NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/604047
PHOTOS BY JULIE GEISER Elks Lodge Seek Hides By Connor Graham The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, known as the local Elks Lodge in most small towns, is again accepting donated deer hides from the beginning of the November firearm deer season through the end of the January antlerless deer season. Donated hides will be shipped to a tannery to be turned into soft leather and made into gloves for veterans who use wheelchairs or used for craft kits that are distributed to veterans at Veterans Affairs Hospitals across the world as part of the Elks Help a Vet program. Before the hides can be shipped, they have to have all excess fat, flesh and both heads and tails removed, then table or stock salt must be rubbed into all fleshy surfaces. Volunteers at the drop-off locations do most of this work, but hunters are welcome to do it themselves before dropping off the hides. Care must be taken in the skinning process, however, as even small holes can result in the hide being ruined during the tanning process. Contact your local Elks lodge for more information. ■ PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS By Julie Geiser When the transition from fall into winter begins and trolling lures such as crankbaits don't produce walleye bites, switch your fishing techniques to slabbing. Slabs are lead or metal spoons, ranging from ¼ to more than 2 ounces in weight, that come in many different shapes and colors, typically sporting a treble hook. Bomber, Kastmaster, Hopkins, or the John Boy slab, which is locally made in Ogallala, are a few name brands that can be purchased from local sporting goods stores or online. To rig the slab, tie a barrel swivel to your line and hook it to a monofilament leader tied to the slab. This keeps the line from twisting so when that lunker walleye hits, the line will be strong enough for the challenge. There are many techniques that can be used to present a slab, but in colder water, vertical jigging from a boat is often the most effective. Drop the slab to the bottom, then raise and lower your rod tip from one to several feet, allowing your slab to rise off the bottom then flutter back down. Repeat this motion until you have a strike. Most strikes occur as the slab falls back to the bottom, so keep slack out of the line so you can feel a bite when it happens. Fish may sit at the bottom not actively chasing baits. If this seems to be the case, tweak your technique by only lifting the slab 2-4 inches and hold it off the bottom. Let any waves move the bait. If you don't get a hit right away, drop the slab back to the bottom, then lift and hold again. When fishing slabs, use your sonar to find fish that are relating to structure in relatively deep water. Fish as straight down from the boat as possible, using your electric trolling motor to hold the boat in position and let the fun begin. Some winter months are mild and allow for many days on the water. If it gets cold and the lakes freeze, drill some holes and pick up slabbing where you left off when the water wasn't frozen. Slabbing is a productive fall and winter technique at Lake McConaughy, Harlan County Lake, Merritt, Elwood and Sherman reservoirs and wherever walleye swim. ■ Slabbing for Winter Walleye 14 NEBRASKAland • DECEMBER 2015