Connecticut Trout Parks

Trout Park? What's a Trout Park?Is it some kind of strange fish carnival? No, actually a Trout Park is a pond or stream that will be stocked weekly with trout from the state’s fish hatcheries.

11 water bodies in Connecticut have been designated as Trout Parks. Trout Parks are located in easily accessible areas to enhance trout fishing opportunities for young anglers and novice anglers as well as for those with mobility challenges. The frequent stockings, generally between Opening Day and Memorial Day, will greatly increase an angler’s chances of catching a fish, making it a more attractive "fishing hole", particularly to children and families.

Although the Trout Parks will have more fish in them, their daily creel limit (the number of trout an angler can keep) has been reduced from five to two fish per day in order to spread the catch among a greater number of anglers.

So round up the family, get over to one of the Trout Parks and start fishing!

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&q=322724&depNav_GID=1630

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Rain brings food

Are we water logged yet here in New England? After the last three days of solid rain, New England is once again saturated and water levels coming up very quickly again. The downside to all of this rain is that it is keeping folks in the house and off of the waters. The upside to this is it is creating a feeding smorgasbord for the fish in our favorite lake. What this means is that if you fish a lake that has a stream or runoff coming into the lake, that is where you should concentrate your efforts for locating fish after rains like we have had. What happens is the extra flowing water coming in is bringing along with it extra food morsels from the ground being washed. worms, bugs and small creatures of sorts fall victim to the flowing waters, but as these waters dump into the lake, fish know this and are sitting and waiting for dinner. If you are able to get on the lake in the next few days, definitely search out areas that have some of this water flowing into the lake as you maybe surprised in what you find there.

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Time to Collect

As we are getting into the fall mode here in New England, many activities start coming around between apple picking, hay rides, Halloween and of course searching for those colored leaves. The New England landscape is changing each day and one thing Kids really like to do is search for colorful leaves as they are falling. Taking Kids for walks is a great family time get together and also getting out and getting some fresh air. This gets them away from those video games, and TV screens and to venture out and search for those miraculous leaves for their ever changing colors and different shapes. Winter will be here soon so why not enjoy one of the best seasons of the year, fall.

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Vermont's Critter Curriculum Website

We would like to encourage you all to explore the library of content we have for you.

Kids, we have lots of information to help you research Vermont's animals for your research projects, we have fact sheets, photos, illustrations, and some interesting ideas to help you finish your project. We even have cool printable materials, including a special animal tracks guide for you; just print it and head on out to see what you can identify. Check up on us often, as we are constantly trying to get you more stuff.

Teachers, Get your students thinking about the environment, peek at several of the lesson plan ideas that we have posted, created by participants in the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's Teachers Course at Buck Lake. Make sure you check back in periodically as we update our site as new ideas arrive.

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/vtcritters/index.cfm

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LifeJacket’s a Must

Now that we have entered into the fall season and here in New England we have been experiencing some very cool weather, this is cooling our favorite lakes and ponds very quickly. When going out onto your favorite waters, make sure that you are wearing your lifejacket at this time of year, the lifejacket will definitely aid in saving your life. The waters temps are dropping fast and with that hypothermia sets in as well and once this happens, it makes it very difficult for you to be able to get to shore if you happen to fall in. In Massachusetts from September 15 until middle of May, you are required by law to wear your lifejacket at all times in small craft like a canoe or kayak. Fall can be one of the best seasons to be on the water but by taking some caution while you are out there, you will be able to enjoy another trip again next time.

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12th Massachusetts Outdoor Expo for Families, Sturbridge

September 28--12th Massachusetts Outdoor Expo for Families, Sturbridge

Families, friends, Scouts and other youth groups should mark their calendar and join the fun at the 12th annual Massachusetts Outdoor Expo (Big MOE) from 9AM - 4:30 PM held at the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club grounds, off New Boston Road, in Sturbridge. The Big MOE, sponsored by Facts About Wildlife and Nature Society (FAWNS), is a free, family oriented event celebrating Outdoor Skills, Nature, Art & Animals. This all day family event is free thanks to co-sponsors including MassWildlife, Hamilton Rod and Gun Club, The Weatherby Foundation. A number of sportsmens clubs, locally based outdoor related businesses, and other conservation groups sponsor a variety of skills stations, craft tables and other exhibits relating to wildlife and the outdoors. The "Big MOE" is the perfect opportunity to introduce young and old to outdoor skills and activities.

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Prime Fall Time Fishing

Many anglers enjoy fishing throughout the summer months and one can’t blame them as the weather is so much more tolerable as opposed to either the spring or fall. But to those that put their boats and equipment away after the Labor Day weekend holiday; these anglers are the ones that are missing the best part of the year for catching quality fish.

As the temperatures are getting cooler with everyday that passes, this will take the temperature of the lake down with it as well. Taking the waters from around 80 degrees down into the low 60’s, this is like a trigger that is being pulled as the fish know that it is time to put the feed bag on and start putting some weight on them before the long winter ahead.

Many fish go into somewhat of a dormant stage in the northern part of the country throughout the winter months. So for them to be able to handle those long northern winters they need to put on more weight so that they will be able to draw from that as each day of the cold season passes. So to put on this extra weight that they will need, these fish are eating and chasing everything in sight.

Continue with the article:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/uploads/Prime_Fall_Time_Fishing.pdf

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Brake for Moose: It Could Save Your Life

New Hampshire is famous for its moose, but having these massive mammals in abundance can also lead to dangerous and costly moose-vehicle collisions. Each year, there are roughly 250 moose-related accidents in the Granite State, many resulting in injuries or death to drivers and passengers. N.H. Fish and Game wildlife officials and law enforcement officers urge drivers to use caution when on the roads, especially at dusk and dawn, for your safety and that of the moose. Here is some important information to keep in mind when driving in New Hampshire:

New Hampshire's moose herd is approximately 6,000 strong.

The average moose weighs 1,000 lbs.

Moose are hard to see at night. They are 6 feet tall at the shoulder and your headlights will often only reveal their legs, which are the same color as the pavement. Their height also means that if you hit one, the bulk of a moose will fall on your windshield and roof.

Don't count on seeing "eye shine." Moose eyes do reflect light, but your headlights won't reach that high.

From April to November, moose are very active and the highest numbers of moose-vehicle collisions occur. In spring, yearlings have just been separated from their mothers and are apt to show up anywhere at anytime. In fall, moose are on the move because it's their mating season.

Moose are attracted to salt licks caused by winter road management, so it is not surprising to see them on or very near the road.

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/brake_for_moose.htm

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Vermont's Seventh Annual Dead Creek Wildlife Day Is Oct. 4

If you enjoy wildlife then make plans to attend the seventh annual Dead Creek Wildlife Day in Addison, Vermont on Saturday, October 4.

Activities at Dead Creek Wildlife Day are especially for people who enjoy hunting, fishing, birdwatching, or learning about Vermont's diverse wildlife. The event will be held at Vermont Fish & Wildlifes Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on Route 17 west of Route 22A.

Early risers can begin the day with bird banding demonstrations at 7:00 a.m. Two large tents at the Dead Creek WMA headquarters will open at 9:30 a.m. and feature wildlife-related exhibits and kids craft activities such as decoy carving, face painting and building bluebird boxes.

