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UTDOOR CONNECTION
August 2015 ESTHERVILLE NEWS Find this publication online at www.esthervillenews.net under 驶Sections始
STORIES, ADVICE AND INFORMATION FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
CRP
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30 years
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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EARLY TEAL SEASON DATES CONFIRMED It’s hard to believe that it is already August, and the first waterfowl season is just about here. This will be the second of a three‐year experimental TEAL‐ONLY 16‐day season. If it corresponds to last year, this year’s sea‐ son will run Saturday, September 5‐20. Primary reason for the special early teal season is STEVE WEISMAN that teal, OUTDOOR EDITOR especially blue winged teal migrate so early that hunters in the Hawkeye state, along with the other production states of Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin, rarely got a chance to harvest any of these birds during the regular duck hunt‐ ing season. As a result, these four states were given the option of participating in this special experimental three‐year TEAL‐ ONLY season.
A flock of bluewing teal on the move.
was to move the morning shooting hour to sunrise instead of ½ hour before. Although this ½ is a key shooting time during the regular season, it is much Looking back at 2014 more difficult to identify ducks during Going back to the first year, for these production states to be part of early this this low light period. Orrin Jones, Iowa DNR Waterfowl Research Biologist head‐ season, each state was required to col‐ quartered in Clear Lake, says, “The half lect data on hunter performance and hour does make a difference. If hunters harvest. First off, each state had to get can have the sun to their back, it helps the word out to potential duck hunters make waterfowl identification much eas‐ and explain the experimental status, ier. We also believe that by moving the data collection procedures and provide shooting time back to sunrise, we duck identification tools. This last one reduce the risk to wood ducks, because was going to be the tricky one. Could the DNR help hunters identify teal, espe‐ they normally begin flying well before cially when there would be other ducks sunrise.” States conducted hunter performance using the same sloughs and waters. surveys of hunting parties hunting dur‐ One of the first regulations enacted ing the
Photo by Lowell Washburn
September teal season. According to Iowa DNR officials, moving the morning shooting time to sunrise had a positive impact on fewer non‐teal shot. Other information collected during the hunter performance surveys was species targeted, number of birds in each flock, whether the flock was shot at, and the number of birds hit. From these observa‐ tions, a non‐target attempt rate was esti‐ mated based on non‐target duck flocks observed during legal shooting hours and determined by the observers to be in range; the non‐target attempt rate is the ratio of flocks shot at one or more times to the total number of non‐target flocks. The non‐target kill rate was esti‐ mated as the ratio of non‐target ducks that fell directly or sailed after being
shot at to the total number of ducks (teal plus non‐target ducks) that fell directly or sailed after being shot.
Results of the surveys September 2014 was the first year of what is intended to be a 3‐year experi‐ ment. The first year’s experimental effort was highly successful. A total of 88 trained observers con‐ ducted hunter performance surveys (resulting in 160 hunting parties observed (72 parties in Iowa, 44 parties in Michigan, and 44 parties in Wisconsin). Across the three states, a total of 699 non‐target flocks came within range of hunting parties during legal shooting Turn to TEAL, Page 3
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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Poisonous or venomous? BY MIRIAM PATTON PALO ALTO COUNTY NATURALIST
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ften, when people stop at the Nature Center, we will get out the Corn Snake or Fox Snake to show. Many people will ask “Is it poisonous?” And I reply that if it were poisonous, I would not be holding it. They are wondering if the snake is like a rattlesnake and can strike. A rattlesnake is venomous, not poison‐ ous, and like others, I find myself using those terms interchangeably at times. A poisonous animal or plant is only poisonous if touched or eaten. Poisons are secreted by the animal and ingested by or absorbed through the skin of another animal. So a rattlesnake is not poisonous. You can touch it or even eat the meat without harm. Poisonous animals include the Blowfish, Blister Beetle and Pacific
Newt. The Pitohui, a brightly colored bird found in Papua New Guinea, has feathers and skin that contain a neu‐ rotoxin, which causes numbness and a tingling sensation if touched. These toxins probably come from the type of beetle that the bird eats. The Poison Dart Frog is only about two inches long, but secretes enough toxin through its skin to kill 20,000 mice or 10 adult men. In con‐ trast, the American Toad also secretes a toxin through its skin, but it is mild compared to other poison‐ ous frogs and toads. It can still irri‐ tate our skin and can be dangerous to smaller animals like dogs if eaten. A venomous animal injects its toxin directly into another animal by biting or stinging. Venom is “a secretion produced in a specialized gland, delivered to a target animal through infliction of a wound.” Snakes, scorpions, spiders like the Black Widow and Brown Recluse,
