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DECEMBER 2016 ESTHERVILLE NEWS Find this publication online at www.esthervillenews.net under ʻSectionsʼ
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
Checking out the status of walleyes
BY STEVE WEISMAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
I recently attended the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club’s annual fall DNR night. Held at Godfather’s Pizza in Spencer. One of the topics was the sta‐ tus of walleye fisheries in northwest Iowa based on DNR surveys. Things look good for several of our area lakes. Of course, much of the success is based on the annual stocking program that includes fry, fingerlings and larger 9+ inch walleyes. One of my huge fears is that the finan‐ cial state of the DNR’s budget will affect the future of our walleye stocking pro‐ gram. If license fees are not increased, I worry that many of the stockings and fishery management objectives will be reduced or eliminated! Anyway, here are the results of the sur‐ veys. First of all, the biologists looked at several age groups: 10‐13”, 13‐15”, 15‐17” and larger. First up was Silver Lake (Lake Park). It’s been on fire since last May and has continued to be so this fall. Even with the fishing pressure this past year, survey data shows it has good
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numbers of 10‐13 inchers and 13‐15 inch‐ es, along with a solid population of larg‐ er fish. This should be good for this win‐ ter. We know that Big Spirit has a huge bunch of fish in the 17‐22 inch range, plus a good population above the slot. The majority of the slot fish are males, many of which will never leave the upper end of the slot. That has made “keeping” tough the past couple of years. However, this fall’s fishing has included lots of walleyes in the 13‐15 inch range. That is the next big year class, and anglers are now able to harvest eater size walleyes again. At the same time, the young of the year class is ok, the 10‐13 inch group is ok and so is the 15‐17 inch size. East Okoboji’s fall walleye bite has been excellent, first pulling crankbaits in the deep water and then most recently at the bridge areas. Surveys show young of the year numbers and the 17‐20 inch‐ ers are ok, However, there is a very strong year class of 15‐17 inchers and those fish over 22 inches are in good numbers.
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Center Lake is going through its reno‐ vation, but does have ok numbers in all year class levels. One of the lakes that has fallen on hard times is Lost Island. Just a few years ago, there was a huge walleye fish kill, and it still has not bounced back. The lower year class numbers are ok, but beyond 13 inches, numbers are poor. One of the reasons could possibly be the huge, huge numbers of yellow bass. They are voracious predators, and I think they are predating so heavily that year classes are having trouble passing through the sys‐ tem and making it to adulthood. If there is one real dark horse, it is Ingham Lake. Stockings have taken place yearly, but until this year, there was little creel survey data. However, this year’s data shows excellent walleye numbers for 10‐13 inchers and 13‐15 inchers. The fall fishing has been relatively good.
A concern Even with these overall strong num‐ bers, there is a huge concern: yellow bass. Yellow bass are exotics and not native to these northwest Iowa waters.
2
As a result, as their numbers increase, they will definitely impact the fishery. They will take a portion of “the pie” or food web, which will then take that away from a native species. Here are the lakes that now have yellow bass popula‐ tions. East Okoboji was the first in 2005. Since that time, yellow bass have spread throughout the Okoboji chain, and in lakes like Minnewashta and East Okoboji, their numbers have exploded. West Okoboji also has significant numbers, but at this point they have not been as impactful as in the other parts of the chain. They showed up in Lost Island Lake in 2008. Their numbers have truly explod‐ ed, especially since the crash of the wall‐ eye population. Unfortunately, their average size has diminished. It appears that their numbers are adversely affect‐ ing the development of walleye year classes. In this past year (2016), yellow bass have been taken in nets in Five Island Turn to WALLEYE, Page 3
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
