Country Dogs and other Fishing Hazards

I can still remember fishing in NJ’s Pequest River years ago on a brisk fall morning. I was thigh deep in a large pool and had already landed a few good-sized holdover trout when the sun peeked over the hillside. It was very quiet except for the sound of my reel giving line to one of the hefty Browns and the occasional barking of distant dogs. I never heard the four Rottwielers coming until they crested the hilly cornfield about 50 yards away! Too late to run, especially in rubber/canvas waders and nothing to defend myself with, but a five foot ultra light rod and a pair of forceps! They were at the rivers edge a few feet away in the blink of an eye, barking and just looking mean. The biggest two started into the river and just as I was about to swim for it, I heard a man’s voice on the hillside yelling for “Buster” and “Hildie” to stay! The man ambled down to the riverbank about the same time my heart started beating again. He apologized and assured me they were friendly and that I didn’t need to be afraid of the “ones with the black collars”.  He explained that if the “ones with the orange collars” had broken loose from the kennel it would be a whole different story! He bred and trained Rottwielers for two purposes, companion/show dogs and guard/ attack dogs. The fearsome foursome that I encountered turned out to be of the friendly variety and once I got up the courage to get out the water, they started giving me licks and had me giving them belly rubs! But what if they had orange collars ……

That day, long ago, was before mace, cell phones and the Animal Planet Channel! I have had numerous encounters with country dogs and a variety of other uninvited guests while fishing the waters of the northeast. While none were as dangerous or unnerving as the Grizzlies of the northwest Steelhead and Salmon rivers, they were either dangerous or just nuisances that had to be dealt with! A wild dog, snake, Black Bear, even a mink can put and end to some good fishing prematurely! You can’t be prepared for everything. However, some common sense and information derived from experience can alleviate some of the potential problems and give you the best shot at an uninterrupted, safe day on the water! As natural habitat decreases and the amount of new housing developments increase, our waterways pose more and more problems for anglers. Here are a few tips that have either worked for me or have been suggested by some of the experts.

Look before you leap

Use common sense when in an area. If you know there have been problems with nuisance bears in the area or wild dog packs, don’t put your ham and cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwich in your vest.

A couple years ago there were some reports of dog packs harassing hikers in the Delaware Water Gap National Park in NJ. They were considering closing the area because a couple had been attacked and bitten. The following weekend a father and his young son were fishing a small park pond. The father gave the seven-year-old boy a meat and cheese sandwich and some cheese doodles for lunch. He then went to try fishing the other side of the pond. Five dogs attacked the boy, (2 of the dogs later were identified as Pit Bulls). Before the father could react and ward them off, the boy received injuries causing the need for over 100 stitches, skin grafts and surgery to save a ravaged arm!

Try to be aware of your surroundings and keep your ears and eyes open. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

-You cannot out run a dog or a bear.

 A blast from a compressed air horn or if in close quarters a shot of mace can work wonders. If you notice a ravaged carcass, torn apart log, tracks or any other sign where you are, keep alert! I have had to use the air horn twice since I started packing it in my vest! Once for an angry, mangy shepherd / collie mix and the other for about a 400 lb. curious bear! Knock on wood, no mace action yet!!

- Although breathable, stocking foot waders are extremely comfortable, they are little protection against barbed wire or snakes.

 I have personally been ambushed twice by Copperhead snakes while wading a stream! They love to sun on the sides of rocks near the water. The first time I was wearing the old canvas/ rubber type of boot foot chest wader. It was a small snake and its fangs got embedded in the rubber of the upper boot! I barely felt it strike, but had to use a good size branch to knock him free! The second time I was wearing rubber hip boots. Bigger snake, he didn’t get stuck but he never reached my skin either. He got me right around the ankle line. Both times I am convinced that if I were wearing breathable waders with wading shoes, it would have been a totally different story! On a recent outing to a stretch of stream that was new to me, I tripped on a piece of barbed wire that had gotten washed downstream in the recent floods. It was barely light and I never saw it. I fell hard and it tore a nice rip in my rubber hip boots right below the knee, but there was no blood!

- A swan can be one ugly duckling and beware of mother goose!

More than a few times while fishing beaver ponds or rural streams I have had a great fishing area turn into a seen of mayhem! Once while canoeing a small, slow moving stream in Maine, I was chased for a half mile by a nesting Canadian goose that didn’t know the word quit! I had paddled a little to close to her nest and she shot out into the canoe aiming to peck me in the face. I almost tipped over and once I swatted her back in the water with a paddle, she chased me, honking away and making false charges for about half a mile. Sure go ahead and laugh, but it was on the best stretch of water of my seven-mile trip!  A few years ago I thought I was going to have to kill a beautiful Swan who I must have disturbed on a nest. I had hiked two miles to get to this Brook Trout laden Beaver pond. I had just got there and caught two fat Brookies when I stepped over a big log and she came out of nowhere. After creating quite a ruckus in the water and on land trying to chase me away, I retreated to the other side of the pond. All the commotion turned off the fish and although I could see quite a few fish, they became spooky and would not hit anything! It ruined my efforts of a four mile round trip to Brookie heaven! Stay clear of nesting waterfowl!

-Minks stink and don’t get trapped!

Over the years I have seen plenty of Minks (Weasels/ Fishers), Beavers, Muskrats and even a couple Otters while on the water. Minks and Otters can ruin your day of fishing! As soon as you see one, try and scare it off or move in the opposite direction! They eat fish and have spooked out many a good-looking trout hole on me! Sometimes you can tell if they are in the area by the smell they leave behind! I don’t know what it is, their diet or whatever, but every time I have seen a Mink or Otter, there was a pungent odor hanging in the air!

You also need to look out for traps. There are still fur trappers out there! I have stepped in one Muskrat trap and side stepped several Beaver traps in the last few years. Look for a stake in the ground along the waters edge or a patch of well-traveled shoreline! You can also sometimes smell the trappers bait scent around the area. Most legal traps aren’t able to inflict much damage on a human, but it pays to be wary.

