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UTDOOR CONNECTION
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MARCH 7, 2015 ESTHERVILLE NEWS Find this publication online at www.esthervillenews.net under 驶Sections始
SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015
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TED TAKASAKI HEADLINES IGLFC’S SPRING FISHING SEMINAR E
ach year the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club (IGLFC) holds an early spring fishing seminar at the Hap Ketelsen Center in Everly. This yearʼs seminar, which will be held on Friday, March 13, will feature Ted Takasaki, Hall of Fame professional angler and a widely renowned speaker. Doors open at 6 p.m. with a meal followed by the seminar at 7 p.m. The evening is free to all IGFC members and $10 for non-club members. According to Terry Thomsen, vice president of the IGLFC, “We are excited to have Ted Takasaki give a presentation for the IGLFC. The club is about education, and what better way to learn more about fishing tactics STEVE WEISMAN than from a highly acclaimed OUTDOOR EDITOR fisherman.” Takasaki is a household name for people that have followed the professional walleye tournament circuits. He has won multiple tournaments on the Professional Walleye Tournament and is one of the top competitors on the National Walleye Tour. He still holds the all-time tournament record for a one-day limit of five walleyes, which weighed an incredible 53.2 pounds. From 1999 to 2008, Ted was the President of Lindy Fishing Tackle, one of the nationʼs largest freshwater fishing tackle manufacturers. During that time, the company doubled revenue and quadrupled profit under his leadership. In a phone interview, Takasaki said, “Itʼs like coming home. I caught my first walleye on West Okoboji in 1982 just after graduating from college. I actually caught my first musky, a 51-incher on Big Spirit four years later. I remember going in to White Oaks Bait Shop and just sitting around listening to the fishing stories.” Takasakiʼs seminar will feature walleye tactics, of course, and tie back to his days with Jim McDonnell, The Fishing Professor, and Perry Parks on the Iowa Great Lakes. A main
Fick’s
join,” notes Thomsen. Membership is open to anybody who has a love for the natural resources here in northwest Iowa. Club membership is $20 per family and offers a lot for members. “Our club sponsors two seminars each year. One seminar is in March and the other is in November. The seminar in March usually concerns fishing techniques and hotspots in our 4-5 state area and new trends in equipment. Novemberʼs seminar has our area DNR biologists giving an update on what is going on in our local lakes,” adds Thomsen. Plans are also underway for the annual IGLFC Spring Swap (fishing equipment) to be held in April. More information will be coming in March. Each year the IGLFC holds an annual Kidʼs Fishing Clinic at Stolleyʼs Park in Spencer, IA. This is open to area kids of all ages and their parents. Club members give demonstrations on fish cleaning, knot tying, casting, boating safety, fish identification, and other aspects of the fishing experience. There is an hour-long fishing tournament with prizes for the biggest fish of various species. Next comes a drawing for prizes and a hot dog dinner. Every kid goes home a winner with each one receiving a bag of fishing tackle. In June, a Club Rendezvous is held at the Iowa Great Lakes with a supper at McKeens Pub in Spirit Lake after the Hall of Fame angler Ted Takasaki will be the guest dayʼs fishing. Then in late September, the club holds its IGLFC Fall Tournament with a potluck to follow. presenter at the IGLFCʼs spring seminar at the Hap The IGLFC also sponsors a $500 scholarship each year Ketelsen Center in Everly on Friday, March 13. for a student planning to enter a program dealing with the Photo submitted outdoor environment. This scholarship is in memory of Jim part of the seminar will be spent on targeting weed walleyes McDonnell, the Fishing Professor. using spinner rigs and night crawlers. “The IGLFC has also been instrumental in the Emerson “I think this is going to be a great evening. This is just one Bay fish cleaning station, supporting the legislation approved of many opportunities we offer for club members,” adds for the 25 daily panfish limit and many other projects benefitThomsen. ing our natural resources,” says Thomsen. Again, the $20 membership is an easy way to get to know About IGLFC people, gain and share fishing knowledge and help support IGLFC is all about protecting these natural resources, the betterment of our natural resources. If you would like to while at the same time having fun doing it. It began nearly become a member, contact Kendall Mead (712) 262-7084 45 years ago, spearheaded by Jim McDonnell, the Fishing or Terry Thomsen (712) 260-3382. Professor. “We now have a membership of close to 300 members, and we are always looking for more people to
