Floating Lazy Rivers

Floating a slow moving river doesn't produce as much adrenaline as whitewater rafting, but a small jon boat can produce an enjoyable, peaceful excursion. Paddling can be a little tiring, but as long as you have plenty of time there is no reason to get in a hurry. Having a lot of time to enjoy the scenery and companionship is the best thing about these kind of trips.

It doesn't take much equipment, just a small boat or canoe and a couple of paddles and some great adventures are in store. A little preparation is necessary when your partner is a child that can not drive, but with the assistance of another adult to make sure you have a vehicle when you finish the trip and it can be very rewarding. It is always important to wear life vests especially when a young person is your only companion.

Cell phones are great for safety devices as long as you have coverage and a plastic bag just in case there is an accidental dip in the water. Make sure to have plenty of water and some snacks to make sure hunger doesn't ruin the trip. These trips can be great fun just to relax and enjoy the quiet time, but some great fishing is sometimes available as well.

It is a good idea to be familiar with the river and the time it takes from one take out spot to the other. Make sure to talk with someone that has been down the river before to get a good idea of the time. I learned a lesson the first time I went with my son because he didn't know for sure we would arrive at our destination and became a little scared because we were a long way from anyone. We had been on many excursions, but not one quite as long as this particular trip. I knew where we were going, but obviously I didn't communicate very well with my son.

I thought this would be a good time to share how to call for help if something happened not realizing I was just giving him reason to have a few doubts. Lesson learned, but all and all the trip was still fun. Going over safety precautions in a very secure setting is best so that when you are on the trip the youngster has nothing to think about but having a good time.

Make sure you schedule enough time to get on the land and do a little exploring. Sitting in a canoe or small boat for long periods of time can be a little tiring and having a chance to stretch your legs helps make the trip more enjoyable. Many types of wildlife can be observed which always helps the trip much better. So get out there and spend some peaceful time with someone you love and the trip can be the memory of a lifetime.

Identify Bream

If you are interesting in identifying some of the bream you might catch. Here is a great link.

Joy in a Small Creek

I have searched for articles about fishing small creeks and haven’t found a lot that pertain to small rural streams. Most articles are about fly fishing which is great, but for a small child this is a little too difficult. Some of the most fun a child can have is to find a small creek that is loaded with usually small fish that haven’t seen a lot of hooks through the years.

The first part is the most obvious which is to find the creek. This can be easy, but finding the right creek and the right spot can be a challenge which adds to the fun. Creeks are abundant in rural areas but many don’t seem to be deep enough to fish. With enough driving and some walking even shallow creeks may have deeper pockets thanks to natural terrain and sometime the help of friendly beavers. Let me say that the term friendly beavers depends on whether or not their handiwork is admired or hated. Many landowners would love to rid the creek of beavers but that is another article.

Pulling off the side of the road where most people fish and usually these fish are accustomed to seeing hooks and every kind of bait imaginable. Sometimes just moving a few hundred yards up or down the creek can produce some great fishing. Please remember to be careful when exploring due to our friends without legs that many times love living in a small creek. Once the right spot is found it may be necessary to clear a path to allow children to access the fishing spot safely.

Deep pockets many not be very easily found, but since there aren’t many of them sometimes this is where the fish are congregated. In a few larger creeks a small Jon boat or floating device can help access the honey hole. Sometimes just some old fashion wading can be the trick, but many can be accessed on land with a little preparation. Finding the right spot is many times half the fun, but we must always be careful to not offend landowners and seeking permission is always the best policy. Sometimes the landowners can even suggest the best way to access the creek and may even give you exclusive access which can make it even better.

The gear of this type of fishing is the best part of the whole deal. A few dollars (and I mean very few) is all that is needed to rig up for this type of trip. An old fashioned cane pole or a small reel and rod combo is all that is needed. A small tackle box with some slip-shot lead and some small hooks will usually be all that is needed. Of course the right bait is important, but you can’t go wrong with the staples of small creek fishing, redworms and crickets. Experiment with all types of bait to find the best and sometimes the creek can provide the minnows with a little help from a small casting net.

Fall is a great time to go on a little excursion with those you love to spend time with and can provide for a memorable experience. There is a song out today entitled, “She Thinks We Are Just Fishing” which sums up the real treasure in this type of fishing. Even if the fish aren’t biting many kinds of wildlife can be found and there is always the joy of throwing things in the creek when the fish really have lockjaw. I hope this helps you have great experience with a special fishing buddy.

Tree Stand Placement

Here is a good article about tree stand placement. Click here to access the article by T.R. Michels.

PreSeason Hunting Article

This is a great article from "The Morning Sun." Click here for a great article by John Eberhart.

Hunting Season Countdown

My son is getting ready for hunting season! He loves fishing, but I think hunting may be his favorite. It is time to do a little target practicing. Nothing can ruin a young hunter's day like missing a chance at a trophy because of missing a shot. Kids do not necessarily retain their skills from year to year (neither do us older folks). Kids must practice to make sure they are ready for the big shot when it takes place.

One thing that is important is to start with a simple shot preferably with a rest and to do a few other kinds of shots. This is fun and it helps the young hunter to be ready for any shot he might get. We all know that seldom does the game appear right where we had planned.

