MAGAZINE
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OUT OF
ONE MAN'S JOURNEY - FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO THE WATERS OF A HURRICANE READ ON PAGE 24
HAUNTED BY AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY PAGE 7
FLY BY PAGE 37
SEASONED WILD INTRODUCES THE WILD LUCY PG 52
SPRING ISSUE 2017
OUTFITTERS GUIDE
Outfitters Guide Magazine i s s u e # 2 S U M M E R 2 016
www.outfittersguidetv.com
Contributions: All submissions - articles, reviews and images of any type become the sole and absolute property of Reflections Media Group, LLC and may be used during development of this magazine or any OGTV/RMG platform. Not all submissions will be incorporated into the publication. This publication may not be reproduced without permission. The Publisher and authors make no representation or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of the information contained in this publication. Any reliance or use of the information is solely at your own risk, and the authors and Publisher disclaim any and all liability relating thereto. Some advertisements in this magazine may concern products that are not legally for sale to California residents or residents in other jurisdictions. Copyright © 2016 Reflections Media Group, LLC Art Direction Department: Jeff Jensen Stephanie Snyder Directors: Jeff Jensen Technical Specialists: Stephanie Snyder Designer, Copywriters: Jeff Jensen Stephanie Snyder CORPORATE AD SALES: REFLECTIONSMEDIAGROUP.COM SALES@OUTFITTERSGUIDETV.COM
Out of Africa
24
FROM AFRICA TO A HURRICANE
Fly By 05 The Wild Lucy INTRODUCING WILD GAME RECIPES YOU CAN MAKE AT HOME
Seasoned Wild
52
SUBSCRIBE NOW TO RECEIVE
51
InReachGear Review
17
y
On the Hunt
37 HauntedbyanUnforgettable Journey
07
FOR HUNTERS, BY HUNTERS
61
On the Line
FRESH WATER AND SALT WATER FISHING
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EDITOR’S LETTER
As we enter into the height of the sum-
from you. A night out camping, build-
mer season, it is often easy to become
ing a fire, setting up the tent and lying
consumed with what activities are
about our knowledge of the constel-
planned. Fishing excursions, camping
lations are the memories we keep as
trips, scouting for fall hunts and all the
personal treasures.
events of a summer can make us a little
In nearly 30 years of guiding and out-
preoccupied.
fitting, one undeniable truth is evident.
In this issue we highlight the School
Of all the hunts, trophies and adven-
of Hunt. The real value of this School
tures around the world what stays with
is the time taken to share experiences
me most is the time shared, knowledge
and knowledge with others. It isn’t just
given…and taken... but mostly, the little
about giving a child the opportunity to
moments along the way that made the
shoot a rifle, but to learn how to do it
adventure personal and unique with
for a lifetime of enjoyment.
whom I was blessed to share it with.
This is my challenge in this issue.
Find someone to share those amazing
Readers, seek out someone who would
little moments with while introducing
appreciate the opportunity to get out-
them to your passion. I think you will
doors and learn a skill that will provide
find that the rewards are much sweeter
a lifetime of enjoyment. A day on the
and treasured.
water with someone from a single
Hope you enjoy this issue,
parent home that lives down the street
Jeff Jensen
School of Hunt
Most of us who have a passion for the outdoors owe a debt of gratitude to someone who introduced us to the wild places we love. Their time, knowledge and experience gave us the foundation we have built on and, in return, shared with others.
opportunity to do our part in getting kids outdoors who have the desire to learn. We can create a foundation that will serve them for a lifetime. With any luck, they might one day share their passion with others, as well. This school is for youth who have never had the opportunity Today, it seems more and more to learn or experience the outthat there is a large number of doors and more specifically, the youth who have the passion and thrill of the hunt. All participants desire to get outdoors. Unforare selected from submissions tunately, they simply don’t have and join us at the school free of anyone to help them along the charge. It is important that they way and give them the skills have someone that will help fosneeded to have success in their ter and support what is learned pursuits. at the school. To meet this need, selected participants can bring The School of Hunt was created a mentor who will learn beside for these youth. This gives us the them in the school.
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The mentor may be their mother, dad, neighbor, uncle - as long as the mentor is an adult who is committed to fostering what is learned when they return home. This is not a “introduction” to the outdoors. Participants and their mentors will learn skills from professionals in the industry and have the desire to “pay it forward”. Some of what is covered during the school is: Scouting Glassing and locating game Sighting in firearms Long range shooting Stalking / mock hunts Proper Gear
Conservation Wildlife identification Upland Birding Shotgunning Camp Skills / Outdoor cooking This is just a small sampling of what is taught and experienced by participants at the school. To join us or nominate someone you know would benefit from the School of Hunt, visit us at http:// outfittersguidetv.com/dreamsubmissions/ We will see you on the mountain!
[ 06 ]
SPORT MAGAZINE >> issue 94
>> Summer 2015
Haunted By An Unbelievable Jo by Heath
ourney h Peterson
Ioftenaskmyself“whatifIwill nevergettoexperiencethat momentagain?”or“what ifIcanneverfullyexplainto mychildrenthesmells,sights andemotionsIexperienced?”
[ 08 ] On the Hunt
Haunted by an unbelieva One of my greatest fears, is also what pleasantly haunts me every day. Not many people begin a story that way, but it is something I could explain no differently. You see, what I fear the most is not being able to remember or, more importantly, relive my greatest experiences. I often ask myself “what if I will never get to experience that moment again?” or “what if I can never fully explain to my children the smells, sights and emotions I experienced?” I suspect I’m no different than any other sportsman - what powers my engine and shapes my personality is chasing memories of hunts past. However, it wasn’t until this adventure that I fully understood just how important the story is to my soul, rather than my ego. For those of you who don’t know, there is an eerie sound and smell ice makes as it floats down the Missouri river in late January, and, more specifically, when experienced from a canoe at daybreak. On that Missouri morning while pulling my remaining beaver traps for the season, I struggled to comprehend that for the next 14 days, I was going to follow my dreams. Finally. I was preparing to shadow the footsteps of Lewis and Clark up through the prairie, hunt buffalo with a Sharps 45-70, pray with Native Americans, play
poker in Deadwood with Wild Bill and lay steel in the snowy mountain streams of Utah like Jeremiah Johnson. This adventure could be no more perfect. Having spent the first 24 hours traveling up the Missouri River to Floyd’s Bluff, a historic landmark established to memorialize the only loss of life on great expedition of Lewis and Clark, I turned my journey westward. For the next day, I traveled across South Dakota.
OUTFITTERS GUIDE Outfitters GuideMagazine [ 09 ]
able jouRney
Heath peterson
I wondered just how devastating it must have been to settlers moving west as they crested one rolling hilltop after covering a 20-mile valley only to find yet another valley that looked just the same. Albeit a beautiful landscape, the black hills were a welcome change in my drive.
After playing poker and enjoying some whiskey with Wild Bill at the #10 Saloon, my time in Deadwood was over. The following morning (4am) as I walked down the street to fetch the truck, I found myself alone, cold and right in the center of the historic main street. The moment was deathly quiet, yet Pulling into Deadwood, I was unsettling, and I wondered pulled back in time as the just how many souls were pavement turns to brick-lined watching me and how many roads and old street lamps lit men took this same walk beup the cold, dark night. Visit- fore me. I stood quietly for 5 ing this place in the summer minutes doing everything I is fantastic, I’m sure, but there could to remember this very is nothing like Deadwood at moment where I seemed to 20 degrees. have traveled back in time to a romantic era in the history of the American west.
