Hunting and Fishing Tips, Guides, Gear and More!

Fly Fishing for Bass

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:58:31 +0000

When you mention fly fishing to people, many times they think you are fishing exclusively for trout. However, there are some amazing spots you can fly fish for trophy sized bass as well. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass abound in rivers and lakes, so why not try your hand fly fishing for bass?

Many experienced fly fishermen report that bass fly fishing can be extremely challenging as well as extremely satisfying. Bass have larger mouths than trout, so your choice of lures is much more diverse. They strike hard and fight strong, so when you are fly fishing for bass, expect to be exhilarated by the fight in these guys!

Experts suggest that you use a 6-7 weight rod, but if you are especially experienced, you can use a 4-5 weight rod. If you choose the smaller rod, you may have trouble casting the larger flies, so be aware of that. You can use a floating or a sinking line with a weight forward taper. You should have a 7 ½ to 9 foot leader tapered down to a 10 pound test.

Most bass are opportunistic feeders and will bite at anything. In general, however, flies for bass fishing are usually larger and influence a bigger bite. Try big muddler minnows, clousy minnows, wooly buggers, poppers, leech patterns, and crayfish patterns. Size 8 or 10 would be a little on the small side while size 2 or 1/0 would be a little too large, so opt for something in between.

Largemouth bass live in shallow water habitats among reeds, water lilies, and other vegetation naturally found in the water. They are adapted to warm waters in the 80 degree range and are seldom found deeper than twenty feet down. They prefer clear waters with little or no current. They stay fairly active year-round, but tend to stay near the bottom in the winter months.

Great bass fly fishing can be found in various locations throughout the United States. In the northeastern United States, try the rivers and streams in the Adirondack Mountains such as the Mohawk or Black Rivers. There are also some prized bass in the Great Lakes region. Southern Ontario in Canada can also provide some great opportunities to catch trophy sized bass.

Bass fly fishing can be a great experience for both the beginning fly fisherman as well as those with a little more experience. Fly fishing for bass requires a little bit of finesse and some tenacity when they bite. Stay with the fish and pull a whopper out of the water you can be proud of!

Bank Fishing for Bass

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 01:35:21 +0000

Many people think it is impossible to fish for bass without a boat. This simply is not true. There are many places to fish for bass from the bank. Some are easily accessible and some are not. But they are there waiting for you.

The first place I learned to fish was a medium sized farm pond. My father took me there just about every other week during the summer and we pulled many bass out of there. Ponds can be found throughout the countryside but nowadays most are on private property and you need to ask permission. Look for vegetation and structure to improve your chances.

Another good place very similar to the pond is a abandoned strip mine. These can be found throughout the Midwest and provide excellent bass fishing. Again look for vegetation and structure but with strip mines the water can be very deep making finding the structure a little more difficult.

Creeks and streams that have a steady flow of water are good for smallmouth bass. Look for trees in the water as they provide excellent cover for the bass. Also look for breaks in the flow of the water as often times bass will sit in the calmer water waiting on their prey to go by.

Rivers can also provide excellent bank fishing but the good spots are usually a little harder to get to. You look for the same things you would look for in the smaller creeks and streams but you may have to hike a ways through heavy growth to get there. I suggest you wear a fishing vest as it will make it a little easier to get through the growth. One more place on a river that I have found really produces is what I call an eddy pool. Find a place where the water is moving really fast and look for pockets of quite water either alongside the fast water or immediately after. These pools will contain all kinds of fish either resting for the next leg of their trip or waiting for the bait fish to arrive.

You can also fish lakes from the bank looking for the same structure you would look for in a pond or strip mine. Areas of growth or trees in the water make the best choices. This is probably my least favorite place to bank fish due to the difficulty of finding and getting to a good fishing location.

What about you? Do you have any tips or tricks for bass fishing from the bank?

June 2010 Best Days to Fish and Hunt

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:49:21 +0000

Don’t wait to plan your June hunting and fishing trip – use the simple graph below to plan out your outdoor excursions for the month. Use the following info with confidence, but please take into consideration that nothing can guarantee a good day in the field or on the water. Being armed with information on lunar data is only half of the puzzle – the rest is up to you.

It has long been known that moon phases can greatly effect the activity of game animals and fish. Solunar tables are a valuable resource in choosing the right times to hunt or fish. Below are charts from primetimes2 indicating the best days of the month to fish or hunt based on moon phase data for the month of June 2010. The assigned values by day are very easy to follow, a value of 0-24 is considered a poor game production day. 25-49 days are generally considered average. Any number between 50 and 74 is a good day and finally, a daily value of 75 or greater is considered an excellent day. Any value higher than 70 has been highlighted in green and should be considered the overall best days of the month. The data below is valid for the northern hemisphere at the lat / lon of 38′ N and 94 S (generally speaking: Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis). Although higher or lower latitudes will produce slightly different results, the overall affect is minimal and the chart can be used with confidence. Please remember that these charts are for personal use only and should not be replicated or distributed in any way.

