Is Forward Facing Sonar Creating a Technology Divide?

Posted on September 1, 2026September 2, 2026 by Dave Barus

Garmin, Lowrance and Humminbird manufacture Traditional Sonar as well as Foward Facing Sonar (FFS) units.
Are Anglers Developing FFS Fear Factor Issues?
When FFS is allowed in tournaments, do some anglers consider these “pay to win” events?

Steve Weiner took the time to introduce me to the details of using Forward Facing Sonar. Let me only say this: It was incredible fun. Sort of like the anticipation of casting a line with a bobber, then watching for a bite as your lure sinks to the depth of a suspended walleye. Would the fish take the bait? It was downright exciting! My heart was pumping. *Forrest Fisher photo*

By Forrest Fisher

There are many examples over what appears to be a technology debate and grassroots angler backlash in bass and/or walleye tournament events that allow Forward Facing Sonar.

Here’s one.

For the past decade, the Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge has earned a reputation as one of Western New York’s most respected eastern Lake Erie walleye tournaments. Tournament Directors Jim and Diane Steel have built their reputation the old-fashioned way: treating teams fairly, paying close attention to the details, making sure the scales are accurate, and creating an event that benefits not only competitive anglers but also the Eastern Lake Erie charter-boat industry and surrounding communities. Fishing tournaments are an economic booster shot for local businesses.

So, something about this year’s tournament was surprising.

The field was cut roughly in half.

Last year, more than 40 teams participated, with some teams registering four members. This year, fewer than 20 teams registered.

Around the country, in bass and walleye tournaments, similar results are occurring. Why?

This walleye tournament itself had much of the same formula as earlier protocol. Big Fish Friday offered anglers a chance to have fun, scout and chase one big heavy walleye. The next day (Saturday), was the main competition event with a six-fish box requiring a 20-inch minimum fish with fishing hours from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The shotgun start came from the Chadwick Bay lighthouse in Dunkirk, with teams monitoring VHF Channel 68 for the official countdown and any changes.

Teams could fish the waters of Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River, including Canadian waters. Boats could carry up to nine rods and reels, although Canadian regulations limited anglers to six. Teams could have two to five anglers, and as is common in major tournaments, winners and selected random teams could be subject to polygraph testing.

**With FFS or traditional sonar, angler teams catch fish and have fun. Maybe that’s where the distinction lies? Which system is more fun?** *Forrest Fisher photo*

The rules also allowed something that has become increasingly controversial in walleye fishing: anglers could use virtually any fishing technology they wanted, including forward-facing sonar (FFS).

That may be where the story gets interesting.

Is FFS Creating a Fear Factor?

Many Eastern Lake Erie walleye tournaments have moved toward trolling-only formats, eliminating FFS-assisted jigging and other techniques that allow anglers to identify and target individual fish.

The Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge does not. Perhaps that has created a psychological divide.

If an angler has spent thousands of dollars outfitting a boat with the newest FFS technology, is that an advantage? Absolutely. But if an angler doesn’t have it, does he or she begin to wonder whether competing without it is even worth the entry fee?

A tournament entry fee can cost a team $300 to $600/team before Calcutta’s and other expenses. That’s real money. Add fuel, lodging, food, boat expenses and time away from work, and nobody wants to show up believing they are already behind.

**Forward Facing Sonar units use video screen technology to identify fish location, depth and distance from the boat. New rules are emerging for different types of fishing events.** *Forrest Fisher photo*

Could some anglers simply be afraid to lose because they don’t have the latest technology?

That’s a question worth asking—not an accusation.

After all, sonar has been changing fishing for generations. Some of us remember the old Lowrance “green box,” which cost about $150 in the 1960s (a lot of money back then) and it seemed like technological magic because it showed a neon-light blip indicating depth on a circular rotational disc. We couldn’t get enough of it.

For the record, $150 in 1957 is worth $1,782.66 today. Surprised? Don’t be. Inflation is real, cost is comparative.

Today, traditional sonar can identify structure and fish with astonishing detail. FFS and 360-degree real-time systems seem to simply represent another step in that sonar technology progression.

**Forward Facing Sonar uses an over-the-side transducer in conjunction with a video screen to interpret the 3-dimensional signal.** *Forrest Fisher photo*

A video screen provides information with any sonar system.

The technology is comparatively expensive, with FFS entry costs reaching $2,000 to $3,000, but history suggests prices will eventually fall as adoption increases, just as they did with traditional sonar.

And anglers seem to want it.

I tried it and can honestly say, it’s absolute fun to see a fish 60 feet down in 100 feet of water, 50 feet out in front of the boat. Then you use your casting skill to cast to it, watch your lure falling toward the fish, then see that fish either move to your lure to inhale it or get spooked away because he was not expecting it. You can measure the demeanor and mood of the fish…hungry or spooky. Then resize your lure or color and find the next fish in a silent drift.

The results tell an interesting story. Captain Craig Sleeman and Team Midnight Express won the main event with 37.25 pounds, earning the big-box trophy and cash.

Captain Ron Morcio and Team Who’s U’r Uncle finished second with 36.52 pounds, including the tournament’s biggest fish at 7.69 pounds. Captain Nicholas Oleksy and Team Thunder Jet were third at 35.90 pounds, followed by Captain Jesse Nussbaum and Team 5-Alive at 34.62 pounds. Team MacAttack, led by Captain Daryll MacNeill, rounded out the top five with 31.98 pounds. Some of these folks used old fashioned sonar, some used FFS.

Big Fish Friday was won by Craig Sleeman, followed by Jesse Nussbaum and Captain Ryan Smith of Team Back-In-Action. Sleeman’s 7.60-pound walleye was Friday’s big fish.

**In this example, the fish (walleye) is suspended 15 feet from the boat (top horizontal scale) and is 60 feet down (left vertical scale).** *Forrest Fisher photo*

Here’s another interesting comparison. At the popular WNY Walleye Classic held at the Dunkirk Central Avenue Pier in June, Ron Morcio and his team won with 33.05 pounds, while Bud Marsh finished second at 32.71 pounds. Five of the top 10 teams won using trolling tactics, while the other five were using FFS. It was about an even split.

That doesn’t exactly scream that one technology has conquered the other. It’s a big lake. Maybe the real competition is changing. There have been quiet rumors that some tournament managers encouraged teams that had participated in previous Innovative Outdoors events not to register in this tournament this year (because FFS was allowed). Those are local rumors, and they should remain exactly that unless someone is willing to put their name behind them.

But the broader issue is real. As fishing technology advances, tournament organizers are being forced to decide what they want their competitions to measure: the angler, the technology, or some combination of both. Anglers who only troll (no casting, no FFS) typically use down-scan sonar, some use side-scan sonar too, and many use other additive high technology devices to measure water temperature and current speed at the downrigger ball, and more, even video cams. These are all allowed and none of these devices are low cost. Does everyone fish9ng these tournaments have all these devices? No. Yet, they fish the tournaments anyway…that’s fishing. there still is some luck involved, skill too, in trolling only tournaments.

**Many modern tournament boats are equipped with traditional sonar and FFS sonar to allow trolling or casting.** *Forrest Fisher photo*

There is no easy answer. Trolling-only tournaments create one kind of challenge. Open-technology tournaments (FFS allowed) create another. Both can be exciting. Both require skill. Both can put anglers on the same Lake Erie chasing the same incredible fish.

Perhaps the biggest fear for tackle manufacturers is that traditional casting and trolling lures will be disregarded, as FFS technology relies on weighted jig-style lures to reach the fish quickly and quietly. *Forrest Fisher photo*

Perhaps the biggest lesson from this year’s Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge and tournaments facing a similar question isn’t that FFS is good or bad. Maybe it’s that fear of falling behind technologically can be just as powerful as the technology itself. Older folks that fish old-fashioned style fishing tournaments that rely on gut and instinct factors say that seasoned watercraft skills should not be replaced by staring at a video screen. The debate will continue, for now.

From the world of competitive bass fishing – Kevin Van Dam, one of the world’s most dominant and successful tournament bass anglers has been quoted as saying that FFS has no place in tournament bass fishing. “It’s like spotlighting deer.” Van Dam also said, “It is really efficient. It’s deadly, a lot of fun. I don’t know it’s that sporting.” Every bass angler in the world has learned so much about bass fishing from Van Dam, he has the respect of millions of anglers. We usually listen to those sorts of honest, expert anglers that share their skills.

Competitive fishing has always evolved. From the green box to modern sonar, from paper charts to GPS mapping, from simple rods to today’s sophisticated equipment, progress isn’t going backward.

The challenge for tournament fishing is making sure that progress continues to grow the sport rather than scare people away from it.

Because when nearly 50 percent of the field disappears, everybody should be asking why.

Hopefully, next year, more teams will be back packing every walleye tournament on Lake Erie—technology and all, or not—and ready to compete. Rule and event changes coming for next year will be interesting, for sure.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park – “THE HOME OF MARKSMANSHIP”

Posted on July 1, 2026July 1, 2026 by Dave Barus

The CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park – “THE HOME OF MARKSMANSHIP” – is where responsible firearm ownership, safety instruction and accuracy training reside inside a beautiful 500-acre facility. The CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park offers a variety of opportunities for firearm owners of all interests and skill levels.. The park prides itself on its friendly, accommodating staff and the convenience of its outdoor electronic target line.

The cutting-edge electronic targets, located on Ranges 1 and 2, relay scores and report shots instantly to competitor and spectator monitors. Range 3 is equipped with turning pistol targets at 25 and 50 yards, while the versatile John C. Garand highpower rifle range offers 54 covered firing points and all-weather, electronically-scored targetry at 200, 300 and 600 yards.

The park also features a 100-yard rifle range with the same innovative technology, plus an unknown distance range and 15 action pistol bays that are capable of accommodating a variety of competitions, including 3-Gun.

For Shotgun enthusiasts, Talladega Marksmanship Park houses several structured areas featuring Trap, Skeet, 5-Stand Fields, a Wobble Trap and a 1 mile 15-station Sporting Clays loop. Each area is maintained by CMP’s own shotgun experts and is furnished with top-of-the-line equipment for guests to enjoy.

The Archery Range at Talladega is located on the shotgun side of the grounds and outfitted with a 30×60-yard practice range and 20 lanes of life-size 3-D targets, specially painted to resemble live animals in their natural habitat. The foam Delta-McKenzie targets (typically used on the competition trail) are designed to fit along pathways tucked between the trees of Talladega’s terrain and may be arranged from 15 to 50 yards. The Archery Range is open to all experience levels, with a minimal age of 6 years to use.

The crown jewel of the park is a 13,000-square-foot Club House, featuring a check-in and reception area, two multi-media classrooms, spacious lounge areas and a CMP Pro Shop with firearms, accessories and ammunition sales. The CMP Pro Shop is open Wednesday – Sunday, 8:00AM – 4:30PM.

Talladega Marksmanship Park is open Wednesday-Sunday to the public. Don’t be a stranger, come see us at The Home of Marksmanship!

Come For A Visit, Come For The Day! 4387 Turner Mill Road, Talladega, Alabama. Open to the public, no membership required.

Tiki Bars, Tripletail, and Shark Teeth Treasure

Posted on May 13, 2026May 13, 2026 by Dave Barus

A weekend sunshine escape to Punta Gorda-Englewood

By Forrest Fisher

As winter stubbornly hangs around parts of the Northeast and Midwest this year, many travelers are beginning to wonder if spring simply forgot to show up. Snowflakes in April and freezing mornings in May have a way of crushing dreams of a luscious springtime. With flip-flops afoot, we found that Southwest Florida has the cure — and it comes with soft sand, warm Gulf water, shark teeth, and grouper dripping in lemon basil butter sauce.

Sometimes all it takes is a quick three-day getaway to reset the soul. Better yet, several airlines recently discovered they still have seats to fill with the transportation void going on, and travelers lucky enough to notice can be rewarded with bargain airfare prices. Suddenly, escaping the cold became less fantasy and more “Why aren’t we packing already?” So, we did.

We found that beaches near Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota are very popular, but the real hidden gems sit farther south around the Punta Gorda-Englewood Beach area. Especially near Manasota Key and Gasparilla Island. Here, visitors trade traffic jams and crowded resorts for peaceful beaches, warm Gulf of America waters in the low 80s, and accommodations that won’t require a second mortgage.

**The real hidden beach gems sit south of Tampa, around the Punta Gorda-Englewood Beach area. Especially near Manasota Key and Gasparilla Island. Seashells and shark teeth abound here, too.**

Even sweeter, some of the summer season rates are already kicking in and that means less cost. Some rental properties are already offering discounts. Budget travelers may want to sit down before hearing that.

The beaches themselves are reason enough to visit. The sand is soft, the clear surf is gentle, and the shoreline hides one of Florida’s most unusual treasures — fossilized shark teeth. Millions of years ago, prehistoric sharks cruised these waters, and today their age-old fossilized teeth regularly wash ashore. Visitors armed with nothing more than sunglasses, sunscreen, flip flops, a towel, and a resealable plastic bag can spend hours combing the beach like pirate treasure hunters. Imagine discovering shark teeth from the era of 5 to 20 million years ago! We did it. So cool.

Finding a few shark teeth is common. Finding dozens is exciting. Finding hundreds over a long weekend? Entirely possible. Somewhere along the way, grown adults begin competing like contestants on a reality show called America’s next “Top Fossil Hunter.” It’s a bikini battle at times, all in fun.

We combed the beach like pirate treasure hunters; we were successful discovering many fossilized shark teeth treasures.

Eventually, yep, thirsty pallets and beach hunger arrive. The good news is that this area shines brightest once dinner begins. Many choices for beverages and top tier menu alternatives. Some of the best chef choices are on the blackboard menu as you enter the eateries.

One standout stop was the legendary Lock ‘N Key Restaurant, sitting directly across from Englewood Beach. In fact, it’s so close that showering after the beach almost feels optional. Sand in your flip flops? Nobody notices. The outdoor seating, tiki-style atmosphere, and reggae music lingering on their roadside patio, yea, makes the entire place feel more Caribbean than Florida. We loved it.

Then there’s happy hour — a magical stretch from noon until 5 p.m. featuring pull tabs where drinks can cost as little as 50 cents — if you’re lucky. Somewhere, beach bar accountants are weeping tears of joy, because this is a popular ploy.

The Lock ‘N Key has been beautifully renovated following recent hurricane seasons and offers both indoor air-conditioned comfort and the outdoor tiki seating. The menu reads like a love letter to seafood fans.

At Lock ‘N Key, with my Grouper Oceana, the thick-cut fish (one-inch plus) was topped with shrimp bathed in lemon basil butter sauce, accented by Roma tomatoes, and served alongside rice with carrots and asparagus.

One dinner selection originally featured tripletail Oceana, but when the kitchen ran out of tripletail, they substituted grouper instead — a swap that I did not complain about. The thick-cut fish (one-inch plus) was topped with shrimp bathed in lemon basil butter sauce, accented by Roma tomatoes, and served alongside rice with carrots and asparagus. Calling it “delicious” almost feels disrespectful. It was the kind of meal that causes conversations at the table to stop because everyone is too busy smiling and chewing. Mmmm-mmm-huh. You know the conversation.

Not far from Englewood Beach, Ken and Barbs Grove City Kitchen is an old southern style eatery with a high Tiki Roof. The special of the day was delicious, Parmesan Seared Yellowfin Tuna with a soy ginger glaze, wasabi, and pickled ginger… perfect with a tall glass of chilled local brew.

Several nearby dining options kept our culinary momentum rolling.

Ken & Barb’s Grove City Kitchen delivered chef-inspired comfort food inside a lively atmosphere that felt like an episode of Cheers. We loved that bar seating arrangement choice but chose a table. Everybody seemed to know everybody there, and if they didn’t, they were pretending convincingly by dessert.

Not far away, Farlow’s-on–the-Water offered a more upscale dining experience with expertly prepared fresh Gulf seafood and polished presentations worthy of food magazine covers. It’s the type of place where you briefly consider ordering something sophisticated before realizing you’re still wearing flip flops and sunburn.

At Farlow’s-on-the-Water, we were greeted with these fresh fish options. From left to right, triple tail, hogfish, yellowtail, grouper and more. All their food is made fresh daily and the herbs in their delicious menu assortment are grown in a garden right there at the restaurant.

We met Keith Farlow on our visit there. He shared stories about how his fish comes to the restaurant. He shared his love for Caribbean style food and the adaptability of the chefs at the restaurant to help satisfy any menu desire for their customers. All their food is made fresh daily and the herbs in their delicious dishes are grown in a garden right there at the restaurant. You’re allowed to tour the garden! The service staff was entertaining about describing their seafood and assorted meat menu options, and cocktail beverages were not faked. Full pours of the real stuff. By the way, the Triple Tail here was delicious.

Between these restaurant stops; breakfast almost became unnecessary. The dinners alone seemed capable of fueling an entire shark tooth expedition the following morning. And did for us.

Accommodations also played a major role in the getaway success. Rental homes through Tarpon Real Estate⁠ provided spacious, hassle-free lodging perfect for families or groups of friends.

Rental homes through Tarpon Real Estate⁠ provided us with spacious, hassle-free lodging, and it is perfect for families or groups of friends because they come equipped with all the necessary amenities you might have at home, and they are secure.

Many of these homes sit near the water and feature multiple bedrooms, private pools, peaceful surroundings, and all the comforts of home — except with palm trees and considerably better sunsets. Many of them are for sale, too, in case you had thoughts of escaping the north for all time.

That may be the greatest appeal of the Punta Gorda-Englewood area. It doesn’t try too hard. There are no giant theme parks, no overwhelming crowds, and no exhausting schedules. Instead, visitors find warm water, uncrowded beaches, excellent seafood, hidden shark teeth, tropical drinks, and enough relaxation to forget what day it is.

And honestly, if you return home with a bag full of prehistoric shark teeth and lingering dreams about grouper in lemon basil butter sauce – that sounds like a successful weekend. We made our stay a 4-night expedition, after all, how often do we do things like “go away?”

What day is it?

Tarpon at Sunrise: Boca Grande Pass

Posted on May 10, 2026May 12, 2026 by Dave Barus

Tarpon are so big and so powerful that working them to the side of the boat is a fun experience that can take 30 to 45 minutes. We were using St. Croix 7-foot-10-inch St. Croix RIFT rods—medium heavy power, medium fast action, built to handle the brute strength of tarpon.

Boca Grande Pass is widely known as the tarpon fishing capital of the world.
We ran the beaches, circled Cayo Costa, thru Captiva Pass, back to the beach – and there they were!
The action was steady, intense, and unforgettable.

By Forrest Fisher

Daybreak comes softly along Florida’s Gulf Coast, but on this particular May morning not far from Englewood Beach, anticipation cut through the darkness long before the sun had a chance. Day two of our trip had us gearing up for something special—tarpon fishing in the waters surrounding Boca Grande Pass, widely known as the tarpon fishing capital of the world.

We met Charter Captain Justin Cauffman of Native Salt Charters at his dock on Gasparilla Island, just steps from the iconic Pink Elephant restaurant. The dock lights glowed against the night water surface as we made our way down just before 6 a.m. Waiting for us was his 25-foot C-Hawk bay boat, already alive with energy. Soft rock played quietly in the background while a wash of colorful interior lights gave the vessel a polished, almost futuristic feel. It was an impressive start to what would become an unforgettable day.

Captain Justin Cauffmann was waiting for us in his 25-foot C-Hawk bay boat, already alive with energy. Soft rock played quietly in the background while a wash of colorful interior lights gave the vessel a polished, almost futuristic feel.

The gear told its own story of preparation and precision. Rod holders lined the boat, each loaded with 7-foot-10-inch St. Croix RIFT rods—medium heavy power, medium fast action, built to handle the brute strength of tarpon. Paired with them were brand new Seviin 6000 reels, spooled with 60-pound braid line and finished with an 8-foot, 60-pound fluorocarbon leader tied to an 8/0 circle hook, that included a secret hook variation called a target bead. The FG knots connecting braid to leader were flawlessly smooth, nearly invisible to the eye—a small but critical detail when targeting wary giants.

We pushed off into the darkness, the wind already making its presence known—steady at 16 mph from the east-northeast. You know the old saying, wind from the east, fish bite the least. We were hoping that was not the case this day. As we ran toward Boca Grande Pass, the boat cut cleanly through the chop. Despite the conditions, not a single spray made it aboard. The air temperature hovered around 59 to 60 degrees, and Captain Justin laughed, calling it “sweater weather.” At 40 mph across open water, it felt much colder—but none of us seemed to mind. We were more familiar with the feeling of shoveling snow from a few weeks earlier, up north. Who said cold?! No way.

The Seviin GW 6000 open-faced spinning reels were loaded with 60-pound braid and an 8-foot 60-pound leader to a size 8/0 circle hook modified with a “hugger bead.” The 40-pound drag on these iconic looking reels was key to tiring out these mega-monster fish. FUN!

Fishing alongside two great friends, Josh Lantz from Michigan and Captain Richard Simms from Tennessee, the mood was equal parts focused and excited. We joked about the weather as we reached Boca pass. The captain started scanning. The depth dropped to around 80 feet, and the electronics lit up with side scan and down scan imagery. But something was off. The water was dirty—murky with reduced visibility—and the screens showed no signs of fish. It had been very windy the last several days.

“Tarpon don’t like dirty water,” Captain Justin explained.

“It’s time to move.”

Josh joked, “Where do you hide 10,000 tarpon?”

Justin smiled. “They move fast when conditions change. We’ll find them.” He said that in full confidence and we all felt reassured.

That kicked off a search that would cover roughly 25 miles over the next 45 minutes. We ran along the beaches, checked the departure buoys, and then circled around Cayo Costa toward Captiva Pass. No fish there either. The geography of this region—stretching from Englewood Beach to Gasparilla Beach through Boca Grande Pass and into Charlotte Harbor—is dynamic and alive. Barrier islands like Gasparilla and Cayo Costa shape the currents and tides, creating a constantly shifting mosaic of clean and dirty water, bait movement, and predator behavior.

Along the way, we made a quick stop to refresh the live well. With practiced skill, Justin tossed a 20-foot cast net, perfectly spread, with ease, over a school of bait. In less than ten minutes, we had dozens of lively 7-9 inch threadfin minnows to complement the crabs already onboard. Watching him throw that net was like watching a craftsman at work—effortless in appearance, but clearly the result of years of repetition.

Side-scan spotted the fish (upper right) while 3D down-scan showed their physical level top to bottom. The fish were all close to bottom in this relatively shallow beach water area, allowing the captain to vary methods to put us “into the bite” and catch them.

Then came the moment.

We swung back toward Gasparilla Island and West Side Beach, and suddenly the electronics lit up. Dozens of tarpon appeared on the side scan, stretching out to 100 feet.

They were here.

Lines went out. Baits hit the water. And almost immediately—chaos.

Richard hooked the first fish, a powerful adult stretching close to six feet. The fish surged, rolled, and fought with the kind of strength that defines tarpon fishing. After a determined battle, it came alongside the boat for a quick line touch—counted as a catch in tarpon fishing tradition.

The bite stayed hot.

**Adult tarpon can be 7-feet long and weigh up to 200 pounds, all the while leaping 5-feet out of the water with aerial acrobatics over a half-hour long rod/reel battle.**

Over the next five hours, each of us hooked multiple fish. The action was steady, intense, and unforgettable. I managed to land two tarpon—each fight lasting between 20 and 30 minutes. Even with top-tier gear, these fish demand everything you have. My arms, my back and my leg muscles were screaming from my aging body, but somehow, there was no sense of noticeable pain to complain about. This was sheer fun. Pain? What pain? Let’s do it again. And we did.

The Seviin 6500 reels performed flawlessly. Their smooth, consistent 40-pound drag helped wear down the fish without risking breakoffs. Combined with the strength and responsiveness (sensitivity) of the St. Croix RIFT rods, the setup proved ideal for battling these giants.

But one moment stood out above the rest.

Josh hooked into a massive tarpon—easily pushing five feet in length. The fight brought it close to the boat, the silver body flashing just beneath the surface. Then, in an instant, everything changed. Two bull sharks appeared out of nowhere. In a split second, they tore into the tarpon, literally slicing it in half midway between the head and tail before anyone could react.

It was shocking. Raw. Unfiltered.

“Nature at home,” someone said quietly…with some adrenalin tone in their voice.

The phrase “shark sustainability” came up—a reminder of the complex balance within this ecosystem. The same waters that produce incredible tarpon fishing also support thriving predator populations. It’s all connected. I heard one charter captain holler over to another, “There must be 40,000 tarpon in the harbor and pass right now, I’ve never seen anything like this in 20 years.” The only question for all the anglers is how to get one to bite your hook. The fish are busy showing off between themselves. The males impressing the females. Nature at its best.

Throughout the day, Captain Justin constantly adjusted tactics. He changed weights, added floats, switched leader sizes, and rotated baits between crabs, threadfin, and mullet. Every decision was deliberate, based on conditions, fish behavior, and nearly two decades of his experience on these waters.

And he shared it all.

From the nuances of tide movement in Boca Grande Pass to the migration patterns of tarpon along the beaches and into Charlotte Harbor, Justin turned the trip into a master class. He spoke about conservation, the importance of sustainable fisheries, and how responsible practices ensure that future generations can experience the same thrill.

**Threadfin in the 7-9 inch size worked for us, while crabs are the usual tarpon favorite dinner morsel. Both worked by end of the day.**

That thrill—the moment a tarpon explodes on a bait, the rod doubles over, and the reel drag screams—is hard to describe. It’s part adrenaline, part awe. These fish, often called “silver kings,” are among the most iconic gamefish in the world for a reason.

Landing one isn’t just a catch. It’s an accomplishment. My aching arms can share.

By the time we headed back, eight hours after we started, the sun was high and the chill of the morning long gone. But the energy remained. We were tired, windblown, and grinning from ear to ear.

From Englewood Beach to Boca Grande Pass and across the rich waters of Charlotte Harbor to Pine Island, the day had delivered everything—challenge, excitement, education, and a deep appreciation for one of the most remarkable fisheries in the country.

And somewhere out there, thousands of tarpon are still moving—waiting for the next perfect moment. From April through the start of July, this is “Tarpon Town.”

Author Note: For more information about Native Salt Charters, visit https://nativesaltcharters.com/. For information about lodging, eateries, and vacation services, visit the Punta Gorda and Englewood Beach Visitor and Convention Bureau at https://www.pureflorida.com/.

One Reel. One Rod. Any Saltwater Fish – THAT’S FUN!

Posted on April 1, 2026April 29, 2026 by Dave Barus

Spanish Mackerel are smash-strike predators that attack your lure with power. The bigger “mac’s” will tear your drag, screaming a new song that most anglers enjoy. The SEVIIN GW4000 doesn’t care. Forrest Fisher photo

The Ultimate Inshore Saltwater Setup
SEVIIN GW4000, St. Croix AVID series 7-foot Rod.

By Forrest Fisher

In saltwater fishing, anything can happen. We fish Charlotte Harbor, Florida, where a wide selection of fish species thrives. Especially known as the Tarpon Capital of the world, charter captains and recreational anglers are busy all year long. Springtime is special for visitors. So, I thought to share some insight on the right gear to use and what anglers can catch.

One cast might connect with a speckled trout at sunrise. The next could be a drag-screaming run from something far bigger. When the bite changes fast, your gear has to keep up.

That’s where a true do-it-all setup earns its place. That’s where the rubber meets the road!

The Reel That Handles It All

At the heart of this system is a 4000-series spinning reel—the SEVIIN GW4000. I have learned to call it my “Lucky Seviin!” I catch everything with it. Here’s why.

This 4000-size class sits right in the sweet spot: light enough (12 ounces) for finesse presentations, powerful enough to handle aggressive fish (25 lb drag), and large capacity spool. Some folks like the 2500 series because it’s a smaller reel, but for me, the 4000 is a versatile perfect choice for redfish, trout, Spanish mackerel, pompano, smaller grouper—and yes, even the occasional shark. We’ve caught lots of sharks.

In saltwater, durability isn’t optional.

**The GW4000 is light, powerful, has a high-capacity spool, and is protected from saltwater contamination with seals that keep the inside dry.** *Forrest Fisher photo*

The SEVIIN GW series features a fully sealed aluminum body that protects internal components from corrosion. Its smooth, multi-stack carbon fiber and aluminum drag system delivers so much stopping power—critical when a fish makes a sudden, powerful run.

With a 6.2:1 retrieve ratio reels in 37 inches per turn—this reel balances speed and control. I was able to load my two GW4000’s with 280 yards of 20 lb braid, so the reel offers both casting distance and the line capacity needed for long runs with fish you never imagined you might hook.

The wide spool face allows a 3/8 oz jig head to launch 250 feet or more—helping you cover water and reach active fish without using the bow motor or main engine that could spook fish.

Key Saltwater-Proof Features at a Glance:

Corrosion-resistant fully-sealed body
5 + 1 shielded stainless-steel bearings
Hard-anodized aluminum spool w/braid band
Custom oversize handle w/soft-touch paddle
25 pound Drag System
S-Curve slow oscillation system (6.2:1)
IPX5 water resistance rating
1-year warranty with accelerated replacement

Visit https://seviinreels.com/products/gw-spinning.

The Right Rod Makes the Difference

Pairing the reel with the right rod brings the system together.

A 7-foot medium-heavy, fast-action rod offers the ideal mix of casting performance, sensitivity, and lifting strength—while still being easy to transport.

**A 7-foot medium-heavy, fast-action St. Croix AVID inshore rod offers the ideal mix of casting performance, sensitivity, and lifting strength.** *Forrest Fisher photo.*

I matched my new GW4000 reels with two of my older St. Croix AVID inshore rods:

VIS70MHF – 7’ medium-heavy, fast action (½–1-1/4 oz lures)
VISMXF – 7’ medium, extra-fast action (3/16–5/8 oz lures)

These rods excel when working artificial lures. St. Croix’s premium rod construction provides the sensitivity needed to detect subtle strikes, along with the backbone to handle bigger fish when it counts.

Visit https://stcroixrods.com/collections/saltwater/products/avid-series-inshore.

Line Setup: Strength Meets Sensitivity

For inshore versatility, braided line is hard to beat.

Using 20 lb braid provides:

Long casting distance
Excellent sensitivity
Strong, reliable hooksets

The thin diameter helps maximize casting range, while the no-stretch design gives you direct contact with your lure. We’ve used Sufix 832, Berkley Fireline, YoZuri Super Braid, and Power Pro. They all work fine. The 832 is a workhorse.

To complete the setup, add a fluorocarbon leader.

15–20 lb for trout and pompano
30–40 lb+ for larger fish or structure

The key feature for fluorocarbon line vs just tying on braid direct is simply abrasion resistance and low visibility—two key advantages in clear water and around cover. Fluoro is 10X stronger on the rocks and oyster beds. We’ve used Gamma Edge, Seaguar, Berkley Vanish and Sunline Sniper. The Edge fishes like it’s made of invisible wire.

**On some occasions, the bigger apex predators find our lure offerings. The GW4000 seems to enjoy the workout. It’s an impressive well-engineered design.** *Forrest Fisher photo.*

Built for the Unexpected

This combination—a 4000-series reel, medium-heavy fast-action rod, braided main line, and fluorocarbon leader—creates a system that adapts to changing conditions without missing a beat.

It’s built to:

Cast artificial plastic tails, spoons, surface baits, and sub-surface twitch plugs with precision
Handle a wide range of species
Stand up to harsh saltwater conditions
Most importantly, it keeps you fishing instead of switching gear.

Stay Ready

Inshore saltwater fishing rewards anglers who stay ready for anything.

With the right setup, you can fish smarter, cover more water, and react instantly when opportunity strikes.

Because you never really know what’s about to bite.

And that’s exactly what makes it fun. Get out there!

To learn more about fishing Charlotte Harbor and southwest Florida, visit https://www.charlottecountychamber.org/tourism.

When Cold Front Crappie Won’t Bite – Check the Big River Tailraces

Posted on October 31, 2025October 31, 2025 by David Ranier

Lake Wheeler, Wilson and Pickwick, 0ffer the availability of fishing the tailraces – many species hold there.
We caught catfish (blue, channel and flathead), bass (smallmouth, largemouth, spotted and white) and enough drum to fill a roadside trash can.
Lodging available at Joe Wheeler State Park, which sits on the banks of the Tennessee River near Rogersville.

By DAVID RAINER, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

What do you do after you plan a trip to north Alabama to get in the fall crappie bite and you’re greeted with bluebird skies the day after a cold front? You make lemonade, and the Tennessee River lakes have just the right recipes.

Capt. Brian Barton, Andy Poss and I still wanted to try to catch enough crappie for a small fish fry and headed into the Bear Creek area despite the weather conditions. We found crappie on the forward-facing sonar, but almost all of them had the lockjaw, a common occurrence after a front. We tried small jigs with a minnow, jigs alone and minnows alone, but the crappie just ignored any of the offerings.

The great thing about fishing those lakes, especially Wheeler, Wilson and Pickwick, is the availability of fishing tailraces for anything that will bite a live shad, either a small gizzard shad or threadfin.

After loading Barton’s 23-foot War Eagle boat onto the trailer, we found gizzard shad flicking near the boat ramp on Wheeler. We headed to the Wheeler tailrace with a bait tank filled with the 2- to 3-inch shad. Obviously, as anyone who has fished the tailraces knows, the most productive time to fish is when the generators are running and the water is flowing through the dams.

As required by law, we had donned our life jackets before approaching the dam and headed to the edge of the swift current. Drifting a shad down the edge of the current line with just a split shot started producing action. However, you don’t get to choose the species. You set the hook and take what you get. It may be bass species, catfish species or freshwater drum (known as gaspergou in Louisiana).

Because we tried to catch crappie first, we were a little late to the bite at the Wheeler tailrace due to the generation schedule, which had shifted from afternoon to morning because of the cool nights.

The next morning, we headed to the Wilson tailrace, which doesn’t have quite the dramatic water flow of Wheeler but is still a highly productive fishing spot. The tactics were similar, finding edges to let the bait drift with the current.

**Brian Barton shows off a smallmouth bass (L) and a spotted bass (R) caught in the Wilson Lake tailrace recently. David Ranier photo**

By the end of the tailrace fishing, we had caught catfish (blue, channel and flathead), bass (smallmouth, largemouth, spotted and white) and enough drum to fill a roadside trash can.

“In the fall up here, from the end of September all the way until Christmas, shad migrate to the dams, and everything else follows,” Barton said. “You have multi-species action for about three months, solid. When I have clients, I catch bait before I pick them up, and then we go to the tailraces. We may drift, anchor or Spot-Lock (trolling motor feature using GPS to stay in one location) in different areas, but it will always be with a live shad.”

Barton said the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) controls how and when he fishes because the agency’s electricity generation dictates current flow.

“The stronger the current, the more the fish are going to be pulled out into the river,” he said. “With a lighter current, the fish are going to be more spread out and harder to catch. Also, the bright sunny days means the fish tend to stick close to structure. On cloudy days, they are more spread out. Ideally, the best day would be good current flow with sunshine.”

Barton said TVA has an app (www.tva.com/environment/lake-levels/tva-lake-info-app) that anglers can use to determine the generation schedule and dam water output for each lake. The app shows what the current flow is for the specific lake, the history for the previous six hours and a projection of water flow for the following two days.

“It (the projections) doesn’t change much,” he said. “But on our trip, you saw it change. It had been afternoon generation. Then we got a cold front with cooler nights, and it changed to morning generation. From now until March or April, it will stay mornings. As it warms up next spring, it’ll flip back to afternoons.

“Ideal current flow below Wheeler Dam would be 30,000 to 50,000 (cubic feet per second), and below Wilson it would be 30,000. Wheeler can generate up to 98,000. If you start getting over 50,000, which is great current, you just go down the river because it’s too tough to battle it near the tailrace. But that really turns the fishing on down the river, where if you’ve got 25,000 or 30,000, you’re pretty much forced to fish closer to the dam because you don’t have enough current down river to position the fish.

“But I want to caution people to not go to that dam unless you know what you’re doing, and, by all means, wear that life vest.”

When he’s fishing with live bait, he’s looking for two different locations where the fish are likely to hold to be able to ambush anything coming out of the tailrace.

“There’s two theories,” Barton said. “There’s site specific fishing on rockpiles, ledges or wood. Most of the time, I do better just drifting. My theory is I go to the spot where I caught them the last trip. That doesn’t always work because the fish move, but I start there first. If I start a drift in 12 feet of water and don’t do any good, then I’ll move up to 8 or 9 feet or I’ll go to 14 or 15. That’s all I do is move my depth. It’s just a matter of if they’ve moved deep or shallow.

“When you’re fishing the tailrace, it’s all about seams. I don’t think bottom structure has anything to do with it. It’s where two currents meet and create a seam or the outside edge of the current. But that’s not just the tailrace. Anywhere you go down the river that has an abutment or anything sticking out can create a current change. That structure may be the size of my garage, and it’s going to create that seam. That’s where the fish are going to be most of the time.”

Barton said when clients ask about a fishing trip, he tells them to expect to catch multiple species of fish in a five-hour trip.

“It could include a miscellaneous sauger or skipjack (herring), but seven species is what two people in this boat are normally going to catch,” he said. “With good conditions, I expect to catch 40 to 50 fish in a five-hour trip. Now, that’s not a great day. That’s just what I expect to catch. And, if you’re lucky, you can catch a four-pound smallmouth. That’s very doable. A five-pound smallmouth is what we call a trophy fish. If I have people who just want to catch smallmouth, that’s what they’re looking for.

“Most of my clients are just people who want a bent rod and to have fun. If they catch a four-pound smallmouth, that’s just a bonus. Most people just want to catch fish, and that’s why I like to call it a multi-species fishing trip.”

Visit www.brianbartonoutdoors.com or call 256-412-0969 for information about fishing on the Tennessee River. Other than the multi-species trips, Barton also does seasonal fishing that targets species like catfish, crappie and bream, both bluegills and shellcrackers (redear sunfish).

When you’re in northwest Alabama, don’t forget about the lodging available at Joe Wheeler State Park, which sits on the banks of the Tennessee River near Rogersville. Joe Wheeler has perfect accommodations for anglers, including the cabins away from the main lodge. The cabins are located on the south side of the Tennessee River near Wheeler Dam. This area has accessibility to both Wheeler and Wilson Lakes. A boat launch for Wheeler Lake is available in the cabin area, and another boat launch is located across Highway 101 at Wheeler Dam for Wilson Lake access. Visit www.alapark.com/parks/joe-wheeler-state-park/cabins for details. Also available is the Fisherman’s Cabin, located near the boat launch on First Creek.

After your fishing trip, Colbert County has an abundance of places to visit, including the Helen Keller home, Fame Recording Studios, Muscle Shoals Sound, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the Coon Dog Cemetery. Visit www.colbertcountytourism.org/attractions for more information.

Bass and Birds make for a Special Morning

Posted on September 13, 2025September 13, 2025 by Dave Barus

Plastic worms, singing birds, the sunrise and peace on Earth…what a special morning.

By Forrest Fisher

The sunrise had the hills over the eastern shore backlighted with a faint glow as I powered up the MinnKota bow motor to move silently away from the dock near Arnolds Bay. I didn’t want to wake anyone up yet, from this favorite summer cabin rental spot for my family. Once I approached the marina area, I started up the main motor and powered over to Bemus Bay, where I wanted to cast the silent community docks along several venues there. It was still dark, but there is calm and mystery in the silence of the morning night when you have a fishing rod in your hand. You can just sit, listen and find total relaxation in those moments of morning mystery.

My bait-casting reel was loaded with 12-pound braid, a short 20-pound fluorocarbon leader, and a modified pumpkin-pepper colored Senko worm on a 3/0 in-line circle hook placed mid-body beneath a layer of heat-shrink tubing. That rig set-up allows the plastic worm to be more resilient for a much longer time before being destroyed by the fish, and the circle hook puts the hook precisely in the corner of the mouth of each bass hooked. No damage to the fish. Because it was still dark, I rotated the hook point into the body just a bit to make it totally snag-proof. Nothing I dislike more than hooking a dock in the dark.

As I contemplated that first cast, an eerie bird song rang out from across Bemus Bay near Tom’s Point. Unmistakable, it was a loon. They are occasional stopover migrants to Chautauqua Lake; their beautiful call carries a long way. I looked over that way and could feel my jaw shape change into a half-grin. Satisfaction from fishing without even the first cast. I thought for a moment about how much fun this was already. So happy I got out of bed to do this.

As the sun poked upward in the next hour, I caught some fish; it was a peaceful experience, releasing them all. No record breakers, just one and two-pounders, all largemouth bass. In the middle of fishing, the best distractions of life can occur. I watched a Great Blue Heron stalking along the shallows between the docks. I saw wood ducks and colorful mallards making noise in the subtle little cove-like spots along the shore. High above, the first flight of Canada Geese was honking in V-shaped formations. On one tree, there was a small group of brightly colored American Goldfinch birds having a morning singing clutch. Not far away, there was a Sharp-Shinned Hawk to one side of the tree, and a Coopers Hawk on a tree not far away, the other way. All species have their ways in nature; they all struggle to survive each day, just like we people folk, but they have no concern about import taxes and electric bills. I grinned again. It was so good to be here.