The day's main activities run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and include nature walks, illustrated talks, live wildlife presentations, hunting dog demonstrations, fishing and hunting tips, and much more. All events are free, and a free shuttle bus will provide regular access to nearby field events throughout the day.

The festival is hosted by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, VermontDepartment of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc., Otter Creek Audubon Society, Addison County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, and Addison County Chamber of Commerce.

For more information and a schedule of events, call Vermont Fish & Wildlife at (802) 241-3700 or visit the web site: www.vtfishandwildlife.com and click on the Dead Creek Wildlife Day icon.

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/Detail.cfm?Agency__ID=1375

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/images/deadcreek/poster_08_for_web.pdf

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Fall Fishing

Fall is one of those seasons that seems to get forgotten in the fishing community. Many sportsmen are dual outdoor activities and when fall comes around, they concentrate their efforts more in the woods than on the water. But for those that stick with the water aspect of the fall time, these anglers are the ones that are going to reap the rewards. Fall fishing is probably one of the best times to catch that trophy of a lifetime and there maybe a number of them caught at that. The fish are feeding heavily to get ready for the long winter ahead and at the same time become very aggressive as well. Fast moving baits are a charm at this time of year as they allow you to cover vast amounts of water in a short period of time. Once you locate an area that has a school of fish using that area, then you can slow down a little and fish it more precisely if that is the case. Fishing in the fall I find is the best as more times than not you will have the whole lake to yourself and what other time of the open water season do you get that.

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Illegal Koi Spotted in Pickerel Pond, Maine

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists have retrieved a non-native koi/carp from Pickerel Pond in Limerick and have received reports that there may be at least one other in this particular body of water.

This illegal koi was retrieved from Pickerel Pond in Limerick by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife fisheries biologists. The illegal introduction of species to Maine's waters has the potential to cause devastating harm to native fish, aquatic plants and water quality.

Koi, which is the Japanese term for carp, is an invasive species that can survive and reproduce in Maine’s waters and cause devastating harm to the state’s native fish species, aquatic plant life, and the quality of water.

Based on public reports, it is believed the koi was introduced into Pickerel Pond earlier this summer, but it is not known how it got there. IF&W was alerted to the koi by Limerick Town Selectman Dean Lepage and resident Ilene Dashner, and these reports prompted a quick response from fisheries biologists who hope their efforts will reduce the risk of the koi taking over the pond.

Rest of the story:
http://www.state.me.us/ifw/news_events/pressreleases/index.htm

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Lake Champlain Northern Pike Regulation Survey

Northern pike are one of the most popular sport fish sought by Vermont resident anglers in the open water and ice fishing seasons.The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department would like to hear your opinion on the current status of northern pike regulations on Lake Champlain.If you have an interest in Lake Champlain’s northern pike regulations, we would appreciate your input. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey.A final summary of survey results will be posted on the department’s website in early 2009.Thank you for your time and interest in Vermont’s fisheries resources.

Click here for the form to fill out in this survey:
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/pikesurvey.cfm

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Fall Time for Kids Fishing

Fall is one of those prime times that make a fun day to have the kids out on the water chasing a few fish. The pleasure boaters have left to put their boats away for the year and this leaves our favorite waters void of much activity. Fall is also the time of year that kids may catch a trophy of their lifetime as the fish are on a feeding binge getting ready for the long winter ahead. Picking a nice sunny day makes for an enjoyable time to be out on the water with the kids and also is much more comfortable for them as well. You may have to search a little to find the active fish but once they are found there usually is good numbers of them as the fish are in the schooling mode this time of year. Why not take the kids out on the water and enjoy a pleasant day basking in the sun, talking while enjoying each others company and catching some good fish.

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Submit Vermont Deer Pictures

Contribute Your Trail Cam & Other Photos:

People have been sending in photographs of whitetail bucks that they have been taking with trail cameras, etc. We have set up an on-line photo gallery where we are posting photographs that we have had sent to us of bucks from around Vermont. If you have any photographs of 2008 bucks that you would like to share, send them by email to fwinformation@state.vt.us. We are not asking that you give away any of your secret "hot-spots", however, it would be helpful and appreciated if you would identify the Town in which the photo was taken and the Date that the picture was taken.

We greatly appreciate your help and support. We hope that this will be fun for all.

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/deer_photos.cfm

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Fishing, wind and rain

September 14 2008

The fall weather has taken over and here in New England and we have also been feeling some of the effects of the hurricanes that are crossing this country. The rains have been falling and winds have been blowing, but at least the temps are very mild. Today’s weather was on/off rain, with strong westerly winds and the water temps are hovering right around 68-69 degrees. Went back to the lake that I had previously fished a few days ago and what a change compared to then. The bite was very tough and I concentrated again in the thickest weeds that I could find. Was switching between fishing a Carolina rigged BearPaws Freedom Fry and also a Texas rigged BearPaws B-Bug. Fished these baits as slow as I could through the weeds and the bites were far and few between. The bites that I did get were solid but missed every one of them and figured that they were picking up the tails of the baits and that was not allowing a good hook set. Tried a number of weed flats and only had a couple of areas that had any type of activity at all. It has been a long time since I have fished in the rain and it reminded me of the days of tournament fishing when you had to be out there no matter the weather. Today there is a lot of wind and blue skies and warm temps comes along with that but starting tomorrow another major cold front coming through once again and this must mean that fall is here. Definitely going to have to start throwing a crankbait or spinnerbait now and cover as much water as I possibly can. Fishing is only going to get better and as the hunting seasons start, the lakes are going to be void of boats and the lakes will be back to those diehard anglers that utilize the best season of the year.

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Mapleton Maine Youth Catches Record-Setting Artic Charr

Mapleton – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife confirms that an 11-year-old young man from Mapleton has caught a record-setting Arctic Charr, breaking a 35-year-old record.

Carter McLaughlin, 11, of Mapleton, caught the charr on Aug. 20 at Pushineer Pond in T15 R9. According to IF&W Assistant Fisheries Biologist Frank Frost, who measured the fish, the record-setter was 25.4 inches in total length and weighed 5.24 pounds.

The previous record weighed 4 pounds, 4 ounces and was 22-3/8-inches long. It was caught by Merton Wyman of Belgrade on Basin Pond on May 5, 1973.

What makes this fish a “truly incredible catch” is its overall size and weight as well as the fact that it was caught in one of Maine’s 12 native charr waters, according to Peter Bourque, a supervisor in IF&W’s Fisheries Division. The previous record (1973) was taken from a then-newly introduced population of Arctic Charr, which also are known by the name “blueback trout.” New introductions tend to seek out new niches where they will often grow beyond normal sizes, Bourque said.

According to IF&W records, the fish that was caught in 1973 was one of 27 adult “bluebacks” stocked in Basin Pond in 1969. The 27 adult fish originally came from Wadleigh Pond in Piscataquis County and were part of a fishery research project to perpetuate the blueback trout in waters other than those in which they occurred naturally.

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Fishing, years gone by

Many of us anglers these days can look back from the days we were kids and smile from all of the memories that we have. Those days may not be able to be relived, but these days are the days that we will never forget as we grow older. From the many days of fishing with our school buddies to those many excursions with dad and gramps to the water.

There were many trips that our buddies would show up on their bikes with the fishing rod strapped to the bikes frame and the tackle box in their hand. Of course the closest lake was around five miles away but at those times we really didn’t care how far it was as we were going fishing.

