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UTDOOR CONNECTION
MAY 2, 2015 ESTHERVILLE NEWS Find this publication online at www.esthervillenews.net under 驶Sections始
STORIES, ADVICE AND INFORMATION FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
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MEERBEEK, HAWKINS DISCUSS WALLEYE FISHERIES
Now thatʼs a tank of big broodstock walleyes! Photo submitted
With the first weekend of May quick‐ In visiting with DNR Fisheries ly approaching, anticipation for the Biologists Jonathon Meerbeek, and 33rd annual Walleye Weekend contin‐ Mike Hawkins, Big Spirit Lake definite‐ ues to grow. The walleye opener is ly exhibits this typical boom and bust unique in that it is a fundraiser, a fish‐ cycle. The walleye fry stocking in 2001 ing contest and a gathering of people, are an example of a very successful both local and visi‐ fry stocking. This year‐ tors, that make it an class has dominated the annual social event. fishery for many years Of course, over and was so large their the years, Mother growth slowed and prob‐ Nature has done ably caused other prob‐ her best to give us a lems in the fishery. Most wide range of of the fish in that year weather: heat, cold, class have now faded. wind, rain and The 2001 year‐class has STEVE WEISMAN snow. They have all been followed by a OUTDOOR EDITOR been a part of the strong 2007‐year class, Walleye Weekend and now the 2013 and history. Combining all of that history 2014 year‐classes seem to be strong. makes for lots of opener stories Both agree that the slot size limit beginning with, “So do you remember has done what it was intended to do: the year that…” protect and increase the numbers of As normally happens this time of larger broodstock fish, a critical year, the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery was source of walleyes stocked in much of abuzz durinig the early part of April Iowa, while allowing anglers to har‐ with the annual collecting of brood‐ vest fish below the slot. However, stock. they realize the frustration that some Fisheries staff netted over 3,400 anglers can have over the last year, walleyes in nine nights on Big Spirit when they have struggled to catch Lake and East and West Okoboji Lakes eater fish below the 17‐inch to 22‐inch and spawned 1,021 quarts of walleye protected slot. eggs at the Spirit Lake hatchery. The This has been compounded by the Spirit Lake Hatchery also cultures fact that a strong adult year class of muskie and northern pike and staff perch has not been there for anglers collected 312 muskies and 407 north‐ to be able to turn to. Those long gaps ern pike providing eggs for hatching. between successful fry stockings can The DNR plans to release more than create periods when there number of 149 million walleye fry in May. While harvestable sized fish is low. the majority of walleyes are stocked Not only have adult walleye num‐ as fry, some are cultured in Iowa DNR bers been high in Spirit Lake, but hatcheries and stocked at different healthy northern pike and bass popu‐ sizes. Over 1.1 million two‐inch lations have added to the gauntlet walleyes are expected to be stocked that young fish have had to run to into lakes, rivers and streams across make it to adulthood over the past the state this summer. Larger 6‐9 inch few years. fingerlings will be stocked in lakes However, Meerbeek notes, “Lower later this fall. pike populations and diminishing Stocking fry or larger fingerlings numbers of the 2001 year‐class of Over the years, most of the hatched walleyes are helping take predator walleyes produced at the Spirit Lake pressure off of the system. The young Hatchery are stocked as tiny fry with walleyes we are seeing now should the goal that they will provide a solid provide some good numbers of har‐ year class in Iowa’s natural lakes. vestable sized walleyes over the next Because of natural environmental few years.” conditions and predation, walleye fry Meanwhile, on West and East stockings are unpredictable and on Okoboji, in addition to fry, biologists average producing strong year‐classes have been stocking larger walleye fin‐ only happens once every 3‐5 years. gerlings raised at Iowa’s largest wall‐
eye rearing facility at Lake Rathbun in southern Iowa. Over the past few years, these 6‐9 inch fingerlings seem to be helping increase walleye num‐ bers in years when fry don’t survive well. However, these fish cost more to produce and the state has limited resources and space to raise this larg‐ er product. So, a study through Iowa State University aims to examine just how well these fish are doing and what kind of return they are having. The study may also find ways to improve the survival of these fish. Hawkins says, “Walleye fingerlings will be monitored from the time they are put on the truck in southern Iowa, stocked into the lake and as they move into adulthood. Data collected will include their travel patterns after stocking, effects of predators and how many of these advanced finger‐ lings make it to a harvestable size and beyond.” Both biologists are looking forward to using the new ISU study to improve stocking methods. When it comes to managing these fisheries, Meerbeek and Hawkins look at it as both an art and a science. They collect large amounts of data related to walleye populations, but the real trick is being able to make predictions based on that data. They use complex simulation models to help provide insights into how increased stockings, changes in harvest regulations and changes in angler catch can impact the fishery. Some people would argue managing fish is simple. However, these are not controlled environments. Instead, they are living, breathing environ‐ ments with all kinds of variables. Big Spirit, for example, has nearly 40 species of fish interacting with each other and their surroundings. Simple regulation changes can have impacts that ripple throughout the fishery. These impacts aren’t always easy to understand and may take years to assess. There is rarely a one size fits all solution in fisheries management. Hawkins and Meerbeek assure anglers, “We will continue to aggres‐ sively monitor walleye populations in the Iowa Great Lakes, and we are not afraid to suggest changes in regula‐ tions or stocking if the data and mod‐ els suggest a better solution exists.”
