This Saturday is National Go Fishing Day! (And we will!)

 

My Stance on "BHA'S STANCE ON NEW E-BIKE GUIDANCE FROM THE FOREST SERVICE"

 (Apologies for not continuing my "what works" posts, but the weather in MinneSNOWta has not been conducive to stream fishing. We keep hoping!)

Originally posted by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers | April 12, 2022

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has consistently been a leading voice within the hunting, angling and conservation community for managing motorized vehicle use on our public lands responsibly and with wildlife in mind. As motorized bicycles, commonly known as “e-bikes,” have grown in popularity, BHA has actively engaged with land managers, decision makers and conservation partners who will help shape how future e-bike use on public lands is planned and managed.     

A recent decision by the U.S. Forest Service on e-bike use in national forests and grasslands has some good and some bad components. Where does BHA stand? 

First, here’s a breakdown of what this recent Forest Service decision means: 

What we like: 

• E-bikes are categorized as motorized vehicles – something for which BHA has strongly advocated. 

• It establishes new guidance for reclassifying non-motorized trails to incorporate e-bikes and combining mechanized vehicles and e-bikes on single trails where user conflicts are likely to exist. 
• It establishes polices for avoiding impacts to fish and wildlife habitat. 
• E-bikes on national forests and grasslands will now be limited to 750-watt motors and 28 miles per hour. 
• Allowances for game retrieval using e-bikes will remain. 
• It requires that development of any new trails and routes be contingent upon additional funding for administration and maintenance. 

What we remain concerned about: 

• Illegal user-created routes are not adequately addressed. This remains one of the most concerning issues for state wildlife management agencies as they address impacts to ungulate populations in particular. Guidance should address unauthorized user-created routes more directly, as well as concerning trends over the years from some in the biking community to leverage these into authorized use. 
• Monitoring and enforcement policies are conspicuously lacking in this guidance for establishing priorities for investing resources to monitor impacts on national forests and grasslands, in addition to enforcing illegal use. 
• This guidance creates a new specific e-bike only trail category. We are concerned that user conflicts and advocacy from the well-organized conventional mountain biking community will drive pressure for establishing new, separate-use trails under this category instead of combining uses on existing trails. 

BHA has been engaged in decisions regarding the management of e-bikes at both the local and national level. E-bikes, while offering a way to see parts of the backcountry that might otherwise not be accessible to many, are also known to cause major distress to wildlife and offer an ease of access to the backcountry that removes its wildness. The bikes make it easier for people to go deeper into the woods, which has an effect on animals such as deer and elk and their habitat.  

BHA believes e-bikes should be kept in zones designated for them, which this Forest Service guidance addresses. However, the difficulty of enforcing e-bike rules, identifying e-bikes at a distance, and allowing e-bikes to be officially accepted in national forests and grasslands is a problem that will cause more conflict between humans and wildlife and impact our wild public lands and waters.  

While improvements could be made, we are glad to see the U.S. Forest Service proactively develop guidance to better direct the use of e-bikes on public lands. We are hopeful that the Interior Department will follow the U.S. Forest Service’s lead and proactively help safeguard critical wildlife habitat and migratory corridors from ongoing motorized intrusions caused by the existing rules, which allow e-bikes anywhere traditional bicycles are allowed.  

MY VIEWS: 

It looks like my Cogburn fat-bike just got a new lease on life. Most of my backcountry bikefishing is done on non-motorized Forest Service trails in MN/WI. This should be a wake-up call for the ebike community, policy is made by those who show up. 25-30 years ago hikers and equestrians used these same arguments against mountain bikes. Now they’re allies. Is there a group advocating for e-bikes? Did they have a seat at the Forest Service table? There are some good things in these rules but they are still pretty exclusionary. What is the next step, after Unity?

I think too, that the e-bike industry has let it's community down. They're so busy being competitive that they fail to see the need to be cooperative. I've been a BHA member for over a decade, and on their Facebook group, the discussion is hot and heavy the opposite direction. I don't happen to agree with their position on this, but most of them, even those who use mountain bikes aren't old enough to remember the battles that took place to even allow MTBs on public lands. Today, mountain bikes have an advocacy organization, IMBA, and the industry recognizes that they are stronger together than separate. I would include the manufacturers in the group that couldn't/didn't find the time to respond, react, or engage when the Forest Service asked for input. Sadly, the results are what they are. Most National Forests have Hunter Walking Trails that are wide enough for, and used by hunters (Duh!), hikers, skiers, snowshoers, mountain bikers, and others. They should be open to e-bikes as well, but they aren't. They never showed up.

I’m 67 years old, have a bum left knee, ankle, and foot from various incidents since 7th grade forwards. Around 1993, I discovered mountain bikes and my outdoor world changed. I could go places faster, farther, deeper into the backcountry than my already damaged leg would previously allow. Along came the fat-bike. I’ve never been into motorized, it's just the way I came up in the Adirondack backcountry. The fat-bike was my ATV. I had a Pugsley, then QBP introduced the Cogburn, and it was love at first ride. Sadly, it was a short ride. Driven by whatever marketing factors do so, the Cogburn vanished from Q’s lineup after only three years. I kept mine; it is my primary bike these days.

