The Great 2013 Courier Outdoor Guide
Sunday, April 7, 2013
PAGE 2
THE COURIER
2013 OUTDOOR GUIDE
www.wcfcourier.com
SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2013
This gift doesn’t come in decorative wrapping When I scan through my mental scrapbook of the last 45 or 50 years, it’s dominated by adventures and experiences that don’t come in a box or plug into the wall. For me, it started when my dad lugged me piggyback style down a set of railroad tracks to reach a rock quarry near Brandon. He still laughs about the Doug Newhoff day when I was Courier 5 and I caught a Sports Editor doug.newhoff@ 22-inch northern wcfcourier.com. pike and a 16-inch crappie from that quarry and was convinced the pike was the better trophy. It was catfishing with dad and grandpa at Lehigh, and running from an angry snapping turtle on the end of my line. It was learning how to fish a jig through the rocky stretch of the Cedar River below the 11th Street bridge in March. It was sleeping in the back seat of our old Chevy Impala in a campground on the shores of Lake Pepin on a plywood bed. It was waking up to bacon and eggs cooked on a Coleman stove. It was sleeping in the old Pepin Hotel where $10 got you a smoky
the cornfield and work their way across it until they were so close we could see the color of their eyes. It was the morning Mike Rule, Neil Hammargren and I decoyed a gaggle of geese in the field behind Neil’s house. It was bullfrogging with Matt Murray in the ponds and lakes around town in the dead of night, fighting off mosquitoes to later enjoy a meal or two of frog legs. It’s the ice fishing adventures I’ve enjoyed across the Midwest with Mike Wirth and Steve Peters during the 10 or 12 years since we DOUG NEWHOFF / Courier Sports Editor began our “Heaven on Ice Tour.” At left, Nancy Newhoff shows off a chinook salmon taken during one of our trips to Lake Michigan. Center, It’s been sharing many of those Nicky Newhoff holds one of her first trophy fish, a Lake Michigan rainbow trout she caught more than 10 years experiences with others and the ago. At right, Waterloo’s Neil Hammargren poses with a big walleye he caught two years ago while we were satisfaction that comes with seeprefishing for a Mississippi River tournament. ing their excitement. Those of you who share my room that rumbled through the big bites made your day. clashing emotions of satisfaction, love of all things outdoors night with each passing train. It was deer hunting on my uncle but also sorrow for the end of a understand. It was watching dad and his Ted’s property near Dayton where magnificent creature’s life. We are the products of those friend, Ed Barta, pour jigs and the rugged hills along the Des It was annual trips to the prisexperiences. They’ve taught us make French spinners in the Moines River seemed like moun- tine Brule River on the southern responsibility and discipline and basement. tains that could swallow you up shore of Lake Superior to fish a little bit of morality. It was sneaking up on a flock of and never spit you out again. for wild steelhead each October Hopefully, they’ve also given ducks on a creek a few miles outIt was understanding that we and encounters with wildlife like us a deep appreciation for what side of town with a single-shot are only visitors as I learned about ruffed grouse, porcupines and an nature has to offer and the 20-gauge. deer trails and scrapes and rubs occasional bear. opportunities we get to enjoy it. It was road trips to the Wisand licking branches, and occaIt was the day Donnie ThompMost of all, I hope all of our consin shores of Lake Michigan sionally the scene of what had to son and I hunkered down in a outdoor experiences make the where we spent full days on the be an impressive battle between fencerow near Parkersburg and type of impression we want to breakwater walls casting for trout two love-starved bucks. watched thousands and thoushare the same way somebody and salmon and where a couple of It was my first deer and the sands of mallards funnel into once shared theirs with us.
Iowa has a lot to offer for a broad range of anglers By DOUG NEWHOFF doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com
Got the urge to go fishing, but don’t want to travel far to do it? Fortunately, you don’t have to. Opportunities abound here in Northeast Iowa whether it’s trout in our coldwater streams, largemouth bass in nearly any lake or pond or abundant catfish in our lakes and rivers. Dan Kirby, Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist for the East Central Region, offers these options:
Channel catfish Northeast Iowa’s interior rivers are all out-
standing, especially the Cedar, Wapsipinicon, Maquoketa and Turkey. If you’re looking for a lake to fish, top spots would include Casey Lake in Hickory Hills Park, George Wyth Lake, South Prairie Lake and Mitchell Lake.
Bluegills Martens Lake at Sweet Marsh near Tripoli has some good ‘gills, and spring is the time to get after them before the lake gets clogged with vegetation. Kirby also points to Casey Lake as a good choice for decentsized ‘gills (8- to 9-inchers). It’s consistent and it’s family friendly.
Crappies Martens Lake tops Kirby’s list for this species, too. There are good numbers of quality black crappies (11-plus inches), but they’ll be hard to get at after the spring when vegetation takes over. For numbers, Kirby
says South Prairie Lake in Cedar Falls was a pleasant surprise to anglers last fall. While the catch rates were excellent, the size is marginal with the best fish around 9 inches. Volga Lake also has good crappie numbers, but those fish top out at 8 1/2 inches or so.
Perch While yellow perch show up in George Wyth Lake and South Prairie, there aren’t established populations. The best perch fishing in the state the past few years has been on the Mississippi River from Bellevue north to the Minnesota border. Fish in the 14- to 15-inch range aren’t unusual.
Walleye If you’re hooked on old marble eyes, the interior rivers are where it’s at. The numbers are as good as they’ve ever been, and there are plenty of trophy fish available, as well.