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FISHING’S DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH Editors Note: The author earned a reputation as a top if they were located in a different region of the coun‐ walleye guide on Devils Lake, North Dakota, now host- try. ing the popular outdoor program, Jason Mitchell Regardless, as we travel across the upper Midwest with cameras in tow, we have experienced some of Outdoors. www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com BY JASON MITCHELL these angling under dogs and have to marvel at the Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and such is the fact that we often have some of these bites to our‐ case of fish popularity. Walleyes for example are held selves. Note this list doesn’t necessarily mean that a in snob regard across the upper Midwest. Trout fish isn’t popular… at least somewhere but perhaps a purists hold down the west and everyone south of better way to summarize, because of local attitude Des Moines Iowa is obsessed with bass. Easy as an and location these fishing opportunities are grossly angler to get caught up with that tide and chase after under appreciated. the most popular girl in the class. 1. Red River Catfish (North Dakota/ Minnesota) Across the Midwest, there are however some National angling polls show that channel catfish in incredible fishing opportunities that often fly under particular are one of the most popular fish species to the radar. Overlooked species that provide an target. In the upper Midwest, particularly in both extremely high quality fishing experience for what is North Dakota and Minnesota there are fewer anglers often trophy caliber fish. In some cases these over‐ who hold catfish in high regard. What a shame looked fisheries are just victim of geography in that they would receive much more pressure and interest Turn to DIAMONDS, Page 7
SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
Keeping our Lakes Alive BY STEVE WEISMAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
“Keep our Lakes Alive.” Thatʼs a pretty powerful statement, isnʼt it? I think itʼs what those of us living in the Iowa Great Lakes area want. However, when you consider that the watershed for the Iowa Great Lakes (acres of lakes and land) adds up to 85,933 acres, achieving this goal becomes a pretty daunting task. How can we as residents even begin to address an 85,933-acre watershed? Thatʼs where the Dickinson County Clean Water Alliance (CWA) comes in. Formed in 1990 through the efforts of the Dickinson Soil and Water Conservation District and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to be an informational sharing group, the CWA (www.cleanwateralliance.net) has evolved into an organization that coordinates the clean water efforts in Dickinson County. It has grown to the level of having 81 partners (government agencies, non-profit organizations, private businesses and individuals) and, as a result, works to coordinate water quality efforts. John Wills, coordinator, says, “Working on water quality for all of the Iowa Great Lakes region takes a joint effort. No one group is large enough to handle something this large. Thatʼs why there are so many partners.” The CWA has five major objectives. n The first is to coordinate water quality efforts with all of its partners. n The second is to communicate water quality activities to the general public, including updates and issues facing the lakes. n The third is to educate the general public of water quality issues, current projects and future projects. n The fourth is to facilitate the uniting of the CWA and its partners to solve common concerns by defining similar goals and guiding members to cooperative projects that positively impact the water quality.
