By Jason Say, Co-Host Wired Outdoors
www.WiredOutdoors.com
Facebook.com/WiredOutdoors

For a lot of people, their deer season ends the last day of the rifle season here in Pennsylvania, but there is a group of hardcore traditional flintlock hunters that hunt all the way through the middle of January. For anyone who has hunted with a traditional flintlock they know the challenges associated with taking a whitetail. Everything from the gun not going off to the powder getting wet and not to mention that the deer have been hunted very hard at this point and time, so getting one to stand still long enough can be a real challenge.

The Plano Guide Series Waterproof Case used to keep all our camera and hunting equipment dry!

This year we decided that we wanted to take a whitetail on film using a traditional muzzleloader and it took us all the way to the last weekend of the season, but we were able to finally get it done. There is a reason that you see very few shows on tv using a traditional muzzeloader, so we were very proud to accomplish our goal.  As ,on all our hunts we are using Plano products, and on this particular hunt the Plano Guide Series waterproof cases keep all of our equipment dry, from our camera equipment to hunting equipment.  Enjoy the video below of our Traditional Muzzeloader hunt!

By Jason Say, Wired Outdoors
WiredOutdoors.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/wiredoutdoors

Here at Wired Outdoors we had a great season and were fortunate to take some awesome animals. However, this year we experienced some true heartbreak! Below are two videos of our close calls with some real giants. If you are from Pennsylvania you will really appreciate the first video, Heartbreak Part 1, as all these giant bucks are from Northwest PA. Including a giant we call Splitter 13. In Heartbreak Part 2 you will see some monsters we were in front of from Illinois and Alberta. Once again, we wanted to thank Plano for protecting our equipment all year long!!

Ok, most anglers don’t have the opportunity or luxury to fish every day as the pro’s do and for the most part only get to go on the week ends or when they have the opportunity. That being the case lets set the scene. It’s Wednesday evening and your talking to a couple of your fishing buddies about the upcoming weekend and of course the most important question always rises. “Where you going this weekend?”…Now if most of you are honest the answer usually is “You know where I’m going, right where I left Them” It could be on the bayou, in a canal, a certain point, rock pile, bay, stretch of bank, etc. but the first thing that will come to your mind is the last spot that you caught them…………NOW here is where the truth really comes in. That last spot that was productive was productive for a reason and to me the main reason that spots are productive are CONDITIONS. Sure on rare occasions a spot may produce daily no matter what but as I stated that is very rare! Exactly what are conditions? Well to me there are many “conditions” that make spots productive and they can change monthly, daily and even by the hour. Here are a few to keep in mind:

Wind

• Tide or water movement
• Temperature; both Air and Water
• Barometric Pressure
• Water Clarity
• Boat Traffic
• Time of Year

Lets start with number 1. WIND………This to me is probably the most important one as it can create or diminish spots by its change of direction or velocity. A stretch of shoreline, a point jutting out from land, a submerged rock pile or debris, a canal or bayou are all worth considering on a daily basis but only if that “spot” is favorable under the current wind conditions…Lets take a canal or bayou that runs north and south and has many drain areas from adjacent ponds feeding this canal that really create great spots. Lets say today is your day to be on the water and the winds are blowing from the north, or lets say south and they are really strong, maybe 15 or better but the last time you went to this area or spot you caught fish after fish so your thinking about heading that way. Well you might want to reconsider, as the winds will be shooting up or down the canal leaving you very little if any protection from the wind. Really what you’re looking for is wind out of the east or west to fish this spot, which will create a protected area inside the canal. Most importantly it will allow you to stage yourself at the openings of the drains where water will be wind driven and possibly tidal driven at the same time pouring into the canal or bayou creating perfect staging areas for game fish…… This scenario can be applied for any location that you may plan to fish as the direction and velocity of the wind should play an important role into the success or lack of success into your “spot”. Check the forecast before you leave, open up a map and visualize the area that you plan to fish. On your map, line up the direction of the forecasted wind at your “spot” and really determine if that is where you want to go. If it is not figure an area that is fishable with the wind

Tide or water movement

Well as far as I am concerned any movement is good. Tide coming in or Tide going out creates movement around points, over submerged structure, etc. all of which provide areas for the baitfish to gather and then of course the game fish won’t be far. Lets say that you are fishing in an area that does not have any tidal flow present or it is a day that the tides are so minor they have little or no bearing on the fishing. Well now is when you want to use the wind to your advantage as wind will push and drive water around points, along banks etc. just like moving tide will. Picking a location that has wind driven water especially if you can stage on the calm side of the point, etc., may just provide you with a “new spot” . Keep in mind it does not take a lot of wind to move water, but certainly the stronger the wind the more water that will be moved.

