The Lake of Icaria

 

Icaria is an island in the Agean Sea 10 miles southwest of Samos.  It is also a lake four miles north of Corning, Iowa and about sixty miles from my home in Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

Early this spring, the local paper ran an article about fishing in some of southwest Iowa's lakes.  Lake Icaria, only 60 miles from me, was mentioned.  I had been there probably twenty years ago.  It was a deep clear lake but it was packed with people fishing.  Several years ago it was drawn down to clean out the rough fish and re-stocked with crappie, bass, catfish, and walleye.  The report in the paper specifically named walleye.  I was catching fish up at Pierre, and Webster, SD and my cup was starting to run over.  Southwest Iowa had very warm weather in middle to late July, and when it cooled Pam and I decided to go on a scouting trip to check it out.

We started out early with a big breakfast at the Council Bluffs Fish and Game Club, grabbed some crawlers, and headed over to Corning, Iowa.  Four miles north of Corning lies Lake Icaria.   We were really impressed with the campgrounds and parks the state of Iowa had completed in the area.  Several boat ramps were available, and if you are a motor home or 5th wheel camper, there are some really nice options.

A road bed extends across the lake at this location and we worked both sides.  The graph just hummed with targets and we had some hits, but they were really soft and nothing was boated.  To each side of the roadway, water depth was about fifteen to sixteen feet. 

The water was clear and the bank plunged down to fifteen to twenty foot depths.  Our only drawback was the surface temperature was 79 degrees.  We put on spinners and dropped them to the bottom, reeled them up a foot or two and back trolled against the wind and then drifted with the wind depending on where we were on the lake. The wind was starting to pick up in the 20 to 25 mph area, but in a small lake surrounded by hills, it was not a problem.   Near a submerged roadbed called Kale Road, we picked up some hits.  We could feel the light bite, but we were not getting good hook sets.

Spillway area at the dam, and looking southwesterly.  Close to the dam the water was only fifteen feet, but out 20 yards it dropped right down to 20 to 25 feet.  To the left of the picture the bank is really steep and the water depth is in the thirty foot range.

We had also purchased a book called "Sportsman's Connection" for the state of Iowa and it provided an excellent drawing of the topography of the lake.  I am going to check this book out for other states that I fish, mainly South Dakota and Kansas.  You can review what they have to offer for your state at their website www.scmaps.com. 

Both graphs were humming and we showed a lot of fish with the majority below ten feet.  With the heat that had taken place, it was not surprising that the walleye had probably moved into deeper water.

Northern shoreline close to the dam. 

The wind had picked up considerably but with a smaller lake to fish on, it was not a problem.  We moved to the face of the dam.  At this location and out about 75 yards, we graphed a lot of fish suspended just off the bottom.  Toward the southwest shore the water got deeper down to thirty feet.  Out from the face of the dam at least ten yards, the water was twenty to twenty-five feet deep.  The bottom third of the graph was packed with fish.  

Southern shoreline showing a road that disappeared under the lake.

We changed from spinners to jigs and moved to the north shore letting the boat drift with the wind and kept the jig almost on the bottom.  Sometimes we would let it fall to the bottom and jig it up and down, but there was no action at all.  The poor bite probably was the result of a cold front passage during the night and we were in the blowout period.  

We had worked the lake for almost four hours and decided it was time to give it up.  Early next spring, we plan to hit the lake really hard as it is close to home.

We also drove all around the lake  where we could take some great pictures of the flowers.  Plus, it was fun to see a field of sunflowers all facing the sun.  When we first drove in to take the pictures, all were facing east.  When we took the pictures later they had turned almost straight south following the sun .

Field of Queen Ann's Lace in the park.

Field of sunflowers. 

Good hunting, good fishing, and good luck.  Hank 

 

 

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The Bear is Back in Town

Last year in September a trip was made to hunt black bear with my favorite outfitter, Bob Barlow, owner of Barlow Outfitters.  Bob operates on the western side of the Tetons just south of Yellowstone.  You can see the back side of the Grand Tetons rising high above you as you make your way into the mountains. 

The back side of the Grand Tetons.  Right below sits Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  The scenery cannot get more spectacular.

