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UTDOOR CONNECTION
SECTION C JUNE 7, 2014 ESTHERVILLE NEWS
STORIES, ADVICE AND INFORMATION FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
Make a
SPLASH The best way to enjoy summer BY JENNA POLLOCK EMMET COUNTY NATURALIST
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mmet County Conservation hosted a Water Safety and Paddle Clinic on Saturday, May 31 at the Emmet County Nature Center. Twenty paddlers, and one happy pup, took part to refresh and enhance their paddling skills.
The safety component kicked off the program with an emphasis on proper fitting lifejackets, knowing the water you’re paddling, devising a float plan and alerting others to your float plan. A float plan entails the put-in and take-out points, body of water, estimat-
See SUMMER on Page 6C
Paddlers enjoy a day on the Ingham Lake during a paddle clinic hosted by the Emmet County Conservation Board. Photo submitted
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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UPDATE ON MARBLE AND WEST HOTTES LAKE RESTORATION
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early 40 area residents attended the update on the restoration project on Marble and West Hottes Lakes onTuesday, May 20 at Mini-Wakan State Park Shelter House. Sponsored by the Spirit Lake Protective Association, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and members of the Dickinson County Clean
STEVE WEISMAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
Water Alliance, the evening was highlighted by a power point presentation by Mike Hawkins, northwest Iowa Fisheries Biologist. He discussed the significance of the project presenting historical data of the two lakes and their water quality prior to European settlement days followed by what has happened post-settlement. Hawkins elaborated on the importance of this by saying “The Big Spirit Lake watershed is huge with over 45,000 total acres draining into Big Spirit Lake. The
Marble/Hottes Lake and its associate watershed accounts for nearly 20 percent of that watershed. When these two lakes are in a healthy state, they provide critical watershed protection for Big Spirit.” In their present degraded condition, they do not have the capability or capacity to do this. Hence, the Marble and Hottes Lakes Restoration project. With a goal to return them to healthy, vibrant shallow water lakes, they will once again become an important nursery area for fish, provide wildlife habitat, and filter the water coming from the watershed to Big Spirit Lake. Chris LaRue, DNR Wildlife Management Biologist and one of the leaders of the project, told the group that the survey and design phases of the project are complete and construction is scheduled to begin this summer. “Of course, it all depends on Mother Nature,” said LaRue. “If things go the way we hope, construction will be completed by early 2015.” The renovation plan includes a drawdown, which will stimulate plant growth, eliminate common carp, and compact bottom sediments. It is
DNR Fisheries Biologist Mike Hawkins shares his slide presentation of the Marble and West Hottes Lake Restoration. Photo by Steve Weisman
hoped that stands of bulrushes will become part of the new plant growth. The drawdown phase will last beyond construction as it takes at least one growing season to establish aquatic plants. The
DNR estimates that if conditions are right, the lakes will be back to full pool by 2016. LaRue noted that the Diamond Lake project, which was completed in 2009, is very similar to the
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Marble and Hottes Lakes Restoration project. It was Ducks Unlimited’s inaugural Living Lakes project in Iowa and set the bar, so to speak, for other shallow water lake restorations. Realizing the importance of this restoration project several partners have stepped forward to help either help out or contribute funding: n Iowa DNR (Fisheries and Wildlife Bureaus, Lake Restoration Program and Watershed Improvement Section) n Ducks Unlimited n North American Wetlands Conservation Act n Dickinson County Water Quality Commission n Spirit Lake Protection Association n Iowa Department of Agriculture, Land Stewardship n Natural Resources Conservation Service The project itself is really only the first step. Once completed, the infrastructure will be in place to ensure proper in-lake management as future needs develop. One of the key requirements will be the need to control the movement of water and common carp in and out of Marble Lake and the Hottes lakes. As a result, infrastructure placed near these lakes’
outlets will allow managers to control both water and common carp movement. These structures will also allow DNR personnel to be able to initiate periodic drawdowns to help promote diverse vegetation that will help keep water clean and clear, while at the same time benefit fisheries and wildlife interests. It is important to note that while the fish barriers are designed to keep adult reproductive carp out of East and West Hottes and Marble, they will still allow panfish to enter to take advantage of the excellent spawning habitat that will result from the project. When the Marble-Hottes project is completed, we will have another piece of the puzzle in place that addresses the Iowa Great Lakes watershed. With one third of the Iowa Great Lakes watershed (approximately 30,000 acres) located in southern Minnesota (to Interstate 90), plans are in the works to form a partnership with entities in Minnesota to address these watershed issues. The bottom line in this entire watershed issue is this: the Iowa Great Lakes can’t be protected and healthy unless the shallow lakes and wetlands flowing into them are healthy.
