Nodak Outdoors» general fishing

Winter Weather Predictions

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:28:06 +0000

By Nick Simonson

“Guys, where are we,” this initial inquiry by Dominic Monaghan’s character, Charlie, summed up the question that I and ten million other viewers tried to figure out for six seasons on the TV show Lost. The J. J. Abrams sci-fi series focused on a group of plane crash survivors marooned on a mystical island, which – spoiler alert – turned out to be just one man’s purgatory, but the opening interrogatory hung on until we figured it out in the final episode.
This weekend, I realized what Charlie must have felt like on his first day on the island as I cruised down the dirt path in the state park, jumping over roots, boinging off rocks and rumbling my way with my wife, Angie, and my dog Gunnar, toward the wooden bridge and the gravel parking lot across the half-frozen river. Wrapping up a short Sunday trail run in record time, and in record high temperatures, which saw the external readout on our car briefly reach 60 degrees, we had to wonder exactly where we were – and what month it was.
I ice fished in a fleece pullover on Friday afternoon, bird hunted in a sweatshirt on Saturday morning, and ran two-and-a-half miles up and down the river valley in a t-shirt on Sunday; enjoying the intermittent warmth of the afternoon sun, and on the dips to the stream edge, the cool breeze that wafted off of the surface ice of the flow. The sensations and situations were odd to say the least, as strange weather patterns brought a breath of late autumn (or is that early spring?) over the landscape. Even more bizarre was the lack of snow. Last year at this time, there were over 20 inches on the ground, on our way to nearly 90 inches for the season. But now, only the still-frozen spring-fed trickles leading to the river below gave any hint that we were on the edge of the winter solstice. It’s always hard to make accurate winter weather predictions, but this year has been an even bigger surprise.
It’s been said that if you don’t like the weather in this part of the world, just wait 10 minutes and it will change…and then you’ll hate it. But there are those rare occasions where you actually might like what comes in on the southwestern breezes and this weekend was one of them. Except for the anglers on Lake of the Woods near Springsteel where the ice broke up in a popular fishing location on Sunday, this season’s mild weather has been a welcome gift which has extended hunting seasons, lawn care practices and winterizing opportunities for outboard motors. But just as we do with the worst of what winter throws at us, we make the best of the good times we’re given and get out there and do what we love to do – fish, hunt, run, hike, walk and more. And we probably do it better when it’s above freezing.
Sure, a white Christmas always looks nicer, except for maybe when you’re trying to drive through it in order to get home for the holidays, a beige one isn’t so bad. This is especially true when we can all get together safely for a hospitable hunt or some comfortable early ice fishing with friends and family over the holidays. Consider an extra two weeks, or a month, or however long this slow start to winter lasts, as an early Christmas gift to make up for the lumps of coal we got last year. So enjoy it. The ice will get thicker, the days will get colder, and somewhere down the line you’ll be remembering this stretch of time and wonder just exactly where you were too; hopefully it was somewhere enjoyable…in our outdoors.

Recreational Fishing – Fish Transportation

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:08:46 +0000

by Doug Leier

In the early 1990s I was attending junior college in Bottineau, and enjoyed many trips to other parts of the state to visit friends and relatives. It was a great time to explore different corners of the state around Bismarck, Fargo and Napoleon, but a couple of observations during that time are still vivid today.

One is driving through the town of Minnewaukan, on the west side of Devils Lake, and squinting to see any water to the east, toward Grahams Island State Park. Now, of course, Devils Lake water is creeping into and around Minnewaukan’s city limits.

During the same time frame, but in a different location, I remember seeing a wall of alkali dust blowing off the dry east end of Long Lake near Moffit, whipped across the horizon like billowing smoke from an extensive prairie fire. Today, Long Lake’s 20-mile-long basin is full as well.

As the water returned and expanded, we’ve literally found fish where there used to be pheasants as sloughs, lakes and reservoirs conquered upland and pike replaced roosters.

When it comes to fish movement, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department would prefer the natural expansion and not illegal introductions from random anglers acting as a sort of arm-chair fisheries biologists.

