Educated Angler is proud to announce that renowned outdoor writer/photgrapher, Mike Gnatkowski, has joined the EA Pro Staff as our Pro-Staffer At-Large.  Mike, also known as Gnat, is multi-talented and diverse...running Great Lakes charters on his 27' Tiara Open, EQUALIZER; guiding on West Michigan rivers in his Wooldridge jet sled; ice-fishing; duck hunting; taking award-winning photos; and writing articles and books.

Mike Gnatkowski has been a free-lance outdoor writer/photographer for more than 20 years. He was first published in Michigan Out-of-Doors in 1976. His feature articles and images have graced the covers and pages of hundreds of regional and national magazines and newspapers. Many of his award-winning photos have been honored by the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association as some of the best in their field.

The ideas and images of Mike's work are the result of his love for the outdoors. Duck hunting on Saginaw Bay, nightly fly fishing forays to the AuSable River and chasing pheasants in the fields surrounding Saginaw were boyhood rituals for him. This early exposure to the outdoors planted a seed that would later grow to inspire his educational and occupational vocations.

While attending Alma College, Mike discovered his love for the outdoors could be combined with his intrinsic writing and photography skills. Encouraged and aided by one of his professors, Mike designed a Program of Emphasis in Biological Journalism/Outdoor Writing that included classes as an intern at Michigan Out-of-Doors Magazine, studies of outdoor magazine markets, creative writing and submitting manuscripts and photographs to outdoor publications. Mike earned a B.A. in 1978 that included majors in Biology and English.

Upon graduation and a two year detour with Ford Motor Credit Company, Mike realized his real calling was in outdoor writing and photography, guiding, charter fishing and self-employment.  In March 1986, Mike consolidated his business endeavors to form Gnat's Enterprises, Inc. which incorporates three separate entities:

Mike Gnatkowski, Outdoor Writer/Photographer - Gnat's articles and photos have appeared in numerous outdoor publications including Ducks Unlimited, In-Fisherman, North American Fisherman, Great Lakes Angler, Wildfowl, Game & Fish Publications, and many others. Mike has been on the staff of Great Lakes Angler Magazine and has worked as a columnist for Michigan Out-of-Doors Magazine. He is an accomplished speaker on a variety of outdoor subjects and is available for lectures, field testing, and public relation assignments. Check out Mike's photographs and his latest cookbook,  "Wild Game Simple" on his website: www.gnatoutdoors.com

Gnat's Charter Service - Fishing out of Ludington, Michigan's number one port, Mike operates a Tiara 27 Open, EQUALIZER, and offers Great Lakes charters for trout, salmon and steelhead.  A licensed USCG captain since 1988, he specializes in catching spring brown trout and offshore steelhead.  Check out Mike's Great Lakes and river charters on his charter website:  www.gnatscharters.com

Gnat's River Charters - One of the first drift boat guides in Michigan, Mike has guided anglers on the Pere Marquette, Big Manistee, and Muskegon rivers for over 20 years.  Having now graduated to a jet sled, he specializes in catching trout, steelhead and salmon while hot-shotting with plugs, bouncing bottom and shotgunning in-line spinners.  He's considered one of the top river guides in the country.

Mike took the opportunity to leave his native Saginaw in the fall of 1986 to relocate to West Michigan and be closer to the outstanding fishing and hunting the area is known for. Mike lives on the shores of Hamlin Lake and enjoys Lake Michigan sunsets, nature hikes in the sand dunes, and all that Ludington has to offer the outdoor enthusiast.