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We can all agree that our world has taken a turn towards living part of our lives, online. Many people are tasked with watching over their children as they explore the world online and promoting a safe and smart experience. Two-thirds of children that experience mental health problems report that they have recently experienced cyber bullying. Read more on 3 tips to prevent cyberbullying in your home!

The post 3 Tips to Practice for Internet Safety appeared first on The Bobber.

Let’s be real here, we do love our great state of Wisconsin and we know you do too! Being comfortable in your own home by making smart energy efficient decisions will not only give you peace of mind on cost savings but will help keep our state around, and healthy!, for as long as possible. Together, let’s stay green this summer (and all year long to boot) by doing our part to reduce our energy usage which in return will save money to help explore more of Wisconsin! Let’s dive right into three tips for AC maintenance to help you save while staying cool all summer long thanks to our friends at Focus on Energy!

The post How You Can Help Keep Wisconsin ‘Green’ This Summer appeared first on The Bobber.

We are lucky to have an abundance of gorgeous small towns throughout the state of Wisconsin. From the lakes that we use for fishing and swimming, to exploring culture and art through the many downtowns, Wisconsin is home to so many amazing places to visit! Each time of year brings out the best in many different locations but here we are diving into the top 3 small towns that you are going to want to visit before the summer is over!

The post 3 Small Wisconsin Towns You Need to Visit appeared first on The Bobber.

Why head to Florida when the beaches will be packed and the sun feels like a sauna? Instead, look for hidden gems and places that are off the beaten path. If you’re RVing or traveling by car, check out Wisconsin’s Great River Road or head up to Lake Superior. And above all, stay safe. If you haven’t been on the road in a while (or even if you have) here are some things to keep in mind.

The post Summer Safety Tips for Travelers appeared first on The Bobber.

From an iconic Friday (& Tuesday) night fish fry, to the jaw dropping views of the Cisco Chain, you can be sure to find a fun weekend getaway at Bent’s Camp Resort in Land O’ Lakes! With 125 years of deep history in the Northwoods, find out 3 ways to maximize your enjoyable stay while visiting Bent’s Camp.

The post A Northwoods Retreat: Bent’s Camp appeared first on The Bobber.

Here’s a warm welcome to Discover Wisconsin’s new official hotel chain: Cobblestone Hotels! Cobblestone Hotels opened its first property in January 2008 in the small town of Clintonville, Wisconsin. Over the past 13 years, it has expanded to more than 160 locations across 27 states. Crazy, huh? Let’s explore the strong Wisconsin roots of this now national chain and why they love to deliver big city quality with small town values.

The post Introducing Cobblestone Hotels: Discover Wisconsin’s Official Hotel Chain appeared first on The Bobber.

Summer has officially begun and Antigo is calling your name! Right in the heart of Wisconsin, you can find family and fun. From a little hometown diner to outdoor explorations, get ready to plan for your adventure while visiting Langlade County, aka the county of trails, this summer.

The post Plan Your Summer Vacation to Antigo appeared first on The Bobber.

The warmer weather has finally set in and so has the ability to dine outdoors! This summer, instead of dining in or eating in your car, plan a trip to the park or the lake and enjoy your meal with the beautiful nature filled views. As most people know, using a cell phone while driving is dangerous. But most don’t know the lesser known truth which is that there is a 39% increased likelihood of an accident while eating or drinking (any beverage!) and driving. Instead, stay safe this summer and try one of these three spots that you can head to enjoy your meal or a tasty treat in a peaceful way!

The post 3 Ideas for Outdoor Dining While On the Go appeared first on The Bobber.

Summer is right around the corner and, oh boy, does Oshkosh have the fun planned for you! From enjoying the waters by boat, to indulging in a delectable meal, to visiting one of Oshkosh’s largest parks, or enjoying yourself at one of their signature events, there is really something for everyone while stopping in! Let’s dive into the top ten reasons why we love Oshkosh!