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SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
Periodical cicadas emerging in Iowa
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ES MOINES — Periodical cicadas are emerging in the woods of Iowa after living underground as nymphs for 17 years. These red-eyed periodical cicadas occur in the southeastern half of Iowa, and in Missouri and Illinois with other broods occurring at different times throughout the country. The best place to find them is in native woodlands. They are the longest living insect in North America. Periodical cicadas do not have chewing mouth parts and will feed only on sap posing little threat to plants. They will not bite or sting. Much like the annual cicadas, adult males will “sing” from late morning through early afternoon for five or six weeks after hatching. This “singing” can be incredibly loud due to the high population of periodical cicadas that emerge during each cycle. Iowans who are lucky enough to see periodical cicadas are encouraged to report their sighting to the National Geographic Society Magicicada Mapping Project at www.magi- An adult periodical cicada after emerging cicada.org to help researchers better under- from its nymph shell. Photo by Lana Artz-McComb, Iowa DNR stand these long-lived insects. More information on these unique insects University Department of Entomology at can be found through the Iowa State www.ent.iastate.edu.
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Stewardship Tip:
Volunteer to tag fish BY BEN LEAL PROJECT MANAGER RECYCLED FISH
Are there fish tagging opportunities where you live? Each year, volunteers help Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife tag thousands of rockfish to support research and fishery management. In San Diego, Captain Steve Quinlan and his friend Keith Poe are working with the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to place satellite tags on the sharks they release. The Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program trains recreational anglers how to tag and release their fish catch. Tagging or marking animals has long been an accepted method for monitoring wildlife. Through tagging, scientists have gained a better understanding of the migration habits of great white sharks, they have located the wintering grounds and cold weather habits of the monarch butterfly, they have also identified the summer and winter ranges of polar bears. Of course, bird banding has attained an almost legendary status as a method for understanding avian species. Anglers who tag fish, and report recaptures, provide data that is vital to determining movement patterns and growth rates. The involvement of anglers in these activities provides information that is difficult to obtain by other means. Each spring the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Management staff conduct gill netting surveys to gather data on fish stocking that’s taken place in previous years. Biologists and technicians from area offices work together with volunteers to survey the fish, and for some area lakes they are taken to hatcheries where they are spawned and then returned to the lake. Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist Ben Dodd says that without volunteers helping with this program, it would be a monumental task to do on their own. We encourage you to get in touch with the Iowa DNR and ask about tagging or other opportunities to help in your area. As a volunteer you may receive special training in how to tag fish, identify what year class the fish had been stocked and help with the spawn to maintain the Iowa DNR’s stocking program. You will be helping fish to survive; indeed, you will be helping them thrive.