Now there's the e-bike, and I admit that I’m intrigued, because I am going to have ankle replacement surgery later this summer. An e-bike may be in my future sooner than later. I really don't relish being relegated to the status of a second-class citizen, particularly by the agency I wish I had worked for as my career, and the organization I have belonged to and supported for over a decade. Accepting that "it is what it is" doesn't necessarily mean I'm happy about it.

What Works for Me - Part 1

The Cogburn at Little Isabella

The summer of 2021 was interesting in a number of aspects, particularly as a self-described backcountry fly-fisherman. A moderately mild winter was followed by a very warm and dry July, during which a major wildfire closed down the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and much of the Superior National Forest. Before that happened, we were able to take one trip to our favorite Superior campground, Little Isabella River National Forest Campground near Isabella. The overly warm conditions made it difficult to “test” some new, and/or revised equipment. In addition, my brand-new 2 wt. fly rod’s test run was cut short when I threw it into the car during a sudden thunderstorm and broke the tip-off. But more on that another time.

Several things continue to work well for me; primary among those were my Badger/TAO Tenkara fly rod, the Trout Routes smartphone app, and my trusty Cogburn Outdoors CB4 fat bike. In addition, I lost my 2007 Jeep Liberty to a very large deer while traveling at 65 mph on my way to work in late June, and replaced it with a 2016 Subaru Forester; our seventh Subaru. My Cabela’s RLS fly rod continues to serve me well, and my good old Eagle Claw 7.5 foot continued its many years of service after the similarly sized, previously mentioned Redington Trout Classic rod was broken.

Tenkara Adventure Outfitters (TAO) bought out Badger Tenkara several years ago and continues to provide the same great Tenkara rods and related gear and to support those of us who own equipment bought from the original manufacturer. My Badger Tenkara UNC (Un-Named Creek) rod has been my primary lake/pond fishing pole for about five years, and it is a lot of fun. It’s 8.5-foot length is good on most of the small streams I tend to fish, as well as from shore or in a canoe on a lake or pond. I have caught numerous panfish, bass, and some perch with it, although trout have managed to elude my fly. It is very easy and quick to deploy, and I carry it and a small Tenkara pocket pack with flies, leader/tippet, and spare line with me most of the time during trout season. I have enjoyed using it so much that I have purchased two additional Tenkara rods, one of which arrived over the winter. I will post more about them when I have a chance to evaluate them at Wisconsin Tenkara Trout Camp in June.

I am not necessarily a big fan of electronics in fishing, although like most people I have a smartphone with several different map applications and it. One of these that I have found virtually (pun intended) indispensable is the Trout Routes App. I met the developer, Zach Pope, at the last Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo before the Covid pandemic hit, and the application was just in its early stages. I was impressed with it enough to buy an iPhone when it came time to replace/upgrade my cell phone because initially, the app was designed for iPhones. Over the past four years, Trout Routes capabilities and coverage have increased significantly with new states and streams being added on a regular basis. You can bring up any designated trout stream in any of the 23 states currently covered (and that number keeps increasing) and find topography, access points, easements, public lands, and more. You can download the streams you will be fishing into your phone for off-the-grid access, and most recently you can also find stream reports and state-by-state regulations, including restrictions or specifics on a given stream. As part of the 10 essentials, I always carry a paper map and compass with me, but when I go stream fishing, Trout Routes is always on my belt.

Finally, let me once again sing the accolades of my now-discontinued Cogburn CB4 fat bike. No, it is not an e-bike, but many of the trails are used to access streams on the Chequamegon, Superior, and Chippewa National Forests do not allow motorized vehicles, and electric-assist bicycles are considered motorized under that definition. I have no doubt that my next bicycle will be an e-bike (I’m leaning toward a Bakcou Flatlander, but we’ll see.) but for now, I’m perfectly content to pedal along on the 4-inch-wide tires of my Cogburn. Its sturdy construction, solid rims, and tubed tires make it truly a human-powered All-Terrain Vehicle. I have it set up with my Garman Edge Explorer 1000 GPS and my iPhone on the handlebars to use the above-mentioned Trout Routes app when Bikefishing. It’s been working very well.

I am going to make a concerted effort to post to this blog more frequently this season. Minnesota stream trout season opens two weeks from yesterday, and I was speaking with some representatives from MN DNR Fisheries about some interesting prospects in Pine and Carlton counties here in Minnesota, and as I mentioned I will be going to the Wisconsin Tenkara Trout Camp the first week of June. Additionally, my wonderful, beautiful, fantastic, fly fishing wife has booked us for a guided trout fishing excursion on the Bois Brule River in northwest Wisconsin in mid-June. So at least for a few months, there should be plenty of material, including reviews of my new Tenkara rods, my replacement Redington fly rod, and some other neat stuff I think you’ll enjoy. Hopefully, I’ll figure out how to have the time to write about it.

