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t­ l­ e­ te eh Volume 11 APRIL, 1952 Number 4 1e a 'W ad Je CHANNEL CATFISHING IN HIGH WATER le :v------. * * * * • • • • * * * By Barry l\1. Harrison l CATFISH BAIT AND F l-.h<- rle!i Biologist m ut SUCH STUFF The one thing that chills the be average catfisherman's enthusiasm for spring fishing is high, muddy Marquette, Iowa 30 water. This condition can be doubly April 1, 1952 ~ annoying after a long winter of Jy Editor, IOWA CONSERVATIONIST, fishing anticipation if it occurs on sb weekends ·· the only time t h a t Dear Jim: :nany of us have the opportunity of I was glad to get your letter of to be at our favorite catfish hole. 00 March 22 and I am sending you the We say that if high and muddy le· catfish bait recipes for use in the waters are causing you to give up in CONSERVATIONIST. that long planned fishing trip, ay I n any of the following recipes "don't let it do it." We know from be that call for cheese, cheese rinds or our fisheries studies over the past od trimmings may be used, running six years that catfish feed during is them through a food chopper. Then high water and that in the spring ~d pour boiling water over the cheese they often take food in larger quan­ until it is soggy, then add flour and tities than at other times of the ~e. ground rolled oats (the quick year. or kind). Knead it until it is mixed We have caught lots of catfish nd and tough and rubbery. Of the on pole and line with the river bank ,er cheese rinds, Swiss makes the best full and with so much silt that it il· bait. For variations of the standard could almost be plowed. The tech­ DY cheese, catfish bait, fish liver paste, niques used to get 'em is only a )!· ground up rough fish or sour clam little dtfferent than those common­ at meats may be added. ly used during lower and clearer 10• In any of the recipes calling for water stages. If you will try to rolled oats, better results will be catch your catfish according to the at obtained if these are run through methods that follow, we feel that tg. a food chopper and g round fine. your efforts will be rewarded, and tr· They help make your bait tough you may find that catfish can be and rubbery. taken easier during high water If any of your readers want to than at any other time. get addresses where t hey can se­ The first and one of the most im­ cure cheese trimmings or other bait portant things to think about when going after catfish in the spring Jl• ingredients, if they will drop me a lin e and enclose a stamped return and during high water is that of the es. Jim sherman Photo. correct bait to use. The natural ed envelope I will reply promptly. Catfishing can be very good during high, muddy wate r pe riods. The proble m for the a ngler foods of the catfish at this time of is to find the locat ion In the stream whe re catfish are fe eding. rY Channel cats are t he fastest. year are primarily those that are nd gamest, sporttest, and cussedest of washedintothestreamorgetthere ss. the catfish tribe Ask any catfish SPRINGBROOK GEOLOGIC STORY from bank cave-ins, and the like. .nt crank-he knows. Here are a few These include a wide variety of :er pointers: In dayttme look for spots By Charles S. Gwy nne County. It is mostly east of the worms, grubs, bugs, carion and so where there is plenty of cover for -\. <,s o c inte Pro f essor, D e tl nrtme nt of river, and is a hilly, wooded coun- forth. Such food items possess cats. Fish around submerged logs, Geology I o w n S tate Colle:..:e try Springbrook flows through the odors that the catfish are able to drift piles, t ree roots, cut banks or park into a lake made by the dam- detect, and since the water is dark­ over-hangs, or the deepest part of As far as its geological story ming up of the stream. ened with its silt load, our bewhisk- deep holes. goes, Springbrook State Park is A walk on the trail around the ered friend, to find sustenance, will I use t he clincher type smker to unique in at least two respects. lake gives us some clues as to the have to rely upon his sense of smell keep the bait well down toward the It lies in an area underlain by geological history of the region. rather than sight. From this you bottom, but not so much lead but sandy deposits of the last sea to First to attract our attention is will gather tha t the bait you choose what you can keep off snags if you invade Iowa. Also, it is on the the shelter house by the lake. This should give off some odor. Now it a re drifting it down current. When edge of the deposits made by the is found to be made of many differ- doesn't have to stink so bad that fishing at night for channel cat, use last glacier. ent kinds of rock. These alone are you have to fish up wind from your little or no sink er, floating or cast­ The park includes an area of worth a lot of study. They are all bait can It only has to smell a wee ing your bait downstream. Best about a square mile on the Middle glactal erratics, or simply erratics,l httle bit on the other side of un- {Continued on page 30) Raccoon River in northern Guthrie (Continued on page 32) (Continued on page 29) Page 26 I O WA CO NSERVATIONIST - Iowa and happy-go-lucky air that sug­ Conservationist gests lba.t it bad never a care nor Published Monthly By Tho duty in the whole year 'round." IOWA CONSERVATION COMMlSSION East 7th and Court-Des Momes, Iowa The eastern goldfinch was de­ clared the official state bird of Iowa N High .s R •s• rved) on March 22 1933, by the Forty­ WM S. BEARDSLEY, Governor of Iowa fifth General Assembly. L egisla­ BRUCE F STILES. Director JAMES R. HARLAN, Editor tot·s acted on a suggestion of the WILMA BOSWELL. Associate Editor Iowa Ornithologists' Union. I n all fan·ness it should be mentioned MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION that the goldfinch \\as not a unam­ i E G. TR• >ST Cl a.rman. F t Dodge •0 J. D. REYNOLDS, Vice Chatrman.. - .. Creston mous choice of the ornithologists. • C. A. DINGES .... -.