centipedes, the Blue Ringed Octopus, Short‐tailed Shrew, bees and wasps, Gila Monster, Komodo Dragon and jelly fish are examples of venomous animals. At least 1,200 species of fish including catfish, stingray and Dogfish Shark, are ven‐ omous. Much of the time, the venom inject‐ ed is only toxic enough to kill a small‐ er animal to eat. The animal with the most deadly venom in the world is the Inland Taipan, a snake found in Australia. One drop of the venom can kill 250,000 mice or 100 people. Fortunately, they say the snake is rather shy, so it does not come in contact with many people. According to the “Quarks to Quasars” website, one good way to remember the difference between a poisonous and a venomous animal is: “If you bite it and you die, it is poi‐ sonous. If it bites you and you die, it is venomous.”
TEAL, Continued from Page 2 hours. A total of 44 flocks were shot at resulting in a non‐target attempt rate of 6.3 percent. A total of 368 ducks were observed killed (birds that fell directly or glid‐ ed before falling), 18 of which were species other than teal, resulting in a non‐target kill rate of 4.9 percent. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) finds that these percentages are all within the acceptable range of hunter performance. Jones believes that Iowa hunters worked hard at mak‐ ing correct duck identification. “One thing we observed was that hunter duck identification improved as the sea‐ son progressed. Most of the issues that did occur were primarily on the first weekend.”
2014. However, scouting will be important for this early teal season. Most of the migrating blue‐winged teal relate to shallow water, mud flats and smaller wetlands, especially those with heavy vegetation. A quick inch of rain can create a shallow water teal mecca, which if they are on the move, will entice migrating teal. They love the seeds and gorge on them to prepare for their next push south. Even the slightest cooler weather will create a move, and teal will move out of and into an area overnight. So, hunters might find nothing in the area for a few days, and suddenly on a given morning the air will be filled with flocks of low flying, slipping, sliding teal. Unlike mallards, teal will zip in and out, often times buzzing hunters right over the cover from Data collection this year (year two) Since hunter performance during the first year was well behind! Nothing ever seems to be an in‐your‐face incom‐ ing shot. Just when you think you have the bead on within the criteria established by the USFWS for both them, they will dip down, bank to the left or right or non‐target attempt rates and non‐target kill, Iowa will climb straight up. Very seldom is there a simple straight now move into its second year. The states will continue their education efforts to inform hunters of the addition‐ on shot. Of course, that’s what makes the season so inviting! al regulations and help improve their species identifica‐ As for equipment, it will be relatively simple with only a tion skills. Since 2014 was the first time many hunters few decoys needed. Most hunters will likely use some of had the opportunity to participate in a September teal their mallard decoys. Best bet is to go with mostly hen season, officials believe that it is reasonable to expect decoys, because the blue‐winged teal drakes will not be that hunter performance will improve as hunters gain in full plumage yet. Of course, some hunters will use teal experience with the season. Given these first‐year results, it is likely that desired sample sizes and perform‐ decoys to make the spread as realistic as possible. The daily bag limit will be six teal in any combination. ance criteria will be attained during the second year of The three species of teal include blue winged teal, this experiment. American green winged teal and the cinnamon teal. Of Let’s get ready course, most of the bagged birds will be the blue Jones notes that water conditions appear similar to winged teal.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
SNAKE RIGGING WALLEYE
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BY JASON MITCHELL hether you are running a spread of planer boards on the Great Lakes or hit‐ ting a milk run of points with bottom bouncers on one of the Missouri River reservoirs, you would be hard pressed to find a more effective pres‐ entation than a spinner harness. The combination of vibration, flash and profile combined with the speed makes this classic walleye weapon so effective through the dog days of summer. On the Great Lakes, anglers are often running spinner harnesses high in the water column with split shot or through the middle of the water col‐ umn with trolling weights like Baitfish Trolling Weights or classic Bead Chain Keel Sinkers. On many inland bodies of water, three way rigs and bottom bouncers are often used to follow structure. Three ways more so in river systems or over basins and soft bottoms while bot‐ tom bouncers shine on rock, tight breaks, and sharp contours or along weeds. Like many anglers, I started out relying on crawlers to tip many spin‐ ner harnesses. Crawlers can be fished through such a wide spectrum of speeds and what walleye can resist the squirming undulating action of a big fat crawler pulled through the water? Over the past ten years, like many anglers… my harness tipping has evolved to include a lot of soft plastic and pork crawlers.
