WATER WOES

Not that it's any big secret...but drought sucks!  Just ask anglers, hunters, city water supplies, farmers and numerous species of fish and wildlife.  The last couple years have been a struggle for anything or anyone that utilizes or relies on adequate precipitation.  Although recent snows and precipitation have helped, the state of Kansas as a whole has a long way to go.

Reservoirs in Kansas have suffered dramatically over the last few years.  Inadequate rainfall and record-setting heat throughout the summer have dropped them many feet due to evaporation.  Others have multiple users with city water supplies and irrigation removing even more water.  Throw all of it into the mix and you've got a recipe for the worst water conditions we've seen in some time in parts of Kansas.

Boat ramps are high and dry.  Low water levels in the winter and summer can cause massive fish kills.  And if you can access some reservoirs getting from point A to point B can be an adventure, and not always an excellent one as it's treacherous at times. 

But as hard as it is to say, drought isn't ALL bad.  Wetland managers have had ample time to control cattails and disc pools to encourage moist soil plant growth.  Dense stands of smartweed and millet provide tons of seeds which are like M&M's to migrating waterfowl.  Fisheries biologists can create and place brushpiles in areas accessible to both bank and boat anglers.  Park staff have been busy removing years of silt from some boat ramps and around loading docks.  Low water levels have allowed much work similar to this and more in some places. 

Drought it nothing new as history can attest.  And as always, there's an end in sight, maybe even something to look forward to.  Some of the best years of fishing have followed extended drought conditions in reservoirs.  Exposed shorelines have erupted in woody and shrubby vegetation and when the lakes fill up again this habitat will provide excellent spawning areas for various sportfish species.  More, young-of-the-year fish will survive with adequate escape cover and places to hide from predators.  Drought-stricken lakes recently filled are much like new ones first impounded and the fishing that follows can be phenomenal. 

And one of these days we will get rains again and lakes and reservoirs will return to conservation pool.  I've been doing a rain dance most days in recent weeks with hopes I can soon launch my boat on some of my favorite waters.  But as my wife can tell you, I can't dance and got married so I wouldn't have to anymore.  Here's hoping Mother Nature takes pity on those of us who are rhythmically-challenged and takes care of it herself.     

MEANINGFUL MEMORIES



Rodger 3/31/56-2/23/13





A friend of mine passed away recently after a lengthy battle with cancer.  Rodger was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish.  He was only 56 years old.










One of the few times I didn't get stuck in the middle
Rodger (left), Jim (middle) and me


I first met Rodger about two decades ago.  Another friend, Jim, introduced us and over the years we all spent thousands of hours chasing fish and fowl.  Being the new "kid" on the block I was often relegated to the middle of the blind or boat which was mostly fine by me.  I simply watched and learned and appreciated the opportunity to tag along.



Our trips broadened in scope and 10 years ago the three of us went to Saskatchewan to hunt ducks and geese.  We had a great time and there was plenty of laughter along the way and memories made that we still talked about for years afterwards.  We cooked goose meat 17 different ways and quickly grew tired of deploying and picking up 600-700 snow goose socks morning and evening for a week straight. 

Rodger (left) and his son, Matt, compare fowl

It was shortly after our return from this trip that Rodger's doctor would discover he had a brain tumor.  But Rodger continued enjoying the outdoors as often as possible, despite painful treatments and medication. 

Rodger's son, Matt (left), Jim (middle) and Rodger limited out and laughing

We talked often during his illness of a cast-and-blast vacation in Louisiana.  We wanted to hunt ducks in the morning and fish for speckled trout and redfish in the afternoon.  Jim made it happen three years ago and the three of us loaded up and made the 12-hour trek to Hackberry Rod and Gun Club.  Rodger looked forward to it as he'd never seen the ocean.  It would indeed be a memorable outdoor road trip.

The duck hunting was great and lunch was even better.  Authentic gumbo and banana pudding were the norm and a quick nap and we had plans to fish.  Unfortunately, Rodger wasn't feeling well enough to get out the first two afternoons so we relaxed in camp.  But things worked out on our last afternoon and we had a wonderful fishing trip.  We all caught limits of big redfish and some nice speckled trout, flounder and other assorted species.  The weather was beautiful and the fish Gods shined on us.  For three land-locked Kansas boys we were livin' large.       

One cool cat with two goofy hats!

Rodger is gone now but memories from trips like these and countless others are etched in stone in the back of my mind. 





Rodger was a devoted husband, father and friend.  We all figure God needed a duck hunting or fishing partner so He called Rodger home.  So here's hoping, Rodger, that the view of the outdoor world from your new seat finds all the greenheads cupped and committed and the walleye fat and hungry. 

So long, friend.

You will be missed.