Outdoor Wanderings by Mike Schoonveld
Discarded fishing line is a hazard to pets and wildlife
Recently, a kayaker was exploring a small island on the lake she was paddling with her two small dogs. One of the dogs ate a dead fish it found on shore and it also swallowed a hook and partially swallowed…
COVID-19 raises commercial fishing questions
Is commercial fishing in the Great Lakes an “essential service”?
How many carp does it take to tango?
New research reveals varying odds of Asian carp disrupting the ecology of the Great Lakes.
eDNA is more than just a carp-finding tool
The science of fisheries management has been around for well over a century. The science of eDNA may well be the biggest breakthrough in all that time – and will only become more important in the future.
Fishing line is more than just lifting rocks
Weighing all the factors that make up fishing line strength.
No relief for freshwater charters and guides
Freshwater fishing guides and charter captains have been overlooked in COVID-19 relief funding.
National Weather Service considers simplifying warnings for small craft advisory
Warnings, watches and advisories can be confusing to boaters.
Sure sign of spring, warmer weather is arrival of ruby-throated hummingbird
For some people, the sight of a robin hopping around in the yard is a sure sign of spring. I don’t believe a robin anymore than I believe the weatherman’s long range forecast. I’ve seen too many robins shivering in…
Climate change is not the only culprit
Loss of wetlands and an increase in asphalt, concrete, homes, factories and other impermeable toppings share part of the blame for record water levels on the Great Lakes.
A new type pf bioaccumulation
Man-made plastics appear to be building up in the stomaches of fish and fish-eating birds.
Using passes and pulls to set lines on the Great Lakes
Great Lakes anglers were, and still are, very successful without line-counter reels.
Citizen science reveals salty findings
High concentrations of road salt can be detrimental to aquatic ecosystems.
When catching Asian carp becomes profitable
If commercial netters eliminate Asian carp in Kentucky waters, what happens to the netting operations when the fish are gone?
Ebikes: egads or e-welcome?
The popularity of ebikes is creating some confusion for traditional bicyclists riding on public lands.
Indoor ranges are popular shooting venues
More than 15 million shooters across the country take advantage of indoor shooting ranges.
Why don’t weather men study falling stars?
Biologists study biology and sociologists study societies but meteorologists don’t necessarily study meteors.
Snipe or woodcock? The stripes tell the story
It can be tough to tell the difference between a Wilson’s snipe and an American woodcock.
Bottom-dwelling algae is a side effect of invasive mussels
The invasion of zebra and quagga mussels in the Great Lakes is impacting more than just the food web.
Gridlock threatening Straits of Mackinac
Political gridlock seems to be tactic used by both Republicans and Democrats. It’s happening right now with Line 5.
Lamprey control has billion-dollar return
Feds need to continue to fund the war on Great Lakes lamprey.
Check twice when fueling your boat
With a rise in the amount of ethanol being mixed with gasoline, make sure you use either alcohol-free gasoline or, at most, E-10.
Tough lesson for a lure-buying addict
I used to walk into a tackle shop wishing I was rich enough to buy one of every lure they were selling. I knew one of those lures would be the “one,” that perfect lure, the lure no fish could…
The perfect fishing knot
What’s a good fishing knot? That’s simple. If you tie a hook on the end of a fishing line with a simple or perhaps a complicated series of twists, turns, loops and laps; hang a worm on the hook; catch…
About This Blog
Mike Schoonveld has been a freelance outdoor writer for 25 years and has been a columnist for Michigan Outdoor News since the paper’s inception in 2000. Mike’s first love in the out-of-doors is Great Lakes salmon fishing, but he enjoys all kinds of fishing, is an avid hunter and trapper, and frequently participates in a variety of other outdoor activities.
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