Dick Herfindahl, Woods and Water

Don&8217;t forget that the Take A Kid Fishing event is tomorrow at Edgewater Park. It runs from 9 a.m. to noon. The bait is furnished and the fish will supply the fun. It&8217;s a good way to get our youth involved in the sport of fishing. This past Memorial Day weekend we headed north to our little place in the woods where we got a chance to try out our new wood stove which my son Brian and I had installed in March. It was cool and rainy on Saturday and I the only thing I knew for sure was that the wood stove was already paying dividends.

Saturday night brought thunderstorms and a lot of rain and for all I knew we could be in for the same on Sunday. I must have done something right because Sunday blossomed into a near-perfect day.

There were five of us at the cabin that weekend, my wife Jean, son Brad, his friend Miranda and my grandson Dylan who was more than ready to do a little fishing. We were able to fish two different lakes that day and although we never caught anything big we did catch a variety of fish. On the first lake everyone had caught a fish except for Dylan and I was getting a little worried.

He said he wanted to go to a different lake where he just knew he could catch a northern. We pulled the boat out and headed for Long Lake (one of many lakes by that name in our great state). It didn&8217;t take Dylan long to fulfill his promise and land a northern. His dad, Brad who usually has the market cornered on northern, didn&8217;t tie into any this time but he did manage some bass and panfish. Dylan caught some more northern and now had that look of &8220;I told you so&8221; on his face.

In one day of fishing everyone caught fish and we were able to enjoy a beautiful day on the lake watching ducks like Red Heads and Megansers along with loons and even an occasional eagle soared overhead. There were also plenty of deer to be seen.

On Sunday morning Dylan who had just gotten up looked out the window and said &8220;grandpa something gray just ran past the cabin and I think it was a wolf.&8221; I looked out the other window as his grandma was walking towards the picnic table and I said that something gray was grandma (gray sweat suit) but then about 20 yards ahead of her ran a big whitetail deer bounding through a clearing in the woods. That was Dylan&8217;s wolf and for some reason his grandma never even spotted it.

That Sunday night Brad and Dylan went for a canoe ride on our little lake. Brad and Miranda went out next and came into the area of our resident beaver. They got soundly scolded for invading his property. A beaver has a way of letting you know when you are too close by chattering and then slapping their tail on the water.

That evening as the stars and the moon appeared in the sky it was so clear I almost felt like I could stay there forever just watching the stars as they glittered through the treetops. These experiences are what make the outdoors so special. A kid won&8217;t see any of these things sitting in front of the TV or playing a video game. Enjoying the outdoors is something that we need to share with our youth of today so they can be our conservationists of tomorrow.

On another note the muskie opener was last weekend and although I didn&8217;t get a chance to fish the &8220;great toothed one&8221; I do consider it officially summer now that all the seasons are open.

Here is a report from Ray Haange on the local chapter if Muskies, Inc.

MUSKIE TALK

The June meeting of the Southern Crossroads Chapter 54 of Muskies Inc. will be held Wednesday, June 13. This will be an on the water fishing meeting at French Lake beginning at 6 p.m., in front of Hoy&8217;s Resort. At 9 p.m., a short meeting and social gathering will follow in Hoy’s, with updates and reports. Pizza and beer is available. Members check in raffle tickets on boat, motor, and trailer. If you are able to be on the lake earlier, meet at 6 p.m. in front of Hoy&8217;s. Free boat launching available or use nearby public landing. If stormed out, we meet at Eagles in Owatonna at 7 p.m.

Some fishing reports from around the state:

SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA &045; Its been crazy here on Tetonka/Sakatah. Bass, northerns, walleyes have been almost jumping in the boats. Leeches, Watervillian spinners, and minnows have been doing the trick. Some large catfish have been also caught on medium suckers. Waxies have been boating a bunch of sunfish; crappies seem to be had under the Highway 13 Bridge. Bullhead Days is this coming weekend so be sure to attend this event and get your fishing time in as well.

SAINT PETER &045; The walleyes have been biting on Lake Washington on the second and third points. The sunnies are going on German Lake and the crappies too. German Lake and Big Jefferson Lake have been best for bass, while Little Jefferson Lake remains the area’s best option for northern pike. The walleyes are biting on the river and Madison. The northerns have been good on Madison too. Crankbaits are working best on the south end of Lake Elysian in six feet.

FAIRMONT &045; Crappies are hitting small minnows in four feet of water on lakes Sissiton, Fox, Budd, and George. Sunfish can be found along the shorelines of any lake. Walleye action has picked up in 10 to 12 feet with fathead minnows and leeches at Iowa Lake and Fox Lake. Fox also is giving up catfish and George is the area’s best lake for big bass.

Until next time good luck, enjoy the outdoors and take a kid fishin&8217;! Remember to keep the troops that are serving our country today in your thoughts and prayers.