- Mind the Muck!

Anyone who has hunted waterfowl or fished in waders has encountered Muck! It sucks you down like a mild dose of quicksand, stinks to high heaven when you pull out of it and can stand between you and a great looking fishing spot like an armed guard! You have two choices with Muck. Go around it or above it. On several outings I have conquered Mucky shorelines by taking branches and laying them side-by-side to create a makeshift bridge or overpass. I saw one angler drag a 4x4 piece of plywood by a rope to his favorite spot that was guarded by Muck. He would walk out on a fallen branch, lay down the plywood and fish off it like the bow of a bass boat! He was able to reach several spots on this stretch of river that no one else could even attempt. The next time I visited the river I saw 3 guys with plywood!

-Wind your discarded line

 Monofiliment or fly line, it makes no difference. If you break some off, wind it up and throw it out. There is no reason to leave it so that an animal or another angler trips up or gets caught in it!

For your vest pocket

Whether you fish alone or with others, here are a few items that you might want to put in some of those thirty something pockets in your fishing vest! You may never need them, but they add little weight and can really come in handy.

Cell Phone – Most providers have coverage even in some remote places. It can be a life saver. Put it in a zip lock bag for added protection.

First Aid Kit/Snake bite kit – You don’t need more than the essentials. Johnson and Johnson sells a first aid kit that has a snake bite kit included and is about the size of a pack of cigarettes.

Small can of mace – Just in case you have too close an encounter with either Rover or Yogi. Unless you have a carrying permit for a handgun, this is the next best thing!

Map – Get a detailed map and blow up the area that you plan to fish. Just in case you need to detour around a problem, feel ill or have to call in help. It weighs nothing and can cut down time and energy in a bad situation.

Super glue – It can be a quick fix for a bad cut or a torn wader.

Multi purpose knife – one with a saw blade, screwdriver, etc. can really come in handy.

Noisemaker – A small air horn canister costs about $4.00 and can fit in a small vest pocket. A loud whistle can also be effective.

Wading stick – They do make telescoping models that may fit in some pockets, however most will not. They are very handy to have with you. You can test depth, bottom softness, use it as a hiking stick or a fly or lure retriever! I even saw one old timer use a broom handle. He had a small bicycle seat in his vest. He complained about a bad back, so whenever he got fatigued, he put the seat on the broom handle, got out into waist deep water, squatted down and kept on fishing.

These are a few ideas to help make your time on the water a little safer and event free! Remember: Fish safe, be courteous to other anglers and especially land owners! Bring out what you bring in and take a child fishing every chance you get!!

Family Fishing is fun too!

-Bob Tackels

Muddy Waters

With over eight inches of recent snowmelt and over five inches of rain this past weekend, it is finally starting to feel like spring and the opening of Trout Season! Record flood levels can cause many anglers to get turned off by the muddy waters, but they shouldn’t. Think of it as a purging of the system and a recreation of sorts for your favorite creeks and rivers. The effects can be tremendous for the savvy angler who is willing to learn new tricks. In northeastern PA, where I live, most streams run gin clear down the mountains most of the time. Fish are spooky and have the advantage of knowing every snag, sharp boulder and blown down submerged tree to give them the upper hand in scrappy fights on light tackle. After a period of high water or even record flood levels, the scales start to dip to the savvy anglers favor! New holes are carved out, new structure appears on the banks and gravel bars appear out of once silted areas. Weed beds are dispersed and the fish need to reacquaint themselves with their habitat. Most fish will stop feeding during floods and choose to find some cover and hold on. Others get swept downstream and get somewhat disoriented. Eventually these fish will turn on and start feeding in earnest. This is the angler’s big chance to cash in on some of the best stream fishing of possibly a lifetime! That elusive lunker from that upstream undercut bank and submerged log may now be in an eddy behind a boulder at the head of an open pool!

My first experience with muddy waters was years ago at the Pequest River in NJ. We had a few days of heavy rain just before Opening Day of Trout Season. When we arrived, the river was a coffee colored, debris infested, torrent of water. While we stood by the truck and tried to figure out a plan “B” to save our Opening Day, two old timers parked behind us and walked down to the flooded cornfield along the river. My 3 fishing buddies and I chuckled that these guys were actually fishing in a cornfield!  We stopped chuckling and got our gear on quickly after we watched them land a few nice sized stocked Rainbows. We were at least fifty yards from what was the riverbank, standing in thigh deep water that was much clearer, with little current, and were catching trout on silver and white spinners. It was a low spot in the field that the trout gravitated to avoid the muddy torrent.  We each caught our limit of trout in less than an hour. Sure, we lost some lures on the close cut cornstalks, but if you casted in between the rows and twitched on retrieve, the hits came often! Since then I have caught trout in parking lots, on roads and behind oak trees too! However, the best fishing is within the first week after the water recedes and starts to clear.

Gamefish and their forage are getting settled and sorted out during that first few days to a week. They are also very hungry! Once while fishing the mouth of the Manatee River on the Gulf coast of Florida we witnessed this phenomenon in full force. Heavy rains had muddied the river and fishing was lousy by all accounts for several days. Winds made it difficult to fish the bay also. When the sky cleared and the winds calmed down we motored over to river mouth early one morning. Just where the muddy river water hit the clearer bay water, explosion upon explosion was occurring! Snook up to the 15 lb range were crashing bait in the twenty-yard wide section of transformation water from muddy to clear! It was clear enough to see and close enough to the muddy water for a great ambush! We caught and released over twenty Snook and broke off just as many on snags or in the current as they raced back up to the river. They were all between 5 and 15 lbs and provided much fun until the wind picked up again and blew us off the bay.

Here are some Muddy Water tips that may help out and save a day on the water.

