http://www.mankato-freepress.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Sun, 11 May 2008 01:19:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_132011854.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_132011854.html ... The temperature on German Lake was in the mid-50s compared to a normal opening day temperature in the mid-60s.It was a similar story on most area lakes and local tackle and bait dealers blamed the mediocre bite on the extended cool conditions that have kept water temperatures lower than normal. Sun, 11 May 2008 01:22:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_132012124.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_132012124.html It is said that on the opening day of the Minnesota fishing season, a million anglers wet a line. This year, let’s make it 999,999. Sat, 10 May 2008 17:54:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_342181043.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_342181043.html MANKATO AREA Look for crappies in 10 to 14 feet in Baker’s Bay on Lake Washington. The west side of Lake Francis is kicking out sunfish and crappies Sun, 04 May 2008 01:42:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_125014100.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_125014100.html Gary Bednar and Eric Collins, both of Le Center, took top honors in the 22nd annual Take-A-Kid Fishing Crappie Tournament, Friday on Lake Washington. Sun, 04 May 2008 01:39:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_125013929.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_125013929.html The ambiance of a south-central Minnesota fishing trip, where the bellow of a Holstein is more common than the wail of a loon, may not rival that of a trip to northern Minnesota waters. Sun, 04 May 2008 01:37:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_125013617.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_125013617.html For the last 10 years or so, Stu McKee has kept a record of the average ice-out date on Lake Washington. Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:42:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_118014147.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_118014147.html There is a temptation to characterize the incident as a terrible accident. And while allowing that no parent would intentionally shoot a child, to term it as accidental would be an attempt to soften the edges on such an egregious hunting transgression. Sun, 20 Apr 2008 01:08:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_111010716.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_111010716.html Usually by the last half of April, a foray into the Nebraska turkey woods is accompanied by the heady fragrance of plum blossoms; alas, such pleasantries this year are still a week away. Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:31:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_103183800.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_103183800.html I’m at a stage where I’ve grown pretty darned tired of making excuses and apologies for the slobs that make it tough for the rest of us who follow the rules. Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:03:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_097020138.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_097020138.html Remember when buying a deer license in Minnesota was a pretty simple affair? Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:11:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_090011048.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_090011048.html Die-hard ice anglers are tempted to practice a little brinkmanship at either end of the fishing season.In the first days, they tread lightly, traveling lightly. And now, into the last days of the season, they once again tread lightly, travel lightly. Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:58:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_084175147.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_084175147.html In recent years, the full strut gobblers decoys have been the latest thing, presumably appealing to the jealous side of a tom turkey’s nature during the mating season. Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:07:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_075180502.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_075180502.html (We) knew nothing about bear hunting except to get deep into the woods where we presumed the bears would be obligingly wandering around, groggy after a winter of deep sleep. Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:50:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_068182406.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_068182406.html Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:21:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_068181911.html http://www.mankato-freepress.com/outdoors/local_story_068181911.html