Rog's Rod & Nimrod

As most of my recent ice fishing adventures have either been on Wisconsin lakes with my son-in-law, Tom, or on small SD dams where I was alone at the time (very unwise), I’ve been completely out of touch with the latest trends in SD ice fishing. Yesterday’s trip to Burke Lake brought me up to speed with today’s modus operandi. It was a shock to my system.

To the many anglers on the lake, it appeared that I had stepped out of the ‘70’s. One kid had never seen a manual ice auger. I was walking and carrying my gear – rods, auger, skimmer, seat, bucket, etc. Everyone else drove their own ATV’s as they buzzed around the lake, drilled holes with power augers, and checked the holes for fish with their Vexilars. The guy next to me had his pop up tent hooked up to a front end loader on his ATV so that with the push of a lever he was set up and ready to go! These ATV’s were simply driven on and off of trailers pulled by pickups parked near the boat ramp.

I hope I don’t sound critical of my fellow anglers. It’s more like I’m jealous. I slipped and fell down, and some guys from Corsica hurried over to help me up. These same guys told me that the day was slow, but they showed me some very nice crappies and perch. They told me that the crappies were much larger than last year’s. They also had a good northern pike.

I used wax worms on tear dots, and fished just off of the bottom. Other than small bluegills, I caught perch from what I will call four different age groups. The largest was 11 inches long. Jack Broome, the Guru of Gregory County ice fishing, told me that the key to success on Burke Lake is getting out early. I’ll follow his advice next time.

Regarding the Parkston wolf, she weighed 60 pounds – typical for a female Minnesota timber wolf. The DNA testing hasn’t been done yet as the lab is closed down as a result of the government shutdowns.

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If there is such a thing as “The Event” for South Dakota hunters and gun nuts, I would have to name the Sioux Falls Gun Show known as “The Big One.” It is sponsored by The Dakota Territory Gun Collectors Association, and it’s on February 9th and 10th at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. I don’t often give advice or get technical, so please bear with me today.

If you put any stock in my opinions, you might keep an eye out for an Austrian made Steyr Model 1956 bolt-action carbine. It will also say “Daimler-Puch” on the receiver. The rifle features a full-length Mannlicher stock, a “butter knife” bolt handle, double-set triggers, and a release button on the top right side of the receiver that releases all cartridges without cranking them through the action. This rifle is light in weight and extremely accurate.

I’ve personally handled all of the elite rifles including the Krieghoffs, Blausers, and Rigbys at both the Safari Club International and the Dallas Safari Club expos, and I believe that this Steyr is the finest rifle ever made. This rifle has enabled me to shoot with extreme accuracy in spite of my tremor.

I first saw one of these rifles during a 2002 hunt in South Africa. The .300 magnum was carried by Jon Dirkse Dorfling, my guide or professional hunter. He puts his life in the hands of this rifle. I later read about the same rifle in a gun magazine where the author named it one of the top ten rifles ever made. I came across one a year later in a Rapid City gun shop that held it for me with a down payment. Within a year the rifle was mine. I paid $1200 for it. Mine is in .30-06 caliber.

I’m telling you this because you might find one at the Sioux Falls show. At the most recent Rock Island Auction Company sale, a Model 1956 Steyr in .243 Winchester caliber went for $3450. It was in 99% condition. I believe that you might find one for the $1200 figure I paid. If you buy it, you’ll call and thank me in a couple of years.

Don’t forget the Mitchell gun show on March 9th and 10th. See you next week.