Articles

Minnesota fishing opener may not see open water in much of the Northland

Minnesota’s fishing opener is looming Saturday, and nearly all lakes from Duluth to the Canadian border were still locked in ice. Opening weekend provides a much-needed jolt of income for all kinds of businesses across the Northland.

• Minnesota fishing opener info
• Ice-covered lakes make for a lonely fishing opener in Wisconsin

Field reports: Minnesota ranks highly on angling participation, spending

Anglers who fish Minnesota waters spent $2.4 billion in 2011, according to survey data released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The amount includes direct spending for both resident and nonresident anglers, according to a Department of Natural Resources news release.

Northland author details influence of deer on our landscape, culture

As a deer hunter himself, Al Cambronne of Solon Springs is fascinated by deer. But he found himself taking a broader look at whitetails in America.

• Al Cambronne

Reluctant early bird gets his first turkey

Nolan Gustafson can tell you what the hardest part of turkey hunting is. “Getting up at, like, 4 o’clock in the morning,” the 10-year-old from Brule said.

• Nolan Gustafson and turkey

Ice-covered lakes make for a lonely fishing opener in Wisconsin

Hayward Bait & Bottle Shoppe should have been hopping. This was Saturday morning, opening day of Wisconsin’s inland fishing season. But the shop was eerily quiet, silenced by the winter that would not surrender.

• Guide Steve Genson fishing
• Photo Gallery: Wisconsin fishing opener
• Learn more

What if ice isn’t gone in time for fishing openers?

What if? That’s what anglers across the Northland are wondering. What if the ice doesn’t go out in time for Minnesota’s fishing opener on May 11 or Wisconsin’s opener on Saturday?

• Ice for fishing openers?

North Shore streams opening, but smelt aren’t running yet

Smelt? Not yet. That’s the word from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fisheries officials.

• Last year's run

North Shore streams opening, but smelt not running yet

Although North Shore streams near Duluth broke open this weekend, it’ll be a while before smelt enter the streams to spawn, said Don Schreiner, DNR Lake Superior area fisheries supervisor.

• Last year's run
• Waterfalls rise as snow makes a loud exit up North Shore (with video)

Duluth area building a mountain bike mecca

Mountain bikers in the Duluth area will see a flurry of trail-building this summer as Duluth forges ahead in its goal to become a premier trail city.

• Mountain biker

Northland anglers, bait shop owners concerned about new minnow-harvesting ban

Spottail shiners, a favorite early season bait for anglers on Lake Winnibigoshish and other lakes, could be in short supply this year as the result of a new minnow-harvesting ban starting next month.

• Spottail shiner
• Map

Columns

Sam Cook: Tree toppling tradition takes odd turn

There are lots of ways to get your Christmas tree. You can drive to a tree farm in the country and pick out a living tree. And then there’s my friend John, whose family tradition is to go out and — this is true — shoot a Christmas tree.

• Sam Cook

Hunter’s wolf encounter persuades him not to shoot

Early this past week, I received an e-mail from a deer hunter who had a story to tell. I am acquainted with the man who wrote the e-mail, although he prefers to remain anonymous.

Embrace the dark

SAM COOK: What is it about the shrinking daylight hours that seizes us all so deeply?

• Sam Cook

Forests remind us to stand strong

SAM COOK: Early Wednesday morning, with the election in the rear-view mirror, I went to the woods. I went because I had had my fill of red and blue. I needed to somehow reaffirm that my world was still shades of green and brown and black and buff.

• Sam Cook

'Little hunt' packs big sound

SAM COOK: We come to this farm in southwestern Minnesota primarily to hunt pheasants, and shooting hours for pheasants don’t begin until 9 a.m. each day. There’s plenty of time for the little hunt before that.

• Sam Cook
• Outdoors shops help keep deer hunters shooting straight
• Who rules the roost? Wrenshall woman loses patience with pesky pheasant

Sam Cook column: October’s bluster a reminder of the way it's supposed to be in the Northland

Daylight comes grudgingly on this late October morning. A bully of a northwest wind throws rain against the windows. Forty degrees.

• Snow-flocked trees
• Up to 5 inches of snow recorded around Range

Travels impart changed world view

Sam Cook column: She had gone to Africa, to Zimbabwe in particular, to hunt. Not to hunt big game, but to hunt birds. She told me a little about the hunting, but not much. What she wanted to tell me about were the people she encountered. As she talked, she began to cry.

• Sam Cook

Sam Cook column: Gun safety should be top priority for hunters in the field

SAM COOK COLUMN: In the pitch black of a November morning, three of us were getting ready to go deer hunting. I was still inside when I heard the unmistakable sound of a rifle report just outside the house.

• Sam Cook

Leaves hold a lesson for us about letting go

SAM COOK: When I went out to feed the yellow dog one morning this week, I got sidetracked watching leaves fall. It doesn’t take much to sidetrack a simple mind.

• Sam Cook

Sam Cook column: Hunting trip made memorable by Great Plains hospitality

We met her in a convenience store where we had stopped to pick up some ice. The three of us were in new territory in northeastern Montana, hunting sharp-tailed grouse.

• Sam Cook
• Haybale camp
• Christoffersen family