Good-Bye 2010

I’m sure many will be glad to see 2010 over. It was a year that many struggled with bills and finances. Those who live in big cities worry about just putting food on the table, but those of us who live in this part of the world can go down to the Wisconsin river or one of the river bottom sloughs and catch supper almost any day of the year.

If you’re a hunter, you can fill your freezer with game in the fall and feast for a long time on your stored up meat. If you spent enough time hunting squirrels, ducks, geese, turkeys, deer and rabbits you’d be surprised at how much game you could amass. And it’s good food, fresh, wholesome and best of all….free.

We’re lucky to live in a place where there is such bounty. And no matter what the economy is doing, there is always something to draw you to the woods or waters that you can take home and feed your family with.

I hope the new year is better for everyone. But even if it isn’t, you can be glad that you live in such a beautiful part of the world where you can feed yourself with the bounty of Mother Nature. Happy New Year to all. Best of luck in 2011.

post by: Dan Bomkamp

Our Christmas Cat

Everyone who knows me knows that I’ve been a Golden Retriever lover for over 40 years. I’ve had dogs my whole life but never a cat. That changed this spring.

Last fall there was a stray cat hanging around my birdfeeders and I felt sorry for her. So, I started feeding her. She stayed around and this spring she showed up one day with a tiny gray tiger kitten. As the kitten grew it became more and more friendly and soon it was following us into the house. The mother still allows me to feed her but won’t let me touch her.

Eventually the kitten became Tigger and moved in. I quickly changed my mind on cats. The dang thing is more darn fun. My old golden Kate even gets along with her.

Saturday we decided to put up the Christmas tree. We were stringing lights when the tree began to shake and rock back and forth and there was Tigger climbing up the center of it. We kept decorating and removed Tigger from the tree and finally finished.

Within half an hour, Tigger had managed to remove every ornament between the floor and the first three feet of the tree. Most were broken and some just batted around until they ended up under something where she left them alone. Then she began scaling the tree again to get the rest of them.

We decided to have a minimalist tree this year. All it has on it is an angel at the very top, and a cat that lounges in the branches at mid-tree. She keeps trying to get up high enough to get the angel but for now, she hasn’t succeeded. I’m not giving odds on the safety of the angel though. Actually the tree looks kind of nice au natural and Tigger seems very happy with her new jungle gym.

Merry Christmas

post by: Dan Bomkamp

Are Your Animals Safe?

When the temperatures drop into the -20 range like they did earlier this week you have to think about the comfort and safety of your outdoor animals. Many people have dogs that live outside all year. They need a good warm house to get inside on these cold nights. One mistake that many make is to get a dog house that is too large. The house should be just large enough for the dog to get in, turn around and curl up. A heavy flap on the door is also a good idea to keep out the cold wind. You need to provide good clean dry bedding for them too.

Dogs need extra food during the cold winter too. They should be fed half again as much as usual and need clean water at least once a day. Better yet, if you can feed them twice a day and water them it’s even better. They need a lot of food to create body heat to keep them warm.

On those really cold nights when it gets to -20 or so, bring them inside. Even a garage or basement will be a big improvement over staying out in the cold outdoors. These animals depend on you to keep them safe and sound. If you see someone neglecting their animals, don’t just overlook it either. Call the Humane Society or Sheriff and see to it they get some care. They can’t do it for themselves, they need our help.

post by: Dan Bomkamp

Don't Forget The Birds

If you’re one of those who enjoys feeding the birds, now is not the time to let your feeders go empty. This deep snow and harsh weather will be hard on our little friends and they will depend on you even more than usual. And of course if you feed birds you probably feed squirrels too, whether you want to or not.

I feed about 1,000 pounds of bird seed each year. I’ve been doing it for years and enjoy it immensely. I gave up on trying to keep the squirrels out of my feeders years ago and just bought a few more feeders so there’s room for everybody.

With the freezing rain and snow I found my feeders in bad shape Sunday morning. Of course they were all empty and covered with ice and snow to the point that I had to take a screwdriver to chip them free so the seed would come out. I wasn’t three feet away from them and the birds began flying to them. It’s amazing how many will come on a day like that.

Birds and squirrels have been around for many years and most likely would get along without us feeding them, but it gives me a lot of satisfaction to see them all clustered around my feeders enjoying themselves and getting enough nutrition to stay alive for another day. I even enjoy watching the squirrels fight and scrap over feeder rights.

If you don’t feed birds you might want to give it a try. If you know someone who doesn’t and they’re on your Christmas list, a birdfeeder and a bag of seed would make a gift that would give them a lot of enjoyment.

post by: Dan Bomkamp

Early Ice Fishing Favorites

For years I used to drive to the Mississippi River every weekend to go ice fishing. Many times my friends and I came home with a pail full of fish, and many times we came home with very few fish. After a while I decided to try fishing the local river bottoms and was pleasantly surprised. There are lots of fish right here and I don’t have to drive an hour to fish for them.

Wisconsin River Ice Fishing
In the early days we caught many fish and most were too small to keep. But then more and more people began fishing here as the gas prices rose and soon a Saturday would have 30 fishermen on Gutweilers or Puffenrots. Those increased numbers of fishermen took out more fish and in a few years the size began to increase. The smaller numbers of fish left behind had more food and grew bigger faster.

There are sloughs from Spring Green to Boscobel and every one of them has fish in them. Of course some are better than others but they are all worth exploring. Crusin Slough is near Lone Rock and always a favorite. It has some good bluegill fishing and plenty of northerns.

Avoca lake is the only slough in the area that has not only bluegills, perch, crappies, northerns and bass, but it also has an occasional walleye in it. Avoca is right off the river and in times of high water, a few walleyes stray in and stay there.

The best early slough in the Muscoda area is Postels, or The Camp as it is known locally. It’s located about 3 miles west of Muscoda and always an early favorite. It produces nice bluegills and often some nice crappies up until about the New Year and then seems to quiet down. Nearly every year there is a northern in the 15# range caught there also.

I’m sure there are many favorites out there and we’ve only covered a few, but don’t overlook the ice fishing in the Wisconsin River bottoms. There are plenty of fish and lots of places to try out.

post by: Dan Bomkamp

Hey, Got Any Granola?

So here you are on a Montana trout stream fishing when you hear a tiny footstep behind you in the stream. You turn to see a fawn watching you from just a few feet away. So you talk to the little critter and it walks right up to you.

Some other fishermen come by and one has a granola bar. It seems that deer like granola because the fawn takes a bite of it right from the guy’s mouth.

These pictures were sent to me by my friend Ed out in Arizona. I don’t know where he comes up with all of these cool things but I enjoyed them and thought the readers would too.