Tight lines and clear waters!

Hans

Mentioned in this blog:

Trout Routes: https://troutinsights.com/

Tenkara Adventure Outfitters: https://taotenkara.com/

BakCou Hunting e-Bikes: https://bakcou.com/

 

A Look Back: Snowshoeing and the Importance of the "10 Essentials"

(Note: I originally wrote this article for "Snowshoe Magazine" in 2015. The "MASV" (car) has changed, several times, actually, I have new snowshoes, and I am now over 65. But the importance of being prepared is still the same.)

I woke up to the unexpected sound of a snowplow going by the motel room, got up and looked out the window to find about four inches of new powder on my van. (By agreement with my wife, now that I am over 50, when I am solo I either stay in a motel, hostel or campground.)

I switched on the TV, although the only station I would find was a translator for the Twin Cities CBS affiliate, 200 miles away. The morning weather guy went on and on about some fundraiser he and the traffic gal were involved in, but when he finally got to the state-wide radar, I could see that the bulk of the storm was past the area I was in. I got dressed and headed across the parking lot to the Gosh Dam Place (a restaurant, bar and motel/hostel on the road to the dam on Lake Winnebigoshish) for a hearty breakfast.

After breakfast, I cleared the snow off my Multi-Activity Support Vehicle (an AWD Dodge mini-van.) and headed six miles up the road to the Simpson Creek Primitive Area for the second day of a two day visit. I have only been up to Simpson once other time in the winter, the previous year for a Candlelight Ski Event, and was anxious to experience more of it. During the summer, I have been a trail patrol volunteer at Simpson Creek for over five years.

Our volunteer group, the Backcountry Trail Patrol, was initially formed to help the U.S. Forest Service maintain the mountain bike trails in the Cutfoot Sioux Lake area, where the Simpson trails are located, and we expanded to do ski and snowshoe patrols in other venues over the past couple years. The trails at Simpson are not groomed, and are open to both cross-country/backcountry skiing and snowshoeing, as well as winter hiking. The day before I had been in the Primitive Area for a couple of hours, and found that the trails were icy, crusty and definitely not very good skiing. Unfortunately, conditions were so crusty that they even made for poor snowshoeing, and caused my wood framed shoes to slip without crampons bolted on. The night’s snow would make travel a lot more enjoyable.

Back in the early 1900s, Sam Simpson had the logging contract for the Cutfoot Sioux area. His main camp was located near what we now call “Simpson Creek”. Today, the US Forest Service manages the same area as one accessible by human-powered transportation only. No ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes or even horses are allowed in the Primitive Area. Hikers, mountain bikers, skiers and snowshoers are all welcome on the 13 miles (20 Km) of trails at Simpson Creek. The trails wind though tall pines, white birch and old oak trees, often overlooking Cutfoot Sioux Lake. In addition to the Simpson trails, winter visitors can also enjoy the 18-mile long Cutfoot Sioux National Recreational Trail, which is primarily an equestrian trail during the summer, but seems to have seen little or no use over the course of the winter. The Cutfoot trail passes through the center of the Simpson Creek trail system, then makes a loop around the Cutfoot Sioux Experimental Forest, starting and ending at the visitor center on MN Hwy. 46. You can also access the Simpson Creek trails from the either end of the visitor center parking lot, but my favorite access point is the “A” trailhead and parking area, just west of Simpson Creek on Eagles Nest Road.

I think 2005 has been a very good year for snow in the Chippewa National Forest, and I found many areas with two feet or more of snow on them. As I had surmised, the trails were now perfect for snowshoeing, with three to four inches of new snow on top of six inches to almost three feet of old, corn snow with a crust. With temperatures hanging just below freezing, and the sun peaking through the clouds, I strapped on my snowshoes, put my pack on my back, Stetson on my head and was off for a nice solo hike.

The last time I was snowshoeing, it was with my wife in the Superior National Forest, between the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) Wilderness and Lake Superior’s north shore, about 200 miles east of where I was now. We were carrying two pair of snowshoes and three pair of skis, and had initially planned to ski the loop around Flathorn Lake. The snow in that part of Minnesota was even deeper than that which I was traversing today, and my wife was having trouble controlling my Trak Bushwacker skis, along with balancing her camera and tripod, so I suggested that she change to snowshoes. However, since the bindings on her old pair were broken, she would have to use mine. We swapped, and were on our way. All of a sudden, Ellen discovered that she could stop to set up and take pictures without having to worry about her feet sliding out from under her. Hills were no longer daunting, and when she wasn’t taking photos, she could pretty much keep up with the pace I set on my skis. For me, the switch was also ideal; since this was a trail system almost designed for the Bushwackers, and I had a blast. When we were done, she looked across the van at me and said, “I think I like snowshoeing a lot more than skiing.” I figured, okay…we’ll upgrade your gear.

