HOOKED.  Saturday will be the nicest day of the weekend with generally calm conditions turning into light south winds by evening, use it to get outdoors and catch those first runs of fish, but don’t get hooked, things get breezy again tomorrow. As you get set for the season, we have some suggestions and guidelines…

By Nick Simonson Anywhere big fish eat little fish, you’ll find room for the Clouser minnow.  Kept simple and sparse, it moves freely in the water and is dynamite on bass, panfish, trout, pike and other piscivorous species. Customize to confidence colors or the hues of baitfish in your waters and you’ll have a selection…

A BOATLOAD.  While SD and MN got socked with heavy snow, ND was mostly spared, though the accumulations and wind were enough to shut down the eastern edge of the state.  The system wraps up today, and the melt will be on (again) next week – and then boating season will be here.  We get…

By Nick Simonson As the ice fades from white, to blue, to black to open water, one of the first species available for anglers throughout the region are the trout in the scattered streams and lakes of the upper Midwest.  Whether it’s stocked browns in the Redwood River of southwestern Minnesota or rainbows in the…

TUCK & ROLL.   It’ll be a taste of winter again as the region catches the back edge of the system rolling through.  To help you survive the day, we check out some NDG&F fishing reports, important legislation and a look at jackrabbits in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Jacked Up.  A jackrabbit lays low in…

THE DODGE?  The snowline creeps a little more northward with each model run as extreme southeast ND falls into the “red zone” of 12-20 inches with this weather maker running to our south.  We give it one more look along with other pertinent items in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo:  Head Down.  Expect snow for…

RISE ABOVE.  While southeastern ND may get a glancing blow from the snow system moving through this week, much of the state stays above the storm line. We keep an eye on that and more in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: On the Wing.  A hen pheasant flies down a draw near Bismarck. Simonson Photo….

LAST DRY ONE.  Warm and windy conditions persist ahead of a notable shift in the weather.  We check out the line and see where we sit along with more outdoor news in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Take Cover.  A rooster pheasant runs the edge of roadside vegetation. Simonson Photo.   WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today: Mon…

DRYING OUT.  A sunny and windy Sunday will help dry things out as northwest gusts dominate the day.  We provide some spring prep tips in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo:   Light geese pause in a wet spring field. Simonson Photo.   WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today: Sun 4/7 – Clear & Windy – Hi 65, Lo 38,…

DARK.  While things will be drizzly and damp today, watch for a shift tomorrow to clear this system out.  In other dark news, SB 2315 returns in worse form and famed Animal Planet angler Jeremy Wade returns with a new show.  We cover those and more in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo:   Dark woolly buggers…

By Nick Simonson   The North Dakota State High School Clay Target League (ND CTL) continues to grow as the league enters its fourth season in the state.  With over 1,600 shooters and more than 60 teams kicking off the spring league this week, ND CTL Director Joe Courneya cites the alignment of the right…

GET CASTING!  As ice gives way to flowing waters, cautious anglers are headed out checking for the first runs of fish.  We’ve got the low down on what’s up and where we’re at with the spring melt and a preview of spring fishing in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo:  DEO’s Nick Simonson casts for pike…

GUSTS GALORE!  Winds will be up today, blowing in warmer temperatures for the weekend, and a shot at some rain.  It’ll be hit and miss, but for many the conditions won’t dictate outdoors opportunity – only open water, as rivers and streams bust loose. We run the gamut in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Foot…

SPRING(ISH?)  While today’s cold temps won’t have you thinking hot thoughts, tomorrow’s southern breezes will bring the warm up and the masses of snow geese into the state.  We follow the migration, check out the fishing reports and look ahead in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: With the melt comes early opportunities for trout after…

TWO COOL.  After a squall, today’s wind will keep things chilly, and tomorrow will be calmer but colder.  After that though it’s time to start spring in earnest as temperatures warm into the 50s, 60s and maybe even 70, giving folks a chance to get out and enjoy the outdoors.  We talk about that and…