-...... ·-· ...... Emmetsburg The dickcissel, bright songster of ' W. F. FRUDEGER ...... _ ...... Burlington •= FLOYD S. PEARSON ...... Decorah roadside and meadows. was a MRS. EMMET F. RYAN ...... Underwood strong contender for the honor. JOE STANTON ...... Des Moines In spring and summer the male cmCULATION THIS ISSUE 46.000 goldfinch is a study in gorgeous Subs - 01 r ra 40 P •r yea· contrast, with b1 ight yellow body, yeaTS Sl.OO black wings. black head crown, and 3 T( Entered ,.....,nd cla , ter at the I bl~ck tail. His mate is l~ss gaudy, post office at -v~ Momes, iowu, September olive-yellow where he lS yellow 22, 1947, 24. 1912 J under the Act of March 1 dusky where he is black and lacks Subscdptlons received at Conservation th bl k h d , ' Lal Commission, East Seventh and Court, Des e ac ea crown Jim Sn<"rtrt'ln l ~c·t-, Moines, Iowa. Send cash, check or money s~ More than 16,000,000 fishe rm en were licensed In th ~ Unit ed States In 1951 . Iowa's share 1\il order. In Iowa All Year was more than 400,000. Goldfinches live in I owa all year, 0 t IOWA'S although winter thins their num­ THIRTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN FISHING LICENSES ~ bers and their dull winter plumage e:, bag OFFICIAL BIRD makes recognition more difficult. From the United States Depart­ state for this same period was Winter males lose their bnght coat ment of Interior comes some very $664,883 which. on our adding ma­ E B y George W. Worley and assume the more somber fe­ interesting information from time chine, brings the total license rev­ for uperintc n tlcnt of Public R elations male plumage. to time ... refreRhi ng in the sense enue up to $1 338,010. Great day that It ts not of dry statistical na­ The rolhckmg good nature of our The b o u n c I n g. roller-coaster m the morning' You had better ture, but does make sense to a lot ~ state bird makes it a favorite of flight of the goldfinch is nearly as join the Izaak Walton League or barefoot boy, casual observer, and useful in identification as the plum­ of people. For instance, this past the Marshall County Wildlife Club train ed ornithologist. William Cox age. The males offer rhythmic ac­ week \Ve received such a bulletin or, if you live outside of Marshall me writes: "If I could be a bird during companiment to each downward giving the figures on the sale of county, the nearest club to your IS a month of summer, I should want swing with a twittering "ker-chee­ fishing licenses in the United States home to help swing weight m see­ so to be a goldfinch. I t seems to me chee-cbee." During the mating and ending the fiscal year of June 30, ing that this money is not diverted the that they have learned the art of nesting season they rise to sing 1951, wherein we a re informed that to other than the support of con­ nea having a good time." and swing in cit·cles above their 16,026,699 fishing licenses wete sold servatiOn in our state. wa1 in the 48 states. These licenses Postponement of nesting until broodmg mates \\'b1le we are whipping around a 1 brought in a gross revenue of S35,- few figures of astronomic propor­ ear late summer leaves time to play, At rest, the male offers a clear, 551 285, which in these days of in­ and not a single daylight hour is whiStlmg warble. Taverner de­ tions you might be interested in 't" flallon still "ain't hay " This was wasted. Roberts, in his "Birds of scribes the song as "sweet-sweet­ knowing that Michigan topped all mt an all-time record according to the Minnesota," says: "If the actions cheewitcheewit-cheewit" The yel­ of the states in fishing licenses sold, Wh department. and expressions of birds are any in- low and black color and canary­ 1,089,864, with Wisconsin a close Coj dication of their dtspositions and hke song have earned for the gold­ Getting a bit closer to home, in second with 1,029,355. ~1innesota feelings, the handsome little gold- finch the common name of wild this same period Iowa sold 440,667 was in fourth spot \Vith 954,768. finch ts one of the most joyous canary. Yellow bird, thistle bird, resident licenses and 10,312 non­ Minnesota, however, bad top billing , and light-hearted of a ll our featb- and lettuce bird are less common resident licenses, bringing in to the on the sales of non-resident li­ Of I ered throng. Sociable a nd genial names state coffers some $673,127. Now censes, 280,711, with Michigan in Oft! among 1ts kind, cheery and musi­ the lake on hunting licenses in the second place with 268,902. Tennes­ lak, N ests and Food Habits cal of voice, and gay and happy see and Flon da took third and cal) in demeanor, it goes frolicking "The more the merrier" is ap- fourth places respectively Pri~ through the summertime in little parently a credo of the goldfinch in small flocks throughout the year Delving back into the Iowa story Of I troops or couplets with an abandon clan, for they are commonly found except during the nesting season. with its total of 140,667 resident 'r * • * * * In July, August, and September licenses issued, means that just >tor the female builds tiny nests of about one-fifth of the total popula­ are grass, fine rootlets, moss, and other tion was kicking around our Iowa fine fibrous material. The lining is lak es and streams in that year. almost invariably of thistledown. Now you add to that number the Nests are ordinanly n e a r the youngsters, old age pensioners and g1 ound in thistles. bushes, or low others who were not required to shaded trees Eggs are three to bold licenses, you could probably six in number, pale bluish-white, safely say that nearly 25 per cent and unmarked of the total population had fishmg As befits a bird chosen for hon­ on its mind. We are indeed glad to orable distinction, the food habits have these figures for, from the re­ of the goldfinch are almost entirely marks of some of our associates, we beneficial \Veed seeds. such as had arrived at the conclusion that those of th1stle. sunflower, rag­ we were practically alone in liking weed, and wild lettuce are favored to fish.