Featured in this issue

Issue 2 • Edition 6Issue 2 • Edition 6

PLUS MORE!

• Camp Classic • Camp Classic By: Brian S. PetersonBy: Brian S. Peterson

• Fishing Small Lakes for Big Fish and Big Fun! By: Jim KalkofenBy: Jim Kalkofen

• It’s Hip To Wade • It’s Hip To Wade By: Bill MarchelBy: Bill Marchel

• Attracting Orioles By: Judd BrinkBy: Judd Brink

• Your Best Shot• Your Best Shot

Read Online: www.brainerddispatch.comor www.brainerdoutdoors.com

CALL OF THE CANADIAN SHIELD: A PHOTO ESSAYBY: TIM ANDERSON

Glossy_Summer_11.indd 1Glossy_Summer_11.indd 1 5/18/11 6:56 PM5/18/11 6:56 PM

Glossy_Summer_11.indd 2Glossy_Summer_11.indd 2 5/18/11 6:56 PM5/18/11 6:56 PM

WelcomeWOW it is such a relief to see green and feel

the breeze again. We just had the chance to participate in another opener. Fishing in soft water is here again and we’re playing with the man toys. Such a long winter followed by such a short sum-mer season. No wonder we appre-ciate it so much.

We who live, love and ex-ist in the B r a i n e r d Lakes area just love our sum-mers. A recent il-lustration of that is a newly completed project by the Rotary to promote the reason why people like to live in the Brainerd Lakes Area. There were over 1000 people that participated and over 270 shot taken. Each shot included signage espous-ing why those in the photo love living in our area. After my unofficial and subjective count I estimated that close to a third men-tioned the lakes, water or an outdoor activ-ity of some kind.

We who live, love and exist in the Brainerd Lakes area not only love our summers but we love our Outdoors too.

A while back I read an article about enjoy-ing the natural beauty around us. It includ-

ed a quote that I liked and I was taken back by the author’s name that followed. It went like this…”The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious…He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no lon-

ger pause to wonder and stand in awe, is as good as dead” (Al-bert Ein-stein). He was wise man be-sides being a brilliant futurist.

As for his q u o t e … nature is a mysteri-ous and intimidat -ing thing to

many of us, but is also awe inspiring and can be packed full of emotional sensory over-load. We of the Brainerd Lakes Area or any-one that comes to our beautiful area have ex-perienced and felt the outdoors first hand, many of us each and everyday. Because of that I declare we are anything but dead, The Brainerd Lakes Area is alive and well.

Have a sun drenched, fun but safe summer. And remember to stop and smell the roses or your fishy fingers, whichever you prefer.

By: Tim Bogenschutz

T I M A . B O G E N S C H U T Z , Brainerd Dispatch Publisher. For half a century I have

been drawn to the outdoors. My interests have varied from hunting, the love of wildlife pho-

tography, to hiking, canoeing, and fishing.

4 T h e L o g

Welcome ...................................... 3

A Classic Weekend .................... 5

Fishing Small Lakes ..................... 8

It’s Hip To Wade ......................... 11

Attracting Orioles ...................... 14

Rapala Lure Development ...... 16

Don’t Fight the Bite!The Versatile Walleye Angler .... 18

Fun in the Sun ............................ 21

Memory Lane ............................ 24

Service Directory/Calendar ..... 25

Your Best Shot ............................ 26

Outdoor Traditions is a trademarked magazine published by the Brainerd Dispatch, P.O. Box 976, Brainerd, MN 56401. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. ®2010

STAFF:Publisher .................................... Tim BogenschutzAdvertising Director .........................Sam SwansonCopy Editor ............Roy Miller and Brian PetersonMarketing / Special Projects Coordinator ... Nikki LyterMagazine Layout ..................................Andy GobleAd Design .......................................... Jeff Dummer,

Andy Goble, Jennifer Fuchs, Lisa Henry, Angie Hoefs, Cindy Spilman and Sue Stark

Sales.................................................. Dave WentzelOnline Sales Manager ........................... Phil Seibel

506 James Street • P.O. Box 974

Brainerd, MN 56401

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theLogPage 11

Cover Photo by:

Page 18

Don’t Fight the Bite!

Give Walleyes What They Want to Eat,

Where and When They Want to Eat It!

It’s Hip To WadeIt’s Hip To Wade

5B r i a n S . P e t e r s o nPhotos Provided by Confidence Learning Center/Pam Sachs

F O R Y E A R S , T H E C O N F I D E N C E L E A R N I N G C E N T E R ’ S C A M P C L A S S I C W E E K E N D H A S P R O V E N T O B E J U S T T H A T .

A classic weekend.

Expect more of the same with the 38th annual Golf

Classic and 28th annual Fishing Classic, scheduled togeth-

er June 17-18 out of Madden’s Resort.

Fittingly, for the second consecutive year, the Golf Clas-

sic will be at The Classic course at Madden’s, regarded as

one of the top courses in the state — one of many reasons

the event remains so popular. The fi eld of 36 four-man

teams fi lls up fast, and this year is no different.

“It was one of the fi rst charitable events at The Clas-

sic,” said Bob Slaybaugh, program director at Confi dence

Learning Center, who has been around for 21 Camp Clas-

sic weekends. “We knew it (having the event at The Clas-

sic) would be a hit with golfers and it was right away. It

fi lled up almost instantly after it was publicized and it’s

almost fi lled up again.”

The event, which started at the old Brainerd Country

Club before moving to Cragun’s Resort and then The Clas-

sic, is steeped in history. And celebrity.

“The biggest evolution of the event is it started as one

of the fi rst celebrity golf events in the state of Minnesota,”

Slaybaugh said. “There were golf fi gures through the NHL,

the Vikings and so on. You paid to play on a team with a

celebrity. There was (Minnesota hockey legend) John Mar-

iucci, (former Vikings linebacker) Scott Studwell, (former

Vikings defensive back) Joey Browner ... But it evolved

away from the celebrity part because, as the event grew,

people were competing for celebrities because the style

of the events was so successful. There became additional

costs for celebrities to be involved. So our donors told us

to drop the celebrities. Everyone was nervous that fi rst

year after that, but it fi lled up right away.

“Last year was another big evolution and that was mov-

ing the golf event to the Madden’s Classic course. There

was nothing wrong with the old country club or the Leg-

acy at Cragun’s. However, as a charitable golf event, not as

many of the participants had the opportunity to golf on

The Classic course.”

Regardless of the venue, the event has become a tradi-

tion for many.

“Now there are a lot of repeat (players) on the golf,” said

A Classic WeekendTradition Continues with Camp Confi dence’s

Golf Classic and Fishing Classic

A participant teed off in the 2010 Camp Confi dence Golf Classic at The Classic at Madden’s.

A pair of nice-sized bass taken in last year’s Camp Confi dence Fishing Classic.

6 A C l a s s i c W e e k e n d

Sarah Sellnow, special events coordinator at Confi dence

Learning Center. “It’s a who’s who of Brainerd out here to

golf and raise money for the camp.”

