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Best Bluegill, Crappie, and Panfish Web Resources
Are you a diehard panfish angler? Can’t get enough of bluegill, yellow perch, crappie, pumpkinseed and other sunfish? If so, you’ll love these top panfish fishing online resources.
Catch 'em!
Crappie.com is one of the largest crappie fishing resources available online. It’s a complete online guide to the fine art of crappie fishing, with an extremely active forum for members to use. Read or post on your favorite tips, tricks, crappie fishing reports and much more. Even more useful is the different State boards, where anglers can find reports specifically from their part of the country. Some of the boards are more active than others (obviously, Washingon State crappie action isn’t quite as popular a discussion point as say, Texas crappie) but overall it’s a great state by state resource for crappie anglers.
Big Bluegill
Big Bluegill is the place to go for trophy bluegill anglers. It’s probably the best online discussion board and angling resource for those loving the thrill of a chunky bluegill. Their fishing forum is not extremely well organized but it does have a large, active and colorful community of anglers who are ready to offer advice. One of the best features of Big Bluegill is their bragging board or Continue reading…
When Fly Fishing Goes Bad. True Tales of Horror From the River.
Oh how we convince ourselves that fly fishing is a peaceful and benign sport. Nothing could be further from the truth. Beware all you fly anglers, for trouble is never too far away when on the creek. These are true tales of horror, straight from the river…
The Bear Always Wins
The Bear Truth
After living in Alaska for over 20 years, I have seen more stupidity and tales of horror on the river where bears and really green out-of-staters are concerned. Here is the deal, the bear always wins, and the bear always has the right of way. Sounds simple, right? Not.
On one memorable fly fishing trip along the road access section of the Kenai (which is already a full-contact sport, but that is a tale for another time), I had the wonderful experience of watching some anglers from Iowa think they had the salt to change the rules. I was 50 or 60 feet from the father/son pair of Iowans, and they were having the time of their life. Not knowing how to read the brush Continue reading…
Respool Your Reel: Tips and Tricks
Like many good things, fishing line eventually runs out. It’s important to replace your fishing line on your reel routinely. Many beginning anglers fail to do so and end up with cut, frayed or chipped line. Even worse, they may lose huge fish that easily spool them or quickly snap their line because they haven’t taken good care of it and replaced it. If you want to replace your old fishing line with some new, fresh mono, read up on these tips for some starters!
First, strip the old fishing line from your reel. Take all of it off and drop it off at a line recycle box, as often found in many tackle shops. Then, thread the new line through your rod guides, down to your reel. Tie it on (making sure bail is open if you are with spinning reel) and start reeling, slowly to avoid line twists and maintaining a smooth, constant pressure as your fill the spool. Knots used to tie on new line include the popular Arbor Knot, viewable here. Keep reeling in until you have filled the spool to roughly to a quarter inch from outer rim. Don’t add too much or it’ll come looping off when you open bail, causing horrible tangles. Continue reading…
Hunting Wild Boar
Boar hunting can be a wild adventure, far different than any other animal you’ve ever hunted. Boars are fast moving creatures that cover a lot of territory in a single day, keeping you on your feet most of the hunt as you scour the land. They’ve also got a different hide than most animals you’ve probably gone after, featuring a thick skin called a cape that shields them from predators and hunter’s bullets. On top of all that, boars are aggressive animals that don’t think twice about throwing around their 300 pounds when they need to, including at humans.
Suffice it to say, you can’t go after a boar like you would a deer, an elk, or even a bear. If you think you’re planting your tush in a Continue reading…
Why Fishermen Lie….
Oh man, do we love to fish. We love the fly and rod, the cast, the gear, the beer, the tackle, the time outside…Let’s face it, we are obsessed with catching those little scaly things that live in the water. And since we are fessing up, let’s call it as it is, we are also full of shit from time to time. I am laying it down, find me an angler, and I wager at some point, that angler has fibbed his ass off after a fishing trip!
Fishing
The White Lie and Fib
You spend the whole Sunday, you know, the Sunday you had to convince your wife you needed for mental-health reasons. This negotiation usually ends with you getting the Sunday fishing trip in exchange for a week’s worth of cold-shoulder glances and a month of full on house chores that really didn’t need doing in the first place (or the purchase of a diamond tennis bracelet). Now, after being on the water all day, you come up short in the creel.
