Puppy VS Started Dog

By: Jesse Dieckmen

When it comes time to look for your next best hunting companion, the question you must ask yourself is, “Do I get a pup, started, or finished dog?”  Depending on your situation there are both pros and cons to each. Whichever way you decide to go, there are some questions you should think about.   Let’s start with looking for that cute, cuddly, and vivacious puppy.  

There are many obvious reasons as to why you would want a puppy.  They are cute, cuddly, and for sure the wife and kids will love them at first sight.  While these aspects of a new pup are all true, sometimes people forget about ALL the responsibilities of a puppy.  Let’s take a look at some of the most obvious and troublesome.

First, there are the late nights or, what I sometimes like to call, Hell Week.  When you first bring your puppy home, you will need to crate train the little guy or gal.  Immediately, all you will hear is barking, which needs to be corrected.  This will continue until the puppy is comfortable in its new surroundings and is used to being away from its mother, brothers and sisters. Some pups will find their place and comfort in the family faster than others.  Patience and understanding are essential in the crate training process.  Over time, the pup, and soon to be dog, will find comfort and will likely seek out its kennel as a place to relax, sleep and feel safe.

Then comes the always the dreaded, potty training.  This cringe worthy situation will surely make your wife very unhappy and take some of the “cuteness” out of the new family member.  While it is a temporary setback, it is a fact of bringing home a pup.  The best thing to do is catch them in the act before the “accident” happens and let him or her outside. By getting him/her outside and, “cutting off the problem,” the dog will start to associate relieving him/herself outside on the grass, or at the very least in nature (instead of the carpet or wood floor).  Timing in training is one of the most important things.

The next habit to break is the chewing on everything, including your kid’s toys, shoes and whatever else is in the puppy’s path.  Puppies have a natural urge to chew on things.  Again, it is essential to “catch them in the act” to prevent and stop this habit.  A firm, “NO,” will likely be enough as the pup is wanting to please, and seeing that this is unacceptable, will make for a quick behavior change.

And, besides the inherent physiological setbacks, let’s not forget about cost.  The vet checkups, shots and the puppy food are all part of the equation. Add it all up, and a new puppy can get costly.

One of the last issues is time.  Everyone’s situation is different at home.  Having a puppy can be very time consuming.  For many, letting a new puppy out every two to three hours is not an option.  You may have to hire someone to do this for you for a few weeks in order to get through this phase of the dog’s life.  It is hard to put a dollar amount on time, so for each person this cost is different.  The question becomes, is the time/cost worth it in having a pup?

Now, after all of that, you may ask, “Why would you want to start with a puppy?”  The number one reason is the bonding time with him or her.  This bonding time is a great thing and shouldn’t be taken lightly.  Puppies tend to grow on you and you most definitely grow on them after all of the trials and tribulations that come with the pup’s upbringing.  (Plus, they are, darn cute). This bonding aspect is what most people love.

While bonding time is very powerful and has a great and lasting effect. The follow-up question then is when to start training? I would say 90 percent of people I work with have a young one that they want to train themselves or have trained by a professional.  They all ask what age is best to start training. I usually say, depending on the pup, about 6 months old is a good time to start.  (We will discuss and expand on more training topics in future issues.)

So, if you are in the decision phase of a pup vs. started/finished dog, be sure to consider the fore mentioned points in weighing the benefits against the complications of buying a puppy.

Now, if, due to time constraints, health, finances, etc. a puppy is not what you have in mind and want to skip all of the “growing pains” that come with it, a started or finished dog might be your best bet.

First of all, what’s the difference between a started dog and a finished dog?  Well, a “started dog” is past the puppy stage, has basic obedience, and is likely force broke- meaning that he/she can retrieve to hand.  These “started dogs” have the ability to do short mark retrieves at about one hundred yards and inwards.

A “finished dog” is one that has seen it all, “been there, done that.”  He or she has done blind retrieves, is steady to wing shot position birds, wipeout birds, breaking birds, and more.  So basically, they are at a master hunter level or in the field trial world; Qualified All Age Level.  For a great hunting dog, that’s all you need.

I always tell people that if I was not in the dog training business, I would buy a more advanced older dog.  “Why is that?” You may ask. Simply because I can avoid all the puppy stuff, and be ahead on money, time and headaches.   I have trained many dogs and even shipped some dogs to different countries.  I can I appreciate the bonding that comes with a puppy.  It is never easy to say goodbye after having spent quality time with a young dog.  I have experienced the “bonding effect” numerous times.

Now, the question is what to pay for a puppy, started or finished dog?  The determining price to pay comes down to whatever anyone is willing to pay at that given time.  The initial price will seem like a lot. But, with a started or finished dog you are avoiding many other bills that come with owning a puppy and then getting it professionally trained.