OUTFITTERS GUIDE [ 010 ]On the Hunt
Haunted.....
For as long as I can remember, I have always dreamed of hunting wild free ranging buffalo. To be more specific, it has also been my obsession to hunt a bison with a Shiloh Sharps 45-70. Just west of Billings, MT, is Shiloh Rifle Manufacturing where custom Sharps rifles are built completely from the ground up. This familyowned operation is one-of-a-kind. Not only do they build the authentic Shiloh rifles but they even build original parts, such as screws, triggers and hammers.
concept of having no clock or following no set schedule. Before this time, I always viewed a hunt as a battle, mission or something I had to overcome. The first night in camp, a sweat ceremony was prepared for me as well as any member of the Cheyenne community who wanted to join. Although sounds cliché, I was truly changed by that three-hour ceremony. It became clear that hunting is not a battle and making plans is wasted energy. From that day forward, I prayed for acceptance from my brother, the hunted, that he must give me, and for the humility to respect and honor his sacrifice.
As I walked out of Shiloh Rifle Manufacturing, another milestone in my life is realized as I now own my very own Sharps rifle. On the eve of my buffalo hunt, there is no After two full days searching place I’d rather be than punching 400,000 acres where this sacred steel targets downrange. buffalo heard can roam free, over 100 bison appeared all of The anticipation and anxiety that which were bunched together brews before a hunt is something for warmth and protection. It was every sportsman looks forward to. roughly 15 degrees below freezing We plan out the details and dial in and the cold Montana wind was our approach, but on this journey giving me no rest. After an hour I had no plan. My sense of control of careful study, it became clear didn’t necessarily fade with my cell to me that choosing a bull was signal, that was to be expected. not up to me and if I was going to complete this part of the journey It wasn’t until the first afternoon he would have to choose me. with my guide that it became clear I could anticipate no control over the outcome. I struggled with the
OutfittersGuideMagazine [ 011 ] I like to think all hunters or major athletes experience a moment in time where you stop thinking, everything becomes clear and you execute perfectly not as to plan but as they were meant to be. On this buffalo hunt I remember the shot but I don’t remember telling myself to pull the trigger. This moment of clarity was my moment of excellence as we closed the distance on this moment I have dreamed about since my childhood as I successfully harvest a large bull Bison at 170 yards. As my I approached the bull the wind blew cold, I imagined the countless times this moment had happened before my time, the wind was the breath of history rushing by me as I stood still in this moment. Ernie, my spiritual
guide and mentor during my hunt pulled a small hand woven blanket from his pack. As he laid it on the ground next to this fallen giant, he had me kneel with him as he offered a prayer of thanks. I knelt there, the smoke from the offering being washed over me on in this vast landscape as the prayer in his native lounge was carried with the wind to join those in history. All feeling of my success, or personal triumph we gone. I only felt appreciation for this tremendous animal, the life it would give to the tribe, my family and those honored to receive from the bull’s sacrifice. The dream of my childhood faded as this reality fulfilled a dream I had been unable to imagine, unable to understand until this moment.
OUTFITTERS GUIDE [ 012 ] On the Hunt
Haunted.....
After the buffalo hunt, I felt there wasn’t much more the journey could offer, except for some sense of closure. My roots are in trapping. It’s the very fabric of who I am and how I read the land. To put a cornerstone on this epic journey, I was able to obtain supplies and permission from some folks in Utah where I camped, led a pack horse and trapped for 3 days. It was my desire to live no differently than Jeremiah Johnson. I walked through icy cold streams in wool pants, made camp using traditional 1840’s supplies and I started every fire with flint and steel. My dream of being a mountain man was harder than I had expected. However, when I stood in the middle of a mountain stream and looked up at majestic mountain peaks, I was extremely proud and thankful for each moment that brought me to this place and this time. I followed my epic dream to completion. In closing, I finally understand why my grandfather told me the same stories over and over again. It wasn’t for my pleasure. He was reliving his finest moments, his prized collection of stories. This great adventure is my story of a lifetime - one I’m haunted by every day that passes. Should I travel the same path at some time in the future, I know I will never relive this journey the same way all over again. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain
OutfittersGuideMagazine [ 013 ]
[ 014 ] SPORT MAGAZINE >> issue 94
>> Summer 2015
OGTV HUNT
Stop Dre
Start Dra OGTV
outfitttersguidemagazine
eaming
awing hunt
10 Ways to Ensure Your Guided Hunt is the Hunt-of-a-Lifetime By Barbara Crown The Hunting Report Newsletter
Let’s face it: your “dream hunt” is someone else’s nightmare. And another hunter’s “hunt-of-a-lifetime” is your personal tour of hell. Recognizing that at the beginning will help you avoid trouble later on. It’s a fact: Not every hunt is right for every hunter. As obvious as that sounds, the number one reason why hunters complain to me about hunts gone wrong is because they booked a hunt that was just plain wrong for them. How does that happen? Deceptive marketing? Bait-and-switch tactics? Unethical operations? All of the above? Yes, and more, too.
tors, government bungling and “acts of God” that no one can control, many are due to mistakes the hunter made in the hunt selection process. It’s like getting buck fever when shopping for a hunt. You’re so focused on the dream vision (those big antlers) that you miss your target.
How does that happen? Well, let’s say your dream hunt is taking a 190-class whitetail buck and a hunting operator or an agent says he can provide that experience. Great! But the details of that hunt could vary from sitting in a blind all day in 20-degree weather in the Alberta bushlands to hunting a luxury lodge During my 17 years at The Huntin Texas on an estate where trophies ing Report, I have published more are scientifically bred. Between than 10,000 first-hand hunt reports those two experiences is a whole and interviewed thousands of hunt- range of other hunting possibilities ers and outfitters/guides. The vast – stand hunts, baited hunts, spotmajority of hunting experiences are and-stalk hunts, farmland, ranchgood. But some aren’t. I’ve seen land, wilderness, mountains, creek reports about stranded hunters, bottoms, public land, private land, unlicensed operators, disappearon foot, drive-to, horse-pack, lodgeing deposits, undelivered trophies based, tent-camp, spike camp, and and more. I’ve seen potential dream so on. Any combination of those ophunts become exercises in frustrations could produce a 190 buck, but tion and a waste of precious time the details would make some huntand money. While some hunt disas- ers happy and others completely ters involve unethical hunting opera- miserable. That’s before we get to
On the Hunt questions about the operator’s track record, ethics, reliability, customer service skills or even personality.
same.