The post 10 Reasons We Love Oshkosh appeared first on The Bobber.

Are you ready to plan your trip to the Northwoods this summer? At Wild Eagle Lodge in Eagle River, you can not only stay for a relaxing weekend, but you can experience a true Northwoods getaway. From kayaking the glistening waters, to biking the luscious green trails, or hiking the Chequamegon and Nicolet National Forest, Wild Eagle Lodge is your one-stop for a summer getaway destination!

The post Your Northwoods Summer Getaway Starts Here appeared first on The Bobber.

A Wisconsin Peony Farm I’ve been searching for a Wisconsin peony farm for awhile now and I finally found one! Surrounded by beautiful rolling farmland, Oh My Peonies is one of the most picturesque Wisconsin flower fields I’ve ever seen. Oh My Peonies W12925 Mielke Rd, Marion, WI 54950 Pink, white, and purple peonies stretch […]

The post A Wisconsin Peony Farm appeared first on Miss Northerner.

A Nature-Filled Weekend in Marquette County Wisconsin This post is sponsored by Marquette County and Travel Wisconsin. All words and images are my own. Located in southcentral Wisconsin, Marquette County is made up of gently-rolling hills, small town charm, and a plethora of rivers and lakes. We recently spent a couple of days down in […]

The post A Nature-Filled Weekend in Marquette County Wisconsin appeared first on Miss Northerner.

Northwest Wisconsin Waterfall Tour Last spring, we went on a day-long “waterfall tour” in northwest Wisconsin. The route I created ended up being about 75 miles long and brought us to seven different waterfalls (Gile Falls, Upson Falls, Copper + Brownstone Falls, Potato River Falls, Superior Falls, and Interstate Falls). I really enjoyed this day […]

The post Northwest Wisconsin Waterfall Tour appeared first on Miss Northerner.

6 Tiny Houses in Wisconsin You Can Rent on Airbnb 1. Tiny On The River Location: Black River Falls, WI Avg. Rate: $137/night “Exquisite Wisconsin design and craftsmanship is on display in cedar trim, cherry cabinets, oak floors and tons of high-end accoutrements like marble countertops, heated floors, fireplace, a heavenly bed, and more.”  Photo […]

The post 6 Tiny Houses in Wisconsin You Can Rent on Airbnb appeared first on Miss Northerner.

A Different Side of Wisconsin Dells Our trip was sponsored by Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau. All opinions are my own. Wisconsin Dells is known as the “Waterpark Capital of the World” but there’s another side to this popular Wisconsin destination that you may not realize… A quieter, more relaxing side; filled with cabin […]

The post A Different Side of Wisconsin Dells appeared first on Miss Northerner.

Log Slide Overlook in Grand Marais, Michigan In mid-October, my two brothers and I went on a trip up to Grand Marais, Michigan to do some exploring and to see the Grand Sable Sand Dunes. None of us had ever been to this area of the UP before so we were excited to see some […]

The post Log Slide Overlook in Grand Marais, Michigan appeared first on Miss Northerner.

There are so many awesome things I love about Kwik Trip - their coffee, their Glazer donuts, how clean their stores always are, the staff friendliness... I could write a mile-long list! But for today's blog post, I wanted to highlight five in particular!

The post Five of My Favorite Things About Kwik Trip appeared first on Miss Northerner.

This is one of my favorite tricks that you can do in the winter. Each season, there are typically only a few days when this is possible. So if the conditions are right, make sure to take advantage of it!

The post How to Turn Boiling Water into Snow appeared first on Miss Northerner.

A Northwoods-Inspired Lands’ End Gift Guide This post is sponsored by Lands’ End. You can use code: NORTHERNER for 50% off at landsend.com until 12/15/2020! It’s been a rather unusual start to the winter this year. October felt like January, November felt like September, and so far, December has been dry as a bone! However, […]

The post A Northwoods-Inspired Lands’ End Gift Guide appeared first on Miss Northerner.

