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/725550
18 NEBRASKAland • OCTOBER 2016 Heritage Days Celebration Coming to Washington County By Renae Blum Washington County – just north of Omaha – has much to be proud of. First, it has a rich history. Early settlers at Fort Atkinson established Nebraska's first school, farm, hospital and library for the soldiers and their families. The fort itself played a major role in regulating the western fur trade. Then there are the people – strong, warm, friendly and ready to come together to make something great happen. All of that will be on display during the Washington County Historical Association's inaugural Heritage Days celebration on Oct. 1 and 2, located at Fort Atkinson and in neighboring Fort Calhoun. Produced in partnership with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and many others, Heritage Days will be a weekend filled with food, music, activities for all ages, ways to see and experience the area's early history, and plenty of shows – tractors, quilts, antiques and crafts. Expect hands-on activities, as well. "We want to make this event as interactive as possible," said organizer Pam Daly. Early on Oct. 1, guests can take a hot air balloon ride to see an aerial view of the path early settlers took as they followed the footsteps of Lewis and Clark. Living history interpreter Wade Davis will give a presentation using clips from the 2015 Oscar-winning movie, The Revenant, about fur trader Hugh Glass, who spent time at Fort Atkinson. Other highlights include demonstrations of rope making, candle making, and muzzleloading; a presentation on early meat curing; and performances by the Rivertown String Band. Activities will take place at both Fort Calhoun and Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, with trolleys shuttling visitors from place to place. Daly is amazed at how the county and community have rallied together to create what promises to be a signature attraction for this part of the state. "It all goes back to the original pioneer spirit echoing around here," she said. "That was how people survived, in joining together as a community to create something. We want to show people what that looks like." To see a full list of the weekend's events, visit wcHeritageDays.org. PHOTO COURTESY BOBBIJANDERSON.COM Cannon firing at Fort Atkinson. Getting Jiggy With It By Daryl Bauer As water cools in the fall, baitfish in Nebraska reservoirs school up and begin to move toward deeper waters. Warm afternoons can still pull baitfish shallow, but the general trend is for those baitfish to move toward more stable, deeper waters as fall progresses. A variety of big predator fish follow them, and if you are an angler, you want to be there too. Some of those baitfish, especially gizzard shad, become stressed and begin to die as the water cools. Vertical-jigging with a variety of artificial baits is an excellent imitation of those stressed, fluttering baitfish upon which walleyes, northern pike, channel catfish, wipers and other predator fish gorge. The key is to jig as vertically as possible below the boat. Experiment with jigging strokes ranging from only a few inches to several feet. The flutter as the bait falls is usually what triggers fish to bite, so allow the bait to fall freely while still staying in contact with it. When done right, strikes can be detected, but at times on the next upward jig stroke a fish will just be there. A variety of jigging spoons have been favorites for vertical jigging, but blade baits can be equally effective. Do not be afraid to experiment with rattle baits or vertical jigging baits used for ice-fishing. ■ The author with a channel catfish from Merritt Reservoir caught while vertical jigging. PHOTO BY DARYL BAUER