The Fishing Classic on Gull Lake has evolved into a

who’s who of the angling world, with fi shing legends Al

and Ron Lindner, Nick Adams, Marv Koep, Ron Schara and

others helping to get the event off the ground.

“We had been running the celebrity golf tournament for

many years, but there were a lot of celebrity fi shermen in

the area who didn’t like golf,” Slaybaugh said of the cre-

ation of the Fishing Classic. “The fi rst three years it was

a small event. Mostly just members of the Nisswa Guide

League. It was a good-old-boys system. But the local fi sher-

men decided to take it to a new level. They really brought

it up to the level it’s at today with 80 to 100 boats.

“It draws in pro anglers and guides from all over the

state. They donate their time, equipment, boat and gas to

come to Brainerd and stay in Brainerd. It’s a lot of fun for

the guides or pros because a lot of their time is spent fi sh-

ing competitively. In this event they get to all come to-

gether and it’s about their friendships. About supporting

the campers.”

Monies from Camp Classic weekend benefi t Camp Con-

fi dence, a year-round outdoor education and recreation

center for persons of all ages with developmental disabili-

ties.

“With the funds from the Ice Fishing Extravaganza and

the Fishing Classic and general support, 25 percent (of

funds raised for Camp Confi dence) comes from fi shing

events and personnel,” Slaybaugh said. “Fishermen get it

— that they’re blessed to live the type of life they live and

they’re willing to give something back.”

And have a lot of fun doing it.

“It’s for charity, and for the guides, it’s a lot of camara-

derie,” Sellnow said. “It’s not a competitive event for them.

It’s a fun event for them. It’s more relaxing than their mon-

ey tournaments. They enjoy it. A lot of pro anglers during

the summer compete. But this is one where they can kick

back.”

Like at the Golf Classic, there are typically a lot of famil-

iar faces at the Fishing Classic, too.

“At least half are repeat (participants),” Sellnow said.

“People keep coming back. They mark it on their calen-

dars. They know it’s Father’s Day weekend, so you see a lot

of father-son combos. Maybe it was a Father’s Day present

from the son. It’s a big draw.”

For more information on the Camp Classic weekend,

call Confi dence Learning Center at 828-2344 or go to

www.campconfi dence.com/.

B R I A N S . P E T E R S O N , outdoors editor at the Dispatch, may be reached at brian.peterson@brainerddispatch.com or

855-5864. To follow him on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/brian_speterson. For his

blogs, go to www.brainerddispatch.com.

A line of boats navigated the canal from Madden’s Resort to Gull Lake in the 2010 Camp Confi dence Fishing Classic.

7M e l o d y B a n k s

8 F i s h i n g S m a l l L a k e s f o r B i g F i s h a n d B i g F u n !

Big Fun!

FishingSmall Lakes

for

Big Fishand

T H E B R A I N E R D L A K E S N A M E

S A Y S I T A L L . Lakes. More lakes. Big

lakes like Mille Lacs. Small lakes also glad-

ly accept their inclusion on Minnesota’s

lake list. It’s almost impossible to count

them. Look at the pretty blue color

on an area map. Lakes occu-

py a signifi cant chunk of

geography and exist all

around us.

Small lakes are also

productive fi sheries.

Some rank up there

as great fi sh-

eries

and, most importantly, small lakes

usually aren’t on many “favor-

ite” lists as destinations. That

doesn’t mean they should be

overlooked. Fishing pressure

might be the grandkids fi sh-

ing off the dock. It could be

one person casting a spin-

nerbait for bass or pike —

whatever bites.

Some of these lakes re-

ceive considerable fi shing

pressure when the blue-

gills are spawning and big

fi sh become accessible. Or

when an angler needs that

early season rust knocked

loose by the tug of a large-

mouth bass. Otherwise,

many Minnesota fi sher-

men target walleyes

in traditional,

larger lakes and

overlook the

s m a l l e r

lakes.

A

T H E B R A I N E R D L A K E S N A M E

S A Y S I T A L L . Lakes. More lakes. Big

lakes like Mille Lacs. Small lakes also glad-

ly accept their inclusion on Minnesota’s

lake list. It’s almost impossible to count

them. Look at the pretty blue color

on an area map. Lakes occu-

py a signifi cant chunk of

geography and exist all

around us.

Small lakes are also

productive fi sheries.

Some rank up there

as great fi sh-

eries

and, most importantly, small lakes

usually aren’t on many “favor-

ite” lists as destinations. That

doesn’t mean they should be

overlooked. Fishing pressure

might be the grandkids fi sh-

ing off the dock. It could be

one person casting a spin-

nerbait for bass or pike —

whatever bites.

Some of these lakes re-

ceive considerable fi shing

pressure when the blue-

gills are spawning and big

fi sh become accessible. Or

when an angler needs that

early season rust knocked

loose by the tug of a large-

mouth bass. Otherwise,

many Minnesota fi sher-

men target walleyes

in traditional,

larger lakes and

overlook the

s m a l l e r

lakes.

A

9J i m K a l k o f e nPhotos provided by Jim Kalkofen

number of smaller lakes become weed-choked and don’t

appear very hospitable to anglers throughout the summer.

Launch ramps on many of these lakes are sand or worse.

Sometimes anglers slip a 12- or 14 foot boat in, and must

walk it out to deeper water before jumping aboard. A boat

that cannot be lifted or slid by two men is too big to get

into these waters. Canoes may be an

option.

A defi nition might be in order, and

my small lake could be from a few

acres to 50, 60 or a bit more. Anoth-

er defi nition deals with fi sh. Panfi sh

predominate. Add bass to most; pike

to quite a few. Walleyes exist in only

a couple, unless their populations

are enhanced by property owners,

streams connected to nearby wall-

eye lakes or occasionally by the

DNR. Crappie year-classes and size

fl uctuates signifi cantly. Smallmouth

bass aren’t a factor as a rule.

A largemouth bass angler could

pick-up a spinnerbait and toss it at

every likely looking spot while mov-

ing around the shoreline. At docks

and boat lifts he would fl ip a worm,

and after a round or two might comb

the weedline depths with a plastic

worm. If the lake offered a hump topping off at 10 to

25 feet, the same set of presentations combined with a

crankbait would be utilized. In the matted weed-slop later

in the season, a weedless “frog” lure snaked across the sur-

face would be in order.

But that’s making life too easy. That’s because small

lakes don’t always fi sh like small lakes. They require some

planning and research. For instance, before heading to a

new spot, pull up a lake map from the DNR lake fi nder

website (mndnr). At least print a map, and look for main

lake points, islands, sharp drop-offs, bottom composition,

etc. The written description usually talks about numbers

of homes, visibility, weeds, fi sh test-netting results and size,

stocking data and more. If the lake is a frequent victim of

winter kills, that will also be noted. This website also has

a feature that shows how to drive to these lakes.

A good small lake sleuth listens.

