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NOVEMBER 2015 ESTHERVILLE NEWS
WALLEYES
NIGHT SHIFT
STORIES, ADVICE AND INFORMATION FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
UTDOOR CONNECTION
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
2
Where do we go now? A
few weeks ago, our greatest fear about the extent of the zebra mussel infestation on the Okoboji chain of lakes was realized when docks and hoists started to come out. I recently looked at a line of hoists, probably 30 or so, taken out of East Okoboji that had been placed on the shoreline. The entire bottom half of the hoists’ legs were totally covered with adult zebra mussels (see photo). At this point, Big Spirit is the only lake where adult zebra mussels have not been discovered. We will only know if that holds true when all docks and hoists have been removed and none are found! If that happens, then we still have a chance to pro‐ tect the lake from this inva‐ sive. That is why we must, and I repeat MUST follow the law:
help prevent the introduc‐ tion of zebra mussels or other aquatic invasive species to additional waters. Providers were given a per‐ mit to transport water‐relat‐ ed equipment that is or may be infested with zebra mus‐ sels and aquatic plants to an approved storage location via an approved route. All STEVE WEISMAN equipment removed must be OUTDOOR EDITOR allowed to dry a minimum of 10 days and all mussels and It is illegal to possess or plant materials must be transport zebra mussels and removed before being moved other prohibited aquatic inva‐ outside of the approved area. sive species in Iowa. It is also The old adage, “It is what it illegal to transport any aquat‐ is” best describes our situa‐ ic plants on water‐related tion right now, but we must equipment. Boaters must move on from here. We need drain all water from boats to remain diligent about try‐ and equipment before leav‐ ing to control the spread of ing a water access and must zebra mussels to other keep drain plugs removed or waters. That’s the reason opened during transport. that Iowa and surrounding At the same time, the DNR states now have the law has worked with Iowa Great about water in livewells, etc. Lakes service providers to
Zebra mussels attached to all of these hoists recently taken from East Okoboji. Photo by Steve Weisman
We flat out need to do a bet‐ ter job of taking care of our resources. We are such a mobile society and go to so many waters across the coun‐ try that we must keep work‐ ing on stopping the spread of invasives. Plus there are so many other invasives that could take up residence in our lakes. They can all be stopped by not transporting water and vegetation from one body of water to another. Of course, we have already dodged the attack of bighead and silver carp. They are one of the reasons why it is illegal to throw baitfish back in the water when we are done fish‐ ing. There are invasives out there knocking on the door: n Spiny and Fishhook Waterfleas, small crustaceans that threaten aquatic ecosys‐ tems. Plus they foul fishing gear and collect in masses on fishing lines. n White Perch, 5‐7 inches long, can overpopulate and displace other fish. They have made their way to the tribu‐ taries of the Missouri River in southern Iowa. n Round Goby, 3‐6 inches long, can negatively impact native fish populations. n Rusty Crayfish, very aggressive and often dis‐ places native crayfish species. n Aquatic invasive such as Brittle Naiad, Curlyleaf
Pondweed, Eurasian Watermilfoil, Flowering Rush, Purple Loosestrife. Yes, we have an uphill bat‐ tle ahead, but we can’t just give up. We must fight and do a better job of it! Now, back to zebra mussels and their impact on the Iowa Great Lakes…In visiting with Mike Hawkins, Spirit Lake District fisheries management biologist, we are really in uncharted waters when we talk about what this means in the future. We do know that if the normal pattern is fol‐ lowed, there will be a popula‐ tion explosion. Zebra mussels are filter feeders and directly compete with native species, including mussels and small fish, for food. Zebra mussels also adhere to hard objects. If densities are high enough, they can smother native mus‐ sels by attaching to their shells. Studies have shown photos of scores of zebra mussels attached to a single native mussel! Drinking water utilities and the State Fish Hatchery are also impacted since zebra mussels could attach and grow on the inside of intake pipes, potentially clogging them. Yes, they will filter the water causing the water to become much clearer. However, that does not mean that the water will be “clean‐
