Weather helps hunting and fishing

By Bill Bartusek

Summer-like weather greeted anglers and hunters alike this past weekend. Temperatures in the 80's had outdoorsman looking for shorts and T-shirts by early afternoon each day. It was a bit windy on the lakes but the warm weather made it bearable. In most areas the fish cooperated. On our lake up north we had to deal with rising waters from the week before. The fish relocated but were still willing to bite. Again, the bass and pike were located near the greenest weeds. The walleye were not very far from them.

Spinnerbaits accounted for the bass and bobbers and leeches put the walleye in the cooler. Panfish were also active and they continue to move into shallow water.

The squirrel season also opened Saturday and those I talked to, did well. There were a lot of leaves on the trees but there are lots of squirrels. The patient hunters that sat and watched were the most successful. The squirrel population is up because the oak trees are loaded with acorns this year. Just find some oak trees and sit down and wait. It won't be long before a bushy tail shows up.

There were a lot of gun shots Saturday morning. That's because it was the annual youth duck hunting day. Kids under 16 years of age were allowed to hunt with a licensed adult attending. By the number of gun shots there were a lot of ducks or a lot missed.

People were also busy pulling in their docks and lifts. It won't be long and the lakes will be quiet again until hard water comes. Me, I'll be out there enjoying the fishing and solitude until the snowflakes fly.

Next Saturday is the regular Minnesota duck season debut. Are their lots of ducks? Depends on who you talk to.