 Fresh Water Rivers or Creeks: Try the backwaters or high bank sides of the current. A half night crawler bottom bounced on a heavy split shot can be deadly. Work the bait slowly and make at least half a dozen casts in likely spots. On slower streams, try small crayfish hooked trough the tail with a split shot six inches from the hook. Bounce it off the bottom with quick twitches. If you want to try artificials, go with heavy enough jigs to stay on the bottom in black, brown or olive. I know you would normally think white, yellow or chartreuse, but try dark first. Maribu jigs or small bodied swimming jigs work best. Look for feeder creeks or runoff areas that may infuse a strain of clearer water. Work the sides of these hard. Make sure you try a couple drops DIRECTLY into the flow of their current. Slow and close to the bottom is key. For early spring trout stocked waters, a nugget of Powerbait with a three to four inch lead to the split shot can be deadly. One Opening Day on NJ’s Black River, I watched several anglers try a small deep hole without success. It was a mini gorge about 10ft. long and 8 ft. wide. I already had 4 nice trout and had thrown back a few more when the spot became vacant. I put on an over sized split shot about 3 inches above the hook with a nugget of orange Powerbait. On the second drop in the hole, a 3 plus pound rainbow inhaled the bait! It wouldn’t fit in my Artic Creel and I had to secure it to a nylon stringer! Two drops back in the hole, using green Powerbait, I caught a 17 inch Brookie that filled out my limit of six! You should have seen the look on some of my fellow anglers as I trekked back up the path. They were the two biggest fish we saw caught that day.

Ponds and Small Lakes: Again, look for run offs and feeder creeks. If it is springtime, fish the opposite side of the shoreline! Try wobbling spoons, in gold and copper or medium sized spinners in the same colors. Twitch them erratically with a slow retrieve. You can cover a lot of ground with these baits and get an idea where the fish are set up better. Depending on time of year and water temperature, this has been a killer technique for me with all types of fish, including Bass, Perch and Crappie. I once fished a small state park lake that was recently stocked with trout, but had bass, perch and panfish in it too. Everyone was fishing where the creek fed the lake. I walked to the opposite end and started casting Lil’Tiger gold spoons. I creeled my limit of trout (including a 19” brood stock rainbow), released a few more and in between the trout, caught two decent 1-2 lb Bass a few Perch and a jumbo Bluegill! As I left, most of the guys were still at the creek mouth and the “hero” had 4 trout on a stringer! In summer months, go with the flow! Try drifting live bait below dams, feeder creeks or any runoff areas. If possible float a bait the length of the current or cast and retrieve small plugs back up the current.

Small Rapalas work well for this. Many ponds and small lakes will have a weed line just beyond the natural inlet flow. Use that weed line as a boundary for where to stop your drift.

Also try small to medium jigs in this are too. I once had a morning where I caught over 25 big Perch and slab Crappies on white Mister Twister grubs jigged through a runoff creeks flow!

Bays and Brackish Water: Many bays that are river fed get tainted or muddied after heavy rains. If there is a visible water clarity line of change, fish the line! I have trolled such “lines” where the cooler, muddier river water met the bay water and scored big with Weakfish on med. sized “Thin Fin” lures. When the Weakfish stopped hitting, we drifted for Fluke along the line. After putting on 3 way rigs with a chartreuse Mister Twister split tail grub/killie combo, we caught some nice Fluke in the 2-5 lb range. Out of 14 caught, only 3 were shorts! The trick was to have the bait off the bottom about a foot. With the 3 way rig and a 3 foot leader, that grub/killie combo would slap the bottom and the Fluke couldn’t resist. That same rig setup has produced many times for Fluke when the bay would get muddied. If you are fishing for Stripers or Blues, try big noisy top water plugs. I watched a guy at the Manesquan inlet catch 3 keeper Stripers on Big Atom plugs one morning when the water from the river was putting a brown stain all around the inlet. There were about 20 other anglers, not catching very much. After he caught his third fish, 2 other guys started casting big top water plugs too. Within a half hour later, I saw about ten more stripers and 4 blues caught –All on BIG top water plugs in the brown water!

The next time you see muddy waters, don’t be discouraged. It can be a bonus if you play it right. Many times bait and other forage will use the off color to hide in and feed off the nutrients that come along with it. The predators will be close by! Remember: Fish safe, stay dry, watch rising waters and swift currents! Take a child fishing every chance you get! Family fishing is fun too!

 -Bob Tackels

Much to do about Fishing

For many of us “Reel Men”, the winter months are filled with a sense of helplessness, reflection, hope and anxiety that most others cannot appreciate. We feel helpless that the playgrounds we love to play in are encased in ice, separating us from our friends. We reflect on the past seasons and go through the list of “what ifs”, such as: what if I tried another type of lure, tied a different knot, loosened my drag a bit more, bought a bigger net, used a fluorocarbon leader for that finicky monster brown! We all hope that we get second chances at lost trophy fish, get another perfect day at “The Hook” for Stripers, get a return trip to the Keys for one more shot at a “Silver King”, that we get more time on the water than last year! We spend so much time doing these things that before you know it, the weather gets warmer, we are scrambling to ready our equipment for the first outing of the year, new line gets hastily put on, a quick patch job on a pair of waders and before you know it anxiety sets in! It happens to the best of us. However, we do have choices to fill in the winter downtime between snowfalls and playoff games! Here is a quick list and some ideas to go with it.

Outdoors

Winter Trout: Most areas of the northeast have streams that will holdover trout year round. Trout in winter do feed and most likely have been left untouched for months! Pick one of the balmy, above freezing afternoons and give it a try. You may be surprised what a slow drift in a pool with a mealworm, ½ night crawler or nymph will produce. Some of my biggest trout of the year are caught from November to February! It also gives you a sense of accomplishment that you caught a fish that lasted in the stream so long. On New Years Eve this winter, I landed a beautiful, hooked jaw, male brown from a creek about as wide as a driveway! It was 22”inches and weighed 4.2 lbs. He took a ½ night crawler buried in a #10 dry fly hook off 2 lb test line. It was an old fish that I had only caught once before, 2 years ago on balmy day in February! Pictures revealed the same big black spot on the gill cover! I fish this stretch of creek 10 –15 times a year!

