Outdoor Traditions Spring 2007 by Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal

Issue 1 • Edition 2

Featured in this issue

WOOD DUCK WATCH PLUS MORE!

BY: BILL MARCHEL

• Early Season Crappies By: Dave Csanda • Take Your Camera for a Walk By: Carolyn Corbett • Memory Lane: The Reluctant Angler By: Mike Bialka • Dr. Lund’s Natural Recipes

Read Online: www.brainerddispatch.com

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*BAY LAKE MARINE* 30 Extraordinary Years... ONE PHENOMENAL FUTURE! Shop in the comfort of 2 Indoor Showrooms Turn Key Sales Event! 3 FREE Years of Yamaha Extended Service offer ends March 31, 2007

TUSCA

Visit us at the Brainerd Civic Center March 15-18 for our Annual Brainerd Boat

JUST 15 SHORT MINUTES EAST OF BRAINERD - UPTOWN DEERWOOD (218) 534-3435 1-800-701-6339 “30 Extraordinary Years!” Visit us at www.baylakemarine.com

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• SALES • SERVICE • STORAGE 2/16/07 12:34:54 PM

Welcome

Outdoor Traditions is truely an appropriate title for this publication. The Brainerd Lakes area is well known for the outstanding variety of outdoor activities available to visitors and residents of all ages. There is a strong tradition of family businesses as well. Our family knows that, it is what drew us here originally. I was pretty young at the time but our first family visits to this area were in the early seventies. The folks packed the five kids in the station wagon and hauled the tent trailer from Fridley to enjoy weekends at resorts and parks “up north.” And enjoy we did, it was a time of discovery for us - there was always a new adventure behind each tree, up the hill, in the lake or especially under the rock. It didn’t take long for the family to decide to move here, 30 years ago my parents bought Bay Lake Marine, in 1977. I guess my sister, three brothers and I were pretty excited about the move even after we found out that this would be a “family” business. We all worked in the many aspects of the business through graduation from Crosby Ironton High School. We even had our own dock installation business that was passed down from the graduating sibling. This area is where we learned to appreciate the abundance of natural resources of the area. Boating, swimming, skiiing, fishing; we spent all our working and non-working hours, spring through fall, on the lakes. Hunting, cross country skiing and snowmobiling filled our winters. What a great place to grow up! What a great place to raise my kids!

Since the original location of Bay Lake Marine is 1.5 miles east of Ruttgers’ Bay Lake Resort, the challenge was to encourage customers to find us. So in the ‘70’s the slogan became “Harder to Find, Easier to Deal With.” Now, with our Family Boating Headquarters Showroom Showrooms in Uptown Deerwood on Highway 6 and a website, the business is no longer hard to find. Being “easier to deal with” has carried into the second generation. I purchased Bay Lake Marine from my folks in 2005 but it is not uncommon to see my Father helping out at the store or my Sister or Brothers working at the Boat Shows. Stop in and visit with us at our location on the North shore of Bay Lake, our Boating Headquarters Showroom in Uptown Deerwood or check us out at www.baylakemarine.com. I’ll even introduce you to the next generation “My Three Sons!”

Todd enjoys time with “My Three Sons”, Alex (Left), Jake (Right), and Josh (Center)

the

Log CRAPPIES & BLUEGILLS AFTER ICE OUT

Page 14

WOOD DUCK WATCH Page 6

BIRDS EYE VIEW

Page 20

SCAVENGER HUNT with Cameras! Page 10

Best Shot Enter

Send a slide or print to “Your Best Shot” Brainerd Dispatch, P.O. Box 574, Brainerd, MN 56401. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want your materials returned. See page 42 for details. 4

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FISHING TIPS 10 Steps to better jigging for Walleye with Ted Takasaki

Page 24

PUBLISHED BY:

506 James Street • P.O. Box 974 Brainerd, MN 56401 (218) 829-4705 www.brainerddispatch.com Cover photo by Tim Bogenschutz

Welcome .....................................................3 Wood Duck Watch ....................................6

PREMIER PONTOONS

ARE GREAT FOR CRUISING, FISHING & WATER SKIING.

Phenology: Reading Nature’s Clock .......9 Scavenger Hunt with Cameras! .............10 Itasca State Park ......................................12 Crappies and Bluegills After Ice Out......14 Northland Arboretum ..............................18 Birds Eye View ...........................................20 10 Steps to Better Jigging For Walleye ...24

25 Premier Pontoons In The Showroom Powered by Honda Outboards

Spring Turkey Hunt ....................................28 Pasqueflower ............................................32 Dr. Lunds Nature’s Food ..........................34 Memory Lane ...........................................36 Kathio State Park ......................................37 Service Directory ......................................38 Take Your Camera For A Walk ................40

*Always wear a personal ﬂotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual

Your Best Shot ...........................................42

STAFF: Publisher .................................. Terry McCollough Advertising Director ................... Tim Bogenschutz Assistant Advertising Director .....Valerie Macklem Copy Editor ............................................Roy Miller Magazine Layout ..................................Andy Goble Ad Design ................. Christy Brown, Jeff Dummer, Kelly Humphrey, Nikki Kronbeck, Lacey Martinson, Matthew Mills, and Molly Schroeder Sales ............. Kathy Bittner Lee, Adam Marchand, Cathe Picek, Dianne Richey, Kristine Roberts, Carla Staffon, Sam Swanson, Jill Wasson and Dave Wentzel

Outdoor Traditions is a trademarked magazine published by the Brainerd Dispatch, P.O. Box 976, Brainerd, MN 56401. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. ®2006

Fishing, Cruising & Triple Tube Pontoons

STAPLES SPORTS - LINCOLN -

218-575-2086 8 Miles South of Motley on Hwy. 210 • Cushing, MN 56443

www.staplessports.com M-F 8am-5pm • Sat. 9am-4pm • Sun. 11am-3pm

WOOD DUCK WATCH WOOD DUCKS ARE THE MOST COLORFUL OF NORTH AMERICAN WATERFOWL.

Although they are common birds, wood ducks are less obvious than other waterfowl, such as mallards, because their favorite habitat is wooded swamps and marshes. In spring, hen wood ducks seek natural tree cavities or man-made boxes in which to lay their eggs. Usually accompanied by at least one drake, she will fly from cavity to cavity or nest box to nest box until she finds a home to her liking. The hen will lay usually one egg a day, but may occasionally skip a day. Egg-laying is almost always done in the morning, and the drake will wait nearby while the hen goes about her task, which takes about one-half hour. The female will use the wood shavings in the bottom of the box or cavity to cover the egg or eggs before she leaves the nest. After five or so eggs have been laid, the female wood duck begins to pluck down from her breast, and uses it along with wood shavings to cover her eggs. By the time the clutch is complete the blanket of down will be about two inches thick.

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Contrary to what many believe, the hen does not start incubation until her clutch is complete, usually 10 -12 eggs. At that point, the drake wood duck will abandon the hen since his services are no longer needed. During incubation, the hen will leave her nest usually twice a day to feed, once in the morning and again in late afternoon. Approximately 30 days after incubation started, the eggs will hatch. The little ducks will remain in the nesting box or cavity for only a day or so and then each tiny ball of down will take that giant leap into life. Once on the ground, the wood duck ducklings will follow their mother to water, and will never return to the nesting cavity from which they were hatched.

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

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

To woo a hen, the drake wood duck often preens the feathers on the side of her head.

Once wood duck ducklings leave the nesting cavity, they do not return. The downy young feed themselves by capturing insects, but depend on their mother for guidance.

Wood duck ducklings remain in the nesting cavity for only about a day. Once they leave, they do not return. Photos provided by Bill Marchel

A hen wood duck will lay roughly one egg per day until her clutch is complete, usually a total of about 10 to 12 eggs.

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Wood ducks are the most colorful of all North American waterfowl.

While scouting for nesting sites, the male wood duck will often accompany the hen. But once the female begins incubation, the drake will abandon her.

The male wood duck usually waits nearby while the female lays roughly one egg per day.