Also, if looking to get a puppy, consider the fact that the more reputable the kennel and the higher the price you pay upfront will greatly increase your chances of having a quality, well-bred dog to enjoy for years to come. Versus, “rolling the dice” by paying very little or nothing and taking your chances on how the dog turns out.  Let’s face it, all puppies are cute.  But, like babies, they don’t stay puppies forever.

Now, for your decision making process, I would use the following questions as a starting point in the decision of purchasing either a puppy, started, or finished dog.  These questions will help in deciding what the best choice is for you.

To start with, here are six basic questions you should ask yourself:

1. Do I want a male or female?

2.  What kind of upland or duck/goose hunting do I do most? Do we want a pointer or flusher?

3. Am I looking for a dog with a lot of drive? Or, one that is a steady hunter and is also able to unplug and sleep at my feet?
4. 4. Do I know what color or markings we want on a dog? Size?

5. What price do I want to spend?  (Keep in mind, usually you get what you pay for.)

6.  How far am I willing to travel in purchasing a dog?

I would say as far as a started or finished dog, you can surely get one that is great for you.  You just have to look and ask questions. Ask a lot of questions.  Based on my experience, some are concerned that a started or finished dog will not bond with them the same as a puppy.  You would be surprised how well a little bit older dog can get attached to people if they spend the time with them and get to know them.  I have sold dogs to people and checked in on them years later. I was told that was the best thing they did.  The dog became strongly attached to them and they loved their hunting buddy all the same.  When I sell a dog to someone, I want the dog and its owner to be happy, and the new owner to truly get to enjoy a trained dog.

So, when deciding on a new puppy, or contemplating a started or finished dog, be sure to carefully consider each.  Truly weigh the pros and cons of each side.  The decision shouldn’t be taken lightly and it is one you will happily live with for years to come.

The post Puppy vs Started Dog appeared first on Morning Moss.

from
http://morningmoss.com/puppy-vs-started-dog/

The Two Year Tom

By: Ron Weber

The gobble startled me as it shattered the pre-dawn silence. A few soft hen yelps from my slate call had incited the response, which in turn excited me. It was the first morning of my spring turkey season and it now seemed as though it might be a short one as I knew I had a tom close by, easily within 60 yards. As I impatiently waited for light, I couldn’t help but to throw out a few more soft calls- each call being answered by a booming gobble. I know many “experts” would say to avoid calling too much to a tom on the roost, but for me, gobbling was the kick that made spring turkey hunting so special.

First light came and went. But the tom remained roosted somewhere just out of sight down the field edge. He was most likely in a large white pine which served as a favorite roosting tree. Finally, the flapping of wings signaled his descent into the field to begin another day of strutting, gobbling and searching for hens. He glided about 150 yards out into the field and began walking, pecking the ground as he did. I tried a series of soft yelps and purrs which prompted another gobble and a brief display of his fan. Unfortunately, he seemed intent on walking up a small rise in the field. Once he reached his destination, he puffed himself into full display and, with a very distinctive thick beard, strutted back and forth in full glory along the rise, every so often letting loose a gobble.

I was still confident that it was just a matter of time before he would notice my decoy positioned in the field twenty yards from the woods line where I was concealed under the spreading branches of a large white spruce. My confidence was shaken, however, when I heard yelps from over the rise and across the field. Eventually, the tom started moving in the direction of the yelps. I tried to persuade him with a variety of calls, but he quickly disappeared over the rise. It can be hard to compete with real hens, and after no sign of him for a half hour; save a few gobbles from the other side of the field, I figured that was the end. I never imagined that in fact it was only the beginning.

Over the rest of my week-long first season, I had several more long range encounters with the thick bearded tom whose gobble I had come to distinguish from other toms in the area. Though he was often quick to respond to my calls, he never showed any real interest in coming in to my decoys. I took this indifference as a slap to my hunting skills and he soon became my single target, my “white whale.” As my first season ended, I had several toms that I passed up, but “my tom” had eluded me. I still had tags for two more week-long seasons, and felt confident that sooner or later he would be mine.

That feeling of certainty was starting to fade by the middle of my last season. Though I had heard him almost daily, I had not even caught a glimpse of him over that time. He had taken to the woods and, as far as I could tell, was rarely in a field. I likewise had changed my tactics and was trying to position myself in areas of the woods where I heard him gobbling. He seemed to have a pattern of moving along a trail that ran through one section of woods toward a small field that was tucked into the woods.

 

It was there that I found myself early in the afternoon of my last day of spring turkey season. There had not been any gobbles since early in the morning and I was dozing in the warmth of the mid-May sun. Suddenly, I was brought out of my impending slumber by a gobble. For a few moments I was thinking maybe I had just dreamt it, but then another gobble rose above the sound of the wind rustling the freshly hatched leaves. It wasn’t just any gobble, it was that gobble. A series of seductive yelps brought a response that told me he was in the direction of the small field but not in it.