er.” What they have done is to filter out the algae, which is part of the food chain for native microscopic organ‐ isms. This will most likely increase the depth that we will find submergent vegeta‐ tion. This will probably favor largemouth bass, northern pike and panfish like perch, bluegills, crappie and yellow bass. It might negatively impact the walleye popula‐ tion. On West Okoboji, this might mean weeds consis‐ tently out in depths up to, maybe, 40 feet. On a lake like East Okoboji, this might be more native vegetation occurring and potentially curly leaf pondweed expanding into more of the lake. There is the possibility that after the initial zebra mussel population explosion, it might settle back a bit as the system tries to find a balance for everything to fit in some way or another. All the while, we cannot give up. Researchers are working every day trying to find an answer to limit the impact of zebra mussels. From what I have read, none of them think they will ever be totally eliminated. However, there is hope, though it may be years down the road, that there can be an answer.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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Spiders: often misunderstood and undervalued BY MIRIAM PATTON
ticks. If you think spiders are pests, ith Halloween just you may want to reconsider. past, we often think One spider in your yard eats of spooky and creepy about 2,000 insects a year. That things. Many people consider is a huge benefit to you. Think spiders to be one of the creepi‐ what life would be like if we had est animals. no spiders! Even though they do creep Many spiders are known for and crawl, spiders are some of the webs they make. A silk the most misunderstood and gland makes a liquid that comes undervalued animals. They have out of the spinnerette, which no interest in people and have hardens into a thread. Baby spi‐ no reason to bite unless they ders travel by “ballooning”. feel threatened. They climb up to a higher place Spiders are arachnids, not like a fence post and tilt up their insects. They have eight legs spinnerettes, where air pulls out and two body parts. Daddy long the silk thread, which is caught legs are arachnids, but they are by the wind. not spiders because they have The spiderling travels along only one body part. They cannot like a balloon on a string. make webs, have no fangs for Spiders have been seen balloon‐ biting and no venom, and they ing over 200 miles from shore. have only two eyes instead of Some spiders make a fancy orb eight, like true spiders. Other web in a bush; others create a relatives in the arachnid group funnel web in the grass; and include mites, scorpions and some just make a sticky string PALO ALTO COUNTY NATURALIST
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and swing it around like a lasso until they catch something to eat. The trap door spider has a tunnel under ground with a sticky door covered with sand or grass. He pops up from his tunnel and snatches his prey. Not all spiders use a web to catch their prey. The wolf spider is a hunter and actively stalks its prey at night. Because of its size and hairy body, it is sometimes confused with a tarantula. Tarantulas are even bigger and hairier, and are not found in the wild in Iowa. The crab spider is another one that does not use a web to catch its prey. Crab spiders come in many colors. They hide in a flower that matches their color and wait to ambush their prey. Long legs give them plenty of range to grab dinner. Spiders have a large mouth, but no teeth. All spiders are ven‐ omous. They inject venom
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through their fangs into their victim. Their venom helps them kill or subdue their prey. The tissue dissolves into liquid and the spider then drinks up its meal. Even though they are venomous, most spiders are harmless and won’t hurt humans. There are only two spiders in Iowa that need to be shown caution. Brown Recluse and Black Widow spiders are not common in the state; they are rarely seen and are not aggres‐ sive. The venom from these two spiders can cause serious medical problems but is rarely fatal. Spiders rarely bite humans but remember to use care when grabbing logs or reaching into wood piles. Black Widow venom can affect the nervous system causing nausea, muscle spasms and breathing difficulty in humans.
Some people are slightly affected by the venom, while others may have a severe response. Black Widows are very shy and avoid light. They are relatively small, ranging in size from 1/8‐3/8 inches long. The female Black Widow is black with a red hourglass shape on the underside of her abdomen. Male Black Widows do not bite. The Brown Recluse spider’s range goes into southern Iowa, but like its name suggests, it is rarely seen. They can be identi‐ fied by a violin‐shaped mark on their back. Not only are spiders impor‐ tant predators of pesky insects, but they themselves are food for birds, lizards, snakes and wasps. So the next time you see a spider, give a nod and some space, and let him do what he does best: take care of REALLY annoying pests.