While scouting for nesting sites, the male wood duck will often accompany the hen. But once the female begins incubation, the drake will abandon her.

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( c o n â&#x20AC;&#x2122; t )

Photos provided by Bill Marchel

PHENOLOGY - Reading Nature’s Clock PHENOLOGY is the observation of natural phenomena as they relate to the changing seasons. Its origin is Greek and means “the science of appearances.” It varies according to temperature, sunlight, moisture, etc. So, there are no absolutes. These can be extraordinarily accurate indicators that many gardeners and farmers use to plan their planting activities around. There is a lot of folklore attached to the Phenology signs as well. Communities in our area keep track of Phenology signs from year-to-year and some have calendars that include this information. There are literally thousands of similar anecdotes (some of which were totally over my head as far as plant types). I have no idea what’s accurate or what’s not in the following points, but I found it interesting nonetheless.

GARDENING • • • • • •

When dandelions are blooming, it’s time to plant beets, lettuce, spinach and carrots. Maple sap flows on sunny days with temperatures in the 40s after nights below freezing. When maples are beginning to unfurl their leaves it’s time to plant perennials. If apple trees bloom in April the crop will be plentiful. If they bloom in May the crop will be poor. When the daffodils begin to bloom it is time to plant peas. Direct seed your morning glories when maple trees have full-size leaves.

WEATHER • When the sun goes to bed red, ‘Twill rain tomorrow, it’s said. • (Or as a complete about face.) Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. • Red sky at dawn, sailors be warned. (What’s with all the red?) • Wasps building nests in exposed places indicate a dry season to come. • Silver maples show the lining of their leaves before a storm. • Expect rain when dogs chew on grass. (I predict it will rain pretty much every day if my dog is the indicator.) • When bees fly near their home, stormy weather is sure to come. • Dandelion blossoms close before a rain. There are plenty more where these came from, including insect and animal behavior folklore. There really are ways to predict certain natural phenomena that occur on an annual basis. Maybe not with pinpoint accuracy, but pretty darn close. Gardeners and farmers use Phenology to increase their crops and lessen insect impact. Nature lovers use it to predict when migrating birds or hibernating animals will make their appearance. Take the time this spring to see what happens in your neighborhood. Who knows what you might find. M O L L Y R I N G is the owner of Skewed

View Studio, a print and web design firm located in Pequot Lakes. She enjoys being creative, whether it involves pictures or words.

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SCAVENGER HUNT with Cameras! KIDS LOVE TREASURE HUNTS. Kids love exploring the outdoors. Kids love cameras. Pull it all together with a photographic twist on an old favorite: a nature-based scavenger hunt with cameras. A nature photo hunt is a great way to encourage a sense of wonder as budding photographers photograph buds!

OUTFITTING FOR THE HUNT

Disposable cameras are perfect for this activity. Also called single-use or one-time-use cameras, disposable cameras are available almost anywhere, from the grocery store to the drug store. These cheap, easy-to-use cameras take the fuss out of picture taking. With their simple point-and-shoot operation, even very young children can operate them. So what if the cameras bump into a tree, fall in the river or are covered with crumbs at lunchtime? They are wonderfully inexpensive. In fact, if you buy you buy wholesale, in quantity, or without a flash they can cost as little as $2 each! Most disposable cameras take 27 pictures, a fact to keep in mind when creating your scavenger hunt list. You may wish to buy one or two extra disposables to give your youngsters a chance to practice composing their shots. The directions for the cameras themselves

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are simple: • Wind the film. • Depress the flash button, if necessary. • Frame the shot. • Press the shutter button.

PLANNING THE HUNT

Use the ideas provided here along with any others that come to mind to design your scavenger list. Your photo hunt can be as relaxed or elaborate as you choose. As you plan, consider the number and age of the youngsters, the location where you will hunt and the length of time you’ll spend searching. Are you short on children? Bring along the cousins, borrow some neighbor kids or use the photo hunt as part of a birthday party or family reunion. When compiling the list of items to search for, be sure to include objects the children have a good chance of finding. Younger ones become frustrated if items are too difficult to find while older children enjoy the challenge. School-age children can work from written lists. Clip-art pictures from the computer work well for little people.

LOCATION

There are so many beautiful places to hold your hunt.

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Will you choose a nature trail? A campground? A spot near a lake? A local park? Your decision on location will be based, in part, on the age and independence of your children, as well as how many adults are along to supervise. Fritz Loven Park, an 80-acre park on the west side of Gull Lake, is a terrific location for a photo hunt. Just a stone’s throw from Bar Harbor, the park has woods, meadows, Stoney Brook, hiking trails, a playground, restroom facilities and a sheltered picnic area.

STRUCTURE

Will you divide into teams or buddy up in pairs, or will it be every photographer for him/herself? Even the youngest family members can join the fun if partnered with Mom, Dad, or an older child. Will you set a time limit or continue until one team/ person finds every item on the list? Will your hunt be a contest with prize? Or are you hunting for the fun and rewarding everyone with ice cream later? When explaining the rules for the hunt, set reasonable boundaries, stress personal safety and be sure the youngsters can identify poison ivy. If you are in a park or other area where picking flowers is not allowed, be sure to clue everyone in. This is a perfect chance to stress respect for the environment. Each person or team will need: • A disposable camera • A list (or picture-list) of nature items to be photographed • A pencil to check off the items as they are found and “shot”

THESE IDEAS ARE A “NATURAL” GROWING THINGS a cattail a dandelion a purple wildflower a mushroom a birch tree a bud on a bush a piece of moss a thistle a leaf of any color but green a three-leaf clover a berry a flower as big as your fist a flower smaller than your thumb a plant taller than your waist a plant shorter than your ankle a plant as high as your knee

a leaf with edges like teeth a thick, leathery leaf a long, thin leaf a leaf as wide as your foot a leaf as long as your little finger a lacy leaf

CREATURES a bee (“Bee” careful!) a frog a crawling insect a flying insect a bug on a flower a bug on a plant a squirrel a turtle a bird a butterfly a spider an ant something swimming in the water

ANIMAL STUFF a hive a nest a spider web a cocoon a feather animal tracks animal scat

OTHER NEAT STUFF your shadow a mud puddle something hairy something empty something scented something twisted something edible something sticky something sharp something flat something that floats something red a plant/animal/thing that amazed you the most

TREE THINGS

an acorn a pine cone a maple key a Y-shaped twig a pine needle a leaf with smooth edges a leaf with fuzzy edges

C A R O L Y N C O R B E T T is a free-

lance writer and editor with 12 years of experience. Carolyn currently lives in Brainerd where she writes for various local publications and creates content for web sites.

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HIKING & SCENIC DESTINATION

ITASCA STATE PARK 12

TA K E I T F R O M T H E T O P, T H E H E A D WAT E R S O F THE MISSISSIPPI ARE LEGENDARY IN THEIR O W N R I G H T, B U T T H E R E I S M O R E T O D O AT I TA S C A S TAT E PA R K T H A N R I V E R J U M P I N G . ITASCA STATE PARK has a lot to brag about. Not only is it the famed home of the headwaters of the Mississippi River, it also houses more than one hundred lakes in 32,000 acres of parkland, has year-round naturalist and educational programs, has some of the finest camping facilities in the Midwest. And being established in 1891, it is Minnesota’s first and oldest state park. That’s a hard act to follow, though our state is full of fascinating state park facilities. About 15 miles north of Park Rapids, Itasca State Park is the darling of the Minnesota State Park System. The headwaters of North America’s largest and longest river system originate there, beginning the more than 2,500-mile journey to the

