Archive for the 'Doves' Category

Article about FLOW Member Jean Clausen, the 93 Year-Old Bird Lady

gengberg October 24th, 2008

Click the link to read a great article about my friend and mentor; a River Champion and FLOW member: Jean Clausen

http://www.lodienews.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=52&ArticleID=465&TM=79887.27

She was one of the organizers of the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council and an expert on Wisconsin’s birds.

Outdoor Horizons Radio 10-11-08

gengberg October 13th, 2008

This week on Outdoor Horizons, Tony, Wally, and Gary give the local fishing report on area waters for walleyes, saugers, muskies, and panfish. They give their normal fishing tips, hunting tips, and outdoor info. They can be listened to live saturdays at 8:00 AM on WTDY 1670 AM in the Madison area or on line at wtdy.com.

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Local Column River Currents 9-29-08

gengberg September 29th, 2008


Last week, the temperature soared to over 80 degrees in southern Wisconsin. Since the official beginning of fall over a week ago, our temperatures have been anywhere from 10 to 15 degrees above normal. We experienced a little “Indian Summer” weather which had many people out on the area lakes and rivers enjoying one of the last “warm” weekends of the year.
Lake Wisconsin and the Lower Wisconsin River were both busy with anglers out looking for anything that bites and others out enjoying one of the years last weekends in their pleasure boats. The boat landings were crowded on Saturday with fishermen and boaters out for a last fling on the water before putting their boats away for the season. The Lower Wisconsin River also had a good number of people out canoeing, kayaking, and fishing despite the low water level.
Fishing has been inconsistent the last few weeks with the warm temperatures and summer-like conditions. But, fishing will change for the better as the water and weather cools as we get into fall. All fish species now know that winter is coming by the shorter days and diminishing amount of daylight that we are experiencing as we get into the months of October and November. Fish realize that they must go on a feeding binge to bulk up their bodies for the cold of winter when their metabolism and feeding activity drastically slows down. This is why October and November are such good months to fish because all fish are following their instincts and feeding heavily. The fall is also a great time to fish for trophy fish because they are active, aggressive, and often in predictable locations.
The largest muskies, bass, and walleyes of the year are usually caught in the fall before the ice-up on our lakes. If you are a serious fisherman or women, then this is your time of the year. Don’t put your boat away yet because there are many weeks of good fishing left before freeze-up. The one important thing to remember once temperatures cool below freezing at night is to make sure that you drain your boats lower unit every time you pull your boat out of the water. I also suggest that you add an additive, like Stabil Marine, to your boat’s gasoline tank. This prevents your fuel from breaking down and causing problems now or in the spring after a winter of storage. Continue Reading »

Local Column River Currents 9-15-08

gengberg September 17th, 2008


   The lake sturgeon hook and line season which opened September 6 is off to a slow start. This past weekend, I checked the local registration stations and didn’t find any legal fish registered this season. This fall, the lake sturgeon season has been shortened by about two weeks on the Wisconsin River, Lake Wisconsin, and the Lower Wisconsin River due to the over-harvest of mature females below the dams at Wisconsin Dells and Prairie du Sac. The minimum size for this prehistoric fish is now 60 inches which is a compromise between the previous size minimum of 50 and 70 inches. Previously, the size minimum alternated between the two size minimums every other year.

Lake sturgeon are a slow-growing and late maturing fish that doesn’t mature and spawn till they are 20 to 25 years old. Then, the fish only spawn every three to five years. Wisconsin is one of the few states that has a natural reproducing lake sturgeon population that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources monitors and closely regulates. The Lake Winnebago system has a large sturgeon population, but these waters don’t have a hook and line season. The Winnebago season has a very popular spearing season during the winter that attracts thousands of spearers. The other state locations that have a hook and line season for lake sturgeon are portions of the Chippewa River, Flambeau River, Jump River, and the Yellow River all in northern Wisconsin.