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ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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Night Shift Walleye Editor’s note: Jason Mitchell has earned a reputation as a top walleye guide on Devils Lake, North Dakota and hosts the popular outdoor program, Jason Mitchell Outdoors (www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com). BY JASON MITCHELL ot all bodies of water offer solid after dark fishing opportunities for walleye, but there are so many notable fisheries where we have traditionally caught the majority of fish or some‐ times the largest fish long after the witching hour when the sun sinks into the horizon. On many bodies of water, the best walleye fishing happens after dark. From Montana’s Fort Peck Reservoir to the Finger Lakes of New York with a long list of fisheries in between these two destinations, the night shift is where it is at for catching walleye through the ice. I cut my teeth with after dark walleye fishing on the east end of Lake Sakakawea and nearby Lake Audubon, both large impoundments created by the damming of the Missouri River in western North Dakota. Each of these two lakes offered their own personalities despite the close proximity. We often caught 80 percent of our fish on, for example, during a win‐ dow that occurred between one and two hours after dark. On nearby Lake Audubon, the fish would often bite sporadi‐ cally all night long with action that could keep us moving all through the night. I have been on Minnesota’s Red Lake and Mille Lacs Lake several times where the best action occurred between midnight and four in the morning. Most fish that get caught dur‐ ing the dark of night often get caught in hard‐sided fish hous‐
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Looking to catch more walleye this winter? Work the grave yard shift on many bodies of water. Photo submitted es with rattle reels. I have always loved the possibility of catching a fish while I slept. Rattle reels combined with live bait is a simple and effective presentation that no doubt works but you can dramatically see an uptick in your vampire walleye game with a little bit of hustle. Tip ups can be an important tool for after dark walleye mis‐ sions. Think of tip ups as not only a very effective fish catch‐ ing device that you can use to cover a location but also your walleye radar. By covering a spot with tip ups, you know
when and where fish move up on a particular location. Always been a big fan of the classic Beaver Dam design, opt‐ ing for the heavier twenty or thirty pound Dacron for the pri‐ mary line as the larger diame‐ ter rolls off the spool nicer with less resistance. Below the Dacron, I typically attach a small barrel swivel and a leader of ten‐pound fluorocarbon. I have used small trebles and multiple treble quick strike rigs that used multiple hooks with some success but have really started to favor a single kahl style hook as the larger gap
seems to keep larger chubs and minnows hooked up longer versus the smaller gaps found on small treble hooks. Big strong minnows are the ticket where we have often used minnows as long as seven inches, sometimes larger. The challenge with the larger min‐ nows is that you have to keep them in the strike zone. If you anchor the minnow down with too much lead in the form of a rubber core sinker or split shot, the tip up is more apt to trip from the minnow and than you Turn to WALLEYE, Page 5
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
5
Winter bird feeding suggestions BY WENDELL HANSEN
insects may start to eat berries and suet to supplement their diets. Birds will start to look for inter is fast reliable sources of food for win‐ approaching and I tertime survival. know many just Black Oil sunflower is a great dread this time of year. As for myself I love it. The more cold, overall seed to offer in the win‐ snow and ice mean more birds ter. It has a high calorie per ounce ratio due to its high fat at the feeders. Winter can be a difficult time and protein content and its rela‐ tively thin shell. Black Oil sun‐ for birds. The days are short flower has twice the calories and nights are long and cold. per pound than striped sun‐ The natural food supply has been consumed or is hidden by flower and its smaller shells snow. Most insects are dead or make less mess when discarded by the birds. dormant. NutraSaff also provides a Water can be hard to find and higher energy source for winter food needed to provide the birds and the best part is squir‐ energy to keep birds warm might be scarce. Finding shelter rels will not eat it. Suet is a great food to offer may not be easy. If there are many of the birds that will visit limited natural evergreens or backyards in the winter. Suet is shelter, birds may seek man‐ a high energy, pure fat sub‐ made houses or habitats that stance that is invaluable in win‐ can provide refuge from the winds, rains, ice or snow of win‐ ter. Peanuts and mixed nuts are ter. another great food to offer As winter approaches, many birds change some of their eat‐ birds in the wintertime. They ing habits. Birds that usually eat are high in protein and fat lev‐