The Cedar River from Vinton to Plainfield and farther north is “probably as good as anywhere in the state for walleye fishing,” said Kirby. The Shell Rock River is known for some true trophies, while the Wapsipinicon is another good bet.
Northern pike The Wapsi has the best pike fishing in Northeast Iowa, hands down. The backwater areas connected to the river help sustain the population. The Cedar has a few northerns and some large ones. The DNR has stocked pike in George Wyth Lake, and a few are caught each year, while Big Woods kicks out a few, too.
Smallmouth bass Kirby says NE Iowa has the best smallmouth bass fishing around. The Cedar, Wapsie and Maquoketa rivers all rank high
in terms of size and numbers. A little farther north, the Turkey, Volga and Upper Iowa rivers also feature some exciting action.
Largemouth bass There are bucketmouths in every lake, river and borrow pit. George Wyth, Big Woods and Casey Lake are good places to wet a lure, but if you’re after a trophy Kirby says Martens Lake is the spot.
Muskellunge An occasional muskie turns up in the Cedar and Shell Rock rivers, but Pleasant Creek near Palo and Clear Lake rank as two of the best bets. “If you wanted to catch a muskie right now, Pleasant Creek is probably the place to go,” says Kirby. “They’re getting some close to 50 inches now and then.”
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Opportunities abound to catch early season bass ■ Water temperature a key to finding aggressive fish By DOUG NEWHOFF doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — Pick a body of water in Iowa and the odds are high that it’s home to a strong population of largemouth bass. From thousands of farm ponds to large reservoirs, man-made lakes and natural lakes, there is no shortage of opportunities to set the hook on a hefty bigmouth. For open-water anglers, it’s a bite that begins at ice-out in late winter or early spring. “As soon as the ice goes out, you can catch them,” says Andy Sommerfelt of Waterloo, an avid bass angler with a lengthy resume of tournament experience and success. Anglers can eliminate a great deal of water that will be largely unproductive by taking note of the water temperature. “One thing to remember in the early, early spring is that the north bank always warms up fastest and first,” Sommerfelt explains. “When there’s still snow on the ground, it always thaws on the north side of the ditch first, and that’s absolutely true in the water. “We’re talking pre-50 degree water, so the fishing is always going to be slow, but when the water is that cold a one- or twodegree difference is gonna be huge. Two degrees will turn a fish on.” On smaller bodies of water, it’s as simple as focusing on that north shore. On larger lakes or reservoirs, break them down and consider them as smaller individual lakes. A bay or creek arm in the middle or southern part of a lake can still be productive if it has a north shoreline where the sun is working its springtime magic. “If there’s a pocket on a pond and it happens to be on the north
plastics into his presentation. when water temperatures have “Prespawn, spawn or post- surpassed the 60-degree mark. spawn, I always have at least two “Not all fish spawn at the same rods in my boat rigged with soft time,” notes Sommerfelt. “That’s plastics like a chigger craw or a how the species survives.” tube,” he says. Again, the place to look is the “When we’re talking spring, I shallows where the males will seem to do better with the tube, begin building and protecting and I’ll put a rattle in there if I nests and sight-fishing adds have to. If there’s a cold front another thrill to the hunt. coming through or the fishing is Iowa has plenty of quality just really slow, a rattle seems to largemouth bass fisheries. Here make a difference. in Black Hawk County, any of the “You don’t necessarily have lakes at George Wyth State Park to pick up super small, finesse- can be productive, along with type baits during the prespawn, Big Woods Lake in Cedar Falls either,” he explains. and Mitchell Lake. “The forage in that particular On a broader map, Sommerfelt lake or pond has had all summer puts Brushy Creek near Webster COURTESY PHOTO and all winter to grow. You’re City at the top of the list. Bass fishing pro Andy Sommerfelt of Waterloo shows off a hefty not looking at young of the year “Personally, I think Brushy smallmouth. forage.” Creek is the best lake in Iowa When water temps are a con- for largemouth bass,” he states. sistent 50 degrees at the cold- “You get a real, true taste of res“One thing to remember in the early, early spring is that est point of a day and climbing ervoir fishing, you catch some from there, spinnerbaits come awfully nice fish, and it’s a beauthe north bank always warms up fastest and first.” into play, while swim jigs seem tiful lake. to work best after the spawn and “West Lake Osceola is another Andy Sommerfelt Local bass fishing pro into the summer. neat, neat lake to fish bass, and In general, the bass in Iowa’s Belvedere is a good one.” ponds and lakes spawn someside, that would be absolutely water.” The bass are shallow. The list of where I would start,” says SomBass will most often be scat- time near the May full moon possibilities is not. merfelt. “But, if there’s a nice, tered and cruising in that shalshallow pocket on the south part low water, so it makes sense for of the lake, I would hit the north- an angler to cover water. Lipernmost bank in that pocket. less crankbaits that can be fished “Even on a 2-acre pond, not just below the surface are a great all the fish are gonna be on that search tool, offers Sommerfelt, north bank, but the fish that are whose favorites include Coton that bank are gonna be the ton Cordell’s Rattlin’ Spots and more aggressive fish and the eas- Strike King Red Eyes. ier fish to catch.” “I think they work so well Sommerfelt targets shallow because they’re noisy and obtrufish during those early season sive,” he says. “They are the only outings. moving bait I pick up in pre 50“I really think there’s a mis- degree water. The weeds aren’t conception that those fish are up yet, and those lipless cranks gonna be in 10 or 11 feet of water,” really shine.” he notes. “They’re gonna be It’s also important to note that shallow because that’s where the shallow water can experience • Open 7 days a week water warms up first in those significant temperature chang• Crawlers in bedding for Canada ponds. es throughout the course of a • Fishing seminars and fishing events “They’ve got to live where day in the spring. Sommerfelt • One stop shop for all your fishing needs the food is, and that’s the first points out that a bank where the • Wholesale live bait • Gift certificates • Fishing licenses water where they’re going to see temperature is 45 at sunrise can • Minnows, chubs, leeches, wax worms, red worms, leaf worms & butter worms a crawdad or minnows or other warm to a much more temperathings to eat. ture in a few hours with a little Hank's Live Bait & Tackle, Inc. “I’ve had a lot of days when help from the sun. Serving Avid Fishermen Since 1939 it’s still really cold outside and As the spring progresses, Som186 W 15th Street, Waterloo IA 319-234-0711 I’m catching fish in two feet of merfelt will incorporate more soft www.fishhanks.com
