About Pete McPherson

Michigan lakes and rivers, most evenings, a wacky-rigged Senko, and a bass or two.

Pete McPherson on a boat holding a bass caught on a Michigan lake
A good one, off a Michigan lake.

Hi — I'm Pete McPherson. I've been fishing my whole life, but for most of it, very casually: a rod in the garage, a few trips a summer, nothing serious. Then my kids started learning to fish, and watching them get hooked hooked me right back. Somewhere in there I went off the deep end.

These days I fish Michigan lakes and rivers as often as I can get out. If you're looking for me on a summer evening, I'm probably shore-fishing for bass with a 5" Senko on a wacky rig — my favorite way to fish, hands down.

Why this site exists

Beginner Angler is where I write down what I'm learning as I go — the same questions I had getting serious about fishing, answered plainly for anyone climbing the same curve. No gatekeeping, no pretending I've got it all figured out.

Pete McPherson lifting a small panfish off a bobber rig at the shoreline at dusk
Not every fish is a trophy — and that's the whole point. Catching is catching.

Whether you're picking up a rod for the first time or getting your kids started like I did, I hope you find something useful in the blog archive.

Get in touch

The best way to reach me is the contact page. Tell me what you're catching — I read everything.