Holiday-Themed Kwik Trip Breakfast Board *I’m one of Kwik Trip’s 2020 brand ambassadors. Read my other KT blog post here! I’ve been getting in the holiday spirit lately – I’m starting to decorate our tree, I’ve been playing some Christmas music, and I created this holiday-themed Kwik Trip breakfast board! I had so much fun […]

The post Holiday-Themed Kwik Trip Breakfast Board appeared first on Miss Northerner.

Until recently, there was only one smartphone on the market equipped with an under-screen camera: last year's ZTE Axon 20 5G. Other players such as Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi had also been testing this futuristic tech, but given the subpar image quality back then, it's no wonder that phone makers largely stuck with punch-hole cameras for selfies.

Despite much criticism of its first under-screen camera, ZTE worked what it claims to be an improved version into its new Axon 30 5G, which launched in China last week. Coincidentally, today Oppo unveiled its third-gen under-screen camera which, based on a sample shot it provided, appears to be surprisingly promising — no noticeable haziness nor glare. But that was just one photo, of course, so I'll obviously reserve my final judgement until I get to play with one. Even so, the AI tricks and display circuitry that made this possible are intriguing.

Oppo

In a nutshell, nothing has changed in terms of how the under-screen camera sees through the screen. Its performance is limited by how much light can travel through the gaps between each OLED pixel. Therefore, AI compensation is still a must. For its latest under-screen camera, Oppo says it trained its own AI engine "using tens of thousands of photos" in order to achieve more accurate corrections on diffraction, white balance and HDR. Hence the surprisingly natural-looking sample shot.

Oppo

Another noteworthy improvement here lies within the display panel's consistency. The earlier designs chose to lower the pixel density in the area above the camera, in order to let sufficient light into the sensor. This resulted in a noticeable patch above the camera, which would have been a major turn-off when you watched videos or read fine text on that screen.

But now, Oppo — or the display panel maker, which could be Samsung — figured out a way to boost light transmittance by slightly shrinking each pixel's geometry above the camera. In order words, we get to keep the same 400-ppi pixel density as the rest of the screen, thus creating a more consistent look.

Oppo

Oppo added that this is further enhanced by a transparent wiring material, as well as a one-to-one pixel-circuit-to-pixel architecture (instead of two-to-one like before) in the screen area above the camera. The latter promises more precise image control and greater sharpness, with the bonus being a 50-percent longer panel lifespan due to better burn-in prevention.

Oppo didn't say when or if consumers will get to use its next-gen under-screen camera, but given the timing, I wouldn't be surprised if this turns out to be the same solution on the ZTE Axon 30 5G. In any case, it would be nice if the industry eventually agreed to dump punch-hole cameras in favor of invisible ones.

Diablo Immortal may be a game for tiny screens, but that doesn't mean it's a small feat of development. For precisely this reason, Activision Blizzard has delayed the release of Diablo Immortal to early 2022. 

The action RPG was originally supposed to hit iOS and Android devices this year, but developers need more time to fine-tune PvP content, improve PvE experiences and implement additional accessibility options, according to Blizzard. Here's how developers put it in their blog post:

Following feedback provided by test participants of the Closed Alpha, our team has been tuning core and endgame features. For example, we’re iterating on PvP content like the Cycle of Strife to make it more accessible, alongside late-game PvE content like the Helliquary to make it more engaging. We’re also working to provide controller support for those who want to play our game in a different way. However, these changes and additional opportunities to improve our gameplay experience will not be realized in the 2021 timeframe we had previously communicated. So, the game is now planned for release in the first half of 2022, which will allow us to add substantial improvements to the whole game.

Blizzard goes on to describe specific features it'll focus on, such as adding PvE Raids, adjusting Bounties and making Challenge Rifts more exciting. In terms of PvP adjustments, Blizzard will work on improving matchmaking, earning rankings, class balance, time to kill and other elements of the Battleground system, plus it'll spit-shine the Cycle of Strife endgame content. All of this joins a raft of changes to progression and XP caps.

