Wildlife Quiz - Small Mouth Bass

The Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) exist as freshwater member of the sunfish family. The Smallmouth Bass differs from the Largemouth Bass in that its upper jaw of does not extend beyond the back of the eye. The Smallmouth Bass goes by many other names such as Smallie, Bronzeback, Brownie, Black Bass, Brown Bass, and Bareback Bass. Originally a native to the Mississippi River, Saint Lawrence River, Great Lakes, and Hudson Bay, through stocking the Smallmouth Bass can now be found inhabiting lakes, streams and rivers across Canada and the United States.

Smallmouth Bass commonly live 5-7 years, with a few impressive individuals reaching 10-20 years of age. Older adult Smallmouth Bass can attain lengths up to 27 inches and weigh as much as 12 pounds but in Maine, only a few individuals ever exceed 5 pounds. Male Smallies weigh around two pounds, while females tend to be larger, averaging three to five pounds.

The Maine state record smallmouth bass stands at 8 pounds and was caught in Thompson Lake by George Dyer in 1970. The current world record for a smallmouth bass is 11 lb 15 oz. 

When water temperatures warm to the mid-50s, smallmouths begin move into the shallow flats to spawn. Spawning occurs in water 3-15 feet deep, in small diameter gravel nests that border underwater stumps, boulders and vegetation. The female can lay up to 20,000 eggs, which are guarded by the male until they hatch.

Voracious eaters, Smallmouth Bass prey upon almost anything they can fit in their mouths and have even been observed eating frogs, mice and birds. Their tenacity makes Smallmouth Bass one of the most popular game species, regarded for its size by many anglers as, "the gamest fish that swims".

Wildlife Quiz Questions:
1. What is the difference between a Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass?
 2. What was the original native range of the Smallmouth Bass?
 3. How long does a Smallmouth Bass typically live?
4. What is the largest Smallmouth Bass caught in Maine?
5. What is the weight of the world record Smallmouth Bass?
6. When do Smallmouth Bass spawn?
7. How many eggs do Smallmouth Bass lay?
8. What large prey species have Smallmouth Bass been seen feeding upon?

 Wildlife Quiz Answers: 
1. The Smallmouth Bass differs from the Largemouth Bass in that its upper jaw of does not extend beyond the back of the eye.
 2. The Smallmouth Bass was originally a native to the Mississippi River, Saint Lawrence River, Great Lakes, and Hudson Bay.
3. Smallmouth Bass commonly live 5-7 years.
4. The Maine state record smallmouth bass stands at 8 pounds and was caught in Thompson Lake by George Dyer in 1970.
5. The current world record for a smallmouth bass is 11 lb 15 oz.
6. Smallmouth Bass begin move into the shallow flats to spawn, when water temperatures warm to the mid-50s.
7. Female Smallmouth Bass can lay up to 20,000 eggs.
8. Smallmouth Bass have been observed eating frogs, mice and birds.

August PERFECT for Coyote Hunting and Bass Fishing!

Coyote Hunting 

While hunters can shoot coyotes in Maine all year round, a special night hunting permit allows hunters to shoot coyotes at night until Aug. 31st. While use of spotlights is certainly extremely beneficial, hunting under the added illumination of a full moon offers an even higher degree of visibility, providing more accurate species identification and faster target acquisition in a larger kill zone. The full moon on August 20th will afford the last really good opportunity to pursue these critters at night until the coyote night hunting season re-opens in mid December.

Those new to the exciting sport of predator hunting will find August the perfect time to get out and try their luck, as young coyotes will be out and about in the early evenings. These awkward, uneducated teenage coyotes are typically much easier to dupe and will often forgive calling mistakes that would typically run off more wary mature coyotes. If wanting to try hunting coyotes and yet to do so, this is the month! The shear number of available predator calls is mind blowing and newbies often have a difficult time making a selection that is both easy to operate and works well on Washington County coyotes. The “Original Tweety” call by Verminator is a small hand held call, quick to learn and operate and capable of producing a wide range of calls from wounded bird to rabbit to deer by simply placing the reed at different depths within the mouth. For those looking to attempt some basic howling, the Primos Mini-Mag Howler is a fantastic starting call. While it does require a fair amount of practice before attempting to take it afield it is still one of the easiest howlers to learn to call well. Additionally, howling mistakes made by newbie predator callers will not be that important in August as teenage coyote howls frequently crack and are not as perfect and on key as the adults.