Ice Fishing: I have written about this subject in detail in the past article “Fish on the Rocks”. If you have never tried it, give it a shot. For the price of family dinner at a good restaurant, you can purchase the basics, catch fish and have a fun time! A hand auger, insulated bait bucket, tip ups, simple jigging stick, a couple jigs, shiners, mousies/meal worms and you are ready to go! Drive by a local lake on a weekend morning and talk to a few of the hard water anglers first. It can only help. The kids, if dressed warm, will have a ball!

Stripers in the Surf: Not many try this after Thanksgiving, but I can remember a few Christmas weekends on the beaches of Sandy Hook and Point Pleasant, NJ that we caught plenty! Mostly on blood worms and few on medium sized “swimming eel” jigs. Not many were keepers, but the action was enough to make you forget about the cold or taking down the holiday ornaments! Like any outdoor activity in the winter, you need to pick your days. Make sure you check out your waders for leaks before you go. “Swim” the eels slow with intermittent quick twitches right off the bottom!

Indoors

Outdoor Expositions: These can be a great way to kill a day, spend time with the family, eat some food your wife normally won’t let you, get some great bargains on equipment, see the latest equipment and just have fun! There is plenty to see so get there early. The first day of the show will yield the best variety of bargains if you want to buy, the last day will offer the best bargains, but they may be on items you really don’t need! There are usually plenty of demonstrations, exhibits and activities to keep everyone happy. Some of the better ones I have been to are: Raritan Center in NJ, Rockland County Comm. College in NY, the PA outdoor show in Harrisburg at the Agricultural Center may take 2 days to work your way through! Most of these shows have a mix of hunting and fishing. Everything from Alaskan Kodiak Bear outfitters to a children’s trout pond  (above ground pool filled with hatchery trout) where the little ones can try their luck! If you know what you want and know your prices, you can really get some great deals. The latest technology is always on display too! Most of these shows are in the mid January to early March timeframe.

Fish Hatcheries: Most states have them and some are better than others! NJ’s Pequest Hatchery is also an Environmental Center. They have interactive centers for children and provide good information and insight to below the surface. Some have special event weekends and offer seminars or shows. It can be worth an afternoon to check one out. It also can give you a refresher course on what a brood stock size fish looks like! There is usually enough to see indoors, but if you can pick a day where it is bearable outside, you may make the trip worth it more.

Catalog “window shopping”: This in my opinion is a must do for any serious “reel man”. Not so much to spend, but to get ideas. Don’t just look, read the descriptions. There is a lake I fish for Stripers that has a lot of deep river channels. I fish the sides

And I often troll with downriggers. The irregular bottom contour makes it hard to troll right off the bottom consistently for any distance. I had tried everything with little success. Half way through a Cabela’s Saltwater catalog during a February snow last winter and wham! There it was, my solution! I wasn’t even thinking or looking for it. In the spring, I took my $12.99 (+ S&H) “solution” down to the lake and boated 3 Stripers in the 10-15 lb. range! I have also been reminded of what I have stored away while turning the pages. I frequently go looking for a box of something, which I haven’t used in years that may now work somewhere! It usually does and I saved money by not buying!

Brushing Up: I mean this literally! Go into your lure boxes and tackle compartments and clean off all that junk on the hooks, lure and terminal tackle. That dried up spray scent, pork rind, seaweed, etc. Use an old toothbrush or a rag and hot water and wipe off those plugs. Give them a spray of a glossy clear coat finish if needed! Check the sharpness of hooks, the split rings, and the crank bait lip’s position/condition. Polish those Diamond and Ava jigs. Replace those once white buck tail trailer hooks! Take some tooth polish and shine up those trout spinners with that old toothbrush. Next clean out the tackle boxes and storage compartments. All kinds of things leak and die in there! I once went to take out some Walleye jigs from container and realized that I had left a worm on one during a frenzy the previous fall. It smelled awful! If I would have tossed one of the jigs into the lake the Walleye would have swam to the other end! Finally, get out your rods and reels! Take some furniture polish and wipe down your rods with a soft cloth. Check the inside of your guides for wear. Make sure the reel seats are sturdy. I never did this until I lost a big Striper the first trip one spring. I had him on for a awhile and when I went to reposition my hands the reel broke off the reel seat due to a cracked band! I lost the fish, put a gash in the spool and broke off the bottom line guide on the rod. Not good! Finally clean your reels up. Brush away dirt, take off the spools and spray some WD40 over all moving parts! I will inspect the gears and lube them, then check the drag.  Trust me, it is all worth the effort.

Our time on the water should be meant for fishing, not doing maintenance or repairs!

Remember to stay warm and dry, fish safe, be mindful of others and take a child fishing every chance you can. Family fishing is fun too!

-Bob Tackels

Wade a minute………

While driving around the flooded roads of northeast Pa and parts of New Jersey this past weekend, I observed many people wearing a wide variety of waders. So many people that in some areas it looked like downtown Pulaski, NY at the height of the Salmon River annual fall Salmon run! Men, women and children wearing everything from Kmart rubber hip boots, fireman boots, on up to expensive breathable, chest waders normally worn by river guides! No wonder since it was the worst flooding in over 50 years! Whether they were clearing out flooded basements, trying to retrieve articles from mostly submerged vehicles, taking photos or carrying pets to higher ground, people in waders were everywhere! I started to remember when you had only 2 choices when it came to waders. Rubber and canvas/ rubber 2 ply! Both were heavy, hot in warmer months and stiff in colder months, not very durable and usually didn’t last long! They came in Small, Medium and Large boot sizes and in 2 lengths – Hip and Chest! The “chesties” were held up by either leather or primitive elastic suspenders. The “hippers” by either leather or rubber belt loop snaps that NEVER HELD! I was wearing my last pair of “old world waders” when I had one of the scariest moments I ever encountered on the water! It was a misty dawn on a NY state trout stream. I had stumbled upstream with my rubber cleated soles, in the dark, to my favorite hole. I noticed a “branch” slowly making its way downstream when I hooked into my first trout of the day. I kept one eye on the branch as I fought the scrappy brown so I would not get my line caught up in it. As the “branch” passed me there was noise like a cannon going off! It scared the !*%@!**! out of me and I nearly shot right out of those elastic suspenders! I lost my balance on the slick stone bottom. After I up righted myself in my now rotund waders, I found my rod, which I had tossed (thankfully onto the bank) in the melee). The trout was off and getting out of the water was difficult. I finally gave up and slid the waders off in waist high water. Cold, wet and dejected I ended my day! As I got out of the water, I saw the “cannon” a little downstream. The Beaver had the last laugh and had probably tail slapped other anglers out of their waders before!

