'Tis The Season!

What did we do years back when Weather.Com wasn't a click away to learn what the long range forecast is? Nowadays, because it can change dramatically from hour to hour, many of us take a hopeful look several times a day--and night.
It has always amazed me how, living in a state that outdoor sports plays a role in most peoples lives, that the weather broadcasters rarely relate their forecasts to the interests of most of their listeners. Boating, golfing, hunting, fishing(both on the ice and open water), skiing, watching or playing sports events outside are all rarely brought into the forecasts in any meaningful detail. Belinda? (and the rest) "Tis the season! Help us out.
Not unlike any other time of year in the Gopher State, as a new seasonal sport approaches, hundreds of thousands of anglers are gearing up, waiting for first ice to form. Anglers in Arkansas probably think we're nuts. And maybe we are. Think about it! Ask the twelve thousand guys and gals sitting on buckets at the big ice -fishing contest on Gull Lake as typical January weather takes the bite out of Schnapps....and the fishing. Drive on a snowmobile through the woods , over ice ridges and across wind swept grass swamps to the local watering hole as the temps dip into sub-zero levels instead of making the trip in your comfortably heated SUV that runs on smooth, snow free roads? Hey! 'Tis the season, right? So you stay home from a holiday trip to the relatives because the roads aren't safe as a clipper blows through? But surely it's not a problem to drive out to the fishhouse over cracking ice. Ooooooh no! Not us who live in Minnesota ...no way are WE nuts. "Tis the season, right? Ever think about renting a room while on vacation that didn't have running water (let alone hot water)? We cringe when we have to spend eighty bucks a night at a motel that has cable television, room service and breakfast included. BUT....'tis the season,right! So we rent a room on the Mille Lacs or Lake of the Woods tundra for twice the money and sleep on a board and eat out of a can. Yup! "Tis the season. You betcha.
With an ergonomic ice fishing rod in hand, I'll be at the annual Ice Fishing Show in St. Paul this coming Friday. After all, it's the "Black Friday" for all ice anglers. Yes, the lines will be long. But who cares. "Tis the season! That's all after I spend the next few days working on the fish houses and the 1973 snowmobile. Maybe I'll start the older one too, just in case. Ya see, the long range forecast shows potential of at least walking ice by the 12th-14th of December. What do ya think, Sven? Dave? Ian? Chikage? Chris? Mr. Fairbourne?
Now......all together! Close your eyes. Envision your jigging spoon fluttering to the bottom. Feel the thump, as the first fish of the new ice fishing season chomps on your bait. Now....all together. SET THE HOOK!! "Tis the season, right? contact Steve at 651-270-3383 or sf1954@embarqmail.com