3
Reflections on Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club’s annual fall meeting On Thursday, Nov. 10, I attended the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club’s annual fall DNR night. Held at Godfather’s Pizza in Spencer, it was a great opportunity to hear DNR updates from Ben Wallace, Ia DNR fisheries biologist, who has been instrumental in the renovation of Black Hawk Lake; Jonathan Meerbeek, fisheries research biologist at Spirit Lake Hatchery in charge of a study on Big Spirit Lake muskie stocking; Greg Harson, Law Enforcement Supervisor for conservation officers in District 1; Jim Wahl, fisheries supervisor for the DNR’s northwest district. To put it simply, the evening was filled with lots and lots of topics. I will share some of these topics over the next few weeks. One of the first things men‐ tioned was the financial sit‐ uation for the Iowa DNR. I’ve written about it before, but what a lot of Iowans and elected officials don’t seem to understand is that the DNR is backed up to a cliff. Financially, revenue
STEVE WEISMAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
has remained stagnant for the past 10 years or so, while salaries and the cost to keep everything going has been going up. However, license increases have not increase during that time. Meanwhile, cuts and con‐ solidations have been made, but we’re at the point where we’re at a dead end…they are as bare bones as they can get. So, there was discussion about license increases and that a bill would be introduced. The sad thing is rumblings coming out of Des Moines that there is no way the increases will take place. My question is WHY? It is not a tax increase. It is a user fee for the privilege of being able to fish and hunt
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here in Iowa. These public lands and waters are ours to enjoy…all of these opportunities taken care of through the DNR’s Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund. We need to let our elect‐ ed officials and the gover‐ nor know that WE are will‐ ing to pay more to hunt and fish. Again, it is simply a user’s fee increase that we as outdoor people believe in. These are our license dollars – our legacy! If we want it and send that mes‐ sage to our state legislators and officials, then it better happen!
Double dipping issues Greg Harson, Law Enforcement Supervisor for our district, discussed the great fall fishing we have experienced in this area. He noted that conservation officers have been afield and visited with a lot of anglers. Unfortunately, when bites get this good, there is a certain segment of the population that will go fishing without ever pur‐ chasing a fishing license. Harson says tickets are being written At the same time, there is also another problem, especially on Big Spirit Lake, where the perch bite has been so hot. Harson said, “We have gotten word, and we know that people are double dipping. They are catching a limit, leaving and then coming back later to catch more perch. I encourage anglers to contact us if they see things that they know are not right. There are not
Greg Harson, Law Enforcement Supervisor for conservation officers in District 1, visits with members of the IGLFC at the annual fall meeting. Photo by Steve Weisman
enough conservation offi‐ cers to go around, so these anglers are our extra set of eyes and ears.” You know that if the perch bite is hot again this winter, the same problems are going to exist. From my perspective, it’s frustrating to see anglers take a limit and then come back in the same day and take more home! You know that if the bite continues this hot during ice fishing
season that there will be a segment of the ice fishing world that will be into dou‐ ble dipping. You know what’s really ironic? These are often the same people that will com‐ plain when the fishing goes bad, and the perch cycle is down. They will complain about the DNR and other anglers…really? It is our responsibility as licensed Iowans to take care of our resource. Yes,
we are entitled to take home fish. That is the law, and those laws are designed to give anglers that opportunity and to also protect the resource. So, I encourage all of us follow Harson’s plea: abide by the limits set and watch for those breaking the law! Hey, I’ve got an idea. If anglers need to catch an unlimited number of fish, go catch yellow bass. There is no limit!
