By Nick Simonson Stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan once remarked in one of his shows that he normally doesn’t eat a burger a bratwurst AND a steak in the same meal, but on the Fourth of July, he just wouldn’t feel like an American if he didn’t.  I know I did my part to keep the…

HYDROLOGY 101.  You’ll want to keep plenty of water on hand today as you head out into the outdoors!  With heat indices heading up toward 110 degrees, and actual highs just a smidge under 100, staying well hydrated will be key to enjoying the weekend. Watch your kids, your dogs and yourself as you wrap…

By Nick Simonson As the joke in the upper Midwest goes, “we’re past the fourth of July, so summer’s basically over.”  The warm weather season, especially this abbreviated one with its late start, is as fleeting as the flicker of lightning bugs above the grasses on the edge of a midsummer highway.  Blink now, it’ll…

STAY ANCHORED.  Stiff winds today and tomorrow out of the south will bring warm weather but will keep things choppy on area waters.  We talk about that and more in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo:  A dragonfly rests in the grass below the morning’s breezes.  Simonson Photo. DAILY CONDITIONS: WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today: Fri 7/6 –…

CALM DAY.  Enjoy today as more storms are set to roll through the region tomorrow.  Your fifth of July will be darn near perfect for fishing or firing off the last of those moonrockets from last night. We look ahead to the weekend and go around the horn in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo:…

HAPPY FOURTH!  Strong northwest winds and clearing skies take hold after the overnight rain that moved through the region.  Enjoy your fourth and have fun!   Featured Photo:  A pontoon stakes out its claim for the evening’s light show. Simonson photo. DAILY CONDITIONS: WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today: Wed 7/4 – Clearing out. Hi 80, Lo 65,…

HUMMING ALONG! We roll into the Independence Day holiday with some chances for rain, but nothing that should knock out your fireworks on the Fourth or your fishing efforts.  We look at the forecast and some explosive animals in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo:  A hummingbird visits a feeder for a sip. Simonson Photo DAILY…

GETTING MOUTHY.  We explore the various mouth structures of both birds and fish intoday’s Three Things to help get a better understanding of the watery world around us. Featured Photo:  A heron watches over a reed bed from a nearby dock. Simonson Photo. DAILY CONDITIONS:  WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today: Mon 7/2 – Warming up. Hi 85,…

EYES UP! We’re keeping an eye on a nice week setting up for all of your fourth of July fishing adventures and for all the developments in the outdoors as we enter mid-summer. With that, we go around the horn in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo:  A set of daisies reach skyward. Simonson Photo….

By Nick Simonson The noise of fireworks over the lake next week won’t be the only bangs being heard with the turn into mid-summer and hunters start looking forward to fall.  Between now and the first opener on the calendar – be it the pending management season for Canada geese in mid-August, doves on the…

By Nick Simonson While the simple, golden sizzle of battered walleye fillets in a pan or a deep fryer is a hallmark of summer, there are other ways to highlight the texture and mild flavor of the Midwest’s favorite species to angle for.   If you put a few golden fish in the livewell and on…

SPOTTED.  Evening rains avoided Bismarck but continued to dampen areas north and south of the area yesterday.  We’re looking forward to drying out today on light northwest winds and highs in the mid-70s, a nice Saturday, if not overly warm. Here’s hoping you find the spot for pike, walleyes or whatever you’re after today in…

WASHOUT.  Massive storms moved through the area again overnight, bringing thunder, lightning, small hail and damaging winds, dropping two or more inches of rain throughout the central stretch of the state. We recap the highlights and look ahead to the weekend in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: A soaked rooster pheasant makes his way…

By Nick Simonson The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has released the results from the 2018 firearms deer license lottery.  Results can be checked online at gf.nd.gov. Featured Photo: Hunters are hopeful this time of year to draw a tag for November’s hunt. Simonson Photo