The gobbling continued sporadically for the next hour as he seemed to move around me but never really got any closer. I was tempted to try to move in on him, but experience had taught me that that was usually a recipe for scaring away the bird. I sat tight and eventually the gobbling ended. As the sun sank on the horizon, my season drew to a close with my tom still somewhere out there.

When you are a child a year seems like a lifetime. For the rest of us, a year has a way of passing like a summer day. Soon I found myself looking forward to another turkey season. This year I only had one tag, so my season would be limited to a single week.

A few days before my season was set to begin, I went out early one morning to see what type of gobbling activity I could hear in the woods and fields around my house. There was assorted gobbling in just about every direction as the dark faded into light. Just as the sun was creasing the tops of the trees, I heard it. That gobble. I had long since moved on from the quest to get “my tom” last season. He had won and I assumed it was likely that a fall hunter, a predator, or an unusually harsh winter had taken him. But there he was. His gobble had awakened my memory and there was no doubt it was him.

Unlike the season before, he seemed much quieter this year. I never saw him and only heard him twice over the first five days of my season. Maybe the winter had been hard on him or maybe he was no longer the dominant bird I saw on that small rise the year before. It didn’t matter why, I just knew that I missed his gobble.

Early in the afternoon of the second to last day of my season it began to rain, light at first but steadily increasing in intensity. I decided to go to my rainy day spot, protected under the spreading branches of the big white spruce where I had first seen my tom. It

had been one of those days, little gobbling in the morning and none since. I had not seen a turkey all day. It had been a fairly uneventful season and I was losing my drive to keep going. A hot shower and warm meal was sounding very good about then.

I convinced myself to stay until five o’clock.

A little after four, as I stared blankly into the field, out of the corner of my eye I caught the unmistakable jerky movement of a turkey walking along the edge of the field to my right. With a shift of my eyes a hen came into view about thirty yards away. She seemed to be walking right towards my decoy. As my eyes followed her, I again caught movement to my right. My eyes shifted and there he was. There was no mistaking the paint brush thick beard which hung almost to the ground.

I had positioned the barrel of my shotgun on my knees and secured the butt of the gun on my shoulder. The hen passed into an opening in the spruce branches directly in front of me no more than fifteen yards away. The tom was following directly in her wake. The screen of spruce branches made them oblivious to my presence.   Now it was just a matter of a couple of feet. There he was.

“Boom!”   At the sound, both turkeys’ heads raised. “Boom!” As my voice reverberated a second time across the field the turkeys clucked excitedly and half running, half flying made their way to the top of the rise in the field and disappeared.

Back under the spruce, I contemplated what had just happened. I hadn’t planned it that way. It was just the way it worked out. Up until the moment I first yelled, “Boom!” I really thought I would get my tom. The safety was off, my finger was on the trigger. I just couldn’t squeeze it.   And I knew why. I had total respect for that bird. If he was going to die, he deserved to go out in full glory, strutting and gobbling like the first time I saw him. He didn’t deserve to be ambushed like he was set up to be. Besides, the woods and fields in my world were more interesting knowing he was still out there.

The next morning I took a jake. It may have been one of my tom’s offspring, ensuring that we would have turkey for the table.

Though his paint brush beard and tail fan cannot be found in the room where I keep other mounts of birds, fish, and deer, my two year tom can be found with so many other trophies in the corners of my memory. Those are the trophies I find myself revisiting most often.

The post The Two Year Tom appeared first on Morning Moss.

from
http://morningmoss.com/the-two-year-tom/

Ice Fishing Bay de Noc

The post Ice Fishing Bay de Noc appeared first on Morning Moss.

from
http://morningmoss.com/ice-fishing-bay-de-noc/

Weekly Morning Trail Mix 3-5

Trail Mix!

The post Weekly Morning Trail Mix 3-5 appeared first on Morning Moss.

from
http://morningmoss.com/weekly-morning-trail-mix-3-5/

Spring on the Mississippi

SPRING ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

My buddy, Paul Valle of Oakdale, Minnesota, had called me a couple of days earlier to see if I wanted to go fishing. “We’ll take my boat,” he tells me. It is mid-March and we will fish just below the dam on the Mississippi River, north of Red Wing, Minnesota. As far as I am concerned, the first time I am in a boat on open water is the beginning of spring. Although we both are old enough that we are drawing Social Security, we are as excited as boys as we motor to the dam. Paul confesses it has been a couple of years since he last had his boat out.

We have great enthusiasm for the day, but after several hours we have only one fish, a 19-inch walleye Paul caught. I don’t think I had had a strike. This could be discouraging, but it is spring now and we are fishing for the first time this year in a boat, so neither of us finds it even the least bit depressing. The opposite is true. It is good to be back on open water again and the weather is fairly tolerable. Paul and I have fished through some miserable weather, including an ice storm in the early days of the season. So, we are just enjoying the day and the weather, regardless if the fish are biting or not.