WALLEYE, Continued from Page 2
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Lake, Ingham Lake, Center Lake and Big Spirit Lake. Where we go from here, we can only guess. Unfortunately, in none of these lakes have the yellow bass been stocked. How did they get there? My guess, somebody dumped them
in there thinking they would make a good fish to catch when yellow perch or bluegill or crappie numbers are down. The problem I have is what research ever said this would work with the lake’s dynamics? Or that it wouldn’t have an adverse
affect on other gamefish? Humans can truly make a differ‐ ence! We can do so much to protect and preserve, but we can also make a huge mess of what Mother Nature is trying to do!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
4
Tungsten: Not just a lead substitute anymore BY DAVE GENZ erate that point. Tungsten jigs and lures have I’ve replaced almost all of my been on the market for several favorite lead jigs with tungsten years, but in the past couple win‐ equivalents. Yes, it’s more ters, terminal tackle built from expensive, but when you consid‐ this material truly has dominated er the time, effort, and money my ice fishing. Here’s why. we invest in all of our ice fishing, My first experience with tungsten lures began in some east‐ ern states that have banned lead‐headed jigs and lures because of its toxicity. Alternatives became available, including weights and jigheads using tin, but tin hasn’t been popular with most rank‐and‐ file anglers. It’s less Genz holds a tackle box filled with a varidense than lead and ety of Clam tungsten jigs. generally too light for practical fishing suc‐ cess. it’s a small additional cost. And Eventually tungsten hit the it’s worth every penny if I’m scene, and the more I’ve used being more efficient on the hard tungsten ice jigs, the more I’ve water and getting better results. considered how they improved The half‐ant, a vertical jig, is one my ice angling. of my favorites. I add a blood‐ Didn’t notice much difference worm‐imitating plastic poly, so it at first, but as I started playing hangs horizontally. The combo around with it, some major really makes that tail shake, and I advantages became clear. Being love the results. heavier and twice as dense as That’s the tip of the iceberg lead, tungsten straightened my regarding the benefits of tung‐ line and delivered faster, more sten. Being denser, with mole‐ precise responsiveness to my jig‐ cules closer together, tungsten ging action. These more distinc‐ also has changed the way we tive jigging strokes helped me expect sonar signals to perform. detect more bites and definitely No ands, ifs, or buts: You get a produced more fish, especially at faster, more accurate sound night. bounce‐back to your Vexilar with Some guys refer to their jigging tungsten lures. The nice, square action as “pounding” the jig; I edges on tackle like the Drop‐ prefer the term “cadence.” kick jig don’t hurt either, but I Here’s my simple definition: The definitely expect better viewing reaction of a jig performing in on my sonar with tungsten lures. tandem with the action you It also delivers a sharper, more impart upon it (via motion and distinctive sound than lead, rod tip) is the cadence. Tungsten which – in my experience – is a denser material that loads aggressive biters seem to appre‐ my rod faster and more honestly ciate. reflects the cadence modern ice The fast drop of tungsten lures anglers have spent years perfect‐ offers another absolute advan‐ ing. Bottom line, I detect bites tage. It sinks through water col‐ well and catch more fish. Other umn faster because this denser anglers I’ve encountered on the metal runs smaller in size per ice, at sportshows, and during weight, which equals less resist‐ seminars across the ice belt reit‐ ance. A faster drop means I’m
Dave Genz holds a slab crappie taken on a tungsten jig. reaching aggressive biters quick‐ ly. That’s especially important from first ice (when I’ll find more pods of fish) through the mid‐ winter period when we’re often targeting active biters in deeper water. During first ice, the days are so short that the morning bite almost goes into the evening bite. On an overcast day, it’s prime time all day, and I don’t want to waste a moment waiting for my lure to drop. Come the late‐ice, shallow‐ water bite, one might argue that fast drop becomes less impor‐ tant. By March, I’m getting up early to beat the sunrise, then expecting the prime witching
hour in late afternoon. Sure, there are more dead periods over late ice, but when fish are active, I always advocate getting down as fast as possible. I know some guys who even have another rod handy for that exact situation. For the same reason, tungsten also shows up better in weeds. The weight helps punch through underwater canopy of the vege‐ tation. On a related note, have lots of slush in your ice hole? If not, you should leave some slush in your hole. Back in the day, we all cleared ice out; now we real‐ ize that slush decreases light penetration, thus making us
stealthier anglers. Tungsten punches through that slush and still gives us a good read on the Vexilar. In both scenarios, we’re catching more fish. In past articles, I’ve discussed plowing the bottom – stirring it up by pounding my jig into the sediments. This can attract fish to the area I’m jigging, and the heavy, dense nature of tungsten serves me better than lead when employing this tactic. Again, more hooksets! At Clam, we decided years ago that tungsten was the way of the future and have worked to develop the best on the market. We quickly found that existing tungsten jigs from the European marketplace had hooks that were too small, so we increased their size. We brought in pros and chose lures that we thought would be more or most effec‐ tive. Over the years, we’ve modi‐ fied them to our specifications, so new ones are better than the originals. Tungsten has a higher melting point than lead, so please under‐ stand that there’s a two‐step process to building these jigs. The customized molds used to create them aren’t cheap either. When building a tungsten jig, a seam runs the length of the body, and hooks are soldered in. This increases cost, but quality control ensures you’re getting a customized, effective product. With tungsten, I have down‐ sized my tackle for finicky fish yet find myself covering more water faster. These smaller Clam lures, which I and other pro staffers test extensively before hitting the marker, better mimic natural panfish forage, and they contribute to a more productive hard‐water experience. Anglers spend dollars on many popular crankbaits, spoons, and other top lures because they perform. Tungsten ice tackle falls into the same category. It’s a technologi‐ cal improvement that will make you a better ice angler all winter long.