Outdoors

It’s an old bridge, on a not too worn path. On the bridge itself it says, use at your own risk. Many don’t.
The sign, just the small metal placard, if it’s any indicator, has plenty of bullet holes through it. One bent corner and splotchy blotches where paint over the years has been chipped off by Lord only knows what.
Today along its extremely thin length it’s frosted in snow, one gorgeous dump of a hump in the middle of the bridge all plumped up and its oozing out of the rusted rails almost, but not quite leaking, and I think with one warm day or a stout wind, those unsupported snowy outcroppings are bound to go down.
Down below, in a narrow ravine, the serpentine stream’s course is totally snow covered with rounded bends as it wends its way out of my eyesight.

WHAT:
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Alexander Birdsall will be out on Lake Waconia reminding anglers about the upcoming deadline to remove their ice fishing shelters. In addition, he will remind them to do their part in keeping lakes clean by picking up trash, even if it doesn’t belong to them, and provide tips for removing shelters in light of the record-setting snow during February.

In the southern two-thirds of the state, structures must be off lakes by the end of the day Monday, March 4. For structures on lakes in the northern third of the state, the deadline is by the end of the day Monday, March 18.

WHEN:
Thursday, Feb. 28, 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:
In Towne Marina on Lake Waconia – 8 East Lake Street, Waconia, MN 55387.

WINNER of the Ely-Winton Rod & Gun Club fishing contest was Sam Kaderlik who took home $300 last Saturday with 5.3 lb. northern. Photo by Hailey Worth.

District 5 - Eveleth area

by M. McKinnon
Reprinted with permission from Atikokan Progress, Atikokan, Canada

DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen named current Assistant Commissioner Barb Naramore as deputy DNR commissioner.

Since 2013, Naramore has overseen three divisions (Ecological and Water Resources, Forestry, and Lands and Minerals) and worked frequently with other divisions on interdisciplinary efforts. Prior to joining the DNR, Naramore was executive director of the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association, where she worked with five states, federal agencies, and stakeholder groups on river-related programs and policies, including a groundbreaking aquatic ecosystem restoration and monitoring program.

“Barb has a passion for the full breadth of DNR’s work and understands its importance in the lives of all Minnesotans,” said Strommen. “As deputy, Barb will work closely with me on DNR’s strategic direction, building partnerships with external stakeholders, and fostering our efforts to connect all Minnesotans to the outdoors.”

by Tom Coombe -

Zach Norlander, Winton, MN caught this beautiful northern pike using a sucker minnow for bait, and jigged up some dandy sunnies while he was at it.

District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Shane Zavodnik (International Falls #2) spent time working ATV, snowmobile and angling enforcement. Ice conditions seem to be on the rebound after the warm spell from the previous week. Snowmobile trails are OK, but snow is definitely needed. With decreased flow on the Rainy River, anglers have begun to pull permanent ice houses out between Clementson and Frontier. Reports of good fishing were heard on the ice as well as higher up the river where anglers were still open-water shore-fishing. Time was also spent checking anglers on Upper Red Lake. Success seemed to vary from house to house with reports of smaller walleyes and perch being caught.

Mistletoed…to perfection
Mother nature in our natural yard has truly outdone herself with a splendor this year, we have not seen in years past.
Take your pick - Star filled nights shimmering white-bright for a crisp mistletoe or wake to the richness in tiny hoar frost diamonds glinting in sunlit-studded mornings off frozen cattail fronds.
And, in between a morning or an evening for snow cover, we have the dappled powder sugar snows on a frequent basis, sometimes frosting pine bough branches with a thin silvery garland of flakes. Simply wonderful.
If she could decorate a deciduous tree with any more ornaments, I’m not sure it’s possible with what she has done to an ornamental crab tree that is resplendent with frozen translucent mini red, edible bulbs, that the living decorations in pine grosbeaks feast on from pre-frosted sunrises until the softest snow flaked, sky pink flecked, sunsets.