Last Updated: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 11:35 AM CDT
Outdoors : Backwater adventurers
by Mark Walters - Columnist
(An Outdoorsman’s Journal) - Hello friends.
About three weeks ago, my 18-year-old stepson, Kevin Dushek told me he would like to go on a winter camping trip with me.
Kevin is a senior at Necedah High School and his life is about to take a change this fall as he will be moving out and going to school at UW-Baraboo.
I actually did three things with Kevin over five days. First we participated in a KAMO rabbit hunt and picnic near Ladysmith. Next we headed north to Mellen and participated in an ice fishing tournament.
We finished our adventure by spending three days camped on the backwaters of the Mississippi river near Trempealeau, where we camped, fished for northern pike and hunted coyote.
Monday, February 25
High 24, Low 6
With three Otter Sleds in tow, Kevin Dushek and I made the two-mile journey to my campsite, which is located in a maze of channels, islands and cattail marshes.
I found this place back in the mid-90s by dragging a sled loaded with camping and fishing gear along with both of my dogs Star and Pearl. I used a hand auger, and about every 500-yards I would drill a hole and check the water depth. When I found a small bay with five feet of water connected to a channel with water depth up to eight feet, I set up camp.
That first year I caught some big gators and have returned many years since, some years I have the best fishing of my hard water season, other years, I don’t.
This afternoon we had no action with the tip-ups, but did have a pack of coyote within a thousand yards of camp, which we had no luck calling in after dark.
The last couple hours of daylight and for a while after, Kevin and I cooked a venison stew that I just learned how to make the day before.
Though this recipe probably will not do your heart or waistline any good, check it out. Take a pound of bacon, put it on the bottom of a pan. Next, add a whole bunch of venison or elk (we used elk), then cover it with onions and mushrooms. We also added red potatoes that we sliced up. Nothing else but your favorite seasoning is needed and the idea is to cook it slow while the bacon literally creates one very fine meal.
Tuesday, February 26
High 17, Low minus 5
After a winter of camping in harsh weather I have become comfortable with whatever the conditions throw at me. The most important rule for one to enjoy winter camping is preparation before the trip and a positive mental attitude while on it.
Our tent is covered with two plastic tarps, which help insulate it.
Last night, big time winds picked up after we had gone to sleep and it seemed like we were living inside a set of drums and the drummer was doing a lot of beating. At times it seemed like the tent and its occupants would be blown off the ice.
This morning, I was up before the sun and hopeful for a good fish bite or some action with a coyote call. When it came to catching fish, we averaged about one flag an hour and if something could go wrong, it did.
We were using 20-pound test monofilament line for leaders. After three, heavy fish cut our line; we switched to 40-pound test Power Pro. After the leader switch, we still could not ice a fish.
This afternoon we went on a long hike and tried calling a coyote into shotgun range. I had told Kevin if he caught a gator over 40-inches or harvested his first coyote, I would have one or the other mounted for his graduation present.
The same winds that kept us awake last night, were blowing all day long and made it pretty difficult for my mouth call to carry very far.
The rest of the day was spent fishing, by a campfire or snowmobiling.
Our last night on the ice was an enjoyable one in the tent. The next morning, we started actually catching fish, and as usual I was wishing I just had one more day on the ice.
I will miss winter!
Sunset
| Tell us what you think... |
| Comments » |
The
comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News. |
|
| Post a comment
(150 word limit) » |
| We will not post reader comments containing
racial, religious or personal attacks, slander,
profanity, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses,
phone numbers or Web site addresses that are
for personal or promotional gain. |
|
|
| Thank you for your comments! Once your comments
are approved, they will appear on the site. |
|
|
|
Kevin Dushek with a nice catch of northern pike caught on the Mississippi River near Trempealeau.
|
feed
Comments
