Fishing Report January 19 2015 New Hampshire

Conditions: Cloudy skies, air temperatures low 40's, moderate winds, bait of the day - Clam Pro Tackle Psycho Shad

Was time to head back to New Hampshire and fish our favorite lake and see what can be caught as we generally do well for large and smallmouth bass and last winter we were finding the large perch and bluegill as well. Since it had rained the day before, the ice was a bit of a mess as there was standing water in most places and wasn't the best conditions for keeping your feet dry.

Last summer I had found some new structure in this lake that I wanted to try during the winter months. It is an underwater hump kind of shaped like a banana and the outside edges were around 16 feet deep and the top went up to 6 feet deep. My son likes running tip-ups on this lake a lot so we surrounded the hump and also placed a couple on top for covering all areas around it.

Report at BWS OutDoors

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept Holds Free Trapping Seminar

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will hold a free seminar entitled “Trapping Through the Ice” at the Edward Kehoe Education Center in Castleton, on Saturday, February 7.

VT Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

New Hampshire Free Ice Fishing Classes!

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Let’s Go Fishing Program, in partnership with other groups, is offering ice fishing classes open to the public this winter. Several are still available and coming up. Classes are free unless otherwise noted.

NH Outdoor News at BWS OutDOORS

Free Maine Snowmobile Weekend Slated for January 30-February 1

Snowmobilers will have the opportunity to enjoy the trails in neighboring states for free during a special weekend shared by Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. This annual three-day event will take place January 30-February 1, 2015 and allows all legally registered Maine snowmobiles to be operated in New Hampshire and Vermont without being registered in those states.

ME Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report January 18 2015 Massachusetts

Conditions: Cloudy skies with light rain, air temperatures low 40's, moderate winds, bait of the day - Clam Pro Tackle Duckbill Drop tipped with a Maki Plastic Mino in shiner color and also the Clam Pro TackleThe Drop tipped with spikes

Was planning a trip to New Hampshire but the weather was predicting rain in the early afternoon and a much better chance up north. So decided to stay local and fish a small crappie pond and see how we do as we have not been there yet this season. The access area is usually the last to freeze in the area and the first to open so you really need to take advantage of it while you can.

Wanted to try a different area than we usually fish as last fall before freeze up I had been in the kayak and located some nicer crappies there. My son did his usual running his tip-ups with shiner minnows and was getting a lot of flags at the beginning but the fish just were dropping the bait on a consistent pattern.

Continue Report at BWS OutDoors

KIDS OutDoors page updated

We have updated our KIDS Outdoors page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors for the upcoming outdoor education classes offered across New England for Jan 20 – Jan 28.

Kids OutDoors at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report January 15 2015 Massachusetts

Conditions: Cloudy skies with rain/sleet/snow falling, air temperatures low 20's, moderate winds, bait of the day - Clam Pro Tackle Psycho Shad tipped with a Maki Plastic Mino Head in fathead color

The bigger bodies of water here on the North Shore of Massachusetts are freezing over nicely and this is allowing us to venture to more variety of lakes. This particular lake has an abundance of large perch but what I want to fish here is the elusive crappie that we have caught up to 17 inches in length and also the fantastic smallmouth fishery that it has to offer.

The navionics software that I have on my cell phone is getting much better all the time and this is showing us more places of where to fish. Can't totally rely on this feature all the time and by exploring the waters in the summer months and recording the data with good electronics pay's off huge when using that in the winter months.
Continue Report at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report January 12 2015 Massachusetts

Conditions: Cloudy skies with rain/sleet/snow falling, air temperatures low 30's, moderate winds, bait of the day - Clam Pro Tackle Duckbill Drop tipped with a Maki Plastic Maki in white color

There was a lake that I was fishing last fall that was producing a great 12 inch crappie bite and wanted to give it a try this ice season. The lakes ice is setup very nicely with a solid 8 inches of clear ice and this part of the lake has a lot of structure contours that range for 6 feet in areas out to 20 feet in the deeper parts.

Started marking fish right away but was soon to see that all they wanted to do was look at the bait and refused to commit to biting. Typically when we run into this scenario, we just keep drilling holes and search out the more aggressively biting fish as changing baits didn't seem to make much difference anyway. Was fishing all of the depth variations and finally worked out into the deepest waters and had one quick school of crappies move through at 6 feet below the ice.