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els and are often an ingredient in suet products. Offering peanuts and mixed nuts in a nut feeder can provide a good source of protein for birds. The location of the feeders can mean every thing from just a few birds to OMG they are
eating me out of house and home. Your feeders should be located out of the wind. The east or southeast side of a house or near a row of trees is ideal. It is best to have a perch‐
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WALLEYE, Continued from Page 4 have to use a heavier trip setting. What I like to do is use the bare minimum to keep the minnow near the bottom and pinch off much of the fin on the tail so that the min‐ now can still swim but doesn’t have as much horsepower to swim out of the strike zone. Another thing I like to do is take some electrical tape and wrap some tape around where the line guide is attached to the rod next to the spool so that the minnow can’t swim off line by rolling the line guide around the spool. Big minnows can peel off a lot of line without ever tripping the flag by just swimming in a big circle counter to the direction that the line is spooled on the tip up. Jigging lures has caught a lot of fish for me after dark and can be much more explosive than tip ups with the number of fish you can catch in a very small window of time. While you can jig all night long if you want to, a top strategy is to let the tip ups tell you where and when to jig. When flags start to pop in an area, bounce around and jig open holes. This classic one‐two punch combines two complimen‐ tary but drastically different styles of pre‐ sentations and optimizes each. When it comes to jigging walleyes after dark, the best color I have found bar none is glow in the dark. Since we started using some of the first phosphorescent jigging
spoons over twenty five years ago, there is no doubt in my mind that we get bit more when using lures that glow when target‐ ing fish after dark. A new spoon that really opened my eyes this past season when testing some of the early prototypes is the new Clam Rattling Blade Spoon. This particular spoon is unique because it features a pyrex‐glass chamber that amplifies the noise much more than traditional brass. The BBs are stainless steel instead of lead so the BBs retain their circular shape better and offer a louder and more consistent rattle with less effort. I love rattle spoons and rattle baits for after dark walleyes and the glow paint used on the Clam Tackle is some of the best available in commercially made tackle. For really charging a glow in the dark lure, nothing I have found beats a UV light charger. The glow lasts longer and is much brighter. Another tip for jigging after dark is to work slightly higher than you would during the day. If most of the fish come through from one to two feet off the bottom, don’t be afraid to work the water column say four to five feet above. This zone is often the big fish zone particularly after dark. Bite indicators, hole covers and tip up lights are also great tools for the after
dark walleye angler. While tip ups require some patience, don’t get complacent. Check baits, clean holes and move tip ups around… stay active with the tip ups until they start to fire. When a school of fish comes through, pick up a jigging rod and go to work. This tip up first, jig rod second component of the strategy seems to make my after dark fishing more successful. Typically, when fish move up on reefs and other structure after dark, they do so to eat. Can’t tell you how many times, seem‐ ingly one fish would hit every tip up until we eventually caught it… I dare say that because after about the fourth flag, we finally caught a fish that still had the min‐ nows from other tip ups still in its mouth or gullet. We have also been blitzed where every single tip up would get hit in a short amount of time as a school of fish moves through. Flurries best describes the action where you can sit for an hour or two and than the dams break loose where there are fish flopping all over the ice. After dark walleye bites often offer solid opportunities and sometimes the best opportunities on many bodies of water for not only catching numbers of fish but also some of the biggest fish. You can realisti‐ cally double or even triple the amount of fish you touch by working the graveyard shift on many bodies of water.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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We Are Ice Fishing BY STEVE WEISMAN
