You were doing what with WHAT?

No, no, no, CARP. Let me explain.

For those who don’t know, a carp is an invasive species brought to North America from Europe in the 1800’s where it was used for food. Here it’s considered a "rough" fish with no limits, no seasons, and minimal restrictions on removing them from Wisconsin waters. (See the fishing regulations for details)

When I was growing up, this time of year was not only the beginning of summer vacation. When the lilacs bloomed it meant the carp were in to spawn. So what, you say? Carp are a blast on a rod and reel!  I always described catching them like taking a small running outboard motor, tying your line to it and throwing it off the pier. Carp have large tails and fins for swimming in current and really don’t like coming up to the surface.

All one needs to try this is a medium to medium heavy rod, reel, and line set up, and a can of whole kernel corn.

I preferred braided line, but monofilament worked too. We would tie a snap swivel on then use pre-tied eagle claw snelled hooks. (10 or so to a pack) The snap swivel is the only weight. (Carp are just as sensitive to any resistance as walleye) Throw a handful of corn where you will be fishing. Put 3 or 4 kernels on your hook, making sure the tip is covered. Drop your hook in the middle of the corn you threw in. Leave a bit of slack in the line. (Again, they will drop it if they feel tension) Set the rod down, and wait. When you see the line starting to tighten, reel in the slack, set the hook, and hang on. Oh yeah, you’ll probably need a landing net too as inland carp frequently grow over 10 pounds.

One summer morning two friends and I caught 54 carp with the largest being 15 pounds and about 26 inches. There were times all three of us had fish on standing shoulder to shoulder on a 40 inch wide pier. Talk about excitement! NO VIDEO GAME CAN COMPARE!

Fast forward to today. Within the last week Pewaukee lake has risen about 30 inches. I know this, because I was in the water last Wednesday putting in the pier. Every day the lake is rising to a new high water mark. (My parents bought their lake house in 1966 and the water has never been this high during that time.)

The Lake Country Reporter and FOX news have been in downtown Pewaukee showing the water flowing over the beach and over the road. Hey guys, the water is still rising!

My Dad and I drove down to the village today to see this once in a lifetime sight. I thought I’d take a few pictures maybe wade down the street to check it out.

When we got there, three Pewaukee public works employees with pitchforks were spearing carp and putting them in a front-end loader on West Wisconsin Ave. (The road past the lakefront that now has water over 10 inches deep in spots) I took some pictures then walked through the water toward the beach. It was only then that I realized there were hundreds of carp swimming on the street. So, I started chasing the carp toward the workers, then the four of us turned around and started herding them back toward the beach.

Yeah, yeah, little boy has to play with the fishies in the big puddle. I don’t care. It was a lot of FUN!

After about 20 minutes I noticed a police officer had pulled up to the road blocks and was talking to the people standing and watching. I thought there might be a problem with the vehicles or the pedestrians that had stopped to watch, so I left the workers and went to see if there was a problem.

As I got closer the cop came up to me and said he had never seen anything like this.

So he was taking some pictures.

See you ‘round the campfire

This time of year is mentally draining for many.

The long cold winter is largely over, but spring and the green grass is still a few weeks off.  Hunting seasons are closed.  Game fishing is closed.  Although panfishing is open, ice conditions deteriorate every day the temperature rises above 32 degrees.

There are not even many scenic pictures taken at this time of year.  Maybe a drop of water hanging off a piece of ice.

I love the seasons, but I have to admit this time of year is too long for me also.  Nature seems tired and ugly now.  Brown grass matted flat by the melting snow piles.  Shrubs bent from their recently lifted weight.  Rocks, sand and sticks from plowing and winter wind storms, previously out of sight, that will need to be picked up or washed away by spring rains.

When I was younger melting snow meant running water and something fun to do.  Running water could be made to flow faster by removing debris and making a natrual race course for marker colored pieces of wood toothpicks or popcicle sticks.  Just for peer group bragging rights of course.  I would also spend time walking along the road looking for "treasure" uncovered by the thaw.  I never found anything great but like I said in an earlier blog, I was outside.  It was all good.

