Monthly Archives: March 2012

The Best Secret Fishing Spot On The Planet

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Timmy has been talking about this place for years.

He would talk, and I would sit there riveted, hoping he would slip up and divulge the location of his own private fishing Nirvana. Each time he told the story, he would give a few more bits and pieces, and like any good super fish sleuth, I would make mental notes, and go home and pull out maps trying to find this “needle in a haystack” creek.

It is not like he hadn’t offered to take me there someday, it’s just that each year seemed to pass by, and we just didn’t seem to make it there. Then…. the next year we would eventually drift in to fish talk about “secret creek”, and I would start the whole process of mentally picturing the bubbling springs, wildflowers, plentiful trout, and wild solitude.

Tim had been going to this place since he was “knee high to a chicken”,(do chickens have kneesall) and according to Tim, this place hadn’t changed much since his “Baba” had dragged his sorry butt up and down these Oregon peaks and meadows.

“Nobody fishes this place.” Tim would say.

Then he would tell me of fish after fish after ever lovin’ wild fish, he and “Baba” would catch and release. They would crash through brush, climb over logs, slog through mud and all the while keep looking over there shoulders just to make sure a bear or cougar wasn’t sneaking up on them.

Fishing Nirvana.

“These aren’t the biggest fish in the world, most are 9 to 12 inches with an occasional 18 incher.” Tim would say.

“And you’ll have to belly crawl and sneak up to a lot of places, and we really can’t fish it until the snow melts and the runoff settles down in mid July.”

“Let’s go.” I would say, emphatically making sure he knew I was of the same ilk as he was when it comes to fishing.

The summer of 2006 was the year.

Plans were made, and I still looked on U.S. forest service maps trying to make last minute guesses as to where we were headed. I half expected Tim to blindfold me like some hostage negotiator being led to an undisclosed location, so as never to find this place again. But, Tim probably figured no one in there right mind would venture into this spot alone.

Tim told me the first day we were only going to scout, just to make sure the water levels were right and had receded enough to fish the creek. We drove high into the mountains, hauling our four wheelers so we could get back easier on the road that led higher and higher into the mountains. Up we went on a goat road, until we came to a spot where a small creek crossed under the road. We stashed our quads in the trees. Then we hiked a mile or so up a creek with no trail. There was a fair amount of water still coming down this high mountain creek, but Tim said, “looks good”.

Of course he also said our fishing spot was still five or six more miles up stream.

I emphasize the part about… no trail???!!!

I stood looking at the creek and peered into the water hoping to see that “occasional 18 incher”, but saw nothing. In fact, as I looked at the series of cascades, drops, and logjams, I could hardly believe this place could hold so many fish. I kept picturing a massive runoff that certainly would tumble all these fish into the larger river miles downstream. Nonetheless, I trusted that Tim knew his Nirvana.

The next day the plan was to take two vehicles. We would drop one “close by” the tail end of our hike out and drive the six or seven miles upstream and fish our way down back to our rig.

We bumped our way up a typical logging road almost to the crest of this steep Oregon range of mountains. Then we again stashed our rig in a place where no one would have a clue why we were there.

Very covert operation…

After making sure we hadn’t been followed, or spied upon, we grabbed our hidden fishing rods and literally-”walked into the woods”.

Timmy is a surveyor by trade, so I felt confident that even though he seemed to be wandering off into an endless forest of spruce, Doug fir and cedars, he knew exactly where he was. We kept climbing and weaving our way in a westerly direction, picking up small deer trails.

Or maybe they were Bigfoot paths!

As we hiked the couple of miles up and down one draw after another, Tim was transported to his youth, and it started to really come clear why this was his favorite fishing spot.

He talked of his deceased “Baba”, a true Oregon homesteading pioneer, who would drink Old Crow whiskey and crow about all these newfangled granola types moving into our area and “screwin’ with it”. He would name off species of trees, point out the sick ones- probably some of the same trees his “baba” had pointed out to him–and talk of a big buck or bear he and “baba” had tracked.

He talked how he and his son had made this same trek, and how Andrew complained about having his sorry butt dragged all over these hills, and then falling in love with this same place like the three generations before him.

