AFS Conference in St. Paul

Lindsey Bock, from Southern Illinois University Stops By Our Booth at the 2012

American Fisheries Society Conference in St. Paul, MN

Just back from the AFS conference in St. Paul-the world's greatest collection of fish scientists, where we were selling our new Fish Of The Northern Lakes 2013 Calendar.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by our little stand to say hi.  It was great meeting so many new fish people and seeing many old acquaintances again.  Especially encouraging was meeting so many of the young graduate students who are on their way to becoming our fish managers of tomorrow. They all seem to have youthful energy, dedication, passion, and they have some brilliant and fresh ideas about improving ways to best manage and protect our fisheries.  I can say without hesitation that the future is in capable hands.   

Smallmouth Bass Posing

It seems every time I get in a lake these days, I'm greeted enthusiastically by one or more smallmouth bass that follow me around where ever I go.  Smallmouth bass are without a doubt the most curious and social fish I encounter when I'm exploring lakes.  Divers will often report how the smallmouth will trail them around like puppies.  Probably, they're interested in the "little snacks" that are stirred up by a diver's "fin wash".  Some bass will even take live food, like crayfish right from your hand. 

One one lake I like to frequent, I'm met by the same bass on every visit.  (He's easily identified by some unusual scars and marks.)   Today I decided to take  a snapshot of us posing together.
  

Michigan Free-Diver and Underwater Photographer Chris Morey Joins the Team!

Walleye-Grand Traverse Bay, MI (c)Christopher Morey/Engbretson Underwater Photo

I'm really excited to announce the addition of Christopher Morey to our team of talented underwater photographers here at Engbretson Underwater Photography!  Chris is a skilled free-diver who can hold his breath for 4 minutes!  As you can imagine, this unique ability which represents decades of training can really come in handy when photographing fish.  Since Chris dives without scuba gear, he can silently approach fish without expelling noisy air bubbles which disturb and frighten them.  He's able to stay on the bottom motionless for long periods of time waiting for fish, or move silently among them and be accepted as if he's "one of the school".  Needless to say, this unique skill enables Chris to get some truly exceptional photos especially of fish that are ordinarily wary of divers. 

I'm thrilled to be representing the underwater photography of Christopher Morey which can be licensed for editorial and commercial purposes on my website.  You can view more of Chris's work in the Christopher Morey Gallery on my website.  Chris joins Paul Vecsei, Roger Peterson, Isaac Szabo and myself on the "dream team" here at Engbretson Underwater Photography.

Fish of the Northern Lakes 2013 Calendar

Cover of Fish of the Northern Lakes 2013 Calendar

Something I'm going to be talking about often in the next few months is my new Fish of the Northern Lakes 2013 Calendar.  Printed by Willow Creek Press, one of the nation's most prestigious calendar companies, this beautiful wall calendar (13" x 21" when fully open) features twelve of my favorite fish images taken underwater in the lakes of Wisconsin.  I'm so excited to be able to offer this calendar at such an affordable price to all the people who have expressed an interest of owning some of my photography.  The calendar sells for $14.99 (plus shipping) and is available now on Amazon.com.  Just click here to order from Amazon.com, or use the buy butom below to order directly from me.

Artificial Fish Habitat



A cluster of Fishiding structures 

David Ewald is the inventor of Fishiding.  Fishiding is artificial fish habitat made from unwanted vinyl material destined for landfills.  Fishiding manufactures a variety of structures of different sizes and for different purposes, from large fish-crib like structures for game fish to small "cradles" for fry and juvenile fish. 

David sent me a sampling of his products to test out and photograph.  The structures were placed in a nearby lake in early May, and one in shallow water was immediately appropriated by a largemouth bass who has since built a nest next to it, successfully spawned and is now guarding fry adjacent to the protection the structure provides.

As summer progresses I'll try to document the different fish that use Fishiding and observe how they relate to it.  To view more of my underwater images of Fishiding structures underwater, click here. 

Our Roster is Growing!

Longnose Gar-Buffalo River, Arkansas (c)Isaac Szabo/Engbretson Underwater Photography

Here at Engbretson Underwater Photography, we're quietly assembling what might be the greatest team of freshwater fish photographers in the country.  Our newest star to the team is Isaac Szabo from Arkansas.  Isaac takes exceptional underwater images from the many clear streams, rivers  and lakes of Arkansas and Missouri.  His photography of many of the colorful fish native to the Ozarks region is simply outstanding!  I'm really delighted to have Isaac on board as his images cover a unique niche and region in underwater photography.  You can see more of his images in the Isaac Szabo Gallery on my website.

Isaac joins Paul Vecsei, Roger Peterson and myself on the "dream team" here at Engbretson Underwater Photography.