LOOKING FOR DEALS ON GEAR

During the yard sale season, many good finds can be picked up for a song and dance. I didn’t do much of that kind of thing this summer but I did come up with a few good pieces of equipment.

            First, I found a light weight tent that looked interesting. This was at a moving sale and it was marked ridiculously low to begin with so when I asked the condition of the tent, the owner immediately said “It should be alright, but I’ll make you a deal. Take it for a dollar.” What could I do? For a dollar I at least had another set of tent stakes, even if the tent was no good!

(tent picked up cheap, yet a good find)

            Once I got home with this find, I set the tent up in the front yard to check out its condition. Pleasantly, I found it to be in quite excellent shape as far as the fabric, zippers and netting goes. The only problems I see is that the collapsible poles are a bit worse for wear. Someone must have bent them a bit farther than was intended for them to go because two sections were split. But for just a few bucks, new poles can be had and it is certainly a roomy tent. Its light weight also makes it good for moderate weather backpacking.



(cook set picked up for one dollar)



           

Second, I also found another cook set that was in mint condition. If ever used it wasn’t used more than a single time. This excellent set consisted of a shallow cooking pot with a cover, a dish and a metal drinking cup. Although a little large to use backpacking, it will come in handy on any fishing and hunting camping trips in the near future. I believe I spent a total of one dollar for this as well.



(inside contents of the cook set)



            Not all items go for a dollar. The third item picked up was a rifle scope with a mil-dot reticle. This will work well on any number of rifles and although a bit more in money, it was still way less than shelling out for a new one. Of course it will mean making another trip to the shooting range to sight it in, but sacrifices must be made!

            Not only did I find these additions to my gear, but a couple of friends also found a number of useful items. Each one found a ground blind for less than half the price of new cost, and neither blind had been set up more than once or twice. The original blazing white tags were still on them. Add to that camo seats and stools, fishing equipment, plus a number of other items and you get the idea.

            Although I would not look in this direction for items that my life might depend upon, it still shows that some very useful camping and outdoor items can be found second hand. Don’t over look the opportunity next time your spouse suggests another yard sale trip.

SUMMER FISHING AND TRAVEL

As you can see I have not been able to write for some time. My wife and I have been involved with her mother’s needs over the past six months. My Mother-in-law was 95 years old, living on her own still until March 2011 and then she went on to be with the Lord just a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, that left my wife and me to deal with her last physical belongings, such as her home and furnishings. Michele is finally home here in the north country and we are trying to get things back to normal.

            In spite of the hectic spring and summer, I was able to get in a few fishing excursions. Both saltwater and freshwater fishing was good each time I went out. While on Long Island, I did get the chance to fish for both Blues and Strippers. Both were migrating through the inlet where I was and they seemed to be quite hungry. 



(cocktail size - just right for table)

            Only caught a couple of the strippers and they were released because they were short, but they still put up a fight. I did see a couple of forty plus inch strippers, one being taken by a scuba diver and his speargun.

            The Blues were much more accommodating! We caught them from snapper size on up to cocktail and chopper size. Needless to say, we had a number of fresh fish fries this summer. My grandkids enjoyed catching the snappers. The two middle grandsons are both becoming quite proficient with the spinning rods and reels. They are about 7 and 9 years of age. They were both able to throw the snapper poppers out with no trouble and then land their own fish.



(grandsons with snapper blues)



            Back up here in the north country, I only got out a couple of times. But the action has been pretty good this year. Frank Abel Jr. and I went out in the narrows of the Chateaugay Lakes looking for bass. We found a few, a couple that might have pushed the legal limit. They all went back in of course. We did find a few eager yellow perch.

            On one cast, Frank hooked into a big fish and the battle was on. He fought the fish for a few minutes before it came around the bow of the canoe to where I could see it. I saw immediately that he did not have a bass on his line. 

(Frank's first Northern Pike)

            After about ten minutes of battle, he finally landed a nice Northern Pike. This was the first pike that he had ever caught and, for a first one, it was nice. So there was some success in the fishing department this summer. In spite of heat waves and humid days, we still had some fine fishing.

