PERFECT PAIR.  Welcome to day two of your perfect weekend! Sun’s out, guns out; along with fishing rods, boats, and everything you need to enjoy the day. We look ahead to the coming week and more in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: Two jackrabbits lounge in the mowed grass of north Bismarck. Simonson Photo….

By Nick Simonson Mid-summer, with its relatively stable conditions, obliging fish of all species, and typically warm temperatures is the perfect time to get kids outdoors and on fish.  Whether it’s bluegills in a farm pond, bullheads on the bank of a small river, or hungry pike on a spoon trolled on a lake, finding…

CUPS RUNNETH OVER! Down that coffee this morning, because it’s going to be a full weekend of fun.  Conditions and the full moon align for a warm, comfortable two-day stretch outdoors before things heat up on Monday.  We talk about what to fill your weekend with in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: A favorite cabin…

By Nick Simonson At this point in the summer, weedlines have become well established and are the places where food is found by bigger predators bingeing from mid-season on in to fall.  Young panfish, this year’s crop of minnows and other smaller prey items abound in the underwater jungle created by the stands of seasonal…

SHOOT ON! There are lots of shooting sport events coming up to get you set for all your fall field activities.  From sampling shotguns to signing kids up for another exciting season of CTL, we’ve got the skinny on all the great shotgunning events on the calendar. Featured Photo: Shooters take aim at Capital City…

FULLY COOL. The dog days don’t seem to be bringing the heat just yet as we slide toward August.  Our cool stretch continues, making it perfect for an outdoor run, some field work with your dog or just enjoying the evening on the water.  Watch as things stabilize at the back half of the week…

SUMMER SPEED UP.  There’s lots happening as we reach the end of July, and far from slowing down, the dog days of the season are red hot (except the weather?) with fun news items, which we discuss in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: A rooster pheasant comes out and shakes off some overnight rain….

FOLLOW THE WIND. Today’s breezy conditions will set up an excellent evening of fishing that will continue into tomorrow.  Remember to fish those areas that the wind has consistently blown against during any stretch of time, as the pattern of incoming water will drive a lot of fish activity.  We talk about that and more…

QUICK STOP.  A quick shot of rain can’t be ruled out this afternoon, and some storms may become severe with high temps and spiking dew points.  We look ahead to what comes after the storm and keep an eye on what’s going on at home and and outstate in today’s three things. Featured Photo: A…

FLUID CHECKS. A boat is a place where mechanical, biological and chemical all come together.  Whether it’s keeping the engine running or catching fish, there are all sorts of additives, sprays and other fluid options to make things run more smoothly. We talk about at trio of must-haves in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Juiced!…

By Nick Simonson A successful dove hunt, like any other outing, requires a bit of knowledge about these little upland birds and some time in the field before the season. Being able to scout out the elements now is key to a great hunting experience from opening day on Sept. 1 until the birds head…

THAT’S PAST. Things are looking great to kick of the weekend and late summer, whether it’s fishing or shooting sports.  We go around the horn in today’s Three Things to cover not only the near-term forecast, but also some upcoming seasons and leagues. Featured Photo: Storms rolled through the region yesterday behind a low that…

SAK’D. In a tacklebox, shooting bag or pocket, it’s tough to beat the compact options presented by a Swiss Army Knife.  From small two-blade knives to large models with multiple blades and features, these popular knives are the original multitools that go everywhere and are great for fixing issues while in the field. Featured Photo:…

THE OTHERS.  (That seemed scarier when ‘Lost’ was on TV.) There are plenty of other fish to target, or that maybe you haven’t caught in a while, which lurk in our waters. We highlight a trio of ‘other’ fish in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Carp can provide mid-summer excitement on the rod or when…

SMALL PLACES. Big action can be found in tiny places, whether it’s a cattle pond deep enough to hold a population of bluegills or pike, a bass pond tucked back in the woods off the main water or a small stream for trout.  Knowing how to fish these areas can help you catch their biggest…

A LOOK AHEAD. Coming off yesterday’s cold front, we’ll see a warming trend set up over the next few days.  Things should be right for the Governor’s Cup on Lake Sakakawea this weekend, and prefishing is in full swing.  We talk about that and where we sit in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: The sun…

BACK IN BED.  It’s noticeably cooler out there this morning following the cold front that swept over the region triggering tornadoes and strong storms west of Bismarck. You may want to sleep in, but there’s still plenty to do in the outdoors, like finding fish in favorite summer haunts – and that’s today’s topic in…

SLOW DOWN! Enjoy the warm stretch today until a cool front moves through this evening touching off showers and storms.  We talk weekend relaxation and more in the outdoors in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Hail to the King.  A kingbird rests on a speed limit sign near Watford City, N.D. Simonson Photo DAILY CONDITIONS:…

WHAT DO YOU SEE?  Good vision is key in great shooting.  Whether hunting, or knocking out a few rounds of trap, skeet or sporting clays, being able to see the target clearly is a big part of the battle.  We share some vision tips in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Line of sight. Keep safety…

WHAT’S NEW?  The new moon rising and setting aligns with dawn and dusk and some stable weather conditions to make for an excellent day on the water!  If you’re thinking of playing hooky – from work or with some fish (or both!) – today is that day.  We talk deer apps, knot positioning and look…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to stocking a new lake for fishing. Just having water doesn’t equate to having fish, or being able to sustain or grow a population of fish.   When fisheries biologists are asked to “stock this lake,” it begins a process. The…

ROCKY!  While the weather will be anything but rocky with warm temps and light breezes settling in, your fishing can be – in a good way.  The underappreciated rock bass is a species of younger years, and tons of fun for new anglers to connect with.  We celebrate the champ in today’s Three Things.  …

GOIN’ DOWN.  As we begin the backward slide into summer’s second half, the sun will rise later and set earlier.  In fact, today is the first day the sun will rise after 6 am since early June. With warmer temps looking to be the norm, we talk about their effects and more in today’s Three…

PAST LIFE.  A week at the lake comes to a close as the Fourth of July is in our rear-view mirror.  We look ahead at what’s to come in the next few days and some highlights for the back half of summer in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: Clouds roll in over sunrise as…

COMING DOWN. This Sunday morning will be the first hint that temperatures won’t nearly be the blast-furnace conditions experienced by the region yesterday.  Finish out the weekend with some great weather and get in on the start of the second half of summer and its good fishing.  We talk topwater bass favorites in today’s Three…

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 –…