Lodi Wisconsin Outdoors | Lodi Valley News

River Currents

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/6/09
by Gary Engberg
©2009 Gary Engberg Outdoors

November is Big Fish Time

Author with a big walleye caught on Lake Erie during late November.

November is the best month of the fishing season for the angler looking to catch a trophy fish of any species. The largest fish of the year are usually caught from the beginning of November until freeze-up which varies from lake to lake. Many anglers put their boats away for the year around Labor Day and a few others wait till sometime in October. But, the hard-core and serious fishermen wait till sometime in November (and sometimes later) and just before the area’s lakes freeze solid for the ice fishing season to store their boats.

When and Where

Every year there may be a “little” variance in the exact time that the local lakes freeze solid. The variables that affect a lake freezing over include; the size of the lake, the lake’s depth, and if there is any current or flow that runs through the lake from any rivers and creeks that enter and exit the lake. Large lakes, like Madison’s Lake Mendota, usually don’t freeze until December and there have been some years when Lake Mendota isn’t frozen till Christmas time. But, Lake Mendota is 10,000 acres, over 80 feet deep, and has some current running through it from the Yahara River that enters and exits the lake. A smaller lake, such as Madison’s Lake Wingra, will freeze weeks and even a month before some of the other area waters because it is only 345 acres, has a depth of roughly 15 feet, and only a little flow from Murphy’s Creek.

There also are waters, like Lake Wisconsin, which is actually a flowage much like the Petenwell and Castle Rock Flowages, which are actually impoundments of the Wisconsin River. These lakes or flowages have dams at both ends that control the current and flow throughout the year. The current is less during the winter months, but never worth the risk of ice fishing over its deeper water. The point is that most lakes in southern Wisconsin are open for fishing throughout the month of November. When fishing late in the season, try to find any green weeds because these are fish magnets this time of year. Read more »

Ice Age Trail Extends Thanks

Rating 4.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/3/09

Dear Friends of the Ice Age Trail,

Ravine behind the Lodi Schools prior to bridge construction

Thanks to all of you who helped out this past weekend on the “Roctober” Wildcard Weekend project.

Over 80 volunteers build tread, trail, rock walls, bridge bracing, a camp site, trail reroutes, moved about 100 wheelbarrow loads of gravel, and installed posts with signage!

Thanks to you, they were well-fed and slept well, energized to accomplish a ton of great stuff! The bakers, cookers, cleaners, servers, sweepers, counters, and register-ers supported all that work.

The (mostly) completed bridge project

From Ron Wolf’s first presentation to our chapter to Al Trienen’s first holes for the poles and footings to Tim Malzahn’s nailing the last yellow blazes and IAT shields on the trail posts, many of you have given you time and talent to see this dream come true. Thank you!

In the next few months the Lodi Valley Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance will be coordinating with all our partners a celebration and dedication of the bridge. Before then, some landscaping and cosmetic aspects of the bridge still await completion. But right now, if you want a premier experience, hike through the city of Lodi on up past
the golf course, and out through the prairie above the middle school, along the newly worked trail tread down around the school’s orchard to the bridge. Enjoy the results of your hard work!

See you one the trail.

Bill Beers
IAPTA Lodi Valley Chapter Coordinator
608-963-1625
williambeers@verizon.net

River Currents

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
10/16/09
by Gary Engberg
©2009 Gary Engberg Outdoors

Young Hunters Take to the Woods During State Youth Hunt

Justin Juan Lara with father, and a 13 point buck with an 18 inch inside spread.

Last Saturday, October 10^th was the opening day of the two-day Wisconsin Youth Deer Hunt in all of Wisconsin’s deer management units with the exception of the state park units and deer management unit 48. I was going to be registering deer in Sauk City at the Wilderness Fish and Game store both days of the youth hunt. I was up early on Saturday morning taking my new Labrador puppy, Katie, out to do her “thing.” I knew that the day was going to be chilly, but not the 23 degrees that my thermometer read before 6:00 am that morning.