One of the best things I like about hunting with Bob is Bob himself.  I just had a really great time and  have never found a person more accommodating.  I had the option of the four walled tent in the wilderness or staying at the Teton Mountain Lodge in Tetonia, Idaho. ( http://www.tetonlodge.com/) For me camping out is fine, but at my age, I like the lodge.

My favorite outfitter.  I have never had so much fun hunting with anybody as I had with Bob.  Plus the service was great.

The owner bakes some of the finest cinnamon rolls for breakfast that I have ever eaten.  Plus, there is nothing like having a shower every evening after a day in the mountains and sitting down to a good meal in the evening.  Bob keeps his horses corralled at the lodge.  They are trailored to a trail head where you ride off into the scenery and the beauty of the mountains.  If you are elk hunting breakfast comes really early, but if you like a really gradual pace, then a bear trip is slow and easy.

Teton Mountain View Lodge

We left the lodge at a leisurely pace and roamed around in the mountains looking for berry patches and other bear signs we could find.  This is the advantage of hunting with Bob Barlow.  He operates trail rides during the summer months.   He and his guides are in the mountains daily and in some cases overnight. Here he is able to survey the landscape and see where the animals are roaming.

We started out late in the morning or early afternoon and went right to areas where bear have been spotted or bear signs were frequently observed.

One of the spots where I hid.  That is the tip of the gun barrel sticking up. Here I pushed myself back in among the trees and fallen timber and waited patiently.  I am looking straight west. 

We moved around the mountains on the edge of meadows and in the timber wherever bear or signs had been spotted in the past.  On the third day around 3 PM, I was perched on the side of a mountain looking down into a berry patch.  The foliage was really thick and you could not see the stream at the bottom of the valley.  Bob had gone back to the horses to make some phone calls and I was comfortable by myself.  The wind was in my face and I soon began developing a sore posterior sitting on the rocks.  Next time I would bring a pad.  Standing up, I positioned about half my body behind a small tree and leaned the rifle up against it.  It was way more comfortable standing than sitting on the rocks.  The wind was in my face and the sun was behind me.  It was a beautiful afternoon and the weather could not have been  better.

It is amazing in the Tetons that you can get phone service in some locations.  I called my wife.  I did not talk loudly but whispered into the phone.  She understood and was filled in on where I was standing.  All of a sudden 75 yards down below me, a black head stuck itself out from behind a bush.  I whispered to Pam and said,"there's a bear".  With that, the phone was very slowly closed and dropped into my pocket.  Next my right hand gripped the rifle.  The bear moved out from behind the bush.  He was big.  He took a few steps then stopped and turned his head toward me.  It was plain to see he wanted to head for the berries.   Each time he put his head down and took a few steps, the rifle was brought up very slowly.  Two to three steps and he would stop and look back up the mountain.  During these two to three steps, the rifle came up until it was laid across a limb right in front of me.  Two to three steps forward and my cheek was slowly lowered onto the stock and the cross hairs on the scope were placed on the sweet spot.  I was now ready.  He took a couple of more steps, stopped and looked back up the mountain.  At that moment the round was sent on it's way.

Just below the pine tree he stuck his head out from behind the bushes down the mountain and stared up at me. It was believed he sensed something was up there but could not be sure what it was. The berry patches are along the lower tree line.

Boom!  He jumped off a rock ledge and I thought at first I had missed.  My mind was racing with how could I have missed such an easy shot.  The distance was only 80 yards and the animal was a really nice big boy.

Bob heard the shot and came running.  I pointed to where he had disappeared into the brush.  I followed Bob down the mountain, but I cannot keep up with the people who live and walk in this type of terrain and altitude.  He was down the mountain before I got halfway down and announced,  "The bear is right here on the edge of the foliage."  "Congratulations, you are now a bear hunter."

My first Black Bear

We skinned him out and the hide was hauled up the mountain.  Checking in the next morning with the Fish and Game office in Jackson was interesting.  A Warden with the State of Wyoming came and pulled a tooth and clipped a piece of hair.  These samples were then sent away to be tested for age and other things that the state wants to know about their bear populations.  Several months ago, I received a postcard that stated the bear was 11.5 years old.

It has taken a long time to get him back.  The taxidermist called and said he was in town after being tanned.  Upon examination, it was amazing how soft the hair was and how pliable the hide had become.  It also looked like he had shrunk a little.  The head will now be completed and the hide will be shipped off to have the backing sewn on.  Then he will make our home his home as a bed spread in the guest bedroom. 

