2026 Incoming!
I’m ready to start the 2026 adventures! As the girls get older the adventures get bigger and I can’t wait to see what this year has in store. I think we’ve got some ice fishing on the horizon and I can’t wait. I’m really hoping that we get ice up north for more burbot and trout time. We’ve probably got a little bit of deer hunting coming up too. Some freezers still need to be filled and this is the optimal time to do it.
While it’s not a local event to me the Livingston County Farm Bureau Doe Derby is going on this weekend (January 3rd). Todd from Todd Elliott Farm Bureau insurance will be up there all day helping out. If your freezer is already full it is a great opportunity to donate some venison and a good charity event. The winner will also get a fishing trip with me in 2026. If you haven’t checked your insurance coverage in a while, now is a great time to go over your coverage with Todd. He’ll get you the right coverage and potentially save you some money.
I’ve got to look back on 2025 a little bit too. My wheels are turning and I’m building a little momentum. I don’t know how to put this but I’m trying to figure out what the next thing is for “Jeff Elliott Outdoors”. I feel like there is “something” I can do to make some gains but I don’t know what it is. This year I kept working and things kept building. Depending on the website category things were up 30-40 percent over last year and I am really trying to analyze that. I dabbled in some outdoor writing for others and got articles published in Michigan Out of Doors and Midwest Outdoors. For me that was really exciting especially to get some cool pictures of friends and family in Michigan Out of Doors. I think I will keep working towards some more articles.
One thing that’s coming is more video. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time or skills to edit stuff but I am going to make a better attempt at more video this year. It’s a challenge because I usually have an “active” role but I am going to try and be better about recording snippets I can share. Also, always a challenge because often times locations and techniques are best kept a secret.
I’d also really like to know what people who read these like to see? Drop me some feedback if you have a minute please. Maybe a little more cooking stuff is coming like back in the Reel n Smoke days? Utilizing all the different types of fish and game is really important to me and that is what we eat. More multispecies stuff is coming for sure. A big thing with that is it really appeals to a broader audience of people and it isn’t as secretive as bass fishing. I’m probably not putting out many local bass fishing reports but reports for other species with legit information is coming.
Then we’ve got tournaments coming. Trevor and I will be back on Monday’s and the D&R Sports trail. No surprises there and fishing these good local trails is just what’s working for me for the foreseeable future. We do have a Cadillac and Mitchell tournament coming up this year and I am excited for that. I think it will be a good one.
Show season is about to get going again and I’d imagine we will see a lot of you at the Novi or Grand Rapids shows. Looking forward to it!