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Gulf of Mexico. The park protects the enchanting old growth pine trees at Preacher’s Grove, has scores of ancient Indian burial mounds and boasts one of Minnesota’s seven National Natural Landmarks-a 2,000acre Wilderness Sanctuary. Explorer Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and his Anishinabe guide declared Lake Itasca the source of the mighty river in 1832 after long and arduous searches. As the region developed and virtually all of the pine forests that once covered Minnesota were clear cut during the logging boom, conservationist Jacob Brower proposed that the Lake Itasca region be declared Minnesota’s first state park in order to protect the majestic red and white pines that Photos provided by Tim Bogenschutz

characterized the area. Luckily, his proposal was successful, leaving us with the pricelessly protected basin that gives birth to the Mississippi River. As a kid — like many Minnesotans growing up — my grandparents took me to the headwaters during a summer vacation when I was in elementary school. I remember stepping over the trickling, modest stream that marks the start of one of the world’s most famed rivers. Later in life, my dad and I decided to take on the Mississippi in a series of canoe trips (a project that is still underway). Our first leg of the journey started on the distant shore of Lake Itasca before we scraped bottom along the shallow channel that meanders its pebble-bottomed flow through the vast park. At times floating with the lazy current, pulling and pushing our vessel under low-hanging branches, shooting through culverts and slogging through swampy waterlogged wetlands, we saw many of the varied landscapes that color Itasca State Park with their bright northwoods flora, towering trees, and singing birds. The unique landscape of this region is due to the repeated impressions of glacial footprints that advanced and retreated across the area over past ice ages. The alternate freezing and thawing of the glaciers left a pockmarked wetland that is a matrix of gravelly hills and knobs and countless indentations that have filled-in as lakes, ponds, swamps and bogs. Visitors to Lake Itasca State Park don’t have to take on the river like my dad and I did. There is an impressively accessible trail system that follows the small river from its beginning, as well as trails that web throughout the park linking many of the aforementioned attractions. All told, there are more than 30 miles of hiking trails including a boardwalk. The park’s boardwalk trail is especially popular with visitors looking for the orchids and other wetland flowers that are native to northern Minnesota. Mountain

bikers will also find 16 miles of paved and off road trails at their disposal. The history of the park and the region extends far beyond its “discovery” by Henry Schoolcraft. The DNR web site claims that Indian hunters were hunting in the area nearly 8,000 years ago. Deer, moose and even bison were native to the park, and hunters used stone spears to kill them. The myriad waterholes, ponds and streams made the region a thriving area for wildlife of all kinds. Evidence of stone, wood and bone tools have been found by archaeologists that have done work within the park. Birders will encounter loons, grebe, heron, ducks, tanagers, finches and warblers. Hikers can expect to catch glimpses and signs of beaver that once thrived in the region, porcupine in the tall pine forests and squirrels. The more elusive wolf and black bear also call Itasca State Park home. The park receives nearly 500,000 visitors per year, and is well equipped with a helpful visitor center and a first class campground. There are 226 drive-in campsites, 11 cart-in sites, and 11 backpacking sites that range from 1 to 5 miles from trailheads. Just by its list of facilities, it is east to see why Lake Itasca State Park is regarded as one of the most well-equipped and easy-to-enjoy state parks in the country. With its importance as the headwaters of our nation’s greatest river and a symbol of pioneer era exploration, the park is not just a gem of Minnesota, but a North American cultural Mecca.

J A C O B K U L J U is a Minnesota-based freelance writer who also writes regularly for the Voyageur Press of McGregor. Contact him at jmkulju@gmail.com.

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CRAPPIES AND BLUEGILLS 14

AFTER ICE-OUT

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AS SOON AS THE ICE LEAVES our Midwestern natural lakes, crappies and bluegills are poised for movement. They rim the dropoffs outside shallow bays and channels, and at the first hint of warm, calm, sunny weather, begin crossing shallow flats to penetrate bays and channels. All it takes is a couple days of nice weather and, boom!, they start showing up along shallow shorelines, hugging the perimeter of the lake, soaking up the heat where sunshine warms soft, dark, windprotected bottom. Watch a school of crappies enter a channel mouth and you’ll see a nervous stampede dashing through the opening, heading for the back end of the channel. They don’t linger at the entrance, and typically won’t stop moving until they run out of room at the shallow back end. Here they seek out the best combination of cover and dark bottom, such as fallen trees, beaver lodges, logs or some form of safety. Once clustered within a protective area, they change personality, trading their panicky movements for slow, subtle gliding interspersed with long periods of hovering.

Photos provided by Bill Lindner Photography

This soon after ice-out, their location has nothing to do with prespawn and nesting sites. That comes later. For now, they’re simply relating to warm water and cover, where the first plankton will begin to bloom and draw small minnows. The warming shallows trigger insect activity, providing food for bluegills. In short, the kitchen is coming to life. Early on, fish can be quite spooky, and refuse to chase lures or baits. Instead, you must dangle an offering right on or just above their noses, providing them time to react, move over for a look, examine and finally rise to slurp a tentative meal. Casting and retrieving is simply too fast to get a response. You need a bobber presentation to dangle a bait and keep it there, vulnerable, until fish respond. Long, thin floats like Thill balsa floats are tailor-made for these conditions. Whether you choose a fixed float that attaches to your line with a spring or elect to use a slip version and adjustable bobber stop, the basic premise is the same. Position a split shot or two on the line about a foot above your jig or baited hook, using just

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enough weight to avoid sinking the float. These skinny lighteight floats are much more sensitive than traditional round bobbers and betrays even the lightest bites without the fish feeling any resistance. At the slightest dip of the float, set the hook; don’t wait for it to go all the way down. In fact, if a fish rises to the bait, inhales it and moves an inch or two shallower, a properly weighted float will rise and tip over, indicating a bite. Set the hook! Crappies are vulnerable to a tiny 1/32-ounce feather or hair jig that barely breathes under the slightest wave action or rod tip movement. Light colors like yellow, white, pink or chartreuse imitate minnows, while darker browns or blacks imitate insects. Don’t overdo the action or they won’t bite. Most of the time you won’t need to add bait to trigger crappies. But if they’re finicky, slip a small crappie minnow onto the hook, inserting the hook point up through both lips, and let the struggling minnow tempt the fish into biting. For bluegills, stick to even tinier jigs, like 1/64ounce insect minnow imitations. Or simply use about a No. 6 single hook baited with a piece of nightcrawler. That should do the trick for average-sized fish. But if the fish are big and wary, switch to an entire small crawler or perhaps a small leech-perhaps the finest bait of all for tempting big bluegills into biting. Use a long, 6- to 9-foot light to medium-light spinning rod spooled with 4-pound-test mono where cover is sparse, beefing up

to 6-pound where you need to quickly lift and hoist fish away from cover. The long rod facilitates long casts, accurate pitches between cover and absorbs the shock of a bass striking your lure without breaking your line. As the weeks go by, the water warms and weedgrowth begins blooming, providing fish additional cover options. Both crappies and bluegills begin shifting more toward nesting sites and begin building nests when the water temperature nears 60 F. Crappies love to spawn in deep reedbeds, and areas with dark bottom and thick, tangled overhead cover host some of the biggest fish in the lake. Bluegills often spawn on sandgrass bottoms along inside weedlines and depending on water clarity may spawn as little as a foot deep in dark-water lakes, to 6 to 10 feet in clear o n e s , with the largest ‘gills typically spawning deeper than the small ones. If you’re only seeing and catching small ones, try fishing a little deeper. Look for the telltale signs of pit-type nests swept out of sandy bottom by the males, indicating a colony of bluegills. Panfish are usually abundant and it’s OK to keep a few for eating. Avoid overharvest of the larger specimens, however. They’re very valuable to maintaining the population at a healthy level, and you don’t want the successive years to host chiefly small panfish with little chance for a trophy.

