Anglers have a lot to look forward to during fall. Lakes are uncrowded and fish are usually hitting. I love being in the boat and enjoy every minute on the water. This time of year is always a bit depressing, though, as another open-water season is nearly over. It's time to put the boat away... more »
Many hunters are interested in what animals are on their hunting grounds, and a trail camera will help with the decisions of pulling a trigger or releasing an arrow long before opening day. Digital trail cameras have changed the way today's hunters scout for big game year round... more »
For millennia, generation after generation of birds have followed the same routes for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles from breeding grounds to wintering areas in the fall. The journey is repeated again in spring. Scientists have never completely solved this mystery of nature.... more »
I've been fortunate in taking coyote, deer, moose, and turkey during my years of hunting. My four brothers describe it less charitably as "dumb luck." Happy with my delusions, my thoughts turned to hunting the one big-game species in Ontario that I'd yet to harvest: the black bear.... more »
Over the years, spoons have continued to be the top lure for Great Lakes salmon and trout. The million-dollar question, however, which type of spoon is the best choice? A spoon that's "hot" one week or month can be replaced easily by a productive newcomer.... more »
Smallmouths are a curious breed. When riled up, their inquisitiveness can shift quickly to aggression. Yet, if subdued, getting them to bite is challenging. Seeing a bass scrutinizing a lure is frustrating, but it¹s also an opportunity. The trick is to retrieve the unproductive bait and cast out a new offering before the fish moves. This rapid changeup is the secret to getting a finicky bronzeback to strike.... more »
More than ever, anglers can take advantage of today's advanced electronics to see what's actually beneath their boat. It doesn't matter what fish you're after, fine-tuning your sonar unit to show more fish, bait, and the bottom composition will help put your offerings in front of more fish this season.... more »
Ever missed a huge gobbler with an outstretched neck at 11 yards? I have. I'm positive the now deaf gobbler is still enjoying a laugh on me, but only for few more weeks. The spring turkey season is almost here again. How can anyone miss a 20-pound-plus feathered target at 11 yards with a shotgun?... more »
Virtually every serious muskie angler is an expert in lure tuning. If anglers aren't intentionally bumping and grinding lures along and over structure, then the sheer power of this spirited freshwater predator will invariably cause even the strongest baits to run off-centre.... more »
