Author: Nate Woelfel

A thank you to ice fishing

Though I’m not exactly sure why, ice fishing has never really been my thing.

Don’t get me wrong, I go ice fishing. Just not with the same spirit that I have behind many of my open water adventures during the warmer months. In the past, I’ve only hit the hard water a few times per season, if that. In 2019-20 season, I only went once. A couple Christmases ago, I was lucky enough to receive a brand new MarCum M3 flasher. As the water froze this year, that awesome gift was still sitting in the box, untouched.

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How barometric pressure impacts fishing

At some level, I have known for a long time that barometric pressure impacts fishing and fish activity. Changing pressure has a way of making fish bite. That was about the extent of my knowledge. It wasn’t until recently that I decided to dedicate the time to taking a deep dive on the subject.

I made the call after a frustrating ice fishing trip. A group of friends and I were fishing a local lake that I had only spent a little time on. We were marking plenty of fish, but couldn’t manage a bite. We spent hours with our flasher screens lit up like Christmas trees only to repeatedly watch the marks float toward our bait and then float away.

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Parmesan-crusted whitefish recipe

Whitefish is one of my favorite fish to eat. While I particularly enjoy them smoked, this recipe for Parmesan-crusted whitefish is a delectable way to turn these fierce fish into a formal meal. The contrast between the tender, flaky fish and the crispy crust is hard to match. The simple, yet flavorful cream sauce ties it all together. Read on for the recipe, as well as for tips and substitutions.

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3 lakes, 3 counties, 30 hours

As hard as I try to avoid it, I often take for granted the bounty of fishing opportunities that come with living in the eastern part of Wisconsin.

If I hop in my truck, I can be fishing Lake Michigan in roughly 10 minutes. Sheboygan County features plenty of rivers that are teeming with life. The area is dotted with small inland lakes that provide ample chances to encounter numerous species, often with a minimal time investment required.

Every once in awhile, I do my best to take a step back and reflect upon how fortunate I am to live in such a place. I contemplate if I can look in the mirror and confidently say I am taking full advantage of what I’ve been given from an outdoors standpoint.

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My first time fishing a private pond

There’s just something about the prospect of fishing a private pond that gets my mind racing.

Little to no fishing pressure with fish that are raised in a relatively-controlled environment immediately sparks images of once-in-a-lifetime catches.

Every time I see a sign that reads “Private, No fishing,” I think two things: there are definitely fish in there and they are probably big.

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The dirty little secret to outdoors success

Outdoors success means different things to different people. For some, it’s catching the most fish. For others, it’s reeling-in the largest.

Many hunters define success as harvesting a buck worthy of a spot over the fire place or shooting a limit of ducks. While some are just happy to come home with anything at all.

Success is relative. That’s part of what keeps us coming back season after season. There is always a new way to classify what success is. We could always achieve more. It’s a constant, addicting pursuit.

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How to think (and cook) like a venison scavenger

The chest freezer in my garage is chock-full of venison. But I didn’t harvest a single deer this season.

How is that possible? Well, it’s actually quite simple. In lean seasons, I’ve learned to replenish my yearly supply of deer meat meat by perfecting the art of cooking parts of the deer most of my hunting companions don’t want or have never considered cooking themselves.

While that may sound less than appetizing, I can promise you that some of the lesser-known portions of meat can be turned into downright delicious table fare.

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How to keep your minnows alive longer

Utilizing minnows is one of my favorite ways to catch fish year-round. But I use this approach extensively in the winter months. When it comes to quality bait, it’s hard to beat the real thing.

I used to think of my minnow stash as easily-disposable. But throughout the years, I’ve found a number of benefits to keeping my bait alive and kicking as long as possible.

Maintaining my current crop of minnows from the local bait shop not only saves time and money, it also minimizes my use of these living resources while allowing me to catch more fish per purchase.

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My 2020 outdoor adventures by the numbers

Though math isn’t my strong suit, I am very much a numbers person.

But, for whatever reason, I have struggled to keep a complete hunting and fishing journal over the course of a calendar year. In 2020, I finally accomplished that feat.

If you are passionate about the outdoors, I strongly recommend you make time for keeping a journal or log. I’ll even help you get started.

Before turning the page to 2021, I wanted to share some of the more interesting numbers that came out of my record keeping.

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