How Will This Heavy Hitting Winter Affect the Fishing When the Ice Goes Away?

Do extreme winters affect the fishing once the warm winds return, the snow dissipates and the ice melts? I put this question to Freshwater Fishing Hall of Famer Mr. Walleye, Gary Roach. He compared this winter to the winter of 1956 and stated that there must have been some global warming back then as well because one is a carbon copy of the other.

Roach spoke of never-ending cold temperatures mixed with heavy snows and high winds. He said there was no escaping the raw extremes. There was no global warming to blame the weather on back then so the bitter feelings were directed at Mother Nature. 

Roach was putting a few bucks in his pocket by working for a logging operation making fifty dollars a week. Unless the temperature dropped to 20 below zero you were cutting trees. The snow was so deep in some places it was hard to find the tree after it hit the ground. Clothing wasn’t as developed as today’s options so staying warm meant starting a fire every couple of hours to warm the spots where the frostbite was taking hold.

Roach credits this extreme winter of 1956 as the catalyst that pushed him into the Navy. Trying to get some feeling back into his extremities he headed for California where he joined the armed forces on his arrival. 

According to Mr. Walleye the extreme winter the upper Midwest has experienced this year could create some difficult fishing conditions for anglers if temperatures rise too quickly. Roach is worried the winter will hold on like last year and then temperatures will rise quickly causing rapid snow melt and loads of runoff.

Rivers will rise rapidly and run fast which always makes boat control on moving water difficult. The spawning migration is also disrupted which can mean a weak year class and affect fishing for years down the road.

In lakes, water levels are also apt to rise and this will spread the fish out instead of concentrating them in tighter groups on the limited structure shallower water affords.

Roach says river anglers need to get out before the snow melts to take advantage of the upstream migration before water levels and current pushes anglers into backwater areas. 

On lakes where water levels have risen use techniques that allow more areas to be searched, The objective is to cover ground looking for smaller schools of fish that are spread out on deeper weedlines and larger flats. 

Roach is expecting a later than usual ice out this year because there is a lot of snow to melt off of most lakes before the ice begins to disappear. Late ice outs means later spawn and later post-spawn transitions. This means peak fishing periods, if they occur will be two to three weeks later than normal. Last year was a late peak period so the timing should be about the same.

One good thing to come from this winter is that anglers were limited in their spots during the ice fishing season so harvest levels are likely down on most lakes. That means more fish when the ice is gone.

Call It What It Is -- Pollution

The country has had a tough winter. Bitter cold in places that never get cold. Heavy snow in spots that seldom see the white stuff. It has been a tough winter all over. But, that hasn’t stopped those that are pushing the global warming agenda from digging out all their ammunition to get every shot they can through every media outlet they can find to let people know that the reason for this horrendous weather is due to, well, global warming.

Maybe it is, and maybe it’s not, but over six in 10 people in a March Gallup poll said they don't think global warming will seriously threaten them during their lifetimes and when weather like we’ve had happens that number might just rise. 

The problem is when it’s freezing cold outside and someone is telling you the planet is warming it’s kind of like someone telling you pheasant numbers are down but you just happen to be hunting some of the best cover in the state. It’s tough to fathom at the time.

So, if I were the scientists, politicians and global warming ambassadors trying to spread the climate change message, I would keep my mouth tightly shut during times like these. Here’s why.

I believe certain people are swarming onto the global warming bandwagon because they see this issue as one that will scare people into realizing how much pollution we’re pumping into our atmosphere each year. If we believe we’re destroying the planet and will damage “the children” then we’ll get to alternative energy sources faster.

The problem with this bandwagon is when it gets stuck in a ten foot snow drift in sub-zero weather no one wants to be on it.

We need to call global warming what it is. Air pollution. Few would argue we pump too much pollution into the air through the things we need to power. But this problem cannot be solved by trying to make everyone feel guilty about making the planet’s temperature rise a few degrees over the next millennium. When the argument is positioned for an end result that is generations away, most people won’t care. That’s not a good solution to the problem.

And I’m sorry to all you alternative energy promoters out there. If we cover the entire planet in solar and wind generators it’s not enough to power even a small amount of what we need as a planet. Some day we’ll be crying the blues when our water is polluted with mercury from those light bulbs we were forced to use.