AWESOME APRIL.  With the turn of the calendar to a new month (and a new licensing season) we welcome spring to the region. We cover those license issues, what’s on tap for the week and some tips for memorable fish in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Time the Run.  Keep an eye on open water…

THAT’S A WRAP!  We bring the weekend to a close with our final review of the DEO Winter Severity Index and all the cool (and cold) stuff that happened  in North Dakota’s signature season. Featured Photo: Think Spring!  We’re looking forward to green grass, colorful roosters and warm yellow sun, now that our WSI has…

By Nick Simonson While known more as a material for nymphs, the pheasant tail feather fibers have been part of a very successful dry fly in my fly box for years.  Whether it’s brown trout on a faraway mountain stream, or local stocked rainbows acclimating to their new environs on some North Dakota lake, this…

A CUT ABOVE.  We’re racing against the coming spring to get our projects done and be ready for open water.  The weekend will be hit-and-miss for outdoor activities, with today’s cooler but calm conditions being the best for some end-of-season ice fishing.  We cover that and more in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Beavers have…

FIFTH FRIDAY!  It’s the final Friday of March, a rare five-Friday month, so celebrate the unique day with some time outdoors.  It’ll be a bit breezy, but temps will climb near 50 adding some melt and drying things out with the wind.  We cover some favorite spring topics in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Put…

By Nick Simonson I nervously touched off the first shell of my ten-shot warm-up round and watched the bottom fall out of the orange dome, sending the remainder of the clay target skyward.  I breathed a sigh of relief but was unable to exhale the nerves which still lingered in my chest as my fellow…

THIRSTY THURSDAY.  Drink in spring as the next few days provide a steady warm-up after a couple of cooler ones.  We talk fishing grades, forecast and fluoro in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo:  Seeing red. Octopus hooks await inclusion on walleye rigs. Simonson Photo.   WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today: Thu 3/28 – Cooler – Hi 40,…

LAST BUGLE!  Today’s the last day to apply for the once-in-a-lifetime big game species lotteries in North Dakota, so get on the web and get it done. We cover that and more in today’s three things. Featured Photo: A bull elk in velvet rests along a stream. Simonson Photo.   WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today: Wed 3/27…

BACK TO IT.  Temperatures rise and things will once again feel like spring, setting the melt back in motion.  We track the impact and look to the skies in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo:  The sun rises through light clouds. Simonson Photo.   WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today: Tue 3/26 – Spring Again! – Hi 48, Lo…

CHILL.  Don’t fret, spring will return this week as nervous anglers start eyeing waters – for flooding and for the first runs of fish.  We cover both topics in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo:  Step Carefully.  Stay focused on current and drops when wade fishing in spring, especially with fluctuating water levels. Simonson Photo.  …

SHOOTING STARS.  If you missed last night’s northern lights show (as much of SW ND did), you still have a chance to catch up on some of the state’s shooting start in both archery and trap as the former season comes to an end and the latter kicks off – we talk about those and…

By Nick Simonson     The growing popularity of trap shooting, particularly with the advancement of the North Dakota State High School Clay Target League to dozens of schools in the state, has happened at a rapid pace.  Where three years ago only a few dozen shooters participated in the new high school sport, it…

FIVE-OH!  We’ll push the boundaries of our young spring today as temps soar on soft southerlies and more snow makes its way to water.  Additionally, an exciting sky display may be in store tonight as the northern lights fire up; we talk about that and more in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: A bull bluegill…

WHAT’S HATCHING?  Warm temperatures continue into the weekend and it’s tough not to think spring.  We look at the NDG&F’s first report on fisheries, along with other spring activities in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Robins have returned to the region during the recent warm spell.  A sure sign that spring is here. Simonson Photo….

WICKED WARM!  Save for a slight bump in the back half of the weekend, things look warm.  We check that out along with some acronym updates in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Expect snowy conditions – like those in the southern Missouri River valley pictured here – to subside under the warmth of the near-term…