This isn’t as obvious as you’d think. Take our whitetail hunt example. Your vision of the perfect hunt may involve different conditions, techniques and services than what a specific offering provides. All deer hunts are not the same, just as all African safaris are not the same. Not even all sheep hunts are the
Know and accept your abilities, limitations and needs. It’s important you be honest with yourself. If you’re not in good shape, have physical limitations, cannot handle bitter cold or have never shot over 300 yards, these are your deal breakers because they will break you during your hunt. Don’t book
Take a piece of paper and write down all the details of your dream hunt, from access and accommodaWhen booking a guided hunt, a suc- tions to temperatures and shooting cessful experience turns on match- distances. Get very specific on the ing the details of your dream hunt details. Now mark the items that with the one you’re offered by a are must-haves. These are your hunting outfitter or booking agent. deal-breakers. When you shop for a And it’s possible. There is a lot you guided hunt make sure all of those can do to make sure any hunt you details are met by the offer you’re book is that hunt-of-lifetime you considering. Ask for and confirm will fondly remember for the rest of details. Your list will likely change your hunting days. over time, as you do research and get more experience. That’s OK. Based on the observed success and But that list will keep you focused failure of 1,000s of hunters, here on the right hunt for you wherever are 10 steps you should take if you you might be in your hunting caplan to book a guided hunt: reer, from bear hunting one year to moose hunting the next. Step 1 - Know what you really want versus what you’re being offered. Step 2 – Know thyself.
OutfittersGuideMagazine
a hunt that will require something you simply cannot do. That doesn’t mean you have to give up your dream. Try looking at alternative hunts that offer a crack at the same goal. For example, if you have a bad back don’t try a brown bear hunt in muskeg, look at a boatbased coastal bear hunt instead. Don’t book something now that requires an immediate lifestyle change. Odds are you won’t do it, you’ll be ill prepared for your lifetime adventure and will have a miserable experience. If you dream of hunting Dall sheep, join a gym and start a running program now. Start slow. When you’ve developed the habit of regular workouts and are at least part of the way to your fitness goal, then look at booking that hunt.
At that point you’ve already made the lifestyle change and only need to push a little harder to get into “sheep shape” in time. The same applies to long distance shooting. The regret of missing your dream trophy will only be worse if you can say to yourself, “If only I had….” Ask yourself some very tough questions about what you are capable and willing to do before you book a hunt that requires more of you than you can currently achieve. No one but you needs to know the answers.
Step 3 – Never book a hunt based solely on what an outfitter/guide or booking agent tells you. Just recently, about
300 hunters who had been promised a “guaranteed” hunt were left holding the bag by a Canadian operator who sold hunts he could not possibly fulfill due to a backlog of cancelled and promised return hunts for clients from the previous three years. He’s out of business now, but he’s not the first and won’t be the last. Save yourself the grief of a bad experience by investing some time and effort on research before booking a hunt. When there’s trouble, there are usually warning signs, and you need to listen to your gut when it tells you something is not right. Inconsistencies in references, sudden changes in details or switches in agreements are all red flags. Always be wary of hype! Don’t let the slick marketing and sophisticated websites with photos of big trophies blind you. And watch out for the bargains. There’s lots of ways to make a hunt cheap, including skimping on accommodations, meals, staffing, services and excluding charges that would be added at the end. There are lots of good and honest booking agents and outfitters, but
you must ask lots of questions and take nothing at face value. Photos can be from unrelated areas or 10 years old. When it comes to numbers (success rates, trophy quality, etc.) remember that the value of numbers is all in how they are presented. Knowing exactly how many hunters went through an area, how many had opportunities, how many connected and the full range of trophy quality taken and seen (not just the average) gives you a much better understanding of your chances. Step 4: Check out operators before negotiations begin. Always know as much as possible about an operator before discussing a booking. Go to their website. Request information by email or mail. If what they give you doesn’t meet your list of requirements for your dream hunt, move on to the next outfitter. Make sure the outfitter you are talking to is a legal operator. Check him out through the wildlife department where he operates or his local outfitters’ association. Find out if any complaints have been lodged against him and for what. I’ve seen
OutfittersGuideMagazine too many hunters give money to people who weren’t even legally able to conduct hunts. Don’t be one of them! Step 5: Confer with your hunting community but be selective. Get feedback from other hunters, but make sure you’re getting information based on experience and real knowledge not uninformed opinion, self-important pontificating, ax-grinding, professional jealousy or “advice” based on personal gain. Talk to hunters who actually hunted the destination, and the species you’re interested in and are willing to answer your specific questions. Both good and bad reports will help you sort out whether a particular opportunity meets your needs. Remember, not every hunt is right for every hunter and if you ask good questions you’ll find that
things another hunter objects to may not bother you and vice versa. Watch for patterns in the reports you find. One or even two complaints can be an aberration. After all, no one is perfect, and some people just cannot be pleased. However, a pattern of complaints from different people over the same issues indicates a problem. Step 6: Always ask for references and ALWAYS call. You can’t get first-hand feedback if you don’t talk to references. Don’t assume that an operator is “OK” if he is willing to give you references. You’re not looking for a “good guy.” You are trying to determine if what he is offering is right for you. Get references for the last three years to get a feel for consistency or changes in the operation. Talk to hunters who were unsuccessful as well as those
On the Hunt who tagged out. Ask them each the same questions and note any inconsistencies. “References” who give you conflicting information, deflect your questions or play for time to answer simple questions are suspect – “friends and family” are not the kind of references you want. Step 7: Ask specific questions and never accept general or ambiguous responses. Generalizations, vague responses and one-liners are not acceptable when you are researching a hunt. When you talk to another hunter about his experience and he says it was the hunt-of-a-lifetime, you say, “Great! What made it the hunt of a lifetime for you?” Make the other person explain what made his guide the best ever, what “lots” of game is, what “excellent” trophy quality is. If a hunt is “easy” ask how it was easy – physical demands, shooting requirements, availability of cover, accessibility, etc. Any person’s definition of good or easy may not be the same as yours! Get details.
Fair-chase does not mean the same thing to all hunters. Ask whether the area you are hunting is fenced and with what kind of fencing. Standard cattle fencing is one thing. Eight-foot-high game fencing or electric fencing is something else. If there are fences, find out how big the fenced area is and whether it is subdivided. Ask about the habitat and terrain to ensure the game has plenty of cover. And finally, don’t assume the game is born and bred on the property. Ask. Step 9: Get a complete breakdown of charges.
Don’t let a great hunt be ruined by surprises in your final bill. Make sure you understand everything that is included in the price you are quoted. Ask for a complete list of all additional costs. Never assume travel to and from the airport is included nor hotel stays before and after the hunt. Some operators will charge you for every can of soda you drink. Transfers to other camps or concessions also can incur fees, especially if there are charter planes Step 8: Make sure you understand the or helicopters involved. Get all the fair-chase standards of your hunt. charges spelled out in writing up
Step 10: Get a WRITTEN contract and read every word of it!
OutfittersGuideMagazine
Contracts are made to protect both parties. Get one. In Writing! It should set out the responsibilities of the operator to you and you to the operator, including hunt dates, services included, trophy fees, license requirements and the cancellation and refund policy. Written agreements do not rely on faulty memory. They should be clear enough that doubts and double meanings are not possible. Read it. Ask questions. If you don’t like it, don’t sign it. And get the contract before you give a deposit! Parting Thoughts Some might see these 10 steps as a lot of work, but here’s what you must consider: You work too hard for your money and vacation time to throw it away on a bad hunting experience. The time you spend on a hunt is time you could spend making happy memories with your family or making more money. So, you want to make sure that any guided hunt you book provides you with the satisfaction, pride and fulfillment you deserve. You can get more detailed advice by downloading our free guide book, 10 Steps to Ensure You Get a Hunt of a Lifetime! from the Outfitters Guide Magazine website. Click the 10 Steps mage to access the guide.. Here’s wishing you hunts-of-a-lifetime for everything on your bucket list!