            Talking with a number of my fishing buddies, they all report they had quite a bit of success this summer. Hope you had the time to get out on the water as well.

TROUT FISHING SPRING 2011



(One stock trout taken this spring)



It has been some time since I have been able to commit time to this site. Family concerns have kept me from writing but I have still been able to find limited time on the trout waters this spring. The fish are there even though we have experienced some up and down water conditions this year.

            DEC has apparently done quite a little stocking of trout in our local waters. The average trout caught has been between ten inches and twelve inches in length. There were some a little larger but not many that have been much smaller. On a couple of occasions I have tied into a large brown that, so far, has eluded my best efforts to land. Twice now he has struck my lure and I have had him on the line for a few seconds before he shakes the hook. He has given me a good look at his size and coloration each time so that I know he is in the eighteen to twenty inch range. Perhaps there will be another encounter yet this year.



(A few trout added to the creel)

            The bugs have been thick at times on the water but not so over whelming that they can’t be tolerated. A little insect repellent is in order if you really want to enjoy your outing. A number of the other bugs have been hatching out as well, such as mayflies, and the trout are rising regularly to the surface to take these bugs.

            It is a good time for the dry fly fisherman to be out. There hasn’t been a large influx of fishermen in our immediate area so far and therefore the fish have not been fully educated at this time. You should find some very receptive trout waiting for your fly.



(Hatchery trout taken during high water)


           On the few outings I have taken this spring, I would say I have caught and released between two and three dozen trout. That does not include the eight or nine I have put in my creel for the table. It has been an enjoyable trout season so far. The only problem is that you need to watch the weather patterns closely in order to hit the water during the most ideal conditions.

TROUT FINALLY HITTING

We finally got into trout fishing last week. Previously all we were catching were perch in some of the rivers we were trying. Last Tuesday, although we did pull in a number of good sized perch, we also landed one good brown trout.


(brown caught by Leo)

 Fishing with Gary and Leo, we tried a number of places with no success. The weather has still been very up and down in temperature and snowfall or rainfall. Water levels have been fluctuating quite a bit the past week or two. We had snow at least two days last week and rain most of the rest of the week. The one good day we had we got out fishing.
We ended up in one large fishing hole just below a local dam and started catching perch once again. We had pulled in about a dozen of these fat bellied yellow perch and were just deciding to quit for the day.


(another view of brown trout)

 As Leo began a retrieve of his line, a trout suddenly struck and put on quite a nice show. This brown went aerial about three times and gave him quite a fight before he was able to land a 15 inch brown that weighed in on the digital scale at 1 pound and 3 ounces. It was a beautiful fish.
That was the total excitement so far of trout fishing, but at least the trout are there and are starting to cooperate. At the end of the week Leo saw another fisherman had pulled out another trout about the same as his, from that same pool.
We should be seeing marked increase in the trout fishing as of this week.

2011 SPRING TROUT OPENER

Despite dire predictions of significant snowfall for April 1^st, here in northeastern New York we had a relatively nice opening day of trout season. The skies were overcast and it was a bit cool, temperature wise, but no snowfall during the night or morning and the rain held off until later in the afternoon. The weathermen, however, had many believing that we might expect a foot or more of snow and I think they did receive significant snowfall south of us. Probably that prediction of snow was what kept many fishermen from even attempting to get out on opening day.
I hit a few of my favorite fishing holes on opening day and found fish, but not trout. The yellow perch were hitting quite aggressively in one place I fished and after landing about a half dozen or so, I headed for another spot. I never was able to connect with a trout that day.


(An  early April trout from 2010)


The second day of the season, a couple of fishing buddies and I hit the water again. It was a cold, windy day and a storm front was coming through the area. We didn’t connect with any trout that day either, but we at least got some interest in our offerings.
We had a few tentative strikes at a couple of different fishing holes but not enough to hook and land a trout. One of us did have a real small brook trout attack his worm, but I think the worm was bigger than the trout. He didn’t get hooked at any rate. When Tim held up his fingers and gave a chuckle, he indicated a fish about three or four inches in length. 



