Late-spring turkeys, early season bite

Happy Memorial Day weekend, and thank you to all of the servicemen and women who have served or are currently serving our country. The older I get the more I realize how important these people are and how grateful we should be for what they have done for us.

I was traveling around town the other day and it was evident that people were in the scramble mode getting ready for the first big weekend of our short "tourist season." We have June, July and August to make things happen, and before we know it, the leaves will be turning colors and things will be getting buttoned up around town. Everything seems to be a rush, rush.

While many will be hitting the lakes, I'll be hunting this weekend. It's my time to talk turkey. I've never hunted this late in the spring season, and after being mauled by the mosquitoes in Nisswa recently, I'm scared how gnarly they will be down south. Maybe the blind will be the place to be this weekend (tick- and mosquito-proof for the most part).

I didn't really use my head as I made turkey hunting plans for this spring, but it is what it is and we will make the best of it. But first, it's one more fishing trip before we hit the road.

The bite was good on our last outing. Tim Hanske and I had out some of our regular customers and they were very happy with our catch on that afternoon/evening (and so were we). I am fishing with a couple this a.m. (Thursday). The woman has never fished before, but women have something about them when it comes to catching fish. Women seem more at ease in the boat and aren't trying to will the fish to bite - like men so often do.

I'm off to the water.

WALLEYEDAN Eigen may be reached at (218) 839-5598, walleyedan@brainerd.com or www.walleyedan.com.