The Brainerd lakes region is blessed with an abundance of panfish lakes, although the amount of enthusiastic spring fishing pressure on some of the larger, more popular waters tends to thin out the larger crappies and bluegills and result in a wealth of smaller to medium-sized panfish. The best advice is if you’re fishing in a crowd and the fish all seem to be small, find another secondary bay or subtler concentration area that contains larger fish or switch to a smaller lake with fewer fishermen. Or, if you’re limited to fishing on larger popular waters like Gull, Pelican or the Whitefish Chain, trying fishing at dusk and on into the night. Pick up some Thill lighted slip floats and ply the same types of areas where smaller fish abound during the day. The largest crappies, in particular, often move shallow and feed in areas where streetlights or dock lights splay out across the adjacent shallow water, attracting both plankton and minnows after. The night bite may be the right bite for larger panfish. Smaller natural lakes of the 100- to 200-acre variety, the mine pits between Brainerd and Crosby-Ironton, and shallow bays off the Crow Wing and Mississippi Rivers, are among the best candidates for larger panfish. Rice Lake — the dammed portion of the Missisisippi just outside the Brainerd City limits — not only has a wealth of shallow bays and cover to draw fish in spring, but contains some of the largest bluegills and crappies in the area. And because it’s shallow with stained water and good current flow, the ice typically goes out earlier than on the surrounding lakes. If you’re a trophy panfish hunter, the backs of channels and bays on Mille Lacs Lake contain some huge

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crappies, although they tend to be hit-or-miss, even during the prime fishing of spring. Broken reeds with dark bottom provide some of the best fish-holding cover. If the fish aren’t yet holding in the cover, try fishing the deeper open water just outside it for roaming crappies in search of minnows. Schools of feeding crappies patrol past the outer edges of the reeds, and if you’re anchored at a creek mouth, point or other prominent irregularity that interrupts fish movement, you may score on slab-sided crappies this spring season. After 28 years as a magazine editor and TV angler at In-Fisherman, D A V E C S A N D A recently rejoined his old friends at Lindner Media, producers of Angling Edge Television, in Baxter.

Fiberglass & gel-coat repairs Aluminum boat repair All makes & models New Registrations & Graphics Factory warranty repair center Interior & Exterior detailing

218-825-3500 or 800-991-9039 Hwy. 371 North • Brainerd/Baxter D a v e

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“IN WILDERNESS IS THE PRESERVATION OF THE WORLD” -HENRY DAVID THOREAU

THE NORTHLAND ARBORETUM is a non-profit 501(c)(3) nature conservatory of over 540 acres of green space in the heart of Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Located in the center of the cities of Brainerd and Baxter, in the North Central Lakes Area of Minnesota, the Arboretum serves as a hub for neighboring communities

and visitors alike. With the completion of the Visitor Center, the Arboretum has become a center for special events, educational programs, sporting and recreational events, and civic affairs. Recently, the Arboretum was featured on Channel 5’s (ABC) “On the Road Again” program, being spotlighted as one of the most magnificent areas to see, complete with beautiful gardens and majestic red pine plantation. The Red Pine Plantation, I feel, is better than Walden Pond. Once you are there, you do not want to leave. Within the 540 acres, the Northland Arboretum has over 12 miles of hiking, cross country skking, snowshoeing, and nature observation trails. Surrounding school districts often use the Arboretum as an outdoor classroom and many area sports events are held on the Arboretum grounds. This green space must be preserved for generations to come. Please come and visit our Center and enjoy our natural wonderland.

MAGNIFICENT GARDENS

MAJESTIC TRAILS

UPCOMING EVENTS March 24th

2nd Annual Family Education Program/ Presentation of Wolves

April 27th & 28th

MN Forestry Woodland Expo/Annual Meeting

May 9th

Home Composting, Mulch 101

May 19th

Annual Plant Sale

June 5th & 6th

Rain Gardens & Water Features

June 9th

Sour Grapes Marathon

Arboretum

Photos provided by Northland Arboretum

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Nationwide Survey Shows Most Americans Support Hunting and Fishing As the 35th annual National Hunting and Fishing Day approaches to celebrate hunting and fishing, a new nationwide survey of Americans 18 years old and older shows that a strong majority of Americans support hunting and fishing. National Hunting and Fishing Day was officially established in 1972 to celebrate sportsmen and their role in fostering conservation and the scientific management of natural resources and wildlife. This year those celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day will also be able to celebrate at least a decade of public support for their activities, according to a nationwide poll. The nationwide survey, conducted by Responsive Management of Harrisonburg, Virginia, found that support for hunting and fishing has remained strong over the past decade with approximately every 3 out of 4 Americans approving of legal hunting and more than 9 out of 10 approving of recreational fishing. “We have been seeing public support for hunting increase in several states over the past decade where we had data but this is the first nationwide study where we could verify that public support has increased over the past decade. In 1995, 73 percent of Americans approved of hunting while in 2006, 78 percent approved of hunting. Support for fishing nationwide, as well as in numerous states where we have conducted studies, remains very high,” says Mark Damian Duda, executive director of Responsive Management. Although approval of fishing has decreased slightly, dropping only 1.7 percentage points from 95 percent in 1995 to 93.3 percent in 2006, most Americans approve of recreational fishing. The results of this survey reflect the opinions of randomly selected U.S. adult residents based on a scientific telephone survey of 813 Americans conducted from Au-

gust 31 to September 9, 2006. The sampling error is 3.44 percentage points. The poll was conducted as part of two larger projects—a book being written on sportsmen’s issues by Duda, Marty Jones, and Andrea Criscione of Responsive Management that was commissioned by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and a study on the future of hunting and the shooting sports under a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As Americans become more knowledgeable about the role of hunting in wildlife management as well as how much money hunting and fishing contributes to fish and wildlife conservation efforts, coupled with a visible increase in deer in urban areas and the need to actively manage their populations, Responsive Management’s research shows that the public continues to approve of hunting. Officials in the hunting and fishing industries are encouraged by the public support, citing the important role that sportsmen play in a number of areas, including conservation and the economy. Steve Williams, current president of the Wildlife Management Institute and former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, noted, “Sportsmen are essential to wildlife protection and management. Game management programs, which are funded by sportsmen’s dollars, have brought back numerous wildlife species from unhealthy population levels, such as wild turkey, wood ducks, white-tailed deer, beaver, pronghorn antelope, and Canada geese to name a few. In addition, sportsmen’s dollars have purchased and managed millions of acres of fish and wildlife habitat benefiting all fish and wildlife species and the public who enjoy them.” Matt Hogan, executive vice president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, pointed out, “Public sup-

Continued on page 27

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HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS about that rare woodpeck-

er? No, not the one in Arkansas, the one up in Michigan. Or Wisconsin. Or Minnesota. Ivory-billed woodpeckers aren’t the only woodpeckers making headlines anymore! An irruption of black-backed and American Threetoed woodpeckers into the Midwest has given birders searching for woodpeckers quarry that has proven to be not nearly so mythical as their Southern relative. Unusually high numbers of both species have been recorded in the Upper Midwest this winter season. Minnesota is the largest benefactor, with daily counts of Black-backed Woodpecker as high as ten and American three-toed woodpecker as high as six being reported from northcentral and northeast Minnesota. While both species posses an unusual trait, three toes while other woodpeckers possess four, only one species is currently named for this characteristic-the American yhree-toed Woodpecker. If you have old bird books you’ll find this pair listed under a variety of other names. In the past, American three-toed woodpecker has also been known as northern three-toed woodpecker or, in more recent years, simply threetoed woodpecker. Making the situation even more confusing, the black-backed woodpecker has been known as black-backed three-toed woodpecker and Arctic three-toed woodpecker. No wonder learning bird names can be so difficult! The more common of the pair, black-backed woodpeckers are a permanent resident of the boreal and montane coniferous forests, especially areas with burned trees, from Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland, southward to California, northern Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, northern New York and Maine. They display distinctly barred black-and-white sides, a jet black back, strong black and white facial markings with the males sporting a brilliant golden-yellow crown to the females plain black. Infrequently seen by most people, the range of American three-toed woodpecker generally mirrors that of its black-backed counterpart. It breeds

