Fishing nets go missing on Mille Lacs
GARRISON, Minn. (AP) – A dozen gillnets set by Chippewa Indian bands became trapped in ice floes and went missing this past week on Lake Mille Lacs, reviving the debate over tribal fishing on one of the state’s premiere walleye lakes.
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DNR announces a delayed fishing opener on some lakes
DNR News - To protect spawning concentrations of walleye and allow them to disperse, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced a delayed fishing opener for two bays in the Tower Fisheries Management Area. Boat travel is allowed through the areas that are closed to fishing.
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Fishing Opener update: Public water access conditions vary due to late ice-out
DNR Reports - Minnesota boaters will find a variety of conditions at public water accesses for the May 10 fishing opener, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
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Some 500 volunteers plant trees along Gunflint Trail
ALONG THE GUNFLINT TRAIL, Minn. (AP) – An overnight snowfall complicated but did not stop a major reforestation project along the Gunflint Trail in northeastern Minnesota.
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WISCONSIN OUTDOORS: Record breaking harvest of Lake Michigan chinook salmon
MADISON – Chinook, or king salmon, once again reigned in Lake Michigan’s waters, with anglers reeling in a record-breaking harvest of 431,000 salmon in 2007, according to angler (creel) surveys.
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10 Jewels of the North
By Tom Neustrom
Minnesota has a reputation for having the finest freshwater fishing in the country and for good reason. There isn’t a state in the lower forty eight that can boast the diversified fisheries available for residents and tourists alike. Walleye is king in Minnesota and the majority of anglers that come to Minnesota are in search of waters to fish for this excellent eating fish. The Northern third of the state, especially within approximately 50 miles of Grand Rapids, has some of the best walleye fishing in Minnesota. Located about 200 miles north of the Twin Cities area, anglers can also pursue several other species with unparalleled success. Whether your favorite fish to catch is largemouth or smallmouth bass, northern pike, panfish, trout or the mighty musky, you will never have to look very far. There are countless lakes in the Grand Rapids area, but there are “Ten Jewels” located within an hour’s drive that offer great fishing for walleyes and other species that will make your angling dreams a reality.
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Pequot Lakes AmericInn Provides Outdoor Opportunities
By Mike Yurk
The AmericInn Lodge and Suites at Pequot Lakes is “right in the middle of great fishing” according to Rebecca Mesenbrink, manager of the lodge. That will be highlighted this weekend with the 60th Annual Governor's Opener being held on Pelican Lake only eight miles away from the AmericInnLodge. The lodge opened in 1997 and was the “first of its kind in the AmericInn chain” stated Rebecca. “We have a natural setting and up north atmosphere,” she said. Rebecca has been the manager since the AmericInn Lodge and Suites opened. She points out that since she has been with AmericInn at Pequot Lakes that this is the second time that the Governors Opener has been held on Pelican Lakes. A number of people that will be taking part in the Governor's Opener will be staying with them so they are expecting an exciting weekend.
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First Trip Walleyes
By Bob Jensen
It’s getting closer. In fact, it’s here for some anglers. That first walleye trip of the year is getting closer every day. Some Midwest states have an official Opening Day of Fishing Season, but for many folks it’s just called the “Walleye Opener”. And, for many, many Midwest anglers, their “Walleye Opener” kicks off on a lake. If you’re going to be fishing a lake during the early part of walleye season, here are some ideas you’ll want to keep in mind.
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Gettin’ Started: JIGS- Part 1
By Mike Frisch
The following is the first in a five-part series designed to give kids and beginning anglers a look at some of the basic fishing lure categories and tips on how to fish them.
A jig is simply a fishing hook molded into a piece of lead. The lead offers weight to get the jig to sink in the water, while the hook’s job is to catch fish.
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Metro Lakes to try on Opener
By Tim Filiowich
The countdown to opener started a few months ago for a lot of open water anglers. Winter dragged on and then spring came and the ice stayed. We wondered if open water would ever get here but then it happened almost over night and the ice was gone. Now it is the week of Opener, our holiday! This is a weekend I look forward to from the Monday after opener to the day of opener. It is like Christmas and our birthday all wrapped up into one weekend. Most fishermen have a tradition for fishing opener just like deer hunters have their deer camp. It is usually the same lake, same people and the only thing that changes is the bite and the weather. This year I have decided to break that tradition and am planning on two openers.
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Wisconsin's Weekend Opener Report
By Mike Yurk
On Friday night, the day before Wisconsin’s fishing season opened, the weather people predicted that there would be an inch to an inch and a half of snow on the ground Saturday morning. That prediction must have kept a lot of people at home. When my fishing buddy, Scott Clark of Hudson, Wisc., and I got to our lake not far from our home town we were surprised that there only four cars in the parking lot at the landing. We had gotten there in the early afternoon and normally, in previous years, would have to park on the road.
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Clean-burning, low-emission outboard motors help the environment
By Babe Winkelman
Anglers are some of the most environmentally-conscious people on the planet. That’s because they understand the link between proper land and water stewardship and their fortunes as anglers. Anglers love to catch fish. Which isn’t a shocker, and I’m no exception. But catching fish consistently doesn’t happen by happenstance or luck. To be sure, catching fish consistently is a skill that’s learned over time and honed through trial and error. But catching fish also has an environmental component. Simply stated, you won’t catch too many fish in spoiled waters.
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Minnesota Turkeys: Location, Location, Location
By Kurt Amundson
Turkey hunting success in Minnesota is similar to the old real estate saying “Location, Location, Location.” Turkeys love to spend the majority of the day in the best spot on the piece of property in which they live.