The Stud Mill road is a dirt highway through the vast Maine wilderness, providing access to thousands of miles of prime coyote hunting opportunities. One of my personal favorite spots is located in and around Cranberry lake (DeLorme’s The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (MAG), Map 35 E2 and 3). Hunting in groups of 3 or 4 people a common technique involves using a vehicle to drop off individuals at set intervals and have them try calling. A couple miles between each caller is sufficient spacing and allows each person plenty of breathing room. Once the driver parks the vehicle and is in place, they call for about an hour and then drive back and collect the other hunters. This sequence can be repeated over and over and allows a group to cover a lot of miles calling. Just remember to take turns being the last man out of the truck as stud mill coyotes seem to be forgiving of vehicles that simply drive by but a stopping vehicle makes them extremely cagey and the last man out of the truck usually shoots the least number of coyotes.

 Please remember that the Stud Mill road and all of the connecting side roads are a titanic and complex maze for the uninitiated. When dropping off hunters, be sure to have a plan in place for pick-up that involves colored marking ribbons at drop off positions, a set meeting time to be by the roadside and GPS waypoints. Being lost in the Maine woods anytime of year isn’t an enjoyable option and a simple plan makes this scenario completely preventable.

Bass Fishing
Haven’t yet quite quenched that bass fishing desire? Well, now is the time to get out there on the water. While a certain contingent of anglers believe strongly in a strict policy of catch and release that does not match my ideals. Fishing without keeping a few of these delectable trophies to me is a lot like chewing and not being allowed to swallow . . . there is simply an enjoyable component of the fishing experience that is inherently missing.

If planning to try hauling in a few hogs for the deep fat fryer, the perfect size bass is in the 2-3 pound range. This size makes for a good-sized filet for the exerted effort and also provides a younger fish less likely to be loaded with copious amounts of mercury. Though many will brag about their award winning frying batters, I prefer a easy to prepare whole milk, egg, flour dip. Simply put each of the three ingredients in separate bowls and dip the filets into each bowl, completely covering them with each of the ingredients. Once the pieces are completely covered with batter they can be lightly dropped into the deep fat fryer where they sputter in the hot oil till they reach a golden brown color. Once removed pat dry with a paper towel, salt heavily and drop on a plate with a side of garlic smashed potatoes and a couple ears of corn on the cob, lightly sprinkled with chili powder. DELICIOUS!

Bass #50 for the Day

It is certainly no secret that Washington County contains numerous truly epic lakes and ponds, filled to the brim with large and small mouth bass. Topping this listing of impressive waters is Grand Falls Flowage (DeLorme’s The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (MAG), Map 36, A-2). This shallow 6,691acre body of water contains submerged logs, stumps and aquatic vegetation making it perfect habitat for birthing big bass. The flowage also commonly produces small mouths in the 3-4 pound range due to strict length limits. While bass certainly thrive in this location that does not mean they will necessarily be easily caught. A number of factors including time of day, ability to locate promising bottom structure and lure selection presents just a few of the variables that will need to be carefully considered.

One way to stay updated on the latest bass fishing action is to check out: http://www.themainebladerunners.net. This local bass fishing club was established to promote bass fishing in Washington County and the surrounding area. Their primary goal is to improve the sport through such endeavors as introducing more youth to bass fishing, promoting catch and release and helping to improve the quality of fishing in Downeast Maine. The president Matthew Mitchell and the rest of the club members enjoy promoting the sport, answering questions and assisting other anglers in finding that magic selection of lures, time and habitat that will lead to a successful day on the water!

Bruiser Bass and Turkey Salad

Chasing Bruiser Bass
As water temperatures begin to slowly rise, bass become increasingly active. This leads to great fishing, with activity remaining steady up to the end of the summer. The combination of abundant forage and jacked metabolisms, make bass exceedingly voracious and they attack lures with contempt and struggle against lines with every ounce of their being. Angling excitement runs high, as aggressive strikes create watery explosions and hooked fish fly high into the air, in displays of astounding acrobatics.