It seems developers are still in the early stages when it comes to getting Diablo Immortal to play nice with gamepads.

"We're still working through the challenges of adapting the touch screen controls to a controller seamlessly," the blog reads. "Making our game more accessible is top of mind, and we’ll share more progress on this front as we approach the beta in the future."

Blizzard has other things on its plate right now, too. Activision Blizzard is facing a sexual harassment and gender discrimination lawsuit from the state of California, and Blizzard president J. Allen Brack left the company today amid allegations that he overlooked abuse in the workplace for years. Blizzard's head of HR, Jesse Meschuk, also left the studio this week. A second lawsuit was filed by shareholders today, claiming Activision Blizzard failed to disclose potential regulatory issues related to the company's discriminatory, frat-house-style culture.

WhatsApp is adding disappearing photo messages to its app. Called “view once” photos, the new feature allows users to send photos and videos in chats that can only be viewed a single time before disappearing.

The Snapchat-like feature is similar to Instagram and Messenger’s disappearing photo features. When snapping a picture in WhatsApp, users can select the timer icon to set the photo to “view once.” Unlike regular photo or video messages, the “view once” images won’t preview in the chat and can’t be downloaded to your device.

Facebook is billing the feature as one for “private moments” or for sending potentially sensitive information like Wi-Fi passwords. As always, people should be wary of just how “private” these kinds of messages really are. In a help article, the company notes that the recipient can still take a screenshot or record their screen while opening a “view once” photo and, unlike Snapchat, WhatsApp won’t let the sender know when a screenshot has been taken. The company also points out that “view once” photos that are reported will be made visible to WhatsApp.

A harassment and discrimination lawsuit from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) isn’t the only legal battle Activision Blizzard has to worry about anymore. Ahead of the company’s Q2 earnings call on Tuesday, a firm called Rosen Law filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of investors who traded in Activision Blizzard securities between August 4th, 2016 and July 27th, 2021.

The firm, the same one that’s behind a similar lawsuit against CD Projekt RED over the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077, accuses Activision Blizzard of intentionally failing to disclose its ongoing problems with sexual harassment and discrimination. In doing so, Rosen Law alleges the company put itself at greater risk of regulatory legal scrutiny and enforcement. The suit names Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, as well as several other executives, as defendants and seeks to recover damages for investors under federal securities laws.

The suit comes on the same day the company announced J. Allen Brack was “stepping down” from his role as president of Blizzard Entertainment. In its lawsuit, the State of California accuses Brack of taking “no effective remedial measures” to curb the “bro culture” that enabled individuals like Alex Afrasiabi to harass the company’s female employees. Taking his place are Jen Oneal and former Xbox executive Mike Ybarra, who will oversee the studio as co-leaders.

With the start of a new school year quickly approaching, Apple is once again expanding the availability of its contactless student IDs. Following an initial rollout in 2018 and subsequent expansions since, the software is making its way to Canada for the first time.

In 2021, the University of New Brunswick and Sheridan College outside of Toronto will allow students to add their ID cards to Apple Wallet and use their iPhones and Apple Watches to access facilities and pay for food and other items and services across campus. In the US, “many more” schools, including Auburn University, Northern Arizona University, University of Maine and New Mexico State University, will adopt the software this fall.

It will likely take many more years before every school offers digital student ID cards, but the technology is clearly becoming more ubiquitous. In April, Apple said it saw more students use their mobile IDs to make purchases and access campus facilities than their plastic counterparts for the first time since it launched the software. In the fall, the University of Alabama, one of the early adopters of the tech, will exclusively issue mobile IDs to students with the necessary hardware, marking a first for the platform.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many film festivals have shifted to online-only or hybrid formats. Later this month, another movie will premiere as a paid online event. This time around, you'll be able to watch it on Facebook.

