Sunfish

Renee and I went fishing today. Without any high tech stuff we caught 15 nice sunnies down by Bedman's.

Bass Fishing and Boat Safety

We've always been more inclined to feed fish from the end of the dock than to catch them. All those odd hot dog buns and bread crusts work fine for that. Leftover leeches (that white styrofoam container in the fridge after a fishing weekend) worked great when the bass came around to see why the sunnies were so excited. So we get a little irritated when the bass boats come quietly cruising by with their electric motors, getting their lines and lures tangled in the boat lift, trying to catch our fish friends.

When we were kids, the strict rule was, SIT DOWN IN THE BOAT. The Minnesota state quarter design was criticized when it was selected because it broke two rules of safe boating. Sit down and wear a life jacket. I agree. Here's a boat going by today. One of them did catch a nice bass underneath Duane and Betty's willow tree that overhangs the water. But they released it.

Mayflies and Hungry Fish

Really, Andrea, it's the sign of a healthy lake. They don't bite, eat, sting, nothing. Just hang out. Like teenagers around Legion Park on summer nights.

While only one fish was eating bread, the others were already on the appetizers - mayflies. The mayflies that don't make it up to the house to stick there and annoy us, actually flutter around on the top of the lake, and the fish are having a feast. Here is a video showing the underwater progress of a hungry fish eating mayflies.

Lake Ida fishermen and an early morning fox

We got up at sunrise, and there were some die-hard ice fisherman out on south Lake Ida. The nights have been below freezing, but warmer in the daytime. I went out on the deck to take this picture, and the only noise I could hear was a robin singing, "Yes, it's spring!" and a Canada goose honking somewhere in the distance.
Then I got a whiff of skunky smell, which is also a sign of spring, when they come out of hibernation with warmer weather. And immediately get hit by a car. What a bummer. But this time it wasn't a skunk. Trotting along the near edge of the farm field across the road was a scruffy, little red fox, hunting for something to eat. They also have a skunky, musky smell. Chipmunks were already out, looking for food today.