Posted in Adventure, Camping, Fishing, Fresh Water, Golden Trout, Outdoors, Photography, Rainbow Trout, tagged Fly fishing, Rainbow trout, Recreation, Trout, Wyoming on April 22, 2013| 1 Comment »
Fly Fishing Trip: How serious are you about fishing? How about a 30-mile hike before you ever wet a line? Sometimes you have to find the end-of-the trail before you start enjoying some of the worlds best trout fishing. (Can you find the Golden trout)?
Somewhere, WY
Posted in Adventure, Fishing, Fresh Water, Outdoors, Walleye, tagged 2013 Opening Fishing Season, Ice Fishing, Lake of the Woods, Walleye on April 22, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Unseasonably cold weather puts Minnesota’s 2013 Opening Fishing Season on ice as hardy-souls find drilling for walleyes easier than drifting.
Baudette, MN
Posted in Adventure, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Fishing, Fresh Water, Outdoors, Photography, tagged Angling, FML Outdoors, Guide Services, Kinnikinnick River, Outdoor photography, Recreation, Trout, Wisconsin on March 2, 2013| 1 Comment »
The alarm went off today at 4:00 a.m. “Why so early,” you may ask? It’s Wisconsin’s Opening Trout fishing season! We arrived at the river — just as the sun came up. The outside thermometer reads -4 degrees below zero! It was cold, but well worth getting up for!
Kinnikinnick River, WI
Posted in Activities & Events, Adventure, Camping, Canoeing, Lake Trout, Outdoors, Outdoors for Kids, Photography, tagged Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness, Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Brule Lake, BWCA, Canoeing, Eden Prairie Outdoor Center, Ely, FML Outdoors, Guide Services, Map, Minnesota, Outfitter, Sawbill, Superior National Forest, Trail, Zumbro River on August 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Today‘s Featured Canoe Trip (BWCA): This was my third trip into Minnesota’s largest untouched ecosystem, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. With my guiding hat on — seven hardy paddlers from Eden Prairie, Minnesota’s Outdoor Center, set out to explore and experience this large majestic forest. Along our trek we found many kinds of mushrooms, moss and granite protrusions.
Preparing for any trip outdoors requires planning and preparation. Knowing that conditions can — and most often WILL change require you to respond and act appropriately when conditions turn unpleasant. On the fourth day, we had rain, lightning and hail. By having a shelter, such as a lean-to tarp or canopy, everyone was able to enjoy a hot meal.
Brule Lake, MN
Posted in Fishing, Outdoors, Outdoors for Kids, Sunfish, tagged Fishing, FML Outdoors, Summer, Sunfish on July 20, 2011| Leave a Comment »
After a weekend of catching monster sunnies — the whole family sat down to enjoy a world-class Fourth of July fish fry and fireworks!
Posted in Black Crappie, Fishing, Outdoors, tagged 2011, Gander Mountian, Lord Fletchers, Minnetonka Crappie Contest, Spring crappie fishing on April 13, 2011| 1 Comment »
I love spring crappie fishing in waders!
Fat Man’s Landing, MN
Posted in Black Crappie, Fishing, Largmouth Bass, Outdoors, Pumpkinseed, Sunfish, tagged Crappie, DNR, Largemouth Bass, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Twin Cities Outdoor Adventures, Winter Kill on March 21, 2011| 3 Comments »
First Cast 2011
A group of Hooded-Megansers beat their wings against the water as they fly away from beneath the undergrowth. Wild Roses, Dog Wood and young saplings dip their branches into my favorite Crappie lake. Walking closer — two Grey Herons fly over the trees.
“That’s odd?” I thought to myself. “That’s kinda early to see Herons.” It’s the middle of March and all the lakes are still frozen – but not this one! Because of the heavy snow and potential of winter kill, the Minnesota DNR has underwater aerators running to keep the water open.
Sadly, looking down into the water lay thousands of pale-motionless dead fish! Only the silhouettes of shadowless bodies identify what kind of fish it was. Sunfish, Crappies and Largemouth Bass completely litter the shoreline.
What is Winter Kill?
Winter kill happens during long-harsh winters like the one we had this year. When deep snow covers shallow lakes, the lake is sealed off from the atmosphere and cannot be recharged with oxygenated air. Ice and snow reduce the amount of sunlight reaching aquatic plants, thereby reducing photosynthesis and oxygen production. Deeper Twin Cities lakes with larger oxygen levels can withstand the stress and will usually survive.
In desperation, I’ve seen shore-owners with plows and snow-throwers trying to remove the dense snow pack to allow more light to penetrate the ice.
February, is generally the most critical month. This is about how long smaller lakes can stand, as the rate of oxygen consumption increases by living aquatic organisms and depletes the supply of oxygen stored in the lake.
As I make a few cast….my memories of a great Crappie lake may be all I take home today.
Posted in All Videos, Fishing Videos, Outdoors, Walleye, tagged Arnesen’s Rocky Point Resort, Big Walleye, FML Outdoors, Ice Fishing, Lake of the Woods, Minnesota on March 14, 2011| 1 Comment »
With the Yukon loaded to-the-gills and the Beasty Boys playing, fish were soon pulling at our lines and New York strip steaks flamed over a hot grill. The air was filled with laughter and the cold night sky danced with green and purple Northern Lights.