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Project to create Iowa lake maps DES MOINES – For the next six summers, fisheries staff from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be mapping Iowa lakes using some sophisticated equipment that will provide more accurate maps for anglers and information for the lake restoration program. Visitors to Iowa lakes may see the operation in progress: a DNR fisheries boat loaded with two laptop computers, a flat screen, a suitcase that contains the brains of the program, and equipment hanging off the side running about five miles per hour crisscrossing the lake. The software will record lake depth plus information on what type of material is on the lake bed (sand, gravel, muck) and, if aquatic vegetation is present, the height and density of that vegetation. It will also collect information for lake restoration projects. Lewis Bruce, fisheries technician working on the project, said they plan to map 115 of the significantly publicly owned lakes in Iowa. He said they can set up the software so when the information is collected it will generate a file where they can add existing habitat and background information to create new lake contour maps. The DNR recently placed new maps for Arrowhead Lake, Badger Lake, Avenue of the Saints Pond, Binder Lake, and Center Lake online at www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/WheretoFish/LakesPondsReservoirs.aspx. In 2013, they will begin collecting information on Clear Lake, Carter Lake, Brushy Creek Lake, Mariposa Lake, Blue Lake, Springbrook Lake and Volga Lake, if conditions allow.
Trout stocking schedule online MANCHESTER – The announced trout stocking streams and dates for 2013 has been released online at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/TroutFishing.aspx. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will release more than 400,000 catchable-sized trout between April 1 and Sept. 30 into streams in northeast Iowa. Trout will continue to be stocked in October, but the streams and dates will not be announced.
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2013 OUTDOOR GUIDE
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SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2013
NE Iowa catfish plentiful, but neglected ■ Rivers harbor strong “As far as our rivers go, a lot of people fish for walleyes populations of channel and smallmouth and that kind of stuff and kind of cats, some flatheads overlook the catfish we have out there.” By DOUG NEWHOFF doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com
MANCHESTER — No matter where you live in Northeast Iowa, chances are you aren’t more than a few minutes from a good catfish bite. It’s a fish that is not only plentiful, feisty and tasty in the frying pan, but is also one of the state’s most underutilized resources, according to Department of Natural Resources rivers and streams research biologist Greg Gelwicks. “As far as our rivers go, a lot of people fish for walleyes and smallmouth and that kind of stuff and kind of overlook the catfish we have out there,” notes Gelwicks. Pick a Northeast Iowa river —
Greg Gelwicks DNR fisheries research biologist
the Cedar, Shell Rock, West Fork, Maquoketa, Wapsipinicon or Turkey — and it’s home to a strong population of channel catfish, while some of the larger waterways like the Cedar also harbor populations of flathead cats. “We have good channel catfishing pretty much throughout the Cedar River in Northeast Iowa,” says Gelwicks. “On the Wapsipinicon, the best fishing is going to be from Littleton downstream or maybe from Independence downstream. On the Maquoketa, you’re looking at Manchester downstream, and on the Turkey River, from Elkader downstream
is where you will find the channel catfish.” Telemetry work done by Gelwicks and his staff provide information that can help an angler narrow down catfish location from season to season, although each river has slightly different characteristics. “One of the things we’ve found is that in the fall they are going to move to the deepest water that’s available, usually into holes that are 15 foot or deeper that have very little current,” he explains. “In the Turkey River, there aren’t any deep holes like that so what we found is that they all moved
downstream into the Mississippi River to overwinter. “In April, that’s when they start moving out of those overwintering areas and become more active. They’re looking for food, and cut baits (like shad or chubs) work well because they feed a lot on fish that may have died over the winter. “On the Wapsie, they move into connected backwater areas in the springtime and again, some of that may be associated with looking for dead fish for food.” Once the channel cat have left those deeper, overwintering holes, they can be caught in water as shallow as a couple of feet or as deep as 10 or 12 feet. And as spring progresses, they begin to associate more with habitat like stumps and logjams where they can lurk in the eddies and ambush a meal.
See CATFISH, page 6
Nearly 30 years later, Renner record still stands By DOUG NEWHOFF doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. — These days, Jack Renner enjoys a quiet retirement on the shores of the Mississippi River that has been like a vein coursing through his body for as long as he can remember. He fishes and hunts, and he talks trash with his cronies. However, there will always be one story that will be hard to top. The date was July 1, 1984, and Renner had been lured to French Creek in Northeast Iowa on a rainy day by Dick Wold, who shared Renner’s passion for trout fishing and was the principal at Maquoketa High School at the time. “We went every weekend,” recalls Renner, a Waterloo native. “It was fun. You didn’t have half the fishermen back then that you do now.”
