We are springing forward with our clocks. Easter is around the corner. Robins are here and the special ducks- Mergansers, Redheads, Buffleheads and other divers are showing their colors.
The white bass are staging and I have a report that wading fishermen are catching lots of fish. They will shortly be up the rivers to spawn.
This is a time for me to remember and honor heroes from the past. Lloyd Jaynes and Gene Bitter showed me the joy of river fishing when I first got here in the ’90s. I had no experience with that type of fishing and still marvel at the explosive bite of a chunky fish. I can still see those guys standing in the river watching their lines with intensity and catching a bunch! We had glorious fish fries.
They warmed up on white bass, but their true love was wading for catfish. We would drive up to Wilson when the ice was coming off the lake and collect a bunch of the shad that succumbed during the annual winter die off. Shad don’t tolerate cold water very well. Lloyd had a big grinder and he ground those shad with old cheese and some spices and we put about 5 gallons of that concoction in the upstairs of a old building in Hoisington. He buried some of it also. We put netting over the top to keep flies from laying eggs in it, and stirred it every few days. As it ripened, so did our eager anticipation.
Joyce made us some sturdy aprons with two pockets. One held our extra sinkers, hooks and sponges, and the other fit perfectly a pint jar of Lloyd’s sponge bait. A few small pieces of shrimp and away we went!! Every brush pile and deep hole in the river had catfish. The occasional flathead either broke our lines or gave us a rodeo! I haven’t done that for a few years, but the memories and odor (you could hardly remove that “stink”) are vivid in my memory. I’m sure those guys are catching fish in glory every day.
I have to say that the rivers are a lot different now. We have been invaded by Phragmites. It sucks lots of water and produces chemicals that kill native species. It is taking over the Smoky and Saline rivers. It will make you sick to look at the west end of Wilson Lake and see how much habitat is lost. It is a big problem at the Bottoms and Jason has a real fight on his hands. It is in bar ditches and fields and I suspect it is spread by our wind. Nothing eats it and native grasses and plants cannot begin to compete. It is immune to most herbicides and is definitely winning the fight.
The walleye are also probably starting. I’ve never had much luck until after the spawn when they start feeding. Big jigs with soft plastics in deep water might produce fish.
Go look at the new van at KWEC. Curtis has created a very classy paint job and Jim Griggs and I helped a little bit.
The spring is still in its infancy, but there is a lot going on. Don’t miss this special time of year!
Doc

Doctor Dan Witt is a retired physician and nature enthusiast.