After peddling for what seemed like an eternity, we could see the lake in the distance and knew that there were going to be fish caught when we got to our secret spot. This was our best place to fish and you always hoped that nobody beat you there. This place consisted of a culvert that went under the highway and the sunfish that lived in there were very nice sized fish.

The key to fishing here was to aim the cast to go into the culvert, but you had to cast as far as you could possibly cast. With the hook baited and the bobber set to the magic depth, you would eye up your target and get the angle just right and launch that cast as deep into that culvert as possible. As soon as the bobber hits the water, down it goes and the battle is on to get that trophy bluegill out of their deep dark homes.

The two of you would look at each other and start laughing hysterically at the size of these fish and how we were catching them. We weren’t in any type of backwater type of lake with the tranquility of the breeze blowing or the birds chirping. We were fishing next to a major road with cars zooming by us not more than ten feet behind the guard rail. As the afternoon would wear on you know that you had to be home for dinner and would strap everything back onto our bikes and off we would go back home after a very fun filled day.

Then the weekend would come and it was time to go visit grandma and grandpa for a couple of days. They really enjoyed having fresh fish for a meal and grandpa had a great spot that would give us plenty of opportunities at catching a few meals. Run out to the garden with a bucket in hand and a digging fork to dig up a bunch of worms for the days fishing trip. After digging up a few dozen worms, load the rest of the gear in the truck and head for this honey hole.

This was one of those areas that you hoped that someone doesn’t beat you there as it is another shoreline fishing spot. This area was a channel that came off of the main lake and wasn’t to deep but also had some weed growth in it as well. Staking out our spot we would get all setup and get ready for a fun filled day of catching fish.

Gramps would help you get your fishing rod and bait setup and would tell you to cast over to that spot over there. The bobber would hit the water and as soon as it would standup, down it would go. There was cast after cast that would play out the exact same way over and over again. The bucket was filling up very quickly between gramps, dad and me as the fish were biting like they were having their last meal.

Then there is that time when the bobber goes down and when you set the hook it doesn’t feel like a sunfish that is on the line. The fish is fighting and your mind is wondering as to what you have on the hook. Now gramps, dad and everyone else that is fishing there is watching you. Gramps is telling you how to fight this fish as we don’t want to lose it whatever it is.

As it comes to shore the bobber is getting closer but no one has seen the fish yet. A few feet away you are pulling the line in and there it is, the biggest dogfish that you have ever seen. What a great fight this fish gave you and there was no way that you were going to touch this fish as it was the ugliest thing that you have ever seen.

As the afternoon wore on, catching all of these fish seemed to get a little boring after a while and I would start searching for other creatures that were living there. This is when I came across a little painted turtle and asked Dad if I could keep this little guy. Went and got another bucket and filled it with water and now I had a new little friend. We had our fair share of fish and looking at our catch, we knew that it was going to be a long night of filleting fish and many meals were going to be frozen and also a fish fry was in store.

There are many memories that have been made over the years and many more that are still to be made. But these memories that are from my childhood seem to be the best by far since at those times things were so simple and there wasn’t much for complexity at those times as well.

Those early days of spending time with gramps are missed very much these days. Being the first grandchild of four, there was a much stronger bond between him and I and being we had such similar interests, we got along so well together and spent many days fishing and walking in the woods. These days of memories are never to be lost but they are very missed from time to time when grandpa comes to mind and I can relive those many trips together through all of my memories.

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Fishing September 10 2008

Finally back on the water and really didn’t know what to expect for a bite as the previous day a major front had passed through and dropped the temps by 20 degrees. Weather was bluebird skies with a good breeze from the NW and temps were in the mid 60’s with water temps down to around 67 degrees. I wasn’t sure if the fall pattern had started yet but with the cold front that had gone through, decided to fish deep in the weeds. The area I concentrated on is the mouth of a creek arm and has a big flat in the front of it that ranges from 5 to 8 feet of water. There is milfoil and grass mixed all around this flat and has always seemed to hold fish from previous outings here. Started out on the front of the arm in 8 feet of water and surprisingly started getting a few bites right away. But, they were grabbing at the tail of the bait because I could feel them pick it up and when I went to set the hook, they either ripped the bait in half or I just missed the hook-set all together. I was fishing a Carolina rig with a BearPaws Freedom Fry in the largemouth bass color. The fish were definitely active and I was amazed as I figured that it was going to be a tough bite for the day. Finally was able to start catching a couple of bass but they were only 12-13 inches long. Then the wind shifted from the NW to the NE and that definitely made a difference in the fish biting more frequently. Every few casts I was either catching a bass or getting and missing a bite but they definitely had turned on. Then a solid hit picked up my bait and as I reeled in the slack and went to set the hook, all I heard was a pop. I stood there looking dumbfounded as I didn’t know what just happened and I looked at my rod because I thought that I had broken it. Rod looked fine but the line broke right at the reel and that created that sound. I stood there dazed and then looked in the water to see if I could see my line as there was going to be quite a few yards dragging behind this fish. I used the rod and stuck that into the water trying to see if I could snag the tail end of the broken line but unfortunately was unable to find that line anymore. Kept working the area and picking up a couple more of the same 13 inch bass and then the wind shifted back to the NW and that seemed to shut the bite down all together. Moved around to another couple of areas that weren’t productive at all and decided to call it a day. This probably was one of my most productive days on this lake and I had figured before I even got there that it was going to be a tough bite. Goes to show you that no matter how much time you spend on the water, nature always throws a loop into your thinking. The technique that was the most productive was working the Carolina rig through the thickest weeds in the area. Cast out and work the bait slowly through the weeds back to the boat and all the way back to the boat as there were bites right next to the boat as well. Fall is definitely in the air and once these fish start moving on their feeding binge, then it will be time to break out the crankbait and start covering water.

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Fall is in the Air

This morning I woke to a very crisp and bright morning as we can tell that fall is right around the corner. Major front came through yesterday and has dropped the temps by 20 degrees and going to be a cool day in store for us. While making coffee this morning, I was looking out the back window and there was a flock of turkey's of at least 20 plus birds. I seem to always get mesmerized watching wildlife utilizing my backyard and never seem to get enough. The plan today is to hit the water in search of fish but not quite sure if the fall patterns are starting to form yet or not. I know that going out there this is going to be a tough day for fishing with that major front blowing through and bluebird skies today. But that will not stop us from at least trying and seeing if we can put a fish in the boat or not. Hope everyone enjoys their day today and hopefully I will have something to report tomorrow as any day that I can get on the water, will always be a good day.

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Vermont Youth "Fish Tale" Photo Contest 2008

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is reminding youths and their families to pack their cameras and storytelling skills along with their fishing poles, tackle boxes, and bait this summer.

The Department is conducting a Youth 'Fish Tale' Photostory Contest during the 2008 fishing season. The Fish & Wildlife Department is looking for photos and accompanying "Fish Tales" describing the fishing adventures of young anglers enjoying our great fishing opportunities. The contest is open to youth anglers, 17 and under, fishing in Vermont's lakes, ponds, rivers, and brooks.

