The winter trout season may not draw the fanfare and hoopla of the spring walleye opener in Minnesota, but try telling that to a devoted cadre of hardcore, hard-water anglers. Although most ice-fishing opportunities exist in the northern part of the state, no matter where you live, there is probably a chance to tangle with trout nearby.
The early-ice period, shortly after freeze-up, is one of the most productive fishing times of the winter season. Green weeds are still producing oxygen, fish have ample food, and the thin ice makes it easy to drill a lot of holes quickly to find fish.
I used to mostly put my fishing rods away as soon as the early goose season opened in September. But each year, I fish more and more during the fall because the fishing is just that good.
Once safe ice has formed, the time to fish is immediately Read More »
She wasn’t from a hunting family. So when she opened the passenger door of my truck and her gaze fell on the small hank of mesh camouflage on the seat, I immediately realized what she must be thinking.
“What is that?” she asked, arms akimbo and eyes narrowing to laser beams.
Joe Shead: Was seeing Bob Dylan really worth the curse of the ‘Breakup Buck’? Read More »
Even before I’d stashed my canoe, ducks started returning en masse. The only blemish on an otherwise amazing hunt was that they were landing a little far out, and my shooting suffered for it. I would shoot at a flock, go zero for three, and when the shot-upon flock was still retreating, the next wave was already cupped-up, feet down.
My Best Duck Hunts… and One that Might be the Worst Read More »
Decoys are among the most valuable of waterfowl-hunting tools.
Unless you’re pass-shooting or jump-shooting, they’re essentials. But there’s more to just tossing them out haphazardly. Here are some important things to consider when using decoys to bring waterfowl into range.
Devising a duck decoy plan: When, where, how many? Read More »
Choosing to highlight my best – and worst – duck hunts is a bit of a head-scratcher. Over more than 30 years of duck hunting, there have been a lot of both. And any of them could produce a story of their own.
But here’s a taste of what keeps me coming back to duck hunting – for better or for worse. In duck hunting, you learn quickly to take the good with the bad.
Joe Shead: My best duck hunts… and one that might be the worst Read More »
Bear hunters know that hunting success is usually linked to natural food availability.
In years of a bumper acorn crop, bears that had reliably hit baits prior to hunting season often disappear once acorns begin to fall, which often coincides with the opening of the bear-hunting season.
Conversely, during years when hard and soft mast crops are marginal, bears come to baits more regularly. But not all bear habitat is the same in Minnesota.
What’s on the menu for bears? It varies across Minnesota Read More »
You wanna know how old I am? My brothers and I grew up watching Babe Winkelman and Al Lindner fishing on TV. It was always cool to watch them catch fish, but what really captivated us were the trips to the remote wilds of Canada, where they caught fish on almost every cast in lakes so pure they looked like they might have dripped right out of heaven.
Me being the oldest, I nagged my parents until they finally sent away for Canadian fishing brochures. Yes, brochures. This pre-dates the internet. We pored over all kinds of propaganda from across Ontario, touting the stellar walleye fishing, the giant pike, and the chance to tangle with the fish of 10,000 casts. It all sounded great! But which one to choose?
Just like people, fish sometimes get sick.
Fish can carry a variety of diseases and parasites and are sometimes infected by bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses, or other parasites. Poor water quality, overcrowding, increased water temperatures, or stress from the act of spawning can make healthy fish more susceptible to these diseases. Chances are, you’ve probably caught fish with obvious ailments. Although there are a host of diseases out there, here’s a look at some of the most common ones in Minnesota.
What are some of the most common fish diseases seen in Minnesota? Read More »
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