- Sighti11g Upstream, by items. Grain and Wild fruit arc John G a r wood, lllarshalltotnn taken in season. Insects and insect T11ncs Republtca II eggs are eaten occasiOnally. Truly the choice was well made The bat's wing- is equip11ed with a hook in the fo1·m of a claw. This v. hen the eastern goldfinch, winged enables it t o clin~ to walls, rocks, envoy of beauty, gay blade of sum­ etc. From this clinging position the bat takes night. "•lthout the hook mer air and thistle patch sweet on its wings, it would be one of the songster, and self-appointed am­ most helple-ss of animals. bassador of good will became A wild goose has been photo­ Ma,ynan1 Jt, t: •..,at.-.:r color from the- Iowa Olli ial Register I owa's s t a t e bml -- lllidland Th ~ ~ast~r n goldfi nch was nam~d th~ sta t~ bird of Iowa by th~ G ~ n ~ ral Assembly In 1933. graphed at an estimated height of 9,000 feet-almost 5% miles high. It Is commonly call~d tile wild canary. Schools. IOWA CONSERVATIONIST Page 27

TO COUN'TY AOAO N i

DAAINAG[ DITCH' ICO ACR£5 PUACHASEO F£8 I

f 4 A OOUGHT $/14/49

Harmon Lake development. ... * * * * * * TO ADD 80 ACRES OF WATER AREA AT LAKE HARMON

Current improvements in the to the east were drained by a coun­ Lake Harmon area planned by the ty drainage ditch whicb. shows on State Conservation Comm1ssion the map accompanying this story. will give Winnebago County an Smce World War II the Conser­ outstanding public duck hunting vation Commission has been gradu­ ground, according to Floyd E . Mor­ ally building up the area as a wa­ ley, conservation officer for Winne­ terfowl refuge to t1e in with the bago and Worth counties. other two natural refuges in the Early this month bids were taken county, Rice Lake and Myre for the construction of a dike at Slough. the extreme east edge of the com­ Under terms of the Pittman-Rob­ mission-owned property surround­ ertson Act, a tax was levied by Jim Sherman Photo. ing Lake Harmon. This dike will All wild life is unpredicta ble. Especially unpred ict able a re a nima ls tha t ha ve been raised Congress on all guns and ammuni­ In captivity and the n are released t o the w il d. raise the water level of the area, tion used for sports. The funds including Lake Harmon, from 12 to * * * • ~ * * * accumulated under this act are * sheeting he worked along the crack 18 inches and will add more than used to assist State Conservation UN PREDICT ABLE between the boards, making the 80 acres of open water surface in Commissions in establishing a nd WILDLIFE shingles a nd roofing fly for several the hunting grounds. This will improving the wildlife hunting feet. Not finding access to the at­ nearly double the amount of open By L ola Cherry grounds and refuges. The stales Se) m o ur H erald County Sen t tic there, he repeated the process water area in the hunting grounds. must supply 25 per cent of the Cor resp o ndent about five times, wrecking the east The new dike, to be constructed a money needed with the federal tax A raccoon with ideas of his own portion of the roof. In some man­ early this summer, will restore the .. money making up the balance. as to the solving of the housing ner he managed to gain entry to "twin lake" situation which existed n First purchase by the state was shortage wrecked a good portion of the a ttic where he proceeded to in the Lake Harmon area when the an access road from the lake east the roof on the Elsa Holder prop­ take up headquarters. u white man first seltled Winnebago l and north to the county road going erly in Millerton recently. Mr. and Neighbors noticed the actions of County with a new, smaller lake e west from Vinje. The purchase to­ Mrs. Holder had been spending the the vandal a nd notified the game forming behind the dike to the taled 3.98 acres and was bought winter in Humboldt, so there was warden, who came and trapped the a southeast of Lake Harmon proper. from the R. A. Campbell estate. A no one at home stop the furry in­ animal alive. Plans were to take I. "Historical Atlas of the State year later a second outlet road was truder. him to a timber away from Miller­ g of Iowa," dated 1875 and owned by ,.• purchased along the west edge of Gaining access to the roof, he ton and release h1m where he would Officer Morley, shows the twin the Campbell property. n proceeded to tear a good-sized bole be forced to live in a hollow tree lakes located in what was then In 1948 the primary effort in en­ m the roofing and through the shin­ as other 'coons do.- Seyntour H er­ called "Norway Township," com­ larging the area was made. One d gles underneath. On coming to the ald. prising most of the northern tier hundred and sixty acres were pur­ of present townships. chased from Palmer Hove to the The State Conservation Commis­ west of the lake. An additional quired from Lyle Hanson to the m1ssion has controlled the amount sion at first owned only the water 194.17 acres were acquired from south of the Campbell property. of water being drained away by area of Lake Harmon itself and it the Campbell estate on February These purchases gave the Conser- the drainage ditch by the operation was accessible only by permission 14 of that year, followed by the vation Commission nearly all of of a control structure across the of the R. A. Campbell family whose purchase of a 20.08 tract from A. the marsh ground in the area. How­ ditch. When the water gets too farm entirely surrounded the lake. C. Engebretson March 3. April 14 ever, the next spring the Commis­ high in the hunting grounds, it can The smaller lake and marsh ground of that year, 18.36 acres were ac- sion added 14.71 acres from David be allowed to drain off through the * * • * * * * * * !0 .., Twito on the east edge which is the ditch by removing stop