Lakes Journal May 2020

Getting back to nature Fishing season gets underway

INSIDE Anglers can prevent spread of aquatic invasives As lakes warm, crappies ready to bite

PAID

MAY 2020 | MONTHLY NEWS AND EVENTS FROM THE OTTER TAIL AND GRANT COUNTY LAKES

PRESORTED STD US POSTAGE

A red-winged blackbird enjoys a nice spring day at the Hi-View State Wildlife Management Area .

ZACH STICH / LAKES JOURNAL.

Detroit Lakes, MN Permit No. 14

Spring is a good time to get back to wildlife

PAGE 2 | LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020

With my new grill, what could go wrong? me a BGE. The grill came in relatively fast and I knew soon that I would be grilling steaks, hamburgers, brats and hot dogs. The setup was quick and easy and I didn’t have my normal struggles or extra parts (I think they put them in there intentionally ...). I decided to test the grill out that very evening with hamburgers (not something that you usually screw up).

First off, this would be the first time that I used lump coal to cook anything. I had always used briquettes in my old grill. It would also be the first time that I didn’t use lighter fluid (a welcome addition), instead using a fire starter. I grabbed the lighter and was ready to get the grilling underway.

Being new to me, I was unsure if I actually got the grill going for the first 20 minutes. I am used to seeing the flames from the lighter fluid and watching as the coals went from black to white. Now, I watched the fire starter hold a flame and closed the lid, waiting to see if the temperature gauge on the outside of the grill would rise. After being anxious in the early

going, I noticed that the heat began to pick up and I went to drop the actual grill into the BGE. This is where my normal cooking went from “I know what I am doing” to “how the heck did that happen?”

After giving it a minute or two to warm up, I grabbed the hamburger patties and tossed them on the grill. I decided to put that in the center for a quick cook on both sides and then move them around to avoid hot spots in order to hit the perfect “doneness.” I failed miserably as my mental cooking time was thrown off by the cooking power of the new grill. I had already charred a little bit of one side of the burger and attempted to compensate with the other. I desperately moved the meat around the grill but I again burned the other side of the burger as I waited until the future hockey pucks were completely done.

I attempted to add cheese to the hamburgers to help add back some of the flavor, but I accidentally dropped one of the slices into the grill. We went from two hamburgers and four cheese burgers to half and half. This wasn’t

my finest day at the grill but my wife prefers well done (burnt) hamburgers so it wasn’t a loss to her. My children on the other hand had a few bites but stuck mostly with beans and chips for dinner.

I had to go down with the ship as I ate burnt hamburgers with barbecue sauce. It was upsetting after finding my groove grilling the past few years. I thought “have I slipped or what is the deal?”

Well, thanks to my wife’s encouragement (and the cost of the grill), I got back out there and have discovered ways of combating the heat and delivering great food. In the five times since then, only once did someone not eat my cooking (hamburgers are not my son’s favorite).

For those of you ready to get back outside, I hope that you have a great summer and I look forward to the smell of fresh cut grass, barbecues and lakes as we hit the midpoint of 2020.

Zach Stich is the managing editor of The Fergus Falls Daily Journal.

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ike most Minnesotans, I am excited that the weather has started to cooperate and I can get back outdoors with a T-shirt, shorts and hat on.

With temperatures finally getting into the high 60s and low 70s, it is the perfect time to be outdoors (especially since our bloodsucking friends the mosquito haven’t decided to spoil the ZACH party).

STICH In preparation for a sum- Banter mer that will find my family and Boxscores and I spending more time outside our home and not traveling, I decided to make a big purchase — I bought a new grill.

For the last few years, I have been eying a Big Green Egg (BGE). My small charcoal grill had done its job for over seven years, but I needed something that would be a lasting grill and special for when family and friends visit. So finally, I bit the bullet and got a hold of Fergus Home & Hardware about ordering

LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020 | PAGE 3

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PAGE 4 | LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020

First a pandemic, now biting gnats Faith Perrizo was reading a book on her deck in Maplewood earlier this week and the biting gnats drove her right back inside.

“These aren’t the little tiny ones,” she said. “They’re probably twice, maybe three times the size of a regular gnat. They’re pretty big.” Their bites have proven particularly itchy, she added.

