articles from May, 1994 newsletter:

** President's Message
** SCLV Day-Use Dock Program
** New law limits taking of large waIleye, northern pike
** What Can Be Done to Maintain and Enhance the Walleye Population of Lake Vermilion?
** THE RECIPE CORNER
** MORE WANTED
** Dying Trees Should We Be Concerned?
** Lake Watch: Black Bay Peninsula Logging Plan Update
** Loon Lovers Digest: QUESTIONS ABOUT LOONS
** 1993 Eagle/Osprey Population on Lake Vermilion
** Early season anglers face deadly killer
** Donations




President's Message
Spring has finally arrived: new birds in the feeders, pale shades of green showing up in every vista and ducks cruising the shoreline looking for nesting sites or just flying around for the heck of it. The last of the snow has melted and run off into the Lake, bringing with it a new load of nutrients and in some cases stuff we really don't want there too. It's just a grand time of the year. I think it was Sig Olson who said, "One can't really appreciate spring in the Northwoods unless he's spent the winter there." And what a winter it was. How cold was it? It was so cold that the cold snaps even took weeks to happen. It was a perfect time to point out that old concept of biology - limiting factors determine the success of a species to inhabit an environment. Winters like the last one sure keep brass monkeys from being a part of our ecosystem.
Not everything slowed down this winter. The SCLV Board of Directors kept busy planning for another busy summer. Some of the events and dates are listed on the calendar below. One of the most exciting is the agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to use two parcels of their land to develop day-use picnic sites on the Lake (see article). Our contribution will include the construction and installation of boat docks at these sites as well as maintenance of the facilities. These will be available to members of the Club as well as others for day-use activities. Overnight camping will be discouraged. Our hope is to provide non-private sites for picnics and shore lunches. Our dream is to construct more of these if the program is successful.
Other organizations around the state marvel at our Club's dedication to working towards our goals. As Board members, we've been asked how much time our volunteers spend working. We've never calculated it before, so this summer we're asking members to fill out Volunteer Time Sheets to get some idea of our labors. This fall we'll tally the results and let everyone know.
Summer is now before us; time to meet up again with our snowbirds and summer friends; time to hatch our fish, adopt our lights, count our loons, check our water quality and look forward to getting together for our Annual Meeting. And most important of all, time to enjoy what's really ours -- the stewardship of Lake Vermilion, Minnesota's most beautiful lake.
To the Lake, Rick Pearson



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SCLV Day-Use Dock Program


The Sportsmen's Club of Lake Vermilion has entered into a Challenge Cost-Share Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to install and maintain boat docks and picnic facilities at two sites on Forest Service land on Lake Vermilion. Both sites will provide latrines, fire grates and a picnic table for public use. The sites will be available for day use only and NOT for overnight camping. Both parties will arrange for an evaluation of the project at the end of the 1994 season to determine whether or not to continue in subsequent seasons.
Part of the Forest Service's obligations, aside for the site itself, will be to provide latrines and fire grates. They will be developing signing for the sites that indicate the cooperative nature of the development and state the objective of the sites as day-use areas. The Sportsmen's Club will be providing and maintaining the docks themselves as well as the picnic tables. Maintenance for the sites will be the responsibility of the Club.
One of the sites will be located on the east shore of Norwegian Bay on property the Forest Service decided not to exchange with a private land developer for other lands. The other is on the mainland shore of the Lake just north of Matson island which itself is north of the eastern end of Pine Island. Further news announcements in the local papers will provide better directions to the sites as well as the rules governing the use of these facilities.
For several years now the Club has been aware of the increased pressure on Lake Vermilion by single day users. This includes not only tourists and resorters, but cabin owners as well. Many State and Forest Service campgrounds are found on the Lake, but none provide safe boat docking facilities for today's watercraft. It's hard for a boat owner with a $15,000 boat to pull it up on the rocks just to stop for a lunch break or a leg stretch and an environmentally sound place to go to the bathroom. All too often this has happened on private property rather than public.
One of the main goals of the Sportsmen's Club is to promote the wise use of the natural resources in and around the environments of Lake Vermilion for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Establishing day use picnic sites is one way of providing environmentally sound facilities for Lake users. Our hope is to provide many such sites around the Lake. Sites not only on Federal land but, if agreements can be reached, on State and County lands as well. Please feel free to use these sites for their intended use and recommend them to others. If you see any abuse of the sites or violations of their intended use, please call one of the Sportsmen's Club Board members.