It’s amazing how many things like this you can see by spending time in the woods. Spring turkey hunting here in Wisconsin I’ve seen many really cool things. The secret is to have that camera handy all the time. If the readers happen to get a fun shot of some critter please send it to me and I’ll share it with the others.

post by: Dan Bomkamp

Land for sale with trout streams in Wisconsin

Deer Season Wrap

2010 WISCONSIN GUN DEER HUNT STATS

The Regular 9 day season is over. But if you’re a muzzle loader hunter you started last Monday and can hunt until Dec. 8. And then if you’re still not hunted out, you can participate in the Dec. 9 – 12 Antlerless hunt. Then it will finally be over. It seems like the Never-ending Story doesn’t it?

Early figures show a kill of just over 218,000 which is up 11% over last year.

There were 612,000 hunters who bought licenses for this past season. Of those, 11,000 were kids 10 and 11 who hunted under the Mentoring hunt. There were no gun accidents with any of the Mentored kids. Way to go!

This was also the first year since 1974 with no gun fatalities. The second year in history for that accomplishment, but there were 12 non-fatal accidents. Compare that to the days before Hunter Safety and there were 44 accidents per 100,000 hunters. At that rate there could have been over 2,600 accidents this past year…..what a change.

Congratulations to all who got their buck or doe and thanks to all who helped the Mentoring program and the Donate a Deer Program. You made a lot of folks happy with your generosity.

post by: Dan Bomkamp

If you're looking for your own private place to hunt, check out http://www.ruralpropertypro.com/ for hunting land properties for sale.

Making A Memory

Hunting is one of those activities that is very important in rural Wisconsin and many other states. Kids grow up around hunters and those hunters pass on the tradition to the youngsters.

Wisconsin has several programs that encourage seasoned hunters to take first timers out and help them get their first deer, duck or other game. Hunter Safety is as common among Wisconsin kids as getting your first bike. The kids taking this class have to be at least 12 years old so one of our enterprising state legislators came up with the idea of Mentoring young hunters. We’ve talked of Mentoring many times and I’ve heard many stories of the great successes it produced.

This past weekend a young Avoca hunter went deer hunting for the first time and the results are shown below. Alex Cole bagged his first deer on the first day of his hunt with a family friend who took him and his brother out hunting. Although Alex is only about 5 feet tall he was walking like he was ten feet tall when telling the story of his first buck. Brother Tyler got his first deer during the Youth Hunt earlier this fall.

Do you think we have a couple of new hunters? I’d bet on it. Oh by the way, Alex is donating his deer to the Donate a Deer Program since they have venison in the freezer from Tyler’s deer. A pretty good deal all around eh?

That first deer will be a memory both of these boys will tell about when they’re old men sitting around a campfire, taking their first timers out. I’d bet on it.

post by: Dan Bomkamp

Deer Eve

Every year on the night before the Opening Day of Deer Season I think back to my first year of hunting. I began in 1963 and the day will always be burned into my memory because it was the day after JFK was assassinated. I’d been watching a one-horned buck and his doe for weeks and knew exactly where he’d go that morning. My plan was to be there first and I’d have my first deer.

After a sleepless night watching a clock that moved like a glacier, I got up at 4 am and drove my mom’s car to the river bottoms. It was over two hours until shooting time with a cold wind blowing out of the north and a cloudy sky that made it as dark as the inside of a cave. I waited a while and then couldn’t stand it any longer and stumbled out through the darkness to my spot.

A few minutes after I got situated it began to sleet and then a bit later it began to snow. The wind picked up and the snow billowed. I sat for about 4 hours and was so cold I thought I’d probably never warm up. I never saw that deer nor did I see any others that whole season. In fact I hunted for 10 years before I bagged my first deer. Things were different back then. Deer were not as plentiful as they are now days.

Despite the cold and the lack of deer, I’ll never forget that first day of deer hunting. I hope the hunters who are going out tomorrow will have better luck but whether you get a deer or not, I hope you make a memory you’ll keep forever. That’s what hunting is all about. Good luck, be safe and be glad you live in such a great place as Wisconsin where there is the opportunity to do all of these great outdoor activities.

post by: Dan Bomkamp

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Plan Ahead for Deer Eve

I’ve always been one of those people who is a half hour early for a fishing trip or hunting trip. I’m always packed the day before, and have my gear laid out ready to go. But there are a lot of people who aren’t so prepared and they are the ones who will be scrambling around next Friday looking for their gear in a panic.

One of the things that always amazed me when I had my sporting goods store was those hunters who showed up Friday evening at about 7pm looking for a box of 257 Roberts, or 3040 Krag shells. Then when I told them I didn’t have any left or had never had any they looked like the most amazed guy in town. Shells like that need to be found early in the season. Those guns are very rare and few stores can afford to carry shells that might be on their shelf for years.

So if you have a 264 Win Mag or a 325 WSM, you better be looking early in the week or you might be disappointed on opening morning.

post by: Dan Bomkamp

http://www.ruralpropertypro.com/

The Armistice Day Storm

In 1940 they were having an autumn that was very similar to what we’ve had this year. The temperatures were mild and the weather was beautiful. On Armistice Day many had time off from work and school and the duck hunters among them headed out for a day on the marshes of the Mississippi river. They dressed lightly as the temperatures were in the 60’s by mid-day.

But then a front moved in from northern Minnesota and the weather changed fast. First it began to rain and then the rain turned to sleet and then snow. The wind began to blow and in no time it was gusting between 50 and 80 miles per hour. The snow turned into a blizzard dumping over 2 feet onto the ground and piling up 20 foot drifts.

Ahead of the blizzard the ducks flew by the thousands. Hunters who afterward shared their story said they’d never seen so many ducks and geese. Many hunted too long and by the time they realized their mistake it was too late. Some tried to sit it out on the small islands in the river. Some tried to get back to land in their duck boats. For many it was their last day of duck hunting and of life.

When the blizzard subsided two days later 166 people had died in the mid-west. Sixty six of them were aboard three freighters on Lake Michigan that sank in the storm. 50 were duck hunters, found frozen under their duck boats on islands, many with their arms wrapped around their trusty duck dogs. One hunter was found knee deep in a pond with his hands holding onto a branch of a tree overhead, frozen solid.

This happened 70 years ago on the day we now call Veterans Day.

post by: Dan Bomkamp

Plan Ahead for Processing Your Deer

Once you have made the shot and your deer is lying in the grass dead, it becomes food and ceases to be a game animal. The care you take from that moment on will make a big difference in the quality of the meat that you’ve harvested.

First you must field dress the deer. Take your time and try to keep everything clean. Get the deer opened up so it can begin to cool down. After registering it many take their deer to the locker and pick up boxes of frozen meat a few weeks later. But you can cut up a deer at home, saving the expense and wait time.

If you’re going to cut up your own deer it’s a good idea to remove the hide right away. It comes off much easier when the deer is fresh compared to a week later when it’s frozen solid. Then prepare a good sturdy table for cutting. It’s best to work directly on a table rather than putting down plastic or paper. Fresh venison is very sticky and you’ll spend as much time peeling paper off the meat as you do cutting it up. Then remove a quarter at a time from the carcass and cut it up.

