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.

BRING THE OUTDOORS INDOORS THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY

(field work in photography for enjoyment or work)

Long after the actual outdoor experience is over and we have again entered the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the memories kept alive about that experience are very meaningful to each of us. That is why photography plays such a big part in many sportsmen and women’s lives.

(red efts following a rainy period)

Just viewing a snapshot of a past experience often conjures up certain details of that trip. We can even go as far as to say that it may even bring into play the other senses of the body. Have you ever looked at your photos of a camping trip and feel as though you were right there and could smell the campfire smoke or hear the water rushing over the falls? 

(Red Trillium taken on a spring trout fishing trip)

Perhaps you view a photograph of wild flowers and you recall finding the forest floor covered with Trilliums and remember just how strong their scent was on that day.

(fat little toad found along the trail)

Perhaps you have a shot of a frog or a toad that reminds you of the time one crawled into you friend’s sleeping bag and all the antics your friend went through to get it out. One summer camping trip my cousin, Steve, had just that happen. During the early morning hours a large toad crawled into his sleeping bag next to his bare leg and Steve shot out of his sleeping bag and upended the sleeping bag, to shake out the toad, in very quick order. The poor toad had no idea what the commotion was about. Once toad was out, Steve crawled back in and went back to sleep.

(bog life, the pitcher plants)

Photos can be a delightful way to share your experiences with others. Today photography is so simple anyone can be successful and have great results. Digital cameras have pretty much replaced film cameras, however some of us carry both. I have been using a Canon EOS system for a few years. I have two SLR camera bodies, one with a macro zoom lens in the 70-300 mm range on one body and the other has a 28-75 mm lens. I also have started carrying a small Canon digital camera for those quick snapshots along the trail or around camp. Eventually I will switch entirely over to digital as many others have already done.

(tree frog on a fallen leaf)

Sometimes just taking a day for a photo safari into the back country can be a very rewarding time. Make sure you take what you need, such as tripod, lens cleaner, etc. and carry your equipment in a secure and protected backpack. You would be surprised that no matter how careful you try to be, there is a certain amount of bumping and abuse to the equipment, if not properly protected. Once you finish shooting photos, then sit back and enjoy the results.

WORKING WITH NEWCOMERS TO THE OUTDOORS

(starting out a fisherman)

(Working With Newcomers to the Outdoors by Bob Phillips first appeared in Lake Champlain Weekly in May 2010)

   Outdoor Sportsmen go through stages in their outdoor experience. Although those stages may have varying extrinsic or intrinsic values and may vary as to the time frame or period the sportsman goes through that stage, the bottom line is that we all change over time in our outdoor pursuits.
   You can name those stages with any title you wish to use but generally they look something like this. First, there is the stage where you just start out and can’t wait to spend as much time as possible doing whatever your passion dictates. You will fish for anything, no matter the size or the conditions. Second, there is the learning stage where you spend much time trying to learn through experience, books, video or other media as much as you possibly can about your sport. Third, comes the stage where you try to give back something to the sport you enjoy. This is usually done by teaching others, writing about it or just plain sharing your experiences with others interested in the same. The final stage is one where we continue to refine and perfect our techniques as much as we possibly can. This is also the stage where your endeavors often become a bit more costly in equipment and travel.
   These stages may not be all that cut and dried as you might first think. The first stage is where you, yourself are usually mentored by someone else. Doesn’t matter if we are talking backpacking, fishing, hunting or canoeing. Someone probably took you under their wing and formally or informally taught you the finer points of enjoying that sport. Here the learning curve is quite pronounced. You haven’t much time but to go out and enjoy the pursuit of your sport.
   There comes a time however, when you begin to learn more and want to give more to your sport. This is where the other three stages can somewhat blur together but at the same time bring you much satisfaction. Learning more about your sport can be greatly entertaining whether you like to sit and read or not. Many times a number of my hunting and fishing buddies and I will plan to attend an outdoor function together in order to see new developments in the sports or just to talk with other sportsmen. Sportsmen shows, gun shows, seminars and visiting special nature exhibits or sites can all add to your education. At the same time if you are taking some neophyte along, you are helping to educate them and thus giving back to the sport by encouraging a new comer. So these two stages blend together.
   Often times, if you do attend one of those venues, you will hear experienced old-timers in the sports standing around discussing trends and methods from their own experiences. Even though they may now be in that fourth stage of their sport, they are also helping along others through their historical perspective or by confirming the methods and techniques that work in the field.
   During the past year I have been able to help young people with such things as choice of hiking equipment for trips from day hikes to extended stays in the backcountry. Taking hikes to experience the outdoors in whole new surroundings than what they were familiar. We have also had opportunity to get out ice fishing and learn some of the techniques of that sport, which are quite different from the open water fishing of summer. We also did some open water fishing. In both the ice fishing and open water fishing we were able to check out an abundance of tackle and equipment that might be used.
   This past week I took a small group of kids out fishing for perch. Nothing big but at the same time something I knew that they would be successful at doing. This is one of the keys for successful introduction of someone new to the sport. Try to make it a successful and enjoyable outing. They will then look forward to the next outing.
   As you head afield and astream this year consider taking someone new along and introduce them to the sport you love so much. It pays in the end.