A day earlier, Wold had spotted a big rainbow trout in one of the creek’s deeper pools. “He said there was a big one in there,” Renner relates. “He didn’t know how big it was, but he said it was a giant. “It was rainy and the water had gotten all murky, but all I ever fished were nightcrawlers, so I threw it in there and bang, it hit right away.” Equipped with spinning tackle and 6-pound monofilament line, Renner had his hands full with the big trout. “It peeled off some line, but it could only go so far in that little trout stream,” says Renner. “We had a dip net, and Dick netted it and threw it up on the bank. I said, ‘My God, it’s a monster.’ It looked like it weighed 30 pounds laying there on the bank.” Renner and Wold set out to get it weighed on a certified scale. “It wouldn’t fit in the cooler
Record rainbows Here’s a list of state record rainbow trout around the Midwest: Illinois 31-7 Lake Mich. 1993 Indiana 18-8 Clear Lake 1988 Iowa 19-8 French Creek 1984 Michigan 26-8 Lake Mich. 1975 Minnesota 16-6 Knife River 1980 Wisconsin 7-10 Geneva Lake 2006
we had,” says Renner. “It’s head and tail were out of the cooler. We went to the Piggly Wiggly in Waukon and went in and asked if they could weigh it for us. The guy there was a trout fisherman, too, so he said bring it in.” Officially, that trout weighed in at 19 pounds, 8 ounces. It was, indeed, a new state record. And it has remained a state record for nearly 28 years and counting. “Somebody had to beat it by now, you’d think,” says Renner. “Thirty years is a long time.” It’s often said that records are
made to be broken. Maybe not this one. Years ago, the Department of Natural Resources kept the brood stock used to provide eggs at its trout hatcheries for many years, and they grew to immense proportions. When biologists felt the brood trout’s productivity was beginning to decline, they were released into Iowa’s lakes or streams. More than likely, that’s how the state record rainbow ended up in French Creek. “The quality of eggs you get goes down at a certain point,” notes DNR fisheries biologist Dan Kirby. “The best brood fish are about 5-7 years old. So the average brood fish today probably is a little smaller. “That record fish came from the hatchery, more than likely. But you’ve still got to be the lucky one to get that fish. And it’s still a record.”
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Float trips a revealing way to experience NE Iowa ■ Rivers offer everything from fast water to spectacular scenery By DOUG NEWHOFF doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com
Darrin Siefken sees Northeast Iowa from a different perspective. His view is one of moving water, limestone bluffs, bald eagles, acrobatic smallmouth bass and maybe a warm, inviting campfire on a crisp October evening. When Siefken wants to get away for a day or a weekend, he eases a canoe or a kayak into one of Northeast Iowa’s many rivers where every experience takes on its own identity and no two days are exactly alike. It may be on the Upper Iowa, Turkey, Yellow, Volga, Shell Rock, Wapsipinicon, Cedar or Winnebago rivers. Or it might be on Crane Creek when water levels are right. “We are blessed in Northeast Iowa with an abundant number of rivers to float,” notes Siefken, who turned his love for adventure and float trips into his CrawDaddy Outdoors business in Waverly. “If I want to see wildlife, I paddle the Wapsi in Bremer County. If I want some faster rapids, I head to the Yellow, Volga or the Winnebago rivers. If I want to float and not see anyone, I head to the Wapsi in Bremer County or Crane Creek.” When time is short and a day trip is in order, the Volga and Yellow rivers rank high on Siefken’s list of possible destinations. In particular, he recommends the stretch from Klock’s Island Park in Fayette to the Volga State Recreation Area on the Volga River, and the Yellow River from the town of Volney downstream to the Ion Bridge. “They are faster rivers with lots of rapids that make the trip go by fast,” he explains. “They are also very scenic with lots of wildlife and few people. “Even though it is faster water and more rapids, that doesn’t
mean it’s more dangerous. You just need to pay attention more and be ready to react to the river conditions.” When an overnight adventure is an option, Siefken often chooses the Cedar River from Charles City to Waverly. “Camping along the rivers gets to be a little more challenging, as in most of Northeast Iowa you cannot typically camp on sandbars as that is private property,” he notes. “The only rivers where you can camp on the sandbars in Northeast Iowa are the Mississippi, the Turkey River below Clermont, the Wapsipinicon River below Central City, the Maquoketa River below Maquoketa and the Cedar River below Cedar Falls. “Looking for stretches of river that allow you to camp at public campgrounds is the best way to accomplish this. Along the Upper Iowa, you have a number of private and public campgrounds that allow for easy access. The Turkey, Cedar, Wapsi and Shell Rock rivers would have a fair number of public campgrounds at proper distances to make camping and access possible.” The Cedar River trip ranks high because the river is large enough that there’s always enough water for a float and because it offers outstanding viewing of wildlife and some of the best walleye fishing in the state. “In Charles City, check out Iowa’s only whitewater park,” Siefken suggests. “Start below the whitewater park and float to Nashua. Camp at Howards Woods County campground or at the city park, then paddle to North Cedar Park at Plainfield the next day. The following day paddle to Cedar Bend Park just north of Waverly, or continue paddling into Waverly to Three Rivers or Kohlmann Park.” Ideally, you can arrange a shuttle vehicle to meet you at the campgrounds along the way with your camping gear and personal items so you won’t have to stow them in your kayak or canoe.
