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UTDOOR CONNECTION
MARCH 2016 ESTHERVILLE NEWS Find this publication online at www.esthervillenews.net under ʻSectionsʼ
STORIES, ADVICE AND INFORMATION FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
Curlyleaf pondweed: What’s next?
Weisman visits The Fountain of Youth
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
2
Curlyleaf pondweed: What’s next?
R
emember the ugly mat of vegetation across the north end of East Okoboji last May and June? After last year’s curlyleaf pondweed explosion, lake homeown‐ ers and anglers alike expressed concern. In many areas, there was sim‐ ply no way that boat traffic could make it through the impenetrable matt of curly leaf pondweed. That was the topic at two public presentations by DNR Fisheries Biologist Mike Hawkins in February. The first was at the regular Dickinson County Supervisors meeting on Feb. 15 and the second on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at the Spirit Lake Library. At both meetings Hawkins shared a power‐ point presentation about curlyleaf pondweed includ‐ ing its history, growth cycle and what other states have done to try and control this non‐native plant. In addi‐ tion, he presented a joint management plan for the treatment of curlyleaf pondweed, which repre‐ sents the efforts of local leaders, lakeshore residents and lake managers to develop a strategy to man‐
age curlyleaf pondweed, a non‐native aquatic plant, utilizing techniques includ‐ ing low‐dose herbicide treatments and mechanical cutting or removal.
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again concern, but we won’t know until late spring, that 2016 could be as bad ore even worse. Here is what makes for the perfect growing conditions: •First, since curlyleaf pondweed germinates in late fall and begins to grow under the ice, a short ice season can cause greater than average growth. •Secondly, little or now snow cover. Since snow reduces light penetration, it will also limit plant growth. If light penetrates to the lake bottom during the winter, it causes a favor‐ able growing condition. •Curlyleaf pondweed spreads via turions, similar to seeds. The more curlyleaf plants, the more turions and the more wide‐ ly distributed the plant becomes. •Years of low water level allow sunlight to reach more of the lake bottom for longer periods of time, thus increasing plant growth. Still, even though lake sci‐ entists understand the fac‐ More about curlyleaf tors influencing its growth, pondweed curlyleaf remains unpre‐ Although curlyleaf dictable and conditions can pondweed dies back by vary widely from year to early July, during the months of May and June, it year. Taking the lead From an outdoorsman’s can totally cover shallow Following the second perspective water areas. Bottom line is meeting, the East Okoboji this: curlyleaf is an exotic, First off, curlyleaf is most Lakes Improvement likely here to stay. And yes, Corporation board met and an invasive species intro‐ duced into the United although it is a non‐native decided to spearhead the States in the mid‐1800s aquatic plant, it does pro‐ fundraising for a pilot proj‐ from (most likely) Europe. vide ecosystem benefits for ect to chemically treat a portion of the north side of It’s been in Iowa and most fish and wildlife and can likely the Iowa Great Lakes improve lake water quality. East Lake Okoboji. It is proven that aquatic The organization's presi‐ since the 1950s. Over the past 60 years or so, it has plants stabilize bottom sed‐ dent, Bill Maas, says they been present along most iments, absorb and dimin‐ need to raise $22,000 shorelines, but for the most ish wind and wave action quickly in order for the part hasn’t caused many and provide important project to happen. habitat for aquatic insects "Any contributions will be issues. According to Hawkins, once back in the and zooplankton. held specifically for that However, from my per‐ purpose and I guess if you late 1980s conditions were spective, too much can be right, and there was a sub‐ want to look at it from a stantial increase in surface too much. To have an bad side if the project entire section of a lake be wouldn't go through, if we coverage. Now there is
lanes near docks on the north end of East Okoboji. This would be a one‐year experimental plan to see if it does make a difference. Question & Answer A question and answer session followed the pre‐ sentations. Over 30 resi‐ dents attended the first meeting with another 40 at the second meeting. At both meetings, many peo‐ ple expressed frustration with the way curlyleaf pondweed had choked off STEVE WEISMAN the use of the north end of OUTDOOR EDITOR East Okoboji during the months of May and June. According to Hawkins, At the same time, others mechanical cutters are an were concerned about option, but cost of the using a chemical to control machine and the hours of the plant. Hawkins noted use make this option pretty that he understood their much cost prohibitive. concerns, but he also Another option is the use assured them that it is safe of Aquathol K, an endothall and that less than 15 per‐ based herbicide that has cent of the surface area been proven to be safe for would be treated. Since humans, pets, fish and curlyleaf pondweed begins wildlife. According to its growing season in the Hawkins, it has been used fall and continues through safely in Iowa and neigh‐ the winter under the ice, boring states. application would be done If approved and the fund‐ after the ice goes out in the ing found, less than 15 per‐ spring. Timing of the appli‐ cent of the shallow water cation would be early areas will be addressed. enough not to affect native About 65 acres would be plants. treated to create traffic
