We’re into the first week of November, and the mild weather continues, but oh my, it is so dry! Pretty much all of Iowa is under some degree of drought. Hard to believe we have come from late June’s intense flooding in northwest Iowa to the abnormally dry condition we are experiencing right now. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there is much chance of significant moisture over the next couple of weeks.

I am often asked the question, “What can I do to improve the water quality of my lake?” I always immediately state, join a lake protective association because they function in our best interests. However, an easy thing that everyone who owns property can do is to soil quality restoration.

WHAT IS SOIL QUALITY RESTORATION?

As we move toward the month of November, there are so many hunting and fishing opportunities. There is so much that it’s easy to catch yourself coming and going.

However, there are some things coming up in November that are worth checking out.

STAN’S ICE KICKOFF & FISH FRY

Spencer vs. Fort Dodge

7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25 — Dale Norton Field, Spencer

COACH JIM TIGHE ON STORM LAKE LAST WEEK

SPENCER — Finishing out the season at home Tuesday against Sioux City West, the results may not have been what the home team wanted but it was a good lead in to districts. Although the Tigers lost the meet by 24 points, they recorded a personal best and multiple first place finishes.

“We had a great meet and enjoyed celebrating our seniors this evening and the leadership they have brought to the team,” Spencer coach Amie Lawrence said.

HARLAN — Peyton Morey's top 10 finish earned her a return trip to the state meet in her senior year. As a junior, Rylei Koppie had the best finish of the day, also finishing in the top 10.

Koppie’s fifth and Morey’s eighth made them the lone Tigers to advance.

Kiera Brown attempts kill at Le Mars Tuesday night in the quarterfinal round of Class 4A play. The Bulldogs swept the Tigers out of the plays, ending their season. (Photo by Scott Merchant)

CLASS 4A REGION 2 VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINAL

Spencer at Le Mars

Tuesday, Oct. 22 — Le Mars

Teams 1 2 3 4 5 ― T

Tigers 8 12 17 x x — 0

Bulldogs 25 25 2 x x — 3

Middle hitter Avery Wilson posted four kills and was 10-for-10 serving in Monday’s three-game loss at Manson-Northwest Webster. The Cougars ended the Rebels' season in the first round of postseason volleyball action. (Photo by Scott Merchant)

CLASS 2A REGION 6 VOLLEYBALL OPENER

Sioux Central at Manson-Northwest Webster

Monday, Oct. 21 — Manson

Teams 1 2 3 4 5 ― T

Rebels 20 17 20 x x — 0

Another busy camping year in Iowa state parks is coming to an end and staff are preparing for the first freezing temperatures of the fall.

State parks will begin winterizing their facilities this week including shutting off water in the campgrounds and closing shower houses.

Campers can check the status of water availability in a particular park by going to iowadnr.gov/parkclosures. The page is updated regularly by park staff.

Fall is usually a good time to plant trees with mild temperatures and adequate ground moisture. With drought conditions across Iowa this fall, watering newly planted trees on a regular schedule through the 2025 growing season is essential for a strong start and healthy life. Properly planted and maintained trees will have a better opportunity for a long, healthy life,” said Mark Vitosh, district forester with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

From the time I was a little kid, I lived for the opener of pheasant season. And why not? I lived on a farm several miles south of Redfield in north central South Dakota. A town that was widely acclaimed as the “Pheasant Capital of the World.” As a grade-schooler in the late mid-to-late ‘50s, I could not wait until the South Dakota opener the third Saturday of October.

A fish was swimming upriver. What did the fish say when it swam into a concrete obstruction in the river? “Dam”!

OK, that was kind of corny, but the dams found on the rivers that intersect North America have a special place in the memories of many anglers. The area directly below dams on rivers of all sizes have provided outstanding fishing for several species of fish for a long time.

In the Hawkeye State, the last weekend in October is definitely a happening. It’s the pheasant opener, and the 2024 season begins a celebration, as it marks the end of the first 100 years of pheasant hunting in the state of Iowa.

To commemorate this, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Pheasants Forever are partnering to celebrate Iowa’s 100-year tradition of pheasant hunting beginning this fall and running through October of 2025.

STORM LAKE — Spencer made it four straight, improving to 6-2 overall heading into the final week of district play. The Tigers, ranked ninth, will host No. 16 Fort Dodge for the crown and the top seed in the district. The Dodgers, who bested Sioux City West 35-0, will travel to Dale Norton Field.

SPENCER — Finishing just behind Sioux City Metro, the Spencer girls swim team made it competitive, falling by 19 point to the champs in the Lewis Central pool. With exception of a single race, the schools shared top honors in 10 of 11 races Saturday.

“We are excited that we had another great meet with many personal best individual times,” said Amie Lawrence, Spencer coach. “We had some great races and are confident that we will be finishing out our season and postseason strong.