Front quarters are mostly stew and hamburger meat. The rear quarters have large muscles that can be separated and cut into dandy steaks. Remove the tenderloins from the back and you’re done except for taking all scraps off the bones for hamburger or sausage.

When you finish you have several pounds of pure meat that you can freeze, can or make into sausage or hamburger. It takes about an hour and I guarantee you’ll have a sense of satisfaction the first time you fry up a nice steak from a deer that you hunted, dressed and cut up yourself.

post by: Dan Bomkamp
author and host of "How's Fishing"

Wisconsin Hunting Land For Sale

Who's That In My Tree Stand?

You’ve gotten your gear ready and put your tree stand up in your favorite tree. It’s 4:30 am and you get up, dress, have breakfast and head out to the woods. When you get to your spot you slowly hike up the trail to your tree stand. When you get there you stop and catch your breath after your hike.

Then you decide to climb up to the stand when you see by the light of the stars that there is somebody already sitting there….on your stand. What to do? Well rather than have a big fight you decide to sit down and maybe when the guy sees you down there he’ll come down and apologize and go his way.

As the light strengthens you look up again and then decide to let the stand stealer have it after all. Why? Because the “hunter” on your tree stand is a 300 pound black bear. Oh well.

post by: Dan Bomkamp

 

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Time for Doe Scents

You spend hundreds of dollars on a gun, warm clothing, a scope, binoculars, hand warmers, licenses and ammunition, so adding a few bucks to buy a good bottle of deer scent should be a given. Right now is the prime time of the year to fool an old buck into thinking you’re a hot doe. The way to do it is with a doe-in-heat scent.

There are dozens of brands and types of scent on the market ranging from some that will cost you around $6 to some that can cost as much as $20. Is the $20 bottle that much better than the cheap one? Some would say yes, but I think either will work if conditions are right. I guess I’d go for something in the mid-range.

Deer scents have been around for decades and have lured many unsuspecting bucks to the sights of a gun or bow. Used properly they can make the difference between getting a trophy and going home with nothing. The use of a scent surely doesn’t guarantee a deer but it does help.

Probably as important as the use of a scent is that the hunter be scent free himself. That means clothes washed in non-perfumed detergent, and stored away from household smells should be a number one priority. Also the hunter must be scent free, with no aftershaves, cigarette smells or other human smells like gasoline or food. Take care to be as scentless as possible, use a small amount of a good doe scent and you’ll have a good chance at that trophy.

post by: Dan Bomkamp 
author & host of "How's Fishing"

To buy or sell recreational property in Southwest Wisconsin, get the facts first. Visit Southwest Wisconsin Real Estate for free information on rural properties.

A Scary Moment

I got an email from Lee Van Landuyt and thought I’d pass it along. He was hunting for elk alone in North Dakota recently and got a nice bull late in the day. He used the timer on his camera to delay the shot so he could be in the picture and snapped one of the big bull. When he looked at the picture the next day he was quite surprised to see a cougar standing a few feet behind him in the brush as he knelt by his elk.

“I about crapped the next day” he said. Another of those things that happen in the great outdoors that we just shake our heads at.

post by: Dan Bomkamp - author and host of "How's Fishing"



Finally, the Fishing is Going Strong

After waiting for weeks for the water levels to go down, we finally have some good fishing to report. If you’re a bass fishermen get over to the Mississippi and try some backwaters or DeSoto bay. The bass are stacked up in those places and are feeding like crazy. My brother John guides on both the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers and he’s had some amazing days lately. On one trip he and his two fishermen caught 166 bass and on another they caught 222……pretty good fishing.

Cold Springs and DeSoto are also producing some nice big bluegills. And if you want to try for some perch, try Genoa dam, behind the fishing float or behind the long wall of the dam. There are some being caught that are 12 inches. That’s a darn nice perch.

On the Wisconsin the water is at a perfect level for fishing. Late season walleyes and smallmouths are feeding in preparation for winter. All you need to do is find that spot where they’ve ganged up and you’re in business.

Fall fishing can be some of the best of the year. Take out a few hours from your hunting and give it a try.

by: Dan Bomkamp
author & host of "How's Fishing?"

Don't Miss Fall Fishing

Fall fishing is going hot and heavy right now. This past summer water conditions were very bad making fishing slow or non-existent. The water levels are back down now and the fishing is very good. My brother John guides on the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers and he has been having some fantastic action.
 
The bass are biting now and the fishing for them is amazing. Recently one of his trips with two clients netted 165 bass. The next trip two days later netted over 200 bass. That’s some fast and furious fishing action.

The bluegills are also biting again at Cold Springs and DeSoto bay on the Miss. There is also some very good perch action below the dam at Genoa with some 12 inch perch being caught. Add that to good fall walleye action and you’ve got some fishing you should not miss.

The Wisconsin River is also down to a very nice level again. Fall walleyes are out there waiting for your jig or lure. The water is cooling down so the catfishing is slowing but who cares when you can catch walleyes?

Fall fishing is very overlooked. Many people put away their fishing gear and get their bows and guns out when they should be sharpening their hooks for a day on the river. Take a day and enjoy the great weather, low fishing pressure and hungry fish that you’ll find at this time of year. You won’t regret it.

by: Dan Bomkamp
author & host of "How's Fishing?"

Pheasant Season Opener

Saturday is the opening day for Pheasants in Wisconsin. There are two types of hunting for those who like to stalk these beautiful birds. The most common is the put-and-take type of hunting. There are many Public Hunting areas where pen-raised birds are released for hunters to hunt. These birds are often raised by local hunting groups and a huge number of them are raised by the DNR. This year State birds will number 51,000.

The second type of hunting is for birds that are natural breeding birds. These birds were stocked many years ago in areas with prime Pheasant habitat. The birds are from stock brought from China and Iowa, can withstand Wisconsin winters and are self-sustaining.

In either case the bag limit is 1 rooster per day this weekend and then the bag limit doubles to 2/day for the rest of the season. There are certain areas where hen Pheasants are also legal. To hunt for them you need a special permit and tags. Both of these things are free from the DNR.

It’s pretty crowded and hectic the first weekend but then if you go during the week you can have some pretty quality hunting. Pheasants provide some good hunting opportunities and a great wild game dinner for those lucky enough to bag a couple.

by: Dan Bomkamp
author & host of "How's Fishing?"

Where Did The Grouse Go?

I remember back when I was a kid, I used to carry a neat little side-by-side 410 shotgun when I went in the fall woods. I could pick a squirrel off a branch like nobody’s business and I also was ready when a grouse flew up from a patch of brush. In those days grouse were everywhere where there was some thick brush and they gave hunters a lot of action.

