On the trail of owls in the far north By Larry Myhre
This female snowy owl was photographed at Oak
Hammock Marsh Management Area just west of
Selkirk, Manitoba. (Journal photo by Larry Myhre)
Reprinted from the Sioux City Journal.
SELKIRK, Manitoba — The big female snowy owl was perched at the top of an electrical pole as I eased the 300 mm lens out of the truck window.
The regal owl ignored us, seemingly studying the snow covered field to our right.
I pursed my lips and squeaked.
The big head swiveled to look and I pressed the shutter.
We had arrived at Stu McKay’s Cats on the Red Resort at the Lockport Dam on the Red River early that afternoon.
Stu, an avid bird and landscape photographer, suggested Fran and I head out to nearby Oak Hammock Marsh to look for snowy owls.… Continue reading
Icing Red River monster walleyes By Larry Myhre
Reprinted from the Sioux City Journal
SELKIRK, Manitoba — It’s a magical place, this 30-mile stretch of the Red River from the Lockport Dam north to Lake Winnipeg.
From late September through ice-out, the Red hosts untold numbers of huge walleyes, fish which have spent the spring and summer feeding in the inland sea known as Lake Winnipeg.
October draws thousands of anglers hoping to cash in on the action at a place where an 8-pounder is “just another fish” and nobody gets excited until a 12 pounder comes to the net.
Then the river freezes over and everyone goes home.
But, the big fish are still there.
Stu McKay, longtime owner of Cats on the Red Resort just below the dam at Lockport, called me in late December.
“You better get up here,” he said. “Some awfully nice fish are coming through the ice.”
A couple of photos of 30-inchers sealed the deal, but it would be mid January before my schedule would fit. Also the prospect of photographing a snowy owl and northern hawk owls was added incentive.
So, we made the 550 mile trip north for three full days of fishing and photography.
“It’s underutilized in a lot of respects,” Stu remarked as we were preparing our gear for the day. “If this fishery, both the Red and Lake Winnipeg, were in the state of Minnesota, for instance, there would be armies of people out there. Right now it is mostly locals.”… Continue reading