Suddenly, Paul pulls up on his spinning rod to set the hook. It is doubled over and line is coming off his reel. I bring in my line, dropping the rod to pick up the net. I wait as Paul fights the fish and then we finally see it in the murky water. It is a long shadow. I extend the net out as Paul leads the fish into it and I pull up on the net. A huge walleye sags into the mesh. It is 29 inches long and full of spawn. We guess the fish has to be ten pounds. Paul says it is the biggest walleye he has ever caught. I take a quick photo of it before Paul slides it back in the water. It is a heck of way to start the season.

In the middle of March, there are fishermen still fishing through the ice in northern Wisconsin. But not me. I am on the Mississippi River and it is the beginning of the first fishing season for me, lasting until the beginning of the bass and walleye season on the first Saturday in May.

I know many people are asking, “What about ice fishing?” I look at ice fishing as something to do between the end of the open water fishing on the Mississippi River in the fall until I can get back on open water in March. I used to be a big ice fisherman when I was younger, but now I only do two ice fishing trips each winter; one to Red Lake in northern Minnesota in the middle of January and the other to Lake of the Woods on the Minnesota Canadian border at the end of February. Essentially, winter for me is just waiting until I can get the boat back out on the river.

In early spring, the weather can be tough with snowstorms, ice and freezing temperatures. As spring progresses, the weather turns milder and is usually fairly comfortable by the time the regular fishing season starts. When fishing the Mississippi River early in the season, I dress like I am going ice fishing and over the years I have bought special clothing just for fishing the river early in the spring or late in the fall.

A week after my fishing trip with Paul, I wake to find two inches of snow on the ground, wet and slushy. I head back to the river with Dennis Virden, of Burnsville, Minnesota. When we get to the landing, I find slush had splashed up in the boat and was now frozen on the bow, trolling motor, windshield, console, tackle bag and outboard motor. As we motor upriver, we see a tree trunk sticking out of the water like a hand coming up, covered in snow. Snow clings to all the tree limbs and covers the ground. It is not nearly as cold as we expected, but still chilly with light winds.

I get the first sauger. Too small to keep, but a start nonetheless. The wind picks up and it feels colder. We move and try again. Nothing. Finally, we move closer to the bank where I find an eddy in about 28 feet of water. Shortly after we drop anchor I get another sauger. This one is a keeper and it goes into the livewell. I pick up two more sauger, but the fishing is slow in the snow.

Dennis yells he has a fish and then adds that it is a “big fish.” The fish races off, peeling line off the reel. The fish stops and Dennis tries to regain some line but the fish takes off again. This seesaw battle continues. I have the net ready. Dennis gets some line back and then the fish takes off again. The fish stays deep, making long, muscular runs. Finally, it gets closer and then we see a long, prehistoric looking silhouette in the stained water. It is a big sturgeon! It still takes awhile before Dennis gets the fish close to the boat for me to net it. I grab the net with both hands to pull it in the boat. We measure the fish before we take photos and release it. It is 41 inches long. We might not have caught many fish today, but the sturgeon sure makes up for it!

This spring is an anomaly. Normally, the river is high, many times overflowing banks and causing flooding. There have been a couple of years when the flooding was so bad the river was shut down to all boat traffic. Now the water is a bit higher than normal, but not nearly as high as we have seen in other years. The water is dirty from runoff with a strong current, as we expect in spring, but not anywhere near flooding. All that can change with late season blizzards or a couple days of steady rains, but for now the river seems unusually stable for spring.

Spring is a time of rebirth for the waters and land. Fish are spawning, providing another generation of fish. We see skies filling with birds. We hear yelping of snow geese and guttural honking of Canadian geese as they head north. We see strings of pelicans flying north as well. Eagles flock to the river.  They float on the current of the wind overhead, occasionally dropping into the river to grab a fish. We hear them chattering to each other in the trees and sometimes we see half a dozen or more eagles sitting majestic and regal in one tree. Their white heads and tail feathers contrast sharply against the barren trees and the dirty gray or bright blue skies.

In early April, Doug Hurd of Eagan, Minnesota and his grandson, Drake Castaneda, and I motored upriver to the dam. It was warm and sunny. Although the water was still a bit above normal, the current remained strong. We were fishing deeper water that day. It was tough to get our ¾ oz. jigs to the bottom without the current sweeping them away. We thought we had the anchor set.

We were fishing about twenty minutes when a gust of wind blew Drake’s hat off, riding the current downriver. As Doug pulled the anchor and I started the engine to race after his hat, Drake pulled up on his spinning rod and it was bouncing as a fish pulled back. Doug grabbed the net and a moment later netted a walleye. We measure it and it is too small to keep so we released it. We finally raced after Drake’s hat, scooping it out of the water.

We tried two or three times to get the anchor to hold but were unsuccessful. The anchor kept dragging. Finally, I pulled into a deep hole of about 25 feet of water only a couple of boat lengths from the rocky bank and the anchor finally held.  When it comes to walleye fishing, minor adjustments in bait color, depth, or boat position can mean a difference. We were hoping this would be the case in this spot since the boat was holding so well.

