Introduction to the Blog: Mark Curtis Outdoors

Welcome to the blog! This first post is an introduction to the purpose of my new blog and a little about myself!

Who am I? My name is Mark Curtis Askelson. I am a native of Twin Valley, MN and currently reside down the road in Ada, where I work as the News Director for R & J Broadcasting, Inc and as the announcer at Norman County Raceway. I am 30 years old and am recently married to my wife Karen, who doesn't let me go fishing without her. I grew up in a family that has enjoyed the outdoors in one way, shape, or another for most of our lives. I love spending time on the local Wild Rice River and staring into the giant fish tank at Cabelas.

My family all together on the ice on Lake of the Woods. From left to right: Matt, myself, my dad, Mike, and my mom.

Why the blog? Well I'm not new to blogging. I have another blog where I write about racing. But over the handful of years I've gotten more and more involved with fishing and the outdoors in general. So because I enjoy writing, I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to write about my adventures. Whether it's catfishing on the Red River, hiking to my hot spot on the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, or just another day on ice on Little Detroit...every outing is different. It seems as if every trip I learn something new and I want to share my experiences with others. I wouldn't anticipate expert fishing or hunting tips, because I'm not an expert. I more so consider myself an enthusiast.

How often will I blog? Well that depends on how busy I am and if I've had any free time to go fishing. This blog is purely for fun and for me to venture back into the world of writing. I am not getting paid to write and I have no sponsors. I am always open to the possibility though. :)

What will I write about? Whatever neat little adventure I happen to be on. Some examples of things I intend to write about or may write about:
-Sucker fishing in the spring
-A weekend on the ice on Lake of the Woods
-Canoeing or kayaking down the river
-Testing out my new boat
-Taking part in some sort of fishing derby
-Hunting opener

And perhaps some opinion pieces and editorials. Maybe some feature pieces on local anglers and outdoor leaders. I will try my hardest to keep things upbeat and as fun as I possibly can.

Want to be a part of the blog? Well that's easy: Take me fishing. Or ask to tag along on one of my many adventures. I'm always open to trying new spots and different techniques and styles.

Thanks for reading the introduction and I hope to post my first actual blog sometime in the next week or so. Have a great day and go do something!