Family-Outdoors

NORTHWEST Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) Storm Lake is ice free. Look for early spring temperatures to bring on the bite. This time of year is usually productive for targeting channel catfish from shore. Use cut bait or shad guts fished off the bottom to capitalize on the abundant channel catfish population. Surface water temperatures in the marina are in the upper 40's, but this area warms up much faster than the main lake. Expect good walleye fishing near shore as water temperatures continue to climb. Black Hawk Lake Water level is 9 inches over the crest of the spillway. Some walleye and crappie have been picked up in Town Bay. This time of year is also a good time to target channel catfish from shore. Use cut bait or shad guts fished off the bottom to capitalize on the abundant channel catfish population. Walleye - Fair: 12-18 inch walleye have been picked up in Town Bay. Anglers fishing twisters around the Ice House Point area are having the best luck....

The Bad River in Copper Falls State Park, north of Mellen in Ashland County, Wisconsin (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Go Wild system for issuing licenses and more now on line; ice rapidly going out from lakes across the state An end-of-winter snowstorm dropped up to 6 inches of snow in the far northwestern part of the state, with lesser amounts falling as far south as Park Falls, but warmer temperatures continue in the forecast and the snow is not expected to stay around long. High water associated with rain and snow closed a portion of Highway 169 leading to Copper Falls State Park from Mellon, but the park remains accessible from the east. The rains also washed out a section of the Tuscobia State Trail near Park Falls and barricades have been put in place at the washout. Wisconsin's new  Go Wild  system for issuing fishing, hunting, conservation patron and other licenses and permits went on line March 17. By the end of March, people will also be able to use the syste...

On the 15th, leftover turkey tags went on sale for Michigan hunters. You can find out about the Michigan turkey season at  Michigan.gov/turkey The leftover license site is    online at E-License . You can watch this video to learn more about Michigan turkey regs:

In Rapid City on the 24th of March (6-9 pm at Outdoor Campus) with the topic being the 2016-2017 state elk season. There will be discussion as well as tons of research findings, including: elk research Custer State Park elk management aerial survey information elk population models elk license drawing information, and information for landowners on damage caused by elk. Elk info can be found at  gfp.sd.gov/news/news/march/4. aspx If you can't make it, watch this online presentation:

CENTRAL Arcadia: March 11. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at the enclosed dock. Channel and blue catfish fair on punch bait and cut shad around rocky points. Largemouth bass good on plastic baits at 8-12 ft. along steep banks. Report submitted by Mark Murray, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. Draper: March 13. Elevation below normal, water 55 and stained. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs around brush structure. Report submitted by Chad Strang, game warden stationed in Cleveland County. Hefner: March 14. Elevation normal, water 58-60 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along shorelines. Crappie good on minnows and lipless baits around docks and shorelines. Walleye good on jigs, jerk baits and crankbaits along riprap and shorelines. Channel catfish fair on cut bait and punch bait along riprap. White bass fair on lipless baits, grubs and chrome gay blades along shorelines. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle. Overholser: March 14. Elevation...

National Forest Service lands as a percentage of total area by state. Data from http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/2007/TABLE_4.htm (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) There is a growing and vocal minority of misguided people who do not value public land - even sell off the public land that exists to the highest bidder which is often corporations who simply want to extract what the land has to offer and then usually sell it back with a big tax write-off.  It's a huge taxpayer ripoff, and terrible for hunters, fishermen, and other outdoor enthusiasts. It is therefore vital when state and federal representatives seek input from stakeholders, folks with conservation ethics are heard from. The folks at SD Game, Fish, and Parks are doing some updates on priorities for land acquisition. Take a moment and be heard.  You will feel good for your efforts, and future generations will also be your benefactors. The document they are evaluating is  http://gfp.sd.gov/news/news/ march/...

Aerial photograph of an oak wilt center (Photo credit: ) According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, it's time to stop pruning oaks in the Midwest where the weather has been abnormally warm. Typically, it is suggested that pruning can occur through March.  This year, not surprisingly, is a little different.  The primary cause for concern is oak wilt, a fungal disease that is easily introduced through wounds to the tree during the growing season.  Oak wilt is typically fatal to the tree within the growing year. More info on the disease can be found here .

The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Commission is working on or has finalized a variety of goose hunting, duck hunting, and elk hunting seasons.  Most of the information can be found at  http://gfp.sd.gov/agency/ commission/default.aspx . A variety of elk seasons will be finalized at the commission's April 7 and 8 meeting.  If you have comments, they can be directed to  wildinfo@state.sd.us . The commission will also finalize goose seasons at this same meeting and comments can be directed to the email link above.

Horicon Marsh. Photo by Ryan Hagerty/ Horicon means pure and clean water in Mohican.  This important refuge provides breeding habitat for a variety of migratory birds, especially the redheaded duck.  It is approximately 33,000 acres in total, and is located southwest of Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. More n 300 species of birds spend time in Horicon at some point during the year, and with its relatively close proximity to Milwaukee and Madison, it offers some great opportunities to get out and experience nature. Consider a visit this Spring when the area is especially vibrant with wildlife. We at Family-Outdoors appreciate the great stewardship of this area by the USFWS! http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Horicon/about.html