Where did spring go?

We didn’t get any snow but it went from 72 and thunderstorms that dropped over 2”
of rain yesterday morning to 42* this morning, well below seasonal temps.
We are definitely riding a weather roller coaster this spring and it’s really screwing up my fishing plans!
 
This high sun angle should have warmed the ground enough to cause immediate runoff, particularly with the aid of those forecast daytime temps. As you note, all of those suspended particulates should absorb radiant energy, accelerating warming. That "odd eye structure", the tapedum lucidum, enables walleye to see better in low light ambient conditions since photons that don't intercept rod or cone cells collide with the TL layer and are reflected back from the retinal field, eventually striking a sensory neuron associated with sight, causing it fire.

When I worked on the St.Mary's River we would see large concentrations of spawning walleye on the rocky points that extend out into the Munuscong and Little Munuscong River plumes, which have a very high turbidty level imparted from the glacial clays dominated soils the drain as they swept along the shoreline on the southern margin of Munuscong Bay. They also pulled-in a lot of smelt, along with the Gogomain's outflow. When we started the fish distribution and seasonal and annual abundance/movement interval of our ecological assessment, we located two trapnet stations on these points and another one on the bay side of Moon Island. Our mark and recapture data eventually documented that walleye were traveling from the Sault harbor, Potoganissing Bay, Northern Lake Huron and the North Channel waters to spawn on these shoals. Pretty impressive distances moved by some of these fish between summer distribution and spawning sites.
 
Huntindave McCann said:
Dani, you need to post some pictures of green grass and a dead gobbler, please.
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Don't worry Dave, I'll be doing that soon. We've got green grass and the biggest freaking mosquitoes that I think I have ever seen this year. They could probably carry off an elephant if they had the desire to. I wouldn't mind a cold snap to kill those bad boys back. Sadly, like Carl said in another post, we've been getting cool snaps and rain mostly on the weekends. Makes the mosquitoes very happy but for the most part hasn't screwed up our turkey hunting too badly. The rain seems to have come through in the afternoons and since we have to quit hunting turkeys on public land at 1pm, that's been okay for us.
 
I pulled four trail cameras yesterday: 267 pictures total in the file from the sd cards. Coyote sign(1-2) running deer everywhere. Here is a standout shot I pulled.View attachment 707.JPG

The camera temp. is "fictional", influenced heavily by the sun's rays.
A scattering of coyote partials and one bear rump, but I never was able to get any pics of the two wolves that were "scooting" through every month or so, fishers, or bobcat we documented via tracks.

My neighbor just down the hill from me now pulls her bird feeder each spring after "donating" three of them over the years to spring bear.
 
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They're cheap cameras I can afford to lose. Two that use D and two C cell powered units. After all the sub-zero weather, only one was dead, and it was at 60% when I put it out. I actually saw some spots of open ground...about <5% of total area that is still snowpack.
 
1' possible here this weekend. I am having a boat lift delivered to the cabin today. Probably be buried when I get there this weekend. Was planning on getting it down to the lake with the other stuff but don't think that is going to happen anymore. Ice is probably still thick but tow cars went through close to shoe a couple of weeks back. And since I won't be able to pull the ice fishing gear on the lake with all the fresh expected new snow, no ice fishing this weekend either. Really at this time of the year.

Mark
 
TimJ said:
It really doesn't matter anymore.

Tim
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I have managed to squeeze in some fishing in between the snow storms. Put a Northern on the table yesterday. Then went out this morning for 2 hours and had my limit of 3 Northern for today. I'll be eating fish tonight for sure.

I'll see that same snow by Saturday if their forecast is correct.
 
Yep... Mid May Snow... The say 5" for us. One forecast should northcentral Minnesota potentially up to 24". But no reason to believe the forecast...
 
Phil Nowack said:
One forecast should northcentral Minnesota potentially up to 24". But no reason to believe the forecast...
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Cause it could be more than 24"???
 
Huntindave McCann said:
Mark, If I were you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I'd worry more about work and less about fishing. 'Course I'm not you, [w00t]
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My work situation has changed. I have now reached the point where I have "my numbers" which for me means retirement can be just around the corner. Not going to happen today but within the next year at the most I would venture a guess. My wife has to make her final decision as to when she plans to call it quits after which time my decision will be made. We have planned for this for a very long time and made the decision to retire at a certain age. I'm there, she will be in a couple of weeks. Now it all comes down to how long do we wait for this to occur?

So yeah, I am worried about fishing. And hunting, and other activities. Can't wait to join the retirement club. When do I learn the secret handshake?

Mark
 
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RLLigman said:
How do you think this will effect pheasant nesting this Spring? What about sharpies and huns, too?
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As long as we don't warm up too much between snows and the hens start to lay eggs it shouldn't be much of a problem for pheasants. We will just have a little later hatch. I've only heard a couple roosters crowing so far.

As far as grouse go I have seen videos of them on leks. In the long run I believe the moisture will be better for them even if it delays nesting or causes smaller broods.

Huns don't mind it drier but you never know about them. These snows only last a few days before they melt. My back yard is brown once again after 5 inches on sunday.
There aren't many huns near me anymore. I miss seeing a few coveys a season.

Dave,
Our lakes are opening up with all the runoff and wind. I might have to see if I can throw a line in tomorrow just to say I have. A couple more warm days and I think I could find some crappies...but that will have to wait.

Carl,

"Cause it could be more than 24"???"

I'd laugh if I didn't think that was a possibility. [crazy]

Tim
 
That is a good question, Dave. We hit 92F today and wondering if it will rain before July when the monsoon season is to suppose to begin. Down where we live the Rio Grande is totally dry. That happened back on April 4th and no one can remember seeing it this dry before---ever. We should be getting spring run offs from the southern Rockies of CO and northern Rockies of NM but there is no snow to melt.
Al
 
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