When someone mentions that Uncle

Joe caught some 10-inch sunnies on

Lake X, fi le this tidbit of news away.

If you happen to see a photo of little

Tommy with a 5-pound largemouth

bass, take note. Big fi sh run in cycles,

and small lakes with minimal fi shing

pressure don’t give up their secrets

as quickly as a hot bite on the Mille

Lacs fl ats.

A typical exploration would start

out for this author by driving slow-

ly to the access point when going

around the lake, and stopping to

visit any local working in his lake-

front yard. The number of tire tracks

and/or trailers parked at the landing

would also be noted, as would boats

that might be on the water.

Once launched, the water color

and water level would be observed.

So would shoreline weeds like bulrushes and cattails. Is

it covered with lily pads? Sometimes the tips of cabbage

weeds can be seen in mid-lake areas, indicating a shallow-

er spot that would be surrounded by deep water. Not

everything is on maps, especially maps that were created

60 or 70 years ago.

The next step is to decide where to start. I always start

right at the landing, and usually begin shallow with a sur-

face lure. Casting and looking shows what an area holds.

A blue heron fl ying low will spook bluegills, and their mad

10 F i s h i n g S m a l l L a k e s f o r B i g F i s h a n d B i g F u n !

haste to escape this potential predator’s shadow is a dead

giveaway of their presence. That might mean down-sizing

and chasing bluegills. It would also mean that bass would

be holding in the same area; they eat sunnies.

Fleet Farm has a wide assortment of weedless surface

baits, from Scum Frogs to

Northland’s new weed-

less spoon. Fish them

with a steady retrieve.

When approaching a

dock, pitch a weedless-

rigged worm or a Wacky

Worm on a weedless-

hook as far under the

structure as possible. It

won’t take long to deter-

mine if the bass are hold-

ing shallow.

The next stop would

be outside the emergent

weeds, in cabbage or

coontail weeds. Here,

spinnerbaits or suspend-

ing twitch baits like a Hus-

ky Jerk, Mimic Minnow or

Slurpies Jerk Shad would

be used, while searching

for bass or pike. Since

most lakes hold both spe-

cies, use a wire leader.

When tossing quarter or

half-ounce spinnerbaits

or twitch baits, use wire

leaders of about 10 to 15

pound test, either tied

direct (Tyger wire) or to

a snap on one end and a

swivel on the “tie” end of the 6 to 7 inch leader. A popper-

style surface bait also attracts fi sh in these depths, usually

6 to 10 feet of water.

This is also a good spot to fi nd sunnies. A bobber setup

with a tiny jig (1/32 to 1/16th ounce) about 3-feet below

will work. Bait works, but for the same results, use 2-inch

plastic grub tails of PowerBait or Mister Twister. Slowly

reel and stop the retrieve.

The next spot, and it won’t take long to get there is the

deep outside weed edge. With a 1/4th ounce weedless

jig like the Northland Weed Weasel or the Lindy No Snagg

Veg-e-Jig, rigged with a 3 to 5 inch plastic grub/worm/

lizard/paddle-tail/craw plastic, the angler is ready for more

action. Cast and retrieve parallel to the weeds, but close

so you feel weeds from time to time. Even cast into the

weeds a short distance, and hop and pop the jig to the

edge and alongside deep weeds.

Again a Tyger wire leader tied directly to the jig is in or-

der, and doesn’t affect the number of bass, but adds insur-

ance when pike bite. Deep weed edges also hold some of

the largest bluegills and crappies. The same tiny jigs and

plastic without a bobber on the line, and slowly dropped

and worked back to the boat produce amazing results.

If a lake has some huge pike, larger cranks or jerk baits

on the weed edges will

get a reaction. If a hump

exists, search for the larg-

est pike in the lake to

be lurking in the weeds

on top or the edges of

humps. They also like the

ends of points off islands.

When motoring slowly

across the main basins

of small lakes, watch the

graph for suspended

fi sh. They will likely be

schools of crappies, wait-

ing for your small jig to

tantalize them into biting.

Gear for a small-lake

angler is very basic. The

rods, reels and tackle

are personal, but equip-

ment for a good fi shing

day includes a drift-sock

to slow the small boat

down, a good set of Po-

laroid glasses, a depth-

fi nder, a push-pole, and

high on the list but not

absolutely necessary is

an electric trolling motor

(which also means a 12-

volt battery).

Warning: Small lakes

are vulnerable to over-harvest, not to over-fi shing. All

sportsmen should release most of their fi sh and all the

larger specimens on small lakes. The biggest bass and pike

keep the small panfi sh in check, as nature intended. It’s

amazing how close to wilderness a small lake becomes

when the only boat out there is yours, even though you

might be only a few miles from town. Have fun on the

small lakes this season, and say “Howdy” to me, because

that’s where I’ll be.

J I M K A L K O F E N has been in and around boats all his life. He has been director of the

largest walleye tournament circuits for two decades, and was inducted into the National

Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.

11B i l l M a r c h e lPhoto provided by Bill Marchel

It’s Hip To WadeIt’s Hip To WadeI T ’ S C O M F O R T I N G T O K N O W B A S S F I S H -

I N G success and expensive, high-tech equipment don’t

necessarily go hand-in-hand. For those willing to don wad-

ers or hip boots, good fi shing is readily available.

There was a time when fi shing afoot was a necessity for

me. Although times have changed, I still love to wade fi sh

while my boat sits idle at home in the garage.

The low light periods of sunrise and sunset offer the wading angler the best chances to catch bass.

12 I t ’ s H i p T o W a d e Photos provided by Bill Marchel

One pleasant, cool mid-June evening last summer, I

donned my waders and splashed anxiously into a lake

not far from town, about to wade-fi shing by choice. I was

where I wanted to be, fi shing the way I wanted to fi sh.

Just having the time to think about it was refreshing.

It was roughly 7:30, the largemouth witching hour,

when I caught my fi rst bass, a chunky two-pounder. The

fi sh hit a fl oating frog imitation. A few minutes later anoth-

er fi sh blasted my surface lure. I set the hook and reeled

in a similar sized largemouth.

Most wading anglers seek largemouth bass, although

panfi sh, pike and even walleyes, can be caught without

the aid of a boat. There’s something special about sneak-

ing among the bulrushes, hip deep in a bass’ haunt, while

attempting to place accurate casts and anticipating a big

bass gulping your offering.

In shallow hard-to-reach areas a wading angler actually

has an advantage over those in a boat. Trolling motors

often bog down in heavy vegetation, and only diehard an-

glers include a push pole in their gear. Maneuvering a

boat quietly into some of these secluded bass haunts is

nearly impossible whereas a wading angler can sort of “tip

toe through the tules” to within casting distance of a likely

bass haunt.

Because a minimum of equipment is needed, wade fi sh-

ing is always an affordable option. Another attractive as-

pect of this stealthy style of fi shing is the wildlife you’ll

encounter. On most wade fi shing forays I jump mallards,

wood ducks and blue-winged teal from the shoreline veg-

etation. Even deer occasionally wade into the shallows to

dine on aquatic plants, or to get a drink.