Experts say the black flies aren’t new, but they’ve found new footing in the Twin Cities this year — although northern Minnesota is familiar with the Simulium tuberosum variety of black fly.

“The populations of these in certain streams — Minnehaha Creek, maybe Vermillion, maybe Nine Mile Creek — are really growing,” said John Walz, black fly program coordinator for the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District.

“So our job is to sample these streams, get an idea of what the populations are, see why maybe this is happening.”

Walz said the surge in gnats may be simply a battle for space. The larvae grow in streams and rivers, attaching to rocks and sticks and the like, and Walz suspects the success his agency has had fighting other gnats may have given the black flies more opportunities to expand their range.

The mosquito control agency has been treating running water for black flies since 1984, and has permits from the Department of Natural Resources to battle four different species. Walz thinks the surge in new bugs may simply be that their competitors are being held at bay by treatment efforts — although flooding last year thwarted some of those efforts and brought another batch of nasty gnats last spring.

Walz, by the way, has expertise in the matter: he’s president of the North American Black Fly Association, a trade group of researchers insect control agencies. He said he’s in touch with others around the world, asking what might be behind the recent gnat surge.

Folks who spend time outside in Minnesota — at least some of them — can attest to the pesky nature of the new crop of gnats. Kids and others have lines of welts at their necklines from the bites.

Walz said the flies stay in trees and look for opportunities to swoop down and bite. “They’re a lot more irritating than a mosquito,” he said. “They slice open skin and let blood pool for a meal.”

Black flies are not disease carriers in the U.S., according to the MMCD. They are only at risk of spreading disease in some parts of Africa. In our part of the world, they are mostly just annoying

MPR NEWS

BITERS: This is what a new batch of aggressive gnats look like this spring in the Twin Cities. The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District says they’re not a variety they usually treat for in running water pests.

There is also no evidence that blackfies, mosquitoes, or ticks transmit COVID-19 according to the CDC and WHO. Walz is consulting with the DNR about what to do about the flies.

Once the insects are adults and flying, he said there isn’t a good way to get at them high in tree canopies. And it isn’t clear if the flies

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will be gone once this batch dies off or if there will be more generations — and possibly the opportunity to get a DNR permit to go after the larvae in rivers and streams.

In the meantime, you’ll have to muddle through and try not to attract the flies’ attention.

“Light-colored clothing, no scents or perfumes on you, that helps a little bit,” he said. For some

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reason, the flies seem to like some people more than others. “It’s a chemistry thing,” he said. “Or a scent thing.” He said DEET, the traditional insect repellent, works.

Sort of.

Perrizo’s advice after the swarm found her: get some netting. Either a hat or something that you can wrap around your head to keep the bugs off.

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LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020 | PAGE 5

Anglers can prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species onds); or • Dry boat and equipment for at least five days.

More information is available at mndnr.gov/AIS. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Executive Order 20-38 allows people to be outdoors, engaging in activities such as walking, running, fishing and hunting. We urge outdoor enthusiasts to: • Stay close to home.

• Not congregate when outdoors.

• Follow social distancing guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health .

• Remain home if they are ill or exhibiting any symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

Social distancing guidelines while boating include: • Only boat with people in your immediate household.

• Do not invite guests or anyone outside your household onto your boat.

• Do not go boating if someone in your group is feeling sick or may have been exposed to someone who is sick.

• When launching your boat, keep a safe distance of at least six feet from others.

Most state-managed public accesses are open, though the availability of amenities, such as docks, are contingent upon seasonal maintenance.

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CRAPPIE TIME: At Orwell Dam (above), there are clearly marked signs warning anglers and recreation seekers that there are aquatic invasive specials in the water. One of the many invasives that can get in lakes and rivers is zebra mussels (below).

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The May 10 fishing opener comes with a reminder to always follow Minnesota’s laws to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Along with taking care to follow social distancing guidelines while fishing and boating, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said it’s also important to take a few minutes for invasive species prevention every time a boat comes out of the water.

Lt. Col. Greg Salo, DNR Enforcement Division assistant director, said that’s true every time, whether or not an enforcement officer or watercraft inspector is present.

“All anglers and boaters in Minnesota are required to take three simple steps: clean, drain, dispose,” Salo said. “It’s not only the best way to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, but it’s also the law in Minnesota.”

