Cart
0
Looking Back at 2025 and What’s Coming Next for Hook and Pine
As the year winds down, I’ve been spending more time outside thinking about everything this past season had to offer. From early morning hikes through quiet pine stands to long afternoons exploring hidden marsh edges for snakes and other herping finds, 2025 ended up being one of the most rewarding years I’ve had outdoors. I want to say thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you joined for the fishing tips, the nature videos on our Youtube Channel, the trail updates, or the wildlife encounters, your support truly shaped this channel and community.
This year gave me some incredible moments on the water. Casting into glass calm lakes at sunrise, feeling the first hit from a feeding largemouth, chasing river currents for walleyes, and spending warm summer evenings drifting along weed lines. Fishing always has a way of resetting the mind and reminding me why time outside matters. The outdoors has its own rhythm and its own way of grounding you, and sharing those moments with all of you has been one of the best parts of running Hook and Pine.
Herping added its own excitement. Flipping natural cover and finding snakes tucked under warm sandstone, walking sand barrens in the heat of the day, and filming wildlife encounters that highlight how alive our forests and prairies really are. Every new species and every successful search deepened my appreciation for conservation and the natural world. The response to the herping videos this year was amazing, and it pushed me to explore even more habitats across Wisconsin.
With winter settling in, the next chapter is already in motion. I’m gearing up for a ton of ice fishing content as soon as the lakes lock up. Expect early morning setups, hole hopping for panfish, tip-up action for pike, gear breakdowns, and real-time updates from the ice. Ice fishing has always been one of my favorite parts of living in the Upper Midwest and I’m excited to bring more of that raw, cold weather adventure to the channel. There’s something special about being outside in winter. The frozen lakes, the silence across the woods, the crunch of snow under your boots. It’s a whole different world and I can’t wait to share every moment of it.
One more thing I’m excited about is something many of you have asked for. We are working on a custom fleece that will be available early 2026. It will feature an embroidered lizard on the sleeve as a nod to the herping community and everyone who appreciates wildlife as much as I do. It’s turning out awesome and I think you’re going to love it.
Thank you again for an incredible 2025. Thank you for watching, commenting, sharing, and being part of this growing outdoor community. Here’s to more fishing, more adventures, more nature, more wildlife encounters, and a lot more time outside in the new year.
See you on the ice.