For more information on this and also entering click here:
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/fish_tales.cfm


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Weather on the Change

Now that Hurricane Hanna has made her exit Sunday morning, the winds have definitely picked up from her exiting. The skies are sunny and very enjoyable weather the next couple of days. But this week is going to be a roller coaster as changes are happening and it will seem as if they are changing every other day. The next day or so will be fairly stable but then a major change with storms passing through that will drop the temperatures dramatically. This definitely is going to be a factor if you are going to be out searching for fish. We are going to be heading out right after the coming cold front and should be some of the toughest fishing conditions of this early fall season. I know that I always look forward to a challenge and will be trying many different things as well. Will be concentrating heavily in deep weeds as if the fishes activity level is none existent, this is where they should be. Fall is approaching very fast and that means one thing, the dinner bell has been rung and the fish are on the hunt. Now is the start to any of the best times of the year to catch fish and there will be some big ones caught as well.

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Approaching Hurricane Hanna

With hurricane Hanna approaching the New England area, we wonder what the fish and wildlife are going to be doing out there. This morning while lying in bed with the windows open, the rain was falling and the birds and insects were very prominent with their voices in the early morning. Now I as sit here typing, the patio doors are open and there is a deathly silence out there and no activity at all. It is very overcast and light winds but no rain falling yet as it gets darker by the minute. The wildlife knows that there is something coming and it always amazes me of the signs that they tell with the ever changing weather. Today maybe a tough day for fishing as well but I won't know that. Being aware of your surroundings is very important part of life as the wildlife is in the outdoors at all times and they know what they need to do to get through to tomorrow. Why not listen to what they are telling you and plan your outdoor adventures from that. We are waiting for the presence of hurricane Hanna to grace us with her presence and hopefully she will exit during the night and leave us with a nice day tomorrow and allow us to venture out onto a body of water.

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August 31 2008

The Labor Day holiday weekend found us camping at our favorite place in New Hampshire. Unfortunately when we do go camping the boat has to stay home as I am unable to tow both a camper and a boat. So I decided to bring along the kayak and also my underwater camera and I wanted to take a look around some of my favorite spots and see what was down there. By taking this opportunity to try this, with no fishing going on, forced me to do something that I have wanted to do in quite some time. Went out to the first spot which is a point that has rocks on the end of it and there was definitely baitfish activity there but didn’t see any bass cruising around. The water clarity on this lake was allowing me to get to around 25 feet deep before it would get to murky to make anything out. Moved over to a ridge that is lined with rocks but after scouring the bottom for a while there no activity was found. Then moved to my best spot and right away this area was teaming with life with baitfish all over the place as well as bass but these bass were 6 inch or less. Moved to a deep underwater point and didn’t see any fish activity but did see some trees as well and stumps that lined the bottom in this area. Moved once again to a spot that I frequent quite a bit and once again I had seen plenty of baitfish as well and a nice smallmouth and largemouth bass swimming in the area. Started noticing a pattern forming as to fish location and the only areas that I had seen any activity whatsoever there had to be weeds around because any rock or barren bottom areas were void of life. Figured that I better start heading back in so I decided to stop at the mouth of the arm that we were camping on. As soon as I lowered the camera down, life was everywhere and so were the bass. As I floated this area a school of nice smallmouth bass swam by and I was rotating the camera to see them again as I wanted to see how many there were in this school. As the camera was rotating, I caught the tail end of the school but following them were three very nice largemouth bass and this had made my whole experience with my camera so worth its weight in gold. I haven’t used my camera much at all as I will start using it in the boat, but my wanting to fish always takes over and the camera gets put away. But by going out on this day and not bringing a fishing rod along, forced me to do something that I had wanted to do for a long time and I feel now that anytime that I go camping, there is a new pastime to explore on the waters that we camp. I felt I had an understanding of what was going on down below the waters surface, but until you actually see it with your eyes, this opens up a whole new world and also educates you in the relationship of what these fish do in our lakes and ponds. I know that I am looking forward to many more trips out with my camera as well taking it along on the ice this winter. Now I just need to start recording what I am seeing and this will allow me to put videos and stories together to educate other anglers as to what fish are doing with the habitat that they live in as many fishers don’t get to see this and it really is something to watch.

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Come to the 12th Massachusetts Outdoor Expo for Families

Families, friends, Scouts (Boys and Girls) and other youth groups should mark their calendars for September 28, 2008 and join the fun at the 12th annual Massachusetts Outdoor Expo (Big MOE) held at the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club grounds in Sturbridge from 9AM - 4:30 PM. The Big MOE, sponsored by the Facts About Wildlife and Nature Society (FAWNS), is a free, family-oriented event celebrating outdoor skills, nature, art and wildlife. This all-day family event is free, thanks to co-sponsors MassWildlife, Hamilton Rod and Gun Club, The Weatherby Foundation and the Worcester County League of Sportsmen's Clubs. Sportsmen's clubs, locally based outdoor related businesses, and other conservation groups sponsor a variety of skills stations, craft tables and other exhibits relating to wildlife and the outdoors.The Big MOE is the perfect opportunity to introduce young and old to outdoor skills and activities.

New activities and information tables for 2008 include: Building Your Own Duck Call, Wood Carving & Burning, Tree Stand Safety, Traps & Trapping, Make a Simple Goose Decoy, Whitetails Unlimited and Jr. Shooting Clay Teams of Massachusetts Scholastic Clays.

As in the past, impressive live birds of prey, native snakes and turtles and a beekeeper's hive will be on display. There are opportunities to scale a rock climbing wall, paddle a kayak or canoe. Try your hand at tomahawk throwing, fishing, building a bird house, or testing marksmanship skills on the airgun, rifle, shotgun or archery target ranges under safe and expert supervision. At the Nature Crafts Tent, paint your face, create an animal bracelet, make a rainstick or a headband. Observe taxidermy and Jr. Olympic air gun demonstrations and visit a New England pioneer encampment. Offerings from MassWildlife include: modern wildlife management, forestry skills and fishing. There is something at the Big MOE for the whole family. Admission to all activities and parking are free.

The Big MOE is also in need of enthusiastic, outdoor oriented volunteers willing to assist at several skills stations or to host a skill station. Clubs and other conservation organizations wishing to host a skill station or assist others at an existing station are welcome. For more information visit the FAWNS website or contact Gary Zima, 508/389-6314.

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Grandparents and Kids Fishing Day

September 7--Grandparents and Kids Family Fishing Day, Granby--MassWildilfe and the Granby Senior center are encouraging grandparents to bring their grandchildren to this family fishing day at Dufresne Pond from 9:00 – 1:00pm. Learn some of the basics of fishing from MassWildlife's Angler Education Program volunteers. No equipment is needed, but if you have your own, bring it along! Pre-registration is required. Contact Pat Sicard at 413-467-3239.

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August 27 2008

The dog days of summer are definitely here and now with the cooling nights this should finally get us moving towards better fishing within the next couple of weeks. The leaves are starting to change and a few are falling, the kids are getting ready to go back to school, so the fish should be getting ready to put the feed bag on once again. Fishing has been tough for many these days and it sure isn’t from the lack of trying. Pressure on these fish should start dropping off and also the activity level on our lakes after this weekend will disappear fairly quickly. It has been a very busy summer this year and not a lot of fishing on our part. This year has been the first in a long time that there was more time spent doing other activities other than being on the water. But once we get past this Labor Day weekend, that will change and fishing will be every weekend until ice up and then the hard water season starts. Hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend and be safe out there but also enjoy this last weekend of this years summer.