didn't get enough money, that that money would be either returned or the checks voided or whatever so people aren't out any‐ thing if the project doesn't proceed.” Maas also noted that this is not an assessment or mandatory. It is a voluntary effort by concerned citi‐ zens to create traffic lanes near docks on the north end of the lake to allow boaters (and the lake patrol) access to that area of the lake. Maas says interested sup‐ porters of the curlyleaf project can make a dona‐ tion online at http://east‐ okobojilakes.org/ or they can mail their donation to: East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation P. O. Box 45 Spirit Lake, Ia. 51360 If a large donation is to be fully tax deductible, it should be made out to the Iowa Great Lakes Water Safety Council (a 501 (c) 3 organization at Box 232, in Spirit Lake, Ia. 51360.
totally covered with plants ends the opportunity to uti‐ lize the water for any form of recreation. Both Minnesota and Iowa recog‐ nize the importance of aquatic vegetation, but also understand the negative impacts of total weed cover. As a result, both states require that all aquatic vegetation man‐ agement plans limit the removal or treatment of aquatic plants to less than 15 percent of the lake’s total shallow area. By doing this, it limits the negative impacts of this loss of aquatic habitat. According to Hawkins, if approved and the funding found, less than 15 percent of the shallow water areas will be addressed. About 65 acres would be treated to create traffic lanes near docks on the north end of East Okoboji. This would be a one‐year experimental plan to see if it does make a difference.
Treatment options There are some treat‐ ments that can help keep it at bay, and in this case, open up areas around docks to help boaters move along the shoreline and to get in and out of hoists. Mechanical cuttings have been attempted in many places with varying degrees of success. Iowa Code allows mechanical cutting, and lakehome owners can do this around their docks if they choose. However, continuous maintenance is needed, since curlyleaf pondweed will grow 3‐4 inches per day during its growing sea‐ son. Another option is pulling the plant, which will have longer lasting effects. Commercial cutting on a large scale is extremely Turn to POND, Page 3
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
POND, Continued from Page 2 expensive and labor inten‐ sive. Development of low‐dose endothall or diquat herbi‐ cide spot treatment meth‐ ods have shown the great‐ est promise for controlling curlyleaf in a more cost‐ effective manner. Treatments are most effec‐ tive when applied in the weeks after ice‐out when the plant is still in its early growth phase and when other native plants are not yet actively growing.
be safe for humans, pets, fish and wildlife. The label requirements of Aquathol K, an endothall based herbi‐ cide, require a 600‐foot application buffer from drinking water intakes. The proposed application area outlined in this plan is approximately 5.5 miles from the closest drinking water intake.
Just the tip of the iceberg
This is another example of what can happen by people Safety of endothall knowingly/or unknowingly At first, I was leery about introducing exotics into the putting chemicals in the waters. Curlyleaf is causing water. Here we are trying us problems, but there are to keep our waters clean, many more knocking on and then we go dumping our doors! Eurasian milfoil endothall in the water. This and brittle niad are two is what I learned upon exotics that are already in more study. Endothall both Minnesota and Iowa. products have been widely All it takes is one trailer used for the control of coming from a contaminat‐ aquatic plants in lake sys‐ ed body of water and tems. It has been proven to entering our lakes, and
bingo they are here! People sometimes scoff at the Iowa DNR slogan: Clean. Drain. Dry. They think “it doesn’t affect me.” Well, it most definitely does. It’s called being proactive rather than being reactive. We always feel so badly after the fact; yet we are too many times so arro‐ gant and unconcerned before it happens! If curlyleaf pondweed weren’t here, we wouldn’t be talking about this prob‐ lem. It is, and people brought it all the way from Europe! The same holds true for zebra mussels and Asian carp. These problems aren’t going away either, and now we have to deal with them. It would have been much easier to handle before the fact than now! So, we all need to learn from these past mistakes and NOT let it happen again and again and again.