Outfitters Guide Magazine is pleased to announce its partnership with Barbara Crown and The Hunting Report. With access to the latest hunting news from around the world, Barbara and her team ensure that you are up to date with the most current hunting reports. Visit www.thehunting report. com to subscribe.
[ 026 ] SPORT MAGAZINE >> issue 94
>> Summer 2015
Out of Africa by St. John Holloway
Wewereofftoagreatstart-onehurricane, onecancelledtournament,whatelsecould possibly go wrong?
a c i r f A f o ut Dream Adventure
O
by St. John Holloway
OutfittersGuideMagazine[ 29 ]
What does it mean to grow up in a landlocked country? I’m not sure I actually understood what it really meant myself, until I got the chance to go on the dream fishing adventure of a lifetime.
the balancing weights off the car tires. All we got out of the deal were: no fish, sunburns and a wobbly ride home. I still look back on that day as one of the best memories as a kid.
My name is St. John. I was born in South Africa and raised in Zimbabwe. As you can imagine, the idea of having the ocean freely available to me for sport of any kind was a foreign concept. It was one of those things you saw on TV and thought “cool, that looks fun”. I love to fish; I have since I was a little kid.
Did I think I would get chosen for a dream adventure? “Hell no.” Did I put in the submission anyway? “Hell yes.’ A wise friend once told me that it was better to say,” I tried that,” than say, “I wish I had tried that.” As you can imagine, I about died when Jeff contacted me and told me I was going on the dream adventure of a lifetime. I still get chills thinking about it.
I remember going fishing for the first time when I was a kid. My cousin was visiting from Zimbabwe and he took me out to the local dam to go,” catch a big one.” We were so unprepared; we didn't even have weights to hold the hook down so we pried
Thankfully Jeff and Rocky just blew it off as an inconvenience. Hell, they turned it into a positive and explained that it left us free to catch whatever we wanted. But in the back of my mind all I could think about was,” So we’re going out into a hurricane??”
a c i r f A f o t u Dream Adventure
O
We were off to a great start - one hurricane, one cancelled tournament, what else could possibly go wrong? Oh yeah…I locked the only set of keys in the car. So, instead of going fishing at 5am when we were supposed, to it was more like 8 or 9. Oops…
Despite the fact that everything seemed to be going wrong, I can honestly say that it turned out to be one of the best days of fishing, EVER…. Now don't forget the nerves. As I mentioned before, there was a hurricane. You wouldn't think it as the sun was shining and it looked like a beautiful day, but believe me it was more than apparent. Big swells, tiny boat, big swells, big ocean did I mention the tiny boat and the big swells?? For never having gone on a small fishing boat on the ocean I think I did pretty well. The key was to think of anything but the fact that I was on a tiny
boat in a massive ocean crashing through big swells, bah piece of cake. I should never have worried about anything because once you actually hooked onto something all other thoughts go out the window. I can’t describe it and do it justice. It’s like tunnel vision - you, the rod and the fish, you, the rod, the fish over and over again. That’s all you can focus on.
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I think what surprised me the most was how hard it was to reel in the fish - it was exhausting. It wasn't until the second or third fish that I actually started to get it down. By the time I got the Mahi Mahi landed, I could barely hold it up, and it was a baby. It really makes you appreciate how awe inspiring nature is. I can only imagine what a real monster would be like to land. (I don’t think Jeff was kidding about the duct tape.)
the great deep blue ocean, we can, through determination and hard work, accomplish truly anything.
The next morning, feeling exhausted yet inexplicably energized by the fact that something great had been accomplished the day before, we set out at the crack of dawn. It was pretty overcast with some decent wind, yet, despite the weather, we once again started tearing into the fish as soon as we got to our spot. It was incredible, absolutely incredible and, to That first day was absolutely brilliant. It lit a fire deep inside of me top it all off, I caught my very first and really put things into perspec- tuna. What an awesome creature, what an tive. Even though we are pretty awesome day. much insignificant when compared to some of the monsters of
a c i r f A f o t u Dream Adventure
O
Then the storm came. I have often wondered what it is like to face a storm of the magnitude a hurricane is synonymous for and about how I would feel and think during it. Well, I don't have to wonder anymore
As we started back to the harbor, it became pretty obvious that things weren’t looking so good weather wise. Imagine two massive ships converging on a single point and knowing that you need to get through that point before the way is blocked. That is exactly what it looked like as two seemingly endless groups of black and scary looking clouds converged on one single point, which just happened to be the point we needed to go through to get back to land. Who knew boats could fly? It sure did feel like it as we huddled together trying to get as much protection from the rain as possible - up and
down and up and down, pushing then pulling then pushing then pulling. It was amazing, scary and unbelievable all at the same time. Raw untamed power ripped us back and forth as if we were nothing but an insignificant speck of nothingness on a sea of pure terror, (yup I was kind of scared). The thing I remember the most was the lightening striking all around us and thinking to myself, ‘it’s been a good life.’ Thanks to some expert handling of the boat by our fearless captain, Rocky, we made it into the safety of the harbor. WOW - what a ride!! I cannot say thank you enough to everyone involved: Jeff, Rocky, Chris and everyone behind the scenes. You guys have no idea how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to realize my dream. Thank you.
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[ 034 ] SPORT MAGAZINE >> issue 94
>> Summer 2015
How many times do y
Visit www.outfittersguidetv.com/co
you see "Zeiss"??
ontest to enter the contest
[ 036 ] SPORT MAGAZINE >> issue 94
>> Summer 2015
Y B Y L F As my feet leave the ground and I begin to climb into the evening sky, a dream is realized. I have a whole new perspective on the art of flight and more importantly, the ever changing landscape below me.
On the Hunt
FLYBY
Poweredparamotoring b y jeff jensen
“Don’t stop running, keep your legs moving” is what I tell myself as I run down the grassy airstrip at the Blackhawk Paramotor training field in Northern California. The thrust created from the prop turning under the direction of the 200cc motor strapped firmly to my back starts to push me faster than I can run. It is now or never!
are always trying to become “one” with the aircraft you are piloting. Part of my training to fly fixed wing aircraft many years ago was sitting in a chair, blindfolded, as the chair was adjusted to varying angles of attack by my instructor. I used my backside to determine if my mind was telling me the truth…and sometimes the mind lies to you.
As my feet leave the ground and I begin to climb into the evening sky, a dream is realized. I have a whole new perspective on the art of flight and more importantly, the ever changing landscape below me. The world beneath me seems to be moving in slow motion, like I am the single audience member in my own personalized Imax movie…it is amazing.
This seemingly simple and maybe questionable exercise, (at least to me as a student) never had more value than when I finally left the confines of the ground as a Powered Paramotor Pilot, or PPG pilot for short.