Secluded lake shores abound with other wildlife. Red-

winged blackbirds are constant companions. The males

fl ash their scarlet wing patches as they sing their territo-

rial song from swaying bulrush perches. I encounter her-

ons, loons, and of course, those noisy red-necked grebes.

Other competitive anglers, those of the winged variety

like bald eagles and ospreys, glide on rigid wings low over-

head, eyeing the water for prey.

A wading fi sherman should watch for signs of feeding

bass. Minnows or small panfi sh hurtling through the air

like tiny sailfi sh are being chased by a predator, most likely

a bass. Listen for largemouth as they break the water’s

surface in pursuit of dragonfl ies, or loudly slurp down a

frog or other prey.

Cast your lure toward any commotion. Those distur-

bances can be as obvious as a huge boil, or as subtle as a

slight twitch of a bulrush.

It was just such a disturbance that lead me to my next

bass that June evening. About 50 feet ahead of me some-

thing beneath the water’s surface bumped a bulrush.

An accurate cast landed my faux frog close to the spot.

Wham! A bass hit.

Since most shallow-water largemouth will relate to

some type of vegetation, heavy tackle is required to land

a fi sh. When you are belly-deep in water a long rod with

a stiff backbone is needed to get a bass’ head up. A large-

mouth allowed to burrow into the bulrushes will wrap up

and escape. My casting reel is fi lled with 30 pound test

braided line and I employ a seven and one half foot-long

This hefty shallow water largemouth bass fell for a fl oating frog imitation.

Most any weedless lures will catch bass. The author’s favorites are the top water frog imitations

because of the visual delight when a bass explodes on the lures.

A wading angler will encounter many species of wildlife, like this osprey that just caught a sunfi sh.

heavy action rod.

It was nearly dark when I turned and waded back in

the direction of my truck, casting ahead of me as I sloshed

along. In all, I had caught ten bass.

With the lake’s surface like glass, one fi nal bass inhaled

my surface lure after a long cast to a clump of bulrushes.

This fi sh was bigger and it tail-walked several times before

bull dogging into the rushes.

Ultimately I landed the bass. I quickly weighed it and

snapped a few pictures before releasing it. My closing

catch of the evening weighed just over 3 pounds.

Suddenly it seemed it was dark. Clipping my lure to an

eyelet on my rod I waded toward shore while a swarm of

hungry mosquitoes haunted me. I was on way home in

short order, happy there was no trailer to back into the

peaceful lake or boat to load.

13B i l l M a r c h e l

B I L L M A R C H E L is a wildlife and outdoors photographer and writer who lives near Fort Ripley. His work has ap-peared in many regional and national publications and he writes a monthly column for the Brainerd Dispatch. He

can be reached at bill@billmarchel.com

A wading angler will often have an entire secluded shoreline to him or herself. Just you, the bass and the wildlife.

14 A t t r a c t i n g O r i o l e s Photos provided by Judd Brink

T H E B A L T I M O R E O R I O L E is a member of the

Blackbird family (icteridae) and arrives in the Brainerd

area about the second week of May. The Baltimore Oriole

was named after Lord Baltimore who discovered Mary-

land. The state of Maryland didn’t adopt the bird until

1947 as its offi cial state bird. Minnesota is home to two

Oriole species the Orchard and Baltimore Orioles. The

Orchard Oriole is more commonly found in the southern

half of the state whereas the Baltimore Oriole is generally

found throughout much

of Minnesota.

At one time, the Balti-

more Oriole had its name

changed to the Northern

Oriole as it was thought

to breed with the Bul-

lucks Oriole wherever

their ranges overlapped.

But the American Orni-

thologist Union reverted

back to the Baltimore

Oriole after more DNA

testing confi rmed the

separate species. Over

the next 5-10 years, you

will see many more

name changes to birds

as they become reorganized by more genetic study and

testing. This will also have a huge impact on fi eld guide

books as they will need to be updated and republished in

the future.

The bright orange and black color of a male oriole can

be easily identifi ed while the less colorful females are a

pale yellow and olive green. An adult male Baltimore Ori-

ole has a black face and head with the entire chest being

bright orange. They both have white wing bars and are

about 9 inches tall. The females usually arrive about 3-5

days later than the males, with pairs commonly seen in

mid May as they prepare to nest.

Most of the Orioles spend their winters in Central and

South America, while a few are found in the southern

United States. An occasional bird will spend a winter here

relying on bird feeders but that is not very common. On

their winter range they tend to seek out the shade grown

coffee plantations were larger trees exist. So by drinking

shade grown coffee, you can help preserve critical habitat

(tropical rainforests) and promote better bird conserva-

tion. The continued loss of breeding or wintering habi-

tat has caused a great deal of concern for many species

of birds. Orioles, like are other neotropical migrants who

migrate between North America and Central or South

America, change their diets with the seasons. Here in Min-

nesota, on their breeding range the diet consists mostly of

insects during late spring

and summer, while their

winter grounds provide

a diet of more seeds,

fruit and nectar. They are

also very fond of the for-

est Tent Caterpillar out-

breaks that occur in our

deciduous forests.

Attracting Orioles to

your back yard can be

done with oranges and

jelly. Most feeders have a

dish or a cup for the jelly

and a wooden dowel to

hold an orange half in

place. Orioles will also

visit nectar feeders using

sugar water that is a 4:1 ratio of water and sugar. It is com-

mon to see Orioles using your hummingbird feeders so

try and provide them with one of their own. There are

many feeders that allow you to feed all three foods at the

same time, nectar, jelly and oranges. A new food that is

gaining in popularity used in feeding birds is mealworms.

I like to use the medium size mealworms for feeding birds

they seem to be the right size for many birds. Many of

our neotropical birds travel long distances covering thou-

sands of miles in short periods of time and are tired and

hungry once they arrive. Providing this live food source

helps them refuel much more effi ciently and is the best

way to mimic their natural insect diet. The best location

in Brainerd to purchase live mealworms is the Little Farm

Market located at the east end of town. I have noticed

more birds visiting my mealworm feeders than the jelly,

oranges and nectar. With live food present can encourage

RIOLESAttracting

15J u d d B r i n k

Orioles to nest and provide a reliable food source for the

parents to feed their young. This also provides a wonder-

ful opportunity to increase and enhance the number and

variety of birds visiting your bird feeding station this sum-

mer.

Once they arrive you can fi nd them in city parks, back-

yards, wooded edg-

es and open areas

with scattered tall

trees. They seem to

seek out these areas

that are near water

and you can attract

them to your yard

with a water bath.