Fishing for bass is all about location, find underwater structure and the bass will be there. While many waters may be fished from shore with success, reaching the best fishing spots requires breaking free from the crowded boat launches and accessing areas that see limited fishing pressure. All manner of large and small watercraft can be used to bass fish effectively, as long as care is taken to respect the anticipated weather conditions. Maine lakes are notoriously fickle and a beautiful day on the water can quickly turn life threatening. Depth maps and fish finders help anglers study bottom structure and locate fish but nothing quite compares to general firsthand knowledge of a lake or pond. Bright sunshine, calm water and polarized sunglasses, greatly facilitate the process of finding areas containing ambush cover for hungry bass. Locating beaver lodges, underwater weed beds, sunken logs and stumps, rocks, shoals, ledges, drop offs and submerged islands, will put you leaps ahead of other fishermen. Mark these areas with a GPS or write down locations and you will be served for years to come with fishing hotspots.

Fishing with friends, vastly increases the chance of finding that magic color and lure combination and allows the opportunity to locate bass faster by effectively covering more area with more lines in the water. Using a variety of different lures can assist anglers in finding combinations that strike gold so never be afraid to experiment and try something new. For the bass fisherman looking for a unique experience, try using live red fin shiners (3-4 inches), 2/0 hooks and large bobbers. This set-up is effective on both small and large mouth bass. For many, pitching a bobber and staring at it all day long is not going to prove to be the most exciting of fishing endeavors. For the search and destroy crowd, who like to cast, sluggos, blue foxes and terminator spin baits are all capable of eliciting brutal early spring reaction strikes. Fishing two poles, one for bobbing and one for casting, greatly maximizes your presentation by keeping two baits in the water at all times. This set-up allows you to fish live bait while a second line is cast and used to locate fish. This system is very effective anytime during the fishing season. *Please note that you are not allowed to keep bass in the state of Maine caught on live bait until after July 1st. Also until July 1, you are only allowed to catch and keep one bass, over 10 inches.

For a wild time on the water, try angling one of Washington County’s premier bass fishing destinations, Boyden’s Lake, found in DeLorme’s The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (MAG), Map 37, D-2. Anglers can expect to catch many fine large mouth bass in the 18-20 inch range, with fish over 20 inches occurring at regular intervals. While larger fish are always a possibility, extensive time and luck will be needed to find them. When fishing, please be sure to monitor and clean your lures, motor, anchors and boat trailers of the invasive underwater plant Milfoil. Milfoil has the potential to destroy many of Washington County’s premiere fishing destinations. Do you part and check for this evil little hitchhiker!

Turkey! It’s What’s for Dinner! 
All of your scouting and target shooting lead to the successful tagging of a nice tom turkey. Now with old tom resting comfortably in the freezer, what comes next? Basically in preparing your turkey dinner, hunters employ one of two processing methods. The first choice, involves the time consuming process of plucking the bird. In the end, the completed product will look like a skinny-miniaturized butterball turkey. This is a great option if your plans involve deep fat frying the entire bird in peanut oil or baking in a roasting bag for a thanksgiving dinner. The second choice includes the faster, more simplified process of breasting the bird. This involves using a sharp knife to slice a straight line down each side of the turkey’s breastbone and removing the meat from each side, in a process similar to filleting. The benefit of breasting is time, as it can be completed in about 10 minutes, as opposed to the plucking, which if done correctly, takes about 1 hour. Of course, the drawback to the breasting is that it sacrifices a significant amount of meat.

Wild turkey has a delicious “undomesticated” taste and can be prepared in a number of different ways from being breaded and deep fat fried to made into delicious turkey soups. Sometimes, older birds can be tough and require parboiling or a few minutes in the food processor to be reduced to an edible consistency. In these cases, I resort to my favorite all time turkey recipe . . .

Simple Turkey Salad 
2 cups of finely chopped turkey breast
½ cup of Mayonnaise
¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
1 stalk of celery, chopped

*Combine all ingredients in a bowl, add paprika, garlic powder, finely chopped onion and dried red pepper flakes in accordance with individual taste and mix thoroughly. Put a few spoonfuls on toasted sour dough bread with a slice of tomato, leaf of lettuce and enjoy! Whatever the final processing and prepping decision, always make sure to honor your kill by using and not wasting as much of the usable meat as possible and sending little to the trash can!

Kicking Bass and Taking Names!

Braving near blizzard conditions, Rhon Bell AKA @BackwoodsPlaid (backwoodsplaid.com) and I decided to try out luck chasing “trash” fish on a unnamed pond in a uncharted section of central, Maine. Our intended targets were pickerel, yellow perch, black crappie and of course largemouth bass.