Upper Great Plains Muskie Club to host seminar BY STEVE WEISMAN
the evening’s activities. Larry Perry, President of the local f you are like me, I spend at club, shared his thoughts on the least some of my weekends evening’s activities. “Mike is an avid watching outdoor shows on tel‐ muskie fisherman, and our club is evision. One that I run across quite excited to offer this opportunity. often is “Keyes Outdoors.” Mike This event is open to the general Keyes is host to this show, which is public and free of charge. “ the largest nationally televised Keyes is a nationally renowned musky show in the country. muskie expert, who has spent the Guess what! Outdoors enthusiasts last 15 years traveling the country in this area will have the chance to hunting and filming the musky. His see Keyes in person! The Upper mission is ongoing: to explore new Great Plains (Chapter 29) Muskie musky waters and new musky tac‐ Club is hosting a Mike Keyes semi‐ tics that work on these waters. nar on Saturday, March 21 at the Perry noted that there will be a Pelican Ridge Club House on the wide range of raffle opportunities east side of Lower Gar. Doors open including muskie tackle and gift cer‐ at 6:30 p.m. with the seminar start‐ tificates. ing at 7 p.m. A raffle will conclude OUTDOOR EDITOR
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Mike Keyes, host of “Keyes Outdoors,” the largest nationally televised muskie show in the country, will present a muskie seminar on Saturday, March 21 at the Pelican Ridge Club House on the east side of Lower Gar Lake. Photo submitted
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ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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Nature Center Banquet:
Propelling environmental education into the future
P
ropulsion takes purpose. 6:00, Program & Auction 7:00. Tickets are Sometimes a motor runs out of $25.00 a piece and are available at the fuel or gets flooded, and the only Emmet County Nature Center and through way forward is an inter‐ Foundation Board minable resolve to move Members. forward despite all odds. The banquet is the main As most paddlers know, fundraiser for the Nature once moving forward the Center and Environmental work becomes easier. Education Programming. It’s hard to stop forward Lots of prizes and momentum, and similarly games; lots of fun it’s hard to refrain from Hand‐crafted by Alan getting behind a fundraiser Gage of rural Estherville, geared towards the canoe is one‐of‐a‐kind JENNA POLLOCK Environmental Education and a beauty to look at. EMMET COUNTY NATURALIST for the future. The more Made for the water, it is people on board, the sure to bring much joy and many memo‐ lighter the workload and the fewer people ries to its new owner! Chances are avail‐ left behind. able and can be purchased in advance 1‐ On any given day over the next month, a $10 or 3‐$20. beautiful, hand‐crafted, 17‐foot tandem Games will be played throughout the canoe will greet guests as they enter the evening including Red Solo Cup, Heads or Emmet County Nature Center. It is a con‐ Tails, and Card Cut with over $250 in prizes stant reminder of the metaphor above. awarded to each winner. The program will The canoe is one of the many prizes that conclude with the ladies raffle, general raf‐ can be won at the Emmet County Nature fle, bonus raffle, Gun Board drawing, Center’s 8th annual Emmet County Nature Traeger Grill Board drawing, canoe raffle, Center Banquet Annual Banquet coming silent auction winners announced and live up on Saturday, April 11. Hosted by the auction. Emmet County Nature Center Foundation, This year a Yetti Cooler Treasure Chest the banquet will be held at the Estherville will be the grand prize. There is a 1 in 10 Elk’s Lodge. Doors open at 5:30, Dinner at chance for winning the Yetti Cooler
STEWARDSHIP TIP:
THE YELLOW BASS BONANZA
of the time to make their tournament or derby a catchItʼs been a trend that when and-release affair. Our organization provides fish people think of Recycled Fish, they think of catch and transportation and trash cleanup bags as well as release, and often equate catch and release to the ulti- angler education materials on everyday ways that peomate act of stewardship, at ple who fish can defend and least as far as fishing goes. protect their waters. Thatʼs really not true. Not so in Clear Lake. In The truth is that catch and Clear Lake, one of the best release is just part of the things that can happen for story, and selective harvest the lake is that the yellow doesnʼt fill in the other part bass are removed from the on its own, either. But selective harvest is an lake. Although not an invasive species – they are important part of the story, and it was the main event at native to Iowa – they are the recent Clear Lake Yellow considered Aquatic Nuisance Species in many waters, and Bass Bonanza at Clear unchecked, they will overLake. One of the Recycled populate and dominate a Fish partner events in the “Recycled Fish On Ice” pro- waterway. Thatʼs where anglers come in. By putting gram, this is an all-harvest aggressive harvest on yellow event. bass, we help keep their Recycled Fish partners numbers in check, which with event organizers most BY BEN R. LEAL