While ﬁsh have been introduced or stocked into many North Dakota waters for more than a century, there is a big difference between strategically planned introductions and illegal ﬁsh transfer for recreational fishing.

North Dakota has a number of success stories regarding introductions of new ﬁsh species into new water bodies. Rainbow smelt into the Missouri River System, large and smallmouth bass into numerous lakes and reservoirs, and trout into many smaller impoundments are examples of past successful efforts.

As you can imagine, these introductions were planned and well researched, matching ﬁsh species with available habitat. Success was predicated on the fact that approximately one-half of the state’s water bodies managed for ﬁshing are reservoirs, and nearly all fishable waters in North Dakota have been altered by humans in one form or another.

Random and illegal introduction of ﬁsh into new waters can often cause irreparable harm.

As a result, the Department spent a lot of money and time, especially in the 1990s, killing undesirable fish – and along with those the desirable ones as well – in a number of waters in an effort to remove white suckers, bullheads, stunted perch or other detrimental fish and start over.

Recently the state has put more regulations into place relating to ﬁsh movement and transport. The most recent of these made it illegal to transport any ﬁsh – other than legal bait fish – in water away from a water body for recreational fishing.

Winter and summer, the primary purpose of this rule is to help reduce the potential spread of aquatic nuisance species.

However, this regulation also serves to reduce the temptation for those few misguided anglers who think it’s a good idea to transport and intentionally or unintentionally stock ﬁsh into new waters.

High water in rivers and lakes across North Dakota has produced extensive and unprecedented damage to property, homes and disrupted lives.

On the other hand, sloughs that for years seemed nothing more than another dot on the prairie now harbor healthy pike or perch fisheries, and provide many new places for winter anglers to enjoy the fruits that nature has provided.

ND Flooding

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:17:54 +0000

By Doug Leier

You don’t have to live in Minot, Bismarck, Jamestown, Valley City or Devils Lake to have battled through drifts of snow and waves of floods through the past several months.

Like many North Dakotans I’ve spent my share of time working in and through these floods since last spring, everything from sandbagging to pumping water and helping make repairs. Along the way, I’ve met new friends in sandbag lines and have enjoyed some of the conversations that materialize after my linemates find out I work for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department

While the task at hand is first and foremost to protect human property, many conversations evolve from concerns about wildlife — pheasants and deer in particular – and how they are doing in the face of snow, cold and subsequent flooding.

I get the sense that many people believe fishing and hunting have a role in the return to a sense of normalcy. Don’t believe me? Ask any deer hunter if they purposely passed on applying for a 2011 deer license this June due to flooding.

While some may have missed the deadline, Game and Fish received a record number of applications for the November season.

Recovery will be measured in months and years, and many lives and livelihoods have been altered forever. But those same hardy folks reclaiming their homes and businesses will still pencil in the 12 noon, November 4 deer gun season opener.

Historically speaking, floods aren’t a new phenomenon for fish and wildlife. While they don’t typically help wildlife (fish are a different story that I’ll cover in a later column), they aren’t usually devastating to a specific population, either.

In terms of long-term adaptations, floods have been around forever. Same goes for many wildlife populations, though individual animals in these populations may never have dealt with rising water before.

Still, as rivers or lakes rise, most deer and other wildlife seem to know what to do,. No need for them to dike or sandbag, they just move out of the way and relocate. A few may not exit before their escape paths are flooded, but most animals can swim pretty well, too.

In the short term, deer, turkeys and other game birds vacate the flood plain, and tend to refill the empty niche as waters recede.

Rapid flooding caused by spring and summer rains can literally wash away upland game chicks like pheasants, grouse and partridge. In addition, wet, cold conditions in late spring and early summer hurt game bird survival, as newly hatched chicks cannot regulate their own body temperature and many die of exposure.

If eggs are washed away before they hatch, however, grouse and pheasant hens will usually attempt to renest. This year, weather conditions weren’t all that great through mid-June, but birds attempting second nests at least had warmer temperatures, if not less rain.

The Game and Fish Department’s upland game brood surveys run through the end of August, so just how the varying summer weather influenced upland game reproduction is still in question.

The best way to find out is to hit the field in the next few weeks.