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The author Jason Mitchell lifting a beautiful walleye. Tweaking spinner harnesses can help you catch more and bigger walleye this season.
using soft plastic and water‐soluble crawlers soared. Soft plastic tipping options for spinner harnesses were convenience in a bag, with no messy worm bedding or ice. There is a lot to like about not needing live bait. I started out rigging the soft plastic crawlers just like I rigged the real counterparts. The front‐hook ran through the nose of the crawler (with a little bit of slack line on the back hook) so that the worm would pull straight through the water. Over time, that evolved into the snake rig that I have had so much success with over the past few years. Trusting plastiscs With real night crawlers, it is impor‐ My own personal evolution away tant to have some slack between the from live bait began on torrid bites front and back hook so that the where I literally couldn’t have crawler can roll straight through the enough crawlers in the boat and water. If the line between the front soon realized that I could catch the same amount of fish tipping with soft hook and back hook is too tight, the plastics. Over time, my confidence in crawler drags in a shape where the worm will often break and pull
Photo submitted
through the water unrealistic. Soft plastics however offer much more possibilities for rigging and action. By keeping the line between the front and back hook tight and imparting a curve on to the soft plas‐ tic crawler or worm, the action changes and comes alive. This type of rigging requires a bit more speed, often between 1.7 to 2.2 miles per hour. With the curved worm and the faster speed, the harness begins to zigzag through the water in a very realistic action that looks like a snake swimming in the water, the snake rig.
Why snake rigging works I have had tremendous luck with this snake rigging from mid to late summer and especially so for larger walleye. I theorize that the zigzag‐ ging swimming action is more diffi‐ cult for small fish to hone in on and Turn to WALLEYE, Page 5
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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Conservation Reserve Program celebrates 30 years BY STEVE WEISMAN
programs help producers reduce soil ero‐ sion, enhance water supplies with ne of the most successful con‐ groundwater recharge, improve water servation programs in our farm‐ quality, increase wildlife habitat, and ing history is the Conservation reduce damages caused by floods and Reserve Program. This year marks the other natural disasters. 30th year of the Conservation Reserve The CRP encourages farmers to convert Program. It was with through the Farm highly erodible cropland or other envi‐ Bill of 1985 that the regulations for CRP ronmentally sensitive acres to vegetative originated. cover, such as native grasses and grass‐ The program was extremely popular lands, wildlife and pollinators’ food and with competitive bidding occurring to shelter plantings, windbreak and shade get land to qualify and be accepted. trees, filter and buffer strips, grassed Over the past 30 years, the popularity of waterways and riparian buffers. the program has gone up and down I grew up on a farm, and way back in based on the price of crops, etc. the 1950s; my dad put part of our farm in Yet, here we are 30 years later antici‐ the Soil Bank program. This program did pating the next general signup. The next basically what the CRP does to day, pro‐ Conservation Reserve Program general tecting fragile land from erosion. Our signup will be held Dec. 1, 2015 through South Dakota farm was very sandy, so Feb. 26, 2015. Interested producers hills and side hills were extremely sus‐ should check with their local Farm ceptible to erosion. The program defi‐ Service Agency and their Natural nitely helped protect that fragile land, Resources Conservation Service. and an added benefit was the increase in the pheasant population and other History of CRP wildlife! The Conservation Reserve Program The same holds true today. CRP helps (CRP), which is a cost‐share and rental protect fragile lands and helps protect payment program under the United streams and lakes from increased sedi‐ States Department of Agriculture, is administered by the USDA Farm Service ment runoff. Just take a look around northwest Agency. Iowa. Whether it is DNR land that has Technical assistance for CRP is provided been purchased and put into native by the USDA and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). grasses to help protect our lakes and streams or private lands that are still in NRCS’s natural resources conservation OUTDOOR EDITOR
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the CRP pro‐ gram, it’s pretty obvious how much the pro‐ gram has pro‐ tected these fragile lands. At the same time, all you have to do is look at some of the rolling and, yes, steep hills and you can see cropland that could be pro‐ tected and by either CRP or Continuous CRP practices. In some areas, Hopefully, this next general signup will see more sensitive land producers have brought into this valuable conservation program. Photo by Steve Weisman put those steep hills and land Hopefully, this next general signup will right next to waterways in some form of Continuous CRP and then continuing to see more sensitive land brought into this valuable conservation program. farm the better land.
