during the day, in the teens at night — insulated boots, gloves, hat or hood, and a moderate-weight snowsuit or jacket and bibs combo should be sufficient. Wear a lifejacket for added warmth and safety. Towing your gear on a lightweight sled across clean, smooth ice isn’t difficult, and the first brave souls go in light and savvy with just the right amount of gear. A few weeks later, once the ice thickens, you’ll see a parade of folks with portable shacks, gas augers, portable heaters, and a vehicle to ride on and tow it all. In the meantime, however, you’ve been jerking jaws in relative solitude. For walleyes, start fishing in the same areas you last contacted walleyes in late open water: namely prominent main-lake structures with steep drops to the basin. Major points, deep humps — somewhere that deep water swings up tight against a sharp dropoff, within modest walking distance (a half-mile or so) of shore. Tip-toe your way out to a potential area, tap-tap-tapping the end of your spud bar atop the ice as you walk along, probing and
OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
testing the worthiness of the ice surface. If the bar pokes through, slowly back up, and reconsider your plan of attack. Wait a day or two and try again. Or switch to an area with firmer and safer footing. With 2 to 4 inches of clear, safe ice, though, you should be able to creep out to nearby spots. When you get close, use familiar rifle sights on shore — lining up a tree and a house over this way, or perhaps a flag pole and a big tree over there — the same way you relocate your spots in open water. If you have a portable GPS, even better. The same waypoints you stored in your unit during late-fall fishing forays should be good places to start ice fishing now. If you don’t have pre-located, pre-programmed hot spots, use a GPS mapping screen or cellphone app to walk out to potential areas indicated on a lake map. Major underwater structures are easy to find and fish, even if you’ve never fished there before. Don’t bother trying to locate little secret spots at first ice. Stick to big, prominent, obvious, classic structures that attract numbers of
walleyes due to their sheer size. Then look for walleyes along concentration points along their edges. Splash a little water from your minnow bucket atop the ice, rest your transducer atop the surface, and see if you can send a signal through to get a good depth reading of the bottom. Brush away light snow cover if necessary. Repeat the process in 20-foot increments in all directions, reading the depths to establish the contour below. Then drill some holes in likely places and get ready to fish. If you can’t get a good bottom reading through the ice, start drilling or chopping holes in a swiss-cheese pattern. Scoop the remnant ice out of the holes and lower the transducer into the water to establish a depth reading. If there’s a little light snow cover atop the ice, reach down with your gloved finger and simply draw the depth in feet in the snow crust: 23, 18, 21, 37 — hey, there’s the dropoff. Now drill more adjacent holes to establish the contour, and prepare for action. For fishing out in the open without a portable shelter like a Fish Trap, Clam or Frabill, use a fairly long, 32- to 40-inch ice spinning rod, medium action. If you’re inside the confines of a lightweight portable shelter, a shorter 28- to 32-incher will be more feasible. (When you lift to set the hook, you won’t bash the ceiling.) A small, light or ultralight spinning reel spooled with limp 8- or 10-pound-test mono is on the money. Move to the first hole, insert your transducer into the water, and rest your depth finder atop the ice. Floating transducers get a good bottom reading, and establish the presence and depth
of baitfish and walleyes. Lure choices are simple, affording different levels of jigging aggressiveness. A simple 1/8- to ¼-ounce jighead tipped with a 2½- to 3½-inch minnow is a subtle presentation. Try colors ranging from subtle, like white or yellow, to bright, like fluorescent orange or chartreuse. Either hook the minnow up through the lips, or insert the hook through the tail, midway between the dorsal and tail fins. Tail-hooking usually increases minnow activity. Nosehooking restrains it. Lower your lure to the bottom, engage the reel, and slowly lift it up and down a few inches. Then pause. Watch your depth finder to reveal the lure’s distance off bottom, and for the approach of any fish into the area. If a fish comes in to examine the
offering, indicated by the sudden appearance of a prominent mark on your screen, lift-drop a couple more times, then pause, suspending your lure in place. Motion tends to attract fish, but lack of motion tends to trigger strikes — an important element of ice fishing. Switch to a small ¼- to 1/3-ounce ice jigging spoon (nearly 2 inches long) for a more aggressive approach. Tip a minnow head (pinch it off between the thumb and forefinger) on one tine of the treble hook. Lower the lure to bottom, watching for the line to stop or jump if a fish strikes during the fall. Upon reaching bottom, engage the reel, take up continued on page 31
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A sauna sits covered in winter snow. The sauna continues to offer warmth and therapy to many Minnesotans who carry on the tradition. F Aaron
Hautala
The hot seat By KATE PERKINS
The joy of the sauna in the heart of winter
A
Aaron Hautala said that growing up, every Saturday night was the same: It was sauna night.