What’s the solution? Good question. Nuclear would work but too many in political power bow to the lobbies that would never want nuclear being used. Less energy consumption? There are a bunch of other countries ramping up their usage so conserving might make us feel good but have little impact as a whole.

I guess we just keep demonizing oil and gas and coal and someday when we can’t produce enough because old power plants will become obsolete with no replacements then we will be forced to shut down our energy using appliances.

I just hope that doesn’t happen during another winter like this one.

Hunting With a Crossbow

I would love to hunt deer with a crossbow during the regular archery season, but the state I live in doesn’t allow it. Currently there are 21 states that allow crossbows during the regular archery season and others are slowly, begrudgingly, moving that direction.

Why do so many states limit the ability of hunters to use a crossbow during the regular seasons? That’s a good questions and I’m sure each state has their own reasons, but in the end it really comes down to change. Nobody likes change.

Hunters that use traditional as well as compound bows have had little competition in the woods during their special bow seasons. While the number of archery hunters grows each year in some parts of the country, the population of these individuals is still relatively small when compared to the number of hunters that use firearms.

Now consider adding another group of individuals to the program that never had access to that season before and even though the numbers will still be relatively low, the perception is that the woods will be crawling with hunters that have weapons capable of killing accurately at great distances without any practice. This notion leads to intense lobbying of the powers that create the regulations as well as loads of chat room discussions and letters-to-the-editor. Those that currently take advantage of the archery season sure don’t want another bunch of hunters in the woods. 

Firearms hunters don’t like the idea of adding another demographic to the hunt that get to take to the deer cover earlier. This will mean fewer deer during the gun season because those killer crossbows will take all the biggest and best before the gun hunters get to them.

The poor crossbow hunter. It seems that even though crossbows are not that much more efficient than compound bows, the crossbow gets tossed into the realm of misconception that it is more deadly and accurate than a compound bow. I agree that it takes some practice to be consistent with a standard bow over a crossbow, but any weapon used to hunt game should get some practice time, even shotgun and rifles. It’s just a lazy hunter that doesn’t put some polish on their shooting skills before a season begins. And so what if the crossbow is a bit more deadly and accurate. This means cleaner kills, and that should be what every hunter strives for.

Of course the data is in. The states that have legalized crossbows during the archery season see about an additional six to nine thousand bowhunters take to the woods. The amount of deer harvested during the archery season goes up as well, but it barely adds a percent to the overall numbers that are killed. 

In the outdoor sports there will always be elitists. Those that think they are at the top of the ladder and everyone else below, trying to climb past them, just deserves a boot in the mouth to knock them back down. But those vying for position on the top best be careful. I’m old enough to remember when archery hunters were looked down on and castigated for losing lots of wounded animals and messing up the hunt for the riflemen. It won’t hurt to increase the size of the fraternity and adding crossbow hunting to the regular archery season would open up economic opportunity for archers as well as bolster their lobbying power. From the records it seems these are the results in the states where crossbows are legal and I predict it’s just a matter of time before all 50 states see the benefits of expanding the program. I myself, can hardly wait.

A Dozen Holiday Gift Ideas for the Outdoors Fanatic in your Life

It’s the question that plagues gift buyers everywhere during this season: What do you purchase a mom, dad, son or daughter who has everything for the holidays? Sure a person could just buy a gift certificate, but how about a little personalized creativity? Read below for a bunch of nifty ideas that the outdoorsman or woman might not buy for him- or herself, but certainly would appreciate from a loved one. 

For those good boys and girls, consider placing one of these items – most suitable for stockings – on Santa’s list. I’ve done the thinking, now you just enjoy the buying and giving.

The Gear Grabbar

Remember last summer fishing with Dear Old Dad when he was rapid-fire piling up his lures on the console of the boat? Laser-focused on discovering the hot lure, he kept spouting off about “being versatile,” but ended up with a pile of tangled hooks and lures. We’ve all been there, spending 15 minutes trying to tease apart nasty treble hooks after a day on the water.