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Weather Stability

Finally the weather in New England has become stable with bluebird skies, bright sunshine and light winds. These conditions have not been around here in quite sometime and are a welcome to our wet and cool climate of late. With the weather being stable this should benefit the fish’s activity as well as the anglers catch ratio should be going up. We are into the late summer time and heading to early fall patterns so looking for fish in deep water should be a part of the days game plan. There will be fish still shallow especially early and late in the day and should not be over looked, but the deep water structure is still gong to be holding fish. Water temps are still warm but losing their temperature quickly as the evenings are cooling down and this will start getting the fish into their fall feeding frenzy.

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Kids fishing, keeping it simple

Many of us parents enjoy the outdoors and what a better way to do that is by taking your kids out into the outdoors with you. Fishing is a great family pastime and anyone can go fishing and catch fish as well. When you are out there fishing with your kids, one thing to keep in mind is that you need to keep things fairly simple for them when out fishing. By this we are talking about not going deep water bass fishing, or throwing crankbaits all day, but keeping it simple with a jig and bobber. The jig and bobber is a great combination that has caught numerous fish for every generation that fishes these waters. Plus, the jig and bobber is not one fish species specific as it will catch just about any species that is swimming in that particular lake. Fishing around some weeds or docks will always produce and keep their interest much longer as generally the panfish hang around these areas. Also, if they have their own rod/reel combination, this will also boost their enthusiasm to want to go fishing. By keeping everything simple for fishing, this will make those outings to the lake much more enjoyable for everyone involved.

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Persistence

With the dog days of summer upon us in full force and the ever changing weather conditions with loads of rain, fishing can be very trying for those that are out on the water. Don’t let this time of year and these conditions affect how and where you are fishing. It comes down to the angler that can be very persistent in their search for fish and these are the anglers that are going to make the best of the current situations. By not giving up and changing between baits, you will stumble onto something that starts producing for you and makes for a very enjoyable day. Keep the persistence going and you will see what we mean.

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Fishing August 10 2008

After a long time away from the water, finally found some time to get the boat to the lake and look for a few fish. Weather conditions were calm with a heavy fog that lingered for a couple of hours throughout the morning. The fog burned off and then the hot sun was beating down and without any wind made for a tough bite along with all of the storms and rain that we have been having. Went to a small pond and started fishing on a deep water ridge. Dragged Carolina rigs and jigs over and around but there weren’t any bites to be had. Decided to go to the shorelines and fish with a weightless BearPaws Hippie Stick and that finally produced some bites. The fish were very small in size but at least something was biting my bait and this produced 3 largemouth bass. The sun came out of the fog strong and any shoreline bite seemed to end and then I headed back to the deep water ridge but there weren’t any bites there and decided to call it a day.

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Fishing, what it means: part 6

Part 6

Also now that my son is getting a little older he has been accompanying me on quite a few adventures as of late. This past winter he had really gotten himself excited and went on many ice fishing trips with me and for a six year old, he showed this old man how to catch some very nice fish. Just watching his excitement while he is watching the electronics and catching a fish is priceless in my book. He always looks forward to our fishing and if we haven’t been out for a while he starts bugging that we need to go once again.

These are memories that you keep with you all of your life and I treasure all of these and hope that they continue to be made for many years to come. It is funny how we come full circle in life and from what my father and grandfather had taught me out there on the water, I am teaching my kids the exact same things. Sure we now have much bigger boats, all of the fancy electronics, more baits than we will ever use and more fishing rods/reels that we know what to do with, but we seem to always come back to the basics in whatever we do.

Fishing these days has been much more enjoyable to me and means so much more to me these days as well. I really look forward to each trip that is made to the water and at the end of the day, fish or not, I know that I had a great day out there. Fishing is not work anymore but a favorite past time that I can spend many hours out there again. But if I only have an hour to fish, so be it, I was still able to do something at that moment that means so much to me. Fishing, what it means to me is time to reflect on life, get away from all of the hustle and bustle, and spend some quality time with family, my kids and friends new and old. Once again, there aren’t enough days that I get to fish again and this is telling me that my passion to fish is back stronger than ever…

Get out and enjoy the outdoors and what Mother Nature has given to us…

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Fishing, what it means: part 5

Part 5


Since I have that behind me now, my fishing is all about having fun and enjoying spending time out there on the water. I enjoy these days hooking my boat up to the truck and picking a lake to go fish at, and I don’t care, I do a little, if I catch a fish or not. My days on the water now are to get away from the rat race of being an adult, a husband and a father and using that time to clear my head and get myself back to reality.

I look forward to the days that I am able to get out and fish with some of my old friends and relive some of the old days that we had together. I also look forward to the days that I am able to take my dad out fishing, like he use to take me, as he doesn’t fish much anymore and we don’t get to fish together that often either. These are memories that you keep with you all your life and I try and keep them going forward as each year passes.

Now are the days that I am truly enjoying fishing as I have my own kids to take along and show them the art of fishing. My daughter is getting into those teenage years now so we don’t get out much together anymore, but over the last years we had spent many hours in the boat, just the two of us and those are the memories that I will be carrying with me as I go forward. Hopefully the day will come once again that she wants to try her hand at fishing again and I will be there ready and willing to do that for her.

Part 6 continues

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Fishing, what it means: part 4

Part 4


So you are at that point in your life and you are working a real job at this point and the temptations of fishing bass tournaments are on your mind all the time. You take that next step and buy yourself a bass boat and start looking at some tournament trails that look inviting for you to fish. You spend hours and days pre-fishing for these tournaments and looking for that one sweet spot that is going to make you famous and put you into the winners circle.

Many lakes are fished and many miles are traveled around a few states to compete at these levels. You are making friends from the competitors you fish against and are starting to make a name for yourself. But you are not finishing in the standings where you really want to be and this starts playing mind games with you each and everyday that you are on the water. You now are second guessing all of your moves and this dream that you want to fish for a living is starting to not look so good or promising.

Anytime that we start moving towards a passion of ours that we would like to turn into a career things seem to be not what they look like. Getting up in the wee hours of the mornings to get to the lake at dawn to start another practice day, isn’t as inviting anymore and seems to be a lot like work and the fun really isn’t there anymore. Do I really want to fish for a living as this is starting to feel more like work and not play. These are memories that you keep with you all of your life and I was fortunate and glad that I took my shot at tournament fishing and can say that I tried something that I wanted to.

Part 5 continues

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Fishing, what it means: part 3

Part 3

Then the day came that you got your drivers license and you thought the fish better watch out now because I am coming to get you. You hook that 14 foot boat and 5 hp motor to your parents’ car that you borrowed and head to the lake that you think is going to produce those big fish for you. You fish like there is no tomorrow because you are living through your dreams of watching those guys on TV and what they are doing to help put fish in your boat.

Your mindset is not on catching panfish like your dad and grandpa had you catching all of your youth. You want to catch some of those big bass like they do on TV and you have all of the latest baits that you figure that will do that job for you. You cast and cast like there is no tomorrow and pound every target that you can find and are catching fish here and there and a smile is forming on your face.

After some time spent out on the water fishing the way that you want to fish, ideas are flying through your mind like “hey, I bet I could do this for a living like the big boys”. I felt that I could go to any body of water and catch fish after fish and there was no stopping me now. These are memories that you keep with you all of your life and you hope that these dreams come true one day and there wouldn’t be anything better than fishing for a living.