the most advanced for the hard‐core anglers. While there are many differ‐ s I have written about ice fishing over ent options out there, ever the past few years, I since I became friends with Dave Genz, I have kind of fol‐ have often referred to the lowed his leadership when it changes over the years as comes to ice fishing. What being a revolution of sorts. Led by Dave Genz, known as has impressed me the most with Dave is his drive for Mr. Ice Fishing, Genz has helped bring ice fishing out of excellence. No matter what, Dave uses products that the dark ages, so to speak. However, recently another work. If they don’t, he word has come to mind: evo‐ doesn’t use and endorse lution. Maybe that term bet‐ them, or he talks to the man‐ ter fits how far ice fishing has ufacturers and gets the bugs come over the past 50 years. worked out. A true visionary, in 1980 Dave invented the With the help of ice fishing first portable flip over style gurus like Genz, ice fishing shelter that has now become truly has evolved. We now the foundation for that sea of have the best of the best blue on the ice: Clam (until next year, of course). Outdoors (www.clamout‐ Clothing, shelters, rod and doors.com) and its full line of reel combos, augers, tackle, Fish Trap models. accessories and modes of Today, Clam Outdoors is the travel are now state of the largest ice fishing manufac‐ art. Several manufacturers turer in the industry. Simply offer a wide range of prod‐ put Clam Outdoors is ice fish‐ ucts, from the entry level to OUTDOOR EDITOR
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ing. With Genz leading a group of over 300 ice fishing pros, their goal is to spread the word, to share “The System” so that anyone who wants to become a better ice fisherman has that chance. It is the foundation for ice fish‐ ing success. After all, what good does it do to buy ice fishing equipment and not have the knowledge to use it? So, where do you start? For starters, there is lots of print material out there, such as the 2015‐16 Ice Annual maga‐ zine published by Ice Team. It is loaded with useful how‐ to and where‐to articles. Over 150,000 copies have been printed and can be found at any of your local sporting good/ice fishing stores. Ice Team, it’s for everybody! Matt Johnson, Ice Team Manager, welcomes all com‐ ers to be part of the Ice Team. “Ice team offers a plat‐ form for that education and
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also encourages you to use the abilities and teachings of the Ice Team to grow new memories and friendships.” Johnson continues, “Some people think of the ice Team as just a group of Pros who share ice fishing secrets, and they would be right. But the Ice Team can also (and is for many a way of life and the start of a journey towards something you cherish)…The Ice Team is more than just ice fishing. It’s here to help our youth realize the importance of outdoor activities, to show moms and dads that ice fish‐ ing is a great sport for their kinds to be part of, and a place for all ice anglers to call home! Ice team will embrace the novice, yet challenge the experts. Ice Team is proud to be a club for all ice anglers!” Just go to www.iceteam.com. The web‐ site is the place to: n Learn about the latest in
ice fishing strategies and equipment, find digital maga‐ zines, articles and videos n Share your passion with other avid ice anglers on a range of forums n Meet the Ice Team pros on‐line, on the ice and where they will be for in‐store shows According to Johnson, last year between the months of October through February, iceteam.com had 1,500,000 hits per month! Now that’s a lot of passion‐ ate ice angers! Yes, even in the fall ice fishing is alive and well. Then there is THE show: “Across the Ice Belt.” Every Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. on Fox Sports North (FSN), Ice Team pro Jeff “Jiggy” Anderson will be traveling across the ice belt meeting up with some of the top pros on ice to show anglers some of the hottest
Dave Genz, leader of Ice Team and Clam Outdoors holds up a slab crappie. Photo submitted
bites and techniques happen‐ ing on hard water. For those that don’t get FSN, the shows will be re‐ aired on the Ice Team web‐ site 10 days after the original airing. Come on ice!
BIRD, Continued from Page 5 ing spot such as a bush or tree for the birds to use to survey the feeding area and provide suf‐ ficient cover for safe refuge from predators and shelter from the wind and weather. The feeders should be positioned near cover but in the open to allow birds to watch for danger. For ground feeding, an area near cover with a clear view of the surroundings is desirable. Ground feeders entice birds such as sparrows, juncos, Mourning Doves, pheasants and Towhees. Platform and hopper feeders are especially good for attracting cardinals, chick‐ adees, titmice, jays and all woodpeckers. Some feeders that blow in the wind are generally used by those species that are able to hang on while feeding such as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, finches, Pine Siskin and the Common Redpoll. Like all animals, birds need water to survive. Though they can extract some moisture from their food, most birds drink water every day. Birds also use water for bathing, to clean their feathers and remove parasites even in winter. For these reasons, a dependable supply of fresh, clean water is attractive to most birds. In fact, a birdbath will even bring to your yard, birds that don’t eat seeds and wouldn’t visit your feeders. The first year that I added a heated birdbath I had a pair of Northern Cardinals and an Eastern Towhee come in. The Cardinals have been here ever since and the Towhee stayed till spring. Providing water for birds can also improve the quality of your backyard bird habitat and