Well aware of the predicted weather, we were still bent on spending a day in wild pursuit of fish, rather than hiding inside, watching life pass by through the glass of a window pane. In Maine its best to you plan your adventures, oft with little care about what Mother Natures plans might be for to worry about what might happen is futile.

Having fished this water dozens of times, during both the summer and winter seasons, I was prepared with a head full of detailed information on where the best fishing could be found.

We barely had let the bait soak for 30 minutes, when the flags started popping, providing us with hardly any respite throughout the entire morning and into the early afternoon.

With small hooks, light lines and diminutive shiners, we were successful in catching countless pickerel and yellow perch and even several award winning bass through the ice.

Uncharacteristic for this time of year, the bass fought with ferocity, uncommon during the winter season and provided Rhon and I a lot of late season fishing fun.

We returned all of the big bass to the lake, only keeping a few of the smaller “trash” fish for the fry pan and fish chowder . . . DELICIOUS!

Bass Fish Like a Pro - Central Maine

Red Fin Almost Cut in Half By a Strike!

It is certainly no secret that central Maine contains numerous truly epic lakes and ponds, each filled to the brim with large and small mouth bass. Topping this listing of impressive waters are Messalonskee and Cobbosseecontee Lake and Long, Great and North Pond. While bass are certainly thriving in these locations that does not mean you will necessarily be successful in catching them. A number of factors including time of day, you ability to locate promising bottom structure and lure selection are just a few of the variables that will need to be carefully considered.

Time of Day 
Early mornings and late evenings certainly top my list as favorite times to fish. These times of the day typically see less boat traffic and are less abused by high winds that build later in the day. Add to these benefits the possibility of viewing beautiful sunsets and sunrises and it isn’t hard to understand why a day on the water usually starts or ends in the dark. All things considered, however, excellent fishing can be had at anytime of the day, given you locate the fish and feed them what they want to eat. When the conditions are right and the fish decide to bite it sometimes seems that nothing will keep them off your hook.

Bottom Structure 
Depth maps and fish finders will assist you in studying bottom structure and finding fish but nothing can compare to general first hand knowledge of the area you are planning to fish.

Knowing where to find beaver lodges, underwater weed beds, sunken logs and stumps, rocks, shoals, ledges, drop offs, islands and other such areas will put you leaps ahead of other fishermen. Wearing a pair of polarized sunglasses, with bright sunshine and the benefit of calm water, the process of finding areas containing ambush cover for hungry bass and pike is greatly facilitated.

Mark these areas with a GPS or write down locations and you will be served for years to come with fishing hotspots.

Location

While any of these waters may be fished from shore with success, reaching the best fishing spots requires breaking free from the crowded boat launches and accessing areas that see little fishing pressure. Canoes, kayaks and all manner of larger watercraft can be used as long as care is taken to respect the anticipated weather conditions.

Many central Maine lakes are notoriously fickle and a beautiful day on the water can quickly turn life threatening. Always wear a life jacket, as water temps even a month after ice out will only allow minutes of survival time before your body will fail to function and you will drown.

In the spring of the year, as the water temperatures begin to slowly raise, bass will become more and more active. This can lead to great fishing in as early as April, with the activity remaining steady up to the end of June. By slowly working a mixture of flats (staging areas), weed beds, under water holes and heavy cover, anglers can expect to find many fine specimens in the 18-20 inch range, with fish over 20 inches occurring at regular intervals. While larger fish are always a possibility, extensive time and luck will be needed to find them.

Go with #4 BF

Lure Selection and Presentation 
For the bass fisherman looking for a unique experience, they should try using live red fin shiners (3-4 inches), 2/0 hooks, 45 lb steel leaders, large bobbers and 20 lb braided line. This set-up is effective on both small and large mouth bass and the heavy hardware ensures that if a massive northern pike is caught, it will be unable to escape. *Please note that you are not allowed to keep bass in the state of Maine caught on live bait until after July 1st. Also until July 1, you are only allowed to catch and keep one bass and it must be over 10 inches.

For many, pitching a bobber and staring at it all day long is not going to prove to be the most exciting of fishing endeavors. For the search and destroy crowd, who like to cast, sluggos, blue foxes and terminator spin baits are all capable of eliciting brutal reaction strikes, during the early spring. Securing these baits to your line with a protective steel leader, will assist in making sure pike can’t break free.

