To me, there might not be a more compelling fish to pursue through the ice than the tullibee (Coregonus artedi). That’s why I recently took two days to go to Big Sandy Lake, in Aitkin County. Word on the street was that things are good there lately. So, I expected a quick vacation of ice fishing for tullibees. What I got was more like work, with a little schooling thrown in.
Continue reading “Tullibees on Big Sandy Lake”Trip Report
Three Magical Days: Part I- Trout Fishing
Sometimes it’s best to stare down the unknowns and bad weather and roll the dice. I did recently and was reminded that a little fish slime on your fingers can cure whatever ails you.
Continue reading “Three Magical Days: Part I- Trout Fishing”Hot on the Trail of Michigan’s Wild Elk
When I rolled out of bed this morning, I thought the best thing that could happen was to hear my first in-the-wild elk bugle. I never dreamed I’d get close enough to see elk, let alone smell any.
Continue reading “Hot on the Trail of Michigan’s Wild Elk”Do Something New: River Smallmouth Float Trip
I recently took a day trip on the Mississippi to do some fishing. It’s something I hadn’t done before, but had considered trying on the many fishable rivers in the area. It’s good I did, because it will probably stand as one of the highlights of the entire summer. To tell the truth, the plan was so simple it couldn’t fail: just me, the river, and any smallmouth bass that were in the mood for a tussle.
Continue reading “Do Something New: River Smallmouth Float Trip”Turkey Reigns King at Blackhawk Lake
I’ve been here since it was darn near dark. Literally tiptoed into place, if you can believe it. Heard every bird chirp and swish of leaves. Adrenaline has been on a steady drip for hours now.
I haven’t been so tense for so long in my life.
Continue reading “Turkey Reigns King at Blackhawk Lake”Yellow Bass of the Fairmont Chain
I was on the phone last night with an old Minnesota fisherman. He asked if I’d done anything interesting lately. I said, “See if you can guess. What are yellow with black markings, plentiful, and taste good when they’re battered and fried?”
“Bananas.”
“Yeah, well, okay….here’s another hint: they wiggle and flop when you throw them on the ice next to your sled.”
“Puppies?”
“What? No! I’m talking about yellow bass.”
“Huh. Never heard of ‘em.”
No kidding.
Continue reading “Yellow Bass of the Fairmont Chain”
Fishing For Ducks, Tullibees, and Hot Air Balloons
Last week at this time I was miles from shore on the west side of Mille Lacs, soaking up the sun and having a fine day. You may already know I love ice fishing, and that I also like to get to the “big lake” at least once every season. But this time was different: I was lured there by a cause. Continue reading “Fishing For Ducks, Tullibees, and Hot Air Balloons”
BWCA Entry Point 25: Winter Camping and Fishing
For years I have dreamed of camping and ice fishing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Biting cold and slush-laden lake tops have kept me home the last two winters. That was fine; I’m not one to press my luck. But the warmer-than-average weather we’ve enjoyed lately had me itching to get at it.
Entry Point 25, with walleyes in Newfound Lake and brook trout in Found Lake, was the perfect setting for my introduction into winter adventuring. Little did I know, however, that introduction would come with a sobering peek into my own psyche. Continue reading “BWCA Entry Point 25: Winter Camping and Fishing”
Do Something New: Minnesota State Park Deer Hunt
It all started about two years ago. My deer season had almost passed without a single deer sighting. I’d spent two rainy days in a deer stand on private property, then one especially frigid day hoofing it on state forest land. If it weren’t for the good fortune of my brother and dad, we’d have been short on meat for the year.
Continue reading “Do Something New: Minnesota State Park Deer Hunt”Trip Report: Bottomland Paddling and Sanborn Canoe
After my incredible deer hunt in the Mississippi bottomlands of southeast Minnesota last season, I’ve been hot to find similar territory for future excursions. And since the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge contains almost limitless opportunities for somebody with more ambition than sense, it was an obvious place to start.
Continue reading “Trip Report: Bottomland Paddling and Sanborn Canoe”Trip Report: North Dakota Grouse Odyssey
Thursday
I hit the road a little after 6:00 a.m. Fargo was my first real stop, for a PLOTS Guide and hunting license. Then it was a matter of winding through the countryside on the smaller roads, surveying some public parcels with the PLOTS Guide pages showing me the way.
Continue reading “Trip Report: North Dakota Grouse Odyssey”
BWCA Entry Point 52: Saved by Gillis Lake
What do you get when you take a pandemic-weary man, work him nearly to exhaustion, cook him in the sun, and feed him a couple fish?
A question for the ages, no doubt. In order to learn the answer, I left home hours before sunrise on May 18th. My destination was BWCA Entry Point 52, Brant Lake- somewhere I’d been trying to go for over a year. Continue reading “BWCA Entry Point 52: Saved by Gillis Lake”
Trip Report: Jumbo Perch of Devils Lake
I don’t keep a bucket list. If I did, one of the items on it going into 2020 would have been ice fishing Devils Lake, North Dakota. When that opportunity recently landed in my lap, I couldn’t resist. Continue reading “Trip Report: Jumbo Perch of Devils Lake”
Tullibees and Happy Kids on Mille Lacs
Nobody smiles at 4:40 am. Nobody at my house, anyway. But Friday morning, I woke my kids up that early, knowing they would be smiling a lot that day- eventually. They had the day off from school, and we had a big day planned at Mille Lacs Lake.
Our little Ford Escape slinked down the resort ramp between rumbling trucks and wheelhouses, onto the white expanse. It was a few minutes before sunrise, though we wouldn’t see the sun that day due to thick cloud cover. Winds were moderate and temperatures were expected to rise about ten degrees to near 30 by day’s end. It wasn’t a picture-perfect day, but it could have been worse. Continue reading “Tullibees and Happy Kids on Mille Lacs”
Video Log
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Lake Sturgeon Fishing, 9/18/20
Foraging Berries & Cherries- July 15th, 2020
Northwoods Snorkeling, July 4th, 2020
Minnesota Springtime Catfishin’, June 3, 2020
The Lake Trout of Gillis- May 20-22, 2020
Mission: BWCA Brook Trout, May 18-20, 2020
Floating Rice Creek- NAGC Video Log
Snowy Day Ramp Harvest- NAGC Video Log
The Search For My Honey Hole In The Woods- Covid-19 Isolation Week- NAGC Video Log
Coronavirus Isolation Week- Maple Tapping, March 24, 2020, NAGC Video Log
The Ice Jam Cometh- St Peter, Minnesota- 3/7/20
Trout Fishing, Smelt Catching- February 28, 2020- NAGC Video Log
The Women Ice Angler Project, February 1, 2020- Never A Goose Chase Video Log
Ice Fishing Devils Lake at Woodland Resort, Jan. 29, 2020- Never A Goose Chase Video Log
Perch & Walleyes on Devils Lake January 28, 2020- Never A Goose Chase Video Log
Mille Lacs Tullibees and Walleye, January 24, 2020- Never A Goose Chase Video Log
My First St. Paul Ice Fishing Show- Dec. 6, 2019- Never A Goose Chase Video Log
Al's Goldfish Ice Fishing Test- Dec. 5, 2019- Never A Goose Chase Video Log
Minnesota Pheasant Hunt in Wet Snow- Nov. 29, 2019- Never A Goose Chase Video Log
Cutting a Christmas Tree in Chippewa National Forest, Nov 26, 2019- Never A Goose Chase Video Log
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