As the first rays of sunshine began to touch the high treetops at Lakeside Court Cottages at the Bemus Point Ferry Crossing, I powered up the big motor to move through the no-wake channel there, under the I-86 bridge, and back to the cabin. In the distance toward the south, I watched a pair of Bald Eagles circle, looking for their first morning morsel. On occasion, my family and I have observed Ospreys and Northern Harriers along the north shore of the south Chautauqua Lake basin.

Watching and listening to the birds of Chautauqua can be an unforgettable experience all by itself. Add fishing, silence, sunrise, and wow; what a morning. Growing up nearly eight decades ago, I never knew what bird songs went with what bird species. Today, however, there is the Merlin Bird ID app – a free mobile app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that helps users identify birds by description, song, or photo. It covers birds in North America and uses artificial intelligence and data from eBird to make all this happen. Whenever I hear a bird singing that I don’t know nowadays, I open the app and let it listen to the bird. It identifies the bird in a few seconds. This free education can add a new layer of enjoyment to outdoor adventure. If this is a missing link for you, the app can help making each of us feel more connected and knowledgeable about the natural world. We never stop learning. Happy to be American.

Gotta love the outdoors.

The Charlie Kirk – American Hero, Tragic End

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Dave Barus

Tragic End for 1st and 4th Amendment Educator.
Charlie Kirk was speaking to Students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

By Forrest Fisher

**Charlie Kirk enjoyed his work with students and the public. Picture provided by NSSF®**

Like so many groups across the nation and the world, we are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. His untimely death has left a void in our hearts and in the advocacy for free speech and Second Amendment rights. As a representative of many sportsmen and hunter groups, I can say that our thoughts and prayers join with all of America and the Firearm Industry Trade Association (NSSF®). We join the NSSF and the nation in grieving the loss of Charlie Kirk, Founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, who was struck down by an assassin during a public open appearance at an educational institution. Kirk was a thought leader who peacefully challenged opposing viewpoints. But more than that, Kirk was a husband and father to two small children.

Kirk was a man who challenged ideas with ideas. He invited open debate with those who vehemently disagreed with him. He believed in free and spirited exchange of ideas and using words to reach millions of young adults across America’s college campuses. Kirk was also a man of deep-rooted and unapologetic faith in his Creator. He was dedicated to preserving and exercising our American rights granted by that Creator and guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, including not just First Amendment rights of Free Speech but also Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms.

This targeted assassination of Kirk, in what can only be understood as a measure to silence his voice and ideas, is vile. There is nothing – absolutely nothing – that could justify political violence against Kirk, who sought to engage his fellow citizens in civil discourse. This assassin is the manifestation of evil, and NSSF remains confident that local, state and federal authorities will find and bring this individual to justice.

Likewise, NSSF joins those who are repulsed by some who claim Kirk invited this senseless and cruel act of criminal violence, as well as some who celebrate it. We dedicate ourselves to honoring Kirk’s memory and legacy. We humbly pray for his young widow and children, who will grow up in their lives without their husband and father, taken so cruelly and senselessly by a politically-motivated assassin.

Today, we grieve. We also commit ourselves to advancing the principles which Kirk held dear, that freedom of thought and expression of rights cannot be compromised, that this nation is truly unique and preserving the nation’s liberties requires each of us to enter the arena. Wresoluteein our commitmentmitted to the principle that Kirk demonstrated to recognize, with the insight of the Creator who grants us our freedoms, the humanity of those around us – even those with whom we disagree.

My thoughts – After the event and national aerial coverage that ensued, a question arises: would better use of technology with drone surveillance to ensure perimeter security have helped prevent this tragedy? Hindsight is always 20-20, but it’s important to consider all possible measures to prevent such incidents in the future. These days, the words “In God We Trust” might need man-made help.

NSSF, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information about NSSF and its work, visit https:/www.nssf.org.

Can Pheasants Be Forever?

Posted on July 15, 2025July 15, 2025 by Dave Barus

Pheasants Forever is expanding public upland habitats, empowering grassroots chapters, supporting private landowners, and engaging women and youth hunters.
Learn about Pheasants Forever – their periodicals: Pheasant Journal, the Quail Journal – check them out.
At the annual 2025 Pheasant Fest EXPO, more than 23,000 attended. Share the force of support with others!

Kate Ahnstrom, Syren Shotgun Pro, demonstrates proper shotgun fit with youth attendees at the 2025 Kansas Pheasant Fest event. *David Gray photo*

By David Zumbaugh

Yes! With your help. Pheasants Forever is a U.S.-based non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant, quail, and other wildlife habitats through habitat improvements, public access, education, and advocacy. Founded in 1982 in response to the declining pheasant populations and loss of grassland habitat across the Midwest, PF boasts 480,000 members in 40 states and Canada. PF is a 501(c)(3) tax entity, so it must operate exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, educational, or other purposes that benefit the public. PF justifiably meets all these criteria.

Pheasants Forever is a grassroots, boots-on-the-ground, volunteer, membership-based organization. Most members are avid upland bird hunters, but landowners interested in improving the natural balance on their properties, conservationists, and wildlife enthusiasts are also proud supporters.

DVM Clairissa Maples with youth raffle winners of Canine Field First Aid Kit at Pheassant Fest 2025. *David Gray photo*

PF’s impact is tangible and inspiring. With biologists on staff from many states, PF educates rural landowners about federal and state conservation programs and assists them with the application process to improve habitat. PF directly purchases land to permanently protect select acres for upland wildlife while advocating other areas for public hunting. While the measured success is evident in the new public access for nearly 200,000 acres for bird hunting or outdoor recreation, PF has impacted millions of acres of wildlife habitat across the U.S. through restoration, enhancement, and protection projects.

One example is “Corners for Wildlife”. The Kansas Corners for Wildlife Program in NW Kansas offers farmers and ranchers the opportunity to improve financial results and recover wildlife habitat by providing five years of annual rental payments for planting acres with an approved conservation cover mix. Specifically targeted are the corners of center pivot irrigation systems, but other buffer areas, field borders, waterways, and edge ground are also considered. Initiated through a partnership with the Ringneck Classic, the program that brings people together for an annual pheasant hunt to raise funds to benefit the Northwest Kansas Conservation Foundation (NWKCF), promote hunting tourism, and contribute to local economies.

Highlights:

Over $600K has been raised to support the program.
PF is assisting in facilitating the program, but it is driven by local volunteers (Logan, Thomas, and Sherman Counties in Kansas).
Nearly 1000 acres have been enrolled since May 2024, with a goal of 10,000 acres.
The goal is to expand from four counties to all of NW Kansas.

The 2026 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the Minneapolis Convention Center, from February 20-22, 2026. *David Gray photo*

Pheasants Forever is notably involved in engaging new members in the hunting community through recruitment, retention, and reactivation of previously active bird hunters. The group sponsors many youth hunts and associated state-required hunter safety classes, emphasizing the importance of safety in every hunt. Gun safety is always stressed when in the field, ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience for all.

If you daydream about past hunts but are short on time to go, the Pheasant Journal is a periodical that can help. With feature articles on how and where to go, you will be enthralled for hours. Pages are filled with dramatic color images of days in the field and a section with photos “from the good old days”, including grandpa, his old shotgun, and his bird dog. If you are shopping for new gear or want to get a feel for the organization, grab a copy to peruse. A companion publication, Quail Journal, is available for those after “Gentleman Bob” (or the five other quail species).

The highlight of the year for the Pheasants Forever organization is a showcase event called Pheasant Fest. Officially called the National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic, this convention-style extravaganza draws thousands of enthusiasts from across the country. Whether you are interested in the latest model of shotgun, new boots, a puppy, or more, this is an event you don’t want to miss. Youngsters get excited and can’t get enough of the dog breeds during the “bird dog parade,” which happens on day one of the convention. There is something for everyone at this gathering, whether it be live music or the plethora of activities for kids; smiles are unanimous. Federal and state conservation agencies are front and center, offering advice on improving your land. Seed companies, along with agricultural implement dealers, are available to deploy plant varieties for bird nutrition and cover crops for winter survival. Speakers across several stages provide advice on topics from dog training to new hunting sites. The 2026 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the Minneapolis Convention Center, from February 20-22, 2026.

To learn more, visit www.pheasantsforever.org and www.kansasringneckclassic.com.

The Science of a Walleye Worm Harness – Why do they work? You can Make One!

Posted on July 13, 2025July 13, 2025 by Dave Barus

A scientist might suggest we study fluid dynamics, rotational mechanics, and drag forces to create the perfect spinner/worm rig.
In practice, perfect performance has been achieved for decades using trial and error…and not much engineering.
Add 2 more beads, make them 8mm, not 6mm, use a larger clevis, make it a #4 Colorado, not a #3 – and there we have it: A perfect fish catcher! A cooler full of walleyes!

A willow leaf spinner blade with similar matching beads tied on a monofilament leader made by 3D-Tackle Company works well at higher boat speeds. *Photo by @willsworldoutdoors.*

By Forrest Fisher

Spinner and worm rigs are a staple for catching walleye across the U.S. and Canada because they combine several characteristics that specifically appeal to the way walleye feed. Why are they so effective? It’s simple: flash, vibration, scent, and taste.

Many walleye anglers from across North America have grown up with friends who used a spinner/worm harness rigged with a live nightcrawler as their ONLY LURE for walleye fishing. In tackle shops where walleye fishing is famous, hand-made spinner/worm rigs dot the walls. In Eastern Lake Erie, a spinner-worm (nightcrawler) harness is tried-and-true as a walleye catcher. The innocent-looking rigs are especially effective all summer long. To rig them properly, there are balance, bead, spacing, and blade color considerations, and at least three differences in blade shapes. Each of these variables matters.

Along the New York shoreline of lake Erie, daily angler limit catches of 6-walleye per angler, 15-inch minimum, are typical. Four anglers innthe boat and at the dock, 24 walleyes in the cooler headed for the cleaning station in Barcelona, Dunkirk, Sunset Bay and Buffalo, NY. The walleye fishing from all of the Chautauqua County ports of access has been amazing. The best lure for 2025? Yep, a simple spinner and worm rig. Forward-facing sonar or regular downscan, the fish don’t care, just get a spinner/worm down there and hang on.

A Colorado blade tied on a wire spinner/worm harness is more durable than a monofilament leader. This is a “wonderbread” color pattern from the Eye-Fish Lure Company. *Jim Klein Photo*

A scientist might defer to suggesting that we all study fluid dynamics, rotational mechanics, drag forces, and material balance to achieve consistent blade spin across a wide range of trolling speeds. In practice, the drag force, lift force, and oscillation of the blade have been achieved for decades using trial and error, and not much engineering.

A typical nightcrawler harness consists of a spinner blade (Colorado, Indiana, or Willow), a series of beads – usually measured in millimeters, and one or two hooks (single) tied on a monofilament, stainless steel, or wire leader.

The blade shape matters because it affects vibration, flash, and the speed at which you can troll effectively. The Colorado blade is round, used for very slow trolling (1-1.5 mph), has a slow, wide wobble with a strong vibration, and works well in murky water. The Indiana blade, a versatile teardrop shape with moderate wobble and flash, is a good all-around blade. The Willow blade is a long, narrow blade made for fast trolling in clear water that provides lots of flash and works best when flash is more important than vibration.

Once the blade choice is made, the worm must be rigged just right. Use a whole nightcrawler and carefully thread the very tip of the head of the worm onto the first hook near the beads, then lightly hook the second hook about halfway down the body. Let the tail hang free; don’t thread it all the way up, or it won’t have natural action. Keep it straight – a twisted or overly curved crawler can spin unnaturally, causing line twist and reducing hits.

A one-man limit of walleyes (6) from Eastern Lake Erie can fill a freezer. *Josh Larsen photo.*

Of course, today, a spinner/worm harness can be rigged on a diving plane, a downrigger, an in-line weight, or with a bottom bouncer wire or sinker. Depending on how you are rigged with a weight, troll or drift (if the wind is right) around contour lines, reefs, or on noted suspended schools of walleye over deeper water. Vary speed and direction slightly as walleye often hit during speed changes and turns. For example, you can speed up and slow down your trolling speed or make slight turns to the left or right. These variations can often trigger an instant strike from a humble and cautious walleye. Speed changes and sharp turns can provoke walleye into striking.

Orange/green beads are excellent for stained water as they mimic young-of-the-year yellow perch. *Photo by @willsworldoutdoors.*

Bead colors matter, too, depending on light conditions, water clarity and forage. Chartreuse/green is excellent for stained water or low light and mimics emerald shiners and young-of-the-year yellow perch. Purple/dark red is excellent for clear water and sunny days, as walleyes see purple well in the deepest water. Orange/fire-tiger is bright and functional in slightly stained or dirty water. Glow beads are great for dawn, dusk or deeper water where light is minimal. Metallic beads reflect light and act as mini-flashers during high sunshine.

When we mix and match colors and blade types, the most effective favorites are found. That’s what friends are for. Spread the word and have fun out there. There are lots of walleye to catch, especially in Lake Erie, the Eastern end.

If you attempting to make your first homemade spinner and worm rig and need a simple Forrest Fisher formula, try this one – it works: Use a #3 or #4 Colorado blade in hammered nickel finish, a wide metal clevis, size 6 or size 8 mm plastic beads in alternating colors (chartreuse/orange for contrast), two #4 Gamakatsu or Mustad snelled octopus hooks, all on 48 -60 inches of 15-20 pound fluorocarbon leader line. Use enough beads to occupy the blade length plus 2 beads when the blade is laid down horizontally over the beads. Visit a local tackle shop for these parts. This spinner-worm rig setup will work at enticingly slow speeds of o.9-1.9 mph with a 1- to 3-ounce bottom bounce 3-way rig or an inline sinker in 15- to 50-foot depths of water. This rig will provide lots of fish-catching flash and get right down to the bottom when used with a mainline of 10-15-pound braid.

Spinner and worm rigs are so effective because they stimulate multiple senses—sight, vibration, and smell/taste—at once, while being slow and natural enough to match the feeding style of walleye. Their adaptability to different fishing conditions and ability to provoke both feeding and reaction bites make them a go-to for walleye anglers. Go get ’em!

A Time To Be By Yourself

Posted on June 28, 2025June 28, 2025 by Dave Barus

With all that is happening in America and the world, I put my thoughts into words and hope STO readers enjoy this and go and spend time outdoors by themself.

By Larry Whiteley

Sometimes, a feeling comes over me, and I know I must get away by myself to a place where I cannot do anything but relax and think. A place away from negative news of riots, illegal aliens, wars, and all the other bad stuff going on in the world.

I have no problem being by myself. I enjoy it. As a kid growing up on the farm, I spent a lot of time by myself out hunting squirrels or fishing in the creek. I also had a special tree I liked to climb. In its comforting limbs, I would daydream.

One of my special, by-myself places was lying in the hay in the barn loft and listening to rain hitting the old tin roof. I also had a secret place deep in the woods where I built a tiny cabin with limbs and mud. The roof was an old piece of tin. I took my BB gun with me to fight off Indians or German soldiers.

When I got older, Fall was, and still is, my favorite time to be by myself outdoors. It was hunting time. I was in tree stands and blinds hunting deer, turkeys, and ducks. I marveled at the kaleidoscope of colors that surrounded me. I enjoyed the cool nip in the air.

I walked in the woods and fields by myself in the Spring while I searched for mushrooms and turkeys. During the Summer, I would find a creek that few people knew about and do some fishing. Sometimes I would take my clothes off and go for a swim or I would catch crawdads to fish with or boil up and eat. At night, I would go gigging for frogs along its banks.

When Winter came, I would leave the warmth of home and venture outdoors into a winter wonderland of freshly fallen snow. I loved to follow the tracks of the animals that lived in the fields and forests. I would hike through the hills and marvel at icicles hanging from the rock bluffs and beautiful frost flowers created by the cold air and moisture from weeds and plants. Once you see them, you will never forget them.

After I married, we had kids, and I passed on to them what I had learned and experienced from all the time I had spent doing things by myself. I told them that being with family and friends is very important. So is time by themselves. It is for all of you reading this. It can change and shape your life.

Our kids are married now and have grown kids of their own. They enjoy fishing, hunting, camping, and hiking together. They also know the value and importance of finding time by themselves.

I get up every morning, every season of the year, and go outdoors. I sit and watch the sunrise and talk to God. Birds come into our feeders. Squirrels look for acorns. Rabbits nibble on the grass. I sip my coffee and enjoy the show. When evening arrives, I am out there again enjoying the sunset or the moonrise. I thank God for how he has blessed me.

That urge to be by myself, I have done so many times in my life, is coming on again. It has been building for a few months, and I must go. To a valley, by a creek, surrounded by wooded hills. Maybe I will take my fishing rod. Maybe I will take my hiking shoes. Maybe I will take my camera. Maybe I will take my tent and camp on a hill where I can see the beautiful country around me. Maybe I will take a hammock and hang it between two trees. Maybe, I will take a book. Maybe I will work on a story like this one.

For breakfast, I will fry bacon and eggs in a skillet over a campfire. Lunch will be snack food. For dinner, I will take some potatoes to fry in that skillet or wrap in foil and bake in that campfire. I will catch fish to go along with some potatoes. If I don’t catch any fish, I will eat just potatoes.

None of that matters much. Each of us will have our own ideas of what we need and where we want to go to spend some time alone. We need to keep it simple for this to work for us. Most importantly, do not take too much of anything and do it alone.

I will fish a little. Lie around. Read. Gather some firewood. Go for a swim in the creek. Lie around. Contemplate what it was like when Indians or settlers were there. Look at cloud shapes. Lie around. Listen to the water flowing and wonder where it goes on its journey. Skip rocks. Look for arrowheads. Take a nap. Build a campfire. Look at the stars and thank God for what He has done in my life. Thank Him for my family, my church, and all that He has created for me to enjoy all these years, and what few years I have left.

My mind will be free to drift where it will, thinking about things that matter a lot. To think about things that matter very little. It is easier to do all that when you are alone, away from this crowded and broken world we all live in today.

It is much easier to think objectively about life, marriage, children, grandchildren, friends, goals, dreams, and God when you focus mostly on the sky, trees, the land around you, and flowing water.

There is much to be said about finding time in this busy world for a little solitary time away from crowded roads with bumper-to-bumper traffic. Time away from television screens, computer screens, and smartphone screens. It helps you get acquainted with yourself again. Get down to the essentials of life. Enjoy getting to know yourself again. Discovering who you are.

You will know when the time is right for you. A time when you need to escape somewhere. A place to get away to where your soul and mind can be free to roam for a while. It may not be the way I do it. It may be a quiet time at a park, on your porch, or in your backyard. Being outdoors when you do it is an essential factor in making this work.

Wherever it is, whenever it is, find a time to be by yourself.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

I wondered why places are so much lovelier when one is alone.

– Daphne du Maurier

Atomic Fishing Line – The GAMMA Connection

Posted on June 17, 2025June 17, 2025 by Dave Barus

Better fishing line through Science and Chemistry.
The Gamma process of extruded monofilament and fluorocarbon lines is “Molecularly Altered.”
The Gamma fishing line process provides Unprecedented Flexibility, Shock Resistance, Strength, Abrasion Resistance, and Low Memory. It’s all about Science.

By Darl Black

Besides the essential hook, what is the most important tool for fishing? Take a moment to consider the top possibilities: a super-amazing lure, one of the many outstanding rod and reel combos, or is it the vital connection between the lure and the rod tip? The fishing line.

**Dale Black (the Gamma Guy) says his four most popular molecularly altered lines are Polyflex, Optic Yellow Panfish, Touch, and Edge.**

“Without the fishing line, we simply would not enjoy the sport of fishing,” muses Dale Black, President of Black Knight Industries, home to Gamma Line. “In the extruded line category, which includes nylon monofilament and polyvinylidene fluoride fluorocarbon (PVDF). Anglers desire a line that receives high-performance marks for the best combination of break strength, abrasion resistance, and suppleness. We offer unique products that meet those parameters.”

It all started 20 years ago when Dale, an expert river angler, was assisting a small group of outdoor writers on a story-generating tour to the middle section of the Allegheny River at the invitation of the local tourist promotion agency.

“Tom Ferrence, one of the attendees, was talking about a relatively new fishing line on the market coming out of Pittsburgh, PA – Gamma was its name. I had never heard of it before,” Dale explains. “The company had a special process used on extruded nylon for tennis racquet strings, then expanded into the fishing line and leader business. Using a pull-test apparatus, Tom demonstrated that Gamma outperformed all competitors’ monofilament and fluorocarbon line products of the same diameter in the break-strength test. I had to try a spool! I was so impressed that I bought the fishing line division of the company when it came up for sale four years later.”

That was the “Cliff Notes” version, but between point A and point B, Dale had much to investigate—testing Gamma line under different fishing circumstances, talking to guides and professional anglers who had been using it, acquiring an education for fishing line production and spooling, and specifically learning how Nanotechnology used by Gamma Technologies yields an incredible finished product.

Dale explains, “Gamma’s extruded monofilament and fluorocarbon lines are molecularly altered, creating filaments with an unprecedented combination of flexibility, shock resistance, strength, abrasion resistance, and low memory when compared to filaments of the same or similar material composition. The patented Gamma processing breaks down the stiff, long-chain molecules created during extrusion and drawing while creating millions of intermolecular bonds to cross-link the structure, resulting in a stronger, more flexible line.”

At the time, Dale was the franchise owner of a local business with a reliable income, but his sight was set on something much bigger. Being part of the fishing industry was in his blood. Therefore, he convinced his wife, Heidi, that the opportunity to acquire the rights to a product requires considerably more investment in time, travel, and money than his present occupation would be worth it in the long run. This effort would create a family-owned business without the backing or involvement of a large corporate structure; instead, family members and a limited number of employees would need to spool, package, distribute, and promote Gamma Line.

Outdoor writer Marilyn Black and Gamma Guy Dale Black display a few smallmouth bass taken during a recent outdoor writer Fam Tour on the Allegheny River. Both anglers were fishing tubes; Marilyn (no relation to Dale) had her reel spooled with 6-pound Edge, while Dale had his spooled with 5-pound Touch. All the fish were released alive.

Once the deal was inked in late 2010, the specially-built spooling machinery, computers, and already-packaged stock were moved from Pittsburgh to a rented space in Rouseville, Pa., near his home. But Gamma Line outgrew that site rather quickly. In 2020, Dale acquired a larger building and moved the shop to nearby Franklin, Pa.

**Dale Black is working with the multi-spooler that feed line to the various retail spools (Pony, Filler, Re-Fill and Mini Bulk).**

Here is how ordinary nylon monofilament and fluorocarbon end up on the tackle shop shelves at Gamma Fishing Line. The line is extruded in Japan, and a specific supplier has been working with Gamma for years.

The line is shipped to Gamma Technologies in Pittsburgh, where it receives the Gamma Processing. The line skeins (large bundles of the same pound test) are then delivered to Gamma Fishing Headquarters in Franklin. The ties are cut, and the line is loaded on simple payoff machines. The line is then wound onto large “payoff spools” to feed “multi-spoolers” that wind the line onto smaller commercial spools for retail sales.

“I supervise the back of the shop – production, ordering, spooling of line, labeling, and machine maintenance,” acknowledges Dale. “My niece, Shelby, manages the office and shipping. Heidi is the Chief Financial Officer, and we both do promotions at sports shows, tournament showcases and outdoor writer events.”

Gamma Line is one of those products that anglers may be skeptical about until they actually fish with it for a period of time. Dale says, “I know because I was one of those skeptics. It took an entire season of using 6-pound Gamma Edge on a favorite smallmouth/walleye spinning outfit to sway me. It performed much better than expected. For example, during fall trips for river smallmouth in deep current pools where snagging debris piles frequently occurred, I would accidentally snag debris and hold the boat in the strong current with my 6-pound Gamma. In contrast, others on board caught bass from all around the sunken cover. From then on, all my rods were spooled with Gamma, including daily use of 4-pound test Gamma Panfish Copolymer on a half-dozen customer rods during my stint as a crappie guide.”

The folks at Black Knight Industries are always excited to hear from anglers who are enjoying higher catch rates when they switch to one of the Gamma Line products. “Our customers tell us they are most impressed with the strength, suppleness, and low memory of our lines,” adds Dale. “Furthermore, they aren’t losing fish due to line breakage, and they find the manageability of Gamma’s Edge and Touch fluorocarbon to their liking compared to other fluorocarbons.”

**Jeff Knapp with a few walleyes from Pymatuning Lake using blade baits with 16-pound Edge leader to reduce fouling of hooks on the line.**

Pete Cartwright of SmalliesOnTheYough guide service says, “Gamma Edge is the only line I will use. Its abrasion resistance and strength are up to any challenge faced on the river. The invisibility of fluorocarbon is a must during low, clear summer water. I have trusted Gamma Line with my guide clients for years – there is no other choice.”

Keystone Connection Guide Service owner Jeff Knapp spools various Gamma Lines on his wide selection of rods. One particular use is Edge as leader material with braided lines to fish glide jigs (Rapala Jigging Raps and Acme Hyper Rattlers) and the classic blade baits (Silver Lucky) for walleyes. “These lures are worked in an aggressive jigging motion that has the potential to foul a hook on the leader. To counteract this, I fish a 16-pound Edge leader between 12 and 24 inches long. This thicker/stiffer line dramatically reduces fouled baits and wasted casts.”

Multispecies angler Denny Beggs employs a 6-pound fluorocarbon Gamma Edge leader on his steelhead outfit, as well as his stream trout and panfish rods. “I use a 4-foot leader tied to my main line, which may be Torque braid or, in some instances, Polyflex monofilament. I rarely have a break-off when I hook an acrobatic, hard-fighting steelhead in the Lake Erie surf.”

Light tackle guru Brad Buchheit spools only 5-pound Gamma Touch on his ultralight baitcasting outfit, successfully landing everything from huge crappies to muskellunge and carp.

For more information on Gamma, visit the Gamma Lines website, email sales@GammaFishing.com or call 814-676-3474.

Jumbo Perch and Thunder-Chickens: it’s Spring in the Northeast

Posted on May 10, 2025May 10, 2025 by Dave Barus

With spring rain and wind, staying warm and dry requires planning.
When hunting: Stay free of deer ticks, learn about using Permethrin, Picaridin, and Rynoskin.
Hunting or Fishing: Keep your feet dry and warm. Check out Vaprtrek insulated boots and light Merino wool socks.

By Forrest Fisher

When the wind and rain occasionally find a vacation stay in Western New York, experienced hunters like Gary Huber change tactics to find the birds. This is Huber’s second spring-season bird this year, filling his 2-bird season limit.

It has been an excellent year for rain gear and umbrella salesmen. So, getting out there with rod/reel or hunting gear requires a combination of preparation, proper gear, and strategy to stay dry, safe, and productive. You know the old saying: Failing to plan is a plan for failure.

It’s spring in the North and East and elsewhere. It’s chilly. It’s rainy. It’s “uncomfy.” If you’re fishing or hunting, invest in high-quality, insulated, waterproof boots. Add a thin polyester sock as the first layer on your foot, then a thin pair of Merino wool socks before inserting your foot into the boots. What boots? I’ve been wearing the Irish Setter VAPRTREK models because they are light and comfy. I wear out at least one pair a year. They are my everyday boots for when I play outdoors.

If you’re in the turkey hunting woods looking to find a thunder-chicken, get some gaiters too, and spray them up with Permethrin to keep the deer ticks from finding a doorway to crawl up your leg with your back against a tree. While you’re in protection mode, add some Picaridin to your neck and any other exposed skin. Sawyer Company sells both products; they are inexpensive at under $15 each. To stay chemical-free, consider a Rynoskin armor suit as your underwear cover. Even no-see-ums can’t get through. I wear them hunting, fishing and gardening because going through a cure for Lyme Disease in the human body is no fun at all. Ask me how I know? The Rynoskin full-body suit costs about $150, worth every red cent.

The bottom line is that there is nothing like wet feet to END outdoor fishing, hunting, camping trips, or whatever you’re doing outdoors. Stay dry, stay warm, and enjoy the experience.

Next, be smart about where you’re at and what you’re doing. Remember, it’s wet. Get a small dry bag to stow in your rainproof backpack to protect your wallet, keys, and phone.

When the jumbo perch in Lake Erie are biting, chilly weather with wind and rain can take a backseat, but keeping dry with the footware and outerware is important. *Captain Hans Mann photo*

You’re ahead of the curve if you wear moisture-wicking clothing layers with breathable, waterproof outer layers, such as pants and jackets (like Gore-Tex). Get these garments in the color you need to be where you are. Add a wide-brim hat or hood and waterproof gloves if you need them, and life will be cozy and dry. Happiness is.

It has been windy and stormy from the Midwest to the Northeast for weeks. Right through the start of many opening day fishing and spring turkey hunting seasons all across the north country regions. If you don’t postpone your fishing trip because of wind and waves, and then decide to go hunting instead (no big waves in the woods), use a buddy system. Don’t go alone if possible – but at least tell someone where you’re headed. Trees can crash down in heavy wind at times. So, look around for solid trees to be protected from that type of event before sitting down. Be safe.

Jumbo perch are schooling in Eastern Lake Erie and modern sonar can find them. *Captain Daryl Glassner photo*

Fishing for Lake Erie jumbo perch in heavy winds can be challenging and downright brutal. Just ask big perch prize winner, Mark Mohr, from the annual Southtowns Walleye Lake Erie Perch Contest, always held on the first weekend of May. Mohr caught the biggest perch of the tourney with a 2.74-pound jumbo, but his fishing buddies Mark Woelfle and Charter Captain Rob Ebersole admit that their fingers felt frozen and their feet were wet. With heavy wind and high waves, it’s difficult to keep the fishing lines down and even more challenging to keep the boat still enough to drop down 2-hook and 3-hook fishing rigs with minnows in 55 feet of water depth.

If in the turkey woods, remember that turkeys move less in the wind. Set up in wind-protected hollows, field edges, or lowland woods, and be watchful. Don’t call too often, sounds move in funny ways in the wind. Plus, the rain quiets the forest floor, so you must listen and watch more carefully than usual.

On any day, it’s pretty exciting when a bird in the far distance answers and you realize he is answering you! You wait a few minutes and reply back with your call, and they return their volley of turkey jabber. It’s honest, exciting fun. In this light of turkey sound creation by us humans to fool a tom turkey into thinking we are sexy turkey hens waiting around the next brushpile for them, I want to share a new discovery. About a year ago, I met Brian Benolken, owner of Cutting Edge Game Calls. He shared with me, his new turkey-calling toy and explained how inventor Eric Steinmetz created one of the most unique turkey box calls ever made. I have one now and discovered the call is totally innovative and is deadly-useful if you hunt turkey. Constructed in a 4-way configuration of old-fashioned sounding boards made from four different wood species, it is called the “4-Play Turkey Call.” The paddle is a sort of a game-like joystick that allows variable pressure and angle change to provide never-before-possible turkey friendship, mating and boss-bird leadership sounds. All in one call. The 4-Play provides clucking, yelping, cackling and cutting sounds. Any of the four sounding boards can be accessed by rotating the paddle around one end of the call. The resulting notes can form a composition of turkey singing harmony unmatched by one call ever before. My wife actually gets upset when I practice with this call in the backyard. It attracts turkeys, a variety of wild birds, and some of those critters that feed on birds and turkeys (fox, coyotes, etc.). Deer know that turkey are keenly aware of predators, so deer come strolling through the yard too. Remind me to take this call when deer hunting during archery season this fall!

Numerous Wildlife Management Areas in New York and other northern states are open to the public and provide access to diverse habitats for turkey hunting. These are good places to hunt those tasty wild thunderchickens right now.

By equipping yourself with the right gear and adapting your strategy to the weather conditions, you’re setting yourself up for success. Whether you’re fishing or hunting, the thrill of a successful and safe outdoor experience is hard to match.

Gotta love the outdoors.

Scott Jordan with youngster, Ethan Cole, with a successful youth turkey hunt. The 2025 New York State Youth Turkey Hunt weekend ended this past Sunday. *Photo by CRCS Outdoors*

Military Veterans honored at Cheeca Lodge All-American Backcountry Tournament

Posted on January 28, 2025March 5, 2025 by David Gray

Islamorada Tournament benefits the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, an organization working to restore these and other species.
Cheeca Lodge & Spa event honors two U.S. Military Veterans in celebration of Veteran’s Day each year.
The tournament runs from the Bass Pro Islamorada Marina and features backcountry fishing for 5 species of fish: Tarpon, Redfish, Permit, Bonefish, and Snook.

**Captain Mike Makowski guided two U.S. Military veterans to a runner-up finish in the Cheeca Lodge & Spa annual backcountry fishing tournament from Islamorada, Fl.**

The Cheeca Lodge and Spa All-American Backcountry tournament kicked off in Cheeca’s Islamorada ballroom over Veteran’s Day weekend, 2024. Anglers from all over the United States gathered to participate in this three-day backcountry event, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared passion for this type of fishing.

To celebrate Veterans Day each year, two U.S. military veterans are hosted to fish in this prestigious tournament. Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Richard Myers from Key Largo, FL, and retired U.S. Navy Second Class Petty Officer David Barus, a resident of East Aurora, NY, fished in the backcountry islands of Florida Bay with Captain Mike Makowski of Blackfoot Charters. Invited to the podium to lead off the Cheeca Lodge event at the captain’s meeting by General Manager Bill Coteron, David Barus asked the audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance. A rousing round of applause followed, reinforcing the sense of community among the participants.

The tournament features a distinctive format for backcountry fishing, targeting five species of fish: Tarpon, Redfish, Permit, Bonefish, and Snook. Anglers can use three different types of tackle: bait, spin, and fly, each earning points for the teams and individual anglers. Only 5 of each species can be counted for points each day, with bonus points awarded for releasing three or more species. This unique format adds an element of strategy and excitement to the competition. Anglers can fish alone or as a team of two anglers per boat. In total, 155 fish were released with 11 on fly rod, 90 on artificial tackle, and 54 using bait. The winning anglers were awarded amazing hand carved trophies from local artist Doug Berry.

***Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Richard Myers with his first-ever Tarpon caught while fishing in the largest island-filled expanse of Florida Bay.***

Grand Champion angler Jim Bokor Jr. from Buffalo, NY, fishing with Captain Richard Black from Tavernier, won the top awards for his two-day total of 3350 points and accumulated an additional 2513 bonus points because he released four of the different species for a total of 5863 points. Jim released one bonefish, 10 tarpon, 10 snook and five redfish. Jim also received the artificial (spin) division award for 27 releases on artificial tackle.

Runner-up Angler Jason Rubenstein, a resident of Bellaire, TX, would release four species as well. Captain Jack Given led Rubenstein to three bonefish, eight tarpon, six snook and five redfish. The team totaled 2550 points and 1533 bonus points for 4463. Altogether, 15 of Jason’s fish were on bait, winning him the bait division.

**Retired U.S. Navy Second Class Petty Officer David Barus with a nice tarpon caught under the direction of guide Captain Mike Makowski.**

Captain Tim Klein, fishing with Steve Austin from Ponte Verda Beach, FL, and John Wilbur of Marathon, FL, took home Team Grand Champion Awards with a team total of 4598 points. The team released three bonefish, eight snook and 18 redfish, amassing 3065 points plus 1533 bonus points for catching three different species.

Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Richard Myers and retired U.S. Navy Second Class Petty Officer David Barus, fishing as a team with Captain Mike Makowski, released three tarpon, nine snook and three redfish. Each was a first species catch for Sergeant Myers. The team totaled 1510 points over the two days with 755 bonus points for a total of 2265 points. Each member of the team received beautiful Team Runner-Up Trophies.

**The Cheeca Lodge Veterans 2024 Team included Richard Myers – US Army, Doug Berry – trophy artist, David Barus – US Navy, and Captain Mike Makowski – Blackfoot Charters. Tara Beth Photography**

Christopher Jordan of McLean, VA, fishing with Captain Paul Ross, would release 11 fish on Fly. He was awarded the Fly Division Championship with 10 redfish and one tarpon caught on a flyrod. Charles Wright from Sebring, FL, won the Most Outstanding Catch award for releasing a 15-pound goliath grouper. Charles was fishing with Captain Nate Blackburn. Best Photo Award went to David Barus and Captain Mike Makowski for a beautiful tarpon photo.

***The giant mouth of the tarpon can inhale large forage. This is one of many awesome pictures that were taken by Captain Mike Makowski, Blackfoot Charters.***

The awards party was gracious for all attendees, serving a deluxe surf and turf Cheeca Lodge dinner that included tenderloin steak and fresh lobster, with a choice of deluxe beverages. “This is a very special event with Cheeca Lodge and Spa bringing veterans to the Keys to fish every year,” stated General Manager Bill Coteron. “Our commitment to this tournament and our veterans is heartfelt. We hope you will join us to fish this great event next year.” Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to conserve and restore the bonefish and tarpon and permit fisheries and habitats through research, stewardship, education, and advocacy. In the Florida Keys and South Florida, the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust is working to determine and address the causes of declining fish populations. The group has defined a series of research steps for actions that will protect and restore habitats throughout the range of bonefish and tarpon and permit to return to healthy populations of these and associated species.

To learn more about BTT, visit https://www.bonefishtarpontrust.org/btt-mission/. To see what is happening at Cheeca Lodge and Spa, visit https://www.cheeca.com/.

Interview with Jay Ashcroft – Candidate for Governor of Missouri

Posted on July 8, 2024July 8, 2024 by David Gray

Honest Questions and Answers for Missouri Voters to Know.
Details of Critical Opportunities and Issues.
Americans – Life, Love, Family and the Second Amendment.

By David Gray

Question: You are running for Governor of the State of Missouri as a Republican Conservative. What in your mind is a Conservative?

As a conservative, I believe people have the right to make their own decisions. Government doesn’t know how you live your life and should not make decisions for you.

Question: Why do you want to take on the demanding duties of the Governor of the State of Missouri?

I see opportunities for Missouri to move forward that we are not doing and need to take advantage of, like opportunities to make things better for all the people.

Question: What was the most challenging part of being the Missouri Secretary of State?

The most challenging part was writing ballot language for Initiative Petitions. One Petition had 50 pages and included many changes to the Missouri Constitution.

Getting 50 pages accurately written into ballot language that people can vote on is very challenging.

Question: How will you balance working for the best interests of Missouri’s citizens, including those who vote for you and those who may not have voted?

As Governor, you should do your best for all the people. Missouri does not need more Government. We need to get the Government out of the way for all our citizens.

Question: Should a Governor represent the values of the citizens or be a free thinker to do whatever they want to do?

A governor needs to be a leader who helps all the people. As a leader, you should show the people how they can do more and better than they think they can do.

Question: What best qualifies you to earn the vote of the people?

You do not earn the office. The people bestow you to go to work for the people. You do not say things that just sound good. You do things that help the people.

Question: How would you balance overseeing critical business community needs and the individual citizen needs of the State?

You do not just set an agenda. Businesses are made up of individuals. If you do something to help businesses, you are helping the economy and helping everyone, including their children.

Question: What do you see as the most important legislative priorities for 2025?

I believe we need Initiative Petition reform. We need to make sure that parents are in charge and oversee their children’s education.

We need a focus on Public Safety. We need prosecutors who prosecute.

Question: Our Second Amendment says, “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Is there any infringement of the Second Amendment you would consider supporting?

The Second Amendment states that people have the right to keep and bear arms. This right does not extend to Illegals. “As Governor, I will work with the Missouri Attorney General to push back on federal overreach that is hurting individual liberty.”

Question: When I say the word Missouri, what is in your heart and immediately comes to mind?

The Heartland, which, for me, is a center of values that glue Missourians to each other.

Question: When I say the word America, what is in your heart and immediately comes to mind?

Proud to be an American. Men and women joined together in the Revolutionary War and Civil War, and that framed and transformed our country with Freedom, Liberty, Values and Hope.

Question: What question that we have not asked would like to be asked?

I am the only candidate endorsed by Right to Life.

Question: What are your favorite Outdoor Activities?

Right now, my favorites are playing basketball and football with my kids. They won’t always be kids, but now is the time to enjoy activities with them. I also enjoy gardening; it is very relaxing to grow things.

In the fall and winter, I enjoy camping. I am much better at fishing than catching! I also enjoy hunting when it brings together friends.

Silent, Wind-Proof Pants to Warm your Bottom!

Posted on February 12, 2024February 12, 2024 by Dave Barus

Prepare early for the next chilly season.
Hard to find comfy-warm pants that are silent too and provide safe storage zipper pockets in 8 places.
These pants have a waistband that keeps them there.

By Forrest Fisher

When you’re hunting or fishing where frigid air temps can be expected, you need your gear ready at a moment’s notice. Savvy outdoors people know that comfy-warm pants that can carry gear are hard to find. These new SKRE Kodiak Pants have 8 zippered pockets. They allow for the ultimate organization of small gear items with 100 percent containment.

The interior grip waistband on the Kodiak keeps the pants in place, even when climbing up a hillside or treestand. When temperatures rise, dual hip vents open for maximum airflow. The Kodiak pant features 4-zippered cargo pockets, 2-zippered rear pockets, 2-zippered hand pockets, and the wind-resistant technology of MTN-X2 soft-shell (silent) face fabric is bonded with microfleece on the interior skin-contact surface. Add YKK Zippers – the kind you find on boat covers, zippered side vents, and a durable, water-resistant outer shield layer.

These pants are durable but light in weight (1 lb., 11 oz.) and are available in men’s standard sizes online at www.skregear.com.