Bird’s

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in the boreal and montane coniferous forests of North America to the tree limit in Alaska and Canada. Unlike the Black-backed, American threetoed woodpecker can also be found inhabiting the Rocky Mountains south to Arizona and New Mexico. In the eastern United States they can be found in northeastern Minnesota, the Adirondack Mountains of New York and extreme northern New England. Superficially similar to black-backed woodpecker, the American three-toed woodpecker also has heavily barred black-and-white sides. Look for the barred back that easily separates the two. Other field marks to look for are the less distinct malar stripes and, on males, the ragged golden-yellow crown bordered by small white spots. Both species exhibit irruptive behavior that is attributed to their nomadic movements following outbreaks of wood-boring beetles or overpopulation following such outbreaks. The outbreak best

documented in the Midwest is that of the Eastern larch beetle, a staple of this woodpecker pair’s diet. The Eastern larch beetle is a native insect that colonizes the phloem or inner bark of the trunk, exposed roots and larger branches of tamarack spruce. The beetles tunnel through the outer bark, feeding and mating in the phloem. Relatively healthy trees can be attacked and killed by this beetle, and since 1970 extensive outbreaks have been recorded throughout North America. Generally considered to be a pest that attacked only trees that were predisposed through advanced age, injury or stress, the conditions that are conducive to outbreaks of eastern larch beetles remain poorly understood. However, most infestations are readily associated with trees under physical stress. These stressors originate from a variety of sources and include defoliation, flooding, drought, cold soils, fire, old age or damage from windstorms, snow breakage or logging. Although stressed stands, along with storm and logging debris, appear to trigger many outbreaks, not all

recorded outbreaks have been associated with such obvious stressors. Eastern larch beetles appear to be capable of attacking and killing trees when no predisposing condition or factor is readily apparent. What does this mean for next winter or even the next couple of years? Will an advancing larch beetle infestation create more habitat and food for breeding woodpeckers? Will the woodpeckers be easier to find? As Eastern larch neetles are found throughout the range of tamarack spruce, including most of the northeastern and northcentral United States, the potential for “out of range”woodpeckers is certainly high. Only time will tell, but I look forward to continuing the search.

A lifelong birder, K I M R I S E N is an author, photographer and bird & nature guide based in McGregor. He publishes NatureScape News, a color tabloid that celebrates birds, butterflies, wildflowers and the natural world. www.naturescapenews.com.

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10 STEPS TO BETTER JIGGING FOR WALLEYE

T i p s

F i s h i n g

MOST ANGLERS BELIEVE that they know all about jigs just because jigs have been around ever since man first pinched lead split-shot on a hook. But, that’s just not so. Jigging basics may seem simple enough, but mastering the fundamentals of jigging technique can mean the difference between catching fish and not. Try this 10-step program to better jigging:

STEP 1: STAY ON THE BOTTOM

Lake, river or reservoir, walleyes relating to structure and current spend most of their time on or near the bottom. Choose the right-sized jig to keep your minnow, leech or nightcrawler down amongst them. Walleyes eat by inhaling the water around their target. A light jig may make it easier to engulf. But be prepared to adapt. Jigs that are too small for the conditions may keep you out of the strike zone entirely. Increase the weight of your jig as depth, wind or current increase. When in doubt, go heavier. There might even be times when only a 1-ounce jig will do. If you are missing bites with a big jig, add a stinger hook to increase odds of a hook-up. Try leaving the barbs of the stinger hook completely out of your bait. This will increase the natural action and appearance of your live bait. Smaller is usually better when working shallow water. In lakes, cast or flip 1/16th or 1/8th-ounce jigs to

rip-rap or to pockets in the weeds. In rivers, use just enough weight to take the jig to the bottom when you cast upstream. Lift it. The current should move it downstream just off the bottom until it comes to rest again. Repeat.

STEP 2: CONSIDER THE FORAGE

Although an appropriate-sized jig will often accomplish the primary goal of bottom contact, jigs with a bigger profile might still be the answer if walleyes are keying on larger forage. Don’t assume. Let the fish tell you what they want.

STEP 3: USE THE RIGHT TOOL

Jig heads come in several shapes for a reason. Use the right one for the job. Ball-style jigs are most common. They work well in current or still water for casting and vertical jigging. Larger sizes can trolled or drifted. Swimming jigs have a long, flat design with the hook eye placed in front. They’re best for casting in weeds. Current cutters, or pancake jigs, are designed to be hydro-dynamic in moving water. They are great for rivers.

STEP 4: CHANGE COLORS

Admit it. We all go to the water with notions of what should work. No where is that more apparent than in choice of colors. Jig heads and plastics come in a thousand hues. Yet, we insist on using the same old favorites.

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Just because something worked yesterday or even this morning doesn’t mean it will work now. Water clarity and light conditions change constantly. Use trial and error until you find a combination that triggers strikes. Try using plastic trailers and take them off for a while. Don’t forget marabou-bodied jigs, such as the Fuzz-E-Grub. Don’t stop switching even when you start catching fish. If chartreuse or orange or pink or blue seem to work, try different shades of those colors to fine-tune the presentation and see if a slight variation will entice bigger fish. If the action stops, change up again. For starters, try brighter colors in stained or dirty water and darker colors for clear.

STEP 5: VARY LIVE BAIT, TOO

Because jigs are one of the oldest, most effective live-bait delivery systems available, we have developed various “rules” over the years on when minnows, nightcrawlers or leeches should work best. Minnows are the choice in the cold water of spring and fall. Leeches are the favored bait in water above 50 degrees. Nightcrawlers seem good across the calendar. But don’t be afraid to break the rules. There have been many times during spring floods when walleyes inhale worms and ignore minnows. See what works best. The fish will let you know. A great jig to match up with live bait is the Max Gap jig. It features a wide bite hook gap to hook more fish.

STEP 6: ALTER JIG ACTION

Walleyes will absolutely destroy a jig at times. Other times they don’t seem interested at all. Perhaps a cold front has passed through or the wind direction changed. Keep testing their mood. Attract the most-aggressive fish by popping your jig up, then letting it fall back to the bottom. Follow the jig down with the rod tip to keep your line taut in order to maintain control of the jig. Next, try a slow lift-drop, lift-drop. Then drag it on the bottom or quiver it slightly.

can get by with. Use monofilament line, like the new copolymer from Gamma, for clear water conditions or clean bottoms. Power Pro super braided line works great for rocks and snaggy areas or jigging deep water. Spool your line on a spinning reel that has infinite antireverse and a reliable, smooth drag, like Pflueger’s Medalist reel.

STEP 9: PRACTICE BOAT CONTROL

Boat control is essential to good jigging. In current, point your bow upstream or into the wind and use short bursts from your electric trolling motor to match your boat speed with the water flow. Keep your line vertical below the boat and watch your rod tip for a slight bow to signal bottom contact. There are places like the Rainy River where walleyes seem to prefer stationary jigs below anchored boats. Try that, too. To keep your jig on the critical “spot on a spot” try mounting a transducer directly to your trolling motor which feeds data to your bow-mounted sonar. Humminbird’s new Matrix depth finders are an excellent choice when targeting specific fish on structure.

STEP 10: FISH FISH

The best jigging mechanics won’t do any good if you aren’t fishing where the fish are. Study a map of the lake or river section you are targeting to find likely spots using what you know about walleye movements during the calendar period. Along the way, stop at more than one bait shop for the latest word on where the bigger schools are located and for an idea of what presentations others are using. Ask questions at the ramp. Once on the water, move from spot to spot using your electronics to find forage fish and likely walleyes before you start to fish. These tips are sure to make you a better walleye angler. Jigging is one of the key fundamental presentations to master.

STEP 7: CONCENTRATE

Visualize where your jig is and what it is doing. Better yet, if possible, use an Aqua-Vu underwater fish camera to see exactly how walleyes react to your bait and what kind of structure and cover you’re fishing. We’ve found most anglers often “over-jig.” Use your jig as a tool to gather information. For example, try to feel subtle changes in the bottom. Areas where it changes from hard to soft bottom can be a key area. Intense focus also helps when bites are so light that nothing at all is telegraphed up your line through your rod. A slight movement or “heavy” feel may be all the notice you get. Set the hook at the slightest change.

STEP 8: SEE THE BITES

Line watching is critical to detecting subtle bites and determining if your jig is on the bottom. If you line twitches, jumps or stops before hitting the bottom, set the hook. Try using as light of pound test line as you

F i s h i n g

T i p s

( C o n ’ t )

T E D T A K A S A K I is one of the country’s

top pro walleye fisherman and a former PWT champion. Not only has Ted won many fishing tournaments, he is the CEO of Lindy Little Joe, Inc. maker of many fine fishing products.