Usually, the number of sturgeon anglers coming to this area has the VFW camping area and parking below the Prairie Dam lot jammed with vehicles with a vast majority of them are from Illinois and surrounding states. The lake sturgeon is a delicacy to many people from Eastern Europe and Russia who have settled in Chicago, Milwaukee, and other metro areas. The most prized part of the sturgeon is the caviar, but anglers tell me that the meat is also good for eating particularly if smoked. I’ve watched the influx of sturgeon fishermen for decades and this year there seems to be a sizeable decline in the number of anglers in town to fish for sturgeon. The sturgeon anglers coming to this area spend a sizeable amount of money on food, gas, motels, bait, equipment, and licenses that help the local economy. So, why are we having this downturn or decrease in visitors? Continue Reading »

Outdoor Horizons Radio 9-13-08

gengberg September 16th, 2008

Besides the normal fishing and hunting information, Wally and Gary have  interviews with Brad Wagner of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association and Bob Nack, the Director of the State Game Farm in Poynette, Wisconsin. Gary was at the “Pheasant Field Day”at the MacKenize Environmental Education Center where most of the state’s stocked pheasants are raised. Bob and Gary talk about the stocking for this year, the history of pheasants in Wisconsin, and wild bird prospects for this year.

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Outdoor Horizons Radio 9-5-08

gengberg September 12th, 2008

This is the Outdoor Horizons radio show from 9-6-08. The show can be heard live on Saturdays mornings at 8:00 AM on WTDY 1670 AM if you’re within a 75 mile radius of Madison, Wisconsin. the shows are also archived on wtdy.com and this web site.

This week’s show features an interview that I did with great Lakes Captain Andy Carrao of We’ll Sea Charters out of Kenosha, Wisconsin and Simmons Marina. Andy has been a Captain for going on 20 years and really knows his stuff. I went out with Andy on Labor Day and did this interview while fishing Lake Michigan for Kings and cohos. I would highly recommend Andy, if you’re looking for a good, quality charter! Be sure to listen to this interview.

Plus the normal fishing reports, hunting openings, and outdoor tips from Gary, Wally, and Tony your outdoor professionals.

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The Northwoods Report by Naomi Shapiro 9-7-08

gengberg September 8th, 2008

As of September 8, 2008:Fishing, Outdoor, and Event Reports for Eagle River, Wisconsin,
Wausau/Central Wisconsin area; Lake of the Woods and Rainy River out of
Sportsman’s Lodge (Baudette, Minnesota).

1. THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES:

– Excellent walleye bite continues, with limits of eaters, and some
trophies going to 29 inches plus being caught and released on the south end
of Lake of the Woods, out of Sportsman’s Lodge.

– Northern, crappies, bluegills hitting best, with a good to average bite
for walleye, decent smallmouth and largemouth action, and musky slow, in the
Eagle River, Wisconsin area.

– Great fall season bite for walleye, smallies and musky, with hunters
gearing up for bear, turkey and deer seasons in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin
area.

- - EDITOR’S NOTE: Information for all upcoming Wisconsin hunting and
trapping seasons is posted at the end of these reports, with gracious thanks
to guide Phil Schweik of Hooksetters Fishing & Hunting Guide Services,
Mosinee, for providing the excellent information.
—–

2. WEEKLY OUTDOOR AND FISHING REPORTS, and current calendars:

***Eagle River, Wis. (VILAS COUNTY) — as of September 8, 2008:

(Head): Northern, crappies and bluegills hitting best, with a good to
average bite for walleye, decent smallmouth and largemouth action, and musky
slow, in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.

Northern are hitting strong, but the action can be sporadic, in the Eagle
River area. Fish anywhere in, around and over the weeds in 3 to 8 feet of
water. Best action coming on spinner baits.

Good bite for big crappies in the Eagle River area. The crappie are
suspending at various depths, depending on the lake. As an example, in 40
feet of water, the crappie will suspend between 15 and 18 feet, so anglers
are moving up and down the water column, starting at the bottom and coming
up, until they find the schools. Best baits have been minnows and a variety
of Berkley Gulp.

There’s plenty of action for smaller bluegills in the Eagle River area. The
gills are locating in shallow weeds in the evening, and during the day will
be found over brush piles in 15 to 20 feet of water. Berkley imitation pink
waxworms, or minnows are both working.

