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.
Continue reading “My first time fishing a private pond”
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.
Continue reading “How to keep your minnows alive longer”
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.
Continue reading “My 2020 outdoor adventures by the numbers”
Any angler who is being completely honest with themselves will acknowledge that conversing with others about fishing is a balancing act.
One the one hand, most people who fish have at least some desire to share their knowledge and experiences. On the flip side, we are generally protective of our spots and various secret sauces that lead to our success. When interacting with other anglers, these competing sides present a constant struggle.
Continue reading “The art of the fishing conversation”
Nathan’s note: I wrote this story in early August of 2018. Originally, I didn’t have a place to host it. Looking back, it made sense to me to share it with all of you here.
Tonight, I found myself in need of some serious decompression. So I decided to unwind with a trip to one of favorite stretches of river in my hometown.
I had it all planned out. There was no messing around. I packed my best flies, my $30 Fleet Farm fly rod and was going straight to my best spots. It’s been a tough week, but nothing that a couple hours of catching fish wouldn’t cure.
Continue reading “Life lessons from a great blue heron”
Nathan Woelfel Outdoors 