Continued from page 19 port for hunting and fishing is crucial for conservation efforts. State fish and wildlife agencies have been and continue to be funded in large part by the contributions of sportsmen and women through license sales and excise tax payments on hunting and fishing equipment. To put it simply, without hunters and anglers, state fish and wildlife agencies would not be able to do their job conserving and managing wildlife for all Americans to enjoy.” Gordon Robertson, vice president of the American Sport Fishing Association, commented, “Hunting and fishing have major economic impacts on the U.S. economy. According to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, sportsmen and women spend more than seventy billion dollars on hunting and fishing each year. Spreading that out across other sectors of the economy, sportfishing alone annually contributes $116 billion to the U.S. economy. It’s gratifying to know that the American public supports these activities with such a strong cultural heritage.” Responsive Management is a Virginia-based public opinion polling and survey research firm specializing in natural resources, fisheries, wildlife, outdoor recre-

ation, and environmental issues and has been assessing public attitudes on these issues for 18 years. Surveys are conducted with scientific rigor according to the standards of the Council of American Survey Research Organizations. For more information, please visit the firm’s Web site: www.responsivemanagement.com.

POLL DATA:

Do you approve or disapprove of legal hunting? 45.4% Strongly approve and 32.2% Moderately approve (77.6% Approve) 4.9% Neither approve nor disapprove; 1.2% Don’t know 8.0% Strongly disapprove and 8.3% Moderately disapprove (16.3% Disapprove)

Do you approve or disapprove of recreational fishing? 68.5% Strongly approve and 24.8% Moderately approve (93.3% Approve) 1.5% Neither approve nor disapprove 2.0% Strongly disapprove and 3.2% Moderately disapprove (5.2% Disapprove)

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SPRING TURKEY HUNT I WANTED TO SHARE MY 2006 SPRING TURKEY KILL WITH MY BOW.

I shot this bird on the last day of the season — crunchtime. Johns and I were out north of Stillwater hunting out of my blind I ‘ve been out four times and have not seen a shootable bird (tom). Hens are only legal to shoot in the fall. So we sat from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. and didn’t hear or see a thing except whitetails. So we decided to pull the blind and head back home. When we were walking back out on the railroad tracks I heard a gobble, so I decided to put the sneak on this bird. Nothing to lose at this point. The state results of successful turkey hunts show 30 percent with a shotgun and 5 percent for archers. This percentage will drop drastically when trying to put the sneak on a turkey. It’s almost impossible as this bird is running scared from the time it comes out of the shell! I knew that he was gobbling from a hidden pasture up on this ridge. So I crawled up the embankment and went into stealth mode stillhunting from oak to oak scanning for any movement. And then it happened I caught his head moving up and down across the pasture. Again, this is not usually the way this works. Usually the bird knows you are there long before you do. Of course my rangefinder was down on the tracks in my pack — great place for it. I figured the bird to be about 45-50 yards from me pecking grubs in the tall grass. Every time he would put his head in the grass I would make a move until I was set to draw my bow. I settled my pin over his back with my 45-yard pin lit up. I touched the trigger and that ar-

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row flew in a true arc across the pasture and smacked the gobbler through both lungs. The vitals on a turkey are the size of a baseball at best and my arrow had just passed through them. He then ran into the forest with my arrow sticking out of him. I went to the edge of the woods and found blood

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where I had last saw him. It was a healthy pool of fresh bright red blood, a known lung shot. The trail I followed was healthier than some deer that I have taken, so I knew that it would not be long before I would find him piled up for steaks. Fifty yards later under a fallen red oak was my elusive almost prehistoric gobbler. He was a fine trophy at 21.7 pound with a 10.5-inch beard and 1.25-inch spurs. I believe that this bird was 3 years old. He will be a tasty treat on the smoker.

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MARCH 1 Spring Light

Crow Hunting Season (1-31)

Moonlight Snowshoeing, Kathio State Park

Goose Opener

APRIL

10 Polar Bear Plunge

Close of Winter Lake Trout Season Close of Winter Lake Trout Season

MAY 2

MS Walk

JUNE

March of Dimes Walk America

Walleye, Sauger and Northern Pike Opener

Madden’s Parent/Child Tournament

Annual State Park Open House Lakers Classic Car Show & Swap Meet

Bass Opener Annual Plant Sale - Northland Arboretum

Take a Kid Fishing Weekend June 8-10

Sour Grapes Marathon Cuyuna Woodtick Races

Wednesday Night Street Drag - BIR

Muskie Opener NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing June 2-4

Deadline for Moose Hunt Application 34th Annual Golf Classic

Turtle Races

24th Annual Fishing Classic

Turtle Races Wednesday Night Street Drag - BIR

6 Turtle Races

Permit to Carry Classes - Gander Mountain

Close of Spring Light Goose Season

Bracket Race - BIR May 11-13

Wednesday Night Street Drag - BIR

5 Deadline for Bear License Application

Permit to Carry Classes - Gander Mountain

Commerce & Industry Show March 30-31

Trout Fishing Opener in Streams

Spring Turkey Hunt Opener

Brainerd RV Show March 22-25

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

MMBA Home Show April 13-15

Commit to Get Fit 5K Run/Walk - Crosby

30 Crosslake Fireworks

8th Annual Show & Shine Car Show

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For more information or more events, log on to:

www.dnr.state.mn.us/events/index n2 Issue 1 • Editio Issue 1 • Editio n2

issue tured in this

Fea CK WOOD DU WATCH BY: BILL

MARCHEL

PLUS MORE! By: Dave Csanda on Crappies Corbett • Early Seas a Walk By: Carolyn Camera for By: Mike Bialka • Take Your tant Angler Lane: The Reluc • Memory es Recip ral Natu • Dr. Lund’s

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Glossy_Spring

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Look for the Summer 2007 Issue of Outdoor Traditions publishing on June 8th.

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07.indd 1

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07.indd 1

30 C a l e n d a r

Featured

in this issue WOOD DU CK WATCH

PLUS MORE! • Early Seas on Crappies By: Dave Csanda • Take Your Camera for a Walk By: Carolyn • Memory Corbett Lane: The Reluc tant Angler • Dr. Lund’s By: Mike Bialka Natural Recip es

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NEW FISHING REGULATIONS FOR 2007

A TRADITION OF QUALITY

• Spearing season closes February 25 • Simultaneous spearing and angling now allowed • Additions to infested waters list • Spearing band lifted on French Lake

NEW EXPERIMENTAL/SPECIAL REGUALTIONS • Discontinue northern pike regulation on Wilkins Lake • 48” minimum size limit on 47 muskie lakes and connecting waters and two rivers. • Added or modified quality regulations for walleye, bass, northern pike, sinfish and/or crappie on 28 lakes.

KEY LAKES AND RIVERS WITH NEW REGULATIONS THIS YEAR INCLUDE:

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• Bowstring (Itasca County) • Sand Lake and connecting waters (Itasca County) • Round Lake (Itasca County) • Upper Mississippi River •Kabetogama/Namakan Chain of Lakes (Koochiching, St. Louis Counties) • Itasca State Park Lakes

ADDITIONS TO SYNOPSIS • Updated record fish List • Clarification on transporting fish • Bowfishing clarification • Clarify daily and possession limit • Clarify precedence of experimental/ special regulations

REGULATIONS CHANGES THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED • Opening lakes to winter trout fishing in Aitkin and Hubbard Counties. • Discontinue minnow harvest except by permit in the Cedar River watershed to protect slender madtom • Night bowfishing allowed on selected water bodies from June 1 to August 31. • Allow larger bullheads to be used as bait in certain areas of the state. • Additional transportation and packaging requirements • Legalize some multiple hook configurations • Discontinue muskie fishing in December • Changes in opening dates for South Dakota border waters • Change northern pike bag limit on Canadian border waters • Change Basswood Lake on Canadian border to all inland season and limits Courtesy of Minnesota DNR