In our area they are

seen using Birch,

Oak, Aspen and Cot-

tonwood trees to

place their nest. The

female Oriole con-

structs a very un-

usual nest that some

would describe as a

“grass sock” hanging

from a tree limb. This basket type nest suspends using

large pieces of hair, grasses and fi ne fi bers interwoven to

support the nest. The nest is constructed in three to fi ve

days and is placed high in a tree on an outer branch. In

some locations where birch trees occur you may see sev-

eral old nests from past years. You can purchase and sup-

ply nesting material near your oriole feeder to help them

with their nest. They start nesting in June and have three

to fi ve eggs that hatch in about 15 days or so. If you have

feeders for them they will bring their young starting in Au-

gust and will stay until the fall migration. If they are suc-

cessful they tend to return to same area to nest and raise

young again. By creating the correct habitat for Orioles

using the proper feeders and providing water you too can

encourage them to nest in your yard this year.

Seeing the fi rst Oriole is a sure reminder that spring is

here and is time to take down the winter feeders and re-

place with jelly, oranges and nectars. By using a feeder that

is orange in color can attract them much easier and faster

as they are seeking out a food source. It’s best to place the

feeder in an open

area to start with

but can be gradually

relocated for better

viewing if neces-

sary. Again with any

bird feeder it’s very

important to make

sure the feeder is

properly maintained

on a routine basis.

This becomes more

important as the

feeder is susceptible

of high tempera-

tures and rain which

can cause the food

or nectar to go bad

quickly. Remember

when you can provide a safe and clean feeding environ-

ment you can increase the number and variety of colorful

songbirds that visit your backyard. I hope you can attract

more Orioles this summer with these helpful hints so you

can be successful in adding some color to your garden or

backyard naturally. Happy Birding!

J U D D B R I N K is the owner of MN Backyard Birds offering birdscaping packages using bird feeding stations for your enjoyment. We install

and maintain bird feeding stations for commer-cial and residential customers in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Judd also leads bird-guided walks and tours in the area. He can be contacted at

jb@mnbackyardbirds.com.

A Male OrioleA Female Oriole

An Oriole nest

RAPALA

T H E W O R L D ’ S L A R G E S T L U R E C O M P A N Y ,

Rapala, operates with an “Old World” philosophy. Mark

Fisher, Director of Field Promotions said, “Our goal is to

manufacture quality products that the average angler can

afford and have success with.” He said an “enchanting”

heritage still exists at Rapala. The lures are made in Fin-

land; the VMC hooks are still made in their original factory

in France; other brand acquisitions are built around the

world.

“It takes longer for us to bring a product to market than

most companies, because anything new must have world

applications,” he said. For instance, when the X-Rap Shads

were in fi nal testing, the walleye guys drooled with antici-

pation; so did the bass fraternity; and in Australia, the Great

Barrier Reef fi shermen were pumped. In the Netherlands,

the Zander crowd was excited. “We scrutinize where

lures will end up,” he said.

“Ideas and trends come from the boat seats, and our

new products spin off the traditional fl oater and the Shad-

style lures,” he continued. The sources of input come from

bass, walleye and in-shore guides, media partners, anglers

and tournament anglers. The sales team helps answer the

key question, “What’s needed?” Rapala also examines stra-

tegic needs, competitive thrusts and products that have

mass appeal and serve cross-over markets. “Lures for Can-

ada are different from those in Spain, and different from

the needs of Australian anglers, and different than the US,”

Fisher said, “We work independently, yet in harmony with

the rest of the world to develop the next best thing.”

Fisher said, “We can only develop so many projects in

a year. Right now, I have the 2013 and 2014 proposed

introductions in my offi ce. I often forget what year it is.”

One classic example involved the introduction of the

Deep Tail-Dancer. The need to reach extreme depths came

from the walleye tournaments. Fisher said, “They wanted

deeper-running, bigger bait with a more radical wobble

than the deep Husky Jerk. They wanted special ‘attractor’

colors for suspended fi sh. In those Professional Walleye

Trail days, we had a magic box with all the color combos.

A group of about 12 guys settled on the best color pattern

of a fi retiger body with red belly. We called it Bleeding

Tiger, and by the third year, the shelves were empty after

the word got out how hot this lure was.”

In the bass tournament game, pro angler David Fritts is

a fi ne-tuning magician. “He wanted a balsa bait geared to

hit specifi c depths. The “Dives-to” series was an instant

success, and the company is still burning through them

at retail. “We always listen to guys like David, because pro

anglers are among the elite fi ne-tuners. A handful of wall-

eye guys are fi ne-tuners, and they know action, vibration,

fl ash, depth, size and tell us. They are very valuable,” he

said.

In the Rapala line-up, Fisher talked about the lures start-

ing with the original fl oater. With the Husky Jerk and X-

Rap, details came from the on-water team, and the prod-

uct line was extended. He looks at the fl oater being at

the head of the family tree with other lures following in

succession.

It would probably be safe to say that every walleye

angler has at least one Shad Rap. Some

have hundreds;

s o m e

m o r e .

“Custom- ers like Shad

Raps,” Fisher said. Over the years, the

line grew to include jointed Shad Raps,

Minnow Raps, Glass Shad Raps, Rattling

Shad Raps, and the future may bring even

more fi sh-catching models. “As each came

16 R a p a l a L u r e D e v e l o p m e n t

Lure Development

Comes from Boat Seats

Around the World

angler has at least one Shad Rap. Some

have hundreds;

s o m e

m o r e .

“Custom- ers like Shad

Raps,” Fisher said. Over the years, the

line grew to include jointed Shad Raps,

Minnow Raps, Glass Shad Raps, Rattling

Shad Raps, and the future may bring even

more fi sh-catching models. “As each came

to market, we wanted to keep our loyal customers who

had a high confi dence level with Shad Raps.

Fisher recalled a classic example of how the develop-

ment process was instrumental in creating instant aware-

ness of a new lure. Keith Kavajecz was competing in the

PWT Championship on the Missouri River in Bismarck.

He was trolling leadcore, and using a prototype lure,

called the “Red Devil” by pro anglers like Scott Fairbairn

and others. “They knew this was the lure, and the guys

helped each other, an aspect of the walleye tournaments

I admire and respect,” Fisher said. Kavajecz won the 2002

Championship with the jointed rattling Shad Rap, and the

rest is history.

When the “offi ce” is working on a specifi c prototype

that is privileged information. Michigan pro Chief Papine-

au was catching river walleyes in open water with jigging

Raps, and leading a big tournament. Fisher couldn’t clue

in other tournament anglers at the same event. “We want

them to share with us throughout the trial and error pro-

cess, and when they are successful with an action or color

or even a new application for an old bait, we can’t betray

this confi dence,” he said. The jigging Rap has found even

more open water applications, thanks to what Al Lindner

discovered last year. “It’s a triggering sensation, and really

works,” the local Fishing Hall of Fame angler said.

While fi eld-testing Trigger-X, a biodegradable product,

a Florida angler won a redfi sh tournament. Rapala pro-

moted at retail and completely sold out of the product in

a brief period. Tournament results do drive buying deci-

sions.