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New law limits taking of large waIleye, northern pike
Anglers who fish for northern pike and walleye should be aware of a new law that begins this fishing season. Starting May 14, anglers can keep only one walleye over 20 inches and only one northern pike over 30 inches per day. The law's intent was to improve fishing quality by requiring anglers to reiease all but one of the big fish they catch.
"This law primarily speaks to a conservation ethic, since direct biological benefits are minimal," said Ron Payer, operations chief for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Section of Fisheries. "It will, however, affect only a relatively few anglers." That's because very few anglers ever catch two 20-inch walleyes or two 30-inch northern pike in a single day.
Payer cautioned anglers that the new law is not a panacea and should not be perceived as such. He urged anglers to continue practicing voluntary catch-and-release fishing. He especially encouraged anglers to release more medium-sized fish, which are the trophies of tomorrow and the source of future fish generations.
"In the end, self-regulation is the most important regulation," said Payer. "We all have a responsibility to the future. That means following written rules and following your conscience as well."



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What Can Be Done to Maintain and Enhance the Walleye Population of Lake Vermilion?
By Duane Williams, Large Lake Specialist for Lake Vermilion, Minnesota DNR Section of Fisheries
One of the more common questions I hear when talking to people about Lake Vermilion is, "What can be done to maintain and improve the walleye population? First of all, I want to emphasize that Lake Vermilion has an excellent walleye population. Test net catches are well above average for similar type lakes. The reproductive success of walleye is excellent and the lake usually has an abundant supply of young walleye. The following are some of the major factors in maintaining a quality walleye population and what could be done to improve them.
Clean water is the fundamental building block in maintaining healhy fish populations. Walleye and other desirable fish species cannot prosper without clean water. Lake Vermilion does have relatively clean water, however there is room for improvement. It is fortunate that Lake Vermilion does not have a large industrial point source of pollution. The wastewater treatment plant at Tower was a significant point source of pollution, however a much improved plant was recently built.
Non-point source pollution from improper septic system drainage, "grey water" systems, lawn fertilizer runoff and erosion is much more common. Many lake residents indicate there has been an increase in algae blooms and aquatic vegetation over the years, a likely effect of this type of pollution. Concerned lake home and cabin residents can make sure they are not contributing to this type of pollution and upgrade their systems if needed. Another major source of water pollution is atmospheric deposition, primarily from power plants and large industrial plants. Mercury contamination of fish and loons are examples of this type of pollution in Lake Vermilion. Although it is more difficult to have a direct impact on this type of pollution, concerned lake residents can get involved politically as individuals or groups and join the national debate on this important issue. The second important factor in maintaining a healthy walleye population is habitat. Walleye need specific types of habitat for spawning, nursery areas, food production, etc. Lake Vermilion does have abundant walleye habitat and it is important this habitat be preserved. Much of the critical habitat that walleye and other fish species need is in the shaliow shoreline areas that are easily impacted by development. Activities such as sand beach construction, rock removal, vegetation removal and shoreline filling all result in the loss of fish habitat. Some heavily developed lakes have already lost a major portion of the original shallow water fish habitat. Fish habitat is protected by the DNR Division of Waters (D.O.W.) permit process, which regulates the type of alterations that can be done in the lake. Lakeshore owners can help preserve fish habitat by complying with these regulations and practicing voluntary restraint when considering shoreline and lake bottom alterations. The third important factor in maintaining a healthy walleye population is protection from excessive exploitation. The DNR Section of Fisheries protects walleye stocks by setting seasons, limits and regulating methods of harvest. Creel survey is also conducted to monitor the walleye harvest. A model based on lake size and productivity indicates the sustainable harvest of walleye on Lake Vermilion is about 1.5 pounds per acre a year, which is about what the harvest has been in recent years. The sustainable harvest is defined as the maximum pounds of walleye that can be harvested from year to year without depleting the population. Although Lake Vemdlion has a healthy walleye population, concerned anglers may want to voluntarily restrict their harvest to help mitigate the effects of increasing angling pressure.
Anglers often ask if increased stocking will help the walleye population. Lake Vermilion is already stocked each year with walleye fry, because it is used as an egg source for the Pike River Hatchery. It is not known what contribution stocked fry make to the walleye population since there is also good natural reproduction in the lake.
Walleye production on Lake Vermilion is limited primarily by the chemical fertility of the water, not a lack of small walleye. Lake Vermilion already produces as many walleye as it is physically capable of and additional stocking will not increase the population. Since the lake cannot be 'forced" to produce greater numbers of walleye, it is important to conserve the existing population.
As long as there is good water quality, abundant habitat and protection from over-harvest, the walleye population of Lake Vermilion can be maintained for many years to come. I encourage anyone who has further questions to call me at 218-365-7280 or stop by our Ely office for a visit.