Continue Report at BWS OutDoors

Trout stocked for New Hampshire winter anglers

Winter anglers in New Hampshire had some trout stocked especially for them this fall. The New HampshireFish and Game Department stocks trout every year during the fall months, mostly to bolster the winter ice fishery. This should translate into some exciting action for winter anglers, according to Inland Fisheries Division Chief Jason Smith.

NH Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Maine IFW To Resume Capture and Radio-Collaring of Moose

Starting next week, The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will take to the air in year two of an intensive five-year moose study that will provide a greater understanding of the health of Maine’s moose population, particularly factors that impact their survival and reproductive rates.

ME Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report January 10 2015 Massachusetts

Conditions: Sunny skies, air temperatures low teen's, moderate winds, bait of the day - running traps with shiners as bait

The ice in Northern Massachusetts has finally come around so that we have safe travels and now we can stay closer to home instead of driving to northern New Hampshire. Today was going to be my son's choice of fishing day as to where he wanted to fish.

He picked a lake that has no depth contours as the majority of this lake is only 6 feet deep and he likes running traps and on a typical day here there is generally a lot of action. There were already a number of groups on the ice and fortunate the area that we wanted to work there weren't any anglers there.

Report At BWS OutDoors

Ninth annual No Child Left Inside Winter Festival

Grab your warm weather gear, bundle up your children and join us for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) No Child Left Inside® ninth annual Winter Festival at Burr Pond State Park, 384 Burr Mountain Road, Torrington.  A full range of fun, outdoor winter activities for the entire family will be happening on Saturday, February 7, 2015, 10 AM to 3 PM.

CT Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Deer hunting season on Black Rock Parcel on Block Island will be open Tuesday - Friday from January 20 to February 13

The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife is preparing for the annual deer hunting season at the Black Rock/Rodman Hollow parcel on Block Island. The Black Rock hunt will open on January 20 and run through February 13. Hunting on the parcel will take place weekdays from Tuesday through Friday, and there will be no weekend hunting on the property. Hunters taking part in this year's hunt were selected by a lottery application process.

RI Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Visit VT Fish and Wildlife at the Yankee Show this weekend

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is urging visitors to the Yankee Sportsman’s Classic show this weekend, January 16-18, in Essex Junction to stop by their exhibits and attend their seminars. 

VT Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report January 6 2015 New Hampshire

Conditions: Cloudy skies, air temperatures low teen's, moderate winds with snow falling, bait of the day - Clam Pro Tackle Dingle Drop XL tipped with a spike and Maki Plastic Mino in shiner color

Still no ice security here in Northern Massachusetts so hopefully today is the last have to drive north to find ice day. Went back to central NH and stopped at a lake that once again, have wanted to fish but today was finally the first time able to get out onto it.

The weather wasn't really the best as the temperatures have finally started dropping into the ice making mode and on top of that the winds and snow were blowing quite a bit as well. Noticing throughout the day that the wind direction was constantly changing and that is never a good thing when you are fishing as it can change the attitude of the fish upon every direction change.

Continue report at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report January 2 2015 New Hampshire

Conditions: Sunny skies, air temperatures mid 20's, moderate winds, bait of the day - Clam Pro Tackle Maggot Drop tipped with spikes, Blade Spoon tipped with Maki Plastic Maki in white color

The ice here in Northern Massachusetts is taking its sweet time in forming and getting thick enough for allowing us anglers to finally get our ice season underway. So we made the drive to the lakes region of New Hampshire and fished a lake north of lake Winnipesaukee. After dealing with a surprise snow storm we arrived at the lake and glad to see little snow and 7 inches of good ice.

This season so far we have been fishing lakes that we have never been to at all and always enjoy fishing new lakes and trying to figure them out. A lot of work goes into this before we even leave the house as we will research a particular lake on the computer as to get an idea to what the lake offers for fish species as well as to see how it has been fishing.

Continue report at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report December 27 2014 Massachusetts

Conditions: Sunny skies, air temperatures low 50's, moderate winds calming later in the day, bait of the day -Clam Outdoors Pro Tackle Psycho Shad

The ice here in Southern New England just is having a tough time forming this winter with the warm weather and rain every so many days. So with that there is no need to put the kayak's away yet as we are still able to fish the open waters.