We’d stop to unsnag our fishing lines from branches and slide down steep hillsides, climb over logs and you could feel the anticipation in the air as Tim-redescribed- for the hundreth time what we would see when we got to our creek drainage.

And then it was there.

Just as promised, we reached the headwaters of a small mountain creek, somewhere here in the mountains of Oregon. Water bubbling out of the ground from numerous fingers, wildflowers galore, and a giant snow rimmed wall of rocks and trees all around us.

end of part one…..

Fishing Boat – A Fisherman’s Best Friend

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Fishing boats are fishermen’s best friend when it comes to traveling from place to place. In this kind of activity, a smaller-sized boat which would not exceed twenty feet would be good enough for an individual. But in the course of crew travelling or big fish catching, they must prefer the larger boats which could measure more than a hundred feet to be estimated, not only for the crew members, but also for the equipment and the space for storage for the big fishes they would eventually catch.

One must prefer to buy a boat that is intended to be resistant to strong winds and bad weather in the sea, though buying a boat with complete required equipment that come along may cost a lot of money. Even if most anglers are profound on renting boats rather than buying their own, it is still not advisable, for there might be instances where in some greedy business man will lend you a boat that is not safe.

In addition, most anglers hire crew members and captain who are more knowledgeable in the area and eventually manage to direct you to certain spots where fishes are easily found and caught. None the less, only the equipment and the hiring of the boat may cost pretty much for a regular middle class angler to afford. That is the reason why fishing expeditions are more likely for wealthy people.

Evidently, fishing boats come in different variation, from sizes to shapes and so on. Others are made intended for commercial use, and the other are for some sports or recreational fishing activities. Going back to history, boats before are more like canoe, which cannot go that far from the shore.

But nowadays, due to advance technologies and continuing research to improve vessels, boats are much more high quality in use. For example, there are those which can travel long distances, there are those which can store more than the usual catch and so on.

One of the well known types of fishing boat is the trawler that is equipped with many nets to maximize the volume of capture, in this course; this type is particularly for commercial use. Other types include long liners, seiners, factory ships, drifters and so on.

Fly Fishing Equipment – Choosing Fly Rods

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Basic fly fishing equipment consists of three items, fishing rod, reel and fly line. The most important piece of your fly fishing equipment to select is the fly rod. There are many different fish species to target and many different types of water to fish, each having their own set of criteria to meet. This can range in species such as trout, bass, tarpon, salmon large sea fish and even marlin.

Fishing conditions range from small streams, ponds and dams, lakes, large rivers, back-country trout to the open sea. Many serious fly fishermen or women will have up to six or more rods in their collection. However as complicated as it may seem you can narrow down your choice of rod to one or two depending on what type of fishing you intend doing.

Fly fishing can be a precise sport that usually requires the fly to be presented to a fish with accurate casting, for this reason the fly rod requires qualities that can preform the way the fisher intends. The rod needs to not only present a fly in a way that imitates its prey but also handle the impending battle, especially large fish in heavy flowing waters.

Choosing Your Fly Rod.

Long gone are the days of bamboo rods and to a certain extent fiber-glass rods. Technology advances now gives us access to an abundance of choices with the main type of rod construction being graphite. These rods offer power, accuracy and the strength to land big fish in all fishing situations.

Determine Your Fish Type.

Most people know what fish species they need their fly fishing equipment for, most popular are bass and trout, a large mouth bass behaves differently in its pursuit of its prey than does a rainbow trout. They also fight differently and are found in different environments.

Determine Your Waterways.

As a general rule the type of water you fish will dictate the type of rod you choose. Fly fishing equipment comes in different “weights” from 1 through to 12. Where low weight numbers such as a 4 are for light delicate casts that you would use in a small stream or pond, and heavy weights such as a 9 or 10 would be used in large fast moving rivers. The lighter weights require more skill as you are aiming for precise, gentle, shorter casts, usually to fish that are visible and feeding, and using very light lines, tippets and flies. The heavy weight rods are also used to target visible feeding fish but also fishing blind in lakes and rivers. The larger weight fly fishing gear gives long casts and allows the use of large fishing flies.