But that was last month, and my wife was 200 miles to the south, in our Twin Cities home. Cell phones barely worked out here, if at all. The visitor center was closed. Any pictures of me had to be taken with a timer, because I was on my own. Understand, that is not a problem to me. I was carrying the entire “10 Essentials” in my pack, was very familiar with the trails, and have been snowshoeing for 35 years or more. I was just reveling in the day. Then I tripped.

Probably the only thing worse than falling with your snowshoes and feet folded up behind you would be being stuck in that position and getting a “Charlie horse” in your thigh. Of course that was exactly what happened. Here I am in three feet of snow, my legs folded behind me and intense pain growing in my left thigh. I sat there for a sec, and thought “Well, isn’t this a fine predicament?”

Photo of me taken that day,

The only time I could remember being in a similar spot, was years back when we lived in the east. I was training a new search and rescue dog with a friend of mine in Vermont, and I got stuck in the snow well under a spruce tree. The big difference that time was that I had my legs to propel me up onto the snow, and here my legs were folded and cramping. But the concept was a good one. I figured if I could get my body horizontal, I could get my legs in a position to push out on the snowshoes, roll onto my back, and then get up. It worked, but message to self…next time take off the daypack first! Once I got my leg straightened out, the cramp eased, and I was able to get back on my feet. I proceeded on. (I love that line! It’s from the journals of Lewis and Clark.)

Was I ever in any real danger? Given my level of experience and the conditions, probably not, but I also am (hopefully) smart enough to realize it could have been different. Thankfully, I enjoyed the rest of my hike, made it back to the MASV where I had left my lunch, and headed back home, none the worse for wear.

Moral of the story: Always carry the 10 Essentials when you hike, ski or snowshoe. You never know when your life may depend on them. They are: 1) Navigation (map and compass) 2) Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen) 3) Insulation (extra clothing) 4) Illumination (headlamp, flashlight, bulb and batteries) 5) First-aid kit (with warming packs) 6) Fire (fire starters and matches/lighter) 7) Repair kit and tools (including knife or multi-tool) 8) Nutrition (extra food) 9) Hydration (extra water) and 10) Emergency shelter.

After the Tournament

(Note: I meant to post this early in November, but life has a way of getting in the way of things you intend to do. Here it is, to be followed shortly by my review of equipment, and my habitat report.)

Yes, I did take part in the Trails to Trout Tournament in Sparta, Wisconsin, in the Wisconsin Driftless Region, the second weekend of October. No, I did not win, place, or show. In fact, (as usual) I didn’t even catch any trout. But that does not mean that the experience wasn’t beneficial. Since I had never participated in a fishing tournament of any kind before October 9th, I really had no idea what to expect. I had exchanged some emails with the organizers at the Sparta Chamber of Commerce, and had not fully explored the Fish Donkey app through which the tourney was organized, so part of my diminished expectations have to be on me. I would, however, like to share some of the things I learned.

First of all, Fish Donkey is a great way to run an event like this. Virtual fishing tournaments are becoming more and more popular, and although this was my first experience with one, I can see where it makes organizing and putting on an event like this much easier. Essentially, you signed into www.fishdonkey.com and create an account, scroll through the list of tournaments, or enter a keyword such as “trout," select the tournament you want to enter from the list, fill out your information, pay whatever fee is required, and on the given date, go fishing. You do need to purchase a measuring board, either from Fish Donkey’s online store, or from another source, such as Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops. Then, when you catch a fish, you take a picture of it on the measuring board and a picture of you holding it, then release the fish back into the water it came from. The advantage of this for organizers is that they do not have to have someone at a measuring station for the duration of the event (this tournament was nine days long) as it is all compiled virtually. The disadvantage, at least to my point of view, is there is nobody available to answer questions should you need clarification. Although everything you need is contained in the app, such as maps, rules, and contacts, it takes some digging around and web savvy to find them. Also, the contact information in this particular instance was a very busy Chamber executive who was hard to get a hold of.

I want to put in a plug here for my friends at Trout Routes. (https://troutinsights.com/) (Full Disclosure: I am an Ambassador for them.) I use the TroutRoutes app almost every time I go fishing.  Having not fully figured out the Fish Donkey app the first morning I was there, Trout Routes saved the day with detailed maps and information, and even more so later, as the maps I did ultimately find did not have the stream information I needed. I have my Cogburn fat-bike set up so the phone with Trout Routes is right next to my Garmin GPS, for quick navigation. 

Incidentally, the winners of this very first Bikefishing tournament I’d ever heard of, were locals from within 30 miles or so of Sparta, and were able to fish most if not all of the nine days. I believe there were something like 40 entrants, although I only saw two or possibly three of them the weekend that I was able to be there, and only had a chance to speak with one of them.

Hopefully, we will be able to put on a similar tournament in Northwestern Wisconsin late next spring. I have wanted to have an event like this for several years, but the Covid pandemic has kept it from happening. Tentatively, the event would be centered on Drummond, Wisconsin, and include some really great trout fisheries. If the nonprofit that I want to support approves the plan, I will be looking for sponsors, swipe, and collaborators. Stay tuned, because there will be more information to come.