Part 4 continues

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Fishing, what it means: part 2

Part 2

Those days that were spent sitting on the shoreline casting a worm and bobber as far as you could, to try and beat your buddy with a bigger fish. You would brag to each other that your fish was bigger than theirs and seems that everyone caught huge fish by the time the end of the day came and then you had to make that ride home once again. These are memories that you keep with you all of your life and you wonder where these buddies of your childhood are today.

Then the days come when your father and grandfather would take you along in the 14 foot boat with the 5 hp motor on the back for a day on the lake. Panfish were always the species that was sought and many hours were spent anchored near some shallow weeds and casting a bobber out looking for fish. Dad and Grandpa were always telling you to stop making so much noise because the fish can hear you and that is scaring them away from biting your hook.

There were thousands of hours spent with the three of us on such a variety of different bodies of waters exploring and searching for those meals of fish. If it looked like rain we were not going to be caught out there and would head off as fast as that 5 hp would move us along. These are memories that you keep with you all of your life and one day you look forward to meeting with Grandpa once again to share those quality stories of yester years with each other.

Part 3 continues tomorrow

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Fishing, what it means: part 1

Part 1

If one was to ask an angler what fishing means to them, they would probably get a different reason from each of those fishers. There are loads of reasons why we fish and when you sit down and think about it, every one of those reasons has a meaning and something behind them.

Over the years I have looked at fishing from all different angles and theory’s and they all had their time and place over my fishing career. What does this mean? I want to give you, the reader, an idea of what fishing has meant to me over the years and it does and will go from one side to the other.

Back in the early days of when you were a kid and you and a buddy jumped on your bikes and rode to the closest body of water to wet a line. There were days that many fish were caught and also days that you were lucky to see a fish, but every chance you would get you made that ride to try your hand at catching a fish.

Part 2 continues tomorrow

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New England's Fishing Opportunities

Fishing in New England has multiple opportunities for all anglers that want to sample the waters. We have the various freshwater ponds and lakes around the area as well as many river systems that dissect their ways through the land. Then there is the opportunity of wetting a line into the salt water’s of the ocean from either the surfside or out in a boat searching the many ledges and deep water haunts. Freshwater fish species are a wide choice and the most sought after are the large and smallmouth bass, pickerel, landlocked salmon and perch/panfish. Saltwater offers many as well from cod, striped bass, bluefish and the large tuna that swim these waters. With all of these fishing opportunities where is the angler to start in their quest, freshwater or saltwater. It really comes down to what the angler seeks is to where and how they are going to catch these fish. With all of these places and species of fish to catch, it will take a lifetime to fish these fish as well as all of the waters that are offered the angler in the New England area.

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"Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" Workshop

CONCORD, N.H. -- Are you a woman who would like to learn the skills you need to get started in hunting - the original outdoor challenge? Or maybe you know a woman who might be interested in becoming a hunter. The fall Becoming an Outdoors-Woman weekend workshop has selected openings available that offer a chance to learn a variety of hunting skills while participating in an exciting weekend outdoor skills workshop.

The 2008 B.O.W. fall workshop is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 5-7, 2008, at scenic Rockywold/Deephaven Camps on Squam Lake in Holderness, N.H. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate. The workshop fee of $295 covers everything - two nights lodging in a lakeside cabin, buffet-style meals, instruction and equipment use. There are no extra fees. The enthusiasm of the women at this workshop is amazing.

For more information click on this link:
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Newsroom/News_2008/News_2008_Q3/BOW_Fall_Last_Chance_080108.html

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Wet Weather, Mosquitoes

New England has been experiencing a very wet and humid summer this year and that is growing numbers of mosquitoes as well. If you spend any time outdoors you are definitely going to be paid a visit from these little flying annoyances. With the diseases these little buggers carry you will need to take precautions to protect yourself from their bite. Wearing long sleeved shirts and pants is a good way to keep them off of you. But if it is very warm and this is not practical, then you will need to spray yourself with some bug spray that contains DEET in it. If you have sprayed yourself and go in for the evening, it is a good idea to shower this off once you are in the house for the evening. Many of us want to spend as much time outdoors as possible and taking some of these precautions will help you enjoy time outdoors.

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Fishing and Weather

Much of the country is going through a number of these weird weather patterns and this may be causing the angler a little grief. With weather condition swings, from lots of rain to drought conditions, from cold temps to severely hot weather this will and does affect the angler consistently. But does this affect the fish that we seek as well? Chances are that it does and an angler will need to adjust their game plan when hitting the water in these changing conditions. By change we are looking at fishing all of the water column depths until those fish are found, shallow shoreline water to outside weed lines to the depths of deep water that is available. With some searching the angler will definitely start seeing the pattern that fish are using under certain conditions. Bait wise as well you will want to keep changing until the baits start coming productive and the fish again will let you know what they are looking for. By playing around with the water depths, bait choices and times of the day, fishing can still be productive in these ever changing conditions.

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Vacationing and Fishing

Many families, mine included, are out there traveling across the United States and enjoying the countryside while on their vacation. Many of us fish regularly in our home areas but don't think of doing that when they are on vacation. What a better opportunity to introduce your family to different types of fishing that you may never be able to experience in your home area. Recently we were down in Virginia camping on the Chesapeake Bay area and the saltwater fishing opportunities were right outside our door. We didn't experience any rod/reel fishing but spent a lot of our time crabbing from the piers. Crabbing is something that we had never experienced and even my 6 year old and also daughter really enjoyed trying their hands at this. If we wouldn't have tried the crabbing while we were there, none of us would have been able to experience a different way to fish. This is a prime example as to getting out there and enjoying what the local outdoor area has to offer you and this will also broaden your angling experiences.

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Vacationing July 19-26 2008

Summer time brings along with it family vacationing and we were fortunate to embark on our trip heading south. With camper hooked up and pointed in the southerly direction, Virginia was the destination and opportunities were waiting ahead of us. We were fortunate to be able to camp on the Chesapeake Bay and look out at the water from our camper. There was a totally different type of fishing going on there and one that I had found fascinating to sit and watch and learn the how’s and what’s to do to get some of these saltwater creatures.

The campground had some piers that allow the angler opportunities at fishing and crabbing without having a boat. From my observation I didn’t see anyone catching any saltwater fish from these piers and not really sure if they do much or not. The big draw for the angler here is the clamming and crabbing. We didn’t partake in any clamming but made several trips out to do the crabbing. Crabbing is something that all ages are able to do as my 6 year old son became quite the crabber fairly quickly.

There are a few ways that one can catch these blue crabs, a weighted string with a chicken neck tied on, throw out a crab pot and also a string basket laid on the bottom and lifted every so often to see if there are any crabs in the netting. Many crabs were caught but the legal size had to be 5 inches and these were hard to come by for us. Between 6 of us and a few trips out we were only able to catch 3 legal crabs and they are still swimming in the bay. Unfortunately we were unable to catch enough to try these tasty little morsels but that is part of fishing that we all go through.

All in all it was a good vacation, to hot for me, but the kids were able to swim in the ocean which was warmer than they are use to in New England. The drive there was long but we were able to see parts of the country that none of us had seen before. Camping with the family is a great way to stay in touch with your kids and we always look forward to our next trip.

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Fishing July 17 2008

The fishing during my lunches, this weeks fishing trips have not been much to talk about as I am having problems finding a bass no matter where I have been trying. The lake that I frequent during lunch, I have not had the same success as last year and not quite sure what is going on there. The weeds are growing and not having a problem finding those and fishing them. The only major difference that I am seeing so far is that the water levels are 2-3 feet higher than they were last season and this is the only thing that I can think of contributing to the tough bites but maybe the forage isn’t there as well, don’t know.

