2019 Spring Prairie Horizons

STORY COUNTY CONSERVATION • NATURE PROGRAMS AND NEWS

IN THIS ISSUE. . .

Programs & Events................ 2 - 3 Calendar of Events..................... 4 Conservation Updates.......... 5 - 7 Thrill of the Hunt.................. 8 - 9

February - April 2019 Photo by Barb McBreen

Water We Doing...................... 10

Partners Membership................11

— PROGRAMS & EVENTS — Providing people opportunities and inspiration to develop an appreciation and understanding of nature and humans as a part of it

FEBRUARY Family Trivia Night

ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST

Saturday, February 23, 5 - 7 p.m.

Conservation Center, McFarland Park Bring the family and put your brains together to test your nature knowledge!

Compete in teams of up to 6 people to solve themed questions and score points! Prizes will be awarded. Enjoy 2 slices of pizza, a breadstick, and a beverage while you play. Fee of $5 per person with registration is required by Wednesday, February 20.

MARCH Willow Trellis Make & Take Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Hickory Grove Park Shop (68247 255th St., Colo) Join Pam and Ryk from Flock9 Studios in this willow workshop. We’ll identify and harvest willow from the park, then head to the shop to build our trellises. No previous experience is needed! Be prepared for wet, uneven ground. Finished trellis will be 5 to 6 feet tall. Please bring a small bow saw or loppers, sharp anvil pruning shears, and a small hammer. We will have extra tools.

Bring a sack lunch. Fee of $50 with registration is required by Wednesday, March 27.

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Submissions run March 4 - 22 Win prizes for your nature photos Visit http://bit.ly/SCCphotocontest Trailgate Party: Celebrating Water Trails

APRIL Hoots and Howls

Saturday, April 13, 2 - 3 p.m.

Conservation Center, McFarland Park Hoot like an owl. Howl like a coyote.

Moo like a frog?! Through activities, experiments, and lots of silly sounds we’ll explore how and why animals communicate. All participants are welcome, but activities are targeted to school-aged children. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Dress to be outside for part of the program.

This program is free, but registration is required by Monday, April 8.

Sunday, April 14, 2 - 3:30 p.m.

Conservation Center, McFarland Park

Celebrate spring trail season at this trailgate party honoring water trails.

Dr. Elizabeth Andre, Associate Professor of Outdoor Education at Northland College, an ISU alumni, and an Ames native, will share the history of rivers as highways before roads. Hear about a trip she led through multiple watersheds with Northland College students and get updates on Story County trails. This program is free, and registration is not required.

Stay tuned for details on the Skunk River Water Trail Dedication Celebration!

STORY COUNTY CONSERVATION 515.232.2516 56461 180th Street • Ames, Iowa 50010 Monday - Friday • 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. conservation@storycountyiowa.gov • www.storycountyconservation.org

Geocache Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

McFarland Park Your family will love this new-age way of hunting for eggs. Learn how to use a GPS, then go search the woods to find the Conservation Bunny’s hidden nests of prizes and candy! Be sure to keep a watchful eye as you may come across a golden egg, earning you a special prize. Space is limited! Fee of $5 per collector (children 3-14 years old) with registration is required by Friday, April 12.

Smartphone Photography 101 Saturday, April 27, 1 - 3 p.m.

McFarland Park

Want to get the most of our your phone’s camera? Join us in the handson program while Lisa Hovis, owner of PhotoSynthesis in Ames, tells you everything you need to know! We will practice our newfound skills on the wildflowers blooming in the woods at McFarland Park. Bring your phone and be dressed to head outside! This program is intended for ages 16 and up. Fee of $5 with registration is required by Wednesday, April 24.

Carroll Prairie Dedication

Monday, April 22 Celebrate Earth Day by attending a park dedication! Watch our Facebook page or website for details.

Wednesday, April 24, 5 - 7:30 p.m.

Conservation Center, McFarland Park

TEAM (Trail Enhancement & Management) Day Saturday, April 27 We’ll be working on the trails somewhere... more details to follow!

O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier Seniors) programs are held each month at 11 a.m. at the Story County Conservation Center. These are designed for “boomers” or older -- but anyone can attend. An optional luncheon follows the program for just $7.50. Register for lunch at storycountyconservation.org or call 515-232-2516.