Be Part Of the Midwest's First Bikefishing Tournament!

I entered! I will be there the second weekend. (I'm working the first few days of the tourney.) 

Trails to Trout Fishing Tournament

October 2-10, 2021 | Sparta, WI
$20 Entry Fee | FishDonkey App

Make plans to visit Sparta, WI to fish October 2-10, 2021 for a chance to win a Wyatt Maverick Bicycle retrofitted specifically for those who wish to explore bike fishing (value $3,000), this an all-terrain fat bike was designed and manufactured in Bangor, WI providing an unrivaled ride, comfort and handling via its unique frame design, oversized tires, hydraulic brakes, and front inverted suspension.

A prize winner will be randomly drawn out of the top 5 positions in the stringer category.

All fish entered in the tournament will be photographed, measured, and recorded with the FishDonkey app.

https://www.fishdonkey.com

Have fun and FISH ON!

TroutRoutes and Trout Unlimited Partner for Conservation

I use Trout Routes on pretty much every trip fishing our public lands and waters. I am also a Trout Unlimited member.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota— TroutRoutes, the leading mapping platform for trout fishing, is proud to announce their partnership with Trout Unlimited in hopes to help further coldwater conservation and restoration in the United States. TroutRoutes will donate 1% of revenue each year directly to Trout Unlimited to help fund their efforts. 

Trout Unlimited, founded in Michigan in 1959, is a national non-profit organization with 300,000 members and supporters dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Their staff and volunteers work from coast to coast to protect, reconnect, restore and sustain trout and salmon habitat on behalf of today’s anglers and coming generations of sportsmen and women who value the connection between healthy, intact habitat and angling opportunity.

The mission of Trout Unlimited perfectly complements the goal of TroutRoutes—to leverage technology and data to create an enhanced and more informed angling experience, opening up new fishing opportunities to anglers across the country and instilling a love of fishing and coldwater conservation for generations to come. 

TroutRoutes has currently mapped out over 18,000 trout streams across 16 different states, allowing users to discover more water and gain valuable insight with current stream conditions, public land and easements, elevation charts, and more. With the ability to add detailed stream objects, favorite streams, and notes and images, anglers are able to keep track of their trip and have the information readily available next time they set out to cast. TroutRoutes also offers offline maps allowing anglers to find their way even in areas of limited to no cell service. The app is available on both iOS and Android smartphones as well as Desktop computers. 

Zachary Pope, CEO and Founder of TroutRoutes stated, “We chose to partner with Trout Unlimited because we believe in what they’re trying to accomplish.” He goes on to say, “We know they are the most capable and effective group to tackle the increasingly challenging coldwater conservation issues facing the US. This is the first step of many to further align our company’s mission and products with what we believe is best for the industry. In the future, we intend to further align our TroutRoutes platform with conservation through new features that promote education, proper etiquette, temperature awareness and more.” In addition to managing TroutRoutes, Zachary is also involved in volunteering and board leadership of local Trout Unlimited chapter, Twin Cities Trout Unlimited. 

To learn more about Trout Unlimited and their conservation efforts, visit www.tu.org.

For more information on TroutRoutes, visit www.troutinsights.com. 

Pedal as an Alternative to Electric?

 

I am posting this to both @fatbikeanglers and @fatbikehunter on Facebook, as well as on my blog, to promote friendly discussion, not get in arguments, because there really isn’t any right or wrong answer.

E-bikes versus human-powered fat-bikes: I’m 67 years old, have a bum left knee, ankle, and foot from various incidents since 7th grade forwards. Around 1993, I discovered mountain bikes and my outdoor world changed. I could go places faster, farther, deeper into the backcountry than my already damaged leg would previously allow. Then came the fat-bike. I’ve never been into motorized, just the way I came up in the wilds. The fat-bike was my ATV. I had a Pugsley, then QBP introduced the Cogburn, and it was love at first ride. Sadly, it was a short ride. Driven by whatever marketing factors do so, the Cogburn vanished from Q’s lineup after only three years.

Comes the e-bike, and I admit that I’m intrigued, but I’m a backcountry angler, and most of the backcountry I fish is the National Forests of MN and WI, and the US Forest Service still doesn’t allow e-bikes off established roadways. The Cogburn can go where its electric cousins can’t. It weighs half as much, doesn’t require charging the battery, and a decent one can be purchased for about $1000. But, and here’s my point: The majority of bikes of both kinds are made in China and are facing shortages due to the pandemic. Pedal-powered bikes are, however, more available than e-bikes. I’m seeing backorders of popular e-bikes models of up to a year, where most local bike shops have fat bikes in stock. Would you consider a non-electric bike as an alternative to an e-bike? Why or why not?

 

Curious Visit to a Curious Creek

 What do Rep Your Water, the Trout Routes App, and the COVID-19 pandemic have in common? You might not think much, but you also might be surprised, as I was today.