Users in any country where Facebook's paid online events are available (which now number more than 100) can watch the premiere of The Outsider, a behind-the-scenes documentary about the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City. A virtual ticket costs $4, and the film will debut on August 19th at 8PM ET. It'll be available for 12 hours.

As Axios reports, a Facebook Live panel discussion will follow the premiere of The Outsider. The doc will hit select theaters and other streaming platforms in September.

Facebook will run some promos for the event, which is being run by distributor Abramorama, but it won't take a cut of ticket sales. The company is waiving commissions on creators' revenue through 2022.

The film has already caused controversy. Officials at the museum asked the filmmakers to cut 18 "defamatory" scenes from The Outsider, but directors Pamela Yoder and Steven Rosenbaum said they wouldn't back down. Michael Shulan, the museum's former creative director and a central figure in the film, reportedly claims in the movie that the museum represents the “Disneyfication” of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Film distribution is a tough nut to crack for indie studios and filmmakers, especially when they try to release movies in a number of markets. Much like others have had success in hosting online classes or livestreaming gameplay on Facebook, they could harness the platform's enormous reach to find an audience.

It remains to be seen whether other filmmakers and distributors premiere their movies on Facebook. Still, with the company having its fingers in an ever-increasing number of pies, it's not hard to imagine Facebook being interested in hosting similar events in the future.

When Inspiration4, SpaceX’s first all-civilian flight, takes off next month, Netflix will chronicle the historic mission with a documentary series. Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space will stream in five parts, with the first two episodes debuting on September 6th. In that way, it will be the first docuseries from the streaming giant to chronicle an event in near real-time.

Early episodes will detail, among other things, the astronaut training Inspiration4 commander Jared Isaacman and his crewmates had to undertake ahead of the flight. Meanwhile, the final feature-length episode will recount the mission’s flight to space and eventual return to Earth and include footage from inside the Crew Dragon spacecraft. The finale doesn’t have a release date yet, but Netflix expects to start streaming it sometime in late September.

The production involves parts of the team behind ESPN’s The Last Dance Michael Jordan documentary, including director Jason Hehir. Alongside the series, Netflix will release A StoryBots Space Adventure, a hybrid live-action and animation special that will feature the Inspiration4 crew answering questions from kids about their flight. The special will debut on September 14th, one day before the Inspiration4 mission is scheduled to lift off.

Facebook is reportedly looking into analyzing the content of encrypted data without having to decrypt it. The company is recruiting artificial intelligence researchers to study the matter, according to The Information. Their research could pave the way for Facebook to target ads based on encrypted WhatsApp messages. Facebook could also use the findings to encrypt user data without affecting its ad targeting approaches.

This area of research is called "homomorphic encryption," which relies heavily on mathematics. Microsoft, Amazon and Google are also working on the approach. The aim of homomorphic encryption is to allow companies to read and analyze data while keeping it encrypted to protect information from cybersecurity dangers and to maintain privacy.

Facebook told The Information it's "too early for us to consider homomorphic encryption for WhatsApp at this time." Facebook could benefit from the tech in a number of ways. Protecting data without impacting the effectiveness of ad targeting could allow Facebook to both meet its business goals and satisfy regulators who have expressed concern about how the company handles user information. Facebook could be years away from harnessing homomorphic encryption, however.

In 2019, Facebook revealed plans to roll out end-to-end encryption across all of its messaging services: Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. Later that year, the US, UK and Australia sent a joint letter to Facebook, urging it not to push forward with the project "without ensuring there will be no reduction in the safety of Facebook users and others, and without providing law enforcement court-authorized access to the content of communications to protect the public, particularly child users." However you slice it, encryption is a thorny issue for Facebook, whether or not it's able to analyze the data.

Nestled in President Biden’s sprawling 2,702-page Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a provision that could one day require vehicles sold in the US to come with a feature that detects when someone gets behind the wheel of their car drunk. First spotted by Reuters, the clause orders the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to study the feasibility of various alcohol-detection systems and establish a final set of rules within three years. After that period, automakers would have 24 months to comply with the new regulation.

