Quickfire Outdoor Interview: The Four Season Angler

Name or Online Code Name: The Four Season Angler, aka- Ed Schmitt

Blog URL: The Four Season Angler

1) Outdoor Activity of choice? Of choice? That’s easy, I’d choose fishing every time, regardless of weather, season, or conditions.

2) Outdoor Mornings. Up at 5 a.m.? 6…7…8…9…Or when the sun heats up the tent and you can’t take it anymore? Outdoor mornings start the night before because usually I can’t fall asleep before a planned outing. If I do fall asleep, I am up in time to be out on the water to watch the sun come up, especially on Lake Michigan… I never get tired of watching that transformation from grey to orange to blue over the big lake.

Lake Michigan Sunrise

3) Snicker Bar or Granola Bar on the trail? I don’t do a lot of hiking anymore, but when I did it was always granola. Nature Valley cinnamon to be exact.

4) Your Birthday is coming. What outdoor (dream) present should we all chip in to buy you this year? As far as outdoor items, I have everything I need. What would really make my birthday special though would be for all of you who wish to give something, to take a currently serving or veteran of the armed services into the outdoors with you. Take a minute to say Thanks, spend a little time with them, and enjoy the outdoors together. If just one of you OBN bloggers would do that, it would make my whole year.

5) Seven days in the Alaskan Wilderness or Seven days on a Tropical Beach? That is really tough, it really depends on what season we’re talking about… Are the salmon running up the Kenai? Are the Yellowfin Tuna within range of the local Charter fleet? Do I have time to lose those extra thirty pounds I packed on over the holiday so I look good in my mankini?

6) What kind of Outdoor Store would you own? If I could own my own storefront, I would own a rod-building shop with a staff guide service and a kids/veterans/disabled fishing clinics and expeditions program.

7) Finish this sentence: When I was a little kid, I loved to go outside and… get into trouble. Sometimes it was as simple as floating the neighbor’s cat down the creek on a barge made of lashed milk jugs, and other times it was as complicated as trying to find the cat when the barge sank 2 miles downstream.

Travis Walleye Pic

8 ) Do you have an Outdoor related item that is priceless to you? What is it and why? I would say that the most valuable item for me to have in the outdoors is my waterproof/shockproof digital camera. Being able to capture moments and experiences like this pose I caught resident blogger Travis Brasfield in is priceless.

9) Fill in the blank. When I head outdoors I need to have_________________with me? -my sense of adventure- I could list a dozen things I always try to bring with me but they all would be useless with a sense of adventure. If I’m not mentally prepared to expect the unexpected and to cherish every moment, it’s not even worth going out.

10) What’s the story behind your blog name? Originally, my blog was started as an outlet for myself being an avid fisherman of all four seasons to chronicle my experiences on the water, in the water, on the ice, and in the outdoors. I found it was a great way to improve my writing skills and share what I see and do with others. After a short period of time I approached other writers/bloggers from the Chicagoland area and asked if they were interested in doing the same. I felt it was a great way for them to get their voice heard, and also to help them improve as writers themselves.

Soon The Four Season Angler grew into The Four Season Angler’s Writers Network. Now FSA has a resident blogger staff of 6 outdoor writers including myself, and 1 blogger who is our resident beer aficionado. In its first year, the writers network had several of its authors published in local, regional, and national publications. This year we hope to expand our audience even further, and so far we are on track to accomplish that task and it’s only February.

Courage Level Question: It’s You and a Grizzly Bear face to face on the trail. Knowing yourself, will you 1) Hold your ground and see who blinks first 2) throw your gear at the Grizzly and run for your life or 3) faint on the spot?

I’ve been face to face with a large Black Bear before. I was just inside his comfort zone while he snacked on a pile of fish carcasses. Let me tell you, that was as close to a Depends undergarment moment as I’ve ever had. Fortunately for me, the cabin was close enough for me to sprint back to before the bear could make a move, but those few paralyzing seconds were torture. So, to answer your question; I would absolutely run away like a little girl.