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IN SEARCH OF REDFISH BY STEVE WEISMAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
I
t is but a dim memory, but do you remember the early February bliz‐ zard? You know, the foot of snow and 50 mph winds? I have a confession to make to you. I don’t because, well, my wife and I chose to be in St. Augustine, Fla., during that time. Good tim‐ ing, huh? As a matter of fact, we joined friends from Estherville, and on that very blizzard day, Bill and I happened to be sightfish‐ ing for redfish in one of the many low tide creeks along the intercoastal waterway with Captain James Dumas, owner of Drum Man Charters (www.drumman‐ charters.com). Using a 17’ Dragonfly Grand Slam with a seven‐ inch draft, Captain James push poled us through a labyrinth of shallow creeks that held scores of red fish in depths of 8 inches to a few 2‐foot holes. We used spinning rods and reels with braided line and a 20‐ pound Fluorocarbon leader. We cast ¼‐ounce jig heads tipped with Zman 4” or 3½” soft plastics. The only trouble was we never knew where the red‐ fish would be: around the bend, just off an oyster bed, along a hole…as he poled from the rear plat‐ form, Captain James would let us know where the fish were going to be. Bill and I were both very thankful that Captain James was an extremely patient guide. After all, we have sightfished lots of times on Big Spirit and West Okoboji for bluegills and crappies. You see them and drop the bait in front of them. Bang, here they come!
Captain James Dumas pushpoles through the low tide creek. Photo by Steve Weisman
Not here! No, you look for surface water movement, like tiny ripples as the red‐ fish move along. Now it might be a single fish or a few or it might be a huge school, but you can’t cast into them or in front of them. If you do, they’re gone. You have to cast beyond and bring the bait to them. Of course, Bill and I had sunglasses, but then there are sunglasses (a $30 pair like ours) and the $200 pair that Captain James had on. He saw fish; we could only see the water move, and when they got a few feet from us we could see the redfish. Definitely a handi‐ cap, so we had to rely on Captain James to see the fish for us. Oh, and we learned quickly that a cast at 11 o’clock must be at 11
o’clock. 10 or 12 doesn’t cut it! Any noise sends them on their way. That means no stepping up and down on the platform or slapping a little grass off the jig in the water. See what I mean about learning curve! The retrieve was similar to the way we slow jig and retrieve for walleyes. When a redfish hits, it’s solid, but not a true reel screamer… initially. Then the rod begins to pulse, and the redfish will make several long, hard runs. Three different times, Bill and I had doubles on with the greatest issue being to stay out of each other’s way! In one little bend in the creek, we took out eight fish in a few minutes. The redfish ranged from 20‐ Turn to REDFISH, Page 4
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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ROLE OF THE ROD AND LINE IN ICE-FISHING SUCCESS Plus late-ice tips BY MARK STRAND
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This winter we’ve focused on what Dave Genz consid‐ ers the keys to presenting a bait to fish under the ice. About the effectiveness of horizontal jigs, knot posi‐ tioning, and cadence of the presentation. To tie a bow around the topic, a bit about the crucial role the rod and line play in your ability to execute the Genz pounding presentation and experiment with cadence.
Line The line you use for ice fishing has to be fresh, and has to match up well with the weight of your bait. Everything else you do can be perfect, but if your line is too thick (“heavy”) for the bait, “it won’t hang straight,” says Genz. “Even if it’s just a little too heavy, it robs you of the feel you need to fish the bait and detect bites.” Genz is meticulous about his line, changing it fre‐ quently, and often hand‐ stretching the first 20 feet or so at the start of the day, to remove any tendency for the line to coil when low‐ ered down the hole. Fresh, limp line matched well with the bait provides you with a direct connection between the rod and the bait. “You can make that bait do what you want it to,” he says, “when your line is hanging straight and does not have memory. If it’s too heavy and has coils in it, you can’t feel much and the bait does‐ n’t react to what you’re doing with the rod.”