Recycled Fish Program Director
What a prize! Alan Gage handcrafted this beautiful 17-foot tandem canoe currently on display at the Emmet County Nature Center. Photo by Jenna Pollock
Treasure Chest package. Chances will be available throughout the night via the gen‐ eral raffle, ladies raffle and live auction. There are 10 hand‐crafted chalkboards, and one of these chalkboards will be deemed the winner of the Yetti Cooler Package at the end of the night. The wood used in the crafting of these chalk‐ boards was taken from the old Ringsted School and the chalkboard is from the old Armstrong school. All ten chalkboards are unique and beautifully crafted by Emmet County Conservation Board member, Kim Swanson, of Dolliver. Other items available on the live auction include Larry Zach artwork “November Frost,” “Bluebirds and Purple Coneflower” and “Titmouse Pair.” Bonus raffle items for this year’s banquet include means that we catch fewer but larger yellows – and that yellows donʼt over-take all the other species in the lake. So sometimes – not always, but sometimes – harvest is the best thing an angler can do for a lake. But the fact that the Clear Lake Yellow Bass Bonanza was a harvest event doesnʼt sum up its Stewardship Story, either. The organizers, Kevan Paul and Chris Scholl, held an “Ice Bash” the night before where they awarded every kid with free gear to help stoke those young peopleʼs interest in the outdoors. Same with all the ladies in the house. That means more fervor for fishing, which translates to a connection to nature, and a heart for stewardship. Recycled Fish, with the
14 Tons of Gravel donated by Valley Contracting, ½ Hog and Processing, and a weathervane by Morris Jorgenson spon‐ sored by Northwest Bank. The Ladies Raffle items include a variety of home décor items as well as cooking ware, clothing, and salon packages. General Raffle items include a variety of pet supplies, car care items, food and fuel certificates, and homewares. The silent auction will feature a Larry Zach cube, “Goldfinch,” as well as tools, homemade baked goods, 14 Tons of Gravel, a pair of sunglasses from the EyeCare Center and many other items. Stop out at the Emmet County Nature Center or contact a Foundation Board Member for a ticket. For more informa‐ tion, call (712) 867‐4422.
help of Clam, Vexilar and Cold Snap Outdoors awarded prizes to people who brought trash in off the lake, too. But even that doesnʼt round out the spirit of stewardship that was embodied in this event. Perhaps deeper in the heart of the matter is looking at Kevan and Chris, these two guys who organized the event. They looked at their community and local lake and said, “what can we do to make this place better?” The result is an event that has become one of Iowaʼs largest fishing events, bringing people from across the Midwest and Canada to Clear Lake. The economic impact for their community is as meaningful as the removal of several thousand yellow bass from their lake.
Thatʼs stewardship – taking ownership of something and preserving it, protecting it, improving it, caring for it. We saw stewardship in action at the Clear Lake Yellow Bass Bonanza through hundreds of anglers uniting in one place, and it wasnʼt a burden or a chore, it was a high point in the ice fishing season for most of the participants. Stewardship has its rewards! Editorʼs note: Each month the outdoor page will feature a column by Recycled Fish, a nonprofit organization founded by Teeg Stouffer in 2003. Originally a Catch and Release education organization, it is now a national movement of anglers who live and promote a lifestyle of stewardship both on and off the water.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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here is endless debate about what fish do, where they go, what type of habitat they choose, how much their food sources impact their location. Bass do this, bluegills do that, crappies do something else… as if every individual of a given species ʻdoesʼ the same thing. Professional ice fisherman Dave Genz was talking about this subject the other day, because a group of anglers asked him “what perch do” on their lakes. They wanted neatly wrapped answers, “but thatʼs not how fishing is,” Genz told them. Yellow perch are one of the most universally sought fish through the ice, and interest in them grows every winter. To consistently track down and catch nice ones, begin by thinking of separate masses that donʼt often mingle. In many lakes holding good perch populations, Genz points out, itʼs common to find groups of perch making a living in distinctly different circumstances.