We had lunch and halfway through my sandwich I felt a strike. I dropped the sandwich as I set the hook. The fish put up a good fight but when I get it in the boat, I see it is a mooneye. A lot of folks consider them trash fish, but they put up a good fight and are fun to catch. Shortly thereafter, Drake caught a white bass. It seemed a little early to see white bass. A few minutes later, I get a sharp hit and when setting the hook, it feels like a good fish. Drake scrambles for the net while I get the fish in. It turns out to be 17-inch walleye. I checked to see if it is female and if it was I would release it since she would be full of spawn, but it is a male and goes into the livewell. By the end of the day, our faces are red from the sun and wind but we caught about two dozen fish, keeping seven, two walleyes and five sauger.

Although there are several areas on the Mississippi River north of Red Wing, Minnesota to fish, I normally fish just below the lock and dam several miles north of Red Wing. The lock is on the Minnesota side of the river and the dam is on the Wisconsin side of the river. Between the lock and the dam there is a rocky island. I do not know if the island was always there, or if perhaps the island was man-made while building the dam. I fish the dam side of the river. The current draws fish, but can have its drawbacks if it is too strong to either anchor your boat or get your bait to the bottom. If the current is too strong on the dam side, then I move to the lock side where the current is much slower. However, the fishing is also much slower on the lock side.

The secret to walleye fishing, no matter where you fish, but certainly on the Mississippi River, is to find what depth the fish are at. Since they hug the bottom, it’s important to get and keep your bait there. With the heavy current and high waters usually found in the spring, keeping your bait on the bottom can be a challenge. Many times, where the current is at its strongest, you seldom find bait fish. They just can’t withstand the current. Over the years, I find fishing close to shore works well. The current is not nearly as strong as in the middle of the river, so bait fish will be found there, which attracts bigger fish. It is also easier for our baits to maintain contact with bottom.

The weathermen on television said to expect rain and a couple of days later as I pulled out of my driveway with Doug and Scott Clark, of Hudson, Wisconsin, a light drizzle of rain splattered on the windshield. Motoring upriver to the dam, we anchored in 25 feet of water, about three boat lengths from the rocky bank. Temperatures were in the low 50s and the rain we expected had blown out, leaving light gray clouds, laced with blue skies. Strong winds made it seem colder than it actually was.

It didn’t take long to get the first strike. It was a small walleye that we released. Finally, I felt a harder tap on my line and when setting the hook, felt greater resistance. I pulled in a keeper sauger, which went into the livewell. From there we steadily got strikes.

It was early afternoon when Doug pulled up on his spinning rod and it was bent in half as a fish raced off. Scott dropped his spinning rod to grab the net and a couple of moments later Doug led an 18-inch sauger into the net. It was the biggest fish of the day. Doug reached in, grabbed the fish and pulled it out, but as he did so, we saw it oozing spawn. Doug twisted the hook out, slipping the fish back into the water.

Bigger fish full of spawn, like the one Doug caught, are the future of fishing. They need to be released. There are enough smaller fish to keep for eating. Let the breeders live to eventually replenish the fish we keep today. By the end of the day, we caught about half a dozen bigger fish, all full of spawn, which we released.

Late afternoon I felt a hard hit on my bait, and when I set the hook, I felt a solid weight as the fish took off. I turned the fish, but it kept pulling away, line slicing through the water as it darted off. It felt like a good fish and I yelled for the net. Scott grabbed the net about the time I saw the fish. The flat profile and silvery color identified it as a white bass and I told Scott I guess I didn’t need the net after all. As he dropped the net, he felt a tap and set the hook on a fish as it too raced away. By the time I hoisted my fish into the boat, Doug was netting Scott’s fish, a keeper sauger.

Another hour later we headed back to the landing. We had 11 fish in the livewell, and with the smaller fish, white bass and the bigger breeding stock, we guessed we released and caught over fifty fish.

There are any number of baits which work well for spring walleye fishing. Probably the most popular is simply a jig with a minnow. I use heavy jigs, normally at least ¾ oz. or sometimes a full ounce, so I can get the bait to the bottom. Color is simple. Anything with chartreuse works well. If that color doesn’t work, then I switch to gold. One of those two will always work.

My favorite bait for river fishing is a modification of the old Wolf River Rig. Tied on to a 3-way swivel, I have a foot long leader tied to a heavy jig and another foot and a half long leader tied to a plain hook with three chartreuse beads. Again, chartreuse is the key color.

Especially in the spring when the current can make it tough to fish, another productive bait is a simple bait rig. I use a 3-foot long leader with either a single hook and three chartreuse beads or a Gum-Drop floating jig by Northland. The leader is attached to a swivel. On the swivel, I attach a bell shaped sinker. Generally, I use this rig when my 1 oz. jig isn’t getting to the bottom. I start with a 1½ oz. to 1¾ oz. sinker. If the rig is still not getting to the bottom, then I add more weight. Once I get to three ounces, I stop and find a different place to fish, because that means the current is too strong for either bait fish or game fish to hold in such fast water.

