Family-Outdoors

 (Photo credit: whitby wv ) SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA Lake Erie:  The Metro Park Marina and the Banana Dike were good spots for perch and bluegills, if the ice holds. Be especially careful around the edges. Any remaining ice near Bolles Harbor is not safe. Lake St. Clair:  Finally got some decent ice but the warm rain will soften the shorelines, open up the pressure cracks, and muddy up the waters. Anglers need to use extreme caution especially around the shoreline, docks, pressure cracks, and areas where there is a current. Watch for soft spots. Saginaw Bay:  Was wet, slippery, sloppy and miserable. Conditions should improve by the weekend as much colder temperatures return. Before the drastic change in weather, perch fishing at Palmer Road was slow. Before the warm up, walleye anglers heading out a couple miles were getting fish. There was a lot of walleye activity about three miles off Erickson Road and near the Spark Plug off Linwood. Anglers need to us...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) NORTHEAST Ft. Gibson: January 26. Elevation normal, water clear. Catfish good on juglines baited with whole shad and sunfish and drifting the main river channel and open flats. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. around docks. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and Sink-O worms at all depths around structure. Report submitted by Rick Stafford of Wagoner. Grand: January 27. Largemouth bass slow on soft plastics and jigs but should pickup with warmer weather. Crappie good on Fle Fly jigs in black and chartreuse around brush piles in the Neosho River. White bass good on bottom up the Neosho and Spring rivers. Blue catfish excellent on cut shad at 75 ft. on deep ledges in the main river channel. Paddlefish excellent from Patricia Island all the way to the mouth of Elk River; stay in the main river channel and you will find them. Report submitted by Rusty Pritchard, Pritchard's Guide Service. Greenleaf: January 29. Bass good on square bill ...

Oakwood Lakes State Park to Host Winter Events VOLGA, S.D. – Oakwood Lake State Park will host the Kool Kids’ Klassic Fishing Derby and the Groundhog Day Cross-Country Ski Tour on Jan. 26 and 27, respectively. On Jan. 26, children under age 14 are invited to take part in the Kool Kids’ Klassic Ice Fishing Derby. Registration for the derby is $2 and will take place at the Welcome Center at 11 a.m. The first 100 entries will receive a free fishing pole made by park staff. Bait is furnished and event staff will drill holes in the ice as needed. Fishing will take place in designated areas from 12 to 2 p.m. with weigh-in to follow. Winners will be announced at the award ceremony following fishing. Snacks will be available throughout the day, and numerous door prize drawings will be held. On Jan. 27, the Groundhog Day Ski Event will feature a 5-kilometer non-competitive poker run, a 2-mile non-competitive snowshoe poker run, a 10-kilometer competitive race and a kick sled race. A reg...

Prairie grasses Since 2011, the  Eastern Tallgrass Prairie and Big Rivers Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC)  has grown into a dynamic partnership committed to delivering practical and pragmatic tools for conservation. The partnership, led by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Regional Direction Charlie Wooley and Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller, represents more than two dozen agencies and organizations across jurisdictional boundaries, committed to healthy ecosystems for current and future generations of fish, wildlife and people.  In January 2013, the LCC released its first ever annual report outlining the partnership’s accomplishments since 2011 including steering committee membership, strategic direction, research progress, communications efforts and future direction. The report provides a broad perspective on the LCCs strategic direction and identification of focal areas to carry out the mission and vision of the LCC a...

Duck season is currently open in Zone 2. Goose season is opened statewide. For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com .  NORTHWEST  Canton - Zone 1: Water level is 9.25 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor, no flooded vegetation around the lake. Winter wheat around the area is in poor condition. Duck season is closed. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low. Hunter success is unknown. No movement of birds into area since last week. The northwest portion of the lake is dry, and the only usable boat ramp is at the Canadian Campground day use area.  Ft. Supply - Zone 1: Water level is 2.05 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor, very little native food available around the lake as most of the sloughs are dry. Local wheat is in poor condition. Duck season is closed. Goose numbers are good, mostly Canadas. Hunter activity is fair and success is low. Goose numbers have remained good during January. ...