No more! The Gear Grabbar uses magnets to hold lures conveniently apart, so Dad or anyone else on your Christmas list can change lures faster and maximize fishing time. The Gear Grabbar, from Magnetic Marine Products, attaches under your gunwale and allows super easy lure attachment and release, so users can stay organized and safe when managing their sharp-hooked lures.   www.magneticmarineproducts.com

Real Avid 18-in-1 Shooter’s Multi-Tool

A fine, stocking-sized, stocking-priced tool that will make the outdoorsman in your life smile is the 18-in-1 Shooter’s Multi-Tool from Real Avid.

Firearms rarely malfunction at home. When you’re on the range or in the field, that’s when Murphy’s Law kicks in. The firearms and shooting experts at Real Avid constructed The Gun Tool because hunters and shooters have specific needs that general-purpose multi-tools just don’t satisfy. So bring along the one tool that can fix almost any problem. The Gun Tool changes choke tubes, mounts scopes, tightens screws and adjusts scope turrets. It handles breakdowns and break-down actions.

One day at the range with the 18-in-1 Shooter’s Multi-Tool, and the firearms enthusiast in your life will wonder how he or she lived without this product. Don’t take my word for it. How about the NRA’s? In 2012, the National Rifle Association’s American Hunter magazine awarded The Gun Tool their Golden Bull’s-eye award in the “Gear of the Year” category.    www.realavid.com

Zippo Outdoors 4-in-1 Woodsman

Zippo says you can search the deepest, darkest primordial forest and never find a tool as versatile and capable as the 4-in-1 Woodsman from Zippo Outdoors. Last summer in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, I took Zippo up on the challenge, and you know what? They were right!

When I’m heading afield, I like to consolidate weight, and this device does exactly that, without sacrificing quality. Carry this one Zippo product into camp and you have a bow saw that cuts hardwoods up to 4 inches in diameter, a mallet, a stake puller, and a hatchet with a 5-inch blade, all in one tool. 

I’ve never seen an outdoor camping tool that gives you more capability for the weight or the money. And I don’t just use it for camping. I keep it in my garage for all sorts of work in the backyard, and I throw it in my pickup before heading out to scout treestand sites in the summer and early autumn.

Few pieces of gear make my mandatory outdoor list, but the Zippo Outdoors 4-in-1 Woodsman is one of them. Any outdoorsperson in your life will feel the same this holiday season.    www.zippo.com

Zippo Emergency Fire Starter Kit

Here’s another fine product from Zippo that qualifies as a simple, but valuable tool any outdoors user would be thrilled to find in his stocking on Dec. 25. Quite frankly, it could save the life of the person who takes it afield.

The Zippo Emergency Fire Starter Kit is not a lighter (though it’s about the same size) and doesn’t even rely on a flame to start a fire. It uses a simple flint wheel to spark water-resistant, waxed tinder sticks that store in a waterproof case. So in emergencies, where matches or lighters are unavailable, this kit can start a fire almost instantly.

Some of the nation’s top people think pretty highly of the Zippo Emergency Fire Starter Kit, too. It was awarded the seal of approval by the North American Hunting Club. 

A trustworthy companion through everyday life and uncommon adventures: that about sums up the Zippo Emergency Fire Starter – a great product at an affordable price.

www.zippo.com

Case Knives

Though any of these gift ideas would work for men and women alike, how about a product with a little extra emphasis on the ladies? Pocket knives make great universal gifts, but the outdoor man seeking a gift for the outdoors woman ought to consider the Mother of Pearl Peanut knife from Case.

It’s a beautiful little pocketknife and a great unique alternative to jewelry for the right kind of gal. Harvested from the inner lining of oyster shells, The Case Peanut’s handle is admired as much for its strength as its beauty. Other styles and blade choices also are available the Case’s Mother of Pearl Line.

Give a gal a knife this winter, and she just might accompany you to the treestand next fall.    www.wrcase.com

The Speed Cinch

Whether it’s parking a boat on a dock or raising wall tents and screen tents, adjusting ropes is a pain. Here’s a nifty tool boaters or other outdoor users of all ages will appreciate. The Original Speed Cinch makes tying-off easier by taking knots and rope-tension adjusting bars out of the equation.

The marine version is a tie-down device designed to adjust and hold the working ends of lines quickly and securely, without tying a knot. It’s an innovative, affordable tool for boat mooring, rafting, fender management, and rigging applications.