Best Bass Fishing Lakes in the United States

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 22:37:06 +0000

Below is a list of some of the best bass fishing lakes in the United States. This list is not exhaustive, but the large numbers of bass taken from these lakes yearly is disproportionately large. If you are looking for information in areas that are not listed below, there are many different ways to research. One of the best methods for bass research is to visit a particular state’s Department of Wildlife Conservation website. Typically, all lakes and other waterways can be found for a particular state, as well as fishing reports that are updated regularly. Another method to research bass fishing lakes is to do a search through Google, or any other search engine. There are literally thousands of pages on the internet specifically geared towards getting information out to bass anglers. If you have any lakes that you see as being big bass outlets, leave a comment below so others can share in that knowledge.

ALABAMA
Lake Guntersville
Wheeler Lake

FLORIDA
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Rousseau
Lake George
Lake Istokpoga
Ocala Forest Lakes

ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake
Bull Shoals Lake

CALIFORNIA
Lake Folsum
Big Bear Lake
Collins Lake

NORTH CAROLINA
Apalachia Lake
Hiwassee Lake

GEORGIA
Lake George
Lake Russell
West Point Lake

MISSOURI
Table Rock Lake
Norfork Lake
Stockton Lake

TEXAS
Lake Amistad
Lake Buchanon
Lake Fork

COLORADO
Barr Lake
Bear Creek
Georgetown Lake

May 2010 Best Days to Fish and Hunt

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 01:06:31 +0000

Don’t wait to plan your May hunting and fishing trip – use the simple graph below to plan out your outdoor excursions for the month. Use the following info with confidence, but please take into consideration that nothing can guarantee a good day in the field or on the water. Being armed with information on lunar data is only half of the puzzle – the rest is up to you.

It has long been known that moon phases can greatly effect the activity of game animals and fish. Solunar tables are a valuable resource in choosing the right times to hunt or fish. Below are charts from primetimes2 indicating the best days of the month to fish or hunt based on moon phase data for the month of May 2010. The assigned values by day are very easy to follow, a value of 0-24 is considered a poor game production day. 25-49 days are generally considered average. Any number between 50 and 74 is a good day and finally, a daily value of 75 or greater is considered an excellent day. The data below is valid for the northern hemisphere at the lat / lon of 38′ N and 94 S (generally speaking: Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis). Although higher or lower latitudes will produce slightly different results, the overall affect is minimal and the chart can be used with confidence. Please remember that these charts are for personal use only and should not be replicated or distributed in any way.

Click on the image below to open and enlarged version of the chart in a new window:

Poaching Lawyers

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:19:03 +0000

The key to the future enjoyment of our nation’s natural resources lies in conservation. There is an ever-growing number of people nation-wide who are either ignorant of wildlife management laws, or just don’t think they apply to them – this action is typically called “poaching”. Poaching is generally defined as the illegal fishing, hunting or consumption of wild plant life – this is a significant problem across the United States. In essence, poaching is theft and considered a very serious offense in the eyes of both hunters and animal rights activists alike. By violating established federal and state laws, poachers jeopardize the long-term integrity of our precious natural resources. Due to this fact there can be serious consequences for any poaching-related activities. In our opinion, poaching wild game or fish is an incredible error in judgment and is justifiably looked down upon by both many.

Hunting and fishing activities are protected by a myriad of laws, increasing the possibility that you may actually commit a crime without knowing. Thus, if you are unfamiliar with local, state and federal wildlife laws, take the time to research them. Some of the actions covered by wildlife protection laws include taking an animal out of season, harvesting more animals than is permitted by law, hunting before or after the alloted times allowed, hunting an endangered species, and so on. Unfortunately, this can sometimes happen innocently in which case a Poaching Attorney or Lawyer may be needed.

If you are an angler or hunter, it is crucial that you are extremely careful when on the water or in the field. With stiff pentalties and the stigma of being a poacher hung around your neck, knowing the law is key.

If you have been accused of poaching a game animal or fish, law enforcement officers take these violations seriously. Speak to a poaching lawyer or an illegal hunting defense attorney who can help you understand the potential repurcussions of your actions.

Spring Turkey Behavior

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:34:21 +0000

Spring turkey season is one of the most exciting times that I have ever had the privelege of being apart of. There is something surreal about walking into turkey country in the pre-dawn hours and triggering a cacophone of gobbles by blowing on an owl call. One of the coolest things I have ever witnessed was in the wake of a passing thunderstorm during Spring turkey season. Every time a crash of thunder would happen in the distance, it sounded like hundreds of turkey all gobbling at the same time.