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SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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Visiting the Iowa Lakeside Lab
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week college students were coming and instead of just being there for three hours,
Even with the cold water temperatures and late spring, Gary was able to show the students some plant and aquatic life that he had collected in water-filled jars. Jane Shuttleworth took the TEVE students to the Waitt Lab, EISMAN where they all got to use a microscope and see what is OUTDOOR EDITOR in the water in Little Miller’s Bay. Students enjoyed and were amazed at what this life looked like under the microthey were going to be at the scope. lab (living there) for four Dr. Bob Gordon, former weeks. That definitely teacher at Estherville, headed impressed the 5th graders! the fourth station. His topic With the class divided into was TWIGology: how a tree small groups of 12 students grows. By the time the 30and their teacher, each of the minute session was over, all sessions was an interactive students knew the different First time visit one. Jenna Pollock, the ways to determine the age of Right off, and I am not Emmet County Naturalist, a tree, a branch and a twig. proud of this, I must admit led the students on a meanSchool visits like this one that this was the first time I dering trail, where they lisare made possible thanks to a had been on the Lakeside tened to nature’s sounds and grant from the Friends of Lab grounds in the 36 years picked out telltale signs of Lakeside Lab, Lakeside's I have lived in the area. As wildlife activity. Of course, support group. The purpose Jane said, however, better they all got to see the huge of their school grant program late than never! During our eagle’s nest on the northeast is to provide hands-on, walk of the grounds, Jane corner of Little Millers Bay. nature based learning opporand I went to each of the four Sure enough one of the adult tunities for students. Their learning stations, and I was eagles landed as we observed website is www.friendimpressed by what I soflakesidelab.org. observed. What a wonderful the nest. Gary Phillips, professor at About the outdoor lab (and indoor facilIowa Lakes Community Lakeside Lab ities) this is. During Jane’s College, talked to the stuThe Lakeside Lab offers so session on Friday, she told dents about life in lakes. much for the general public: the 5th graders that next academic programs, university classes and a wide range of public programs. Here are a few of their summer prowww.motorinnautogroup.com grams. o Lakeside Treasure Hike (June-October. A self-guided nature exploration and tour of Lakeside ground. Visitors can pick up a treasure map at the Lakeside Main Parking Lot and go exploring for hidden creatures and secret messages. o Wild Wednesdays. Free fun, family oriented programs each Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. at the Wait Lab. The first session is June 18 and is entitled “Wonder Woman and the Fish.” The A Member Of The MOTOR INN AUTO GROUP Estherville • Spirit Lake final session will be on August 6. • LeMars • Algona • Webster City • Knoxville• Orange City • Carroll
hen my granddaughter’s teacher approached me about helping out at the Estherville Lincoln Central 5th grade Field Day at the Iowa Lakeside Lab on Friday, May 16, I jumped at the chance. After all, that’s what retired grandpas are supposed to do, right? Since I was going to be a leader (guide leading a group from one station to another), I met with Jane Shuttleworth, educational coordinator for the lab, for a tour. I certainly didn’t want to get on the wrong trail and have the students and myself become lost!
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Jenna Pollock, the Emmet County Naturalist discuss with students how and why a fallen tree decays and what it will eventually become. Photo by Steve Weisman
o Faculty lecture series. Held on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 at the Waitt Lab. o Coffee and Grounds. Held on Tuesday mornings at 8:30, attendees meet at the Waitt Lab to work hard and learn about native ecosystems while restoring prairie and oak savanna at Lakeside. Then relax over coffee and rolls! You can go online to their website at www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/lakesidelab or you can call 712-3373669 to learn more.
dent cabins, a bathhouse, and acres, including the entire shoreline of Little Miller's other amenities. Additional buildings were added in the Bay of West Okoboji Lake. Most of the campus is natu1960s and 70s. The Waitt ral land. The campus can be Building, opened in 1998, divided into three sections: provided a modern water quality laboratory, additional 1) the Ecological Studies classrooms, and staff offices. Campus, 2) the Residential In 2006 Lakeside was des- Campus, and 3) the Teaching ignated a Regents Resource Campus. Center, expanding both its o The Ecological Studies audience and its mission. Campus occupies more than Today the Lab is a place three-fourths of the land where people of all ages and mass at Lakeside, including backgrounds can "study the entire northern portion. nature in nature." The northwest part, long Lakeside Lab, which is called "The North 40" by owned by the state of Iowa faculty and staff, is being A little history and operated through the restored to prairie. Another For those in the area that Board of Regents has a 23 acres to the immediate have never been to the east is reconstructed prairie, Lakeside Lab, here is a little twofold mission: 1) to proplanted in 2002-03. A sechistory taken from the web- vide science classes and research opportunities for ond-growth woods of box site. Dr. Thomas Macbride