2018 Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame Inductees

One of the many programs of the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, based in Hayward, Wisconsin, consists of recognizing individuals, organizations and institutions who have made significant and lasting contributions to the sport and heritage of freshwater fishing. The Hall of Fame Awards Committee meets annually in August to make their selections for the following year and after much deliberation there were 12 individuals and one organization inducted into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame’s 2018 year class. 

Dr. George Becker was a life-long resident of Wisconsin and is best known for his publication, The Fishes of Wisconsin, undoubtedly the most thoroughly researched account of the life history and ecological status of Wisconsin’s fish species. This monumental book was first published in 1983 by the University of Wisconsin Press. The 1,052-page volume covered 152 species and was the first of its kind for the state and one the first such comprehensive works in the nation. As a teacher for decades, Becker influenced hundreds of students, many who became professionally engaged in state and national careers, which promoted enhanced water quality throughout the United States, thereby leading to improved fish communities and fishing opportunities. 

Tony Burmek was a well-known guide in the Hayward, Wisconsin area as well as the maker of the popular “Tony Burmek Secret Bait” fishing lure. Born in 1912 Burmek began manufacturing lures in 1952 with his first creation called the Burmek Bucktail. It was in 1953 when he introduced his signature “Secret Bait” one of the first plastic muskie lures to hit the market. In 1955 Tony, with his brother Fred made national news for catching 42 muskies in 12 days. The total weight of their catch was just over 553 pounds. Burmek spent many hours at sport shows and in sporting goods stores promoting his guide business, his lures and the phenomenal musky fishing opportunities in the Hayward area. His classic lures are still occasionally used by anglers today, but many are now in the hands of collectors around the world.

Bill Cooper was born in 1949 along the banks of the Black Bayou in the Mississippi River Delta of southeast Missouri. Cooper has experienced fishing at its finest across much of the globe. In the process he has educated and entertained countless thousands of anglers and helped them dream of those far away fishing destinations. Above all, he taught them the personal values of fishing and how to preserve the resources. As an outdoor communicator Cooper has published over 1,500 fishing articles. He has hosted television programs and been a radio show host. In 2016 Cooper was recognized on the floor of the Missouri House of Representatives for a long and productive career of promoting hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation through his outdoor communication efforts.Gord Ellis is one of Canada’s top outdoor journalists. For over 30 years Ellis has developed a multi-faceted communication approach to introduce fishing to new, as well as veteran anglers, providing awareness for conservation. Ellis is the senior editor of Ontario Out-Of-Doors and has been with that magazine since 1993. He has a regular outdoor column in Thunder Bay, Ontario’s daily newspaper, the Chronicle Journal and is a regular contributor to Outdoor News. In addition to writing, Ellis is a reporter with CBC Radio in Thunder Bay and hosts segments on Midwest Outdoors Television. Ellis has won over 24 national writing and photography awards and has been recognized by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources for his work educating children and families about Canada’s outdoor pursuits.

Jim Grandt has served as president of Grandt Industries, an Illinois-based outdoors equipment manufacturing, engineering and marketing firm, for 34 years.  The company is best known for its American-made custom fishing rods and golf clubs.  Grandt is also a supporter of countless conservation causes, including Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Trout Unlimited, Salmon Unlimited, the Illinois Conservation Foundation, and Safari Club International, with an emphasis on programs for promoting youth involvement in conservation and the outdoors. Grandt was honored with admission to the Illinois Conservation Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Illinois Conservation Foundation presented Grandt with their Youth Conservation Award in 2015 as recognition for his leadership in youth activities. 

Arne Juul was a founding member of the Hayward, Wisconsin Area’s, Guide Service, Inc., who worked primarily at Ross’ Teal Lake Lodge and Scheer's Ghost Lake Lodge. He was one of the old-time guides who were experts at preparing shore lunches.  While Juul fished many of the areas lakes, he spent most of his time on Teal, Lost Land, Ghost and the West Fork of the Chippewa River. Juul was one of the few Hayward guides who occasionally fished Lake Superior and its Chequamegon Bay, if his guests wanted to venture further away.  Juul had guests who fished with him for many years. Loyal repeat clients are one of the hallmarks of a quality professional guide.  He was a fascinating story teller, who also had a reputation for being among the first to try new technologies and new fishing techniques.  

Pat Neu, of Wisconsin, is not only a championship tournament winner, he is a linchpin in the sport fishing world. Neu not only runs the National Professional Anglers Association, he is the originator of the Future Angler Foundation, a non-profit corporation formed to support other non-profit organization’s efforts to grow the sport of fishing through education and outreach. Neu has been a strategic part of the success of Anglers Insight Marketing, an angler owned tournament organization that introduced Catch-Record-Release scoring to the tournament world by leveraging technology to help protect the resource and create a level playing field for tournament anglers. From media and marketing, seminars to in-store promotions, as well as speaking to fishing clubs and competing on a professional level, Neu has remained faithful to his goals of promoting fishing to all levels of anglers and educating anglers to respect the resources.Annie Orth, based in Minnesota, joined the Gapen Tackle Company 30 years ago as a sales assistant at sport shows to promote the company’s European-style floats and earned the trademark name, Bobber Anne. Today she can still be found at major sport shows pitching not only the floats, but all of the products Gapen’s manufactures. She also knows how to use this equipment having achieved a world record for Cubera Snapper, having landed a 243-pound tarpon as well as several 50-pound plus lake trout. There isn’t a North American freshwater species she hasn’t caught, from the alligator gar to the mighty chinook salmon. In all she has taken in excess of 50 species of North American fish. Over the years Bobber Anne has given countless seminars, has appeared on numerous television segments, has been featured in DVD’s, books and articles and has published her own books and written for many publications across the United States. 