Walleye action is average to pretty-good in the Eagle River area, albeit
most of what’s being caught is on the smaller size. The walleye are
locating in 20 to 23 feet of water, with weeds a big plus. Anglers are
either jigging with a minnow right on the bottom, or “free hooking” the
minnow in the back, with a weight attached, allowing the minnow to swim
around about 14 inches off the bottom. Early morning or evening hours are
the best times.

Smallies are providing a decent bite in deep water in the Eagle River area.
Fish deep rock and gravel bars. Artificial worms and bigger minnows are
working, with early morning and late in the evening providing the best
action.

Largemouth are doing OK in the shallower weeds in the Eagle River area.
Fish 2 to 8 feet, and use a wacky rigged plastic worm, dragging it along or
on top of the weeds, or jig with a minnow just as you would for a walleye.
The Eagle River Chain of 28 lakes (largest freshwater chain of lakes in the
world) is providing some nice action.

Musky in the Eagle River area are slow. In the early morning and evening,
the musky are locating in shallow weeds. During the day, the fish are in
deep weeds which come up to 2 to 4 feet under the surfaced. Action during
the day coming on slow rolling a bucktail over the top of the weeds. Early
morning or evenings, topwaters or a small spinner bait worked slowly will
work. On the Three Lakes Chain, a front spinner Thunderhead topwater, in
pink with black dots has been producing pretty well.

(Report for the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce based on Creative Continue Reading »

Local Column River Currents 9-8-08

gengberg September 8th, 2008

     This past weekend was a typical fall weekend with many things to do and not enough time to do them all. I had three separate events that I wanted to cover and do some filming for the up and coming outdoor show that I’ve been working on for a couple of years. I have a graduate student, Daniel Robinson, from the UW who is doing my videography and editing. Daniel met me at my rural home early Saturday morning and we proceeded to Bill Medding’s property between Black Earth and Cross Plains. Bill has been generous in offering his property for the third annual “Women in the Outdoors” program which was why Daniel and I were at his property.

Nationally, the National Wild Turkey Federation is the sponsor for the Women in the Outdoors events starting the introductory program for women some years ago. The Black Earth Creek Longbeards is the local NWTF chapter that sponsored and provided volunteers for this event. This was the third year that the local chapter has had a women’s event. This year, there were 43 women who registered with some women coming from as far away as Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire, Wisconsin to participate.

The local event started at 8:00 AM and lasted to 4:00 PM. The $40.00 registration fee covered the lunch (a turkey cooked in a garbage can by Terry Welsh of the Glacier Valley Chapter), use of all equipment, ammunition, program materials, a gift bag, access to a silent auction and raffle, and a 1-year subscription to the Women in the Outdoors Magazine. The women were asked to rank the activities offered from 1 through 9 with one being the first choice. The class preference was based on a first come basis by the date of registration receipt. Continue Reading »

Local Column River Currents 9-1-08

gengberg September 4th, 2008

     Last week, I wrote about the many different hunting and fishing seasons that are opening in September. The Early September Canada Goose season and the dove season both open with promising outlooks on September 1st. The hook and line lake sturgeon season opens on September 6th on the Wisconsin River from below the dam at Wisconsin Dells to and below the dam at Prairie du Sac. This includes all of Lake Wisconsin and all of the river’s waters downstream from the Dells Dam    This year, due to over-harvesting below both dams, has resulted in a shorter season that closes September 30th with a minimum size of 60 inches for these prehistoric fish. The limit is 1 lake sturgeon per season. Check last week’s column for more sturgeon fishing suggestions, dove tactics, and tips for the Early Canada Goose season. Continue Reading »

Outdoor Horizons Radio 8-30-08

gengberg September 3rd, 2008

Wally, Tony, and Gary give their weekly fishing report and Wally talks about the “Muskie Train” and their trip to Steve Herbeck’s Andy Myers Lodge on Ontario’s Eagle Lake in search of 50 inch muskies.

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