MADISON - Free kids’ ice fishing clinics scheduled for coming weeks are just the ticket for kids suffering through a winter in which scarce snow has put a damper on their sledding, snowball fights and other fun in the snow. Free kids ice fishing clinics are on tap in many communities; this mom and son enjoyed a lesson at the Yahara Fishing Club clinic earlier this month and took home a free ice fishing rod! Tom Raschke Photo The events, sponsored primarily by local fishing and conservation clubs, offer kids a great opportunity to get outside for some fresh air and to learn how to ice fish. Go to DNR’s website and search keywords “ fishing clinic ." The listings provided represent those free clinics the Department of Natural Resources is co-sponsoring or those events for which organizers have provided information to DNR. “These free fishing clinics are a great way to get kids outside to learn a new skill and have a lot of fun,” says Theresa Stabo, DNR aquatic education di...

The state Game and Fish Department’s annual Earth Day awareness campaign is accepting entries for design of a 2013 Earth Day patch. North Dakota students ages 6-18 are eligible to participate. The deadline to submit entries is March 15. The Game and Fish Department will announce a winner in three age categories – 6-9, 10-13, and 14-18. Each winner will receive a pair of Nikon 8x40 binoculars. The final patch design will be chosen from the three winners. The winning design will be used on a patch given to members of Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H clubs and any school participating in Earth Day cleanup projects on state-owned or managed lands in North Dakota in April and May. The patch should incorporate some aspect of Earth Day – celebrated April 22 – or keeping North Dakota clean. It must be round and three inches in diameter. There is a limit of five colors on the patch, and lettering must be printed. Name, address, age and phone number of the contestant must be clearly printed ...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program has a few openings available for a one-day winter workshop Jan. 26 at Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Darling, and a three-day workshop Feb. 22, 23 and 24 at Lake Metigoshe State Park, Bottineau. A darkhouse spearfishing class is offered for $50 at Upper Souris. Dog sledding, snowshoeing, winter survival, darkhouse spearfishing, and cross-country skiing are classes available at Lake Metigoshe. Cost of the workshop is $135. Women interested in the workshops are encouraged to  register online  at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. Those interested should sign up immediately, as each class is limited to 12 participants. Preregistration with payment is required. Equipment and snacks will be provided. More information is available by contacting Nancy Boldt at  (701) 328-6312 , Brittany Fish at  (701) 527-3075 , or email  ndgf@nd.gov . Related articles ...

Anglers interested in fly fishing can learn the sport Feb. 8-9 at the Illinois River Fly Fishing School. The clinic will be based out of Tenkiller State Park and will feature instructional sessions as well as hands-on practice on the banks of the Illinois River. Long-time instructor Mark Patton says the clinic lays a good foundation for both amateur and experienced anglers. While he "starts from the ground up," Patton said even those familiar with fly fishing can benefit from the instruction. The clinic will offer in depth information on equipment, tackle assembly, knots, flies, casting, and tactics and will include on-stream fishing instruction. According to Patton, participants will leave with a better understanding of fly fishing by learning how the equipment works and why it performs the way it does when operated properly. Upon completion of the Illinois River Fly Fishing School, Patton said participants will be ready to begin fishing by themselves. "A guide rig...

The Michigan Iron Industry Museum will present its first ever snowshoe-making workshop the weekend of February 2-3, offering participants a chance to lace their own pair of traditional snowshoes. “Snowshoeing has a long history as a mode of transportation in the snowy Upper Peninsula,” said museum historian Troy Henderson. “This workshop celebrates that history and encourages participants to explore our winter landscape.”  The Iron Industry Museum is now open year-round and features a new network of trails on the museum grounds.Class space for this workshop is limited and reservations are required. The class fee of $175 per person includes all materials and a $25 non-refundable reservation fee. For more information about the class and to make reservations, call Troy Henderson at 906-475-7857 or email him at hendersont7@michigan.gov.  The museum entrance is located on US-41E, one mile west of Junction M-35, in Negaunee Township. Admission is free, but donations are encoura...

Sunday, January 6th marked the end of the Deer Hunter Wildlife survey. While the survey period is over, deer hunters will have until the 20th of January to report their wildlife observations. Observations can be reported by going to the Wisconsin DNR Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey web page . If you will not have access to a computer and the web, you can send your tally sheet to the address below. All of your observations will be entered for you. Wildlife Surveys Attn: Brian Dhuey 2801 Progress Road Madison, WI 53716 Final results of the survey will be made available at the end of February. Thank you for your participation in the Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey and your concern for Wisconsin’s wildlife. For more information contact: Brian Dhuey (608) 221-6342 or Jes Rees (608) 221-6360

Lapham Peak With no significant snowfall since late December and last week’s rain and warm temperatures, snow sports have basically come to a halt across most of the state. Snowmobile trails are closed in most counties, with a few northern counties continuing to report tails are open but in very poor condition. A handful of locations are still reporting adequate snow for cross-country skiing, including Blue Mound State Park and the Northern and Lapham Peak units of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, with the latter only on one loop where there is snow-making equipment. Rib Mountain State Park is still reporting adequate snow for their snowshoe trails. Brunet Island and Governor Dodge state parks have both cancelled candlelight ski events scheduled for this Saturday, due to the icy trail condition. A candlelight hike is still scheduled to proceed at the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area, with the education center open and many other activities planned. The warm temperatures and rain ...