Dave Precht, of Florida, began his career as an outdoor journalist in high school when he won the Quill & Scroll national journalism award for writing a newspaper article on fishing. Shortly thereafter he began writing an outdoor column for the Houston Post and freelancing for Bassmaster and other magazines. After serving as editor for Southern Outdoors Magazine, Precht replaced Bob Cobb as editor of Bassmaster Magazine in 1984. During his 19 years as the Bassmaster editor Precht used the magazine to promote boating safety, youth fishing, conservation, sportfishing ethics and bass fishing as a family activity. Currently Precht serves as Editor-in Chief of Bassmaster as well as Senior Director of Bass Publications. He is on the Communications Committee of the American Sportfishing Association and is on the Board of Directors for the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. During his career Precht has covered every Bassmaster Classic since 1978.

Jerry Ross has been a Hayward, Wisconsin area fishing guide for more than 50 years without missing a single season. While he takes clients primarily on the Chippewa Flowage, he routinely fishes other area lakes as well. Ross began guiding in 1963 while still in high school in the era when resorts in the region were extremely busy and frequented by business executives who would entertain their major clients with several days of fishing. One of the best indicators of a guide’s quality and skills are in their repeat clientele. This is one area where Ross’s record is unsurpassed. He now guides second and third generation anglers, descendants of his original clients who come to the Hayward area just to fish with Ross. There are but a few who have attained the level of Ross as a guide, and while he could seek notoriety, he remains humble and continues to provide an outstanding experience for his clients.

Mike Schoonveld was more than just a little bit interested when salmon were first stocked in Lake Michigan (near his home state of Indiana) in the late 1960’s, so he learned everything he could about salmon fishing and bought a Great Lakes boat. In 1986 he started his freelance outdoor writing career and wrote for Great Lakes Fisherman, Midwest Outdoors, Great Lakes Angler, Outdoor Notebook and many more. Over the years Schoonveld has had credits in over 40 publications and has written thousands of articles that have helped millions of readers discover their own love of fishing. In 1998 Schoonveld became a licensed charter boat captain and started Brother Nature Fishing Adventures, guiding hundreds of anglers on Lake Michigan to some of the finest fishing they have ever experienced. Schoonveld has been active as a board member of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers and has been President and Chairman of the Board of that organization.

Jim Thomas had one of the most popular outdoor television shows in the 1960’s called, Jim Thomas Outdoors. Thomas’s show was broadcast on WCPO in Cincinnati, Ohio and later on WGN in Chicago, Illinois. His programs, which covered both fishing and hunting, were filmed as feature-length productions and then later edited for television. These productions were unlike the educational style format of today’s television programs. Thomas created shows that were full of thrill-seeking excitement.  Jim Thomas Outdoors was the gold standard of outdoor television broadcasting throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s in the upper Midwest. 

National Fishing Lure Collector’s Club (NFLCC) is a non-profit, educational, international organization founded in 1976. The primary mission of the NFLCC is to promote the awareness of tackle collecting as a hobby; the preservation of vintage and collectible tackle information, history, and artifacts; to provide appropriate services, support information, and related activities to the NFLCC membership in pursuit of tackle collecting. The NFLCC encompasses every aspect of collecting fishing-related tackle and ephemera (i.e. Reels, rods, catalogs, advertising, minnow traps and buckets, creels, photos, etc.), not just fishing lures. Today’s NFLCC is committed to excellence in providing the tools and resources to enhance the overall quality of the collecting experience for their members. The NFLCC has established itself as the premier organization for the vintage fishing tackle collector.

Tech Ban

When we realized technology was a detraction from our relationship we decided to do something about it. Read on to find out more.

Rae’s Take:

In our next chapter, lets be vagabonds!

It’s soul satisfying to form new professional collaborations and in the process develop treasured friendships.

What about God? Is a church about deepening a relationship with God or is it more about community?

Listen to the killer lyrics that came to me last night - Throw caution to the wind you say, go ahead and take a chance…..

These snippets are reflective of early morning conversations between Tim and I since we decided to ban all things technology from our bedroom. 

Now instead of lying side by side, each with our iPads in hand, checking the daily news, Facebook posts from friends, and playing Words with Friends, we enjoy the quiet cadence of good conversation. The quiet cadence that only comes from knowing we are not just waiting for the person to finish their sentence before getting back to the allure of the latest CNN or Drudge report.  Before we fall asleep at night or awake to a new day, we talk and listen to one another in a relaxed way, enjoying the natural flow of a mutual exchange where we are both fully present. 

So rather than jumping out of bed after a technology fix to walk, I am seduced by the simple pleasure of connection and conversation with my mate.

Though our leisurely morning chats have had a negative impact on my physical fitness, my and our emotional fitness is shaping up quite nicely!

Tim’s Take:

Every morning I would caress her like she was a Greek goddess. I would slide my fingers along her creases and press her buttons to make her do the things I wanted. Even though she was just a hard piece of plastic, some steel and glass I couldn't resist her gravity-like pull on me. My iPad gave me my morning news and informed me of the paths my "friends" were taking and allowed me to see what was going on in the world.

Was I a tech junkie? Needing the fix every day? The signs were there when halfway through the morning I would open my web browser and surf the sites I bookmarked looking for some new tidbit to wrap my mind around. At lunch I buried my nose into the screen and I would swear at supper time it was my last foray into techno-land. But, I could never keep my promise. I would go to bed an hour earlier than I normally would just to dig back into the netherworld of news sites to sink into a world of mundane information.

My love affair with the info-world ended when Rae and I decided to take a break. Leave the iPads and iPhones on the chargers and just talk in the mornings. Look each other in the eyes and communicate. I still pop a photo onto Instagram each day and check my Facebook to see what "friends" are up to. The rules are no technology in bed, at meals or when someone has something to say to the other. Undivided attention. 

The result. A much more stimulated life. Mentally and physically. So, my advice to all of you tech addicts out there is to remedy the situation. The end result will bring you much satisfaction. 

A Tale of Two Tactics

The Twin Cities metro area is surrounded by phenomenal kayak fishing lakes. Bodies of water that are not over a few hundred acres in size and loaded with pike, bass and panfish. Most have well-maintained boat landings, great water quality and get marginal fishing pressure due to their size. Most big-boat anglers like big water. Kayak anglers appreciate the benefits of a small lake.