It was late April and the regular fishing season was less than a week away. Scott called, asking if I would be interested in going fishing tomorrow. I told him I didn’t think so since I had some stories for Badger Sportsman to work on. After I hang up, my wife Becky said, “Go fishing. The weather is suppose to be beautiful, can’t you get your stories done later?” I thought about it for a moment, and she was right. I had a chance to go fishing, so why not take it. I called Scott back telling him he is a bad influence on my work ethic and I can go fishing. Scott laughed, telling me he will see me in the morning.

There are light blue skies with no clouds and almost no wind. There are not many fishermen on the water today. As we motor up to the dam, I see two bald eagles perched side by side on a branch. It makes me think of a husband and wife sitting together. We drop anchor and in the next half an hour we catch five different fish; a sheepshead, white bass, walleye, sauger and a mooneye.

We catch a lot of sheepshead, putting up a good fight, which is what fishing is all about anyway. I catch a white bass, which is one of the bigger ones I’ve seen. It was at least three pounds. We pick up the anchor and drift with jigs and minnows, catching a couple of fish. We work back along the bank, flipping blade spoons toward the shore. We are hoping to find white bass. They should be here this time of year, but we haven’t seen them yet in the numbers we normally expect. I flip my spoon against the rocky bank and about halfway back get a solid strike. The fish is fighting hard and I wonder what I have. As I get it closer, I see it is a 3-pound largemouth bass. The first of the year. It felt good to catch it and as I release it, I hope it is a good omen for the bass season starting soon. We go back to our original spot and anchor again.

We are almost out of minnows by the time we head back to the landing. We again caught about 50 fish. It has been a good day of fishing and my last day on the river for spring. In another five days, the bass season opens. It has been good fishing, with lots of great fishing buddies and fun times this early season. A new fishing season awaits me. I am looking forward to it, but I will be back on the Mississippi River in late fall for the last open water fishing of the year.

 

For more articles like this one – click here!

The post Spring on the Mississippi appeared first on Morning Moss.

from
http://morningmoss.com/spring-on-the-mississippi/

Florence County Wisconsin

Florence County

Escape and explore outdoors with family and friends this winter

By: Wendy Gehlhoff

Looking for outdoor winter adventures or a cozy spot to come in from the cold and enjoy great food and great times with friends and family?  Look no further than Florence County, located in northeastern Wisconsin on the border of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Florence County has a population of only 4,500 and 195,193 acres of land under public ownership.  That means over 60% of county land is available to the public giving you endless possibilities for your adventure into the outdoors. With 28 locally-owned restaurants and family-friendly taverns, there is a wide range of food and atmospheres to choose from when you want to relax and refuel after your excitement outdoors.  

If you haven’t heard of Florence County, it may be because it’s so small; after all, there are no stop lights in the whole county.  Perhaps it’s because it isn’t on the main north-south highway routes.  No matter what the reason, now you know about Florence County and it’s time to explore this fantastic place with its friendly people and natural beauty.

Here is just a sampling of activities and events this winter:

Ice Fishing:  With 265 lakes and four major rivers, there are many places to fish.  Ice fishing up north is a social activity aimed at curing cabin fever as well as catching some fish to eat.  The most social form of this activity happens at ice fishing derbies.  For a small entry fee, participants have the chance to win prizes while having fun with family and friends and meeting many new acquaintances.

The Roadhouse 139 Ice Fishing Derby on Long Lake is February 4^th this year.  Long Lake is known for nice northern pike and panfish.  Leff’s Sports Bar is hosting their 6^th Annual Ice Fishing Derby on February 11. This derby allows fishermen to fish on Lake Emily or Keyes Lake.  The Homestead and Aurora Conservation Club sponsor the Pete “Toad” Church Memorial Ice Fishing Derby generally in January, but depending on ice conditions, it has been postponed some years.  Check out the ExploreFlorenceCounty.com events tab for the latest information.  This event is held on the Pine River Flowage known as an excellent smallmouth bass fishery.

Tip-up fishing for northern pike is a relaxing family activity.  Northern pike feed actively throughout the daylight hours, so you don’t have to brave the dark and cold.  And once you get your tip-ups set, you can sit back and watch them, or throw a football, play a game of badminton or snow-golf on the ice.  The best lakes in Florence County to catch northern pike through the ice are; Patten Lake, Twin Falls Flowage, Fay Lake, Seidel Lake and Sea Lion Lake.  If you are looking for a trophy pike, give Lake Ellwood or the Brule River Flowage a try.  There aren’t as many fish per acre in these two lakes, but the fish there are monsters.