Waders have come a long way since then. They can make or break a fishing trip and yet are very easily overlooked as a crucial item by many anglers. I bought my first pair of Neoprene waders 18 years ago and I still wear them several times a year. They are not my most used pair, but they are my best pair! Here are some hints about buying the right waders for your type of fishing or waterfowl hunting.

The Basics

Chest waders are now made for youths and women as well as men. They are cut differently and come in Tall, Regular and Stout sizes for all. They are available in stockingfoot and boot foot models. Chest waders are made of several materials to choose from. There are basically 4 groups to choose from. Rubber (with or without canvas) Neoprene (with or without Spandra or some other outer protection), Nylon or an assortment of Breathable fabrics such as Gore-Tex. Many manufacturers are also offering “waist high” waders that fit like a pair of pants.

Hip Boots are a very viable option for many anglers. If you are fishing mostly mountain streams or drift boating, they may be the way to go. They are easy to walk in, pack in and do not take up much room in a duffle bag. They come in just about all the variations and materials as chest waders do and are about a one third to half the cost of chest waders. I strongly recommend hip boots for a young angler. They are safer and are a good start economically for fast growing feet. You can still gain the experience of walking on slippery riverbeds without much of a down side.

Stockingfoot waders are excellent for someone who plans on doing a lot of walking or needs the support of a lace up boot. With gravel guards either built in or separate, the wear factor is minimal with a little extra care. Stockingfoot types are less expensive than Boot foot models, but keep in mind that the cost of a decent pair of wading shoes can get pricey and swallow up the difference quickly.

Boot foot waders offer less support around the ankle, but in my opinion last longer and are easier to maintain.

Soles should be a major concern regardless of what style wader you choose. If you are fishing saltwater on the beaches you do not want felt bottoms that will be collecting sand in them. Rubber cleated soles are best for most saltwater anglers. If you are fishing mostly slower valley streams or older rivers, felt soles are perfect. For those who brave the fast moving, rocky bottom streams such as many of the Lake Ontario tributaries, metal studded soles or strap on cleats such as “Corkers” should be considered.

For waterfowl hunters who “run the muck”, rubber soles with boots that have strong ankle support arte needed. Some wading boot manufacturers have realized that there are many types of conditions that their products are subjected to and have created “convertible” boots that offer interchangeable soles of felt and studded that are easy to switch and sturdy.

Walk on Water

Remember you get what you pay for. You can spend $30 on a pair of rubber hip boots or $300 for a pair of breathable “guide wear” chest waders!

Rubber cracks if not well taken care of, but holds up well in saltwater if you rinse it off when you get home. It is also hot in warmer months, but patches easy. Rubber/ canvas are heavy, but wears like armor for the most part.

Neoprene is warm in winter and downright uncomfortable in summer! The seams are usually taped, but leaks are easy to repair (I use super glue). They are easy to walk in but unless they have an abrasive resistant outer shell, will not last very long for those who hike in or fish in thick brush banked areas.

Nylon, especially in the breathable models with extra 3-5 ply material in the knees and seat area are great. Most are form fitting and drag little in the water, can take abuse such as sharp burrs or thickets and are extremely lightweight. You will not sweat in summer and with a pair of fleece wading pants will keep you warm in winter

Gore-Tex is very durable, but can be costly and in my opinion, a little stiff. I have tried on a few different pairs, but none were as comfortable as most of the nylon hybrids.

Insulated waders and/or boot foot waders are the way to go if you are fishing in cold climates for Steelhead or Salmon. However, layers of clothes and fleece wading pants can be just as effective. My Steelhead waders are 8MM Neoprene with Mylar / Felt boot inserts. When I peel them off at the end of a morning of fishing, you can watch my body steam up the air around me! I have never been cold wearing them on the river, even in single digit temperatures! Any temperature over 40 degrees and they are unbearable. You can actually pour the sweat out of the boots!

In short, it all comes down to how much you want to spend, how and where you fish and how often. The important thing is that like everything with our sport, we have many choices out there to keep us dry and comfortable. Check out a few different manufacturers such as Hodgeman, Simms, Cabelas, etc. There is bound to be the perfect combination of price , form and function out there for everyone.

Remember: Stay dry, fish safe, be mindful of others and take a child fishing every chance you can. Family fishing is fun too!

-Bob Tackels

“Yankee Boy” Tactics for the Gulf Angler

For nearly twenty-five years, I had spent at least two weeks a year fishing the inshore surf, river inlets and bays of the Gulf of Mexico. It was always during the winter months from November to April. I was the Grandson of “Snowbirds”and the young apprentice of some of the best gulf coast fishing minds of that era. I was “the Yankee boy” to both the natives and the “snowbirds” from south of the Mason –Dixon line. My mentors were not sport fisherman, but seasoned meat hunters. They fished off the beaches, canal banks, piers and bridges from Clearwater to Naples. A few had modest bay boats and I doubt any had ventured farther out into the Gulf than a hundred yards in a pair of waders! However, these guys caught more fish in a week than some anglers did in a year. I would journey out with one group in the morning and someone different in the afternoon. At night I would fish the lighted bay piers or bring a lantern out to one of the Gulf concrete jetties. My grandparents lived on Anna Maria Island, just across Sarasota Bay from Bradenton. Speckled Trout, Sugar Trout, Whiting, Redfish, Flounder, Snook and the light biting, hard battling Sheephead were our main quarry. Amberjacks, Ladyfish, Spadefish and most other species  “didn’t fillet well” and were either thrown back or used for cut bait if hooked too deep! Once in a while a Black Grouper or other offshore fish would wander inshore and make someone a hero.

