Other Contributors

Well, here we are. In the year AD 2000, Anno Domini 2000, in the year of our Lord 2000. Some of us wondered what the changeover might bring. With many still scratching their heads about the outcome of “Y2K,” let’s make it a year to remember nevertheless. So much will […]

Every new year brings us the chance to cast off something old and troublesome; to look for, and in, new directions; and to make a fresh start at something good and worthwhile. Every decade seems to develop its special character. This century’s achievements have crowned those of at least the […]

Walleyes are, without a doubt, the most sought after game fish in the U.S. Midwest in the summer. But now’s a good time, too. Walleyes are often considered to be schoolers but under the ice, they seem to disperse into loose associations. Pinpointing them is often difficult but catching one […]

Over the last 1,000 years, ice fishing has changed very little. But as we near the next millennium, we are on the edge of a virtual revolution that will start the next ice age for the angler who prefers ice fishing. The problem with ice fishing, in many cases, is […]

On a recent trip to Canada, I was reminded we all have to take some time out of our busy lives to rest and recharge those “internal batteries.” Nature, time, and patience are the three best physicians. I enjoy being outdoors and I am truly amazed at the beauty nature […]

It’s been said by experts in marketing trends that if you try to look ahead two years to predict what will be the hottest-selling item, you’ll be wrong. That’s because nine times out of 10, it hasn’t even been invented yet! In the outdoor world, changes and innovations typically burst […]

One of the hardest things in life is to maintain the delicate balance between the importance and unimportance of “stuff.” You know, the ever-present stuff we store in closets and cupboards. The stuff we treasure and at the same time often resent. I can still remember a half-century ago as […]

“Learn from the past, live in the present, plan for the future.” So goes a good proverb that has stood the test of time. And then along comes “management guru” Peter Drucker, who at age 80+ and still going strong, also has stood the test of time. He writes, “In […]

Something positive is happening that is noteworthy. A recent church newsletter describes “vigilante volunteers.” Canada has a population bulge of people ready to make donations and volunteer their time. What a note of hope for all social service causes! But they are different. “Vigilante volunteers” expect to have input into […]

It’s been more than a decade since I first heard him speak on the changing demographics of aging. He was a young man but his wisdom was old. For me, that speech was a life-changing event. His name was Ken Dychtwald. And in my excitement, I imagined having him appear […]

Most walleye anglers are familiar with plastic-bodied jigs like the Foxee or Lipstick. These jigs have subtle action bodies and are excellent finesse jigs. But the plastic bodies I have in mind have larger bodies–and much more tail action. Plastic baits are productive year ’round but I really like them […]

The Bobolink is another blackbird which is “different.” It has a short, stubby beak, and is quite a bit smaller than a robin. The male bird is quite handsome in jet black and white, with a big buff patch on the back of its head and neck. The female is […]