Leier is a biologist with the Game and Fish Department. He can be reached by email: dleier@nd.gov

Looking Ahead

admin — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 02:09:48 +0000

By Doug Leier

Looking ahead to 2011 in the outdoors world is kind of like assessing the preseason prospects of your favorite sports team. We kind of have an idea of what to expect, but unpredictable variables like major storms, timely rains or extended dry periods – or injuries in the case of sports – can make a big difference in the final outcome.

While I can’t yet guarantee that 2011 will be better or worse than last year, I can predict that North Dakota will again produce a limit of mostly good hunting and fishing memories, given rather favorable expectations for most of our popular game species.

For starters, even in a cautious assessment we can look for good things from waterfowl, considering wetland conditions from last fall and prospects for good snow runoff this spring.

Snow geese, Canada geese and ducks are at or near historic population highs. Especially with resident Canada geese and snow geese, wildlife managers are trying new options to reduce or just slow expansion of these populations.

While deer numbers are down some from a couple of years ago, compared to 20 or 30 years ago today’s population stacks up pretty well and still offers opportunity for just about everyone who wants to hunt deer.

Actually, the State Game and Fish Department intended to reduce deer numbers over the last few years. While that occurred, today’s statewide population is about where Game and Fish would like to maintain it, though some areas have fewer deer than desirable and some have more than enough.

Looking ahead, here’s hoping for winter to ease up and exit sooner rather than later so the deer population is not overly stressed.

The state’s fisheries also have a positive outlook, as they have benefitted greatly from plentiful moisture the last two years. According to Greg Power, Game and Fish fisheries chief, the Department currently manages 340 lakes for fishing, which is a record number. As a comparison, the number was 208 in 2000, 180 in 1990, 139 in 1980, and 137 in 1970.

Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River system have seen an influx of water and should continue to recover, though it takes several years for fish to grow to “eater” size but the water certainly helps. Meanwhile, to the chagrin of many Devils Lake has not shrunk, but the water and fishery continue to expand with strong walleye, pike and white bass providing excellent prospects for the coming year.

While the early snow means additional water for our lakes this spring, it also generates concern because snow can block out sunlight and trigger oxygen depletion in lakes, increasing the potential for winter kill. Once again, an early spring is welcome.

Moderation for the rest of winter would also help pronghorn and prairie chickens, both of which had closed seasons in 2010 and could use a break from snow and spring moisture. Deer and pheasants would also welcome a break from the snow and even average winter temperatures.

Realistically, we’re months away from determining how the winter affected the state’s wildlife. Weather is always an important variable in determining whether fall populations from one year will go up or down the next year.

Leier is a bioloigst with the Game & Fish Department. He can be reached by email: deier@nd.gov

The Extremes

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:09:19 +0000

Our Outdoors: To The Extreme
By Nick Simonson

I know it’s going to get colder. But I’m ready for it. At least I think I am. While manning my post on an extended family member’s farm atop a four-legged stand tucked into the woods along an open grass pasture bordered by a meandering creek, I battled the coldest evening of the year all while thinking it was going to get worse, but it was going to be so worth it when the shot at a nice buck comes my way sometime this season.

Between the slight gusts of wind coming out of the southwest and the sun which had disappeared behind a bank of clouds well before the time it actually set, I felt the chill of late autumn creep over me. The occasional crackle of leaves thirty or forty yards into the pine stand also sent a shiver up my spine, and as I cautiously reached for my bow, I tried to control the shuddering of my torso and legs which rattled the very bolts holding my perch together. It was no surprise as the end of legal shooting hours approached that nine deer silently appeared in the field 100 yards to my west, providing me with only the opportunity to squint and size them up against the settling darkness before sneaking down from the stand and through the ravine on the scenic route back to the car in order to avoid spooking them.

Let me reiterate; five years ago you could have never convinced me I would be waiting well into nightfall to avoid alerting deer as I snuck away from my stand. You probably couldn’t have sold me on standing on an elevated platform for three hours, period. But there I was loving every minute of it, ignoring the cold which turned on my sinus faucet, and I silently wiped my nose every couple of minutes while hoping that my motion wouldn’t spook any nearby wildlife. My ability to outlast the elements, no matter how slight in comparison to what might come, was another victory in my first season of bow hunting, and it reminded me of what we as sportsmen go through in the field and on the water in pursuit of our passions.