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Genz has spoken many times about his rod prefer‐ ences for ice fishing. “They need to function,” he says, “like long rods in minia‐ ture.” Genz prefers ice rods that are relatively stiff and “very
Great panfishing days await March ice anglers, as increasing daylength and strengthening sun bring life to shallow water. A well-balanced rod, line, and lure setup allows ice fishing legend Dave Genz to experiment with the cadence of his presentation, and to detect even light biters. Photo: davegenz.com
crisp,” so that the bottom of each jigging cycle can be felt in his hand. “The right rod,” he says, “allows me to do anything from hard pounding to a softer, slow‐ er, smoother presentation.” It’s well known that Genz does not like spring bob‐ bers, because of how they smooth out and slow down cadence in presentation. “If a slower, smoother presentation is what the fish want,” he says, “you can easily do that with a good graphite rod. And there are ways of detecting light bites by watching as much as feeling; you’re watching the rod tip all the time, and you can see when the line moves slightly to the left or right, or if the rod tip dips slightly. When that happen, you set the hook.” On light‐biting fish, if you miss on the first few hook‐ sets, Genz advises, try drop‐ ping the rod tip when you see a bite occur. Drop the rod tip, hesitate, then set
the hook. The time, and slack line, often allows the fish (if it is so inclined) to take that “second bite” and get the hook into its mouth. “A lot of times,” says Genz, “the fish will just kind of softly suck at it the first time, and the bait is touch‐ ing on the outside of the mouth. When you drop the rod tip, if they decide they want it, they will suck it in and you can catch them.” On most days, a rapid cadence, giving off good vibration, will attract and trigger more fish than a softer, more muted cadence. After all these years of fishing almost every day all winter, Genz has concluded that the biggest mistake anglers make is slowing down or stopping their jigging motion when fish show up. “You should keep the movement going,” he says. “I see most of the spring‐ bobber people stop when a fish swims up to it. They just
hold it still and watch for the spring to move. But when you do that, if your line has any twist, the jig starts to spin. Most of the time, the fish don’t like a spinning jig. “When you’re using a rapid cadence, and keep it going after the fish comes in, the lure doesn’t spin. And if you keep doing what brought the fish in, and experiment with raising or lowering the jig as you keep it vibrating, it gets more of the fish to bite. And they tend to bite down on it harder, because they tend to chase it more, and work harder at getting it all the way into their mouth.” After each fish or missed bite, when you reel up to put on bait or rotate the knot on the eyelet of the jig, take a few seconds to let the line ‘un‐spin’ to further minimize the curse of the spinning jig. As we head into prime late‐ice panfish time, here’s one example of a well‐bal‐ anced setup, featuring a new rod Genz designed in the Ice Team Professional series. Match the 26‐inch bluegill rod with 2‐ or 4‐ pound‐test line, and the new Dave Genz Drop‐Kick tungsten jig. Any size jig in the series will match up well with this system. But get out there and take part in one of the best por‐ tions of the ice‐fishing sea‐ son. Editor’s Note: Dave Genz, known as Mr. Ice Fishing, was the primary driver of the modern ice fishing revolu‐ tion. He has been enshrined in the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport. For more fishing tips and to order his new info‐packed book, Ice Revolution, go to www.dave‐ genz.com.
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
5
REDFISH, Continued from Page 3 26 inches in length! As Captain James poled us through the winding creeks, it was fun to see the immense oyster beds sticking out of the salt water, knowing that several hours later the tide would cover them and spread out into the nearby grass‐ es. “When that happens,” said Captain James, “The redfish will scatter throughout the area.” What was really cool was as we came to the end of a creek and were just yards away from the main flat, the water came alive. I would guess there were several hundred redfish just swarming around with more even out beyond the mouth of the creek. We stopped for a couple of min‐ utes and popped a few more. We all agreed it would be best to leave these redfish alone for another day so that some more “snow‐ birds” could enjoy tangling with some redfish!
