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fishing with shrimp

Best Bait for Surf Fishing: Live, Frozen, or Fake Shrimp?

Shrimp: it’s not just for tacos. It’s also one of the most effective—and underrated—baits for saltwater fishing. Whether you're surf fishing the Atlantic, casting in the Gulf, or wading a flat in Florida, every fish eats shrimp. When it comes to the best shrimp option...
Kayaking Sunset Beach, NC: A Hidden Intercoastal Adventure

Sunset Beach, NC Kayak Adventure

I love paddling. Most of my kayak adventures are in northern Minnesota, exploring the Boundary Waters. But in early April, a thick layer of ice makes it pretty difficult to paddle the lakes of northern Minnesota. So, to get my fix – I headed south to the intercoastal...

Best Time of Day to Surf Fish

I have found that timing is everything when surf fishing. The trouble is that I typically fish when my family goes to the beach. My schedule is determined by my kid's ability to prepare for a day at the ocean, not when the best bite occurs. As I roll my cart onto the...
Good eating crappie

When Do Crappie Spawn? Timing the Best Bite of the Year

Ah, the crappie spawn—a time when these tasty little panfish lose all sense of self-preservation and practically beg to be caught. If you've ever wondered when crappie decide to turn the shallows into their own personal dating pool, the answer is simple: when the...

Ranking the Most Popular Crappie Lakes in Minnesota: Updated 2025

What is the Best Crappie Lake in Minnesota? With over 10,000 lakes in Minnesota, answering this question is not straight forward. There are countless solid Crappie lakes across the state and any of them could yield the limit. Surfing the web searching for the answer,...
Catfish fillet

The Best Tasting Freshwater Fish: Where to Catch & How to Cook Them

I love catching, preparing, and eating fish. Only occasionally do I get skunked on my fishing trips—okay, maybe more than that. But I have had my fair share of successes fishing across America. As I contemplate my favorite fishing experiences, I want to share my...

Best Fishing Spots in Lake County, Minnesota – Top13 Lakes Updated 2025

What is the Best Fishing Lake in Lake County? With hundreds of lakes and rivers across Lake County, answering this question is not straightforward. From Two Harbors to Ely, there are countless solid fishing lakes in the region, and many of them could yield the limit....
Bavarian Forest, Big Sky MT from Dakota 3 chair lift

Best Tree Runs: Big Sky

My favorite terrain to ski is tree runs. Finding some untouched powder and a hidden trail through the aspens is thrilling. I recently made a ski trip out to Big Sky, Montana and found some of the best tree runs I’ve ever skied. Overall, the Bavarian Forest from the...

The Ultimate Guide to Fishing Rod Power, Action, and Length

Walking into a tackle shop to find a new fishing rod can be overwhelming. There are a vast number of rods lining the shelves: long rods and short rods, thick rods and skinny rods, stiff rods and whippy rods… With so many choices it is easy to get lost and potentially...

The Best Crappie Rod, Reel, and Combos Buying Guide: Updated 2025

Best Crappie Rod for Casting Jigs and Shooting Docks Best Crappie Rod for Vertical Jigging / Live Scoping Best Crappie Trolling / Spider Rigging Rods Best Crappie Slip Knot Bobber Rods The Best Crappie Spinning Reels Best Crappie Rod and Reel Combos There is something...