How Hunters Help the Harvest Information Program
For hunters my age, the acronym HIP associated with the outdoors isn’t anything new. While anywhere beyond two decades ago, HIP might have meant “aware” or “fashionable,” to those of us familiar with the migratory bird hunting world today, it also refers to the Harvest Information Program. What is HIP? HIP is a survey method developed by states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a means to collect more reliable estimates of migratory bird harvests throughout the country. The program provides agencies the information necessary to manage hunting seasons. It got its start in the early 1990s when the Association of Fish ...
An Ice-Fishing Bait For Open Water Walleyes
Much of the time, lures are designed with a specific application in mind. But sometimes we discover that some baits are multi-purpose. I was reminded of that on a recent fishing trip. I was sharing a boat with fishing friend Mike Frisch in central Minnesota and walleyes were our target. Mike had been catchin’em good on Puppet Minnows. Puppet Minnows were originally designed to be dropped through a hole in the ice, but for the past few years we’ve been using them for open water walleyes. Six or seven years ago another fishing friend Joe Honer and I used them ...
Early Canada Goose Season Opens August 15
These days, spending time outdoors in August is no longer just about winding down the fishing season and starting the planning and preparation for hunting seasons that start in September and October. For hunters of my generation and older, perhaps that’s still a back-of-the-mind thought process, but for nearly a generation of young hunters, the early Canada goose season has always been there as something to consider in addition to late summer fishing. [caption id="attachment_33025" align="alignright" width="300"] (Photo courtesy NDGF)[/caption] And for those who remember a regular waterfowl season with a daily Canada goose limit of one or two, the early Canada goose ...
Bass on the Top
Fishing is fun: that’s why we go fishing. And it’s more fun when we catch some fish. And there are some techniques that are more fun to employ. Throwing topwater baits for largemouth bass is one of those techniques that are really fun. Seeing a wake approaching your floating lure, then seeing the bass explode on it is exciting. However, there aren’t as many situations when the bass are as willing to take a topwater as there are when they’ll accept a worm or a crankbait. But when conditions are right, topwaters are fun and productive. Following are some ideas ...
Latest Hunting & Fishing Articles
How Hunters Help the Harvest Information Program
For hunters my age, the acronym HIP associated with the outdoors isn’t anything new. While anywhere beyond two decades ago, HIP might have meant “aware” or “fashionable,” to those of us familiar with the migratory bird hunting world today, it also refers to the Harvest Information...
An Ice-Fishing Bait For Open Water Walleyes
Much of the time, lures are designed with a specific application in mind. But sometimes we discover that some baits are multi-purpose. I was reminded of that on a recent fishing trip. I was sharing a boat with fishing friend Mike Frisch in central Minnesota and walleyes were our target....
Early Canada Goose Season Opens August 15
These days, spending time outdoors in August is no longer just about winding down the fishing season and starting the planning and preparation for hunting seasons that start in September and October. For hunters of my generation and older, perhaps that’s still a back-of-the-mind...
Bass on the Top
Fishing is fun: that’s why we go fishing. And it’s more fun when we catch some fish. And there are some techniques that are more fun to employ. Throwing topwater baits for largemouth bass is one of those techniques that are really fun. Seeing a wake approaching your floating lure,...
Our Outdoors with Nick Simonson
Be Courteous in Public Outdoor Areas This Summer
Most people who enjoy the outdoors realize the level of enjoyment and satisfaction provided by not simply just getting away from it all or peace and quiet, but the smell or nature and...
Read More From Nick SimonsonValley Outdoors with Doug Leier
Shorefishing is a Surefire Good Time
Greg Power is the Fisheries Division Chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, so when he speaks of fish or fishing, I stop and listen. A boat isn’t required for someone to catch fish The...
Read More from Doug LeierFrom the Hunting & Fishing Article Archives
2013 midwinter bald eagle survey
Doug Leier Penning an outdoors column each week may seem daunting to some, but even with 52 opportunities in a given calendar year to generate topics and information to pass along, at times I actually wish I had more time and room. Here’s a few items of recent interest. North Dakota Game and Fish Department biologists conducted the 2013 midwinter...
Make Custom Crappie Jigs
Our Outdoors – By Nick Simonson As winter blankets, and blankets, and blankets the region with snow, it is becoming more apparent that it will be a long season indeed. That’s not a bad thing if you need some time to get your tacklebox ready for one of open water’s early quarries – prespawn slab crappies! If you remember the excitement...
Lindy Rigs – Everything You Need to Know
Lindy Fishing Tackle Lindy Rigging revolutionized live bait fishing in the 1960’s and is still one of the most popular and productive methods for taking walleyes throughout the country. Lindy Rigs can take panfish, walleyes, bass, northern pike, trout and any bottom feeding fish wherever they are–in natural lakes, man-made reservoirs, rivers...
Fishing Rod Building Tips
By Taylor Fitterer Making your own custom fishing rods can be a fun experience. Each rod normally takes about 2-3 hours to manufacture, and the finish drying time can take from a few hours to a few days depending on the type of finish, temperature and humidity. We have learned through trial and error and I hope this will save you a few errors while...
