Oh boy!  It’s definitely late Fall now. On my drive to bow hunting camp this past week the low lying areas, ditches, and swales held wisps of snow.   And the rain-like precipitation hitting my windshield splattered in miniature crystal explosions on the glass as quickly as the wipers could sweep them away. I unlocked the camp door with a bundle of kindling in one arm and made quick work of a fire even before shutting the cabin door.  There’s just no messing around this t...

By: Aaron Dexter   Category: River Reports Tags: Wet Weather Gear, Outdoor Life, Bird Hunting, Au Sable, Manistee

The tides are certainly turning in Northern Michigan’s outdoors. You can feel the nip of November in the air and the fishing and hunting is beginning to live up to this month’s promise. Streamer trout fishing has taken a turn for the better and, though, many brown trout are on spawning redds and paying more attention to replenishing the species, many more are either on a pre-spawn or even post-spawn bite. Fish the cover around spawning gravel to target fish that are truly lo...

By: Aaron Dexter   Category: River Reports Tags: Squirrel Hunting, Bird Hunting, Streamer Fishing

Already the Brook Trout on the Au Sable River are beautifully colored up and staging for the spawn.  They are brightly suited with their orange and red bellies and white tipped fins. The deer are thick and healthy. This year’s fawn’s spots have faded.  And the bucks have shed their light brown velvet and show bone white antlers.

By: Aaron Dexter   Category: River Reports Tags: Brown Trout, Fall Colors, Bird Hunting, River Clean Up, Mousing

What a week!  The Michigan Grouse and Woodcock season is underway.   Now, I love fishing . . . no doubt.  I fish enough that a reasonable judge would grant my wife a heavy-handed but well deserved and clean divorce.  And the fact that I rev up even more for grouse season must mean she either loves me or flat realizes the settlement wouldn’t be worth the trouble. The night before season, September 14th, is like Christmas Eve for grown men with bird dogs.  There ought ...

By: Aaron Dexter   Category: River Reports Tags: White Flies, Bird Hunting, Streamers, River Clean Up, Au Sable, Olive Spinners, Manistee