Why do we consider some fish iconic and others aquatic refuse? In this series, we focus on American fishes not officially designated as “game fish.” These species, though native, get lumped into a category of “trash fish,” a distinction that’s more than just semantic. Game fish are managed differently by state and federal agencies. They get protection, research, money, and love. Trash fish don’t. We think that’s wrong.
Trash Fish...

In my earliest fishing photo, I’m two years old, stuffed in a baby blue snowsuit, shoveling Cheez-Its in my mouth on the floor of my dad’s ice shanty.
Some 30 winters later, I’m thinking of that same photo—of my genuine look of comfort and coziness—as I drill holes through Clearwater Lake, in western Maine, at six in the morning. It’s early February. My nose and cheeks burn in the frigid air. My frosty eyelashes stick briefly with each blink...

The pre-sunrise darkness condemned me to my truck. Bored and eager to fish, I picked up the only entertainment in my vicinity, a Wyoming fishing regulations pamphlet. I aimlessly thumbed through pages before stumbling onto a section titled “Underwater Spear Gun Fishing.” The coffee-stained paper read, “No person shall use an underwater spear gun to take game fish under water without obtaining a fishing license.” This one legalistic sentence would...

There’s a difference between book smart and bar smart. You may not be book smart, but this series can make you seem educated and interesting from a barstool. So, belly up, pour yourself a glass of something good, and take notes as we look at how friendly ice fishermen foiled an elaborate drug-moving operation.
It’s estimated that over 100 million people will watch the Super Bowl this weekend, making it the most viewed live event of the year. With...

Myths, lies and old wives’ tales loom large in the outdoor pursuits. Here at MeatEater, we’re dedicated to separating facts from bullsh*t, so we created this series to examine suspect yarns. If there’s a belief, rumor, or long-held assumption you’d like us to fact check, drop us a note at factchecker@themeateater.com.
Claim
You lose half of your body heat through your head, making it the most important part of your body to cover in frigid...

Mike Johnson, an avid angler from Crystal, Minnesota, has quite the fisherman’s tale to share this winter. Unlike most yarns that anglers spin, though, he has photos to back it up.
Johnson was ice fishing Mille Lacs last week when he hooked into a 40-inch pike on a rattle reel with a 3-inch sucker. After a quick picture, he slid the big female back into the hole and watched her swim off.

One week later and 100 feet away, he set the hook on...