Fall is just around the corner, and I will be calling to Bob Barlow to see if he has an opening for another bear hunt.

Good hunting, good fishing, and good luck.  Hank

Click on a  link and check out the sales.

 

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The Treasure of the Steamboat Arabia

Arabia Sunk

The steamer Arabia bound for Council Bluffs struck a snag about a mile below Parkville and sunk to the boiler deck.  Boat and cargo a total loss. 

Kansas City Enterprise
September 6, 1856

Rumors were that the boat carried gold.  Other claims was the boat was carrying rifles, Queensware and even some claimed it carried fine Kentucky bourbon.  There was hardly any time to save the passengers, let alone save the cargo when the boat struck a submerged tree floating the the river channel.  

Over the years the river changed it's course and channel and eventually the Arabia was hidden under 45 feet of earth and one half mile from the river's edge.  In 1988 someone found an old river map that lead to the location of the buried treasure.  The necessary machinery was called to the spot and men went to work to recover the remnants of the boat and whatever treasure the boat was carrying. 

You can experience this adventure at a 30,000 square foot museum filled with wonderful artifacts of the era in excellent condition.  Touring the museum is like looking back in time and how people lived and the necessary tools and goods that made their lives possible on the frontier. 

My wife and I on a recent trip to Kansas City, spent the majority of the afternoon in the museum and gazed at the many displays of the goods and wonderful artifacts found on the boat.  In addition, one of the treasure hunters was there.  In a small auditorium, he gave and excellent presentation about what it took to look for buried treasure, the cost that each family suffered, and the rewards they reaped.  xx

Below is a series of photos we took on our tour.

  

The displays are reminiscent of the period and reflect the meticulous care that was taken in the restoration.  You can visit their website at www.1856.com.

Good hunting, good fishing, and good luck.  Hank

 

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Exciting Kansas City

My wife set up a day trip down to Kansas City to see the sights.  My people all came from southern Missouri.  I used to have relatives that lived in Independence so this part of the country was not new to me.  However, there was a lot of great history and culture I had never seen. 

From Council Bluffs to Kansas City is only a three hour drive and with one quick stop, the trip is really quick.  Plus you drive along the Missouri River bottoms next to the Loess Hills and really get to see some beautiful Midwest scenery.  This is the land Lewis and Clark came through on their trip west.  I have read their book twice and started on a third reading because it is so fascinating.  When the explorers wanted meat, they sent out some hunters and shot an elk.  How much better can it get than that?   Elk used to roam the country where I now live.  An outfitter I hunted with once told me elk were originally a flat land animal, but moved to the mountains by being pushed out of their habitat by civilization.  It can't get any better than having elk for dinner every night.  


The tour had some really interesting highlights.  First we toured Kansas City's Sub Troppolis or the Kansas City Underground.  This is a 55,000 square foot man-made cave in the bluffs above the Missouri River and is claimed to be the world's largest underground storage facility.  It is 160 feet beneath the surface and contains almost 7 miles of illuminated paved roads and several miles of railroad tracks  The facility maintains temperatures of between 65 and 70 degrees and is used by over 50 businesses.

We also toured the renovated old section of the city down by the river.  This is very similar to many old market areas along both the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.  It provides some outstanding gourmet restaurants, excellent shopping, and of course renovated lofts, townhouses, and apartments.



Our next stop was the Federal Reserve Money Museum.  The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is home of one of the region's largest automated cash vaults.  From the viewing area in the money museum, visitors can get a close up look at how bank employees and the vault's robots work together to move large containers of cash within a secure area.  Also there is the 463 piece coin collection of Harry S. Truman.  The Truman Collection is unique in that there are examples of coins produced by the U.S. Mint during every presidential administration. 

Pam at the bar in the Savoy Grill



The dining room in the Savoy Grill

 For lunch we went to the Savoy Grill.   The Restaurant is in the heart of Kansas City and was established in 1903.  Here is a touch of class and sophistication not seen today with chain restaurants.  You do not go to the Savoy to eat, you go to have a dinng experience.

Harry Houdini having dinner at the Savoy

The ceiling in the hotel.



Check out the website for the Savoy Grill http://www.savoygrill.net/




Good hunting, good fishing,  good luck, and good dinning.  Hank


 
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