As a private “fixed wing” pilot, you
There is no loss on the fact you are the pilot and indeed, part of the aircraft, as I feel the vibrations of the motor and prop in my seat, my feet dangle freely below me and act as small rudders in the wind, allowing for small adjustments in my flight path. The expansive 36 sq meters of wing carries me at a nearly constant
OUTFITTERS GUIDE MAGAZINE [ 39 ] Outfitters Guide
flyby...pg2 As I cruise over the rolling hills of California, the advantages of a paramotor over a fixed wing aircraft are not only amazing, fun and my personal flying carpet to adventure, but the use for a scouting platform became obvious and the opportunities begin to fill my mind. First, air speed. The wing I am using flies at just under 27 mph, constantly. Think about that the next time you drive through the neighborhood or school zone. Now imagine that view at that speed from above. Yeah, you can see just about everything as you cruise overhead. Second, altitude. You can safely fly at a much lower altitude than a fixed wing aircraft (you always want to make sure you have a landing zone in sight and enough altitude to get there for safety). The extremely long glide slope of the wing is pretty forgiving and allows you to see the terrain below a lot closer than you would ever consider in any fixed wing aircraft. If you become a skilled pilot, you can cruise mere feet off the ground. Third, portability. It is very easy
to take the paramotor with you. A foot launch platform allows you easily store, transport and even carry the paramotor to your preferred launch site scouting. A foot launch paramotor can be transported easily on an ATV to more remote launch sites. Bottom line: this is the ultimate all terrain scouting vehicle! As with all new skills, there is definitely a learning curve. I have outlined what you will need to take off and change your perspective on how you approach every hunt.
[ 040 ] SPORT MAGAZINE >> issue 94
>> Summer 2015
SPORT MAGAZINE On the Hunt >> issue 94 >> Summer 2015
flyby #1 – Train with a professional This may seem like an obvious point, but it seems to elude several pilots who “have a buddy” who flies or the many other statements that somehow qualifies their confidence to fly. Most of the statements, if not all where probably uttered shortly after the prospective pilot saying, “hold my beer”. In other words, train with professionals. The time you spend learning and understanding the sport will act as the foundation for all future decisions you make while flying, both the good and the not-so-good decisions.
#2 – Know your equipment There are several factors that need to be considered when selecting you paramotor and wing. Your body weight, physical condition, and altitude you will be flying all play a major role for selection of your equipment.
There are several accredited PPG training facilities and instructors around the country. After hours of research, phone calls and reference checking, one facility became the clear winner in my mind, BlackHawk, which is based in Northern California.
This is another major advantage to working with the Blackhawk team. You work with them to select the best equipment to match your anticipated flying and the best part is - you train on the exact same equipment. Many facilities offer training on equipment that you will not be flying. Although this is fine for becoming a beginner pilot, confidence in and understanding the equipment on your back when you are on your own is invaluable.
Blackhawk not only provides a top flight training facility staffed by seasoned PPG pilots, they also manufacture some of the top paramotors and equipment in the industry. This all adds up to a major advantage in your training but also the cost of becoming a PPG pilot.
Take time with your instructor to learn how to make altitude adjustments to your equipment, general maintenance and repairs. Simple things like how to recharge your starter battery to proper prop replacement are crucial to a great flight and your confidence.
Blackhawk’s team can also put you in touch with instuctors and experienced pilots in your area that (from my personal experience) are always willing to help with questions and serve as a flying partner who knows local conditions.
OUTFITTERS GUIDE MAGAZINE [ 43 ] Outfitters GuideMagazine
FLYBY...continued #3 – Know your limitations This little piece of advice should be #1. Paramotoring is an extremely safe sport…if you follow your training and don’t try to “push the limits”. There is a saying in the paramotoring community: “Fly between 10 and 5, you die” …not a comforting statement, but one that was born out of experience. Bottom line is this: don’t fly when the thermals are at their strongest. Calm air is what you’re after, early morning and evening flights tend to offer the best conditions.
thing you want to find out in the air. Altitude can be a real buggar. There is a massive difference in taking off at 4,000 MSL and 9,000 MSL. What seems like a text book take off at lower altitudes can look like an exercise in futility at higher altitudes. Before you touch down in that high mountain meadow, make sure you have the distance, stamina and skill to get off the ground again.
One trick is to use the terrain in your favor. With a foot launch platform, you can land on a slope or ridgeline. Take off While it will be tempting to take your is much easier into the wind with a downhill slope to assist in providing lift on the paramotor and to go fly the canyons and wing… (this little nugget of knowledge ridges looking for your next trophy, don’t was learned the hard way, after I ran what give in to the temptations. The equipseemed like a mile trying to get off the ment is 100% capable, and safe to fly the mountains. Common sense says don’t start ground in a small valley). there. Mountain passes, canyons and ridge While the altitude of the terrain you are flying in will take some time and skill crossings offer a host of thermal dynamics to learn, your altitude in relation to the that can catch you off guard. We have all climbed to a ridge with nothing more than ground is just as, if not more, important. a slight breeze blowing only to hit the ridge Overall, altitude is your best friend. If you experience an engine out 50 feet off the and fight staying on our feet in a strong ground in a narrow canyon…it most likely wind. This is not a transition you want to will be a bad day. Experience will help you experience in a paramotor. learn your limits and ability to overcome Learn the terrain you want to fly and, sitituations that may arise during a flight. Weather, thermals, equipment and, most if possible, fly with someone who spends often, the pilot play the main roles in a time in the air in that very terrain. A logood flight. cal fixed wing pilot can give you a lot of insight on the unique aspects of the mountain. Realize that no two mountains are the same and the way the air and thermals interact with the mountain is not some-
On the Hunt
flyby #4 – Know the Law There are two sets of regulations you need to know, one, is the FAA rules governing airspace and the limits set on a PPG pilot. Your instructors will cover the basic rules but every area has its own obstacles. Military and restricted airspace, minimum altitude over populated areas and so on all need to be understood before you take off. A good GPS with correct maps showing airspace, speed, heading and altitude strapped to your thigh is worth its weight in gold. Garmin makes several handheld units that can perform these tasks easily and help keep you out of restricted air space and altitudes Get comfortable on the radio. You will be communicating with other pilots and possibly controllers depending on where you fly. Announcement of your intentions, especially when taking off and landing, is a good idea, even if nobody is listening. Second, every state has different rules regulating the use of aircraft for locating protected game. The old “I was sightseeing and just happened to see a 220
buck” is not a valid excuse if you’re flying “out of season”. Be sure to check with each state’s regulations you are wanting to fly in. Some states, like Nevada, limit the information you can share gained while airborne. Nearly every states’ laws will allow you to fly freely outside of established hunting seasons and dates. Just read the fine print and follow the rules to avoid becoming a blip on the game warden’s radar. #5 – Have Fun The freedom and exhilaration you will experience with each flight cannot be explained, only experienced. The more flights you have, the more understanding and confident you will become. There are going to be some “white knuckle” moments, but with each successful take off, landing and navigation through the first time experiences you will be well on your way to mastering the PPG experience and lifestyle. For more information – Blackhawk Paramotor BlackHawkparamotor.com or (209) 786-7899
OUTFITTERS GUIDE MAGAZINE
OutfittersGuideMagazine
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[ 046 ] SPORT MAGAZINE >> issue 94
>> Summer 2015
[ 48 ] OGTV Gear
inReach
OGTV GEAR REVIEW BY CODY BURNS
I was introduced to the Delorme Satellite Communication line at a trade show a few years ago and when give the opportunity to use the hand held satellite messanger on a scouting trip for an upcoming hunt, I jumped at the chance. Knowing that emergency help was a button press away was certainly a key feature, but as we starting using the device over the trip, I knew I had to add one as an essential piece of my back country gear. The inReach Explorer is an upgraded version of the SE, coming with all the features I love plus adding a host of new ones.