As hunters and anglers we endure a great deal of cold, heat, wind, rain, and the worst that nature and can throw at us, all with the hope that our efforts, and maybe our stubbornness, will pay off when we set the hook into a lunker or wait out the most cautious deer. I can recall days staring down into Spiritwood Lake through two feet of ice while temperatures plummeted around my buddy’s portable shack into the negative twenties. But when those big pike would lazily roll through, sniffing our spoons and hooks baited with frozen herring, I warmed up instantly. I’ve ducked behind parked vehicles to dodge wind in search of crappies, and endured the flickering flame of my propane heater as it gasped its last breath, knowing the walleye bite would be white hot and worth busting the re-forming ice on top of my hole absent a heat source.

One rainy summer day, after slipping off the dock and breaking one rib and bruising another, I managed to shake off the pain and fish with my brother in the pouring rain for another two hours, landing 40 largemouth bass in the process. I don’t recommend doing what I did (maybe if the average sizes of the fish were bigger), but I do advise you seek medical help in a situation like that; not only for your battered body, but also psychological assistance as well.

Last week’s windstorm reminded me of a night after work several years back when a buddy and I decided to hunt pheasants in gale-force gusts. By the end of the first walk my eyes were caked with cattail fuzz, my lip was cracked and bleeding, and my cheeks, nose and chin were red and raw. Somehow though, I was warmed by the rooster tucked in my vest which I dropped with a Hail Mary as it reached warp speed in the gusting north winds. Success can be such sweet anesthesia.

I’ve fished walleyes in April cold fronts on Devils Lake until I couldn’t feel my hands. I’ve sat around mosquito-infested stock ponds in September awaiting the evening’s first flight of doves. Each year I have pushed the boundaries of what I think I can do, and I’ve never returned to those limits. There’s something about hunting and fishing that brings out the extreme in all of us, and makes us more than the sum of our parts. When tempered with basic safety and discretion, testing our limits makes the experiences of hunting and fishing all the more rewarding as we learn more about our quarry and what they require of us. Even if it’s just a few degrees colder or outlasting a little rain, we’re known to take it to the extreme…in our outdoors.

NDTrax 2010 Released

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:37:54 +0000

NDTRAX 2010 Released

Kirsch’s Outdoor Products completed the fall release (v3.2) of NDTRAX 2010 in mid-August. “The feedback from the 2009 version and spring 2010 versions (v3.0) has been remarkable.” said Korey Kirschenmann, Owner of Kirsch’s Outdoor Products. “In the 2010 fall update, we were able to include both additional features as well as land updates.”

Land Updates:

There has been a great deal of change to the PLOTS land in ND. V3.2 includes these land changes for PLOTS as well as other lands including Wildlife Management Areas, State Lands, National Wildlife Refuges, and Bureau of Land Management.

Additional Features

Land Zoom Levels:

NDTRAX 2010 shows land elements at earlier zoom levels in comparison to 2009. This allows the land to appear on the screen and be visible a greater % of the time.

Land Ownership:

NDTRAX 2010 includes private land ownership for Morton, Pembina, and Cass counties.

Wetlands:

The spring version of 2010 included the addition of Wetlands to the map. The fall version changed the land types from a green outline to a more standard water color. “I didn’t want customers to think some of the wetlands were trails, so the wetland colors were changed,” said Korey Kirschenmann, Owner of Kirsch’s Outdoor Products.

Garmin Specific Changes:

Garmin Colors:

The fall version of NDTRAX 2010 changed the color palette for most Garmin GPS units to an enhanced BLM color palette. This allows a hunter to differentiate all the different land types without having to zoom in or click on a land object. In addition, the appearance of elements such as railroad tracks, section lines, and other elements were optimized.

Game Management Units:

The fall version of NDTRAX 2010 now allows the user to click on the map, and the Big Game Unit/Zone will appear.

