|
|
 |
Special thanks to
our sponsors:
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
A Member of
 |
|
 |
| Photo of author, Andy Afflick, by Darrell Schuster |
|
If I've seen it once, I've seen it a hundred times, an angler pulls up to his secret fishing hole to find someone else robbing its contents. With confidence at an all time low, plan "B" is put into action, hurry to the next secret spot just down the lake a few miles. Total devastation has now set in as the angler finds someone else spread out like dinner on the ground, fanning loud surface lures through an area that's been producing in the past.
Most anglers at this point would consider their entry fee a donation to the winners bank account a give up all hopes of filling the livewell.
Catching quality bass in congested waters isn't easy, but it can be done. What I've learned over the years is that no one can catch all the fish all the time and not everyone knows how to use a bait to trigger a bite. Now when I see someone in my favorite area, I wait for them to leave, then I catch the bass they left behind.
Just recently I met two anglers fishing a shallow water bay. They were going in one direction, and I was going in the other. We both would be fishing waters that had already been fished. We exchanged hello's and good lucks, then proceeded to fish each others used waters. Still within talking range of the other anglers, I was able to catch a nice 5lb. bass. So...why couldn't the other anglers have put the same fish in their boat?
Here are a few tips for making someone's leftovers your main course:
1. Slow Down and give the fish a chance to see what you have to offer. Cruising bass often get left behind because you've pulled your bait out of the water before they've ever had a chance to see it. Keep your bait in the water.
2. Expect to catch a fish on every cast. Make you time and effort "Value Added". Work each cast as if you could see the bass following your bait.
3. Many anglers still won't put their bait anywhere there's a chance they might get hung up. You've got to cast like Roger Clemens pitches. If you can put your bait in the tight spots, you'll be rewarded with what someone else left behind.
Seeing the sky black with ducks is something I had only seen in my dreams, that is until I visited the Duck Hunting Capital of the World - Stuttgart, Arkansas. I had always heard that Stuttgart was the place to go if duck hunting was your game. So, Stuttgart here we come.
Because I didn’t know much about the area and where to go to get into some of the worlds greatest wing shooting, I called Stuart Wolcott from Primm Springs Wildlife Company based out of Primm Springs, Tennessee. Wolcott is a professional hunting guide that can put you on some world class turkey, bucks as well as ducks. If you don’t know the area you’re going to be hunting, it’s best to hire a guide who can make sure your adventures go smoothly.
The Outdoor Trail Magazine Pro Staff arrived early Friday to make sure we had plenty of rest before leaving out early Saturday morning. The smell of bacon, ham and sausage cooking on the stove woke everyone up at 4am. Larry, the lodge cook, knew we wouldn’t need an alarm with the aroma of breakfast filtering down the hall and into our rooms. Before Larry could put the morning meal on the table, we had fork in hand. With our stomach full and gear packed we were off to the prairies of Stuttgart that I’d heard so much about.
There would be no disappointment here. Within a short period we had depleted our shell supply and had our limit of ducks hang neatly on our lanyards. This hunting trip was everything I thought it would be. The birds locked in their landing gear over the decoys giving us some great shooting opportunities. The dogs worked to perfection as they retrieved singles, doubles and a few lucky triples. It all happened so fast.
Preferred Gear of the OTM Pro Staff:
Gun: Benelli M1 Super 90
Gun Case: Kolpin floating gun case
Ammo: Winchester 3" 1 _ oz BB
Jacket: Whitewater Outdoors 4 in 1 in Max 4
Waders: RedHead 1000 gram, 5.0mm in Max 4
Dog: Chocolate Lab
|
|
So what did we do with the remainder of the day? We headed for downtown Stuttgart, home of the Wings of the Prairie Festival and World Champion Duck Calling Championship. After having a few funnel cakes and watching the competition
we headed to Mack’s Prairie Wings, the ultimate candy store for duck hunters. A die hard duck hunter would only have enough cash to pay for gas to get home. Needless to say, when I got home my pockets were empty.