Since I was going to be outside registering deer, I dressed for the coldest day of the fall by wearing long underwear, warm boots, a down jacket, and gloves. Before heading to the registration station, I did a tour of the public hunting grounds that surround my Wisconsin River domain. I was mildly surprised at the large number of vehicles parked around the Mazomanie Public Hunting Grounds on this first frost of the season morning. There were young hunters dressed for the weather with their fathers, grandfathers, and mentors entering the woods and fields at most of the parking areas around the 4,000 acre parcel of woods, fields, savannahs, and marsh that make up this public hunting area. Despite the chilly weather which included a stiff wind and occasional snow showers, this new generation of hunters were out in good numbers to shoot what for many would be their first deer. It looks like the great hunting tradition that Wisconsin possesses is in good hands for the future generations with what I witnessed this weekend. Read more »

River Currents

Rating 3.50 out of 5

Lodi, WI
8/28/09
by Gary Engberg
©2009 Gary Engberg Outdoors

The best time of the year for outdoors orientated people is soon here! There are so many outdoor activities that will peak and provide some of the year’s best outdoor action culminate in September, October, and into November. There’s fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, canoeing, outdoor photography, and much more. I plan to tell you about these varied outdoor activities over the next few weeks with articles on what’s happening this fall in the Wisconsin outdoors.

A legal 63 inch sturgeon from the Wisconsin River below the Prairie Dam by Milo Stanislov of Chicago, Illinois

Wisconsin is one of the few states in the country that has a hook and line lake sturgeon fishing season. The season opens on September 5 and closes September 30, 2009. During this month long season, anglers have a chance to catch one of the state’s largest and oldest-living fish. Lake sturgeons live longer and grow larger than any other fresh water fish in the state. The female lake sturgeon lives much longer than males with 95% of all sturgeon over 30 years old being females. Female sturgeons don’t reach sexual maturity till they are at least 25 years old and about 55 inches in length. Then, they spawn only once every four or five years. Males are sexually mature at 15 years when they are about 45 inches long. Initially, sturgeons grow more rapidly in length than in weight, but this pattern changes as the fish age. Growth depends on several factors with the most important factors being the available food supply and water temperature. Read more »

River Currents

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
7/21/09
by Gary Engberg
©2009 Gary Engberg Outdoors

These days, outdoor activities, outdoor organizations, and the “outdoors” in general are competing for the youth and young of today to join and become active participants in the many different and diverse groups that have one thing in common. That one thing is a love and appreciation of the beauty and splendor that being outside and participating in any of the many outdoor activities bring to those who have learned to appreciate the many joys that nature gives us for enjoyment.

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The term and concept of the outdoors encompasses many different and diverse groups and also the solitude, wonderment, and peace that it can bring to an individual in activities as simple as hiking, camping, nature viewing, outdoor photography, kayaking, and canoeing. The outdoors is a general concept that includes so many different activities besides the fishing and hunting that most people think of when you mention the outdoors. I know many people who I consider “outdoors people” that have never fished or hunted. But, they rarely spend an off day indoors no matter what the season is and if they are alone or with others. The “outdoors” is really a life-style or mode of thinking that affects your leisure time and much of what you do in your spare time. Read more »

A Market – A Musing

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Goldie The Chicken visits Lodi Valley Farmers Market

7/15/2009
Lodi, WI Wisconsin

By Gail Lamberty

Last Friday’s Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market was your chance to “Talk to the Animals.” In conjunction with the Lodi Fair, we thought we might have some critters join us for the afternoon. Many folks stopped by the market table to chat with Two Toes, Flap Jack, Goldie and Peanut. The chickens and the pygmy goat at the market stole the hearts of big and little kids alike.

Two Toes, Flap Jack and Goldie are 8 week old chicks with glorious plumage. The “chicken whisperer” was there to reassure them there were there to be admired for their beauty. The chicks seemed to like the pretzels almost as much as Will and Tyler their handlers for the day. Pam, our master gardener, raided her own chicken coop to give them a day at the market. Many thanks, Pam, to you and your grandsons. Read more »

Fishing Has No Boundaries and the Take an Adult Fishing Event

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Nice Smallmouth Bass

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
7/14/2009

This past weekend was the fourteenth annual Fishing Has No Boundaries (FHNB) event for physically challenged and disabled individuals. FHNB was started in 1986 in Hayward, Wisconsin and now has over two dozen chapters nationally in 23 states. There are Wisconsin chapters in; Hayward, Eagle River, UW-Oshkosh, Chippewa Valley, Madison, and Fond du Lac.