Over the next few weeks, some will be walking the muddy woods, looking for shed whitetail deer antlers.  Signs of the bucks that have survived the hunters and the winter.

Turkey hunters will be preparing for the spring hunting season.

Still others will begin planning this seasons landscaping, flower beds or wildflower gardens by visiting lawn and garden shows or just paging through the nursery catalogs delivered by the USPS.

Maybe I'll take a walk around the block.  With a few marker colored wooden toothpicks.

See you 'round the campfire

This installment of "Open Air Living" was one I was going to post last week, but decided to wait until calmer heads prevailed. (namely mine) Time for action.

About a week and a half ago a story came out about a problem being faced by Wisconsin Conservation Wardens. It seems over the last few years "Thrill Killers" have been killing wild animals illegally with firearms, arrows, running them down with vehicles, or clubbing them with baseball bats and home-made weapons. These people (mostly males in their late teens and early twenties) when asked "why" don’t come up with a reason or just state… "They’re bored" [Thrill Killers Alarm Wardens]

My personal opinion on this topic is coming up. Let’s stay with bored for a moment.

I think one of my mother’s favorite sayings to my brother and I while we were growing up was: "If you’re bored I’ll find you something to do." It only took once or twice and we learned to find something to do or at least not complain about it near Mom.

We played catch, rode bikes, played tag or kick the can. If it rained, we read, played board games, worked puzzle books. Exploring a small patch of woods near my house was a favorite of mine. Wondering if I was the first person to crawl under an evergreen or climb an oak tree. Finding an old shotgun shell was a real treat. How old was the shell? Who was hunting? What were they hunting for?

A while back I read an article that stated the decline of the outdoor lifestyle can largely be blamed on video games and the ability to watch movies at home. Now you are probably saying the same thing I did, but let’s just consider the possibility.

Home video games and VCR’s both became popular in the early 80’s (approximately 25 years ago) allowing people to be entertained within the comfort of their own home. The novelty of these two inventions remains hugely popular today.

In other words instead of having to get up and go outside to dinner and a movie, you can sit on your couch and eat while watching a movie. Instead of playing baseball, football, basketball, skateboarding, riding bikes, fishing, or hunting, you can sit on your couch and "play" these instead of actually going outside and doing. (Weren’t the thrill killers in their late teens and early 20’s?)   Hmm, That article may have had a point.

DVD’s in cars, people walking around with a music player or wireless phone stuck to their heads, 100 plus channels of television, or texting. Earphones and caller ID keep us from having to deal with people or situations. The amount of information available has seemingly shortened all of our attention spans and hindered people’s interpersonal abilities.  Have we all become so impatient that we feel bored when we try to relax?

Which brings me back to our "Thrill Killers." Fines are handed out; hunting and fishing privileges are revoked, maybe even a little jail time served. I suggest one more is added. Mandatory Community Service.

From what I have read, the fines are not that large. Hunting and fishing privileges lost? They are breaking the law now so I don’t see this as a deterrent. Jail time is also short term.

Community Service should be added to a number of other outdoor crimes as well:

Damaging state parks and forests. Poaching. Bag limit violations. Littering. Spreading invasive species. Hunting or fishing without a license. The list could go on.

I believe that adding community service (120 hours minimum) would force the criminals to have to give back to the people of Wisconsin to offset the resources they have taken away. This will also give these people time to realize that they have committed a crime against the people of the state.

So the idea is out there. Now what? In addition to reporting these crimes when you see them, 1-800-tip-WDNR, it’s time to contact your state Government to let them know you think the punishment isn’t severe enough. A simple letter or phone call to your State Senator, your Congress Person, and Gov. Doyle. (Click on preceding individuals for contact information) stating the problem and your opinion is all it takes.

We as a populace have let this type of thing go on long enough. Time to tell our lawmakers that a slap on the wrist for crimes against our Natural Resources is no longer acceptable.

See you 'round the campfire