When the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers organization was in town recently they established base camp at the Double Tree Hilton hotel in Brooklyn Center. There were a lot of nearby lake options to take a half dozen Hobie kayak anglers to, but the local anglers I checked with prior to the conference said Weaver Lake was productive and showing no signs of slowing down. 

We hit the water early on a Thursday morning and had the lake all to ourselves. My local contacts told me the bass and pike were hugging the weedline and to use a jig tipped with a plastic scented trailer. Since I am a contrarian I chose a topwater lure to cast into the lily pads that rimmed the shoreline near the boat landing.

Fortunately for me one of the anglers, Barb Carey, chose to stick with what was supposed to be working and proved that listening to the local anglers is a formula for success. After watching her land two largemouth bass I slid up close to where she was fishing, worked her for information and quickly tied on what she was using from my supply. I hadn’t had a single attempt on the topwater lure I was casting so it was time to change my luck.

Two casts later I was reeling in a bass. I was just about to brag to Carey about my fishing prowess when she set the hook on a small northern pike. On light tackle even a hammer-handle, as small pike are commonly referred, can put up a good fight.

It wasn’t long before the entire Hobie crew of kayak anglers was changing to the trusty jig tipped with a plastic scented trailer. All except for “Griff.”  Steve Griffin is a prolific writer from Saginaw, Michigan that was bound and determined to catch a fish on one of the crankbaits he received from one of the conference attendees. He casted that lure, he trolled that lure and just when we were all convinced he would give up and join the rest of us catching fish, he hooked a nice bass.

Griff had discovered the secret to unlocking the crankbait code. He would troll the lure in deep water. While the rest of us were working the edge of the vegetation he was trolling his minnow imitator out in open water in search of suspended fish. And he found and caught them.

Which just proves that on any given day there may be multiple tactics and techniques that work. Never get stuck on one presentation. There may be others that are just as good or better.

On the way back to the boat landing both Carey and I realized we were dead even on the number of fish we landed. I immediately claimed the win, adding to my total a bass I lost as one-half, but she quickly countered with the only pike caught counting as two instead of one which beat me handily. All the others quickly jumped on her bandwagon and I conceded the bragging rights to her. It’s tough to be disappointed when you have had that much fun.

Calling all Coyotes

I used to be a predator call snob. I bad-mouthed all the electronic callers and took to the fields with only a few of my favorite manual calls attached to a lanyard around my neck. I could get the attention of coyotes and fox by blowing through the reeds of a quality call then bring them in close with the sound I made by squeaking through my lips. I whacked a lot of varmints doing this.

It took some time but I fell under the spell of the electronic callers of today just because they are so efficient and sound so good. You can mix different calls and I love that. Add a decoy to the program and you can now kill a lot of animals compared to those good-old-days.

I recently acquired a FoxPro Shockwave and the ability to put the dog into the perfect shooting situation is what I find so advantageous. Here’s how.

When I was manually calling I was bringing the varmints to me. There were many times I had animals sneak up on me from behind and did not know they were there until I heard something and twisted around to check out the sound. 

Now I bring the animal to the call and the decoy. This will be positioned in a spot where I have the best chance at a perfect shot. With remote control allowing modification of the sounds, as well as the volume, call options seem endless.

If there is one negative aspect to an electronic call setup it might have you making fewer sets. You’ll feel compelled to vary calls and volume and use up time where there may not be any hungry or curious animals nearby. The electronic calls are efficient and will bring in nearby coyote and fox quickly, so decide how long you are going to make a set and stick to that.

May through June are great months to be predator hunting in the north where I live. The landscape is changing and the animals are on the move. The young males will be curious when they hear the sound of an intruder in their zone and all of the coyotes and fox will be feeding after the long winter and cold-wet spring.

Even with all the call options at your disposal the game plan should be minimal. The calling should be limited to high percentage sounds. Limit your howling to nighttime hunts. Use your squeak only when you have spotted a predator coming to the call. If you get a howl back put some time between the calls to pressure the animal into a closer inspection.

I still use manual calls. With them I can add to the electronic call by barking back at it or adding another crazy squeal or two. It all adds to the fascination factor and gets coyotes and fox to commit to the spot where you have made a set. 

I’ll be honest; I’ve gotten to the point where I might believe those electronic predator calls actually sound better than I do. Well, almost.

Does Anyone Go Outdoors Anymore?

In 1988 I had a red-shouldered hawk make a nest in a tree on my property. I watched this bird for many hours through binoculars as I sat in the woods barely concealed by the trunk of an oak tree. I monitored the majestic bird as it reared it’s young, hunted and kept a constant lookout over it’s territory.

That same year in the fall I spent a dozen days scouting in the woods where I was going to hunt deer. I set up mock scrapes, searched for rubs and well-worn trails and used binoculars to focus tightly on the whitetails that were potential targets.

Since the advent of trail cams, nest cams, den cams and other portable cameras their use has grown exponentially to the point where we don’t really have to go into the wild to see animals and birds anymore. We can quickly snatch a data card from a camera we hung on a tree or load a live feed from a web site on our computer, iPad or even a cell phone.

I use trail cameras, a lot, today. I do a tremendous amount of “scouting” now without even leaving my office. But lately I’m beginning to think that trail cameras and all these web sites that promote eagle, hawk and falcon nesting video or bear den video streams are ruining my outdoor experience. Really; why would I want to watch hours of a bear sleeping? But truly; watching mama feed her chicks a perch she just caught is, well, engrossing and it can keep me glued to the computer screen for many minutes.

Not too long ago I had to set some guidelines on how much I use my electronic equipment. I am a news hound so I would wake up in the morning, slide my iPad onto my lap and spend a couple hours reading the latest headlines from all the news sources. Then I would eat breakfast in front of the computer while checking out BLOGS and opinion sites. It got to the point where I felt something was lacking in the day if I didn’t get my screen time. I was becoming a personal-computer junkie. 