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THE RECIPE CORNER


Here's a suggestion for disposing of the rusty crawfish that are becoming a nuisance in Lake Vermilion. Let's eat'em. Bon Appetit!

Preparing and Cooking
Rinse live crawfish under cold running water. For 4 pounds live crawfish, in a 12- to 16-quart kettle combine 8 quarts cold water and 1/3 cup salt. Add crawfish and soak for 15 minutes; rinse. Drain.
For 4 pounds live crawfish, in a 12- to 16-quart kettle bring 8 quarts water and 2 teaspoons salt to boiling. Add crawfish. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 5 minutes or till shells turn bright red.
Drain. Serve hot with a sauce or melted butter or margarine.

Crawfish Etouffee
1 pound fresh or frozen peeled crawfish tails
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons cooking oil; margarine, or butter
2 tablespoons crawfish fat, margarine, or butter
4 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
2 cups hot cooked rice
Thaw crawfish tails or shrimp, if frozen. In a large saucepan cook onion, celery, green pepper, and garlic, covered, in cooking oil for 10 minutes or till tender. Add crawfish fat; stir till melted. Stir in cornstarch. Add tomato sauce, red pepper, 1 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook and stir till bubbly.
Add crawfish tails. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered, for 4 to 5 minutes or till crawfish are tender. Season to taste. Serve with rice. Serves 4.

Crawfish Etouffe Quiches
1 large onion, chopped
1/3 cup chopped celery
1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup melted margarine
1 cube chicken bouillon
1/2 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 tablespoon sugar
Chopped garlic, salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon liquid crab boil seasoning
1/4 cup flour
4 to 6 cups water
1 pound crawfish tails
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 cup chopped shallots
2 unbaked 9-inch pie shells
1/2 cup each shredded Cheddar and mozzarella cheeses
6 eggs
3/4 cup each milk and cream
Parsley flakes to taste
Combine onion, celery and green pepper in blender; process until smooth.
Saute puree in margarine in saucepan for 20 minutes or until tender. Stir in next 7 ingredients; mix well. Cook for 15 minutes. Stir in flour and water. Add crawfish.
Cook for 10 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Add 1/4 cup parsley and shallots.
Spoon into pie shells. Sprinkle with cheese.
Beat eggs with milk and cream in bowl. Pour over seafood fiIling. Sprinkle with parsley flakes to taste.
Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes or until set.
Yield: 12 servings.

Crawfish Fettucini
1 onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup butter
1 tablespoon flour
1-1/3 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 pound crawfish tails
1-1/3 cups half and half
8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 tablespoon chopped Jalapeno pepper
1 clove of garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
6 ounces fettucini, cooked
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Saute onion, celery and green pepper in butter in skillet until tender. Stir in flour.
Cook for 15 minutes. stirring frequently. Stir in parsley and crawfish.
Cook for 20 minutes. Add next 6 ingredients. Cook for 20 minutes. Add pasta; mix gently. Spoon into 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Yield: 8 servings.

Crawfish Corn Bread
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup olive oil
4 ounces egg substitute
1 16-ounce can cream-style corn
8 ounces Cheddpr cheese, shredded
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
1 cup chopped onion
1 pound crawfish tails
Combine first 9 ingredients in bowl; mix just until moistened. Stir in crawfish tails. Pour into greased 9x13-inch baking pan.
Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool in pan for 20 minutes before cutting into squares.
May also be served as appetizer.
Yield: 15 servings.