Today I’d have to walk a long ways to find one grouse. No matter where you go in SW Wisconsin the grouse is a thing of the past. What caused it? I’ve thought for a long time it was the introduction of the Wild Turkeys. Twenty to twenty five years ago we had no turkeys and lots of grouse. Today we have lots of turkeys and no grouse. The reason is because both of these species compete for the same food and nesting areas in the woods.

Anyone who has ever seen a flock of turkeys move through the woods knows that they eat every bug, bud, nut and berry in their path….the very same food that grouse used to eat. Hence, lots of turkeys eat lots of grouse food and in the last 20 years the grouse have just lost out to the bigger stronger birds.

Now there’s nothing to be done about it. The turkeys are here to stay. But it’s kind of sad to think we’ll probably never hear the drumming of a male grouse in the spring or get the heart thumping thrill of one flushing at your feet in thick cover.

by: Dan Bomkamp

Wisconsin Youth Deer Hunt

This coming weekend is the Youth Deer Hunt for Wisconsin youngsters. It takes place on Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th. On both days, kids who are 12 to 15 years old and have passed Hunter Safety can hunt for deer as long as they are accompanied by an adult hunter over the age of 18. The adult hunter cannot hunt with a gun for deer but may carry a bow. They also may carry a gun for other hunting like turkey or squirrels.

Mentored hunters also can hunt this weekend. A mentored hunter is a youth 10 or 11 years old who has not taken Hunter Safety. They must be accompanied by a mentor who is over the age of 18 and the mentor must be within an arms length of the hunter.

This gives the young hunters a chance to bag a deer before the opening of the regular season where there will be over 600,000 hunters in the woods. The weather looks to be perfect so if you know a young hunter who would like to give deer hunting a try, get them out there and have some fun. I guarantee there are many kids who’d love to hunt if only they had the chance. If you get them started…you’ll have a hunting buddy for life.

by: Dan Bomkamp
Author and host of "How's Fishing?"

The Duck Season That Wasn't

This will be remembered as the opening weekend that didn’t happen for duck hunters in Southwest Wisconsin. High water has filled the river bottoms from bank to bank. What normally is marsh and pond is now a free flowing river. Brush that hunters hide behind is under water.

I remember an opening weekend like this back about 20 years ago when I was an addict to duck hunting. I went every day of the season rain or shine and was nearly devastated when we had flood conditions on the opening weekend. Being a bit stubborn my hunting buddy and I waded out to our duck blind in chest waders and found the only part of the blind we could see was the top 2x4 sticking up from the fast moving water.

That’s the same thing hunters will find this year. If you are willing to check out some new territory and take a little hike, there are ducks up in the hills along the many streams that run into the Wisconsin. Wood ducks especially will follow the streams upriver and find acorns to feed on. Walk along the streams quietly and you’ll often find ducks here and there. It can be a way to salvage some duck hunting time and actually be a lot of fun.

Otherwise, go squirrel hunting, turkey hunting or deer hunting with a bow. Living in SW Wisconsin there are many choices of outdoor activities and a hunter or fisherman just has to be willing to change a bit and he’s right back in the game.

by: Dan Bomkamp
author and host of "How's Fishing?"

Wisconsin Duck Season Is Coming October 2nd

Wisconsin Duck hunters are getting ready for Opening Day which is this coming Saturday, October 2nd.

The river bottoms have had good water levels all summer and have produced a lot of “local” ducks.

The great majority of ducks that are hatched in our area are Bluewing Teal, Wood Ducks and Mallards. Occasionally you’ll see a few Greenwing Teal but they’re not very common. I’ve always loved going down and standing along the high bank of the river bottoms at dusk and watching the ducks come into the ponds for the night. Mallards are returning from farm fields where they’ve been eating grain and corn. Teal also will feed in fields and you can find them in soybeans quite often. Woodies will follow the area streams up into the hills and then land and find oak trees and fill their crops with acorns.

They go out in the morning and evening for a meal and then spend the rest of the time resting on one of the many ponds and sloughs in the Wisconsin River bottoms. When you add in hundreds of geese that also call the bottoms home, you can have a great time watching waterfowl real close to home. The River bottoms are one of the reasons I moved back to this area and spent my life here. I wish I knew how many times I’ve heard the “Eeee Eeee” sound a hen wood duck makes as she comes into a pond just at dark. It’s a special kind of music to a duck hunter’s ear.

Post written by: Dan Bomkamp
Author & Host of "How's Fishing?"

Scents Make Sense

One of the most important things that a hunter can do to be successful hunting deer with a bow is to make himself invisible to the deer. That is accomplished by camo clothes and face makeup. But one other thing is necessary to being invisible and that’s being scentless.

A deer has an amazing sense of smell and can identify a tiny amount of scent molecules in the air. Deer hunters take special pains to keep their hunting clothes clean and free of the smells of smoke, detergent and the home. One way to help with that is to use Cover Scents. These mask the human smell with the smell of wet dirt, pines, oak trees and many others.

Food is a big part of every deer’s day and early archers use food scents to help lure in that big buck. There are scents that smell like corn, or acorns that are often used. Then as the season progresses, the Doe In Heat scents become very important to luring in a deer.

Scents are a big part of hunting and a helpful tool for almost all hunters. But then that’s part of the fun of hunting…..collecting toys that help you hunt.

This post was written by: Dan Bomkamp
Author of several outdoor adventure novels and host of "How's Fishing?"

Bow Hunting From a Tree Stand

If you’re an archer you probably have at least one tree stand in your hunting arsenal. The great majority of bow hunters hunt from some type of a tree stand allowing them the chance to get up above their quarry where their movements and scent will be overlooked by that big buck.

If you own a piece of hunting land you can build a permanent stand. Some are pretty fancy and make it very comfortable for the hunter. Others are just a place to stand or sit. If you hunt on public land you will most likely use a tree stand or a tree ladder stand. The ladders are very popular and not only let you climb the tree more comfortably and safely, but they also have a platform on top where you can sit or stand.

There are double ladder stands that are big enough for two people to hunt from. Even I feel safe in one of these big steady platforms.

No matter which type of tree stand you use, a safety harness is a must. Every year several hunters are injured or even killed when they fall from a tree. Some just fall and most fall asleep and then topple out. The harnesses they make nowdays are very comfortable and you won’t even know you’re wearing one. And, if they save you from falling they’re worth every penny you invest in them.

by: Dan Bomkamp
author & host of "How's Fishing?"

Wisconsin Archery Season is Upon Us

Hunters have been taking to the Wisconsin woods with bows for over 75 years. In the early days you bought a deer license and if you shot one with a bow, you were done for the season and couldn’t hunt during the gun season. That changed in 1966 with a separate license and over 85,000 archers hunted that year. They harvested a bit over 6,000 deer.