Fishing Has No Boundaries took over Governor Nelson State Park with almost 100 participants and over 300 volunteers who are the one’s who make this great event possible. The participants pay a nominal fee with a portion of the fee going to the national organization for the development of new chapters. The disabled anglers get two days of fishing and fun on the water with experienced guides and anglers, boats and pontoons that can accommodate wheelchairs, bait, boxed lunches and beverages for two days, adaptive fishing gear for those who need it, safe dock loading, FHNB hats and T-shirts, and fish cleaning. After Saturdays fishing, the Yahara Fishing Club puts on its fabulous fish fry for all the participants and volunteers using many of the fish caught that day. Read more »

A Market – A Musing

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Is that Larry beneath the Hat?

Lodi WI, Wisconsin
7/8/09

By Gail Lamberty

The wagon came and circled. It wasn’t followed by war whoops or shooting. It was surrounded by generosity and kindness instead.

Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market and the Lodi Area Food Pantry have been partners for a number of years in providing fresh produce to the elderly, shut-ins and those among our community who are experiencing rough times. Donations from the market on Friday are stored in two coolers in the market barn and distributed on Saturday am. Read more »

River Currents

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Gary's New Puppy

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
7/7/2009

My New Roommate and Companion

Many of you readers have sent me wonderful and heart-touching letters and emails over the years when I have had to put a dog down and more recently when my last Labrador, Bo, passed away last December. Dogs and their stories, many of them sad and tear-jerking, strike a common bond with many people from many different walks of life in today’s world.

I have written about my Labs and their escapades both good and bad over the last two decades. My dogs are my family and only dog owners can feel the heartache and joys that they bring to you in a life that is way too short. Throughout all my writing, stories about losing a companion bring me more emails and letters than anything that I do in the world of the outdoors. Dogs of all breeds and kinds are a common thread between so many of us. Losing a life-long pet is one of the worst things that can happen to a dog owner and brings all of us to tears when facing this terrible time. You never completely get over the loss of a dog that you have raised and spent year’s together hunting and enjoying the outdoors. The bond is a strong one and many who don’t have dogs don’t understand this powerful relationship. Read more »

River Currents

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Hanson's 52" Madison Chain Muskie

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
6/30/2009
by Gary Engberg
©2009 Gary Engberg Outdoors

Understand Fish Movement Through the Seasons for Success

Last week’s hot weather has raised local water temperatures to mid summer temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees. The warmer water has allowed all fish species to finish their spawning and recuperate for the rigors of this annual ritual. Even the last fish to spawn (largemouth, catfish, bluegills, and sunfish) are recovered and feeding heavily in local lakes and rivers.

What warm water, weed growth, and post spawn fish when all put together mean that fish are active, aggressive, and hungry. The metabolism of fish has been raised and most fish must regularly feed just to maintain their weight. The young fish of the year are trying not to be eaten themselves while feeding non-stop for their own growth. If you can now find fish, they should be willing biters! Read more »

BioBlitz Summary Gibraltar Rock

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
6/23/09

A wide variety of citizens enjoyed the BioBlitz event at Gibraltar Rock Natural Area.

Approximately 20 citizens joined six biologists for the “BioBlitz” held at Gibraltar Rock on Saturday June 13^th. Although the biologists are still finalizing their reports, they were very happy with the results of their species inventories. The DNR-owned Gibraltar Rock and adjoining private lands (with landowner consent) were surveyed for plants (including lichens) and animals (birds, mammals). Citizens from the area were invited to join the biologists as they undertook their species surveys.

