Woods & Water by Dick Herfindahl

Each year it seems as if the Lessard-Sams Outdoors Heritage Amendment comes under some form of attempt to undermine or change the purpose of this bill. Last year, some members of the House decided that if the Heritage Council recommends the acquisition of land for public use the DNR must dispose of the same amount of land. The reasoning behind this is that the state is losing valuable tax dollars by not having anyone to tax for this land.

I get a little upset when the politicians put money and their own agenda ahead of fulfilling the obligation that was voted on by the people of Minnesota.

The objective of the Heritage Council is not complicated and the language in that amendment reads as follows: “to restore, protect, and enhance Minnesota’s wetlands, prairies, forests and habitat for fish, game and wildlife.”

Acquiring Land and Creating Opportunities – A Parks and Trails Strategic Objective, is a program area representing the DNR’s commitment to one of the four pillars identified in the 25-year Legacy Plan. The Legacy Plan identifies its purpose to “create new and expanded park and trail opportunities to satisfy current customers, as well as to reach out to new ones.”

A few years back, some members of congress knew that they couldn’t change the language in the actual bill so they tried to change how the language should be interpreted. Luckily this attempt failed and although it was not totally forgotten about, it was left on the back burner.

The bottom line is that some politicians are still trying to use Legacy funds to replace traditional funding for projects that would normally be funded by the general fund or by bonding.

There is an Outdoors Heritage Council in place and their recommendations should be followed.

In my never ending search for a cure for cabin fever, I have decided to take the time to hold inventory on my tackle boxes. Whenever I look in my oldest tackle box, I usually come across a lure or two that brings back fond memories. Not all of my lures have “big fish” memories attached, but they may take me back to a time or place. I still have the countdown that I was using when I buried its treble hooks in my hand. Fond memory? Not so much, but it’s still a memory nonetheless.

I also have and still use, the Suick lure that I was casting one fall day on Spider Lake when a northern pike exploded out of the water and all but inhaled it. The fish wasn’t a monster at all, maybe in the 4-5 pound range. The vision of that fish exploding out of the water has stayed with me to this day and it exemplifies the thrills that fishing can bring to an old fisherman. Spider Lake probably holds more big fish memories for me than any other lake that I have fished.

I have kept an old Shad Rap that was wrecked when it was ripped out of a walleye’s lip when fishing Spider, this fish would have probably topped 10 pounds, but it was not to be because the lure got tangled in the landing net. My brother-in-law Mike was manning the net and after the fish had swam away we both just sat there in silence for a few minutes. Finally, Mike broke the silence when he muttered “I suppose I’ll be hearing about this for the rest of my life”. I actually haven’t brought it up much in recent years, but it is a good ice breaker when I want to start a friendly conversation.          

Until next time, spend some time in the outdoors sharing an adventure with a youth whether it be your child, grandchild or a friend’s child, it’s what memories are made of.

Please take some time to honor those who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today. Also, take some time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, those who served and those troops serving today.