Tuesday, February 5 Mapping and Evaluating Conservation Landscapes in Story County Dr. Tom Rosburg, Drake University The role of sound science in implementing conservation has never been more essential than in today’s environment. Story County needs comprehensive accurate information on its natural resource base. Learn about a field research project that works towards this goal.

Menu: Taco bar and ice cream sundae.

Register for lunch by February 1.

Tuesday, March 5 Hoodoos, Emerald Pools, and Canyons -The Joys of Hiking Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks These two national parks provide unique trails, vistas, plants, and birds. See the canyons through the eyes of four Ames hikers who enjoyed spring in amazing desert environments.

Menu: Beef and noodles, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, dinner roll, and chocolate pound cake. Register for lunch by March 1.

Dutch Oven Cooking Basics

Sensational cooking is not just done in the kitchen! Discover the delicious world of Dutch oven cooking in the outdoors. Learn the basics while working in small groups to prepare a variety of dishes. We will explore diverse recipes covering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Enjoy a community meal after trying your hand at baking with fire. This program is intended for ages 16 and up. Fee of $10 with registration is required by Friday, April 19.

O.W.L.S. Programs

Spring Wildflower Walk

Monday, April 29, 5 - 6:30 p.m.

Hertz Family Woods and Nature Preserve (25401 Country Club Rd., Nevada) Take a spring walk in the woods and learn to stop and smell (and identify) the flowers with former SCC Director Steve Lekwa. Be dressed to spend time in the woods and wear sturdy, closedtoe shoes you don’t mind getting wet or muddy. Bring a full water bottle. This walk is co-sponsored by the Outdoor Alliance of Story County and is free.

Registration is not required.

Tuesday, April 2 Public Art and the Tradition of Campus Aesthestics Nancy Gebhart University Museum’s staff will talk about several works of art on ISU’s campus and the aesthetic campus tradition, beginning with art by Grant Wood and Christian Petersen and including some of the newest additions to the collection by nationally and internationally recognized artists. You’ll receive a map to take a self-guided art walk around campus to experience the public art collection for yourself.

Menu: Chicken Marsala, red potatoes, salad, dinner roll, and cheesecake. Register for lunch

by March 29.

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— CALENDAR OF EVENTS —

Date Time Event Location FEBRUARY Saturday, February 2 2:00 p.m.

Snowshoe Hike McFarland Park Tuesday, February 5 11:00 a.m.

O.W.L.S.: Conservation Landscapes McFarland Park Thursday, February 7 1:30 p.m.

Winter Hike Soper’s Mill South Monday, February 11 5:30 p.m.

Story County Conservation Board Meeting McFarland Park Saturday, February 16 7:00 p.m.

Ames Area Amateur Astronomers: The Nature of Light McFarland Park Monday, February 18 Holiday SCC Offices Closed Saturday, February 23 5:00 p.m.

Family Trivia Night McFarland Park Thursday, February 28 7:00 p.m.

Environmental Literature Club: Session 2 Wheatsfield Co-op MARCH March 4 - 22 Tuesday, March 5 11:00 a.m.

Thursday, March 7 6:30 p.m.

Monday, March 11 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 16 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 28 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 30 10:00 a.m.

Annual Photo Contest Submission Period O.W.L.S.: Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks McFarland Park Story County Conservation Partners Meeting McFarland Park Story County Conservation Board Meeting McFarland Park Ames Area Amateur Astronomers: The Big Bang McFarland Park Environmental Literature Club: Session 3 Wheatsfield Co-op Willow Trellis Make & Take Hickory Grove Park Shop

APRIL Tuesday, April 2 Monday, April 8 Saturday, April 13 Sunday, April 14 Saturday, April 20 Saturday, April 20 Monday, April 22 Wednesday, April 24 Thursday, April 25 Saturday, April 27 Saturday, April 27 Monday, April 29

O.W.L.S.: Public Art McFarland Park Story County Conservation Board Meeting McFarland Park Hoots and Howls McFarland Park Trailgate Party: Celebrating Water Trails McFarland Park Geocache Egg Hunt McFarland Park Ames Area Amateur Astronomers: Star Merger McFarland Park Carroll Prairie Dedication Carroll Prairie Dutch Oven Cooking Basics McFarland Park Story County Trails Advisory Committee Meeting McFarland Shop Trail Enhancement and Management Day TBD Smartphone Photography 101 McFarland Park Spring Wildflower Walk Hertz Family Woods Nature Preserve

11:00 a.m.

