Bald eagles are migrating back to Minnesota and may be seen in large numbers across parts of the state over the next few weeks, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "Ice is breaking up along the rivers, so it's definitely time for folks to keep their eyes out," said Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer, DNR regional nongame wildlife specialist. "It all depends on the weather. It’s typical to see eagles coming through our area in mid-to-late March, as waters begin to open up and snow melts.” Only two states, Florida and Alaska, have greater nesting populations of bald eagles than Minnesota. In 2005, researchers estimated there were more than 1,300 active nests in Minnesota and that number has likely increased since. Fall migration typically occurs as lakes and rivers freeze ... [ Pound this link... ]
Catching pre-spawn walleyes in rivers
The first week of March features typical late-winter temperatures in the low 30s. Warm spring weather slowly increases the water temperatures, until the icy cold snowmelt hits the main stem of the river, causing water temps to crash back down. The water will stay cold until most of the snow is gone, allowing the soils to warm and either absorb the snowmelt, or transfer the soil's heat to the spring runoff. Pre-spawn walleyes respond to this burst of icy cold water in predictable ways. First of all, recognize that the fish don't move (or, don't move very far). Biology and instinct has driven them to position on or very near spawning areas, and those biological urges have not disappeared. Unless the dip in water temperatures is also accompanied by an unusual, dramatic increase in water flow, ... [ Pound this link... ]
Trout streams of your dreams
Adventure takes many roads, and if you’re lucky, it takes you to trout streams, too! If you’re really lucky, you’ll get to share it with your children. Fathers often dream of big adventure with their kids, journeys that take them far from home while bringing them closer together. For many of us, though, work and obligations pile on, and before we know it, the child is grown. Outdoor writer and dedicated Southern trout fanatic Jeff Samsel is not letting that happen. On July 20, he and his 10-year-old son Asher will embark on a three and a half week long expedition that is sure to provide high adventure and plenty of memories. The Samsels are living the dream: throwing rods in the car and heading west, intent on exploring legendary trout waters together. Father Samsel is doing it right, ... [ Pound this link... ]
Ten Ideas to Cure the Winter Fishing Blues
For many fly fishing enthusiasts, this winter has been especially long and hard - and for others it always seems to be a long time before the start of the summer fishing season. Here are ten ideas to help shake off those winter blues and start looking forward to summer. Reward yourself with an early trip. Winter may be the off-season, but that doesn't mean you can't catch fish. Chasing steelhead on a winter stream can be an unforgettable experience and many fishing operations offer discounted rates during the colder months. Take a saltwater fly fishing trip, or it's a great time during the shoulder season to take a trip, when you have the water almost all to yourself. Attend a local fly fishing show. Winter and spring are great times to attend fly fishing shows and events, where ... [ Pound this link... ]
Dropshot Rig for Panfish
“A dropshot rig is absolutely beautiful for putting a bait at the fish’s eye level—right where they’ve got no choice but to eat it.” Despite its 'advanced' connotation, the dropshot rig couldn’t be simpler. Think split-shot rig in reverse. As a softbait delivery method, the dropshot excels for bass. So it’s no surprise that small baits twitched and wiggled in new and tantalizing ways hold equal appeal for crappies, sunfish and big perch. If you can cast, you’re in. If you can tie a Palomar knot, you can master a dropshot rig. Amazing that such a versatile rig— this prefect presenter of soft plastics and livebait— would be so little employed by panfish fans. In reality, a dropshot rig can be as productive as a bobber and bait, or even a tiny jig. It’s even possible that the dropshot ... [ Pound this link... ]
North Country Walleye ‘Meat’ The Precision Jigs
Methods like the jig and meat combo start to shine right about now, when cold snaps start getting measured in weeks and that first-freeze rush has kind of petered out. Walleye are still absolutely catchable using lures and jigs with more razzle dazzle, stroked quicker. But season after season, batting cleanup with a well-placed baitfish gets hotter and hotter the colder it gets. What's nice about these colder periods is they force me into moving around less and slowing my entire approach way down. How is that even remotely a good thing? For one, camping out on good spots really lends itself to being thorough, meticulous and maximizing what I'm doing. There's nothing better suited to soaking great structure than a baited jig. Use the cold and rougher travel to your advantage. Ma Nature ... [ Pound this link... ]
Late ice crappie patterns
The last period of safe ice typically offers some of the best ice fishing of the year for panfish like bluegill and crappie. For crappies in particular, we often find fish shallow and the fish can often be fairly aggressive. Finding crappie is often a matter of connecting the dots; on most lakes and flowages, crappies will suspend out over holes and basins through much of the winter. Crappie will then set up in shallow protected bays, marinas and creek arms that have a few feet of water to spawn. There's patterns to locating them; we know where the fish were, and we know where they are going to be in less than a month, so the key is finding structure between points A and B. More specifically, look for soft bottom locations and, if you can find weeds present, even better. From my own ... [ Pound this link... ]
Tailoring lure presentation for successful ice fishing
The reality of lure presentation in ice fishing is that conditions are changing from day to day, and especially from year to year, and your methods will need to adapt to reflect this. The biggest mistake I have ever made as an angler is getting so confident in a particular presentation, mentality or location that I quit learning. When you encounter lakes that are in a forage slump, a live bait lure often reigns as king, and the reasons become more obvious when you watch these fish with an underwater camera, like the Vexilar Scout. What you see when using a camera while fishing for fish that have too much to eat around them, are that these fish are not as motivated. Typically when you watch a panfish hit a lure or jig, they peddle up to the offering and suck the jig in. Usually, the ... [ Pound this link... ]
Ice Fishing Crappies a Few Feet Under the Ice
Ice Fishing Crappies - by Sight In deep water We believe that anglers are overlooking one of the most obvious places when they are ice fishing crappies: some of the biggest crappie and sunfish can be found high in the water column, right under the ice. There are many situations when high under the ice patterns shine, especially for big fish. I have my own opinions and theories, but I believe we often have success when we are ice fishing crappies right under the ice, because the bigger fish feel more confident and safe whereas the small fish don’t seem to like to leave the security of either the school, weeds or bottom and be silhouetted. Big fish also get to you faster, so if there is a pack of twenty fish swimming say ten feet down and they rise up to investigate you… guess who ... [ Pound this link... ]
Ice Fishing for Lake Trout – Hit list for 2017
Ice fishing lake trout is often the quintessential fish for adventure with ice fishing. And there is no doubt that more ice fishing enthusiasts are traveling further, and there aren’t as many secrets. In today’s world, word can travel incredibly fast and I still marvel at how far some anglers will travel to capitalize on a hot bite. A hot trend we are seeing among hard core ice anglers are remote adventure expeditions where teams of ice anglers will push back into hard-to-reach and remote fisheries where the ice fishing adventure resembles a back country big game hunt. Ridiculously deep snow and no cell phone service is often the norm. Expect to be covered in sweat one moment and fighting frost bite the next. The locations where big lake trout live will often push both you and your ... [ Pound this link... ]