CHOOSE YOUR FUN, CHOOSE YOUR BOAT, CHOOSE....
WALLEYE, Continued from Page 4 catch with their smaller mouths where big fish don’t have an issue. This has been my go to weapon the past couple of summers when I need a big fish when using spinner harnesses. Bigger fish just like this particular action. With the right combination of speed and warp, the goal is to get the soft plastic to come alive in a seductive and realistic swimming action. Often necessary to run the snake rig next to the boat just to make sure that it is working properly. This rigging tweak can help you catch bigger walleye this season or at least give you another very effective alterna‐ tive to classic live bait options. When fish are really off or if the bite is such where you have to feed the fish or let the planer board fall back, the real night crawler often trumps everything. There are other bites however where the fish drag and choke up on the spinner and
want the spinner moving faster. When the bite is good or excellent, soft plastics take over. By hooking a soft plastic crawler with a little bit of slack between the front and back hook, you have an easy to hit target that moves straight through the water. This classic approach works many days. By just hooking the soft plastic worm with one hook in the nose, you create a fast fluttering action when the spinner is pulled through the water. By rigging the soft plastic worm with the snake rigging method where the worm is curved like a banana, the worm begins to swim behind the harness. All of these rigging options have their place and I have seen days where each look is desired by fish. This season, experiment with these methods and vary your rigging to catch even more and big‐ ger walleye.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
6
PERCH BITE ON AT BIG SPIRIT F
or four years we have waited, and waited, and waited. That is 1460 days we have waited for a year class of perch to hit that 8‐10 inch size on Big Spirit. Well by golly, they are back! From the end of June for the next three weeks, the perch bite was pretty darned good, and the STEVE WEISMAN armadas of boats OUTDOOR EDITOR were once again showing up after a four‐year hiatus. We’re finally on the upswing side of the perch cycle. However, the end of July brought a drop in action, but I think it will come back again. It’s a matter of finding the active schools. The fall perch fishing should really be good on Big Spirit.
What happens in the cycle Right away the words of DNR Fisheries Biologist Mike Hawkins from this past spring went through my mind. “What anglers must always remember about perch is that they are a cyclic fish with a lifespan in our area of about six years. For that reason, there will be that phe‐ nomenal year of fishing followed by a decline.” He has also reminded me several times
over the years that when they are minnow size, perch are exactly that: forage for other predators. So, it is possible to have a huge year class in that first year, and they end up being part of the food chain and the year class never becomes the blockbuster year class. In addition, perch are highly can‐ nibalistic and will utilize small perch as part of their own for‐ age base. However, he his most encouraging words to me this past spring was this: “our data shows that there is a big year class coming.” I’ve looked at the data collected over the past 50 years, and he’s right. The numbers don’t lie. It’s right there on paper: perch num‐ bers cycle pretty much like clock work, spiking and plummeting. For the average angler (which I consider myself), though, our memory is short. When perch numbers are high, we rave about how great of a perch fishery Big Spirit is. Then when the bottom drops out, we moan that the perch are gone and will never The authorʼs partner, Bill Elling, who lives on the come back. Too many teeth, the east side of Big Spirit, holds up a nice perch taken fishery has fallen apart…sound on a Shuckʼs Jigger Minnow. Photo by Steve Weisman familiar?