People must clean aquatic plants and debris from watercraft, drain lake or river water and keep drain plugs out during transport, and dispose of unwanted bait in the trash, not in the water.

In addition to these required steps, the DNR also recommends that anglers: • Spray boat and trailer with high-pressure water.

• Rinse boat and trailer with very hot water (120 degrees for two minutes; or 140 degrees for 10 sec-

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PAGE 6 | LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020

Warm lakes equal crappie time Veteran early season crappie anglers know finding the warmest shallow water is usually key. Warmer waters usually attract crappies as the first signs of open-water life often occur in the warmest of the shallows, drawing hungry fish. As mentioned previously, these crappies are there to feed first and later to spawn.

Shallow, dark-bottomed bays are classic early season spots as their waters warm quickly drawing hungry fish.

Marinas and boat channels are other shallow spots that will warm quickly and draw

panfish too.

A good way to find early season crappies involves staying on the move and searching various shallow spots. When fishing from a boat, I keep an eye on the temperature gauge on my sonar unit when going from spot to spot as, again, finding warm water is key. Shore anglers, though more limited in spots than the boat angler, often do well this time of the year as shallow areas that hold fish are often accessible from shore now too.

Once located, a small panfish jig tipped with a

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probably up your catch.

Spring is here and so is the urge to fish open water.

For many anxious anglers, spring and crappies go hand in hand. These fish offer some of the first angling opportunities of the year and they are often cooperative now, too. Following some of the tips just provided can, in fact, probably help you land some of these scrappy fish on your spring fishing trips this year!

As always, good luck on the water and remember to include a youngster in your next outdoor adventure!

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crappie minnow or waxworm and fished below a small bobber usually works, particularly when the fish are finicky. When a bit more aggressive fish are encountered, it’s usually hard to beat a small jig and plastic combo. In fact, a Mr. Crappie jig head paired with a Mr. Crappie 2-inch Joker is an awesome combination when a school of hungry shallow crappies is located.

The “Electric Chicken” and “Tuxedo black/chartreuse” colored Joker are two of my favorites.

Whether fishing a jig and live bait or jig and plastic, fishing the combination a couple feet below a bobber and casting near shallow cover like weeds, brush and timber usually results in bites if fish are present. Another key is to set the bobber so the bait is presented above the level the fish are holding, as crappies are notorious for “feeding up.”

Also, using a small bobber usually increases catch rates as well as a small float slides easily underwater on the bite. This can be key for finicky fish that are often spooked by the floatation of more buoyant bobbers.

A final suggestion is to approach potential fishing spots quietly using your trolling motor and to avoid any unnecessary noises when fishing. Spring crappies in the shallows are notorious for being spooky and avoiding any noise and commotion that can easily scatter these wily fish will

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PAGE 8 | LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020

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BRIAN HANSEL | DAILY JOURNAL

OUT IN THE FIELD: A rooster pheasant prowled along the edge of a combined cornfield in May in Tordenskjold Township. Habitat is the key to pheasant production.

Spring is a good time to give back to wildlife

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here was a time, many decades ago, when hunting had us by the throat.

Fall was the best season of the year, hands down.

We would do about anything to get a good shot at a duck, deer, goose or pheasant. A friend of mine and I were once told that if we put as much time BRIAN into making money as HANSEL we spent on hunting we Staff would be millionaires. Writer Waterfowl hunting was our biggest thrill. It was almost a form of insanity but one shared by many others. There was a guy who slept in a boat on Lake Christina in November just to hold a good duck hunting spot. There was a group of teenagers who jumped in their trucks in their stocked feet to follow a flock of Canada geese from Otter Tail County to Abercrombie, North Dakota.

There were two rival gangs that competed for the best duck hunting spots on an island near Dalton in every kind of weather.

We would carry our old wood boat, guns, shells and decoys over the railroad tracks

to reach the lake and hunt all day. Frozen fingers, frozen feet, it just did not matter.

The autumn months still have a lot going for them but over the years some of us have started to appreciate what spring offers as well. Instead of just a chance to hunt, it offers a chance to build and help the resource you enjoy so much.

You can walk outside on a spring evening in rural Minnesota and not be bitten up by mosquitoes. The grass is greening up but it is still too short to start mowing. The high temperature for the day is only pushing 70. The heat and humidity of summer has not arrived nor the tourist crowd with their boats, motorhomes, campers and jetskis. Best of all, those long, dreary months of winter are behind you for a while.