logs. site of the dike to be built this year. However, as the dike to the west In the Lake Harmon area a high backed the water and caused it to ridge of ground extends north and flow east, it overflowed to the area south along the west side of the to the east. The Commission is lake and divides the watershed of constructing the dike to the east e· the area. To the east of the ridge this year in order to add to the ;e the water flows southeast in the water area of the bunting grounds t general path of the drainage ditch. and yet control the water flow so " To the west it flows southwest. "y that 1t does not damage any of the To further the development of farming ground in the adjoining " the hunting grounds, two years ago area. the Commission built a dike at the When the dike is completed and west edge of the Lake H armon the additional 80 acres are flooded, ~ • - properly which raised the water nearly a third of the total of 483.3 t$." level m the area by two feet and be acres m the Lake Harmon project effectively changed the flow from will be in open water with an ex­ '"bt southwest to east through a cut panded area of marsh and cover made in the high ridge which sep­ ground surroundmg the water This J un ~hc.orman Photu o· Deve lopme nt of na tural la kes such as La ke Harmon not only provides additional hunting arated the two watersheds. spring the Commission also plans of area, but also encourages production of local ducks. For a number of years the Com- (Continued on pa~e 32) Page 28 IOWA CONSERVATIONIST rusty breast and blue back, is boss -,• of the outfit. He shoos the hens away wbe:n he perches up-side down, on the meshed bag contain­ ing suet hanging from a cedar tree I Sometimes when we leave by the kitchen door for work in the morn­ ings, he leaves the feeders and ;woops al us, fluttering about our hat demandmg a snack He likes to take it trom our hand because we break H up in chunks just the right SIZe for him. So we go back in the house and gel some suet and go out again and feed him · He flies away with a bit of suet and buries it undei the bark of a cedar, or even in the ground, then darts back to us for more

One day we were pickmg up fall­ Jlm :SlH·rman Photo. en sticks in the snow He was on One of the most inte restln!J and most wei· us right away and \'\'e had a hand­ come bird s at t he w indow feeding station is the tufted t itmouse. ful of suet in our pocket. He came • • to our band 22 times that day as he buckwheat and they would much followed us about the place but 1 :1ther pick up seeds scattered on -" l More and more Iowa ns spend uncounte d hours watching the act ivities of birds at a w in· only once have two nuthatches the ground than in a feeder bang­ t e r f eeding st a tion. perched on our hand at the same mg from a cedar bough. time. They scrap too much for The jays will eat anything, the GLEANINGS FROM WINTER FEEDING STATION that. woodpeckers suet alone, the spar­ c~ These tiny nuthatches summer as rows and juncos bits of seeds ana Il won't be very long until the far north as the limit of the Cana­ grain. Sunflower seeds are a great pi ~ tbem just twenty minutes during dian spruce belt They will be ca winter birds will be deserting the attraction and will even d r a v. feedet·s put out fm them because the noon hour the last Sunday m going soon, no doubt, and next squirrels. \Yhich we don't appre­ Januat·y. winter we \\ill be \s.atching with ~ some will be taking off for then ciate The l:iqmneb chase the birds onh summer homes in the north and The unidentified sparrow was • interest to see 1f they return to us away so we shoo the squirrels • around a week m January, a dainty, 1again. ha others, the year-round residents, away. You needn't feel sorry for cia] prefer to fo1 age on their own once friendly little bird we hope comes The waxwmgs, one of the most them because they are domg all diU' the snow and ice are out of the back agam so we can pm a label beautiful visitors we ve had, hov­ tight. Nearly everybody has corn on him The starlings were two of ered like humming birds outside abo way out for them and they're as fat as bat We have kept a record of the a flock m the neighborhood that our window and plucked the blue­ butter.- Outdoors by Giu Knudson were brave enough to approach our berries that grow on female cedar era birds that have vis I ted the feedmg Emmetsburg Democrat of station outside our kitchen window bay window for food. trees They are built hke the car- The "personality kids" of all our dina! and the coloring is unusual, en • tbts winter and the total number is KURL Y KINKS TIP fr01 54, as far as we can tell Of these birds are the four red-breasted a blend of dusky brown and yellow. a few, hke the stathng, are char­ nuthatches, who are spendmg theu with a yellow band across the tail If you can't separate the joints acters you wish would invite them­ first winter in our back yard. They and dabs of bright waxy-looking of your favonte rod due to llghlly v will eat from out hand 01 the brim red on the wings. stuck ferrules, do it this easy way selves elsewhere. th ~ Our tally shows we have bad the of out hat One winte1 Ed Sweeney had 25 Hold a lighted match under the ap following guests al our feeding Of all the birds they are the of the restless btrds m his yard female ferrule and revolve it. Then You station: lamest They are the size of a nearly a week. quickly while the outside ferrule Tb( wren and have the wren's sassy As we have said, the red-breasted is expanded, unjoint the rod. If as Chtckadees manner They have a scoldmg nuthatches feed only on suet, the you will occasionally wipe the male (black-capped) ...... 6 voice that sounds like a little tin white-breasted take both suet and ferrule with a rag lightly saturated Of I Juncos (snowbirdl:i) . . . . 