My nature is such that I embraced Rep Your Water's "Fish, Explore, Conserve" campaign the first time I saw it; a simple leather patch that I don't believe was ever marketed, at least so far. Similarly, I started using the Trout Routes App as soon it was available for Android, Although the most advanced version is an iPhone product. Accordingly, it was the first app I bought when I got my new iPhone SE last fall. It has enabled me to "fish and explore" a variety of new and secluded locations during this year that the pandemic has required us to "fish local." I've written previously about my exploits at trying to figure out how County Ditch #3 in the neighboring county ever got designated as a trout stream. I still haven't found any there.

Dawdling my time away this Saturday morning, I happened upon an easement that I had never noticed before. I don't know if it was new, or I just hadn't looked in that direction, although I do most of my pan fishing on the lake's west of where I live. In any event, there is this stream. According to Trout Routes, it is located on an easement. It is fairly close, within easy cycling distance, of my house. I went out and looked at it today. There are improvements, a spot that looks like a parking pull off, although it's full of snow right now, and there is a stream. I'm not going to tell you exactly where it is, but it is local, it is on the app, and I am going to explore it. I don't even know if there are fish there yet. Time will tell.

And I might even give County Ditch #3 another try too.

My (Almost) Troutless Trout Season (Habitat Report, 2020)

Gabby, a young friend of mine, posted a meme on her Facebook page that read, ""2020 is like looking both ways before you cross the street, and getting hit by an airplane."" It's an excellent assessment of what was probably the most unusual year I can remember experiencing. Things started out fairly well, and we in the Minnesota Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers were getting ready for the Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo when the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 that had been festering in the background since late 2019 took a turn for the worse and became a full-fledged pandemic. Great Waters was canceled, along with a host of other activities in what was supposed to be a two-week shutdown. Our much anticipated Bikefishing Workshop at Trailhead Cycle in Champlin was postponed twice before we finally decided to try again next year. The shutdown ended up being more like five months, the effects of which are still on hand, with numerous restrictions still in place.

As the governor slowly started allowing people to do things again, specifically urging Minnesotans to get outside, one of the activities that was allowed was fishing. Travel was still restricted both in Minnesota and next-door in Wisconsin, but we could go to nearby lakes and fish for bluegill, crappie, and other continuous season species. Mid-April rolled in with the inevitability of taxes postponed for ninety days. That same weekend was the opener of Stream Trout Season in the majority of Minnesota outside of the Driftless Region, and it was our first chance to get out and try chasing rainbows. My wife and I traveled up to St. Croix State Park east of Hinckley for the trout opener. We fished Hay Creek (Pine County) in the park, and Crooked Creek in the Chengwatona State Forest, not catching anything but enjoying the opportunity to get out and on the water. 

Because of the pandemic restrictions, we decided not to invest in Wisconsin fishing licenses this year, (a decision we would later regret) and initially decided to stay in Minnesota, focusing on the North Shore, Superior National Forest, and the Chippewa National Forest. Over the course of the next few weeks, we made fishing excursions to Silver Bay, fishing the Beaver and Baptism and Nemadji Rivers, Bensen Lake in the George Crosby-Manitou State Park, and Kremer and Doctor Lakes in the Suomi Hills Non-Motorized Area of the Chippewa National Forest before finally breaking down and heading to Wisconsin. 

The first and foremost observation I have to make about fishing this year, and its possible effect on the habitat, is people. People were everywhere. Cabin fever was taking its toll, and when the governor allowed us hearty Minnesotans to get outside, we went fishing. The Minnesota DNR reported an 11% overall increase in fishing license sales with sales on the opening weekend reaching a record 27% higher than in previous years. Similarly, in Wisconsin the DNR there reported over a 104,000 more license sales over 2019's numbers. (Interesting note from the Minnesota DNR was a 17% increase in youth license sales.) 

One of the reasons I concentrate on ""Backcountry"" angling is due to the lack of people around while in fishing. During those first few weeks when I was primarily lake fishing, in places where I would normally have found him one or two other people, I sometimes found it hard to even find a spot by the water. Finland and Eckbeck State Forest campgrounds on the Baptism River were full to overflowing each of the times we drove through them, and the river had been heavily fished and was unproductive. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the US Forest Service chose to not open our favorite Superior NF campground, Little Isabella River, so we never had the chance to fish there this year. Superior National Forest and the Arrowhead Region in general have been receiving less than normal amounts of precipitation, and accordingly, stream levels were low. One spot that I had hoped to fish was already occupied by a young black bear, so I didn't catch anything that day. 