Additionally, the SKRE products are backed by the company’s True Lifetime Warranty – an industry-best unconditional warranty for quality and workmanship. If, for any reason, you are unhappy with any SKRE gear, return it for a full refund or exchange. SKRE Gear also makes hardscrabble jackets and pants and their complete line of innovative outerwear, base layers, and accessories for all seasons.

About SKRE Gear: SKRE Gear, founded in 2016, was forged in mountain country with the quest to craft the best extreme hunting gear utilizing the finest technical fabrics with zero compromise in craftsmanship and materials. Visit https://skregear.com/.

Sage Grouse Chicks – How & Why of Tagging (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Jim Low

Trapping Coyote: The Process

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Jill Easton

Coyotes: 40 Pounds of Muscle that Can Bite
Learn “Smart” to Trap Coyote
Leg-Hold Traps Work Best

By Jill J. Easton

A grown coyote can be 40 pounds of muscle and mayhem, and they are one of the smartest animals in the woods. Fasten your traps well and don’t ever assume that a cowering coyote won’t bite. Trapping coyotes should always mean catch and kill, not catch and release.

Learn Regulations

Before starting any trapping program learn the trapping regulations in your state. Most wildlife agencies have regulation books and some states require licenses or trapper education courses before trapping. Your state’s trapper’s association is another excellent place to get trapping training and pointers. Make an internet search for local contacts.

Becoming successful at catching coyotes means setting your traps where the canines travel. The best locations for coyote sets are in travel ways, the edges of roads between fields, places where animals have obviously been crawling under fences and around barns and stock feeding areas. Put your sets in places where domestic animals won’t get caught.

Leg-Hold Traps Work Best

Leg hold traps in a dirt hole set (the trap is covered with a light layer of dirt and duff) work best for coyotes. In snow country, #3 traps work best and in warmer climates #1.75 traps are big enough for coyotes.

“Generic predator sets work well for coyotes and will also catch coons and possums that may be part of the problem,” explained Jim Spencer, author of GUIDE TO TRAPPING (available from www.treblehookunlimited.com). “Make the set upwind of the suspected travelway, choose a low backing like a log, bunch of grass or rock that will attract attention, punch a slanted hole four to six inches deep at an angle under the backing. This is where the attractant, a bait or lure, will be placed. About five inches in front of the lure hole and backing dig a shallow hole just big enough to accommodate the trap.

Either pound a stake into the trap bed fastened to the trap chain, or cable the trap to a nearby tree or log using 3/32nds or larger galvanized aircraft cable. Set the trap then bed it firmly in the shallow hole and pack dirt around it until there is no wobble in the trap. Then pack dirt around the outside of the open jaws and sift a light covering of dirt over the trap and blend it with the surroundings. Finally, put either a meat bait or predator scent in the hole and stuff a few leaves in the opening to keep the bait dry. Apply a squirt of fox or bobcat urine to the backing. That’s all there is to it.”

To dispatch a coyote, simply draw an imaginary line from each ear to the opposite eye. Place your .22 sight where the two lines cross. Short solid point ammo is adequate for the job.

Traps, Lures, Gear Sources

Traps, lure and other equipment can be purchased from many trapping supply companies which can be found on line. Schmidt Enterprises and Kaatz Brothers Supply are two full line companies.

The Process: How to Set a Coyote Leg-Trap

Next Week: About Opposum

Trapping Coyote: The Process

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Jill Easton

Coyotes: 40 Pounds of Muscle that Can Bite
Learn “Smart” to Trap Coyote
Leg-Hold Traps Work Best

By Jill J. Easton

Learn Regulations

Leg-Hold Traps Work Best

To dispatch a coyote, simply draw an imaginary line from each ear to the opposite eye. Place your .22 sight where the two lines cross. Short solid point ammo is adequate for the job.

Traps, Lures, Gear Sources

Traps, lure and other equipment can be purchased from many trapping supply companies which can be found on line. Schmidt Enterprises and Kaatz Brothers Supply are two full line companies.

The Process: How to Set a Coyote Leg-Trap

Next Week: About Opposum

Ice Fishing Lures, Rattle & Hum

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Jill Easton

Sage Grouse Chicks – How & Why of Tagging (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Ice Fishing Lures, Rattle & Hum

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Practice Post STO 03032017

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

There is something special about winter fishing in the deep blue clear water off Fort Myers in Florida. There’s no snow, short sleeves and shorts are usual garb everywhere and there are lots of fish – it’s exciting!

This is a Mayan chiclid, an invasive species that is caught by anglers in many south Florida waters. FWC Photo

Each morning sunrise is nurtured with a tropical resource splash of orange color. Birds are singing in the nearby distance, baitfish slurp on the surface everywhere to escape as morning feed from predators and dolphins – a sight to watch, and there is the sweet smell of morning fog as it is lifting off the quiet waters that surround the waterfront here.

We feel a part of the natural resource here for a moment, as my wife (Rose) and I arrive at Sanibel Marina in Lee County, Florida. As we pull in, a giant Eastern Brown Pelican swoops in front of our SUV. “Wow! That was awesome, oh my goodness – that bird was so big, so colorful, so beautiful,” Rose whispered. Our open windows were rolled all the way down. We stopped to observe if a more such dive-bomber birds might be startled to provide another air show. It was refreshing.

As we looked down the dock to find our boat captain and first mate, another giant bird screeched about his fish catch and peered at us from across the dock, as the Osprey continued feeding her chicks in a lofty nest.

We were fishing with good friends from Western New York, Bill Hilts and his beautiful wife, Sandy, and all of us were really happy that we could finally find some time to get together in the outdoors with a fishing line in the Florida sunshine. We could here quiet conversation and the sound of several ice bags hitting the deck for the fish coolers in the distance.

As Captain Ryan Kane of Southern Instinct Charters (www.southerninstinct.com) turned the ignition key and started the three 250 HP Yamaha 4-stroke engines on the transom, he greeted us and we all were escorted aboard. Captain Kane maneuvered the sleek 36-foot Contender vessel from his comfortable Sanibel Marina boat slip to the bait shop dock to pick up his regular order of 100 live shrimp. The aerated live well was large at 50-gallon capacity.

Just then, a humble voice and a giant smile beckoned us ordinary land animals into the fun and fishing reality ahead, 1^st mate, Captain Kasey Szereski

http://www.sharetheoutdoors.com/2017/09/05/tru-fire-introduces-the-bulldog-foldback-buckle-release/

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

http://www.sharetheoutdoors.com/2017/09/05/tru-fire-introduces-the-bulldog-foldback-buckle-release/

Hunting and Fishing Groups File Final Comments Opposing Clean Water Rollback

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

14 national groups and 70 local affiliate chapters oppose the proposed weakening of clean water standards that would threaten fish and wildlife habitat

By Kristyn Brady

Today (April 15, 2019), dozens of national, regional, and local hunting and fishing groups submitted final comments on the EPA’s proposed rollback of Clean Water Act protections for 50 percent of wetlands and 18 percent of stream miles in the U.S. Their comments underscore the potential economic consequences for rural communities and outdoor recreation businesses and the species that stand to lose habitat if clean water standards are weakened.

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership has also mobilized more than 3,500 individual sportsmen and women to submit comments opposing the rollback during the brief comment period.

“At every step of the EPA’s rule replacement process on what waters qualify for Clean Water Act protections, hunters and anglers have been clear about their support for safeguards on headwaters and wetlands,” says Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The science supports protecting these habitats as interconnected to larger water systems, the economics of defending outdoor recreation opportunities and businesses makes sense, and Americans will continue to stand up for clean water to power their outdoor pursuits.”

The groups write that the proposed rule represents a “wholesale gutting of the Clean Water Act’s 47 years of protection for our nation’s waters,” with habitat that supports trout, salmon, pintails, mallards, teal, and snow geese in the crosshairs.

Read the detailed comments here. Fourteen national groups and 70 state and local affiliate chapters signed in support.

Photo by Project Healing Waters via flickr.

Sacred Water at Devils Lake: Legend of the Lake Monster

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

Sacred Water at Devils Lake: Legend of the Lake Monster
By Bob Holzhei
Early European-Americans termed the lake “Bad Spirit Lake” because of high salinity water, making it unfit to drink. With summer, mirages were often seen across the water and the lake was referred to as “Spirit Lake,” as reflected in the Spirit Lake Indian Tribe.
Published reports of a “Lake Monster” date as far back as 1894, while Native American legends go back much further about a Loch Ness serpent in Devil’s Lake.
Whether fact or fiction, stories of the Devil’s Lake Monster that have been reportedly sighted and recounted in many newspapers, including the New York Sun in 1984, the Bismarck Tribune in 1895 and the Wichita Beacon in 1904.
All descriptions of the serpent indicate it has alligator jaws and glaring red eyes, a tail stretching to 80 feet long and it usually appears at sunset during August. The serpent moves slowly, often seen about a half mile from shore and reported to circle the lake twice a day. A slimy green color, the serpent’s motion sends gentle surface waves along from head to tail with the wake visible as it pushes along.
Early accounts of the Devil’s Lake Monster may be sensationalized accounts reported in newspapers in order to draw tourists to the area. Whether fact or fiction, my camera did accompany me on a guided fishing trip to Devil’s Lake in August. Today I can attest that our guide did fish more than a half mile from the mainland shore. Hmmmm.
While we chuckled about the fabled monster chronicles, Devils Lake in North Dakota is an angler’s dream and is open to fishing all year long. Ice fishing is especially fun here with heated huts and the aroma of smoked sausage on the grill.
No matter the time of year, multiple species here keep every angler in action for most of the fishing day. Foot-long perch are common, walleye in all-sizes – from eaters to wall hangers are the usual resident and non-resident angler focus, northern pike ranging from 5 to 10 pounds are the largest predator fish, while white bass, panfish (crappie and bluegill) and trout, provide a variety of fishing opportunities at Devil’s Lake. It’s fun to fish here.
A variety of popular fishing strategies include slip bobber fishing, rigging, jigging, casting, trolling with crankbaits and enticing hungry fish with bottom-bouncers when the usual hot bite is off, which is not very often. We caught over 50 walleye each day of our fishing.
The Devil’s Lake Basin is the second largest body of water in North Dakota after Lake Sakakawea. Once the lake reaches a high level of 1,458 feet, it flows into the Sheyenne and Red Rivers, though overflow occurred only twice in the last 4,000 years. Historically the area is the site of the Dakota people who relocated there as a result of The 1867 Treaty with the United States.
The lake stretches over 374 acres with a maximum depth of 47 feet.

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

Lacy Jo Jumper

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

Hummingbirds are INSECT EATERS…did you know?
Hummingbirds eat a wide range of invertebrates, such as tiny spiders, mosquitoes, aphids, flies, gnats, beetles, leafhoppers and caterpillars.
While feeding their young, females may eat as many as 2,000 insects a day.
Set aside patches of native plants. Such patches are havens for native insects.

By Terry W. Johnson

Throughout spring and summer, we Georgians spend much time watching ruby-throated hummingbirds feeding at our hummingbird feeders and flowers. These visitations are so frequent one might think that the food we provide them is all these birds need to survive. However, hummingbirds require far more than sugar provided by sugar-water solutions and the nectar of flowers to prosper.

The belief that hummingbirds can survive solely on nectar alone is not new. In fact, it was once so widespread that when zoos and other facilities first tried to display hummingbirds in captivity, the birds were fed nothing but sugar water. When these efforts failed, it became clear hummingbirds require a more varied diet. After much experimentation, these early aviculturists learned that the birds also needed protein.

To determine the source of this protein, biologists analyzed the stomach contents of many hummingbirds. This led to the discovery that hummingbirds eat a wide range of invertebrates, such as tiny spiders, mosquitoes, aphids, flies, gnats, beetles, leafhoppers and caterpillars. Some stomachs examined contained dozens of these tiny animals. Yet, because the researchers could not detect nectar, some suggested that hummingbirds visit flowers hunting insects rather than nectar.

Today, such theories do indeed seem weird. But remember that early scientists needed the technology to detect nectar. Nor did they know that nectar is digested very quickly. Nowadays, it is common knowledge that a complete hummingbird diet consists of nectar (manmade and natural), invertebrates and several other food items.

One such food is tree sap. In winter, the most common source of sap in Georgia is sapsucker holes. These sap wells are excavated by a woodpecker known as the yellow-bellied sapsucker. This odd woodpecker – a winter resident here – chisels through the outer bark of various trees to create the tiny reservoirs. The sap that wells up in these excavations is the bird’s primary food source. But other animals also eat the sugary liquid, including squirrels, butterflies, Carolina chickadees and hummingbirds.

After the sapsuckers leave the state at the end of winter, hummers often find sap in broken tree limbs that exude it.

Hummingbirds are also fond of fruit juice. While the ruby throat’s bill may appear sharp, it is blunt and incapable of piercing a peach, apple, pear, fig or other fruit. However, they will eat juice from fruit partially eaten or punctured by a bird or other animal. My wife and daughter once had the rare opportunity to watch a ruby-throated hummingbird feeding on a fig. The bird dined by dipping its bill into a hole pierced in the ripe fig by another bird.

One of the most fascinating revelations concerning the diet of the ruby-throated hummingbird is that invertebrates may be a far more critical component of their diet than we previously realized. Dr. Doug Tallamy, professor and chair of the University of Delaware’s Department of Entomology and noted proponent of incorporating native plants in residential landscapes, puts it this way: “Hummingbirds like and need nectar, but 80 percent of their diet is insects and spiders. … If you don’t have those insects and spiders in your yard, it doesn’t matter how many hummingbird feeders you have. You are not going to be able to support hummingbirds.”

**Ruby Throated Humminbrid. Photo by James Monteleone**

Invertebrates provide ruby throats with the fats and minerals not supplied by nectar, sap and fruit juices. It has long been recognized that female hummers consume large numbers of these tiny critters while feeding their young. At that time of the year, females may eat as many as 2,000 insects a day. They, in turn, provide their young with the protein-rich food needed for proper growth and development.

We now also know that adult hummingbirds consume scores of insects and other invertebrates daily. The consumption of these tiny, protein-rich animals only increases during migration.

In a study by Cornell University’s Laboratory of Ornithology, researchers tracked the movements of a female hummingbird for two weeks. During this time, the bird ate nothing but insects. These revelations have prompted some hummingbird experts to suggest that hummers are best described as insectivorous birds that eat nectar instead of nectavors that dine on insects.

If that’s the case, to attract hummingbirds to our yards, we must emphasize providing these tiny flying jewels an abundant supply of nectar served in feeders and plants that not only offer nectar but also attract the insects that play a crucial role in their diet. Here are a few of the ways you can do that.

Increase the number of native trees, shrubs and broadleaf plants in our yards. Native plants attract far more insects than introduced species.

Set aside patches of native plants. Such patches are havens for native insects.

Add a tree that is used by yellow-bellied sapsuckers to your landscape.

Place rotting fruit on the surface of your compost pile or in a small dish to attract fruit flies and other small insects.

Don’t use herbicides and pesticides on nectar plants to ensure the nectar is not contaminated with poisons and tiny insects are not killed.

There is far more to hummingbird gardening than meets the eye. However, I am one hummingbird fancier excited over this new challenge. I know that when I better address the dietary needs of the ruby-throated hummingbird, I will also be creating a more beautiful landscape that will benefit many other native plants and animals.

Terry W. Johnson is a retired Nongame program manager with the Wildlife Resources Division and executive director of The Environmental Resources Network, or TERN, friends group of the division’s Nongame Conservation Section. (Permission is required to reprint this column.) Learn more about TERN, see previous “Out My Backdoor” columns, read Terry’s Backyard Wildlife Connection blog and check out his latest book, “A Journey of Discovery: Monroe County Outdoors.”

Lake Trout Limits on Lake Huron – No Monkeying Around!

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Bob Holzhei

Lake Trout tussle very well in Lake Huron near Alpena, Mi.

Bob Holzhei and first mate, Justin Grubaugh, admire the size of one of our lake trout.By Bob Holzhei

Lake Trout were targeted on this fishing trip and it wasn’t long before the first fish was boated. It was caught on a Monkey Fish lure. Then another and another until our limit was met! It was exciting! Gaylord, Michigan, was the selected Annual Conference site for the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW). Journalists, corporate members, and radio and television personalities from all across the United States are part of the trilogy that comprises the membership.

On this day, our morning departure from the Treetops Resort began at 8:00 A.M., arriving at the Alpena City Marina an hour later. Our boat was a 21-foot Voyager named Depth Charge with Captain Kevin Drummond.

We began fishing in his “honey hole,” in 110-120 feet of water, using 8 rigged fishing lines to cover the depth, which ranged from 30 feet to 120-foot depth. “I began fishing as a kid at 16 years old and only lived a block from the lake. Lake Huron has an amazing lake trout fishery, and I get pleasure from watching people catch fish,” stated Drummond.

**The author strains as the 15-minute fun battle with another tenacious, large lake trout continues.**

Also on board among my fishing partners was David Gladkowski, a staff writer with the National Turkey Federation and Brady Laudon, Assistant Director and Sales Manager for Visit Bemidji, Minnesota. Each year, three locations are chosen by AGLOW to present a conference bid, that is, to host a future conference.

“I’ve never done any fishing like that, being a South Carolina boy.

Of course, I’ll be back. I was thrilled! Gladkowski stated. This was also the first time Brady Loudon fished Lake Huron. “Our fishing party limited out on Lake Trout. I couldn’t believe how the honey holes produced so many fish,” added Laudon.

In addition, to a yearly conference, AGLOW – along with corporate sponsors – offers “Communicator Camps,” which consist of 6-10 outdoor journalists. Members apply for a spot and are selected by the tourism bureau. The Communicator Camps provide opportunities for CVB’s to gain additional exposure.

The excitement throughout the morning and afternoon continued, and soon, there were three lake trout in a battle to free themselves at the same time.

The anglers had to slow down the pace at bringing the fish in. The fishermen on our boat took turns landing the fish, allowing time to rest from the strenuous battles. Drummond spoke highly of the success with the Shimano Tekota reels and Talora Shimano rods. The reels spooled with a 20-pound test line, one item among the tools used to reach our limit of lake trout, a couple steelhead and a salmon.

“Lake Huron is also a world-class Atlantic Salmon fishery, perhaps the world’s largest landlocked Atlantic Salmon, and the finest angling,” according to Jim Johnson, a retired fisheries biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

According to Johnson, Lake Superior State University faculty and students have been stocking 20,000 to 35,000 Atlantic salmon in Lake Huron annually since the late 1980s.

**Thanks to Captain Kevin Drummond and his first mate, Justin Grubaugh, on a boat named “Depth Charge” for a successful and unforgettable fishing day out of the port at Alpena, Michigan.**

A significant difference between the Atlantic’s and Chinook salmon is that the Chinooks die after spawning. At the same time, the Atlantic’s can spawn multiple times and live longer. The Atlantic’s have been marked by removing the adipose fin and implanting a tiny coded wire tag in each fishes’ head. The tag provides information about the stocking date and location, which assists the DNR in measuring the stocking success. Anglers are asked to forward the heads to the area DNR office.

As we boated ashore, the rich memories of this fishing trip would resurface until I returned to fish with Drummond again!

For more information, contact: Gaylord Area Convention & Tourism Bureau 1-800-345-8621, www.gaylordmichigan.net and Alpena Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, 1-989 354-4181, www.info@visitalpena.com.

Snake Boots FIGHT the SWEAT & the BITE

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

Lightweight Snake Boots that eliminate sweat! Irish Setter Boots.

Not many folks think about snake boots for hunting with sweat and scent control, but if you hunt or live in areas where the heat index soars to above 110 degrees, you really do need to consider this primary element for a successful hunting experience.

On this note, I found the MudTrek snake boots from Irish Setter to accomplish scent and sweat control for your feet while staying protected from venomous eastern diamondback rattlesnakes and cottonmouth water snakes that we have in Southwest Florida.

The Irish Setter TempSens technology helps regulate the temperature within the boot to maintain constant foot comfort. The system reacts, so moisture is hyper-wicked away from the foot in hot conditions, allowing for evaporative cooling. This helps keep feet cooler, drier and comfortable. In colder conditions, the system also pulls moisture from the skin but traps it to create a thermal barrier that helps maintain a constant, comfortable temperature inside the boot. Warm or cold, the ScentBan™ antimicrobial scent control helps eliminates odors within the boot. I found all-day underfoot comfort with these “safety boots” and excellent traction in slick or tough-walking terrain. The self-cleaning lugs help remove mud and dirt with every step. The vulcanized rubber upper design makes them waterproof and durable.

Also important, these snake boots are light, and they offer a traditional, roomier full fit with a wider leg and ankle openings. And, there is a convenient side zipper for easy on/off. I need that (I have big feet!). They are 17-inches high and are vulcanized rubber in a brown color boot design that features foot and lower leg comfort with resistance to fangs and thorns. These elements make the Irish Setter SnakeGuard boots the essential comfort tool for hunters and hikers in snake country. They cost about $230; visit www.irishsetterboots.com to learn more.

Rocky Mountain National Park – EXPLORE the Amazing and Unique Alpine Tundra Ecosystem found here

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

Elk, Moose, Black Bear, Birds, Fish, Mountains – Great Views…Bring a Camera!
Take note of National Park Entry Permit Requirements, VISIT www.RECREATION.GOV
One memory here can last for All Time, especially when you stand on the Continental Divide, located here. East to the Atlantic, west to the Pacific. Wow.

Black Bear in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo and story, courtesy of National Parks Service at Rocky Mountain National Park – Colorado, USA

Compiled by Forrest Fisher

Our bears are searching for something scrumptious!

With a nose 280 times more sensitive than humans, they are world champs of food hide-and-seek!

This time of year, Rocky’s black bears (there are no brown bears in the park) are especially hungry as they prepare for hibernation—a phase called ‘hyperphagia.’ Rocky has seen an uptick in bear-related property damage in the past few weeks. There are many ways our visitors can help keep our bears wild as well as protect themselves!

• When visiting by car: Store food properly in LOCKED cars with all windows ROLLED UP during the night and day. Do not store coolers (even with only water in them) in truck beds. Clean dirty dishes before storing.
• When backpacking: Store all food and scented items (deodorant, toothpaste, chapstick, sunscreen) in a bear canister. When sleeping, place this canister at least 200 feet (60 m) from your tent.
• When camping in campgrounds: do not cook or eat in your tent. Do not bring food inside your tent. Lock all food in provided food storage lockers.
• Dispose of trash promptly and appropriately (in bear-proof bins when available.)
• If you see a bear, act big! Yell and clap, and it will likely move away. Do not run from a bear, and do not abandon food in a hasty attempt to leave.
• Report any bear-related incidents to a ranger.

Rocky Mountain National Park is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

It’s also home to some of the most fragile. While only 0.2% of the US land area is alpine tundra, Rocky is lucky to say that almost 1/3 of the park is comprised of this amazing ecosystem. Because of its fragility and susceptibility to changes, it provides a canvas for scientists to explore change over time through long-term monitoring.

**Sunset on the Alpine Tundra at Rocky Mountain National Park. NPS/C Hernandez**

Since 2015, Dr. Sarah Schliemann, a professor of environmental science at Metropolitan State University of Denver, has been investigating the release of carbon dioxide from alpine soils, also known as ‘soil respiration’ (#ParkScience).

We are celebrating the amazing alpine tundra this year at Rocky Mountain National Park! As part of that, we are sharing Dr. Schliemann’s work through a 4-part series of posts. This is the first in that series. Visit Rocky Mountain National Park on Facebook to learn more about Dr. Schliemann’s work and other park research. See more here: https://www.nps.gov/rlc/continentaldivide/research-highlights.htm

**Elk enjoy feeding on fresh growth on the unique Alpine Tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park. Kiley Voss photo.**

From NPS Park Ranger, Kiley Voss, “I’m beyond excited as a Park Ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park this summer season! I’m overjoyed for the opportunity to spend a summer living in the mountains on the west side of the park, for a moose study, for a town surrounding an alpine lake, for search and rescue training, for the headwaters of the Colorado River, for helping update signage and photographs, for a Colorado October full of aspens, for wildlife watch programs and tundra stewardship, for historic site talks and ranger-led campfires.”

Reservations are required to enter all areas of Rocky Mountain National Park from 6am to 5pm. Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/fees.htm or simply visit www.Recreation.gov.

COVID-19 Gun Sales like Toilet Paper…OFF-THE-SHELF!

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Mike Schoonveld

Firearms & Ammunition Sales BATTLE Sanitizers & Toilet Paper Sales
Records show firearm accidents at their lowest level since record-keeping began in 1903.
Despite increasing numbers of new firearm owners, the downward trend of accidental firearms accidents is welcome by everyone.

**Gunmask Gun Sales set new records in March, thanks in part to the COVID-19 crisis**.

By Mike Schoonveld

Barrack Obama won many awards while he was president. I’m sure he was proud of most of them. Probably not so much when the decidedly pro-Obama news network, CNN, named him “Gun Salesman of the Year” multiple times. Never in U.S. history did so many citizens flock to gun stores to exercise their 2^nd Amendment Rights in such numbers, all fueled by the perception those rights were under fire.

I’m not going to rehash that or the politics of the situation as existed then. However, if Obama deserved the salesman of the year award, this year’s award is likely to go to the COVID-19 Virus. The only thing selling as fast as sanitizers and toilet paper are guns and ammunition. This time it’s not so much the citizens worried about the government encroaching on their rights as much as the government’s inability to protect them if things go from bad to worse as more and more resources divert to virus-related issues. Is this needless worry or a reasonable approach to self-reliance? Only time will tell.

During the “arming of America” during the Obama years and now, anti-gun activists became hysterical and were quick to predict massive increases in firearms accidents. None of these prognostications have proved true. Firearms crime committed by legal gun owners didn’t spike and neither did accidental firearms accidents. In fact, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) just reported unintentional firearm fatalities have reached their lowest level ever, according to the latest data from the National Safety Council’s just-released Injury Facts Report.

NSSF, as the trade association for the firearm industry and leading proponent of safe gun handling and storage, applauded the report, which shows firearm accidents at their lowest level since record-keeping began in 1903. In part, it proves most firearms owners take owning their guns seriously and do so responsibly. It also proves industry efforts to improve firearms safety are having positive effects.

The industry has provided more than 100 million free firearm locking devices with new firearms sold and distributed through its award-winning Project ChildSafe program—the largest and most comprehensive firearm safety program in the country. The industry’s educational materials are widely distributed to gun owners by firearm manufacturers, retailers, instructors and others nationwide.

With approximately 100 million gun owners in the country, the data demonstrate that firearms can be safely owned and used with no increase in accidental gun statistics when secure storage guidelines are followed. Securely storing firearms when not in use is plainly sensible and has proven to be the number one way to help prevent accidents, thefts, and misuse.

**NSSF gun lock: a simple device, more than 100 million of these gun locks have been distributed since Project ChildSafe was started.**

The National Safety Council’s most recent data showed just 458 accidental firearm fatalities in the year, accounting for less than 1 percent of accidental deaths. The leading cause of accidental deaths in homes is falls and poisoning.

This downward trend of accidental firearms accidents is a long term trend, in spite of spikes in new firearms owners. In the last two decades, accidental firearm deaths have declined by 47 percent. That’s great, but even one accidental firearm fatality is one too many.

With reports of many people purchasing their first firearm for personal protection concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important for new gun owners to use the safety devices that came packaged with their new firearm. Also, when a gun is not under a responsible person’s direct control, all gun owners should consider using additional safety devices such as a lockable box or lockable gun case. Also, take advantage of the many gun safety resources at ProjectChildSafe.org – such as the time-tested video on the 10 commandments of firearm safety.

With so many children at home because of COVID-19-related school closures, parents are encouraged to make time to have “the talk” over and again with their kids about gun safety. Convenient, fun and easy to use video tools such as “McGruff” on Gun Safety as well as a video on how parents can talk to their children about gun safety can be found on the Project ChildSafe website.

THE END

Let’s Stay Aware, Use the Outdoors to help Control Corona Fear

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

**There is something magical and relaxing to be found near the sea.**

By Forrest Fisher

It helps. The beach, the sand, the lake, the trees, the birds, the fish, the deer, the sunset.

These are wonderful diversions.

As all folks are responsible when we need to be, corona-fear is legitimate. Visiting the beach with your close family can help. Controlled numbers of people, people you are with regularly, are good things to share. The air is fresh, beach attendance is relatively nill, there might be fish to catch and shark teeth to find. Good stuff.

Mind diversion can be a key resource option for many. Want to stay at home? Read a book. Find one with birds and fish and wildlife. So relaxing. Want to laugh? Pulldown an internet from Patrick McManus. He was my favorite American humor writer. He wrote such classics as, A fine and Pleasant Misery, The Grasshopper Trap, and many others. Gut-splitting laughter can be the only result. After one chapter, everything in your life will be better.

So yesterday afternoon, my visiting family and I did all the responsible things first, We washed up with soap and hot water for 20 seconds, then used a recommended disinfectant to wipe down all of our door handles, light switches, faucets, counter tops, the car, the fishing rods, beverage cans and everything else. We’re in Florida and like many other places around the country, there is a gentle semi-fear and ready-to-respond awareness of things to do and not do. All good.

**Birds of all sorts are common along the Florida coastlines. Casperson Beach near Venice is popular with birds and shark tooth hunters.**

Then as I swept my email arrivals, this one site from Trip Advisor seemed to sum it up perfectly in fewer words than anywhere else.

Trip Advisor CEO, Steve Kaufer shared the following: “As a site that millions around the world count on for travel guidance, Tripadvisor is closely monitoring the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on both travelers and the travel industry. We care deeply about your safety, whether you are at home or traveling. With this in mind, I would like to share some resources we’ve created and the actions we’re taking to help you make informed decisions about your own travel plans.

Helping you make travel decisions: As this situation rapidly evolves, we know there is an atmosphere of uncertainty as travelers wonder if they should change their plans. That’s why, starting today, Tripadvisor will feature alerts for destinations that the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated as heavily impacted. We’ve also launched a new resource page to bring all the latest COVID-19 travel information from trusted sources together in one place.

Keeping you informed if you are traveling: As travel-related business owners continue to adapt as a result of COVID-19, they are making changes to their hours, making changes in service or even temporarily closing. We are making daily updates to the information on our site to keep travelers informed. We’re also doing what we can to help businesses in impacted regions, by providing them with tips and advice on how to weather this challenging time.

What you can do to stay healthy: Whether you’re at home or traveling, the WHO recommends practicing good hygiene to protect yourself against infection — by washing your hands frequently with soap or alcohol-based sanitizer, maintaining distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If you become sick, please seek medical attention quickly.

For more information, anyone can visit the Tripadvisor resource page. You can also connect to other travelers and join discussions about COVID-19, and how it may affect your plans in Tripadvisor’s forums.”

After the beach last night, we arrived home, wiped down all the same things and we stayed aware. Then at dinner, we prayed. It helps us to share our strengths. The Creator is our biggest strength.

Please pass it on.

Destination Niagara USA – Fishing Forecast for Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Bill Hilts

**Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls with a beauty 12-pound brown trout from the lower Niagara River over the weekend. He caught it on a No. 4 spinner from shore.**

Hopefully, the spring weather has arrived with more consistent temperatures into the 50-degree range now. Be sure to mark your calendar for the Lewiston Smelt Festival – the date has changed from the first Friday in May to the first Friday in June – June 5 this year – to help with the weather situation. As far as when the smelt will be running, it’s always a crap shoot. With the removal of the ice boom and warmer temperatures, we could see an earlier run … if there is going to be one.

As far as the Lake Ontario tributaries, all streams have rainbows and browns now according to Roy Letcher of Newfane. Eggs, wax worms, and crawlers are all working. There was already a report of a couple of bullhead caught in the Wilson/Olcott area. Mark your calendars for April 3-5 for the 8^th Annual Niagara County Bullhead Tournament out of the Wilson Conservation Club. More details to come. Letcher also noted that boats are getting browns along the shoreline out in the lake; piers are showing a few browns, too, on plugs, spoons, and spinners. Live bait under a bobber will also work.

**Capt. Nick Calandrelli of Lewiston caught this steelhead in the lower Niagara River before the water turned to mud this week from the wind.**

A mix of wind and rain continues to muddy the water up in the Niagara River and make fishing difficult from both boat and shore. More wind and rain is coming Friday. Shore anglers have been tossing spinners or drifting egg sacs or beads to take trout along the shoreline. Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls caught a beautiful 12-pound brown trout along Artpark using a No. 4 spinner this week, an impressive catch for sure. Boaters have been encountering tough conditions. Running bright baits with sound or movement could be the ticket, such as MagLips or Kwikfish. Water clarity was about 2-3 feet at the last report. Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston was hitting some lake trout on Pautzke-dyed minnows in chartreuse on Wednesday morning. He’s been averaging about 6-8 fish a trip, mostly a mixed bag of trout and the occasional walleye. Walleye, Northern pike, pickerel and tiger musky seasons close on March 15.

Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls switched gears when the lower Niagara was muddy and hit some Lake Ontario tributaries. First cast he caught this steelhead on an egg sac.

Scott Feltrinelli with another brown trout he caught this week in a favorite Lake Ontario tributary.

Some inland trout stocking is starting to take place by DEC around Western New York. Weekly updates are recorded at 358-2050 if you want to hear numbers and locations. No word on when they will be stocking Hyde Park Lake, Gill Creek or Oppenheim Park Pond yet.

Bill Hilts, Jr. – Outdoor Promotions Director

Destination Niagara USA

10 Rainbow Blvd.

Niagara Falls, NY 14303

p: 1-877 FALLS US | 716-282-8992 x. 303

f: 716-285-0809

www.niagarafallsusa.com

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Ranger Cup University – Opportunity for Collegiate Anglers

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Greg Duncan

2020 Program Details
Payouts and discounts available to collegiate bass anglers

By Greg Duncan

Collegiate bass anglers will have more opportunity to cash in on tournament success in 2020 thanks to the continued support of Ranger Cup University. The contingency program, designed by Ranger Boats exclusively for college anglers, is free of charge and open to any college angler, regardless of the brand of boat they own.

To remain qualified in the program, anglers need only adhere to simple clothing and logo requirements while fishing select ACA-affiliated events. Additionally, Ranger has once again partnered with Gemini Custom Apparel, the industry’s leading tournament apparel provider, who will offer custom jersey pricing for as low as $48 for Ranger Cup University anglers.

For the 2020 season, each qualified event will feature a cash prize paid to the Ranger Cup University-qualified team/angler with the highest place of finish. A $1,000 cash prize will be paid at each of the select events below:

Texas Lunker Challenge presented by Mossy Oak Elements (Feb. 23, Sam Rayburn Reservoir)

Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley (Mar. 14-15, Kentucky Lake)

ACA Summer Slam (Jun. 11-12, Lake Murray)

AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open (Oct. 10-11, Lake Dardanelle)

In addition to payouts at the above events, a $2,000 cash prize will be awarded to the highest finishing Ranger Cup-qualified team/angler at the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship, taking place May 21-22 on Pickwick Lake.

Along with the cash prizes, the highest-finishing Ranger Cup University-qualified team/angler in each qualifying event above will also receive automatic entry into the Ranger Cup University Team of the Year Challenge. The made-for-TV fish off, which will air on Pursuit Channel, NBC Sports Network and WGN America during episodes of Americana Outdoors and Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, will feature the five Ranger Cup University teams competing for the title of 2020 Ranger Cup University Team of the Year and a $3,000 cash prize, which can increase to $5,000 if the winning team or angler is a warranty-registered owner of a Ranger Boat.

For complete program guidelines and details on Ranger Cup University, including payout, clothing requirements and informational videos, go online to https://rangercup.com/includes/staticPages/RangerCupUniversity.cfm

About Ranger Boats: Headquartered in Flippin, Ark., Ranger Boats is the nation’s premier manufacturer of legendary fiberglass and aluminum fishing boats, with acclaimed models and series in the bass, multi-species, fish ‘n play, saltwater, waterfowl utility and pontoon boat segments. Founded in 1968 by Forrest L. Wood, Ranger Boats continues its commitment to building the highest-quality, strongest-performing boats on the water. For more information, go to RangerBoats.com.

Holiday Gift-Giving “From-the-Heart” Made Easy for Outdoor Folks

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Outdoor Holiday Gifts for Friends and Family
One-stop shopping even when you are not sure what to buy
Buy a $15 coupon to support Youth and Military Veterans, earn up to $5,000 in discounts

By Forrest Fisher

Most outdoor folks have little time for shopping, even for their loved ones and best friends of the outdoors. Well now, the 2019 Online Holiday Sportsman Show can help you make a good choice in very little time with their interactive online shopping offers. Visit the outdoor show halls to find exceptional outdoor products and gifts at discount prices for everyone on your list. The Online Show allows shoppers to avoid crowds, traffic, and parking. Stay at home and visit with hundreds of exhibitors to help make selecting the perfect outdoor gifts for outdoor enthusiasts easier than ever.

If you are looking for even deeper discounts on great products at the Holiday Sportsman Show, consider a $15 Fundraiser coupon package will open the door to more than $5,000 of exclusive savings for a wide range of gifts and products. Gain instant cash discounts and 10 to 50 percent discounts on larger offerings, like a fishing trip or hunting trip vacation. The best part is that this coupon purchase will directly benefit our youth, conservation and U.S. veteran groups across the United States. For more information on the Fundraiser Coupon, visit www.holidaysportsmanshow.com and click on “Discount Coupons” at the bottom of the opening page. The fundraiser program helps consumers extend their holiday purchasing power while supporting Kids, Conservation and Veterans.

With the Holiday Sportsman Show, sit back, relax and have a stress-free holiday shopping experience. The show is open through Dec. 31.

The Online Holiday Sportsman Show is a property of Vexpo Marketing that also produces the award-winning www.SharetheOutdoors.com website.

Help 4H Shooting Sports, Miltary Veterans and Your Shopping List!

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

Holiday Sportsman Show Kicks off Nov. 15
Fill your Holiday Gift List with a BIG Discount and Help 4H, Veterans, and others
If you own an outdoor business, check this out

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will all the beautiful shops in the Holiday Sportsman Show. Time is running out for brands that want to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to participate in the 2019 Holiday Sportsman Show that will feature an interactive online shopping experience with outdoor show halls. From Nov. 15 through Dec. 31 visitors can tour the virtual halls 24-hours a day, where they will find exceptional outdoor products and gifts at remarkable prices for everyone on their list.

With over half a million consumers slated to receive a signed up for email with an instant click-in to the show, brands participating in this show will be racking up the fourth-quarter sales. The complete sale goes back to the brand, making it even a better business decision to get in the Holiday Sportsman Show before time runs out.

The web designing staff at the Holiday Sportsman Show is in full swing designing storefronts. Placing your brand in the show is easy. It is extremely important to get them started on your design – merely select the products you want to feature and they will use your website for information, images and everything they need. You will get final approval of all design work before things go live.

It is easy. It makes money. It supports good causes. What are you waiting for? Fill out this form CLICK HERE and return via email to maureen@vexposhows.com as soon as possible. Not only is time running out, but some categories are filling up.

The Online Holiday Sportsman Show is a property of Vexpo Marketing, based in Missouri. Vexpo Marketing develops digital products designed to serve outdoor activities and outdoor consumers, including businesses and organizations that provide goods and services for outdoor recreation. The Holiday Sportsman Show was created to provide a digital platform to provide cost-effective digital marketing for outdoor companies and enjoyable online content for buying consumers.

Light-up your Night Tackle, Charge-up your Glow Baits

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Glenn Walker

For those nighttime fishing excursions or when you are rigging up early in the morning for a day on the water, the new Lure Lock LED Box is designed to help you easily see those small tackle items in the dark. In addition, for anglers that use glow-in-the-dark lures, the LED lights will charge the paint on them so they’ll be ready to entice finicky fish into biting.

The Lure Lock LED Box has a light strip down the center of the box that is safely placed underneath the Tak Logic Technology, protecting it from the elements. The three-way switch allows it to be in three modes: on, off and auto – allowing it to turn on automatically when the lid of the box is opened. The LED Box is powered by three batteries which are included and easy to replace.

“We launched the LED Light Up Box at ICAST,” said Lure Lock President John Skrabo. “We knew we had a very cool, innovative product heading into the most important trade show in the world,” he said. “But the real confirmation came when we sat down with our dealers and wrote orders for thousands of them.”

The LL3 version is in stock and ready to ship out of the Lure Lock headquarters in Wisconsin.

The LED box is made of the purest form of polypropylene and features durable hinges and latches. The patented Tak Logic Technology is scent-free, easy to clean and environmentally safe. It retails for $18.99 and can be found at your favorite local dealer and big boxes, including Walmart, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Academy, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Scheel’s, Fleet Farm, Field & Stream, Tackle Warehouse, Tackle Direct, and more. Lure Lock products are also sold on Amazon and Lure Lock.com.

For more information about Lure Lock products please visit http://www.lurelock.com.

About Lure Lock – Lure Lock is owned by Tak Logic, LLC and is located in Ettrick, Wisconsin. Lure Lock tackle boxes feature a patented technology – all made in the USA. For more information, call 608-525-3636.

Enjoy Easy, Pain-Free Fish Retrieval with the Angler’s Best Livewell Buddy®

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Karen Lutto

Every fisherman knows, or quickly learns, that retrieving your catch or baitfish from the Livewell can be a sticky and painful experience—that is until now. With the Angler’s Best Livewell Buddy, retrieving your catch or baitfish, even the elusive pinfish, is quick, easy and painless.