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Fishing: Back to the Basics
By Tom Conroy Information Officer, DNR Southern Region
Collecting dust on a shelf in the garage was where it eventually landed, a big old bucktail lure I bought years ago in anticipation of the only muskie fishing trip I ever went on. I had forgotten about the bucktail, until the day my rambunctious Labrador discovered it.
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Discovering Trinity
By PJ Maguire
Easter weekend, with most of my peers hunting snow geese somewhere from Nebraska to North Dakota, I was in Northern California. My father and I had made the journey from St. Paul together by plane. We were going to visit my sister and her fiancé and their new child my first nephew Martin. I was a trip that was full of new discoveries. It took 3 planes, 2 layovers and one rental car to make it to their home in Manila, California. Manila is a small town located on the peninsula that separates the Pacific Ocean from Humboldt Bay. From the front porch of their home you can hear the waves of the ocean crashing just over the sand dunes.
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Notes From the Dockside: My Secret Fishing Spot
By Mike Yurk
I found it all by myself and it belonged to me. Anyone that fishes wants their very own secret fishing spot that is just theirs and where you can always catch fish. It is not often in my life when I have had a secret fishing spot but I did once when I was a boy.
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The Need for Healthy Aquatic Habitat
By Doug Leier
We’re heading into that time of year when the majority of our outdoors thoughts turn toward fishing. The bulk of the snow geese are well beyond North Dakota. The excitement of the first couple of weekends for spring turkey are past, and those of us who applied for a bighorn sheep, moose or elk license have learned of our fate in the lottery drawing.
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Book Review: A Good Dog By Jon Katz
Review By Ken Sorenson
Katz is a best-selling author with at least fifteen books to his credit including six novels and nine works of non-fiction.
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Fishing Seasons Open for 2008
By Mike Yurk
It has been a long winter but all that is about to change. On Saturday the Wisconsin fishing season will begin and the following Saturday the Minnesota fishing season opens. There will be, especially in the far northern lakes, some remnants of winter remaining. I recall one opener in northern Minnesota a few years ago when it was snowing Saturday morning when we first got on the lake. However, even with the possibilities of a little residual snow, for most of us who fish winter is finally in the review mirror once that the fishing season officially opens. Not surprisingly, the biggest part of the story for the opening of the fishing seasons will be the weather.
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Fishing Opener Tackle Suggestions
By Dan Gapen, Sr.
With winter finally past we now can look to warm days and better fishing results. Where I come from, Minnesota, it’s been a cold and snowy winter. As the rosebud and cherry blossom began to bloom in Kentucky and Tennessee, the first week in April, we Minnesotans got hit with a winter storm that dumped 20 inches of heavy wet snow on us. Not an encouraging happening when the spring itch to fish is strong.
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I Love Those Windy Fishing Days
By Babe Winkelman
Picture a sleek walleye boat skimming the smooth surface of a lake. Imagine a topwater plug being twitched between the lily pads, a big largemouth lurking just below the unruffled calm of a peaceful bay. Or a walleye boat trolling on sky-blue water that sparkles like diamonds. Such are the images portrayed by magazine covers, calendars and advertising photos. While mile-high skies and mirror-smooth lakes make for attractive photos, they usually add up to less-than-attractive fishing. Anglers looking for a sure-fire way to increase their success are better off thinking of dense clouds, roller-coaster waves and murky water.
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Early Season Walleye Strategies
By Jerry Carlson
Opening day for the game fish season is a big event in much of the Midwest. This fact holds especially true for those that love to hunt for walleyes during the early part of the year. In order to bring some success to the early season, there are two aspects to consider. One is location. Anglers can’t catch fish if they can’t find them. The other is presentation. Finding fish and getting them to bite is often two different scenarios.
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Get Ready For Open Water Fishing
By Bob Jensen
It’s here: Another season of open water fishing. Although a few lucky anglers have already hit the water, there are a good number of us looking forward to the first trip of the year. Here are some things you should do before you leave on that first fishing trip.
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Opener: What Should I Use?
By Mike Frisch
The walleye opener is just around the corner. One topic of conversation that frequently comes up this time of year is what lure/bait should anglers use to try to entice the marble-eyed fish. Here is this angler’s thoughts. Much of my early season walleye fishing centers around using jigs. Jigs are great lures because they catch just about anything that swims, plus they come in lots of different sizes and can be fished various ways. For me, however, my early season jig fishing is pretty simple. I use a small jig tipped with a minnow and fish it either by trolling or drifting.
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Addicted to Angling
By John Kolinski
It’s getting expensive to be an active angler. Rods, reels, line, hooks, lures, terminal tackle, tackle boxes, planer boards, life jackets, net, bait bucket, electronics, trolling motors, kicker motors, outboards and boats represent a considerable investment. Now we’re faced with gasoline prices that are rising almost as quickly as the national debt. It hurts to fuel up. In the interest of keeping America fishing, I’m offering advice for anglers who might otherwise be headed for financial ruin. Before receiving a “Dear John” letter from an impoverished and inconsolable spouse or significant other, try my “Dear John” service and I’ll help you stay afloat.
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No Excuses For Walleye Opener
By Dave Jablonski
With opening day just around the corner, I’m recalling all the fishing reports from years gone by. Statements like “I couldn’t find the fish,” “It was too windy to keep the bait in front of their noses,” “I didn’t have the right bait,” or “There aren’t any fish in this lake, it must be the dead sea” are all comments heard around opening day. Sure, some of these reasons may be true for not getting opening day walleyes, but I believe that most problems lie with the tackle and presentation.
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