As I began to regulate my time each day on news and social media sites I realized I had the same disease when it came to outdoor cameras. These tools are handy but they did put me in a position where I spent less time actually outside. So now I must vow to turn that program around. I won’t kill the urge altogether because I like seeing eagle chicks fighting over a rodent carcass, but I do plan on actively scouting more this fall for deer and I’ll need to clean the lenses on the binoculars to get out and physically find some birds on my own. We should be looking for more excuses to get outside rather than finding ways to be surrounded by walls.

How Will This Heavy Hitting Winter Affect the Fishing When the Ice Goes Away?

Do extreme winters affect the fishing once the warm winds return, the snow dissipates and the ice melts? I put this question to Freshwater Fishing Hall of Famer Mr. Walleye, Gary Roach. He compared this winter to the winter of 1956 and stated that there must have been some global warming back then as well because one is a carbon copy of the other.

Roach spoke of never-ending cold temperatures mixed with heavy snows and high winds. He said there was no escaping the raw extremes. There was no global warming to blame the weather on back then so the bitter feelings were directed at Mother Nature. 

Roach was putting a few bucks in his pocket by working for a logging operation making fifty dollars a week. Unless the temperature dropped to 20 below zero you were cutting trees. The snow was so deep in some places it was hard to find the tree after it hit the ground. Clothing wasn’t as developed as today’s options so staying warm meant starting a fire every couple of hours to warm the spots where the frostbite was taking hold.

Roach credits this extreme winter of 1956 as the catalyst that pushed him into the Navy. Trying to get some feeling back into his extremities he headed for California where he joined the armed forces on his arrival. 

According to Mr. Walleye the extreme winter the upper Midwest has experienced this year could create some difficult fishing conditions for anglers if temperatures rise too quickly. Roach is worried the winter will hold on like last year and then temperatures will rise quickly causing rapid snow melt and loads of runoff.

Rivers will rise rapidly and run fast which always makes boat control on moving water difficult. The spawning migration is also disrupted which can mean a weak year class and affect fishing for years down the road.

In lakes, water levels are also apt to rise and this will spread the fish out instead of concentrating them in tighter groups on the limited structure shallower water affords.

Roach says river anglers need to get out before the snow melts to take advantage of the upstream migration before water levels and current pushes anglers into backwater areas. 

On lakes where water levels have risen use techniques that allow more areas to be searched, The objective is to cover ground looking for smaller schools of fish that are spread out on deeper weedlines and larger flats. 

Roach is expecting a later than usual ice out this year because there is a lot of snow to melt off of most lakes before the ice begins to disappear. Late ice outs means later spawn and later post-spawn transitions. This means peak fishing periods, if they occur will be two to three weeks later than normal. Last year was a late peak period so the timing should be about the same.

One good thing to come from this winter is that anglers were limited in their spots during the ice fishing season so harvest levels are likely down on most lakes. That means more fish when the ice is gone.

Call It What It Is -- Pollution

The country has had a tough winter. Bitter cold in places that never get cold. Heavy snow in spots that seldom see the white stuff. It has been a tough winter all over. But, that hasn’t stopped those that are pushing the global warming agenda from digging out all their ammunition to get every shot they can through every media outlet they can find to let people know that the reason for this horrendous weather is due to, well, global warming.

Maybe it is, and maybe it’s not, but over six in 10 people in a March Gallup poll said they don't think global warming will seriously threaten them during their lifetimes and when weather like we’ve had happens that number might just rise. 

The problem is when it’s freezing cold outside and someone is telling you the planet is warming it’s kind of like someone telling you pheasant numbers are down but you just happen to be hunting some of the best cover in the state. It’s tough to fathom at the time.

So, if I were the scientists, politicians and global warming ambassadors trying to spread the climate change message, I would keep my mouth tightly shut during times like these. Here’s why.

I believe certain people are swarming onto the global warming bandwagon because they see this issue as one that will scare people into realizing how much pollution we’re pumping into our atmosphere each year. If we believe we’re destroying the planet and will damage “the children” then we’ll get to alternative energy sources faster.

The problem with this bandwagon is when it gets stuck in a ten foot snow drift in sub-zero weather no one wants to be on it.

We need to call global warming what it is. Air pollution. Few would argue we pump too much pollution into the air through the things we need to power. But this problem cannot be solved by trying to make everyone feel guilty about making the planet’s temperature rise a few degrees over the next millennium. When the argument is positioned for an end result that is generations away, most people won’t care. That’s not a good solution to the problem.

And I’m sorry to all you alternative energy promoters out there. If we cover the entire planet in solar and wind generators it’s not enough to power even a small amount of what we need as a planet. Some day we’ll be crying the blues when our water is polluted with mercury from those light bulbs we were forced to use.

What’s the solution? Good question. Nuclear would work but too many in political power bow to the lobbies that would never want nuclear being used. Less energy consumption? There are a bunch of other countries ramping up their usage so conserving might make us feel good but have little impact as a whole.

I guess we just keep demonizing oil and gas and coal and someday when we can’t produce enough because old power plants will become obsolete with no replacements then we will be forced to shut down our energy using appliances.

I just hope that doesn’t happen during another winter like this one.

Hunting With a Crossbow

I would love to hunt deer with a crossbow during the regular archery season, but the state I live in doesn’t allow it. Currently there are 21 states that allow crossbows during the regular archery season and others are slowly, begrudgingly, moving that direction.

Why do so many states limit the ability of hunters to use a crossbow during the regular seasons? That’s a good questions and I’m sure each state has their own reasons, but in the end it really comes down to change. Nobody likes change.

Hunters that use traditional as well as compound bows have had little competition in the woods during their special bow seasons. While the number of archery hunters grows each year in some parts of the country, the population of these individuals is still relatively small when compared to the number of hunters that use firearms.

Now consider adding another group of individuals to the program that never had access to that season before and even though the numbers will still be relatively low, the perception is that the woods will be crawling with hunters that have weapons capable of killing accurately at great distances without any practice. This notion leads to intense lobbying of the powers that create the regulations as well as loads of chat room discussions and letters-to-the-editor. Those that currently take advantage of the archery season sure don’t want another bunch of hunters in the woods. 

Firearms hunters don’t like the idea of adding another demographic to the hunt that get to take to the deer cover earlier. This will mean fewer deer during the gun season because those killer crossbows will take all the biggest and best before the gun hunters get to them.