RIVERS CAN BE A SMORGASBORD OF FISHING

(Rivers can be a Smorgasbord of Fishing by Bob Phillips first appeared in Lake Champlain Weekly in June 2010)
   Often times, when you are involved in leisure activities such as fishing, you receive the greatest pleasures when you least expect them. That was such the case last week during the fishing we were able to get in. We headed to the Saranac River to do some fishing for whatever could be found. We found a number of different species were interested that day.
   The beautiful thing about rivers is that their environments change every few feet. Standing in one place on a riverbank, you may be able to fish sunken logs laying on a sandy bottom with one cast and then with the next be fishing a jumble of rocks. Weeds and lily pads might be prolific in one area and just down stream might be a stretch of rapids. You never know what you might find or where you might find fish.
   We started out under a bridge and to be truthful it didn’t look to good for a while. We fished about forty-five minutes without a single bite. I started drifting my line along bottom in a fairly deep hole, bumping it along with a heavy sinker of about a half ounce weight. After a few passes along the sand bar, that stuck out into the pool, I finally got a hit. Just a couple tugs on the line and I figured it was probably a perch or rock bass. I set the hook and immediately felt some significant weight.
   It took a few minutes to land the fish, but I soon had a nice walleye in hand. It was just under 17 inches in length. Was I excited! This was the first walleye I had caught in quite a few years and it was right in the middle of the day. I haven’t been able to get out fishing walleye the last few years because we are usually out turkey hunting during the best part of the season. A night crawler on weighted line, bouncing along bottom apparently looked quite tempting to this one.
   We headed further downriver and soon found another good sized hole to fish. Here we started catching panfish immediately. They were rock bass but put up quite a nice battle on light line. There were a few that were approaching three quarters of a pound in weight. Here I was also in for my second big surprise of the day when I hooked into a big sucker. This one ran about twenty-four inches in length and as usual was so ugly that only a mother could love it.
   My fishing partner also got a couple of nice fish. He hooked into a small mouth bass and after releasing that, he caught another. He caught quite a few rock bass as well at that hole.
   Traveling further down stream it was Gary’s turn to catch a walleye. This one was about fourteen inches in length just under the legal size. Here we caught a few more rock bass and some more small mouth as well.
   We headed back upriver toward where we started out, in hopes that there might be some more walleye in the one big hole we found. As it turned out, the walleye I caught must have been a fluke since they are usually schooling fish and yet there didn’t seem to be any others around.
   I did hook into one more surprise fish before heading home. I had some tentative strikes at my line and thought I was playing with another walleye. When I set the hook, I immediately felt some weight to the fish and the fight was strong, so I knew it wasn’t a small panfish. As I got it into shore, I had a pretty rainbow trout about fifteen inches in length. I will never know how big for certain because it spit the hook out right at my feet.
   This kind of fishing can get expensive. I must have left about a dozen rigs of sinker, snap swivel and snelled hooks on the bottom of the river. Oh, well. Another trip to the tackle shop to replenish!
   I hope you find such a smorgasbord when next you go afield and astream.

RIVER FISHING AND SURPRISES IT BRINGS

     Here in the Adirondacks we have a diverse number of waterways to fish. I believe that is what makes it so attractive to fishermen. You are only limited by your own imagination when it comes to the type fishing you might wish to pursue. Lakes abound and they are always fertile fisheries for a large number of species. There are also the backwoods ponds and small lakes that usually produce trout. The brooks and streams of the area carry brook trout and brown trout on regular basis. The rivers can be very much like the lakes in offering a large selection of species to fish.