university students, and 2) to elder and other trees sepaand colleagues at the rates these areas from West University of Iowa founded offer public programs and the Lakeside Lab in 1909 for provide services through the Okoboji Lake and the state universities. Residential Campus to the "the study of nature in Lakeside's 147-acre camsouth. nature." Ownership was held pus is located on scenic West o The Residential Campus at first by a private stock Okoboji Lake, on Little includes the Lakeside Office, company, the Lakeside Miller's Bay. The bay and the Facility Manager's Laboratory Association. In Residence, faculty and stu1936 the Association deeded adjacent natural areas are used as outdoor classrooms dent housing, the bathhouse, the station to the state of the Mess Hall, and adjacent Iowa, "to be held in trust for for Lakeside's university courses and public programs. lawns. A ravine shaded by the accommodation, promoThe campus is open year burr oaks and other trees seption, support and mainteround, and visitors are welarates this part of Lakeside nance of scientific studies come to visit during daylight from the Teaching Campus and research." hours. to the south. A major construction proo The Teaching Campus Ground and natural gram took place in the mid features a high knoll that Lakeside occupies 147 1930s, when the Civilian Conservation Corps built five stone laboratories, four stuSee LAKESIDE on Page 5C
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014
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Young of the year starting to show up J BY CAROLE LOCHMILLER BIRD HAVEN
une is here and that surely must mean spring is here and summer is around the corner. Does that also mean I can remove all the winter gear such as snow boots, ice cleats, etc. from their spot behind the driver's seat in my car? I certainly hope so, although the guy who carried out my groceries last night wasn't so sure. We'll go for it anyway. All the birds are certainly well into spring with baby birds appearing everywhere. There are robin nests here at Bird Haven. Just in the last few days the young ones have been fledging (leaving the nest). That is a major project for all involved. Yesterday I was talking to a friend by the honeysuckle vine in front of the store. An adult robin was making such a verbal fuss that we were sure a little robin was around. There it was down in the vine trying to play invisible while waiting to get fed. That is happening all over the place. If you find a baby bird that looks abandoned, just leave it alone. The parents are nearby and will manage the situation quite well. With more than one bird to look after, they seem to leave the little ones
in various places and come back to feed them. With several nests around it tends to be a busy place and full of angry robin chatter. Last Sunday night I game home from work to find a little robin perched on the porch rail, trying to make itself invisible. Right away I knew the little ones had ventured out into the world. The nest was on the air-conditioner, next door on the back of Andy's garage. When I present seminars on landscaping to attract wildlife to your yard, I always mention the fact that birds or critters don't know where the property lines are so it is good to blend adjoining landscaping. This year’s robin adventure is a perfect example. Back in March of 2008 there was a pair of robins diligently digging through the snow to get to the seed on my squirrelproof platform feeder. Eventually the female went to build her nest and the male kept on eating the peanuts and I presume taking the tasty morsels to the female. An accident kept me house bound that summer, but I thought "wouldn't it be something if the pair of robins brought the little ones to the platform feeder?” And they did two nestings and I
whole thing. Evidently the robins had hopped the nest and were in a depression below when Martha found them. There were little robins exploding everywhere, the parents were above them standing guard and anxiously flying around. Four other robins appeared to help the situation including chasing a crow away. Andy said all the activity took only seconds, but it worked. We're not sure where the little robins are but we have our ideas: some in Andy & Martha' bushes, the yard to our north, maybe in Martha's crabapple tree that bloomed beautifully and will be loaded with berries later in the year or maybe in my ornamental trees. That is three yards that family of robins have used so far this year. Meanwhile we’re keeping our collective eyes watching to see where the next nest sight will be and I keep the platform feeder filled and watch for the little robins to dine at it, too. One of the sounds of spring is the return of the Purple Martins to Wendell's colony and I enjoy that melodic constant chatter. They fly over to Center Lake to find insects and back to their nests. Right now they are laying eggs so there will be lots more activity in that area soon.
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and those from our customers. The White-Winged Dove is a major example that was here at Bird Haven. Its usual habitat is Southern Texas. Just a very few years ago, the Eurasian Collared Dove began its northward migration from Florida and now is found clear to Alaska. This year there were more Grosbeaks than ever. Keep putting out their favorite safflower. Although some have traveled on north, they are tree top birds and do nest here. Soon they too will bring the little ones to your feeders. Summer is always busy. Those of us who feed birds and enjoy nature need to be reminded to slow down and enjoy the environment you have created. It is a GOOD thing. Whether in your yard or out in public areas listen and watch. You'll be amazed at what you hear and see.