Structure-Related Perch Some perch relate to structure, and feed on prey items that also relate to structure. “I think of perch that hang at the base of the break,” says Dave, a concept that he has been articulating for many years. Where shoreline breaks (and other dropoffs) level off and lead to a relatively flat area, sediment “slides down the break and accumulates, like topsoil.” In that deposit of softer and harder sediments, burrowing insects gather, along with other members of the web of life. The ingredients call to certain members of the perch population. These ʻbase of the breakʼ fish tend to remain at the base of the break, as light levels change, as weather conditions change. “Do they move up the break on cloudy days, or come shallower at prime time?” Genz asks rhetorically. “Not really. They hang at the base of the break all the time.” Just guessing now, but chances are these ʻbase of the breakʼ perch have identical genetics to other perch in the same lake – yet many of those other perch do not hang at the base of the break. Many other perch, it appears, choose to roam basin areas, rarely or never relating to the structural elements and the bounty they offer. The most likely explanation for this natural separation: the search image different perch develop – some focusing on food coming from the sediments at the base of the break, some focusing on
Dave Genz believes that many lakes harbor two distinct populations of perch. One group relates to structure, especially the base of dropoffs. A second group lives on basin flats, moving with their food source. Here, Dave holds a bruiser taken during a successful ʻbasin trollingʼ exercise. Photo: davegenz.com
flowing food over basin areas. In the case of the ʻstructureʼ perch, as long as the food holds out (and in a healthy system, it would be nearly endless), the perch remain.
(North Dakota). No matter how deep they are, these are roaming schools of fish that you have to work to stay on. “You might get on a big school and be catching nice fish, but they can be gone in 10 minutes, or gone when you go Basin-Related Perch back there the next day.” Same species, same genetics, but As modern ice anglers have learned, Genz contends that an essentially differwhen any fish are roaming flats, itʼs the ent tribe takes up residence on middepth to deeper flats, roaming with mov- food source (and perhaps light levels) that motivates where those fish are at ing food supplies through the winter. the moment. “Most of the time,” says Dave, “my Getting on these fish, then staying with perch fishing on bigger lakes is on the them as they move, is one of ice fishflats.” ingʼs big challenges, and itʼs what motiFlats perch are commonly thought of as deep-water fish, but deep is a relative vated Genz to come up with what is now called Ice Trolling. It was he who term, he reminds us, depending on the came up with the concept of football makeup of a given lake. fields and tennis courts, rules of thumb “These fish can be in 8-12 feet on some flats,” says Genz, “because thatʼs that have helped us all be successful on flats. all the deeper the flats are. Or they “You start by taking on this big flat,” might be in 30 feet on Mille Lacs (Minnesota) or 50 feet on Devils Lake Turn to PODS, Page 5
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PHEASANTS FOREVER, USDA EXTEND PARTNERSHIP THROUGH 2020 Motor Inn, Inc.
DES MOINES — Pheasants Forever and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have renewed their partner commitment to conservation by signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) through the year 2020. The announcement was made during keynote remarks by Val Dolcini, Farm Service Agency Administrator, at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic held February 20‐22 in Des Moines. The MOU establishes a framework of cooperation between Pheasants Forever and USDA agencies, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA), to maintain and enhance the pro‐ ductivity of pheasant, quail, and other wildlife habitats on private and public lands. Such activities include, but are not limited to, pheasant, quail, and other habitat conservation projects, habitat restoration, technical assistance, delivery of information and educational materials, and collaboration on habitat and wildlife research. In addition, the agreement focuses on the development of habitat restoration and enhancement techniques to help increase the extent of working lands. “Given the strong relationships Pheasants Forever has with farmers and ranchers across the country, and the organization’s significant contribution towards the successful sage grouse and lesser prairie chicken initiatives launched by USDA, we are pleased to renew our partnership,” said Dolcini, Farm Service Agency Administrator. Pheasants Forever, NRCS, and FSA have a mutual interest to successfully implement the various voluntary, incen‐ tive‐based conservation programs authorized by the 1985 Farm Bill and the Agricultural Act of 2014 on private and public lands. The five‐year commitment supports Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill biologist program efforts within USDA Service Centers throughout the country to deliver conservation programs on a local level. “Working cooperatively with USDA allows for the completion of more high‐quality wildlife conservation projects with interested farmers and ranchers – projects that help improve producers’ bottom lines,” said Howard Vincent, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s President and CEO, “Working in partnership in the delivery of these pro‐ grams also helps make more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are very excit‐ ed to continue this cooperative work with USDA.”
