Category: Articles

Over the years, I’ve had to defend the Missouri Trout Opener time and time again. With each passing year, doing so becomes easier and easier. Because the older I become, the less I care about personal gratification. It’s a beautiful thing about becoming long in the tooth. We stop caring about our own accolades, and […]

When the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) was signed into law last summer, it was deemed the most important piece of conservation legislation in nearly 100 years. A major component of the GAOA, was fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Unfortunately, not much has happened in regards to implementation since the act’s […]

Close to 15 years ago, I fished a bass tournament on Lake Monroe in Southern Indiana. It was my first and last participation in competitive fishing. I found the experience counter to the reasons I fish, which include relaxation and a reprieve from the hustle of everyday life. I vowed not to fish competitively again, […]

Being a waterfowl hunter, one comes to understand and appreciate the importance of wetlands. They are key to the health of waterfowl populations. Wetlands are home to much more than waterfowl, though. Approximately 40 percent of the world’s species live and breed in wetlands and about 200 new fish species are discovered in freshwater wetlands […]

A little over a year ago, Nathan “Shags” McLeod and I fished winter crappie with Kris Nelson for the first time on Pomme de Terre Lake. That trip spoiled us. In just under an hour, all three of us were able to boat our 15-fish limit. Shags and I returned last week, and learned it’s […]

Winter is a wonderful time for a float trip. With trees bare of leaves, you’ll be able to see features hidden away by summer’s foliage. Certain animals are more abundant, like the bald eagles who find their way south to open water. You’ll likely have any water you choose to paddle all to yourself. Providing […]

I have to admit, staring down into an 8-inch wide hole cut in the ice for hours on end isn’t the most exciting outdoor experience out there for me, but ice fishing can be a lot of fun and a productive way to put fish in the freezer during the winter months.