Seriously, as much as we would like to, we can’t stockpile perch. They are a short‐lived fish. As much as we would like to, we can’t keep those big jumbos around every year. The good news is we’re on the upward swing and anglers are catch‐ ing a wide range of sizes, anywhere from 5‐10 inches and even a few 11‐12 inch fish.
Lots of small walleyes Another good sign on Big Spirit is the number of 5‐10 inch walleyes being caught by perch fishermen. Once again, this fits into what Hawkins told me earlier this spring. “Our data shows there are a lot of small walleyes in Big Spirit right now. Some will reach keepable size in the next year, while the smaller ones will take two years.” Again, this has been a major concern of anglers with lots of slot fish, but no keeper size to take home for a meal. It appears that that will also be improving. Managing a diverse body of water like Big Spirit is truly a chal‐ lenge. The goal is to make it the healthiest fishery possible, but there are so many variables involved. Plus, decisions are always far reaching, and there is no magic wand that makes things right. Definitely quite a task. Anyway, for now we can enjoy the perch bite going on.
Iowaʼs annual pheasant survey began Aug. 1 DES MOINES — Iowa’s 15‐day annual pheasant population sur‐ vey began on Aug. 1, and wildlife experts say this year could be hard to predict. A mild winter proceeded a warm March and April, then a wet May and June is giving wildlife experts mixed messages, but reports are coming in from people who are seeing more pheasants and quail than the last few years. “We likely had good winter sur‐ vival from our adult pheasants and quail giving us good popula‐ tions to build from,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biol‐ ogist with the Iowa Department
of Natural Resources who coordi‐ nates and collects the data from the 208, 30‐mile survey routes. Pheasants do best during mild winters with less than 30 inches of snow followed by a warm, dry spring nesting season with less than eight inches of rain. Iowa’s statewide snowfall average was 21.2 inches. The statewide spring rain average was 8.6 inches. “I’ve had lots of reports from people who were seeing early pheasant chicks, which is positive given that May and June were so wet,” he said. “Our population model based on weather is pre‐ dicting a steady to slightly increas‐
ing population. Roadside counts should be interesting.” The August roadside survey is the best measurement of Iowa pheasant population. The 30‐mile routes are driven at sunrise on gravel roads preferably on morn‐ ings with heavy dew and little wind. Surveyors watch for hens moving their broods to the road edges to dry off before starting to look for insects. Surveyors note the number in the brood, any adult pheasants present and the size of the chicks, which tells Bogenschutz if this was an initial nest or if the nest was washed out and this brood
was from a second or even third nest attempt. Each attempt after the first has fewer eggs than the prior attempt. The survey also collects data on cottontail rabbits, jack rabbits, quail and Hungarian partridge. Data is collected from the same routes each year. The information will be available online at www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsur‐ vey by middle September.
Incentives to Expand Pheasant Habitat Habitat for pheasant and quail could be improving in the near term. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a general
CRP signup for this winter and has made an additional 800,000 acres of continuous CRP available to the states. The Iowa DNR has submit‐ ted requests for some of these additional acres. Landowners can find more information at www.iowadnr.gov/habitat. In addition, the Iowa DNR recently announced another sign up for the Iowa Habitat and hunter Access Program (IHAP) that provides financial incentives to help landowners with pheasant and quail habitat in exchange for public hunter access. For more information on IHAP visit www.iowadnr.gov/ihap.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
7
Six animals you might not know are protected
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eat worms, slugs and insects, while larger snakes eat small mammals like mice and ground squirrels. Iowa has only four ven‐ omous snakes, and their bites are rarely fatal if treat‐ ed. The massasauga and timber rattlesnakes are rare, but found in eastern and southern Iowa. The prairie rattlesnake and cop‐ perhead are even rarer in our state. Only garter snakes can be legally caught, collected or killed Snakes in all counties. Timber rat‐ Iowa has almost 30 tlesnakes are protected in species of snakes, which help keep rodent and small 14 of Iowa’s 99 counties, excluding within 50 yards mammal populations in check. A snake can swallow of an actively occupied resi‐ dence. All other Iowa animals and eggs bigger than its head – that’s like a snakes are protected in all person swallowing a water‐ counties, and cannot legally be collected (without a sci‐ melon whole. From the entific collector’s permit) or small snakes less than a killed. foot long to large, 6‐foot‐ Crayfish Frog long black rat snakes, Iowa’s snakes vary in size While catching frogs is a to serve the needs of the common pastime for kids ecosystem. Smaller snakes and a source of bait for ES MOINES — An animal doesn’t need to be endan‐ gered to receive legal pro‐ tection. In Iowa, there are plenty of animals that might frighten or startle you, but these animals have important roles in our state’s ecology. So the next time you see one of these animals don’t panic, and consider what they con‐ tribute to the environment around you.