If you would like the duck hunting experience of a lifetime call Primm Springs Wildlife Company and schedule a trip to Stuttgart. Call 1-931-729-0392 or log on www.primmspringswildlifecompany.com.
 |
| The Duck Commander, Phil Robertson, drops by OTM. |
|
When we invited Phil Robertson "The Duck Commander" into the studio of Outdoor Trail Magazine for a live appearance, we expected the unexpected. That is exactly what we received.
Robertson wasn’t worried that PETA might be listening. He was quick to mention that he would never shoot a duck swimming on the water. He would wait till the duck stopped swimming.
Robertson is a professional duck guide and duck call maker. You may have seen Robertson’s television shows or videos featuring hunts from all across the country.
It’s a pleasure to bring you an excerpt of our recent visit with the Legendary Phil Robertson.
Andy: Phil welcome to Nashville!
Phil: It’s great to be here. You know Andy there is hope for the country, I rolled into town last night and had a plate full of cornbread. I get up this morning and I hear this women on your show talking about killing turkeys and hear another women say she would pick a duck. I thought to myself, "you know, Tennessee isn’t half bad".
Andy: Duck season is over, give us a few tips for storing and cleaning our gear for next year.
Phil: Well, we keep our boat in the woods year round. We leave the plug out and keep it on dry ground. About every two weeks we go out there and crank the engine to make sure it still runs. We keep our duck blind out year round. It’s tied to a long rope because up hear in Louisiana the water fluctuates some much. We clean out our coffee pots and give the blind good de-wasping.
Andy: If I were to walk into your duck blind, what would I find?
Phil: You will find 110 feet of shooting porch. It has three sides and will hold thirty five hunters. We have bunks, stoves, and all kinds of cooking gear.
Andy: Why would you need a duck blind that would hold thirty five hunters?
Phil: Well, take the number of hunters you have and times that by the limit of ducks you can kill. That’s a lot of ducks.
Andy: How do you maintain your decoys?
Phil: Our decoys are deflated. We use those feather-light inflatable decoys, so all we have to do is let the air out and put them in a box.
Andy: What about duck calls?
Phil: I’m going on record as saying here "the only thing I know of that will lock up a duck call immediately is snuff". Just locks it right up. You need to clean your reeds. Once a year you just need to replace them. Biscuits will clog up a call as well. There are two kinds of people that mess with duck calls, and they are World Champion duck callers and World Champion duck killers. You know, if a duck entered the competition in Stuttgart he wouldn’t even make the first cut. A duck couldn’t win the duck call competition. It’s a totally different ball game.
The Duck Commander went on to give us a full length demonstration of all the duck calls he has hand crafted. Hearing Robertson go through the routine of a pintail to the sounds of a mallard was nothing short of entertaining. You can check out all of Robertson’s calls, videos and other outdoor gear by logging on www.duckcommander.com.
 |
| Tent Cot by Kamp-Rite |
|
by Andy Afflick
If you haven’t heard by now, the National Shooting Sports Foundation recently held its annual Shot Show in Las Vegas. Manufacturers of shooting, hunting and other outdoor gear gather to put on their best of show in hopes of luring the eyes of retailers. There were several items we felt deserved recognition for their design and functionality.
We really liked the portability and design of the Tent Cot by Kamp-Rite. It’s a comfortable cot with a tent attached. The mesh doors and windows make the Tent Cot insect-proof as well as provide full air flow. Tent Cot sets up in less than five minutes, has its own carrying case and is offered in the single or double sleeper. Check out the Tent Cot at www.tentcot.com.
 |
| Rackulator |
|
What do you call a tool that will digitally measure the rack of bucks? How about "Rackulator". Produced by a company with the same name, the Rackulator is the world’s only electronic calculating big game scoring tool. Roll the wheel of the Rackulator along each beam and you’ll get an instant score. With its easy to use menu, not only will scoring your buck be faster, it
 |
| The Tommy Gun |
|
will be fun as well. Just for grins, see if you measure up. Roll the wheel along your arms and legs as well as around your waist, then check to see what class you would be according to each of the scoring organizations. Check out the Rackulator at www.rackulator.com.