5:30 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

7:00 p.m.

TBD 5:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

TBD 1:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

Park Dedication Earth Day, April 22 More details to come!

Need to locate one of our parks or areas? View a county map and 911 addresses online.

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www.storycountyconservation.org

JOLENE RETIRES AFTER 32 YEARS Jolene Van Waus started with Story County Conservation in a less-than-part-time secretary position on November 19, 1986. At the time, there were 14 full-time staff maintaining just over 1,600 acres of parks and wildlife areas. It cost somewhere around $1 to swim at the beach. The SCC administrative office was located in a renovated garage under the Hickory Grove Park ranger residence.

It was a convenient office location (despite all the mice) as Jolene has always lived south of Colo. Her ability to get to work “in remarkable time” was well-known.

She flew down the gravel roads in her Green Hornet (a Pontiac) or Silver Bullet (a Chevy) in those early years, and staff joked that she had a record number of flat tires. In 1991, her commute got longer as SCC’s administrative offices moved to the newly completed Conservation Center at McFarland Park. Shortly thereafter, she became the head secretary.

Jolene tracked board member appointments, kept attendance, prepared and posted minutes and agendas, created board packets, and kept the permanent records, making sure all of Iowa’s open meeting laws were followed. Can you imagine doing all of this on an old-fashioned typewriter without spell check or backspace?

SCC brochure in 1986

Each year she submitted budget proposals to the Conservation Board and Board of Supervisors. This process involved hours of meetings with various staff to strike a balance between department needs and our responsibility to use tax payer dollars frugally. Once budgets were approved, she had to track all of the department’s expenditures and revenues throughout that fiscal year, including for the Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management program. This meant she often had the pleasant task of reminding staff to turn in receipts and stick to the budget, sign their timesheets, and get things turned in on time (sorry, Jolene!). She maintained the inventory list, sent out invoices, and tracked when payments were received. There have been many FEMA projects and grants that needed to be tracked from one fiscal year to the next, which required precision and a LOT of patience.

When she joined us in 1986, our operating budget was approximately $400,000. Every expenditure and all revenue received was tracked in a paper ledger. She witnessed the upgrade to a memory typewriter, then to a DOS-based computer (with 5.5 inch floppy drive), and again to a Windows-based computer with Microsoft Excel that is used to manage today’s roughly $4,500,000 budget.

Since 1986 we’ve added seven more full-time positions and nearly three times as many parks and wildlife areas, and the budget has increased by over four million dollars. She’s attended more than 350 board meetings over that 32 years. Through all the growth and changes, one constant kept track of it all. Her work was always done with the utmost accuracy and professionalism. Jolene’s position has grown from less-than-half-time into the pillar of the conservation department she is today.

It has been an honor working with Jolene as she has truly worked for conservation and for all the citizens of Story County. Thank you, Jolene, and congratulations on a job well done!

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— THE LATEST —

Timely and brief updates on ongoing projects

Hickory Grove Park

Due to the lake restoration and beach house construction, the interior of the park, including some facilities, will be closed to allow large machinery to work safely. Camping will be available only between Thursday, May 23 Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at the Breezy Bay and Primitive campgrounds. Shelter rentals are only available at Snow Bunting Lodge, although the stairs and lake access will be closed off.

Restoration plans have been finalized and there are many recreational improvements in store. The most notable change will be a foot bridge to the island. Large fishing jetties will be added to the southwest corner of the lake.

The east lake and portions of the main lake will be mechanically dredged, and the fishery will be renovated. Rock piles, reefs, structure, and lake-edge benches will be added throughout the 98-acre lake. The current timeline shows construction beginning this winter with the lake refilling in the spring of 2020. Timing of the closure to lake access will be announced as construction begins.

Tedesco Environmental Learning Corridor

Major features such as the Nest and the Wetland are already complete, but the park is tucked away for the winter and the few remaining items will be wrapped up in spring. A plan for showcasing outdoor public art is in the works, too!