(fishing on the Chateaugay River)

     The Ausable, Bouquett, Chateaugay, Salmon, Chazy, Saranac rivers, plus many others are all within easy driving distance. They offer the fisherman any number of species and some very fine fishing opportunities. Those living along the rivers have often worked with the state conservation groups to provide anglers access to these waters, so the fisherman who observes the rules and follows the directives listed at the fishing access sites can help keep those arrangements open for some time to come. Always police the area you fish and do not leave garbage and junk behind when you leave. Observe land owners rights and if a section is not posted as public access, don't invade the owners privacy.

(Brother-in-law with a brown trout from Chazy River)

     Many years ago, I used to fish regularly with an old gentleman who was an Adirondack fishing guide for about 50 years. He was in his late 70's when I fished with him and it was a pleasure and joy to see him work on the lake we often fished. But even though he had a very productive lake to fish at his leisure, every once in a while he would say, "let's hit a river today!" That is just what we would do. Down in that area we had the Hudson, Schroon and a couple of other smaller rivers to fish. He liked to change his routine once in a while just for the challenge. He knew that rivers are always changing and the experience would be new each time, unlike the lake he usually fished, where he could read the bottom like a book and tell you exactly where to anchor and cast to catch a bass.

(author fishing a central Adirondack river)

     When your fishing starts to become a bit mundane and predictable, head to one of the rivers and see if it doesn't put some excitement back into your pastime. You may be surprised just how enjoyable it can be.

SOME PET PEEVES REVISITED

(Some Pet Peeves Revisited by Bob Phillips first appeared in Lake Champlain Weekly in June 2010)
   During the course of a year, I usually speak at a few different Sportsman Shows and/or banquets. I also read a number of outdoor magazines. A reoccurring theme is one of creating your own success. This, on the surface, seems to promise success to every sportsman out there. I say, on the surface, because I see a problem with much of what is toted.
   I am not saying this to elevate myself to the realm of expert, but it seems to me that much of the printed and spoken word is geared more toward making money for the author and less toward real help for the sportsman. I realize that I am now stepping up onto my soapbox but I think much of what is foisted upon the sportsman today is really the attempt of another to capitalize upon the outdoor craze that is around us. You know, bigger racked bucks and heavier fish, at all costs.
   Granted, who doesn’t want to bag the best buck possible or land the nicest fish in the lake? But according to QMP experts, apparently that isn’t in the realm of happening unless you have acreage and are willing to put hundreds or thousands of dollars into its management each year. Most of us do not have control of hundreds of acres that we can do food plots and selected shoots to bring the herd under ideal conditions. I am not trying to minimize those that do, but I see that hunting is fast leaning toward the realm of those with the dollars and means to pursue such. How often have you heard recently, “I have given up hunting, it is just too difficult to find places to hunt anymore.”
   Whether you agree with their excuse or not, the point is that much of our land is privately owned and it is more and more difficult to attain hunting permission. Count yourself fortunate if you do have access to such hunting territory. Here in our northern part of the state, we are fortunate to have many acres of state land to hunt. You must get off the beaten path a few miles to get into it, but it is available. But access isn’t really the issue I started addressing.
   Let me ask, what is the difference between sitting in your tree stand over a food plot that you planted to draw deer in or sitting over a bait pile you put out to draw deer in? I have no problem with either one of these methods when and where they are legal, within reason. Growing up on deep woods deer hunting as a kid, I do have trouble just sitting over food sources to shoot deer that come in, and calling it hunting.
   This is often the theme I hear when attending outdoor shows or in the reading. It is usually cloaked in the tactic of balancing the scales for yourself, but nevertheless I believe that too many have swallowed this concept to the exclusion of other methods. What has happened to such tactics as stalking, still hunting, tracking and trail/scrape hunting?
   Perhaps it is a shortfall of the new technological age we are part of, but we have become slaves to the charts, feeding schedules, moon phases and phases of the rut. I find that many outdoor show speakers and writers, if they are not toting their latest QMP techniques, are calling for strict adherence to one of these above mentioned “scientific” schedules. They are a useful tool at times but let’s face it, they are not always practical. For myself, I usually get only a few hours per week to spend fishing, hunting or even hiking or canoeing. If I limited myself to those times listed on the charts as the peak times for hunting, I would never get out in the woods or on the lakes. The bottom line is, I go when I have time to go, despite what the charts say about my chances of success. Strangely enough, I have gotten a few of my biggest bucks at a time the charts said I shouldn’t!
   Well enough of my pontification. I’ll step down now, but I hope you get the most out of your times afield and astream despite what experts try telling you.