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
Going to school
Editor’s note: The author, Jason Mitchell hosts the popular outdoor program Jason Mitchell Outdoors, which airs on Fox Sports North (9:00 am Sunday) and Fox Sports Midwest (8:30 am Saturday). More information can be found online at www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com. BY JASON MITCHELL
No secret that so many fish we like to target through the ice will eventu‐ ally slide out and winter over holes and basins. These wintering holes will typically load up with fish each winter. While you might be targeting crappie or bluegill, you might encounter chan‐ nel catfish, drum, white bass or tullibee depending on the water. What fascinates me when I drop an underwater camera down into these clouds of fish is how often different species of fish school together. Very seldom are these fish static just hang‐ ing in one spot, they often seem to be simply swimming in circles and I have watched waves of fish come through that were made up of several species. Very common for crappie, largemouth bass and sunfish to swim and school together. I have seen walleye, white bass, drum and catfish swim around together. Reservoirs in particular can often be the most challenging to correctly identify what you are fishing because reservoirs simply have such a wide variety of biomass. Reservoirs typical‐ ly host the native river fish along with several other fish species that were suited after the river was dammed to form a reservoir. Every body of water will have specif‐ ic tendencies that need to be deci‐ phered by spending time on the water. On some lakes for example, the crappies tend to ride on the top of the school. Other bodies of water see the large panfish on the bottom of the school or the front of the school. These patterns can sometimes change from day to day but each body of water will have it’s own personali‐ ty. Figuring out the dynamics of these suspending schools of fish can be challenging but crucial for maximizing your catch.
The author, Jason Mitchell shares some insights on combining both underwater cameras and flashers for effectively fishing suspended panfish like this trophy bluegill.
cameras shine. Analyzing the dynam‐ ics of a school of fish can be done pre‐ cisely with a camera assuming that you have enough light and good enough water clarity to see. This visu‐ al image can help immensely and gives you that inside knowledge and understanding of the water you are fishing which can be applied to your sonar. Ninety percent of the time, I pick a Vexilar flasher over an underwa‐ ter camera because of the speed in which I can fish through water with a Vexilar but a camera can aid sonar by answering questions. Vexilar’s Scout Camera is a rugged and durable cam‐ era unit that truly compliments the flasher lineup so popular with ice anglers. Some of those questions answered quickly by a camera might be a visual Using underwater camera picture of the bottom or type of This is a situation where underwater weeds present but where a camera
can really outperform sonar is when determining species of fish. When you are marking all kinds of fish, different species of fish will all make the same red marks on the flasher. A camera can let you know what the red marks are. Taking camera use a step further, you can get an understanding of how the fish are schooling so you can adapt your fishing strategy. If crap‐ pies are indeed on the top of the school, you now know to fish above the fish and separate the crappie by fishing high. If the big bluegill or other targeted species are in the bottom, you now know to fish down fast through the fish so you can reach what you are after without getting bit on the way down. So often when I use a camera for studying the dynamics of a cloud of suspended fish, I don’t use the cam‐ era to find my lure and fish… all I want is the visual. Once I have that mental picture of how the fish are moving and relating to each other, I put the camera away and use the Vexilar just so I can fish faster. While nothing beats a camera for ID, you can also lean on the flasher to also help your sort through unintended species to reach panfish particularly after having a few questions answered by drop‐ ping down a camera. As a rule of thumb, panfish don’t typ‐ ically dart in and out of the cone angle slashing at your bait. Something else you can do to test a fish is seeing if the target will chase down hard after a bait. Tullibee, for example, will often burn down at a fast rate after you when you drop the bait where as crap‐ pie typically stall and won’t follow a bait down and if they do chase, they are noticeably slow. Finding these small nuances and get‐ ting a more intimate understanding of the water you are fishing can allow you to sort through rough fish better or in some cases target the larger fish. When targeting panfish over winter‐ ing holes this winter, remember that panfish are not the only fish species that use these locations and one of the most effective strategies for pick‐ ing apart this water is by using the one two punch of both underwater cam‐ era and flasher.