The Livewell Buddy is a flexible, floating net that allows the fish to move freely thru circulated water and easily fits in any standard Livewell, or it can easily be attached alongside a boat, canoe or kayak that is not equipped with a Livewell to store your catch or your bait fish. It also can be tethered to you when wade fishing. As you fish, simply drop your catch into the Livewell Buddy’s durable silicone net.

Retrieving your entire catch out of the Livewell Buddy is as simple as grabbing the floatation ring and lifting the Livewell Buddy out, along with your full bounty. There is no need to net or handle the fish, which eliminates the dreaded “fish splash” and “finning” injuries. For culling the smaller fish, the Livewell Buddy is a non-invasive alternative to conventional cull systems. After culling the smaller fish, simply drop the Livewell Buddy back into the water or your Livewell.

The new Livewell Buddy is ideal for freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, kayak or canoe fishing or anywhere else that fish need to be kept alive in the water. It can also double as a bait basket for larger baitfish or hard-to-catch bait fish. It only takes seconds to drop in a Livewell, and is ideal for everyone from the tournament fisherman to the weekend warrior. The Livewell Buddy’s floatation ring also allows it to be used in open water while bank fishing, surf fishing or wade fishing.

Bring home some fresh catch with the new Livewell Buddy. The multi-purpose Livewell Buddy is currently available at https://anglersbest.com/products/live-well-buddy for a suggested retail of $39.99. Bon Appetite.

Headquartered in Danville, Ala., Angler’s Best is a designer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art fishing accessories. For additional information on Angler’s Best, write to: Angler’s Best , 8237 Danville Road, Danville, AL 35619; call 833-BASS-NET (833-227-7638); or visit www.anglersbest.com.

Navionics Boating app: mark your location with one tap, and more

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

From Navionics: We believe details are important, especially while on the water. Let’s dive in and see how the latest app release can make your boating experience easy and fun.

Drop a marker with one tap.

Have you ever needed to quickly add a marker on your location while boating or fishing? Well, now you can. With one simple tap on the map, you’ll drop a marker on your current GPS location. It can’t be easier than that. Use it as a reminder for great fishing or boating areas you want to investigate more or visit again.

Get the most out of the feature with these expert tips:
– New markers will be named sequentially (Marker 1, Marker 2, etc.)
– The icon will be the same as your last added marker (the “pin” is the default icon)
– To change the maker name or icon simply tap the map > target the marker with cross-hair > tap “?” > make your edits.

Add your AIS device manually.

Have you already tried  AIS in the Boating app? Increase your situational awareness on the water by connecting a compatible WI-FI AIS receiver to the app and see AIS targets overlaid on the map in real-time.

If you’re having trouble automatically connecting your device, try adding it manually to the app. In the app, go to Menu > Connect a Device > Add Device and fill in the fields. Be aware that the app currently only supports devices streaming in NMEA 1803.

Get more space for your maps (only for Android).

Download all the maps you need without filling up your device. Plug in an SD card for additional memory. Go to Menu > Settings > Storage Location.

Get the new features:
If you already have our Boating app, simply update it to the latest version.
– For Apple® devices — on your mobile device, go to the  App Store® > «Updates»
– For Android™ devices — on your device, go to Google Play > Menu > «My apps & games»

If you don’t have our Boating app\ yet, download it for free, and enjoy a trial of all our charts and features.

ICAST Helps to Make Fishing More Fun

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

With the “Slow-Roll Shiner,” the Injected Core Technology (ICT) from LIVETARGET has produced the ideal paddletail swimbait, offering realistic action and appearance. The Inner-Core matches the appearance of a thin profiled Shiner, while the Exo-Skin generates a hard-thumping action that vibrates and moves the whole body. The result is a life-like lure that creates a subtle yet enticing rolling action.

A big benefit of being in the fishing business is attending the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST. Held in Orlando each summer, ICAST gives a preview of all the new fishing equipment, tackle, marine and outdoor products that fishermen everywhere are going to see very soon and want, perhaps, even sooner.

Of all the new, interesting and innovative products – there are many, my favorite is always the new fishing lures. Every year there are literally hundreds of new lures or variations to current lures. Some lures are futuristic, some are perfectly shaped and colored, some are changed in other ways – many of them have anglers dreaming of catching a fish with every cast. The new lures and variations are that convincing.

Not too many anglers can resist trying out these new lures. Every year I stock up on more than I should, but they all look so good and some turn out to be valuable additions to my tackle box. If you don’t try them, you will never know if they would work for you or not. Beside, trying them is part of the fun!

Last year, I stocked up with 18 of the new LIVETARGET swim baits. Most of them were in the larger sizes and had very different actions than what I would have thought. The old adage is, “Big fish like Big meals,” and that means…throw Big Baits. Sometimes that is true and sometimes it isn’t, but the LIVETARGET swim baits proved that adage true for me. When fishing them in farm ponds, it seemed that they attracted the larger bass time after time. A crank and drop retrieve was magic on most days.

The Ghost Tail Minnow has a unique tail design that creates action to emulate the movement of a small minnow while helping the bait track straight while swimming or in the current. Click the picture above to see a video on how to use this new bait.

This year at the ICAST show, LIVETARGET once again caught my “Angler Eye” with their innovative Injected Core Technology (ICT). I have not had a chance to test these just yet, but they just look like they are so good, I already have that magical feeling…that they will catch fish, especially the Slow Roll Shiner and Ghost Tail Minnow. While you never know until you get one to the water, I will be finding out very soon. Even the names of these lures are catchy!

David Gray, ShareTheOutdoors.com

Ads – Fishing

Posted on January 23, 2024 by stoadmin

Eliminating Your Stink…for Serious Hunters

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

Human Scent Control....hard to do until now

One of the biggest things we can control as deer hunters is our scent, but it’s not easy. We all perspire, we sweat when we walk out with our gear, climb a tree and set up. The gentle wind from whatever direction helps to disperse the “hunter alert” smell to all area wildlife populations. What can we do to get better to remove our human odor and wildlife alarm scent

? Read on.

Introduced at the Archery Trade Show in January to rave reviews, ElimiShield’s new Hunt X10D concentrate provides a unique scent-elimination formula. It is a long-term treatment that prevents the formation of human body odors on clothing and soft-good accessories. It costs mere pennies to treat each piece of clothing. When used as directed, X10D bonds to the fibers to create a chain of atoms that produces an uninhabitable surface for odor-causing compounds, thereby making the treated garments virtually scent-free.

While it sounds complicated, it is really easy to use. Each 10-ounce bottle of X10D will treat 10 pounds of camo clothing and/or soft gear in only 10 minutes. Think: 10-10-10. Simply add one ounce of X10D per pound of clothing (up to 10 pounds) to three gallons of 110 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit water in a bucket. Stir well and add the clothing and let the garments soak for a minimum of 10 minutes; wring the clothing out, and hang until just damp. Then place them in a clothes dryer until dry. This will create a nearly permanent odor-resistant shield that will last up to 50 commercial grade washings or typically more than five years for most hunters.

It is recommended to treat only those garments that actually touch the skin and/or are actually exposed to body odor, such as under garments, gloves, socks and hats. With proper use of the ElimiShield X10D, your under garments will remain odorless and will keep you body odor contained.

For the best results in the field, ElimiShield recommends using all four HUNT products in the three-step odor elimination system developed specifically for hunters. Step A is personal hygiene, including Core Body Foam—the outdoor industry’s only FDA-compliant, direct to skin scent elimination product—as well as a Hair & Body Wash. Step B is laundering hunting clothes with ElimiShieldHUNTLaundry Detergent. Step C is the Scent Elimination Spray and X10D Concentrate.

The new ElimiShield HUNT X10D Scent Elimination Concentrate is available directly from Hunters Safety System at elimishieldhunt.com for a suggested retail price of under $40.

About ElimiShield Scent Control Technology: The patented, proprietary, nanotechnology formula in some of the ElimiShield HUNT products leave a microscopically abrasive shield that eliminates odor-causing particles on contact. This mechanism is far superior to other methods that either poison bacteria or attempt to absorb human odors after they form. In addition to the nanotechnology, certain ElimiShield products include bio-based ingredients to neutralize malodors that are encountered in the field, ensuring all surfaces remain scent-free. Hunter Safety System, the industry leader in treestand safety, is the exclusive distributor of ElimiShield HUNT products to the outdoor industry. For information on this line, contact Hunter Safety System, 8237 Danville Road, Danville, AL 35619; call toll-free 877-296-3528; or visit elimishieldhunt.com.

Buck 110 Folding Hunter Knife, Under $20! You Kidding Me?!

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

By Dave Barus

I have carried one of these to my deer woods for more than 50 years now. Today, there are more options to choose from, lightweight handles and more, but the reality of the device as a tool for sportsmen is unchanged. I cannot believe this is selling for less than $20 on sale right now.

The 110 Folding Hunter® is one of America’s favorite knives, this version, the 110 Folding Hunter® LT, will undoubtedly follow in suit. Weighing barely over 3 ounces, the LT is created with lightweight molded nylon, drastically reducing its weight while maintaining the same quality as the original Folding Hunter®. The clip point blade is finished with Buck’s advanced Edge2x blade technology for unbelievable sharpness and edge retention out of the box.

Closed Length: 4 7/8″ (12.4 cm), includes a black, polyester sheath and is made in the USA.

BLADE THICKNESS: 0.120″
BLADE LENGTH: 3 3/4″ (9.5 cm)
WEIGHT: 3.2 oz (90.7 g)
HANDLE: Nylon
CARRY SYSTEM: Sheath
ORIGIN: Made in the USA

Buck 110 Features:
420HC STEEL – This is Buck’s standard blade material because it approaches the wear resistance of high carbon alloys while delivering the corrosion resistance of chromium stainless steels. Add the Buck Knife exclusive heat-treat process and you have a very user-friendly combination of superior corrosion resistance with excellent strength for wear resistance and durability. You also have a blade that is easy to resharpen. For best performance Buck hardens to a Rockwell hardness of Rc 58.
CLIP – The crescent tip makes the blade thinner with a sharper point. This shape provides good control for detail work and cutting in tight places. It is also well suited for intentional punctures like new holes in your belt, etc. While the point of the blade is effective for detail work, it’s not as strong as the thicker points on drop points and skinners.

The special sale is here (unreal):

Custom Fishing Rod Builder: Tom Marks

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Bob Holzhei

Rod length, sensitivity, power, flex…all these factors matter
Setting the hook, it’s the best feeling with a rod you helped design
Rattlesnake skin and other custom handles personalize rods to the individual

By Bob Holzhei

**Custom rod handle options that include rattlesnake skin personalize the custom rod.**

“The sensitivity in any fishing rod can be determined by placing the tip of the rod against your throat while another person holds the other end of the rod. At that point, the person who has the tip of the rod against their throat begins to talk and at the other end, the vibration can be felt,” says expert angler and custom fishing rod-maker, Tom Marks, who vacations and fishes in Florida during the winter months.

Marks has been building custom rods for the past six years. “It usually takes me about 48 hours or three days to build a rod,” says Marks.

“I ask the perspective customer which type of rod they want me to build for them, whether it’s a spin casting rod, an all-purpose rod, and also ask if they are throwing crankbaits, need a worm rod, like to drop shot, if they are skipping docks, tossing jerk baits, Carolina rigs, need a bottom-bouncer for walleye, jig-flipping and pitching, or if they use a frog topwater bait or other top water bait. They’re all slightly different,” stated Marks.

**Sanding the guide feet insures a smooth thread wrap and long life for the rod.**

“The purpose for which the rod will be used helps me decide on the power and speed of the rod. The power, which is how stiff the rod needs to be and the speed, which refers to how much flex is in the tip, both affect the style efficiency. Flex is the amount of bend in the upper 1/3 of the rod. The faster the rod, the more sensitive it will feel. For crankbaits, or moving baits which are trolled, a slower rod is sufficient because the strike or bite is much harder. The slower rod helps absorb some of the initial shock of the bite and also keeps the fish from throwing the hook,” added Marks.

Marks custom decorates his precision fishing rods according to customer wishes. Nylon and metallic threads can be used on the guide wraps, and many other variations. Marks also uses real rattlesnake skin on the handle and other decorative skins and wraps in the split grip and fore grip.

“I place a decorative thread band 12 inches from the front edge of the handle. Decorative work might include thread work cross-weaved with multiple colored threads or chevron patterns. Occasionally I marbleize the colors,” added Marks.

Marks began purchasing his rod building materials after he saw a Mudhole display at an outdoor show, located in Oviedo, Florida. Mudhole is a Rod Building and Tackle Crafting Company that can provide helpful process instructions and all the supplies for rod building. Visit www.mudhole.com or call 866-790-RODS.

**Charter Captain Tom Marks is right at home with all the gear for making his custom fishing rods in the garage.**

Marks explained the steps in building a rod. “After the materials are ordered and arrive, I first take the order out of the package,” Marks replied while laughing. “First the spline in the rod is found, this is the backbone of the rod. I take the rod and put tension on it, while rolling the rod. The area of the spine will snap or hop. The spline is the heaviest part of the rod. The theory is the spline is found in one spot, it provides a keyway for guide location and better angler control later,” stated Marks.

Second, Marks determines what kind of rod he will make. The handle or grip is put on the rod. He reams out the handle to fit the blank. Then Pro-epoxy paste is put on to secure the handle.

Third, the guides are put on after measuring and marking the rod blank for the spacing between the guides. Mudhole provides suggestions on where to place the guides. Marks runs a line up and down the tip to insure the guides are lined up. He also uses a laser beam to insure the guides are correctly aligned. After the guide are mounted, protective clear epoxy is added.

Fourth, two additional coats of clear epoxy are put on and then 400 grit sandpaper removes any imperfections. Marks then field tests the rod to assure quality.

“If I catch a big fish while testing, I know that particular rod is a real good one,” kidded Marks with a grin.

“Building fishing rods is a great hobby and I never stop learning. I began fishing with my dad when I was 4 years old, and when I was 10, I really got into fishing and loved it. I learned from my father how to fish for walleye, since we lived within walking distance of Lake Erie near Derby, New York,” stated Marks.

I tagged along with Marks as he fished with the rod and learned as I watched his fishing strategy from a distance.

“The presentation is the key. The bite is what keeps me interested. When I set the hook – it’s a great feeling. There’s a rush of adrenaline! I could fish all day for the bite,” concluded Marks.

For more information: e-mail address – capt.tommarks@gmail.com; 716-997-6919.

**Here we are testing my new rod, I’m sitting, Tom is demonstrating the secrets to catching bass where we are fishing in Florida. Sure was fun!**

Winterizing Your Plants – ADVICE from Chestnut Hill Outdoors

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Morgan McCalla

**Click picture for a short video that explain the importance of these chestnuts to your deer crop wherever you live.**

Winter’s arrival means a period of transition, not just for animals, but for plants as well. Understanding how plants go through this phase and what they need to better survive winter can be important. That’s why the folks at Chestnut Hill Outdoors do more than just sell you plants. In order to ensure you receive the maximum benefit from their products, they also provide sound advice and instruction on proper planting and care.

As hours of daylight wane and temperatures drop, plants cease growing and enter a state of dormancy, not unlike animals going into hibernation. Some people don’t realize this. “We’ve even had people ask why the leaves are falling off their trees,” said a spokesperson for Chestnut Hill Outdoors. It’s perfectly normal and you need not be alarmed, but it is a signal that it might be time to take some protective measures.

The Right Zone
First and foremost, you should choose plants that are specifically adapted for the climate in your area. One of the best tools for determining this is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. To ensure you pick the right plants for your region, Chestnut Hill Outdoors lists these zones for each of their products. They also check all orders to ensure plant species are appropriately suited to their destinations so you’ll know you have the right varieties when they arrive.
Insulate the Roots

Next, apply a layer of mulch on top of the soil around the tree. This will act as insulation, protecting the root systems of young plants and trees from the cold. During the following growing season it will also reduce weeds and help retain moisture. It’s best to use natural materials like wood chips, leaf/yard compost, sawdust or straw. Also, be sure not to pile mulch around the trunk as it could create a favorable microenvironment for rot or rodents.

Protection from Depredation
With herbaceous food becoming scarce, rabbits and small rodents turn their attention to alternate food sources and often use the protection of tall, matted grass, mulch or snow to gnaw the bark off trees. This can severely damage young trees, stunt growth next spring and in severe cases they can actually girdle and kill the tree.

Wrapping the trunk is helpful but a better option is Grow Tubes. These translucent plastic tubes act as mini-greenhouses, insulating and protecting young trees from temperature extremes as well as gnawing pests. During the growing season, they also help with weed control and moisture retention, which can be especially important in locations where there is less opportunity for care, such as forest or wildlife plantings, or where there are predation by deer, mice and other critters.

For more on selecting and protecting the right food plot and deer attractant plants, visit ChestnutHillOutdoors.com, or call (855) 386-7826.

Chestnut Hill is the best place for you to purchase your food plot and deer attractant plants because they offer a large selection, their plants are specifically bred to attract deer, and they offer customers different sized plants at different levels of growth.
For more information, please visit: WWW.CHESTNUTHILLOUTDOORS.COM.

Holiday Sportsman Show Online Open for Business

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Karen Lutto

Holiday Sportsman Show is FREE, is Online, Is Open for Business
Cash in on Sales, No traffic, No Crowds
Sales Benefit to Military Veterans, Youth, Conservation

**Sample of a show booth for Simms Fishing Products. Click the picture to enter.**

The much-anticipated Online Holiday Sportsman Show is officially open for business. Tour the virtual exhibit halls for fabulous savings from the comfort of your home. With exhibitors in a number of individually labeled halls, selecting the perfect gifts for outdoor enthusiasts on your list is easier than ever.

Open until Dec. 31, the Holiday Sportsman Show offers even greater sales to visitors of the show, https://holidaysportsmanshow.com, with the purchase of a $15 Fundraiser package with additional Savings and Discounts. This gift package directly benefits our youth and U.S. veterans, and it also opens the door to more than $5,000 of exclusive savings for a wide range of gifts and products.

For more information on the package, the groups it benefits and to find out how to order one, visit https://holidaysportsmanshow.com/2018/#/fundraising/friendsofheroes/deals.

The Holiday Sportsman Show is easy to navigate and has a wide selection of highly sought-after outdoor brands to choose from. Cash in on the sales without dealing with the lines, traffic, crowds and headaches of venturing out to the malls. Sit back, relax and have a stress-free holiday shopping experience at the Holiday Sportsman Show from now until Dec. 31.

**The main lobby of the Holiday Sportsman Show, click to enter. Once there, use the “guidepost” on your upper right to navigate the halls and booths in the show.**

About the Holiday Sportsman Show: The Online Holiday Sportsman Show is a property of Vexpo Marketing, L.L.C., based in Missouri. Vexpo Marketing develops digital products designed to serve outdoor activities and outdoor consumers, including businesses and organizations that provide goods and services for outdoor recreation. A project of special dedication has been to bring traditional sports shows to a digital platform to give consumers sports show experiences in the online world. Vexpo Marketing properties include the Holiday Sportsman Show, North American Sport Show, Share the Outdoors website, and the National Wildlife Art show, all in consideration that support of conservation, youth and veterans organizations through fund-raising efforts and philanthropy is a service of great importance.

For information on how to participate in the show, contact Brooke Droese at brooke@vexposhows.com, or call her at (816) 246-5626.

ELK in Pennsylvania, 420-inch Giant Bull, harvested by Raffle Winner

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

Keystone Elk Country Alliance (KECA), a visionary conservation success story
KECA mission: conserve, enhance Pennsylvania Elk Country for future generations
Raffle proceeds generate funding for Elk Country visitor center, public educational classrooms, land protection

**Matthew Martinichio with his giant bull elk.**

A lucky hunter from Binghamton, New York, Matthew Martinichio, was selected from 9,945 tickets in the KECA Elk Tag Raffle drawing held August 19, 2018 at the Elk Expo at the Elk Country Visitor Center, located in Benezette Township, Elk County, Pa. Matthew was not present when his name was pulled from the “squirrel cage” by a young boy selected from the audience. Matthew is an avid duck and turkey hunter, but he does not hunt deer and actually did not own a rifle prior to this hunt. Matthew’s grandfather, Joe Villecco, from Port Crane, New York, purchased the ticket for Mathew. Matthew’s Grandfather, 82, was there during the hunt.

**Elk Expo KECA Elk Tag Drawing on Aug. 19, 2018, with Founding Chairman, John Geissler.**

It has become a tradition to immediately call the winner from the CEO’s office. The group consisted of KECA’s Founding Chairman of the Board John Geissler, Rawley Cogan CEO KECA, Elk County Outfitter owner Jack Manack, and guides Bryan Hale and Kim Rensel, Pennsylvania Game Commission North Central Region Director Dave Mitchell, and Brad Clinton Executive Producer TomBob Outdoors. Matthew harvested an 8 x7 mature bull elk on Saturday September 22, 2018 while hunting with Elk County Outfitters.

“The rut had been slow because of warm weather, high temperatures near 86 degrees and humid”, stated Jack Manack, owner of Elk County Outfitters. “A cold front came through Friday evening and we anticipated a good hunt on Saturday”, Manack said. We started hunting on Wednesday September 19, and we actually saw the bull Matthew harvested and we passed on him”, said Manack. “Obviously we did not get a good enough look at him or we would have taken him then,” Manack said.

Saturday morning at 9 a.m., Martinichio killed the 850 pound (estimated) live weight bull. Manack green-scored the bull at over 410”. The official score will not be known until the 60 day drying time is complete. “Pennsylvania’s Elk Range is awesome,” stated Martinichio. “I have never been there before and the experience of harvesting this huge bull was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and that my Grandpa was there with me was very special. It was very emotional when my Grandpa and I walked up to the bull,” stated Martinichio. “We called to the bull and he answered, but he did not come right to us. We had to make a few moves to get a shot at him,” said Martinichio.

**Jack Manack ECO and Matthew Martinichio.**

“The KECA Elk Tag Raffle provides a unique opportunity for one hunter to harvest a mature bull elk in Pennsylvania, but everyone that purchased a ticket is a true conservationist and a winner. We sincerely thank everyone that purchased a ticket for their support of this unique raffle. Pennsylvania’s elk herd and its habitat are the beneficiaries,” stated Cogan.

Elk County Outfitters owner Jack Manack stated, “We are just happy to be a small part of what KECA does and provide this hunter a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.” “KECA is very fortunate to have generous donors like Elk County Outfitters supporting our mission and we thank Jack and his guides for their long-term support”, stated Cogan. Martinichio agreed, “Jack and his guides were great, they really know elk,” stated Martinichio.

The 2018 KECA Elk Tag Raffle generated $180,650 in gross tickets sales. KECA’s Elk Tag Raffle proceeds from past years were used to complete phase I and II of KECA’s outdoor classroom on the campus of the Elk Country Visitor Center, educational programs for thousands of students and guests, many habitat improvement projects totaling thousands of acres and a permanent land protection project.

The Keystone Elk Country Alliance (KECA) completed their first permanent land protection project in 2016; a 9-acre tract located adjacent to the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette Township, Elk County, PA. The property consists of white pine and hemlock with mixed oak and hickory over story, including two small streams which merge on the property and flow into the Bennett’s Branch of the Susquehanna River. The water is clean and runs year around. No mining or acid mine drainage has occurred on the property. There are no buildings or structures on the property. Proceeds from KECA’s Elk Tag Raffle were used to purchase this property.

TomBob’s cameraman, Ben Gnan, filmed the entire hunt with Matthew. Be sure to tune into TomBob Outdoors Friends in Wild Places this fall to see the KECA Elk Tag winner Pennsylvania bull elk hunt on your favorite network.

The Keystone Elk Country Alliance is a Pennsylvania based 501 (c) (3) wildlife conservation organization. KECA’s mission is to conserve and enhance Pennsylvania’s Elk Country for future generations. KECA operates the Elk Country Visitor Center. Visit www.ExperienceElkCountry.com for more information.

4 Days to IRMA: How Much Time Boaters Have to Prepare

Posted on January 23, 2024 by stoadmin

Essential info for boaters, clubs, marinas at BoatUS.com/hurricanes

**Recreational boat owners need to prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Irma (credit: NOAA)**

ALEXANDRIA, Va., September 5, 2017 – According to the National Hurricane Center, Florida may have up to four days to prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Irma, a “potentially catastrophic Category 5” storm now approaching the Leeward Islands.

While it’s difficult to determine landfall, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) urges boaters, marinas and boat clubs to use the valuable time to prepare, and offers free help online at BoatUS.com/hurricanes.

The boating group says that it doesn’t take a direct hit to damage or sink recreational vessels, or cause havoc at boat storage facilities.
The storm-planning available from BoatUS help includes:
1. “BoatUS Tips for Protecting Boats in Hurricanes,” a basic two-page primer that contains advice on hurricane preparation for all recreational boaters.
2. “Boater’s Guide to Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes” has more details on how to protect your boat as well as marinas.
3. “What Works: A Guide to Preparing Marinas, Yacht Clubs and Boats for Hurricanes,” a helpful resource for marina and boat-club staff, community resiliency managers and local government organizations that focuses on protecting boating facilities.
When a storm approaches, BoatUS.com/hurricanes also has up-to-the-minute storm-tracking tools with live satellite images and checklists for what to do before and after a hurricane strikes.
Much of the hurricane guide information comes from BoatUS and its Marine Insurance Catastrophe (CAT) Team, a recognized leader in hurricane preparedness with more than 30 years of post-storm boat salvage experience. Go to BoatUS.com/hurricanes for more.

About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS): Celebrating more than 50 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters with more than a half-million members. We are the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill and fight for their rights. We are The Boat Owners Auto Club and help ensure a roadside trailer breakdown doesn’t end a boating or fishing trip before it begins. When boats break down on the water, TowBoatUS brings them safely back to the launch ramp or dock, 24/7. The BoatUS Marine Insurance Program gives boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and superior service they need. We help keep boaters safe and our waters clean with assistance from the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Visit BoatUS.com.

Ads – Hunting

Posted on January 23, 2024 by stoadmin

Ads – Home

Posted on January 23, 2024 by stoadmin

Ads – Shooting

Posted on January 23, 2024 by stoadmin

Apply for Florida Alligator & Fall Hunt Permits in May

Posted on January 23, 2024 by stoadmin

Phase 1 Drawing May 12 – 20, 2017
6,000 Permits Issued by Random Drawing

By Tony Young

May is here, and so is the start of the Phase I application period for applying for alligator and fall quota, special opportunity and national wildlife refuge hunt permits. Mark your calendar, set yourself an alarm, whatever you have to do to remind yourself – just don’t forget to get in all of your fall hunting permit applications in time for Phase I.

Alligator hunt permits

Since 1988, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has offered hunters the opportunity to take part in its annual statewide recreational alligator harvest that runs Aug. 15–Nov. 1. These special night hunts provide a hunting adventure unlike any other. Alligators are a conservation success story in Florida. The state’s alligator population is estimated at 1.3 million and has been stable for many years.

Phase I application period

The application period for the Phase I random drawing begins May 12 at 10 a.m. and runs through May 22. More than 6,000 alligator harvest permits will be available.

Hunters can submit their application for a permit that allows the harvest of two alligators on a designated harvest unit or county. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age by Aug. 15 and have a valid credit or debit card to apply.

Applications may be submitted at any county tax collector’s office, license agent (most retail outlets that sell hunting and fishing supplies) and at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Applicants must provide their credit card information when they apply. If you change your mind on where you’d like to hunt, you are able to make updates to your hunt choices all the way up until the application period closes.

License/permit costs

The alligator trapping license/harvest permit and two hide validation CITES tags cost $272 for Florida residents, $22 for those with a Florida Resident Persons with Disabilities Hunting and Fishing License, and $1,022 for nonresidents. The cost for applicants who already have an alligator trapping license is $62.

Phase II and III application periods

Any permits remaining after the first phase will be offered during the Phase II random drawing May 26–June 5. Those who were awarded a permit in Phase I may not apply during Phase II. Remaining permits will be available in Phase III to anyone who did not draw a permit in either of the first two phases, and they may be applied for June 9-19.

Leftover application phase

If any permits remain after Phase III, there will be a fourth-phase issuance period beginning at 10 a.m. on June 22 until all permits are sold. Anyone may apply during Phase IV, even if they were awarded a permit in one of the earlier phases. Customers who are able to purchase additional permits will be charged $62, regardless of residency or disability.

What to expect if you get drawn

Within three days of an application period closing, applicants can expect to see an authorization hold on their credit card, verifying there is a sufficient balance to cover the cost of the permit. However, this does not mean they were awarded a permit. Once the credit card authorization process is complete, the lottery drawing will be held. All successful applicants will be charged, while those who were unsuccessful will have the authorization hold lifted from their credit cards.

Successful applicants should expect to receive their alligator trapping license/harvest permit and two CITES alligator tags in the mail within six weeks of payment. Alligator trapping licenses are nontransferable. All sales are final, and no refunds will be made.

For more information on alligator hunting or the application process, see the “2017 Guide to Alligator Hunting in Florida” by going to “MyFWC.com/Hunting” and then click on “Alligator” under “By Species.”

Fall quota hunt permits

The FWC offers thousands of quota hunt opportunities each year. Hunters can choose to apply for fall quota hunts for deer and wild hogs. There also are special hunts for families, youth, people with disabilities, bowhunters and those hunting with muzzleloaders.

A quota is the maximum number of hunters allowed on a particular wildlife management area. The FWC’s Quota Hunt Program prevents overcrowding on such areas and provides quality hunts. Quotas also help control game harvests. The FWC sets quotas based on an area’s size, habitat, game populations and regulations.

There are several types of quota permits, most of which are issued by random drawing, and the Phase I application period for these fall quota hunts is May 15–June 15. I’m talking about archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, wild hog, youth, family, track vehicle, airboat and mobility-impaired quota hunt permits.

You may apply for each of the hunt types, and there is no fee to do so. But unless exempt, you must have an up-to-date $26 management area permit (or a license that includes one) when applying for a quota permit. If you do not have this, the system won’t accept your application.

The FWC offers youth deer hunts on Camp Blanding WMA in Clay County and on Andrews WMA in Levy County. If you have children between the ages of 8 and 15, and you want them to have a chance to experience one of these great hunts, apply for a youth quota hunt permit – 160 kids will get this opportunity. During these hunts only the youngsters may hunt, and they, along with their adult supervisors, are the only people allowed on the area.

There will be family quota hunts on 28 WMAs, and if drawn, the permit requires one adult take one or two youths hunting. The adult may not hunt without taking along a youngster.

Hunters certified by the FWC as mobility-impaired may apply for Mobility-impaired Quota Permits that allow exclusive access to general gun hunts on nine of the state’s public hunting areas.

If you want to get the jump on one of these hunts, apply May 15–June 15 at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, or have a license agent or tax collector’s office apply for you. To find out if you’ve been selected, log onto your customer account at that same web address after 10 a.m. on June 19.

If you don’t get drawn for a particular quota hunt, you’ll get a preference point for next year’s drawing, which will improve your chances of being selected. If you’re unable to use your quota permit and you return it at least 10 days prior to your hunt, you’ll get your preference point restored.

Special-opportunity fall hunts

If you haven’t been seeing the quantity or quality of game you’d like, I suggest applying for a Special-Opportunity Fall Hunt Permit. For the past 20 years, the FWC has offered these unique fall-season hunts for deer, wild hog and released quail on arguably the state’s best public hunting lands. Maybe it’s time you looked into getting in on the action and experiencing the hunt of a lifetime.

These extraordinary hunts offer large tracts of land with an abundance of game and low hunting pressure. All deer hunts allow you to take only mature bucks with at least one antler having four or more points, 1 inch or longer. Wild hogs also are legal to take during the deer hunts, and there is no size or bag limit on hogs.

These special-opportunity deer and wild hog hunts take place in central Florida on Fort Drum, Lake Panasoffkee, Triple N Ranch and Green Swamp West Unit WMAs. Camping is legal on all areas.

There is one seven-day general gun deer and hog hunt on the 20,858-acre Fort Drum WMA in Indian River County. The hunt costs $50, if you get drawn.

Lake Panasoffkee, in Sumter County, has eight four-day archery hunts for deer and hog on 8,676 acres. The permits are $100 for each hunt.

There are two seven-day general gun deer and hog hunts at Triple N Ranch in Osceola County. The permit costs $175 for each of the two hunt dates.

Pasco County’s Green Swamp West Unit, where the state’s highest-scoring deer on record was taken, has two archery hunts for deer and hogs on its 34,335 acres. There are also three general gun hunts for deer and hogs. All are four-day hunts costing $100.

All special-opportunity permit holders can bring one non-hunting guest if they wish during the deer and hog hunts.

The FWC also has released-quail hunts on the Carr Unit of Blackwater WMA in Santa Rosa County. With these hunts, you must bring and release your own pen-raised quail. These are seven-day (Saturday through Friday) hunts that run 16 consecutive weeks.

There’s just one permit available for each week, and if you’re lucky enough to draw one, you and up to three of your friends will have the entire 250 acres to yourselves. The permit costs $100 for each week.

Special-opportunity hunt permits are transferable by simply giving the permit to another person. Permit holders under age 16 or those who are certified mobility-impaired, may have a non-hunting assistant accompany them during all special-opportunity hunts.

If you’d like to take part in one or more of these hunts, you may apply at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, county tax collectors’ offices or most retail outlets that sell hunting and fishing supplies beginning 10 a.m. on May 15. The application period runs through midnight of June 15.

You may apply for as many special-opportunity hunts and dates as you like to increase your chances of being selected, but you must include the $5 nonrefundable application fee for each one. Hunters are limited to drawing only one permit per hunt area, though.

Special-opportunity results are available in rounds, and you may pay the cost of the selected hunt at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or at any license agent or tax collector’s office. If you don’t claim your permit by paying for it in full by the claim deadline for each round, you forfeit it, and it’ll be available to the next customer waiting in line in the next round.

National Wildlife Refuge hunts

There are also several fall hunts on five national wildlife refuges that you may apply for during the same Phase I application period of May 15–June 15. These National Wildlife Refuge hunts offer yet another unique and limited opportunity to hunt on well-managed habitat with healthy game populations and low hunting pressure. However, no guest permits are available for any of these hunts. And if you get drawn, you must pay for your permit by the claim deadline, or you forfeit it, and it’ll be available during the next application period which is first-come, first-served.

On the 21,574-acre Lake Woodruff in Volusia and Lake counties, you can apply for archery and muzzleloading gun hunts for deer and hog. There is no fee to apply, but if you get drawn, the permit costs $27.50.

You can apply for archery hunts on Brevard County’s 140,000-acre Merritt Island. There is no cost to apply, but if you get drawn, the permit is $27.50.

Just south of Tallahassee, you may apply for archery, general gun and mobility-impaired hunts on the 32,000-acre St. Marks. Each of these hunts cost $5 to apply for and if you get drawn, the permits are $27.50.

On Franklin County’s 11,400-acre St. Vincent Island, you can apply for primitive weapons hunts for the exotic and enormous sambar deer. It’s $5 to apply, and $37.50 to buy the permit should you get drawn.

Lower Suwannee, in Dixie and Levy counties, has a $15 permit you can purchase that allows you to hunt the entire fall and spring season on the 53,000-acre refuge. You may purchase this permit anytime between May 15 and up to the last day of spring turkey season.

So whether it’s a gator permit you want, or a fall quota, special-opportunity or refuge hunt that you’re after – or all of the above– here’s wishing you success getting one of these great permits.

Light Wizards of the Midnight Woods

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

We discovered this book while visiting the Black Caddis Ranch B&B and it started us on a new adventure with the outdoors that we will enjoy or all time. Radim Schreiber Photo.

We can all connect to nature with our visits with fireflies. They seem to talk with us if you listen, especially in Tionesta, Pennsylvania. Click picture for a visit to the Firefly Experience. Radim Schreiber Photo

By Forrest Fisher

The half-moon rising in the distant eastern sky was dim and sheltered by scattered, giant, white clouds. The openings in the clouds allowed us to see millions of stars and the vastness of the Milky Way as we have never seen before. There were no streetlights anywhere within miles of this cheerful and peaceful mountaintop place and the crackle of the fire was adjusting to the new log. It provided the perfect music to especially enjoy this time of day.

Our adventure into the outdoors took a wonderful turn this summer when Peggy tossed a new log onto the simmering campfire. The sunset was just about complete, a stream of beautiful tinsel sparks rose upward. It was a warmly coded skyward message to life in the night woods, and to us, that darkness had arrived.

Rose, my wife of 49 years, had a warm smile like she often does, as she was discussing some fine points of nature and observing wildlife with our granddaughter. Kiley was completing a summer research internship for the State University of New York Environmental School of Forestry in Syracuse, New York, as a senior college student. I sensed that science and adventure were finding common ground. Rose had questions about the recipe to observe the ancient winged ancestors that lived here, just as they started to light nearby fields and forest.

Peggy’s sister, Barb was visiting with her two nieces, Molly (9) and Carly (12), and the girls had noticed the blinking lights of the fireflies too. Molly noticed them first, “Aunt Peggy, look there! There they are! Wow! They’re beautiful!” Carly added, “Why do they light up and blink like that Aunt Barb?” A short silence followed as Barb looked to Peggy who prepared to answer, “Well, the fireflies that light up are the boy fireflies and they’re calling to the lady fireflies to show them where they are. They’re looking for a date. It’s that simple.”

**The flight of the fireflies applauded with intricate light beams in a code that seemed to match the rhythm and Ukulele tone of music around the campfire.**

Peggy smiled. Barb smiled. Rose and Kiley smiled. Carly answered, “Oh, ok, I get it.”

Just then Molly rose from her fireside chair and ran onto the backyard lawn. Molly cheered, “Look at all the fireflies!” The back lawn was skirted by a knee-high grassland meadow around the backyard perimeter. Kiley went to Molly and added to the conversation about fireflies and explained the great job that her Aunt Peggy and Uncle Ken had done with helping everyone in the whole world understand more about fireflies at this ranch.

Rose and I shared thoughts about these intriguing airborne insects of the night. Do they carry a message for us all? It seems that fireflies offer magic and wonder to every outdoor adventure where the land and air is clean, like here, in the middle of this wonderful Pennsylvania woods just south of the Allegheny National Forest, in Tionesta, Pennsylvania.

We all sat there in awe of all the twinkling airborne light forms. Hundreds and hundreds of them. My mind transcended to an effortless zone of harmony and wonder for a moment, a thought-binding moment.

There is mystical, divine and magical experience from the light of a true firefly experience like this. I sat back into my chair and looked at the embers of the fire, then upward to the thousands of stars of the Milky Way shining bright. How lucky we were to be here.

Just then Kiley started to strum her Ukulele, sharing the chords played with Molly and Carly. She said, “This is a C, E minor, F, G and A minor, that’s it, pretty easy with a little practice,” Would you like to try it? That was Peggy’s que to bring her Ukulele out from the house to join in. Two Ukulele’s at the same campfire! We all knew this was one special night for our memory book of perfect medley. Kiley and Peggy were strumming and singing “Somewhere over the Rainbow” and the flight of the fireflies surrounding us seemed to be applauding with their brilliant intricate flashes in some sort of light beam code. Where is Peter Pan? I was thinking. Like the two ladies playing the music and all of us singing or humming along (I can’t sing), were on their stage. Tin Man and Judy Garland were there in spirit. There were bears, wolves, trout and other critters of nature alive in our campfire talk.

That’s when I learned that we can talk to fireflies.

We can question them. They reply. Feel the connection by virtue of the extraordinary light gallery.

**We discovered this book while visiting the Black Caddis Ranch B&B and it started us on a new adventure with the outdoors that we will enjoy or all time. Radim Schreiber Photo.**

We can all connect to nature by our visits with fireflies. Such visits require no special gear. A comfortable chair, perhaps, a glass of wine from a grape aging specialist, Gregg Stoos, and a quiet campfire with friends.

The fireflies, like guiding spirits, dance to challenge the darkness with their light.

They hover and move silently through the darkness.

Their movement and motion with different color light can appear to write a letter or a symbol. Are these the source for early Greek symbols? The roots of math? My mind wanders and wonders.

The fireflies provide a sure source for wonder…are they sharing a language not yet known to us? A secret code? Perhaps early settler groups to North America could understand this code? I ask myself. Is it a computer code? A binary switch of sorts? A prismatic code not yet known to us? Does it lead to a vault of undiscovered knowledge?

Whatever signals the night light beacons of the fireflies share, to watch them is enlightening.

All these thoughts, yet, so many questions in wonder, how can that be? I ask myself.

I realize I am so relaxed, so mesmerized by the flight of these miracle insects that fly with lighted inspiration. Everyone sitting around the campfire is too.

The Black Caddis Ranch B&B and Cabins in Tionesta, Pennsylvania, offered all the comforts of home and more, with delicious breakfasts, peaceful parlor rooms, and new friendships with fireflies and hummingbirds. Click the picture for more.

Just being near these fragile airborne creatures of the night is such a reward to cherish. For us astonished onlookers, their intricate behaviors seem to share a virtue of loving life and respect for one another.