should provide you with a fantastic opportuni‐ ty to observe bird behavior. Water is crucial in winter. Dehydration can be a bigger threat to birds than starvation. Very few if any non‐ frozen sources of water exist in northwest Iowa. Though birds can eat snow, it takes much more precious energy for a bird to warm it back to body temperature than it does for them to drink unfrozen water. Water is not only important for hydration, but it also helps birds preen their feathers. Without proper preening, birds' feathers won't stay positioned and aligned. Feathers out of alignment in winter create gaps in insu‐ lation, which makes birds lose body heat faster. Birds may have to fly great distances in winter to find unfrozen water sources. Some birds take advantage of unfrozen sections in rivers or swift streams, but these are rare in some areas. Some birds take advantage of open water in lakes or ponds due to human aerating. We can give birds access to unfrozen water right in our backyards by providing a heated birdbath, or we can use an existing birdbath and add a heating element. Most of these units turn on and off automatically when tem‐ peratures dip below freezing. Wintering birds have done quite well in order to survive the coldest months. They've also learned to rely heavily upon humans for food and water. The more we chip in and help, the better their chances of survival. As always get up, get out and enjoy nature.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
7
Shallow lakes are the ‘canary in the cave’ BY JOHN H. WILLS
they restocked the lake and in 2010 hunters and fisherman in the area were astounded by the vari‐ ety of waterfowl and birds and the size of the here are many things unclear in today’s perch and northern pike they were catching from world such as why our kids can’t be more the lake. like us adults or why is there still hunger in Last year, the DNR lowered the level of West this world after many years of trying to solve it? Hottes Lake and Marble Lake with the same idea The average person can look at our lakes and tell “something is not right in some of them.” In other in mind. Over the summer, these lakes were left words, it isn’t a bit unclear as to when a lake is not with little water in them. In that same time, vege‐ tation grew abundantly around the lake. healthy. This fall, these two lakes are full of migrating I often describe our shallow lakes as a canary in the cave or as a teeter totter, that when in balance waterfowl and birds and will hopefully become restocked with fish naturally and through DNR all is well. When one thing is out of balance, though, all of a sudden we have problems and the stocking. This is another tremendous success. Next year, it is hoped that we can do the same canary dies or the teeter totter falls to one side or thing on Little Swan Lake in eastern Dickinson another. County. Many of our shallow lakes are out of balance, and it will take some effort to bring them back into In recent photos, you can see vibrant lakes with vegetation lining the shore in both West Hottes balance. Often times that is a hard pill to swallow and Marble Lake. You can also see the pea green when it means some pretty heavy tactics will be (out of balance) Swan Lake. By acting now, Little taken on your favorite lake or wetland. Once Swan Lake will look similarly to both Marble and those heavy tactics are used, in almost all circum‐ stances, the lake is once again in balance and fully West Hottes Lakes and within three years will be a terrific migratory bird attractant and a great fish‐ supporting many recreational uses. ery. A lake that this happened to in 2007 was Remember that two years ago both West Hottes Diamond Lake. The Iowa DNR lowered the eleva‐ and Marble Lakes looked like Little Swan Lake tion of water in that lake and naturally eliminated the carp and other fish species in the lake. In 2009, does now. The results truly are astounding! CLEAN WATER ALLIANCE COORDINATOR
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Aerial view of a renovated West Hottes and Marble Lake. Photo submitted
STEWARDSHIP TIP:
Tune your t wo-stroke Auger A
s October gives way to November social media, fishing forums, local fishing supply stores and water cooler chatter is abuzz with ice anglers anticipating their first trip out on the “hard water”. Iowa offers anglers plenty of opportunities to get out and experience great early ice fishing. Though fishing through the ice is still a few weeks off yet, thereʼs no better time to get all your equipment all tuned up. To get the best fuel efficiency out of your twostroke ice auger, take some time to tune it up before taking it out on the ice. Replace the spark plug: Replace your spark plug with the type recommended by the manufacturer or use an acceptable substitute. Check and set the electrode gap before you install the spark plug and check it throughout the season. Make sure to set the gap according to the manufacturerʼs recommendation. Check the electrodes throughout the season and replace the plug if you find pitting,