Last year 260,000 archers bought licenses in Wisconsin and harvested 87,000 deer…..quite a jump from the early days. Of course gun hunting still is much more popular with over 630,000 gun hunters harvesting over 242,000 deer last year.

Archers have a chance to scout and learn the habits of the deer they’re after and if they do their homework they usually can get that big buck they’re watched for weeks. It’s a more solitary hunt and requires the hunter and deer to be much closer together than with a long range rifle.

Bows have evolved from a simple stick bow to compound machines that are very lethal and efficient. But either way, the hunter has to be skilled and do a lot of practicing to place that shot where it needs to be. Good luck in the woods this weekend. Have fun and be safe.

by: Dan Bomkamp
author & host of "How's Fishing?"

Be A Mentor - Wisconsin Youth Hunter Mentoring Program

Wisconsin Hunters have an opportunity to help young kids get started at hunting by participating in the Mentoring Program. This is a way for kids who are 10 or 11 to get out and do some safe hunting. They are too young for Hunter Safety, so this program lets them actually hunt before they take the HS course.

A mentor has to be at least 18 years old and the parent of the kids or have permission from the parent to take them out. A mentor can only take one kid at a time out into the woods. The mentor must have a Wisconsin hunting license of some kind. Any hunting license is fine. One gun or bow can be taken with the mentor/child. And the young hunter must be within an Arms Reach of the mentor at all times.

There are a lot of kids from single parent homes or homes where neither parent hunts that would love to be in this program. By mentoring them you give them a new outlook on the outdoors and open them to the great enjoyment of experiencing nature.

I’ve introduced dozens of kids to the outdoors and helped most of my 32 exchange students hunt for the first time and I guarantee there is no bigger thrill than seeing the look on the face of a new hunter the first time he or she gets that first shot. Take a kid hunting. You’ll have a friend for life.

by: Dan Bomkamp
author and host of "How's Fishing?"

Wisconsin Youth Duck Hunt

September 18th and 19th are the dates for the Wisconsin Youth Duck Hunt this year. This is a fairly new program where kids from the age of 12 to 15 can go duck hunting with an adult and get a crack at the ducks before the general season opens. The adult hunter can help with decoys, a blind, calling the ducks and helping to identify them but can’t shoot at any birds himself. That’s something that only the kids can do.

But this year it just so happens that the Exterior Zone for Canada geese opens on the same day as the Youth Hunt, so the adult hunters can shoot at any geese that happen past. Both the kids and adults need a goose tag and can get them at a DNR license station.

Duck hunting is a dying sport. In times past the marshes were full of shotgun toting hunters but the numbers have dwindled to just a few in the last decade. Duck hunting was and still is my favorite hunt. For many years I hunted every day of the season with one or more of my golden retrievers. It would be nice to see more young hunters get interested in this sport and carry the tradition on to the next generation.

So if you know some young hunters who’d like to try it, get them rigged up and head to the marsh next Saturday. I guarantee there will be lots to see and you’ll have a grand day in the great outdoors.

by: Dan Bomkamp
author & host of "How's Fishing?"

http://www.waterfront-property-wisconsin.com/

Bluegill Weather

When I think of cooler weather and falling leaves I think of bluegill fishing. It takes me back to when I was a kid and the many times my family went fishing after Sunday church for fall bluegills.

One place that seems to always turn into a bluegill paradise is Cold Springs, just north of Lynxville. Another is DeSoto bay just up the road a few miles. Both of these places fill up with big bluegills in the fall and can be a great place to spend a day fishing.

But you don’t have to go all the way to the Mississippi to catch bluegills. The Wisconsin River bottoms are full of nice sized fish and when the temperatures start to drop a bit they turn on and can provide you with great fishing. As an added bonus you can watch ducks, geese and cranes flying about the marshes.

And don’t overlook Blackhawk Lake near Highland. Blackhawk has a huge bluegill population and if you work a bit and find a “hotspot” you can have some great action. Bluegills provide countless hours of fishing fun each year for millions of fishermen. Not only are they fun to catch, they are great to eat. A big plate full of bluegill fillets a great reward after a day on the water in the fall.

by: Dan Bomkamp
author & host of "How's Fishing?"

A Fall Bluegill Standby

Every year for as far back as I can remember, a lot of big bluegills move into Cold Springs, on the Mississippi River in late August or early September. Cold Springs is a little body of water that has been formed by the Railroad tracks enclosing a bend in the riverbank just north of the town of Lynxville. This little “lake” is also fed by a trout stream that empties from the hills into it and for some reason those big bluegills move in there each fall.

I can remember back when I was a kid and my family would head to Cold Springs each Sunday after church for bluegill fishing. My Dad and Mom and my two brothers and I would meet up with my grandparents and I would go in Grandpa’s boat since I was the oldest. We’d spend the day fishing, have a picnic and then clean lots and lots of bluegills.

That good fishing is still happening each year and hundreds of bluegills are caught there every year. I’ve never figured out what drew the fish into Cold Springs but they show up and if you like to catch bluegills it should be on your list of things to do this fall. What could be more fun than hauling in big orange bellied bluegills while enjoying a beautiful fall day?

by: Dan Bomkamp - author and host of "How's Fishing?"

The Tradition is Passed On - Hunter Safety

Every year new hunters come of age and every year groups of older hunters get together and conduct Hunter Safety classes for the new recruits. In the old days kids went out with the older hunters and learned as they went. But some years back the DNR decided that a formal class was a good idea and it has proven to be a big success.

Hunter accidents have dropped greatly since Hunter Safety became mandatory. Back in the old days, it was nothing to have a dozen or more gunshot accidents during the deer season. Now with Hunter Safety that number may be one or two.

There is a new session of Hunter Safety starting Sept. 13 in Avoca. There is a group there who holds two sessions per year, one in the spring and one in the fall, for kids and adults who want to hunt for the first time. Not only do the students learn all they need to know about being safe in the outdoors, they also get a Small Game license for their effort.

If you’d like to sign up, you can call Terry Yanske at 532-6853. There are limited openings so be sure to sign up right away. And when you see these guys, tell them thanks for taking their time to share the outdoors with the new hunters.

by: Dan Bomkamp - author and host of "How's Fishing"

Wisconsin Cougar Country?

by: Dan Bomkamp - author & host of "How's Fishing?"

I’ll never forget the day my UPS man came into my sport shop and told me he’d seen a full grown cougar cross the road near Castle Rock while delivering packages. I knew him well and knew him not to be someone who exaggerated. Then a few months later a Grant County Deputy also saw a cougar in the same area. As luck would have it that deputy came into my store to look at a pistol and he told me he’d been within a few yards of the critter as it walked through his barnyard while he was in the barn.

Since then I’ve heard cougar stories from two more people who I know as sane, steady folks who I believe really did see a cougar. The DNR has looked at tracks and said they look like cougar tracks but “there are no cougars in Wisconsin.” Oh?

