High water impacting fishing conditions in Minnesota

The story of the spring that’s getting a number of consideration and creating in depth frustration is unquestionably the flooding. The excessive water is affecting many facets of Minnesota life.

Driving by the Briggs Lake Chain this previous week made me notice how in depth the flooding actually is. Though the water was receding, the excessive water just about made the boat landings unusable.

The identical goes for the Horseshoe Chain. After we handed over the Sauk River on the best way to Sauk Heart, we actually couldn’t see a lot proof of the water degree dropping. Nonetheless, I do know from previous expertise that situations can change rapidly.

Within the northern a part of our state, Wet Lake, Kabetogama and connecting water are at a 72 yr excessive. This implies resorts are flooded and fishing situations are very totally different than regular and principally very poor. If touring in that path for a fishing journey, I’d advise making a telephone name earlier than leaving.

No wake zones have been posted on many lakes across the state. There are additionally experiences of a substantial amount of floating particles that’s inflicting hazardous situations for boaters.

After touring via farm nation final weekend, the remnants of the heavy rains within the central a part of our state have been evident. Ponding water was in all places and creating troublesome situations for farmers making an attempt to complete their spring planting.

I used to be additionally considerably dismayed on the variety of flooded lowlands round ponds and rivers. That is important for floor nesting birds, particularly geese and pheasants.

Though lots of the Canada geese have hatched their goslings, that’s not the case with geese and pheasants. In a single space alongside the Chippewa River, there have been a big variety of pheasants and geese strolling across the flooded lowland that used to supply cowl.

Each geese and pheasants will renest if they’re flooded out however late nesting Canada geese is not going to. Geese and pheasants that do renest will lay fewer eggs than they’d on their first attempt.

Climate is an attention-grabbing an unpredictable phenomenon. Final yr it was the drought. This yr it’s flooded basements, lakes and rivers. Final yr, lakes have been too low, this yr too excessive.

Go determine!

— That is the opinion of outside columnist Jerry Carlson. Contact him at jerrycarlson@cloudnet.com.