PODS, Continued from Page 4 says Dave, “running in a line, drilling a group of holes, checking them. If you donʼt catch fish, you move about the distance of a football field and drill another group of holes. You keep doing this (running parallel lines, so you can cover the whole thing if time allows and you need to) until you start catching fish. “Then, you start drilling holes in every area the size of a tennis court. That lets you refine your location until youʼre over nice fish.” When actively trolling flats, Genz and his fishing partners divide duties. One person fires up the auger and drills holes, while one or more anglers come behind the driller to check holes. Dave leaves enough transducer cord hanging below his Vexilar to let him stand up and set the ʻducer in each hole, swishing it back and forth to increase horizontal coverage. In some (but not all) holes, he drops a lure to see if he can call in fish from a distance. Because heʼs wearing an Ice Armor suit with padded knees, he can kneel down comfortably and fish quickly from hole to hole. Once perch are located and the catching begins, out come the Fish Traps. Flats fish being what they are (mobile), good action can last for just a few minutes to maybe an hour, and then the fish are not there anymore. Especially if youʼre fishing with a group of people, you can work together to determine direction of travel and try to stay ahead of the perch. The challenge is endless,
but the rewards are big when you connect. On some lakes, virtually all the biggest perch appear to choose one or the other. “Devils Lake is like that,” says Genz. “The big perch are all on the flats. The (structural) features, when you find them, seem to hold walleyes.”
Size Segregation
A BOUT D AVE G ENZ Editorʼs note: Dave Genz, known as Mr. Ice Fishing, was the primary driver of the modern ice fishing revolution. He has been enshrined in the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport. For more fishing tips and to order his info-packed new book, Ice Revolution, go to www.davegenz.com.
Whatʼs interesting, too, is that on larger bodies of water, groups of perch seem to set up according to size. “If youʼre catching 9-inchers,” says Dave, “they might all be 9-inchers.” But on smaller lakes, “the perch run together more,” he notes. “The 9-inchers and 11-inchers can be in the same good at eating in that basin environschool. So you canʼt give up on a spot ment. just because you start by catching a few And ditto for the structure-related small ones. You just have to figure out perch hanging at the base of breaks. how to catch the 11-inchers.” Once you have this notion of separate They Donʼt Much Meet perch masses, it becomes easier to The big takeaway is that these groups develop a fishing strategy. You might of perch seem to remain segregated. “I start out the day drilling holes along the think of them as two separate masses,” base of shoreline breaks, and breaks says Genz. “Thereʼs a population of leading off offshore humps, to see how perch that that hangs on the base of the you do. break all the time, and thereʼs a populaIf you are not successful doing that, it tion of perch that roams the basin all can be time to take off trolling along the time.” basin flats. As odd as it might sound, Genz does “Having a plan,” says Dave, “is what not believe that basin perch occasionally keeps you warm and keeps you in the swim into the base of the break and take game, until you start catching fish.” up temporary residence. He thinks they Knowing about the separate masses of are driven by their search image, perch is a launching pad for plan maklearned predatory skills that make them ing.