The poor crossbow hunter. It seems that even though crossbows are not that much more efficient than compound bows, the crossbow gets tossed into the realm of misconception that it is more deadly and accurate than a compound bow. I agree that it takes some practice to be consistent with a standard bow over a crossbow, but any weapon used to hunt game should get some practice time, even shotgun and rifles. It’s just a lazy hunter that doesn’t put some polish on their shooting skills before a season begins. And so what if the crossbow is a bit more deadly and accurate. This means cleaner kills, and that should be what every hunter strives for.

Of course the data is in. The states that have legalized crossbows during the archery season see about an additional six to nine thousand bowhunters take to the woods. The amount of deer harvested during the archery season goes up as well, but it barely adds a percent to the overall numbers that are killed. 

In the outdoor sports there will always be elitists. Those that think they are at the top of the ladder and everyone else below, trying to climb past them, just deserves a boot in the mouth to knock them back down. But those vying for position on the top best be careful. I’m old enough to remember when archery hunters were looked down on and castigated for losing lots of wounded animals and messing up the hunt for the riflemen. It won’t hurt to increase the size of the fraternity and adding crossbow hunting to the regular archery season would open up economic opportunity for archers as well as bolster their lobbying power. From the records it seems these are the results in the states where crossbows are legal and I predict it’s just a matter of time before all 50 states see the benefits of expanding the program. I myself, can hardly wait.

A Dozen Holiday Gift Ideas for the Outdoors Fanatic in your Life

It’s the question that plagues gift buyers everywhere during this season: What do you purchase a mom, dad, son or daughter who has everything for the holidays? Sure a person could just buy a gift certificate, but how about a little personalized creativity? Read below for a bunch of nifty ideas that the outdoorsman or woman might not buy for him- or herself, but certainly would appreciate from a loved one. 

For those good boys and girls, consider placing one of these items – most suitable for stockings – on Santa’s list. I’ve done the thinking, now you just enjoy the buying and giving.

The Gear Grabbar

Remember last summer fishing with Dear Old Dad when he was rapid-fire piling up his lures on the console of the boat? Laser-focused on discovering the hot lure, he kept spouting off about “being versatile,” but ended up with a pile of tangled hooks and lures. We’ve all been there, spending 15 minutes trying to tease apart nasty treble hooks after a day on the water.

No more! The Gear Grabbar uses magnets to hold lures conveniently apart, so Dad or anyone else on your Christmas list can change lures faster and maximize fishing time. The Gear Grabbar, from Magnetic Marine Products, attaches under your gunwale and allows super easy lure attachment and release, so users can stay organized and safe when managing their sharp-hooked lures.   www.magneticmarineproducts.com

Real Avid 18-in-1 Shooter’s Multi-Tool

A fine, stocking-sized, stocking-priced tool that will make the outdoorsman in your life smile is the 18-in-1 Shooter’s Multi-Tool from Real Avid.

Firearms rarely malfunction at home. When you’re on the range or in the field, that’s when Murphy’s Law kicks in. The firearms and shooting experts at Real Avid constructed The Gun Tool because hunters and shooters have specific needs that general-purpose multi-tools just don’t satisfy. So bring along the one tool that can fix almost any problem. The Gun Tool changes choke tubes, mounts scopes, tightens screws and adjusts scope turrets. It handles breakdowns and break-down actions.

One day at the range with the 18-in-1 Shooter’s Multi-Tool, and the firearms enthusiast in your life will wonder how he or she lived without this product. Don’t take my word for it. How about the NRA’s? In 2012, the National Rifle Association’s American Hunter magazine awarded The Gun Tool their Golden Bull’s-eye award in the “Gear of the Year” category.    www.realavid.com

Zippo Outdoors 4-in-1 Woodsman

Zippo says you can search the deepest, darkest primordial forest and never find a tool as versatile and capable as the 4-in-1 Woodsman from Zippo Outdoors. Last summer in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, I took Zippo up on the challenge, and you know what? They were right!

When I’m heading afield, I like to consolidate weight, and this device does exactly that, without sacrificing quality. Carry this one Zippo product into camp and you have a bow saw that cuts hardwoods up to 4 inches in diameter, a mallet, a stake puller, and a hatchet with a 5-inch blade, all in one tool. 

I’ve never seen an outdoor camping tool that gives you more capability for the weight or the money. And I don’t just use it for camping. I keep it in my garage for all sorts of work in the backyard, and I throw it in my pickup before heading out to scout treestand sites in the summer and early autumn.

Few pieces of gear make my mandatory outdoor list, but the Zippo Outdoors 4-in-1 Woodsman is one of them. Any outdoorsperson in your life will feel the same this holiday season.    www.zippo.com

Zippo Emergency Fire Starter Kit

Here’s another fine product from Zippo that qualifies as a simple, but valuable tool any outdoors user would be thrilled to find in his stocking on Dec. 25. Quite frankly, it could save the life of the person who takes it afield.

The Zippo Emergency Fire Starter Kit is not a lighter (though it’s about the same size) and doesn’t even rely on a flame to start a fire. It uses a simple flint wheel to spark water-resistant, waxed tinder sticks that store in a waterproof case. So in emergencies, where matches or lighters are unavailable, this kit can start a fire almost instantly.

Some of the nation’s top people think pretty highly of the Zippo Emergency Fire Starter Kit, too. It was awarded the seal of approval by the North American Hunting Club. 

A trustworthy companion through everyday life and uncommon adventures: that about sums up the Zippo Emergency Fire Starter – a great product at an affordable price.

www.zippo.com

Case Knives

Though any of these gift ideas would work for men and women alike, how about a product with a little extra emphasis on the ladies? Pocket knives make great universal gifts, but the outdoor man seeking a gift for the outdoors woman ought to consider the Mother of Pearl Peanut knife from Case.

It’s a beautiful little pocketknife and a great unique alternative to jewelry for the right kind of gal. Harvested from the inner lining of oyster shells, The Case Peanut’s handle is admired as much for its strength as its beauty. Other styles and blade choices also are available the Case’s Mother of Pearl Line.

