Welcome to Otsego Lake, where anything’s possible anywhere

Posted on January 4th, 2019

Out See Go
By Chris Engle, contributor It was a normal, chilly morning on Otsego Lake Dec. 15 when a fish thumped the rod I’d been jigging. I was after walleye and this felt exactly like one, as the heavy, pulsing tugs bent my rod in a sharp arc. Fishing in only 4 feet of water at the north end of the lake, th…

Your Winter To-Do List

Posted on December 31st, 2018

By Christy Walcott I used to hibernate on the couch under a blanket all winter, but in recent years, I’ve had the yearning to get out and find a way to embrace this snow-covered landscape I call home. One of the biggest drawbacks to me has always been the fear of being COLD. Ick. No one like…

Five Really Cool Things To Do In Gaylord This Winter

Posted on December 17th, 2018

By Paul Beachnau So winter is here and your normal outdoor routine is shelved. It is cold and there is snow and you’re just not crazy about it. There are many of us crazy folks that LOVE winter. It is quiet, it is pretty and with the proper gear, you can stay warm and cozy! Don’t have a snow…

Bear Lake Nature Pathway: Welcome to beaver country!

Posted on November 30th, 2018

Out See Go
By Chris Engle, contributor There’s a lot to love about Big Bear Lake near Vienna Corners in eastern Otsego County. The beach is sandy and wide. Perch fishing from a boat is some of the best around. Just up the road, Big Bear Trading Post routinely has 8 flavors of soft-serve ice cream on…

Gaylord – The Inside Scoop

Posted on November 2nd, 2018

By Christy Walcott By now you think you’ve got this whole Gaylord thing down – the trails are exhilarating, each season is its own masterpiece and the friendly folks dress up in Swiss garb for one week each summer. While you may be a Gaylord expert at this point, we thought we’d tantalize t…

Top 5 Gaylord Souvenirs

Posted on October 26th, 2018

By Christy Walcott We all know memories are the greatest souvenir from any vacation. But what about the nifty gifties you surprise someone back home with? Or the special little embellishments you add to your home as a reminder of the place miles away but now near and dear to your heart?&n…

The second of three largemouth bass, caught on consecutive casts. Photo by Chris Engle

Fishing & exploring Waters’ overlooked camping hotspot

Posted on October 12th, 2018

Out See Go
By Chris Engle, contributor Otsego County’s southernmost state campground overlooks a small body of water seen by thousands of people every day but visited by almost no one. Lake Marjory is a juxtaposition of northwoods cabin life and the hub-bub of interstate travel, and floatin…

A German Shephard looks down the trail at Dead Man's Hill in the fall.

Top 5 Scenic Fall Vistas in the Gaylord Area

Posted on September 29th, 2018

By Christy Walcott As autumn approaches each year, you can’t help but feel excited when you see the first leaves melding from their usual green state to varying shades of red, orange and gold. It’s those peek-a-boo moments through the lush greenery and the sudden crisp air filling your lu…

Beating the banks for bushy tails

Posted on September 20th, 2018

Out See Go
By Chris Engle, contributor An acorn’s toss across the county line sits Shupac Lake, the northernmost state-forest campground in Crawford County and the place where we took one final summer camping trip for some hunting, fishing and paddling. For most of the campers there with boa…

Sending the kids to wander

Posted on August 31st, 2018

Out See Go
By Chris Engle, contributor “She may be growing up in Hawaii, but she’s got Michigan blood,” Chelsea laughed as we watched our 4-year-old niece charge through the hardwoods. The daughter of my brother and his wife, Konoha found herself in the middle of a sprawling oak f…