Another consideration in choosing fly fishing rods is the action of the rod or flex, full flex rods are sensitive and gives a better feel for the fish, but are short on casting distance, a stiffer rod will allow longer distance casts but will sacrifice the sensitivity. In situations of heavy wind, fast flowing rivers and sea fishing a fast action stiff fly rod is your best bet.

Although these two extremes of 4 weight and 9 weight require two complete sets of fly fishing equipment, there is a middle ground that can cover most fly fishing situations. Using a weight 7 rod, reel and line will enable you to fish smaller streams, lakes and medium size rivers, this is a very versatile weight and in a medium action ideal for beginners and experienced fishermen alike. small four to six piece rods in a 6-7 weight is an ideal setup for the traveling fisherman.

How to Get a Turkey Hunting License

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No matter where you live there are some basic steps that you should follow when you plan on getting a hunting license. Following these steps, having applications and information ready ahead of time and doing a little bit of planning can make the process of applying for and getting a turkey hunting license a lot easier and less stressful.

The first step in getting your turkey hunting license is to pick what season you want to hunt in, fall or spring, and what area you want to hunt in. It’s best to stay within your state of residency but not necessary. Even within the state you live in you will need to do some research and find out where the best hunting is.

Once you know where you want to hunt you will also need to identify what type of wild game you want to hunt. If you want to hunt just wild turkey then you will need a permit to hunt turkey. If you want to hunt turkey and other game you will need a separate permit for each type of game you want to hunt in addition to the actual hunting license.

Find out what the residency requirements are and if you fit them. If you are getting a license to hunt in your home state then you will probably meet all the residency requirements. If you are hunting in a state that you don’t live in you might need to purchase a different type of license, usually more expensive but not always. Many states limit the number of non residents allowed to hunt in that state so get your application in early to make sure you can get one of the designated non resident licenses.

Find out what the regulations are for your state or the state you are applying for a hunting license in and fill out the applications. Gather any supporting documentation you need and keep all the forms and papers together. Make copies of everything.

When you fill out the hunting license application be sure to find out if your state required HIP certification. If so, you need to get HIP certification at the same time that you get the hunting license.

When you have received your hunting license and your permit to hunt turkeys and whatever other wild game you want to hunt make sure that you make copies of all your documents. Place copies of all your licenses and permits in your vehicle’s glove box, in your hunting bag, and make sure to carry a copy with you at all times when you are out hunting.

Refrigerated Truck Rental

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Refrigerated trucks are just like any normal truck in size an handling, the only different is that they offer refrigeration in the back. They are like any other truck to drive, so smaller trucks may not require any special licenses. However as they require refrigeration they may incur slightly higher rental fees than normal trucks. Refrigerated truck rental is also a simple process and only requires valid ID and the fees/deposit.

Generally you are able to find refrigerated truck rental at any normal rental company although there are some companies whom specialize in refrigerated trucks. The refrigeration unit can be powered by a small diesel engine or may make use of a carbon dioxide cooling mechanism. There are also ice cooled trucks which may be used for the transport of fish and other related perishable goods.

There are also some companies online whom hire such trucks. However, depending on how large the brand is they may not be available in your area. Most of the larger truck rental companies service all the major areas. When you do hire the truck yourself you will usually save a lot of money over paying a company to drive for you.

The whole process of refrigerated truck rental is usually quick and painless. There is paperwork involved but most of it will not be on your end. If you will be driving the truck yourself you need to look into the insurance options, because uninsured you may end up paying $50000 to replace a crashed truck.

Fishing Gear – Weather Instruments For Fishing

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Conditions on the water can change in the time it takes you to bait your hook. One minute the seas are calm, the next a 40 mph wind is blowing buckets of rain into your face. Fish are affected by the surface weather, too. Many feed off insects that land on the water. Changes in temperature, rainfall and other weather factors influence their behavior.

The best way to stay safe and optimize your odds for a good catch is to carry good weather gear with you. That’s as true standing on the shore as it is cruising on a boat. You need to know when to take shelter and it helps to know why the fish aren’t biting.