Updating:

Kirsch’s Outdoor Products makes updating easy and affordable. To update, place your 2009 or 2010 TRAX product in a bubble mailer and send it to Kirsch’s Outdoor Products, 7915 Aquarius Drive, Fargo, ND 58104. Include a check to Kirsch’s Outdoor Products for $20 if updating from 2009, or if the product is an earlier version of 2010, the update is FREE. The update can also be paid for online.

TRAX and TRAX PC maps are available for many states including North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and Nevada.

Fishing Grand Slam

admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:23:48 +0000

By Nick Simonson

While growing up on the Sheyenne River, I’d make it a weekend effort to complete what I called the Sheyenne Slam. It wasn’t necessarily tough to do, despite the parameters of seven species in two days, considering that most of them were willing biters and after a few weeks on the water, I could count on fish in the old familiar places.

I’d start out on Friday night looking to catch at least one of each common fish in the flow: walleye, northern pike, black crappie, perch, smallmouth bass, white bass, and the given for the challenge, a bullhead of any variety. If I could land them all, no matter how big or small, by Sunday evening, that was the sign of a good weekend. Four times Monday morning rolled around and I had all seven checked off on my list.

On two occasions, I expanded the weekend event to what I called the Barnes County Slam, where I added in a rainbow trout on Moon Lake, a largemouth bass from Clausen Springs and a rock bass from the Sheyenne as it flowed through peaceful Kathryn, N.D., achieving the feat only once. Though to be correct, and inclusive, I should have added a catfish from the lower reaches of the River or Moon Lake.

I knew a farmer once who was also well seasoned in the hunting traditions of North Dakota. He relayed to me the tales of his completion of the “Dakota Slam” for big game; tagging all six big game species available in the state throughout his lifetime. This list included those tags that are only available to hunters once during that same span – elk, moose and bighorn sheep. So between his mule and whitetail deer, pronghorn antelope, and the three once-in-a-lifetime species, he had created his own slam of sorts, and was well known for the feat which took him many years, determination, lots of planning and a little luck to accomplish.

No matter where you are, there’s a slam waiting for you. Whether you’re fishing or hunting, a personal checklist spread over a day, a season or a lifetime will provide not only a challenge of your angling and tracking skills, but also an opportunity to learn a great deal about a number of species and how each one interacts with the world around us. Pick your favorite species to hunt or fish for in your area, and combine activities to get it all in this fall. Maybe it’s a pair of roosters and a couple walleyes for some late October cast-n-blast action or you could choose from some already established slams for a long-term goal.

In a couple weeks, you could try to bag the Minnesota Grouse Slam – sharptail, ruffed and spruce grouse – starting in Duluth and working your way up the Highway 53 corridor to near the Canadian border. All three species can be found in St. Louis County and could even be taken in the same day with a bit of luck. Maybe it’s more of an ultimate bucket list event like the Caribbean Slam is for anglers trying to land the big four of the blue water – bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook – try it on the fly for an extra challenge. Doing either would take some preparation time, some planning, and a great deal of understanding what those species need to survive, where they live and what you need to do to put yourself in a position to find them.

Whatever fish or game you have your eye on – whether it’s all the billfish, all three varieties of North American deer, or just the prairie trio of a hungarian partridge, a sharptail grouse and a pheasant – coming up with a slam of your own provides a new twist on the age old activities of hunting and fishing. Keep it simple for an afternoon of fun trying to catch every species in a nearby lake, or dream big, go exotic and enjoy trips spaced out over several decades chasing the slam of a lifetime and in the process of pursuing either self-titled slam, make some grand memories…in our outdoors.

Freshwater Shrimp

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:49:33 +0000

By Doug Leier

As a child growing up in northwestern North Dakota, seafood was a special treat, to the point that even fish sticks were considered a pretty rare dinner at home..

Thirty-five years ago “fresh” North Dakota seafood came frozen in a box and was usually deep fried. One of my fondest memories of dining out was the occasional trip to the bowling alley in Williston and eating “shrimpos.”

It seems that fish in some North Dakota waters have the same appetite for shrimp, though they are fortunate to have a ready supply every day instead of only on special occasions. Freshwater shrimp are a key part of the aquatic food chain wherever they exist, feeding both large and small fish to a point where they may not show an interest in angler offerings because they aren’t hungry.