“When I was a kid, the sauna would get fired up in early afternoon,” he said said. “It was part of our normal operating schedule.” It was an outdoor sauna with a wood fireplace. After dinner, Hautala’s mother and sisters would go out, and when they were finished, Hautala, his dad and his brother would sauna. Finally, his grandparents would
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take a turn. They went in this order, Hautala said, because generally, the sauna would get hotter as the evening went on. Each group would sit in the heat, and then soap up and rinse off. It was their time to clean up. “I still can’t remember to this day if it was my only bath for the week or not,” Hautala said. His family is Finnish, and the
OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
sauna was part of the culture and the routine. According to Hautala, the word is pronounced “sow-na.” Hautala said that where he grew up, near Biwabik, the sauna tradition is kept alive today, mostly by Finns whose relatives came to that area and worked as miners. The concept of using a sauna
Aaron Hautala, photographer for the book “The Opposite of Cold�, found this sauna boat on a lake while photographing saunas in Finland. F Aaron
Hautala
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as a method of bathing may be confusing to some who aren’t familiar with the tradition. After all, saunas cause sweating, and the general notion is that if you’re sweating, you really ought to take a shower. But the sauna, Hautala said, is a deep cleanse. It opens the pores and gets the dirt out. The standard American shower might be efficient, but the sauna is rejuvenating. “Once you do it, it becomes therapy,” Hautala said. “If you have a bad day, take a sauna. If you’re not feeling good, take a sauna. My parents to this day still, every Saturday, fire up the sauna. Hautala doesn’t have a sauna today, but remains educated on saunas after taking photos for a book about what once was his weekend ritual. It’s called “The Opposite of Cold,” written by Michael Nordskog. Their work on the book took Hautala across the Midwest and to Finland to photograph saunas. Hautala found that communities with
a northern European heritage tended to have saunas, especially in the Keweenaw peninsula of Michigan. In Finland, Hautala found that saunas are the norm, that public saunas are common and apartments are expected to include a sauna. Hautala, of Cuyuna, knows of saunas across the upper Midwest, but knows of few in the immediate lakes area. But there are a few. Mike and Jenni Sommerness, of Breezy Point, built a sauna in their backyard. They built it after being inspired by a friend, who also had built a sauna. The Sommernesses had seen and used saunas before, though. Mike grew up with one — his step-dad had built one at the family cabin. And Jenni’s friends in grade school had saunas. The Sommerness sauna has a small changing room with a bench and a door that opens into a small, candle-lit room with no windows, one large woodstove and two sets of benches set at two levels, one higher than the other,
which is useful for temperature control. Because heat rises, the upper bench is a hotter seat than the lower bench. The stove is topped with rocks that are doused with water to create steam Hautala finds that, in the sauna, conversation tends to fall flat as the occupants soak up the heat. “For me, it was always a time to reboot,” he said. “You just slow down. It’s not like you’re in the sauna with your cell phone, hopefully, and it’s hot enough that you don’t want to talk your head off. You might want to for a while, but then you throw water on and the steam comes up, and you stop.” The Sommernesses, too, find the sauna relaxing and beneficial. “It’s the best sleep ever after a sauna,” Jenni said, with Mike adding, “It’s kind of meditative.” On the coldest days of winter, the Sommernesses say the sauna is the best way to beat the cold. Their son, River, 10, loves the sauna, too.