SOS – Emergency Help This was the feature that originally piqued my interest as a safety precaution to guard against the unexpected. It is as simple as it gets, press the clearly labelled red SOS button and the nearest search and rescue operation is alerted to your distress anywhere on the planet thanks to the Iridium Satellite Network that the Delorme Explorer runs on. Text message is sent to you to confirm the SOS message and assess the situation. From there, search and rescue will continue two-way text messaging with you until the situation is resolved. A real benefit of this feature is that it allows those who may not have con-
sidered a remote trip due to medical concerns the extra peace of mind that will now make the trip possible. Honestly, all of our wives also sleep better knowing that we have that added layer of safety. Two Way Texting and Social Media This is one of the best features of the device. It allows you to email, text message and update your Facebook and Twitter feeds anywhere you go. The great part is that it works both sending and receiving, so that you can receive responses to your emails and posts. All of this is done through the inReach computer servers so the communication is not direct, but relayed. What that means in practical terms is OF that the message comes in from inReach and identifies that it
OUTFITTERS GUIDE MAGAZINE
[ 49 ]
is a message from you. This is pretty handy because it keeps the communication down just to the people you want to talk to, however at times even that is too much, like when I get message from home telling me “the dog has chewed a hole in the couch” or “the car battery died”. Sometimes ignorance can be bliss. A neat feature is that the device will emit a ping every time you get a message and also send another ping once a message you send has actually gone through. Bluetooth Pairing and Synching with Your Phone or Tablet Sending messages can be done by accessing the built-in keyboard and typing the message, but from my experience this is painfully slow. Much like the keyboard on a hand held GPS you must scroll to each individual letter and press enter. A frustrating process as the buttons are small and sometimes hard to press just one at a time. There is also the option to use a set of preset messages supplied as well as add your own presets when you synch with your computer. This is great for things like “back at spike camp for the night” or “up for the morning hunt”. Far and away the best way to interact with the Delorme is to pair it using Bluetooth with your iPhone or android device. I use my iPhone and connect using a free app from the app store called Earthmate. Taking this approach, typing and reading is a breeze. Mapping and Tracking One handy feature of the device is that it can allow others back home to follow your progress by sending them waypoint alerts. This is handy both for loved ones curious to see how you are doing as well as for people that you may be meeting at a rendezvous. There are also mapping and navigation features on the device that I plan on getting to learn more about in the coming weeks, however thus far it seems to have some rudimentary GPS functions that might help in a pinch, but wouldn’t replace having a dedicated GPS with downloadable topo maps.
Thanks to Susie Echols of MacLaren River Lodge, AK and SkiboyPhotoworks for their photo submissions!!
[ 52 ] OGTV Gear
inReach
OGTV GEAR REVIEW
Battery Life and Device Design The battery on this device amazes me. I like to keep the brightness turned up to see easily, and even so it goes nearly a week of regular use on a charge. I keep a couple of portable USB chargers with me so power has yet to be an issue. Otherwise when power is available simply plug it into an electrical outlet with the supplied USB cable and plug. The device itself is pretty sturdy a feels good in the hand. You can adjust things like brightness and message notifications to your liking easily. The screen while not overly large is adequate and keeps the bulk down. As mentioned, if you plan on texting often you are going to want to bring your phone or tablet to act as an interface. Costs Other than the initial purchase price, there a variety of plans offered by inReach, similar to purchasing a cell phone plan. They are priced reasonably and BEST OF are a lot less money than paying for a satellite phone. You are not locked in to OFFERS a plan so you can change it month by month, a nice feature. In the months I am going to be using the device, I purchase one of the heavy user packages to be able to keep connected with friends and family as well as keep my Facebook and Twitter feeds up to date. When I am not planning on using it I purchase what’s called a “lifeline mode”. Costing only a few dollars per month it keeps your account up to date and eliminates costly reactivation fees. In Summary The Delorme inReach Explorer will become an integral part of my off the grid gear. It is tough and easy to use. The SOS emergency feature is what makes this an essential piece of equipment, but the ease of communicating in the back country is a perk that you friend and family will appreciate.
OutfittersGuideMagazine
Seasoned Wild
Seasoned Wild One of the greatest rewards from our pursuits is the game and fish we bring home to share with our friends and family.
a professional and knowledgeable approach to his recipes - for both the avid home cook and the professional chef.
Seasoned Wild is your source for amazing recipes and instruction to make your next wild meal around the campfire, BBQ or Family table a culinary masterpiece.
You'll find a unique blend of flavors and creativity in Cheffrey's recipes. This edition's combination of elk, buffalo and wild boar forming the 'Wild Lucy" is an incredible combination of flavors. This is simple to prepare ahead of time, then take along to your favorite campsite, grill or backyard barbeque.
Chef Jeffery, or “Cheffery” as he is commonly referred to, creates simple, easy to follow recipes that will turn your Big Game, Fish and Fowl from ordinary to extraordinary. The recipes are designed to be used from a gourmet kitchen, backyard BBQ to your mountain campfire. Cheffery realized his passion for culinary arts at a very young age and has developed unique culinary abilities over the years. Using his background and formal training, Cheffery's mission is to create
We hope you enjoy the recipes with your friends and family. Be sure to follow “Cheffery” at www. outfittersguidetv.com/seasonedwild for new recipes and culinary creations.
OutfittersGuideMagazine[ 55 ]
Seasoned Wild
Outfitters Guide [ 57 ]
ASeasonedWildExclusive We begin with a blend of lean ground elk steak and feral Bison. This signature blend is then sandwiched over a slice of Port Salut from Safa, France. Next it is wrapped in pepper smoked bacon with gorgonzola cheese on top.
To accompany this wild patty will be a savory tomato onion jam and a rich sage aioli. To intensify the bite, there is also a honey cayenne slaw to sweeten the deal. Which roll you put all this goodness between is up to you. The chef recommends a sturdy roll such as sourdough, bacci or Kaiser.
Seasoned Wild
TheWildLucy 1 lb Ground Elk Steak 1 lb Ground Bison 3 oz Port Salut (substitution: boursim) 6 oz Blue Cheese 12 slices thick pepper smoked bacon
ties, then press two patties together. Be careful to press together the sides of the meat patties so the cheese doesn’t come through. Then, take two slices of thick pepper bacon and wrap on outside of burger. Use toothpicks to hold together. (Toothpicks will burn on the grill but the bacon will cook together at that point.
Mix together the ground elk and ground bison. Make 3 oz balls of the mixture. For 5 burgers, you’ll need 10 meat patties at 3 oz each. Press meat patties flat (add a dab of oil to your cutting board Add salt and pepper so the meat doesn’t stick. Flatten patties – the meat will shrink when grilling. Add Port Salut to the middle of meat pat-
to taste. Grill until meat is fully cooked. Add blue cheese until melted. Remove from grill. After grilling the roll, add the tomato onion jam to the bottom, and the aoili to the top of the roll. Place the Wild Lucy burger on top of the tomato onion jam, then top with the Honey Cayenne Slaw. Top with roll and serve.