The provision doesn’t lay out the exact technologies NHTSA should explore other than to say the final product should “passively monitor” a driver to “accurately identify” whether they can drive their car safely. If the agency doesn’t finalize a set of rules within 10 years, it will have to detail the hurdles it encountered in a report to Congress.

An anti-drunk driving technology isn’t the only new safety feature the bill could require automakers to implement in their vehicles. Per Bloomberg, other parts of the legislation would mandate automatic emergency braking, the inclusion of crash avoidance systems in new cars and alerts that would remind drivers to check the back seats of their vehicle after exiting it. That last feature would ideally help prevent parents from leaving their kids in a car on a hot day.

The push to use technology to address drunk driving isn’t surprising. According to a 2020 report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, cars with built-in alcohol-detection systems could save as many as 9,000 lives in the US every year. Over the past decade, drunk driving played a part in 30 percent of all roadway deaths.

Boeing will have to wait yet again to prove the worth of its Starliner spacecraft. The company and NASA had planned to launch the capsule on Tuesday on top of an Atlas V rocket at 1:20PM ET, but that's not happening anymore. 

"We're standing down from today's #Starliner Orbital Flight Test-2 launch," Boeing said on Twitter. The company attributed the delay to "unexpected valve position indications in the propulsion system" engineers spotted during pre-launch preparations. It's currently unclear if the issue is related to Starliner or the Atlas V rocket that was supposed to carry the vessel to space. Boeing and NASA said they will provide an update on the situation on Wednesday, August 4th.     

“We’re disappointed with today’s outcome and the need to reschedule our Starliner launch,” John Vollmer, vice president and program manager for Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, said. “Human spaceflight is a complex, precise and unforgiving endeavor, and Boeing and NASA teams will take the time they need to ensure the safety and integrity of the spacecraft and the achievement of our mission objectives.”

After its first test flight went awry, Starliner was supposed to return to space on July 30th. However, NASA delayed the flight after the new Russian ISS Nauka module unexpectedly fired its thrusters, tiling the station outside of its typical orientation.

Everyone,

First off: Reminder, The Okauchee Tie up is this weekend. You might want to find another location for fishing this weekend.

Second: Apologies for being slow around here...I simply haven't been fishing (around the area) as much as normal. Between the heat and teaching summer school, it has been a busy month. My fishing time has been primarily with my kids for panfish or up north.

Experience tells me as we move into August to look for fish in the usual summer places, but watch for them to have periods of time where they feed actively. The changes in the photocycle and the length of day will become evident to the fish, and you can expect to see activity levels peak and ebb during each day. If the hot, muggy weather is finally behind us, things are set to get great. Hopefully water levels will stabilize and we can get back to business.

I can say, with some direct knowledge that Bluegills are still holding in deeper water, and will continue to do so for a couple of weeks. Look for them to suspend along weedlines in 12-22 feet of water, or to suspend over deeper sand-grass about 14-18 feet down over 40-50 feet of water. Water levels are way down around the area, and some of the better spots for shallow panfish are dry or close to it. If you're looking for some action panfish for the kids, swim platforms or docks that have deeper water under them are your best bets. 

Largemouth will continue to come in using two primary patterns in the short term. On sunny days, you can find them around shallow docks, wood laydowns, slop and scattered weed clumps.  As the sun gets up, look for them to move tighter to overhead cover, but here will be periods of time during the day where their activity level will increase for a short spell. Be ready to switch tactics as they switch on and off, especially around transition areas and over flats where the topwater bite can really be fantastic until mid morning. Deeper fish will continue to use weed edges and points in 12-15 feet of water, or be suspended over deep water about 6-12 feet below the surface. Some fish are relating to rockbars in 5-12 feet of water. Tube baits and grubs are a great way to target these fish. Wacky rigging and flipping are great for shallow fish. Out deep...texas rig, swim jig or swim baits are your best options outside of live bait on a slip sinker rig.