(Early April trout from 2 yrs. ago)

 The beginning of this week didn’t treat us any better. There has been temperatures ranging from the 40’s down to freezing and either rain or spitting snow on almost everyday. It has salvaged a bit of the maple sugaring season, but it hasn’t done anything for the trout fishing.
Last year, by the time of the opening day, there was no snow on the ground and the lakes and ponds were already beginning to open up. This year we still have a good foot of snow in the woods and the lakes and ponds haven’t even begun to see ice out here along the border.

TROUT OPENER RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER

We are just three weeks away from the spring Trout season opener. Of course just when our hopes start running high, we get dumped on with another two feet of snow. Winter just doesn’t seem to want to give up this year.
But it does give us a good lead time to get ready for the opening day of fishing. Who knows what the conditions might be on April 1^st. All I know is that I haven’t missed an opener in a number of years now and unless there are really severe conditions, I don’t plan to miss this one.


(fishing creel I made at a class by Mick Jarvis of Adirondack Basket and Heritage Design)

Last year was a real slow start. I fished a number of hours without a single nibble. When I finally got a strike, there was no fooling around with Mr. Brown Trout. He was a nice 17-18 inch brown that hit the spinner hard. I was using small trout worms for bait with a gold spinner blade that day. What a way to start the season.
I went on to catch a few more trout during the early season before starting on other species as the summer started out.
I bought a 7 foot single piece rod with a sensitive tip, specifically for trout fishing last spring. It was a joy to use and certainly helped a number of times when trying to detect those light bumps and taps on the line. Getting around in the woods and vehicles wasn’t really all that bad once you learn to watch the tip. This year I am also adding a new open faced spinning reel to complete the outfit.


(college friend, Don Mauer, with stock trout from Spring 2010)
(my new rod on right side of photo)

It isn’t that I don’t have a number of reels, but most of them are a few years old and don’t have the right balance for this particular rod. Once you balance rod and reel, you take a lot of arm fatigue out of fishing all day. Looking into my tackle box, I find need of a few more lures. Doesn’t every fisherman need another lure or two? Some new, fresh line on the spools and I think I will be ready for opening day.
Since I had some luck with walleye this past year, I am also looking for that opener later in the spring. I hooked into a rainbow trout and a walleye, both over 15 inches, in the same pool last spring on one of our local rivers. 

(large brown from 2010 opener)


Now is the time to get things in order. The openers will be on us in very short time. I have a couple of sportsman shows to speak at these next couple of weekends and then there will be just a little over a week until trout season. Sure hope it warms a bit more before that time!

SMALL GAME HUNTING SEASON WINDING DOWN

Got a break in the lousy weather of the past few weeks, just before this last storm hit. I took time to get out hunting the snowshoe hare.
This is always fun and even though I only had a couple of hours, I thought the dog would like the exercise. We went just across the road into a cedar-evergreen swampy area that usually holds a number of snowshoes.

(a snowshoe sitting )


I had seen the trail of a fisher going back and forth across the road, into the swamp a couple of times on my walks. I was wondering if there would be any snowshoes left in there, but shouldn’t have worried. There was plenty of sign and as the hunt progressed, a number sighted.
It didn’t take but ten minutes before my beagle jumped the first snowshoe. He started running and I could tell he was on the usual trail that would take him right past a funnel of thick stuff on the other side of the swamp. I hightailed it for that corner and sure enough, after a few minutes, got a glimpse of the hare streaking through the downfalls. I never got a chance to shoot.


(snowshoe taken on previous hunt)


I saw two more hare during that hunt, one in front of a strange beagle that showed up and then I found his hunter not long after. I was on my way out anyway, so I wasn’t upset that they might spoil my hunt this day.
I finally collected my beagle and headed home with no heavy load of snowshoes to carry, but there was the pleasant time listening to the beagle music and seeing a number of the hares.
It started raining soon after I hooked up the beagle to head out and I was a bit damp by the time I got back home. But I was content and happy with the hunt.

Only a couple weeks left of rabbit hunting.