WEATHER ROLLERCOASTER

Man, I really hate the spring weather roller coaster. It seems like Mother Nature is as fickle as she gets at this time of year. Cabin fever adds to the anticipation of nice days and just when you think the weather has turned the corner it starts snowing or sleeting again.

But a wise man once said that the weather affects the hunter or angler much more so than it does the wildlife or fish they pursue. Sure, cold fronts and storms have their impact on animal movement and a particular bite, but Kansas fish and fowl are used to it.

Another wise man once said not to sweat what you can't control and the weather sure fits that scenario. You might have to move a fishing trip to a creek or secluded area of a lake on days when the wind kicks up. And if it's cold you just have to plan for a trip more like winter than spring.

It's time to catch crappie and walleye. Mushroom hunters are licking their lips in anticipation of the first morels of the season. Turkey hunters are brushing up on their box calls and devising a plan to hit the woods in search of a lovesick gobbler.

Although a perfect day weather-wise adds to a trip, it's not likely to happen now. If you wait for one you might not get out much. Plan ahead and make the best of it no matter what Mother Nature throws your way.

Good luck!

TROUT FOR LUNCH

There aren't many instances where an angler can slip out for a quick fishing trip with much expectation of being successful. However, if you don't mind eating on the run and are close to one of the locations stocked with catchable-sized trout you might be able to spend your lunch hour catching fish. Trout are stocked by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks every couple weeks from mid-October to mid-April in several locations. In addition, some city or county entities in Topeka and Kansas City have trout programs as well.

Trout can be caught with a variety of tactics. Some anglers enjoy flyfishing while others like a more static approach and fish Powerbait, marshmellows or cheese chunks on a hook with a small sinker on the bottom. Personally, I like to use a 5' ultralight spinning rod with a small 1/8 or 1/16-ounce in-line spinner of some sort. Bright colors of yellow, pink or red work well as does black.

A permit is required when fishing for trout in KDWP-stocked waters which costs $12.50 (some city or counties have different requirements for their programs), in addition to a Kansas fishing license (required of those 16-64). The daily creel for trout is 5 fish. Anglers 15 years old or younger may fish for trout without a trout permit, but their daily creel limit is 2.

So when spring fever grabs you on one of these nice days, head to a local trout spot. The lunch hour doesn't afford much time and you might only get 30 minutes of fishing or so, but it beats looking out the window of a fast food restaurant! Good luck!

BEWARE THE WEATHER

If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes. Just last week we had heavy snow and then ominous thunder. Mother Nature is indeed fickle at times. The old adage is true about Kansas' weather. However, if you're an outdoorsman or woman, you should heed the warning, particularly at this time of year.

Turkey hunters and anglers are at risk during severe weather. Tornadoes come to mind, but fortunately they're few and far between. Kansas leads the nation in the number of F5 tornadoes (winds from 261-318 mph) with 14 on record since 1880. But even an F1 tornado (winds from 73-112 mph) are cause for concern. I've lived in Kansas all my life and have never seen one and don't really care to. But I always pay attention to tornado watches (conditions are favorable) when I have outdoor plans.

Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, high winds and lightning are much more frequent on the Kansas landscape. High winds can swamp boats and lightning can be deadly. The worst places to be are in the middle of a lake or open field when these storms hit. They typically provide plenty of warning as it's easy to hear thunder many miles away.

I check the forecast before every outdoor trip. Always keep one eye on the sky. Most cell phones have weather apps with radar. There's usually plenty of time to take evasive action. Put the boat back on the trailer or seek shelter if you're out in the open or in the woods. Thunderstorms typically pass and many times activities can be resumed. Just don't gamble and think nothing bad can happen because it can. There's no fish or fowl worth taking a chance of any kind when dealing with threatening weather.

SPRING TRAINING

Baseball's spring training is underway and I'm experiencing some of my own, too. Although fall duck seasons are still many months away it's time to hit the ground running with a young, black Labrador retriever puppy I call Gator. At 9 1/2 months old and 72 pounds he's not much of a puppy any more. But I still felt like a parent dropping their kid off the first day of summer camp last weekend when I left him at Bur Oak Retrievers north of Kansas City.

I've worked with Gator regularly on various commands and retrieving since I brought him home last July at 7 weeks old (pictured). His retrieving instinct and desire is impressive but his willingness to do what he's told when he's told, much like some teenagers, leaves a little to be desired. This is the task owner Gordy Weigel is challenged with correcting in the next couple months.

The training regime is the same I used with Gator's dad, Magnum, 13 years ago. Upon Mag's return from a professional trainer I worked with him diligently at least five days a week for more than a year. I reinforced all that he'd learned at puppy boot camp and by repetition, coupled with his own instincts, he became a fine retriever. It was worth every dollar and minute I spent on him.

