Bemidji, The First City on the Mississippi, Minnesota USA

 September 1, 2010
     Surface water temperatures are bouncing back and forth around the 70 degree mark, as summer makes its last stand in the Bemidji area.  Labor Day Weekend is the last big weekend of the summer. Many cabin owners put in their docks on Memorial Day and take them out on Labor Day. Most schools will be in session after Labor Day, so most of the fall visitors are retired or don’t have any children in school or they really like to hunt and fish.
     Just about the time many of the anglers are done fishing for the summer, the fishing starts to get good for most species. Nearly everything in the lakes will start to bite as the water temperatures pass through the 60s.
     Walleyes in deep lakes like Bemidji, Cass and Pike’s Bay have been moving off the sides of structure into deeper water. Some anglers have been using live bait rigs, while other anglers have switched back to jigs and minnows. Most of the walleye action has been in 18-26 feet of water, while most of the perch have been in 6-10 feet of water.   
     This is the time of year when anglers can find walleyes using many different patterns in the same lake. Some walleyes are using the edges of mid-lake structure, while others may be using the tops of bars and humps and still others may be using cabbage weed edges or feeding on shallow or deep rocks.
     Winnibigoshish has the best shallow walleye bite in the area, with walleyes on the large shoreline points, on patches of rock and gravel and on cabbage weed edges. Many anglers are using jigs and minnows or live bait rigs, but crank baits, jigs and plastics or spinner rigs will also catch fish.
     Muskie action has been slow, but muskie fishing should pick up as the water begins to cool into the 60s. Muskie anglers have been catching some nice pike while fishing for muskies, especially anglers using smaller jerk baits or large crank baits.
     Crappies are using deep weed edges on most lakes, with coontail or cabbage weeds with direct access to deep water often the key areas.  Anglers can use small jigs with minnows or jigs with plastic tails to catch most crappies.
      Sunfish will hold to the deep edges of the weeds much like crappies and are often mixed together on the best weed beds. Green weeds are often the key to holding panfish. Green weeds are good, brown weeds are bad. Once the weeds start to die-off, the fish leave.

Paul A. Nelson
Bemidji Area Lakes Guide Service
panelson@paulbunyan.net
218.759.2235

GUIDES AND EQUIPMENT                                                           BAIT SHOPS

Build Yourself a Lifesaver - C-J Johnson - Outdoor Media Relations

The winter's first ice is already skimming Minnesota lakes and ponds and, unfortunately, with it comes the ice tragedy season. Every year we hear of people drowning because they broke through ice they thought was safe.

We think to ourselves, "If I fell through, I'd just climb back onto the solid ice and be just fine." Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done. First, when you fall through the ice, you're taken by surprise (if you knew you were going to break through, you wouldn't have walked there in the first place, right?) The sudden shock to your body plunging into freezing water adds to the confusion and panic. Cold water saps body heat 25 times faster than air of the same temperature. Just try holding your hand in a sink full of ice water for more than a few seconds and you'll see what I mean.

And, should you accidentally fall through thin ice, then comes the difficult task of pulling oneself out of the cold water onto the surface of the wet and slippery ice. Unless you have a plan of action for just such emergencies, your chances of getting out safely can be pretty slim.

Should the need arise, here is a plan that can help increase your chances for surviving a sudden icy dip, you can purchase a set of commercially made ice rescue picks or "claws" or, if you have a few simple tools and a little skill in the workshop, you can make a set for a couple of dollars for materials.

1) Get two 4" pieces of wooden doweling the size of a broom handle or a little larger. Whatever material you select, it should float in case you drop the claws while struggling.

2) Drive a stout nail into one end of each dowel.

3) Use a file or grinder to sharpen the nail heads to a point.

4) Drill a hole into the dowels (in the end opposite the nail) and tie a length of strong cord through the hole so a pick is on each end..."jump-rope" fashion. Keep the picks in your pocket for quick emergency access if you or a companion do break through.

If you do break through, try to remain calm. Turn in the water towards the direction you came from - that is probably the strongest ice. Dig the points of the picks into the ice and while vigorously kicking your feet, pull yourself onto the surface by sliding forward on the ice. Roll away from the area of weak ice. Rolling on the ice will distribute your weight to help avoid breaking through again. Get to shelter, heat, warm dry clothing and warm, non-alcoholic, and non-caffeinated drinks. Call

911 and seek medical attention if you feel disoriented, have uncontrollable shivering, or have any other ill effects that may be symptoms of hypothermia (the life-threatening drop in the body's core temperature).

What If your buddy breaks through?

First tell them to "Stay calm" and that "We'll get you out of there."

Then throw them the picks and explain how to use them. Remember that by kicking their feet, the thrust of the kicks can help push them back onto the solid ice.

I hope you never have to use ?ice claws? on your ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing or hiking adventures on frozen waters this winter. But, just having a pair of these items with you may offer you a welcome ?comfort factor?.

CJ Johnson is an outdoor communications specialist with Explore Minnesota Tourism  www.exploreminnesota.com 

"EXPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM"
121 7th Place
Suite 100
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101