10 horn and are crazy about suet, the sunflower seeds as do the chick- with light reel oil and also wipe out Nuthatches (red-breasted 1 4 only food we have seen them eat. adees The cardinals like sunflower the female ferrule with same rag an)" Nuthatches (white- One of the fom, a rooster with a seeds best of all but will also try tightly twisted, you'll avoid much lllet SUll breasted) ...... 4 • t • • * ~ • • * • • trouhle Cardinals ...... 2 the Woodpeckers (downy) . . . 2 SinJ Woodpeckers (hauy l . . 2 knc NEXT MONTH sbo Kinglets (golden-crowned l . 2 0( Bluejays 6 I n the May 1ssue of the Brown Creepers ...... 2 rowA co~SER\ATIO~rsT we qUa Cedar Waxwings . . . . . 2 will carry a revised check ho~ Sparrows (English) . . . . 8 list of birds found in Iowa tb~ Sparrows (Tree> . . . . . 1 throughout the year. The fixE Sparrows (unidentified) . . . 1 check list, compiled by Jack tbll Starlings - ...... 2 Musgro\ e, Stale Museum Di­ ho11 rector, in 1949 a nd used as a \Vol The chickadees, juncos, brown supplement in the low\ CON­ Slid creepers, nuthatches, woodpeckers SERVATIONIST, has proved SO ac~ and Enghsb spanows have been popular that a reprint is regular customers at our lunch deemed advisable. Ex t r a :~ counter all winter but some. like copies of the check hsl will SinJ the juncos, didn't show up until De­ be printed. Teachers and bai cember. others wishing bulk copies of ing The pair of cardinals have been the cbecl{ list as a teaching Pte daily visitors since early January aid may write to the State nat The kinglets were with us two ConservatiOn Commission ad­ II) c. weeks in January, the jays moved vtsing how many copies they 1\'it" in about that time and have been will need. The check lists will cat on band since. We saw the tree be sent cost free upon re­ ~~~ Yot sparrow only two days, after Joe Ju S J cr' n J 10to quest Hopkins identified it. The wax­ The house sparrow (left l, considered an undesira ble at the feedin!J tray, d isputes posses· laij wmgs were brief guests. We saw slon w ith a slate colored junco. \\it

. . . IOWA CONSERVATIONIST Page 29 • nent blinds but they are certainly THE CAMPFIRE not effective refuges. .. By Theo Lorenzen Is one refuge every forty miles D a ' e o port D e m ocrat too many? I don't know. I wish I Editor, The Campfire: knew the answer to that and to The interesting correspondence about half the other little problems which has appeared in your column whtch plague the U. S. Fish and concerning a proposed waterfowl Wildlife Service in thetr handling refuge in Dam Pool 16 prompts me of what ts bastcally one big prob­ to wnte this letter. So far the let­ lem. too many hunters and too ters and editorial opinion have been few ducks. "anti-refuge." I would like to take We have been learning slowly issue with those who feel that since that game management is pretty the refuge isn't wanted, it isn't complicated. We have found that - needed. The nearest effective ref­ it lakes more than stocking and uge to the north is the Spring Lake closed seasons to produce a shoot­ area near Savanna. able surplus of pheasants in Iowa. This is about 50 miles above the We have found that in years when proposed Pool 16 refuge. Another all conditions seemed most favor­ 40 miles separates the proposed able the bottom might drop out of area from Lake Odessa to the our pheasant crop for no apparent south. The posted areas above reason at all. Princeton may eliminate perma- The same holds for quail and • even for rabbits. It seems that n .Jim Sherman Phot.o. on the m· s"tde of rt"ver bends. If you successful management of upland During periods of high wa ter, ca tfish a re not feeding in the ce nte r thread of the stre am d · t h · t lli channe l, but ra the r in eddies whe re the speed of the current is slowed down. can locate spots where the high game emands JUS as roue lD e - • .., * * * • waters have invaded willow mats, gence, planning, experience, and • h. extra weight off the bottom of the "ttl luck as the management of a sue- Ch anne I C a tfIS mg • • • h dd it is a good idea to fish just a h e cessful business. And if upland '· (Continued from page 25) river. The slip sinker as an a i- to the river side of the mat. An ll pleasant. As indicated above, the tional advantage in that it will keep ll d t. h an 0 er game management seems complex .t catfish is equipped with a very you from snagging so often. ~i~~~ggot~eesp~r ~~;ker~ines var~ just look at waterfowl. A pheas- powerful sense for detecting odors Right Location partly submerged by the high wa- ant stays put; a duck doesn't. in the water and if your bait smells Equipped with the right batt and ter. Both spots cause the current A pheasant is just one species .s only a little, the channel cat won't correctly rigged up we are now to be slowed down which results m with a single, fairly predictable set .s have any trouble m finding it, espe- faced with the problem of choosmg causing any .floating food items to of habits. Ducks are thirty species 1r cially so if you fish where he feeds a place to fish. Picking the right sink to the bottom or become with just as many different habits. ll during high water, and we will talk place is simply a matter of common logged in the entanglement. Cat- No three-months-a-year duck hunt­ D about that a little later on. Your sense. Before throwing your hook fish find these areas and at such er has the time, experience, and .s bait then may consist of night out, you might well imagine your- places they are very easily caught. training to figure out the answers I, crawlers or worms, grubs, chunks lf . th tfi h' d"l d . A third excellent place to fish to waterfowl management even in se m e ca s s 1 emma urmg his own area. ~~ s~~~=.d!~h,c~::~e~~:~%ste~~:~~ :~d~otr!