Give a gal a knife this winter, and she just might accompany you to the treestand next fall.    www.wrcase.com

The Speed Cinch

Whether it’s parking a boat on a dock or raising wall tents and screen tents, adjusting ropes is a pain. Here’s a nifty tool boaters or other outdoor users of all ages will appreciate. The Original Speed Cinch makes tying-off easier by taking knots and rope-tension adjusting bars out of the equation.

The marine version is a tie-down device designed to adjust and hold the working ends of lines quickly and securely, without tying a knot. It’s an innovative, affordable tool for boat mooring, rafting, fender management, and rigging applications.

Campers, outdoor sports enthusiasts and property owners will find the Speed Cinch Stake to be a versatile, durable, low-cost tool for anchoring tents, temporary outdoor shelters, sports nets, trees and shrubs, holiday yard decorations, and more. Both are great stocking stuffers for the outdoorsman in your life.    www.speedcinch.com

Universal Shotgun Skins

Back around Halloween, I was showing my firearms to my grandson. He noticed the nasty fraying of the camouflage tape on my turkey shotgun. Most turkey hunters have the same problem. We wrap our shotguns with the stuff, then it unfolds or the edges are sticky.

Eliminate that problem and keep your shotguns in great shape during the turkey offseason with Universal Shotgun Skins. Scope Skins and Rifle Skins also are available. The kits are pre-cut for covering most shotguns, rifles, and scopes with Mossy Oak camo. Why pay hundreds of dollars for a factory dipped camo package or mess around with irritating tape, when you can get the utility of camouflage and the versatility of being able to inexpensively change patterns based on your intended use?

This is a genius, affordable product that – again – will easily fit in a stocking!

www.mossyoakgraphics.com

Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo

I own a lot of rods and reels, for many specific kinds of fishing, but it’s amazing how often I fall back on one setup. Many anglers fall into the same “old reliable” mindset, and if that describes the angler in your life this holiday season, make that rod-and-reel setup the Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo.

The new Ugly Stik GX2 rod and reel combos deliver in all aspects of performance and offer some of the best value and toughest low-profile spinning combos on the market. The new GX2 line is available in seven different lengths and actions, including a spinning reel that’s the first Shakespeare has designed specifically for Ugly Stik.

Put a new rod-and-reel setup in your favorite angler’s hand this holiday season for better success next fishing season. www.uglystik.com

Lifeproof Case

Tired of that nagging feeling when you’re out-of-doors with a $200 smart phone in your pocket? Fall into the drink, take a nasty tumble, or if water tops your chest waders, and you’ll fry that mini-computer. But place your iPhone or Galaxy phone in a Lifeproof waterproof case, and you’ll experience a new sense of freedom and confidence outdoors.

The Lifeproof case delivers protection over oceans, ponds, or even the shower. Experts have called LifeProof the best of all the iPhone cases and iPad cases because it is waterproof, dust-proof and shock-proof. It looks great, too, with a sleek low profile that barely increases the size of your device. Now available in Realtree camo, it’s hard for deer to see, too!

A common complaint about many gifts: “He’ll never use it.” Well, I use my Lifeproof case every day of the year! It’s a practical gift that keep on giving.   www.lifeproof.com

360 Jig from Lindy Lures

The ice angler in your life needs to check out the 360 Jig from Lindy Lures. The fishing experts at Lindy have created an entirely new category of ice fishing lures with the 360 Jig. It features a body that spins on an internal axle that produces never-before-seen vibration and sound. That sounds acts as an attractant, but you also can work it slowly as a finesse lure. That means it performs for fish in active, neutral, or negative moods.

The oval-shaped jig sports a diagonal wing on each side resting on a color bead. It comes in 12 colors and four sizes. Put a handful of these babies under the tree, and you’ll be eating fresh fish for Christmas dinner.    www.lindyfishingtackle.com

Clam – Dave Genz Tungsten Drop Series

Tungsten is the word this winter across the nation’s ice-fishing scene. The weight and density of this valuable metal plunges into the strike zone and provides a unique action that should electrify the ice fishing world this winter.

Leading the way is Clam’s Dave Genz Tungsten Drop Series which includes seven new jigs – the Drop, Dingle Drop, Half Ant Drop, Epoxy Drop, Ant Drop, Maggot Drop, and Duckbill Drop. These jigs accomplish what ice fishing legend Dave Genz has been preaching for years: They fish heavy for their size.

Each jig offers a unique shape and distinct color patterns and they are available in a variety of sizes. Hardcore ice fishermen demanded a quality tungsten jig and Clam has delivered with the Dave Genz Drop series. The ice angler in your life can be the first to hit the ice with these lures if you wrap them between now and Dec. 25.

www.clamoutdoors.com

Jason Mitchell hub shelters from Clam

It won’t fit in a stocking but a Jason Mitchell hub shelter from Clam will deliver years of fishing success for the hard-water angler in your life. Hub-style ice shelters became all the rage last season. With increased seating capacity, high ceilings, and amazing stability in windy conditions – while still allowing anglers to be mobile – hub-style shelters popped up on lakes across the ice fishing belt.

In time for the 2013-14 ice fishing season, Clam has introducing its Jason Mitchell lineup of hub shelters. The company took an already solid shelter idea and created a new five-sided hub shelter with top-of-the-line full thermal skin. The new 600 denier thermal skin on these units retains heat in harsh conditions and reduces condensation better.

It provides 63.5 square feet of fishable room and a center ceiling height of 82 inches, so the Jason Mitchell Thermal 5000 has a 9-foot diameter footprint. That’s enough room for up to six anglers in a single, portable shelter.

Clam uses the toughest hub assemblies, quality frames, and durable thermal fabric in this model as well, simply making it a better shelter that will last for years. 

www.clamoutdoors.com

Some Things Never Change

The Democrats are taking away our guns. 

The Republicans are destroying our environment. 

The politicians don’t give a damn about us outdoor enthusiasts and all they do is take our money and put it in places that don’t do me one speck of good.