If you are looking to jig for panfish, the better waters are the Spread Eagle Chain of Lakes, Sea Lion Lake, Twin Falls Flowage and Halsey Lake.  Or if you prefer walleye, Patten Lake and the Brule River Flowage are the hot spots through the ice.  So call ahead to make sure the ice is thick enough and then pack up your ice fishing gear, shanty or bucket and come join the fun.

Snowmobiles and ATV/UTVs:  Winter is a great time to enjoy rolling hills, miles of rivers and streams, tall pine and hardwood forests as you travel Florence County’s 160 miles of ATV and 180 miles of groomed snowmobile trails.  Many town roads are also open for snowmobile/ATV/UTV access to local businesses.  While traveling the trails, stop for a breathtaking winter picture at a scenic overlook or beautiful frozen waterfall.  ATV enthusiasts can also go off trail through sand dunes and mud at the 17-acre ATV park east of Florence just off Trail 2.  Trail passes and any required registrations are sold at the visitor center on the corner of US 2 and Hwy 70.  The visitor center is located on one of the main ATV/snowmobile trails and offers parking for those wishing to drop their trailers and go.

Florence County trails are known to be the best-groomed trails in the region thanks to the Blue Ox Trail Riders; the local ATV/UTV/Snowmobile club.  The club maintains the trails in Florence County and works hand-in-hand with Florence County, State of Wisconsin, Federal government and private landowners to assure continued availability of the trail system.  The members of the club are all unpaid volunteers and are responsible for grooming, brushing, signing and re-routes as well as all maintenance on the grooming equipment. The club owns and operates four groomers which maintain all of the snowmobile trails in Florence County. There are four trail coordinators that set up their own grooming schedules; so please ride safely and watch out for the groomers.  About 50% of the trail system in Florence County crosses private landowner property. Please respect their property and stay on the trail.  Visit BlueOxTrailRiders.org for more events, trail rides and other information.  Or why not donate $20 to become a single or family club member and support the club’s efforts.

Keyes Peak Hill Climb and Hill Cross:  Snowmobile enthusiasts should mark their calendars for February 11^thand 12^th when the MASTERS Circuit (Mid-America Snow and Terrain Expert Racers) will host the Wisconsin State Championship Snowmobile event at Keyes Peak on Hwy 101.  Saturday, February 11th features the Keyes Peak Snowmobile Hill Climb event.  Multiple divisions covering a variety of snowmobile sizes and styles will be running throughout the day.  The course travels through turns up the triple-X chute on the ski hill.  Until you watch them, you’d bet big money that nothing could climb this hill.  The Hill Cross event follows on Sunday February 12^th.  Viewers will be thrilled watching racers compete against each other on a course of man-made jumps.  A weekend pass costs $10 and kids under 12 get in free.  Gates open at 9 am with competition starting at 10am on both days. Concessions are available in the Keyes Peak Ski Lodge. Proceeds go to the Keyes Peak Ski Hill Committee to improve the hill.  For more info call 906-884-9101 or visit www.MastersRacing.net.

Keyes Peak Winter Recreation Area:   Keyes Peak Ski Hill is open Friday through Sunday and other non-school days.  It offers six downhill ski runs for beginners to experts plus rails and jumps for snowboarders.  New to the hill this year is an extreme skiing triple-X cut-out-run.  Keyes Peak also boasts one of the longest vertical drop tubing runs in the state.  For younger kids or those less adventurous, a beginner’s snow tubing run is located next to the bunny hill.  Keyes Peak is owned and operated by the county so the prices are a great value.  A single season pass is $100 and a family season pass is only $150.  Daily lift tickets range from $8-$12.  Rental equipment is available for a small fee too.

If downhill skiing or tubing isn’t what you are looking for, try snowshoeing the Chickadee Snowshoe trails that start and end near the ski lodge.  The packed trails are suitable for all snowshoe types.  This 2-mile signed trail system winds through tall pines and mixed hardwoods on a gently rolling terrain.  Or make your own route on the many acres of public land adjacent to the ski hill.

The gorgeous Keyes Peak Ski Lodge is constructed from large pine logs harvested from the property.  It offers games and concessions for visitors to warm up and fuel up before their next run.  The lodge is also available to rent for parties and weddings from April-November.  It features a full kitchen, hardwood dance floor, air conditioning and a new outdoor playground set to keep kids entertained.  For more information, contact Florence County Forestry and Parks at 715-528-3207 or during season the lodge number is 715-528-3228.

Family Winter Events at Keyes Peak:

Mike Roberts Memorial Ski Race and Lessons:  On Saturday, January 28 coaches from the Granite Peak Ski Team out of Wausau, WI are offering a ski instruction and ski racing day at Keyes Peak for kids ages 6-17 for only $10 per child.  This fee includes lessons, lift ticket and ski rentals and maxes out at $20 per family.  Thanks to the generous donation of time by these professional ski coaches, this event is the most affordable opportunity to expose your family to the joys of downhill skiing.  From9am until 11:30am coaches guide students in small groups through proper skiing techniques on the slopes. Then from 12:30 until 3pm these students have the option of taking several timed runs through a NASTAR type ski racing course where they will receive times that could qualify them for other racing events. All participants receive a medal and awards are given to the top three male and female finishers in many age categories.  All proceeds go to the Keyes Peak Ski Hill Committee to continue funding this great facility.