Fishing two poles, one for bobbing and one for casting is a great way to maximize your presentation by keeping two baits in the water at all times. This set-up allows you to fish live bait while the second line is cast and used to locate fish. This system is very effective anytime during the fishing season.

Access
The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer is a fantastic tool for locating boat launches and hand carries to allow access to the various lakes and ponds mentioned above. Also the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has organized a fishing guide driven by Google Earth that provides vital information.

When fishing please be sure to monitor and clean your lures, motor, anchors and boat trailers of the invasive underwater plant Milfoil. Milfoil has the potential to destroy many of Maine’s premiere fishing destinations. Do you part and check for this evil little hitchhiker!

Remember as the water and air temperatures warm up a bit, it becomes the perfect time to introduce youngsters to the joys of fishing. To assist in this endeavor please read the following past blog posts:

1. Hook Kids Into Fishing – Introduction
2. Hook Kids Into Fishing – Hooks and Lures 
3. Hook Kids Into Fishing – Putting It All Together
4. Hook Kids Into Fishing – What If We Catch Something
5. Taking A Kid Fishing Yields Happy Memories

Also, for those of you chasing Salmon and Togue this spring, be sure to read:
1. Spring Fishing Techniques – Trolling

LASTLY, for those of you who would like to see me receive a public FLOGGING please read:
Frayed Friendship and the LOCATION of Lake X!

Duckman Reels in a Monstah (Video)!

April Fishing Mayhem. . . Pike, Smallies and Large Mouths OH MY!

Travis with a Nice Northern Pike

Duckman with a Small Mouth Bass

Rabid Outdoorsman with a Large Mouth Bass

Duckman with a Large Mouth Bass

Travis with a Large Mouth Bass

For More On Travis and Duckman see: http://www.justnorthofordinary.com and http://downeastduckhunter.blogspot.com

Maine Magazine Interview

The October 2011 edition of Maine Magazine (http://www.themainemag.com) will be featuring an interview they conducted with me a few months ago. I suppose you could say it is my guaranteed 15 minutes of fame. The entire process, meeting with the writer and then trying to act natural for the photography session was VERY interesting and a great learning opportunity. I hope that ultimately my interview, which centers on educating youth about the natural world, inspires a few more kids (and adults) to live a life a bit more “wild”.

Over the next several days, additional traffic may pass thorough the blog, as a result of the Maine Magazine interview. Because of this, I wanted to welcome new readers to my blog! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your interest and hope you will feel free to add comments when and where appropriate. If you have specific questions and wish to contact me directly, my e-mail address is: rabidoutdoorsman@yahoo.com.

Background:

If you are wondering, “who in heck is this guy”, access my “About Me” section as it provides a brief synopsis on who I am and what I am all about.

If you are short on time and overwhelmed by the shear volume of blather I have manage to create, since I started the blog in February of 2008. Check out my “Popular Blog Posts” and “Published Stories” section as they highlight what I consider some of my favorite and best postings.

The Inside Scoop on the Maine Magazine “Interview”:

If you can believe it, an interview isn’t half as bad as you might originally want to imagine. It was actually relatively painless and not nearly as invasive as I had feared. I suppose, I was very fortunate to have the entire session conducted by one of Maine Magazine’s skilled editorial staffers as well as freelance photographer Ben Krebs (http://benkrebs.com). Both individuals possessed style, grace and class vastly superior to my own, just the type of people you want on your side to make you look good!

Provided below is the photograph chosen for the magazine interview, my top 10 suggestions for a photograph title and the extended version of the magazine interview. I hope you enjoy!

Kicking Bass and Taking Names

 My Top 10 List of Possible Photograph Titles:

   1. Photographer Ben Krebs and I wondering what the poor people are doing.

   2. Photographer Ben Krebs and I kicking bass and taking names.

   3. Photographer Ben Krebs and I doing what rednecks do best.

   4. Photographer Ben Krebs and I wondering why this fish I am holding is so damn small.

   5. Photographer Ben Krebs and I both glad I am wearing briefs and not boxers.

   6. Photographer Ben Krebs and I thinking that I might want to consider getting a gym membership.

   7. Photographer Ben Krebs and I very intoxicated and playing rock, paper, scissors to determine who drives to beer store.

   8. Photographer Ben Krebs and I hopelessly lost and hoping that someone will eventually find our bodies.

   9. Photographer Ben Krebs and I thinking we hear banjos and preparing to paddle faster.

  10. I Can Plainly See Your Nuts

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Maine Magazine Q and A – Extended Version not Available in the Magazine Interview

How did you get started hunting?