Good weather instruments will provide a big assist in solving those problems.

There are a variety of tools the smart fisherman can take advantage of, including an anemometer. These hand-held units measure current wind speed and direction, maximum wind gusts and calculate an average for you. All those pieces of information are useful and it helps to have a unit that can store the values so you can cycle through them.

A barometric gauge measures air pressure. At home, that’s usually no more than an interesting factoid. TV weathermen rarely even bother to report it anymore. But on the water that little piece of information can be a lifesaver. As pressure drops worsening weather is often not far behind. Air pressure is closely associated with changes in temperature, the chances of rain in the near future and other vital facts. Having a way to measure the current air pressure and the trend can be very useful for safe fishing.

The temperature, of course, interests everybody. It affects how we dress, where we’ll steer the boat and the odds of that big trout you’ve been chasing coming out to play or not. It also affects the odds of rain in the offing and other weather phenomenon. An accurate gauge that tells both the cabin and outdoor temperatures is even more useful on the water than at home.

Weather instruments today often integrate all these features. There are units that will provide digital readouts for indoor and outdoor temperature, display air speed, direction, and pressure and even measure the amount of rainfall received over a period of time. They can include sunrise and sunset times, phases of the moon and storm alerts, too.

Fishing for Alaskan Crabs and Clams

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If you’re fortunate enough to visit Alaska for a week or longer, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to use your fishing tackle. But if you want to mix it up a little, check out some of the native mollusks and crustaceans. Alaska is ripe with clams and crabs that will make a tasty addition to your fish fry. And, what better way to spend a day at the beach or out on the waterall Fishing for crabs and clams can be a lot of fun.

Dungeness Crabs

Anglers can enjoy fishing for dungeness crabs nearly all year round in Southeast Alaska. Dungeness crabs are different in appearance from king or snow crabs because their legs are shorter and smaller relative to their bodies. Also, spines on the top side the shell are absent from dungeness crabs. These crabs can grow to be more than 6 inches wide and typically weigh around 2 pounds. Mature male crabs can be even larger.

Not every crab can be kept. Only male crabs that are 6 and a half inches or greater can be harvested. There are also regulations concerning how many crabs each individual can harvest. Be careful handling dungeness crabs. These crustaceans have strong pincers that can strike at any time and leave quite a mark.

Equipment for crab fishing can include ring nets, dip nets, diving gear, and hooked or hookless handlines, but most recreational crab fishermen just use traditional crab pots. Occasionally crabs can be spotted on the beach and picked up there. Crab pots are usually baited with dead fish bodies. Effective baits include salmon, cod, herring and halibut carcasses.

Razor Clams

On the Pacific coast, there are only about 8 places where you can find large populations of razor clams. The Eastern side of Cook Inlet in Alaska is one of those places. These small mollusks are highly prized and often sold for over $10 a pound. Digging for clams can be a great way to spend a few hours on the beach, and no experience is required.

Razor clams can be identifyed by long and narrow shells that are yellowish brown in color. Razor clams are usually smaller than a dollar bill but can grow to be longer than 7 inches.

Two of the best beaches for finding razor clams are Deep Creek and aptly named Clam Gulch. When digging for razor clams, the only pieces of equipment required are clam shovels and buckets. Low tide is the best time to dig for clams. A small indentation on the sand is a good indicator of a clam’s presence. When you see an indentation of this kind, start digging, but be careful not to break the fragile shell of the clam. Take caution when handling razor clams as the shells are very sharp.

Whenever you feel like changing up your fishing routine, try your hand at crab or clam fishing. Digging clams on Alaska’s beaches or crabbing on the water is good fun. Happy fishing!

The Fish Don’t Care What You Wear

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The fish don’t care what you wear. Waders, vests and hats for fishermen are necessities to brave the elements.

Waders are a must if you are planning any surfcasting or stream wading. And what you need to know about waders, no matter how much you spend for them, they will eventually leak and new waders must be replaced.

Love to fish in the streams during the summerall Rivers are low running and are not deep; so hip waders are perfect. Why heat up in chest waders when hip waders will suffice. On the other hand, those one-piece chest-high waders are a necessity for surfcasting. Irritating sand or pea gravel cannot wedge their way into your boots.