n The fifth is to lead the effort in seeking out funds for projects and to help assist the Water Quality Commission allocate money for worthy projects. “Everybody has a stake in this and wants clean water,” says Wills. “Itʼs how we get there to achieve this goal. We always need to remember that the Iowa Great Lakes region is a series/chain of lakes. As a result, what happens in one lakeʼs watershed impacts all of the lakes.” The vehicle to achieve this goal comes in the form of the Iowa Great Lakes Watershed Management Plan that was originally written in 2010 and revised in 2013. “Normally, these revisions are done every five years. However, our former plan was more of a shotgun approach, so even though projects were being completed, they were in isolation. The 2013 revision uses more of a focused and deliberate plan that helps to better impact the entire system.” One way in which this issue has been addressed is by breaking the watershed implementation plans into Resource Management Areas (RMA). A total of 13 RMA projects are included ranging from north of Big Spirit Lake into Minnesota, along each side of each lake all the way to Lower Gar. To help with the organization of the plan, projects have been divided into short term, intermediate term and long term goals. An RMA project completed in 2013 was the Okoboji View wetlands project. The $2.6 million project transformed just over 350 acres of cropland back into natural prairie and wetlands just west of Okoboji View Golf Course. The project was a joint effort by local, state and federal environmental wildlife agencies and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. It has become a win-win project for the golf course, wildlife and the waters of West Okoboji. It has been estimated that the total reduction in phosphorous from reaching the lake is
300 pounds per year!
Current project A current RMA is the Hottes and Marble Lake project. The objective is to restore and maintain these lakes as clear water systems. Since the Hottes/Marble Lake Complex and its watershed amounts to almost 19 percent of the watershed into Big Spirit Lake, this project is crucial in helping increase the clean water efforts. Conservation programs, easements and public acquisitions will help protect these areas and greatly decrease the sediment that ends up in Big Spirit. In addition, structures will be in place on Hottes/Marble to allow for periodic drawdowns to help control fisheries populations, promote the growth of vegetation and help clean the water. Fish barriers will control the movement of fish in and out of the system.
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Upper Great Plains Muskie Club takes on service project BY STEVE WEISMAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
Boat owners that have used the docks at Marble Beach and Templar Park on Big Spirit the last couple of years have expressed concern about the condition of these docks. Corners and edges were getting pretty dilapidated, and more than a few unsightly scratches and scrapes occurred. Members of the local muskie club, Chapter #29 Upper Great Plains Muskie Club recently worked on these docks as a service project. According to chapter member and one of the volunteers, Tom Gude, “We have improved the docks on Spirit Lake at both the Marble beach ramp and the Templar ramp. They will be more boat friendly now that the edges and corners have been improved.” The club purchased parts and provided the labor, while the corners and cushions were provided at cost by Great Lakes Marine. Volunteers have donated about
Transformation – dock renovation just about completed.
20 hours of labor to the project while the club has covered the $850 cost in materi‐ als. Volunteers for the project included Art Jones, Steve Horswell, Larry Perry, Shawn Haley, Leo Koefoot and Tom Gude. Larry Perry and Leo Koefoot also worked on the docks at the Triggs boat ramp on Upper Gar.
Becoming involved Pretty exciting stuff, isnʼt it! We must remember, however, that even with these practices in place, it is just the beginning. We wonʼt see an overnight change in the Iowa Great Lakes. It took decades to create the issues we have today, and it will take time to reverse what has happened. The key, though, is DOING…not just talking about it! One of the things we can do is to volunteer to help or to join one of the many non-profit groups that partner with the CWA. By going to the CWA website and clicking on the link “Partners,” you can take a look at all of the partner groups. Some are general in nature, while others are site/lake specific. I have become a part of is the Okoboji Protective Association (www.okobojiprotectiveassociation.org). Since its founding in 1905, the OPA has worked to preserve and enhance the ecological health of West Lake Okoboji and the entire Iowa Great Lakes watershed. OPA was a founding member of the CWA when it first began. Go to the OPA website to learn more.