Mike and Jenni Sommerness built their own sauna nestled into the woods in their backyard. They sauna at least once a week, especially in the colder months. F Submitted
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OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
photo
Though it is no longer in business, Biwabik was once home to a public bar and sauna. F Aaron
Hautala
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Hautala
F Aaron
Hautala
F Aaron
In the winter, the temperature difference between inside and outside a sauna can be more than 200 degrees.
“It’s like going to Arizona for a month,” River said. “It’s so good.” After a sauna, they said they can stand barefoot in the snow, hardly feeling the cold. “You wear your boots out and you walk back barefoot,” Mike said. They recall a 40-below day when they stoked the sauna to 160 degrees, creating a 200
A stoked wood stove brings the heat in a sauna.
degree difference between inside and outside outside. For them, the sauna makes Minnesota’s notoriously difficult winters easier. “It feels like you defeat winter for a little bit.” Mike said. “You can take the next cold snap with a smile, not a groan,” Jenni added. For Hautala, the sauna goes with his history and heritage, or no media about walleye tournaments, even though more of them are being conducted in a much wider area than ever before, the knowledge seems to
“
• Part of the Twister tail craze. • Developed what today is considered modern foul-weather gear. • Intimately tied to transom splash guards. • Invented the No-Snagg sinker. • Helped various lure manufacturers design products. • Handled rods and reels years before they went to market.
“Today’s anglers want to know what’s happening, what’s biting, where they’re biting, new tactics, thoughts and comments from pro anglers and tips from the people who are on the water and the ice,” Lindner said. For instance, with little
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“Fishermen in the north country don’t stop fishing, they just change tactics from open water to hard water.”
”
- Ron Linder
stop at the water’s edge and is not transferred from Montana to Michigan. “I wanted to change that,” Lindner said. And, he did.
OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
but it’s also part of many people’s lives in Minnesota. “It’s just part of you at some point,” Hautala said. “And it’s not gone from this culture in the upper Midwest.” KATE PERKINS, a former Echo Publishing staff writer, is a freelance writer from northern Minnesota.
“Target Walleye was created to remedy this situation.” To subscribe, fans punch in their email addresses at targetwalleye.com and start receiving emails about walleyes and ice fishing. “The information is set up so readers can scan the contents and check out what interests them. With two emails a week, there is plenty of that to check out,” he said. When asked about how he saw himself in the fishing world, Lindner said, “Been there, did that. Am doing it again.” JIM KALKOFEN has been director of the largest walleye tournament circuits for two decades and was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
continued from page 25 slack, and give the rod tip a more aggressive, foot-long upward surge. Then let the spoon flutter back downward, following it down with the rod tip to retain a taut line without stifling lure action. Let it strike bottom, kicking up a little silt and making a commotion, then lift a few inches and hold. Repeat a few times, then instill that all-important pause to turn a looker into a biter. Suspend the lure a couple inches off bottom, allowing any twist in the line to slowly spin it before the fish’s eyes, giving it the illusion of life. If that doesn’t work, try using a whole, live 2-inch minnow, nicked lightly under the dorsal fin, to provide a bigger target and a struggling action when the spoon hangs at rest, just off bottom. For really deep water, upsize to a ½-ounce spoon, maybe 2¼ inches in length. Silver, silver-blue-back, chartreuse, pink, orange, perch pattern, and anything with phosphorescent glow paint are good options. Charge the paint by exposing it for a few seconds to a small Lindy Tazer light to make it glow brightly amidst the deep murk. For a wider-moving approach, switch to jigging a swimming minnow like a Jigging Rap or Jigging Shad Rap, and add a minnow head to the bottom treble hook. Lower it as with the other lures, and when it reaches bottom, lift if up a few inches. Then give it an upward pump, followed by lowering your rod tip at the same speed the lure descends. The lure will shoot out to the side and descend in a circular swimming pattern, everdecreasing in diameter until it comes to rest. Added or stronger
pumps increase the side-to-side coverage and swimming activity. Smaller pumps decrease the motion. Underwater cameras like the Aqua-Vu have revolutionized ice fishing, since they not only reveal the presence and depth of fish, but also their attitude. You can literally watch fish come in and study your lure, and see how they react to changes in lure motion, style, color, pauses, etc. Fine-tuning presentations can really make a huge difference between catching and not. When you’re hunkered down in a good spot, drill another hole 2 or 3 feet from your fishing hole, and lower a camera lens. Twist the cable between forefinger and thumb to rotate it for a 360-degree view and evaluation of the surroundings, and then let it
settle, pointing at your lure. Seeing what goes on below provides a huge advantage in locating and triggering fish to bite. And when it comes to fishing with a camera, angling from a still platform atop the ice is by far the easiest way to fish and view at the same time. It will revolutionize the way you fish through the ice, and likely spur you to explore the use of an underwater camera in open water as well.