Smallmouth are starting to move toward the early fall pattern of making 3-5 foraging moves each day. When you are contacting active fish in shallow water, the bite can be incredible. Topwaters, including size 9 or 11 rapalas, rattletraps/lipless cranks or poppers in natural patterns can get you started, but be ready to switch to tubes, wacky, skirted grubs or twister tails as the day progresses. When things are slower, look for them to be just off the first major break in deeper water. Crankbaits in white or chartreuse, spinners or live bait are better for the deeper fish.

Northern pike activity has been slow and steady all summer, and I wouldn't expect that to change. Smaller pike can almost always be found in shallow water around weed clumps and inside weededges adjacent to rock bars/shorelines. Spinners, buzzbaits, spoons, jerkbaits or lipless crankbaist are solid choices for action. Larger pike can be taken trolling cranbkaits or slowly backtrolling live bait along deeper weed edges, especially in 12-20 feet of water. Note that the edge that's usually in 15-18 FOW is closer to 12' on many lakes this season.

Musky reports have slowed down over the past couple of weeks, but I suspect that has as much to do with the weather as anything. For the next run, start to look for them along visible weed breaks as well as over sumberged weedy flats in 8-12 feet of water. This is the early run, and you should look for some  topwater or large bucktail action, or in deeper water suspended around baitfish which is perfect for a trolling bite. Action will pick up considerably in the weeks ahead.


Good Luck and Cheers.
CT

 Hey gang,

 Hey gang,

 It is the annual Free Fishing Weekend, around the state. Here's an update on the last week.

 Hey gang, 

As we approach the holiday weekend and the traditional kick-off for summer boating season, you should be ready to adapt on the fly while out for the next couple of days. Overall, water temps are in the low 70's in mainlake areas and to low to mid 70's in the shallower protected areas. Current is at a minimum and after a stretch of sunny weather weed growth is about normal for this time of the season. A few Mayfly hatches have started.

 Conditions: Right now most lakes are in the low to mid 60's...but you may find some areas where the water is substantially warmer. Weed growth is still behind, but is starting to catch up. Water remains low on most lakes, and even after the rain we had this week, current flows are way down.

Hey gang,

The weather is finally stabilizing, and things are starting to happen. Should be a great week to 10 days on the water, but as things settle in, be ready to adapt on the fly. Fishing will be consistent day to day, but you may need to adapt to changing conditions by altering your presentations.

Water temperatures vary greatly between main lake areas (in the mid 50's) and protected bays (in the low to mid 60's) on most area lakes.Weed growth is way behind normal again this year, which means if you find some good weeds, fish them, especially if they are near a rock or sand transition...or on the end of mainlake points.

 Hey gang,

 Hey gang,

Musky Mikes announced this week they are no longer running the Tuesday Night Big Bass League, originally started by Musky Mike himself. The Tuesday Night tournament will continue, but will no longer be a league run by the baitshop. It's a big bass-jackpot format. It'll be run out of the Hideaway, and sign up/check ins will be at the dock.

Details below from the group's Facebook Site:

Tournament site . Hideaway Bar And Grill

Tournament time: 6pm - 9pm* (Tournament will end at 8:30pm later in the season due to low light conditions. )

Tournament entry.  Entries will be accepted the night of each tournament at the tournament site. 5pm till take off. Permit cap is 90 anglers.

First Tournament will be May 4th.

$20.00 entry fee per angler.

Top 3 big bass paid each regular season Tournament. 

Payout 

1st = 50% 2nd = 30% 3rd = 20%

Example Payout based on 50 entries. 

1st = $375.00 2nd = $225.00 3rd = $150.00

$5.00 per entry will be set aside for permit fees, end of season championship and top 3 big bass payout at the end of the regular season. (Permit fee is $25.00 per regular season tournament $50.00 for the end of the season championship. )

End of the season big bass payout. 