Headed to a small local pond that has a good population of crappie in it. I have a number of new tackle lure items this winter season and lately I will generally pick one of them and fish that the whole trip to allow myself to get comfortable with it and see what and how the fish like and react to that chosen bait.

Continue report at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report December 19 2014 New Hampshire

Conditions: Cloudy skies, air temperatures low 30's, strong winds, bait of the day - Clam Pro Tackle Dingle Drop XL tipped with a Maki Plastic Mino in watermelon color

At this time of year you really don't have a lot of choices to pick from for the lakes that you can ice fish on. Anything that has any size to it, will still be in the open water state and will be for some time to come. Also, we are all about trying new lakes that we haven't seen before and adds to the excitement of trying to locate fish on a body of water that you have no knowledge about.

So looking at the map and trying to guess as to where the ice will be thick enough to get out onto, the area that we ended up in is a river/swamp/open lake area that is suppose to be holding some nice fish. Upon arriving there, the gate to the boat landing was locked and we had to take a decent walk through the woods to get to the waters edge.

Continue report at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report December 8 2014 New Hampshire

Conditions: Sunny skies, air temperatures mid 20's, moderate winds, bait of the day - Clam Pro Tackle Blade Spoon tipped with a Maki Plastic Maki in white

The ice has finally found its way to New England but to find safe ice to walk on you have to drive and find it. We finally found some in the lakes region of New Hampshire and the conditions that we had were 2 inches of clear black ice on the bottom with 2-3 inches of cloudy white ice on top.

Continue report at BWS OutDoors

Register in January for "Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" winter workshop

Registration will open the first week of January for the 2015 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Winter Workshop, a one-day program where women can learn outdoor skills to enjoy during the winter months. The workshop will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2015, at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, N.H.  A fee of $55 covers the workshop, lunch and most equipment use.  New this year, a discounted registration fee of $25 applies to participants age 18-25. You must be at least 18 years old to take part in BOW programs.

NH Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Registration open for women's fly tying course

Women who enjoy fly-fishing and are interested in a new winter hobby can sign up for a fly-tying course with master fly tiers Jim and Kris Riccardi. The N.H. Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) Program and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Let’s Go Fishing Program are teaming up to offer the course, which will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings from January 28 through February 25, 2015, at N.H. Fish and Game headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H.  Participants must attend all five sessions.

NH Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Snowshoe Hare Hunting Workshop

Learn about the exciting sport of snowshoe hare hunting at a free workshop being offered at theNew Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, N.H.  The workshop will take place from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2015.  Space is limited and pre-registration is required.  To register, call the Owl Brook Hunter education center at 603-536-3954.

NH outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Add One More to your Gift Giving List: Private Landowners

New Hampshire people sure do love being outside.  There’s so much to do: hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, camping, snowmobiling, bird watching and the list goes on.  Where do you like to do your favorite outdoor activity?  With over 70% of New Hampshire land in private ownership, it is likely that you recreate on someone else’s land.

NH Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Ice fishing safety tips from Vermont F & W

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has some ice safety tips for those of you who will be going ice fishing this winter.

Vermont Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Vermont birders encouraged to join annual Christmas bird count

This holiday season marks the 115th annual Christmas Bird Count, a favorite tradition among Vermont’s birding community. Birders in Vermont are encouraged to participate in the count, which begins on December 14 and runs through January 5.

VT Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Vermont muzzleloader and 2nd archery deer seasons, Dec 6-14

Vermont’s hunters will get one final chance for a deer this year during the muzzleloader deer season and the second part of the archery deer season. The two seasons run at the same time -- December 6-14.

VT Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

CLAM Outdoors Pro Tackle Blade Spoon

Kevin Dahlke – CLAM Power Stick Pro staff

Clam Outdoors has come out with new bait for this fishing season and it is called the "Blade Spoon". The Blade Spoon is a bladed bait that is triangular in shape and comes with a treble hook. There are a variety of sizes that it comes in and those are 1/16, 1/8 and 1/4 oz sizes, as well as a variety of colors in 6 stunning color combinations.

Tying the Blade Spoon onto the line with a loop knot will give you a lot of extra action that you can make it dance with your rod tip. The action can be very subtle with just jiggling the rod slightly too actually working it very aggressively if that is what were needed.