FISHERMAN OR ANGLER: WHICH ARE YOU?

(Which is your go-to rod of choice? The fly rod or spinning rod?)

  
Is there really a difference between the two terms or is the term angler just a bit archaic for today's usage. Perhaps I should have stated fisherperson or angler, or maybe even just fisher or angler, because today many ladies are joining the ranks of the angling club.
    Though these terms basically mean the same thing, defining that individual that goes out to catch fish, they seem to carry different impact depending on their usage and your view.
     The term fisherman tends to draw a picture of someone who is less selective in his pursuit of the quarry. I do not use that in a derogatory sense. It is just one who really loves to fish! Ready and willing to fish anytime and anywhere.
    Whereas the term angler seems to take a more scientific approach. You catch the idea of a purist dry flier, wading up to his chest in a large river, casting to rising trout. The film "A River Runs Through It" comes to mind.
     Obviously, neither is wrong or less than the other in the real world. The question is how do you see yourself, as a fisherperson or as an angler?

(Just under 17 inches of Brown Trout on spring opener)

FISHING FOR PANFISH

(Fishing for Panfish by Bob Phillips, first appeared in Lake Champlain Weekly in June 2010)
   If in your travels for fishing, you hit a place that just doesn’t have the game species you are searching for or those particular fish just aren’t hitting that day, you often find panfish in the area. These smaller game fish are both good fishing and good table fare but you have to find them in abundance and large enough to give you a good fight on light tackle.
   Many fisherman look down on this class of game fish, particularly the bluegill, sunfish or perch because they just don’t get all that big in most waters. Small six inch perch often become a nuisance very quickly when you are trying to catch something a bit more substantial. However, when you find perch or bluegills in the three quarter pound range and higher, then the fun begins. Not only do you have some good fishing fun but there is enough substance to fillet and have a delicious fish fry.
   Such is the case when I head south to visit my son and his family. We often go fishing and since it is in between seasons, the opener for trout and the opener for bass, we go fishing for panfish. This past week we had a great time fishing for bluegills on a couple of small Pennsylvania lakes. We caught a couple of bass as well and released them since the bass opener was still a few days away.
   We had an ideal setup for our fishing of the first lake. Two small boats with electric trolling motors to propel us around the lake. We fished night crawlers suspended about eighteen inches below a bobber. My son had an ultra light outfit and I was using a light rod with a super sensitive tip and open faced reel. My grandson and granddaughter both had regular six foot rods with Zebco 202 reels. Nothing complicated and yet more than sufficient for this kind of fishing.
    Immediately we started catching fish. This day, my granddaughter was the one catching the most. We had a great time boating one after another of bluegills and sunfish. Using my digital fish scale, we picked out the largest of the fish and weighed them in at eleven and twelve ounces. That’s not bad when a small panfish weighs three quarter of a pound. I have caught perch that weigh in at just over a pound, but that is rare on most of our waters.
   The fun begins once the hook is set and those large bluegills turn sideway to the line resistance. Those big slab sided profiles can resist a lot of water and it feels like your have a much larger fish on that light tackle. In some locales the record bluegills have been known to get up into the 2, 3 and close to 4 pound range. Here in our northern climates, however, the cold and short growing seasons do not produce such large panfish.
   The second lake we fished the next day was all shoreline fishing. We started out fishing with bobbers but I soon found that the wind was keeping the fish closer to bottom. We switched rigs and put on a dropped sinker and suspended our bait about a foot from the bottom. We started catching the occasional bluegill and perch. Nothing like the day before where we took home about three dozen bluegills for a fish fry. But there was still enough excitement to have fun fishing those worthy opponents.
   Not only can you have fun with light and ultra light tackle, but I noticed a couple fishermen were using fly rods and tackle. These large panfish must really put on a good fight on a fly rod.
   If you plan to have a fish fry, you want to fillet the fish as quickly as possible. These large bluegills made about three pounds of fillets. We dusted them in seasoned flour and fried them to a crisp golden brown. Served with white rice and vegetables, we had an excellent meal.
   When next you go afield and astream and you can’t find your favorite game fish, give panfishing a try. Even if you only catch and release, it just might salvage a day of fishing.