Campers, outdoor sports enthusiasts and property owners will find the Speed Cinch Stake to be a versatile, durable, low-cost tool for anchoring tents, temporary outdoor shelters, sports nets, trees and shrubs, holiday yard decorations, and more. Both are great stocking stuffers for the outdoorsman in your life.    www.speedcinch.com

Universal Shotgun Skins

Back around Halloween, I was showing my firearms to my grandson. He noticed the nasty fraying of the camouflage tape on my turkey shotgun. Most turkey hunters have the same problem. We wrap our shotguns with the stuff, then it unfolds or the edges are sticky.

Eliminate that problem and keep your shotguns in great shape during the turkey offseason with Universal Shotgun Skins. Scope Skins and Rifle Skins also are available. The kits are pre-cut for covering most shotguns, rifles, and scopes with Mossy Oak camo. Why pay hundreds of dollars for a factory dipped camo package or mess around with irritating tape, when you can get the utility of camouflage and the versatility of being able to inexpensively change patterns based on your intended use?

This is a genius, affordable product that – again – will easily fit in a stocking!

www.mossyoakgraphics.com

Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo

I own a lot of rods and reels, for many specific kinds of fishing, but it’s amazing how often I fall back on one setup. Many anglers fall into the same “old reliable” mindset, and if that describes the angler in your life this holiday season, make that rod-and-reel setup the Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo.

The new Ugly Stik GX2 rod and reel combos deliver in all aspects of performance and offer some of the best value and toughest low-profile spinning combos on the market. The new GX2 line is available in seven different lengths and actions, including a spinning reel that’s the first Shakespeare has designed specifically for Ugly Stik.

Put a new rod-and-reel setup in your favorite angler’s hand this holiday season for better success next fishing season. www.uglystik.com

Lifeproof Case

Tired of that nagging feeling when you’re out-of-doors with a $200 smart phone in your pocket? Fall into the drink, take a nasty tumble, or if water tops your chest waders, and you’ll fry that mini-computer. But place your iPhone or Galaxy phone in a Lifeproof waterproof case, and you’ll experience a new sense of freedom and confidence outdoors.

The Lifeproof case delivers protection over oceans, ponds, or even the shower. Experts have called LifeProof the best of all the iPhone cases and iPad cases because it is waterproof, dust-proof and shock-proof. It looks great, too, with a sleek low profile that barely increases the size of your device. Now available in Realtree camo, it’s hard for deer to see, too!

A common complaint about many gifts: “He’ll never use it.” Well, I use my Lifeproof case every day of the year! It’s a practical gift that keep on giving.   www.lifeproof.com

360 Jig from Lindy Lures

The ice angler in your life needs to check out the 360 Jig from Lindy Lures. The fishing experts at Lindy have created an entirely new category of ice fishing lures with the 360 Jig. It features a body that spins on an internal axle that produces never-before-seen vibration and sound. That sounds acts as an attractant, but you also can work it slowly as a finesse lure. That means it performs for fish in active, neutral, or negative moods.

The oval-shaped jig sports a diagonal wing on each side resting on a color bead. It comes in 12 colors and four sizes. Put a handful of these babies under the tree, and you’ll be eating fresh fish for Christmas dinner.    www.lindyfishingtackle.com

Clam – Dave Genz Tungsten Drop Series

Tungsten is the word this winter across the nation’s ice-fishing scene. The weight and density of this valuable metal plunges into the strike zone and provides a unique action that should electrify the ice fishing world this winter.

Leading the way is Clam’s Dave Genz Tungsten Drop Series which includes seven new jigs – the Drop, Dingle Drop, Half Ant Drop, Epoxy Drop, Ant Drop, Maggot Drop, and Duckbill Drop. These jigs accomplish what ice fishing legend Dave Genz has been preaching for years: They fish heavy for their size.

Each jig offers a unique shape and distinct color patterns and they are available in a variety of sizes. Hardcore ice fishermen demanded a quality tungsten jig and Clam has delivered with the Dave Genz Drop series. The ice angler in your life can be the first to hit the ice with these lures if you wrap them between now and Dec. 25.

www.clamoutdoors.com

Jason Mitchell hub shelters from Clam

It won’t fit in a stocking but a Jason Mitchell hub shelter from Clam will deliver years of fishing success for the hard-water angler in your life. Hub-style ice shelters became all the rage last season. With increased seating capacity, high ceilings, and amazing stability in windy conditions – while still allowing anglers to be mobile – hub-style shelters popped up on lakes across the ice fishing belt.