Keyes Peak Winterfest:  On Saturday, March 4th enjoy the last days of winter at Keyes Peak.  For only $15/person you and your family and friends can enjoy a whole day of skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snowshoeing and games. The price includes a lift ticket, rental equipment and the chance to take part in many fun activities. The event starts at 11:00 am and the lift ticket is good until the hill closing at 9:00 pm. This is a great family value and is often a warm, sunny day.  Activities include snow carving, snowshoe potato races, human bowling and guided snowshoe hikes on the Chickadee Snowshoe trails.  Make sure to try the fastest tube run in the region.  Helmets are provided.

Keyes Peak Recreational area is not only known for winter recreation.  There is a beach and boat landing on Keyes Lake with a pavilion for family picnics.  It is also home to a 12-hole disc golf course cut into the forest adjacent to the ski runs.  The #7 hole has a spectacular view teeing off from the top of Keyes Peak.  Or you can drive, hike, bike, ATV or snowmobile to the top of Keyes Peak for gorgeous sunsets any time of the year.  The most impressive view is in the fall when the blazing reds, oranges and yellows of Florence County hardwood forests cover the horizon.  Keyes Peak Recreation Area is located on State Highway 101 approximately four miles south of Florence.

Cross Country Ski Trails:  Another silent sport to try is cross country skiing.  Florence County offers three groomed cross country ski trails traveling through scenic forests and terrain.  The medium difficulty 2.5-mile Lake Emily trail is located just south of Keyes Peak Ski Hill on County Highway D.  The more difficult 9-mile Lauterman Lake trail is on Hwy 70 just eight miles west of Florence.  And the relatively flat 7-mile Hall’s Creek Trail is on LaSalle Falls Road north of County Highway C.  The Friends of the Wild Rivers and the US Forest Service host an annual Chili Ski-In event on Saturday, February 4^th.  Attendees to this event from 10am-2pm can ski, snowshoe or hike the short distance into the pavilion to enjoy free chili, hot dogs, hot chocolate, coffee and cookies.  

Winter Waterfalls:  If you love to take photos or need a destination for an adventure, why not snowshoe or ski into one of Florence County’s seven waterfalls on the Pine and Popple Wild Rivers.  These two rivers were designated as official Wild Rivers by the state back in 1965 and thus have remained undeveloped.  The geologically diverse rocky bluffs, evergreens and mixed hardwoods surrounding the rivers make for gorgeous waterfall pictures year round.  Winter can be especially breathtaking due to the frozen ice on the edges of the falls and the wind-whipped snow ridges and hollows.   The Wisconsin Wild Rivers logo signs will guide you to the waterfalls located off Hwy 70, Hwy 101, County Road C and County Road N.  The largest continuous falls is 22-foot LaSalle Falls on County Road C.  The 1-mile hike in is a great workout on snowshoes or cross country skis.

28 Restaurants and Family Friendly Taverns:

Florence County is known for its family friendly bar and grills, casual Northwoods supper clubs and even fine dining that’s affordable and intimate in an elegantly restored early 1900s home.  After a day outdoors, whether ice fishing, snowshoeing to a waterfall or riding the freshly groomed trails on your snowmobile, you can warm up, quench your thirst and enjoy warm hearty food with your travel companions.  If you strike up a conversation, you’ll likely meet some new northern Wisconsin friends during your stay too.  More detailed information about these businesses can be found in the Dining Guide at ExploreFlorenceCounty.com.

Florence County is located on US 2 east of Eagle River and west of Iron Mountain, Michigan. The county’s largest township, Florence, is the county seat and home to the visitor center at the corner of US 2 and Hwy 70. Visit ExploreFlorenceCounty.com  to view a recreation guide, lodging guide and dining guide as well as maps and brochures.   Materials are also available via mail delivery by clicking on the “Contact Us” page to submit a request.

Florence County might be small, but it is loaded with opportunity to escape the crowds and explore the great outdoors, while renewing your spirit and making new friends.  So why not escape, explore and renew in Florence County this winter? Plan your trip at ExploreFlorenceCounty.com or call the visitor center at 888-889-0049.

The post Florence County Wisconsin appeared first on Morning Moss.

from
http://morningmoss.com/florence-county-wisconsin/

Weekly Morning Trail Mix 2-19

Trail Mix

The post Weekly Morning Trail Mix 2-19 appeared first on Morning Moss.

from
http://morningmoss.com/weekly-morning-trail-mix-2-19/