Instead of going home stinking of stale beer, farts and cigar miasma and without any fish, you decide to tell the famed fisherman white lie. Science calls this the “One That Got Away Syndrome”. There are many in the scientific community who think of this as a gateway lie that leads to taller tales and grandiose stories. Regardless, you go to the wife, half-buzzed and reeking of shame and flop sweat and when she asks “Where’s The FIsh?” your Continue reading…
Fishing Stocking Stuffers
Wondering what you should get for the lucky angler on your Christmas list this year? Fear not! MusketCreek offers an excellent selection of fishing items and gear for anglers of all stripes. Tackle these top tips for fishing stocking stuffers this Christmas season today!
Energy Chews
Easy items for any angler are small lure packets and kits. The Johnson Crappie Buster Beetle Spin fishing kits are totally a solid option for just about any angler. Not only will these nail large crappie and bluegill, but they can be great for a variety of freshwater and saltwater species, including the ever-popular largemouth and smallmouth bass. At $1.29 each, these kits from MusketCreek are a real steal as a Christmas stocking stuffer!
However, for many people that are not into fishing, choosing the right lures can be a challenge. How is the non-angler to know if their best friend loves bass fishing or trout fishing? Saltwater or freshwater? Thus, less focused, species-specific fishing stocking stuffers are in order. Topping off the list for such angling Christmas presents are trail energy bars. Powerbars, from candy bar giant Nestle, is a hiking and fishing favorite worldwide. However, variety is the spice of life, so try throwing in some new favorites for fishing energy bites, like the Clif Bar Shot Rocks from Trailsedge or the Clif Bar Blocks-Energy Chews. Both of these are solid choices for delicious and calorie-loading snack options while out on Continue reading…
Here We Are Now, Entertain Us – At The Fly Fishing Film Festival
The Costa Fly Fishing Film Festival is now entering its fourth year and is the go-to event of the year for any fly angler. Like ski films or the Banff Film Festival, the Costa Fly Fishing Film Festival is a show case for amateur and professional films centered on our beloved sport.
Location and Times – Schedule
Launching the 2012 season is the December 21, 2011 showing at the Lions, outside of Boulder, CO. Updated 2012 tour desinations and showings are listed at the Fly Fishing Film Tour website, www.flyfishingfilmtour.com. Continue reading…
Video(s) of the Week: Yes, I’ve got 2 for ya.
I’m a big fan of videos, as you can probably tell (see here). Great fly fishing videos are all over the internet, do yourself a favor and follow some guys that put them out frequently. One of my favorites is of course Yukon Goes Fishing and he’s done it once again….he made me really jealous that I don’t live in Montana. Check it out, Silver and Gold:
Also, if you never read our interview with him…go do that.
And…video numero dos:
One Bug is Fake, the illusive guest blogger, put out a great video this week. First off, I’m really jealous of the bass action he gets on a fly. Second, look at those LASER BEAM CASTS. Check it out:
Please keep the videos coming.
Keeping Kids Safe When Hunting
Much of the advice on supervising children while hunting tends to revolve around common sense advice that applies to hunters of all ages. Namely, make sure their fingers are off the triggers until they’re ready to take a shot, always point the weapon at the ground, respect an unloaded rifle as much as a loaded one, and so on. But there are specific guidelines not found within conventional wisdom everyone should be following when taking children, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren hunting.
Gun Safety
You’ll have to make a judgment call on how much you trust your child Continue reading…
How to Choose Proper Outdoor Fabrics and Apparel
Outdoor enthusiasts have it easy compared to the early explorers and scouts. Instead of waxed-cotton tin-cloth, rag-wool, and heavy furs we have Gore-Tex, softshells, synthetic fabrics, high-tech wool and breathable/waterproof fabrics. It gets a little overwhelming at times due to all the different choices. If you are not sure what each fabric is or what it does, here is a little primer so you can make informed decisions and purchases.
Gore Tex and Breathable/Waterproof Fabrics
Gore-Tex is a product of Gore Technology. This fabric was first brought to the consumer level 25 years ago and it made an immediate “splash” with the outdoor industry.
Gore-Tex fabric uses three different layers to provide the breathable and waterproof capabilities. The top layer is the hard outer fabric that provides the first level of defense against water and the elements. The middle layer is the actual Gore-Tex fabric. Gore-Tex works by having millions of micro-pores that respond to heat and conditions by opening and closing based on levels of heart and moisture. The best way to think of it is as a series of micro one-way valves. The underlayer is the layer that is nearest your skin or body. This is a breathable and lightweight nylon that allows moisture to wick off your body and into the Gore-Tex, where it is seeped out to the top layer that can soak and evaporate it off the fabric. Earlier Gore-Tex clothing was very susceptible to seepage from saltwater. New models are now fully saltwater compatible. Continue reading…