In time for the 2013-14 ice fishing season, Clam has introducing its Jason Mitchell lineup of hub shelters. The company took an already solid shelter idea and created a new five-sided hub shelter with top-of-the-line full thermal skin. The new 600 denier thermal skin on these units retains heat in harsh conditions and reduces condensation better.

It provides 63.5 square feet of fishable room and a center ceiling height of 82 inches, so the Jason Mitchell Thermal 5000 has a 9-foot diameter footprint. That’s enough room for up to six anglers in a single, portable shelter.

Clam uses the toughest hub assemblies, quality frames, and durable thermal fabric in this model as well, simply making it a better shelter that will last for years. 

www.clamoutdoors.com

Some Things Never Change

The Democrats are taking away our guns. 

The Republicans are destroying our environment. 

The politicians don’t give a damn about us outdoor enthusiasts and all they do is take our money and put it in places that don’t do me one speck of good.

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard one of these statements I could buy a couple of new Sport Utility Rifles (AR-15 models). I am a little worried the Democrats might confiscate them in the near future or I might not have any place to shoot them once the Republicans convince all the farmers to plant corn over all the wildlife habitat. I would have enough money left over to buy some ammunition. Oh wait, the government has bought up all the ammo and the shelves are empty. What the government hasn’t bought is being hoarded by the fatalists that think a revolution is on the horizon.

Have we hunters and anglers always lived this way? Paranoid about the powers-that-be encroaching on what we perceive as our liberties. Disgusted at the rate of natural resources that are disappearing, falling under the banner of creating more food and cheaper fuel. 

I remember 40 years ago my father cussing all the No-Hunting signs that were being posted on lands that he had access to in the past. Even then small farms were disappearing, getting consolidated with other farms and leased to the corporate farming enterprises that were expanding their reach.

As far back as the early 1800’s some states were trying to ban guns. In 1837 Georgia passed a law banning handguns which was found unconstitutional. 

The NRA was formed in 1871 with the primary goal of improving civilian marksmanship in preparation for war. Today the NRA doesn’t worry so much about civilian marksmanship as much as making sure civilians have guns to practice with.

In 1972 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was created. Some think Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store and not a government agency, but it was thought this entity was needed to enforce the Gun Control Act of 1968 which regulates guns and gun dealers.

It was over 20 years ago that California banned “semi-automatic assault weapons” and over 30 years ago that the District of Columbia banned handguns.

From an anglers viewpoint the spread of exotic species has been an abomination when it comes to government programs. When a gun tragedy occurs legislators are screaming immediately for reforms. Docks are crawling with zebra mussels in lakes all over the country and you don’t hear a peep.

Some gang banger shoots another over drug turf and legislators point their fingers at me like I’m some kind of criminal because I am a gun owner. The same thing happens when an invasive plant species shows up in a lake, river or reservoir. Since I have a boat I’m the villain and the lawmakers want to put restrictions on me, the guy who is not shooting others and is cleaning his boat so not to spread invasive species. 

In fact, these exotic species should never have gotten here in the first place. Stringent regulations with huge fines for those in violation might have kept those asian carp from getting a foot-hold in this country. As far as gun control, you’ll never control violent crime by trying to talk sense to an inanimate object. Once legislators realize it’s all about people and not the guns then they will be a lot closer to solving the problems caused by drugs, alcohol and people that are just plain crazy. I also hope that our elected officials eventually realize that bringing land back to a state where it’s quality wildlife habitat is extremely difficult once it has had food crops planted on it. 

People tell me I have no reason to whine. I get to hunt and fish plenty and write the stories to share with others. It’s true. Life would be perfect if those dang Democrats weren’t trying to take my guns and the Republican weren’t destroying all my hunting spots. Whoops. It looks like I owe somebody a dime.