The next product isn’t new in design by any means, but it caught our eye because of its coating. Nothing beats a gold plated .45 caliber semi-automatic Thompson. Nicknamed the Tommy Gun, I imagine the gold version will never see a cartridge in its chamber. This just might be the gift for the shooting enthusiast that has everything. Visit www.tommygunshop.com.
There should be a disclaimer for turkey hunters entering the state of Texas that should read "When you decide how far away the turkey sounds...add 10 miles".
After tracking the sounds of gobblers for two days and never seeing a feather of one, my guide, NWTF staffer Matt Coffey and I began to wonder if someone was playing a trick on us by playing recorded sounds of the Rio Grande.
On the final day of our Texas Invitational Hunt being held in Eldorado, Texas, we decided to let the turkey come to us. We set up in an area between a nice watering hole and a prime roosting area. It was the last day and the last few hours of our trip. Coffey and I had been surrounded by two hens working the area.
Then came sweet music to these Tennessee ears. Hank Sr. would have been proud. Mr. Tom began singing to the two hens as if it were his last show at the Grand Ole Opry. Well... it turned out to be his last show. With my Benelli resting on one knee, the Winchester Turkey load found its mark, and at fifty yards. As George Jones once sang..."He Stopped Loving Her Today".
Thanks to the NWTF for hosting one of the best turkeys hunts I've every experienced. And thanks to Wildlife Resources Management Services for being the best outfitters we could have asked for. To book your Rio Grande turkey hunt call...1-325-853-3731.
 |
| Aaron Tippin joins Andy Afflick for some outdoor conversation at the ATA show in Indy. |
|
Much like the auto industries debut of new models at the Detroit Auto Show, the archery industry brings out their new and improved innovations each year at the Archery Trade Associations trade show. This years ATA show was held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Over 500 archery manufacturers set up booths displaying their products in hopes of catching the eye of retailers. Most retailers will order directly from the manufacturers in order to take advantage of early buying discounts. Hopefully those discounts will be passed along to the consumer.
According to some of the major manufacturers, orders for 2004 exceeded that of 2003. This could be the shot in the arm the archery industry needed to rebound from sluggish sales and interest.
The sad thing about going to one of these trade shows, is that you realize that consumers will never see half the products that are available. If the retailer in your area doesn’t feel the item will sell, and can make a profit, you’ll never know it existed.
 |
| Pro-Staffer Dan Afflick tries out the new GYRO-TECH bow from HI-TECH Archery. |
|
There were several items that drew our attention. HI-TEC Archery unveiled its GYRO-TEC. This bow uses gimble technology that allows the grip to free float by pivoting horizontally and vertically. The new technology isn’t what drew our attention, it was the $2600.00 price tag. We did shoot the bow a few times, but not enough to decide if it was worth the asking price.
|
| Will Primos gives the OTM Pro Staff the details on the new Primos game calls for 2004. |
|
We enjoyed being introduced to a new product called "BowBoogers". It’s the new wave of bow silencers. It takes the noise and vibration out of your bow string much like whiskers or leaches. BowBoogers comes in a small plastic can. It has the consistency of, well, boogers. You reach in and pull out a marble size piece, roll it into a ball and apply it to your bow string in the same location you would put any other silencer. It can also be applied to any area of the bow that has vibration. It’s snot on the market yet but the producers of the sticky substance, BowTech Archery, say it will be on the shelf soon.
