In case you haven’t noticed summer is quietly starting its journey towards our next season.

Everyone is excited to celebrate the first day of summer but it’s really just a trick. Once the first day of summer passes our days start getting shorter. It’s almost as if Mother Nature is quietly sneaking just a little bit of our day away so that no one will notice.

I know that it sounds like I’m looking at my glass as half empty but I’m actually looking at all the things I had on my agenda for the summer and without any panic, just yet, I am starting to wonder if I’ll get it all in. I guess it’s just like our busy lifestyles – so much on the plate that sometimes a person doesn’t take the time to step back and enjoy the moment.

One of my personal favorite ways to enjoy the summer is &045; you guessed it &045; fishing. I’ve said many times that there is no better way to relax than to watch a bobber bouncing gently on the ripples of a warm summer breeze. There is always a little bit of suspense in that and I still get the same feeling that I did as a kid when I see my bobber starting to dance wildly on the surface of the water and then quickly disappear into the depths below. For some reason it doesn’t matter

what kind of fish is on the other end it’s still that same special feeling.

Now over the years there have been a few instances when a mud turtle has appeared on the other end of the line. There is no quicker way to spoil a precious moment than to have a mad painted turtle with a hook in its beak clawing and biting at you. It’s a real challenge to get the hook out and put it back unharmed.

This is usually only a minor setback for both the turtle and myself. Once a person has this experience if may take a while before trusting that there really is a fish on the other end of the line.

Speaking of trust – his past week there was a news release by the DNR stating that 6 Indiana men had been arrested while fishing on Lake Winnibigoshish for having 92 walleyes over the legal limit plus numerous northern and crappie and even an illegal snapping turtle. Their total fine amounted to $4,275.

Part of the report stated:

Officers Tony Arhart and Adam Block were checking angling and boating activity on the lake when they conducted a license check of three men on a boat displaying Indiana registration.

“While talking with them, they commented they had a limit of walleyes back at their cabin and they were trying to catch more before heading home,” Block said. “The anglers stated they were staying at the resort with three other people from Indiana who were also on Lake Winnibigoshish angling.”

A check of the cabin found the group with 128 walleyes, or 92 over the legal limit for six anglers.

The walleye daily and possession limit is six per angler. The group was also in possession of an illegal snapping turtle and illegally stored (uncountable/frozen) northern pike and crappie fillets.

All of the fish and turtle were seized by the state.

The officers heard one angler say each spends about $1,000 when fishing in Minnesota, and they came a long way for only six walleyes. In April, state conservation officers fined five Indiana anglers, who were fishing Straight Lake near Osage in northern Minnesota, nearly $6,000 for being in excess of legal limits of sunfish and crappies. Now I am all for promoting tourism in the state of Minnesota and for us being good hosts. But when you have people that flagrantly break our fish and game laws and then think like the one individual, that it’s justified because they spend a lot of money here – A fine alone just isn’t enough. They should be walking back to Indiana and looking for new fishing equipment when they get there.

For those of us that get excited about catching fish the old fashioned way (legally) here are a few reports from around the area.

FAIRMONT AREA &045;Crappies have moved deeper, to 16 feet, but remain active on Budd Lake and Hall Lake. Worms and small leeches will provide steady sunfish action along the shorelines of Budd Lake and Lake Sissiton. Walleye activity has slowed, but the channel catfish bite has picked up on

Hall and Amber Lake. There have been some good-sized perch coming off Hall Lake, and bucktails and Suicks are triggering muskies on Fox Lake.

FARIBAULT AREA &045; Leeches and live bait rigs are producing a few walleyes on French Lake in 22 to 24 feet of water. Countdown Rapalas are a safe bet for walleyes during the evening hours in the channels of Cannon Lake. Bluegill action remains strong on Lake Mazaska, Shields Lake, and Cedar Lake. Spoon plugs are turning northern pike along the weedlines of Mazaska, Shields, and Kelley Dudley Lake.

Plastics have been the ticket for largemouth bass in the shallow weeds on Cedar Lake and Hunt Lake. The hot weather of late has turned the muskie bite on in this area as well.

MANKATO AREA &045; Large sucker minnows are turning flathead catfish on the Minnesota River. Jig and leech rigs are producing walleyes in the 6-foot weeds of Lake Washington. Look for bluegills to be active in Baker’s Bay on Lake Washington over eight to 12 feet of water. Work the weed edges of Lake Tetonka for walleyes during the evening hours with live bait. Little Jefferson Lake is worth noting for northern pike.

Until next time, play safe; take time to enjoy the outdoors and &uot;Let’s go fishin’.

Remember to show your support for the troops that are serving our country so that we may enjoy these many freedoms that we have.

(Dick Herfindahl, Outdoors writer)