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PURPLE MARTIN ARRIVAL: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER BY WENDELL HANSEN BIRDHAVEN
We all have heard the saying, "better late than never.” My pur‐ ple martins this year were late showing up here at Birdhaven. Over the last five years, my mar‐ tins have arrived in the first week of April, usually around the 7th. This year the first sighting was on the 11th when three adult martins showed up in mid‐afternoon. Needless to say I was like a little kid in a candy store. I watched the martins fly around for the rest of the day as they swooped in and out of the housing that is set up just for purple martins at the west end of Birdhaven. By sunset that day there were four adults flying around. It felt like Christmas in April, and I now had four presents under the tree while knowing there would be more the next morning. It was a long, restless night. I was up at sunrise and down standing under the Martin Colony just waiting to hear the martins sing their dawn song and count the new arrivals that had arrived during the night. It took no time at all before I realized that some‐ thing was wrong. The candy store was closed and the Grinch had stolen Christmas. No martins
whatsoever ‐ they were gone. It didn't take long before I start‐ ed to get phone calls from con‐ cerned Martin Landlords asking the same questions, "Where are the purple martins and have you seen any yet?" Could this be a repeat from years past? I didn't have the answers. The only thing that I could say is “Let’s just hope for once that our martins are playing it safe this year and just taking their time in coming home.”
Looking back The last four years our martins have taken a hard hit here in northwest Iowa. In their rush to breed, the martins have been arriving way o early to pick the best nesting cavity and in doing so a lot of martins have lost their lives due to severe weather. The severe weather that kills so many martins is not just in our area. To start with, four years ago the martin season started out great. That was before we got our spring rains in July. After three to four days of hard rain, every nest‐ ing cavity was soaked. The very next day, after the rains, the day‐ time temp was up in the high 90's. The young martins ranging from 9‐16 days old started to die
ment and protection, endangered species programs, and conservation education. Purchasing a license also We come from a legacy of make you eligible to submit stewardship and conservayour fish as a record. tion. Our fishing licenses Several years ago an are a tangible link to that legacy. Our parents and our Arkansasʼ angler caught a grandparents were the earli- 16 pound, 5 ounce largemouth bass and submitted est supporters of conservathe fish to the Arkansas Fish tion and scientific wildlife and Game Commission as a management. Those who preceded us were the first to potential state record. The bass would have broken a recognize that unregulated 36-year-old record by one uses of wildlife threatened ounce. The AGFC discovthe future of many species. ered that the angler had purWhen they purchased fishchased his license three ing licenses, they helped to fund programs that kept fish- hours after he claimed to have caught the bass. eries vital and healthy. Rather than holding a state License fees help pay for record, the angler was cited fishery and hatchery manfor fishing without a license. agement, habitat developThe record, because the BY BEN R. LEAL
Recycled Fish Program Director
STEWARDSHIP TIP:
THE IMPORTANCE OF LICENSES
like flies. They were being cooked alive in their own nesting cavities. They were caught in hot saunas with no way out. This happened all over the U.S that year. It was all due to the simple fact that there was not enough ventilation in the cavities. Since then most Landlords have taken steps to modify that problem by adding more ventilation. Three years ago our martins got hit hard with cold temps and hard rain in late April and the first part of May. This time it was the adults that took the hard hit. The purple martin diet consists of insects. For them to eat, the day‐ time temp must be above 55. When the temp is below 55, there are no insects for the mar‐ tins, and they will start to starve to death in just five days. That year the cold spell lasted almost two weeks. In a last ditch effort, I saw martins fly out and look for food just to watch them fall out of the sky. There were dead, adult martins everywhere. Two years ago we got hit with late winter storms. I lost all eight of my martins that showed up early because of the six inches of snow. Then tornadoes hit down south and once again our north‐ bound adult martins got hit with
Adult female purple martin returns home to Birdhaven. Photo by Wendal Hansen
a devastating blow. Shortly after‐ wards, the few birds that had shown up were hit with low temps and again starvation set in. I had reports from all over the Iowa Great Lakes area that num‐ bers were way down every‐ where. Come on will this never end? Last year was just more bad news for our martins. On their way up from the tropics, they ran right smack dab into late winter storms in Missouri. The southern snow lasted for days and once again starvation took its toll. Some of my Great Lakes Landlords lost every single bird in their Colony. My numbers were cut in half. It's devastating to
angler caught the fish illegally, was invalidated. Iowa fishing licenses expire in January of each year. With the weather warming there are many anglers that are already hitting open water in pursuit of the spring bite. Recently while fishing a small stream an Iowa DNR conservation officer asked to see my valid fishing license. He stood across the river and used binoculars to read and check the dates. He even asked me to hold my driverʼs license up next to the fishing license! Donʼt make the mistake of telling yourself “oh they never check”, because the moment you do, youʼll be cited. Our fishing licenses are a link to our past and a path to
work so hard to start a colony and then watch it die off slowly or even all at once. Yet every year we keep trying. Why? Just come and hang around a Colony for a while and you just may fall in love with them like all Landlords do. Like I said, better late than never, on the 16th of April, four martins were seen. On the 18th, eight martins were in my Colony. Then 11, 16, 20 and at this time and the 25th of April, over 30 martins. Wohooo! The candy store is open and it's Christmas time again. It looks like we may just have the purple martin sea‐ son this year we all dream of. As all ways get up, get out and enjoy nature!