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard one of these statements I could buy a couple of new Sport Utility Rifles (AR-15 models). I am a little worried the Democrats might confiscate them in the near future or I might not have any place to shoot them once the Republicans convince all the farmers to plant corn over all the wildlife habitat. I would have enough money left over to buy some ammunition. Oh wait, the government has bought up all the ammo and the shelves are empty. What the government hasn’t bought is being hoarded by the fatalists that think a revolution is on the horizon.

Have we hunters and anglers always lived this way? Paranoid about the powers-that-be encroaching on what we perceive as our liberties. Disgusted at the rate of natural resources that are disappearing, falling under the banner of creating more food and cheaper fuel. 

I remember 40 years ago my father cussing all the No-Hunting signs that were being posted on lands that he had access to in the past. Even then small farms were disappearing, getting consolidated with other farms and leased to the corporate farming enterprises that were expanding their reach.

As far back as the early 1800’s some states were trying to ban guns. In 1837 Georgia passed a law banning handguns which was found unconstitutional. 

The NRA was formed in 1871 with the primary goal of improving civilian marksmanship in preparation for war. Today the NRA doesn’t worry so much about civilian marksmanship as much as making sure civilians have guns to practice with.

In 1972 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was created. Some think Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store and not a government agency, but it was thought this entity was needed to enforce the Gun Control Act of 1968 which regulates guns and gun dealers.

It was over 20 years ago that California banned “semi-automatic assault weapons” and over 30 years ago that the District of Columbia banned handguns.

From an anglers viewpoint the spread of exotic species has been an abomination when it comes to government programs. When a gun tragedy occurs legislators are screaming immediately for reforms. Docks are crawling with zebra mussels in lakes all over the country and you don’t hear a peep.

Some gang banger shoots another over drug turf and legislators point their fingers at me like I’m some kind of criminal because I am a gun owner. The same thing happens when an invasive plant species shows up in a lake, river or reservoir. Since I have a boat I’m the villain and the lawmakers want to put restrictions on me, the guy who is not shooting others and is cleaning his boat so not to spread invasive species. 

In fact, these exotic species should never have gotten here in the first place. Stringent regulations with huge fines for those in violation might have kept those asian carp from getting a foot-hold in this country. As far as gun control, you’ll never control violent crime by trying to talk sense to an inanimate object. Once legislators realize it’s all about people and not the guns then they will be a lot closer to solving the problems caused by drugs, alcohol and people that are just plain crazy. I also hope that our elected officials eventually realize that bringing land back to a state where it’s quality wildlife habitat is extremely difficult once it has had food crops planted on it. 

People tell me I have no reason to whine. I get to hunt and fish plenty and write the stories to share with others. It’s true. Life would be perfect if those dang Democrats weren’t trying to take my guns and the Republican weren’t destroying all my hunting spots. Whoops. It looks like I owe somebody a dime.

Killing Pheasants Isn't As Easy As It Used To Be

The numbers are down everywhere. For a while you couldn’t pick up an outdoor publication or go to a hunting web site without reading the blaring headlines about the precipitous drop in pheasant numbers. What should we expect? Habitat is disappearing faster than Rolaids at a Chili Cook-Off. There’s no where for the pheasants to nest. There’s no where for them to hide. And when all the crops are picked there’s no where for them to go.

A few years ago when the cover began getting plowed under, burned and scraped away there were still plenty of birds and the limited amount of cover concentrated them. You could pick any little patch of grass or cattail and flush some roosters. Such is not the case anymore. The nesting success with the lack of good nesting cover has knocked the numbers of pheasants down to the point where there aren’t many birds around anymore.

I used to hunt in Iowa. It’s where I was born and spent the first 27 years of my life. Pheasant hunting was always good in Iowa. No longer. My last trip there for pheasant hunting I stomped through the limited cover for two days and never shot a rooster. There were hawks on power poles everywhere and I spotted a half dozen piles of feathers where these raptors had picked off a hen pheasant.

I still hunt Minnesota and the Dakotas but it is getting tough in these states as well. Minnesota is losing cover and the spring nesting success has been poor due to weather these past few years. You have to work hard for a limit of two roosters. 

South Dakota hunting around Aberdeen is still decent but even though Brown County still has more pheasant per acre than anywhere in the world, the lower numbers mean you might have to spend another hour in the field to get your three birds.

I don’t blame the landowners for this situation. They have to make a buck and when you think about it, with crop prices where they are there is little incentive to set aside an acre of land for conservation. Farmers for years were getting beat up by low crop prices and now when they can make a decent dime from planting they are striking when the iron is hot. Who knows how long the prices will stay high.

Should I blame the government? I might as well. They’re the ones subsidizing ethanol fuel which drives the price of corn up which makes it more lucrative to plant as much as possible, even on marginal land. But then I’m told it’s more complicated than that.

I’ll just have to be patient until the pendulum swings and we can get the amount of cover back to higher levels through incentives. We love the government when a program is working and we hate the institution when their programs are faltering. Right now their CRP program is a joke, but someday I might get to hunt Iowa again.  For now I’m just going to leave that one bird they have down there alone.

Technology - Good or Bad

I was at an event recently where technology became the topic of conversation among a retired resort owner and fishing guide, and myself. Straddling 80 years of age this veteran guide told stories of how he row-trolled muskellunge on lakes in Wisconsin where motor trolling big lures for these huge pike is illegal. It is still illegal and he appreciates that.

I could not fathom why someone wouldn’t want to incorporate the latest electric motors, whether on the bow or transom, to troll a breakline or weed edge using the latest side-imaging sonars. The ability of to strain a certain depth with any lure is simplified by this technology that basically calls for pressing a couple of buttons on a control pad and then letting the electric motor do the work.

My lack of comprehension led to a history lesson. Guides made their living putting pilgrims onto huge muskies and there is an art to row trolling. Novice muskie anglers could never get past the learning curve and achieve success with this technique in the short time they had on the water. Turn new technology over to these rookies and you put the old-timers out of business. You create a class of anglers who never earned the ability to achieve success without the use of technology. 