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MORE WANTED
The Sportsmen's Club of Lake Vermilion is now looking for a few good deciduous trees - in fact just the large trees. How about it? We had so much fun with the Big Tree Contest last year we're doing it again. Do you have any likely candidates? Hey - tell us about them too! We all still know the value of trees on our shoreland - the shade, the annual mulch, the soil binding root systems, the nesting sites for birds, the oxygen producers as well as pollution filters. Okay, there's the occasional pollen dust on our newly waxed car, the seeds on the screens, the branches on the lawn, the sap on the lawn furniture and the gunk plugging up the rain troughs. But it's still a small price to pay for all the aforementioned benefits as well as their music during those windy evenings.
We, the Club, would again like to recognize the monarchs of our deciduous (leaves that fall off every year) leafed friends. We're looking for the biggest trees, on the Lake, and on our members' property. All you need to help is a tape rule, a pencil, a stamp and envelope Get out in your yard, measure the circumference of the trees as noted on the back of this form, write down the dimensions of your candidates and mail it all to us by July 10th. We'll sift through the returns, verify (as well as stand in awe of) the behemoth and award pnzes to the winners again at our Annual Dinner in August.



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Dying Trees: Should We Be Concerned?


Are all of the trees on Lake Vermilion dying? What is going to replace them? Hazel brush? These are some of the questions residents of Lake Vermilion frequently ask me. Are the trees all dying and what can we do about it? Well, take the time to read this article and then give me a call.
Lake Vermilion's shoreline is covered with a diverse mixture of tree species. Among the more common trees found are the birch, aspen, pines (white, red and jack) and balsam fir. All of these species, except for the white and red pines, are relatively short-lived and are known as being "pioneer species." Pioneer trees are the first to populate a site after a major disturbance such as a fire or logging. Any of these species are considered old when they are approaching 70 years and we can start seeing visible signs of decline. We have all seen the heavy birch mortality along the shoreline, bark beetles and wood bores in the pines, forest tent caterpillars (a.k.a. army worms) defoliating our aspens and weakening them to a point where a number have died. Well, hold onto your hatsl The balsam fir is facing an impending onslaught of spruce budworm. This infestation is working its way down from the north and east of us. Heavy feeding and mortality has occurred in the Crane Lake area and pockets of activity are showing up in Linden Grove and Willow Valley. We are waiting to see if this winter's cold temperatures have had an effect on the egg masses.
So, let's take a look at the big picture. We know a major disturbance happened here about 70 years ago when the lumber barons logged our virgin forests. We also know the trees that replaced the virgin pine are the "pioneer" species that are relatively short-lived. We know our forests are showing signs of their age because several species are being infected with disease and insects due to their weakened state. What can we do about it?
As a forest falls apart, it leaves natural openings on the forest floor where the sun can penetrate and provide light and energy for certain types of seedlings. White pine thrive in this situation, partial shading provides protection from the white pine weevil and partial sunlight controls the humidity so the white pine blister rust cannot complete its life cycle. Deer browsing can still be a problem, but budcapping (stapling a dollar bill sized paper around the terminal bud) the seedling does a beautiful job of controlling the problem on a small scale. We will always have some problems propagating white pine, but if we all join together and play the numbers game (plant lots of white pine) we can slowly change the face of Vermilion back to a resemblance of what it once looked like. The beauty of planting white pine is that we are not throwing all of our eggs in one basket. The existing forest is still intact, although the aging process is still taking its toll of individual trees.
Hopefully by now you are all fired up !o plant trees on your property, but don't know how to go about starting the process. Just contact your local DNR Forestry office, tree seedlings are available for order starting in September for planting the following spring. Some of you who own several acres on your backlot, you may have a large enough project to qualify for cost sharing of approximately 75% of the cost of both the trees and the hired labor to plant them. Lake Vermilion has a forestry office in both Cook and Tower. Call 666-5385 or 753-4500 for more information and/or free tree planting advice.
Mike Hanson
MN DNR Forester, Cook



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Lake Watch: Black Bay Peninsula Logging Plan Update