About Captain James At age 40, Captain James truly
enjoys doing what he’s doing! “I’ve been guiding here in the St. Augustine area for the past 10 years. I traveled a lot in my earlier years and fished up and down both coasts of Florida and to places like Costa Rica and the outer island chain of Belize.” There are so many reasons to enjoy the St. Augustine area. “We have a pretty much untouched waterway that is loaded with fish. We have a somewhat newly dis‐ covered fishery for Florida that is perfect for shallow water fishing. There are many days I won’t see another boat fishing the same area. As a result, our fish are unpressured compared to a lot of other areas.” Bill and I have fished several char‐ ters over the years during our vis‐ its to Florida. Drum Man Charters is one we would definitely choose to try again…with one change… we would sharpen our casting abil‐ ities before we went after shallow water redfish again!
STEWARDSHIP TIP:
Aeration
help to break up thatch. A wellaerated lawn will promote better water infiltration and reduce Winterʼs grip on the landscape will end sometime soon. runoff potential. Why aeration is important to Ice caps on local area lakes are starting to recede and open the fish: Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are key components water is not far off. in lawn fertilizer; when applied Iowans are experiencing an early spring this year and think- properly, fertilizer promotes a lush, healthy lawn. When fertiling about a nice green lawn izers are improperly applied, N may not hasten winterʼs and P can run off the lawn and demise, but it certainly wonʼt end up in the watershed. hurt. It might help to carry you In a pond or lake, N and P through those overcast, snowy can contribute to algal blooms. days. Algae grow faster than larger While youʼre thinking about plants; N and P promote its your nice, green lawn, schedgrowth. In large concentraule your spring aeration. tions, N and P can cause Whether youʼre a do your own or prefer to have someone excessive growth. As an algal do it for you, aeration is impor- bloom grows, portions of the bloom sink and fuel bacterial tant for every lawn. Aeration will open up the soil. growth. Bacterial metabolism consumes oxygen and can It will help to develop a deep lead to water conditions that root system. Aeration will are low in or devoid of oxygen. loosen compacted soil. It will These conditions can be BY BEN LEAL
RECYCLED FISH PROGRAM DIRECTOR
stressful or even fatal for fish. Aerating promotes better water infiltration. Water, from rain or irrigation, will carry the fertilizer down to the roots in aerated soil rather than into the gutter. This will help to reduce the amount of N and P that are introduced into the watershed. Take a little time this week and schedule your spring aeration. It will be good for your lawn, good for your watershed, and good for your fish. Remember that what we do off the water affects what we do or what happens on the water. We are more than sportsmen…We Are Stewards. Editorʼs note: Each month the Outdoor Connection will feature a column by Recycled Fish, a nonprofit organization founded by Teeg Stouffer in 2003.
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History abounds in St. Augustine BY STEVE WEISMAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
In late January, my wife and I met good friends Bill and Diane Elling from Estherville in St. Augustine, Fla. You could easily say that this visit was definitely his‐ torical. What else can you say about an area that was first explored by the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. The city was later founded in 1565 by the Spanish and known today as the oldest continuously occupied European‐estab‐ lished settlement within this country’s borders. We didn’t really notice it from the city’s outskirts. No, things looked modern with lots of building. It was only when we got into the old town that we became immersed in the history St. Augustine. Oh my is there history. So, where do you start? Well, I began by con‐ tacting Kathy Catron, Director of Communications with the St. Augustine Visitors and Convention Bureau (www.FloridasHistoricCoast .com). Since there is limited park‐ ing in historic St. Augustine, Kathy suggested that we take the Old Town Trolly Tours (park at one of their pick‐up sites). Easy on – easy off with 23 stops and more than 100 points of interest. We were given a map showing each destina‐ tion, and the driver gave
Bill and Diane Elling and Darian and Steve Weisman visit the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, Fla. Photo submitted
brief descriptions of each stop. Thus, we could pick and choose, passing up some stops and getting off and touring others. Since trolleys keep following the route, it’s easy to gain access and move on. Here are two that we espe‐ cially enjoyed: One of the most formida‐ ble structures is the Castillo de San Marcos, which is the oldest masonry fort in the United States and the only standing 17th century mili‐ tary construction. It is also one of two forts built of coquina, a soft limestone composed of broken shells. This native material gave the Spanish a special advantage
against attack from the water. Instead of cracking or collapsing, coquina walls absorbed or deflected enemy fire, even cannon balls allowing the Spanish to guard their possessions and keep their people safe. This unique craftsmanship has been standing since 1695, and even today looks as strong and impenetrable as ever! We couldn’t visit St. Augustine without touring Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. Located in the area first explored by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513 and settled by Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565, local historians say
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The Castillo de San Marcos Photo by Steve Weisman
Colonial America started right here, 55 years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, and 42 years before Jamestown! With a long, rich history spanning nearly 500 years, the Fountain of Youth Park offered us the chance to “walk” back in time. The Spring House holds the story of Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth and even the original spring recorded in the 17th century. The entire grounds hold the his‐ tory of the area including the Timucuan natives that lived here over 2,000 years before the Spanish landed. We also chose a second tour option with Country Carriage Tours. We were there the last day of the Christmas lights, so we chose an evening horse drawn carriage ride. It pro‐ vided a completely different perception as we slowly rode through the tree lined and narrow brick streets amid the beautifully lit his‐ torical buildings. It was a truly wonderful way to end our day!
