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Learn to fish the weeds, not avoid them

“How are they hitting?” It’s the ultimate icebreaker when anglers meet. The other week on a nearby lake my fishing partner and I asked this question of two different boatloads of fishermen, and received two very different responses. “Terrible!” was the first answer from a, shall we say, mature pair in a johnboat. “@#$% weeds. Didn’t catch a thing all day!” “Pretty well,” said our second quizee, a younger fellow in a one-man plastic craft. “Been picking up a few out of the weeds.” One question, two answers. Two different aspects of summer fishing when ...

Summer memories from on the Juniata

Hunters, fisherman, and outdoorsmen have spots. Not literal spots like those of a Dalmatian, but spots meaning places that are special to them. A certain tree, tree stand, rock outcropping or other landmark may come to mind when you think of your owns spots. It may be incredibly secluded and a secret you will take to the grave. It could also be a place that was special to not only you, but for many other people as well. One of my favorite spots of all time wasn’t secluded, secret or private by any stretch, and it was indeed enjoyed my many others over the years. The old ...

Know the rules: Hunting law protects you

Most hunters, or at least the responsible ones, know their game laws before they head into the woods each season. Hunting times, locations, and bag limits are important, but there are some additional laws that protect hunters that some folks are not aware of. Unfortunately, I hear more and more stories on a regular basis about hunters having their outing interrupted by someone who doesn’t like hunting. People who bang pots and pans and blow air horns nearby to scare away the game in which they pursue. People waking into their hunting areas with dogs and yelling directly at the hunter ...

Good rockfish season expected after trophy season

CHESAPEAKE BEACH, Md. — After two very productive days of workshops and seminars at the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers Association spring conference and awards banquet at Chesapeake Beach resort, common sense dictated an early departure Sunday and a full-night’s sleep before pursuing Pennsylvania spring gobblers Monday morning. When Captain Chris Mills, who operates the 40-foot charter boat “Coolbeanz” with Captain Andy Brinsfield as his mate out of Rod-N-Reel Marina, invited six writers for a 6 a.m. departure to pursue trophy rockfish they had enough sense not to decline the ...

MLB pitcher asks hunters to Okla. duck dugout

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley is making a call from the bullpen to see if hunters might like to join him in a dugout in Oklahoma. Or more accurately, in a duck blind. The former Broken Arrow baseball and football standout who was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the first round in 2011, developed a love for waterfowl hunting about the same time his baseball career took off. Now he and former BA teammate Mak Monckton and Spring Valley Rod & Gun Club founder Adam Maris have an idea to boost Oklahoma’s reputation as a waterfowl hunting destination and ...

Hip or not, you can still kill wild turkeys

We all have friends who are always on the band wagon of the “hot new thing” when it comes to turkey hunting. The newest ammunition, the newest vests and clothing, decoys, and calls. I’ll honestly admit that even I sometimes jump in on the excitement when something new comes out. Unless you’re actively trying, it’s quite hard to stay on top of and up to date with all the new advancements in an industry that generates billions of dollars in retail sales each year. So where does that leave the average gobbler hunter? The type of hunter that after paying the bills, putting food ...