I needed to get some bites so I put the bass gear down and went over to my ice fishing pond in search of panfish. Made my long walk around a good portion of the lake and armed with my ultralite with an orange/yellow T.H.E. Jig, wasn’t long and a few small sunfish were being caught. The size definitely wasn’t there and kept casting around trying to find better sizes until I hooked some wood and ended up breaking the line. Tied on a blue/yellow T.H.E. Jig and the bites started picking up better than the previous color. Was getting long into my time to be there and started walking back and stopped at one other spot that I never catch fish at. Casted over towards the overhanging branches and bang, the first nice sunfish came in. Casted back again, bite after bite and then it started dying down. After a number of sunfish and better sized ones at that, I figured I better get going as the action was going away. Just before leaving the water’s edge I was going to make a cast at one more spot until I seen a big black snake lying right next to the water and then that concluded my fishing for the day. All in all once changing the colors, the bites came in and actually a spot turned on that usually hasn’t produced.

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Deep Water Bassin, Carolina Style

Any bass angler out there knows that if they want to catch bass that they can go and pound the shoreline and put a decent limit together. By hitting wood, rocks and docks along the shoreline this will and does put fish in the boat and at certain times nice ones at that. But what if you would like to upgrade those sizes of fish to larger sized that may be a little more consistent than the bank runners.

Instead of facing the shoreline take a step back and turn around and tell me what you see. There is a vast amount of water out there and it is very intimidating to a number of anglers that their comments will be “where do I start”. Fishing deep water for bass isn’t really that much different if you sit down with a good map and plan out your attack and you will quickly find that it is very similar to what you were doing along the shoreline.

When fishing shoreline you are fishing targets along that shoreline and when you turn to deep water, it is very similar. We don’t just go out there into deep water and start casting at will but will concentrate on features and objects that we will locate with the maps and electronics that we have. Things that are concentrated on in deep water are humps, grass beds, ridges, or anything that is a little different that breaks up the bottom content either structurally or depth wise.

The depth of deep water means different things to every angler and body of water that you fish and this is what we consider deep water. Normally I fish depths from 8 to 12 feet of water and will fish sunken islands down to the 25 foot depths as well. There is a lake that I fish in central New Hampshire that is fished down to 40 feet of water in grassbeds in our search of smallmouth bass but this is a very clear lake as well.

Now that we have the deep water somewhat defined, the approach that we use the most often for fishing this deep water is using the Carolina rig. The Carolina rig allows me to cover vast amounts of water and by doing this it is also exposing my bait to more fish. The Carolina rig is a plastic bait technique that requires a few components to build this up. The components consist of a weight, followed by 2 glass beads, followed by a swivel tied to the line. Next we tie another piece of fishing line with a 3/0 to 4/0 hook tied to this tag end.

Main fishing line is usually 10-12 pound test with the tag leader of 8 pound test. The 8 pound test allows the bait to move more freely through the water and more natural looking. The length of the tag leader varies from 12-36 inches long and the bottom content dictates this length variety. Shorter leaders are better for working the bait through thicker weeds while longer leaders are great for sparse weeds or no weeds at all. Weight wise down to 20-25 feet of water use a ¼ oz sinker unless it is extremely windy then maybe a 5/16 oz. For 35 feet and more typically a ½ oz weight is sufficient and this in only needed to be able to get to those depths much more quickly and to keep you more in contact with your bait.

Now that the depths are covered as well as the technique, let’s take a look at the approach that works well for us. Typically anglers are afraid to throw the Carolina rig into weeds and that is the first thing that you will need to get away from. After you have fished in the weeds for a while you will understand how to work the rig through the weeds and also learn the differences in the feel between weeds and a fish biting. There may be times that you get hung up and lose some tackle but the fish that you are going to catch will definitely make up for that.

Once we have looked at our maps and found some promising looking areas, sunken islands, ridges, irregular bottom contours as well as different bottom content, weeds are what we are looking for in these areas. Not so much the thickest weeds that are there, but at times that is what we are looking for, but more of the edge and what is going on at the weed edge.

More of an explanation here: weeds only grow so deep and depending on how far the sunlight goes down determines how deep the weeds and edges are. The areas that I am looking for are where the thick weed edges end and from there out into the deeper waters. The tops of the structure areas will have thick weeds that if fished slowly with the Carolina rig you will be able to get through them. But where the heavy edges end, this is our high percentage area.

What we are talking about is that there is always a weed edge or front line and fish use these heavier weeds as ambush areas. But from this front edge out into deeper water the weeds themselves get thinner as the water gets deeper and bigger fish use this zone in their search for food. This is what is called a transition area and baitfish use transition areas all the time in their movements and feeding. The bigger dominant fish in the area know this as well and are positioned or are cruising this transition area ritually searching for prey. These transition areas will have smaller and sparser weeds here and you will definitely feel this with your bait as you are working it through.

So how do I get setup to fish this type of structure area from the boat? Typically find where the edge of a specific piece of structure is and where that drops off into the deeper surrounding water. Position the boat back more on top of the structure so that the sparse edges are out in front of you and not under you. Anchoring will help immensely if there is wind or also if you find an area that is holding numbers of fish.

With the boat positioned on top of a so called hump, cast your Carolina rig out into the deeper water. Let it fall to the bottom before doing anything else and then your concentration level will need to strengthen. Move the rig only about 6 inches at a time back towards the boat, as the slowness of fishing this is the key to your success. You probably won’t feel anything transmitted through your fishing rod at this point, but as you work the bait back towards the boat you will feel that first contact with those outer sparse weeds.

At this point you really need to start focusing on what your line and fishing rod are telling you and this will give you an idea as to how much sparse weeds are there and where the thicker weed edge is starting. Also be ready at all times as in this transition area the fish are cruising and will be picking your bait up at any time. What is happening here is that fish position themselves in these locations as they know that the prey are coming out of the deeper water to find food and cover.

After you have worked through that transition area you will still need to get the bait through the thicker weed edge and top as well. Slowly work your bait through these thicker weeds as well all the way back to the boat because until you get an idea as to how the fish are using these areas, a bite can come at any time. You will definitely start feeling and understanding the differences between weeds and a fish biting and won’t be long and the fish are going to be caught as well.

Many anglers are not going to be fishing these depths of waters and if you can get your confidence levels to work to your advantage in these situations, you have opened up a whole new area of fishing possibilities. This is a technique that I have been employing for a number of years and the size of the fish are much more to my liking. One thing though, is your numbers of fish will probably go down and if you like numbers this may not be for you. But if you don’t mind not getting the numbers but rather quality is more to your liking, then you definitely want to give this a try.

Once you have the feel for this approach, you will be able to take this into different areas of a particular body of water and search out similar type of structures there as well. Some of these remote deeper areas are very under fished as well as some of these fish may have never seen a bait in their life. The best structures and areas are going to harbor the biggest fish and after using this for a while, you will understand these areas and will be able to be more consistent in your size of fish caught going forward.

