When July eases in, I automatically start longing to go wade-fishing on the nearby Upper Reaches of the Cass River, something I have been doing since childhood. Early July and all the way through the month of August represent what are known as the “Dog Days” of summer. I used to think this timeframe, typically featuring warm and sultry weather, was so named because the usual heat was hard on dogs. However, this is referring to a very bright star, named Sirius, which becomes visible during that timeframe as it arcs across the southern horizon … Read More
Sound the Alarm!
That’s what the trout do when I enter the fishing stream. Not that I’m much of a threat, mind you. My timing is off, and I struggle to get the hook tied on tightly enough with my osteoarthritis. Yet I still find fishing in the stream so enjoyable. On the rare occasion that I do snag an actual trout, for me this is quite a celebration. It’s a good thing that we’re not relying on me for our sustenance. So not expecting success allows me to put my efforts into astute observation. And this is … Read More
“Busy As A Bee” Season
After a quiet winter, at least in respect to wildlife, there’s a lot of buzz going on in the outdoors, and I don’t mean the bees or gossip. As I go for my almost daily walks, I never cease to hear or see something that fills me with wonder. I often hear what I refer to as the percussion section, with a well-played drumroll from an unseen partridge, let’s call him Danny from the Partridge Family (Okay, I’m dating myself here.) This soft drumroll also reminds me of the days when I could hear the … Read More
I Got Hooked On Canadian Walleye Fishing
When I met my wife, we would get together and play cards with her parents and once in a while. As time went on and we got married, that tradition continued. My father in law, Robert and I share an interest in the outdoors so the conversation over those card games eventually turned to hunting or fishing. I’m more of a deer hunter than a fisherman but fishing has been something that I have enjoyed since I was a small boy when my grandfather used to take me. Robert loves to fish and has been … Read More
Spring Sucker Fishing Is A Great Outdoor Adventure
Sucker fishing is right at the top of my springtime agenda, and I have my special haunts for applying the various fishing techniques. The multiple sucker fish species in Michigan get a bit of a bum rap from some folks who consider them to be a trash fish on the order of carp, which is very incorrect. Suckers get their name from their fleshy lipped mouths located on the underside of their heads and are for a fact, bottom feeders. However, they are what I call “clean bottom feeders” in that they feed only … Read More