Shrimp was the primary bait. I can remember buying fifty for one dollar at the local bait shop. We also combed the bay fronts and caught or dug our own sand flees, fiddler crabs, hermit crabs, sandworms and tubeworms. Most tackle boxes had only terminal tackle in them. A few anglers used buck tail jigs and Mirror Lures for Speckled Trout. Size and Creel limits were considered “optional” by most. Between the Red Tides, “Gill Netters” and Coastal development, the meat hunters figured they were entitled to whatever they could get in the bucket or on the stringer. Slowly, over the years, this mindset changed with a little help from a young fishing fool from New Jersey!

My mentors were in their Golden years, ages 60 to 86. What they lacked in reflex time they made up for in wisdom. I swear they could smell fish a mile away. We would walk past 20 pilings on a bridge looking for the “honey hole” and we always caught fish right away. As the “gill netters” robbed Sarasota Bay of Trout and Redfish on the main grass flats and channels, we would chug for miles in old wooden boats or machete our way through mangroves to get to hidden hotspots that the “gill netters” couldn’t reach or couldn’t find. We would return with sometimes 100 fish a day of various species. While we were filleting and packaging our catch by the dock, we would feed our scraps to the cranes, crabs, pelicans and Pinfish.  During the afternoon shift, Porpoises would sweep down the shallow channel to the dock and chase the pinfish or mullet while giving us a little show. Our catch was distributed amongst less fortunate friends to be eaten fresh, or frozen and taken north for summer fare. During these visits I would fish sometimes 15 hrs a day / 7 days a week. It was a young anglers paradise!

Every year I would show up with something new to try out. Lighted bobbers for night Speckled Trout fishing, a new weedless lure to cast for Redfish or a new style of hook. I often wondered if my old friends were happy to see me or my “new ideas” upon my arrivals. I always had better tackle than my mentors, bought with hard earned lawn cutting money or acquired in birthday cards. As I started having fun and kept filling my share of the daily quota of fish on lighter tackle using artificials, the “old dogs” began learning new tricks. As time went on, they even started culling catches and following regulations! I also began to bring down extras of my “new ideas” for my mentors and local tackle shops added a few new items that became constant requests. More important than the expansion of my fishing knowledge, these men taught me about life in general. Their values, honesty and appreciation of life have and always will be with me.

Although sadly, all of my old friends have passed away, their experience and our collaborative efforts live on and are still effective today along the Gulf coast. Here are a few that will work for you too if you get the opportunity to fish the inshore waters of the Gulf coast.

Speckled Trout (Sugar Trout and Gray Trout)

Where

During daytime, try grass flats off the shore on outgoing tides and flats off channels on incoming tides. Most depressions or potholes will hold fish.  Bay coves off channels are always a great bet. During cold fronts, try deeper water.

At night, follow the light! Try fishing piers or bridges that light up the water. Scout during the day for grass flat areas near the bridge or pier. Start shallow, work deeper if needed.

How

Light line –6 lb. test is ideal (8 lb max!) with a fast tapered 7 ft. rod with a med. action spinning reel. Live shrimp hooked near the tail under a weighted float ( popping or cigar type) is best bait method day or night.

Try small buck tails of white, yellow or lime green with some Mylar for flash. Rig them tandem in unclear water. Any weedless or rigged weedless crank bait such as a Storm Thin Fin or Shad Rap is worth trying. Johnson’s Minnow spoons (weedless) in gold work well. Sluggo’s in white and silver are worth a try too. Trolling or fast casting Mirro Lures in red/ white or black /white is productive after fronts or in unclear water. These are flimsy mouthed fish. Light on the hook set!

Flounder

Where

Mud flats near channels are a sure bet. Around dock channels is productive in bays. Look for grass – mud line and stick close to that.

How

Same tackle as Trout. Try a bottom-bouncing rig with a 3 ft leader and small minnow or live shrimp. Do a slow twitch retrieve. Sand and Bloodworms are excellent once you locate flounder. Another bait option is headless, dead shrimp under a cigar float and drift just off the bottom. Sometimes a small jig head w/ shrimp will do the trick.Redfish

Where

In the bays – Gray days or nights are best. Structure such as channel edges, weed lines or shellfish beds. Old pier or dock pilings were always productive. Try fishing into the wind.

In the gulf- Try any weed line or break around rocks or jetties. On stormy days cast between the two wave breaks off the beach.

How

School Reds(up to 10 lbs)-My favorite rod was an 8 ft med. action/ taper rod with a strong butt end.  Use a reel with a smooth drag and 8 lb test. Try a fluorocarbon 3 ft. leader and an egg sinker / barrel swivel rig. Live large shrimp, minnows or small crabs work well in the bay. Johnson Minnows( in gold and silver) work well on the grass flats, but try digger headed jigs with white or yellow twister or auger tails near pilings and shellfish beds. Med. large lipped crank baits and soft swimming jigs (paddle tails) in contrasting colors work well on windy days. One last thing- try leaving a hook in the first Red you catch and attaching a small balloon to about 25 -30 ft. of line. Return him and follow his friends via the balloon. It works and will keep you on the school!

Bull Reds(over 10 lbs)- 8 or 9 ft med. taper rod with a large capacity reel spooled with 12 –16 lb. test. Try large crank baits that will dig sand along the wave breaks, especially on rough, cloudy days. Casting around any structure or drop off is best. 4-6 inch crabs or baitfish off an egg sinker/ barrel swivel rig with a 3 ft. leader works great. Also, try a “Swimming Eel” like you would for Stripers up north. That can work well off a long cast on a clear day!