DAVE CSANDA is a veteran outdoor communicator/ TV co-host who works at Lindner‘s Angling Edge Television in Baxter. He has been inducted into both the Minnesota and National Fresh Water Fishing Halls of Fame, and volunteers with the Brainerd Lakes Area Chapter of Let’s Go Fishing.
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STOP BY TODAY FOR INCREDIBLE OFFERS AND UNBEATABLE SERVICE. STOP BY TODAY FOR INCREDIBLE OFFERS AND BEMIDJI SPORTS CENTRE UNBEATABLE 1826 ANNE STREETSERVICE. NW BEMIDJI, MN56601
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Pike on ice
W
that’s n
Whenever you’re ice fishing for bluegills, bass or pike, weedbeds are your prime target areas. Large bays, in fact, provide good early ice options for all three because they tend to freeze first, well before main-lake areas, and offer the safest early ice, often just a short walk from shore.
F Bill
Lindner Photography
Play the odds game: Avoid small weedbeds or areas of sparse cover at first ice. Prominent weedbeds at the mouths of bays, or in the deeper centers of bays, provide big pike with plenty of habitat and room to feed and roam. If you’ve fished open water there during summer or fall and remember which areas offered the best
weedgrowth, make those your starting points for ice fishing. If the weeds still are healthy, pike are likely still using them under the ice. If you’re unfamiliar with the lake, note large underwater structures on your GPS map or lake map offering broad areas, perhaps 6 to 18 feet in depth, bordered by deeper water. Chances are, these will have the proper bottom content to grow the most weed growth, typically broadleaf cabbage or coontail. More weeds typically equals more pike. Tip the odds in your favor To catch pike, focus along or slightly inside the deep edges of weedbeds, and dangle a live or dead sucker below a tipup, using a wire leader to prevent bite-offs. Hook the sucker lightly beneath the dorsal fin in midback so it hangs level. A large pike taken by tip-up.
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OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
Using a two-hook, quickstrike rig, rather than a single large hook, maximizes hooking efficiency — dual trebles of modest size, positioning one hook near the bait’s head and another at the balance point near the dorsal fin, letting you set the hook soon after the strike, mouth-hooking the pike in most instances. In comparison, waiting for fish to fully swallow a large sucker before setting a single hook increases hooking mortality. If you fish quick-strike rigs in Minnesota, make sure there’s a small spinner blade incorporated into the rig, which technically makes it a lure. The blade is nonfunctional, but fulfills the letter of Minnesota law, which forbids the use of multi-hook (aka snag) riggings unless the hooks are part of a “lure.” Pike anglers typically use several tip-ups, rather than fishing rods, to suspend multiple baits just above the weed tops, or alongside the deep edge of the weeds. Tip-ups basically are wooden or plastic boards that lie across the top of your holes, angling baited lines below, much like setting a trapline. Set your traps in likely places,
nice
Lindner Photography F Bill
ce — By DAVE CSANDA and simply wait for a pike to cruise along and pick it off, popping the flag and unspooling the line. When that happens, quietly walk over to the tip-up, lift it out of the hole, grab the line between thumb and forefinger, feel for the presence of a fish, and set the hook with a firm upward jerk of the line. At that point, it’s hand-overhand combat, fighting the fish during powerful runs by letting the line slip under pressure between your fingers, then handover-handing it back, again and again, until it finally tires. The moment of truth comes when trying to get a big fish up and out of the hole. The trick is
To catch pike, focus along or slightly inside the deep edges of weedbeds, and dangle a live or dead sucker below a tip-up, using a wire leader to prevent bite-offs.