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PASQUEFLOWER THE PRAIRIE CROCUS SPRING IS A MAGICAL TIME in our part of the world. Sometimes one has to experience snow and cold to have a true appreciation for the gentle approach of spring. We are blessed to live in a state that has so much natural beauty to enjoy. Woodlands or prairies, both have plants and animals that are as interesting as they are beautiful. As one who grew up in the woodlands of Wisconsin and Minnesota, I’ve always had a personal fascination with prairie landscapes. As the warming spring sun melts the winter snow from prairie hillsides, clusters of showy purple flowers spring from the newly warmed soil. Pasqueflower, so named because their blooming time often corresponds with the celebration of Easter or the Paschal season, are one of the year’s earliest blooming flowers. As they bloom so early, the brightly colored Pasqueflowers stand out against the grasses turned brown by winters cold. Their sprightly blossoms, purple sepals with a ring of golden stamens and a central tuft of grayish pistils,

32 P a s q u e f l o w e r

grow in clusters on the hillsides and open prairies from northern Illinois, west to central Washington, north to southwestern Minnesota and the prairies of North Dakota. A dense coating of fine hairs covers the stems and lacy, deeply divided leaves. While the whorl of leaves can persist into September, the blossoms appear in March and April. A central tuft of pistils becomes a plumed fruit with the seeds having long plumes up to one and a half inches long giving the plant a ‘smoky’ appearance. The fruits are a large group of feathery achenes (a oneseeded, one-celled, dry, hard fruit that does not open when ripe) on a lengthened flower stalk. To truly appreciate the Pasqueflowers delicate nature, one must approach it on its own level. An interesting experience as Pasqueflowers are often only a few inches high! The variety of color, vibrant and intense to soft and pastel, unusual hair-covered stems and golden yellow highlights are a totally unique visual treat. Both South Dakota and Manitoba have named the

Pasqueflower as their state/provincial flower. Another name for this spring beauty is Prairie Crocus. They prefer dry, sandy soils on hillsides, where they take advantage of the warming rays of the spring sunshine. Even in pasture areas where the cattle have grazed, Pasqueflowers bloom in profusion, as grazing animals do not find them edible. Do you want to see a Pasqueflower in bloom? Residents of the Brainerd Lakes area are fortunate to have one of the best areas to see and photograph Pasqueflowers in their backyard-the Northland Arboretum. One of my most enjoyable photographic experiences has been that time spent laying on the warm ground on sunny spring days photographing these special flowers at the Northland Arboretum. I hope to see you there this Spring!

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THE RELUCTANT ANGLER I COULD NEVER have been on the guest list of “The as long as your child was in sight or within earshot the American Sportsman.” parents usually didn’t get too worked up. Legendary broadcaster Curt Gowdy, who hosted the TV When they did relent and decide to get off the lake it was show for years, invited sports celebrities to fish and hunt time to clean the harvest. It seemed like there were guts, with him at locations across the globe. scales and blood everywhere. Watching people clean fish I must confess I’m one of the world’s worst fishermen. may be as thrilling as watching World Cup soccer. It’s not that I don’t like to fish. It’s that I don’t have the Today, anglers have depthfinders, sonar readings, trollpatience to untangle line, wait for fish to bite and, lastly, ing motors and all kinds of exotic artificial baits. Fishing perform that dreaded of all chores, clean the catch. has become like golf. There are so many technological adI like to steal the quote from former Vikings coach Jerry vances that you can’t help but be a better angler or golfer Burns. When someone asked Burns if he liked to fish, he (the latter certainly doesn’t apply in my case.) always replied, “I’m not old enough.” A few weeks ago we ventured onto Gilbert Lake, with Well, Burnsie, as well as myself, are definitely old enough. our party swelling to four with the addition of my dad. We Thank goodness I have friends who like to fish and don’t caught at least 12 fish between us, releasing them all to be mind taking the reluctant angler on an annual trip. enjoyed another day by other anglers. Brainerd Warriors softball coach Mike Zauhar has been When we fish with Z’ we go after northerns, walleyes gracious enough to invite me and my son on a little fish- and bass. When you’re used to fishing for panfish trying to ing excursion every summer the last few years. We always set the hook is a completely different approach with northhave such a good time that it makes me wonder why I don’t erns, walleyes and bass, where you let them run and basifish a few more times every season, but then that patience cally let them hook themselves. thing crops up again. We fished in about 20 feet of water and had enough acFishing in the 2000’s is completely different from what tivity to keep all of us occupied. Z’ of course hooked the I experienced as a kid. Back then my dad and my grandpa majority of the fish. But when he hooked one, he handed used to rent a rickety old metal boat, powered by my dad’s the rod to my 10-year-old, letting him experience the exmighty 3-horsepower motor, from a mom and pop resort. citement of reeling in a lunker. We always seemed to get skunked. Maybe it was our We caught two northerns that likely tipped the scales at equipment (cane poles or the cheapest rods and reels we between five and seven pounds. We also caught a few nice could buy) and our bait (angleworms and nightcrawlers.) largemouth bass. We always fished for sunnies and crappies. When they It was a perfect day to go fishing. Sunny skies. A light didn’t bite I would whine about how boring and hot it was breeze. Interesting conversation. And quality time spent and that I was hungry and thirsty. There were no computer with a friend, my dad and my son. games or cell phones to bring in the boat. I can remember at least once that the diehard anglers would take me to shore and let me stomp off steam while they continued to fish for what seemed like an eternity. M I K E B I A L K A , sports editor, can be Parents would never consider returning their child to reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com shore today for fear they would be abducted. Back then or at 855-5861.

36 M e m o r y

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Photo provided by Tim Bogenschutz

M i k e

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MILLE LACS KATHIO STATE PARK CAMPING DESTINATION - LAKE OF LEGENDS MILLE LACS KATHIO STATE PARK OFFERS A CAMPING EXPERIENCE AS RICH AS ITS LONG HISTORY. ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BRAINERD

lies one of Minnesota’s most popular and legendary lakes. With more than 9,000 years of archaeological history, Mille Lacs Lake has a past and present full of historical artifacts, stories and landscape that have drawn people to its shores for centuries. The Mille Lacs Kathio State Park borders the southeastern edge of the lake and is home to some of the most prized recreational and historical resources in Minnesota. Because of its rich past, the park has been declared a National Historical Landmark. Its 19 archaeological sites make it one of the most significant and informative historical sites in the country. The area was a conflux of migrating Dakota and Ojibwe Indian tribes during the 18th century. The famous explorer Daniel Greysolon, Sieur duLhut, whom the city of Duluth is named after, also visited the Mille Lacs Lake area in the late 1600s. The source of the Rum River, a tributary to the Mississippi which flows nearly 140 miles away, Mille Lacs Lake and Mille Lacs Kathio State Park offer an extensive scenic waterway and lake system that offer visitors excellent camping, hiking and fishing activities at all times of the year. Both the Ogechie and Shakopee lakes are within the park’s more than 10,000 acres. Mille Lacs Kathio State Park has some of the most accommodating camping facilities of any park in the state. Their more than 70 campsites include horse camps, cabin camps, backpack site camps and a multitude of drive-in and electric campsites. The campground has a shower and flush toilet facility, as well. The wide array of campsite design give campers of all different levels an option. The landscape of the region is composed of a series of hills and dales formed by the rock and gravel deposits of melting glaciers at the end of the last ice age. The unique lay of the land is called a terminal moraine. The presence of the river and lake system and the relatively large size of the park make this an excellent place to observe wildlife. Park officials tell visitors to expect to see (or to see signs of) waterfowl, bald eagles, osprey, otter, beaver, loons, deer, bear and coyotes. A system of trails throughout the park gives way to views of the rolling terrain, the plush forested areas and the winding Rum River. Like many of Minnesota’s state parks, Mille Lacs Kathio has informative interpretive nature programs and walk-