~; ~~J!i~(o~ :r~~~dn~~ ~~~~g::~:: ~n a~~~~~~ ~e;~~ t~~ That's where the "long-haired from any fish are particularly good. the center of the river where the doing so a back water area is ~~~~:lcr:li" ~~:s:s ~~;~:~:r~~~t~re~ i:S Proper Tackle curren t is traveling pell-mell, with formed just below the inside corner men who love duck hunting _ large quantities of sand, gravel and of the curve. In these places the .y With the bait problem in hand th d b . T b t f current is reducd to the point that Gabrielson and F. C. Lincoln, just the next thing to do is to make an er e rts satmg y. 0 n op 0 to mention two. But in addition °it, taking all your energy to main- virtually all .floating materials fall appearance at the river and rig up tain your equilibrium in such a to the bottom and the food items they are men who work with wa- your line for high water fishing. place, it would be dangerous so it that collect here offer a veritable terfowl twelve months a year. The proper rigging of your line is is with the catfish. pantry to catfish. A good bait in Just the single difficulty of esti- as important as any other aspect During high water, catfish con- such a spot just can't go without mating waterfowl numbers is so of catfishing. gregate in still water areas or at being sampled by a hungry catfish. overwhelming that I am surprised As far as hooks are concerned, least where the current is much Again we say, try for catfish not so much that one census was any conventional sharp hook of reduced. The place then to fish during high water. Your efforts off by some million but that most medium to medium large size will censuses are so accurate . . . suffice. The hook should be tied to during high water is along the bank may surprise and reward you. I trust the U. S. Fish and Wild- the bitter end of your line. For a * * * ~ • * * * * * * life Service people, and if they say sinker, you should use what is that a refuge is needed in Pool 16 known as a slip sinker, and it then, frankly, I'm inclined to go should not be of large size. A piece along with them. of lead one-half inch long by one- How about letting the hunters quarter inch in diameter with a determine management policy in hole through it lengthwise is about this area? Apparently that was the right size. This should be af- the purpose of the 1,448 to 6 straw fixed to your line by simply slipping vole reported in you r column. the line through the lengthwise Should pheasant hunters and quail hole. It should not be tied. In other hunters determine upland game words, your line should be free to management policies? Should com- slide through the sinker. A knot to mercia! fishermen determine fish- act as a stopper should be placed eries policy? The answer is obvi- about twelve to eighteen inches ous. above the hook This is to keep the If a refuge is established it won't sinker from coming down to the ruin hunting in Pool 16 It may bruted hook. Swce you will be fish- even improve it as tt has for most ing in still water, you will want to hunters around Spring Lake. It is present the bait to the fish in as impossible to have waterfowl re- natural a manner as possible. H av- .... - - main any length of time in an area ing to pick up a chunk of lead along '""1 where hunting is as extensive as it with his food just isn't natural to a is in the region between Savanna catfish. The tdea then behind the and Burhngton unless the ducks use of the slip sinker is that when ·I are given places to rest and feed in you get a bite you can let the fish safety. take out lin lh h th . k Jim Sherman J'h"t.o G d . 1 th e roug e Stn er I'" the spring when the ice Is going out, the c hanne ls of streams a r ~llfq¥S tp fist\ Ufe f, fO hun,t(lllg; fl o~g '(e ~ar 1 8

sour clam meats may be added to pound of dry linseed meal. Put fish --- this recipe. 1 in gallon jar Cdo not put in metal container 1. Cover with cloth to keep flies out. Let rot down to a Use one gallon whoie n11lk, one very rotten juice. After flesh ot pound strong cheese, cut fine, one fish turns to a juice, add enough tablespoon powdered asefedita, one­ oatmeal to make a very soft mush, half pound linseed meal. Place in add salt and sugar and let this rot crock, covel with cloth and set out­ a few more days. then add balance side in shade to som. Let tum to a of oatmeal to this mixture until it thick clabbet on top, strain this on makes a soft dough-ball. Then aftet a week's time and thicken knead in enough oilmeal to make with one-half flour, one-half cotton­ mixture water-proof. Seal in glass seed meal, add more fine cheese 01 jars after final mixing. When going the strongest kind If not qUite fishing, if bait is too soft, add more s tiff enough mix in more flout and oatmeal; if too dry, add a little wa­ knead into a st1ff paste wtth a ter Use on treble or stay-on hooks wooden paddle Keep in light jar. fol' best results. Mold a chunk of this around hook Use of treble hooks recommended Take two quarts clam meats, one cup brown sugar, one cup cornmeal Take one-half gallon fresh water and tablespoon canning salt. )..1ix clams, one-half cup salt, one cup all together well and let stand until cornmeal or one cup cottonseed ripe, keeping covered to keep flies meal, one cup molasses, one ripe out. When ripe, cut in bait size as banana, one teaspoon powdered used. Use on single or treble books. asefedita, 15 drops tmcture or 011 One of the best of catfish baits. vale1ian 15 drops of oil spearmint. Mix well and let stand four or five days or unttl rtpe, keeping covered Chicken or other kinds of blood is Jim 61 r wn I •t. to keep flies out Cut up in size for lops for channel catfish bait. Channel c atfish are the fastest , gamest, sportie st, and cussed est of all the catfish tribe, hook and keep in cool place. The according to enthusiasts. refrigerator is an excellent place if Take one pint of fresh chicken * * * * .. the w1fe does not object too strong­ blood, mix into it fine downy feath­ I still have several hundred cop­ ly. ers, then add one-fourth cup of Catfish Bait . .. ies of the booklet "Ortgmal MISSIS­ sugar, dash of salt and a few drops (Conlmu<'d from page 25) sippi River Catfishing Guide " I of rhodium, two teaspoons of pow­ night spots are riffles above deep Take one pound hver, one cup used to sell these for a dollar, bul dered Casco glue Stir a few min­ pools or holes. cornmeal, one teaspoon powdered any of your readers who would like utes, then let set Keep in cool Tht The number one bait for flat­ asefedita, one ripe banana. Cut to get a copy may do so for 25 cents place until ready for use. beads or mudcat is live mmnows or liver in narrow strips, hook s1ze apiece, if they will write to me at Chicken entrails can be used other small fish. Minnows three to Add asefedita and banana cut in Ca Marquette. small pieces. Add cornmeal. Mix fresh or prepared the following five inches long are preferable. way Cut entrails in bait size mtx In the followmg catfish b a 1 t above ingredients well, then put in Carp, scaled and filleted, cut in enough sour milk to cover with a one ba1l s1ze and soured, is an excellen t rectpes we start out rather gently quart jar. Put on hd and bury in few drops of rhodium, one clove, LQ bait for channel catfish. Don't pass Non-calfishermen wtlh squeamish ground several days until sout. finely chopped garlic. Put in glass hoq up carp entrails They are an ex­ stomachs should stop reading after Smells bad but "cats" love it. ja1· and bury underground at least cellent catfish catcher and some the second or thn·d rectpe 24 hours. a good fishermen prefer them to any add other batt. Ozark spec1al. One quart of min­ 15 t One other good point to make is Take one pint of milk, bring to a nows or rough fish flesh (these can The enttails may also be covered we that bulk c1der vinegar will remove boil and add eight ounces of Iim­ be ground up), one box of oatmeal w1 tb fresh blood to which bas been Size pt actically all lhe odor of stink burger cheese spread, m1x well a nd (quick kind), two teaspoons salt, added one teaspoon of asefedita, keej baits from your bands. add four tablespoonfuls of molas­ three teaspoons brown sugar, one (Continued on page 31) USe, ses. Add dry oatmeal, stirring un­ ... .. * * * * * * til thick. Remove from fire and (J 1952 STATE PARK mix in more oatmeal unltl you have sun a thick, tough batt thal will slay FOLDER- FREE Ta~ on the hook. spo, The revised park folder dro! "Where to Go and What to Of I Do in Iowa's State-Owned Take one pinl jar of soft Iimbur­ \VeJ Recreation Areas" is now ger cheese spread, add four table­ avatlable in the State Con­ spoonfuls of sour clam Juice, mix servation Commission office. together well, add dry uncooked re The new folder lists all 92 oatmeal which has first been run slate recreation areas and through the food chopper Mix all ca outlines facihlies available together until you have a thtck,j cral in each park. stiff, tough dough A little oil meal Cb added when mtxmg will help make h All special slate park facil­ the dough water-proof and stay on liv Ities including tent and trail­ the hook bettet Ftsh oll may also I{ er camping, orgamzed group be added to this recipe Po camping, overnight cabins, Cb& state lodge rentals and con­ Pas cessions are listed Secure two pmls of Iimburger ~~~ -..- ~, Wnte the Slate Conserva­ cheese spread and one loaf of whole gro tion Commission, East Sev­ ki~ wheat bread. Use only soft center • enth and Court, for a free pieces, mixmg cheese and bread to­ bel'! copy of "Where to Go and gether to make a tough, rubbery iar; • fe\\1 What to Do in Iowa's State­ dough. Seal in glass jar. Mold batt Owned Recreation Areas." pear shaped, covering enltre hook. In the major catfishing streams , long stretches of productive catfishing waters c an be (One-half dozen ground or mashed reached by boat that are almost inaccessible without water transportation. I O WA CO N S ERVATI O N I ST Page 31

1· (S

ae Springbro ok Stat e Pa rk in Guthrie County w ill again be the home of the Teachers Con­ servat ion Ca mp be ginning June 8. IX., * * * * ~ * * * * ' THIRD TEACHERS TRAINING CAMP-JUNE 8 lS By George W. Worley field work in soil, water, plant, and s ""t'erin ten den t of Pnbllc R e l atlon

Some of this m1xture IS m the form Springbrook ... of a hard brown crust Here the l Continm.-d from Jlagc 25! sand and pebbles are cemented to­ brought to this part of the country gethel with limonite, a mmeral by the glaciers They came from quite hke iron rust. regions far to the north and are The bedrock of the vicimty 1s qUlte different f1om the bedrock best seen along the h1ghway just which lies beneath the pa1k As west of the park, on the side ol we walk along the trail we see an the rivet vnlley Here, the Dakota occasional glac;al cnallc on the sandstone is well exposed It is surface There arc many in some found to be in beds 01 layers, as one of the ravines we cross would expect fot a deposit laid The sandy beach 1s another at­ down near· the shore of a shallow tractiOn. But this, hke the lake, is sea. Some of it has a la}ering at an improvement of man The sand an angle to the roam bedding Th1s had to be brought in from some 1s cross-beddmg Such structure 1 e neighboring place, where it prob­ suited from the changing and Shift­ ably bad been deposited by glacial ing currents along the shore of the Voh meltwater. Of coutse, storm waves sea. The sand has been loosely on the lake tend to •vash the sand cemented since it was depos1ted It awa} 1is very porous and many wells in The trail winds along the lake- western Iowa secure wate1 from 1t s1de, up and down bill and across It is easily weathered and worn by ravines which once led into the raimvasb. Thus the surface of the valley of Springbrook lf the ra- roadside cut is very trregular Jim SheJ"""'\aD 1'1 •to. c vme is a large one there may be The hilly country of the park is There Is no question but what waterfowl refuges are an absolute nec:esslty to prevent a small V -shaped bay in lh2 shore related to its location along the destruc:tlon of the continental population of duc: ks and geese. of the lake. This is because the M1ddle Raccoon R1ver. The river is ------.