Initial "letters from camp" show that Gator has plenty of retrieving desire and a good work ethic. Sure, he'll see what he can get away with but that's part of the learning process. If he ends up 75 percent as good as his ol' man, I'll be pleased as those are big shoes to fill. His final exams will come later this fall.

I'll let you know if he graduates.

FRIGID FISHING

It would have been easier to leave my 11-year-old twin boys and 13-year-old nephew home last Sunday. I was back home in Topeka for my boys' soon-to-be 12 birthday celebration with family and I'd arranged a crappie trip with a buddy to nearby Perry Reservoir. Original plans called for me to take the boys, but the forecast didn't look favorable so I told them I'd go alone for fear they'd get too cold and cut my trip short. But when I walked outside it was sunny and 30 degrees with a light wind. I walked back inside and woke the boys. All three shot out of bed, much different than the response I see on school days.

I followed my buddy to the ramp, just in case the boys got too cold. I didn't want his generosity penalized on my account. Unfortunately, the temperature was now 28 degrees, no sun and a stiff 15 mph breeze. I got the boys' rods ready and helped them adjust to one crank off the bottom. Meantime, my buddy started catching crappie and it wasn't long and each boy got in on the action, too.

We fished for about 2 1/2 hours and the wind never let up. It was frigid. But the boys were entertained with the occasional fish, seven gobblers feeding nearby on acorns, three beautiful bald eagles and pelicans swimming around us. We'd caught 50-60 crappie, but only had 10 better than the 10-inch minimum length limit. Although I had the boys bundled up with layers of life jackets and winter coats, I could tell they were getting chilled. But they never complained. I decided to call it a day for their sake and headed back home.

My buddy's next stop across the lake produced the kind of fishing every angler dreams of. Fishing action nearly non-stop and fast enough he could only use one rod, for several hours. Had I left the boys at home, I would have got in on that action, too. I wasn't disappointed I didn't get to experience it, but wish the boys could have got in on that kind of fishing.

But as we sat down to a hot bowl of chili and a cheeseburger back in town, I knew our success this day wouldn't be measured in keepers. The boys talked non-stop about the wildlife they'd observed. I wondered aloud how many kids their age ever get to see a bald eagle soar just yards overhead or hear a turkey gobble. Despite missing the fast fishing action, I smiled knowing our trip was still memorable. I'm glad they were along.

EASY ON THE ICE

I enjoy the occasional ice fishing trip, but my preference is wide open water. So I didn't mind Mother Nature letting loose her icy grip a couple weeks ago. It's now time to chase crappie and it's a great time to catch plenty of the tasty slabs. I tried it a few days ago with a couple friends.

Conditions were frigid as a cold front had dropped temp's to the mid-20's and a howling northeast wind was kicking up white caps. Undaunted, we headed out in search of schools of crappie. Fishing was good, but catching was poor, at least for the first couple hours as we only had a handful of fish to show for our efforts. However, we kept plugging away and finally ended up with a respectable mess of 33 crappie and one walleye. Slow by normal standards but enough for a few tasty meals.

Crappie now can be found on river channel or natural breaks. Throw in some brush pile fishing and the options are plentiful. It's just a matter of locating hungry fish and good electronics are crucial and understanding them is even more important. Most crappie are caught in 20-35-feet of water. Jigs for this depth are ideal at 1/4-ounce and tipped with a variety of plastics of assorted colors. Pay attention to which ones are producing and duplicate it on other rods. Sensitive braided line is an asset in deeper water, too.

Fish are still bunched up with the water temp's hovering around 40 degrees, but it won't be long and they'll scatter. That's a fish story for another day.

Good fishing!

MAKING A CONNECTION

As much as I enjoy participating in the outdoors, it's equally rewarding relaying that passion through text and photos. In some cases I don't really know how this information is received. However, there is the occasion where I know I've struck a chord with readers and the response is immediate. Such was the case with the article I wrote about the passing of my 12-year-old Labrador retriever, Magnum (Magnum's Mark-Kansas Wildlife and Parks November-December 2010).
I wasn't surprised. Everyone has a dog. And when it comes time to say goodbye to a cherished, four-legged friend those feelings cut deep. That pain has no boundaries. I got bunches of e-mails and personal comments.
But one lady's extra effort of contact allowed me to take comfort knowing I had indeed made a difference. She tracked down my work number and got my mailing address from our receptionist. A short time later I got a small envelope with a typewriter-written address taped to the front. She included a couple poems about dogs' final farewells and a poster from her hometown paper with a big ol', tongue-wagging Golden Retriever.
She also included a typewriter-written note that said, "No one for all time here on earth will write a better article about the love and final farewell of a black Lab. The photos are beautiful. Thank you for the good I got out of reading your article...."
She was from McCook, Nebraska, and had seen the magazine at the library in Colby, Kansas. In a busy world it was obvious she went to a great deal of effort to relay her appreciation, while at the same time trying to make me feel better letting me know I wasn't alone.
It's truly nice to know that once in a while you make a connection.