our future. A license also allows you to fish legally and, if you are fortunate enough, it allows you to submit your fish for a record. If you havenʼt purchased your fishing license yet, help carry our legacy forward, purchase your license today! We Are Stewards…Anglers living a lifestyle of stewardship both on and off the water, because our lifestyle runs downstream. Iowa fishing licenses expire in January of each year. With the weather warming there are many anglers that are already hitting open water in pursuit of the spring bite. Recently while fishing a small stream an Iowa DNR conservation officer asked to see my valid fishing license. He stood
across the river and used binoculars to read and check the dates. He even asked me to hold my driverʼs license up next to the fishing license! Donʼt make the mistake of telling yourself “oh they never check”, because the moment you do, youʼll be cited. Editorʼs note: Each month the outdoor page will feature a column by Recycled Fish, a nonprofit organization founded by Teeg Stouffer in 2003. Originally a Catch and Release education organization, it is now a national movement of anglers who live and promote a lifestyle of stewardship both on and off the water.
SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
DIAMONDS, Continued from Page 4 because this border river between the two states is arguably one of the premier channel cat fisheries in the Nation especially for trophy size fish. On most water where these kitty cats swim, you would be hard pressed to ever see a twenty‐pound fish, not so on the Red. Anglers often crack really big fish by fishing fresh cut bait next to the bottom. Anchoring up river of logjams and wood snags or deeper holes. Both sucker and gold eye are native forage fish in the river for big catfish and these two species of fish are often used for cut bait along with leopard frogs dur‐ ing the fall of the year. 2. Devils Lake White Bass (North Dakota) This massive body of water in northeastern North Dakota is renown for walleye and jumbo perch but if anglers discover a school of these temperate bass, they are in for a game of bloody knuckles. These schooling fish fight as hard as any fresh water fish pound for pound and will often hit top water and shallow running lures. Some of these fish reach well past three pounds and are extremely strong. Anglers often find white bass along shallow rip rap or the inside edges of weed beds. Casting shallow shorelines in the back ends of bays is a great way to search for early season bass. As summer progress‐ es, vertically jig a jig and minnow near any current
around the several bridges that divide up the sepa‐ rate lake basins. 3. Chequamegon Bay Smallmouths (Wisconsin Catch and release regulations over the past twen‐ ty years have quietly turned this Lake Superior Bay into a trophy class smallmouth bass fishery. The shame is that so many local anglers in that region regard bass as a trash fish and would rather target walleye, perch or salmon. You can find bigger top end fish off Door County on Lake Michigan and Lake Erie but as far as an average size, this estuary is tough to beat. You can catch more 19‐inch fish in a couple of days of fishing on this body of water than what you would catch an entire season on most good inland smallmouth water. While fish will shift over deeper shipping channel and some deep boulder piles, the cold water of Lake Superior keeps these fish up shallow for much of the season. Target shallow rock, weed beds or logging timber remains. 4. St. Louis River Walleyes (Minnesota) Weird to see walleyes on a list of under utilized fish in Minnesota but this walleye run truly is an incredi‐ ble success story for pollution control and conserva‐ tion that is often overlooked. Not too long ago and the St. Louis River near Duluth, Minnesota was one of the most polluted rivers in Gopher State. With more stringent pollution regulations and
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improved water quality, this river has quietly devel‐ oped a walleye population that is comparable to the Rainy River or the Mississippi River without all the fanfare or notoriety. Ironically, many of the local anglers cut their teeth on big water fish like lake trout and salmon on Lake Superior and the strong population of both walleye and musky are one of this region’s best kept secrets. 5. Clear Lake Muskies (Iowa) When anglers think of Iowa fishing opportunities on the larger lakes in Iowa like Spirit Lake, Storm Lake or Clear Lake, anglers often think of panfish like bluegill, crappie, perch or even yellow bass. Besides a heavily targeted panfish population, anglers often target walleye extensively. What surprises some anglers is the quality of the musky fishery that has quietly developed on Clear Lake. When looking at the law of musky averages comparable to other noteworthy lakes, Clear Lake seems to have an astonishing catch rate. There must be a lot of muskies in this lake and they seem to be getting bigger. Fish from 36 to 40 inches seem abun‐ dant by musky standards and some fish are closing in on 50 inches. Fortunately, more Iowan anglers seem to be appreciating these top of the line preda‐ tors and specifically targeting them. The anglers actually fishing for skies are finding some untapped fishing for big fish.
