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.
Mike Schoonveld
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 ever resist. All I had to do was discover it, buy it, use it, and then rely on it. As…
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 a fish with it and the knot holds tight and the line doesn’t snap at the hook, it’s a good…
What’s sinister about baby’s breath?
Volunteers at Elberta Beach work to eradicate baby’s breath. (Grand Traverse Conservancy District photo)Invasive species often have ugly, dangerous, often xenophobic-sounding names. Even if a person had never heard of a sea lamprey, its name sounds like a customer you wouldn’t want to meet. The red swamp crayfish could be an escapee from a Hollywood movie set, and Asian carp…
The secret to jumping from one phase to another in our outdoors pursuits? Having enough room for storage
The first step a person with a problem of some sort has is to admit that he or she has a problem. I’ve always had a problem (actually, a series of problems), and they were always related to having too much stuff. In my rabbit-hunting “phase,” I realized I had a problem when there were a dozen beagles in my…
Voluntary labels can stave off government regulations
Is it time for non-motorized watercraft to have some sort of identification prominently displayed?
Going ice fishing, and taking the pooch along? Practice safety first
Dogs are a man’s best friend, but if your pup goes everywhere with you, including ice fishing, be sure to follow these tips to ensure its safety.
Easy steps to fishing rod line guide repair
Braided fishing line and a tube of super glue top the list of materials needed to replace a broken line guide on your fishing rod. (Photo by Mike Schoonveld) I use the winter months as a time to sort, inspect and maintain the rods, reels and other gear I use and abuse spring, summer and fall. This way, I have…
Flat Earth, CWD and other science
New research at Lousiana State University points to a bacterial connection to chronic wasting disease.
On the ice, dial up common sense, personal responsibility over 911
Cell phones and 911 service have, no doubt, saved countless lives since they were invented. But they don’t take the place of personal responsibility and common sense. It often seems that as we rely more on technology, it’s at the expense of responsibility and common sense.
Fun and frustration on the trapline
As a trapper, you never know what might lie around the bend.
Want a sharp knife? Don’t let it get dull
A sharp knife is a valuable tool, but what’s the secret to keeping your blade sharp?
Be septic smart
I was once told by a person who ran a “roto-rooter” type business that a septic tank at a private home would never clog up or wear out if the homeowner treated it right. Of course, he was in the business either because he was wrong or because homeowners were being abusive to their private sewage systems. Millions of homes…
Outdoors recreation is ‘big recreation’
This isn’t a blog about how expensive fishing, camping, hiking or participating in other traditional outdoor recreation has become. Compared to most recreational pursuits, it’s affordable. No wonder it’s so popular and its popularity is why it’s become “big recreation” in the same sense as big oil, big pharma or other big businesses. It’s easy to recognize most business categories…
Drone boats are needed for Great Lakes research
Using drone boats instead of research vessels could have a huge impact on cost effectiveness of Great Lakes fishery research.
Contest seeking innovative solutions to eradicate invasive zebra, quagga mussels
Zebra mussels, like these, and quagga mussels are two of the most disruptive invasive species in our waters. (Photo by Mike Schoonveld)I recently wrote and reported on the giveaway of Michigan tax dollars to scientists, deep-thinkers and/or used car salesmen who could envision the best method of keeping those pesky Asian carp (now endemic in much of the Mississippi River…
Michigan boat-building school becomes accredited
If you have ever aspired to build your own boat, the Great Lakes Boat Building School may be just what you are looking for.
All wood is not created equal
If you use the best wood available, you’ll get the best campfire. (Photo by Bill Parker) I don’t think there is any kind of wood from any kind of tree that won’t burn. Want a campfire? Burn wood – use any kind of wood, it will burn. Some wood will burn fast, some slow, some will make great coals, some…
It’s the time of year that we need to be reminded to leave wildlife in the wild
Crowded nests and fallen nestlings are normal in nature. (Photo by Mike Schoonveld)I don’t remember why George and I were playing together that long-ago spring day. He was a couple years older than I and not particularly enamored of fishing and outdoor pursuits like me. We were near his house, where an overgrown lilac bush was located at the back…
Yet another call to reduce government-mandated ethanol standards
Even in Iowa, which has a larger ethanol production infrastructure than any other state, consumers are growing weary of ethanol mandates.
How many is too many when it comes to rod holders?
When setting up your fishing boat for the Great Lakes, consider having a couple of spare rod holders in strategic locations.
Dealing with unbreakable dates
I have five brothers and five sisters. When people with fewer kids or siblings hear that, one of the first questions is, “How do (or did) you ever get anything planned?” Generally, they are talking about family outings (when we were all mostly children) or family get-togethers, now that we are grown. Believe it or not, the whole bunch of…
Throwing tax dollars at a sad situation
Politicians get behind the latest tentative plan to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.
There’s more than one way to fillet a fish
Catching a salmon in the Great Lakes is only half the battle. Making a boneless fillet is just as important.
Stormy lessons at a fishing access site
Stormwater runoff into our lakes and streams is a big problem that deserves attention.
Research dollars flow to endangered species
The monetary value of an animal is no longer a criteria used to determine its worth to the world.
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