Well, Groundhog Day is now over, and regardless of whether that woodchuck saw his shadow or not, many Outdoorsmen throughout the Midwest are starting to put their cold weather thoughts behind them, and are now starting to focus on the potential of the Spring Season ahead. Yet others are still trying to get in some good wintertime fishing and even hunting. That's one reason that the Ground Hog we just mentioned is still a bit concerned for his own welfare, Ground Hog Hunting Season In Illinois doesn't end until March 31st.

As we wait for that warmer Spring weather to come, now is a good time to check out a warmer power plant lake such as Powerton. It's available for shore fishing during the winter from 8am to 4pm; and Powerton reopens to boats, coming up soon on February 15th. Remember that when fishing the discharge portions of a power plant lake, the colder the weather the better the fishing, so don't despair if we still get a cold spell or two, just head out to Powerton and go after some of those bigger fish in the deeper water.

Of course, weather-willing recently, there's still been a chance to get out on the ice. Nate Herman of Herman Brothers Pond Management, www.hbpondmanagement.com , reports to MVP Outdoors that he went ice fishing with John Graham, and both of their Dads last Friday Afternoon and Saturday. If I were a betting man, when it comes to pond fishing, these are the guys to call. They first tried for smallmouth bass and ended up with 7 largemouth. Then they moved lakes and tried for some bluegill and managed 79 "big boys", 7 more largemouth, and a catfish. Again they moved lakes for some trophy perch, and ended up with some small bluegills, bass, crappie and a nice meal out on the ice of fresh fried fish and mushrooms, but no perch!