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016
Ducks Unlimited launches online film series MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Waterfowl hunting is much more than a sport. It’s an experience. For those of us who have fall‐ en in love with wetlands and waterfowl, duck calls and retrievers, decoys and shot‐ guns, Ducks Unlimited has cre‐ ated a new film series that cap‐ tures the essence of what it means to be a waterfowler. This narrative film series explores the lives and stories of duck hunters across the coun‐ try. We find out why they became hunters, what drives their passion, how they are passing on the traditions, and why they are giving back to the resource. Going beyond the confines and formulas of tradi‐ tional duck hunting shows, DU Films presents the beauty and passion of waterfowling in new and unexpected ways. Advances in digital cine‐ matography allow us to cap‐ ture breathtaking waterfowl action like never before. Flocks of ducks with wings set, feet down, dropping in to the decoys, have never looked bet‐ ter. Remote cameras catch the action from unique perspec‐ tives. And with state‐of‐the‐art editing and evocative story‐ telling, viewers will find them‐ selves immersed in unforget‐ table waterfowl experiences. At the heart of this series is a drive to conserve the habitats that make it all possible. From the prairie breeding grounds in the north to coastal wintering grounds in the south and countless areas in between, DU's conservation mission is an integral part of the waterfowl‐ ing world. Produced in partnership with Rock Road Creative and airing exclusively on the Ducks Unlimited website, DU Films is available in high‐quality video format to anyone with internet access, anywhere in the world. To view DU Films, just go to www.ducks.org/dufilms.
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
7
EMMET COUNTY NATURE CENTER FOUNDATION BANQUET SET BY GUNNAR JOHNSON EMMET COUNTY NATURALIST
The Emmet County Nature Center Foundation will be holding their ninth annu‐ al banquet on March 19 at the Estherville Elks Lodge. Doors will open at 5:30, a meal served at 6, and a short program will be given at 7. Tickets are $25 each, and can be pur‐ chased in advance or at the door. We have a bunch of wonderful prizes to be given away from very generous donors. Some of the prizes being offered are a Traeger grill, 12 Ga. Weatherby shotgun, art‐ work by Larry Zach, and new this year is a fully guided and filmed youth turkey hunt, and a fully guided youth fishing outing! For the second year in a row, we are for‐ tunate enough to receive a handmade wooden canoe built by Alan Gage. It is a true piece of art! Yet it is meant to be used like any other canoe. If you would like to see the canoe in person, it will be at the Farm and Home show on Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5 at the RWC in Estherville.
Sheʼs a beauty! Alan Gage has again crafted a wooden canoe for this yearʼs banquet and will be a main raffle item. Photo submitted
If you would like a chance to win this canoe, it is $20 per raffle ticket. The winner will be announced at the banquet, and you do not need to be present in order to win.