One other product we really liked was the Sportsman’s Buggy. Made by Dan-D Outdoor Products, the buggy was designed to carry your bow while shooting 3-D archery or other competitive tournaments. The buggy is a modified golf bag cart the holds your bow, stool, water bottle, towel and arrow lubricants. How many times have we gone to a shoot and had to lay our bow on the ground because there were no bow holders available on the course? The Sportsman’s Buggy is also available in the sporting clay and fishing configuration. You can find out more information about the products mention by logging onto their web site.
At each trade show you not only get to see the newest products on the market, but you also get to spend some time with the pros that use them. Attending this year’s show included Chuck Adams, Bob Foulkrod, Walter Parrot, Ted Nugent, Jim Kelly, Jackie Bushman, David Blanton and many more.
 |
| Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, Executive Producer/Host of OTM Andy Afflick, TV Personality and Outdoor Writer Wade Bourne |
|
It was an experience this outdoor writer will never forget. Shoulder to shoulder with six of the true legends of the great outdoors. It was at the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame that drew these six individuals to the podium for a heartfelt acceptance speech that would leave everyone with a totally new respect for the one that delivered it.
The Legends chosen have given back to the outdoors more than they have taken. Not only have these legends cultivated an excitement about their role in the outdoors, they have also taken under their wings the role of fostering outdoor education and conservation.
The class of 2003 included Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, the "First Women of Hunting" Brenda Valentine, duck calling champion and duck call designer Mike McLemore, outdoor writer and photographer Sock Clay, television personality and outdoor writer Wade Bourne, founder of the Bass Angler Sportsman Society Ray Scott and famous smallmouth fisherman the late Billy Westmoreland.
To this class of Legends, we say "Thank You" for the contributions and sacrifices you have given in order for us to learn, enjoy and respect the best backdrop God could have ever given, The Great Outdoors.
A special thanks to Buchanan Resort for providing a breathtaking view of Kentucky Lake from the deck of our warm cabin. And thanks to Garry Mason of Adventures Outdoors for realizing that it was the Legends of the Outdoors that have blazed the trails that we all enjoy today.
You would think ninety degree temperatures would keep any outdoorsman indoors watching the outdoors on TV. Not the case for the hundreds of visitors and exhibitors at the 14th Annual Reelfoot Lake Waterfowl Festival held in the town of Samburg Tennessee. Samburg is located in the Northwestern corner of the state, nudged up against Reelfoot Lake.
One of the highlights of the festival is the sanctioned regional goose and duck calling contests. Winners advance to the world competitions. The Goose World Champion will be crowned in Easton Maryland and the Duck World Champion will be crowned in Stuttgart Arkansas. Needless to say a lot of folks had their game face on as they prepared for the tough competition. Some of the ladies attending prepared by wearing earplugs. They may have been the mothers of those competing.
Congratulations to Nick Cottrell of Hopkinsville Kentucky for being crowned the Grand American Goose Calling Champion and hats off to Slayton Gearing from Gleason Tennessee for capturing the Grand American Duck Calling Championship.
When you’re around people who love the outdoors and love the camaraderie that flourishes with events such as this, most of us forget all about the weather, the stressful job, the boat payment and what time we are suppose to be home.
New Orleans: He proved that he can still bring home the bass. Roland Martin came in forth in his 25th appearance in the Bassmaster Classic. He earned $35,000 for his efforts. Roland relied on a mixed bag to haul in his limit of five bass each day. His selections included a spinner bait, tube jig and floating worm. On day two of competition Roland lost two good keepers, a five pound bass and a three pound bass.
OTM creator and host, Andy Afflick, joined Roland on the second day of the Classic. Andy said "I watch every cast and every turn of the reel, I didn’t miss a thing. What a great opportunity it was to spend the entire day in the Bassmaster Classic with one the greatest legends in fishing. It’s a day I’ll never forget." For more details on the Classic go to www.bassmaster.com.
It takes Roland and Andy two hours and twenty minutes to travel 111 miles to get to their destination before ever wetting a line. Now that’s a boat ride!
|
|