Not only does target practice help the hunter, but it provides a good time for a little fun without having to be quiet, and still. Getting out there and practicing is always worth the time.

Tip: It is good to start with cheap shells like 22's before actually using the gun they will be hunting with.

Fall is in the Air

Fall is in the air in North Alabama. Everyone that has lived in North Alabama knows that 90 degree weather is still in our future but a cold front has come through and the chill of fall is in the air.

The cooler weather has many people thinking of hunting season but some good fishing is also right around the corner. For those of us who enjoy fishing and hunting this is a great time of year. The only challenge is finding time to fish while making preparations for hunting season which is right around the corner.

This is a great time to do a little scouting for the upcoming deer season and to make sure stands are in good condition and are safe for the hunting season. Make sure to check the chains and ropes that hold the stands to the trees and make sure the storms have not caused damage. Nothing can ruin a hunting trip like finding out that your favorite stand is not in good enough shape to have a safe outing.

Roads and trails may also have to been prepared so that you can easily access your favorite hunting spots. This is also a good time to make sure shooting allies are clear and ready. It would be a shame to miss that big buck because a bush or limb is in the line of sight.

Have a great hunting season, but don't forget the fishing will be biting soon!

Article from Field and Stream

This is a great article published in Field and Stream. I hope you enjoy reading it. I want to reiterate that I am not the author of the article, I just wanted to share the article.

Late-Summer Bass Fishing Tips: Where and How to Catch Largemouths
When it comes to summer fishing, pros pay attention to vegetation, bridges, and current
Article by Steve Price. Uploaded on August 07, 2009

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TagsWhere to FishWhere to Fish for BassHow to FishHow to Fish for BassWhat to UseWhat to Use to Catch BassTactics for SummerTactics for Summer Bass FishingChoosing Baits to Catch BassBy late summer, bass fishing is not for the faint of heart. Largemouths are often deep and lethargic, and they’re also frequently starting to relocate and suspend at middepth ranges as forage begins to move. This is when professional anglers start following the ABCs of summer fishing. • “The ABCs stand for aquatic vegetation, bridges, and current, three shortcuts to finding fish,” says veteran tournament pro and Lake Fork guide James Niggemeyer. “In summer, bass need shade, cover, oxygen, and food, and the ABCs always provide that. In addition, aquatic vegetation and bridges have depth changes close to cover, and current in the back of a creek attracts bass from other areas.”

Aquatic Vegetation

WHY BASS LIKE IT: Hydrilla, lily pads, hyacinths, and other greenery hold forage such as crawfish and sunfish and provide cover, shade, and higher oxygen.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Edge irregularities, especially depth changes; brush, logs, or rocks with the vegetation; isolated patches of greenery.

TECHNIQUES AND TACKLE: Skitter floating frogs over the top and through openings; flip tubes and jigs into open holes; run shallow crankbaits along the outside edge. Use 50- to 65-pound braided line for frogs and tubes; 12- to 20-pound fluoro?carbon for square-bill crankbaits.
Bridges

WHY BASS LIKE IT: Cover, shade, and abrupt depth changes are always present; nearby rocks often hold forage.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Brush lodged on the upstream side of pilings; current breaks behind pilings; baitfish around pilings.

TECHNIQUES AND TACKLE: Bulge a fast spinnerbait parallel to abutments and pilings nearest the channel first. Cover the brush at upstream pilings with a crankbait; hit the downstream side of abutments with a drop-shot rig. Use 8- to 16-pound fluorocarbon line (it sinks).

Current

WHY BASS LIKE IT: Moving water produces higher oxygen, washes in food, and usually creates cooler temperatures.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Eddies and protected calmer water; rocks, small islands, other visible cover like stumps or logjams.

TECHNIQUES AND TACKLE: Cast light jigs, plastic grubs, or Texas-rigged worms upstream and let current carry them into quiet eddies. Work small buzzbaits across calmer areas, especially in early morning. Use 12- to 16-pound fluorocarbon
for strength and low visibility.

Dove Hunting

Dove hunting season opened in Alabama this weekend and I haven't spoken with a lot of hunters, but the ones I have talked with do not give a good report. I was putting in fence posts so I was not able to go hunting, but since it was 93 degrees, I really didn't mind too much. Just a reminder to my hunting buddies that you must have a Harvest Information Program sticker.

All licensed hunters who hunt doves, woodcock, rails, snipe, coots, ducks, or geese in Alabama are required by Federal law to obtain a Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit prior to hunting. The HIP program provides improved data collection on these species. This will allow hunting seasons for the various species to be set in an objective and efficient manner while maintaining healthy populations. HIP permits are free and are available wherever hunting license are sold. It takes a very short time to provide the requested information. In exchange for completing the HIP survey, you will receive a proof of certification which must be in your possession while hunting migratory birds.

The weather has cooled down due to the rain and we are hoping the hunting conditions will be a little more inviting. Sitting in a dove field in 90 degree weather isn't always a fun proposition, but you do what have to do.

Too Wet to Fish

Unfortunately due to Tropical Storm Lee it has been raining all weekend and fishing is very difficult. To quote a song from Hank Williams Jr., "I'm against fishing in the rain." This weekend has been a washout, but soon the stripe should start running below Wheeler Dam so maybe fishing will pick up a little.