We didn’t get a lull between seasons...

There is usually a lull between fall and when the first snowfall actually arrives. Last year we didn’t really have a significant amount of snow. That made it easy on the back and I only had to fire up the old snowblower a couple of times. I did get my boat put away in storage last week, which is always a semi-sweet time, but it had to happen eventually. I guess that the kid in me is always thinking that there could be one more opportunity to get on the lake for that one more cast. The way that my boat motor was running this fall, I could consider putting it away a blessing in disguise.

 

I can recall when my grandson, Trevor, was a kid and we would be on the lake fishing. I would ask if he was ready to move and his answer was always the same: “Just one more cast, Grandpa.” That’s probably why he is the fisherman that he is today.

 

When I was going through some old pictures, I came across some pictures from quite a few years ago. Those pictures were taken after a fresh snowfall where our cabin is. These pictures gave me a warm feeling when I looked at them. Maybe it is because a fresh snowfall gives me that feeling; that is until I begin to think about having to shovel that warm feeling.

 

Years ago, before we had our cabin, I would start planning my next vacation after the first of the year. All winter I daydreamed about the upcoming spring thaw and the summer that would follow. I worked at Wilson’s packing house in Albert Lea and my seniority made it hard to get a prime week. A friend, Tom Guiney, told me that he never went anywhere on vacation, so he would sign up for the week that I wanted and then cancel it so I could get that week. If you canceled a week, it was first come to claim the week. I thought that it was really nice that he would do that.

 

It looks like the weather will be changing to more winter-like conditions this week. I am at a stage of life where I don’t feel that I need any more fishing lures. I may be kidding myself, but I will see how the winter treats me. Last fall while fishing with my son, Brad and his son, my grandson, Dylan, I began looking through my tackle boxes, and I realized that I have many lures that have not seen the water. This reality check made me realize something that my wife has known for some time: I don’t need any more lures. I will have to bring myself to try and go through a fishing season without buying another lure. If my memory serves me, I believe that I have written similar words a few other times. This time I am going to stay away from my usual watering holes like Cabela’s and Fleet Farm. I’d guess that would make me a fishing lure addict. My kids and grandkids will have fun going through my tackle and picking out lures. I don’t believe that anyone has ever left a fishing lure to someone in their will.

 

Until next time: Deer harvest numbers available online: People who are interested in deer harvest data can find current harvest data and past harvest reports on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ deer reports and statistics webpage. The page also features an interactive map and graph that visualize the data.

 

In Minnesota, archery deer season began on Sept. 14 and continues through Tuesday, Dec. 31. Firearms “A” deer season began Saturday, Nov. 9, with various closing dates depending on a hunter’s Deer Permit Area. Muzzleloader season begins Saturday, Nov. 30, and continues through Sunday, Dec. 15.

 

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