anglers, be sure to keep an eye out for endangered crayfish frogs, which can’t be collected or killed. These frogs have not been seen in Iowa for years, but popula‐ tions in neighboring states are found primarily in flood‐ plains or near bodies of water, living in old crayfish burrows to hide outside of breeding season. Over the winter, they allow themselves to freeze into these shallow burrows, only emerging for a short period of time when the weather warms up. These frogs are approximately 3 inches long and very secre‐ tive, although they are sometimes mistaken for leopard frogs if seen.
Hawks Hawks help keep other wildlife populations in check, eating smaller birds, snakes, reptiles, mice, fish and sometimes insects. While hawks and other predators may take small
game, harsh winters, wet springs and lack of habitat continue to have the largest impacts on Iowa's pheasants. So while you may not be a fan of the hawk scoping out your birdfeeder, the hawk’s just doing its job. All hawks and owls are legally protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and cannot be caught, killed, or kept with‐ out special permits in Iowa. Scare tactics – like increased human activity, loud noises and scarecrows can sometimes help keep hawks away from an area.
lar deer that has coloring that is more than 50 per‐ cent white cannot be legal‐ ly taken. The Iowa Legislature cre‐ ated the protection in 1987, following an uproar when a white deer was killed in the state. However, removing these deer from the gene pool with hunting would not be a benefit, just the same as protecting them is not a benefit. Any changes to this law would require the action of the state leg‐ islature.
Mudpuppy
This species is the largest salamander in Iowa, and it White Deer lives in large streams or Whitetailed deer are com‐ connected ponds. They are mon throughout Iowa, and the only entirely aquatic there are assorted hunting salamanders in the state. seasons for them through‐ Reaching lengths up to 16 out the fall and early win‐ inches, mudpuppies are ter. However, any particu‐ occasionally caught acci‐
dentally by anglers. Formerly listed as endan‐ gered, they are now consid‐ ered threatened in Iowa, and cannot legally be col‐ lected or killed. Mudpuppies are easily iden‐ tifiable based on the long, feathery gills on the sides of their heads, extreme sliminess, and a flattened, paddle‐like body.
Birds All birds in Iowa are pro‐ tected except for game birds in season, European starlings, and house spar‐ rows. Minus the excep‐ tions, it is illegal to collect bird feathers, nests, or eggs, and to kill, collect, or keep any bird without a special permit, such as a one for an educational facil‐ ity or a wildlife rehabilita‐ tion center.