Probably my best fishing weekend was Independence Day on the Chippewa National Forest. Although I was angling for trout, my wife and I came up with a half-dozen nice sized smallmouth bass. The Chippewa has seen more precipitation than its neighbor to the east, so the vegetation was lush, and trails into the interior were in very good condition for my Cogburn fat bike. There, as on the Superior, anyplace that was accessible by vehicle was heavily overused. Additionally, many of the people taking to the outdoors were inexperienced, with no knowledge of Tread Lightly or Leave No Trace and they left copious amounts of litter behind for others to clean up. In some cases, restrooms (vault latrines) remained shuttered until after July 4th, and in those locations, visitors left more than just litter. Interestingly, however, less than a mile into the interior at Doctor Lake, there was no crowd, no litter, and no conflicts. 

By the middle of July conditions had improved enough in Wisconsin for us to start visiting Chequamegon National Forest again, and we spend our vacation at Beaver Lake USFS Campground near Marengo. Fishing Whiskey Creek, the Marengo River, 18-Mile Creek, Porcupine Creek, Johnson Springs Pond, Beaver Lake, Lake Three, and the Namakagon River, we had numerous strikes but didn't bring anything to shore, with the exception of a minuscule trout fingerling that hooked onto my fly as I was retrieving it at the end of the day on Porcupine Creek in the Porcupine Lake Wilderness Area. (That's why I included the ""almost"" in the title.) Again, we saw more people in the backcountry areas than I could remember seeing in my thirty plus years visiting Chequamegon. Even in the Wilderness Area, the trailheads were full of cars, and there were people on the trails. However, going only 50 to 100 feet off the trail following the creek, and you were alone again. Of the lakes and ponds that we fished, Johnson Springs was the most enjoyable, even though we didn't catch any fish. Although the surface of the lake was placid, casting the fly would almost always result in it looking like the fly line hit a wall and dropped. Wetting your finger and holding it up in the air, I realize that 8 feet or so above ground/water there was a light breeze blowing directly towards me onshore. The fish were and are out there. We could see them hitting the surface, but without spin casting gear, we couldn't reach them. Our biggest regret came in not buying a seasonal husband-wife fishing license, opting instead for two-week licenses on each of our trips up there, which cost us thirty-five dollars more than a regular license would have. 

Western Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest has received far more rain than Superior National Forest. Vegetation is lush, and the streams are flowing free and deep. Water is by in large, clear and there is an abundance of fry, fingerlings, and aqueous insects for fish to feed on. One angler showed me pictures on his phone of three 15-inch or better brown trout he caught on the Namakagon River between Cable and Hayward. Water levels had reduced during our last visit in early October, but the fall colors were beautiful due to the early frost the area received in September. 

Hopefully, 2021 will see a return to some sort of normalcy. Although it may mean a decline in license sales, we can hope that the inexperienced and ""slob"" fishermen (and hunters) will have found other avenues for their favorite activities reducing human impact on the forests. Although as previously mentioned, I am primarily an angler, wildlife is abundant, particularly on the Chippewa and Chequamegon forests, and seasons for turkey, game birds, small game, deer and bear should be quite productive. 

Our goals for next year, presuming that things are more normal than they were earlier this year, are to conduct at least one and as many as three bikefishing workshops starting with our friends at Trailhead Cycle, and possibly even a Bikefishing booth at the Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo in St. Paul. We also are looking forward to opportunities to visit with Minnesota High School League fishing teams to talk about fly fishing, backcountry angling and bikefishing. We are also hoping to play a role in the establishment of a fishing team at Jordan High School and promoting a qualifier for the Fly Fishing Team USA in the Driftless Region later in the spring. 

Wishing everyone a good winter season, whatever your favorite outdoor activities may be, and we will keep you posted on our plans here at MNBackcountry1.org.

BIKE2FISH Challenge: Finding Solitude and Fitness in a COVID-19 World

           “Gone Fishing.” This year it seems that everyone in the worlds (See my other blog, www.GewellynChronicles.com to understand why “worlds” is plural.) has gone fishing. Recently, a podcast that I listen to regularly, “Casting Across,” did an episode on that very subject. (https://castingacross.com/ep-95/) In Minnesota alone, where we live, fishing license sales are at all-time record numbers. Accordingly, everywhere you would go fishing, someone else, or someones else are there already. Places that rarely saw pressure were in some cases literally packed.

            Unfortunately, where I live in central Minnesota the only real flowing water is the Rum River, and it is not a trout stream. Smallmouth bass, yes. Northern pike, them too. Our neighboring county, Chisago, does have a couple of streams designated by the DNR as trout streams, but I have yet to locate any in a place with the totally uninspiring name of “County Ditch Number 3.” (Yes, that’s really its name, and it’s really supposed to hold trout.) So, I content myself with catching panfish and itty-bitty bass in the numerous small lakes near our home. Given the chance this season, I have finished trout waters of the North Shore of Minnesota (where I encountered a furry fellow in the spot I wanted to fish), Saint Croix State Park, Chippewa National Forest, Ramsey Creek near Redwood Falls, and of course, my “happy place,” the Chequamegon National Forest.

