ThinkingAfield.org

Ice Belt Crappies

April 22, 2025 Glen Wunderlich

Winter has melted away like Frosty the Snowman and early spring crappies are now in play

With ice off our lakes in the upper Midwest, it’s crappie time. For anglers farther south, it’s been the deal for some time. But up north, with water temps around 50 degrees, crappies are moving shallow to feed and eventually spawn. The movements are signaled by water temperature and length of day; crappies know internally when the time is right to move from the deeper-water basins they inhabited during the winter. In shallow water areas, life takes off first thanks to runoff and sun exposure. This brings in clouds of baitfish to feed on micro-invertebrates and bugs.

So, as soon as the ice goes out, on warm days, crappies will move into bays to feed, but not necessarily spawn – yet. That comes later, typically when the water temperature reaches around 58-62 degrees. And throughout the southern Midwest region, we should be getting close to that.

Where To Find ‘Em

Focus your efforts on northern, northwestern, and northeastern shorelines and off-shoots of the main lake – the first areas to warm up. Read more

Fishing

Brady’s First Turkey Hunt

April 21, 2025 Glen Wunderlich

Brady’s First Turkey Hunt

After a quick lesson with the vintage Stevens .410 bolt-action shotgun, Landon and Brady went for their first turkey hunt in Shiawassee County, Michigan on opening day (4/19/25). Brady connected on this fine gobbler with an 11-inch beard and 1-inch spurs. The ammo was Apex Ninja, 9 1/2 size shot TSS.

Brady’s First Turkey Hunt Successful and the hero’s walk home.

General, Hunting

Northern Michigan Pathways Named Pure Michigan Trails

April 21, 2025 Glen Wunderlich

Two trails in the northern Lower Peninsula are recipients of the 2025 Pure Michigan Trail designation, an annual recognition that spotlights some of the state’s best trail experiences.

The Betsie Valley Trail, a 22-mile pathway extending from Frankfort through Elberta and Beulah to Thompsonville in Benzie County, and Chain of Lakes Water Trail, a 100-plus mile inland water trail made up of 12 lakes and interconnected rivers in northwest Michigan, are this year’s Pure Michigan Trail recipients.

The announcement was made during this week’s Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.

“The Betsie Valley Trail and Chain of Lakes Water Trail offer exceptional hiking, biking and paddling experiences while also connecting residents and visitors to local communities and businesses,” said Kelly Wolgamott, vice president of Pure Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “Pure Michigan Trails represent the best of Michigan’s trail opportunities, and these extraordinary resources exemplify that designation.”

The Pure Michigan Trail and Trail Town Designation Program is a partnership between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Pure Michigan and is designed to help boost the state’s position as the “Trails State.” Read more

Wildlife

Northern Michigan pathways named Pure Michigan Trails

April 18, 2025 Glen Wunderlich

Betsie Valley Trail

By HEATHER JOHNSON DUROCHER
Trails and resources writer and editor
Parks and Recreation Division
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Two trails in the northern Lower Peninsula are recipients of the 2025 Pure Michigan Trail designation, an annual recognition that spotlights some of the state’s best trail experiences.

Wildlife

The Importance of Records in Big Game Management

April 18, 2025 Glen Wunderlich

When you enter your trophy into the Boone and Crockett system, you aren’t just honoring the animal and its habitat. You are participating in a data collection system that started in the 1920s and was refined by Club members in 1950. Today, there are nearly 60,000 trophy records. By establishing a records database more than 70 years ago, the Boone and Crockett Club established a scientific baseline from which researchers can use to study wildlife management. If you’re still on the fence about entering your trophy, we encourage you to read Why Should I Bother to Enter My Trophy. To the best of our ability, we ensure that the trophies entered into the records were taken in accordance with the tenets of fair chase ethics. Despite what some may think, the Boone and Crockett records are not about a name or a score in a book—because in the end, there’s so much more to the score.