It was a busy weekend in the outdoors for me with events in both Madison and Sauk Prairie. The Yahara Fishing club did it’s normal fantastic job with their annual “Kids Ice Fishing Day” at Monona Bay and Brittingham Park. This club is constantly doing something for getting younger children into the outdoors fishing. I keep harping about the loss of us “babyboomers” in the outdoor world and this club is trying to get more children into the outdoors which is so important these days.

      I think Jiffy Pro Duffy Kopf and Jim Kloth were out before light drilling holes in the ice for the kids. There was a good turn-out on this cool, but nice day. There were 300 rod/reel combos to give away, free bait, and a hot lunch. Plus, the small bluegills were active and many children caught their first fish. The recent colder weather helped make the ice “safe”, so there were no problems. Think about joining this great grooup of anglers and sportsmen and women who constantly are helping the area’s young. www.yaharafishingclub.org

       From the Kid’s Ice Fishing event. I had to drive back up north to Sauk Prairie where they were having “Bald Eagle Watching Day” and I had to help at the Eagle Overlook answering questions, adjusting spotting scopes, and helping people see the Wisconsin River’s winter eagle population. This was the 25th Eagle Days in Sauk Prairie. There has been a good number of eagles in the area all winter, but they’ve been scattered with the open ground and warm temperatures. The recent snow and cold brought a good number of eagles back to the immediate area below the Prairie du Sac Dam and the Lower Wisconsin River this past week just in time for Eagle Days.  

    The whole weekend went well with the Raptor Show at the River Arts Center with live hawks, owls, and falcons. There was the DNR with its children’s activities, bus tours to viewing locations, and lectures. Best of all there were plenty of eagles for people to see and enjoy. There was something for the whole family! marge Gibson from the Raptor Education Group was there releasing 2 rehabilitated eagles to the delight of the big crowd. I got some good pictures of these events and I will be putting them on my FLickR website soon and I’ll let you know. A great weekend in the Wisconsin outdoors.