A quick-strike rig.
lifting when you see its nose pass below the hole. Immediately lift upward, getting its nose pointed upward and the fish moving toward the surface. Once its head pokes above the surface, reach down, carefully but firmly grasp it below one side of the lower jaw, and lift it out. Unhook it, take a quick horizontal photo, and then send it headfirst back down the hole, to live and fight another day. Some anglers question the use of deadbait for large pike, assuming that lively minnows would be better. The fact is, large pike are as much scavengers as they are predators, and regularly pick up and eat freshly killed baitfish off the bottom. A 10to 12-inch dead sucker, cisco, alewife, shad, goldeye or other oily baitfish is high on their preferred menu. And the nice thing is, you can obtain these baits in advance, keep them in your freezer, and pack up a sufficient amount for your next trip at a moment’s notice. No need to haul a bucket of water and minnows. All that being said, you can
obviously catch pike through the ice by jigging a large spoon, sinking rattling lure or jig and minnow combo. Yet the fact remains, it’s almost impossible to out-produce a trapline of several tip-ups placed at key spots and depths along a weed edge. It allows you to cover large amounts of water in quick fashion. And every time a flag pops, everyone nearby will notice and immediately yell, “Tip-up!” You won’t miss a bite. Ice safety The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website recommends not walking out onto ice that’s thinner than 4 inches, snowmobiling on less than 5, or putting a car or light truck on less than 8 to 12 inches of solid, clear ice. Fish in pairs or groups to enhance safety. DAVE CSANDA is a veteran outdoor communicator/ TV co-host who works at Lindner‘s Angling Edge Television in Baxter. He has been inducted into both the Minnesota and National Fresh Water Fishing Halls of Fame, and volunteers with the Brainerd Lakes Area Chapter of Let’s Go Fishing.
www.northlandoutdoors.com
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Outdoors Directory • Winter 2015
Convenience
Association
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Minnesota Deer Hunters Association
ACCRA Care Home Health
460 Peterson Road Grand Rapids, MN 55744 218-327-1103 www.mndeerhunters.com
Bait & Tackle
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Bemidji Sports Centre
1826 Anne Street NW Bemidji, MN 56601 218-751-4477 www.bemidjisportscentre.com
Brothers Motorsports
8194 Fairview Road Baxter, MN 56425 218-829-6656 www.brothersmotorsports.com
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Midwest Machinery 7045 Foley Road Baxter, MN 56425 218-829-5356 800-568-4338 001217353r1
27358 State Highway 18 Garrison, MN 56450 320-692-4341 www.tuttsbait.com
Ice Castle/Ice Fishing
Hwy. 371, Backus 218-947-4115
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Tutt’s Bait & Tackle
410 East River Road Brainerd, MN 56401 218-270-5905 www.accracare.org
Restaurant & Gun Shop
1120 2nd Street NW Aitkin, MN 56431 218-927-2140 www.midwestmachineryco.com
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ATVs in the category G are recommended for use only by those aged 16 and older. ATVs in the category S are recommended for use only by an experienced operator aged 16 and older. Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) highly recommends that all ATV riders take a training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887 (in the U.S.). ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety, always wear a helmet, eye protection, and other protective clothing. Always remember that riding and alcohol / drugs don’t mix. Never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Never carry passengers unless the model is specifically designed by the manufacturer to carry a passenger. Never engage in stunt driving. Avoid excessive speeds and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Ride responsibly. 001281327r1