Outfitters Guide [ 59 ]
SavoryTomatoOnionJam Yield: 2 cups 3 c tomatoes, diced medium 3 C red onion, diced medium 6 Cloves Garlic, julienned thinly 1 tbsp olive oil 1 T savory finely chopped ½ c sugar ¼ c honey ½ c rice wine vinegar ¾ c champagne or white balsamic vinegar
In a saucepan, add 1 tbsp olive oil, bring to medium heat. Add onions. While onions are reducing, chop savory (mince) then add to onions to cook and add flavor. Add garlic, tomatoes, sugar, honey, rice wine vinegar and white balsamic vinegar. Cook for approximately 30 minutes, stirring occasionally on medium/high heat. Add salt, pepper and onion powder to taste.
Seasoned Wild
SageandGarlicAioli Yield: 1 cup
Ingredients for roasted garlic and sage: ½ c vegetable oil ¼ c olive oil 8 garlic cloves 12 sage leaves Ingredients for aioli: 2 large egg yolks Juice of ½ lemon ½ tbsp whole grain mustard 2 fresh garlic cloves (crushed to make 1 tbsp garlic paste) ½ c extra virgin olive oil ½ c vegetable oil 1 tbsp chopped sage (3 fresh sage leaves) Kosher Salt and pepper to taste To roast garlic and sage: In a sauce pan, combine ½ cup vegetable oil and ¼ cup olive oil over medium heat. Add 8 cloves of garlic and roast. Once garlic is roasted, add 12 sage leaves til the leaves have darkened. Remove
from heat. Remove sage and garlic from oil mixture. (This oil mixture can be reserved to be used in later recipes. You now have a sage and garlic infused oil.)
Sage and Garlic Aoili Whisk egg yolks and garlic paste until air is incorporated. Add lemon juice and mustard, mix well. Slowly blend in mixture of ½ cup vegetable oil and ¼ cup olive oil. Add minced raw sage, mix well. Blend in roasted garlic and crispy sage with a pinch of kosher salt.
Outfitters Guide [ 61 ]
HoneyCayenneSlaw Yield: 3 cups
3 C Shredded Red Cabbage ½ sliced red onion Salt 1 c mayo ¼ c white balsamic vinegar ¼ c white vinegar Juice of ½ lemon 2 Tbsp honey ½ tsp horseradish 1 tsp whole grain mustard ½ tsp cayenne pepper ½ tsp paprika ½ tsp salt In a bowl add mayonnaise, lemon juice, white balsamic vinegar and white vinegar. Mix well. Add honey, whole grain mustard and horseradish. Stir together til blended. Add cayenne pepper, paprika and salt with a pinch of pepper. Mix until blended.
Set aside. Julienne ½ red onion (as thin as possible) to equal one cup. Chop ½ head of red cabbage to equal 3 cups. Mix cabbage and onions in bowl. Add a little salt and refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes. Add dressing (as much as desired) to slaw and refrigerate until ready to serve. Note: the slaw should be combined shortly before serving.
On the Line
How do I tie on my fly?? I remember as a kid fishing beaver ponds in the mountains with my grandfather. Grandpa never was big on sitting around untangling kid's fishing lines, which I'm sure you understand. Anyone who has fished with kids knows that most of your time is spent trying to keep their lines in the water. I think he figured I would learn more if I fixed my own messes. So I chose to tie my flies on with a series of overhand, granny knots. It worked. I caught lots of 8-10 inch rainbows. The recipe for success back then was a Lead Winged Coachman with a tiny bit of angleworm on the back. But I digress. The point is that one day up at a pond I hooked “Walter,” a whopping, 14-inch cutbow. I wanted that trophy so bad I could taste it. I already pictured myself presenting it to my grandfather, when suddenly Walter took a great run across the water toward the pile of sticks that made up the dam. I had never experienced such strength and power!
I tried to slow him down but all was for naught. The line snapped right at the knot and all hope of landing my trophy was dashed. Grandpa thought it was hilarious - me not so much, since I could have been a hero, but instead, I missed my mark. It was then that my Grandfather decided I really did have the fishing gene. I was serious about it and I wanted to learn. What I learned here was that the reason I lost the fish was due to my choice of knots. A simple overhand in monofilament cuts into itself, weakening the line by up to 60 percent. That's why, knowing what I know now, I don't recommend putting wind knots in your leader. A 60% loss in strength when you're already fishing 5x, doesn’t leave you with much. So began my formal training as a fly fisherman.
?
Outfitters Guide [ 63 ] --Eric Shores, contributing writer Yobi Adventures
Improving the Clinch Knot First on my list nowadays is the fisherman's knot, or the clinch knot. You know how it goes: around and around, back through the loop, wet with a little saliva and pull tight. Later as my education continued, my uncle, an incredible fly fisherman, introduced me to the “improved� clinch. With this knot you add one more step and go back through the last loop you made. This locks the knot and keeps it from slipping. Has your leader ever come back with no fly and little curly cues on the end? If so, the knot slipped. My suggestion? Add my uncle's improved version of the clinch knot to your repertoire. I always remind my clients to remember to wet the knot. I wet all my monofilament knots. As
you pull mono tight, the friction of the knot tightening creates heat and weakens the filament. Keeping it wet helps to cool it down. The improved clinch was my goto knot for years. I could tie it under any condition - extreme cold, pitch black darkness, you name it. One day this all changed. While I was guiding a father and his two sons (one 12 and one 14 years old) I found myself in for a big surprise. These kids were really good! The 12 year old knew how to double haul and could put a streamer 2 inches from the bank every time. They both tied up their own gear and all their own knots.
On the Line
How do I tie on my fly?? (cont'd) What I Learned from a 12 Year Old I was watching the younger of the two tying on his fly and I realized it wasn't a clinch knot. I thought he was going with my old system - just a bunch of grannies - but when I looked his fly was tied on a nice little loop. I tested the knot for strength and found it to be more than adequate. When I asked him what kind of knot he was using, he told me it was a double surgeon. I had used double surgeons for years to tie on a tippet, but I'd never heard of using it for tying on a fly! He showed me how to tie it. It was simple, fast and strong, but most of all it allowed the fly to move freely on the loop, resulting in much greater movement and action. To tie the surgeon's loop, thread the leader through the eye, throw
a loop in the two lines, and go through the loop with the fly twice. If you tighten the knot at this point, the loop will be too large. Instead, you need to hook the loop over the eye of the fly, slowly tighten it until it cinches right up close to the eye, and then let it slip off before it tightens around the hook eye. This gives you a sweet little loop and a fly with lots of wiggle and sass. I've been tying my loops like this ever since. I believe that no matter how thin you go on a tippet, the fish can see the line. If they can see a size 20-mayfly nymph at midnight on a moonless night (and I know they can) they can see your tippet. What gives it away is not the tippet size but how the fly behaves on the end of the tippet. When a tippet is too thick, the fly behaves like it is on a piece of wire and appears very unnatural.
OutfittersGuideMagazine [ 65 ]
Typically thinner tippets will get better action, although this matters less if you're fishing streamers, dries or dead drifting nymphs. The beauty of the loop is that you can get away with murder on tippet size, because the fly is free to move and wiggle in the loop. So if everyone else is fishing 4x, I think you can go to 3x or even 2x.