You may be asking yourself, what exactly is the draw of Spring turkey season? Why do these animals act the way the do? The short answer is for “girls” and well, the long answer is “girls”. During the winter, fall and summer months, turkey are driven by their stomachs, always looking for the next meal. In the Spring, the motivation is much different and can spur on some interesting behavior. If you have ever had a turkey decoy mounted not 15 yards away, you can’t help but chuckle to yourself.

Something that can give you a leg up during Spring turkey season is to understand some of the mannerisms of tom turkey during the mating season. Much of turkey hunting is positioning, finding a roosting area and setting up in the vicinity, giving you the best opportunity to call a gobbler in.

Here are a few general rules of thumb to guide you through turkey behavhior during the Spring season:

- The main purpose of the tom’s gobble is to draw hens to himself. It’s like a beacon broadcasting his location to all available hens in the area. In essence, you are attempting to do the exact opposite, bring the tom to you. The best way to do this is to take on his mood in your calls. Going full bore from the outset is bound to set off an alarm in the tom’s head and he is likely to stay put or quiet down all together.

- Generally, a more dominant tom is going to be more vocal than younger or less “alpha” turkey.

- Jakes (young tom turkeys) will also strut around and gobble. In many cases though, they are hesitant to due to the fact that they risk incurring the wrath of dominant toms in their range. Keep that in mind if you think things are a little too quiet. You may just have a turkey nearby that has gotten roughed up a few times for being a little too vocal.

- The more dominant turkeys are going to be surrounded by hens after leaving the roost. Typically, about mid-morning, the hens will depart to go and sit on their nests. This is the perfect striking time to reel in a mature tom.

- Despite what you may have heard, turkey mate in the rain. Don’t be afraid to maintain your position and continue to attempt to call a bird in. With a little patience you may be pleasantly surprised by pulling in a rain-soaked tom. In particular, you should look for turkey in pastures and open fields when it is raining.

These are just a few tips for Spring turkey hunting. If you have any to share, feel free to leave a comment below. Also, check out some of the gear and resources below to improve on your chances of taking a better bird this year.

Aging Deer by Teeth

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:52:36 +0000

While it is possible to determine whether a deer is a fawn by looking at its incisors or front teeth, it is the cheek teeth, specifically those of the lower jaw, that harbor the most reliable clues.

To get a good look at the cheek teeth (premolars and molars), you need to cut back the lip and cheek skin. If you plan to have the head mounted, let your taxidermist skin out the head and remove the jaw for you.

Six Months:
The nose or muzzle of the deer appears short or stubby, when compared to older deer. The central two incisors may still be erupting. Incisors may appear twisted as they emerge through the gum. Generally, there are only four cheek teeth showing. The third premolar has three cusps.

Six Month Old Deer Teeth

1-1/2; Years:
All permanent front teeth are in. Six cheek teeth are visible in the lower jaw. The third premolar may still have three cusps, or the permanent third premolar may now be in (two cusps). Third molar may still be erupting through the gum. Lingual crest of molars have sharp points.Inset: Extremely worn third premolar may fool people into thinking deer is older. Actually, this tooth is lost after 1-1/2; years and replaced with a permanent two-cusped premolar.

One Year Old Deer Teeth

2-1/2; Years:
All permanent premolars and molars are in place. Look closely at the fourth cheek tooth (first molar). The cusps are sharp and show little or no wear; enamel (white portion) of the lingual crest shows well above the dentine (brown portion). The enamel portion of the cusp is wider than the dentine. Some wear on third cusp of sixth cheek tooth (third molar).

Two Year Old Deer Teeth

3-1/2; Years:
Lingual crests of cheek teeth show some wear and cusps are starting to become blunt. Dentine now thicker than enamel on cusp of fourth cheek tooth (first molar). Dentine of fifth cheek tooth (second molar) usually not as wide as enamel. Last cusp of sixth cheek tooth is flattened.

Three Year Old Deer Teeth

4-1/2; Years:
Lingual crest of fourth cheek tooth (first molar) is gone. Crest of cusps on fifth and sixth cheek teeth (second and third molar) are blunt. Dentine of fourth cheek tooth now twice as wide as enamel. Dentine of fifth cheek tooth wider than enamel.

Four Year Old Deer Teeth

5-1/2; Years and Older:
In most hunted deer populations, less than two percent of the animals are more than five years of age. Accurately aging these deer by tooth wear is usually more of a guessing game than a science. In general, deer close to 5-1/2; years of age will show considerable wear on the premolars, and the first cusp of the fourth cheek tooth (first molar) will be dished out or show signs of “cupping.”

Five Year Old Deer Teeth

9-1/2; Years:
By 9-1/2; years, all cheek teeth are cupped and worn nearly to the gum line.