This is the time to plant trees. The West Otter Tail County Soil and Water District was busy last week filling the orders placed over the winter months by tree lovers. My son-in-law and I decided to split an order of quaking aspen this spring. This beautiful white tree with bright yellow leaves in the fall will grow up to 65 feet in height.

In other years I have planted maple,

chokecherry, apricot, black walnut, plum, red oak, Scotch pine, white spruce, black ash and red cedar. It has all been part of an attempt to create a habitat for wildlife - first suggested to me by my son 18 years ago - and it has been working. The amount of wildlife we have been seeing is growing.

We have been fortunate to own land close to other habitat acres. This unofficial habitat “corridor,� created by wildlife production areas, woodlands, fields of CRP land, lakes and sloughs, stretches for many miles through southern Otter Tail and eastern Grant County. Throughout it you will find whitetail deer, wild turkey, geese, pheasants, ducks and many predators, including bald eagles, owls, redtailed hawks, fox and coyotes.

The members of wildlife groups like Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever will tell you habitat is the key to wildlife production and they are right.

If you can find a way to be a part of this effort to create habitat you are most likely going to find you like it.

Brian Hansel is a reporter for The Fergus Falls Daily Journal.

LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020 | PAGE 9

A Center for the Arts goes digital, gets creative with fundraising efforts

By Johanna Armstrong The Daily Journal

A Center for the Arts (AC4TA) is looking at a year unlike any other and trying to adapt to regulations that run counter to their business model. The nonprofit relies on producing shows for 80% of its funding, but COVID-19 has shuttered the theater and made even outdoor get-togethers unsafe. As a result, they’ve had to get creative with their offerings and try to find ways to keep paying the bills, including a Stay At Home Sellout fundraiser that runs through May 28.

The fundraiser is inviting people to purchase seat tickets for $15 for the Stay At Home Sellout event (not a physical event) as a way to support the theater. After purchasing tickets, buyers are sent an email they can reply to with a selfie that AC4TA will print out and attach to the seats purchased. “We want to have a sold out show even if no one will actually be in our theater,” the Facebook event details read.

The fundraiser ends May 28, coinciding with an auction fundraiser AC4TA is hosting in conjunction with the Kaddatz Galleries, Otter Tail County Historical Society (OTCHS) and local artists. From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. there will be a Facebook Live event with AC4TA executive director Michael Burgraff, Kaddatz Galleries executive director Amanda Callahan and OTCHS executive director Chris Schuelke, at which point the photos printed Stay At Home Sellout will be shown.

SOLD OUT SEATS: In a fundraising effort, A Center for the Arts in Fergus Falls is doing a Stay At Home Sellout fundraiser until May 28.

Online bidding for the auction opens on Friday, May 22 and features art from Jeff Zachmann, Kirk Williams, Kristi Kuder, Nancy Valentine, Blayze Buseth, Deb Wallwork, Michael Weatherly, Callahan, Karan Ouren, Eric Sandwire, Burgraff and Missy Hermes, along with gift certificates, classes and books. Artists receive 70% of the purchase price and the remaining profits will be split equally between the three organizations (with

the exception of a piece by Zachmann, for which the full amount will be given to the organizations). “The reason that we grabbed the Kaddatz and the Otter Tail County Historical Society, and all the area artists, is because these are the folk who went from scratching out a living to nothing,” says Burgraff. “It has been a hard time for these three big nonprofits in town as well as the artists, so we thought it would be best … that we just all combine to-

gether and do what we can to raise money together.”

AC4TA is still trying to make events happen as best they can, though.

Facebook Live events are one way they’re adapting, with their first event taking place Thursday, May 14, with local musician Aimee Nordlund. While it was free to watch, viewers were given an opportunity to donate, with proceeds split between Nordlund and AC4TA. For now, this way of doing shows will

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be replacing Concerts in the Park and will be done most Thursday evenings throughout the summer.

Drive-in shows for both concerts and movies are another potential route AC4TA will take. Drive-in movies are allowed by the governor’s orders, but gathering for performances is not.

“We have written a letter to the governor that the mayor delivered for us to see if we can’t do some drive-in concerts over the summer,” says Burgraff. They hope

to start with Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience, whose performance was scheduled for mid-June, and possibly holding it at the parking lot behind the Bigwood Event Center.