Gibraltar Rock and adjoining lands houses a variety of habitats, including deep woods, meadow, prairie remnant, shrubby field, bluff face, woodland edge, and leatherleaf bog. This variety of natural communities provide habitat for a wide diversity of plant and animal species. A total of 58 bird species were identified at the site. The DNR ornithologists (bird specialists) Mike Mossman and Sumner Matteson did the breeding bird survey starting at 5am. Mossman reported, “Most unusual breeding birds were Acadian Flycatcher (state-threatened) and Broad-winged Hawk (common up north but in southern WI breeds only in large upland forest tracts). Overall, we found a good complement of forest interior and generalist birds (e.g., Broad-winged Hawk, Acadian Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ovenbird, Pileated Woodpecker) a good community of shrub-loving species in the old fields and woods edge (Alder Flycatcher, Blue-winged Warbler, Field Sparrow, Black-billed Cuckoo, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee), and a few open-country and grassland obligates (Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow). A good mix of birds responding to a good mix of habitats embedded within a pretty healthy landscape of forest, shrub habitat and agriculture. Read more »

Gibraltar Rock Bioblitz Reminder

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
6/10/09

This is a note to remind citizens of the area to join a team of expert naturalists/scientists to discover the plants and animals of Gibraltar Rock this Saturday, June 13th from 8:30am to 3:00pm. The “BioBlitz”—a day-long event to document as many species as possible—is hosted by Friends of Scenic Lodi Valley. We’ll have several experts in plants and wildlife on hand to both identify species and to teach citizens about the interesting diversity of Gibraltar Rock.

For the adventuresome, we plan to provide a chance to visit the unusual leatherleaf bog situated at the base of Gibraltar Rock, thanks to the kind offer of the landowner. If you wish to join the “bog walk,” you should plan to get your feet wet! Wear old tennis shoes and long pants that can get wet and muddy….

Meet at the Gibraltar Rock parking lot (ca. 1 mile west of Hwy 113 on Co Hwy V, west of Okee) at 8:30am. All citizens welcome to participate in part or all of the day-long inventory. Wear long pants and good shoes, and you may wish to have insect repellent handy.

Snacks will be provided (and a porta-potty will be on site!). For more information call Charlie Luthin, Gibraltar Rock Team Leader, at 592-4326.

Biking over hill and dale and hill and hill and hill…

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
6/9/09
By Wendy Soucie

I love to bicycle! I am lucky that I live in the middle of Scenic Lodi Valley with some of the very best and most challenging riding in the area. However, Wisconsin has some wonderful geography throughout the state to explore and I do much of my riding with one or two friends or my husband (if I promise to find a good pancake place about halfway).

In early May a Lodi/Deforest contingent of bikers headed to Dodgeville. One of the earliest Century Rides(100 mile) in Wisconsin is the Quadrapedal Spring Century in the Dodgeville area. A worthwhile event for sure, with routes climbing between 1500 and 9000 feet and guaranteed to get your heart pumping. They touted in the materials that “you’ll wish you had an extra set of legs!” and they were right. All proceeds from this ride went to benefit the Iowa County Humane Society (ICHS). Read more »

Lodi YMCA Announces Water Yoga and Tennis

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI-5/22/09

Lodi Tennis League – Season runs June and July – Regular tennis rules apply. 1 out of 3 sets. You will get a schedule with the name and number of the person you are to play each week. You are responsible to call and schedule your game with them for that week. Games are to be played from Monday-Sunday with scores called in by Sunday night. Please call 592-1076 to register.

Water Yoga-Relax your body and mind while concentrating on long gentle stretches and breathing exercises. Improve balance and flexibility. Thursdays 5:15-6:00PM. Contact the pool at 592-1076 to register.

Sure Signs That Spring Is Here

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI-5/21/09

Lodi Valley News photographer Gary N-Ski snapped these shots around Lodi, Wisconsin this past week. As temperatures have finally moderated, the landscape is coming alive with sure signs of Spring. In these photos, maple leaves unfurl before your eyes in the warm afternoon sun. A morel is waiting patiently to add a special touch to someone’s meal. The runoff from a recent spring rainstorm paints a peaceful scene at sunset.