Grouse Hollow Journal for the week of
March 13, 2014 by Greg Koelker
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| I called this one "Waiting on Spring." |
“Spring is nature's way of saying:
Let's Party!” - Robin Williams. Well, after a 21 below start, we
should be on the way to a grand in-like-a-lion routing soirée with
some sweet lamb-like afternoon walks and late afternoon sets on the
porch with cocktails as March begins to slip past its Ides. It is 45
out right now and the roofs are a dripping and dropping icicles, even
on the shady side. Our driveway is still treacherous, and making the
walk up to the shop without a tumble is a triumph of shoe leather
over wet ice. Still, Scout and Gypsy are soaking up the sun on the
patio. Ellen has some pussy willow buds opening in a mason jar in
the kitchen and we have heard rumors of robins at bird feeders. So
what does someone who is really, really tired of this winter such as
myself do on a warmer weekend like this? Go ice fishing of course.
Actually, Pat texted me that he was
coming over from Oshkosh to fish with Eli, John and Tony, so I
checked in with them on Saturday morning. Eli said they had 20 fish
in the bucket and were planning on fishing all day, so after Scout
and I made our weekly trek to the dump, I loaded up some poles and
ice gear and headed up to French Island to join in the party. When I
got there the boys had just finished eating some grilled brats (they
said I just missed the brats, but Ellen had served homemade southwest
chicken and barley soup at home - so I was good.) We caught up a bit
and then we fished. At first I didn't do so well. I tried drilling
a hole with my electric drill powered Nils auger, but the auger was
too short to punch through - it is three feet long by the way. I
used Eli's gas auger to drill a hole closer to them and he gave me a
tiny fire-tiger jig that they had been using. I immediately began to
catch bluegills. We talked deer hunting and fishing, joked around,
and caught fish. The sun felt good, the northerly breeze less so.
When I finally pulled the plug, I had ten keepers on the ice. These
were the first fish I had kept all winter as we still had some perch
and bluegills filets in the freezer from the fall. The edge of the
ice at the landing looked pretty sketchy with slushy water in deep
ruts as I approached the ramp. I locked in the four-wheel drive and
gave her the gas. It was bouncy, but no problem.
Until next time - get out, we are
having a fish fry with our friends Bob and Rox this evening as a
prelude to the Badger game. I guess it is time to remind you that
fishing licenses expire at the end of this month and that the 2014
Vernon County Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Annual Spring
Fish and Wildlife Public Hearing and Wisconsin Conservation Congress
Annual Spring County Conservation Meeting will be on Monday, April 14
at the Viroqua High School Commons. After reading the handout I got
at the Wisconsin Bowhunter's Association Convention, I think the most
interesting item will be the Deer Herd Status Update and New Rules
for 2014. It says that wildlife management will provide information
and answer questions from the public regarding the implementation of
the new deer hunting rules. Make a list of questions and bring 'em.
Danged Badgers. Enjoy.
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