by John Peterson with Noel Vick Take the walleye. As ice anglers, we’ve come to recognize the moods, customs, and characteristics of winter’s premium fare. We understand, for example, that these predacious creatures are highly carnivorous. We also know that…Read More

by Jeff Beckwith There’s no argument, the vertical jigging spoon is ice fishing’s dominant lure. Fish have surrendered to hammered metal and forged lead since, well…since folks decided that ice could no longer separate them from quarry. I’m talking eons.…Read More

by Tom Dietz The dark, gray clouds moving in from the west covered the setting sun, and heavy snow looked like it was imminent. My close friend and fishing partner Tom Keenan and I were drilling holes on a lake…Read More

by Rob Manthei Winter is almost around the corner, and with the lakes starting to harden up, one can’t help but think about ice fishing. I love my open water fishing (mostly muskies), but I do enjoy ice fishing, specifically…Read More

by John Peterson with Noel Vick There’s a place where the water’s dark and cool even while surface temperatures seethe. Forage abounds and the oxygen’s thicker than a rain forest canopy. Cover’s plentiful too, and it’s surprisingly peaceful below despite…Read More

by John Peterson with Noel Vick The popular rock band U2 dared to write and perform a song titled, “Even Better than the Real Thing.” Obviously, Bono – the quartet’s eclectic front-man – intended the ditty for some drop-dead gorgeous…Read More

by John Peterson with Noel Vick Boats crisscrossed it all summer long; personal watercraft here, tuber there. Weeds uprooted and shredded, fouling the surface like bees in a beverage. These disorderly but auspicious shoreline flats are playgrounds for people, and…Read More

by Dan Craven Water conditions are directly affected by our weather (short term) and climate (long term). We frequently take water conditions for granted; more so than presentation, boat control or location of the fish. There are certain times of…Read More

by Scott Bonnema It impacted the water with more of a detonation than a splash. Once the mushroom cloud settled, I began cranking. The lure’s mass constricted the line like a tightrope. The pole bowed. No black bass could consume…Read More

by John Peterson with Noel Vick In its simplest form, the hamburger is a slab of ground beef sandwiched between two buns – genuine Americana, but boring. Same can be said for the jig. It’s a formed hunk of lead…Read More