Journal of a Minnesota Angler

After a snow-crazy April, Spring came in like a lion. We went from 3″ of snow dropping on us on Monday (and 7″ the week before), to 70 degree temps 3 days in a row. With that, Spring made its presence known and Ice Out Watch 2013 can now begin in earnest. Unlike last year when ice out took a matter of days across the state, this year, anglers are nervous about whether ice out would happen in time for Fishing Opener. A conversation with a resident of Park Rapids, MN yesterday revealed... (more...)

While the recent weather hasn’t indicated that it is Spring, Mother Nature continues to show signs that it is on its way. The sun is showing itself a little more often, weather forecasters are predicting temps in the 50s (F) next week (we’ll ignore the snow predicted tonight), and Spring babies are starting to appear. We saw proof of that last sign when a pair of bald eagles in Central Minnesota welcomed an eaglet to their home 75 feet in the air. The “birth” was broadcast... (more...)

It’s been a weird Spring in Minnesota, even by Minnesota standards. Our average high these days is in the mid-50s, but we’ve only had one or two 50 degree F highs so far this year. And now, we’re expected to get 6-10 inches of snow by noon tomorrow. And the chances of it is 100%. By mid-March last year, the ice was gone and we had already seen 80 degrees. This year, it’s nearly mid-April and the ice just started showing signs of receding from shore. What a difference... (more...)