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Volunteers muscle 30 tons of trash from Wapsipinicon River WAPSIPINICON RIVER – Eastern Iowa’s Wapsipinicon River is now 30 tons of trash lighter, thanks to a volunteer effort. This July, 433 volunteers took part in the 13th annual Project AWARE, travers‐ ing 63 miles of the Wapsipinicon River from Independence to Olin. Project AWARE, which stands for A Watershed Awareness River Expedition involves hundreds of people who spend any‐ where from one to five days exploring Iowa’s rivers and picking up trash. This was a record year in terms of par‐ ticipant numbers, including the largest number of volunteers on a single day (277), according to Lynette Seigley, who coordinates Project AWARE for the DNR. Volunteers have become accustomed to the event being family friendly, and a record 14 percent of this year’s partici‐ pants were under the age of 18. In addi‐
tion to Iowa, volunteers hailed from 10 other states, plus Sweden and China. “It was so inspiring to see so many peo‐ ple so dedicated to the cause,” said Aaron Batchelder with Linn County Conservation. Linn County Conservation, the City of Quasqueton and Jones County Conservation, handled the 14.5 tons of scrap metal that came off the river. Volunteers also removed 10 tons of tires from the Wapsi. This year, 91 per‐ cent of trash pulled from the river was able to be recycled. Along the route, volunteers were greet‐ ed by thank‐you signs, bottled water and music from landowners and residents. “It was wonderful to be recognized and thanked by so many along the way,” said nine‐year AWARE veteran Darrel Brothersen from Tipton. “They seemed very appreciative of our dedicated volun‐ teers.”
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
C8
Switch technique when needed BY BOB JENSEN
FISHING THE MIDWEST FISHING TEAM
Across North America, we’re in the dead middle of summer. Fishing can be good, or it can be tough. If it’s tough though, it gen‐ erally doesn’t need to be. There are some things we can do to catch more fish right now. Following are some of those things. Many of us have a tendency to fish memories. Maybe a month to six weeks ago in mid‐June, we were catching walleyes on jigs in shallow water, or we were catching crappies near logs along shore‐ lines, or we were catching largemouth bass in the rushes all day long. Now in the end of July or August, we’re fishing those fish in those same places using the same techniques and our success isn’t so good. It’s not because the fish aren’t biting, it’s because they’re probably not there in the numbers they were earlier in the year. We need to adapt: We need to look for the walleyes and crappies and bass in different places, and we probably need to use different baits. Weather can be a factor. Just a few days ago I was in northern Minnesota fishing for largemouth bass. A severe weather front had gone through. Temperatures dropped twenty degrees overnight, the skies were clear, and the bass didn’t want to eat. However, northern pike were very willing to smash our spinner‐ baits. They weren’t real big pike, but they were fun to catch. When weather conditions change, if we want to be successful, we need to switch species or switch techniques, or maybe even switch to a dif‐ ferent body of water. Oftentimes, river fish won’t be as affected by weather conditions as lake fish. When fishing conditions are good, meaning the weather has been stable for a few days, a faster presentation will often be productive. A faster presentation enables you to cover water quickly, so you can show your bait to more fish. Summer fish are often hungry, so the more fish you show your bait to, the more bites you’ll get, usu‐ ally. There are a lot of baitfish in the water in the summer, so the pred‐ ators have lots of choices of what to eat. Some anglers subscribe to the “match‐the‐hatch” theory that we should use baits that resem‐ ble the baitfish that are abundant, and that idea works. However, there are a good number of anglers who like to give the fish some‐ thing completely different. It’s kind of like people: When we eat cheeseburgers for several days, eventually a piece of pizza looks pretty good. A walleye that’s been eating perch for the past few weeks might prefer something that looks completely different. I don’t know how fish think, or even if they do think, but I know that sometimes a bait that looks nothing like what lives in the water can be very productive. In many bodies of water, a variety of fish will live in the deeper water in the summer. There will still be shallow fish, but the depths will hold the numbers of fish. Many anglers that are fishing deep water won’t even put a bait in the water until they see fish on their sonar. Many of today’s sonar units draw an amazing picture of what’s below the surface of the water. They show baitfish, big fish, vegeta‐ tion, whatever is down there will be revealed. I started using Raymarine sonar units this year and have been so impressed with their ability to show me walleyes hovering right above the bottom. We don’t always catch them on the first trip to the location, but we know they’re there, so we keep coming back during the day to see if we can make them bite, and usually, eventu‐ ally a couple will open their mouth and take our bait. Summer is a great time to be fishing. If you keep these ideas in mind, you’ll have an even better time because you’ll catch more fish.
SUMMER FISHING SUGGESTIONS
This largemouth bass was hanging around a school of bluegills but eagerly inhaled the gaudy colored bait that Jensenʼs nephew Sam Amsbaugh was throwing. Photo by Bob Jensen
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