TELC is still closed to the public, but you can view some wonderful drone footage and photos on our website. It will open when all items are complete, and a grand opening ceremony in early summer will be announced soon.

Dakins Lake

Plans for a family cabin just east of the new campground are in design with construction anticipated in 2019.

Praeri Rail Trail

The trail will be extended from its current endpoint at Highway 65 into Zearing. Completion is expected in summer of 2019.

Heart of Iowa Nature Trail

Paving the first section (between Slater and Huxley) will begin in spring 2019. This will improve connectivity between the HOINT and the High Trestle Trail and will hopefully get more people outside and engaged in nature.

Partners

Partners members have raised $6,460 (27%) of their goal of $24,000 for the new beach house at Hickory Grove Park.

There are currently 174 Partners members. Historically, membership has hovered in the 170’s with 180 members last reached in October 2011. We have the potential to reach and surpass that 180 mark! If you’re a member, please share with your friends, neighbors, and coworkers why you joined and encourage them to support their local parks.

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STORY COUNTY CONSERVATION JOINS

GOOD NEIGHBOR IOWA Did you know that common lawn chemicals like 2,4-D have been linked to a variety of human health concerns? Pets’ health is affected, too. Pollinators that heavily rely on biodiversity struggle to find safe food and shelter in urban areas. And, these toxic chemicals often run off into local streams where they impact aquatic life and water quality. So why do we keep waging war against the clover and dandelions when we know we’re causing harm?

We recently joined the Good Neighbor Iowa program and will continue to refrain from chemical use for cosmetic purposes in six of our mowed areas. This statewide initiative challenges the idea of what lawns should look like and encourages not only park managers, but business owners, schools, and residents to leave mowed areas more natural.

Check out https://goodneighboriowa.org to learn how chemical-free turf management is vital to the health of humans, wildlife, water, and the entire planet. Better yet, convert some of that high-maintenance lawn into natural Iowa prairie! We’ll be doing the same in SCC parks.

The mowed turf in the following areas will be chemical-free: Robison Wildlife Acres · Christiansen Forest Preserve · Hertz Family Woods and Nature Preserve Jim Ketelsen Greenwing Marsh · Praeri Rail Trail · Heart of Iowa Nature Trail

Outdoor Alliance Annual Meeting and Five Year Celebration Wednesday, April 10, 6 - 8 p.m.

Ames Public Library, Farwell T Brown Auditorium

Celebrate the Alliance’s fifth year of enhancing outdoor recreation, education, and conservation in Story County. Find out how (and why) to get involved and enjoy a presentation from Tom Hazelton with Iowa’s County Conservation System on the “Economics of Investing in the Outdoors.”

Cake and other after dinner food will be provided.

Learn more about their mission at https://www.oasco.org/.

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THE THRILL OF THE

HUNT

I’ve always had a passion for the outdoors. Whether it be fishing, hunting, or just getting out of the house and going on a little nature hike, I have always felt like life was an adventure. And, being inside was not an option for me. As a youngster, my father taught me how to fish and hunt. To this day, I am very grateful he spent the time to give me this special set of skills. It’s a huge part of who I am. These hobbies (and way of life) led me to where I am today.

As a kid, I spent most of my time chasing birds and deer around with a 12 gauge. By no means did I even have an urge to try hunting with a bow and arrow, primarily because there were no trees in Pocahontas County where I grew up. Yet everyone I talked to had great things to say about bow hunting. They would say things like, “Hunting the Iowa rut is like nothing you’ve ever experienced” or “Once you start bow hunting you’ll never go back.” All the feedback about the sport was super positive and exciting, which made me curious. But it wasn’t until many years later during the winter of 2014 that I bought my first compound bow and trail camera. It was too bad I’d waited so long, because I was immediately hooked. I practiced shooting all summer and couldn’t wait for the start of the season. Because I was already working for Story County Conservation I knew the public hunting areas well and had a plan for where to scout. As time went on, I got more and more obsessed. The trail camera pictures would just fuel the fire.

The first part of October was pretty slow. I saw a few does here and there, but no mature bucks. I was getting a few on camera, but they were all nocturnal. Then came the early muzzleloader season. I began to run into more and more hunters. When hunting public land you have to get creative, so I moved my tree stand to a new spot that wasn’t as easy to access to reduce hunting pressure.