However, it would require permission from many different groups and would only be able to safely fit 70 cars, compared to the usual Concerts in the Park which would allow anybody in.

For drive-in movies, AC4TA is working with Greater Fergus Falls and Park Region Telephone to see what’s possible. “One of the places that we’ve talked to the city about is the parking lot over by the hockey arena because we can put 100 cars in there,” says Burgraff.

The summer children’s musical has also been canceled and replaced with online theater classes. “We’ve officially canceled the show for children’s theater in June but we are going to be doing minicourses that we’ll be announcing next Monday, and so students will be able to take those basically Zoom classes and go online and have something to do for the theater over the summertime, but the children’s theater actually ends our fiscal year,” says Burgraff. “Our year ends June 30 and it is one of the larger money-producing events that we do and so our budget always has this big piece at the end where we’re able to catch up and pay all of our bills. Now, without doing it, that money is not there, that’s a big reason why we’re doing a couple of these (fundraisers) so quickly, we have endof-the-year bills to pay.”

PAGE 10 | LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020

Build your future in Otter Tail County

By Shannon Terry For the Journal

Otter Tail County wants you to build your future here and you can with local supports for housing investment. Be a part of the ‘The Big Build’ initiative launched in December 2019. The goal of The Big Build is to build new or rehabilitate 5,000 housing units by 2025. Building toward the future begins with expanding housing opportunities and reinvestment throughout Otter Tail County.

Otter Tail County, along with its community partners, has found ways to support

housing investment. A property tax rebate program for new single and two-family homes is ongoing with many applications approved and moving forward with building their dream homes. The purpose of the program is to encourage the construction of new primary residences and to inspire people to replace dilapidated housing structures within the county.

The rebate program allows for up to $10,000 in a property tax rebate for new single-family construction. This includes the rebate of the county portion of the property taxes as well as the city portion of the taxes in select

communities (currently, Fergus Falls, Henning, New York Mills, Ottertail, Parkers Prairie, Pelican Rapids, Perham and Vergas) for up to five years. There is a wide range of available choices from rural acreage to new subdivisions in communities.

Information and an application for the tax rebate program can be found online at bigbuildotc.com. If you have questions about the qualifications and stipulations of the program or to learn about how the county can support other housing development SUBMITTED opportunities, please email OUT ON THE TRAIL: The Central Lakes Trail in Otter Tail County is one of the many recreational reasons to abaldwin@co.ottertail.mn.us call the county home. or call 218-998-8050.

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LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020 | PAGE 11

Minnesota American Legion Baseball canceled for 2020 For the Journal

The American Legion Department of Minnesota Executive Committee, Minnesota American Legion Baseball Committee and Minnesota American Legion Commander Mark Dvorak have canceled the 2020 season out of concerns for safety of players, coaches, umpires, fans and volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Safety has always been important in American Legion Baseball,” said Director of Minnesota American Legion Baseball Randy Schaub of Danube. “As much as we wanted to play this year, we cannot take chances with the players, coaches and fans we oversee.”

The decision came during a morning video conference on Saturday, May 9. The baseball committee heard from Commander Dvorak and had input from state and national legal advisers. Statewide COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings would make playing baseball prohibitive.

“It was a difficult decision that affects many young people and their parents,” Dvorak said. “The American Legion is a major proponent of the sport of baseball, and we hope to return even stronger in 2021.”

American Legion Baseball programs across the country have shut down, resulting in team insurance being unavailable through the national Legion baseball program. The national

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CRAPPIE TIME: The American Legion Department of Minnesota Executive Committee announced recently that the 2020 American Legion Baseball season is canceled. level last month canceled the American Legion World Series planned for August, and the national program announced Friday, May 8, it would provide no national-level support.

Minnesota Baseball Committee member Jim Peck has been involved in Legion baseball for 57 years. “This is one of the worst days in all of my time in baseball,” he

said.

The Minnesota committee originally met on April 11 and held off canceling the 2020 season with hopes that state and federal officials might have good news for summer gatherings. Such hopes never transpired.

With 366 teams fielded in 2019 and 357 teams signed up for 2020 , Minnesota American Legion Baseball

is the largest among the 50 states.

