Beckie Gaskill
Recent Stories
Bike the Heart of Vilas County this holiday weekend
Traveling from one town to another in Vilas County on a bicycle is an experience that is nothing like making the same journey by car. Not only is biking great exercise, the paved trails from St. Germain to Sayner to Boulder Junction to Manitowish Waters to Mercer make a great excursion for riders of all levels.
Jitterbug fishing is a great mid-summer tactic
Largemouth bass, small mouth bass and pike provide some great top water action all summer long. There is nothing quite like a top-water bite. The fish explodes out of the water, inhaling a top-water plug and dives back to the depths. The angler’s heart is racing and their hands start to shake as they lean back and set the hook, driving the treble hooks into the meat of the fish’s mouth. The fight is on, and it is like hand-to-hand combat between the angler and the big fish at the other end of the line.
Fireworks, flags and fire starters
While parades and fireworks tend to steal the show on the Fourth of July, many Northwoods families are gearing up for an equally cherished tradition: a long holiday weekend at the campground.
Tribal spearing nets nearly 2,000 walleyes in Minocqua Chain
Walleye recruitment in the Minocqua Chain has been a source of concern for stakeholders for decades, bringing about a 10-year study of the chain that included zero-harvest limits for both state-licensed hook and line anglers as well as tribal spearers. The tribes, eager to see walleye populations in the chain come back as well, agreed to not declare any harvest from the lakes in the chain.
How to have a food safe Fourth
Fourth of July weekend means celebrating with friends and family. Those celebrations also mean having picnics and cook-outs. Nothing can ruin an Independence Day gathering more fully than a food-borne illness. It is easy to let foods sit out a little too long in less than ideal conditions while having a good time with others. This can include both hot and cold foods. Some food are what restaurant industry workers would call “potentially hazardous,” while others are not.
Fish Like a GIRL
People often ask where I am planning to go fishing when a holiday weekend is coming up. Honestly, we tend to stay off the water on holiday weekends. We leave Memorial Day, Labor Day and Fourth of July weekend to the people who may not get on the water as often.
Cool off at an area beach this weekend
A day at the beach can bring memories to treasure for years to come. Not only is swimming great exercise, but it is a great way to cool off, too. Exploring many of the lakes in the Northwoods is a great way for outdoor enthusiasts to spend a day. With swimming beaches dotted throughout the area, there is sure to be one that will become the family’s new favorite. Many have playgrounds, disc golf and even picnic areas where the family can enjoy lunch.
Oneida County Invasive Species ID Day answers questions for area residents
The staff from the Oneida County Land and Water Conservation Department celebrated Invasive Species Awareness Weekend by holding Invasive Species ID Day at the pollinator garden at the Oneida County Courthouse. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) coordinator Stephanie Boismenue said this was the opportunity for residents and even visitors to bring in specimens they had found in their lake or even on their shoreline.
A field guide users will be ‘lichen’
I recently came across the North Woods Naturalist Series of field guides. My first purchase was the “Dragonflies of the North Woods.” Let me say, for those who may not have seen my review of that book, that it is not of the “Northwoods” as we think of the term, but rather the woods of the north: northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and part of Ontario.