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I’ve written several columns over the past few years about the way water‐ sheds impact the clean water in our lakes, streams and sloughs. I’ve inter‐ viewed experts on ways in which all of us can positively impact what goes into our waters. From those of us who live in the cities and towns, acreage own‐ ers and landowners, we all can do our part in helping improve our waters. At the same time, we haven’t dis‐ cussed what our responsibilities are on these very waters where we fish, boat, water ski, kayak and swim…all forms of water recreation. What I am talking about is garbage! I’ve always attempt‐ ed to do my part and not leave litter behind, and I never realized just how prevalent this littering problem is… until I saw the results of the Little Millers Bay Clean‐Up this past July 9. It was the direct result of all of the boat‐ ing tie‐ups and activities in Millers Bay on the 4th of July. I had heard this was an issue in the past, but I had never seen photos of the results. Jane Shuttleworth, Outreach Education Coordinator for the Lakeside Lab, sent me photos and a report from Sahara Tanner with the AmeriCorps Iowa DNR, who organized the clean‐up. Here is what Sahara sent in her note, “After the holidays, our natural resources are littered with beer cans, water toys and miscellaneous trash. Eight volunteers showed up to assist with the Little Millers Bay clean‐up on West Okoboji at 8 a.m. on July 9, For four hours, volunteers picked up trash ranging from water balloon scraps to washed‐up dock pieces. By cleaning up
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AmeriCorps members Sahara Tanner and Jamie Grant, sorting through the trash and properly disposing of it. the waters Iowa DNR and Lakeside Laboratories hope to prevent impact on local wildlife.” I have included photos that she included. What an incredible mess, and this is only what washed ashore and along the shallows. Think of all of the “things” that sank to the bottom! Not only does this affect wildlife, but it also definitely impacts our water! Is it any wonder why Millers Bay residents dread all of the water activity that takes place in Millers Bay? Now, I know that this was the most frequented bay, but there was activity all over the Iowa Great Lakes on July 4. You name the lake, and it was busy. And you can bet there was a lot of lit‐ ter that found its way to the wind‐ blown shores or simply sank to the bottom. Pretty sad thought, isn’t it? While we love our lakes, so we say, just how much do we really do? How many plas‐ tic bags, plastic bottles, cans…and whatever else end up in the bottom of the lake or washed up on shore during the open water season from April through November? Can we really say that we do care about our waters, or is it that we really want to use these lakes with no regard to protecting them from this type of
constant littering.
On the ice It certainly doesn’t stop there once the ice is on the lakes. No, there is an incredible amount of littering that goes on during the winter. From snowmobil‐ ers, to cross country skiers to walkers to ice anglers, trash continually appears. I love to ice fish, and I have been appalled by what is left behind after an “ice fishing town” appears for a day. Just like the summer, there is plastic, candy wrappers, pop and beer bottles/cans, cigarette butts, left over sandwiches…you get the point!