Participation in Minnesota American Legion Baseball dates back to 1923, and the first state tournament was held in Mankato 1926.

It has been held every year since then, and Minnesota was among only three states with that continuous string of tournaments. 2020 has broken that run.

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PAGE 12 | LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020

How to make the most of kids’ first fishing trips

Local programs

Fishing need not be an expensive hobby, but the costs can add up. Parents who are not sure if their kids will embrace fishing should look into local programs.

Many towns, especially those with reputations for fishing, host free family fishing events. These events give parents an opportunity to see if their kids enjoy fishing before they start buying them gear.

Starting simple

Any angler would love to snag a

trophy fish such as a largemouth bass on his or her first trip. And while that’s possible, it’s unlikely, especially for youngsters. Such fish tend to be difficult to catch, even for seasoned anglers. When taking kids fishing for the first time, fish for something that’s somewhat simple to catch and capable of being caught throughout the day. If you aren’t familiar with your local rivers or lakes, visit a local outdoors store and ask for advice about which local bodies of water are home to fish that kids might be able to snag.

Though it’s not imperative that kids catch a fish on their first trip, doing so might make them more enthusiastic about their next trip.

Having fun

Don’t make the day all about catching fish, as even the most seasoned anglers have their off days

when nothing is biting. If the focus is on catching fish, kids might grow discouraged and not want to come back if they don’t catch anything on their first trip. Focus on the fun everyone is having rather than the fish they are (or aren’t) catching. Some youngsters might just be thrilled to spend a day out on the water with their parents.

Encourage that enthusiasm and kids are more likely to remember their first fishing trips fondly.

Break time

Kids might not have a full day of fishing in them on their first trip. Frequent breaks to explore nearby nature, enjoy a snack or even toss a ball around can keep children from growing bored throughout the day.

Fishing is a family-friendly activity that youngsters can enjoy from the moment they first pick up a rod.

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FISH ON: Dave Kollar (left to right), Aikhem Bethel and Henry Bethel enjoy the fishing opener at Orwell Dam Sunday, May 10.

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Fishing provides a great way for parents to bond with their children in the great outdoors. The value of first impressions has been well documented, and parents who want their kids to inherit a love of fishing can take the following factors into consideration so their youngsters’ first fishing trips are successful.

LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020 | PAGE 13

For the straight tip go with someone who knows

Signs pointing to a better pheasant hunting season They say that after a person has hunted long enough they develop a sixth sense for the presence of their quarry. It might sound far-fetched but you will find plenty of hunters who believe it.

Talking with Department of Natural Resources prairie habitat supervisor Greg Hoch Thursday morning I found he shared my optimism about the 2020 pheasant hunting season.

Hoch used to live west of Detroit Lakes and has authored a few books - one on prairie chickens - so he has a good handle on the upland birds of our state.

Hoch said he has seen “tons” of pheasants in the ditches near his present location in Cambridge.

Anyone traveling our local roads has seen their share as well.

Hoch outlined three of the conditions for a good 2020 season - two of which have already been met.

The first was how many birds were left when the

winter season arrived.

Mother Nature’s cruel hand on local farmers kept a lot of them from getting their corn out last year. It also ensured that a lot of pheasant hunters did not bag many birds. The standing cornfields not only left a good food source behind, they also created a lot of added cover - a very valuable ally for a pheasant in surviving the winter months.

When the winter months proved to be temperate another of Hoch’s criteria was realized.

The third and perhaps the most important condition for a good 2020 season is still to come - dry, warm weather during the hen pheasant’s nesting season.

Keep in mind that no one is talking about spectacular ringneck action this fall - just a better one than 2019.

Access roads into public wildlife areas need work As a hunter who likes to hit various state and federal lands in the fall I have sometimes been disappointed by the lousy condition of road accesses.

The Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Natural Resources manage these areas for wildlife habitat and you can usually find off-road parking spots. The problem I have encountered is reaching these parking areas.

I doubt if any hunter expects these access roads to

be blacktopped but regular upkeep by grading and some Class 5 gravel would go a long way. The DNR is pretty good about hiring private contractors to reset the cement “logs” on their public fishing accesses after a hard winter but hunting access sites seem to be a different matter.

