(Provided by Lindy Lures)
The northeastern corner of Minnesota is the home of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), stretching 120 miles west from the shores of Lake Superior along the Canadian border and the equally impressive Quetico Wilderness Area. Its an area where families and friends can enjoy nature like it used to be, and the fishing for smallmouth, walleyes, muskies and other gamefish is virtually untapped.
(Provided by Smithwick Lures)
Northern pike are among the tastiest fish that swim in fresh water, but many anglers will never get to enjoy a plate full of pike because theyve heard the fish is difficult to clean. The Y bone is the reason we dont read more about pike cuisine, but it shouldnt prevent you from enjoying a delicious piece of fish.
Cleaning a pike is easier than you think. Creating boneless pike fillets results in a perfect fish fry, but the firm, cream-colored flesh is awesome baked, grilled, stir fried, broiled, boiled or simmered in mouth-watering chowder. When cleaned correctly youll get three boneless fillets from each pike.
Key to good table fare is to take care of the catch. Small pike are far-and-away better eating than the big ones. The general rule of thumb is to keep smaller, yet legal-size pike and immediately release the bigger girls so they can spread those beneficial genes around. Small ones fit better in the livewell, and they stay alive in there better, too. When surface temperatures are over 65°F, have ice along to throw in the livewell, but harvesting pike for the table is best accomplished in cooler waters, from early fall through late spring.
By Jeff Samsel
(Provided by Rebel Lures)
The mere mention of a Rebel Crickhopper lit up Richie Hays face as the long-time trout guide remembered the first time anyone threw Crickhoppers from his boat.
A guide at Gastons White River Resort (www.gastons.com) in north-central Arkansas, Hays took those clients to a shallow shoal where current swept into deeper water, and they proceeded to catch trout after trout by casting across the shoal and reeling slowly so the Crickhoppers wobbled over the drop.
(Provided by Ice Force Team)
Dont make the mistake of ignoring your ice fishing equipment after a long winter of use.
If you dont follow these steps before putting it away, you may be confronted with problems when the ice season kicks off next winter:
Power Auger: Officials at StrikeMaster, a legendary ICE FORCE brand with more than 65 years of experience, recommend performing a wet shutdown before storing your gas-powered auger.
(Provided by Indiana DNR)
When two anglers fell through ice Thursday in northern Indiana, a DNR employee sprang into action, leading a rescue effort and preventing additional problems.
The accident is a reminder to anglers that lake ice is becoming increasingly dangerous with the arrival of spring. It happened around noon at J.C. Murphy Lake in Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area in Newton County.