The first couple sits were pretty good -- I was seeing twice the amount of deer than in the first spot, and I also had a very large, mature buck on camera. This got me beyond excited to get back in the tree stand and keep hunting. I knew all it took was a cold front or a doe in heat to get the deer on their feet during the day.

TIP:

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Be patient! Checking trail cameras every day gives away YOUR pattern instead of capturing theirs. At a minimum, wait 2 weeks between checks. If you can stand it, it’s ideal to wait up to 3 to 4 weeks.

“It took all I had to not shake out of the tree.”

When I started seeing a little daylight activity on October 29, I knew things were starting to get serious. From this point on, I needed to be in the stand as much as possible, especially since I was hunting public land. You just never know when other hunters might come in and push deer out of their home range. But my patience was about to pay off.

Russ DeWall has been with SCC for over ten years. He started with us as a seasonal and is now a Conservation Technician II based at McFarland Park.

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was right around 5 p.m. when I heard something to the east of my stand. I figured it was just a few does getting up out of their beds to feed in the corn field 50 or 60 yards to the northwest, just like they did any other evening. The wind was coming straight from the north. I knew whatever it was would not be able to smell my scent, so I just sat tight and waited. I glanced over, and all I could see was antlers. It was in that moment that I experienced my first buck fever. My heart felt like it was going to explode. He kept getting closer and closer. It took all I had to not shake out of the tree. Before I knew it, he was 15 yards from my stand -- standing broad side. This was it.

I pulled back and made a perfectly ethical shot. My heart was racing, and I sat for the next 20 minutes trying to process what just happened. Finally, I got down from the tree and walked back to my truck. I knew I made a good shot, but I wanted to give the buck time to expire. I came back after an agonizing two-hour wait to track him. There he was, 60 yards from my stand. I’d gotten my first buck with a bow. From that day forward, I knew I’d be completely addicted to bow hunting!

If you’ve never tried bow hunting or don’t know where to start, finding a mentor is a great first step. There are also bowhunter education courses through the Iowa DNR, which are highly recommended -- especially for first-time hunters. Regardless of whether your hunt is successful, it’s hard to have a bad day in a tree stand.

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Water We Doing?

“Preserve, protect, restore, and enhance the quality of Story County’s ground water and surface water.”

That is the first goal of the Conservation of Natural Resources and Recreation section (chapter 4) of Story County’s Cornerstone to Capstone (C2C) Plan adopted in 2016. So, water we doing to achieve this goal? This is the third of a four-part series of articles about Story County Conservation’s efforts in water quality.

Jerry Keys, Environmental Education Coordinator

It’s hard to preserve, protect, restore, and enhance water quality without data. Data makes you competitive for grants that fund water quality projects, gives tangible proof of the health of an ecosystem, and can illustrate change as you implement best management practices. In order to make Story County’s ground and surface water better, collecting baseline data is a critical first step.

In my first article, I mentioned that Story County is using a recently completed countywide watershed assessment conducted by environmental consulting firm Emmons & Olivier Resources (EOR) to focus our efforts on the right opportunities. EOR evaluated the current state of lakes (public-owned and larger than five acres) and streams within the county and created a priority rating based on recreation use, viable aquatic communities, and water quality conditions. Source water protection areas (city water sources) and highly vulnerable groundwater wells were identified along with watershed pollutant sources. A series of water quality improvement recommendations was outlined for the county as a whole and for each specific watershed. An implementation plan has now been developed. High priority tasks include creating a sensitive environmental area enhancement and protection program, educating citizens on methods to reduce bacteria and nutrient entering water sources, implementing a comprehensive monitoring program, and developing a nutrient reduction cost share program.

You’ve likely heard of the lake restoration currently underway at Hickory Grove Park. That beach has been monitored for E. coli for many years. Periodic high levels have required postings to warn swimmers of increased risk of illness from ingested water. And, it indicated that change was needed somewhere, whether in the waterbody itself, in the watershed, or both. The data from these samples and other monitoring efforts have helped pave the way for work that would come later.