In the May 1990 issue of The Vermilion Sportsman, an article appeared which alerted our members to a proposed timber sale and logging plan on the environmentally sensitive peninsula between Black and Norwegian Bays. The Club's board felt that since the proposed plan could have a negative environmental impact on the water quality of Black Bay, an important walleye spawning area, it was consistent with the objectives of the Club to call for a review of the plan.
As a result of this action, the County, State and Federal timber management units became more aware of the degree of public interest in protecting the watershed areas of lakes and rivers. A very educational and mutually beneficial dialogue between those government agencies and the public and tourism industry followed.
The Black Bay timber sale was re-evaluated. Soils experts, hydrologists, wildlife biologists and other specialists were brought in to evaluate the plan and make any changes necessary to address the concerns of the various civilian groups. The end result is a timber management plan which will senve as a model for future timber sales which involve area lakes and rivers. The efforts of the government agencies involved should be applauded. This past winter some of the timber involved in this management plan was finally harvested. On March 14, Dale Lundblad, Sportsmen's Club board member, and Steve Raps, Lake Vermilion Resort Association member, were taken out to inspect the site by St. Louis County forester Mark Kailanen and DNR Forester Mike Hanson.
The ride into the site in a government 4-wheel-drive vehicle over a winter road dispelled our concerns this logging road might open up the Black Bay peninsula to development. The road was intentionally routed through a wetland which cannot even be traversed by an all-terrain vehicle during the summer months.
The timber harvesting was done in a very responsible manner and apparently in accordance with State BMPs. An explanation of Best Management Practices follows.
The Club is now assured that any govemment-sanctioned timber harvesting done near Lake Vermilion will be conducted in accordance with these standards. Privately held timber lands are not controlled in this manner, however, so we must continue to monitor logging near the lake and encourage private property owners to follow BMP guidelines.
Dale Lundblad, Director



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Loon Lovers Digest:
QUESTIONS ABOUT LOONS


The Top Ten: For All Loon Lovers
1. Do loons mate for life?
The heart says "yes," but the head says "maybe." There simply isn't enough information to answer this one. Since the pair bond isn't strong enough to keep the loon pair together throughout migration and wintering, it may not be strong enough to insure a lifelong partnership. There appears to be, however, a strong fidelity to the nest site. A loon pair probably returns to the same territory and nest site. If a member of a pair dies, the other will most likely find a new mate.
2. Whv is the eye red?
Some scientists believe that the red eye improves fishing abilities either by improved underwater vision or by its camouflage effect (the red eye appears gray at depths of fifteen feet or more). Others feel the red eye is part of the breeding season plumage.
3. How can you tell the difference between males and females?
It's not easy. You can wait for one to lay an egg (that's a female), watch a pair copulate (the male is on top) or notice which bird gives the distinctive yodel call (only males give this call). There are no differences in plumage and only slight differences in size.
4. How long do loons live?
Most scientists believe the average life expectancy to be fifteen to thirty years.
5. Just how ancient is the loon?
It is no accident that loons are listed first in bird books. They are the oldest living birds with an ancestry dating back fifty to eighty million years. The oldest loon fossils date back twenty million years.
6. How did the loon get its common name?
This is a multiple choice question. Most reference books relate the common loon to the English word lumme or the Scandinavian word lom, both meaning awkward or lame. Since the loon is very clumsy on land, these references do make sense.
The "Oxford Book of British Bird Names", suggests the word loon was a seventeenth centuty corruption of the Old Norse word lomr which referred to the red-throated loon. The basic meaning of the Norse word is moaning, an allusion to the loud, wailing calls of the loon.
7. Do loons use their wings while diving?
No. The wings are used to help execute sharp turns while chasing prey, but they are not used for propulsion. The large webbed feet supply the power. Wings are typically held tight to the body during dives.
8. How deep do loons dive?
There are reports of dives in excess of 200 feet, but no scientific evidence exists for dives to those depths. It's safe to say loons dive to depths over 100 feet which is amazing enough anyway. Generally loons fish in shallow water and stay submerged less than one minute.
9. Are loons endangered?
Officially the answer is no. Common loons are not on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's List of Endangered or Threatened Species. In some parts of their range, however, the common loon is in trouble. Many states list the loon as endangered, rare or threatened.
10. How fast do loons fly?
Loons have been clocked at speeds over 100 mph. Having wing beats of around 250 per minute, the common loon is an extremely rapid flyer considering its adaptations (solid bones for example) which favor aquatic over aerial freedom.



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1993 Eagle/Osprey Population on Lake Vermilion
Eagles:
Osprey: