Signs of spring are here

Was down along the river above cedar rapids yesterday and seen a woodchuck running across the road, It stopped close by its burrow so I stopped and watched it, then it went in. Robins have been here for about a week, counted 17 in two back yards. All the ice is out on the river and watched about a 2 block section free up from the banks and go down river and through the gates of the dam. Ice chunks flowed down river for about 4 days and the thickest chunk I seen was maybe 22″, thats thick for river ice, its thicker on some of the backwaters and lakes. The soft maple trees buds are getting bigger now but haven’t dropped their husks, probably about another month for that. All the snows gone from peoples yards the only piles left are the higher ones from clearing parking lots.

The guy I’m working for, his brother lives in Wabasha and came down saturday and he said theres still 2 feet of snow in Wabasha and they sold out of ice auger extensions there earlier. I told him to pack up his stuff and move back down here, he said things are getting pretty depressing there where he lives. Hes been here twice in the last 3 weeks just to get away from the long winter, I can see why when he showed me pictures of snow up to the door handles on his car a month ago. Hes a plastics engineer and works for a company near Wabasha, I told him he needs to get his old job back and he said hes thinking about it. No nightcrawlers or worms are up yet. Sooooo any encouraging signs of spring after this winter in your area? Herb in southern Iowa is one lucky dude considering its about a 3 week to a month growing time difference.

Redwings and grackles are back. saw a vulture too… Those are pretty sure signs. Have been hearing the tufted titmice hashing out their territory. Gobblers are breaking away into pairs and trios and hiking into new country away from wintering ground.

That’s some of the things I’ve noticed in NE Iowa lately

The geese are fighting for their mates on the river and its constant honking and swimming twards their competition and forcing them away. No grackles or redwing black birds yet. I’ve noticed that sightings of robins etc. have been along the Mississippi earlier then inland areas.

The local geese are picking and cleaning their nesting areas. Buzzards have been here for a couple weeks. Maples and willows will likely be starting to sprout leaves around the end of the week. The maple buds look to want to burst now. That has more to do with hours and strength of sunlight than temps. Frost is still pushing my canopy stakes out so it’s not gone yet, but enough has left to let the water sink into the soil. Fields are starting to dry on top. Catfish are still lethargic but starting to follow the shad to the shallower bars and flats on sunny days. Rivers are muddy and swift as usual and only going to get worse as the north melts. Sure sucks to live at the lower end of the sewer pipe. Tell your friend to stay in God’s country Mossy.

Ya I hear ya Herb. The water is a little clearer here but the catfishing in the back waters come spawn is much better where your at, but not too shab here either. On another note the guy who makes the fish spread went snagging to make more spread a few days ago, the very next day after ice out, and snagged a 30 lb. buffalo and got another one that was bigger up to the bank and it did the wiggles and got off. He said he got around 130 lbs of fish that day and spent the next two days cleaning and canning. The main portion of the body he is going to smoke and the tail section is going to be used for fish spread. I’m waiting for the sucker run in Elkader, which isn’t that far off and he and I are going to try to fill a garbage can to smoke and make fish spread, sucker fish spread is the very best I’ve eaten. The guys are fishing off the west wall right below the dam, don’t know if their getting anything but it sure gets rid of the winter chills.

Sandhills are squacking up the river bottoms below my place since Thursday. That is the true beginning of spring.
Two years ago they were here at the end of February.

I saw a woodchuck on February 2nd and he should have not come out looking for his shadow.

Only a matter of time now.

Last week the feeder creeks along the rum river were starting to loosen up and flow a little bit. It was -10 here last night, and the forecast for this week isn’t looking to warm , at least not wide spread ice melting warm.