fouling, carbon buildup, or burning. Also, check the porcelain and replace the plug if it is cracked. Replace the air filter: Replace the air filter with a new filter. In some cases, you can remove the filter and knock any crud off by tapping on the sides of the filter. If your engine is running low with a properly adjusted carburetor, you air filter is probably clogged and should be replaced. If your engine uses an oiled-foam filter, clean it in a water and detergent solution. Donʼt dump the solution down the drain when you are done, though. Save it and take it to your local household hazardous waste facility. When you oil your foam filter, press out and capture the excess. Use the left over oil next time around. User the proper fuel/oil mix: Check the manual for your engine and do not exceed the recommended mix. For most augers, the ratio is in the neighborhood of 40:1 (3.2 fluid ounces of two-cycle engine oil to 1 gallon of gas). Fuel that is heavy in oil will
cause the engine to run hot. Make sure to use fresh gasoline, again following the recommendations in your ownerʼs manual. Most engine manufacturers recommend unleaded regular or unleaded premium. Check all your hoses and make sure that they are secure and donʼt leak. Look for any wear and replace any hoses if necessary. Also, make sure your fuel cap is secure, test and replace it if necessary. Test setting your auger on its side and make sure that it doesnʼt leak. If you take these steps now, before you get on the ice, your two-stroke auger will burn fuel efficiently. Taking all these kinds of steps and more will help prevent fuel spills on the ice, excessive exhaust and help preserve Iowaʼs ice fishing heritage for years to come. Editorʼs note: Each month the outdoor page will feature a column by Recycled Fish, a nonprofit organization founded by Teeg Stouffer in 2003.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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N ORTHERN PIKE ON WALLEYE GEAR BY BOB JENSEN
from 15‐35 feet in just a short distance. The only thing similar to the previous area was the presence of baitfish: This structure was also home to huge schools of baitfish t happened again recently. We had a great plan for catching fish and the fish just didn’t get with the pro‐ that showed up as clouds on the sonar. Here’s where things got very different. We switched gram that we were presenting. We changed our pro‐ gram completely and caught’em: Caught’em good. Here from rods with the action of a pool cue and 50‐pound test braided line to walleye spinning rods with eight are the details. pound test line. We were on Lake Winnibigoshish in north central We switched from baits that were several ounces in Minnesota. My fishing partners were Craig Brown and Kyle Waterman. These guys both know their way around weight and ten or twelve inches long to 3/8th’s ounce jigs that we tipped with plastic baits that were five inches a fishing pole: Craig and his wife Paige own McArdle’s long. We sometimes made short casts, but mostly fished Resort on Winnie, and Craig spends a lot of time fishing there. Kyle is involved in developing new lures and other the baits straight up and down below the boat. And we caught pike: Lots of‘em. things at the nearby Northland Fishing Tackle Company. Not real big ones, but very fat 24‐30 inchers. These pike We were after northern pike. Craig has been in on this were so fat they looked like they would explode if they bite for years. In the fall, hungry pike follow the baitfish ate another perch. And, with the lighter action rods the into the shallows and feed aggressively. The best spots fight these fish provided was nothing but fun. Anyone have a sand bottom with scattered weeds. The key is would enjoy this type of fishing. finding the baitfish. Find the baitfish and you find the The presentation that was most productive was a pike. The traditional way of fishing pike this time of year is to 3/8th’s ounce Slurp! Jig with a five inch Impulse Jerk Minnow. Smelt was the best color for the plastic, but throw big baits on heavy equipment. We started off other colors also produced. doing that, and we caught some fishIn fact, Craig took a The key was keeping the bait off the bottom. It needed pike that was in the 15‐pound category. However, action to be at least a couple feet up. These pike were hungry wasn’t as fast as we thought it should be. We covered a and willing to move for the bait, but as it is with most large area that had been productive in the past with all sorts of big lures, but we just couldn’t get them to go like fish, they’re more willing to move up than to move down to eat. Once we got on the fish and had the presentation we thought they should. Craig had a back‐up plan. His back‐up plan was an extreme departure from our original figured out, it was “Bent‐Rod City” every few minutes. It’s a good idea when we go fishing to have a plan, but plan, and it was a successful one. it’s also a good idea to be willing to switch plans. If The back‐up plan you’re willing to try different things, much of the time We moved to an offshore structure. It was a big sand you’ll catch more fish. flat that broke sharply into deep water. The depth went FISHING THE MIDWEST FISHING TEAM
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Trophy pike like this one that Craig Brown fooled into biting are available now and will be until iceup. Pike often like big baits in the fall, but when they donʼt want the big stuff, something like this Slurp! Jig/Impulse 5” Jerk Minnow will do the job. Photo by Bob Jensen