            Now, to my point, in each of the places I just named there were no other people other than my wife and me. No problem with social distancing, no real need to wear a mask, no large crowds. You can get away from the crowds, wherever they may be, you can be somewhere else. As noted in previous posts, I have a bum left foot and ankle, which is why I use my fat-bike to access the backcountry. However, this is led to another discovery; because of COVID, my age (I turn 66 next week), a fairly sedentary job, and possibly, because my wife is such an excellent cook, I am in crappy shape. I want to fish away from crowds, and I greatly prefer small streams and spring-fed lakes, and I want to be able to reach them without bursting a lung to do so. So, I’ve come up with a plan.

            If you’ve read any of my previous posts this year, you know that the pandemic is also the cause of the delay, and ultimately the cancellation of our first “Bike to Fish” bikefishing workshop. (We’re going to try again next year, hopefully, the second Saturday after the fishing opener.) From that planned workshop as grown an idea that I call the “BIKE2FISH Challenge.” The challenge consists of riding a number of miles to be determined, fishing a number of backcountry streams and/or lakes, in a given amount of time, probably in the neighborhood of six hours. More than likely this will take place in the northern Chequamegon National Forest, although it could also happen in the Superior National Forest outside of the BWCA Wilderness. I will be posting the details as I work them out.

            In order to put something like this together, I have to be able to do it myself; ride the miles, catch the fish, in the time limit. That’s my challenge to me. That’s what I’m going to be working on for the rest of the season, and as soon as it starts next year. I’m not opposed to e-bikes as much as I used to be, but I’m also not ready for one yet. E-bikes would take some of the "challenge" out of the Challenge, so for me, it will be done on the Cogburn.

Next week I will be celebrating my birthday by riding the remaining stretch of the Willard Munger State Trail that I haven’t ridden, 23 miles from Barnum to Carlton on my touring bike; my longest distance bike ride in a number of years. I’ll be spending the week getting ready, and I’ll let you know how it goes.

GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT BECOMES LAW!

News for Immediate Release
Aug. 4, 2020
Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org

President signs ‘once in a generation’ conservation and access bill following
strong support by Congress, unrelenting advocacy by BHA and others

WASHINGTON – Following strong, bipartisan votes in the Senate and House of Representatives and outspoken support by public lands sportsmen and women, the President this morning signed the Great American Outdoors Act into law.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has consistently urged Congress to prioritize funding for public lands and waters. The Great American Outdoors Act, or GAOA, achieves a longtime BHA goal by ensuring full and dedicated funding at $900 million annually for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a popular and successful program that funds conservation and public access projects across the United States. (The Dingell Act, which became law last year, permanently reauthorizes LWCF.) GAOA also includes $9.5 billion over five years to address critical maintenance backlogs on public lands and waters.

BHA President and CEO Land Tawney commended members of Congress and the President for championing the bill, while crediting grassroots sportsmen and women for their unrelenting advocacy in fighting for its passage.

“Today we unite in celebration of our public lands and waters,” said Tawney. “Success has many fathers and mothers, and without the dedicated, unwavering support of so many – ranging from rank-and-file hunters and anglers, outdoor recreationists and business owners to members of Congress and the President – we would never have achieved this hard-won victory.

“Conservation has never been the province of a single party nor owned by a particular constituency, as illustrated by the super majority votes cast by our elected officials – 73-25 in the Senate and 310-107 in the House,” Tawney continued. “We are all public land owners. Today we can give thanks that our shared lands and waters will receive the funding critical to maintain important habitat for fish and wildlife, uphold opportunities for all to access and enjoy the outdoors, and sustain our irreplaceable outdoors legacy. Thank you, Mr. President, for listening to the American people and signing this historic legislation into law.”

Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act was made possible by a bipartisan group of congressional leaders, including Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Reps. Joe Cunningham (D-SC), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), to name just a few.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the voice
for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife.

I am a proud member of the BHA and Trout Unlimited, both of which fought to pass this legislation. Both Minnesota Senators and my Congressman, Pete Stauber, voted in favor of the bill.

 

UPDATED: Bike to Fish CANCELLED for 2020

Bike to Fish CANCELLED for 2020

Postponed Again: Due to ongoing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, group sizes and social distancing, we are reluctantly postponing the Bike to Fish 2020 bikefishing workshop until a date to be announced later. We will be working with our non-profit partners, tentative guest speaker, and Trailhead Cycling to come up with a mutually acceptable date that allows for the most flexibility when the pandemic restrictions have eased, Thank you for your interest and understanding.

Trailhead Cycling 11350 Aquila Dr. N, Ste 505, Champlin, Minnesota 55316

Our first workshop ever is back to the drawing board. The session will introduce participants to "bikefishing", riding your bike in pursuit of trout, walleye, bass, and panfish. We will post details here as they develop. Some bikes and fishing tackle will be available, or you can bring your own. Seating is limited and the suggested donation is $10.00 per participant. We are waiting to hear about developments with the COVID-19 situation from the Governor's office. If necessary, we will limit attendance to 10 people and schedule a second session in July. Masks/buffs are encouraged. Bring your own lunch, but bottled water will be available. More info to follow as we pull things back together.