As the music lessened, the magic around the campfire was evident to all. This Black Caddis Ranch place is a really special place, as we were isolated to the darkness of this perfect night with a band of chivalrous fireflies that led us to enjoy a nighttime gallery of airborne art to appear all around us.

Kiley added, “Each firefly species is different and has a season. Their season can be predicted by growing degree days, it’s a sort of farm language. Synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) are out during June about the time the orange daylilies bloom and usually peak at end of June. The “big dippers” or photinus pyralis, start to appear at the beginning of July.” Rose and I returned home the next day to sit in our backyard about three hours north. We saw some fireflies there too, but nothing like what we saw in Tionesta, Pennsylvania.

Peggy and Ken Butler host a wonderful Bed & Breakfast Lodging House called the Black Caddis Ranch in Tionesta, Pennsylvania, it is home to the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival, and I guess we know why now. There is firefly magic in this special place. The spacious accommodations are wonderful and are modernized amidst a home that was built in the 1800’s. Real wood floors and walls and kitchen tables, a giant stone fireplace in the front parlor, complete with homemade pancakes and maple syrup from nearby trees, and a myriad of other breakfast goodies, this all made this place that sort of place that my better half and I search for…and only hope to find. Peggy and Ken, and many close friends, are the originators of the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival (PAFF, https://www.pafireflyfestival.org/) that is hosted at their ranch, but there are fireflies present on most summer nights. It’s a magical place.

We’re going back to be inspired by the night flight of fireflies, the Milky Way, a quiet campfire and honest friends. The daytime song and buzz of hummingbirds adds to the peace and magic found here.

For more info: Ken and Peggy Butler – Black Caddis Ranch B&B and Cabins, 13558 Route 666, Tionesta, Pa., 16353. Phone: (814) 463-7606. Web: www.blackcaddisranch.blogspot.com and also https://www.pafireflyfestival.org/.

King Salmon Move Near Shore RIGHT NOW! Lake Ontario, Orleans County, NY – July 24, 2018

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Capt. John Oravec

It's Spoon Time!

Lake Ontario Fishing News from Tightline’s Charters – July 24, 2018.

By Capt. John Oravec

**It’s Spoon Time! See more photos – http://captjohnoravec.com/photos.htm**

The Lake Ontario waters off Point Breeze – simply put – are teaming with big king salmon after a big nor’easter storm caused the inside water to roll over. A classic upwelling, the salmon are feeding closer to the shoreline and near the surface!

I heard from a duo hailing from New Jersey and West Virginia that they had super action in close, plus one of the biggest salmon yet for 2018 – a 40″ 27 plus pounder!

Another group of trollers plowed thru fog only to find lots of schoolie kings and scrappy steelhead 30 to 40 feet down over 400 feet depths. Hot lure wise the consensus is spoons! Spoons! Spoons! Try to simplify a lure spread with a couple downriggers and a trailing 10 color leadcore or 250 ft. copper Flatline. The water is very clear, less can catch more.

Your local tackle shops have the prime baits and accessories to repair all the breakage during salmon wars like this! Be careful when running offshore. Have plenty of fuel, safety gear and stay in sight of the boat fleet.

Go get ’em!

Capt. John Oravec, www.captjohnoravec.com, Tight Lines Charters, 1857 Countyline Rd., Lyndonville, NY, 14098; Phone: boat/mobile 585-590-2045

Capt. Johnny Oravec is a 43 year veteran of Orleans County charter captain of the 33 foot Trojan the “Troutman 2.” Captain Johnny has been helping Great Lakes anglers learn and develop fishing techniques by writing for the In-Fisherman Magazine TV and Radio.

Visit our Fishing Report on OrleansCountyTourism.com, including weather forecasts and our “At the Oak, Orleans County” Facebook feed.

From Point Breeze on Lake Ontario, the World Fishing Network’s Ultimate Fishing Town USA and the rest of Orleans County, let’s make everyday a great fishing day right here in Orleans County!

Sincerely, The Team at Orleans County Tourism

How to Find Turkey Hunting Success on Public Land

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Mike Joyner

Scouting, Listening, Tuning-In
State Game Lands can offer Best Hunt Days!

By Mike Joyner

With a full day’s rest from an epic road trip to Ohio, mother’s day morning hunt proved to be much a surprise in so many ways. Having spotted turkeys in farm fields below public game lands in Truxton, New York – in Cortland County, I thought I might give it a go for a few hours before having to pick up flowers I had on order.

I found myself running behind and arrived too late to just march into the woods without listening for a bit. On my way there I spotted no other vehicles in the usual places and none parked anywhere in the state forest I had decided on for the hunt.

Mid-season on a weekend you would expect a few trucks to be parked along the roads and especially on state game lands. I eased up to where I hoped to start my hunt and to my surprise that along with gobblers sounding off that I knew I would barely able to hear, I had a bird not only on my side of the road, but not 200 yards from the seasonal road. To my advantage a heavy fog had rolled in, and the birds were still on the roost.

Knowing the terrain between us, I was able to cut the distance to a hundred yards and settled up against a big old maple tree. Mind you the bird was gobbling every 60-90 seconds without any encouragement.

With a barely audible set of tree yelps the bird gobbled back with a triple gobble, and spun around to face me as the gobbling got much louder. You could hear him rattle from the tree limb.

Knowing that there would be hens 300-400 yards below the ridge I would space out any calling by only responding after 3-4 gobbles. Even then it was very light confidence calls. Well past fly down time, the gobbler stayed in the tree and I went silent for 15 minutes. I heard his gobble change, become more insistent, and got drowned out with just a few whines and clucks. With a short cackle and a few very light purrs I went silent again as we were past 6:30 and the fog had eased up. I heard better than 70 plus gobbles and was surmising he would call up hens from somewhere out on the ridge.

Just past 6:30 AM the gobbling ceased and I would hear him gobble far to my left and down the hill what sounded to be 200-250 yards and on to private property. After trying him several times I decided to move as far as I could out on a shelf and hoped I could maintain contact with the bird.

After several attempts he gobbled once to let me know he had sailed down a long ways down the ridge. Although gobbling could be heard from birds we had spotted the night before and over a quarter mile from me. My side of the road went quiet.

Although I heard a change in his gobbling, nothing came of it until I made my next series of soft calls. The tom blasted out a gobble well under a hundred yards from me, and what I thought to be closing fast. Thirty seconds later along the edge of the shelf I was set up on, the familiar bright colors of a gobblers head bounced up and down as he ran up along the path he had chosen. At twenty five yards his head came up one last time as I squeezed the trigger.

The entire hunt lasted a little more than an hour and twenty minutes, with a ton of gobbling and a gobbler after all said and done that ran back up the hill in one big hurry. All in all, a very memorable hunt. Every bit as fast and furious as any hunt I have had on private property. It was a very short walk back up the hill to the truck.

I did make it in time to pick up the flowers and spend the rest of the day with my bride and in remembrance of the important women in my life.

Coldwater Fish Hitting Baits in Trib Streams, Lake and Off Piers

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Bill Hilts

Niagara Falls USA Fishing Forecast for Thursday, March 22, 2018 – Destination Niagara USA
Tribs are plentiful with Steelhead and Brown Trout
Olcott and Wilson Pier fishing is Good
Bullhead Contest at Wilson Conservation Club – APRIL 6

**Adam Gierach of Pendleton with a 10 pound brown off Wilson.**

Despite a lack of precipitation, steelhead and brown trout are still being caught with regularity in the Lake Ontario tributaries. Water conditions have been low and clear. Small egg sacs, small jigs tipped with a wax worm, and egg imitations are at the top of the list.

In 18 Mile Creek, there’s been good trout action from the piers to the dam according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker.

When you can get on the piers (northerly winds from the most recent Nor’easter have kept people off the last few days), casting spoons or spinners can produce browns or steelhead. They have been getting some big perch off the piers and in the harbor, too. In fact, they were catching perch all the way to the dam until the gobies moved in.

Steelhead were also being caught in Keg Creek.

Over in Wilson, there are steelhead in the 12 Mile Creeks. In the harbor, perch and bluegills were being caught. Bullhead started to hit in Wilson, too.

No sharing on the hot spots because the Wilson Bullhead Derby sponsored by the Wilson Conservation Club is just around the corner. The derby will run from 5 p.m. on April 6 to 1 p.m. on April 8. Sign up at the Slippery Sinker in Olcott or CMC Auto Repair in Wilson. Call Eric at 628-6078 for more information.

Out in Lake Ontario, small boaters have been hitting the shoreline for brown trout. With the northerly winds, the shoreline has a distinct mudline. Working stickbaits in and out of the line is one approach, using planer boards. Keep your lures 100 to 125 feet back. Chartreuse and orange have been good colors lately. If you aren’t getting hits, try bumping your speed up. That’s was John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda and Adam Gierach of Pendleton did last Sunday. Their speed was as high as 2.8 in the cold water and they caught browns up to 10 pounds inside of 15 feet of water.

Walker reports that come boats have been catching browns, steelhead and Coho salmon as deep as 40 feet of water and from 40 to 80 feet of water they have been picking up some lake trout.

In the lower Niagara River, action has been a bit slower with the super clear water. Capt. Matt Yablonsky with Wet Net Charters was picking some trout off using egg sacs before the sun hit the water. After that it was all meat – minnows and shiners. No report from the shore guys this week, but with the super clear water try to downsize your offerings and fish out a bit deeper.

The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association is looking for some volunteers to help put their pens together and get them ready for the salmon and trout stockings in April. On April 7, volunteers will be meeting at the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott at 9:30 a.m. to work on the pens. For more information contact Alan Sauerland at 504-7789.

Incidentally, the first meeting of the year for LOTSA will be April 12 and it will be on tournament spring king fishing. The meeting is in Lockport at 7 p.m., Cornell Cooperative Extension.

The 29^th Annual Antique Fishing Tackle Show is slated for March 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Elks Lodge No. 41, 6791 North Canal Road, Lockport. Admission into the show is $5 for adults. Kids 16 and under are free. This is a great chance to get an appraisal on some old fishing tackle that may be lying around your basement or in your garage. For more information contact Dan Bedford at 713-9410.

Every week The Buffalo News gives outdoor sportsmen (and women) a full page of pertinent material as it relates to Western New York and beyond. Check it out at www.buffalonews.com/section/sports/outdoors/ or pick up the paper every Thursday.

Bill Hilts, Jr. – Outdoor Promotions Director

Destination Niagara USA; 10 Rainbow Blvd.; Niagara Falls, NY 14303

p: 1-877 FALLS US; 1-716-282-8992 x. 303; f: 716-285-0809

www.niagarafallsusa.com

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Early Spring TURKEY SEASON – a Special Florida Resource

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Tammy Sapp - Florida FWC

Florida Turkey Season is OPEN
Osceola Turkeys are Common in Florida
Wild turkeys are a Conservation Success Story in Florida & Across North America

By Tammy Sapp, Florida FWC

Osceola wild turkeys. *FWC photo by Chad Weber.*

Florida’s spring turkey season opened on Saturday, March 3, on private lands south of State Road 70, making it one of the first spring turkey hunting opportunities in the country. Florida is also the only place in the world where the Osceola subspecies of wild turkey is found. Also known as the Florida wild turkey, abundant populations of this subspecies live only on the Florida peninsula. It’s similar to the eastern wild turkey subspecies, which is found in north Florida and throughout the eastern United States, but tends to be smaller and darker with less white barring on the wings.

Hunting wild turkeys is popular in Florida and throughout North America. One reason people enjoy it is the range of calls wild turkeys make. The most recognized call is gobbling, which is most often associated with male birds, or gobblers, during spring when they breed. The gobbler will fan out its tail, puff out its feathers, strut and gobble to attract hens. Hunters pursue this wary bird by imitating various turkey calls to bring gobblers in close.

Getting to see a male wild turkey’s courtship ritual is exciting for new hunters as well as those with years of experience.

Another benefit of turkey hunting, for those lucky enough to harvest a gobbler, is that the meat is a good source of healthy, organic protein.

“Spring turkey season gives hunters the chance to share a delicious wild game meal with friends and family. It’s also a great time to share the turkey hunting experience with someone who has never tried it,” said Roger Shields, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Wild Turkey Management Program coordinator. “The weather is mild, the spring woods are beautiful, and the thrill of hearing a gobbler respond to your calls is a wonderful memory you can share with a new hunter.”

Wild turkeys are a conservation success story in Florida and across North America. They had almost disappeared by the turn of the 20^th century, with populations remaining only in remote pockets of habitat. However, thanks to science-based wildlife restoration efforts, today Osceola and eastern wild turkeys are flourishing throughout the state.

North of State Road 70, Florida’s spring turkey season on private lands opened on Saturday, March 17. Florida’s wildlife management area system also offers opportunities for turkey hunters, and because dates and regulations can vary, hunters are encouraged to review the regulations brochure for the WMA they plan to hunt.

FWC wildlife professionals use scientific data to conserve wild turkey populations and provide regulated and sustainable hunting opportunities. Hunters also play an important role in wild turkey management by purchasing licenses and permits, and along with other shooting sports enthusiasts, contributing to the successful Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.

Get a snapshot of Florida’s wild turkey season dates and bag limits by visiting MyFWC.com/Hunting and clicking “Season Dates.” Learn more about wild turkeys by choosing “Species Profiles” at MyFWC.com/WildlifeHabitats.

Raymarine Can Make Your Boat a “Smart Boat”

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Traditions Media

Raymarine Digital Switching offers control, monitoring and automation of boat systems

WILSONVILLE, OR (January 31, 2018) – Anchor Lights, Aerators, Bilge Pumps, Blowers, Cabin Lights, Courtesy Lights…does this sequence sound familiar? It’s the switch panel on your helm, and it’s just part of the A to Z listing of your boat’s electrical equipment. In addition to switches and alarms, indicator lights and gauges cover many portions of a boat’s helm and interior. Remembering what they all do, and making sure they are all in the correct positions can be challenging even for experienced captains.

Digital switching makes it easy and intuitive to control all of the interior and exterior lighting on this high-performance center console powerboat.

To solve this challenge Raymarine has partnered with Sweden-based Trigentic AB to bring their EmpirBus NXT Digital switching technology to the boating market. Trigentic’s systems have been used in hundreds of marine, automotive and industrial applications for over 10 years.

Why should you consider employing digital switching on your next boat or yacht? Quite simply, it makes monitoring and controlling your boat’s systems easy, intuitive, and logical. The EmpirBus NXT system allows you to easily create highly customized power distribution, control, monitoring and alarm management systems for any sized vessel.

Dom Wiseman of BoatAdvice.com.au recently looked at 2 different vessels equipped with Raymarine Digital Switching. Watch their video to see how this technology makes life onboard easier for owners of small and large boats alike.

Digitally-switched systems use logically presented soft switches, indicators and rich graphics to communicate vessel status.

Using digital switching, data from different systems on a vessel can be integrated and centralized, increasing the availability of important information. Status indicators and alarms can be consolidated onto virtual panels that allow you to monitor the entire vessel at a glance.

Digital switching systems offer many ways to interact. Custom pages with soft-switches, readouts, and status indicators can be programmed onto multifunction displays. Short-range, self-powered, wireless switches can be installed at key locations to toggle frequently-used circuits like lighting from multiple locations. Traditional push-button switches can be added where needed for control of specific items. Dedicated, weatherproof keypads can be tied in using NMEA2000 or SeaTalkng networking for convenient control in remote locations. Even remote switching via wireless networks, the internet, and GSM text messaging* is possible.

This luxury powerboat has digitally-controlled lighting, HVAC, power distribution, sun shades, tank levels, lights and much more.

Raymarine’s Digital Switching system is scalable for any-sized vessel, with near limitless capacity and opportunity for customization. Raymarine boat building partners are increasingly adopting Digital Switching systems on new boat models, giving new boat buyers simplified vessel automation control right at their helm station.

If you are boat builder or marine electronic and electrical integrator contact us to learn more about Raymarine Digital Switching solutions.

*GSM text messaging capabilities vary by country. Consult with a Raymarine Digital Switching Specialist for details.

About Raymarine: Raymarine, a world leader in marine electronics, develops and manufactures the most comprehensive range of electronic equipment for the recreational boating and light commercial marine markets. Designed for high performance and ease of use, the award-winning products are available through a global network of dealers and distributors. The Raymarine product lines include radar, autopilots, GPS, instruments, fishfinders, communications, and integrated systems. Raymarine is a division of FLIR Systems, a world leader in thermal imaging. For more information about Raymarine please go to www.raymarine.com.

FLUORO for the COLD FLOW – Winter Trout Fishing with a Fly Rod

Posted on January 23, 2024 by David Rose

Fly Rods for winter fishing can be honest fun. *Photo courtesy of Jon Ray*

By David Rose

It had been well over a decade since I’d last set foot in the fast-flowing river very near Colorado’s Continental Divide with fly rod in hand. The change in esthetics surrounding the waterway was extreme.

The alteration in environment most obvious was how the once little town at its headwaters had grown so substantially it was now surrounding its banks several miles further downstream. One good thing was there was more angler access to the river; the bad was the rainbows, browns, cutthroat and brook trout in this flies-only catch-and-release section had all been fooled at one time or another by just about every type of fuzz and feather combination one could imagine.

To say the fish that reside here all winter are weary of every offering that wafts past them is an understatement. Luckily, I consulted with those in the know at the local fly shop and was able to catch a few of the finicky fish because of the tips and tricks they shared.

What I found interesting was there was little reform from years ago when it came to the tiny, down-to-size-22 nymph imitations that were suggested I drift under my strike indicator. The one thing the fly-flinging professionals were adamant about this time around, however, was that fluorocarbon leaders were a must if one were to fool a fish into striking.
And it worked.

Winter steelhead can provide an awesome battle, no time to get cold. *Photo courtesy of Jon Ray*

The rod I packed in my carry-on was a 4-piece, St. Croix 5-weight Imperial, perfect for the miniscule nymphs I bought at the shop. A couple packets of Seaguar’s Knotless Tapered Leaders in size 7X (thinning down to 2-pound test at its tip) were also purchased. A few of my casts were actually flawless enough to fool a few fish; in reality, more fish than the last time I was here. And I do believe it was the presentation of my flies and the hook-setting abilities of this thin 100% fluorocarbon line that made the difference.

Fluoro facts for flies:

Fluorocarbon is now a standard go-to for so many fishing applications, including fly fishing.

“First off, you need to get your fly down into the water column faster in winter,” says Jon Ray, a full-time fly-fishing guide with Hawkins Outfitters near my home waters in Michigan’s Northwest Lower Peninsula. “Casts tend to be shorter this time of year, and the fish are in smaller areas of a river; fluorocarbon tippets allow your fly to sink quicker, as well it will stay in strike zone from the top to the bottom of the drift.”
More fluorine atoms and less hydrogen than monofilament is what makes fluorocarbon pack more mass into the same space. It’s more compressed because the fluorocarbon resins give it close to neutral buoyancy. It’s a great choice for vertical personations, like dangling a fly under a strike indicator.

It also has less stretch due to its denseness, which allows an angler to get good hook sets; especially when using the light-pound-tests lines needed for proper presentations of such minuscule bugs during the winter months. “And fluorocarbon is thinner than monofilament, which creates less drag in the water helps your fly drift more naturally,” Ray adds. “And if your fly isn’t drifting perfectly with the current, your bug’s not going to get bit. Period.”

Opposites attract:

But it’s not just nymphing on ultra-light tippets that take trout during the winter months, especially when targeting the largest fish in a system. “While big trout will suck up a little bug once in a while, it’s not their meat and potatoes,” states Fly-Fishing Guide Russ Maddin, who’s created some of modern day’s most popular streamers for trout. “Big fish eat little fish, and I’m not just talking small minnows and whatnot, but other younger, 5- to 8-inch trout in the system, as well.”

Maddin’s been using fluorocarbon tippet material for stripping big streamers for years, and says this tactic is no place for light line and finesse, even when these cold-blooded fish seem lethargic within their ice-water realms.

“You’ll have to slow up your stop-and-go retrieve a little compared to when the water’s warm, with longer pauses in-between pulses, but you really don’t need to lighten up your leaders,” Maddin adds.

Twelve-pound-test (1X in Seaguar’s Max Fluorocarbon Tippet Material) is the lightest Maddin may tie on, but overall 14-pound test (1X in Grand Max Tippet Material) is his go to. No matter the test, it’s the condensed make up of fluorocarbon that keeps his streamers in the strike zone, neither rising or falling on the pause.

Timing and safety:

Two things rookie fly anglers often overlook when their planning a winter’s fly-fishing excursion is the time of day to hit the river, as well, taking a few extra precautionary steps for one’s safety.

Unlike summer months when dawn and dusk may be the best times for catching, smackdab in the middle of the afternoon is usually best for fly fishing in winter. It’s during this time when the waters will warm to their maximum for the day, and all it takes is a half-degree rise in water temperature to turn inactive fish active. And unlike other times of year, the brighter the sun overhead the better the bite can be.

Even if your legs are strong, it’s not only a good idea to have a wading staff with you, but to use it. One quick jab into the river bed and you’ll be able to catch your balance if, say, a rock overturns under foot. Donning ice cleats with small carbide spikes, like the slipover Ice Creepers from Frabill ice anglers wear, will keep you steady-footed if it’s cold enough that ice starts forming on the rocks, or in areas with algae covering the bottom.

Up your odds:

Overall, fly fishing in the heart of winter isn’t all that different than the summer months. Your goal is to imitate nature to a tee with nothing more than feathers and fur that’ve been spun onto a hook.

As I learned from my last trip to the Colorado Rockies, keeping your fly drifting behind a thin, strong, and nearly invisible fluorocarbon leader will up your odds greatly.

Shotgun Choke Tubes – Making the Best Shot Possible

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Choke Tubes Allow Shooters to Change their Pellet Dispersal Pattern
Choke Tubes Allow for “Quick-Change” Performance
Find the RIGHT CHOKE TUBE for every Shotgun you Own

When it comes to shotgun choke tubes, there is one name that rings true as the go to source of knowledge.

That name is Trulock.

From hunting to tactical, the team over at Trulock knows exactly what is needed to take the best shot possible. With decades of experience in engineering the world’s most efficient chokes, the team over at Trulock is second to none in knowledge as well as experience.

The story behind Trulock Choke Tubes, dates back to 1981 when founder George Trulock first began work engineering and designing his revolutionary new choke and installation system. George identified the need for a system that could be retrofitted into most shotgun barrels without the use of an adaptor or complicated machining tools. His final design accomplished just that.

Since then, George introduced a process and system that has been in continuous production, as well as being adopted by several major shotgun manufacturers as the industry standard. An inventive genius that has contributed to improve the shooting industry for all time.

To date, Trulock has a stock of approximately 2500 different chokes, with more scheduled to hit the market very soon. Trulock chokes are guaranteed to turn heads, they make competitors take notice. Folks that use them know that Trulock choke tubes are “THE brand” that everyone should look to when they need the right choke for their style of shooting fun.

This year, if you are planning to attend the 2018 SHOT Show, Trulock invites you to visit their booth #15855 and learn more about why Trulock Choke Tubes and the “Legend” behind their invention have helped to improve shotgun choke technology.

Follow Trulock for exclusive content and discount deals on Facebook, and check them out on-line at www.trulockchokes.com.

Ice Fishing Goes Alternative – NEW GEAR

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Ted Pilgrim - Traditions Media

Five Top Hardwater Hacks, Off the Radar

By Ted Pilgrim, Traditions Media

This isn’t one of those articles giving props to piles of mainstream, traditional ice fishing tackle. For that, you might simply step in to your local outdoor store and buy an ice auger, shelter or lure from any of the established brands. Or run a Google search on the aforementioned items; there’s no shortage of advice from which to form an opinion.

That said, try searching for alternative ice gear, or secret ice fishing tools or hardwater fishing hacks. Good luck.

Somewhat of a non-conformist himself, ice pro Brian “Bro” Brosdahl probably says it best: “Some of the most valuable ice gear I use every day sort of gets taken for granted,” asserts Bro, who routinely zigs when crowds zag.

“It’s like those key role players on a football team; the gear that really deserves credit for a great day on the ice mostly goes unacknowledged. Worse, some of these tools are totally ignored and unused by anglers. Truth is, there’s a whole bunch of pretty cool equipment you’ve probably never seen before that will absolutely enhance your time on hardwater. Some of it deserves the daily MVP award, though you might totally take it for granted.”

Wearable ice accessories greatly increase mobility, comfort and fishing efficiency.

#1 – WEAR YOUR UNDERWATER GLASSES

Hidden among haystacks of traditional ice gear is an alternative trend toward wearable tackle and gear storage, as opposed to stuff you’re forced to drag around like a third wheel. “I wouldn’t call it a trend exactly,” Bro interjects. “I mean, it’s mostly the tournament anglers on national circuits like the NAIFC who are literally wearing their underwater cameras and their tackle around their torsos.”

Couple winter’s back, NAIFC National Champs and three-peat Team of the Year winners Brandon Newby and Ryan Wilson helped the underwater camera inventors at Aqua-Vu design a wearable case compatible with its Micro viewing systems. “The motivation for designing the Micro-Mobile Pro-Vu Case,” says Newby, “was one of necessity, and of our need to find untouched fish. For us, a portable Aqua-Vu Micro camera lies at the heart of finding fish and structure—whether we’re prefishing a tournament or hitting new water.”

Aqua-Vu Micro-Mobile Pro-Vu Case

Designed to fit any size angler, the Pro-Vu Case sports dual adjustable straps, positioning the camera screen across the angler’s upper torso. The softcase itself features a large zippered camera compartment with a built-in protective cover, plus extra storage for a cell phone, keys and small tackle necessities. “We can drill holes, jig or rig lines and always keep the camera at the ready. The hands-free design of the case even lets us fish and underwater view at the same time. For us, it’s an absolute must-have piece of equipment.”

#2 – ACCESSORIZE YOUR ICE SUIT

Continuing the wearable tackle trend, Frabill offers a similar apparel accessory. “Don’t know about you, but I like to fish in stealth mode,” notes Bro. “Carrying a small, all-star selection of jigs, plastics and other necessities in a single wearable case is a luxury. The fact I can use it as a hand warmer—priceless. Probably not one in ten anglers knows what I’m talking about,” he laughs.

Frabill Tackle Pack/Hand Muff

Fitted to be worm around the waist, Frabill’s Tackle Pack / Hand Muff is the only wearable tackle bag doubling as an easy-access hand warmer. “Fact is, a lot of us fish without gloves—especially during a frenzied bite,” notes Bro. “The Tackle Pack fits right across my food shelf (Bro-speak for love handles). Not only can I quickly access a fresh jig or plastic tail without getting up and digging into a pile of gear, but I can also throw a couple hand warmers inside the insulated hand muff for an instant warm up. Eliminates downtime. Definitely puts a bunch more fish on the ice for me, every day.

“We’ve long said our ice suits serve as our wearable shelters. I just take it one step further.”

A Panfish Toothpick safely extracts hooks without harming fish or damaging jigs.

#3 – PERFORM PANFISH DENTISTRY

Technically, the next nouveau tool can also be worn, or just as easily tossed into one of the four-dozen pockets sewn into your ice suit. A Panfish Toothpick is pretty much what it sounds like: a slick little device that safely, easily extracts a fish’s last meal from betwixt its bony jaws. The Toothpick pops free even those troublesome hooks lodged way back in the larynx. The name of the game is preserving your expensive premium hooks, tungsten jigs and other valuable lures. Performing the procedure with minimal stress on fish is a beautiful benefit.

“Grabbing an impaled jig with a forceps or pliers scratches and flakes lure paint and can bend or break your fine wire FISKAS Wolfram Jigs,” notes Jamie Olson, ace angler and proprietor of Your Bobber’s Down, Inc., an online retailer of elite-grade fishing tackle and hard-to-find accessories.

Both the Panfish Toothpick and new larger, T2 Toothpick feature a specialized V-slot. Apply quick direct pressure on the hook bend, backing the barb out and cleanly removing the lure. A ton of top-level anglers now use the Toothpick, says Olson, many of them having now removed pliers and hemostats from their lanyards altogether.

St. Croix Legend Black ice rod

#4 – THE LONG & SHORT OF IT

Despite the fact most ice fishers choose 25- to 30-inch ice sticks, huge advantages highlight both longer and much shorter rods. Case in point, St. Croix Rods’ 48-inch Legend Black ice rod, considered crazy tall for an ice wand. Among anglers who prefer to stand while fishing, to keep the rodtip close to the water surface for bite detection and to prevent line freeze, a longer rod can be an exceptionally valuable tool. Moreover, for flip-and-dip style shallow water fishing, an angler can simply keep a two- to four-foot length of line hanging from the rodtip, allowing for instant and rapid-fire fishing through multiple holes fast. Finally, a longer rod provides superior shock absorption, vital for battling large, fast-surging fish such as pike, lake trout and big walleyes.

Tournament ice anglers consider palm rods to be the single most sensitive ice tools in their arsenal.

Frabill Black Ops 18″ UL

At the other end of the spectrum are palm rods, curious 12- to 18-inch all-in-one rod/reel combos capable of fishing the tiniest lead or tungsten jigs with utmost finesse. Particularly for shallow water panfish, European-born palm rods serve as superior bite detectors, most of them, like the Jonttu Sport Special, armed with adjustable, super-responsive strike indicators. Top anglers consider a palm rod to be an extension of their fishing arm, spooled with wispy 1-, 2- and 3-pound test tied to jigs weighing under 1/64-ounce.

FISKAS “Tungsten Ball” Hole

#5 – SNELL IT

Staying with the scaled-down panfish theme, one of the biggest off-the-radar movements waiting in the wings are so-called through-head tungsten jigs. Another Eastern European contrivance, many of these elite designs lack a true line tie. Instead, they feature a small hole bored through the metal itself. A specialized, though simple, knot known as a snell or Marka knot secures these amazing jigs to your line, maintaining a perpetual horizontal posture—no repositioning of the knot required. Note: You can also use this knot with standard line-tie jigs for the same horizontal benefits. Finally, because the knot itself is recessed onto the hook shank, retying isn’t required nearly so often—and the snelled line itself can be used to secure soft plastic baits in place.

Alternative ice angling is little more than rethinking convention, taking the next step beyond “normal.” Time to embrace new or off-the-radar tools and techniques . . . before they become yesterday’s news.

Niagara Falls USA Fishing Forecast for Dec. 21, 2017 – Destination Niagara USA

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Bill Hilts

**Bob Rustowicz of Cheektowaga won the brown trout division of the Capt. Bob’s Outdoors fall derby with a 30-inch Johnson Creek fish.**

While weather forecasters are calling for a white Christmas followed by a blast of Arctic air from the North Country, anglers right now have been limited in where they can get a line wet. High winds, rain and snow melt contributed to muddy conditions in the Niagara River both above and below Niagara Falls.

Shore fishermen should be the first to be able to target trout in the lower river from the Whirlpool to Artpark. Jigs, egg sacs or egg imitations like trout beads fished under a float are good options for drifters. Casters can use spoons, spinners or jigs to hook up with a steelhead or brown trout. Lake trout are still around, too. Remember that laker season opens on January 1. January 1 is also the start of a special walleye regulation. The daily limit drops from three to one until March 15 to help protect spawning females.

**Patrick Vinh Truong of Buffalo caught this nice steelhead from the Artpark area of the Niagara Gorge on an egg sac.**

In the upper river you can try to target trout with egg sacs just above the upper rapids before the white water. Some perch can be found in some of the marinas where water clarity is a bit better. Find some emerald shiners for best success.

Lake Ontario tributaries have been low and slow in Niagara Falls USA. At Eighteen Mile Creek at Burt Dam, the water flow was limited and more clear than stained. In those situations with clear water, downsize your presentation with lighter line, smaller hooks and smaller baits. Steelhead and brown trout are available, but they have been limited in numbers. In Wilson, the harbor ice that had started to form was busted up from the weather conditions. With temperatures soaring into the mid-40s on Saturday with rain, we are probably back to square one.

Here are a few last minute gift items for Christmas to consider: A Lake Ontario Counties derbies Season Pass at www.loc.org. You can save $20 by purchasing one before Dec. 31 – a great stocking stuffer. You can also buy tickets for the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo Jan. 19-21 at the Conference and Event Center Niagara Falls. Admission tickets and special clinic tickets are available. However, the popular LOTSA Salmon School is already sold out – the earliest ever! Check out www.niagarafishingexpo.com. Here’s wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Bill Hilts, Jr.

Outdoor Promotions Director

Destination Niagara USA

10 Rainbow Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY 14303

p: 1-877 FALLS US | 716-282-8992 x. 303

f: 716-285-0809

www.niagarafallsusa.com

Boundary Waters Wilderness Ecosystems UNDER NEW THREAT of TOXIC COPPER MINING

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Sulfide-Ore Copper Mining can be Toxic to Watersheds
Mineral Leases Have Been Granted, Industrial Proposals are Underway
Ecosystems, Streams, Lakes, Forests, Fish, Wildlife and PEOPLE will be Threatened
Conservation Group is ASKING FOR YOUR HELP

By Forrest Fisher

Sulfide-ore mining on the edge of America’s most visited wilderness will threatens undisturbed ecosystems, clean air and water, and the local economy of thousands of people. *Brian O’Keefe Photo*

Did you know that the Boundary Waters Wilderness is America’s most-visited wilderness? It is, yet this pristine area of more than one million acres located in northeast Minnesota in under threat. While it includes a watershed of backwoods streams, lakes and lush forests, the watershed and habitat is under imminent, toxic threat of Sulfide-ore copper mining. Sulfide-ore copper mining has never before been permitted in this pristine Minnesota watershed, yet it appears that mining is imminent. Mineral leases have been granted. Industrial proposals are underway. Locals are asking for help, asking for others in the outdoor media and worldwide conservation media to let the public to know. Many say we need an immediate public outcry.

According to experts, the short science to understand is this: sulfide-ore copper mining threatens aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems of the South Kawishiwi River area, Mining Protection Area, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and other parts of the Superior National Forest including the Withdrawal Study Area, Voyageurs National Park and Boundary Water Region of Quetico Provincial Park.

Partners to protect the border waters area include the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, Izaak Walton League of America, National Wildlife Federation, American Sportfishing Association and many others. *Brian O’Keefe Photo*

Local protection and conservation groups are no longer local and have formed a nationwide coalition. “Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters” is a coalition of hunters and anglers joined by campers, hikers and conservationists from Minnesota communities and America, working together to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The coalition was formed in 2015 to speak up and has grown to include major conservation, outdoors and sporting partners, all committed to the common goal of permanently protecting the habitat for fish and game, nature, and people, in the Boundary Waters Wilderness, and protecting the stable economies of the wilderness edge communities that reside nearby.

Opposition to copper mining partners include American Fly Fishing Trade Association AFTA, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, International Federation of Fly Fishers – Upper Midwest Council, Izaak Walton League of America, Minnesota Conservation Federation, Minnesota Kayak Fishing Association, National Wildlife Federation, Orion – the Hunter’s Institution, Pope and Young Club and Wildlife Forever, American Sportfishing Association, Bear Trust International and others. Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters also has a growing list of business supporters, including the world’s largest fishing lure company, Rapala.

**CLICK TO JOIN the petition and activities to protect this region.**

How can you help? Take Action Right Now.

Sulfide-ore mining on the edge of America’s most visited Wilderness threatens clean air and water, and the local economy of thousands of people. As hunters, anglers and conservationists, it seems common sense and vital to take a stand to oppose the practice of mining that can alter the future and change undisturbed nature so much. This is a national issue that requires congressional action. Let your elected officials know, wherever you live, that you oppose sulfide-ore mining near the Boundary Waters Wilderness. Get educated and spread the word. Let your friends and family know about the issue, then please follow us on social media.

Visit SportsmenfortheBoundaryWaters.org. How much support is there to oppose this mining action? Visit us Facebook to learn that and so much more, and know that we need you and all of your friends too. Please pass the word.

Where Fishing is King

Posted on January 23, 2024 by David Gray

Walleye Capital of the World – Lake of the Woods
Sportsman’s Lodge, Oak Island Resort, Eagle Ridge Lodge
Catch a Sturgeon here too!

By David Gray

Thanks to the fisheries management program for Lake of the Woods, happy angler and book author, Bob Holzhei, caught many healthy and plentiful walleye like this one, while fishing with guides from Sportsman’s Lodge. *Forrest Fisher Photo*

It goes without saying that Sportsman’s Lodge on Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, is one of those iconic destinations where everybody with a fishing rod meets to catch fish. If you are a walleye angler and live in the north or mid-west, you have probably visited (or heard of) The Sportsman’s Lodge. It’s a bucket list destination for every honest angler.
If you have never been to Sportsman’s Lodge, you need to go. You WILL enjoy the lodge, the staff and most of all, the fishing. Anglers can target walleye, sauger, northern pike, musky, sturgeon, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch or crappie. Choices. A good thing. I’m drooling again! On each of three trips there, my friends and I caught more than 50 walleye and sauger per trip, simply jigging with a minnow, the old-fashioned fun way. Hard to beat the fun. So many fish.
Located right on the Rainy River, Sportsman’s Lodge offers long-standing fishing success story traditions with a proven heritage. The service of hosting outdoor guests started here in the 1940’s (Jesmes Resort) and has continued to grow since. For the last decade, Gregg and Diana Hennum have expanded services with modernization and new comforts for guests.

Walleye and sauger during September and October can fill the sonar screen just a half-mile from the outlet of the Rainy River. *Forrest Fisher Photo*

For 46 years Sportsman’s Lodge has been a family owned and operated resort. Family-owned means the guests are treated like family and that is evident the minute you walk thru the door.
The staff are hard-working, friendly folks, dedicated to assuring that your stay is nothing but the best. Sportsman’s Lodge can handle groups from 2 to 200. They host weddings, family reunions, corporate groups, meetings and father-son fishing trips. The Lodge is full service. They provide anything and everything you need.
The great restaurant selections are offered in two large dining rooms: the Dockside and Riverside. At the end of the day, the “Sandbar” will accommodate your fish catching tales and provide refreshments for relaxation, the bar is over 70 feet long! A choice of hotel rooms, cabins, villas, ice houses and, of course, fishing guide services are at your option and are available. You only need to bring your clothes, a camera, yourself and be ready to put some fish in the boat.
In 2003, Sportsman’s Lodge expanded with the addition of Oak Island Resort, 34 miles up the lake by water. Oak Island is smaller, but a full service operation for multi-species fishing. Favorite fishing targets from this location include musky, walleye and smallmouth.
Not far from Oak Island Resort is Eagle Ridge Lodge, a beautiful and ultra-private vacation home resort with all the allure of the wilderness and all the comforts of home. Eagle Ridge provides the best of both worlds not often found on an island located in one of the worlds best sport fisheries.

Gregg and Diana Hennum have provided coordinated programs for fishing, food and accommodations at the Sportsman’s Lodge. *David Gray Photo*

In any location, you have choice of meals and guides, or if you are an accomplished angler, bring your own boat and guide yourself.
Gregg shared that a new “Adventure Package” is becoming popular. You leave Sportsman’s Lodge main location in Baudette on a Charter Boat, then fish your way up the 34 miles to Oak Island, stay overnight, then fish your way back. A no-hassle fun fishing outing, though customized trip packages are also available.

**The new villa accommodations offer brand new rustic seating that is accompanied with a view of the Rainy River and a beautiful sunset each evening.**

Fishing is king at Sportsman’s Lodge and Oak Island Resort. Winter Ice fishing is very popular and Gregg added, “More people are coming in the summer to get some relief from the heat of farther south, but winter fishing is also a tradition here for hundreds of families.”
Sportsman’s Lodge is a large, family-owned resort that has not forgotten its roots of treating guests like family. Fishing is king at Sportsman’s Lodge. This location on the Rainy River area of Lake of the Woods is noted to be the Walleye Capitol of the World. I asked Gregg Hennum why, he answered, “Because we have 10 Million of them!” After just spending three great days at Sportsman’s Lodge, I think it may be more than 10 Million!
My buddies and I can’t wait to go back next year.

Walleye & Sauger Slamming Jigs at Lake-of-the-Woods – Baudette, Minnesota

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Usual Fish Catch Rate is 4-7 Fish/Hour
Hot Lure: 3/8 Ounce Jig (hammered gold/pink) Tipped with a Minnow
Angler Qwest Pontoon Boat Rig was Safe and Extra-Comfy

By Forrest Fisher

Lake of the Woods offers top notch walleye and sauger fishing just 5 to 15 minutes from the dock. This graph is typical for fall fishing stints. *Forrest Fisher Photo*

Brad Dupuie and Roger Nieson treated several friends from the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) to a short afternoon “Angler Qwest Pontoon Boat fishing trip” for walleye and sauger on Lake of the Woods near Baudette, Minnesota.

Roger Nieson with a nice walleye from LOTW (Lake of the Woods). *Forrest Fisher Photo*

With the lake in turnover mode and the water with a tea-like water color, we still landed over 30 fish, keeping 18 in the 3-hours.

**Executive Director, Julie Knutson,** from the Watertown, South Dakota, Visitor’s and Tourism Bureau, were visiting and fishing with us at the conference…the action was non-stop!*Forrest Fisher Photo*

We dropped lines with simple jig/minnow rigs and VMC jigging spoons in 26 feet of water off the Rainy River outlet to the lake. The technique that produced good fish was to release the jig straight down alongside the boat, let it hit bottom, then lift sharply about 6 inched to one-foot, then let the jig flop back to bottom, wait 5 seconds, then lift about 4-6 inches off bottom and wait. Repeat every 20 seconds or so. Slam, dunk!.

