Nick Simonson

Minnesota, North Dakota, Bismarck

Freelance Outdoors Journalist at Freelance

Outdoors Media Specialist at Dakota Edge Outdoor

Host at Podcasts & Radio Shows from Dakota Edge Outdoors

Capturing the spirit of hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation in the upper Midwest since 2001!

Articles

Devils Lake Set for Good Angling in 2025

1 week ago | newsdakota.com | Ricky Klaverkamp |Nick Simonson

Classy. Anglers can expect a couple of good year classes to bolster walleyes in the 15-to-20-inch size range this summer, providing great action for keeper-sized fish on Devils Lake. Simonson Photo. By Nick SimonsonThe angling on Devils Lake will likely provide anglers with consistent action this spring as the ice recedes and the first runs of pike and walleyes make their way up into the shallows of the massive water.
Our Outdoors: Expectations & Reality

1 week ago | newsdakota.com | Ricky Klaverkamp |Nick Simonson

All In Your Head. Sometimes the idyllic way we picture new waters doesn’t live up to what we experience on them, but the preparation, exploration and challenges faced get us ready for the next adventure where things may just end up better. Simonson Photo.
Tying the Simple Scud

1 week ago | capjournal.com | Nick Simonson

A strong forage base is the foundation of a great fishery. Having a dynamic food web ensures little fish become big fish, and there’s one protein-packed element in many midwestern lakes and rivers that powers everything from perch to bass to walleyes and that is the scud.
Our Outdoors: Stalking Stockers

2 weeks ago | newsdakota.com | Ricky Klaverkamp |Nick Simonson

In Hand. Stocked brown trout, like this one from southwest Minnesota’s Redwood River, have provided a fun and welcome spring opportunity with unique challenges and enlightening lessons each spring.
Our Outdoors: Stalking Stockers

2 weeks ago | capjournal.com | Nick Simonson

In my early days of fishing, when I had started to make the jump from hook and bobber to other techniques, such as jigs and plastics for walleyes, tubes for bass, and even venturing into using the fly rod for panfish and trout, it was the latter species that seemed so mysterious and magnificent to me.
Tying the Smiley Slow Death Rig

2 weeks ago | willistonherald.com | Nick Simonson

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Tying the Simple Scud

2 weeks ago | sidneyherald.com | Nick Simonson

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Big Four in SEND Set for Good Fishing

3 weeks ago | willistonherald.com | Nick Simonson

After a mild winter with little concern for winterkill due to good ice conditions and limited snow cover, lakes in the southeastern portion of North Dakota are set for a solid spring and summer of openwater fishing.
Our Outdoors: Selective Thinking

3 weeks ago | newsdakota.com | Ricky Klaverkamp |Nick Simonson

Spring Selection. Targeting prespawn fish in spring allows anglers to consider the impact of their angling and make heightened selective harvest decisions pertaining to size of fish kept and numbers as well. As the openwater season progresses, environmental factors such as temperature and depth caught can also influence the personal guidelines of selective harvest. Simonson Photo. By Nick SimonsonThe season for big fish has arrived.
Our Outdoors: Selective Thinking

3 weeks ago | capjournal.com | Nick Simonson

The season for big fish has arrived. Whether it’s huge prespawn crappies on a Minnesota backwater, or those walleyes and pike making their migratory runs up a river in North Dakota or the channels of Devils Lake, spring presents the best chance to catch the fish of a lifetime. It also provides ample opportunity to get in on fast action as warm afternoons and increasing water temperatures trigger feeding instincts in all fish gorging to prepare for their reproductive rituals.