For me starting to hunt was a relatively easy endeavor, having grandfathers, a father, and an uncle who were all registered Maine guides and passionate about the outdoors. From a time shortly after I began walking, they helped me take the formal and informal steps in my outdoors training that eventually led me to become interested in hunting.

What most don’t understand is that hunting, is much more then handing a young man a rifle and pointing him in the direction of the woods. A hunter is someone who has undergone years of instruction and guidance in understanding a large number of individual skills, eventually building to the mastery of a diverse tool kit of abilities.

Most importantly, before venturing forth into the wilds, to be safe and comfortable in the woods a hunter must know how to use a map and compass and what to do in a situation should they become lost or injured. A hunter should also know how to dress for the bitter north winds and blowing snow and how to start a fire in the wettest and direst of circumstances. These are fundamental skills that should be learned early and by all outdoorsmen, regardless if they someday intend to hunt.

To hunt game ethically and well one must understand the animal he is pursuing, know its tracks, behaviors and where it is likely to live and feed. A hunter must know how to accurately shoot from a variety of stances, understand the inner workings of firearms and how to clean and care for them.

To humanely kill game, a hunter must know the animal’s anatomy and where to place a shot to quickly dispatch it. A hunter must also know what to do should that bullet not be perfectly placed and an animal need to be tracked. A hunter must also understand how to field dress, butcher and properly care for a killed animal, so the meat is not wasted. Lastly, it is the best of hunters who also know how to properly cook game and prepare it for the dinner table.

Do you make an effort to get young people outside?

The education side of introducing kids and people who haven’t had a chance to get outside has really come full circle for me now that I have kids. I have a three- and a five-year-old—two little boys, and they are amazing. We started identifying animal tracks, going out in the winter and chasing rabbits through the underbrush and stuff like that. I don’t take them out hunting—I’m not killing anything in front of them because I think they’re too young to understand that. We do have a garden, though. They dig little holes and water the tomato plants and they understand that things need to be cared for and nurtured in order to grow. I think that all of those lessons are really important. They’re the basic building blocks of their understanding of the outdoors.

Do plan to take your kids hunting when they’re older?

Eventually? Definitely. If they get into hunting and fishing, that’s great. And if they don’t, well I’ve always said it’s their choice. I’d never force it on them. I will provide all of the entry points, but if they don’t want to take it up, that’s up to them.

While spending time growing things and hunting, you’re brushing up against some really important concepts. This seems to connect to your interest in teaching.

We go to a supermarket and pick something off of the shelf and we don’t think: “Where did this animal come from? Did it suffer? Was it raised in captivity?” When a hunter goes out and shoots a deer, he has a pretty good idea that that deer probably had a pretty nice life. And then we have to actually take that deer and butcher it ourselves and package it. Hunters understand what hard work it is to take an animal from the field, clean it, and put it on the dinner table. We as a society aren’t passing these things on. We’re not teaching. I don’t know what’s going on with out society, if we’re doing more inside with videogames, movies, the Internet, smart phones. I mean—we’re always connected. There are so many things pulling us out of the natural world.

Right! And it’s so easy to take up something that’s merely entertaining, but these things don’t engage any critical parts of you.

Kids aren’t bored anymore. They’re always entertained. And then you take those kids and put them in an educational setting. Unless the teacher is jumping on the desk and standing on their head and showing the kids movies everyday, they just can’t hold the students’ attention long enough to teach them anything. I think that that’s really hard.

What particularly about hunting do you feel is getting lost?

I think the first one is the connection to people. The tradition of being able to bring everyone together is really important. The second would be the connections to food and what you eat, and having respect for animals. And then—I think there’s a certain amount of tradition and heritage, too, that’s really important. I guess what I’d like to dump is the negative view of the hunter—the big fat redneck drinking a Busch and riding around on a four-wheeler killing whatever he sees and not caring if animals suffer. I like to promote the idea that that’s a small population of hunters. Hunting is only 10 percent about harvesting an animal. The remaining 90 percent is about hanging out with your family and friends, spending time afield enjoying mother nature, and the frequent quiet, self-reflective moments.