Fun day at Lakeside Lab LAKESIDE
higher ground and oak woods/savanna growing near slopes down to Little Miller's the lake. Native plant garBay. The Waitt Lab, Mahan dens are being developed Hall, the Library, all labora- near the Waitt Lab. It was definitely a fun day tories, Tamisiea Cottage, and at the Iowa Lakeside Lab. Main Cottage are located It’s definitely worth putting here. The landscape is very naturalistic, with prairie and on your “to-do” list of things to visit this summer. meadows occupying the
Continued from page 4C
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Another fun thing to see is the goose with their little goslings. There is more pair than last year. It is quite a ritual as they take the young ones from Center Lake across the road to the south and do the return trip. Usually it is one pair at a time, but the other day there were five pair and all of their goslings. That was quite a sight to see and actually quite organized. One of the big males stands guard as they cross and sometimes stands in the middle of the road like a policeman to stop traffic. Be careful as you drive along the south end of Center Lake as the geese parade might be coming. This has been an amazing year for birds, many not usually seen in our area. Wendell diligently spends time on our Facebook page and posts both his pictures
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don't know how many little birds. Every year since, as regular as clockwork, robins appear on the same platform feeder in March. I'm presuming they are descendants of the original pair. I've switched the mix to our fruit & nut blend, which is much loved by the diners. Lots of times you have to take the good with the bad and in this case the grackles (blackbirds) found the tasty morsels, too. I keep replenishing the supply so the robins can eat. The last couple of weeks have been fun between our backyards. As the little birds grew so did the volume of the mother robins' angry chatter. Also in the picture is Martha, Andy's dog. She comes across the yard to visit me frequently. There is a perennial garden on the east side of my driveway with a curved brick sidewalk running through the garden that Martha was trained to use and she does, most of the time. All of this activity proved to more than the mother robin would tolerate. About a week ago she began getting more verbal and actually dive-bombing whoever was in her area Sunday was the day of big adventure and I missed the
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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Many events upcoming for county conservation SUMMER Continued from page C1 ed time of float depending on water levels. The event helped showcase Emmet County’s six NuCanoe Classics that are available to rent through the Nature Center. At a cost of $10 per canoer, it provides an affordable recreational opportunity for visitors and campers. The Canoe Rental Policy can be viewed at the Nature Center or by request through email. Lifejackets and paddles are included in the rental. After an introductory course on paddle techniques and maneuvers on flat water, the paddlers took to High Lake to test out their skills. Emmet County’s High Lake is a great lake for beginning paddlers. With the last two years of drought, the estimated deepest point of the lake is somewhere between six and eight feet. Not that tipping a canoe is of much concern. Not when you’re paddling a NuCanoe! Rick and Tammy Kilpatrick of Kilpatrick Marsh and Field were on site with the latest paddling equipment and accessories from NuCanoe.
Upcoming events Emmet County Conservation will host several events throughout the summer to offer paddle opportunities to residents and visitors at no cost. The next Paddle Clinic will be offered in conjunction with the
For more information on upcoming events like the Emmet County Conservation Facebook page or call the Nature Center at (712) 867-4422. Estherville Public Library’s Summer Shape-up on Thursday, June 12th beginning at 6:30pm at the Nature Center. Reservations help us line-up the correct number of boats but are not mandatory. Junior Naturalist Day Camps will be held throughout the months of June and July at the Emmet County Nature Center. There is still availability for the following dates: Tuesday, June 17; Tuesday, June 24; Tuesday, July 15; Tuesday, July 22; and Tuesday, July 29. Please call or email the Nature Center for more information. June kicks off the Summer Reading Program: Fizz, Boom, Read! The theme this year allows for a variety of nature inspired science topics such as: Lightning Makes a Boom! All About Energy, Booming Populations & Carrying Capacity, and What Boat Floats?: Chemical & Physical Reactions. Join Emmet County Conservation as we
Newly constructed boathouse houses all of Emmet Countyʼs six NuCanoe Classics and accessories that are now available to rent through the Emmet County Nature Center. Photo by Jenna Pollock
assist the following libraries with their summer reading programs: Fenton Library each Wednesday in June; Ringsted Library every Thursday in June; Armstrong library every Friday in June; Graettinger Public Library
Busy spring construction season BY JOHN H. WILLS CLEAN WATER ALLIANCE COORDINATOR
1907 18th St. Spirit Lake
www.greatlakesmarineservice.biz
on Thursday, June 5 and Thursday, June 19; and Estherville Public Library on Wednesday, June 15. The weather is on our side! Get active and enjoy the great outdoors this summer!