Snook

Where

Around structure near river mouths, bay docks, channel edges, mangrove roots, etc. They like the shade, so check around buoys and especially commercial fishing marinas that have a lot of moored boats!  Look deeper in colder weather near channels or drop offs. In brackish or salt rivers, try around bridges.

How

Try to find the average size of the fish in the area you are fishing in. Most likely the same tackle mentioned earlier for School Reds will work for Snook. Some areas are known for producing brutes. There was a stretch of the Manatee River we used to fish that had many fish in the 10-25 lb range.  Also, be mindful that you will be fishing structure.

Cast Twister jigs in white, yellow or root beer. Buck tails and any erratic swimming jerk bait or slim line stick bait like a Smithwick or a Uzuri will work. Crimp a split shot on the back split ring. It changes the action and always worked well. Paddle tail grubs and Sluggo’s work well too!

For bait: large shrimp, 4 –6 inch baitfish or even a 4” thin-shelled crab will work. Twitch the shrimp and crab and cut the tail ends off the baitfish. Use as little weight as possible. They are very wary. Try a 3-4 ft. fluorocarbon leader and barrel swivel. In rivers, try a large sand or bloodworm too.

Whiting

Where

First off, these fish are similar to what northerners call Kingfish. We use mostly bloodworms for them up north and catch them in the surf. In the Gulf area, sandy bay channels near a Gulf inlet are ideal. Longboat Key bridge channel was the best spot. Whiting also will be found in the Gulf surf on overcast days. They will usually be larger than the bay fish too. Cast just beyond the furthest wave action. Nights are excellent.

How

Since we are talking an average size range of 12 –16 inches, go as light as you can. I would use a freshwater 6 ft light action rod / reel set up with just enough butt strength to lift onto the pier or jetty.  Smallish hooks off a 2 ft leader/ egg sinker/ barrel swivel rig works best. Best bait is headless, soft shrimp (even cooked works). My grandfather and I once caught 60 whiting in 3 hrs off a Gulf concrete jetty. They were all good size and we only had 50 shrimp! They will hit a small buck tail and sand worms too.

Sheephead

Where

Barnacles. Where you find barnacles you should find Sheepheads!  Pilings , bridges, piers, coral and rocky bottoms. Inlet bridges or piers near channels are excellent. We use to pull a pipe on a rope along the bottom and listen for it to hit rocks. Then we wound anchor that old wooden boat and start catching Sheephead! They are Bluegills on steroids! They range from 1-20 lbs, but average 2-7 lbs. If you see them by break walls or pilings, try to move to where you can’t see them in a little deeper water. It will produce more and bigger bites!  The bigger and more active fish are light shy!

How

Slow tapered 6-7 ft rods with a sturdy reels loaded with 10 –15 lb. test abrasive resistant line. You will be using as much weight as needed to keep your tube worm, bloodworm, sand flea, fiddler / hermit crab or head half of shrimp tight against the piling or bridge support. Use and egg sinker/ barrel swivel and a 1 ft leader.  If you are fishing rocks use either a slip bobber or just crank up a few inches or a foot off the bottom. They fight very hard for the size and you want to get them away from the sharp barnacles! Tide changes are best.

You are likely to catch Ladyfish (locally known as poor man’s tarpon) while fishing for Trout. They are great aerial fun on light tackle. You may also run into Amberjacks or Crevalle Jacks around the Gulf inlets. They will test your tackle and burn out your drags, but are fun to catch. When fishing at night on the bottom, you will probably catch Gafftop Sail catfish, White cats, Skates and Sharks.  I was reeling in a nice Whiting one night on a Gulf pier. Out of nowhere an 8 ft Tiger shark darted from the shadows, grabbed it and just hung there munching on it! My fellow elder fisherman stopped drinking beer on the pier for quite a while after that for fear of falling over the railing!!

The nice thing about the Gulf coast is you do not need a guide or boat to catch fish and have fun. Most tackle shops are very informative.

Try some “Yankee Boy” tactics on your next trip to Florida. It may be worth it to take a day away from Disney and give it a try. The whole family can have fun in these inshore waters.

Remember, stay dry, fish safe and take a child fishing every chance you can. Family fishing is fun too!

-Bob Tackels

FISH ON THE FLY!

Technology has changed the world of angling in many ways. When I started out, a Mitchell 300 reel and Fenwick fiberglass rod was “the outfit”.  If you could afford a Lowrance “bird trap” Flasher you were the envy of everyone on the lake. Now we use digital reels, invisible lines, vivid color/high definition fish locators, GPS systems, etc. Ultra light and ultra strong materials make our casting effortless and our electronic lures are close to becoming heat-seeking missiles! It amazes me that with all these advancements that there are any fish left to catch! While our arsenals of fish catching creations have increased, our primitive ”fish sense” has decreased. As with much of our world, we have grown dependent on our advances in technology to do our thinking for us. Go to any retail store when the computers are down and watch the cashiers try to count out change! I have seen anglers quit fishing on Lake Ontario for a weekend just because they had a problem with their fish finder!

For many, angling has just become too complicated! Not only do we wrestle with out desktops crashing at work, but now we are getting frustrated with the sensitivity settings on our LCR’s! This is why one form of angling has gained membership in alarming numbers in recent years. It is still nearly as pure and primitive as it’s origin. Yes, technology has made it a little easier, but it is still closer to its original form than any other type of angling. The phrase “art form” is still used to describe it.  Still as peaceful and computer free as it was 100 years ago, Fly Fishing has really caught the attention of a quite a cast of characters!

Over thirty years ago, a friend of mine whom I would sneak off and go fishing with frequently, invited me to go up to his Aunt and Uncles cabin in New York State for a weekend of fishing. My parents said yes and their decision ended up changing my life.