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Plastics, Are They All The Same

When people think of bass fishing baits, there is always one that comes to mind in every angler's arsenal, the plastic bait. When walking into a tackle store and you stroll over to the section that has the wide array of plastic baits hanging there, an angler can be overwhelmed by all of the selections. This angler used to do that and never could decide which brand to go to and they would never have the bait that I would be looking for.

Since those days I have gone away from the tackle store selections and to another bait manufacturer that I feel produces the best plastics for the money. This company is BearPaws Hand Poured Baits and I have been associated with them for the last few years and their plastic baits are the only ones that are fished in my boat. Do these baits produce more fish than other baits, they all have their time and place but what these baits offer is something different from the run of the mill plastic bait.

Most plastic baits are mass produced and the plastic material can be a little harder than I like. BearPaws Baits are all hand poured with the best plastic materials and when these are hand poured they are much softer to the touch. When a fish picks these baits up that softness alerts the fish that this feels lifelike and they will hold on longer for that hookset. Being these are hand poured there is a natural floatation in each bait that when rigged on a hook or jig, the tail will float up making the bait look as if they were feeding along the bottom similar to a baitfish.

Another feature that you won't find anywhere else is that these are also poured with the MegaStrike Formula, fortified in each bait made and if you are familiar with fish attractants, MegaStrike is an advanced formula that was developed with the Amino Acids that fish look for in their prey. So with the hand poured and the MegaStrike in these baits, the fish that pick these up will hold onto these baits a little longer than normal plastic baits.

BearPaws Baits are offering a number of bait variations numbering around 30 variations to allow the angler to meet whatever situation or bait they are looking for. One other feature that is being offered these days as well is the bait's fall rate through the water column. There are three varieties that you can choose from: floating, slow fall and a faster fall rate. This is another advantage that you are not going to find on the over the counter baits. Color selection is second to none with over a 100 available and if the color that you are looking for is not there, let BearPaw know and they will developed that color you seek.

Aside from BearPaws Baits plastic selection they also offer a hook selection to match with their product list. Another new item that has come out is their Jighead Lineup that has the screw lock feature molded into the head to help secure your bait to the jig itself. These jigs are offered in a wide variety of colors as well and are a nice addition to the BearPaws Baits.

I have been using these for at least 3 seasons now and only fish with the BearPaws Baits. The softness, the wide array of styles, color selection second to none and an attractant embedded into each bait, BearPaws Baits have a bait for any and all anglers out there fishing in my opinion. You can check these baits out at http://www.bearpawshandpouredbaits.com/ and see for yourself.

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SaltWater or FreshWater

Living here on the East Coast there is always a dilemma in what types of waters to fish when we are able to get out. I have freshwater lakes within 25 minutes of where I live as well as saltwater fishing within the same time frame from my home. I try the saltwater from time to time but just haven't given it a real opportunity to prove itself as a viable way to catch fish. Being from the Midwest freshwater fishing flows through my veins and more times than not that is what I will do when heading to the water. Need to really start forcing myself to spending more time fishing the saltwater varieties of fish since they are so close and handy for doing that. The areas that I can get to are prime spots north of Boston and there shouldn't be any reason for not giving it a whirl. But I just can't seem to get myself to do that as I know that if I were to fish freshwater there will be some fish caught as opposed to saltwater that the fish have not come to my bait as of late. It looks like I just need to get out there and do it and put the freshwater on hold for a little while especially now that we are into the hot summer time of the year. It definitely is much cooler fishing the ocean front as opposed to sitting on the lake which is good in the hot days. My dilemma will continue on and keep watching here as maybe the saltwater fishes will start showing their faces a little more often.

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Fishing July 13 2008

I woke to a very strong wind that was on the face of the slowly approaching front and time to head for the lake in search of fish. There are three lakes fairly close to my house that I fish regularly with these rising gas prices keeping me near home. One had a tournament going on and was not going to go there, the other gets very busy early in the morning with water skiers and also I have a tough time there in the summer as opposed to spring and fall. So I went to the third lake which is a small body of water that usually only a couple of boats out there at a time. The water color here is very dark and a majority of the weed growth only goes out about 5 feet of water. The shoreline is what most anglers’ fish when fishing this lake and I started doing the same. After a short time I decided that I was going to do something different that I wanted to do there but never did. There is a ridge that runs down the center of the lake and I decided that I am going to spend my time fishing that and see if I can dig some bigger fish up. The top gets to about 6 feet of water and drops off of each side fairly quickly with a little vegetation as well as gravel and rock on the upper portion. I had to fight the wind the whole time that I was on the lake and it was coming from different directions consistently. Was tough staying on this ridge but did manage to do it enough to find a fish. I was casting a Carolina rig with a BearPaws French Fry bait with a 2 foot leader. I would make the casts over the top of the ridge and off of the other side and this would allow me to bring the bait up the side of the ridge and then over the top and a little down the other side before it was back to the boat. Definitely could tell that there were rocks down there and at one point that feeling felt a little different and set the hook. The fish took off for deep water and I had to hang on and let this fish wear it-self out. This was a nice 2.5 pound largemouth and of course now I had it in my mind that this was the ticket and finally something worked out the way that I had planned it. Unfortunately there weren’t anymore caught from this area as well as a few other similar areas I had tried as well. This was another experience that I will be keeping in the back of my mind for similar situations on different bodies of waters that I can employ in this summer time of year.

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Listen OutDoors

While laying in bed this early morning with the windows open I was listening to the activity outside of my window. The birds were very active this particular morning and they were singing their songs like there was no tomorrow. In the outdoors when the creatures of the wild are very active as they were this morning, this to me means only one thing, the fish are probably as active as the other creatures outside. What I mean by this is that if the birds and animals are active around you, there is a good possibility that the fish we seek are going to be active as well. If you were to go outside and hear or see no activity around you, the fish probably are going to be inactive as well. I tend to try and use this information when I have a fishing outing planned but today is not one of those days as there are other things that need to be done before I am able to hit the water. Hopefully when I wake tomorrow I will be hearing as much activity then as I do now and this will get me very excited as I head to the lake. I am always wondering if other anglers see this same situation and would be interested in hearing those stories as well.

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Where are the fish

As anyone that knows that follows this blog, we do a lot of fishing during the week during lunch break. I am fortunate to have a couple bodies of waters nearby to do this but the one lake in particular has been tough on me this year so far. The spring fishing never really got started but we did catch a nice one here and there but not the numbers from past years there. Now I am starting to see the same thing as summer has set in and the deep area that did so well last year has not produced a fish yet. Granted that the water levels are still a couple of feet higher than last and not sure if this is affecting them or what. I will continue searching for these fish and if they are not going to cooperate, then I option out and go to another pond and try there for panfish. Haven't been to either the last couple of weeks so I am out of touch as to what these fish are doing but hopefully soon I will start connecting with them once again. The weekend is here and time to get the boat out once again and try other waters and hopefully the results will be better. Good fishing to all you anglers out there and hope you catch that big one you are searching for.

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Careful in Boat

As more and more families are taking to the waters these summer days, families are enjoying fishing together as well. Many times there are numbers of people in the boat and when it comes time to go fishing it can and will be a little crowded. Fishing with kids is a thrill but when fishing in a boat with others, they need to be reminded to watch their fishing rod and baits when casting. By having them turn their head and watch their bait behind them at all times as well as the rod itself, this will save the situation of somebody getting hooked or possibly hurt. By teaching them this early in their angling career, this will build a conscience angler that will follow them through their adult life as well.

BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors
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