North Dakota is home to three freshwater shrimp species, gammarus, hyalella and
mysis. The latter is an introduced species stocked in Lake Sakakawea in the early 1970s to add to the forage base. This species never really took off, and if any remain in the reservoir they are not abundant.

While the gammarus in Devils Lake garner much of the freshwater shrimp attention in the state, the smaller hyalella are found in more waters. Both, for certain, are important links in the forage base in those fisheries in which they are found.

Out of all North Dakota waters, Devils Lake is best recognized as home to these half-inch, nearly translucent creatures also known as gammarus, scuds or sideswimmers, which describes the way they propel themselves through the water.

It’s well-known that perch, walleye and pike in Devils Lake are healthy, in fact, that’s probably an understatement. Some anglers may argue that the actual catching of fish on Devils Lake may not rival the health of the fishery, but perhaps that’s to be expected considering the abundance of shrimp and other natural food sources along with a high water volume

In fact, a case of “fish biting on bare hooks” is often a sign of an unhealthy fishery, with
hungry fish because of a lack of naturally occurring forage. Think of a trout pond at a sportshow and you’ll better understand the comparison.

Fisheries biologists monitoring Devils Lake game fish say the scud population is high on the list of reasons why the fish of Devils Lake are so healthy. Yellow perch, walleye and other species have little trouble finding and filling their stomachs with freshwater shrimp. While this hearty forage base is competition for the best angler, at the same time the long term viability of the fishery would be difficult to sustain without it.

But what do the shrimp need to survive? Freshwater shrimp are known to feed on
all kinds of things. Often these tiny creatures browse on microscopic plants,
animals, algae and other organic debris. Shrimp are at the front of the food chain. If a fish dies, freshwater shrimp are right there to turn the decaying flesh into energy that other fish will consume.

The recipe to create and maintain a healthy fishery is intriguing even to a
biologist. Every facet is important.

So the next time you hear an angler at a fish cleaning station discussing a belly full of shrimp, it just might be the fish … and not the angler.

Leier is a biologist with the Game and Fish Department. He can be reached by
email: dleier@nd.gov

Livewell Maintenance

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:25:17 +0000

By Doug Leier

For the better part of 10 years I’ve written a weekly column, none of which have explored the topic of livewells. The recent discovery of a zebra mussel veliger in the Red River, however, is changing that.

Livewells and veligers link together because veligers are the tiny larvae of zebra mussels. They float suspended in lake or river water for a couple of weeks before they eventually attach to something solid and can begin the process of growing into an adult that produces more veligers.

While in this larval stage the veligers can be randomly pumped into a boat livewell, and if the livewell is not drained before leaving that body of water, the potential exists to move the unseen veligers elsewhere.

The identified veliger in this case was likely not the result of a boater unknowingly transporting it from somewhere else. The most plausible scenario is that it (and probably many others like that were not discovered in sampling) drifted downstream from verified colonies of adult zebra mussels within the Otter Tail River watershed in Minnesota. The Otter Tail and Bois de Sioux rivers join at Wahpeton, N.D. and Breckenridge, Minn., to form the Red River of the North.

Once zebra mussels – or most other aquatic nuisance species – get in a body of water, there is really no practical or economically feasible way to get them out. The next challenge is containing them.

The discovery emphasizes the importance of recent law changes designed to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species in North Dakota. Established in 2008, current law requires boaters, anglers, hunters and others to remove aquatic vegetation from watercraft, motors, trailers and recreational equipment.

In addition, all water must also be removed from boats and other watercraft, with one notable exception: Game and Fish allowed anglers to transport fish from water to home in livewells that still held water if they contain fish or bait.

Currently, the Game and Fish Department is going through the administrative rule process to remove that exception. If this proposal is approved, the new regulation will mean that fish may no longer be transported in a livewell containing water. Transportation of fish in or on ice will still be allowed.

What it boils down to is the Game and Fish Department following the lead and philosophy much of the nation has taken, understanding it’s more efficient and economical to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species rather than having to deal with an established problem.