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Tips for more walleyes this season Extremely clear water and extremely turbid water are two conditions to avoid when possi‐ ble. You can sometimes find the right water by using wind. On really clear bodies of water, wind will give the wind blown area of the lake just enough stain. On the flip side, what we see so often on wind swept prairie dish bowl lakes is that wind can whip up too much turbid‐ ity in the water and we end up looking for areas that are out of the wind so that the sedi‐ ment can settle. Fishing is usually better in stained water, that is water that has some color and this stained water often gets moved or pushed around the lake with wind or current. There is a difference between stain and turbidity. Fish can still see well in stained water but can’t see well if the water is turbid. This is why mud lines have a life cycle. Mud lines create an opportunistic window when waves crash up against a bank until a veil of turbid water protrudes from the shoreline. In the early stages of the mud line, the plume of churned up muddy water reaches out and hangs like a veil in the top of the water column Tip one: Understand Water Clarity and at this stage is typically when mud lines are One of the secrets to catching walleyes con‐ the most productive. As the wind continues to sistently is just avoiding bad situations. pound and the veil becomes bigger and sinks Editor’s Note: The author earned a reputation as a top walleye guide on Devils Lake, North Dakota, now hosting the popular outdoor program, Jason Mitchell Outdoors (www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com). BY JASON MITCHELL Fishing can remain frustrating, humiliating and most of all humbling regardless of how much you get to fish or how much you think you have learned. There will always come a time when you feel like you just hit a wall. Anybody who has never been stumped on the water just hasn’t backed the boat down the ramp too many times or they are not being honest. Either way we have probably all pounded a lake from before sunrise to after sunset with our pride seriously tarnished. I can’t tell you how many lessons I have had to learn over and over in my life but regardless, here are a few guidelines that just might help you catch a few more walleye this season. Believe me when I tell you that some of this Intel is hard earned. None of you want to know how many tough days of walleye fishing I have had in my life.
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down through the water column, the bite will often dissipate. So often when wind churns up sediment and clouds the water, the day after the big wind can sometimes be the best because as the sed‐ iment sinks, the visibility increases yet still offers some stain in the water. What also happens is that the water will get a green color as it warms up so we often find stained water with the temperature gauge. Colder water is often much more clear and warmer water is typically more stained.
Tip 2: Focus on the Process So often with walleye fishing, the key to catching fish is to find fish. At times, locations will let you down; specific spots will let you down. Tried and true patterns will sometimes disappoint. What never fails however if you have enough time is an honest and thorough process of elimination. In order to truly be successful, you have to almost turn off human emotion and start checking off possibilities from the list. The walleyes should be shallow but they are not, next step is eliminating main lake structure in depths from twenty to forty feet as an exam‐ ple. The key is to keep checking off possibili‐ ties even if the possibilities don’t feel right at the time. So often, there are things happening in an ecosystem that we don’t have a grasp of until after the fact. When it comes to finding fish, the least you know going into the day is sometimes better because you can adhere to the process of elim‐ ination easier. If you give something a good honest effort and it isn’t happening, turn the switch. It is always amazing how many anglers will cling to a spot or pattern for agonizing amounts of time. Been guilty of beating a dead horse myself. This is why a clock is an invaluable fishing tool. Use the element of time to force yourself out of ruts and also use the clock to slow you down when you begin to scramble. What can also happen in search mode is not giving any one spot enough time. Commit yourself to hour increments as you begin the process of elimi‐ nation so that your day has some structure and you can stick to the strategy.
Tip 3: Worry about Efficiency
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I honestly believe that most anglers worry about the wrong stuff. They get hung up on matching the hatch or they simply out think the fish. With everything that you do in fishing, focus on becoming as efficient as possible because this can greatly increase your likeli‐ hood for success. Consider this, if you can become twice as effi‐ cient, you can basically become twice as suc‐ cessful. Do some real honest self‐evaluation and try to do an honest assessment of how much you actually have a lure or hook in front of fish. If you can take steps to become more efficient, you will basically increase your suc‐ cess exponentially. If you can land a higher
The author Jason Mitchell spills some hard earned knowledge to help you catch more walleye this season. percent of the fish you hook or hook a higher percentage of bites, your success climbs. Most people want some secret formula. Some B.S. reasoning that if there is sunshine, you need to use bright colors or if there are perch in the lake, you need to worry about using a perch color. Worry about being in the right place at the right time and when you get an inch, take a mile. You do all of these things right and you can use the wrong color to catch all kinds of fish in the right spot at the right time until the paint is all chipped off.
