Woods & Water by Dick Herfindahl

 

Spring is here! I am holding out high hopes that the current nice weather that we have been experiencing will only keep going in the right direction. Being a born and raised Minnesotan, I am always a little leery when it comes to trusting the weather, but alas, the calendar says it is spring and I will hold onto that thought.

As a kid I always looked forward to spring, even kids who enjoyed spending time outside in the winter would eventually tire of the winter weather. It seems that once the spring thaw had begun there was no turning back. As the snow melted, the ditches on either side of Bridge Street would fill with water and turn into what a kid’s imagination would see as a raging river. The water made gullies alongside the gravel road (which is now Glenview Drive) that ran next to our house. I would build crude boats out of wood scraps and send them on a journey to the ditch and eventually to the slough just a little way from home. Playing with something as simple as a piece of wood shaped into a makeshift boat would fuel my imagination and, in turn, keep me occupied for hours.

Those were the days when a kid didn’t leave the house without his five-buckle overshoes, but alas, although the plan was to stay dry, it very seldom happened. It seemed that stepping in water deeper than anticipated could fill an overshoe faster than a firehose. If you were trying to navigate through water and muck there was this balance thing to deal with. If your boot got stuck in the mud, you pretty much knew that getting wet was inevitable.

Once you had fallen into the world of water and mud there was no turning back. Going home to change was out of the question because once there, you would not be going outside again that day. So you just kept on playing, wet clothes and all until you heard your mother calling. Once in the house, mom would ask “how did this happen?” knowing full well that before you ventured out your attraction to water and mud would be too much to overcome. In looking back, I now realize that she would ask that question just to see what kind of story I would spin for her to justify the water and mud on my clothes.

As I grow older, I am still fascinated by any body of water and the kid in me always wonders what kind of creatures live below the surface. I usually always imagine some type of fish swimming about just below the surface. Yes, nature is full of wonders and it seems that I will always be as curious as a child when it comes to the outdoors.

 

Register for beginner fly-fishing weekend for youth-adult pairs

A youth paired with an adult can join other youth-adult pairs to learn the basics of fly fishing from experienced instructors over the course of a spring weekend from Friday evening, April 26, to Sunday afternoon, April 28, near Lanesboro.

To participate, youth must be 11 to 17 years old as of April 26, and both the adult and the youth must each have less than five hours of fly-fishing experience.

“Youth and adults in these classes are both beginners so they can help each other learn a new skill,” said Linda Radimecky, a Department of Natural Resources interpretive naturalist. “They’ll enjoy some real quality time together, but that’s just the beginning. When they’ve finished the weekend, they’ll be prepared for hours of fun fishing adventures.”

Participants will learn how to tie knots used for fishing, how to use and care for their equipment, what fish need to survive and how to help protect fishing for future generations.

The registration fee is $130 per person and includes meals, lodging, guiding services, equipment and additional materials. Sponsorships to offset registration fees may be available from angling and conservation organizations. This event is limited to 20 youth-adult pairs.

For more information, or to get an application, contact Linda Radimecky at linda.radimecky@state.mn.us or 651-231-6968.

 

Boat hosts needed for Governor’s Fishing Opener

Until next time, we are getting closer to our goal, but we are very much in need of “fishermen” to sign up as boat hosts. We haven’t quite reached the number of hosts needed to make this event a success. We really do need more hosts who will be willing to take media guests fishing.  I would like to encourage anyone who is a registered boat owner and has been considering being a boat host or knows someone that might be interested in the Governor’s Fishing Opener by being a boat host to sign up online. The easiest way to do that is by going to www.mngovernorsopener.com look for the search box and type in boat host, click on search glass and it will take you to the page. Select boat host information and follow the instructions. You may also stop by the CVB office to pick up a registration form or call me at 507-383-2231 for more information. This is our chance to showcase this great community that we choose to live in and one that we are proud to call home.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers during the year 2019. They are the reason we are able to enjoy all of these wonderful freedoms we enjoy today.