Continue Article at BWS OutDoors

KIDS OutDoors page Updated

We have updated our KIDS OutDoors page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors by adding the upcoming New England Outdoor Education classes for 11/24-12/3

KIDS OutDoors at BWS OutDoors

Maine Hunting Report for November 21, 2014

“Hunters are seeing plenty of deer. Some hunters are being selective right now and passing on does or smaller bucks,” said IFW Wildlife Scott Lindsay. “Usually around now, we will start to see more of these hunters taking deer.”

Lindsay said that while numbers may be down a bit from last year as expected, hunters are still seeing good numbers of deer and good size ones as well.

Maine Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Clam Pro Tackle Dingle Drop XL Jig

Everything we said about the Drop XL goes for the Dingle Drop XL, too. A lot of times, you want to keep the jig size (and weight) the same, but need a bigger hook. Seriously, when you fish the Clam way, you are going to hook up with big perch, crappies, bluegills, with bonus bass, walleyes, pike and more. Besides letting you fish with larger plastics and multiple live baits, XL hooks are strong enough to stand up to big battles. And the wide gap helps the hook point find a home when you rear back. Made from tungsten, 30% heavier than lead.

Clam's Dingle Drop XL Jig

Fishing Report November 16 2014 Massachusetts

Conditions: Partly cloudy skies, air temperatures low 40's, slight to moderate winds, bait of the day - Clam Pro Tackle Blade Spoon tipped with a Maki Plastic Maki in purple

Since there is still sometime before we are going to be seeing ice here in New England, been spending these days checking out the local ponds. These ponds we frequent quite a bit during the ice season so it is nice to get out there now and see where the fish are holding. Just may make it a bit easier locating them when first ice comes.

This particular pond is rather small and most fishing occurs in the main basin of the lake. Since the winds were blowing fairly well, had to abandon the usual area that we fish and search out some new water. Fished the opposite end of the pond and we generally never make it that far across on our typical trips.

Continue Report at BWS OutDoors

Open Water 2014 Picture Added

We have updated our Open Water 2014 page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors for our fishing trip on November 16

Open Water 2014 at BWS OutDoors

CT General firearms deer season begins November 19

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today issued a safety reminder for outdoor enthusiasts as a variety of hunting seasons are currently underway – most notably the opening of the fall firearms deer season which begins on Wednesday, November 19. Specific deer hunting season information is available on the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep/hunting.

CT Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report November 9 2014 Massachusetts

Conditions: Sunny skies, air temperatures 55 degrees, slight to calming winds, bait of the day - Clam Pro Tackle Blade Spoon tipped with a white Maki Plastic

Since we are getting to the end of the open water season, the boat is put away and we spend any time on the water currently in our kayaks. This is allowing us to fish a number of smaller bodies of waters that we can't get the bigger boat into. As well as giving us an idea as to where the fish are currently before the ice sets up.

This particular pond is fairly shallow for two thirds of it and the other third gets to a depth of 16 feet or so. So this is generally the area that we concentrate on as the crappies typically will suspend in this area. Using theVexilar flasher, you are able to differentiate which fish are crappies and which are sunfish.

Continue Report at BWS OutDoors

Open Water 2014 Picture added

We have updated our Open Water 2014 page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors for our fishing trip on November 9

Open Water 2014 at BWS OutDoors

Deer season update; deer baiting ends November 19 2014 in most WMUs

New Hampshire hunters have taken an estimated 5,102 deer statewide as of November 9, according tothe New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.  Two days remain in the muzzleloader season, and archery deer hunters have been afield since September 15.

NH Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Last bowhunter-only hunter education course offered

Due to popular demand, registration has opened for a final bowhunter-only Hunter Education course being offered at the Goffstown Fish and Game Association, 100 Melvin Valley Road in Weare, N.H.  on Friday, December 12, from 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, December 13, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (both sessions required).

NH Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

CT DEEP advises motorists to use caution in the Cheshire and Prospect area due to moose sighting

Motorists in the Cheshire and Prospect area are advised to use extra caution and be observant while driving due to the sighting of a moose in recent days near Interstate 84.  The moose was last seen in Cheshire near Nathan Hale Court this past weekend and today was spotted on Straitsville Rd in Prospect.