Since Rapala began prior to the existence of tourna-

ments, their tournament philosophy developed along

with them. In the early PWT years, when Rapala was ac-

tively involved, Fisher said it was a great foundation with

promotions, radio, TV, magazines, tournaments – a package

deal -- with signifi cant support. “Now, we love what tour-

nament anglers tell us; what they need; ideas for growth;

suggestions that will help others catch fi sh. These guys

and gals let the brand talk when they describe why and

how they catch fi sh. What they do today is not much dif-

ferent than when Ray Ostrom and Ron Weber started the

company.”

What about the future? “Product de-

velopment is always a work in

progress. We look at products

that will extend our line-up

and cross-over the species

line and the geography

lines,” he said. Fished

concluded, “We are a

manufacturer inter-

ested in growing

existing brands for

general anglers,

the fun guys and

tournament anglers.”

New Products for 2011 include the Crankin’ Rap, the

Clackin’ Rap and the Clackin’ Minnow. The specs:

Crankin’ Rap: This round-bodied lure has a pre-set run-

ning depth. The number 3 and 5 sizes run 2 to 5 feet with

their square bills. The numbers 8, 10 and 14 feature round

lips and run 7 to 14 feet. The depth is displayed on the

bill. This Rap has a loud rattle and an enticing wobble. It’s

a “bass treat,” but pike will eat it up.

Clackin’ Rap: This lipless lure has a sound chamber with

external metal discs to transmit a distinctive sound and

maximum vibration. Bass, pike and walleye anglers cast

and allow it to sink to the desired depth before retriev-

ing. It comes in 19 colors and four sizes from 2 ½ to 3 ½

inches.

Clackin’ Minnow: This slow-sinking minnow-shaped

lure has the Rapala “wounded minnow” action with a

built-in Clackin’ cadence rattle. The two sizes run 3 to 5

feet, come in 16 colors, and attract primarily bass, walleye

and pike.

17J i m K a l k o f e nPhotos provided by Jim Kalkofen

J I M K A L K O F E N has been in and around boats all his life. He has been director of the

largest walleye tournament circuits for two decades, and was inducted into the National

Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.

What about the future

velopment is alw

progress. We lo

that will exte

and cross-o

line and

lines,” h

concl

man

este

ex

ge

the

tourna

D o n ’ t F i g h t t h e B i t e !18 Photos provided by Dave Csanda

“ M I S T E R W A L L E Y E ” Gary Roach has a comforting philosophy regarding when to go fi shing. You might assume

it’s, “Go anytime you can!,” which is a mighty nice rule to live by. Instead, his trademark saying is, “They don’t start biting

until you get there!” Roach suggests that you don’t necessarily have to be on the water at sunrise to catch walleyes. You

can sleep in until a respectable hour, and still have a good chance at catching fi sh once you arrive at the lake.

But only if you fi sh correctly for the conditions at the time of day, that is! And if you are versatile enough to show

walleyes what they want to eat, where and when they want to eat it.

Don’t Fight the Bite!

Give Walleyes What They Want to Eat,

Where and When They Want to Eat It!

19D a v e C s a n d a

Case in point:

Assume you’re not an early bird, and that you sleep in,

have a leisurely breakfast, and don’t start fi shing until the

sun has risen fairly high in the sky. By this time of day, sun-

light is already penetrating shallow water to a substantial

degree, unless wind or waves break up sunlight penetra-

tion beneath the surface. By the time you arrive at the

lake, any walleyes inhabiting the shallows will likely have

eaten their fi ll and settled down into a ho-hum attitude of

reduced activity. In all

probability, you missed

a great shallow-water

morning bite for aggres-

sive walleyes feeding

near rocky shorelines,

perhaps casting or long-

line trolling crankbaits

in 5 or so feet of water.

But don’t worry. Oth-

er groups of walleyes

in the lake have yet

to eat their fi ll. In fact,

they’re just starting to

think about biting, right

about the time you get

there!

During early summer,

sunlight begins pen-

etrating down into the

20- to 30-foot depths

at around 8 to 9 am.

Chances are that lake-wide, the “walleye bite” is shifting

to deep-water livebait rigging, as walleyes at those depths

are activated by changing light levels. If so, you’d best be

prepared to fi sh deep-water structures with live leeches,

minnows or nightcrawlers throughout the midday hours.

Forget about the shallow bite until later in the day.

Remain on the lake until evening, however, and the deep

bite often fades, with the shallow bite kicking in again

around dusk. At that time, shift your efforts shallower to

shoreline points, fl ats and rock reefs, and break out your

crankbaits to focus on the most aggressive segment of the

walleye population at that time of day. Walleyes living in

these areas generally prefer to eat in shallow water dur-

ing lowlight periods, when they have a feeding advantage

over minnows, perch and other forage species.

Anglers tend to think that all of the walleyes in the lake

do the same thing at the same time, and that there’s only

one way to catch fi sh. Not true. There are usually shallow

bites at dusk, dawn and at night; deep structure or basin

bites during the brightest part of midday; and middepth

bites during the “in between” hours, perhaps along the

outside edges of weedlines. If you focus on each type of

area during times of the day when peak walleye fi shing

is likely to occur there, you can contact relatively active

walleyes all day long. Which translates to, “The fi sh don’t

bite until you get there,” assuming you’re fi shing in the

proper locations.

OK, here’s another strategy that applies to midday fi sh-

ing in deep areas, all summer long. We’ll use nearby Mille

Lacs Lake as an example, where these patterns are well

known by local walleye fi shermen. Take note: They will

likely apply on other Brainerd area walleye lakes through-

out summer as well.

On Mille Lacs, there’s usually an excellent deep bite for

walleyes all summer,

beginning in very early

summer when walleyes

fi rst migrate out the

edges of midlake mud

fl ats in about 22 to 32

feet of water. Early on,

you simply can’t beat

livebait rigs, using jum-

bo leeches as bait. This

seems to dovetail with a

time of year when wall-

eyes feed heavily on in-

sects like mayfl ies and

small fi sh fl ies emerging

from the mud. Walleye

anglers circle the mud-

fl ats, slowly backtrolling

leeches from late May

through early July, and

catch tons of walleyes.

But lo and behold,

the ferocious “leech bite” suddenly tapers off in early July,

even though you can still clearly see walleyes on your

electronics, using the same areas they did before. The fi sh

haven’t left—but they have changed their feeding prefer-

ences. You have to change along with them!

At this time of year, switch to three-way rigs and 2-hook

fi nesse spinner harnesses, baited with nightcrawlers. Fi-

nesse harnesses are 8 to 10 feet long, tied from 6-pound-

test fl uorocarbon line for near invisibility and stealth, us-

ing small size #2 spinner blades for a hint of fl ash and

Mister Walleye Gary Roach treats kids from the Onamia area to a little early-summer, livebait rigging walleye roundup on

the Mille Lacs mud fl ats in June.

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vibration without being too gaudy. Use a 1 ¾- to 2 ¼- ounce bell

sinker on a three-way rig, constructed with an 18- to 30-inch drop-

per line, to troll your spinners slightly above bottom through the

same areas you fi shed previously, at slightly swifter speeds of about

1 to 1 ½ mph. Magically, the same walleyes that no longer wanted

to bite livebait rigs and leeches, now smack your spinner harnesses

and crawlers with abandon!