MADISON – Pull up a pail and help family and friends discover that ice is nice when it comes to fishing in Wisconsin -- doubly so when the fishing is free. Wisconsin’s first winter Free Fishing Weekend is set for Jan. 19 and 20. Residents and nonresidents alike can fish anywhere in Wisconsin for free. No licenses or trout stamps are needed. This includes all inland waters and Wisconsin’s side of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River. “We invite everybody to get out and start a new tradition,” says Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp. “Ice fishing is all about family, friends and fun. It’s a great time to get out, get some fresh air and try fishing from a new perspective.” Wisconsin has long had a Free Fishing Weekend during the open water season; it’s the first Saturday and Sunday in June. The winter Free Fishing Weekend was established under Act 168, a law passed last year aimed at boosting participation in fishing, hunting and other traditional outdoor rec...

The Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that spring turkey hunting applications are on sale now through Feb 1. The application fee is $4. Hunters may apply for one limited-quota hunting license, or purchase a license for spring turkey Hunt 234, which does not require the $4 application fee. Applications and licenses may be purchased at any authorized license agent or online at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings. The 2013 spring turkey season runs from April 22 through May 31, with hunts lasting from seven to 39 days, depending on the hunt unit. Hunters may purchase a license for just one hunt. A total of 114,290 licenses are available, including 49,290 general licenses and 65,000 private-land licenses. Information about spring turkey hunting can be found at www.michigan.gov/turkey. "Hunters looking for the greatest flexibility should consider Hunt 234, which runs May 6-31 and includes all open areas of the state except the public lands of southern Michigan," said ...

The Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that spring turkey hunting applications are on sale now through Feb 1. The application fee is $4. Hunters may apply for one limited-quota hunting license, or purchase a license for spring turkey Hunt 234, which does not require the $4 application fee. Applications and licenses may be purchased at any authorized license agent or online at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings . The 2013 spring turkey season runs from April 22 through May 31, with hunts lasting from seven to 39 days, depending on the hunt unit. Hunters may purchase a license for just one hunt. A total of 114,290 licenses are available, including 49,290 general licenses and 65,000 private-land licenses. Information about spring turkey hunting can be found at www.michigan.gov/turkey . "Hunters looking for the greatest flexibility should consider Hunt 234, which runs May 6-31 and includes all open areas of the state except the public lands of southern Michigan," said ...

The New Year is bringing in a new southwest Oklahoma traveling opportunity for anglers and their families looking for small-town hospitality and rainbow trout. The new Medicine Creek trout season is kicking off Jan. 1, 2013, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will stock the fishery every two weeks through March 15. The Wildlife Department is partnering with the City of Medicine Park to provide a new trout fishery in a half-mile stretch of Medicine Creek from Gondola Dam downstream to the HWY 49 bridge. "That's essentially right in town, said Ryan Ryswyk, southwest region fisheries biologist for the Wildlife Department. The historic City of Medicine Park sits at the foothills of the Wichita Mountains, home to the famous Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge that attracts tourists from across the nation each year. It offers unique lodging, dining and shopping, hiking and entertainment opportunities and, along with the wildlife refuge, other area attractions such as...

Fall and winter are wonderful times to get out to enjoy nature and to see wildlife! Birds are migrating and can sometimes be seen in big flocks. Drive by a cut-down corn field and you'll see the huge, prehistoric sandhill crane. Different types of birds will be passing through your bird feeder. And many animals are getting in their last big meals before winter. Then once the snow falls, the woods get quiet and signs of wildlife can be seen if you just look close – tracks in the snow, small birds like the dark-eyed junco and downy woodpecker flitting around. It's really a magical time to be out in the woods. This is also the time of year hunters are out in the woods – they too are enjoying the sights and sounds of nature and wildlife. Watching a mouse run over their boot as they sit still as a tree. Watching a white-breasted nuthatch poking its way down a tree looking for bugs. Communing with nature is a huge draw for hunters. So as another hunting season winds down, it's ...