I'm always a big fan of fishing the thickest tippet possible. I think it makes it easier to quickly get the fish in, raising the odds you will actually get it in the net. It also reduces the stress on the fish, making it more likely that you'll see that same fish on another day. A thicker tippet is also better for ripping the flies out of the
On the Line
How do I tie on my fly?? (cont'd) A Major Discovery A little side note on the kids. On the way up to the car their dad confessed to me that his kids catch scads of big fish while he never seems to catch any. Later I got to thinking about this loop - could it really make that much difference? We stopped at a nice wading stretch on the Madison. Their dad went upstream and I went downstream with the boys. We stopped at a nice deep hole that I knew was home to some mighty big fish. We ran a bugger and a bead through and got a couple of 12-inchers. I figured that was about it, and it was time to get back to the boat. Then the older of the two said “let's see what’s really in this hole," and he pulled out a 4-inch long, deep-diving rapala. What a result! He proceeded to whack a 19-incher followed by a 20-inch brown. He had his own system for casting it,
then a perfect swing through the hole. WHAM! So that's how you two catch all those big fish. "Yep," he said, "But please don't tell our dad. If he finds out we’re either both dead or grounded for a month!" Never did see that crew again, but who would guess what a veteran fishing guide like me could learn from a 12 year old. Today I use the surgeon's loop to tie flies almost exclusively, and because of it, I land more big fish. So if you're sitting around waiting for the wind to go down or the rain to stop, grab a piece of mono and practice a surgeon's loop. You might just like it.
Outfitters Guide [ 67 ]
Outfitters Guide is please to annouce our partnership with Yobi Adventures. Yobi Adventures is the premier source to research, plan and pursue your next fly fishing adventure. From fishing reports, destination insights and guide reviews to the best places to grab a meal and swap stories with the locals, Yobi has you covered. To access all the advantages Yobi offers visit them at www.Yobiadventures.com and plan your next adventure on the water.
s e i fl n o m l a S g n i s C ha OGTV HUNT
Every year there comes a time in the northwest when the big fish go off their diet of little fish and come to the surface for a smorgasbord. The salmonflies usually start hatching late spring or early summer.
salmonflies on the water. Then I move to the big dry. After fishing size 14 and 16 dries on 4x and 5x leaders, it's fun to go to a size 2 dry on 0x.
You need strong tippet material because it’s a "close to the bank Predicting the Salmonfly Hatch thing," and 2 inches is not close Twenty years ago they didn't start enough. That thing needs to be in coming until the first of July. Now there close. Bounce off the grass it’s the second week of June. On a one mend, and it drops into the normal year, the hatch moves up water. Takes are often explosive. the river a few miles every day and Seems like the fish are genuinely you have to plan accordingly. The mad at the thing. It all makes for a “where and when” of the hatch is lot of fun! normally quite easy to predict. How to Beat the Crowds It usually starts on the Smith River, then moves to Rock Creek, then Unfortunately, we are not the the Big Hole. Next is my home only predators aware of this phecourt, the Madison, and finally the nomena. Our fellow anglers are Yellowstone. guaranteed to be there be there for a chance at the big show. I ofI like to put in above the hatch and ten handle this problem by fishing float down into it, starting with big early in the morning. During the black nymphs until I see my first "hatch" I usually pick up my clients
s
OutfittersGuideMagazine [ 69 ] --Eric Shores, contributing writer Yobi Adventures
before sunrise. That way, we’re the first on the water and we stay ahead of the pack all day. There's nothing better than watching the sun come up while fishing big dries in close. Fishing is still fishing, and sometimes they just won't eat. But a
couple hours of good salmonfly fishing in Montana will change your life. Tight lines everybody! I hope to see you out there!
On the Line
Fly Fishing Tips: Dropper or No Dropper
O
--Eric Shores, contributing write Yobi Adventure
ne fly or two? That is the ques-
down the bank. When you're in a situ-
tion. Will a second fly really help
ation that requires this level of preci-
you catch more fish, or will it increase
sion, I think one fly is the right call.
the chances of a horrible bird's nest?
Otherwise, the dropper tends to hang
When I'm guiding, especially when it's
up or drag in an unnatural arc away
someone I have never fished with be-
from the bank.
fore, I usually start with one fly to assess the level of talent I'm working with
I often fish streamers the same way,
for the day. A tapered leader, single fly
super close to the bank. Rather than
is definitely the easiest setup to cast
using an upstream mend, I suggest
and fish.
mending down stream so the bug runs close in and straight down stream. For
Once you add another fly and a
years I fished a single streamer for the
couple of split shots, things can get
reasons mentioned above, but a few
complicated fast. You can't catch fish if
years back that all changed. We no-
your flies and leader are in a perpetu-
ticed that while we could get big fish to
al, hopeless mess!
follow the fly almost all the way to the bank, we couldn't get them to eat.
Mastering the Single Dry The problem was finally solved by a Later in the summer, when I'm fish-
size 14 Prince, tied on about 12 inches
ing dries close to the bank, I like a
behind the streamer. It was crazy what
single dry. I find this to be a game of
a difference it made. Now I almost
inches; and often, being 5 inches from
always put a little nymph on behind
the bank is not close enough. I like
my streamer. For the trailer, the recipe
to throw it right into the grass on the
for success seems to be big bug/
bank, make a quick mend to pop it out
little bug - the bigger the streamer the
of the grass, and land it an inch from
smaller the nymph.
the bank, ready to take a nice float
r
er es
Outfitters Guide [ 71 ] After the salmonfly hatch dissipates,
hopper or a chubby Chernobyl, then
the fish move back out into the middle
hang a small nymph off the back. The
of the river and I return to using two
dry makes a great strike indicator.
flies. There are two reasons for this.
You select the nymph depth setting
First, I find this helps me cover more
and you're still in the game if the fish
water and show my bug to as many
return to the surface.
fish as possible. A couple of nymphs or dries spread out a couple of feet
Tail or no tail. Some people tie their
apart goes a long way to accomplish
dropper line to the bend of the hook
this, as more fish are likely to see one
on the front fly. Others go eye to eye
or the other.
- two clinch knots in one hook eye. I usually go off the bend if I'm fishing
Another reason to fish droppers is to
streamers and beads; for nymphs I
increase your odds when you're trying
like to go eye to eye. That leaves the
to crack the code. If you're not catch-
hook sticking straight out and I think it
ing fish, it's time to change something.
catches more fish.
That something is usually your fly choice. Should I go big? Should I go
So the next time your rigging up, pon-
small? Bright or dark? - Whatever you
der what's possible using a two-fly
feel is right. Fishing with 2 flies cov-
approach. Experiment! Be the one to
ers 2 different guesses. Again I like to
crack the code! You never know what
think of it as big bug/little bug. The
you might come up with.
combinations are limitless. How to Do a Hopper-Dropper Set Up Another two-fly situation I really like is the hopper/dropper set up. This is when you start with a big dry like a
[ 072 ] SPORT MAGAZINE
Dream Adventure
>> issue 94
>> Summer 2015
" l a c s i t e r u "Na dventu a c i ep
subscRibe ArtDirectionDepartment:
Jeff Jensen
Stephanie Sny-
der
Sales Manag-
ers:
David Lewis
III
Chase Lew-
is
Directors,TopManagement:
Jeff Jensen
SupportPersonnel:Stephanie
Snyder
TechnicalSpecialists:Stepha-
nie Snyder
Designer, Copywrit-
ers:
Jeff Jen-
sen
Stephanie Snyder CORPORATE AD SALES:
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