Chickadee Tax Check-off seeking rise in donations DES MOINES ‐ Last year, roughly 7,500 out of 1.5 million Iowa taxpayers helped boost wildlife con‐ servation with donations to the Fish and Wildlife Fund on their state tax form. This marks the first year in the last five where contributions and the number of contributors to the Fish and Wildlife fund have gone down. Donations to all the state tax form check‐offs were down on 2014 returns. “It’s disheartening after a five year positive trend to see donations drop,” said Stephanie Shepherd, wildlife diversity biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “Those dona‐ tions go directly to research and habitat develop‐ ment for some of Iowa’s most vulnerable animal species, so the funds are very important for natu‐ ral resources.” According to Shepherd, Iowans donated rough‐ ly $132,000 last spring when completing their 2014 tax forms. This is a 3 percent decline from 2013 returns but still represents a nearly 19 per‐ cent increase since the low point of the fund in 2009. Donating on the tax form is easy: simply write the amount to donate next to the Fish and Wildlife Check‐Off, line 57 on Form 1040, and the sum is either automatically deducted from the refund or added to the amount owed. As with all charitable contributions, the amount is deductible from next year’s taxes.
Check out the Emmet County Conservation Facebook page for more details! Contact a board member or call (712) 867‐4422 to get your tickets today.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
JIGS IN YOUR BOX
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BY BOB JENSEN FISHING THE MIDWEST FISHING TEAM
A hungry walleye liked the look of Mike Gottheardtʼs plasticitipped jig this past spring in Wisconsin. Photo by Bob Jensen
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We often talk about fishing techniques and fish location and things like that, and sometimes we forget about the nuts and bolts of fishing. A regular reader of this column contacted me recently and suggested I talk about the baits we should keep in a tacklebox, and I thought that was a good idea. Jigs are perhaps the backbone of many anglers fishing, so let’s talk about jigs and another time we’ll cover other types of lures for fishing. First though, jigs. Jigs are effective all year for a wide variety of fish. Many anglers have a tackle box dedicated just to jigs. In fact, lots and lots of anglers have containers dedicat‐ ed to just one style of jig. For instance, they might have a box just for jigs that they use for live‐ bait, and another for jigs that they use when they’re tipping with plastic. Some jigs are best for live‐bait, others are better for plastic: There truly is a difference. Let’s start with walleyes. A jig and minnow is about as popular as you get for ‘eyes. You’ll want a few sixteenth ounce, a few eighth ounce, and a few quarter ounce jigs. If you fish in rivers or deep water a lot, some three‐
eighth and half ounce jigs will be necessary. Day in and day out in most walleye waters, eighth ounce will be the most popular. Color is the fun part of selecting a bait. When the fish are hungry and want to get caught, color often doesn’t matter, although often a particular color will catch more or bigger fish. When the fish are a bit finicky, color can be a very important consideration. There are so many colors and color combinations, it’s just not practical or possible to have them all. For walleyes, you need chartreuse and you need orange jigs. Black or white or yellow or purple can be pro‐ ductive, but you need chartreuse and orange. Watermelon is another color that is extremely good. Now about live bait jigs and plastic bait jigs. When using live bait, a short‐shanked jig is the way to go. Fire‐Ball jigs are a good example of an outstanding live bait jig. When using min‐ nows, put the hook in the min‐ nows mouth and out the hard part of its head. Get the minnows lips right up to the jig head. It will stay on the hook longer and hook‐ups will increase when hooked this way. Hook leeches through the sucker, thread
crawlers on. When using plastic on a jig, use a long‐shanked hook, something like a Slurp! Jig. Thread the plastic on so the nose of the plastic is next to the jighead. Again, with the hook farther back, the more hook‐ups you’ll have. Use a head that contrasts in color with the plastic: Orange/chartreuse is a great starting point. In stained water, a jig with a spinner or propeller and a plastic tail with an aggressive tail action can be deadly. The added flash will help the fish find your bait easier. A Whistler Jig has a pro‐ peller, a Thumper Jig has the spinner. And then there are the tradi‐ tional marabou and bucktail jigs. They’ve been around forever and they still catch fish. Marabou has a little more undulating action, but bucktail catches’em good at times also. When I started this, I thought we could cover jigs for all species of fish. After about two sen‐ tences I knew jigs were so versa‐ tile we would only be able to cover walleyes. We’ll talk about jigs for other species some other time. For now, know that jigs catch lots of fish much of the time. Add jigs to your fishing arse‐ nal if you haven’t already done so.