Now the DNR has released a report that there have been 4 confirmed cases of cougars in Wisconsin based on DNA samples gathered from people who saw the cats. These confirmed sightings have all been more in the north of the state but the closest one was in Juneau County which isn’t that far from here “as the cougar travels.”

Cougars are very secretive and even in real cougar country like the western parts of the USA, the chances of seeing on in the wild are one in a million. The chances of being attacked are even less but it’s still kind of exciting to think one of these big cats could be crouched behind a bush watching you as you sit waiting for a wild turkey or deer. There are some places in our part of the world that are very remote and seldom seen by humans….perfect places for cougars to live and thrive. So next time you hear a branch snap in the woods, look closely, there could be something other than you who is also hunting.

High Water on the Wisconsin River

by: Dan Bomkamp - author & host of "How's Fishing?"

Normally in August you could roll up your pants legs and walk across the Wisconsin River in almost any place you wanted. Not this year. The river is high and has been high all summer. It’s played havoc with the canoe business since folks who like to canoe the river also like to get out on sandbars and picnic and camp. There are no sandbars this year.

Yesterday I was crossing the new bridge at Spring Green and had to smile. There were about 30 tents clustered together on a tiny sandbar that was inches above the water line just below the bridge. The place looked like a colorful ant hill with people scurrying all over the place between the tightly packed tents. I hope the water didn’t come up during the night or there were going to be a lot of wet people the following morning.

While the high water has made fishing and canoeing on the river a bit difficult it has made the fishing in the backwaters great. Normally at this time of year the backwater sloughs are choked with weeds and nearly impossible to fish. The high water gives fishermen much more open water to fish and makes moving around very easy and pleasant.

There are many fish to be caught in the backwaters from bluegills and perch to northerns and bass. While you’re fishing you can watch sandhill cranes and great blue heron as they fish the shallows and maybe a couple of geese as they swim around and feed. It’s a magical place and well worth a trip in a small boat or canoe. At dusk you’ll be amazed at the number of ducks that return from feeding in the fields to roost on the ponds. It’s really a great place for both fishing and nature.

Wild White Bass Fishing

August is the time of year when huge schools of White Bass begin to swarm up and down rivers looking for schools of minnows and baitfish. White Bass, often called Stripers or Striped Bass are common in the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. They are very different from Striped Bass which are salt water fish often reaching 6 feet in length and over 100 pounds. Freshwater White Bass grow up to about 16 inches and 4 pounds.

White Bass are not related to either Largemouth or Smallmouth Bass. These fish are actually members of the panfish family while the White Bass are members of the temperate bass group of fish. They are savage fighters and when you find a school of them the action can be amazing. These fish roam in huge packs and usually drive a school of small fish up against a bank or island and then tear into them like a pack of wolves.

When you see the water boiling and small fish jumping that is the time to start throwing a small lure into the fray. Almost anything will work but good choices are a 1/8 oz lead head jig with a white or yellow twister tail, a Ratl Trap, Rebel Pop R, Mepps #1 or #2 silver spinner or a #5 silver Rapala. The action can be amazing and these fish fight like mad. The only time I ever saw teenage boys ask to quit fishing was once after we’d been fighting 4# White Bass for over an hour non-stop.

There are many of these great fighting fish in both of our rivers and they are very active this time of year. When you’re on the river, watch for the water boiling and baitfish jumping and then get in there and you’ll have some of the fastest fishing you’ll ever see. And, they’re not bad eating either.

by: Dan Bomkamp -author and host of "How's Fishing"

Dinosaur Fish

If you fish on the Wisconsin River long enough you’ll be surprised one day when a huge fish jumps out of the water and does a summersault near your boat. I mean a BIG fish most likely 5 feet long or bigger.

What the heck am I talking about? I’m talking about a Paddlefish. The American Paddlefish is common in the Wisconsin and Mississippi and the other rivers that drain into the Mississippi. They are a primitive fish that date back to the time of the dinosaurs and are in the same general category as sturgeon. They have a skeleton made up of cartilage like the sturgeon and even sharks.

These giant fish are filter feeders. They have a huge mouth and a long flat snout that looks like a canoe paddle and swim throughout the river and filter zooplankton from the water. They also will eat snails and clams.

In the spring you will find many of them below the Sauk City dam. Often when jigging for walleyes one of these giants will swim into your line and then the race is on. Unless you can catch up to them and get them to the surface to get your jig out of their hide, they’ll strip off all of your line from your reel.

They commonly attain about 5 feet of length but the record for a fish caught on a rod and reel was a 144# monster. The largest ever recorded was a whopping 206#. There is no open season on them in Wisconsin.

So if you see a huge fish do a flip next to your boat, now you know it’s a paddlefish. Why do they do it? No one knows for sure but I’ve always thought they were just having fun. Who knows?

by: Dan Bomkamp - author and host of the radio show "How's Fishing?"

A Slab Story

Anyone who fishes for crappies knows that a big one is called a “Slab”. Usually a slab crappie is one that weighs a pound or so. This past March 15th, a fisherman from Menomonie caught a real slab. The fish was 19 inches long, with a 16 inch girth and weighed 4# 5oz. Now, THAT’S a Slab!

The fisherman Mike Zimmer went out fishing on that 40 degree morning hoping to get a mess of crappies but was surprised at his catch. Besides the huge 4 pounder, he caught another big fish that weighed 3# 8oz and another that weighed 3# even.

Most crappies that we take home for the frying pan are ¾ of a pound or less. There are many nice crappies in the Wisconsin River bottoms lakes and in many of the area lakes like Blackhawk or Yellowstone. Fish over a pound are not very common but are out there.

Some years ago I was fishing with the real Thunderfoot, Jamie Buroker, in one of the river sloughs for northerns. Jamie was casting a spinnerbait that normally would be considered a bass or northern bait when he had a strike and fought a fish to the boat. It turned out to be a crappie that was almost 15 inches long. We didn’t have a camera and didn’t want to kill the fish, so we put it back. As far as I know it’s still out there.

I guess it goes to show you that you never know when you get that bite on your hook what that next fish might be. That’s the fun of fishing.

by: Dan Bomkamp- author & host of "How's Fishing"

Fall Turkey Hunting Application Deadline Is Near

August 2nd is the deadline for Fall Turkey permits to be postmarked. If you’re planning on a turkey hunt this fall, you’d better get your application and send it in. It’s easy to miss these deadlines when they come up in the middle of the summer when fall hunting is the last thing on your mind.

You can buy the application form at any license outlet or you can get them online at http://www.dnr.wi.gov/. It’s easy to print the form out from your own computer and it saves driving to the license station and standing in line.

Both of our rivers are very high for this time of year. The Wisconsin River is at spring flood levels. There are not many sandbars showing but boating is great. On the Mississippi the water is muddy and full of debris. Fishing for catfish is most likely the best thing right now.