COURTESY PHOTO
A group of canoers and kayakers embark on a spring paddle in Northeast Iowa.
“We are blessed in Northeast Iowa with an abundant number of rivers to float.” Darrin Siefken Canoeing, kayaking enthusiast
Meanwhile, you’ll get the most enjoyment out of your trip if you do a little advance research. “An important thing to remember is to check water levels and so some research about the river you are floating,” offers Siefken. “There are some maps on the web, but the best information and maps are found in the Paddling Iowa book. It covers most of Iowa and has great maps, water level suggestions, description of the trip and shuttling recommendations. Also check out the usgs.gov website that will give you current water levels to plan your trip.”
Cr aw Daddy OU TDOORS 319.352.9129 207 E BREMER AVE WAVERLY, IA 50677
W W W. C R AW D A D D Y O U T D O O R S . C O M camping kayaking backpacking outdoor cooking safety clinics guided trips
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2013 OUTDOOR GUIDE
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Turkeys are plentiful in Iowa ■ Statewide population up about 25 percent from a year ago By JOE WILKINSON Iowa DNR
COURIER FILE PHOTO
The outlook is good once again for Iowa hunters planning to pursue wild turkeys this spring.
CATFISH
Area rivers loaded with hungry, hard-fighting channel catfish From page 4 Late summer and early fall finds channel cat migrating toward their overwintering areas where they typically arrive early in November and don’t leave until the following spring. Catfish will eat nearly anything, including crayfish, nightcrawlers, chicken liver, leeches, various forage fish species, stinkbaits, insects and grubs. Generally speaking, the diets of larger channel cats feature more fish, both live and dead. Some anglers like to use small bluegills, which are legal bait in Iowa if they are caught by legal means (hook and line). If it’s a monster flathead (30
pound-plus) you’re after, the Cedar River has its share. The best locations are downstream from Cedar Rapids, although sampling has turned up flatheads in the Waterloo, La Porte City and Vinton areas. Bullheads, sunfish or big chubs are good baits. Northeast Iowa’s rivers offer the best numbers and most consistent catfishing due primarily to strong natural reproduction, but there are plenty of opportunities in area lakes, too, where catfish are typically stocked. “One lake that’s always good for numbers and some decent fish is Casey Lake (at Hickory Hills Park south of Waterloo),” notes DNR fisheries biologist Dan Kirby. “Another one where we don’t see a lot of people fishing but we know has really good numbers of cats is George Wyth Lake. We
Spring turkey hunters in Iowa should notice more birds. Dry conditions in 2012 meant a better hatch and first year of growth for poults. As about 45,000 hunters head to the woods through April and May, that can’t hurt their chances of taking a gobbler. “Across the state, we had about a 25 percent increase. North central and northeast Iowa had great increases in reproduction,” notes DNR forest research biologist Todd Gosselink. East central and southwest Iowa showed healthy increases, too … though with fewer overall sightings. Poults with hens, sighted by DNR field staff and other cooperators during the late summer, together with fall bowhunter
did some hoop netting there this summer and we had really high numbers and some good-sized cats, as well.” Brinker Lake and Big Woods Lake can provide some decent fishing, although their connection to the Cedar River keeps their populations fluid. South Prairie Lake in Cedar Falls showed good number in sampling with fish up to eight pounds, and there’s a strong population in Mitchell Lake. “We just don’t have people fishing them as much as we used to,” notes Kirby. “People seem to want more of the bass and bluegills and walleyes and so forth. “We’ve actually reduced our stocking numbers of catfish the last 5 to 10 years. When we got out there and studied the catfish in some of these lakes, the numbers were so high we didn’t want to see them get any higher.”
observations, and eventual harvest of year old ‘jakes’ the next spring help formulate Iowa’s hatch and brood success index. Iowa’s turkey season opens with the April 6-14 youth season. The regular seasons fall in line after that; April 15-18, April 1923, April 24-30 and May 1-19 for combination shotgun/bow tag holders. A resident archery only tag is good throughout the four regular seasons. Spring turkey hunting coincides with pre-breeding and then breeding activity of the big gamebirds. With snow just recently disappearing throughout much of Iowa this week, Gosselink is getting inquiries about the effect of a ‘late spring.’ Checking weather patterns for past years, though, he calls 2013—so far—a normal spring. “They’ll strut this time of year. What we hope for is that when seasons begin, with an increase in temperatures, it will really get the turkey activity going, full steam.” The expansion again this year
of the youth season might seem like an early start. However, the April 15 opening day of the first regular season is on track with season openers in past years. That nine-day youth season provides extra one-on-one mentoring with hunters under 16. In earlier years, bad weather over the shorter four day season could erase a young hunter’s chances to head to the woods … especially if he or she could only go out on the weekend. Youth hunter numbers set a record in 2012, with 3,450 licenses sold. And with the longer season, harvest success was up a whopping 81 percent. Across all spring seasons in 2012, hunters holding 45,159 licenses in Iowa harvested 10,457 bearded turkeys. An Iowa resident may obtain up to two spring turkey tags, so long as one is for use in Season 4. Ahead of your first forays into the turkey woods during the season, turkey experts urge you to do some subtle scouting.
