Wisconsin in the fall is magical. I was 8 the first time I visited. It was my first out-of-state fishing trip. My grandparents took me to Yellow Lake near Spooner. I’ve been in love with the Northwoods ever since. This past week reminded me why.
As the colors of fall foliage set in across the vast forests of maple, oak, and birch, brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold paint a mosaic across the landscape. Countless lakes are engulfed in the beauty, which clean, clear rivers dissect. Migrating flocks of geese announce their southern pilgrimage as their honking echoes through the sky.
Cool, crisp mornings welcome anglers chasing muskie, walleye, crappie, bass, and more. Hunters are busy pursuing deer, grouse, bears, and waterfowl. The abundance of outdoor opportunities in the fall makes Wisconsin a destination that captures the spirit of the outdoors. It’s easy to reach from anywhere in the Midwest and should be near the top when you make a list of places to visit this time of year.
The Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) was founded in 1956 and has since served as the Midwest’s most prominent professional network of outdoor communicators. Media members include writers, editors, publishers, broadcasters, photographers, and multimedia specialists. They are supported by corporate partners made up of tourism professionals, product manufacturers, and conservation organizations, each working to support the other in their efforts to encourage the masses to go outside and enjoy nature. I’ve been a member since 2008 and was president of the organization in 2017.
Each fall, AGLOW hosts a conference located somewhere in the Midwest. The 2025 conference was held September 21–25 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, at the Metropolis Resort. The agenda included seminars and panels on writing, photography, editing, and a big topic of discussion – Artificial Intelligence and its use in creative efforts. Best of all, participants were turned loose for a full day to experience outdoor excursions. Many went fishing and hunting, some target shooting took place, and others enjoyed hikes and boat rides. A fishing tournament on Lake Wissota showcased what an exceptional fishery Eau Claire has right on the edge of town.
Eau Claire is located in west-central Wisconsin at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers. With a population of about 70,000, it’s the largest city in northwestern Wisconsin. The city is home to the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, and it serves as a regional hub for culture, healthcare, and education. The region has a rich history in logging and industry but today is more recognized for the art and music scene, outdoor recreation, and tourism draw. For those looking to enjoy a mix of the outdoors and the amenities of a thriving city with a blend of small-town charm and urban appeal, Eau Claire is perfect.
I met Joel Nelson at the AGLOW Conference. He works for the digital mapping company, onX. He is working on spreading their new platform called onX Fish. Joel is a longtime fishing industry expert who has written for In-Fisherman, Outdoor News, and many more publications. When he asked if I wanted to hop in his beautiful new Lund boat and hit Lake Wissota for a morning, I couldn’t refuse. With a thermos of coffee in hand and a head full of dreams of finally landing a musky, Joel, myself, and prolific outdoor writer, Ken Perrotte of Virginia, set off through the rising fog.
The 6,300-acre reservoir was formed in 1917 by damming the Chippewa River to generate hydroelectric power. The lake has over 72 miles of shoreline and offers diverse fishing for walleye, muskie, northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and abundant panfish. We were throwing spinnerbaits and jerkbaits at the shore in an effort to catch whatever would bite. Again, my hope was a musky, but I had to settle for a very nice smallmouth bass pushing 20 inches. Ken caught a channel catfish on a crankbait that had to weigh 10 pounds. We thought he was fighting the new state record walleye until we saw the whiskers.
As always, the AGLOW conference was outstanding. Catching up with outdoor media industry peers once a year to learn, laugh, and fellowship is as educational as it is enjoyable. I made a few new great connections, caught up with acquaintances I hadn’t seen in a few years, and picked up a few new tricks for outdoor communication efforts. Leaving is never easy, but this time wasn’t so bad, because my Wisconsin trip wasn’t yet over.
As I headed south for the second half of my adventure, I stumbled upon the Norske Nook restaurant. Although I hadn’t heard the name or thought about the special little café in over 30 years, my grandfather’s voice appeared in my head as I could hear him plain as day talking about their pie. We stopped multiple times on our trips to northern Wisconsin and Minnesota as a kid. I stopped for lunch, and as I ate my fried smelt wrap followed by their blue-ribbon-winning banana cream pie, I could feel my grandma and grandpa sitting in the booth with me. I am so grateful for the investment they made in me when I was a boy. I’m sure their trips would have been easier if they’d left me at home, but they never did, as long as I wanted to go.
Now I’m sitting at Wildcat Mountain State Park in the Driftless Region of southwest Wisconsin. I caught two brown trout on a 4-weight fly rod this morning. A deer just walked through the park as I’m sitting here writing this at a picnic table. The area offers world-class spring-fed creeks winding through limestone valleys. The clear, cold waters sustain abundant populations of brown, brook, and rainbow trout. The Driftless is a trout angler’s paradise, blending the technical challenges of small water with breathtaking natural beauty. Many of the creeks are mere feet wide but usually teem with trout. Right now, they’re hungry for grasshoppers falling from the bank. I plan to spend the next few days offering them a few. Next week, I’ll let you know how it went.
See you down the trail…
For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.
