Warren Illi: Flathead Outdoors
See the latest column from Warren Illi here!
Fish management failures
Last week I drove to my cabin in the Thompson Chain of Lakes, planning to do some spring cabin chores and squeeze …
Recreation season turns toward fall activities
Like it or not, fall is here! Two weeks ago, the weekend before Labor Day weekend, we were at our cabin with our granddaughters. The lake water had cooled a little, but with afternoon temperatures in the 80s, it st…
As summer wanes, fall hunting season beckons
I love summer. I love fishing with my boat. I don’t know what is more challenging — catching fish or trying to understand my electronic fish-finder.
COLUMN: Boating - and boats - keep getting bigger and better
Wow, summer fun in the Flathead! During the last few days, the weather has been perfect for enjoying the hundreds of lakes and streams of Northwest Montana.
COLUMN: Non-native fish are the reality in Montana
Two weeks ago I wrote a column on the fine sport of fishing for northern pike. At least one reader strongly disagreed with my column. His letter to the editor blasted me from all sides. I suspect if that writer wer…
COLUMN: Pike fishing has some serious fans
It is Saturday and here I am slaving away writing a column for next Thursday’s paper. I am sitting on the deck of my cabin on Crystal and Lavon Lakes in the Thompson Chain of Lakes. It is about 70 degrees and sunny.
COLUMN: Release big fish to be caught again
Are you ready to catch a big fish? A more important question is what are you going to do with a really big fish when it is at the boat and ready to land? Are you going to keep the fish for a treasured wall mount, e…
COLUMN: There are plenty of reasons to go fishing
Why do people fish? With the abundance of lakes, rivers and creeks in Northwest Montana, I think it is a rare adult who has never fished.
COLUMN: Deer, antelope populations looking healthy
Here is some good news for hunters. Last week my wife and I had to make a quick trip back to Wisconsin to attend a funeral. On the way, I planned to stop at my farm near Malta to see how the farm had wintered. But …
COLUMN: Trapping opponents pursuing initiative again
For the third time in the last several years, animal-rights advocates, funded by mostly out-of-state money, are attempting to get public trapping banned on over 30 million acres of Montana public land. This effort …
COLUMN: It's time to indulge in some springtime fishing
Springtime in the Rockies! Wasn’t last weekend a dandy? Warm and sunny spring days made it impossible to stay inside. I had a ton of chores to do in my Kalispell yard, but I could not resist the call of my cabin an…
COLUMN: Elk lovers banding together for conservation
Hunting is Conservation!
COLUMN: New approach may be needed for bucket biology
Bucket biology. That term strikes fear into the heart of local fish managers.
COLUMN: Big hunting meeting coming up on Jan. 9
If you are a hunter, mark Jan. 9 on your 2016 calendar.
COLUMN: Ice tradition returns to Smith Lake Dec. 26
Northwest Montana citizens love to fish and love friendly sports competition, so it’s a natural to combine both of these loves into fishing contests.
COLUMN: Next 10 days the best time for hunters here
For hunters, the remaining 10 days is our dream season. Ten days of Super Bowl hunting!