A few weeks later, like late July, walleyes in their infi nite wisdom

(more like ultimate fussiness!) inexplicably lose their fascination

for nightcrawler harnesses. However, if you switch to a single-hook

spinner harness, and rig it with a 3 ½-inch chub or dace minnow,

the walleyes mysteriously begin biting again! Something about

changing to a minnow amidst all those other folks trolling leeches

or ‘crawlers at this time of year makes a huge difference in produc-

tivity. We can’t say exactly why this happens, although one might

postulate that young-of-the-year minnows and perch have by now

grown to edible size, and that walleyes might be switching exclu-

sively to a minnow diet. But we do know that it happens every year-

-and that’s pretty hard to argue with.

So, what happens in early to mid-August? Another switcheroo!

Walleyes tend to move off the mud fl ats and roam the open basin

of Mille Lacs, often in the “no man’s land” between the midlake mud

fl ats, miles from any form of structure. At this time, troll deep-diving

crankbaits like Rapala Trolls-To 30s, Tail Dancer Deep 30s, or Reef

Runner Deep Divers at about 2 mph, on 150, 200, even 250 feet of

skinny 10-pound-test superline like Sufi x 832 or Berkley Fireline.

This tactic takes these baits down to about the 30- to 34-foot levels,

which is the maximum depth you’ll fi nd in Mille Lacs.

Troll back and forth across the open basin at about 2 to 2 ½ mph,

focusing on areas where you see either baitfi sh or big fi sh near bot-

tom on your electronics. Fine-tune your line length, letting out just

enough line for the bait to tick bottom a little, and then reel up a

few times to make your lure run barely a few inches above bot-

tom. Nostretch superline is sensitive, so you’ll feel every wiggle and

wobble of the crankbait, when the vibration is interrupted by the

bait ticking bottom—or the lure is gobbled by a big walleye!

Sounds weird, right? Not if it regularly produces 15 to 20 big wall-

eyes every time you try it during mid- to late August! Astoundingly,

at a time when livebait riggers circling the edges of the mud fl ats

are singing the blues, the Dog Days of August are Hawg Days for

open-water crankbait trollers! You gotta see it—and preferably try

it--to believe it.

In the end, the old adages hold true: First, “You gotta give ‘em

what they want, where and when they want to eat it.” If you do, the

walleye bite continues all summer--even if you don’t get up at 4 am

to greet the sunrise on the water. Because, like Mister Walleye says,

“They don’t bite until you get there.” Assuming you show them what

they want to eat, that is!

20 D o n ’ t F i g h t t h e B i t e !

D A V E C S A N D A is a veteran outdoor communicator/TV co-host who works at Lindner’s Angling Edge Television in Baxter. He is also president of the Brainerd Lakes Area Chapter of

Let’s Go Fishing (www.lgfwsbrainerdarea.com), a Minnesota-based non-profit volunteer organi-zation that takes seniors, youths and veterans fishing for free.

Photos courtesy of Lindner Imagery

21S h e i l a H e l m b e r g e r

Fun in Fun in the the SunSun

T H E A R R I V A L O F S U M M E R C O M E S W I T H

M A G N I F I C E N T F A N F A R E … the ceremonial fl ing-

ing of the backpacks onto the fl oor of the

entryway, the instantaneous gathering of the

neighborhood kids in a pre-appointed yard

and the replacement of grinding school bus

breaks at 2:45 by children voices as they

pedal by on their bicycles. Basketballs, base-

balls and lawn game equipment will soon

take over driveways and front yards.

Let the good times begin.

The squares on this year’s calendars might

be looking a little empty with the price of

gasoline taking a signifi cant bite out of our

summer budgets and when it’s time to cut

back the vacations are also fi rst on the list.

Lucky for us, staying home defi nitely doesn’t

mean there isn’t anything to do.

There is lots of fun to be had locally and most of it free

or close to it. The end of August may just fi nd you sitting

around the dinner table one night talking about what a

great summer this one was.

We are home to the most beautiful coun-

tryside in the state and some of the best

parts are visible from your bicycle seat or on

foot on the go-as-far-as-you’d-like bike trails

and numerous nature treks. Pack up your

bicycles, in-line skates, favorite tennis shoes,

strollers, wagons and a cooler packed with a

little refreshment and treat yourself to a re-

laxing, fun way to burn off some energy, get

a little bit of a workout for everyone and still

spend precious time together. Plan to go a

mile or two if the kids are little and much,

much farther if yours are older. If it’s some-

thing you’ve always talked about this might

be the summer to actually do it. You may fi nd yourself be-

coming a return visitor.

22 F u n i n t h e S u n

Check out your local li-

brary to see what they of-

fer in the way of a summer

reading program. Most

have interesting and enter-

taining themes that make

reading seem more like fun

than a chore or homework

over vacation. Some also

schedule guest speakers to

complement their offering

in the way of authors, illus-

trators or experts in a fi eld

that corresponds with the

theme.

Spend some time in a

neighborhood park. Many area communities offer free

entertainment at least one night or afternoon a week for

visitors. A variety of music is featured and varied week to

week with country, rock, bluegrass, gospel and salutes to

various decades. Performances are by area talent. Bring a

blanket or a chair.

Make a fi eld trip out of a dreaded chore. Grocery shop-

ping? Not fun. An afternoon at a pick-your-own berry

farm or local farmer’s market — so much more so. Let

your children chose a new

vegetable to try. Visit with

the vendor and learn how

and where their purchases

you’re making were grown.

Everyone might take a new

interest in the dinner hour.

Brainerd hosts a farmers

market from 8 a.m. - 12:30

p.m. Tuesdays in the park-

ing lot of the Franklin Arts

Center and 8 a.m. - 12:30

p.m. Fridays in the parking

lot of Gander Mountain in

Baxter.

Make this the summer

you learn about birds as a family. Create a chart with those

that are actually found in this area and print off their pic-

tures. Mark them off as their spotted in the back yard. Im-

prove your chances by putting out feeders.

Make it to at least one Big Fun Tuesday in Crosslake this

summer. Beginning June 28 through August 16 there are

minnow races, kids games and storytelling the Crosslake

Town Square Park.

Let your kids compete. Racing various things is a defi -

nite local novelty and on Wednesdays Nisswa hosts the famous turtle races.

Registration starts at 1 p.m. and turtles are provided. For more than 15 years

duck races have been the featured event on Fridays in Pine River. Ducks

(decoys) are raced the 100 yards to the fi nish line and the promotions say

cheering and quacking are encouraged. To compete trained racing ducks

can be purchased for $1 apiece. Registration starts at 1:45p.m.

Fish the area piers. You don’t have to have a boat to catch the big one.

Docks and piers with free access are at almost every waterway. You will

need a fi shing license, however. But for the cost of bait, or free worms from

your own yard, it can be a great way to spend an afternoon with your kids.

