Equipment

After using a bike on my venture into the Cranberry River a few weeks ago, I realized I was missing a significant opportunity to leverage this simple machine. There are two key things you can do if you bring a bicycle with you when you fish: Use it to penetrate farther away the parking lot Use it

I’ve discussed personal locator beacons (PLB) before and this is a very hard article to write. I bought the expensive one on the bottom right in 2007 as an insurance policy knowing that if I got in trouble in the woods, I could push a button and get the cavalry on the way.  The lesson of the

It’s cold!! Here’s a less expensive solution to keeping your hands warm than buying the expensive neoprene gloves like these (Men’s Curved Split Finger) that cost around $25 on Amazon. I went to Dick’s and picked up a pair of neoprene hunting gloves and slit the finger to allow me to poke my finger out to deal

Against my better judgment, I saw a quick opportunity to go fishing in late December.  The weather had warmed up and was pushing 50 degrees, so I figured it would not be tooooo miserable out there.  Besides, even if I could just do a recon in anticipation of fairer weather, I would be a winner

After watching Survivorman the other night and listening to the news about that Fossett guy who is currently missing, I came to the startling realization that I engage in high risk outdoors behavior.  No, not that… nothing to do with meth or moonshine… fishing. At 55, I am still addicted and, thankfully, still in shape

When I go fishing with other folks, I like to share the experience and swap tips on what to use, the fish being caught, when to eat lunch and when to link up at the car.  In many places, the rush of running water drowns out conversation even when you are standing only 20 yards

If you are even just thinking about going to the North Branch or the Yawk or even the Potomac up by Harper’s Ferry… or even Big Hunting Creek or the Pedlar, or Owens… or … well… I could just go on. I am amazed by those people whose sense of balance matches their leg strength

Wear your gravel guards.  I never really appreciated this item of equipment before I ran into trouble in the gravel strewn and soft sand riverbed of the Pataspco up off Marriottsville road.  It was a hot summer day when I drove up there to check it out (I’ll post the trip report later), and I

Those of you who have been following this blog know that the trigger that moved me to learn to fly fish was the terrible time I had on Town Creek last fall.  Every leaf in Maryland was floating in the water and every cast with my spin gear snagged one or more leaves.  My brother, on the

At the Bass Pro Spring Classic, one of the things that Steve Chaconas discussed was using a red treble hook on the middle of your plugs – particularily a top water plug.  This mimics a bit of bleeding and makes the plug appear more wounded and distressed. This last weekend, I took some time to

In my discussion of the Patuxent River, I mentioned that there were pricker bushes all along the river.  I likened the thorns to “shark’s teeth” and I must confess that I was being kind.  Those prickers are like the nastiest barbed wire I ever ran into in 20 years in the Army.  They are sharp, hardened

I started fishing for trout when I was 7 years old and lived in Norway.  So, that’s 48 years of trout fishing experience and I just learned a new fact.  All nets are not created equal.  The type of net I have used for years – an inexpensive nylon knotted net – is harmful to