CT Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

KIDS OutDoors page Updated

We have updated our KIDS OutDoors page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors by adding the upcoming New England Outdoor Education classes for 11/10-11/19

KIDS OutDoors at BWS OutDoors

2014 NH youth deer hunt weekend results; deer season to date

Preliminary reports show that young hunters succeeded in harvesting 367 deer during the 2014 Youth Deer Hunt Weekend in New Hampshire, down 24% from the 2013 total of 483. This unofficial total does not include information from all registration stations.  The 2014 total is slightly above the average since the youth deer hunt began in 1999.

NH Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

RI DEM's division of Fish and Wildlife to offer fly-tying program in North Kingstown starting November 17

The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife is offering a program this fall for anglers interested in developing and improving their fly-tying skills.

RI Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

BWS OutDoors Joins CLAM Outdoors and IceArmor

About CLAM Outdoors and IceArmor

For over 30 years Clam Outdoors has stood for the best in outdoor gear. Our customers tell us that the Clam name means dependable, durable, and tough. That’s important, because no one wants to be out in the field or on the ice and have a problem with their gear. Quality is our top priority at Clam, and it’s reflected in everything we make. We started the Ice Fishing Revolution™ when we built the first Fish Trap® shelter over 30 years ago, and we’ve never stopped innovating. Today we offer the largest line of shelters in the business, the IceArmor® by Clam line of jackets, bibs, boots and gloves and all types of accessories – from Dave Genz and Jason Mitchell rods to bait buckets and sled lights. We offer everything you need to be successful out on the ice. And we’ve got you covered after the ice melts too. Our line of Polar ATV/UTV & lawn tractor trailers, summer products like the Clam Six Pack 1660 Mag Screen Shelter & Jason Mitchell Elite Series Rods are built with the same dedication to quality and are made to exceed your expectations.

Clam products have you covered for all seasons!

CLAM Outdoors

CLAM Outdoors IceArmor

BWS OutDoors joins Ice Team

About Ice Team

We were there at the beginning of the Ice Fishing Revolution TM . . . because we started it.

No one has done more to advance the sport of ice fishing than Ice Team.  Since 1997 our Pros have come up with every significant ice fishing method and refinement in history, starting with Dave Genz and the Clam Fish Trap and the Vexilar flasher.  And today our Pros continue to blaze new trails.

But they always circle back to shore to pick up anybody who wants to learn.  This season, Join the Team TM and tap into our Pros’ knowledge.  Let them provide you with up-to-the-minute, cutting edge advice and resources you won’t find anywhere else.

Ice Team

Sunrise/Set Table for Hartford, Connecticut

We have updated our sunrise sunset table web page for Hartford, Connecticut for the month of December.

Sunrise/set table at BWS OutDoors

Tide Chart updated

We have updated our Tide Chart page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors adding the January Tide Charts for the state of Maine.

Tide Charts at BWS OutDoors

KIDS OutDoors page Updated

We have updated our KIDS OutDoors page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors by adding the upcoming New England Outdoor Education classes for 11/3-11/12

KIDS OutDoors at BWS OutDoors

CLAM Outdoors IceArmor Women's Lift Suit

The IceArmor LIFT™ Cold Weather Suit is more than just a cold weather suit. Yes, it certainly will protect you from the cold, wind and ice. But more than this, the IceArmor By CLAM LIFT™ Suit includes an internal “lift” lining that provides added buoyancy versus our EDGE™ Suit, giving the angler an extra “lift” when it’s needed. Yielding cutting-edge design, look and function, the bibs and parka have the same great features as the original IceArmor By CLAM EDGE™ blue/black suit.

New Fishing Product at BWS OutDoors

"Let's Go Fishing" program seeks volunteer fishing instructors

Are you an avid angler looking to give back to your community and share your love of fishing?  New Hampshire Fish and Game's "Let’s Go Fishing" program is currently seeking volunteer instructors to teach ice fishing, fly fishing or basic fishing to youth and adults.

NH Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

VT moose hunters had a successful season

Vermont moose hunters had a successful hunting season according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. A record bull was taken in the October 1-7 archery moose hunt, and the regular moose hunting season was October 18-23.

VT Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Vermont's rifle deer season starts Saturday Nov 15

Hunters are gearing up for the start of Vermont’s statewide traditionally popular 16-day rifle deer season that begins November 15 and ends Sunday, November 30.

VT Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors