Outdoor Bloggers Summit

I just recently came across a site on the internet that I truely think is a worthwhile cause. As most of you know I seldom promote another site in a post on "Kennys Great Outdoors." But today is different, I try to promote the outdoors as much as I possibly can.

If you search the net you will find that there are several Outdoor related blogs and sites, But are relatively few compared to all the other types of blogs and sites outthere. I have tried to list my blog in several blog directories that don't even have an appropriate catagory to list an outdoor blog. I am not kidding! I think that , that falls in a catagory of "discrimination" But we won't get into that here.

I truely believe we as outdoorsmen and/or outdoorswomen, should support these kind of organizations or websites that endorse the outdoors and the different activities related to the outdoors.

The Outdoor Bloggers Summit

Is an organization of outdoors writers across the web promoting conservation, outdoors sports, and even an annual meeting for outdoors bloggers across the globe.

Outdoor Bloggers Summit mission statement:

* Support conservation efforts and positively portray the value of outdoor pursuits
* Encourage and support the efforts of existing outdoor bloggers
* Offer incentive and support for new bloggers who might wish to blog about the outdoors
* Unite the voices of bloggers so we can speak as one about critical issues that effect outdoor pursuits.
* Provide a clearinghouse for information about outdoor pursuits

These are mainly the reasons I support the Outdoor Bloggers Summit. If you would like to support Outdoor bloggers and the Outdoor Bloggers Summit. Simply click on the link/ or links in this post, click on the banner on the right column of this blog. It looks like the picture in this post.You can also click on the title of this post and go to the site. You can find all the details about Outdoor Bloggers Summit and the details of how you can support them on your blog or website.

This way we can ensure that outdoor sites and blogs and even , the "Great Outdoors" will be handed down to the next generations with all the information necessary to ensure that the outdoors will be here forever and ever.

Until next time , Keep your hooks wet, your outdoors activities safe, and remember to enjoy
"The Great Outdoors!"

Fishing The Texas Rigged Rubber Worm

Rubber worms are one of the oldest styles of bass fishing known to bass fisherman and probably one of the most popular methods used today by both the pro's and the non pro's. For those of you who don't know how to rig the texas rig see photo. Colors and varieties of the rubber worm are so many , it would take to long to name them all. My favorite colors are black, grape, strawberry and blue. Now days you can get all kinds of scents , garlic is a real popular scent. I also like to dip my rubber worms in vanilla extract as a personal preference. Different scents seem to make the bass hang on to the bait longer enabling a better hook set and higher odds of landing that big hawg into the boat. The fish get a hold of those flavorful worms and just do not want to let go!

A Texas rig consists of a sliding sinker, usually bullet-shaped, that slides freely or is pegged just above the hook, which has the point buried in the body for a weedless effect. The lure needs to move up and down in the water and this movement must be under the control of the fisherman at all times if possible.

The only way to learn to fish the plastic worm is to fish the plastic worm. Typically the bigger the worm you use, the bigger the bass! Being able to stay in positive contact with the lure will make you fish it better and with more confidence.

The texas style rig will keep you from getting hung up in the weeds and heavy cover and the bass will explode on it usually while sometimes they just inhale it and just sit there.

The biggest secret is to be able to work the worm very slowly,and during colder months even slower because bass will attack natural looking bait.

When casting allow the line to remain "slack" until it reaches the bottom. Watch closely for line movement. Often you will not feel the bass bite the worm. Always wait to feel the weight of the fish before you set the hook to make sure he's got the bait in his mouth. He may miss it and come back around to strike again.

When your line is in the water you want to keep constant tension on it. Watch your line for any movement that looks like it may be a hit. When you start to see your line pulling away from you its time to set the hook .slowly take up the slack and then…SLAM the hook set!

Now I hope you notice I said slam the hook set. This takes a medium action worm rod, because it takes a lot of effort to pull the hook out of the worm(remember its rigged weedless) and into the fishes mouth. After you set the hook its not a bad idea to set the hook another time or two to ensure a good hook set.

As I stated earlier, the only way to learn to use a rubber worm is to just use one. Practise makes
perfect. If you have never used this form of fishing you should learn it because a lot of lunkers are caught on this very versatile bait.

I just want to take this time to remind you that the big weekend is around the corner, boat safely and respect other boaters and fisherman. Keep your hooks wet, and until next time, enjoy "The Great Outdoors!"

Take The Bait

It was a cold winter day, when an old man walked out onto a frozen lake, cut a hole in the ice, dropped in his fishing line and began waiting for a fish to bite.

He was there for almost an hour without even a nibble when a young boy walked out onto the ice, cut a hole in the ice not too far from the old man and dropped in his fishing line. It only took about a minute and WHAM! a Largemouth Bass hit his hook and the boy pulled in the fish.

The old man couldn't believe it but figured it was just luck. But, the boy dropped in his line and again within just a few minutes pulled in another one.

This went on and on until finally the old man couldn't take it any more since he hadn't caught a thing all this time.

He went to the boy and said, "Son, I've been here for over an hour without even a nibble. You have been here only a few minutes and have caught about half a dozen fish! How do you do it?"

The boy responded, "Roo raf roo reep ra rums rrarm."

"What was that?" the old man asked.

Again the boy responded, "Roo raf roo reep ra rums rarrm."

"Look," said the old man, "I can't understand a word you are saying."

So, the boy spit into his hand and said, "You have to keep the worms warm!"

Jugging For Catchfish-Ever Tried WD-40?

As summer approaches I get the urge to do some jug fishing for catfish, as my wife loves to eat catfish more than any other kind of fish. And since she's the boss, well thats what I let her think,
I kind of feel obligated to do some jug fishing. Now most of you guys know that the dog house can
be a little uncomfortable in the summer with no A/C, so we tend to avoid the dog house. Ha! I think you all get the picture,and the point.

Jugging for catfish is not exactly the lazy mans sport, as it can sometimes work you to death. I mean catching the bait can be a lot of work. Have you ever tried to throw a shad net? I remember the first time my friend Leo and I decided to catch some shad with a shad net. We spent the better party of 2 hrs trying to throw the durned thing. Aside from the fact we kept getting it tangled on the tie downs on the boat, the steering wheel, the trolling motor, fishing lures and well you name it. Finally we caught a few dozen of shad which by the time we got them caught and arrived at the spot we wanted to set out the jugs, had died or were in the process of dieing.

Well I think enough said on catching shad. We soon discovered that there was other bait that worked just as well. We had made a pretty unique discovery that not all bait was hard to catch. I told Leo about something I had heard and we went to the grocery store and found some live bait that just wouldn't quit. We bought several packages and then went back to the lake to try our luck.

Now many of the locals around this part of the country already Know this little secret, but I will share this little tip with you right here and now. Hot dogs and little smokies in our area lakes are killer catfish bait. Not hard to catch and if the catfish aren't biting and you get hungry,well you know the rest of that story.

I am not going to bore you with details on equipment here, its really pretty much common sense. Bleach bottles, milk jugs, tubes, are all good for jugging. I usually tie on about 30 foot of some good trot line type line and what ever kind of hooks I can find. Now 1 hot dog makes about 3 baits and a little smokie is about the right size . Now you can adjust the depth of your bait to the conditions.

On most of our Missouri lakes you have to be within talking distance of your jugs and each jug has to have your name and address on them. But if the bass are not biting and you are jugging then it doesn't matter if you have to sit there and watch your jugs. You usually don't sit too long anyways and the action keeps you pretty busy. I only have a couple of dozen jugs and usually by the time I get them all out I already have several jugs a bouncin or running off down the lake.

If you have never tried to jug fish for catfish , you should at least try it once. I have always said you can't really say you don't like something until you have tried it at least once. I like to jug fish just to break the monotony of a day of bass fishing , usually in the afternoon after lunch for a couple of hours. It usually doesn't take that long to catch your limit of catfish if they are biting.

So again hope you learned something here , oh yeah , I almost forgot. The next time your jug fishing, squirt a little WD- 40 on your bait. WHAT? Yeah WD-40! It does work . If you don,t believe me try it. You might be surprised at the results. My dad laughed when I told Him but the picture above is A blue cat that was actually caught on a little smokie covered with WD-40 after about 2 minutes. I bet you can't find that on the recommended uses for WD-40 on the list of uses.

Anyway enough of that , I hope everyone reading this has enjoyed this article, and until next time, Enjoy the "Great Outdoors" See you out there! Also keep your hooks wet! If you noticed in the picture above a big bluecat caught on WD-40 doused little smokie made my wife extremely happy which saved me from being in "the dog house"

Take A Youngster Fishing

Just wanted to post this article, to make us aware that there are youngsters who really love to
fish, but don't get to go fishing at all or as much as they would like. Every fisherman, pro or amatuer
should set aside a day here and there to "take a youngster fishing. It promises an enjoyable day
where a father and a son or daughter, or even a mother and son or daughter, or maybe even the
whole family can just enjoy a day of bonding.

When you take a kid fishing, be prepared for one thing: communication. It's a great opportunity to listen and communicate with your youngster, and it will be an experience you'll both treasure for a lifetime. It's a chance to talk about nature, his or her school, their friends, things they like or dislike plus its building a foundation that will keep that youngster focused on this great American sport for many years to come. Make it the most pleasurable outing you can imagine for the youngster.

When you plan that first trip for a youngster, it's very important to make it a short, but exciting adventure. A child's span of attention can be fleeting, so make it only a two or three hour outing . . . long enough to catch some fish, but not long enough for the child to become bored.. Usually a morning trip is preferable. The fish bite better and the kids have more fun. Try to pick a sunny day with moderate temperatures . . . and don't forget to take along some sunscreen!

Never take a youngster fishing without somemunchies and something to drink. Something about being outdoors seems to increase young appetites.

For youngsters learning about fishing, the most important thing to show them is ACTION! They don't care what type fish they catch, or how big they are. They just want fish, lots of 'em. I was the same way, and my dad helped kindle that fishing fire that still burns bright today by getting me into a pond jammed with sunfish at the bright-eyed age of 8 yrs old.

Through fishing, a youngster is taught about fair play and sportsmanship. He learns about "fair chase" of fish, about fishing laws, and what is sporting about the use of hook-and-line and what is not. He understands why undersize fish should be released. And when he makes the decision to release one that is not undersize, his chest will swell and the pride will show that he has played fair, caught the fish and won, and still found a greater victory by setting the fish free to fight another day.

Through angling, a kid quickly learns the beauty and simplicity of the out-of-doors. He'll see and hear things while fishing that no one can vicariously experience by watching a Disney nature program on television. While astream or afloat he may hear bobwhite quail whistling in the spring, listen to Canada geese singing high overhead as they head south for the winter, or watch in awe as a beaver swims a creek or a deer nuzzles her new-born fawn.

Some fishing clubs, particularly bass clubs, hold fishing tournaments for kids. The club members' hearts are in the right place. But kids are taught to take competition seriously— and that has no place in recreational angling. There are no losers or winners in sport fishing, and youngsters should not be taught there are. The attitude should be instilled in kids that if other people aren't catching fish, the anglers who are should show the ones who are not how and where to catch fish, too. Fishing should be fun— plain and simple— without the tension and fear of not winning something as meaningless as a tournament trophy.

So again set a side a day here and there to take a youngster fishing , and remember to enjoy,you
and a youngster , "The Great Outdoors" See you and your youngster out there. Keep it safe!

Take about 5 minutes and watch this video , You will love It!

Summer Time Bass

I don't know who first came up with that oft-repeated tale that says fish won't bite during "the dog days of summer" but I suspect it was someone who would rather sit under a shade tree and sip lemonade than go out in the heat and catch fish.

I am basically a spinnerbait/plastic worm fisherman but for the past several years, I have started using deep diving crankbaits.

It is my opinion that during the dog days of summer these deep diving crankbaits become especially effective because fish get used to seeing spinnerbaits, jig and pigs, Tubes and texas rigged worms,and when that not so much used crankbait comes swimming along they just can't resist. One of my favorite deep diving crankbaits is the "fat free shad" deep runner. I have caught some awesome lunkers on these baits right in the hottest days of summer.

My rod of choice is an "Ugly stik" 6 or 6 1/2 ft, Medium action, seems to be a versatile rod and very durable. There are many options of rods out there so I really believe that it is a matter of choice, though this is a controversial subject with the pros.

The next ingredient is a good quality line. There again in my opinion there are several good brands out there,and I have experimented with many. I think the conditions you fish is probably the determining factor for type of line and lb test. My personal preference is 12-16 lb strength. I used to like "USA"line as it was limber and strong. But I cant seem to find it anymore.Walmart used to carry it but like I said, because I can't find it I had to switch. Now I use "Berkley's" Big Game green.Its not as limber but is strong and has good knot strength. Its a little harder to throw but has extreme fighting power necessary
to land that big lunker.

The next critical equipment factor is a baitcasting reel with a very smooth drag. I use Ambassador garcia 6000 reels, which works well for me and has a lot of muscle required for bass and stripers. These are older reels but since they are dependable and do the job and costs about $50.00 they seem to be just the right combination for the serious angler.


The final component is the lure itself. Crankbaits come in a vast array of styles and colors made by a multitude of manufacturers. For summer fishing I recommend large, heavy-bodied baits in shad color patterns. I would have some with no internal rattles (such as Bagleys and Poes), a few rattles (Down Deep Rapalas or Fat Free Shads) and lots of rattles (Bomber Fat A's or Mann's Loudmouths). These are all baits that have been working for me.

Color doesn’t seem to be as critical as the amount of noise the lure makes. Fish that are very aggressive seem to be even more turned on by baits that make a lot of noise, while less active fish like fewer rattles. A real good point to remember is match the hatch, shad colors are always good, although deeper and less light makes darker colors believe it or not, the better choice sometimes. Water clarity also determines color preferences for some fisherman. I have always said when lure manufacturers design lures its not always the fish they target. A big majority of lures catch fisherman not fish. The best lures come in natural colors and fisherman should match the hatch so to speak. Since shad is the main ingredient in a fishes diet then shad colored lures will more than likely outperform the rest.

Once your equipment is lined out then its time to find the fish. I look for schools of shad that are holding near the bottom along dropoffs in water anywhere from 10’ to 20’ deep. Visible on your sonar near the bait fish should be the larger echo returns of larger fish. If you see gulls dropping down to the water in large flocks this is a pretty good indicator that shad are present. Predatorial fish are always nearby big schools of shad. When you see fish busting shad on the surface move quietly in on the action and get ready.

Presentation of crankbaits is the next step. It is essential that the lure be making bottom contact at regular intervals throughout the retrieve. Long casts give the lure more time in the strike zone. After each cast I rapidly reel the lure down until it hits bottom and then I begin the retrieve. I try to move the lure with a steady or stop and go retrieve that keeps the lure working along the bottom, always feeling for the lure to touch bottom and anticipating the strike. Big fish like to crush crankbaits so there is rarely any doubt when they hit. When you have a fish on the line, use the length of the rod to keep the line tight as you lead the fish around the boat until it is ready to land. Don’t try to horse in a fish with this outfit and watch out for that mouth full of treble hooks! A really good point here is try different presentations. Sometimes unusual presentations cause bass to bite. Be ready and willing to try different retrieval techniques and pay attention when the big ones hit. When you find something that works stick with it until it stops working. Patience is the name of the game.

Next summer, when it gets really hot, leave your shade tree for awhile and pack plenty of lemonade in the boat. Try working some deep-diving crankbaits across the bottom in deep water and get ready for big bass action that matches the temperature!

And be sure to remember, enjoy "The Great Outdoors!" See you out there, and practise catch and release! Keep what you can eat and release the rest!

Frogging for Bass?

Frog lures are gaining popularity after some big successes on the bass-tournament circuit. But amateur anglers need to learn to fish them right.

BUILT TO CATCH
A frog is the lure to fish in heavy cover. It's particularly good when the surface of the water is matted with overgrowth. Get A Grip On Frog-Lure Fishing!Specialized tactics could improve your bass-fishing by leaps and bounds.

A frog lure's double-hook rig gives bass anglers an edge once the fish takes the bait.Frog lures are gaining popularity after some big successes on the bass-tournament circuit. But amateur anglers need to learn to fish them right.I've caught a number of bass on frog imitations.

BUILT TO CATCH
A frog is the lure to fish in heavy cover. It's particularly good when the surface of the water is matted with overgrowth.Most frog lures are virtually weedless. The points of a large double hook curve up on each side of the frog's soft-plastic body. The frog has a small weight at the bottom near the back of the lure to keep it upright so that the hooks are up off the cover.

Its body extends slightly above the points of the hooks, and the lure slides over and through cover, keeping the hooks from catching on anything.

Its soft-plastic body is hollow and is easily compressed. When a bass bites down to capture it, the body collapses and the hooks are exposed to make a deep, solid hookset.Once these large double hooks are embedded in the fish's jaw, they don't come out.

WHERE TO FISH FROGS
Shallow lakes or slow-flowing rivers are the best places. Also, lakes, farm ponds, river deltas all offer good opportunities to fish a frog.Pitch it into the open spot in lily pads or hydrilla and get ready.

You only have one chance to make a good cast. That means don't miss the open spot and minimize your splash. If you miss, the bass will be alerted. Frogs don't fly away and then come back, and they'll know that yours isn't natural.Big fish are smart and will avoid an unnatural bait or lure.

You probably will not find these shallow-water predator fish on an area of a lake with deep rock canyons that drop off quickly to deep water. Fish here aren't likely to take a surface lure. Likewise, fast-flowing rivers don't provide the meandering water for bass to hang out in and don't have the downed trees and vegetation found in backwaters that attract shallow bass.

WHEN TO THROW A FROG

There is a misconception that frog-fishing is good only in the hot summer months. The very best times to fish this bait are July and August afternoons all the way to sunset. But it can be good from the beginning of March to the end of September.


BASS YOU'LL WANT TO TARGET

Frogs are perfect for largemouth bass. These shallow-swimming fish are often found in water that is only 2 to 4 feet deep, and they know exactly what is happening on the surface.

Larger bass can engulf a decent-sized frog, and they have learned that their easiest meal often comes from the surface. When you tie on a frog, you're fishing for the largest bass you have ever caught! Smallmouth and spotted bass will also take a frog lure.

When you cast frog imitations to shore, you attract smallmouth bass. Spotted bass go deeper, but surface lures of all types attract them when the water is warm and they are near the surface.

Walking The Frog

"When your frog gets to the edge of the cover, you want the frog to move mostly sideways back and forth, this is done by twitching your rod tip back and forth. For those of you that have used
a "zarra spook, it is a similiar retrieve that makes that walking the dog motion referred here as walking the frog.

When you are fishing heavy cover the frog is on the top of the mat, but the fish knows it is there and may try to bust through the moss.Sometimes a bass will leave little "hills" in the cover where it tried to charge through the canopy. When the frog gets to thin cover, get ready. That bass is going to explode onto the frog.

