As a youngster, fishing was something that I enjoyed more than almost anything. It’s hard to explain why, and it doesn’t matter. I just really enjoyed fishing. But sometimes when I would listen to the adults talk about fishing, they would often refer to the “old days” of fishing, and how “fishin’ today just isn’t as good as it used to be”.

It’s been six months since pro walleye angler and Fresh Water Hall of Famer Keith Kavajecz’s fishing seminar at the Okoboji Blue Water Festival last August. With spring moving ever closer, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on his suggestions for open water fishing.

I know that he hit home with his points, because over 200 anglers sat through the 90-minute seminar, and nobody got antsy and left.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has finalized a drought plan for use by local, county, state agencies and governments in the event of droughts in the state.

The Iowa Drought Plan was developed in partnership with the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The plan aims to provide the state with an approach to prepare for, identify, respond to and recover from a drought.

Harris-Lake Park’s boys track team opened its season at the War Eagle Conference indoor meet held Monday, March 13 at Dordt University in Sioux Center. Places were not recorded at the meet, but the Wolves set several benchmarks for the upcoming outdoor season.

“The guys did a nice job for a meet so early in the season,” Harris-Lake Park coach Lane Gunderson said. “It was good to get some times to build on.”

Harris-Lake Park’s girls track team opened its season at the War Eagle Conference indoor meet held Monday, March 13 at Dordt University in Sioux Center. Places were not recorded at the meet, but the Wolves set several benchmarks for the upcoming outdoor season.

Spirit Lake’s boys basketball team bounced back in a big way after suffering its first losing season in a decade a year ago to earning its first Lakes Conference championship in more than 70 years this season. The Indians compiled a 12-9 overall record and a 7-1 mark in the conference.

KEY VICTORY

Following the graduation of Lucas Lorenzen, arguably the best basketball player in school history, Okoboji’s boys basketball team struggled throughout the 2022-23 season. The Pioneers finished with a 7-17 overall record and a 6-12 mark in the Siouxland Conference in their first year under the direction of coach Alex Spielman.

KEY VICTORY

Despite battling through an up-and-down season, Harris-Lake Park’s boys basketball team nearly doubled its win total from a year ago. The Wolves finished the 2022-23 season with a 7-13 overall record and a 3-6 mark in the War Eagle Conference.

KEY VICTORIES

What great weather we had last Friday and Saturday! After the sun burned off the early morning fog on Friday, it was an awesome morning to be on the lake. I was fortunate to find a nice bunch of bluegills along a weedline on West Okoboji, and there was no one within a ½ mile.

Call it luck or whatever — I could have drilled a hole 100 yards in a different direction and never had fish under me. I guess it’s sometimes better to be lucky than good!

There are several types of baits that anglers employ in an effort to catch a fish. Crankbaits are a type of lure that can be a very effective fish-catcher. Crankbaits come in several shapes, so once we determine that we want to use a crankbait, we need to decide what shape of crankbait to tie on.  

March is the month that anglers head out for the outdoor/fishing shows that appear annually in anticipation of the open water season. Folks will often travel to Sioux Falls, Sioux City, Omaha and Des Moines. However, the Iowa Great Lakes area has one of its own.

Oak Hill Outdoor is hosting its second annual “Quest for Net Open Water Fishing Expo” on Saturday, March 18. The day kicks off at 10 a.m. and concludes with a concert by the group She’s With Us from 5-8 p.m.

Registration is now open for the April 21-23 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca, near Solon. While the focus of BOW is primarily for women, the workshop is an opportunity for anyone 18 years or older to learn outdoor skills.