Tip 4: Chameleons Catch More Fish We all have our favorite way of doing some‐ thing. We all have something that gives us confidence. Sooner or later however, there will come a time when you are simply an observer. Somebody else is catching all kinds of fish and all you can do is watch. A little humility can do an angler a lot of good if you let it. When it is your turn to watch somebody else put on a clinic, embrace the opportunity and let the experience make you a better angler. That means no excuses or over evaluation. Adjust and match, be the chameleon. Again, don’t get hung up on cosmetics but monitor and break down the big picture, watch the jig stroke, the rate of retrieve, cast‐ ing angle, visualize what that successful pres‐ entation is doing in relation to the structure and fish. Visualize what the lure or presenta‐ tion looks like. If you are fishing below the boat, look to see what the angle is from the rod tip to the water and match that angle with the angler that is catching fish. Test location versus presentation so that you gather better information. Locational nuances to test might be pushing the boat up or out of the break. Turn to TIPS, Page 7
SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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LET’S FUND THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND OUTDOOR RECREATION TRUST FUND BY STEVE WEISMAN
into the trust fund. That’s right, in over four years, nothing has happened. o close, yet so far away! That’s the The reason? Everything hinges on way I look at the Natural increasing the sales tax percentage in the Resources and Outdoor state. Recreation Trust Fund. Way back on As the amendment states: No revenue November 2 of 2010, that is over FOUR shall be credited to the fund until the tax years ago, the people of Iowa voted to rate for the sales tax imposed upon the amend the Iowa Constitution to create retail sales price of tangible personal the Natural Resources and Outdoor property and the furnishing of enumerat‐ Recreation Trust Fund with 62.8 percent ed services sold in this State in effect on of the vote the effective date of this section is (sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2010/bal‐ increased. When the sales tax is lotquestionsorr.pdf). increased, then the fund will be annually credited with an amount equal to the Background amount generated by a sales tax rate of In summary, the trust fund’s legal lan‐ three‐eighths of one percent. guage is thus: created for the purposes That means that 3/8th of one cent of protecting and enhancing water quali‐ would be used to support the Natural ty and natural areas in the State including parks, trails, and fish and wildlife habitat, Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. What a shot in the arm this would and conserving agricultural soils in this be for the natural resources and outdoor State. recreational programs in Iowa. Plus, this Once funded, the Trust Fund guaran‐ tees that money in the Trust be allocated would create a permanent revenue source! Although each year is different, to the following areas: according to the Iowa Environmental n 7% Lake Restoration Council, this 3/8th of one cent would gar‐ n 10% Trails ner in excess of $100 million per year‐$120 n 13% REAP (Resource Enhancement million based on 2011 sales tax data. and Protection program) So, here we are over four years later n 13% Local Conservation Partnership with wording in place and no funding. It’s program amazing to me that nothing has hap‐ n 14% Watershed Protection pened. Each year proponents bring it up, n 20% Soil Conservation and Water and when the word sales tax is men‐ Protection (IDALS) tioned, it gets shot down. But why? There n 23% Natural Resources (DNR) is the old adage out there, and wise busi‐ Since it is a constitutionally protected ness leaders often follow it: sometimes fund, that money cannot be diverted for you have to spend a little to make a lot! other uses. Thus it will provide reliable The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation funding for clean water and watershed has done a lot of study into how the protection, conservation practices, and 3/8th of one cent cost would actually be wildlife habitat, which will grow as the a net savings for Iowans. Take a look: economy grows. o This funding would provide protec‐ tion of water quality, conservation of The bad news agricultural soils and improvement of Since its passage, no money has gone natural areas including fish and wildlife OUTDOOR EDITOR
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TIPS, Continued from Page 6 When somebody is catching fish and you are not, the best thing that can happen to you as an angler is to figure out why. This often means you will have to swallow some pride!
Tip 5: Make Time to Learn As a guide, it was easy to go right back to the same old well because of the familiarity. Could be as simple as going back to a good spot or sticking with a presentation that had worked well in the past. There are times however when we cling to the past as anglers and that experience that works so well for catching fish can start to work against us. Spend parts of your day exploring. Make a
point to try something different each day. Mix up exploring the unknown with the tried and true. Force yourself to embrace the unknown. Experiment with new lures, new tactics and most of all new locations. Try approaching old locations with a different mindset. What I have found for myself personally is that learning new things keeps fishing exciting and fresh. I sometimes hear anglers complain that there is nothing new in walleye fishing but it is safe to say that anglers who are learning nothing new are not making an effort. By forcing yourself out of the rut, you not only expand your knowledge but also increase the amount of satisfaction from fishing.
habitat. Who wouldn’t want this? o Outdoor recreation brings economic benefits to all of Iowa’s communities. Research shows hunting, fishing and wildlife watching generate $1.54 billion each year in Iowa. This includes $974 mil‐ lion in local retail sales, creating and sup‐ porting more than 17,800 jobs. o Visits to state and county parks, lakes and trails bring in an estimated 50 million visits and $2.63 billion in spending levels. o River recreation provides $824 million in sales and $139 million in personal income. These are real dollars and cents! This is real income and real jobs and real recre‐ ational opportunities for all Iowans and visitors from other states. Why would we not spend 3/8th of one cent to protect, enhance and expand what we have to offer?