You can fish one Tournament or every one to win . You will however need to fish 3 tournaments to take all 3 spots.  End of season championship. September 11th. Time to be determined. 

Payout to be determined by participation throughout the season. 

You must fish at least 8 tournaments to qualify. Each qualifying angler will have the same amount of money invested. Angler investment will be based on 15 tournaments $75.00 total. 

Entry example.

10 tournaments fished= $50.00 invested

5 tournaments missed = $ 25.00 short. 

You would have to pay $25.00 to be eligible to fish. 

Rules

Local lake and all DNR rules apply. 

Any violation will result in disqualification. 

No passing in the channel after take off.

Weigh in your own fish. 

Have fun.

In other opener news: There was a great talk on the D&S Facebook Live Site last night on tips for the Madison Chain. Check it out Here 

D&S primary website is here: DSBait.com 

Closer to home, the friendly folks at Dick Smiths, in the happy barn have their opener report up:here

Don't forget your fishing regs: https://widnr.widen.net/s/xvldvfnblh/fishregselectronic2122

"We were all teaching ourselves, you know...flying by the seats of our pants and learning to do it as you were doing it," he said. "It was much different than it is now."

The post Featured Cheesemonger: Greg Upward appeared first on Fromagination.

George now manages that cheese production facility, which now employs about 45 employees. Crave Brothers employs nearly the same amount of people across the road at the milk production facility. He is still up every day at about 5:00 a.m.

The post Crave Brothers: Stay in the Groove appeared first on Fromagination.

So what truly excites Lehner now when it comes to making cheese is a particular source of all great cheese - milk - particularly raw cow milk from cows feeding on clean pasture grasses.
"When I can get really exceptional milk...I drop everything," Lehner said. "That inspires me."

The post Willi Lehner: It’s All About the Milk appeared first on Fromagination.

One thing that makes him an attentive cheesemonger is his attitude towards people who may not have as much to spend as an affluent, worldly traveler.

The post Featured Cheesemonger: Stuart Mammel appeared first on Fromagination.

Brenda Jensen lives in the rolling hills of western Wisconsin near Westby, where she, her husband, three employees, a dog and occasional visiting grandchildren share the landscape with 700 dairy sheep. Those “girls” – the ones who are not producing lambs or currently dry – are milked twice a day and that milk produces award-winning...

The post Brenda Jensen: A Passion for Sheep & Cheese appeared first on Fromagination.

Shannon Berry has been at Fromagination almost three years, now its Floor & Kitchen Manager.  She traveled to the West Coast, East Coast, and back to Wisconsin before becoming a cheesemonger, and settling into training other cheesemongers to showcase the Badger State’s most famous product. “I work here because I like food, I like people...

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This month’s featured cheese maker is Marieke Peterman of Holland’s Family Cheese, the business name for a very successful Wisconsin cheese brand and her namesake, Marieke Gouda. The busy staff and many visitors at the small complex she has established in Thorp, Wisconsin, 45 minutes east of Eau Claire, show the results of a very...

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Jeff is a Fromagination cheesemonger as well as purchasing and inventory manager. He has extensive background in farming, food and cheesemaking. He has deep knowledge and passion about all things cheese, meats and companions. After working for a cheese making company in Milwaukee, Jeff started working at Fromagination cutting cheese in the back of the...

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After the huge success of our Winter Cheese Classes, we have put together a brand new series of classes based around the theme of Spring.  Starting May 9th for 10 weeks, our new Spring Cheese Classes will take you on a culinary journey around the world, where you will learn all about the various cheese...

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Fromagination’s Matriarch Kristi is one of Fromagination’s most seasoned cheesemongers, and its matriarch. We sat down with her and asked her to tell us a little more about herself. How long have you worked at Fromagination? I have worked for Fromagination for a number of years, not since the inception but shortly thereafter. I have...

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