Crystalline glory
I’m remembering an earlt December a few years ago when quirks in the weather worked a miracle on Birch Lake. In the early ice season there’s often a push and pull, cold days firming and thickening the ice, warm days halting or setting back progress. During a warm spell in that December, a spring to the…
Color It White
The mild days early this month are creating uncertainty about ice conditions. In my recent travels around the area I’ve seen signs of ice regressing on the larger lakes. Here on Birch things are not trending in a good direction for those who look forward to fishing, skating, snowmobiling and other pursuits. The lake finally froze…
Taking care of our smaller natural lakes
Among tens of thousands of lakes in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, the most treasured are not necessarily the largest ones with the best fisheries and the highest property values. Many people gravitate toward smaller and more remote lakes that are often largely undeveloped. A November 8 webinar will explore these lakes, their importance, and what…
ACTION ALERT: Boat industry wakeboat bill threatens lakes
Imagine a Wisconsin where enhanced boat wakes are allowed as near as 200 feet from shore – and where local governments have no power to enact stricter limitations. That is the potential outcome of a bill supported by the boating industry and expected to be introduced in the state legislature in the very near future.…
The allure of lures
I can’t remember how old I was when I first caught a fish on an artificial bait. I don’t even remember the kind lure of the species of fish. I am pretty sure I was older than grandson Tucker (age 11), who caught his first fish on something other than live bait in early July on…
The bigger water picture: waterloop
As advocates for inland lakes we can tend toward a kind of myopia, focused on the issues that affect our home bodies of water. But the reality is that there’s a big wide water world out there, and all water is connected. It’s enlightening and healthy more than once in a while to take our…
Knowing what to look for
Knowledge is a key top stopping the spread of invasive species to our waters. That includes knowing how to properly inspect and clean our boats and other outdoor equipment on entering and leaving a lake or stream. Even more basic is knowing what invasive species look like so that if we spot one in a favorite…
The Lake Guy on Public Radio
If you enjoy this and other posts on my blog, please subscribe, and feel free to share it with your network. On June 14 I was interviewed on The Larry Mieller Show on Wisconsin Public Radio. We talked about my book, “Ripple Effects,” about the challenges facing our inland lakes, and about what all of…
Too much fishing? Really?
If you enjoy this and other posts on my blog, please subscribe, and feel free to share it with your network. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ As I wrote this very early on a recent Sunday morning my older brother Steve slept in the guest bedroom, and I had mixed emotions about the full day of fishing to come.…