I emailed Representative Jones and she emailed me back with this update: “I have agreed to co‐sponsor similar legisla‐ tion that will be introduced by Representative Kaufmann in the House that couples the sales tax increase with income tax reform/an income tax cut, to make it revenue neutral.” Hopefully, the idea of making it be revenue neutral will appeal to more people.
It’s not too late!
Right now I would call this a real oppor‐ tunity, if we all get behind this and build momentum to make this happen. Kind of like momentum in an athletic contest: put the pedal to the metal and keep it there till we’ve crossed the finish line! As a person that cherishes our natural resources and as a member of the Okoboji Protective Association, which is dedicated to preserving the lakes for future generations, I call upon all of us to There’s hope get behind this effort. Let our legislators Not long ago, I saw a glimmer of hope know the importance of the Natural in the form of “The Johnson Report” in the Spencer Daily Reporter. In it, Senator Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund and that we want it funded. After Johnson said he would be introducing legislation to raise the state’s sales tax by all, it’s for Iowans today and a legacy for Iowans tomorrow! 3/8 of a cent to support the Trust Fund.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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STILL LOTS OF TIME FOR ICE FISHING BY BOB JENSEN FISHING THE MIDWEST FISHING TEAM
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n some of the places where people go ice‐fishing, a few of the ice‐fishing sea‐ sons are starting to wind down, or in some places, they’re over. Walleye season closes in some areas, but there is still lots of ice‐fishing to take advantage of. As the ice‐fishing season winds down, we need to make some changes in our approach if we are going to be successful. Perhaps the number one change we need to make is to get away from the crowds. Lots of anglers in the same area over a period of time will slow the bite. They’ve caught many of the fish that were there, and the remain‐ ing fish will be pretty educated when it comes to eating your bait. On some lakes, there are very distinct loca‐ tions where the fishing pressure is high. Maybe it’s a tradition: Maybe that truly is where the bite is best. You will do well to get to the edge of that area where the fish might be less spooky. Also, remember that, although all the pres‐ sure is on a very good spot, you might be better off going to a spot that usually isn’t so good, but also has less pressure. There might be fewer fish there, but if they aren’t getting pressured as much, they might be more will‐ ing to bite. Don’t get locked into one lure presentation. Buck‐Shot Rattle Spoons are walleye catch‐ ers everywhere in the winter, and oftentimes one or two particular colors are more pro‐ ductive, or at least appear to be more pro‐ ductive. When the word gets out that, say perch color is the best, that’s usually what
everyone uses, and if that is the color that everyone is using, that’s what all the fish are going to be caught on. This time of year try a different color, one that the fish haven’t seen so much, and you’ll get bit more often. Be willing to scale down. With the abun‐ dance of tungsten available now, you can find a small jig that fishes larger. You can effectively use a tiny jig, which is often more appealing to finicky fish, but that tiny jig is still easy to use because a tungsten jig is heavier than a lead jig of a similar physical size. Give Northland’s Banana Bug or Mooska Tungsten jig a try: They’ve been outstanding lately. Don’t get locked in on catching one particu‐ lar specie of fish. Sometimes late in the win‐ ter one specie of fish will be more willing to get caught. Chase those guys. It’s a lot more fun to catch a bunch of perch than not catch any walleyes. Whitefish, where they’re avail‐ able, are also willing biters late in the winter. Believe your depthfinder. If it shows fish down there, do what it takes to catch them. Try different bait styles, colors, sizes, put a different action on the bait: Give the fish a reason to eat your bait. Usually, not always, but usually, eventually they’ll see something that they like and will eat it. By the same token, if your depthfinder shows nothing that resembles fish life, move to another hole, and keep moving until you find an area that has fish. You can’t catch fish if there are none around. As the weather warms in the next few weeks, the ice‐fishing can become very pleas‐ ant. If you keep these ideas in mind, it can also be very productive.
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A quality perch taken from Big Stone Lake.. Photo by Bob Jensen
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