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Tackle upkeep while shut in

Many chores on my to-do list rank higher than pushing snow and chipping ice, but I won’t bore you with any of the 100 or so options ahead of shoveling. Instead, I will jump right to the top of the list: fiddling with my tackle. Winter’s grip is firm and long-lasting, so for those of us who shy away from ice-fishing, our choices of outdoor recreation are pretty slim this weekend. Just when cabin fever is about to claim me, however, I am able to stave it off by investing a few hours in cleaning, sorting and improving my lures, rods and reels. Cleaning and sorting are easy to ...

HINER: Browns’ circus search results in Monken

The Cleveland Browns’ coaching search is complete. The Browns decided to opt for former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and the choice was expectedly tumultuous. Monken, who turns 60 in February, will replace coach Kevin Stefanski, who coached the team for six seasons and made the playoffs twice. For some, anyone was better than Stefanski. Others, including myself, saw the Browns’ problems as more of a reflection of the front office and the scouting department. But once Stefanski was fired, the goal was simple: find a better option to wear the ...

Learning to adjust to highs and lows

Fishing, as with many other pastimes, is subject to the shifting tide of feast and famine. My fishing days often transpire across slow times where bites are non-existent and then transition to fast action with back-to-back-to-back catches that turn disappointing trips to memorable successes. Like many anglers, I have experienced great swings in action from Lake Erie to the Ohio River and in several other regions across the U.S. Our fishing days can play out like the baseball team that can’t muster a run during the first eight innings of a game and then break it wide open with a ...

Remembering the Hibdons’ contributions to bass fishing

The bass fishing world this week lost a popular pro angler who was influential in the popularization of modern techniques. Dion Hibdon, son of a famous Lake of the Ozarks clan of anglers, passed away at age 58 earlier this week, leaving behind another generation of Hibdons to carry on the tradition of fishing excellence. Hibdon and his father, Guido, each won the Bassmaster Classic and Forrest Wood Cup, both considered world championship bass tournaments. They also earned numerous titles in all of the major professional circuits. The father and son also are credited with ...

Two new must-have books for area anglers

The twitchy weather pattern over the next few weeks is a reminder that January is not the best month for fishing and a cue that the extra hours of free time can be wisely invested in reading about our favorite sport. Good books can be a friend and advisor, reliable tour guide and entertaining tale spinner for readers who take time to absorb the words on their pages. There is never a bad time to read a book, but for sure January is prime time for catching up on our reading. Anglers looking for a bridge to the 2026 fishing season can span the time by reading two books that recently ...

Lake Erie retains status as top fishing destination

The future of the fish responsible for Lake Erie’s claim to world-class supremacy is looking good as we begin the new year. Year-end headlines from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife announced last year’s walleye hatch was the sixth largest of the past 38 years. That is great news for Lake Erie’s walleye population and the corps of anglers who invest their spring, summer and autumn fishing time on the big lake. Ohio’s Division of Wildlife uses trawl surveys to gauge spawning success and survival rates. The 2025 surveys were exceptional. “The ...