This past week has been a welcome relief from the below-zero temperatures we have experienced for the past couple of weeks. As Minnesotans we are accustomed to this type of weather but it still makes it pretty tough to spend a lot of time in the outdoors. Minnesotans take a lot of pride in their state and with the ever-changing weather we also have plenty of conversation fuel.

Some of the “less hardy” residents opt for warmer climes in the dead of winter and there is nothing wrong with taking a little time off from the cold. Those of us that chose to tough it out can find comfort in a 30-degree day when the sun is shining and there is little or no wind. It is kind of funny that temperatures in the 30s are like a heat wave in the winter but in the spring and fall we look at it as a “cold” day.

There have been plenty of houses popping up on our area lakes. Fountain and Albert Lea Lakes have quite a healthy housing development going on. The word on Fountain is that they are catching some nice sunnies along with some crappie while Albert Lea Lake has a good perch bite with an occasional walleye also being caught.

I have also heard that, although they aren’t in the “slab” category, St. Olaf Lake has been producing some good numbers of crappie and sunfish. I am pretty sure that Freeborn Lake will once again be a good place to catch those “jumbo” perch. In the past few years this has been a good lake for some mighty fine eating fish.

If you have the urge to do a little ice fishing now looks like a good time for it. With these sunny days you won’t even need a house to fish, all you need is an auger and a bucket to sit on and you can fish almost anywhere you want. Having a portable house makes it just a little bit nicer, especially if there is a bit of a breeze but as hardy Minnesotans we don’t let a little weather get in our way while enjoying one of our favorite outdoor pastimes.

The early snowfall followed by rain and eventual frigid temperatures has left a crusty snow cover on the whole countryside. If you know anything at all about nature and the outdoors you know that this can be a deadly thing for wildlife. The lack of food along with exposure to predators will most definitely affect the deer and pheasant populations for next year. Pheasants in particular are finding food hard to come by because of the crusty shell covering the snow and the prognosis for the following years won’t be good for their numbers. With this in mind the DNR has issued a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to helping out our feathered friends.

DNR offers pheasant feeding do’s and don’ts

Recent snowfalls have resulted in a deep blanket of crusty snow that is significantly limiting pheasants’ access to waste grain throughout much of their range in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota DNR. Providing feed for pheasants during such conditions can increase their chances of survival.

Pheasants can survive as long as two weeks without food, but they become more vulnerable to predators and adverse weather conditions when they are forced to spend time and energy in the open looking for food.

The DNR offers the following tips for feeding pheasants:

Do not place feeders near a road. Attracting pheasants (and deer) to roadsides can be dangerous to motorists as well as wildlife.

Feeders should be placed within 150 yards of good winter cover. This allows the birds to feed and then return quickly to cover. The most important reason for feeding pheasants is to keep them in areas of good winter cover, such as large cattail marshes, shrub swamps, or shelterbelts with at least four rows of evergreens where they stand a much greater chance of surviving winter.

Place food where birds have been seen feeding in an open, windswept area near thick cover. A high spot with a southern exposure is best.

Simple feeder cribs can be constructed of hardware cloth that is 3 to 4 feet wide (1/2 inch mesh) and is double-wrapped and hog-ringed together to form a cylinder. Wire the feeder to a steel post or another object to keep it erect. Designs for constructing barrel feeders can be found on the DNR Web site at “http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/backyard/wildlifehabitat/winterwildlifehabitat.pdf”

Once feeding is started, don’t stop until there are large, snow-free areas in fields. Pheasants become dependent on feeders. One of the biggest mistakes is to stop feeding before waste grain becomes available.

Now is also a good time to work with local clubs or wildlife managers to assess local habitat needs and plan improvements for next year, such as food plots near winter cover. For additional information on pheasant feeding, contact a local DNR wildlife office.

Here are a few fishing reports from around the state:

Baudette/Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River — The bite remains steady on Lake of the Woods. Walleyes and sauger are biting in 25-30 feet of water, with a steady bite reported throughout the day. The most successful colors seem to be gold, pink, and silver, but even a plain hook with a minnow is working well. There is currently 18-20 inches of good ice on the lake, with about 16 inches at Four Mile Bay. The ice road out of Wheeler’s Point is in great condition.

Walker/Leech Lake — Anglers report catching good numbers of panfish, with an occasional limit of sunnies and crappies coming from some area lakes. The best crappie action has been in 20-30 foot depths, with most fish found suspended 3-8 feet off the bottom. Use electronics to easily locate these slabs. Walleye fishing on Walker Bay of Leech Lake has been excellent. Anglers are catching limits of walleyes, with many of them in the 12- to 14-inch range. Walleyes are being pulled from most areas of Walker Bay, as well as at many of the sunken islands and humps. For the most fish, hit depths of 20-30 feet, with some anglers doing well in depths of 12-19 feet. Ice conditions and fishing opportunities are improving each week. Many of the smaller area lakes have 13-16 inches of good, solid ice. Walker Bay on Leech Lake has from 10-14 inches of good ice. Just north and east of First Point, the ice measures just over 10-inches. Recent snowfall has caused some minor flooding in parts of Walker Bay and on many of the smaller area lakes. Cold temperatures earlier this week should help improve conditions and increase the amount of good ice, allowing medium- and large-sized pick-up trucks to access most areas of Walker Bay.

Ely — The abundance of good ice has brought lots of eager ice anglers onto area lakes. Most anglers pursuing walleyes are hitting Shagawa and Fall lakes with moderate success. The fish seem to be moving along the drop-offs in depths of 14-25 feet of water. The best approach has been to use one dead stick with a minnow under a slip bobber, while jigging with buckshot spoons or rockers and Swedish pimples tipped with a minnow head. Crappies and sunnies are being pulled from Low, Twin and Cedar lakes. For the most fish, use small jigs tipped with waxworms or Eurolarvae. Area ice is thick and clear, so travel has not a problem.

Cook & Tower/Lake Vermilion — Anglers were hesitant to venture out onto the ice due to bitter cold temperatures last weekend. There are reports, however, of a few fish coming out of the East End of Lake Vermilion where most permanent houses are currently set-up. The West End received a bit of action at dusk, but most reports have been fair at best. Anglers will likely be heading out this weekend when more moderate temperatures are expected. There is from 14-17 inches of good, solid ice, along with no reports of slush. Travel has not been a problem, and conditions are perfect for ice fishing.

Willmar Area Lakes — Ice travel conditions throughout the area are rapidly improving, but can still be difficult due to 5-6 inches of snow covering the ice. Eagle and Norway lakes offer the best paths on the ice. There was 6-12 inches of ice on most area lakes earlier this week. Anglers report taking some nice fish from Foot, Willmar, Green, Eagle, Florida and Andrew lakes. Use caution, and enjoy some great fishing.

Until next time, use caution on the ice and always take a little time to enjoy our great Minnesota outdoors.

Remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers throughout the coming year.