Shortly after this conversation I toured the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wisconsin. There is an amazing amount of fishing history in these buildings and I recommend every person who has ever held a rod and reel in their hand should visit this wonderful place. There is an evident evolution to the sport of angling. Seeing up close the lures that were invented 60, 70 even 80 years ago is amazing. Boat motors today are no comparison to what they were a hundred years ago. It would seem that fishing has always been spurred on by improvements in technology and today is no different.

Yet, there are lures that were around before I was born that are still in use today. Certain plugs and spoons that were used by anglers coming back from the second World War are still on the shelves at the bait shop. Well, not the same ones, but models that are exactly like those sold back then that are still produced in mass quantities today.

So, I still think technology is good for the sport. But, I will bow to the wishes of the old guide who wants to keep row-trolling the only form of trolling legal on some of his favorite lakes. There are plenty of places where we can use new technology to bypass the knowledge base that can take years to acquire. Until the winds of change modify the regulations that protect certain bodies of water from the waves of science that attempt to encroach, let there be sanctuaries for those that earned the opportunity to fish unfettered in a realm they mastered.

Some Things Just Don't Make Sense

Hobie makes a kayak that is phenomenal for fishing. It has a kick-style drive so you don’t have to use a paddle, but you can if you choose. It is stable, has rod and cup holders and I own six of them. I would like to take them into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) but I can’t. The U.S. Forest Service has already tested the use of mechanical drives and it stood up in court. The reasoning: “From the 2004 Superior National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan: Watercraft or sailboards designed for propulsion by wind are not permissible. Watercraft with types of rowing devices that were in regular use in the BWCAW, prior to the 1978 BWCAW Act, are permitted.” The Hobie Mirage watercraft was NOT in regular use prior to the legislation. This argument has been tested in federal district court by a person who wanted to bring a type of watercraft into the BWCAW that was not in regular use before the 1978 legislation. This person was cited by the Forest Service and this citation was upheld in court. The intent of the wording in the legislation was to prohibit anything new that might come on the market (i.e. hovercraft, personal watercraft, a device such as the one in this discussion, etc.). As a result of this wording, all of these types of things are prohibited even though they are within the horsepower restrictions and may be quiet. Everything motorized or mechanized is prohibited except what was actually provided for in the legislation. This response to a Hobie owner’s question on why he couldn’t take his kayak into the BWCAW was on a chat room web site.

Some things just don’t make sense. This kayak is quiet, disturbs the water no more or less than a canoe or paddle kayak, yet the vague laws that created the wilderness designation for the BWCAW create a situation where a perfectly fine watercraft that would not disturb the wilderness or cause any visual or negative impact on the resource can be banned because it is not old technology. I can put a sonar on my canoe which will make me more efficient in catching fish. I can use a dead tree branch and a tarp to set up a makeshift sail on my canoe or paddle kayak, but if that sail comes out of a box, forget it.

Where do all these fun-haters come from? Some days I love to take an underwater camera out in the boat and look at fish on structure. When underwater cameras first came out, the state I live in tried to ban them.

My nephews who are in their early teens just told me a story about fishing below a dam on the Cedar River in Iowa. They had waded out to a rock wall and were angling for carp and catfish. Someone came down to the riverbank and yelled at them to get back on shore or they would call the cops. Thee boys thought it was funny until the squad car showed up and they were told to get out of the current because they were endangering themselves.

Too many fun haters. The Hobies fit well in the BWCAW and should be allowed. Technology is good for growing the sport of fishing and if some kids want to flirt with disaster while trying to catch fish on the river, let them. When people get so stodgy they don’t see the forest through the trees, well, some things just don’t make sense.

There Ought To Be A Law

I was fishing a muskie tournament on Lake Wabedo in northern Minnesota. My partner and I slipped into the northwest corner of the lake to vertical jig some big plastic bodies. Ten minutes after we got there a big deck boat pulled up and the guy in the front started casting right at our boat dropping his lure right next to us. I didn’t appreciate this so I started casting my big lead jig at his boat, dropping it inches from the hull just like he was doing to us. What’s good for the goose... Right.

He starts yelling at me. I shot back that we were there first and he shouldn’t be so rude as to cast right at us. He yelled that I don’t own the water and he can drop his lure where ever he wants. I responded that I could too. Then I reminded him of the Golden Rule. He got very upset and shouted that the golden rule to him was, He Who Has the Gold, Rules. He fired up his big outboard, circled us at top speed a few times and motored off.

Obviously he was trying to run us off the spot and I wouldn’t let him intimidate me. This has not been the only time I’ve been crowded in a fishing spot. It happens to us all.

On Lake of the Ozarks, Sam Heaton from Humminbird and I motored into the mouth of a creek channel where we saw some shad breaking the surface. Obviously the baitfish were being chased by some bass. We were setting the hooks immediately. Not there ten minutes and we saw a boat driving by that spun around on a dime when they saw us reeling in bass. Seconds later they were on top of this school of fish pounding the surface with topwater lures. In the next half hour there were a half-dozen other boats that joined us. The difference here was that everyone maintained enough distance that we were all able to efficiently work this hungry school of bass. We may have been crowded, but we weren’t being pushed around.

Whenever my dad would get irritated by something petty he would always wail, “There ought to be a law.” Now I hate rules and regulations so I wouldn’t really want to instigate a policy that would curtail getting crowded on a spot. We all just need to be considerate of our friends on the water and even if you see someone catch a fish on a particular spot, think twice before crowding them out. After all, the Golden Rule is actually, Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You.

My favorite crowding-out happened on a Minnesota Walleye Opener. My two sons and I were fishing some shallow rocks next to a point and we were hammering 18 to 20 inch walleyes by casting crankbaits to the shoreline and reeling them back to the boat. A couple of boats that were backtrolling deeper water suddenly decided to backtroll between my boat and the shoreline. Both boats crunched their props on the rocks. One was totally put out of commission. I asked the guy if he needed help getting towed back to the resort and he chose to call someone to help him out rather than take advantage of the guy whose spot he was stealing. Oh Ya, there’s one more saying. What Goes Around, Comes Around.