This spring has been a busy season for constructing practices that stop pollution from reaching the lakes of Dickinson County. Thus far, as of the writing of this article, a total of nine Low Impact Development Practices have been completed or are nearing completion on the Center Lake Project. In addition, three wetlands on the north end of West Okoboji will be restored prior to Memorial Day and one more wetland is in the planning stages on East Okoboji Lake. In regards to agricultural erosion reduction practices, there are three grassed waterways that will be started within a week near Big Spirit Lake and other practices that will likely not be completed this spring because of the short construction season that we have had. Finally, this spring the Iowa DNR is finishing up with its work at the Okoboji View Golf Course, and it will be a terrific addition to the protection plan for the Iowa Great Lakes. A small pond will be built on Silver Lake this summer and will stop pollution from reaching that lake for many years. These pollution reduction measures will prevent over 650 pounds of phosphorous from reaching our lakes every year. Phosphorous is the main culprit that causes
heavy algae blooms that smell, look unappealing for swimmers, and could cause a health risk to pets and to a certain extent – people. It is said that one pound of phosphorous can grow up to 1,000 pounds of algae and so this reduction of Phosphorous each year equals up to 650,000 pounds of this smelly stuff! The construction season last fall was short, just like this spring, but seven water and sediment control basins were completed in the Big Spirit Lake Watershed and many low impact development practices were installed over the summer. Due to our short “season” in construction last fall and this spring, the upcoming fall construction season will be even more important to us. Several more water and sediment control basins and grassed waterways will be constructed this upcoming fall. You can go to http://cleanwateralliance.net/blog/?page_id =1029 to see an interactive map of projects that have been completed in the history of the Clean Water Alliance. We are continuing to update this map at every opportunity and more projects are added all the time. When you click on an icon on the map on this page, a description of the project, impact to the lake, partners, and, if available, a picture of the project will be available.
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014
Trumbull Lake on its way back
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
7C
BY STEVE WEISMAN
open pool in the middle. Now, if the weather will ith Trumbull cooperate, we hope to have Lake, which is the lake at full pool yet this located north- year.” west of Ruthven and south of Need for the shallow Terril, now nearly half full, the Iowa Department of lake restoration Natural Resources has begun Since its inception in 2006, Lake Restoration its initial restocking efforts. the Program has become a real According the Iowa DNR success story with shallow Fisheries Biologist Mike Hawkins, perch will be intro- water lakes throughout the duced into the lake first and state being restored to its hisafter they have been estab- torical quality. In northwest lished a predator fish will be Iowa these success stories include Diamond Lake (west added. Hawkins explains the initial of Spirit Lake), Dan Green perch stocking. “The first Slough (north of Spencer) stocking was completed in and Four Mile Lake (west of May. Approximately Estherville). Trumbull Lake 900,000 perch eggs were was in desperate need of the placed in the lake. Perch lay shallow lake restoration protheir eggs in a gelatinous gram. mass that attaches to aquatic Here is the way the State plants. The egg masses were Highway Commission in placed on cattails and tree 1916 described Trumbull branches submerged in the Lake. “Trumbull is a clear open body of water, five feet water.” With no other fish predators in depth. The beaches are in Trumbull, Hawkins notes covered in gravel. Fishing that the stocking should be has always been considered very successful. “In late July good, and many big pickerel to early August, we will stock as well as quantities of smallaround 230,000 1-2” perch er fish are taken during the fingerlings that could reach season. The shooting is good: eight inches in length by late the outlying sloughs and next year (2015),” said sheltered bays afford both Hawkins. “After being shelter and feeding places for stocked these fish will grow wildlife.” and reproduce rapidly on Over the past few years, the their own and a predator fish lake had deteriorated to very like the northern pike will be turbid water conditions and stocked after the perch are poor water quality, very little aquatic vegetation and a fishestablished.” At this point, the restoration ery that was dominated by is going as planned. The lake the common carp. bottom had a chance to dry Initially, the goal was a out and compact, aquatic drawdown, but then Mother plant life returned and with Nature stepped in with the lakebed and drainage drought-like conditions and ditches dry, DNR personnel the lakebed went totally dry. were able to eliminate com- So, the project became a total mon carp from the Trumbull lake renovation! Lake watershed. “We have The future good aquatic plant growth all With Mother Nature’s help, around the lake with a nice Trumbull Lake is now filling OUTDOOR EDITOR