This is my kind of night out-on-the town – swilling a few cold beverages and pickin up a few Walleyes to take home!
A blizzard came through Saturday, which really turned fishing around. My buddy Brian and I caught our limit of Walleyes and Saugers by 3:00! The other ice-house came in at a close second.
I smell a Fish-Fry!
Lake of the Woods, MN
Posted in Dove, Hunting, Northern Pike, Outdoors, Pheasant, Pheasant, Recipes, Upland Gamebirds, Venison, Whitetail Deer, tagged Bacon-wrapped Tenderloin, Cooking Wild Game, FML Outdoors, Pheasant White Chili, Pickled Dried Venison, Pickled Norther Pike, Venison on February 7, 2011| 1 Comment »
A special occasion centered around the enjoyment of the outdoors and to celebrate the fall harvest with friends; once again we gather to tantalize our taste buds with unique dishes — all cooked with wild game. Starting with a variety of appetizers, such as Pickled Dried Venison with Home-made Wine Cheese and Pickled Northern Pike served with Pineapple Infused Vodka. Leaving our guests guessing, we sampled (for some, their first time) Dove Pate and Pheasant White Chili. The main course was Bacon-Wrapped Venison Tenderloin served over Garlic Mash Potatoes and my own steak sauce, made from reduced stock and carmelized onions.
It only goes to show that….the Gods must have been hungry when they create wild game, because it sure is good!
Posted in Fresh Water, Hunting, Outdoors, Outdoors for Kids, tagged DNR, Parks, Travel and Tourism on January 19, 2011| 1 Comment »
It’s January and I say it’s never to late or to soon to “Think Spring” even though the St. Paul Winter Carnival Medallion is right around the corner! Finding those spring crappies and planning your next summer vacation starts at home. Now!
While on the Minnesota’s DNR Web site, I found some very good information.
If you’re not familiar with Public Recreation Information Maps (PRIM) or the Recreation Compass (An interactive mapping tool) I strongly suggest you get to know these tools. Listed are all 51 areas of Minnesota and the land available for sale from the DNR. Also valuable when planning a fishing trip are the sporting goods shops along the way and map stores to order large prints of your favorite lake.
For more maps: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/prim.html
For lakes check out: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/index.html
When you select DNR data — from hunting regulations to historical items or restoring shoreline, you can create customized maps. At the Minnesota’s DNR website it can be used to browse or find a lake and good structure to fish quickly. Shortcut tools enable you to find a particular lake, city or park fast. More maps can be found at ToMO (Tons of Maps Online): http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/tomo.html
Another great document to have on hand is the Minnesota State Forests at: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_forests/sft00046.pdf
For ariel photos go to: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/airphotos/index.html
Ultimately, if you can’t find what you are looking for, call the DNR information hotline at 1-888-MINNDNR or 651-296-6157 in metro. Another option is to email them at info.dnr@state.mn.us. They have always responded to all my questions.
Posted in Fresh Water, Muskie, Outdoors, tagged Figure 8, Lake Minnetonka, Muskie on November 1, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Pictured Above: Jamie Kopischke with a 48-inch Muskie. This fish bit on the second pass of a figure-8.
FML Outdoors Featured Catch of the Day
48-inch Musky. Released for you.
Lake Minnetonka, MN
Posted in Bluegill, Fishing, Fresh Water, Largmouth Bass, Muskie, Northern Pike, Outdoors, Perch, Pumpkinseed, Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, Tiger Muskie, Walleye, tagged Largemouth Bass, Minnesota, Norther Pike, Stieger Lake, Twin Cities Outdoors Adventures, Victoria on September 27, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Fishing, Fresh Water, Muskie, Outdoors, tagged Fish, Freshwater, Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, Muskies, Outdoors on September 13, 2010| 1 Comment »
Pictured Above: Good friend Brian Wood, fishing along-side father Jim Wood (Not Pictured) succeeded in stirring up the water on a calm day.
FML Outdoors Featured Catch of the Day
49-inch Musky. Released for you.
Lake Minnetonka, MN
Posted in Fishing, Largmouth Bass, Outdoors, tagged Big Bass, Canoe Cart, Canoeing, Fishing, Hidden Lakes, Minnesota on September 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »
On this trip, Chris and I took the canoe to a hidden lake near Minneapolis. There’s no boat landing and the lake is completely landlocked with lavishly designed homes. So we grabbed my canoe cart and proceeded to walk with our gear down a freshly paved bike path. There’s quit a few hidden gems like this one; perhaps in your backyard as well?
Posted in Fishing, Outdoors, Walleye, tagged Big Walleye, FML Outdoors, Long-lining, Mille Lakes Lake, Minnesota, Rapala, Summer Fishing on August 20, 2010| 1 Comment »
Josh and 2 friends from work fished Mille Lacs Lake out on the mud flats in 3 to 4-foot waves, while trolling cranks in 25 to 30-feet of water! “My buddy Joe got pretty sea sick,” laughs Josh. “We caught 4 walleye in 2-hours before we decided it was too rough. It took over an hour to get back to shore — worst boat ride ever!”
FML Outdoors Featured Catch of the Day
First fish 23-inches, 24-inches, 25-inches and finally a 22-incher, all released.
Mille Lacs Lake, MN
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