Welded stainless steel side plates and fixturing is standard gear with this Angler Qwest pontoon boat model. *Forrest Fisher Photo*

The Angler Qwest pontoon boat was not ordinary, powered by a 200HP, 4-stroke Merc that used very little fuel (regular gas). The well-outfitted boat could outrun (speed) more ordinary 27-30 foot fishing craft designed for six anglers and a charter captain.

The boat featured extra special build items that included a teak floor, live wells, rod holders, deck wash-down hose, measuring board table, sidewall cupboards, set up for downriggers, welded stainless steel fixturing all around, side-deck grill options, all equipped to handle 4-ft waves in the Great Lakes. AND, it travels at 45 mph!

Trax Tech Rod Holders allow high-tech fishing with boards, riggers and divers. *Forrest Fisher Photo*

We had 8 of us friends on board too. Rods were 6-7 feet lightweight open-face spinning reel rigs with 8-pound monofilament line, though many anglers use lightweight braided lines tied direct to the jigs. The stained water color allows the line color of any type.

David Gray of the VEXPO North American Sportshow shared fish-catching fun moments. *Forrest Fisher Photo*

All of us enjoyed a great time fishing out of the Sportsman’s Lodge in Baudette, Minnesota, where special fall rates are in effect or the next few weeks. Visit http://sportsmanslodges.com/ for more information on lodging.

Lovin autumn life in the outdoors!

FLW Costa Bass-Fishing Series Moves to Buffalo, NY, in 2018

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

FLW Costa Series to Buffalo, NY
Competition Event Set for July 26-28, 2018
Eastern Lake Erie Bass Fishing Resource DRAWS WORLD CLASS ANGLERS
Abundant Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass will Provide Highlight for Region

Patrick Kaler, President and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara and Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission, has worked with FLW executives, local bass fishing organizations and local members of the Erie County Fish Advisory Board to bring the Costa FLW Bass Fishing Series to Buffalo in 2018. *Forrest Fisher Photo*

BUFFALO, N.Y. – September 8, 2017 – On July 26th – 28th, Buffalo will welcome an estimated field of 150 boats and 350 anglers plus staff to compete in the 2018 Costa Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) Tournament Series. The bass fishing tournament will take place in Lake Erie with boat launch action from Safe Harbor Marina at Buffalo Harbor State Park, located in Buffalo’s growing recreational resource area known as the “Outer Harbor.”

Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) is the world’s largest tournament fishing organization consisting of three events among five divisions. The top 40 pro-anglers and co-anglers in each division will advance to the FLW Bass Championship in Lake Guntersville, Alabama. The Buffalo event is expected to generate approximately 1,200 hotel room nights and produce over $836,000 in economic impact.

Lake Erie’s great renown as a bass fishery helped propel its selection for the 2018 event, tournament organizers said. Bassmaster Magazine recently ranked Lake Erie as the country’s seventh best and the Northeast’s top bass fishery.

“We are thrilled to visit Buffalo, New York, and the world-class Lake Erie fishery for a Costa FLW Series tournament in 2018. Buffalo hosted FLW’s All-American Championship in 1990 and 1991, plus FLW Series events in 2004 and 2011, and a College Fishing qualifier in 2011.

Each of these tournaments rank among the best ever held, so our return to Buffalo is welcomed and long overdue. This is a highly anticipated event for our staff and competitors,” said Kathy Fennel, President of Operations, Fishing League Worldwide

“The COSTA FLW Championship Series will bring some of the world’s best fishermen here to Lake Erie, which is itself home to some of the best freshwater fishing in the world and a perfect site for this competition. This three-day event will be a great opportunity to see bass fishing pros using every lure in their tackle box in pursuit of trophy fish and the top prize. Avid anglers, weekend warriors, and anyone who’s ever dipped a line should be excited about this competition, which will put our world-class bass fishing in the national spotlight,” said Mark Poloncarz, County Executive Erie County

“This tournament’s return to our area is just one more example of the Buffalo Niagara region’s growing reputation as a world-class destination for anglers,” said Buffalo Niagara and Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission President and CEO Patrick Kaler. “The FLW series exemplifies how fishing tournaments and tourism can reel in major returns for the local economy.” For more information regarding the Costa FLW Series tournament in Buffalo visit: https://www.flwfishing.com/tournaments/costa.

The Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission is a subsidiary of Visit Buffalo Niagara that promotes Buffalo and Erie County nationally and internationally as a premier sports tourism destination for the economic benefit of the community by boosting hotel occupancy and encouraging visitor spending. http://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/sports-commission/.

Fishing League Worldwide (“FLW”) is the premier tournament fishing organization that provides unparalleled fishing resources and entertainment to the anglers, sponsors, fans and host communities. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the best in fishing on and off the water.

FLW fishing coming to Buffalo, New York, is exciting news covered by several local and regional communication and news networks. *Forrest Fisher Photo*

Enjoy MISSOURI’S GREAT OUTDOORS this September

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Larry Whiteley

Hike and Explore the Deer Trails
Hang Your Tree Stands
Enjoy Watching the Bird Migrations
Fall is On-The-Way

**Acorns are not the only thing you’ll find walking the September trails.**

By Larry Whitely

August has been unusually mild and wonderfully cool and comfortable here in Missouri. Some mornings call for a light jacket and pants instead of shorts and t-shirt. It has felt more like late September or early October. I didn’t hear anyone complain about the weather.

Most years, September can still be hot, muggy and buggy here in Missouri, but this year the weatherman is telling us to continue to expect even cooler weather than we had in August. Here in southwest Missouri they are even predicting some nights in the 40s. Lake water temperatures have already dropped into the low 70s in some places.

After Labor Day the summer crowds will be gone from our local lakes and rivers, and the waters will be quieter and more enjoyable. Because of this cooler weather, fish are starting to become more active and fattening up for the long winter months ahead. It’s a great time to stock the freezer with fish to enjoy on the cold days to come.

**Mornings are beginning to chill early this year.**

If you don’t fish, it’s a great time to paddle around the lake or go float a river. Maybe stop for a rest on the bank or gravel bar and build a campfire to sit around to relax and enjoy the flickering flames.

The cooler weather has also got the squirrels busy storing nuts sooner than usual. The whitetail deer coats are changing from reddish brown to gray.

If you’re a hunter it’s time to get ready or go hunting. Dove hunting opened September 1^st and teal season opens September 9th.

**A handful of delight for our wildlife abounds this year.**

Deer and turkey archery season opens September 15^th. Firearms turkey goes from October 1^st to the 31^st. If you’re one of the lucky ones that head west to hunt, the majestic elk are waiting, so are the mule deer and pronghorn antelope.

This cooler weather will also make all your preparations for the hunting seasons a lot more tolerable than usual too. Now you can make sure you can get those deer stands up and blinds set, get in more bow practice, make sure your rifle or shotgun is properly sighted, and get all your gear inventoried and ready.

If you are not a hunter but love to camp don’t put away your camping gear yet. Campgrounds are a lot less crowded than summer days. Sometimes you may even have the whole place to yourself.

The cooler September weather this year is also great for hiking the multitude of trails Missouri has to offer so get out there and enjoy. There’s no better way to get the exercise we all need and enjoy nature’s beauty at the same time.

Birds tell us that fall is at hand long before our human senses detect it. At wetlands and marshes throughout the state, shorebirds are already beginning to head to more exotic places than here.

Bird watching trips might offer the opportunity to see migratory birds that you don’t normally see at any other time of year in Missouri.

The bug-eating Purple Martin’s are growing restless and some are already bound for their winter home in Brazil. Hummingbird feeders are suddenly abuzz with hummers energizing for their long flight south.

Other winged creatures sensing the cooler weather are also on the move. Bats flutter and dive through the early night sky consuming the last of the insect crop. What few Monarch butterflies we still get coming through Missouri are getting ready to begin their incredible journey to Mexico or have already left.

**Leaves are turning on the Dogwood trees.**

The buckeye tree has already lost most of its leaves, but a few buckeyes might still cling to the bare branches. I was always told a buckeye in your pocket brings you good luck. Maybe I need to make sure I have one in my pocket for deer season.

Papaw and persimmon trees have fruited and will soon be ripening for the enjoyment of the wildlife, and those of us humans who still enjoy them too. Acorns are also falling to the ground, much to the delight of the squirrels, chipmunks, deer, turkey and other critters.

The leaves of poison ivy and Virginia Creeper vines have begun to turn a crimson red. So have the leaves of our Missouri State tree, the Dogwood. The rest of the trees will soon follow with their special colors to give us the glorious fall kaleidoscope of colors that awaits us in October.

All of these are signs that summer is almost gone and come September 22^nd it officially is. Now, let’s just hope the weatherman’s predictions are accurate and we can get out in this year’s cooler September weather and enjoy Missouri’s great outdoors.

KING SALMON BITE is ON! Niagara Falls USA Fishing Forecast for August 23, 2017

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Bill Hilts

King’s Salmon are Schooling on Niagara Bar
Derby Results Yield 30-pound King Miracle Win
Big Fish Catching is on RIGHT NOW
Brought to you by Destination Niagara USA

**John Van Hoff with this derby-winning Niagara Bar king salmon caught on a meat-rig.**

Last weekend there were three fishing derbies and a tournament going on in Niagara Falls USA waters.

John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda went out fishing last Sunday, the final day for the Orleans County Rotary Derby. The leader was 30 pounds, 9 ounces. Using a flasher and meat rig, he pounded the Niagara Bar all morning. With less than an hour to go in the derby, Van Hoff hit a fish that looked to be over 30 pounds. Would it beat Keith Sheffield’s king salmon and could he make it to the Slippery Sinker in Olcott in time by the 1 p.m. cut-off? Van Hoff made it with 15 minutes to spare and the weight was 30 pounds, 12 ounces – taking over the lead and eventually winning the $4,000 Grand Prize.

**Joe Oakes with his 34 pound King Salmon from Wilson.**

Other divisional winners were Robert Griffith with a 16 pound steelhead; Bill Cole with a 14 pound brown trout; and Dan DeGeorge with a 17 and one-half pound lake trout. Meanwhile, two hours after Van Hoff was catching his winning salmon, Joe Oakes of Lockport was reeling in a 34 and one-half pound salmon out of Wilson that would take over the lead in the Fall Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby and the Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey in the Salmon Division.

The bar has been set as the LOC Derby continues through Labor Day and the Odyssey continues through Sunday. Speaking of the Odyssey, updates are now being put on the Fish Odyssey Facebook page due to the fact that webmaster Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors needed emergency surgery. Say a prayer. The awards for the Odyssey will be Sunday, Aug. 27, at Olcott Fire Hall on Route 78 starting at 4 p.m.

Congratulations to the Just One More Cure team led by Capt. Bryan Lukehart of Pennsylvania. His ladies crew won the 2^nd annual Reelin’ for a Cure event held last Friday with a score of 149 points while fishing out of Olcott.

**John Schaeffer of Jamestown, NY, shows off a 33 pound King Salmon from Olcott.**

The tourney raised over $4,000 for the Breast Cancer Network of WNY.

Fishing on the local front has been pretty darn good, at least when Mother Nature cooperates. Salmon can be found from the Niagara Bar to east of Olcott. Van Hoff caught a dozen mature kings on the Bar using meat on Sunday. Oakes hit his leading king between 350 and 400 feet of water out in front of Wilson using a flasher-fly – the A-Tom-Mik Stud fly – 90 feet down on his rigger. At the same time, John Shafer of Jamestown was fishing a J-plug in front of Olcott and hit a 33 pound, 7 ounce king that is first place in the salmon division. There are a lot of kings around. And if you want to target steelhead or browns, they are available, too.

**Evan Rohe of Cheektowaga, NY, with a nice trout entry in the Odyssey Contest.**

In the LOC Derby, George Hovak of North Tonawanda is in second with a 12 pound steelhead out of Wilson. The leader is from Point Breeze, a 16 pound, 9 ounce fish. Top brown is also from the Point, a 14 pound, 3 ounce trout, but second place is from Olcott. Both leaders came on Moonshine spoons.

In the Odyssey, top lake trout is a 21 pound, 6 ounce Niagara Bar fish reeled in by Ed Klejdys of North Tonawanda. Leading walleye is an 11 pound, 6 ounce Niagara Bar fish weighed in by Anthony LaRosa of Lewiston. Big bass so far is a 5 pound smallie reeled in by Dave Muir of North Tonawanda from Lake Erie. Ken Trontel of Pennsylvania has the first place brown trout with a 13 pound, 9 ounce Olcott fish. Leading carp is 19 pounds, 12 ounces caught by Michael Boncore of Buffalo in the Niagara River. Some impressive kids catches, too.

Niagara River fishing has been good for bass and walleye both. Crayfish and shiners are working the best, fished off three-way rigs.

Bill Hilts, Jr., Director, Outdoor Promotions; Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation, 10 Rainbow Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY USA 14303
p: 716.282.8992 x.303| 1.877 FALLS US, f:716.285.0809
website | facebook | twitter | blog

Sportfishing has a $30 million annual economic impact in Niagara USA!

I Met a Polar Bear, Face-to-Face! Thanks to Johnny Morris, YOU CAN TOO

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium OPENS Sep, 21, 2017
Will be Largest, most interactive, dynamic Fish and Wildlife “Experience” in the World.
Located next to Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters in Springfield, Missouri.
Will also be the New Home for BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME

By Forrest Fisher

The hair on my arm shot up as if I had just walked into a static field of electricity. My heart rate quickened. The face of the bear was powerful and profound. The moment was unforgettable. It was extraordinary. It was sacred and it was full of Polar Bear ambition. It was striking.

**Image is courtesy of Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium**

The largest, most immersive fish and wildlife attraction in the world offers a video that did that to me! Visit: https://youtu.be/QnG5tf_Pp3I.

The Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium will celebrate its grand opening on Sep. 21, 2017. Located in Springfield, Missouri, the 320,000 square foot structure will feature exhibits that manage to create new moments of introduction to conservation, with a focus on providing education and knowledge of wildlife, fish and sea creatures for all that visit.

Wonders of Wildlife will feature a 1.5-million-gallon aquarium adventure and will showcase 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds, as well as more than 70,000 square feet of immersive wildlife galleries and dioramas. Plus, more than a mile of immersive trails and exhibits.

Wonders of Wildlife will also offer another giant reason to visit. Officials from the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and noted conservationist, Johnny Morris, recently announced that Wonders of Wildlife will also provide a new, permanent home for the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will honor bass fishing legends and was developed in partnership with the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), the exhibit includes a fascinating collection of artifacts and memorabilia, including authentic rods and reels, antique lures and historical photos. More than 60 Hall of Fame members will be featured including Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin, Johnny Morris, Ray Scott, President George H.W. Bush and many others. Several artifacts date back to the early days of B.A.S.S. tournaments in the 1960s, including the scale used to weigh record catches and the first BASSMASTER Classic victory trophy.

“To be part of a transformational project like Wonders of Wildlife and share the story of bass fishing with generations of future visitors is a dream come true,” said Donald Howell, president of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame board of directors. “There is no better location to honor the individuals that have played a crucial role in bass fishing. Visitors will be blown away by all that Wonders of Wildlife encompasses, and we’re grateful to Johnny Morris for his partnership and bringing this vision to life in such compelling fashion.”

The site will offer extraordinary experience for visitors with a collection of exhibits and galleries that showcase national conservation organizations within a single “must-see” destination experience, sharing the story of hunters and anglers conserving wildlife and the outdoors.

Other partner galleries include The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Fishing Hall of Fame, the Boone and Crockett Club’s National Collection of Heads and Horns, the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum, the National Archery Hall of Fame and many others.

“Our mission is to establish a world-class destination that celebrates people who hunt, fish, and act as stewards of the land and water,” said Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, a conservationist and the visionary behind the Wonders of Wildlife. “There are so many notable hunters and anglers that have played an important role in the conservation of our precious natural resources and habitats. We are honored to welcome the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame to help further enrich that story for our visitors.”

Founded in 2000, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to all anglers, manufacturers and members of the media who further the sport of bass fishing. Honorees include notable contributors to the sport who elevate it to the professional level and lesser-known supporters that have and continue to sustain bass fishing, both honoring the past and looking to the future.

While previous plans called for a stand-alone location in Alabama, organizers recognized the opportunity to reach a far larger audience by partnering with Wonders of Wildlife.

For more information, visit www.wondersofwildlife.org. For information about the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, visit www.bassfishinghof.com.

Niagara Bar, Lake Ontario: SALMON & STEELIE Fishing is HOT!

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Bill Hilts

Thursday, July 20, 2017
The King Salmon fishing in Lake Ontario is one of the hottest bites going, especially in the waters off Niagara County! “Salmon fishing has been on fire at the Niagara Bar in 120 to 180 feet of water,” says Jake Joseph of Jiggin’ Jake’s Charters. “The fish zone has been 60 to 80 feet down.

The new Mr. & Mrs. Kimball enjoy a honeymoon fishing trip with BIG SMILES of Niagara Bar.

Dipsy divers are out 180 to 240 feet with flasher fly combos; riggers down 65 to 85 with flasher and cut bait combos. Best colors have been mostly pearls and greens. Smaller fish have been coming on spoons and some steelies have been mixed in, being taken on sliders and king lines.
Wilson and Olcott are also offering up some great catches, too. Just take a look at the Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby leaderboard at www.loc.org.
John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda reeled in a 27-pound, 9-ounce salmon off of Wilson last Sunday (but launching at Olcott) and his fish would beat out Lee Beaton’s Grand Prize leading king, a 27 pounder, also caught out of Wilson back on July 1. Van Hoff caught his king on a Northern King spoon over 450 feet of water. Van Hoff’s Grand Prize lead would be short-lived as two more fish would come to the scales that Sunday that would tip the scales even more – a 29-pound, 8-ounce king hauled in by Ed Klejdys of North Tonawanda while fishing on the Niagara Bar. Then a 30-pound, 13-ounce Chinook that was reeled in by Richard Peaslee of Lowman while fishing out of Fair Haven. If the last name of Klejdys sounds familiar, his son Steve is the current leader in the Lake Trout Division with a 23-pound, 13-ounce Niagara Bar laker.
On Monday of this week, a new rainbow leader came out of Olcott, knocking out the leading Wilson fish – a huge 17-pound, 4-ounce steelhead that was caught by Adam Robinson of Portland, Oregon while fishing with Capt. Vince Pierleoni and Thrillseeker II. He caught it on a Dreamweaver spoon in charteuse signature series. Tuesday brought us a new Grand Prize leader out of Point Breeze, a 31 pound, 10 ounce king reeled in by Kristin Wilson of Rockstream, NY. We have until July 30 to post up some bigger fish and that will probably happen if the weather continues to cooperate.
Joseph also reports that “walleye are starting to show up in Lower Niagara River and the green can at the mouth. You just have to work for them. Worm harnesses on the bottom with three-way rigs. Bass fishing is good as always!” Bass can be caught from Devil’s Hole to the mouth of the river on a variety of baits like minnows, crayfish, worm harnesses, spinnerbaits, tubes and drop shot rigs.

The new steelhead leader came out of Olcott Harbor – a huge 17-pound, 4-ounce fish that was caught by Adam Robinson of Portland, Oregon while fishing with Capt. Vince Pierleoni and Thrillseeker II.

Shore fishermen have been struggling in the gorge because the shoreline access has been limited due to the high water levels. In addition, the Devil’s Hole stairs are closed until next spring. There are still plenty of other access points to use, but that one is being reconstructed.
Upper Niagara River action continues to be good for both bass and walleye with an occasional musky showing up.
The 27th Annual Erie Canal Fishing Derby ended last Sunday and the first place winners are waiting for the awards ceremony to take place July 23 at the Gasport Fire Hall starting at 3 p.m. All the first place winners – both for the adults and for the kids – will be in two separate drawings for the Grand Prize. For the adults, a boat, motor and trailer; for the kids a kayak. Some great fish came to the scales during the 12-day event. Top bass was a 4.94-pound largemouth reeled in by Chris Walczak of Amherst. His son, Keegan, checked in with a 9.65-pound northern pike to take that division. Albert Whaley of Tonawanda was the winner in the walleye category with a 5.19-pound fish. Big bullhead was a 2.25-pound fish reeled in by Anthony Moule of Lyndonville. Top catfish was a 14 pounder weighed in by Charles Rizzo of North Tonawanda. First place carp was a 28.02 pound fish out-muscled by Mike Boncore of Buffalo. Sheepshead winner was Todd Wells of Medina with an 11.39-pound fish. Yes, the Erie Canal has some impressive fish swimming around in it. Another great job by Steve and Lynn Harrington of Gasport.
Bill Hilts, Jr., Outdoor Promotions Director
Destination Niagara USA
10 Rainbow Blvd.
Niagara Falls, NY 14303
p: 1-877 FALLS US | 716-282-8992 x. 303
f: 716-285-0809
www.niagarafallsusa.com

Rocky Mountain Introduces New 5-Pin Sight

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Barus

Durable, hard-coat anodized finish
5-Pin Sight Markers, Adjustable 2nd & 3rd Axis
Micro-Adjust Windage and Elevation is Lockable

**Rocky Mountain 5-Pin Dovetail Sight, complete with micro-adjust features.**

Rocky Mountain has expanded its archery sight line-up with the introduction of the new 5-Pin Sight that will feature a hardy, protective, hard-coat-anodized all-aluminum construction available in two mounting configurations: a Direct Mount and a Dovetail Mount.
Both versions are highlighted by several features:
Tool-free, micro-adjustable, lockable, windage and elevation in the bezel.
Five fully captured .019-inch pins.
Adjustable 2nd and 3rd axes.
Laser-etched windage and elevation markers.
The 5-Pin bezel incorporates a bubble level.
A light adapter is built-in.
The Direct Mount affords nearly effortless mounting and set-up in a standard configuration. The Dovetail Mount provides up to 3.3125 inches of sight-radius travel with six locking positions and allows for easy removal of the sight for transport and storage.
Available at retailers nationwide and conveniently online at www.huntrockymountain.com, the new 5-Pin Direct Mount and 5-Pin Dovetail sights have a suggested retail of $79.99 and $99.99, respectively.

**Rocky Mountain 5-Pin Direct Mount with lockable, micro-adjust features.**

Headquartered in Superior, Wis., Rocky Mountain is a wholly owned subsidiary of FeraDyne Outdoors. Renowned for its fixed-blade technology since 1979, the Rocky Mountain brand was relaunched in 2017 and has expanded its offerings to other archery accessories, including a line of archery sights.
For more information on Rocky Mountain, visit www.huntrockymountain.com; or write to 101 Main Street, Superior, WI 54880; or call 866-387-9307.

Destination Niagara USA Fishing – LAKE ONTARIO IS HOT!

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Bill Hilts

Fishing Catching Details and Forecast (June 29, 2017)

**Jake Romanack with a nice Lake Ontario King Salmon caught trolling last week off the Niagara Bar.**

Lake Ontario salmon fishing action continues to be very good … if Mother Nature will let you get out there. The weather has been crazy this year and there were some reports of water spouts earlier this week. Fish-Catching TV Show – Mark and Jake Romanack, with the Fishing 411 television show, had heard about the good salmon fishing and took a quick drive over from Michigan to film a show. They arrived on Monday and filmed Tuesday and Wednesday mornings to complete the episode. They caught a total of nine mature king salmon to 25 pounds plus a number of smaller salmon. Methods: downriggers, slide divers, lead core, copper. They caught fish on a variety of methods including downriggers down 65 to 75 feet over 100 to 150 feet of water just off the Niagara Bar; slide divers 120 feet back; 10 colors of lead core line; and 300 feet of copper line. Best speeds were 2.7 to 3.0 miles per hour on the surface. Be aware that there is a strong current out there in the lake that you may need to adjust to, probably related to the outflow of water through the St. Lawrence Seaway in an attempt to

**Mark Romanack with a 25-pound Lake Ontario King Salmon caught off Niagara County.**

lower more water from the lake. Water levels have started to come down, an encouraging sign – and just in time for the Summer Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby. That contest will run from June 30 to July 30. Get out there and catch a winning fish. Grand Prize is $10,000 for the largest salmon. Website is www.loc.org. Wilson and Olcott are also reporting good king catches. Derby time is a great time to get out there!

Lower Niagara River fishing is still moving right along. Moss was a little more prevalent on Tuesday morning after the storms on Monday afternoon. Hopefully that was just from the high winds. It was definitely fishable as a camera crew from China sampled the lower river fishing action. Capt. Frank Campbell of Niagara Falls was tossing spinnerbaits along the shoreline and picked up some smallmouth. Shiners and crayfish caught a mix of bass and sheepshead. Bass are available all to way to the Niagara Bar. Good news if you have a Canadian fishing license. Anglers no longer have to call into Canada Border Services Agency if they cross the international boundary. However, you still need a license and you must abide by the country’s bait regulations.

**Matt Steffan with his 20-pound carp caught during the NYS Free Fishing Weekend.**

Upper Niagara River fishing has been good for bass and walleye. Bottom bounce a worm harness from a three-way rig at the head of the river or in front of Strawberry Island to take some nice ‘eyes. Smallmouth bass have been hitting shiners and crayfish. Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls has been doing well on largemouth using plugs and spinnerbaits. Tube jigs will also work for bass. A few musky were caught the past week, but mostly on the smaller-side in the upper 30-inch or lower 40-inch range. Monster tubes caused some follows and hook-ups for Ryan Shea with Brookdog Fishing. Some nice steelhead were caught this week by customers of Capt. Chris Cinelli of Grand Island. Spinner and a worm did the trick around Strawberry Island.

In the Hooked on Fishing Tournament over the free fishing weekend in the Erie Canal, some impressive fish came to the scales. Robert Grant reeled in a 6.25 pound bass; Dan Phelps hauled in a 4.28 pound pike; Mike Boncore weighed in a one pound perch; Matt Steffan out-dueled a 20 pound carp; and Dominic DiNardo earned first place with a 4-pound channel catfish. A total of $3,000 was raised for the Boys and Girls Club of the Northtowns to send kids to summer camp.

Next contest coming up is the 27^th Annual Erie Canal Fishing Derby, set for July 5 to 16. Get all of the details at www.eriecanalderby.com. Seven species categories, 50 tagged fish and a 50 mile boundary from the Niagara River to Albion. There is even a family registration for just $25. Get signed up today!

Bill Hilts, Jr., Outdoor Promotions Director

Destination Niagara USA, 10 Rainbow Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY USA, 14303
p: 716.282.8992 x.303| 1.877 FALLS US, f:716.285.0809
website | facebook | twitter | blog

Sportfishing has a $30 million annual economic impact in Niagara USA!

www.niagarafallsusa.com

GT meets DT, with a STORM!

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

The 360GT is Simple and Affordable.
Toss it out, Retrieve it…that Simple.
Learn why it Works Here, see the Video.

By Forrest Fisher

Rapala created a series of lures that allow anglers more understanding about their fish-attracting products just by reading the label. For example, the new “DT” series of Rapala’s are labelled DT-4, DT-20, etc. and the acronym stands for “Dives-To” 4 feet, 20 feet, and so on.

In similar manner, Storm created a “GT” series searchbait-minnow labelled “360-GT,” intended for use 360 degrees around the angler casting position. The “GT” stands for “Go-To” lure. Pretty catchy, pretty simple, and as I discovered, pretty effective.

The supple, soft, durable, plastic body offers a wide swimming tail action that wobbles left to right as it is retrieved. The wobble from the tail causes the head to roll left and right a bit, emanating a faint, resonant, rattle sound from the jig head as the lure is retrieved. Depth is controlled by angler speed of retrieve, the selected weight of the jig head and the size of the tail selected in the available assortment of the GT series.

Al Lindner says, “Throw it out, turn the reel handle, that’s it. Incredibly productive, incredibly effective.” We all know that when Al Lindner says it that way, I think you gotta try it for yourself. So I did. I believe Al.

I fished these in Florida, North Carolina and New York in the last few months to field test their effective attraction. A faster retrieve caused a gentle internal rattle sound to emanate – an audible frequency sound that seemed to drive fish nuts. Not sure the fish were attracted to the lure or just wanted to kill the sound source because it bothered them. Either way, I caught smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike and crappie on these enticing “Go-To” lures. Do I like them? Yes! An understatement.

Why do I like them? They are affordable priced. They are packaged with three tails, one tail is pre-mounted to the rattling head, and two tails are spares. The jig head is molded around a VMC fish hook. They are a “keep-it-simple bait.” Right now, this toss and retrieve bait is available in 11 common baitfish color patterns and three sizes, perfect for a tasty predator ambush. They are inexpensive, priced from $4 to $6.

See a video about how to use this simple, easy to fish bait. Al Lindner talks about it in some detail as you watch through this video: https://youtu.be/SXpFV_HBxmk.

Search out more about the size, weight and color options at this link: http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Storm_360_GT_Swimbaits/descpage-360GT.html?gclid=CjwKEAjw4IjKBRDr6p752cCUm3kSJAC-eqRt-ie33kR_cEohLuabI94Q-pqSKYFFhHU-_GUILMo-5RoCBFjw_wcB.

Destination Niagara USA Fishing Report for June 14, 2017

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Bill Hilts

**Chuck Grampp of Williamsville caught this nice salmon as Nick Glosser, first mate on the Thrillseeker helps out.**

On Lake Ontario, salmon and trout fishing continues to be good. Capt. Vince Pierleoni of Newfane reports good numbers of fish in the area off Olcott and Wilson, but you have to adapt and locate the fish.

Heavy current and winds have scattered fish, but a mix of salmon and trout can be found in 100 to 300 feet of water. Flasher-fly, meat rigs and spoons like Dreamweaver’s and Michigan Stinger’s have been producing fish on a consistent basis. Pierleoni just returned from the Orleans Open Salmon and Trout Tournament last weekend where he placed second – less than 5 points behind the winner, Capt. Ed Monette and Cannonball Runner. Pierleoni actually caught one more fish that Monette – 16 to 15 – but scoring is based on 10 points per fish and a point per pound.

This Saturday is the opening of the regular bass season so you will probably see a few more boats heading out.

The Newfane launch ramp at Olcott is not having any water issues and launching is not a problem. All the boat slips are viable. The kids fishing derby set for June 24 in the Town of Newfane marina has been cancelled for this year.

This coming Saturday, June 17, is the Wilson Conservation Club’s 31^st annual kids derby from 8 a.m. to noon. Fish in any Niagara County waters. This contest is based on length and you must have your fish measured by noon. Call 930-7500 for more info. The club is located on Route 425 near the water tower.

In Tonawanda, the kids derby will be at Niawanda Park near the band shell along River Road. Registration starts at 8 a.m. There are other activities going on in addition to the fishing.

In addition, that same day will be the start of a new event across the state – the New York State Summer Classic Fishing Tournament, and running through August 31. There are a total of 10 different fish species categories and 55 weigh stations throughout the state. To find out more information, check out www.nyssummerclassic.com.

In the Lower Niagara River, water temperature is still slowly creeping up there. Only a few steelhead and lake trout are still holding on. Mostly bass were caught this week on jigs, Kwikfish and MagLips. The regular season opens on Saturday the 17^th and live bait can then be used again. Shore casters in the gorge have been using tubes, swim baits and marabou jigs. Inline spinners will work, too. Moss hasn’t increased that much. The worse is yet to come. Take advantage of the clearer water while you can.

Upper Niagara River bass fishing continues to be good. Remember that the regular bass season opens Saturday (June 17). Speaking of bass, the Annual Opening Day Bass Contest sponsored each year by Kelly’s Korners, will NOT be held this year. Organizers for the tournament didn’t want to see the big bass end up in a fish fry and they decided to retire the event to help protect the resource. Some walleye are being caught at the head of the river and at the head of Strawberry Island on worm harnesses and jigs. Great Lakes musky season opens up this Saturday, too. For some tips and a nice story on the Niagara Musky Assn., check out www.buffalonews.com/section/sports/outdoors/ this week.

NOTE: There is still a state of emergency along the Lake Ontario shoreline for high water levels. This isn’t really going to affect the fishing that much, but the Niagara County Sheriff is asking that boats creating a wake stay at least 600 feet from shore. This doesn’t include trolling. Caution is advised for floating debris when you are out in the lake moving around. The problem seems to be launching. The best spot to be right now is the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott. Fort Niagara has an open launch but you need boots up to your knees or above. Golden Hill State Park launch is closed and Wilson-Tuscarora Park is day to day (but you need hip boots there, too). It’s worth the effort for the good fishing!

Hot Fish Bite in the Rainy Ozarks

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Brent Frazee

Bass, Crappie, Trout Turning On
Guides and Resort Owners Report GOOD Catches
High Water Offers Some Silver Lining

By Brent Frazee

**Though Table Rock Lake has dealt with flooding since late April, guides such as Buster Loving and their clients have still enjoyed good bass fishing.**

April showers brought more than May flowers in the Ozarks. They brought near-record flooding and a mess that residents are still trying to clean up.

That’s the bad news.

There’s also plenty of good news.

Though reservoirs such as Truman, Table Rock and Taneycomo are still high, guides and resort owners report that the fishing has been surprisingly good. If anything, they say, the floods may have helped the fishing.

And then there’s the long-term outlook. Fisheries biologists with the Missouri Department of Conservation say that high-water springs usually result in boom year-classes of fish because of the added cover in which fry can hide from predators.

“We’re certainly not minimizing the hardships the high water has brought for many residents,” said Brian Canaday, chief of fisheries for the Missouri Department of Conservation. “But some of our largest year-classes of fish have come in these flood years. So this wasn’t a bad thing as far as the fish were concerned.”

At Table Rock Lake, a 43,100-acre reservoir near Branson, Mo., the water level reached almost the top of flood pool in late April after almost 10 1/2 inches of rain in a three-day period. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been releasing water ever since.

It is now down to 11 feet above normal and some boat ramps are still hard to access. But those who have been able to get on the lake have found good bass fishing.

Buster Loving, a longtime guide on Table Rock, has guided his customers to some impressive catches throughout May.

“The bass were in the process of spawning when the high water hit, and they didn’t move,” Loving said. “For the most part, they stayed where they had fanned out their nests.

“I’m fishing the old banks. Those places might have been in 10 to 12 feet before, and they went to 25 to 30 feet after the water came up. But the fish have still been there.”

Loving remembers years when the high water hit before the spawn and the bass would pioneer into newly flooded cover.

“I won back to back tournaments one year when the lake was flooded,” Loving said. “The fish were in flooded campgrounds, around buildings and lantern holders and in green yards.

“But I haven’t seen that as much this spring.”

The huge releases from Table Rock into Lake Taneycomo caused some nervous times for resort owners, residents and fishermen for a time. But now that release rates have slowed to a fishable rate, trout fishermen are finding excellent fishing. They’re even catching some fish not normally found in the nationally known trout lake that were flushed out of Table Rock.

“I’ve never seen so many smallmouth bass caught,” said Phil Lilley, who owns Lilley’s Landing Resort and Marina in Branson, Mo. “And the trout fishing from the dam to the Lookout area has been really good.”

“We’re seeing lots of 20-inch rainbows and more browns than normal, too.”

Lilley isn’t surprised. Every time high water hits at Taneycomo, an abundance of shad is flushed from Table Rock into Taneycomo and it sets off a feeding spree among the trout.

White jigs, shad flies, drift rigs and spoons have been the most effective lures.

The fishing has also been good at Truman Lake, the 55,600-acre reservoir in west-central Missouri that was hit hard by flooding. As of May 18, the water level was still 20 feet above normal pool, but guides such as Jeff Faulkenberry are still helping their clients catch limits of crappies.

“The crappie spawn was about over when the water came up,” said Faulkenberry, who runs the Endless Season Guide Service. “The fish just followed the water into the new cover.

“You have to move around to find them; they’re not bunched up in one place. But if you stay on the move and fish the green bushes, you can catch a limit. The key is finding the schools of shad and fry.”

The biggest problem at Truman? Access. With the lake still high, some of the boat ramps are inaccessible.

But a few are open and others will be as the water continues to fall. Go to the website http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Harry-S-Truman-Lake/Daily-Lake-Info-2/ for up-to-date information on facilities.

ZIP-LINE FUN, THRILLS for YOUNG & OLD!

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Extraordinary Speed in Safe Flight from Tower-to-Tower
Adventure, Fun and Assured Safety
Full Body Harness & Head Helmet Protection is Required
My Favorite Place: Peek ‘N Peak, near Findley Lake, New York

By Forrest Fisher

**The harness and safety helmet assure your personal safety, the rest is SHEER FUN! My granddaughter Kelsey went first. “Yeaaahhhhh!” Unforgettable!**

Those zip-lines with strange looking towers on the hills in the distance of places we travel definitely beckon for adventure seekers. Many have never tried them out.

At Peek ‘N Peak Resort and Conference Center (http://www.pknpk.com/) near the quaint country village of Findley Lake, located in the southwest corner of New York, my grandkids would not allow me to just watch them try out the zip-line.

They said, “C’mon Dziadz (Polish word for grandfather), your time to fly from the towers has come!” I smiled and said, “OK, sounds good.” Not really sure of what I was getting myself into.

We rode the ski-lift to the top of the hill to start out on the high zip-line. My granddaughter Kelsey went first. “Yeaaahhhhh!” Screaming away at 120 decibels or more, as she headed for the next tower station more than one-thousand feet away.

My turn was next. What a minute. Was there a giant 12-point buck walking to within 10 yards of my tree stand? Why was my heart pounding?! I was a bit nervous and even was trembling a bit. Here I am, an ex-military Vietnam-era veteran and I was shaky. After all, we were only about 100 feet off the ground and there was a 20 mph wind blowing. Not to make light of things, but there was rain in the forecast too, and it was dark and cloudy right about now. I was not going to wimp out. Couldn’t do that.

I harnessed in, told myself to “think brave”, got the “all clear” after being checked by the operators and, again, I could sense my wide-open eyeballs.

Excitement is a very cool thing in life! It can be hard to find when you’re looking at 70 birthday candles just ahead.

Zeeooooow. I zoomed off and in what seemed like 5-minutes, I landed on the next tower about 30 seconds later. Standing right next to my granddaughter, she asked, “What’d ya think Dziadz, fun right?!”

I answered, “Yup!” And smiled ear to ear in convincing fashion, double-checking to see if my tongue had been frozen to the roof of my mouth and did a double take to see if I didn’t wet my pants.

Kelsey then said, “OK, this tower is really going to be even more fun. It’s a dual zip-line and we take off together. I’ll race you to the bottom of the hill! Are you ready Dziadz?”

We harnessed up.

Yikes, this was exciting!

My sensory expectations seemed in better control after that first long ride. Clip, Clack, Clip, we were in. Standing next to each other, we were ready. Just then, Gazzzooongg! Thunder in the distance. Then suddenly, the dark skies opened up. It was a near-torrential downpour. They said, “We are closing the towers, your harnessed in, go down if you like, you’re the last riders.”

I felt like Matt Dillon and was up against the fastest draw in the west. He always keeps his cool. That was my mindset.

We smiled to each other and screamed our, “Let’s go!” We were either brave or not so smart (I was thinking that other word that starts on “s” and ends with a “d”….stupid).

In the middle of our descent as we exceeded 70 mph, flashes of light jumped out left and right in the distance. There was lightning all around us as we zoomed through some nearby treetops.

Flashbulb Fodder? I asked the Almighty for some help. He was with us because I can share this fun tale.

We were wet to the bone. Mighty thankful too, that we did not complete an electrical storm circuit during the flighty speedy trip down the dual zip-line. It was an incredible experience. We were both happy for this extraordinary hair-raising survival encounter with adventure.

We climbed down from the tower. Both of us kissed the muddy ground. What a run!

I was ready to leave the zip-line and head over to the bar in the sip-line! You know, a cold water on the rocks is what I needed.

Everybody met in the facility lobby and hugged. Kelsey said, “Wow! That was incredible, wasn’t it!?” Literally wet to the bone, we all looked up and in just 5-minutes, the clouds had vanished and the sun popped out. Life is.

“Wanna do it again Dziadz?” I resorted to that canned ear-to-ear smile that we grandfather’s all carry for emergencies and said, “Maybe tomorrow, ok?”

The Giant Dual Zip-Line adventure at Peek ‘N Peak soars over the trees side-by-side on independent lines next to your partner, allowing both riders to enjoy an exhilarating and majestic view of the surrounding mountains and valleys. It’s a 2,000 foot long glide path! *Photo courtesy of Peek ‘N Peak*

The Giant Dual Zip-Line adventure at Peak ‘n Peek allows you to feel sort of like a bird, a hawk or an eagle on a dive. Imagine, those types of birds do this all the time to survive via their very nature.

There is also an Aerial Adventure Course that features 69 obstacles and includes eight courses of varying difficulty. Participants climb up and down cargo nets and ladders while navigating course elements, including zip lines, in this tree top adventure. Suited for all ability levels, this course is a 3-hour, self-guided experience that allows you to explore the course at your own pace. You can try any (or all) of the eight different courses, working your way through the tree tops from platform to platform, encountering obstacles along the way.

I was humble and kindly declined to look for yet another new adventure experience. Had to use that ear to ear grin trick again.