SCC and Prairie Rivers of Iowa, in partnership with the Squaw Creek Watershed Management Authority, installed two automated monitoring stations in Squaw Creek and East Indian Creek. This project began three years ago in an effort to establish a baseline water quality assessment for both creeks. So far, we have learned that concentrations of phosphorus and suspended solids are heavily correlated with rain events, and nitrogen concentrations are highest during spring and fall.

Starting in July, the Water Quality Research Laboratory at Iowa State University will begin analyzing the lake at McFarland Park. Our goal is to get a better understanding of the nutrient and soil loading in the lake, and implement a plan to reduce both before conducting a lake restoration.

All management decisions should be backed up with data. The numbers don’t lie! In the final issue, we will share projects in SCC areas that directly impact water quality and suggest small ways that YOU can have an impact, too.

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LET’S BUILD A BEACH HOUSE! BOARD & STAFF Conservation Board

Dr. James Pease, Chair Craig Meyers, Vice Chair Christine Laumer, Secretary Dr. Nancy Franz, Member Ted Tedesco, Member Rick Sanders, Ex Officio Member

Conservation Staff Conservation Center, Ames

Help us reach our goal of $24,000 Your Story County Conservation Partners membership will help provide a muchneeded updated facility at Hickory Grove Park. You will receive a nature-themed magnet and a 10% discount on all programs, facility rentals, and merchandise.

The Red Fox membership level and above will be recognized in the conservation center for their support.

Red-tailed Hawk - $1,000 or more Great Blue Heron - $275 to $999 Red Fox - $125 to $274

Goldfinch - $70 to $124 Otter (Family) - $35 to $69 Great Horned Owl (Individual) - $30

Name

Michael Cox, Director Ryan Wiemold, Parks Superintendent Pat Shehan, Special Projects Ranger Jolene Van Waus, Financial Data Manager Melissa Johannes, Administrative Assistant II Jerry Keys, Environmental Education Coordinator Heather Hucka, Naturalist Jess Lancial, Naturalist Rebekah Beall, Naturalist Beth Waage, Naturalist Erica Place, Outreach Coordinator

Address

McFarland Park Shop, Ames

Or, join online! www.mycountyparks.com/ County/Story.aspx

Danny Simcox, Park Ranger Russ DeWall, Conservation Technician II Joe Hill, Conservation Technician Ben Marcus, Conservation Technician

City State

Zip

Phone E-mail Enclosed is my check for $ My membership level is Make checks payable to: Story County Conservation Partners 56461 180th Street, Ames, IA 50010-9451

Hickory Grove Shop, Colo

Luke Feilmeier, Park Ranger Beau Hoppe, Conservation Technician Dustin Horne, Conservation Technician Amy Yoakum, Natural Resource Specialist

Thank you to all those who support Story County Conservation with donations of time, funding, and materials.

IRVM Office & Shop, Nevada

Joe Kooiker, Vegetation Management Biologist Tyler Kelley, Vegetation Management Specialist

The Story County Conservation Board typically meets the the second Monday of each month at the Story County Conservation Center at McFarland Park (56461 180th St.), northeast of Ames. Meetings are open to the public.

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR GENEROSITY

CASH DONATIONS

Art Ketelsen Estate Tim Lowry Madrid Garden Club Cindy Hildebrand & Roger Maddux ITC Midwest

MEMORIAL BENCH

Kristin White Family in memory of Roger Andersen

CHILDREN’S LIFE VESTS Roger & Nadine Larson

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STORY COUNTY CONSERVATION 56461 180th Street Ames, Iowa 50010-9451

Nonprofit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Ames, Iowa Permit 301

ICE FISHING TIPSfrom a Park Ranger • Safety Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return. Use a spud bar to check ice thickness as you venture out, wear ice cleats for traction, and wear ice picks in case you do fall through.

• Structure Find sunken logs, pallets, drop-offs, humps... and you will find fish.

• Electronics Consider investing in optional gear like navionics, flashers, cameras, etc. to aid in locating fish.

• Tackle Small tungsten jigs are a great alternative to lead and are perfect for pan fishing. Tip the hook with plastic or live bait.

• Spots Dakins Lake, Hickory Grove Park, and McFarland Park are a few of the most popular places to try.

• Have FUN Take a kid fishing, take time for yourself... just get outside!