It has been a couple of weeks since I made what was more than likely my last visit of the season to our cabin. Each year when this time rolls around and it is time to head home, I will pause to look around just one more time, to take in all of the beauty of the lake and the woods that surround our cabin.

I thought I had closed the door on the season, but I can’t let go of the desire to wet a line. I may not get up to the cabin again this year, but I do want to do a little more fishing before ice-over. I do believe the fishing could be pretty good right up until the water turns hard.

From what I have been hearing, the fishing has slowed a little for some species, but it should be picking up for some others. I believe the latest I have ever fished from a boat on Fountain Lake has been early November.

A few years ago, I had been talking to my brother-in-law Mike and we decided to give fishing a try one more time before ice-over. It was a nice fall early November day when we took my 14-foot fishing boat, which has always been my favorite over the years. We basically trolled the lake starting by Edgewater Park and worked our way out into the main lake. We used fathead minnows, trolling fairly slowly, on either a spinner rig or a Beetle Spin tipped with a minnow. It was just a great day to be on the lake and although the conditions were perfect for a late fall day, the fish didn’t exactly seem to want to jump into the boat. We did catch a few fish, but not exactly the species  we were looking for. It seems the only fish interested in our bait, with the exception of one 4-pound northern, were the carp. We caught some large carp that day. The one thing about fishing that I have always said: ‘the catching is always good, no matter what species you land.’ We had a lot of fun that sunny, crisp, late fall day.

This fall, the rain seems to have put a damper (pun intended) on my outdoor activities. I don’t mind a little rain in the fall, but I think it is getting a little old. I have to say, I do like the smell of a nice fall rain, especially when walking in the woods, with the damp leaves giving off that distinct smell that only fall can provide. A nice fall is very exhilarating to me.

If you want to take a little hike in the woods, our local state park has some great hiking and biking trails for all to enjoy. This is a perfect time of year to explore some local hiking trails. If you want to go more rustic, take a drive to White Woods County Park, just south of Twin Lakes. It has a pavilion, restrooms and walking trails that will wind you through the surrounding woods. The park sits on Lower Twin Lake, which has always been a good waterfowl lake.

When we get our next sunny and dry spell, I plan on taking a little drive on some of the area’s country roads, just to take in the fall colors that nature gives us. It supplies an awful lot of beautiful sights, sounds and smells for us to enjoy. We still have a lot of beautiful countryside in our area, and in the fall, it paints a magnificent picture by splashing the countryside with color.

A scenic drive through Minnesota’s state forests is a great way to view beautiful fall color. Depending on the forest drive, visitors might see a spectacular mix of dark evergreen amid vivid autumn hues of maples, oaks and aspens, set against a backdrop of bluffs, lakes and winding rivers. Minnesota’s 59 state forests cover more than 4.2 million acres, from Kabetogama State Forest at the top of the state, to Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest in the south. Each one is a unique experience.

“This fall’s overall color display should be vivid and travel-worthy,” said Val Cervenka, the forest health program consultant in the Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division. “Minnesota has had one of the wettest years on record since 1871, so our fall color should be impressive.”

The DNR has highlighted some fantastic forest drives for this fall. Visit the state forest scenic drives website for route directions and more details.

Early to mid-October

• Rum River State Forest in central Minnesota

• Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest in the south

Visit the state forests page for more information about visiting a state forest. Entrance into state forests is free. State forest campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis for $14 a night.

Visit the Minnesota state parks and trails Fall Color Finder to find areas in Minnesota with peak fall color. The Fall Color Finder is updated every Thursday through the end of October.

Until next time, pheasant season opens October 12. We have a lot of WMAs in the county that are there for the public’s use. Now is a great time to enjoy a little outdoors time while taking in the beauty of a sunny, crisp fall day.

Please remember to keep our troops in your prayers. We must not let ourselves forget those who are still putting themselves in harm’s way so that we can enjoy all of the wonderful freedoms  we have today.