The zip line adventure was not really on my bucket list, but oh-my-gosh! It was such unforgettable fun. We will do that again, but maybe not, if rain and thunder are in the forecast. I’m going to check beforehand!

The lifestyle we have shared in my family includes being active in the outdoors, but is focused on fishing, hunting, hiking, boating and family campfires.

When my younger grandkids heard that there was a pool here that offered a “wave” and had a “long slide”, good old gramps thought it would be a great next stop too.

We have learned to love this special place in the quiet hills.

Check it out: http://www.pknpk.com/packages-deals/overnight/ski-ride-packages/.

Spring Kings Now! Niagara USA Fishing

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Bill Hilts

Fishing Report: April 28, 2017
Fishing Good, but Water Levels are High
Big Fish Tournaments Next Up
Shore Fishing in Niagara River is Good

John Van Hoff with an early spring King Salmon in Lake Ontario off the Niagara County shoreline.

Lower Niagara River trout action improved the past week and anglers have been doing well with egg sacs or emerald shiners fished off three-way rigs from boats. Kwikfish and MagLips will also work off three-ways, but you have to make sure you are getting the wobble on the plug. Jeff and Justin Tedesco of Lewiston were using gold Kwikfish with pink scale recently to take steelhead up to 17 pounds and they had to power troll to get the action they needed to trigger fish bites.

Devil’s Hole and Artpark have been good drifts to target, but you may have to use your trolling motor to speed you up or slow you down – depending on what bait you are using.

Shoreline casters are still tossing spoons and spinners and picking up a few trout. Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls was out on Wednesday along Artpark and he hit six lake trout, two rainbows and two smallmouth bass while casting spinners. One of the rainbows was 12 pounds.

The LOC Derby opener is May 5 to 14. Go to www.loc.org to find out details including registration points and weigh stations.

The Lewiston smelt festival is set for May 5. For more details on that, go to the www.niagarariverregion.com.

**Mike Rzcidlo with a nice Rainbow Trout he caught shore casting in the Lower Niagara River.**

Lake Ontario is still in a state of emergency along the shoreline for high water levels. This isn’t really going to affect the fishing that much, but the Niagara County Sheriff is asking that boats creating a wake stay at least 500 feet from shore. This doesn’t include trolling. Caution is advised for floating debris when you are out in the lake moving around.

For fishing, it’s been a mixed bag for trollers. Stickbaits or spoons in tight to shore off boards or riggers in 10 to 25 feet of water for browns, a bit deeper for Coho salmon and the occasional king salmon. If there is a mud line, work it. Head out to 50 to 125 feet of water for lake trout on the bottom and Coho’s up top, too.

John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda had good king success last weekend using 5 and 7 colors of lead core and Dipsy-divers just west of the Niagara Bar and we heard other successful trollers hitting kings just west of the Bar. The key was finding good green water where it met with the clear water.

The Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament is set for May 19-21 out of Wilson and Olcott. The registration link is now live for registering. Go to www.lakeontarioproam.net.

The Wilson Harbor Invitational Tournament is May 13. Check out www.wilsonharborinvitational.com for details.

The creeks still have trout in them but the water is stained.

The piers are questionable because of the high water levels. Don’t take any chances out there. The pier at the foot of Route 425 is currently underwater.

Yes, the water level is over 20-inches high out in the lake.

Upper Niagara River has good perch reports from all around Grand Island. Emerald shiners are the best bait to use…if you can find them.

Bill Hilts, Jr., Outdoor Promotions Director
Destination Niagara USA, 10 Rainbow Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY USA, 14303
p: 1.877 FALLS US | 716.282.8992 x.303 | f:716.285.0809 website | facebook | twitter | blog

Destination Niagara USA Fishing Forecast for May 11, 2017

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Bill Hilts

**The current LOC Grand Prize leader for the $15,000 check is now Paul Nienaltowski of Michigan, with his 27 pound, 8 ounce King Salmon out of Wilson, NY.**

LAKE ONTARIO – Lake Ontario Water Level Warning: Just a quick reminder on water levels: There is still a state of emergency along the Lake Ontario shoreline for high water levels. This isn’t really going to affect the fishing that much, but the Niagara County Sheriff is asking that boats creating a wake stay at least 500 feet from shore. This doesn’t include trolling. Caution is advised for floating debris when you are out in the lake moving around. The problem seems to be launching.

Launches: The best spot to be right now is the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott. Fort Niagara has an open launch, but you need boots up to your knees or above. Golden Hill State Park launch is closed and Wilson-Tuscarora Park is day to day (but you need hip books for sure).

Spring LOC DERBY: The Spring LOC Derby (www.loc.org) is entering into its final weekend and it’s still not too late to enter. The current Grand Prize leader for the $15,000 check is now Paul Nienaltowski of Michigan with a 27 pound, 8 ounce king out of Wilson. No sharing of information there – too many fishing contests coming up. First place in the Salmon Division is a 25 pound 5 ounce king out of Wilson, reeled in by Lee Beaton of Clifton Springs. Big brown trout at 16 pounds, 12 ounces is out of Olcott – weighed in by Dave Rafle of Pennsylvania. Top lake trout is also out of Niagara County, a 22 pound 10 ounce from the Niagara Bar – reeled in by Brian Marketich of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.

**Young 13-year old Gianni Etopio of Youngstown hooked into a big largemouth bass this week while fishing for perch off Lewiston Landing.**

Most of the salmon seem to be in 80 to 120 feet of water. Water color is a factor and you may have to go deeper. Most of the fish are coming on spoons, but flasher-fly and cut bait rigs are also working according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker in Olcott.

Lake Ontario Tournaments just ahead: The Wilson Harbor Invitational Tournament is this Saturday, May 13. The Don Johannes and Pete DeAngelo big fish-three fish contest is May 18 – sign up at any of the LOC Derby weigh stations in Wilson and Olcott. The Lake Ontario Pro-Am Tourney is May 19-21 – sign up at www.lakeontarioproam.net. The deadline is May 15 at 5 p.m. Good luck to all you derby fishermen and women.

LOWER NIAGARA RIVER – Fishing action picked back up again in Devil’s Hole earlier this week- the place with the cleanest water. In Devil’s Hole, boaters were using minnows to take trout off three-way rigs. Some had double-digit days. The high water levels in the river have not had a huge impact on the area fishing … so far. The problem has been with water clarity. It is slowly clearing up downriver. However, a recent report from the New York Power Authority stated that the fishing platform was closed down again on Monday due to high water levels. It remained closed until water levels receded. Before you head down fishing there, you might want to call 796-0135 Ext. 45 to see if it’s open.

**Parker Cinelli of Grand Island hit a monster smallmouth from shore on a tube jig this week that stretched over 21 inches long.**

Steelhead, lake trout, smallmouth bass and silver bass can still be caught off the shoreline in Devil’s Hole. White and silver jigs were working for Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls earlier in the week when he caught lake trout and silver bass. Young 13-year old Gianni Etopio of Youngstown hooked into a big largemouth bass this week while fishing for perch off Lewiston Landing. Nice catch!

In the Upper Niagara

River, Parker Cinelli of Grand Island hit a monster smallmouth from shore on a tube jig this week that stretched over 21 inches long.

If you want to learn more about the fishing in Lake Ontario, you’ll want to attend the next LOTSA meeting tonight, May 11 in Lockport starting at 7 p.m. They will be holding a round table session with their members. To reiterate on the Pro-Am, May 15 is the deadline at 5 p.m. No exceptions.

Bill Hilts, Jr.
Outdoor Promotions Director

Destination Niagara USA

10 Rainbow Blvd.

Niagara Falls, NY 14303

p: 1-877 FALLS US | 716-282-8992 x. 303

f: 716-285-0809

www.niagarafallsusa.com

Reticulated Albino Python Snakes in Manhattan, New York

Posted on January 23, 2024 by stoadmin

Longest Snakes in the World, Growing to 20 Feet.
Reticulated Pythons Can be Dangerous.
In New York, a Special Permit is Required to Keep Them

*From L to R: New York State Environmental Conservation Officers Brown, Chomicki, Noyes and Lomozik, with two juvenile Albino Reticulated Pythons. NYSDEC Photo*

MANHATTAN – Early in February – 2017, New York State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Spencer Noyes came across a Craigslist ad offering an Albino Reticulated Python for sale in Manhattan.

Reticulated Pythons are classified as wild animals under New York State Environmental Conservation Law and individuals are required to have a special license to possess or sell the snakes. Reticulated Pythons are the longest snakes in the world, growing to more than 20 feet in length and can be dangerous.

Working with Lt. Michael Buckley, ECO Noyes determined the seller did not have a license. Acting as an interested buyer, Noyes contacted the seller and after several phone conversations, the seller agreed on a price for the original snake plus a second animal. On Feb. 13, ECOs Noyes and Bill Chomicki went in plain clothes to the seller’s residence in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan, New York.

Lt. Nate VerHague and ECO’s Zach Brown and Jarrod Lomozik served as uniformed backup. When the seller came outside with both snakes, Noyes and Chomicki identified themselves as Conservation Officers and, after a brief conversation, the seller admitted to not having any DEC permits to possess the snakes.

The snakes were seized as evidence and transported to the Animal Care Center of New York City, where they are being cared for and will eventually be sent to the Sean Casey Animal Rescue in Brooklyn, New York. The Sean Casey Animal Rescue Group specializes in the rescue and rehabilitation of reptiles. The seller was charged with possessing a wild animal without a permit and is due in New York County Court in May.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) enforce the 71 Chapters of NY Environmental Conservation Law, protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York.

In 2016, the 286 ECOs across the state responded to 26,400 calls and issued 22,150 tickets for crimes ranging from deer poaching to corporate toxic dumping and illegal mining, the black market pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

“From Montauk Point to Mount Marcy, from Brooklyn to Buffalo, the ECOs patrolling New York State are the first line of defense in protecting New York’s environment and its natural resources, ensuring that they exist for future generations of New Yorkers,” said Commissioner Basil Seggos. “They work long and arduous hours, both deep in our remote wildernesses and in the tight confines of our urban landscapes. Although they don’t receive much public fanfare, the work of our ECOs is critical to achieving DEC’s mission to protect and enhance our environment.”

White Deer Foresee Good News for Future

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

White Fawn

• White Male Deer, White Female Deer, Come Together
• Indians Say this is Sacred and Special Sign

By Forrest Fisher
People everywhere are interested to see distinguished nature in the wilderness, white deer are one of those precious resources that create a sacred and reciprocal bond with nature for many of us. White deer are awe-inspiring with their simple, raw beauty.

In East Aurora, New York, photographer Theresa Meegan has introduced the nature world to the 10-year old Albino deer that has lived in this village and is frequently seen by passers-by that slow their vehicles to take a double look at the beautiful animal. The deer provides a true measure of special life in nature that survive in the wild outdoors and live long lives.

Now imagine hundreds of white deer, wild in nature, that live in deer herds all in the same place. That would be nearly incomprehensible, right? But there is such a place, though the white deer there are not Albino. The white deer found at Seneca Army Depot in central New York are a natural variation of white-tailed deer which normally exhibit brown coloring.

The Seneca White Deer are leucistic, which means they lack all pigmentation of the hair, but have the normal brown-colored eyes. Albino deer, which lack only the pigment melanin, have pink eyes (or blue eyes) and are extremely rare – like the one in East Aurora.

The Seneca White Deer interbreed freely with the brown deer in the former U.S. Army Seneca Depot there and appear to share the habitat equally. The ambassador to save the white herd at the Depot has been an old outdoor friend, Dennis Money. The Depot was a fenced-in area that kept these deer together as a giant family where hunting was usually not permitted, except for management purposes several decades ago way back to the years after World War II.

The Seneca white deer now number about 200 of the approximately 800 whitetail deer within the old Depot fence. The future of the deer, as well as the rest of the wildlife in the former Depot Conservation area had been dependent on how the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) decided to use the 10,000 acre site, previously released for public sale by the Army. Concern by outdoor lovers of the special deer breed was high.

For about a decade or so, the home range of this special white deer herd was at risk of commercial development. The species would have been eliminated over future years, but today, the world’s largest herd of all-white deer has a new champion with Earl Martin, the new owner of the Depot land.

Martin, owner of Seneca Iron Works and Deer Haven Park LLC in Seneca Falls, bought the 7,000-acre site earlier this year, located within the Seneca County towns of Romulus and Varrick. His $900,000 offer included saving the celebrated deer herd and was unanimously approved by the Seneca IDA. That was good news that made all of the laborious and extended extraordinary efforts of Dennis Money worth all the effort. Money and Martin have saved the special deer herd.

Martin has arranged to plant more vegetation to make sure the deer have enough to eat, engaged repairs to the miles and miles of chain-link fence that surround the property, hired an ecologist to survey the land and to come up with an overall plan to ensure the white deer herd’s survival, and he has increased security patrols to keep poachers off the land.

Learn much more about the nature of this special deer herd, including how to visit the area and be charmed and inspired by these deer, visit this link: http://senecawhitedeer.org/.

According to the site, Native Americans have a long history of respect for white deer which are sometimes referred to as the ‘ghost deer.’ The Lenape Indians have a white deer prophesy. Here is an oral translation of that prophesy: “It has long been predicted that there would come a time when a white male and white female deer would be seen together, and that this would be a sign to the people to come together.’

They were way ahead of us. Despite issues that we see as a nation trying to rebuild in many ways, it seems high time for people to come together.

Possums – Odd and Ancient (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Jill Easton

Possums are 70-million-year-old survivors from the time of dinosaurs and have none of the normal qualifications for survival, making them a bit different in the world of wildlife.

Trappers Hate to Trap Possums
Possums Live Slow, Die Young
Possums Are Used for Alzheimer Studies

By Jill J. Easton

At two years old a possum is timeworn. By their second birthday, a possum is starting to look and act like a codger. Their fur loses whatever gloss and shine it once had, and bones develop arthritis and other aging diseases. They also start exhibiting signs of senility. They forget and eventually have problems doing even simple tasks like getting food and water. In the wild, a possum that makes it to their third birthday is almost unheard of.

Possum’s May Help Provide Answers for Alzheimer’s

Several scientific studies are currently underway on possums since they age out so young. Biologists hope to discover ways of combating human diseases like Alzheimer’s and senile dementia based on what happens to the animals during their rapid aging process.

Little Use for Possum Fur

Unfortunately, American possum fur is not in high demand for clothing. Opossum skins are thinner than most furbearers, which makes them a poor choice for coats or other heavy garment uses. In recent years, the pelts were used as a cheap substitute fur for trim, but the fur glut has made other skins more popular.

For fly-tying dubbing, possum is considered the best natural substitute for harp seal and is also used for Atlantic salmon and steelhead flies. In the 18th century squares of the fur were commonly used as bathtub sponges.

Trappers Hate Possum’s

Trappers hate possums because they clog up traps that could be catching more valuable animals. Right now in the year 2017, a prime XXL possum pelt may bring seventy-five cents. The skinned and fleshed grinner I recently sold – a good, big, prime pelt – brought fifty cents. This is less than they were worth 70 years ago.

That seems to be about it. No wonder possums have so few friends.

Love or hate them, it doesn’t much matter. Possums will continue colonizing the world in their slow-moving, simple-brained way, eating chickens, stealing dog food and being the unique animals that they are.

How Not to Catch Possum’s

If there is a possum anywhere in range it will get caught. Given the chance it will get caught several times. If you want to trap in an area where grinners are present: plan on several days of gray bonanza, or put out lots of traps and hope that a few will be left to trap animals that are actually causing problems, or have value as fur.

Possums respond to almost every lure and bait, they usually blunder into traps that are set for other animals. The only places I haven’t caught possums is in coon and mink sets right on the edge of water and in cage traps. Evidently, going through a door is too complex for their simple minds.

Killing a possum is much more difficult than catching one. The best place to shoot a possum is in the ear with the gun angled toward the nose. There are stories about trappers who have put half-a-dozen bullets into a possum, left it for dead and found the same possum in the same trap the next day. You aren’t going to win with possums, the best you can do is grin and bear it.

Possum’s Eat Deer Ticks

One good thing is, they eat deer ticks. In that way, they help control the spread of Lyme disease. Maybe one good reason why we should always let them live unless they are a schoolyard nuisance or are diseased.

Niagara USA Fishing Forecast

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Bill Hilts

For Feb. 3, 2017
Walleye to 11.5 pounds Caught This Week!

Big steelhead like this one can be caught in the lower Niagara River if the conditions are right.

Lake Ontario and Trib’s

Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek is still the place to go in Niagara USA for tributary action. Conditions have been good and small jigs fished under a float and tipped with a wax worm is always a good options. Egg sacs or egg imitations can catch a fish or two. Brown trout and steelhead are both being caught. The occasional Coho salmon is still showing up, too.

Lots of perch in 18-Mile along with a few pike.

Over in Wilson, skim ice is starting to form in the harbor and it will be cold at night through the weekend. Not sure if we will see safe ice before it warms up again. We started seeing some colder temperatures again. Remember New York State will be holding a free ice fishing weekend Feb. 18-19 if we get some hard water. No one will need a license that weekend. Go to the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov.

Some of the smaller streams like Keg and Four Mile might not be open at the mouth to allow entry. If they are closed, cast the mouth with spoons and spinners. If they are open, look for some trout to be available.

Niagara River

Last year's winner of the NRAA steelhead contest - Bob Rustowicz of Cheektowaga, NY. — Last year’s winner of the NRAA steelhead contest – Bob Rustowicz of Cheektowaga, NY.

The Niagara River Angler Association’s Roger Tobey Memorial Steelhead Contest will be going on starting at sunrise on Saturday Feb. 4 and you can sign up at Creek Road Bait and Tackle, The Slippery Sinker and off the NRAA website at www.niagarariveranglers.com. Call 731-4780 for more information. It’s not just for the lower Niagara River either. Boundaries also include Lake Ontario tributaries.

For fishing conditions, it sure is difficult to predict. Because Lake Erie is not frozen over, it seems like any kind of a wind event out of the west or south will cause the lake to muddy up. That muddy water will then go through the river system and shut fishing down for a while. It’s very difficult for the charter guys, too. With many customers coming in from out of town, it’s been a roll of the dice whether or not they can get it right. If the water is stained, go with baits that are brightly colored like a chartreuse. Egg sacs have also been working and use brightly-colored mesh. Some of the guides have been using the Pautzke fire dye on minnows to get the fish to hit.

Three-way rigs are the way to go. Plugs like 3.0 MagLips and K-8 or K-9 Kwikfish will also work for you. Make sure you are getting some action on those lures. If not, move your boat along with your trolling motor. Boat control is key.

Shore fishermen are still using spoons, spinners, jigs, egg sacs or egg imitations like beads. Steelhead and lake trout are both readily available throughout the river. The occasional brown trout is also caught.

Some nice walleye up to 11.5 pounds have been caught the past week. Remember that you can only keep one fish per person through March 15. If you are looking for one for the frying pan, keep one of the smaller ones. Let the bigger females go so that they can spawn this spring.

More information on local fishing: http://buffalonews.com/2017/02 /01/fishing-beat-feb-1/

Bill Hilts, Jr., Director, Outdoor Promotions

Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation, 10 Rainbow Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY USA 14303
p: 716.282.8992 x.303| 1.877 FALLS US, f:716.285.0809
website | facebook | twitter | blog

Sportfishing has a $30 million annual economic impact in Niagara USA!

Shed the Winter Blahs

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Jim Low

Finding a shed antler is a thrill on par with being dealt a royal flush. Jim Low Photo

…by hunting antlers (Jim Low)

I needed to get out of the house yesterday, so I took a brisk, 3-mile walk on trails at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City. At one point, I spied half a dozen deer. The three bucks were easy to pick out, because they were still rocking their autumn headgear. I was a little surprised that all three males still sported antlers. Missouri whitetails typically begin shedding their antlers around Jan. 1. That’s one reason why MDC moved the antlerless deer season from early January to early December several years ago. With the original timing, hunters were legally shooting quite a few bucks that had already dropped their antlers.

Anyway, it got me thinking about hunting for shed antlers. It’s easy to slip into a cabin-fever rut this time of year, when most hunting seasons are closed. Shed hunting can be done any time of day. You can do it on your favorite deer-hunting land or anywhere deer live, which is pretty much anywhere in the state, including suburban parks, wildlife refuges and other areas that aren’t open to hunting. You don’t need a gun or a permit. You don’t even have to be a hunter.

The benefits of shed hunting go far beyond gathering dust-catchers for your mantle. For one thing, it’s a much more pleasant way of getting exercise than grinding out miles on a treadmill in a gym that smells of moldy sneakers. The off season – when you aren’t spending every spare hour in a tree stand – is a great time to scout new hunting areas. And shed hunting can turn up useful clues about the size and habits of bucks that survived the past hunting season.

The most basic principle of successful shed hunting is to focus your efforts in areas where deer spend the most time. Having just undergone the rigors of the rut, bucks are hungry at this time of year, so they are actively feeding. If you can find standing corn, that is an excellent place to check. So are grain bins and other places where grain gets spilled on the ground. Clover and alfalfa pastures are favorite feeding areas, too. If you planted turnips or other food plots to attract deer, be sure to include those on your rounds. Orchards and tree plantations are deer magnets as well. Be sure to thoroughly comb through sumac thickets and other brushy cover adjacent to food sources. That’s where loosening antlers are most likely to get snagged and pop off.

Next, check travel lanes between food sources, watering spots and bedding areas. Logging roads, fencerows, utility rights-of-way and streams – even dry washes – tend to funnel deer movement into predictable routes. Game trails along these landscape features often are as obvious as superhighways, and are worth checking thoroughly.

Cedar thickets are favorite spots for deer to hunker down during severe weather. Bushwhacking through them can be a challenge if you are standing up, but they are surprisingly open at ground level. Pick your way through these, pausing every 50 feet or so to get down on your hands and knees and scan the surrounding ground for sheds.

Deer also spend lots of time resting on south- and west-facing slopes at this time of year. It doesn’t seem to matter much whether these slopes are wooded, brushy or covered in prairie grass. Hillsides with this orientation receive direct sunlight, which helps deer stay warm. Their elevation allows deer to see approaching danger while they chew their cud and digest food consumed the previous night. When checking these areas for sheds, start on one side and methodically walk parallel lines until you have scanned the whole area, watching for matted leaves or grass that indicate day beds.

February and March are the best months for shed hunting. Once antlers hit the ground, they quickly attract mice, squirrels and other rodents that gnaw on them to take advantage of the calcium and other nutrients they contain. Even deer go after shed antlers, which is an interesting example of recycling. Nothing goes to waste in nature, and if you want intact sheds, you have to get there first.

Searching for shed antlers is similar to other types of hunting in that the more you do it, the better you become. Long-time shed hunters sometimes bring home dozens of trophies in a year. Neophytes aren’t likely to do that well, but be patient and don’t get discouraged if your initial efforts fail to pay big dividends. Half the fun of shed hunting is having an excuse to get outdoors and seeing things you would never see if you were sitting in front of the television. On my recent walk, I got to watch a flock of turkeys feeding. A pair of Cooper’s hawks entertained me with their aerial courtship, and a juvenile barred owl eyed me curiously, but without apparent fear, as I walked beneath its perch. Those things seem different with a breeze in your face than equivalent views on The Nature Channel.

I didn’t find any sheds on that walk. But I’ll be back next week, hoping to glimpse a one-antlered buck and turn his loss into my conversation-piece

Bucket List Trip: Rainy Lake

Posted on January 23, 2024 by stoadmin

CAMPFIRE ISLAND: Big Fish, Lots of Fish
Delicious Food, Lots of Food
Great Fishing Spots, Great Guides, Hot Lures

By Jamie Wilson

For STO 02032017, FISHING and TRAVEL, Picture 1of6 As anglers we all have a list of lakes, rivers and streams that have the potential to satisfy our ultimate desire; to completely outdo ourselves. This past season (early June) I encountered one such body of water; beautiful Rainy Lake which borders Ontario and Minnesota.

A group of writers, tackle company owners and reps were invited to the Share The Outdoors Media Event to field test new products from companies such as Clam, St.Croix, Live Target Lures, Gamma Fishing Line and Frabill. The accommodation for this event was Campfire Island which is a hop, skip and a jump from Fort Francis, Ontario, Canada.

The first thing that jumped out at me, besides the beauty and splendor of the lake, was the emphasis for success on the water by owner and operator of Campfire Island, Wayne Howard. Wayne left no stone unturned pertaining to potential hot spots around the lake along with various presentations, depths and key structure/cover to focus on. He made sure that when we left his dock, we had – at the very least, a crystal clear picture of where to start and how to tempt the Rainy Lake fish contingency.

Campfire Island is geared towards a fishing experience not to be forgotten, as is described on their website “pack the appropriate clothing for the time of year, pack a toothbrush, find your favorite rods and reels, and leave the rest to us”.

The Accommodations

Now, obviously, world class fishing is a high priority, but to most people, so is being well fed and comfortable. When they say “leave the rest to us” they weren’t kidding. Aside from the amazing fishing related insights from Wayne (which we will get to in a minute), we really didn’t have to think about anything, but, well, fishing.

For STO 02032017, FISHING and TRAVEL, Picture 2of6 Picture this, you have a fantastic night sleep in a big comfy bed, then you wake up to hot coffee in your cabin. Next, you are treated to a big delicious breakfast just in time for your guide to grab your gear and whisk you away to the promised land of smallmouth bass, pike and walleye. Oh, and I should mention, they send you on your way with a packed lunch and maybe even a wise crack from Wayne (if you are lucky).

For STO 02032017, FISHING and TRAVEL, Picture 3of6 Fast forward to your return from a day of fast, furious fishing, the kind that one can only daydream about, and you are greeted by Wayne, who wants to get the lowdown on your day. The main lodge is the perfect meeting place after a day on the water to tell as many lies as you want about your exploits. Here you will find a counter full of snacks, a fridge full of whatever you fancy (beer for our group) and a beautiful view as a backdrop to all the fish stories you can stand. To me, this is paradise and exactly what the doctor ordered. What’s next? Well, a delicious three-course dinner in a beautiful wood cabin that’s what. I tell you, I must have gained five pounds during our event and I was not complaining. The cabins are spacious and comfortable, the food is plentiful and so are the fish. Win, win, win and that’s that.

Fishing Rainy Lake

Campfire Island is located on the Ontario side of Rainy Lake in close proximity to the Ontario/Minnesota border. A quick boat ride from Sorting Gap Marina in Fort Frances and you’ve arrived at fishing heaven. Being situated just south of the Noden Causeway, Campfire Island is the only Ontario fishing camp with easy access to both the southern and northern arms of Rainy Lake.

Campfire Island spells it out like this, “Our mantra: world class smallmouth bass, trophy northern pike, extraordinary walleye. Our goal: to have our guests experience the world class fishery on Rainy Lake to its fullest extent”. I will attest to that. Day one of my trip was nothing short of amazing.

For STO 02032017, FISHING and TRAVEL, Picture 4of6 After breakfast we got prepped and headed out only to be greeted with some of the most horrendous weather I have ever fished in by choice. Severe cold front, high winds and rain had me in doubt and I tell you this, I couldn’t have been more wrong. My partner in crime on this trip, Gary Abernethy (Live Target and those great “Bait Cloud” lures) and I lost count of our catches. It was simply unbelievable. We boated an estimated 90+ fish that day which included smallmouth, pike and walleye. I can’t describe how much fun it was to cast out a crankbait or tandem willow spinnerbait into shallow banks, points and reefs having no idea what would attack it next. Our big fish producer for smallmouth that day was the Live Target Crawfish Square Bill in brown/chartreuse while various spinnerbaits with silver flashy blades accounted for large numbers of pike, smallmouth and the odd walleye.

For STO 02032017, FISHING and TRAVEL, Picture 5of6 My set-up for spinnerbaits/jerkbaits was a 7’ St.Croix (med/heavy) “Mojo Bass” rod which performed flawlessly the duration of the trip. I matched it with an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reel spooled with 20-pound braid and paired with a 12-pound fluorocarbon leader (Gamma Edge). For the crankbaits, I matched a 5.4:1 cranking reel (baitcaster) spooled with 10-pound fluorocarbon and paired up with a 6’6” medium-action (Jason Mitchell) rod which was buttery perfection for those square bills. Day two was all about shallow diving jerkbaits, which by the way produced one of the biggest smallmouth of the entire trip. Actually, it was a Live Target silver/blue Rainbow Smelt that triggered a post spawn smallmouth to attack. Thanks again Gary.

For STO 02032017, FISHING and TRAVEL, Picture 6of6 This short but successful outing was done on the southern arm with ace guide, Jamie Bruce. Again, we had only a couple of hours on the water and Rainy Lake produced once again. Really, this lake is nothing short of amazing.

Comfortable lodging, great food, beautiful surroundings and off the charts fishing. What more can you ask for? Do yourself a favor, put Rainy Lake on your bucket list, give Campfire Island a call, and tell them the good folks at Share the Outdoors (www.sharetheoutdoors.com) sent you.

Here is the Campfire Island website link: http://www.campfireisland.com/.

Born to Hunt Pheasants

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Well-Trained Bird Dogs
Timeless Moments with Old Friends
Tasty, Beautiful, Ringed-neck Pheasants
One Surprising Modern-Day Youngster

By Joe Forma

The well-trained pointing Lab whirled into the red brush and a gorgeous Ringed-neck Pheasant clawed his way airborne. The first of some 50 such flushes for my son, Andy Forma, of Penfield, New York, and his four companions on their 4th annual hunt with F&B Upland Birds in Hamlin, New York.

The companion hunters were Safari Club stalwarts Judge Bill Boller, George Cipressi and his grandson Dom, and also Dr. Pat Baranello, owner of the Calibre Shop ammo source, and Ron Bullard of Collins, New York. Yours truly was the group photographer.

The hosts at F&B Upland are Fred Paye and Bill Surridge. These great guys run a superb hunt in what they maintain as traditional Western New York bird cover. As we step afield, we are transported back to the 1970’s when Ringed-necks were so prevalent locally. The 200 plus acres of hunting land features standing corn, soybean fields, hedgerows and acres of natural red brush.

Fred and Bill provide wonderful, well-trained bird dogs, featuring Pointing Labs and Shorthair Pointers. They are without a doubt the very best bird dogs I have ever hunted over. They even respond to Fred’s command “get a drink” by immediately jumping into one of the large water tubs sprinkled around the area. Neat to see.

The morning hunt was for 25 randomly released roosters. This is no walk ’em up and shoot in a 4-inch clover field. Every bird was a challenge to locate and bag especially in the thick red brush and well grown hedgerows. The dogs did a great job. Many of the birds ran like the wily birds of old. The group all had great shots and needed about 3-4 flushes and misses to settle down and then they rarely missed.

A real highlight of this hunt was George’s grandson, Dom, a 12 year-old super hunter. Andy was really glad to have a youngster along to promote the future of his sport. Dom couldn’t have been a better sportsman even at his young age. He always held his cut-down Remington 20 gauge pump at a proper port arms position, as instructed. He showed no impaired nerves or excitement, but hunted like he had done it a dozen times, not his first time. He was an excellent shot. He downed at least six hard-flying pheasants with single shots. I didn’t see him miss.

After a great morning with about 22 birds brought to bag, we broke for a luxury lunch of roast venison, deep fried Canandaigua Lake yellow perch and Lake Erie walleye. Fred and Bill fed us well in their spacious and heated tent.

The afternoon hunt was for an additional 25 Ringnecks. The dogs continued their excellent work and showed no signs of fatigue. They are well trained and well exercised, so they never quit, though some of us older sports slowed down just a bit. The shooting was right on the mark though and the birds flushed hard with disconcerting cackling.

A tribute to all was that not a single bird was lost as a cripple. Great shooting and great retrieving by the dogs. By around 3:00 p.m., there five happy hunters and one old photographer, me, who decided one last push thru the soybean field would do it. It produced our last kill, a long-tailed, beautifully feathered cock bird.

The boys finished with 45 to be delicious pheasants and the feeling of a day well spent. Andy booked again for a hunt next November.

Florida Scrub-Jays in Festival Spotlight

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

The Florida Scrub-Jay is a beautiful coastal bird that lives nowhere else except in Florida, it is a light gray-brown bird with a bright blue head, blue wings and tail. FWC Photo

Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Stuart, FL
Feb. 18, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Guided Walks, Exhibits, Swamp Band Hay Rides, Kids Activities, Entertainment and Food

Posted by Forrest Fisher

Come celebrate this songbird at the 8^th annual Florida Scrub-Jay Festival on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, about 12 miles south of Stuart on U.S. Highway 1.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the festival will offer guided walks, exhibits, swamp buggy and hay rides, kids’ activities, entertainment and food. There will be an opportunity to meet Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff and partners that are helping conserve this threatened species. The FWC is one of the festival’s organizers.

The Florida scrub-jay is distinctive because of its unusually cooperative family lifestyle.

Craig Faulhaber, the FWC’s avian conservation coordinator said, “The Florida Scrub-Jay lives in family groups composed of a breeding pair that mates for life and its offspring. Young Scrub-Jays often stay with their parents for one or more years and act as helpers to defend the family’s territory and raise young. Breeding pairs with helpers successfully raise more young than lone pairs.”

“Because Florida Scrub-Jays are very territorial and don’t migrate, people may get the chance to watch events in the life of a Scrub-Jay family throughout the year. Family members work together to defend territories averaging 25 acres from other Scrub-Jay families, with at least one member always on the lookout for predators,” said Faulhaber.

The Florida Scrub-Jay is one of the many wildlife species you may spot at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. It needs sandy scrub habitat to survive, but its populations have been impacted by habitat loss, agriculture and the lack of natural or prescribed fire to maintain vegetation height and sandy openings on scrub lands. Scrub-Jay populations are thought to have declined by as much as 90 percent since the late 1800s.

What does the call of this bird sound like? More like a screech than a song, since it is related to species like the crow. Hear the sound of a Florida scrub-jay by going to AllAboutBirds.org and searching for Florida Scrub-Jay.

People can help Florida Scrub-Jays by:

Supporting habitat management on FWC Wildlife Management Areas with Scrub-Jay habitat, such as the Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area, Salt Lake WMA and Platt Branch WEA.
Keeping cats indoors near Scrub-Jay habitat.
Reducing use of pesticides around homes and golf courses since Scrub-Jays feed on insects.
Reporting harassment or harm to Scrub-Jays or their nests to FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline, 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Find out more about Florida scrub-jays by going to MyFWC.com/Imperiled, clicking on “Listed Species,” “Birds” and then “Florida Scrub-Jay.”

FISH ON! NEW TRAPPER TACKLE HOOKS

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Angler has New Advantage
New Shape is Innovative, Patented
New Shape Hook Design – Hard to Shake Free

By Forrest Fisher

Not until now, have I ever considered why fish are able to get off when I’m fishing with a giant hook and plastic worm. They have the mechanical advantage to leverage the hook point out with a bit of a wriggle and a shake. Some folks at Trapper Hooks have also made an adjustment to the physics principle involved by creating a new hook design. Imagine that now, a hook for fishing and catching fish that is brand new. I think this is an amazing invention.

My first cast with these new hooks proved my point. I had threaded a 4-1/2 inch “Squirrel Tail” worm (Big Bite Baits) with a Tilapia-color tail onto a size 1/0 Offset Wide-Gap hook (style 20610) from Trapper Tackle and flipped to the edge of weedbed that had grown high near a drop-off. With just one jiggle of my medium-action St. Croix rod tip, a fish inhaled the bait. The 3-pounder came right to the top, tail-walked, jumped twice and soon after, I reached under his belly to safely boat the bass for a quick release. He could fight again tomorrow.

The hookset felt so solid. When I saw the hook-up point of interface, I understood why. It was buried to the sharp-corner bend of the new shank design. The new hook has good retention. The sticky-sharp Piercing Point^TM provides a nice path for the surgically sharp hook point to bury itself, removing the old advantage that physics and old-style hook shapes have provided to the fish. Advantage to the angler.

In three trips so far with these new hooks, I have not lost any fish. Reviewing the catalog, there are several design styles and several sizes, including a drop-shot hook that can be used with live bait.

This hook design changes the world of fishing and after just this simple trial on the water, it is easy to understand why. Check ‘em out the next time you visit your tackle store or visit their web link to find out where to get ‘em: https://www.trappertackle.com/store-locations.

Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission – 75 Years of Success

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Butler Island camping, fishing and kayaking fun. Photo courtesy of Florida Fish & Wildlife (FWC)

Wildlife Conservation Areas Established
Fish, Wildlife and Public Access Expanded and Managed
Recreational Opportunities for All, Hunters and Anglers too

By Forrest Fisher

If you have ever travelled to Florida, it seems everywhere you go there are birds, fish, flowers and wildlife of all sorts. It’s no accident. In 2017, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is commemorating the 75^th anniversary of the wildlife management area system, one of the state’s greatest natural treasures.

The FWC oversees the statewide network of remote and scenic lands, managing them for conservation and recreation. To celebrate the milestone and help people discover the opportunities these public lands offer, the FWC is hosting free events throughout the year.

FWC Chairman Brian Yablonski said, “Florida has one of the largest systems of public lands in the country at nearly 6 million acres, and these lands are the best of the best of what wild Florida has to offer. These natural communities span a variety of habitats from longleaf pine uplands and pine flatwoods, to the hardwood hammocks and sawgrass savannas of the Everglades. Not only are these areas beautiful, they are managed to provide habitat for many species of wildlife and access for people to enjoy hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and more.”

Florida’s first WMA, Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area, was established in late 1941 in Charlotte and Lee counties. By the 1960s, there were 28 WMAs. Today, the FWC is the lead manager or landowner of over 1.4 million acres and works in partnership with other governmental or private landowners on another 4.5 million acres. These healthy habitats are essential to Florida wildlife – both common and imperiled species. The FWC uses its scientific expertise and a comprehensive ecological approach to manage a variety of wildlife while balancing public access to these wild lands.

Whitetail Deer abound in several areas of Florida with managed hunting seasons established for WMA areas. Photo Courtesy of Florida Fish & Wildlife (FWC)

WMAs provide many recreational opportunities including paddling, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, photography, wildlife viewing, and target shooting at areas with a public shooting range. They also offer a wide range of hunting opportunities including special hunts for families and people with disabilities.

Throughout 2017, the FWC will host a variety of events to celebrate Florida’s WMAs. Events include a statewide geocaching challenge, volunteer work days, a photo contest, guided hikes, fun opportunities to explore WMAs, and citizen science bio-blitzes, where members of the public help document wildlife species at WMAs.

If you are heading to Florida at any time this year, learn more about upcoming events (or to find a WMA near your destination), visit MyFWC.com/WMA75. You’ll find access link to parks, beaches, fishing hotspots, advice for safety, fun and places to visit.

FWC says you can help them share the fun of what’s in Florida by sharing your visits to Florida WMAs on social media (#WMAzing).

Fishing from shore at Escribano Point WMA can offer fun and a palatable dinner feast for anglers. Photo courtesy of Florida Fish & Wildlife (FWC)

Ice Fishing Lures, Rattle & Hum

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Proof of Noise Attraction for Trophy Fish
Advice from a Biologist

By Gord Pyzer

Sometimes, all it takes is a little desperation to discover an effective new fishing tactic. An outing last winter with my Saskatchewan buddies Jeff and Jason Matity offers a case in point. Expert ice anglers, the brothers paid me a visit in northwestern Ontario with their sights set squarely on catching trophy-sized crappies—a sportfish not found in their windswept home province.

Just a few days before the visit, I’d located a large school of 13- to 15-inch plate-shaped beauties, but left them undisturbed in the hope they’d still be there when Jeff and Jason arrived. Fortunately, they were. When we hopped off our snow machines, drilled through three feet of ice and snow and dropped our transducers down the holes, the sonar screens lit up like Christmas trees. I remember excitedly saying, “This shouldn’t take long.”

Boy, was I wrong—the fish just wouldn’t bite, steadfastly snubbing our baits. Now, what would you have done to fool those finicky fish? I’m betting that, like us, you would have used ever smaller lures, presenting them ever more slowly. But the crappies remained obstinate, frustrating us for more than an hour as we watched fish rise up, put their noses on our offerings as if to sniff them, then sink back down to the bottom. That’s when the guys started experimenting with sound to trigger a bite.

Sound advice

Jason dug deep into his tackle bag and pulled out a Fergie spoon that we intended to use the next day for walleye (above). He removed the wire holding the brass and glass clacker, and tied the noisemaker to the end of his line. Then he attached the same minuscule jig he’d been using without success to the rig’s split ring. After dropping it down the hole, Jason shook the contraption briskly enough that he could feel the brass weight sliding up and down the wire, banging against the glass beads. In short order, he was icing crappie after crappie after crappie (see the opening picture).

That’s right. The same fish that wouldn’t open their mouths for the smallest, most realistic bite-sized jig suddenly went berserk for the same bait dancing below six inches of thick visible wire, with a half-ounce chunk of brass banging against two red glass beads. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that sound can’t be an attractant. Need more proof?

After we had cleaned up on the crappies, we set out one snowy morning to locate big burbot. Jeff and Jason may be the best ling anglers in the country, so I took them to a spot where I’d accidentally caught some of these fish in the past. To catch winter burbot, the Matity brothers’ favorite technique is to use heavy 3/4- and one-ounce Reel Bait Flasher Jigs with the willow leaf blade dangling below the head. They tip the jigs with thick butterfly fillets fashioned from fresh ciscoes, then hammer the lure so hard onto the bedrock bottom that you can hear it from 20 feet above on top of the ice.