See TURKEYS, page 7
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License sales show Iowans enjoying outdoors DES MOINES — Hunting and Iowa license sales fishing are popular pursuits in RESIDENT FISHING Iowa. 2nd season shotgun deer 45,971 Total 328,718 Statistics gleaned from the Deer archery 55,075 Annual 318,003 Late muzzleloader 20,425 census bureau indicate that Lifetime 6,938 Youth deer 9,555 approximately 3.1 million people Seven-day 1,215 Spring turkey seasons 1-3 16,919 live in the state. Of those, 1.9 One-day 2,562 Spring turkey season 4 12,368 million are between the ages of Trout stamps 39,351 Spring turkey archery 5,295 18 and 65. Spring turkey youth 3,789 Tie that in with Iowa DepartNON-RESIDENT FISHING Landowner any-deer 33,707 ment of Natural Resources staTotal 40,090 Landowner antlerless deer 32,613 tistics for resident fishing and Trout stamps 4,306 Landowner turkey 5,017 hunting license sales and it NON-RESIDENT HUNTING RESIDENT HUNTING begins to paint a picture of a Total 23,421 Total 164,194 state that truly enjoys the outHabitat fees 23,421 Annual 161,843 door pursuits available within Migratory game birds 2,162 Lifetime 2,351 our borders. Archery deer 4,073 Habitat fees 161,228 A total of 328,718 resident fishFirst season shotgun 2,760 Migratory game birds 24,301 ing licenses were sold in 2012. Second season shotgun 941 Fur harvestor 19,219 Assuming that the majority of Late muzzleloader 1,291 1st season shotgun deer 57,783 those licenses were purchased by the age group between 18 and 65, that’s one of about every six hunting licenses, despite the fact serious decline. adults. that Iowa’s pheasant population Non-residents are enjoying Iowans also purchased 164,194 has experienced several years of Iowa’s bounty, as well. DNR
statistics show that 40,090 purchased fishing licenses and 23,421 bought hunting licenses. Iowans are camping more than ever, too. They spent 709,595 days in Iowa state parks last year, up nearly 25,000 from a year ago.
Lewis and Clark State Park tops the list of destinations, followed by Rock Creek, Viking Lake, Lake Ahquabi and Clear Lake state parks. Brushy Creek near Webster City is eighth on the list and Backbone State Park near Manchester is 10th.
DNR’s new atlas a good tool for hunters DES MOINES — Hunters have a new tool that may improve their in the field experience even before opening day. The Iowa hunting atlas is an interactive map that shows 600,000 acres of public hunting land that is owned by the state, county or federal governments. The atlas is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting. A click on an area will show
basic information like zone and open season, and links to maps, if available. The atlas view from above allows hunters to zoom in on an area, see how to get there, the lay of the land and where one parcel of public hunting land is in relation to others. Information will be updated as public hunting lands are acquired. Monica Thelen, who spear-
headed the project for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said the atlas is currently usable on computers and tablets and they are working toward a version of the map for mobile phones. “This is current information at their fingertips, available 24 hours a day that hunters can access to plan their hunts,” Thelen said.
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PAGE 8
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2013 OUTDOOR GUIDE
Morel of the story: Look up ■ Dead or dying trees promote growth of tasty mushrooms By CARSON TIGGES carson.tigges@wcfcourier.com
Look up before you look down. That’s according to Hartman Nature Reserve Program Coordinator Chris Anderson, a 30year veteran of morel mushroom hunting. He’s awaiting another upcoming season of Iowa’s delicious treasure hunt. “I want dead, standing trees with the bark still on,” Anderson said. “You want to scan the trees and timber, look up and see which trees don’t have any buds or leaves on them.” Remaining bark means the tree is recently dead, there’s still life in the roots, and that’s when you look down to continue the search for mushrooms. In previous generations, as Dutch elm disease swept through forests, elm trees were the best targets. In upcoming generations, as the emerald ash borer claims its arbor victims, ash trees will start to fit the mold. But the type of tree really doesn’t matter — only the fact that it is dead or dying and able to trigger a chemical reaction under the ground to sprout fungi. “There are chemicals in the roots that are released to the fungi that are attached to the roots,” said Anderson. “They form some kind of symbiotic relationship. Scientists, as far as I know, still don’t know why. When a tree starts to die, it basically sends a signal to the fungus that, if you are going to reproduce, you have to do it now because your host is dying.” This specific circle of life occurs every spring with varying degrees of intensity. It all depends on the weather as morels sprout when it’s not too cold, yet not too hot. Along with a little bit of moisture, temperatures around the clock need to be in the 40s, 50s
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Planning a vacation Here’s a list of online resources that may be helpful when planning a Midwestern fishing or hunting vacation or trip outside of Iowa: MINNESOTA exploreminnesota.com minnesotaresorts.com minnesota-resorts.com mn-resorts-review.com WISCONSIN wisvacations.com
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Morel mushrooms are a tasty spring treat, and they are abundant in the woodlands of Northeast Iowa. Chris Anderson of Hartman Reserve Nature Center says dead or dying trees that are still standing often trigger mushroom growth. or 60s with conditions never dropping below freezing. A good indicator of the start of morel season is sometime around Mother’s Day, but the conditions from year to year really dictate the entire process. “Sometimes it’s a weekend, sometimes a week, sometimes two weeks, sometimes it’ll go from April into May,” said Anderson. “But they’re usually done by mid-May.” After the hunt is when the feast begins. Morels can garner about $20 for a one-pound bag — and sometimes up to $30 depending on the season — at farmer’s markets. Anderson has never gotten that far because he usually gobbles them up before that opportunity arises. After soaking and washing in a salt-water brine, preparation methods are unlimited. From frying the morels in a crackercrumb breading to a version of shrimp scampi on top of pasta, the Internet may be your best resource for every recipe under the sun. Table manners while devouring are one thing while etiquette out in the field is another. There are some rules about encroaching on others’ “turf” but, generally speaking, morels are available on
a first-come, first-served basis. “If you’re on public ground, everyone pays public taxes, so you have just as much right to take them as anyone,” said Anderson. “The three things you can take from public ground are mushrooms, nuts and berries.” Mushroom hunting is growing in popularity and there aren’t many restrictions for those who want to hop into the delicious and possibly lucrative hobby. A mesh sack to carry picked morels and possibly spread whatever spores happen to remain is accepted protocol and, perhaps most importantly, knowing exactly what you’re picking is essential information for something that will ultimately be ingested. But, like anything, if you take the proper precautions and work with experience, there is little to worry about. “There’s a false morel. I do not understand why it’s called a false morel because I don’t know how you’d ever confuse a false morel with an actual,” said Anderson. “As far as other mushrooms, you can get a book that you trust or I’d just recommend finding someone who knows mushrooms and go out with them.”
