Taking a deep breath, I eyed the swirling river my grandfather introduced me to nearly 60 years ago. Shiners that I had trapped as he once taught me splashed in a bucket on shore. A kingfisher scolded my intrusion and then darted through the tunnel of trees overhanging the flow.
Anglers rediscover vintage fishing gear Read More »
Water churned behind Nick’s topwater as it steadily plopped toward the boat. Suddenly, about 20 feet out, the big muskie that was trailing the bait spun off in a giant swirl and retreated back to its lair. In the bright sun, we watched its progress until it faded from view near an island.
“She’s hot, but not yet ready to eat,” I said to Nick and Charlie, my guests for the day. “Let’s leave her alone for an hour and try again.”
Subtle differences can make all the difference when it comes to muskie lures Read More »
More than 40 years ago when I started fishing for muskies I learned very quickly that some days produced better action than others. Soon I realized it was not simply luck, and that weather usually had the greatest influence on muskie activity.
In most cases, it was post-frontal conditions that turned off muskies. Bright skies with few or no clouds, cool air with little humidity, and wind from the north and eastern sides of the compass are sure signs that a cold front has passed. In the hope of catching muskies more consistently, I learned and developed patterns that often produce in such weather.
Confounded by a cold front? Eight ways to still boat muskies Read More »
The Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin (MCAW) will donate $50,000 to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this year in another attempt to mitigate the agency’s muskie stocking cutbacks.
MCAW President Dave Allen told Wisconsin Outdoor News the money would be split between the Art Oehmcke State Fish Hatchery in Woodruff and the Gov. Tommy G. Thompson Fish Hatchery in Spooner. It is hoped the donation will result in an additional 9,000 muskies being stocked in Wisconsin waters.
Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin to give DNR another $50,000 for muskie stocking Read More »
As friends John and Mike and I headed for our first spot on opening day of the 2025 northern Wisconsin muskie season, I spotted a boat ahead of us scooting toward the same shallow, weedy bay.
“Well, I guess we’ll start on the next spot,” I said, turning the boat to the right toward a steep shoreline that had some fallen trees and wooden docks in the shallows, and a line of weeds out deeper.
Three muskie hotspots to target during the early season Read More »
When the Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin (MCAW) gifted $75,000 last year to the state Department of Natural Resources, it was with the intent of helping the agency stock more muskies in northeastern Wisconsin waters. Instead, the alliance got a case of indigestion.
Saying the issue gave him “heartburn,” MCAW President Dave Allen, of Kaukauna, questioned how the DNR spent the donated money during the MCAW’s directors meeting April 11 in Stevens Point.
Wisconsin Musky Clubs Alliance asking where money it donated to DNR went to Read More »
The eyes of the first big northern pike I ever saw looked to be a foot apart.
Just moments before, I thought my grandfather was trying to free his line from weeds, but now I was staring at a monster. Grandpa had worked the fish to the boat in a calm and deliberate fashion, probably in the hope of keeping the 10-year-old version of me unaware of the big moment in my life that was about to happen.
Want to pursue pike that pack a punch? Here’s what to focus on Read More »
The day’s hunt was just one more unanswered turkey call from ending. Air temperatures were soaring toward their forecasted high in the 80s and mosquitoes were everywhere. In short, conditions were miserable. My mind weighed various lunch options before I headed home.
I stopped near an edge where tall pines met a brushy clear-cut, dug the box call from the vest and paused before casting into the wind what I thought would be the day’s final yelp.
Turkey hunters need a backup plan ready in case the fly-down goes awry Read More »
Just 200 yards from a slight rise that I thought would put me just above the mule deer group I had spotted an hour before, I stopped on the edge of a wide creek bottom to glass the far side. I didn’t expect to see anything, but had to look anyway. As I swept my gaze across the bottom a buck stepped into the flat and turned my way.
Caught in the open, there was nothing I could do but freeze.
Hunt mule deer in their bedroom; here’s where to look Read More »
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