Truth be told, we didn’t catch any burbot—too many big walleye annihilated the baits before they could trigger the beady-eyed burbot.

Click below to continue, go to GOOD VIBRATIONS

http://www.outdoorcanada.ca/Ice-fishing-Friday-How-to-lure-in-more-fish-with-sound

Dogs, Rabbits and Smith & Wesson

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Labs, Beagles & Bassets
Secret, Succulent Rabbit Recipe

By Jim Low

My friend Dave Urich has hunted rabbits behind beagles since childhood. He has always loved the music of baying hounds, but he doesn’t enjoy racing to rescue freshly shot bunnies from a pack of crazed canines. He has never succeeded in teaching his beagles not to tear up rabbits, so he found another solution.

Enter Smith & Wesson*, a pair of Labrador retrievers. Smith is a black lab, while Wesson is more or less the same shade of yellow as the well-known brand of cooking oil. Dave keeps Smith & Wesson at heel while his pack of six to eight beagles rousts rabbits. When he bags a bunny with his .410 over-under, the labs go into action. They usually beat the beagles to the game and gleefully deliver it to Dave’s waiting hand.

This system works fine, but Dave isn’t one to settle for “good” when a little tinkering might get him to “better” or all the way to “perfect.” In that spirit, Dave added a basset hound named Porterhouse to the mix. Beagles are an excitable and hasty lot, prone to missing small olfactory clues and being fooled by of cottontail chicanery. They would mill around in circles for hours if not forcibly redirected.

Dave Urich shows what a pack of beagles can do to a rabbit if you don’t get to it first.

Bassets, on the other hand, have keener noses than their longer-legged cousins and are nothing if not deliberate. Porterhouse normally trails minutes behind the beagle pack, patiently following meandering traces of rabbit spoor as if every molecule were the finest French cologne. Rabbits that cross a creek or double back and then hide in out-of-the-way nooks watch the howling beagle pack pass by and think they have it made. Next thing you know, Porterhouse has his nose beneath their backsides and the chase is on again.

This is much more orderly in theory than it is in practice. Individual beagles go off on tangents that take them to the next county. Others decide it would be fun to chase deer. Labs get bored and wander off to roll in raccoon poop when Dave isn’t looking. “Chaos” is too mild a word for a hunt with Dave’s dogs, but entertainment is never in short supply. To keep things manageable, Dave fits every member of his pack – except those carrying guns – with shock collars, which he controls individually to correct the behavior of whichever dog might go rogue at a given moment. How he keeps track of the dogs, let alone the collars, is beyond me, but we haven’t lost a dog yet.

That is more than I can say for rabbits. We do well enough shooting them, but with so many eager dogs in play, we seldom get through a day without losing at least one rabbit to canine exuberance. It’s a small price to pay for so much fun. Eating them can be extremely pleasant, too. Rabbit meat is a lot like chicken minus the generous helping of fat that goes with chicken skin. Frying in back grease and then slow-braising in a covered skillet supplies the moisture that rabbit flesh lacks, and that is a perfectly acceptable way to cook it. My favorite, however, involves heavy cream, white wine and bowtie pasta. Here’s how I do it.

Meat and Cooking

Remove the meat of two or three quartered rabbits from the bone. Sear them in olive oil with chopped garlic in a cast-iron Dutch oven. Cut into half-inch chunks and set aside in a covered container.

Sauce

Sautee 4 green onions in butter in the Dutch oven until they start to soften. Add 12 ounces of dry white wine and 12 ounces of chicken stock and stir to dissolve browning residue from bottom of oven. Add four bay leaves, two teaspoons of peppercorns, 12 chopped sprigs of fresh thyme and simmer until reduced by two-thirds.

Add 8 ounces of half-and half to the sauce and simmer until reduced by half. Remove from heat and strain the sauce into another container. Discard the seasonings and return strained sauce to the Dutch oven.

Dice a stick of butter and whisk it into sauce. Add salt and fresh lemon juice to taste. Stir in the diced meat and keep it warm while preparing the pasta.

Pasta

Slice two bell peppers – one red and one green – into thin strips. Cut 16 ounces of fresh mushrooms into quarters. Sautee pepper strips and mushrooms in butter until they begin to soften, but are still firm. Set aside.

Cook a large package of bowtie pasta or wide egg noodles, drain and pour into a large serving bowl. Arrange the peppers and mushrooms on top. Pour on the sauce and serve.

* I asked Dave how his basset hound acquired such an unusual, but undeniably descriptive name. “None of my dogs answer to their names,” he said, “So I give them names that I like. For a while I was in the habit of naming them after cuts of meat.” He says that led to “Pork Chop,” “Ribeye,” “Tenderloin” and “T-bone.” If I ever acquire a beagle of my own, I’m calling him “Ground Chuck.” “Chateaubriand” might be a good choice for a classy bird dog.

False Rut – Always between Fridays & Mondays!

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

The eyes of every good hunter are optimistic with a conscious perception of nature and an uncanny calmness that can understand the daily dialogue of the woods and whitetail deer. Photo by Bella Gulino

-Early Season Deer Hunting

-Scent and Scrape Control

-Understanding Moon Phase

The eyes of every good hunter are optimistic with a conscious perception of nature and an uncanny calmness that can understand the daily dialogue of the woods and whitetail deer. Photo by Bella Gulino

By Forrest Fisher

At this time of year, sportsmen that live to hunt deer with a bow crave the sweet dreams of active outdoor weekends. For archery hunters, every weekend is a hopeful time for finding the deer in their reproductive rut and in full disregard for hunters and hunter mistakes. If only it could be!

In the archery woods, the deer-watching action is at full throttle way ahead of the season or the rut. In New York, the early archery season opens for six weeks starting October 1^st, this year that’s 6-7 weeks ahead of the predicted fall rut cycle.

While the bucks always seem ready to mate, experts teach us that the doe’s need the recipe of shorter daylight hours, the changing low angle of the sun and the full moon plus seven to 10 days (after), to allow their hormone system to reach fertile. After that, they become more commonly know as “hot doe’s” or the deer that bucks are looking for.

From opening day until about one week after the full rutting moon, the deer often appear unaware that their survival-oriented mating season is coming up.

The deer meet in local open field food plots, oak tree groves and apple orchards each afternoon just before sunset and seem to have a sacred conversation of sorts. It is their habitual social ritual and they are perhaps discussing the sweet delight of sugary apples. It’s fun to watch them, it’s a time that hunters often learn quickly that too much calling will usually cause the deer to flee. The deer gather like that in groups until they break up just before the full rut.

“The Grim Reaper broadheads did the job for me this year,” says Alessio Gulino of Clarence, New York, who downed this heavy mature buck with a perfect 30 yard arrow shot.

The formula for when the full rut should happen is complicated, but most folks that hunt with arrows believe in the Alsheimer theory and this year, that means the rut will peak after the full moon in November, so the full rut will occur in the middle of November. False rut occurs in the moon prior to the rutting moon when bucks think they should be mating, but the doe’s are not ready. Scrapes, rubs, lots of deer action can occur in the woods and it’s a good time to get out there if you can.

Peak rut is the time when rutting bucks chase doe’s that are actually ready to mate, with some doe’s literally screaming for their buck to find them using their high-pitched bleat call. Indeed, their gesture to signify immediate need to mate.

During this October, a month before peak rut this year, the bucks can become frustrated, providing vulnerability for the deer and adding to hunter advantage with the proper use of downwind location and use of scent attractants. It’s a hot time to be in the hunting woods if you can accurately place an arrow on the mark of your aim. That’s what young hunter, Alessio Gulino, 23 years old from Clarence, New York, did last weekend.

Using a Grim Reaper broadhead and Diamond compound bow set up for a 65-pound draw, Gulino dropped the buck at 30 yards with a clean heart shot. Gulino says, “The deer did not even take one step, he simply crashed on the spot.”

Gulino adds, “Since October 14^th, I have seen signs of false rut. I have had a few smaller bucks come around my food plot leaving their scent behind. Making rubs and scrapes, it been a joy watching the little ones. On the day I got my buck, I switched to a stand in a more wooded area. When this buck came out his behavior was different. More of a strut as he walked, neck was swollen and nose to the ground. That was my false rut experience, I have also been monitoring the moon phases, as well as the weather. To me, the biggest things that matter about the rut, false or full rut, are moon phase and temperature.”

Many experts will say, “Yes, very true.”

Mid-day scouting and a quiet walk around your hunting terrain in search of tree rubs and ground scrapes can help identify active buck locales. The bucks that made those rubs and scrapes are not far away and they usually return to check for tell-tale signs of a hot doe at least twice a day, just before sunset and again in the morning sunrise hours just before they head to their bedding area for a daytime snooze.

Once an active buck zone is located with the rubs and scrapes, there are a number of things to take advantage of the location. Savvy hunters set up in a tree stand downwind and wait for the buck to check his area, though in the meantime, you may have to willingly pass on multiple doe’s traveling the area because of scrape and rub marks, and the smell scent left by the buck.

This is where use of scent lines can offer honest advantage to bring the deer right to the hunter. There are two ways to think about using scent, one is to attract a buck by use of hot doe scent, also known as “doe-in-heat” or “doe-in-estrus” scent, and the other is to upset the buck and trigger him into a more aggressive mode with the use of “buck scent”.

The use of buck scent is working when you see the buck come back to his scrape and then start a violent surge of attacking the ground all around his scrape. He is upset. When that happens, you know this buck is upset and considers this area “his area” and thinks he is the dominant buck there. On the other hand, if he knows he is not the dominant buck, the buck scent may cause him to bolt away and never return, so you gotta be careful with buck scent if you are willing to settle for an ordinary six-point buck.

Alessio Gulino was “thumbs up” after realizing that his arrow placement and shot distance estimate were right on.

With “doe-in-heat” scent, you will attract whatever buck is making the scrape and by dragging a scent line from the scrape to your stand location, can win the prize of a possible perfect shot at a range of your choosing. Sounds easy right?

It can be at the right time of year, like now, when bucks are in heavy search for estrus doe’s and not finding many. It’s a nice time to drag a scent line tied from to your boot from the scrape area to your stand area, with the scent line loaded up with “doe-in-heat” liquid lure. Use a small piece of rag tied to a 6-foot string line for the scent line (drag line).

So which “doe-in-heat” scent lure to use? Some hunters will say they are all good, that may be true. In Western New York we have at least one source of natural “doe-in-heat” lure that is bottled from local deer herd stock specifically for hunters at Pines & Tines Whitetail Farm. This is a deer farm with over 60 live deer animals located at 7852 Lewis Road in Colden, about six miles south of East Aurora.

While commercial store versions of “doe-in-heat” are sold in one or two ounce bottles at $12-$14, most of these are chemical equivalents of the real thing. Pines & Tines sells an eight-ounce bottle for $10. Yes, that is a buy. This real nature local product has worked for me and many hunting friends for the last several years and we just never told anyone where we bought our hunting attractant scent. Well now the secret is out! Call Eric and Cheryl Lafferty at 716-655-5007, or stop in, there is a sign on the door that will direct you to the refrigerator stock of “doe-in-heat” and “buck lure”. Use this stuff sparingly to help you set the stage for deer hunting success.

One of the other well-proven local scent formulas made in East Aurora, New York, is Kishel Scents. Their mock scrape kit is among the most effective ever made. Born from the experience of a young boy as a trapper, several of my close friends have used the Kishel Mock Scrape Kit to harvest trophy deer in the past few years. There are other companies that make similar products, but for some secret reason, the Kishel Product Kit lasts for weeks and deer keep coming back.

Not saying other products are ineffective, we have all tried many of them – they do not all work, but this local Kishel Mock Scrape Product Kit is quite amazing. To visually see how a mock scrape is made, go visit this link on You-Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8irLbm7kCs. Without the kit, get out there, find a scrape line, set up your fixed or climbing tree stand down-wind and drag the scent line from the scrape area to your preferred tree stand location.

Gulino was hunting on his own land and using a safe, metal, fixed ladder stand with a full body harness for fall protection and safety. He put on his patience hat, sat down and relaxed until the deer of his choice showed up, took his time and made a very clean kill shot.

Prime time is at sunrise and sunset, most hunters know that. Don’t forget your full body harness to stay safe when you go vertical, anything less than a full body harness is asking for trouble. The most exciting fun of the year is between Friday’s and Mondays if you can settle your honey-do chores before hitting the outdoors.

Gulino’s 10-Point buck was the victim of good hunting by a good hunter who set up his stand in the travel corridor between the bedding area and the feeding area.

Good luck to everyone on the water or in the woods!

Conserving Wetlands & Waterfowl

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Ducks Unlimited: Science, Research, Biology

for-sto-10192016-conservation-picture-1of1-credit-to-joe-forma — Thanks to the many conservation programs of Ducks Unlimited chapters across this great nation, waterfowl and other species too, are able to survive and thrive. Joe Forma photo

By Forrest Fisher

Ducks Unlimited is a dedicated group that may be underappreciated by all the rest of us outdoor folks. The work that this group performs for others will provide fundamental and ecological improvements for many waterfowl species. Their work will help waterfowl and other species overcome unforgiving vulnerabilities due to loss of habitat and will add to the dynamic transformation of the natural world to remain reciprocal and productive.

The Ducks Unlimited conservation programs have always had a strong biological foundation. Science and research tradition continues today with hundreds of studies to address the habitat needs of waterfowl. Although a great deal of work has been done and many important questions answered, there is still much to learn about how the birds respond to landscape, habitat and environmental changes.

DU has embraced an approach of constant monitoring and evaluation which allows for continual refinement of its habitat programs. In the end, such an approach ensures that each and every dollar invested in conservation programs is used as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Below is a summary of the methods DU uses to conserve wetlands and valuable habitat in priority areas for North American waterfowl.

How DU Conserves:

Restoring grasslands
Replanting forests
Restoring watersheds
Working with landowners
Working with partners
Acquiring land
Conservation easements
Management agreements
Geographic Information Systems

Restoring Grasslands

Ducks such as mallards, pintails and teal build nests in dense, grassy areas near wetlands. Grassland cover helps hens conceal their nests and increases their chances of successfully hatching a clutch. Once hatched, the hen leads the ducklings over land to a nearby wetland, where they grow into adults. DU and its partners help to secure and restore these grasslands to reduce predation rates and improve nest success.

Replanting Forests

Forests that flood regularly due to overflowing riverbanks, such as the bottomland hardwood forests in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV), make for ideal wintering habitat for ducks, and provide essential breeding and foraging habitat for other wildlife species. However, 80 percent of these forests have been cleared for agriculture and other purposes, and rivers have been tamed with dams and levees. To date, DU has reforested more than 178,000 acres in the MAV and worked to restore backwater to these forests to mimic historical flooding.

Restoring Watersheds

A watershed is the area surrounding a wetland, and therefore has a great effect on the water quality and general health of a wetland. When watersheds are disturbed, silt, nutrients and contaminants can be washed into downstream wetlands, impacting the flora and fauna that inhabit these systems. For example, in the Chesapeake Bay, most of the aquatic vegetation has been lost and fisheries have been contaminated due to degradation of the watershed. DU restores drained wetlands, protects stream corridors and establishes buffer strips that filter nutrients and silt.

Working With Landowners

Nearly three-fourths of America’s remaining wetlands are on private lands. All over North America, DU works with farmers, ranchers and other landowners to improve the agricultural and recreational value of their land, making it more wildlife-friendly. Additionally, a new market is developing where landowners can become suppliers of environmental credits that can be sold in a voluntary trading market by adopting certain types of conservation practices on their land.

Working With Partners

No single group could perform the work necessary to meet the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and DU’s International Conservation Plan. Virtually all of DU’s projects are done in cooperation with a number of partners, including state and federal agencies, private corporations and foundations, and individuals.

Acquiring Land

In special cases, DU will purchase property then restore it to improve its value to wildlife. Once the habitat work is complete, DU will then sell or donate the property, usually to a government agency that will manage it for wildlife.

Conservation Easements

Some of the most valuable wildlife habitat is threatened by development. DU’s Conservation Easement Program is designed to protect habitats forever through agreements with landowners.

Management Agreements

DU offers financial incentives to landowners that manage their land for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife. The landowner receives a number of benefits under this type of agreement, and hundreds of wildlife species are insured quality habitat.

Geographic Information Systems

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology enables DU to determine where our habitat work will be most effective as well as monitor the results of our work. Combining satellite images with other information, such as wetland inventories, land-use practices, soil type, wildlife use and more; DU’s GIS specialists produce models that help identify the best places to restore or protect habitat on the landscape.

For more detailed information about waterfowl habitat conservation in an area near you, please visit our Priority Areas.

Get Involved

Do yourself a favor and opt to learn more about all this goodness! Visit the DU link and read on about the details of DU conservation efforts: http://www.ducks.org/.

TurkeyFan.com – Lure & Blind All in One

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

New Tactic Device is Deadly Tool

Wanna’ fight? Turkeys do. After decades of learning the nuances of yelps, purrs, and clucks I’ve come to the conclusion that the best way to outsmart an old gobbler is to challenge it with a rival.

Ken Byers and I were cruising a large ranch when we spotted two gobblers a quarter mile away casually feeding in a large plowed field. Given the distance to the birds, we may have been able to get their attention with loud yelping and since they had no hens, possibly coax them closer.

Instead, Ken and I sneaked to the edge of the field and raised a turkey tail fan from a bird taken earlier in the hunt. The toms may not have been able to hear hen calls at great distance, yet nothing passes their keen eyesight unseen. Immediately, their heads went up like periscopes and they stared intently at this possible intruder.

Ken and I had used this tactic before and learned that it usually works best if one person operates the turkey fan while the other shoots with a bow or shotgun. Ken peaked from behind the spread turkey tail feathers and quickly whispered, “Here they come.”

I laid down at the edge of the field with the Mossberg beside me, while my buddy turned the fan as a real gobbler would do. The birds came into my view at about 200 yards and it seemed like a feathered horse race with each gobbler intent on kicking intruder butt. At 20 yards, the turkeys finally became suspicious and threw on the brakes giving me the perfect shooting opportunity. Boom! One gobbler began to flop and the other seemed startled by the explosion and walked away slowly.

“Hand me the gun,” whispered Byers and before the second tom could break 30 yards, it was down as well. Wow! Wow! Wow! What excitement. Any inkling of frustration from previous hunts instantly evaporated and we tagged our birds and laughed and giggled like school girls all the way back to camp.

Betting on Aggression

Will Downard is no stranger to this gobbler Achilles heel and has devised a turkey “fan” that invites a turkey to compete for breeding territory. It doubles as an effective blind too, plus it’s very easy to carry and deploys in seconds.

“We’ve had such success with this product that we are looking at other animals to decoy,” he said in a brief interview before heading out with this camera operator. He didn’t elaborate, yet his wry smile indicated that there may be more to TurkeyFan.com than just turkeys.

Downard’s invention carries and deploys like an umbrella with the lower half eliminated so that it forms a semi-circle. To set it up takes only seconds and the device is large enough to easily disguise a shotgun hunter, bowhunter, or camera operator. Typically, Downard hunts with his camera man who uses a turkey fan to disguise his presence as well.

The face of the fan/blind has the image of a strutting tom turkey to incite the kind of aggression that gobblers instinctively have. The image is larger than life and I asked Downard about that.

“With turkeys, size doesn’t seem to matter,” he said. Even though the image is larger than life-size, gobblers aren’t intimidated, especially if there is more than one.”

That same evening, Downard was back in camp with a dandy longbeard and incredible video of the hunt. Just as he described, the camera operator used a blind to disguise his presence while the shooter, concealed behind the “fan” moved closer to the gobbler. After watching a big tom come right to the TurkeyFan, the hunter peeked over and shot the bird at five steps. To see this unique tactic in action go to www.turkeyfan.com and you will be amazed.

Fins & Feathers Day

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Let’s call the fourth Saturday in May what it really is.

Maries River Smallmouths – Jefferson City native Randy Boeller drove all the way back home from Houston, Texas, to catch this hefty smallmouth from the Maries River.

To my knowledge, the fourth Saturday in May is the only date on the calendar when Missouri anglers and hunters all have something to rejoice about. That’s because the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend is opening day for squirrel hunting and for catch-and-keep fishing for black bass south of the Missouri River.

This year’s squirrel season runs from May 28 through Feb. 15, 2017. You can fish for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass year-round, and you can keep these three black bass species all year anywhere north of the Missouri River and in impoundments statewide. Though in most streams south of the Missouri River, you may not legally keep black bass until the season opens. This is designed to give bass protection during their spawning season and during the part of the year when Ozark streams are at very low levels and bass are concentrated in small pools.

Note that I said “most” streams south of the Missouri River. The area where black bass fishing is restricted excludes what is commonly known as “swamp east Missouri,” the low area that is part of the Upper Mississippi Embayment. This includes all of Dunklin, Pemiscot, New Madrid, Mississippi and Scott counties, most of Butler and Stoddard counties and tiny bits of Ripley and Cape Girardeau counties. The actual boundaries are much more precise than this, being demarcated by highways as described in the Conservation Department’s Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations. The booklet is available wherever fishing permits are sold or online at http://on.mo.gov/1LwnqRA.

There’s no trick to finding places to hunt squirrels. Anyplace with trees is sure to have bushy tails. If you don’t own such land or know anyone who does, there are literally hundreds of conservation areas that are crawling with squirrels. The Conservation Department makes it easy to find an area near you with its online Conservation Area Atlas. The database is searchable by county, activity or type of facilities.

What might be slightly more complicated is finding the right kind of squirrel. To me, the “right” kind are fox squirrels, which are about twice the size of gray squirrels, and consequently are more likely to add up to more than one serving apiece.

In principle, finding fox squirrels is easy. They inhabit open woodlands and areas where wooded acres are surrounded by open ground, especially agricultural land. This means southwestern and northern Missouri for the most part. However, you can find fox squirrels throughout the state where forest borders on pasture or row crops.

Black Powder Squirrels – A small-caliber muzzleloader is a good tool for hunting squirrels in the summer, when foliage dictates close shots.

Most of the bass you catch in Ozark streams will be smallmouths, those bronze-backed masters of the aerobatic hook-toss. In a few streams, however, smallmouths have been fighting a losing battle against an invasion of spotted bass.

I’m not normally one to intervene in a fair fight, but in this case I think anglers have legitimate cause to take sides. For one thing, the spotted bass’s fighting ability pales in comparison to that of a smallmouth. Add to that the fact that spots are significantly smaller, on average than smallies, and you’ve got a no-brainer.

To let anglers weigh in on the smallmouth-spotted bass battle, the Conservation Department has removed the minimum length limit for spots on all or parts of the Big, Bourbeuse, Courtois, Meramec rivers and on Huzzah, Blue Springs, Dry Fork and Mineral Fork creeks. Taking home a limit of six spotted bass of various sizes lets anglers enjoy fish on the table without reducing the supply of hard-fighting smallmouths.

More restrictive length and creel limits apply to smallmouths on various other streams where the Conservation Department is trying to build trophy smallmouth fisheries. Before heading out, be sure to check the section of the Fishing Regulation Guide for regulations specific to the area you plan to fish.

Stream bassing in Missouri isn’t all about the Ozarks. Several streams in Northern Missouri have good smallmouth bass populations mixed in with the dominant bucketmouths. The South Fabius (pronounced (Fabby”) River, which runs through Knox, Lewis and Marion counties north of St. Louis. This Mississippi River tributary is virtually unknown outside of Northeastern Missouri, but it is notable enough to be included in the Conservation Department’s “Padder’s Guide to Missouri.”

Plenty of other northern Missouri streams also have excellent black bass fishing. North of the Missouri River there are the North Fabius, Grand, Chariton, Salt and Platte, and in the south you have fine Ozark Border streams, including the Lamine, Moreau and Maries rivers.

Oil up your shotgun and fishing reel. The fun is about to start!

Guns, Freedom & the American Dream

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

America is changing. For many sportsmen, the reasons are more obvious than for many folks not associated with the outdoors, hunting, shooting and conservation. The lifestyle and demands of daily life do not allow many citizens to learn about safe use of firearms, especially when they are living in countries where personal freedom is taken for granted.

Many big city resident folks are not able to learn more about firearms because they are limited by laws where they live. Different types of firearms are simply not allowed in some cities, it is illegal. Reasons why are varied and many. As we all know after the last six or seven years in the United States, firearm laws are written for many reasons, as was the Constitution of the United States. Therein lies the occasional great divide.

There are among us, courageous men and women working to lessen that divide and to provide a clear understanding of American freedom and the responsibility of firearm ownership for lawful Americans. Tim Schmidt, founder of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), the first and largest, member-owned association designed to educate, train, and insure responsibly armed Americans, who has released his first book, an autobiography entitled “Guns, Freedom & the American Dream,” is one of those men.

Schmidt shares his trials and tribulations behind the formation of the United States Concealed Carry Association and Delta Defense. The inspirational book he wrote, many agree, has helped change the way America views responsibly armed citizens. As of November 2015, copies of “Guns, Freedom & the American Dream are available for $22 on the USCCA web site: https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/offers/?id=Nov2015BookPromo&sid=PR. Consumers who order the book on-line will also receive a free copy of the Emmy nominated DVD: “It’s Up To Me,” where Tim shares his personal and professional journey to form an organization that backs those who believe enough to take on the responsibility of defending their loved ones.

More about the USCCA: The U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) is the first and largest, member-owned association designed to educate, train, and insure responsibly armed Americans. USCCA members receive access to a wealth of industry information and insurance protection through its Self-Defense SHIELD program. The USCCA also provides expert advice, product information, and the latest news centered around the concealed carry lifestyle via email, social media, Concealed Carry Magazine, and their nationally syndicated radio program Armed American Radio.

Western New York for Whale-Sized Walleye

Posted on October 21, 2023October 21, 2023 by Dr. Peter Brookes

Thriving with walleye and smallmouth bass, Lake Erie is the most biologically productive of all the Great Lakes.
The “Come-Fish-Lake Erie Program” provides one and all with access to many choices of affordable charter fishing services.
Fishing with artificial lures, live bait, and planer boards – Lake Erie walleye fishing from Chautauqua County, NY, was exciting, educational AND tasty!

**Look at those teeth! Keep your fingers in your pocket!**

By Dr. Peter Brookes

As all three (!) of my social media followers know, I’m mostly a fly angler. But I recently went over to the “dark side” and did some—this is hard for me to write…deep breaths, deep breaths—spin fishing.

Yes, I said spin fishing…even trolling on a powerboat.

Perhaps even more egregious for a fly angler, I kept the fish I reeled in from the depths of Lake Erie. And then going even more off the rails for a fly fisher, I cooked and ate my catch of walleye and yellow perch when I got home.

Phew!

I’ve been keeping that secret bottled up for a bit now; it’s so good to get it off my chest. Indeed, despite going astray, it was such a fabulous trip that I wanted to share it with you all—fly anglers or otherwise.

I was invited to Western New York (WNY) by the Chautauqua (pronounced” “shaw-taw-kwa”) County Visitors Bureau to do some fishing on Lake Erie and Chautauqua Lake in early August. It’s a six-to-seven-hour drive—plus stops—from the DC area through rural Maryland, Pennsylvania and then into the Empire State.

It’s a beautiful trip north through some very picturesque countryside.

My destination was Chadwick Bay in the town of Dunkirk. The first thing I noticed when I arrived on the sunny August day was the seemingly endless expanse of blue water and the cool breezes coming off Lake Erie.

It was in the high 70s and a welcome drop in temperature from the DC area.

At one point, I mentioned to the hotel staff that my air conditioner was having a hard time keeping my room cool. Without a second thought, she told me: “The AC is working really hard today…it’s almost 80 degrees out there.”

Being from DC, I burst out laughing.

**Our ride for the day. Safe and comfy with Captain Jim Klein, even in the waves.**

I was very excited about getting back to WNY and out onto Lake Erie. I grew up along the Lake in a town called Orchard Park, the well-known home of the Buffalo Bills and some very snowy winters. (Go Bills!)

Orchard Park is often one of the places the cable weather channels report from when WNY gets a big snow. Last NFL season, the Bills had to move a game with the Browns out of town to Detroit due to an impending November snowstorm.

I left WNY for the Naval Academy (courtesy of the late Rep. Jack Kemp) and, after my Navy time, settled in the DC area. I’ve been back a few times for steelhead fishing (on the fly), but it had been a few years, so I was really looking forward to getting back “home.”

We’d planned for two days of fishing, but a weather front came through the day before my arrival, making the Lake a little too rough for a comfortable ride on Day One. As one charter captain said to me at a lunch gathering, “If the Lake looks like it’s covered in fluffy white sheep, don’t go fishing.”

Indeed, when he shared that with me, I laughingly wondered if he had “Ovinaphobia” (i.e., a fear of sheep), but then I looked out at the Lake and saw the white caps. It actually looked quite pastoral, as if there were gently rolling hills of blue dotted with a large flock of chalk-colored lambs happily grazing.

Not a very nautical saying—using sheep, that is—but it’s great advice.

On Day Two, we made a run for the Lake to hit a weather window before the winds and waves picked up. Out from shore a mile or two, our charter captain, Jim Klein, hustled to get our trolling lines in the water.

**The first set of trolling lines out! Planer boards and diving planes were rigged with lines to reach the thermocline.**

I was gobsmacked at how technical the fishing was. We used both artificial lures, live bait, and planer boards, trailing the boat at different depths and distances behind and out to the side, away from the boat.

In no time, we were reeling in good-sized walleye and yellow perch.

I’d heard that Lake Erie walleye could be big, but I have to say that I had no idea. The first walleye exceeded 20-inches and a couple of pounds. Locals told me that they catch walleye over 30-inches regularly, tipping the scales at five to six pounds.

No “Dirty-30 Club” membership card for me this time, but it turns out that Lake Erie is a world-class walleye fishery and, not surprisingly, the home of some very big walleye fishing tournaments.

After a couple of runs up and down the coastline, as predicted, the winds and the waves started to pick up; it was time to head into port. I’m OK with following seas, but a head sea coming right at you can be a bit uncomfortable—even for a salty old Navy guy.

I loved the Chautauqua County fishing, the mild summer weather, and getting back to WNY. But I was also really happy to see Lake Erie thriving. In the 1960s, Lake Erie was “dead” due to the pollution that poured in from the heavy industries and large cities that ring the Lake.

In fact, in 1969, the Lake infamously caught fire near Cleveland.

But now, Lake Erie, which is the 11th largest freshwater lake in the world, is now the most biologically productive of all the Great Lakes. Besides (great tasting) walleye and perch, it’s also a top fishery for lake trout, musky, steelhead, and largemouth and smallmouth bass.

Not too shabby!

My only regret is that due to commitments at home, I didn’t have more time to root around the area more, including visiting Jamestown, the historic Lake Erie lighthouses, local wineries, the Concord Grape belt, the famous Chautauqua Institute—and some childhood friends.

Of course, being disappointed in this case only means one thing: I’m going to have to go back soon.

Editor Note: Dr. Peter Brookes is an award-winning outdoor writer. Brookesoutdoors@aol.com

When Old Guys go Fishing – Tricks We Never Share Start with a Question

Posted on March 30, 2023March 30, 2023 by Forrest Fisher

Where to fish – an easy choice when you fish with old guys (the fish are in the water).
Rigging and weighting plastic worms and alternatives.
Lure selections, knot varieties, water depth: fishing factors that matter.

**Lure inventor Bill Alexander (L) and Bass Pro field tester Gary Day (R) plan their fishing morning on a west-central Florida lake.**

By Forrest Fisher

When young-minded friends meet on the water in Florida for a post-retirement gathering, life is good. Good for at least two reasons: You’ve survived long enough to collect social security and are going fishing. And, if you were smart enough to give your wife permission to go shopping, you know the entire day will have a happy ending when the boat returns to the trailer. Funny how things work with an excellent plan to wet your line!

We met at Gary’s winter home in Auburndale, Fl., moved the ice-filled cooler with water and sandwiches to the boat, and the day was on. Bill said, “Geez Gary, don’t you ever wash your boat. There’s dust on the motor!?” Not 1-second passed when Gary answered, “Well, go get a dust rag over there in the corner. You can be the new pixie dustman.” Gary and Bill have been friends for a long time and fished many bass tournaments together, also as competitors. I was the new guy in this senior collection of age-old, line-casting, bass-fishing quibblers. Gary added, “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain there, Forrest. He thinks he knows how to fish.” We all chuckled, and the laugh-fest, fish-fest was in gear.

We piled into Gary’s GMC Terrain with his 19-foot Ranger bass boat and trailer in tow. The boat was filled with strapped-down, ageless fishing rods and reels and many memories about to be relighted for a fun day afloat. Our destination this day was a canal-interconnected lake system near Lakeview, FL. We arrived at the no-charge boat launch on Lake Rochelle, and the fishing fun began. The lake system includes Lake Haines, Lake Rochelle, Lake Conine and Lake Smart. I swear that each time I fish with these guys, we all get a little more clever and imaginative, no thanks to the last lake name there. Old guys know so much about so many things to do with life and fishing! I’m not bragging, as I’m on the side of what we (I) never stop learning.

Bill Alexander says, “One option for fishing the popular wacky rig is to place a slip weight above the hook, not pegged.” Gary Day adds, “Pumping the rig back to the boat, slowly, will cause the sliding line with the hook and worm to create a delay in the worm sink rate. A sure-thing fish-catcher on some days.” This durable and supple new plastic worm is one of the new Xstended Life Apex worms that Alexander and his partner, Paul Williams, have recently invented.

“What should we fish with, Gary? You’re the guide today because you know this water,” Bill asked. “Well, the bass are done spawning as of a few weeks back, so they might be hanging back from the shoreline reeds and in deeper water or not. They might be feeding on their own fry, in shallow. Who knows?” Gary replied. Bill quipped back quickly. “You mean you don’t know.”

“Every day of fishing is different, Big Bill, you know that. It could be the new moon phase, the sunrise clouds, the early overcast fog, or it could be that you just got up too early, Bill. Or maybe…you got me up too early!” Never let your guard down on senior fun fishing days.

I looked toward Gary to say, “I liked where we fished here in Lake Rochelle last time, over there where that big gator hangs out.” I was pointing across the lake to an underwater point with sky-seeking reeds that was also near a quick drop-off. “That’s what I was thinking, too,” Gary replied. The big motor roared to life, we popped out of the hole and were skimming along the smooth lake surface at cheek-waffle speed.

MTO Lure inventor Bill Alexander says, “Not all the fish we catch are giants, but these little guys make the fishing day fun and test the durability of our new Xstended Life Apex plastic worms. You can catch multiple fish without changing this worm.”

About 5 minutes later, Gary plopped the MinnKota Terrova electric bow motor into the water, and we were rigging up lines. The remote control Bluetooth link made it easy for Gary to position the boat to shallow or deep.

Bill tied on an Xstended Life soft bait, a 5-1/4 inch Apex worm in green/red fleck color, using a 4/0 circle hook. I did the same with a blue-black Apex worm, and Gary tied a similar soft plastic tail bait onto a wobble jig. With about 10 casts each, there were no strikes and no fish yet. A few minutes later, I checked my watch to share that it was 8:55 a.m., breakfast time for big old bass looking for big old fishing buddies ready to take their picture. Not a minute later, Bill said, “Fish on! This one is not big guys, but it’s a nice healthy Florida largemouth about a foot long.” Grinning, I said, “They must have heard me, brother Big Bill.” Bill said, “First fish in, guys, pay up.” Bill is a master talker, a great storyteller, and a great friend. Another 45 minutes passed, and Bill yelped, “Well, guys, looks like I got the first fish, the biggest fish, and the moist fish. Bingo, bango, bongo. It’s gonna cost ya’ll.” It’s easy to start speaking Florida English when you’re in Florida, even for just a few months. Bill was developing an accent.

“It’s time to switch, guys.” Gary picked up his first-generation Bass-Pro casting reel bought way back in the 80s – a fishing reel he loves, and tied on a short Berkley Lightning Shad in white-silver color. I switched to a small floating-diving crankbait from Al’s Goldfish Lures called the “Diving Demon.” One of my favorite lures, it dives no deeper than 3-4 feet, no matter how hard or fast you crank. Bill said, “I’m sticking with my worm.”

About two casts later, I had a fish on and pulled a nice 2-pounder into the boat. About 30 seconds later, Gary caught three fish on successive casts. Gary said, “What’s the matter, Bill? Did you spit on the knot and scare the fish away? The fish don’t like you, buddy.” Not exactly sandpaper on sandpaper, but hearty laughs and grins. Then over the next hour, we caught four more fish, Bill too, and the fish bite just plainly turned off. It was 10:30 a.m., and we all knew it was time for man-to-man jaw talk when the fish stopped biting.

**Well-maintained “elder” fishing gear works as well or is better than some modern hi-tech fishing tackle.**

We always share good talk, usually about things we’ve discovered in life and fishing. Gary is from Oswego, NY; Bill is from near Sylvan Beach, NY; and I was born and raised in western New York near East Aurora. We all accept that Southwest Florida is a great place to escape snow shoveling. We talked about life and cost of living, the differences between New York and Florida, taxes and gas prices. And how census numbers the day before where New York lost 299,500 residents in 2022 while Florida gained 315,000 new Florida residents the same year. “It must be the great fishing guys!” I added. “It could have more to do with taxes,” Gary said. “Let’s not talk about politics, you guys. C’mon.” Bill garbled. Then added, “The water temp is nearly 80 degrees, guys, it’s siesta time for the fish.”

**The surface water temperature was approaching 80 early in the day.**

We switched our no-fish-biting talk over to lure choices to try now. We covered surface lures, plastic baits, swimbaits, crankbaits, jigs, hair bodies, soft bodies, and plastic worms and their pliability and durability. That led us to talk about lure size and plastic worms. I threw in that I fished with Rick Clunn in the Red River a few years back, and Rick says, “Fish with a 12-inch plastic worm to win the tournament or not, and just one more fisherman in the crowd.” Gary said, “It’s true that bigger lures catch bigger fish or no fish. I won a NY Bass tournament that way once a few years back.” I asked how long ago, and Gary said, “Not that long. It was in the late 90s.” We all laughed. How time flies as we get a bit older.

Our conversation between casts was better than Abbott and Costello telling their story about WHO was on first and WHAT was on second and who and what has changed since then. That took us to cellphones…flip-tops and smartphones, laptops, the internet, grocery delivery to the door, online banking and what it all means. No face-to-face conservation and no touch or emotion between people. That’s when Bill said, “Hey Gary, where are you hiding the fish? Let’s get the sandwiches out and head to another lake in the system.”

**As we near the end of the trip, Gary Days says, “I normally save these little ones for Bill.”**

Five seconds later, Gary hollered, “Lines up, guys. Get the bread out. Time to move.” He lifted the bow motor, turned the ignition key and the Merc outboard growled to life. Off we went. I love that Merc sound as you begin to feel airborne. Ten minutes later, sandwiches and ice-cold water in hand, we idled into a narrow canal to enter Lake Haines, and watched for ospreys and eagles. Lake Haines is another pothole-style Florida lake. The deepest water is about 18 feet. Gary said, “I don’t fish this lake too often, but sometimes you gotta stick your nose where the wild roses grow. Maybe they’re biting here.” A broken 5-acre field of water hyacinth patches was floating in front of the canal entry. Heavy wind the previous day had broken them off from their shallow roots near shore.

Bill stood up to cast the first line where the edge of weeds and reeds was about 4 feet deep in clear water. A 30-foot cast, his line immediately moved left, then right, as Bill lifted the rod to hook up with a nice bass – his biggest bass for the day. Smiling ear to ear, “That’s how you do it, guys. Were you watching? Gary? Forrest? Of course, you know I just jinxed us. First cast, first fish in the new lake, we’ll be lucky to catch one more.” Bill’s prediction turned out to be right on. About an hour went by with no hits.

We turned our talk to fishing lures from long ago that we still have and still use and still work, and we laughed a lot. We talked about new lifestyles in winter: fishing and golf and watching spring training baseball games. We also talked about the new pains and aches we all are developing and that, at least for me, I hide with a patented arthritis grin that can fool anyone. We talked about fishing and hunting and how most outdoor sportsmen enjoy everything in between. Our discourse about lures, line brands, rods, reels and fishing gear changes went into great detail.

We agreed that the increasing multitude of American tournament bass fishing contests today might not be good for the fish but was good for the local economies and the tournament owners. We yakked more and laughed a lot. Non-stop. We deliberated taking affordable Canadian fishing trips with friends – in the summer.

The fish needed to be biting better on this day, yet we brought seven non-whopper bass and a giant bluegill to the boat. The lack of non-stop fishing action was great for talking time. The yapping talk and laughing helped us forget everything else on our calendars as we roughed it out from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. We spoke about notable quips and quotes we have heard through the years, like this one: “Remember that without bread, there can be no toast. Without friends, there can be no fun.” So true.

Keep your bread and your friends close.

We headed home.

Out My Backdoor: Beyond the Hummingbird Feeder

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The clear and warmer than usual waters off the southwest Florida coast at Laishley Park in Punta Gorda, will be the site this weekend where Redfish Anglers will gather to compete on March 3 (boats) and 4 (kayaks). Photo Credit: Hobie Fishing

Ducks Unlimited: Science, Research, Biology

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Conservation Easements

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