Have a weekend long lawn game tournament for the family. Incorporate

all of the games gathering dust in the garage like lawn darts (the safe kind

with non-pointed ends, of course), croquet, horseshoe, volleyball, bocce ball

and badminton. It might be a great way to rediscover fun that you already

own.

A staycation can be as rewarding as a vacation. You don’t have to pack,

you can sleep in the comfort of your own bed and it gives you a chance to

explore some of the local offerings you might not otherwise have a chance

to. With lawn work and weeding to be done in the summer there is so much

work to do but when it’s time to have fun the options are endless.

23S h e i l a H e l m b e r g e r

SUMMER FUN TRIVIA• In one hour a little brown bat can catch

about 1,200 mosquito-sized insects.

• The fi rst known summer camp was held in

1861.

• The oil from poison ivy can remain on a

piece of clothing for 1 to 5 years.

• A mosquito can take in one and half times

its weight in blood.

• Yellowstone National Park opened in 1871.

• A fan of the game, George Washington had

a bocce court at his home in Mount Vernon.

• Arizona has recorded the highest

temperature in the United States. It logged

128 degrees in 1994.

• Americans eat 14 billion burgers a year.

• Croquet is French for “crooked stick.”

• Badminton is an Olympic sport. A

shuttlecock can be hit at speeds close to

200 mph.

S H E I L A H E L M B E R G E R has a journalism degree. She is a mother of three, and contributes regularly to

various local publications.

M e m o r y L a n e24

I love to fi sh and believe this to be true… most of the time.

There can be a bad day fi shing that is just that, a bad day.

Living in the Brainerd Lakes area is an outdoorsmen’s dream

and am glad that our family returned to this great state when I

was a young boy. We had moved to the Twin Cities suburbs and

my dad purchased a very large, brand new

travel trailer and parked it on a lot on Lake

Washburn in Cass County located in a resort

he had vacationed at since he was a toddler.

The owners are the sort of friends that are

more like family than friends. We were part

of the up North on Friday back to the Cities

on Sunday population.

The arrival of fall created the long list of

housekeeping chores, not the least of which

was to clear the water lines for the long win-

ter of no running water at the Lake. One

year as Dad was using an “experienced” (near

ancient) air compressor too blast the remain-

ing moisture from the system on Sunday af-

ternoon, my sister and I were not being very

helpful, in fact we were being pests – we

wanted to go fi shing and wanted Dad to take

us. In a moment of weakness, in an effort to

get us out of his way, he suggested we could

go to a small lake and go fi shing by ourselves.

I was elated; I was going to be the Captain

of my own craft. This is where the disaster

began.

Having just learned to bass fi sh, I was anx-

ious to get out and have one last go at it before the inevitable

chill of the fall air would take over and Mother Nature would

turn the landscape from green to explosive red and orange

then gradually to white. As we arrived at the landing where

the boat was stored, my sister began to complain that her new

shoes (white Keds® mind you) were going to get dirty if she

walked too close to the water. I knew the princess would add

a challenge to the adventure but was un-phased given my an-

ticipation of reeling in that big bass. I got her into the boat and

pushed us out from shore and we were off. Consistent com-

plaining from my fi shing buddy was beginning to get on my

nerves, but I wasn’t going to let it ruin my last fi shing day of

the year.

My third or fourth cast was a beauty. Working the edge of a

group of lily pads that I knew had a sharp break beneath the wa-

ter, I felt the gentle steady pull and saw the sideways line move-

ment that can only be made by the hunger of a largemouth bass

sucking down a plastic worm. I set the hook and it was on like

Donkey Kong! At this point, even my sister (the princess) was

beginning to get excited. In fact, she was so excited, when the

fi sh dove under the boat and I was struggling to keep the rod

tip up (I was only 9), she bumped the oar which hit the rod tip

just perfect enough to snap the end of it. In addition to break-

ing the rod, the slack in the line caused by the break was just

enough for my beautiful bass to shake free

and swim back to the depths of Doughnut

Lake. The princess laughed.

While every fi sherman indeed has a story

or two like that, this nightmare was far from

over. In the words of the great Paul Harvey:

it’s time for the rest of the story.

As I began to row us back to shore, the

wind picked up and turned a nice calm fall

afternoon into a rowing expedition that was

comparable to some sort of 1800’s vessel

with men tirelessly rowing for hours on end

with little or no appreciation from the pas-

sengers on the ship. When we fi nally made

it to shore, the princess jumped out and

I moved the boat over to a section in the

reeds so it would be hidden from view. As I

jumped out of the boat, the force from my

leap pushed the boat back out into the wa-

ter. Jenny shot me a look that said “there isn’t

a chance in H#ll I’m going to help you fetch

that boat!” So, I begrudgingly trudged out into

the water (this is a soft bottom lake so each

step was into about eight inches of muck)

and retrieved the wayward vessel. At this

point, my sister is laughing hysterically which sent me into an

even bigger frenzy. I was rewarded for my heroic, boat-saving

efforts with a mile walk back to our place in mud-fi lled shoes

and wet jeans. It was probably the only time in my life that I

was happy to put the fi shing rods away for the season.

As I sit here at my offi ce staring out the window into the

heart of Downtown Minneapolis, it’s hard to believe that was

over 20 years ago, yet as memorable as something that hap-

pened last weekend. Over the next several years as my family

made their way back up to Deerwood (otherwise known as

Heaven on Earth), my sister and I enjoyed many other fi shing

adventures as memorable as that day on Doughnut Lake. Maybe

another time I will share the story of The Hamlet Lake Dogfi sh

that my sister did battle with.

M E M O R Y L A N EA Bad Day Fishing Is Better

Than A Good Day At Work………

S T E V E M I L L E R spent most of his child-hood in Deerwood, Minnesota. He is an avid

outdoorsman who enjoys fishing, hunting, golf. He currently lives in the Twin Cities but tries to

get “Up North” as often as he can.

25S e r v i c e D i r e c t o r y / T o d a y I n T h e O u t d o o r s

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YourBest Shot

Do you enjoy taking photos? Do you have a favorite image of an eagle, fl ower, sunset, or how about your favorite hunting partner?

Here’s your chance to share it with readers of “OUTDOOR Traditions.” Send it along with a two-sentence explanation as to where, why, and how it was shot. Both could be published online and in the 50,000 copies of our new quarterly magazine, “OUTDOORS Traditions.” Each issue will have an “editor’s pick” contributed photo, including a credit line of the photographer’s name and portrait if available.

Deadline for the fall edition is August 22, 2011. The Dispatch will collect images quarterly (spring, summer, fall, winter). After each issue of “OUTDOOR Traditions” publishes, we will then place the images on our website.

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Send a slide or print to “Your Best Shot” Brainerd Dispatch, P.O. Box 574, Brainerd, MN 56401. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want your materials returned.

Cindy Spilman, Pillager, MNA beautiful day in Northern Minnesota. We enjoy all that Minnesota has to offer.

S d lid i t t “ t Sh t” i d i t h O 4

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