By Nick Simonson As the neighbor’s speedy, slender lab streaked unleashed across the road toward Ole and I on our evening walk, I watched the hairs bristle from the back of my dog’s head straight down to his tail and expected the worst. The two retrievers squared off and in tried-and-true lab fashion sniffed each…

WIRED.  There’s tension along the Missouri River as we watch the rising water levels (along with debris and fast currents). We talk about what’s fueling the system and more in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: A group of doves rests on a powerline just before sunset near the Missouri River. Simonson Photo DAILY CONDITIONS: WEATHER…

STARBURST!  Don’t say we never gave you anything…besides a good photo of the season’s first milkweed bloom.  We’re hitting our summer stride and doing so with a bit more moisture than this time last year – and that’s bringing a lot of summer flowers into full color.  We talk about that and a music-stopping bird…

SOMETHING OF A SELFIE.  When fishing solo and trying to capture that believe-it-or-not moment, finding a way to photograph that memorable catch can be a challenge.  We debate the pros and cons of some tactics and share some tips for getting the evidence (and a better pic) in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Stay focused. …

NDG&F Press Release North Dakota’s spring pheasant population index is down 30 percent from the same time last year, according to the state Game and Fish Department’s 2018 spring crowing count survey. R.J. Gross, upland game management biologist, said the number of roosters heard crowing this spring was down statewide, with decreases ranging from 15…

TAKE THE LEAD.  Prevent bite-offs from pike and muskies this summer or render your line invisible with the right leader.  Today’s wire and fluorocarbon leaders are the strongest yet thinnest available to anglers and with smaller terminal tackle, anglers reduce visibility, drag and tangling with better connection points as well. Featured Photo: Throwback.  While multi-strand…

ON & OFF.  Rains return today, keeping the dust down behind a swirling low located to our south.  With some inside time (probably this afternoon) on the horizon, we dive into some mid-season prep ideas in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: Picture in Picture.  Get trail cameras ready now and even hang them this…

FOR THE FUTURE.  Pollinators, like the painted lady butterfly in the featured photo help with the natural process of plant reproduction, building stronger farms, more robust habitat, and a better environment.  We talk about that and more in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: A painted lady butterfly rests in between flower stops. Simonson Photo…

WHO’S JACKED?  A great pre-fourth weekend is on tap and it all starts today with highs in the 80s and southerly breezes keeping things warm.  A slight bump on a calm Saturday afternoon might bring some rain, but Sunday smooths things out once again.  We look ahead to that and talk about what’s happening in…

SWEET SUMMER! Today’s conditions feel like the first day of summer, with highs in the mid 80s and almost no wind. We’ve got a nice weekend shaping up for your fishing efforts with just a slight chance of rain on Saturday.  We talk solstice and more in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Cock of the…

NDG&F Press Release The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 71st annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of 2.8 million birds, down 5 percent from last year. Migratory game bird supervisor Mike Szymanski said even though the index is below 3 million for the second consecutive year, it still stands 16…

WHAT A WEEK! Things are looking more like summer for the solstice tomorrow as calm conditions take hold over the next couple of days and a stable pattern sets up. While we’ll have some clouds in the forecast, chances of rain are minimal.  We check out where we stand as we approach the official start…

TALE OF THE TAPE.  There are a number of tape-based tools that sportsmen can easily pack into their tackleboxes and field bags, and we address those items and some quick emergency situations they can remedy in the outdoors. Featured Photo: That’s a wrap! Beyond covering wires, electrician’s tape is great at securing reels to rods,…

JUST SMASHING!  It was an exciting weekend with so much shooting action in between the weathermakers that it was almost tough to keep up.  But after two days of the ND State High School Clay Target League State Tournament, we’ve got the tabs on totals and top shooters in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo:…

By Nick Simonson While unhooking my second pike of the morning, the two-pound fish slipped quickly out of my wet hand and back into the water with a splash.  All that was left as evidence that I had even caught it was a chewed-up plastic tail and a small coating of slime ringing my hand…