PRESTON – Jeff Broberg spied the Cooper’s hawk high overhead as it flew from one tree to the next inside Forestville State Park.

Saturday, April 15, 2000

PRESTON – Jeff Broberg spied the Cooper’s hawk high overhead as it flew from one tree to the next inside Forestville State Park.

The Cooper’s hawk, Broberg explained, is a small hawk, but "meaner than hell."

Broberg would know. His wife is a falconer and counts a Cooper’s hawk among her birds.

Broberg said he has seen the hawk take down a dozen barn sparrows in a single hunt, sometimes clutching one in each claw, forgoing the ability to land to do so.

For Broberg and the rest of Saturday’s trout fishermen, the Cooper’s hawk presented a stark contrast to what they were after – the ever-so-nervous trout.

"Trout are skittish," said Austin resident Jim Hayden. "That’s their only survival."

On Saturday – the opening day of catch- and-keep trout fishing – the trout were more skittish than usual.

"We’ve been in a drought cycle since August," said Broberg, a Rochester geologist and the president of the Minnesota Trout Association (MTA). "The water is so low and clear, the trout can see you easily."

Broberg and fellow MTA members like Hayden gather every opening day in Forestville to serve free coffee to the fishermen along the Root River.

But there were few takers on this day.

"Typically we get a strong turnout – 100 people or more," said Broberg, who knew well that this was no typical opener.

"The reason we’re not seeing the fishermen is the water is so low and everyone knows it," said MTA member and Austin resident Harlan Johnsrud.

Conditions heavily favoring the trout left the fishing to only the most stubborn – or sneaky.

"People think I’m dressed for turkey hunting," said the camoflage-clad Broberg. "But you wouldn’t catch me out here wearing a white T-shirt."

Camo is one way to go, but there are others.

"I’ve seen people crawling on their hands and knees through the weeds before," said Hayden.

"They try to sneak up on a hole," added Elmer Dimmel, yet another MTA member from Austin.

Dimmel has his own method of sneaking up on trout.

"I walk upstream," he said, "and walk right up behind them."

By 11 a.m., there were scant trout fishers scattered about the park. One man hurried to his car, carrying his limit – five trout not more than one longer than 16 inches.

Broberg was the only MTA member giving it a go early on opening day.

Dimmel provided insight as to why he and the other Austinites were content to congregate around the coffee.

"When you’re retired," said Dimmel, "you fish during the week and let the other guys fish on the weekend."

And when you’re a trout, you apparently pray for drought – or anything else that keeps the fishermen at bay.