When water temperature is cool, fish the frog slowly. When it warms, speed up your retrieve.Everyone seems to have a slightly different way to fish a frog.

Frogs' natural color is green or dark brown. They may have various colors on their underside, but brighter-color plastic frogs seem to work better than natural colors. White or yellow are also good colors.

Some frogs have spots on their backs, but the fish never sees them. The color on the bottom is what's important.I sometimes put black dots on the light colored frog bellies with a magic marker.It proves to be the ticket sometimes when bass are picky.

Most soft-bait manufacturers make frog imitations. The dominant ones in the West are the ones with the double hook around the body. The normal weight of these lures is about a half ounce, but a large one may weigh 1 ounce. The smallest ones weigh 3/8 of an ounce.

Learn how to fish a frog lure, and your catch of large bass can take off. Fish in the obvious places like heavy cover, but also cast it into open water and along docks. You will find these lures to be very versatile. So that about covers it, until next time , enjoy the "Great Outdoors. " Keep your hooks wet!

Big Holiday Weekend Coming Up!

Memorial Day is right around the corner. If your going to fish this big weekend , you need to reserve your camping spots ahead of time if you havent allready, it could be difficult if not impossible to find a camping spot, if you havent allready reserved one yet. The lakes will be crowded and difficult to catch many fish, but the task of catching fish is still possible for the alert and knowledgable fishermen.

You may have to boat a little further than normal , to find unfished or quiet spots on the lakes but its worth the effort to do so or at least attempt to find them. Boat traffic makes fish finicky because of the long winter with hardly no noise.

Here a just a few helpful tips, that can help you accomplish this difficult task and make your outing
productive and more enjoyable.

1.
Get a map and look for areas farthest from both launch ramps and houses. Either the upper tip of the lake or down by the dam may have less pleasure craft and bass boat traffic.
2.
You may catch more bass from an area only considered fair if you are the only one fishing it.
3.
If every one on your lake throws a worm, try a jerk bait. Be different.
4.
Find an area where obstructions like stumps keep pleasure craft out.
5.
Try the upper end of the lake where it becomes river, specially if there is current. This water will have more oxygen and bass may be more active.
6.
Go early to your best spot before the pleasure craft come out. Then go somehere else.

Please remember, we have had a lot of flooding this spring causing debri, logs, trees, etc to come into the lake, so navigation can be dangerous for the boaters and jet skiers. Slow down and watch for floaters. The floaters dont have to be big do damage you watercraft and ruin your holiday weekend. Remember to use you life jackets and dont overload you boats.

I have seen boats with way too many people in them , making it dangerous and also the boat does not handle or steer as well . Make sure to follow manufactuers recommended boat weight capacity. Which can be found somewhere on the hull , follow these recommendations as the safety of you and you passengers depend on your judgement and knowledge of the watercraft involved. Make sure your safety equipment is up to date and operable.

If you practise boating safety, and respect other boaters, you will have a wonderful experience and memorable fun to remember and enjoy. If you fail to operate your boat safely , you might have some not so pleasant memories. Leave the alcoholic beverages at the camp and do Not operate your watercraft under the influence. The water patrol will be out and about and will ticket and/or arrest violators.

If we respect the rights of others and operate our watercraft safely, we can have a fun and adventurous memorial holiday weekend . Lets all boat safely and wear lifejackets. And remember to slow down and watch for those floaters that you may come into contact with. It may take you longer to get where you are going , but at least you WILL get where you are going. Also remember be safe enroute to the lakes and streams and then again on the way home. Keep it safe and fun.

One last thing respect nature and other campers, leave your site better than the way you found it, Keep the noise down so that others , can sleep and enjoy theirselves. A loud and rowdy camp is disrespectful and not tolerated in most state or public campgrounds. Keep your fires safe, and do not leave fires unattended.

Remembering also to enjoy " the Great Outdoors. See ya out there. BE SAFE!