Nine Year Old Deer Teeth

Information in this article is from the USGS

The Whitetail Rut

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:22:44 +0000

Scientifically speaking the term The Rut refers to the time-frame when a male deer (of any species) is capable of breeding, which is generally accepted as from the time when a male sheds the velvet on its antlers in late summer or early fall, to the time it drops its antlers in winter or early spring; or as the time from when the first female comes into estrous, to the time when most of the females no longer come into estrous.

In tropical areas some deer species may have males in hard antler, and be capable of breeding, throughout the entire year, because the females are capable of breeding throughout the year. In North America the white-tailed deer rut does not usually begin before August, nor does it last longer than late February or early March.

The white-tailed deer rut is generally divided into several different phases, which coincide with particular activities of the breeding season. In white-tailed deer these activities include rubbing, scraping and breeding, each of which has one or more peaks throughout he breeding season.

Unfortunately, the terms The Rut, Peak Rut and Peak of the Rut are often used interchangeably by both outdoor writers/speakers/authors and hunters. The truth of the matter is the term The Rut applies to the entire length of the breeding season, and the terms Peak Rut and Peak of the Rut apply only to the one-week time-frame when peak breeding actually occurs. Several different studies show that rarely are more than 30 percent of the does in any area bred during any one week. So, the majority of the does (over 50 percent) are probably bred over a three to four week time frame; this is a much longer rut than many hunters realize.

Generally speaking the farther south the deer are, the earlier they can begin to breed and the later they can continue to breed, because the warmer climate allows the fawns to be born and survive throughout most of the year. Therefore, southern deer often have medium to long breeding season lengths, but the deer may not have noticeable peaks in breeding activity, because very few does are in estrous during the same weeks; and the bucks are not extremely active as they search for, chase, tend and breed the few does that are in estrous. Since there may not be a lot of does in estrous at the same time, the bucks can breed at their leisure, which results in much of the searching, chasing, tending and actual breeding occurring during the night. Consequently this may led to very few actual fights for breeding rights. The result is there is often not a noticeable rut.

In contrast the farther north the deer are, the later they begin to breed, and they can’t continue to breed for very long, because fawns born too late the next year would not survive the fall and winter. Therefore, northern deer generally begin breeding later than southern deer, and they have shorter breeding seasons, but often with very noticeable peak breeding activity, because a large of number does are in estrous within the same few weeks, and the bucks are actively searching, chasing, tending and breeding does, even during daylight hours. This may lead to frequent fights for breeding rights. This often leads to a very noticeable rut.

The rut phases also do not coincide with particular months, because in many cases the different phases or activities of the rut, such as rubbing, scraping and breeding, overlap each other, and the different rut phases may begin during one month, and continue into the next month. But, generally speaking (which is all that these differences in the breeding seasons of white-tailed deer will allow me), we can say that particular breeding-related activities occur during particular months of the year. This is particularly true for deer above the 40th parallel. For instance, in the northern states and Canada, rubbing and scraping generally begins from the end of August to the first part of September. And peak breeding in most of these same areas occurs in November, often in mid-November.

This above article is an excerpt from the book “Hunting The Whitetail Rut Phases”, by T.R. Michels available in the Trinity Mountain Outdoor Products catalog.

Deer Hunting Gifts

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:06:44 +0000

Whether it is for the holidays, a birthday or some other occasion finding a gift for the deer hunter in your life can be a difficult task. Being a hunter and being around other hunters has given me the insight to know what it is we typically like to receive. This list of deer hunting gifts isn’t exhaustive, but it is a good start and you could definitely get away with something listed below. If you have any other ideas for things to be added to the list, let us know and we’ll get it updated!

Rifle or Shotgun & Ammunition – Can be purchased at most sporting goods stores. Better yet, a gift certificate to Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops or a local Gun Shop would also suffice.
Binoculars / Spotting Scope – Bushnell, Leupold and Nikon are brands that typically receive very high marks in effectiveness and durability.
Rifle Scopes – Again, Leupold, Bushnell and Nikon make excellent rifle scopes. Another brand to check out is Trijicon, who makes an excellent red dot scope.
Camouflage clothing – Take into consideration the type of hunting that the person you are buying for is involved in and what season he or she hunts as this definitely should play a role in the type of camo purchased. If you have any questions about specific camouflage patterns, don’t be afraid to ask a sales associate. After all, that is what they are paid for!
Hunter’s Orange – Vests and hats are always welcome as more and more states have safety orange requirements.
Recipe Books – What better way to put your harvested animal to use than on the dinner table. There are recipe books for singular game animals like deer or elk or books covering most big game species.
Hunting Club Membership – Do some research and find local hunting clubs with the best reviews. Also inqiure about the number of hunters per 100 acres and shoot for the lowest ratio which ultimately means less hunting pressure on a piece of land.