Take care of things You know, it’s really a sad state of affairs. Wherever humans go, we often leave a mess. Not just on the water and on the shoreline, but also in our parks and state areas, and on our streets and ditches. It’s very, very sad. I’ve seen everything from bags of garbage to mattresses, appliances in ditches. We really need to police ourselves and others around us. We have littering laws, but we really need to see more people get ticketed! That would shape up some people right away! Let’s start today to end this type of “littering” activity!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
Prepare for upcoming shotgun deer season DES MOINES ‐ Hunters planning to participate in Iowa’s shotgun deer season are encouraged to purchase their licenses ahead of time to avoid long lines at the retailer. The DNR expects around 70,000 hunters to partici‐ pate in the first shotgun season and so far, 26 per‐ cent of the licenses have been sold. Iowa’s first shot‐ gun deer season begins Dec. 3. Successful hunters are reminded to report their deer harvest by midnight the day after the deer is recovered. For hunters with Internet access, the online harvest reporting is the easiest way to register the deer. Hunters can report their deer online at www.iowad‐ nr.gov, by calling the toll free reporting number 1‐ 800‐771‐4692 or at any license vendor. The deer should be report‐ ed by the hunter whose name is on the tag…and it must come before mid‐ night, the day after the deer is tagged. The harvest reporting system provides information much faster, and with more detail, than the previous, cumbersome postcard survey. This leads to more responsive man‐ agement of deer popula‐ tions; such as adjusting county by county tags or special zone hunt allot‐ ments. Accurately reporting the harvest is an important part of Iowa’s deer manage‐ ment program and plays a vital role in managing deer populations and future hunting opportunities. Reporting the harvest is required by law. Hunters will be checked for compli‐
ance. DNR to continue surveillance for Chronic Wasting Disease The Iowa DNR’s wildlife staff will be collecting tissue samples during Iowa’s shot‐ gun deer seasons to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Iowa’s wild deer herd. The effort will concentrate in southeast Allamakee County where CWD was found in the wild deer herd, in counties near Wisconsin and Illinois where CWD has been confirmed, in south‐ central Iowa near Missouri, and in Pottawattamie and Cerro Gordo counties, fol‐ lowing positive tests in the past from captive facilities and wild deer in or near those counties. Most of the 4,500 samples the DNR hopes to collect will be taken during the first half of December, as more than 120,000 hunters take part in Iowa’s shotgun deer seasons. Sampling involves removing and testing the lymph nodes of mature deer. Many hunters voluntarily contribute samples of their harvested deer for these testing efforts. Most sam‐ ples are obtained by wildlife staff, checking with hunters in the field or at home pro‐ cessing points. Hunters willing to provide samples may contact the DNR regionally to arrange collection. In Allamakee, Clayton and Winneshiek counties, call 563‐380‐3422; in Dubuque, Jackson, Clinton, Scott and Delaware counties, call 563‐357‐2035; in Davis, Wapello, Van Buren and Jefferson counties, call 641‐799‐0793; in Wayne, Appanoose and Monroe counties, call 641‐203‐6185;
in Pottawattamie County, call 712‐350‐0147; and in Cerro Gordo County, call 641‐425‐2814. Since 2002, more than 55,000 wild deer in Iowa have been tested. CWD was first detected in the wild herd in Allamakee County in 2013. Iowa DNR’s website pro‐ vides information about CWD and other information on infectious disease at: http://www.iowadnr.gov/ Hunting/DeerHunting/CWD EHDInformation.aspx Hunters use popular pro‐ gram to donate deer meat to Food bank of Iowa Have an extra deer at the end of the hunt? Maybe you bought an extra tag, to hunt longer? Consider donating to Iowa’s HUSH program. HUSH (Help Us Stop Hunger) works with 81 par‐ ticipating lockers to provide high quality meat to needy Iowans, through the Food Bank of Iowa. Field dressed deer are skinned, de‐boned and ground into two‐pound packages…then distributed to local needy families. The program is funded by hunters, who pay a dollar surcharge with each deer tag purchase. HUSH has provided meat from 66,300 deer to those who need it—nearly 3,400 last year. Processors receive $75 for their end of the work. The Food Bank of Iowa picks up $5, as it over‐ sees distribution. Each locker will accept whole deer, asking the hunter to fill out a Hunter HUSH card. There is no fee paid at the locker. A list of participating lockers is avail‐ able in the Iowa Hunting Regulations and online at www.iowahush.com.