There is a federal waterfowl production area along the Pomme de Terre in Grant County with a long access road leading back into a big wetland. In past years, when a local farmer with a smaller tractor, digger and planter put alternated field corn and

soybeans in the WPA’s two food plots it was a great place to hunt pheasants, ducks and deer.

Over the years it has gotten tougher and tougher to get back to the WPA’s miniscule parking spot.

Deep ruts have been created on the road accessed by the traffic. Only pickups and SUVs that ride high enough above the ground to make the trip. There are big potholes in a low spot at the far end of the access road that are also too difficult to navigate.

There are accesses on County Road 110 in Aastad Township where the tire

tracks are worn so far down that if a driver is traveling in a car the undercarriage is on the ground or very close to it. There is another of these beauties at a wildlife area on 160th Street in Tordenskjold Township.

There is an access road to wildlife directly south of the Fergus Falls FWS District Wetlands office with some potholes that could use attention.

I would like to think these problems are on a fixit list on someone’s desk.

Brian Hansel is a reporter for The Fergus Falls Daily Journal.

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fish populations so the real arbiter of success early in the year is going to be the weather. Last year the late ice-out hampered fishing early in the season. This year, a more temperate winter and an earlier iceout allowed lake temperatures to climb fast and that will always pull the trigger on a good bite.

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had a high school journalism instructor grew up in northern Minnesota and had lived around timberwolves.

One day he started talking to BRIAN the class HANSEL a b o u t Staff wolves and Writer what they were really like. He was not kind to them but when he got done we all knew he had not been talking through his hat.

When looking for the best information it is always a good idea to talk to a person who knows.

A chat with Ross Hagemeister of the Meister Guide Service before the opener found him full of optimism about the coming fishing season. An email reply from another fishing guide, Mike Frisch, was also upbeat. These are guys who have been making a living on the lakes for more than 25 years. Their job is not to guess or hope, but to know. In talking with Ross once many years ago he explained that his job as a guide was to get his clients on a school of fish as quickly as possible.

The weather for the May 9 opener was crummy but neither of these men said it would be great. They were going by the conditions they had observed.

You will not find many area lakes without good

PAGE 14 | LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020

Tips on spring lawn care sold is clover honey, for a good reason. It is very light-colored and mild flavored. If you like a little more kick to your honey, try basswood honey. It’s dark and lets you know it’s honey.

If you didn’t have problems with grubs in the last two years, you may have them this year.

They are on a three-year cycle.

You will know it’s grubs if you see a dead patch and you can pull the whole patch up with little effort. The grubs have eaten all the grassroots off. If you don’t notice this problem, you will probably notice what follows—skunks. They love grubs and will happily dig up your grass to get to them. Crows seem to smell grubs too, as they

have a great time scratching up grass to get to them. The end result is a well-tilled up lawn.

Before you start mowing, be sure the mower blades are sharp. Dull blades just tear the grass leaving it looking gray and open to diseases. Cut high!! At least 3 inches. It looks better and is much better for the grass.

Taller grass shades out some of the weed seeds too. Leave the clippings on the grass. It is good for your lawn. The cut grass has a lot of food value. Of course, if the layer is too thick it needs to be picked up to prevent killing the lawn you have babied.

Don’t panic about a few weeds. You aren’t a golf course.

A mix of plants is much healthier

than a monoculture of just one type of plant, including grass.

If you are attempting to get a good stand of grass in the shade — forget about it! It just is not going to happen. Either encourage moss, plant a groundcover or mulch the whole area.

Native blue violets will do nicely in most shaded areas, and once you get them growing, they reseed readily. Free plants. What could be better?

Don’t agonize over your lawn.

After all, it’s just groundcover.

Bev Johnson is a Master Gardener with the University of Minnesota Extension. Her column appears in the Weekend Edition.

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seeds and mulch with a light layer of straw or grass clippings.

Keep the area well-watered and resist mowing until it is so high and unruly that you just must cut it, about 4 inches. A good mix for this area is bluegrass, red fescue and chewing fescue. (No, it doesn’t chew anything. Perhaps someone had indigestion when they named it? I don’t really know. ) If the whole lawn is thinner than your hubby’s thinning hair, spread about an inch of good compost all over it then overseed. Planting white clover in with the grass will add nitrogen to your soil and as an added benefit, it feeds the pollinators. Much of the honey

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PAGE 16 | LAKES JOURNAL | MAY 2020

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