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Filling of Trumbull Lake has begun. Now it needs a little help from Mother Nature! Photo by Steve Weisman
with the hope that by the summer of 2015, anglers will be catching adult perch in the lake. However, there really is more to do, if we want the lake to remain a shallow clear water jewel. Hawkins reminds area residents, “We don’t want to forget the other important parts of a healthy lake. For a lake to be truly healthy, its watershed (land that drains to the lake) must be healthy.” That takes everyone thinking about where the water and soil that leaves their property is headed. Technical and financial assistance is available for wetland restorations and addressing erosion. The Trumbull Lake watershed encompasses nearly 54,000 acres, and it will take many partners working together to improve this drainage and ensure the project’s longterm success. The science of soil erosion prevention and soil health has come a long way. Soil professionals with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service can be a great resource. Simple practices can be put in place that can have an immediate
impact on the lake. From notill farming, to grassed waterways, to buffer strips and wetland restorations, there are a wide range of
viable options that will not adversely impact farming income. It takes research and planning by a lot of entities. At
this point, though, Trumbull Lake has a fighting chance to be the lake it once was. Just remember: Rome wasn’t built in a day!
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SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014
Keep quiet for more shallow water fish
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
8C
BY BOB JENSEN
the boat and anchors you in position. As you move along, you In late spring and early need to keep as quiet as summer, lots of fish species possible in the boat. A will be in shallow water. tackle box scraping across Panfish and bass will be in the floor of the boat will there spawning, and spook the fish, as will a walleyes will be hanging hook remover or anything around in the shallows after else bouncing off the floor the spawn. of the boat. If you’re after fish that Just as you want to be as are in shallow water, you quiet as possible, it’s a need to keep in mind that they are going to be To see the newest episodes of spooky and Fishing the Midwest TV, visit easily scared. You don’t FISHINGTHEMIDWEST COM want to alert Also visit them to your presence if FACEBOOK.COM/FISHINGTHEMIDWEST you want to catch them. Following are some ideas good idea to keep your for sneaking up on shallow actions to a minimum. Fish fish. instinctively know that bad We can make noise in things, such as birds of several different ways prey, come from above, so when we’re on the water, shadows or motions above and it seems some noises the water cause them to get will spook fish more than skittish. others. When you’re Some anglers believe that approaching a shallow it’s a good idea to wear water spot that you want to clothing that blends into fish, shut the outboard off a the background that the fish good distance away and are looking at. Blue or light sneak in with the electric colored shirts will usually motor or let the wind push reduce the spooking effect you in. from motion because they Once you’re in a fishing blend in with the sky. position, don’t give the Make long casts. The farelectric sudden bursts of ther you are away from the high power. Just leave it on fish when they detect your a low speed and keep mov- lure, the better your ing slowly. It seems like chances for getting bit. the fish adjust quickly to If you’re wading a river, it the low humming noise of works well to fish from the an electric motor on a low bank that is the lowest. If speed, but if you give it you’re profiled on a high sudden high bursts of bank above the fish, you’re power, they’ll spook. much easier to see. If If you want to fish an area you’re closer to the water more thoroughly, quietly level, you will be less visidrop anchor. There are also ble. new anchoring systems out, It often works well in such as the Talon, that shallow water to use a bait enable you to touch a but- that lands softly. Something ton and a pole drops from like an Impulse Dip-Stick FISHING
THE
MIDWEST FISHING TEAM
.
When the fish are shallow, youʼll catch more of them if you keep quiet and sneak up on them. Photo by Bob Jensen
Worm rigged wacky style will hit the water without spooking the fish. However, sometimes a bait that makes some noise when it hits the
water will get a fish’s attention from farther away and attract it to the bait. The only way to figure this out is to experiment with baits.
The fish will be shallow off and on for the rest of the year. If you want to catch them, you need to remember to keep quiet.
Sometimes that’s hard to do, but if you are successful at being quiet, you will be more successful at catching fish in shallow water.