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STEWARDSHIP TIP: Ice Safety one person on foot. n Three inches of ice are sufficient for As the month of November comes to a two or three people as long as they arenʼt concentrated in a small area. close weʼre in the shadow of n Four inches of ice will generally safeThanksgiving and Christmas is on the horizon. Snow and ice have all but avoid- ly support small groups of people. n Five inches of ice will support an ATV ed visiting us here in Iowa, but in true or snowmobile. mother nature spirit, old man winter will n Eight inches of ice will support a come in like a lion and ice will cover are small car, but generally there should be lakes and ponds. at least ten inches of solid ice to support There are a number of on-line ice fisha full size pickup truck or SUV. ing communities and invariably every Remember itʼs always best to error on year as the temperatures dip below the side of caution. If you like punching freezing the question always comes up, “any reports of safe ice”? Truth is there is holes in ice that is two to three inches no such thing as safe ice. There could be thick take along a set up spikes and wear at any time during the ice fishing season, them around your neck. That way if you happen to go through you can jab the even with as much as 1 – 2 feet of ice, spikes into the ice to help pull yourself areas that are weak and breaking out. Also never go alone, take a length of through the ice is a distinct possibility. Donʼt venture out alone if youʼre unsure sturdy rope that can be used to help pull of how thick the ice is. Early ice tends to you or your fishing partner to safety. Let someone know where you are fishing be inconsistent so itʼs important to be wise when hitting the ice. In general here and when you are expected to return. Early ice fishing can be some of the is a short list of guidelines that are commost productive fishing of the season, mon throughout the ice fishing regions: make sure youʼre home to enjoy the fruits n Two inches of hard ice can support of your labor. BY BEN LEAL
RECYCLED FISH PROGRAM DIRECTOR
CHOOSE YOUR FUN, CHOOSE YOUR BOAT, CHOOSE....
1907 18th St. Spirit Lake www.greatlakesmarineservice.biz
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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Looking back at fishing memories BY BOB JENSEN
was next to impossible to be angry with Toad. Toad’s health was not real good his last few years: He couldn’t’ work, but he sure could be outside. The last time we fished together we were on Rainy Lake catching crappies. Toad liked to catch anything: Crappies, carp, catfish, he didn’t care, and I appreciated that. We had much in common that way. Toad died on the way to deer camp. There had been a snowstorm the day before. On the way to deer camp, Toad and his hunting partner saw two rooster pheasants and decided to see if they could harvest them for supper. Toad walked back to where they saw the pheasants. Both roosters took flight: Toad shot once and both fell. Toad picked up the birds, was walking back to the truck, and collapsed. Toad would have thought that type of departure was pretty cool. Patrick Sheahan was a fishing explorer: He was constantly trying to locate new bodies of water to add to his guiding exploits. If you told Patrick that you wanted to catch walleyes, he would go into this trance‐like state for a few seconds. He’d consider weather conditions, season, time of day, and other factors that most anglers wouldn’t think of. Then we’d go to that body of water and usually have outstanding success. Patrick died in a snowmobile accident while returning home from an ice‐fishing trip. Note how Mac, Toad, and Patrick departed. They would all agree that theirs was not a bad way to go for someone who’s, much, not all, but much of their life revolved around the outdoors. They would also remind us to cherish every day that we spend with a family member or friend because “you just never know”.
FISHING THE MIDWEST FISHING TEAM
Another open water fishing season is in the books: It was a nice season. Caught good numbers of fish most days, had a great time every day. I got to fish with old friends and new friends. It’s at this time of year that I like to reflect on those days of fishing, but I also can’t help thinking of the friends I didn’t get to fish with this year. Sometimes there just aren’t enough days to get together with the friends that you’d like to fish with, but some‐ times you can’t fish with those friends because they’re not around anymore, at least physically. They’re always around in our memo‐ ries. Three of those friends that I always think of in these reflective moments are Jim McDonnell, “Toad” Smith, and Patrick Sheahan. Mac and Toad called the Iowa Great Lakes in northwest Iowa home, Patrick lived on the border of Wisconsin and Michigan near Land O’Lakes Wisconsin. All three were wonderful people who lived for their families and friends and the outdoors. My last fishing trip with Mac is a fond memory. We were on Storm Lake in western Iowa chasing and catching walleyes. At the time, planer board fishing was kind of new to that area, but Mac was a pioneer in fishing techniques and wanted to give boards a try. Other anglers in the area that we were fishing couldn’t figure out what we were doing with those yellow things on our line way out to the side of the boat. And, while we caught fish and they didn’t, Mac gave any‐ one who asked a quick seminar on what we were doing and why. He always took time to teach others how to enjoy their outdoor experi‐ ence even more. Mac died a few years ago after a day of hunting, ice‐ fishing, and checking traps. Toad Smith’s given name was Otis, but if you called him Otis, he thought you were angry with him. However, it
The Fishing Professor, Jim McDonnell with a West Lake Okoboji walleye. Photo by Bob Jensen
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