• * ravme widened as it opened mto flowing along the edge of the de­ has not yet had time to produce Campfire ... the valley of Springbrook posit made by the last glacier and drainage systems like those of the The upper end of the lake IS has cut a deep valley. Tributaries 1 Cor tir1 1~d from page 29) country west of the river Glac1ers River is largely due to refuges marked by a della. fot med since to the river have thus acquired a once covered that area, too. but so the lake was made. Sediment steep coutse. They have then been even more closely spaced than the n long ago that running water has ones proposed for this area. But mttf brought down by the brook is able to cut deep valleys and extend had plenty of time to cut up the dropped as it reaches the quiet the1r tt 1butaries. that's beside the pomt. The point nam country into hills and valleys Also orga waters of the lake As the depos1t There is a great contrast between is that people who ought to know, the windblown silt, loess, has been people who I'm sure have no ulte­ ities bmlds up to lake level and IS ex- the country west and east of the deposited on top of the drift There tended outward vegetat10n takes river Westward, m the rest of rior motives, say we ought to have havl is no loess in the park or east of a refuge. And there is no one in thee hold. This helps to catch more Guthne Courrty and beyond, hills the river. Cab sediment every time the brook is and valleys are everywhere. The this area with enough training, These are only a few of the things in flood. One can eas1ly under- country 1s well dramed Also, much experience, and with a sufficiently un that attract our atlentwn as we Ular stand that lf this were allowed to of the sub!'oil is loess, the wmd­ comprehensive view of waterfowl become acquainted with the geol­ pro continue the lake would presently blown silt East of the park it is management to say that the refuge ogy of this park and its surround­ !Zed fill up Soil erosion control meas- a different story For a mile or is not needed. ings A visit to the park, a drive rnor ures to prevent this are being taken so there is a belt of upland h1lls. It looks hke we will have to ac­ along its roads, an examination ot }\; upstream. Small dams are being These hav~ gentle slopes and more cept the U S Fish and Wildlife its natural features, are well worth \\1U built which w1ll help to hold back than the usual number of large and Service's recommendation on faith the time of any lover of the out-of­ the the sediment. small stones. This belt trends Unfortunately that's not much doors. shou There is little evidence of bed- northwest-southeast rather parallel comfort for the 150 or so hunters tnstt rock along the tratl. However, to the river. It is the end depos1t, who w1ll be dispossessed of their fron here and there a brown sandy sub- the terminal moraine, of the last blinds by the new refuge. If local sbou stance juts out on the side of the glacier Training Camp ... hunters have a legitimate matter (Continued from PRR'C 31) IOI\'t path. The places are mostly along Eastward from the terminal roo­ • hours each day in the field under for protest 1l is this: No one from s 'il the east side of the lake and on raine the country is very gently the leadership of v1siting special­ the U S Fish and Wildlife Service the tops of ridges Th1s 1s some rolling, except where streams are ists. They learn to know soils, wa­ has seen fit to meet with local Id of the weathered Dakota sand- flowing in shallow valleys Here ter r esources, plants, minerals, groups to explain the necess1ty for der stone, the deposit of the last sea we are on the main deposit of the and wildlife through actual contact the propo!>ed refuge. No one in eacb to mvade the midwest In places glacier. The natural drainage is and experience. They see examples authority has taken the trouble to theu there are pebbles in wtlh the sand. poor Erosion by runnmg water.. of poor resource management - show where the refuge fits into any Corn * they observe and practice conser- plan for the flyway as a whole or usag vation of these same resources. how it will affect local hunting C2 They plan and practice ways to conditions and hunters. lllitt leach conservation to their pupils. I hope such an explanation will lowi. be forthcoming and I am sure that Practical training comes first at Oflc it could do much to settle the pres­ the camp, but it is not the only ent controversy ~ attraction. Comfortable outdoor Cltn living, excellent food, cookouts, pic­ Sincerely yours, to li Tom Morrissey nic lunches, square dancing, swim­ s~c ming, fishing, boating, handicrafts, 325 McClellan Blvd. ID Sl campfires-all add to the fun. Davenport, Iowa lllint Teachers seeking practical train­ basu mg. college credit, and pleasant Lake Harmon .. . reas1 living will not be disappointed at ilege (Continued from page 27) Springbrook State Park in 1952. Se to plant the bill area to the south · ~o Korean hunting licenses carrvb the of the lake to wild game cover Uon following: "Hunting In p u II c shrubbery and to multiflora rose. streets, shrines and temples is not eJtce permitted. Firing at buildings, peo­ Officer Morley said the presence desil ple, cattle and street cars is not of three good refuges in the county permitted." Se should attract large numbers of Pet9i The s pring soug-ft•st v1 frogs and waterfowl to the area on their an­ for "1 toads Is a wondruuo; t•horus, if one nual migrations and provide good ( Jim Sherman Photo takes a few mom~·nts to llstl!n Onh 'goa· Th e hills of Springbrook Stat e Park were formed of glac:lal debris left by the last glac:ler the males take part In the chorus huntmg each season for the local fle to Invade the state. Th e sandstone underlying the park was deposited by the last 1ca which advertises the breeding hunters.-Forest City Summit to c:over Iowa period.