By JIM NELSON jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com
The days of canvas tents, a gas lantern and a Coleman stove have long passed when it comes to camping. Innovations and technology have made camping in recreational vehicles a whole lot more comfortable. From air conditioning to slideouts to outdoor kitchens and even more recently, RVs with 1
1/2 baths, the world of camping is ever-changing. “Outdoor kitchens with refrigerators, stoves are the newest big thing,” said 28-year RV salesman Don King of Fogdall RV. “We’re also seeing RVs with two doors, one that leads directly into the bathroom. “And slideouts and multiple slideouts, that has been the biggest thing in the last 10 years.
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2013 OUTDOOR GUIDE
ing trailers that have rear space to carry ATVs, motorcycles and other all-terrian vehicles. While innovations have made RVs spectacular, the market for new RVs fluctuates because of the fickle economy. “It changes so fast,” said Greg Heath of A1 Vacationland. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years and every time we think we have the answers for the RV market, believe me we don’t even have
the questions.” The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association reported RV manufacturers shipped 24,460 units in August of 2012, the strongest August in five years, with a total of 273,600 expected to be moved for the year, an 8.4 increase over 2011. Industry projections see a slight increase for 2013 with 275,300 units expected to be moved.
PAGE 9
THE COURIER The RVIA says there are indicators for future growth, while RV ownership has reached record levels recently with 8.9 million American households now owning an RV, the highest level ever. Additionally, baby boomers are reaching retirement age, and the baby-boomer age range is the highest of all RV owners. Locally the results are mixed. Heath says business has been down, but service on older units is at an all-time high. At Fogdall, King says business is up 15 percent, the largest increase for Fogdall since 2008. “Many of those are repeat customers, and probably 90 percent of our business is of the towable variety, which is more affordable,” King said. While high gas prices have made consumers of RVs scale back on long trips, Heath and King say that isn’t a new trend to Northeast Iowa. “We are so blessed with many great campgrounds in Northeast Iowa,” Heath said. “Campers can go a short distance, find a great campground and have a good time.” Two campgrounds within the immediate area, George Wyth State Park and Black Hawk
Park, are consistently packed on weekends. “I would say most people who have RVs will camp within 50 miles of where they live,” King added. “That doesn’t mean all do it, but my guess is 75 percent of our customers stay within 50 miles.” Another benefit to having great campgrounds in the area is business on two fronts. “It is a huge benefit for our type of business because RV consumers typically do business within a 100-mile radius of their home,” King said. For Heath and A1 Vacationland, where their service department has picked up the slack when sales have been slow, he has sent a lot of servicemen out to local calls and some as far away as Clermont, MacGregor and Marquette, which is part of a new trend — leaving an RV at a permanant location. “We do a lot of service on campers where it doesn’t look like they’ve moved from their pad in two or three years,” Heath said. “I believe those type of campers are enjoying what they can without spending a lot of money to do it.”