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ways that help educate and entertain visitors that make use of the park’s trail system. A 100-foot observation tower is also located in the park. The structure was originally built as a fire tower, and anyone brave enough to climb to the top will be treated with an expansive view of Mille Lacs Lake and the outstretching park. Canoes and rowboats are available to rent. Visitors can take outings on the Rum River and Ogechie and Shakopee lakes. The park also boasts a large and well-maintained swimming beach. The park’s visitor center prides itself on the wealth of information that it harbors for anyone with the time to peruse it. Literature, video and artistic representations of the parks’ history, geological composition and natural resources are available to people that stop by. Park patrons can learn about the once vast forest of red and white pine that blanketed the area, the “Battle of Kathio” that took place between warring Indian tribes as well as the wild rice, fish, waterfowl and other food sources that helped sustain human life and culture in the area. The beauty, historical relevance and outdoor entertainment at Mille Lacs Kathio makes it part of Minnesota culture and pride. Mille Lacs Kathio is rife with trails for hikers, joggers, skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers. The park is prized for its winter trail system and its popular sledding hill, though spring and summer are when the sweeping views of the cobalt blue of Mille Lacs Lake and the plush green of trees reaching to the horizon can be best enjoyed. When the Rum River is flush with the spring thaw and the fishing is prime during the warm summer months on Ogechie and Shakopee lakes, the park is at the height of its powers. It is often hard to imagine a more pristine place. Spending time here makes it easy to see why the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes established permanent villages here. A short two miles north of the park headquarters is the Mille Lacs Indian Museum, just off of U.S. 169. The museum is operated by the Minnesota State Historical Society. Visitors are treated to a detailed and informative history of the Mille Lacs area from the 1680s to present day.

J A C O B K U L J U is a Minnesota-based freelance writer who also writes regularly for the Voyageur Press of McGregor. Contact him at jmkulju@gmail.com.

Photo provided by Tim Bogenschutz

J a c o b

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PLUS MOR E! • Early Seas on Crap pies By: Dave • Take Your Csanda Camera for a Walk • Memory By: Carolyn Lane: The Corbett Reluctant • Dr. Lund Angler By: ’s Natural Mike Bialka Recipes

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S e r v i c e

D i r e c t o r y 39

TAKE YOUR CAMERA FOR A WALK BEFORE WE FOCUS ON FLOWERS, let me confess: I am not Annie Leibovitz or Anne Geddes, Alice Austen or Julia Cameron. I am a writer who loves photography — a photographer who loves writing. For 14 years, I’ve taken photos to illustrate my magazine articles, and two years ago I fell passionately in love with the macro function on my new digital camera: a Sony Cyber-shot 7.2 megapixel. You’re not going to read anything here about apertures, aspect ratios or F-Stops. This column is for folks wanting to take good pictures with the camera they currently own, not those who develop photographs in their downstairs darkroom. I’m here to share specific photo opportunities in our area and tips for shooting better pictures. Minnesota boasts over 1,600 native flowering plants (including the Dwarf Trout Lily found nowhere else on earth). In the spring at Crow Wing State Park, feathery prairie smoke blooms along with bloodroot, rue anemone, wood anemone and other spring flowers. The park staff updates the web site weekly with a list of plants currently in bloom. At Fritz Loven Park, large-flowered trillium flourish

40 T a k e

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near Jack-in-the-pulpit, wild strawberry, swamp buttercup (also found along Mille Lacs Lake), marsh marigold, large-flowered bellwort and sharp-lobed hepatica. The path along Stoney Brook is easy to navigate in spring before the undergrowth fills in. Pasqueflower, one of the earliest plants to bloom in Minnesota, is covered with soft hairs to trap warm air during the cool springtime. The name mirrors the blooming time: Easter (Paschal) season. French Rapids, on the Mississippi River near the Brainerd airport, comes alive with pasqueflowers in early spring. Any trail to the left of the lake leads through woods sprinkled with them.

TIMING YOUR SHOOT

• Bright sunny days are better for picnics than pictures. Intense light creates contrast resulting in burnedout highlights and dark shadows. Try to avoid midday sun. • Partly cloudy days are workable if you set up your picture and wait for a cloud to pass in front of the sun. • Early morning light is uniform and soft, there is typically little wind and you can often catch leaves still covered with dew, all conditions that enhance texture

W a l k

and pattern. Flowers that need warmth to open are best captured in late morning. • Late afternoon light is warm, causing colors to appear more saturated, while overcast skies produce soft, low-contrast, diffuse light that preserves details washed out by full sunlight. • A brilliant sunset, or one with golden light, is an impressive backdrop for a large field of flowers. • Wind is often a factor. For blurry flower photos, gentle winds are perfect. For sharp pictures, sheltered locations or slight pauses of calm are necessary.

FIND & FRAME

• Look for flowers free of torn petals, bug-munched leaves or signs of wilting. • Bugs, bees or butterflies perched on flowers, however, add visual interest. Bugs usually return to the same flower; if you miss one, focus on the flower and wait. • Raindrops and dew add wonderful effects. You can create moisture with a spray bottle of water. • Get grounded. Hit the ground for a bug’s-eye view and take a few deep breaths to steady your shot. Plastic garbage bags — inexpensive and virtually weightless — are super for sprawling. • Shoot with your back to the sun unless you want a backlit effect. • Avoid placing the flower smack in the middle of your picture. Determine how the setting can provide contrast in color, texture, or shape. • Background clutter in the finished photo, such as patches of plain dirt, discolored leaves and debris, are distracting. Pick up trash, move twigs and prop branches out of the way without breaking them off. Be particularly diligent about this if you are not a PhotoShop wizard and want your final images as clean as possible.

EXPERIMENT! • • • •

Shoot from eye level for a portrait-style effect. Shoot up into the petals of the flower from underneath. Shoot through the petals for backlighting from the sun. Shoot the “back” of the flower. • Shoot a group of flowers with a lake or stand of trees in the background. • Fill your entire frame with a cluster of flowers. Dense masses produce a dramatic look. • Blue flowers are challenging. Try for open shade situations where the excess blue light serves as a natural filter in keeping blue flowers blue. • Use a macro setting. Getting up close to a single blossom reveals the intricate color, shape and design even more than you see with your naked eye. • Small details make large impressions. If you don’t have macro, find BIG flowers and move in as close as possible. • Hold a white card behind a flower, catch the shadow, then photograph just the card. Move about to create different abstract effects. • Take several photographs in each setting. Change distances. Change positions. Change angles.

C A R O L Y N C O R B E T T is a free-

lance writer and editor with 12 years of experience. Carolyn currently lives in Brainerd where she writes for various local publications and creates content for web sites.

C a r o l y n

C o r b e t t 41

Your

Best Shot

Do you enjoy taking photos? Do you have a favorite image of an eagle, flower, sunset, or how about your favorite hunting partner? Here’s your chance to share it with readers of “OUTDOOR Traditions.” Send it along with a two-sentence explanation as to where, why, and how it was shot. Both could be published online and in the 50,000 copies of our new quarterly magazine, “OUTDOORS Traditions.” Each issue will have an “editor’s pick” contributed photo, including a credit line of the photographer’s name and portrait if available. If your photo is not chosen, all appropriate images will be included on the “We Spotted” section of our website. They will be displayed there for three months, running concurrently with the season and/or until the next “OUTDOOR Traditions” publishes. Deadline for the fall edition is August 1, 2006 and winter is November 15th, 2006. The Dispatch will collect images quarterly (spring, summer, fall, winter). After each issue of “OUTDOOR Traditions” publishes, we will then place the images on our website. Send a slide or print to “Your Best Shot” Brainerd Dispatch, P.O. Box 574, Brainerd, MN 56401. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want your materials returned.

There are a million things to shoot in the woods. A discerning eye can find the frame and the creativity begins as you zoom in and out or change lenses. Freedom and creativity can come from just a couple of different lens. These two shots were taking within a couple of feet from each other. One with a 300mm to make a simple fern look like a green sparkler and the other with a 100mm macro to present a close up of nature’s graphic patterns.

Tim Bogenschutz

For half a century I have been drawn to the outdoors. My interests have varied from hunting, to hiking, canoeing, and fishing, but my first love has always been wildlife photography.

42 B e s t

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