Alternatives to chest waders are the stocking-foot waders. Stocking-foot waders are also chest-high, but anglers will require wading shoes or boots. Some anglers favor wading shoes or boots as they give added support and traction while fishing all day.

It is difficult to imagine fishing without vests. Vests are invaluable as they contain many pockets to hold such items as expensive flies or lures as well as your bug repellant. But ensure that the pockets open from the top and not the side so not to lose those valuable flies or lures. Not to imagine losing your car key.

And lastly, don’t forget your fishing hat and sunglasses. You certainly do not want to get sunstroke in the hot sun as well; fishing hats shield your head from the rain. Furthermore, hats and sunglasses will protect your eyes from glaring sunlight and you can see what the fish are up to when the sun is setting in the sky. Which in fact, is the most opportune time of the day to catch that big one.

Alaska Crab Fishing Jobs

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Have you ever thought about quitting your present job and going to Alaska to do some crab fishingall If so then chances are you already know that there are a lot of Alaska crab fishing jobs out there. Within this article we are going to be talking about the jobs, the dangers, and what fishing jobs are.

First you should know that if you are in Alaska and fishing for Alaskan king crab then you will be doing this during the cold winter months. You will be doing your job off the coast of Aleutian Islands. When it comes to the commercial harvest of crabs then you should know that it only done for a little while and the season is very short. You will also find king crab caught in the Russian waters along with the international waters.

In the 1980′s the Alaskan crabbing jobs were at the best because the fisheries were producing around two hundred million pounds of crab. Then three years later, in 1983, the total size of the crabs caught had dropped big time. There have been a number of theories as to why the population has dropped. This includes over fishing, an increase in the wild eating the crab and warmer waters. The true cause as to why the population has went down remains a mystery to this day. This results in a short season of fishing jobs. In four days in the winter season of 2005-2006 there was 250 boats that caught fourteen million pounds..

If you are still looking in on the Alaskan Crab fishing job then you should know that it has its very dangerous side to it. You may not realize it but fishing jobs are actually known to be one of the most dangerous jobs to be found in the United States of America. The commercial fishing job ranked with the highest fatality rate with 118.4 fatalities per 100,000 and that was done in the year 2005 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Crabbing jobs are known to be even more dangerous than the normal fishing jobs. These jobs have 300 fatalities per 100,000. Most of these deaths are being caused by either hypothermia or drowning.

The fishermen are also known to have injuries from the heavy equipment being used on the crab fishing jobs and some of those injuries leave them where they can never walk again. If you are still considering quitting your everyday job and becoming a fisherman then you should think twice. Yes, fishing is fun but it’s not worth it. Now if you think you are up to dealing with the potential hazards that come with the job then you should go for it but remember to stay safe.

Brief Overview on How to Land Jobs on a Commercial Fishing Boat

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Since you were young, you have always been fascinated by the lives of those who work on fishing boat. What you really want is to buy your own that is why you keep on looking for fishing boats for sale. Now that you already have an idea of how much this material would cost, you are leaning on another direction. You still want to get that dream, but you need to work hard and save up to attain it. This is what made you decide to work on a commercial fishing boat. Through this, you will be able to earn money that can help you save for what you want to buy in the end, and you will also learn a lot from the processes involved and how to work your way on this type of vessel.

In searching for jobs, you first have to look for places where this kind of industry is successful. You need to find some place where the fishing industry is huge. These places usually have numerous onshore processing plants.

After you have decided about the place, you then need to get in touch with the owners of larger trawlers. Skip the smaller types that are family-owned because if ever they would need any help, they would look for their family members or relatives to reduce the overall costs that they would have to spend in hiring extra hands.

You need to set your eyes on larger kinds with tenders and giant floating processors. You must remember that you want to experience as many things as possible and this is your best chance to get such. This is actually a lucrative job, so make sure that you are hired by the right employer. Search about the background of these companies before handing them your resume. You have to ask around, especially to those who have similar experiences, about what to expect and how much you can demand.