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PAGE 10
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2013 OUTDOOR GUIDE
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Now’s the time to get your boat ready for water ■ Preseason maintenance “They build family important for avoiding memories that are worth problems later more than 100 days at work or they’re worth By NICK PETAROS nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com more than the day-in, dayWATERLOO — Memories of out grind of life. But if you catching a big fish on Labor Day don’t take care of them, weekend can carry a boat owner through a grueling winter. then all of a sudden those Once spring hits, the anticipation of creating new memories memories can turn sour.” has outdoor enthusiasts itching to back their boat down the ramp and launch it. Before that happens, some basic preseason boat maintenance can provide peace of mind. “These boats are toys, they’re not staples of life,” said Jerry Makedonski, a longtime marine service technician at Chain of Lakes Marine, Inc., in Waterloo. “They build family memories that are worth more than 100 days at work or they’re worth more than the day-in, day-out grind of life. But if you don’t take care of them, then all of a sudden those memories can turn sour.” While the first warm day of spring has boat owners eager to get back on the water, planning ahead can ensure a smooth experience. Makedonski says one of the most common mistakes recreational boaters make is failing to properly fuel the vehicle. Additives should be put into the fuel and fully mixed and ingested into the engine prior to storage. Paying attention to the gasoline is also important. “For some reason the consumer believes gasoline is good forever,”
Jerry Makedonski Chain of Lakes marine service technician
Makedonski said. “Nowadays it lasts for about six weeks before it starts dramatically losing octane. From any point past that sixweek mark with the high performance engines that are out there — we have engines that are now 100 to 125 pounds putting out three times the horsepower they used to 15 years ago — they can’t stand being run on fuel that is less than premium.” Prior to transporting a boat that has been sitting all winter, it is recommended that boat owners take a general walk-around of their trailer. Make sure the tires are properly inflated and the wheel bearings are in good condition. The trailer lights also need to be checked. “Don’t discount the fact that your tow vehicle’s light plug hangs in the salt and muck and the mire all winter, and now in the spring you expect it to work,” Makedonski said. “Check those things out. Make sure your trailer is road worthy.” Services shops can inspect the
MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor
Nolan Hilton (in front), shop manager at Chain of Lakes Marine in Waterloo, works with Ben Stark to replace the power pack on a boat engine recently. engine, fuel delivery systems and battery systems built into a boat. It’s recommended that boaters get into a shop two weeks prior to the first trip of the season. “Preventative maintenance is going to cost the same roughly for whatever engine you have, new or old,” said Nolan Hilton, also a service technician at Chain of Lakes Marine. “The problem we run into is with the newer engines. If you don’t do preventative maintenance, the repair cost is going to be a lot higher.” After making sure the trailer and operational portions of a boat are taken care of, there are features out of the ordinary that could also catch a boater off-guard. Bilge pumps, which empty out water that comes into a boat, need to be serviced and operating correctly. Livewell pumps that deliver water to store fish can freeze over the winter if they’re not stored correctly. “It’s a very quick procedure to go through and check all these things out,” Makedonski said. “The mechanic who’s checking them out will just write you a list on what he feels some attention
could be paid to. “Once you get past that point, whether it’s our shop or any other shop in town, you’re going to come away from the shop feeling comfortable taking your boat
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Props are key to getting most out of your boat ■ Refurbishing worn propellers one way to increase performance
stainless prop. You can’t wear one of those out.’ “I tell them if they’ve ever gone to a waterfall where the water is hitting the rocks below, that rock is eventually going to be gone after time. Simons says an average boat
By DOUG NEWHOFF doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com
CEDAR FALLS — From ski boats and pleasure boats to fishing boats and pontoons, the name of the game is performance. Whether it’s hole shot, cornering or top end, how a boat responds and handles in various situations goes a long way toward making a satisfied owner. Ultimately, it’s all about props. The size, style and pitch of the blades you hang on your motor are as important as the hull design or how much horsepower you have pushing your craft. The questions boaters must address are whether to go with an aluminum or a stainless steel prop, how many blades to turn and how to match the size and pitch of the prop to achieve an engine’s optimal RPM range. “Aluminum props cost about 40 percent less than stainless,” says Gene Simons, who, along with his wife Barb, has been operating the Prop Shop in Cedar Falls for more than 20 years. “What you get with stainless is a prop that will last longer, increase hole shot, increase top end and increase your gas mileage and overall performance due to the fact that stainless doesn’t flex and aluminums do. “If you buy a stainless prop, it will probably be the last one you buy. If you buy aluminum ... I’ve got customers who buy one or two aluminums a year.” Dialing in exactly the right prop can be a matter of trial and error. In general, boat and motor manufacturers do an excellent job of recommending the correct props, but factors such as rough water, a need for speed or a desire for a stronger hole shot
owner should expect 2-3 years of outstanding performance from an aluminum prop and as many as 6-7 years from a stainless steel prop. It’s all about performance. Give your boat the props it deserves.
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Barb and Gene Simons, owners of the Prop Shop in Cedar Falls, have been helping boaters get peak performance out of their rigs for more than 20 years. may require a different prop. “A four-blade increases your hole shot probably 20 percent, so people who ski a lot and want that bottom end will go that route,” explains Simons. “A three-blade is faster on the top end, probably 5-6 mph faster than a four-blade prop. “With the three-blade, when you take off, the bow comes up. With the four-blade, when you take off, it picks the stern up at the back end.” A prop’s pitch determines how fast it turns and how much water it displaces. Basically, the larger pitch an engine is able to turn while remaining within recommended RPM ranges, the more speed it will provide. “Take a 17-pitch prop,” notes Simons. “Theoretically, with every revolution it moves the boat 17 inches in the water. With each pitch you increase, you increase RPMs by 200. The lower the pitch, the better the hole shot but less top end. To get in your power range, which is typically around 5,000-5,200 RPMs, you adjust your prop size up or down.” Sometimes, pontoon owners end up with the wrong prop.
“A lot of times, people will take the motor off a runabout or whatever and use it on their pontoon,” notes Simons. “They leave the old prop on it, which was made for a Lund or something else. Pontoon props have bigger blades and bigger diameter to give them more thrust.” Over time, boaters may notice slight decreases in performance. It’s easy to tell if a damaged prop is the cause by dings, broken blades or unusual vibration in the engine while under power, which can blow out the prop seal, allow water into the lower unit and lead to serious damage to seals and bearings. The eye test may not tip you off that your prop needs to be reconditioned because of simple wear, which is accelerated for boaters who run through a lot of sand and mud. “The average guy will start gaining RPMs and losing speed and performance on a worn prop,” he explains. “You won’t have the hole shot or the top end when the cup is gone and the blades are getting smaller. If you took a new one and put it beside the old one, you can tell night and day. “Everybody says, ‘I’ve got a
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