A new Wisconsin record Brown Trout was caught in Lake Michigan recently. It weighed 41 pounds 8 ounces……quite a fish!

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of "How's Fishing?"

Get Out Your Ice Fishing Jigs

Next time you go fishing for bluegills or crappies take your ice jigs along and tie your favorite jig on your line. I’ve been using ice jigs in the summer for many years and I think they not only catch more fish but in the long run they catch bigger ones.

An ice jig adds flash, color and size to your offering and anything that attracts the fish is a good thing. Use a redworm or waxworm as bait just as you did in the winter and you’ll get lots of bites and fewer small fish. The larger size keeps some of the little fish away from your bait.

When using ice jigs in the summer, go to a little larger size than you use in the winter. I usually use a size 12 or 14 jig in the winter but in the summer I go to a size 6 or 8. The fish are more aggressive in the summer and are eating more and larger meals. In the winter they’re pretty picky and don’t eat much because they don’t move around much in the first place.

Pick out a few ice jigs and toss them into a little box and give them a try next time you go for bluegills. I’ll bet you’ll get more fish and fewer little ones.

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of "How's Fishing"

http://www.myoakpro.com/

Youth Archery Day

Every summer the Scenic Hills Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation holds its Jakes and Jennys Youth Archery Day. Jakes and Jennys is the designation given to young wild turkeys and to the youth organization that caters to kids under 17 years of age who want to become members of the Turkey Federation.

This group of hunters and outdoorsmen take it upon themselves each year to hold this fun day for the kids in the area to give them a chance to do some bow shooting and trap shooting. They get instructions on many outdoor activities and are treated to a meal and drawings for some great door prizes.

The event is held at Gander Hill Country Archery which is west of Richland Center on Hwy 14. If you have a son or daughter who is under 17 and interested in learning about bow hunting or shooting call Dave Guy at 608-647-6908 or Jerry Gander at 608-536-3502.

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of "How's Fishing?"

Storm Front Northerns

When I was a kid I had a neighbor who closed up his auto repair business on those hot humid summer days when you could hardly breathe so he could go fishing. Those big black thunder clouds would be building in the west and he’d head out for the Wisconsin River bottoms with a little 10 foot wooden duck boat with an old guy who rowed the boat for him while he cast Daredevils.

I don’t think he ever came home without at least 4 or 5 big toothy northerns sloshing around in the bottom of that little boat and to a kid who was used to catching bluegills, they made quite an impression.

Many years later when I acquired a little john boat of my own I began doing the same thing and the results have almost always been the same. The only difference is that I very seldom keep a northern but choose to let them go after I’ve caught them. The catching part is the same and the action is usually fast and furious.

There is something about the pressure change when those storm fronts move through that makes northerns go crazy. Many times you will get a strike on every cast you make. If you miss a strike, slow down and often you’ll get another hit before you get your bait back to the boat. I’m not sure of what makes them so crazy or angry but it sure is a lot of fun. The only thing you must do is keep an eye on the storm. The wind can get pretty serious and it’s not a good idea to be waving a graphite rod around in the air when lightning is flashing.

If you ever get the chance to fish just before a summer storm, do it. I guarantee it will be an hour of fishing that you’ll long remember.

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of the radio show "How's Fishing"

Grow Your Own Bait

Worms have been used for fishing bait for as long as people have fished. You can grow your own worms with little effort and little cost, right in your basement or garage. All you need is an old cooler or box. If the cooler has a lid, drill a couple dozen holes in it for air…..if not cut a piece of plywood to fit and drill it. Then fill the cooler half full with moist bedding. Spagnum moss is best but if you can’t find it use Buss bedding or something similar. Be sure to squeeze all the water out and leave the bedding moist.

The next step is to buy a couple of boxes of redworms at your bait dealer. Dump them in the box and leave them for a week. Check them for moisture and then sprinkle dry Coco Wheats, Malto Meal or Cream of Wheat on top and put them away. Check them and when all the food is gone, dump them to check their health. By now the box should be full of baby worms and big fat healthy worms for fishing.

From now on, take out the big worms and feed the rest every week or so and you’ll have worms for almost no cost to use the rest of the summer and all winter. If your worm box gets too full, get a second one and divide the worms into it with new bedding.

This is a great way to save money and it’s also kind of fun to do. Try it you’ll be glad you did.

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of "How's Fishing"
http://www.southwest-wisconsin-real-estate.com/

Are Your Fishing Hooks Sharp?

Most people buy a box of fishing hooks and go fishing. Some fishermen buy a box of fishing hooks and then take each of them and sharpen them with a fine toothed hook file. Yes, each hook and each hook on each lure you use should be sharpened.

I never used to sharpen my hooks until I started fishing Walleye Tournaments during the 1990’s. Then I found that most of the “pros” did just that, they sharpened every hook. So I bought a hook file and was amazed at how much sharper my hooks were after a few strokes of the file. There is absolutely no comparison.

Factory hooks are made by a machine that makes them pretty sharp, but not as sharp as they can be with a little touching-up. Does it make a big difference? I guess if you don’t mind a fish getting off now and then because he’s not hooked well, then it’s not a big deal. But if you like to get your fish to the bank or boat almost every time, the sharpened hook will make that happen.

It takes about ten seconds to sharpen a hook and a hook file will cost you 3 or 4 bucks. Unless you leave it out in the rain to rust or loose if, you will be able to use if for years. Not a big expense at all. So, if you want to hook up with more fish get a hook file and touch-up each hook in your tackle box. You’ll be amazed at how sharp your hooks can be.

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of the radio show "How's Fishing"
http://www.southwest-wisconsin-real-estate.com/

Sometimes It's Not Poison Ivy

Poison Sumac 

The majority of the time when someone comes home from an outing in the woods or river bottoms and finds a rash, they usually think they’ve encountered poison ivy. Much of the time they’re right but there are also two other culprits that can cause a rash that is identical to ivy and caused by the same oil on their leaves.

These other plants are Poison Oak and Poison Sumac. While not as common as Poison Ivy they are out there and if you encounter them you’ll end up with an itching rash that will be real uncomfortable for about a week.
 

Poison Oak

Some people react more to the oils and some do not react at all. Calamine lotion is a cheap, effective solution to the itching. Keep your eyes open when hiking but by all means don’t let the fear of these plants keep you from enjoying our great outdoors.

 

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of the radio show "How's Fishing"
http://www.southwest-wisconsin-real-estate.com/

Boat Landing Etiquette

In the summer, and especially on holiday weekends, the boat landings often get very congested and the wait-time is long and frustrating. This long wait could be shortened if everyone observed a little common sense at the landings.

When putting your boat into the water be sure to get everything ready before you back down to the landing. Get your plug in….your lunch loaded…..your poles and bait ready and in the boat….and THEN back down to the water. Once you push the boat off, park it to the side of the landing and then get your trailer out of the way so someone else can use the landing.