Killing Pheasants Isn't As Easy As It Used To Be

The numbers are down everywhere. For a while you couldn’t pick up an outdoor publication or go to a hunting web site without reading the blaring headlines about the precipitous drop in pheasant numbers. What should we expect? Habitat is disappearing faster than Rolaids at a Chili Cook-Off. There’s no where for the pheasants to nest. There’s no where for them to hide. And when all the crops are picked there’s no where for them to go.

A few years ago when the cover began getting plowed under, burned and scraped away there were still plenty of birds and the limited amount of cover concentrated them. You could pick any little patch of grass or cattail and flush some roosters. Such is not the case anymore. The nesting success with the lack of good nesting cover has knocked the numbers of pheasants down to the point where there aren’t many birds around anymore.

I used to hunt in Iowa. It’s where I was born and spent the first 27 years of my life. Pheasant hunting was always good in Iowa. No longer. My last trip there for pheasant hunting I stomped through the limited cover for two days and never shot a rooster. There were hawks on power poles everywhere and I spotted a half dozen piles of feathers where these raptors had picked off a hen pheasant.

I still hunt Minnesota and the Dakotas but it is getting tough in these states as well. Minnesota is losing cover and the spring nesting success has been poor due to weather these past few years. You have to work hard for a limit of two roosters. 

South Dakota hunting around Aberdeen is still decent but even though Brown County still has more pheasant per acre than anywhere in the world, the lower numbers mean you might have to spend another hour in the field to get your three birds.

I don’t blame the landowners for this situation. They have to make a buck and when you think about it, with crop prices where they are there is little incentive to set aside an acre of land for conservation. Farmers for years were getting beat up by low crop prices and now when they can make a decent dime from planting they are striking when the iron is hot. Who knows how long the prices will stay high.

Should I blame the government? I might as well. They’re the ones subsidizing ethanol fuel which drives the price of corn up which makes it more lucrative to plant as much as possible, even on marginal land. But then I’m told it’s more complicated than that.

I’ll just have to be patient until the pendulum swings and we can get the amount of cover back to higher levels through incentives. We love the government when a program is working and we hate the institution when their programs are faltering. Right now their CRP program is a joke, but someday I might get to hunt Iowa again.  For now I’m just going to leave that one bird they have down there alone.

Technology - Good or Bad

I was at an event recently where technology became the topic of conversation among a retired resort owner and fishing guide, and myself. Straddling 80 years of age this veteran guide told stories of how he row-trolled muskellunge on lakes in Wisconsin where motor trolling big lures for these huge pike is illegal. It is still illegal and he appreciates that.

I could not fathom why someone wouldn’t want to incorporate the latest electric motors, whether on the bow or transom, to troll a breakline or weed edge using the latest side-imaging sonars. The ability of to strain a certain depth with any lure is simplified by this technology that basically calls for pressing a couple of buttons on a control pad and then letting the electric motor do the work.

My lack of comprehension led to a history lesson. Guides made their living putting pilgrims onto huge muskies and there is an art to row trolling. Novice muskie anglers could never get past the learning curve and achieve success with this technique in the short time they had on the water. Turn new technology over to these rookies and you put the old-timers out of business. You create a class of anglers who never earned the ability to achieve success without the use of technology. 

Shortly after this conversation I toured the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wisconsin. There is an amazing amount of fishing history in these buildings and I recommend every person who has ever held a rod and reel in their hand should visit this wonderful place. There is an evident evolution to the sport of angling. Seeing up close the lures that were invented 60, 70 even 80 years ago is amazing. Boat motors today are no comparison to what they were a hundred years ago. It would seem that fishing has always been spurred on by improvements in technology and today is no different.

Yet, there are lures that were around before I was born that are still in use today. Certain plugs and spoons that were used by anglers coming back from the second World War are still on the shelves at the bait shop. Well, not the same ones, but models that are exactly like those sold back then that are still produced in mass quantities today.

So, I still think technology is good for the sport. But, I will bow to the wishes of the old guide who wants to keep row-trolling the only form of trolling legal on some of his favorite lakes. There are plenty of places where we can use new technology to bypass the knowledge base that can take years to acquire. Until the winds of change modify the regulations that protect certain bodies of water from the waves of science that attempt to encroach, let there be sanctuaries for those that earned the opportunity to fish unfettered in a realm they mastered.