The U.S. Geological Survey has estimated that the cost of controlling zebra mussels in the Great Lakes region alone may soon reach $5 billion annually, and the same source estimates the control is costing power companies millions of dollars each year.

No one really knows how zebra mussels will establish themselves in the Red River, but the worst case scenario is they’ll eventually colonize on municipal water intake structures, requiring periodic, expensive maintenance removal to keep the water flowing smoothly.

When municipal utilities need to spend resources on controlling zebra mussels, the cost is passed on to the consumer.

I can’t guarantee that if every boater, angler and hunter followed all the rules to the letter that we’d never have to worry about zebra mussels. But the other view of not doing anything and just accepting the inevitable is irresponsible.

I’ve had many discussions with anglers who are hesitant to support the next step, and I’ve talked with others who strongly support it. Here’s hoping the through information, education and the use of needed regulations, we can keep all aquatic nuisance species from spreading beyond where they already exist.

Leier is a biologist with the Game and Fish Department. He can be reached by email: dleier@nd.gov

Fishing Memories

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:45:38 +0000

By Doug Leier

Every so often as the kids and I set off on an unknown excursion, I’ll quip, “let’s go make some memories.”

I understand full well that setting off intentionally to make a memory is part tongue-in-cheek, and the purpose of most outdoor outings for me is spending quality time with the family. As a matter of fact, most will agree that the harder we try to make a memory, the less likely it seems to happen, at least in a positive way.

On the other hand, a quick mental rundown of fishing trips that began with no higher purpose than simply going fishing, will likely yield stringers full of memories.

While some have to do with catching a big fish, or a day when the bluegills were hitting fast and furious, many of the most outstanding memories are more about the people and places and not about a lunker or at times even catching a fish. I’ll admit I personally remember most details of my biggest fish, but that’s simply one fish story sandwiched in between dozens upon dozens of others.

Really, there is no magic formula when setting off to make a memory, other than the final analysis of your trip will most likely fall into one of a few categories – good, bad or neither. The trick is to reduce the potential for bad memories by factoring in the variables you can influence. Young or old, fist time angler or veteran, Murphy’s law doesn’t seem to care. I can confirm from experience that the less you plan and prepare, the better chance the wheels will fall off.

Each individual angler has his or her own preferences, and as long as you account for that, you increase the odds for a smile at the end of the day. Communication is the first and most important ingredient for a sweet memory. When fishing with friends and family, it’s important to explicitly understand each others’ plans and expectations.

For some anglers, a day of fishing starts at sunrise and ends with the moon and stars. Others may prefer to begin with a hearty breakfast at the local cafe and may or may not want to extend the day past lunch. It’s simple communication of plans – setting off without relaying a planned return and lunch plans in advance can turn into a serious snag.

If you need to catch fish and any kind will do, think bluegill, crappie, or even carp, goldeye or bullhead. Yes, I said bullhead. If you really don’t care to keep and clean the fish and just long for the tug at the end of the line, don’t set off on a quest to land a 40-inch North Dakota muskie. We don’t have many of those and the odds of catching one are pretty slim.

If a walleye is a must, you’ll want to spend some time researching walleye waters in North Dakota and resolving that you may need a trip to Lake Sakakawea, the Missouri River or Devils Lake to increase your odds for catching a lot of them. Not to take anything away from other lakes that can produce good walleye fishing, but I’ve tried some of our mid-sized and smaller reservoirs and they can also eat away hours to put a frying-sized walleye in the boat and there’s no guarantee.

Realistically, no water offers a full guarantee, except that summer is full of memories just waiting to be caught, and it’s time to get out and enjoy.

Leier is a biologist with the Game and Fish Department. He can be reached by email: dleier@nd.gov

Nodak Outdoors» general fishing

Winter Weather Predictions

Related Articles

Recreational Fishing – Fish Transportation

Related Articles

ND Flooding

Related Articles

Looking Ahead

Related Articles

The Extremes

Related Articles

NDTrax 2010 Released

Related Articles

Fishing Grand Slam

Related Articles

Freshwater Shrimp

Related Articles

Livewell Maintenance

Related Articles

Fishing Memories

Related Articles