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ANSWERING FISHING QUESTIONS BY BOB JENSEN
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Fishing seminars, School of Fish, and instore events are great places to learn more about fishing. Mike Frisch is working one-on-one with a young angler at this Cabelaʼs/School of Fish activity.
I was at the Walleye Classic at the Cabela’s stores in Owatonna and Rogers Minnesota recently. I present‐ ed a walleye seminar at each store and spent a good amount of time talking with anglers about walleye fishing and fishing in general. I always enjoy participating in these events. I try to pass along some information that might be helpful, and I also always learn something. At almost all of these events, the same questions regarding fish‐ ing frequently come up. Following are some of the questions that are on the minds of many of the anglers that attend events such as Cabela’s Walleye Classic. The question that I probably hear the most is “How do you know where to start fishing”? That’s an outstanding ques‐ tion, and in my mind the most important factor in fishing suc‐ cess. We can have the best rods and reels and baits, and we can be fishing from an expensive boat teamed with the fastest, most reliable motor out there, but if we aren’t fishing where the fish are, we’re not going to catch’em. It truly is that sim‐ ple: Before you catch fish, you’ve got to find them. My response to this question is the same every time. Early in the year, when the fish are either getting ready to spawn, are spawning, or have just fin‐ ished spawning, they’ll usually be close to shore. Not always, but almost always. The rest of the year, after they’ve recovered from the spawning ritual, they will be wherever the food is If they’re eating perch, they’ll be near perch. If they’re eating craw‐ dads, they’ll be where the crawdads are. Find their food, and you’ll find the fish. The second most asked ques‐
really matter? My response is that I believe that color is an important consideration much of the time, but it’s only one consideration. Lure shape, size, and speed are also equal‐ ly important things to think about when selecting a bait. I like smaller baits in the spring, larger baits in the sum‐ mer and fall. Longer, thinner baits seem to work better for walleyes, shorter, fatter baits seem to appeal to bass better. I’ve caught many, many walleyes on short, fat baits, and lots of bass on long, thin baits. But if I were limited to one crankbait shape for walleyes it would be long and thin, and if I was limit‐ ed to one crankbait shape for bass it would be short and fat. In the spring, a slower pres‐ entation is usually better, in the summer you can go faster, and in the fall you can go faster than you would in the spring but usually not as fast as you would go in the sum‐ mer. After we go through all of that, we would get back to the color question. I like subtle col‐ ors in clear water and bright, gaudy colors in stained or dirty water. But, if I was after walleyes and limited to one color, I would select some‐ thing like firetiger for clear or dirty water, and probably a chartreuse/blue for bass in clear or dirty water. Something with chartreuse in it is usually a good place to start. I get lots of other really good questions at these events. Some I can answer with a pret‐ ty high level of confidence, some I can’t, and when I can’t, I just say, “I don’t know for sure, what’s been your experi‐ ence”? That’s when I learn, and that’s what I really enjoy about being involved in events such as the Walleye Classic.