Grouse Hollow Journal: Grouse Hollow Journal for April 2, 2015 by Greg Koelker

On Saturday morning, I opened one eye and as it focused on the digital red numbers across the room, I could see it was almost time to get up. Uff da. The bed was warm and I could feel the air outside the covers was not. I eventually crawled over the side and got dressed in the bathroom to try and let Ellen rest a little longer. The kitchen thermometer showed 15 when I first dared to look at it. By the time I had coffee going, El was dressed and downstairs, filling my coffee travel mug with hot water to warm it up a bit. I wasn't there long. I had hooked up the boat trailer the afternoon before and had my warm weather clothes loaded in the back of the truck. I had to get on some boots, a vest, coat, and some gloves and not forget the bucket of minnows I had aerating in the basement. Ellen handed me my thermos and mug of coffee and wished me luck. Outside I could see that the Ranger and Queen were covered with frost in the first of the early morning light. I heard a turkey gobble and then another before the ignition key dinger broke the silence and then the Ford six banger roared to life and ESPN came bouncing over the air waves into the cab.

In south La Crosse, I grabbed a Kwik Trip breakfast sandwich and headed north to the Dresbach Dam boat landing. I was just pulling my coveralls on when I got a blast of jazz guitar out of my phone. It was Eli Jackson, one of our bowhunter friends, and one of my partners in crime for the day. He was running late and would be there in 20. The landing was open, so I thought I'd just launch the Mississippi Queen myself and tie it off before he got there. (I know, I know. From past experience, those of you who know me, know this was a bad idea.) Anyway, by the time I had the boat and trailer out in the water, I was just starting to realize a bad feeling down deep inside. All the elements for a landing launch disaster were in place. There was an audience - fifteen people standing on the south dock, decked out in cold weather gear with fishing poles, tackle boxes, coolers, backpacks, and such. They were lining up to catch a ride out to the “Best Dam Fishing Float” - this is the float's real business name. There was ice. The cement launch was covered with water covered ice. I slipped and slid to the back of the truck. Still I muddled on. I could see a pontoon boat headed our way as I unhooked the Queen and tried to roll her off the trailer. Of course there was trouble; I should have known what with an audience to take it all in. The boat rolled into the water until the weight of the engine and batteries caused it to tip down, sticking the skag and prop into the shallow water at the landing. I had to slip up the ramp to the dock and climb into the boat, reaching over some two feet of water to step onto a frosty deck. I made it. I tried tilting the engine up, but it was a no go. I had to climb back out on the dock, and tip toe through the cold water behind the pickup to the trailer and then wire walk the trailer tongue out to the boat to hook up the tow strap and then wire walk back to the winch and crank the boat back up on the trailer. After I had it hooked back up and the safety chain in place, I managed to work my way back up the side of the truck to the cab. The tires spun at first even in four-wheel drive, but I pulled out and drove up to the parking lot to await Eli only a little embarrassed. Sorry, that was it - no falls or broken stuff or wet feet. Eli and I were able to launch without incident with the engine on tilt.

Eli has been fishing at Dresbach quite a bit this spring, so he was the guide. By now, it was almost full light and there was a crisp breeze from the south. We started our first drift with minnows pinned on purple hair jigs with trailer hooks. Within the first thirty seconds, Eli had a good fish on. This was such a surprise that the dip net was still collapsed and tied down to the floor under his seat. He had to fight the fish and release the velcro strap so I could uncollapse it and get the net in the water. In a moment I was able to net our first walleye of the day, a fat 22-incher. After a picture, I was able to get my own bait back in the water. We both hooked smaller walleyes and some decent saugers and then a perch or two. Eli also hooked a small northern pike and a sucker. We drifted south using the electric trolling motor to help the current against a persistent south wind that was becoming more biting as time passed. At times the sun was warm, but that wind, well, it was windy.

Around ten, we motored over to the landing to pick up Pat Kolbe who was rolling in fresh from the Wisconsin Football Coaches Convention in Madison. (He is a teacher and coach at North Fon du Lac High School.) Eli had to get out to go to work to clean up some business. I tried to back out of the landing to wait for Pat, not realizing that there is only so much of a channel deep enough for navigation at that landing. Of course, I got stuck in the muck for a bit. After pulling the motor up again, I was able to drift off the sand bar and then motor out a ways to fish and wait for Pat. I had just dropped my jig in the drink when I had a hard hit! I set the hook and whatever I had had me! Then I noticed a guy in the back of a boat twenty yards to the north of me frantically reeling line up through his totally bent over rod. You guessed it; he had me or should I say we had each other. I realized it first, so I opened my bail and let him take the bait so to speak. The other guy was obviously deflated when he thought the big one got away (I guarantee I would have been the biggest catch of the day at Dresbach if they had a net that big) and his boat mates all had a good laugh when he reeled in our jigs. He was kind enough to untangle us and toss my jig back without cutting it off, but not before a guy in a flatbottom cut through between us and I was back in business so to speak, caught again. He never realized it, and I realized I was losing line like crazy to I tried to stop it. When the 8-pound test finally broke it came zinging back in the boat and actually cut the back of my hand! I wonder what he'll think after he finds all my line wrapped up in his prop. Anyway, by now Pat was on the dock and we headed back out to drift and fish.

It happened again. We hadn't started to drift for a minute and Pat hooked a dandy legal walleye using a purple hair jig with a purple and orange plastic ringworm - without live bait. I kept catching small ones and a sauger or perch here and there. We picked Eli back up around 11 and we kept the jigs a jigging, catching a few fish and catching up with each other's worlds and such. Pat is a new dad, the proud papa of a baby girl. Eli is just back from a camping and hiking trip in the Ozarks that served as a scouting and training mission for taking students there this summer. You all know what's up and such in my world I guess.

We eventually decided to anchor and fish for perch. We used slip sinkers and small hooks with a chunk of night crawler and slowly bounced them along the bottom near the shore. We caught 'em too. I guess we had maybe 20 slabbers when we finally decided to go back to the trucks and grill some Stoneridge Jalapeno and Cheddar brats while being entertained by Jax, Eli's pointer who was joyful to be liberated from his kennel. Pat dropped a piece of brat and tossed the sandy treat into the water. The ever alert Jax made a shivery retrieve - for himself.

We drifted another hour or so, but things were pretty quiet so we hauled out - again without incident and head back to the ranch to clean our fish. Ellen had been preparing a dinner for us. She had her Badger shirt on and the island in the kitchen was covered with cheese, almonds, crackers, and the fixings for some adult beverages. With three people fileting fish, we had an ice cream pail full to the top with filets in a matter of minutes. We went in to watch the Badgers and Arizona. How about them Badgers? After the game, we celebrated with a Wisconsin Surf and Turf supper of Ellen's homemade cashew and craisin salad, garlic mashed potatoes, Eli's grilled marinated venison steaks, and my fried fresh fish. Ellen topped off our feast with some homemade apple crisp and ice cream for dessert while we watched the Kentucky/Notre Dame game. Good friends, good fishing, good food. It don't get no better.

Until next time, get out - while gas prices are still almost reasonable, I recommend a drive in the country at dusk until sunset. You may be rewarded by seeing some huge herds of deer feeding in the fields. Have a nice holiday weekend. Enjoy.