My friends Aunt and Uncle’s place turned out to be in the Catskill Mountains. Their names were Joan and Lee and they looked very familiar when I first met them. There was more than just a cabin too. It was a bonified fishing camp! Some of the guests also looked a little familiar. It didn’t take my preteen brain much time to figure things out. I was an avid watcher of The American Sportsman show on ABC at the time. Joan and Lee’s last name was Wulff. Joan was the woman’s fly fishing world champion and Lee already had fly patterns named after him! The 2 guys that were taking off their waders on the porch of one of the cabins were Curt Gowdy and Phil Harris! These are the guys that every weekend I would “follow on great adventures to rippling streams to wide open spaces” on TV!

I was in the presence of fishing gods. The Fishing Dream Team of that era! It is needless to say that I learned more in 2 days than most do in years. To this day I appreciate the patience that they showed with the “ junior worm dunker” that had a million questions about fly fishing. I watched and learned in awe.

I have fly fished over the years, on and off, for a variety of species from Bluegills to Salmon. I admit that I have wet monofilament lines much more than fly lines recently, but I have always owned at least 2 fly rods. It is not only the art of tying flies, matching the hatch and presenting the offering that is alluring. It is the reading of a stream in search of the best holding water and the colors of Native Brook Trout or a spawning Steelhead. It may be the dance of a fly line in mid flight and the swirl of big brown gulping down a dry fly. There are many reasons to get into flyfishing. The fact that you can fool everything from a ½ lb Grayling to a 500 lb billfish into eating an insect or fish imitation should be enough by itself.

There are men and women’s fly fishing clubs and schools opening all over the country. In some areas, learning institutions offer elective classes about fly fishing. There are fly fishing only resorts from Alaska to New Zealand. Fly fishing apparel now comes in all sizes for men, women and children. Depending on your sense of adventure and your bank account, there is something for everyone. Like other types of fishing, you do not need to spend a lot of money to be successful and get enjoyment.  Visions of the mist rising above a cool mountain trout stream and its solitude or a sunrise over the Atlantic as you stalk bonefish and permit on the flats in The Keys are tempting. 

Here are a few tips to get started.

Research

Check your state or local area for “fly fishing only “ bodies of water. Some states not only designate sections or whole streams but also ponds and lakes as well to fly fishing only. Concentrate on those areas first. This way you are on a level field with the competition and will be around people you may learn something from.

Pick a type of fish you are familiar with and match your fly outfit (weight) to that species. It is much harder to learn to catch trout on a fly rod if you are an avid bass fisherman and have never waded a stream before. If you were a Striper and Blue fisherman, it wouldn’t make sense to get an outfit for Tarpon or Billfish and learn how to catch them!

By starting with a type of fish you are familiar with you cut the learning curve in half, not to mention the confidence factor. Rent /buy a video or a book about fly fishing for beginners. It will help. See if there are any Fly Shops in your area. Just go in a look around. Ask questions. Get an idea of what the gear looks like and some pricing ideas. Some people make their own flies and others buy them. Fly tying is a time consuming art.  Personally, I’d rather spend time casting than tying. You can usually match any hatch or imitation in the area from a local Fly shop or even a catalog.

Equipment

Spend what you can afford. You can get a decent (non-Wal-Mart) fly outfit, including rod reel and line for under $150. I still use a 4 weight and and 8 weight Plueger Medalist that I have had for years. They may be a little heavy compared to new models, but I can attest to how durable they are! Try to start with Floating lines. They are easier for beginners and you can still use wet flies or nymphs in most cases with them effectively. Tippet and line connectors will depend on what you are fishing for. I like the pre-made tapered tippets. The usually come in 2X on up. Rods are personal choice. I like a 7-8 f, 4-5 weights for trout in the streams. I use a have used a 6-7 weights for lakes or rivers. My Salmon/steelhead rod is a 9ft. 8 wieght. My advice is go conservative with your first rod and spend most of your budget on a pair of stocking foot, breathable waders with good felt and /or cleat soled wading boots. They are the most comfortable on the market and are adaptable when wearing either shorts or fleece wading pants underneath. A good fly vest with adequate storage and compartments is a must. A pair of surgical forceps and a nail clipper attached to a retractable pin on device is very helpful. Depending on what you are fishing for the right size net is important. Make sure it is attached to an easy access clip. Just remember to keep things dull and avoid anything that shines. I have put a flat, camo type paint on everything I use, including reels and even rods. I even dull all my

Buckles, snaps, forceps, sunglass frames, clippers, net, etc. It doesn’t matter if you are in a boat, float tube or waders- a stealthy approach without flash is important. When fishing the streams I always bring bug spray and a head net, and wear all camo clothing, including my hat. I even make sure that I do not wear any rings and I lightly dull coat my watch! Polaroid sunglasses with brown lenses are a must! If you are planning on keeping a couple for the pan make sure you check the local regulations. Many fly fishing only areas are catch and release. The best creel on the market is an Artic Creel. Spend the money. It will last you a lifetime, keeps fish all day and is the only one worth getting!

Bait

You will have to figure this out in 2 ways. Research and just being there. Call ahead to local Fly Shops and get some ideas on what has been working lately. It may be Stonefly or Caddis patterns. It could be Frog Poppers or Fuzzy Mice. Once in Florida, the Redfish were hitting orange crabs! Did you ever see an orange crab?? Bring a variety and try to have at least 2 of each pattern!  Fly kits are available to get you started. They usually come in Trout, Panfish, Bass, Pike assortments of various amounts. Saltwater kits are harder to come buy. I once witnessed Stripers being caught in the Potomac on 2/0 long shank hooks with only green pipe cleaners wrapped around them! The local craft store was sold out of all pipe cleaners and green paint in an hour!!

Flies come in four categories. Dry (floating), Wet (nymphs and emergents), Streamers (typical baitfish type patterns) and what I call Imitators. The Imitators are salmon egg patterns, Mice, Crayfish, Crabs, Worms, etc. Many times these are geographic and seasonal favorites.

Try Fly Fishing! It may force you to regain some of your basic fishing skills that technology has stolen.  Hopefully you will be able to handle fishing without all its bells and whistles! Remember- Fish safe, stay dry and take a child fishing every chance you can! Family fishing is fun too!

   --Bob Tackels

Season Finale? Think Again!