Mr. Presidents Bronze Back Adventure

Under increasingly threatening skies and against every ounce of better judgment, Mr. President and I grabbed our fishing poles and headed out for No Name Pond.  With fall color creeping into the landscape, a late season foray into the world of the local large mouthed bass fishery had me less than hopeful. Tempering my pessimistic thoughts, however, was a wildly grinning and infectiously enthusiastic Mr. President. He explained that the bass were hungry and tired from their long summer days of hanging in tepid waters and would be voracious this time of year as the waters cooled, the approaching fall days signaling primal urges in their bellies. Somehow, the exulted leader of “Duck Power Incorporated”, seemingly always possess the ability to elicit confidence, in even the most dire of situations.

As small droplets of rain began ricocheting off the fenders of the ATV, I hit the throttle and we screamed off into the quickly deteriorating weather forecast. Arriving at the pond, I gradually flipped over the old canoe, first warning Mr. President that often paper wasps found the underside of the canoe a hard to resist spot for building lakeside vacation homes. We both let out a sigh of relief, finding that no stinging, winged avengers were present.

Gently entering the ancient watercraft, it creaked and moaned like an old man trying to get out of bed in the morning. Constructed of slowly deteriorating fiberglass and with more patches than my Grandfathers old hunting coat, the old girl was in need of a vast amount of TLC. Suffering from approximately four decades of abuse, by various means of outdoor debauchery, water leaked through the floorboards at a constant and regular rate.

Not to be discouraged, by neither the rain entering our faulty craft from above nor the water seeping in from below, was the venerable Mr. President. While lesser men may have crumbled in such dreary conditions, Mr. President only flashed that Jack O’ Lantern sized smile, that despite the heavy cloud cover, had me squinting so hard you could have blindfolded me with dental floss.

Unawares was I, Mr. President had come equipped, for this endeavor, with a selection of bass enticing lures certain to leave the bronze backs unable to maintain a single ounce of composure. I struggled not to take offense, as Mr. President almost collapsed in the bottom of the canoe, at my suggestion of using a Frog Jitter Bug and he scoffed loudly at my usage of a six-inch minnow imitation Rapala.

Mr. President confidently tied on a ZOOM Super fluke and landed three fish in as many casts. Watching his artful fishing display, I became consciously aware that my mouth was hanging open and I was drooling, Finally regaining composure, I asked if perhaps he might have another of those fancy lures. Cutting his line and handing over the secret weapon, I have to admit I was somewhat astonished. While it certainly is within Mr. President’s nature to be a “gift full” individual, it is not typically in his nature to pass up an opportunity to shamelessly badger his opponent.

Bracing myself for the anticipated onslaught of comments, Mr. President instead began to calmly peruse his collection of lures.  After several decisive minutes of reviewing various candidates, he finally decided on using a “Terminator” spinner bait. As if it was even possible to catch fish at an even exponentially faster rate, I sat in disbelieving angst. Fast forward one hour and I was shamelessly begging Mr. President for the “Terminator”. Again brashly cutting his line, he handed over secret weapon #2 and quickly switched to ripping up the waters with a “Blue Fox”, now seemingly on a mission to search and destroy. Mr. President fiendishly worked the flats and structure in an all out effort to break his all time single day catch record. Despite my best efforts to throw him off his game, by eliciting subtraction penalties from the many pickerel and perch caught, his numbers kept adding up. As the sun began to sink low, the President, nursing an aching wrist and heavily growling stomach, boated his fiftieth large mouth bass of the day.

I suppose somewhere in this sorted excursion, I should mention that during this wild tale of fishing excellence, Mr. President additionally managed to boat what he described as the second biggest large mouth bass of his life. Being an ex-tournament bass fisherman, this is an extraordinary task, to not only beat his all time daily record but also be so close to beating his all time bass fishing size record. Though I can take no kudos for the ultimate fishing display, by Mr. President, I do take great satisfaction in the fact that I chose our fishing location and was there to enjoy his through trouncing of his previous fishing record. I figure, as my gym teacher always told me in High School, if you can’t be an athlete be an athletic supporter. Congrats Buddy!

Fishy Background

Wanted to share this photo that is currently my computer desktop background. It was taken this past weekend while ice fishing for "trash" fish (Yellow Perch, Pickerel and Bass) on a local pond. Despite their description these three game fish are some of the best tasting fresh water species. Served deep fat fried or in a fish chowder they taste so good it will make you want to slap yourself!

Take Care and Enjoy!