When coming in at the end of the day, park your boat on the side of the landing and go up and get your trailer. Back down to the water, get the boat on, and then get it up and away from the landing BEFORE you begin to unload it. This will again allow someone else to use the landing while you’re putting things away.

If everyone would practice these common sense ideas the wait time at the landings would be much shorter and everyone would be much happier. Keep it in mind the next time you go for a boat ride.

 

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of the radio show "How's Fishing"

http://www.myoakpro.com/

Watch Where You Step

When you venture out into the woods or onto the waters you are stepping into another world from that which you spend most of your time. There are things that should be avoided that can spoil a fishing trip or a camping adventure. One of the things that many people encounter is Poison Ivy. This is one of the plants that can cause a nasty rash on most people. Not all people are allergic to it but most are and they find out the hard way that they should have been more careful.

The islands and shoreline of the Wisconsin River is a place to watch where you’re stepping when it comes to Poison Ivy. It grows abundantly there. If you’re canoeing or boating you needn’t worry but if you go up on shore or onto an island for firewood, watch out for it.

Poison Ivy is one of three plants that have a substance on their leaves called Urushoil that causes a condition called contact dermatitis. The rash can be just an itchy red welt or can be a large itching patch that scabs up and gets very irritated.

I’ve had Poison Ivy several times and tried everything under the sun to cure it. I’ve found that plain old Calamine lotion does the best job of anything I’ve tried. One way or the other the rash will take about a week to run its course. Calamine helps keep the itching at a minimum and dries up the rash.

It’s not pleasant but it’s not the end of the world either. Poison Ivy is one of those little inconveniences that Mother Nature has for us. It shouldn’t keep you from enjoying the great Wisconsin outdoors.

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of "How's Fishing"

A Weed to Avoid

I sure don’t want to scare anyone from going into the great outdoors but there is a plant out there that many folks will say, "I’ve never heard of that."

It’s Poison Parsnip. Yes, another plant that can make you pretty uncomfortable for a week or so. Most know about Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac and have seen someone with an itchy rash caused by one of them. Few know about a similar plant that is getting more and more common in Wisconsin and the Midwest.

Poison Parsnip is in about every ditch line on any back road right now. It’s easily recognizable by the yellow flowers on the top of it which are similar to Queen Anne’s Lace. While Queen Anne’s Lace is white, Parsnips are yellow. They are a little different than the other poison plants in that the poison is a photo sensitizer. The oils need light to make them irritable. If you get it on you in daylight, that’s enough. The rash is often mistaken for Poison Ivy.

Right now Poison Parsnip is easy to see because of its flowers. Soon those will be gone and it will look just like any other weed. Be careful of it though, it’s a nasty little pest and can cause some sleepless nights if you happen to get into it.

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of the radio show "How's Fishing"

Fishing With Slip-Bobbers on Deep Lakes

If you like to fish lakes (like Blackhawk Lake in Iowa County, WI for example) one of the things you quickly find out is that it’s difficult to cast your line out when fishing deep water with a bobber. The trailing line is hard to work with and often ends up wrapped around something or someone.

Try a slip-bobber for fishing when you need to fish deeper than a few feet. This is a very simple system consisting of a bobber stop, plastic bead and a bobber with a hole in it. The bobber stop can be bought in any sport shop and will slide onto your line and can be adjusted to any depth. The beauty of it is that it can be slid to any depth allowing you to fish as deep as you like. The plastic bead keeps your bobber from sticking on the bobber stop.

Slip-bobbers come in many sizes and styles. Choose the one that you like best and then when you find a place where the fish are at ten feet deep, you will be ready to get them without all the fuss and hassle of ten feet of line dangling from your rod and reel. They’re great for kids too.

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of the radio show "How's Fishing"

Try a Slip-Sinker for Fishing the Wisconsin River

Many people resist fishing on the Wisconsin River because they like to fish with a bobber. The current in the Wisconsin is too fast to make bobber fishing practical, but there is a way to do it that works really well.

A slip-sinker is the way to go when fishing the Wisconsin. All it consists of is a sinker with a hole in it. For example you can use an egg sinker, a bell sinker or a walking sinker. They all come in many weights and will work very well. You slide the sinker onto your line, pinch a split-shot about a foot above your hook and you’re all set.

When you cast out, the sinker will hold your bait near the bottom where the fish are and when you get a bite, the fish will pull the line through the hole in the sinker, letting you know they are biting.

This system also works well for catfishing where you use a pre-rigged plastic worm with a line on it. Instead of pinching a split-shot on the line, tie a snap swivel on and hook your catfish worm on it.

Try a slip-rig and you’ll have much better success on the Wisconsin or any river with a fast current.

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of the radio show "How's Fishing"

Black Bears in Southwestern Wisconsin

The following article appeared in our local paper (The Muscoda Progressive) last week which I found very interesting. The author and chief editor, Wendell Smith, provides unique insight to the increasing bear population in Southwest Wisconsin.

Random Thoughts of the Editor
A weekly column written by Wendell Smith in The Muscoda Progressive - 6/10/2010

The big topic of discussion in this community in recent days is not: "What do you think about the BP oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico?" or "Who is going the be the next Wisconsin governor?" or even the old standard "Think it's goin' to rain?"

It seems everywhere we go, the question is, "Have you seen a bear?" No, we have not seen a bear, but other folks have. The talk of the Town of Eagle Memorial Day morning was the bear sighted in the Richland County Hwy E area at its southern end. On some days it seems as though bear sightings are sprouting up more quickly than morel mushrooms in May. In recent weeks folks have been talking about seeing bears throughout SW Wisconsin.

It kind of reminds me of the excitement a deer sighting could cause in those first years we were in Muscoda. I recall the late Otto Mueller, south-side car mechanic and our neighbor, coming back from a trip to the Hickory Flat area, all excited because he had seen a deer. Believe it or not, in those days, farmers would get on the phone and call the neighbor if a deer was in sight - sort of like what is happening now with bears.

Guys who wanted to hunt deer didn't give this area much thought.  They headed to Jackson, Juneau, Wood or other counties to the north. Deer registration in this area was done just at the then Conservation Department (later DNR) nursery in Boscobel. So few hunters were successful in bagging a deer in this vicinity, I would go to the nursery and copy down the names of people who gunned one down - because it was news.

We hear a lot about disappearing habitat. But, you know, as the small farms disappeared, agriculture methods changed, including not pasturing the hillsides. That has resulted in the woods being much more dense. This area has become more wild with large acreages never experiencing a human footprint except perhaps in deer season. When you drive slowly along a rural road, there are many places you cannot see into the woods at all, or maybe just for a few feet. There could be all kinds of things in "them thar woods - maybe a b'ar" for a modern day Davy Crocket. Perhaps soon we will see one of the bears unless some other wild critter gets in the way, like a wolf or a cougar!