Air and water temperature

This can be very important as depending on the species that you are targeting you probably already know how sensitive these fish are… A simple change of 1 degree either way can drastically change the feeding patterns of most fish. The sudden change in the air temperature as with cold fronts that we see during the fall and winter can change the “bite” considerably, maybe even shutting the fish down. Consider your species, learn what temperature they like or dislike, then determine what water depths afford you those temperatures. This could determine whether the fish will be on the top or lower part of the water column. The time of the year also plays a role as in the summer the warmer waters are closer to the top of the water column but in the winter of course that is reversed. Lets say you really like a particular flat, sand bar, etc. and you caught tremendous numbers of fish there in the early fall. Well that does not mean that the fish will be there year round. The middle of summer or winter may create conditions that the waters may be to hot or to cold. Remember it’s conditions not the ”spot”.

Barometric Pressure

Hot potato here as there are many opinions on this one but I am going to tell you what works or doesn’t work for me. First, I really like an approaching low system as it just seems to really get the fish excited and the day before a front just seems to get them excited as well. On the other hand the day after a strong front from the north always seems difficult for me and that may even extend into the second day but once the pressure stabilizes the bite usually resumes. A lot of times the day after a front you may find your fish in deeper water than normally, but still hard to catch. Just pay attention to this as the pressure may give you a hint as to fish shallow or deep.

Water Clarity

OK another tough one that holds many opinions and again here’s what I have found over the years. Fish are very adaptable to many conditions and this includes clean, stained, or even murky waters. What I have found is that they definitely do not like sudden changes especially from clean to muddy waters. This mostly is seen in the shallower waters where turbulence has kicked up the bottom and creates muddy waters. Most of the time the bait as well as the game fish will move from the shallow waters into the deeper waters where below the surface it may not be crystal clean but certainly cleaner. Again check your wind direction and velocity, figure these calculations into your “spot”. Determine how many days, what direction, speed of the wind and really think if the conditions will be favorable for fishable waters at your “spot”…Always look for bait even under muddy or stained conditions, if the bait is present chances are the targeted species may be near.

Boat Traffic

This is pretty simple. Certain days of the week create more traffic on your waters than others, especially weekends or holidays. Lets say that you fished a spot early during the week, caught plenty of fish but it is also an area that on weekends and holidays becomes a high traffic area. You may find that your fish will move off, find a little deeper water where they feel more sheltered. Usually when pressure subsides they move right back.

Time of the year

Ok again very simple. Usually wherever you fished in the middle of August is not going to be the same in the middle of January for one MAIN reason; CONDITIONS. With that in mind always pick your “spot” for the time of the year that you are in. Calculate all the present conditions. Put all the scenarios into an equation then calculate your best odds that determine the best conditions for a certain area or “spot”.

Here’s a hint: Get one of PLANO’S waterproof boxes, keep a small note pad and pen inside this box (along with your cell phone, wallet and other important items that you want to keep dry) make notes as your day goes on then transfer this information on to your computer at home. You will be surprised at the valuable information you will gather. Keep daily records of where you were, what ALL the conditions were and this will become valuable information………On future trips you will be able to compare current conditions find conditions that match up in your archive of information and you just might be surprised how easy it is to pick your next SPOT. Remember fishing spots are really nothing without the right CONDITIONS and that really determines what “spots” are really good “spots”

By Jason Say, Co-Host Wired Outdoors
Wired Outdoors – www.WiredOutdoors.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/WiredOutdoors

I just returned from my favorite hunt of the year, our Hunt of A Lifetime hunt.  This year, with the support of Plano as a corporate sponsor, we were able to raise $40,000.00 in a one day event called Camo Cares to send children with life threatening illnesses on their dream hunts.

While we raised enough money to send over 13 kids on their Hunt of A Lifetime, we had the privilege of tagging along on Billy Myers New Mexico Elk hunt in the Gila National Forest.  Billy Myers overcame his leukemia and all his other illnesses and tagged an awesome bull elk.  This hunt was one of the most intense hunts I have ever been on and the video above does a much better job of telling the story.

Once again, thank you to Plano for supporting this event each year and making some very special dreams come true!

I spend most of my waking days on the water. Each year it usually accounts to over 280 days out on the big pond. Whether it is with clients, pre fishing for a tournament, fishing a tournament, or just simply “play” fishing out on the water, I’m searching, learning, and refining my techniques and YES I do spend many of my days “off” just play fishing…..Don’t you?

Anyway, almost daily it is inevitable that someone will ask me one of the most frequently asked questions: “What kind of reel do you prefer, spinning or baitcasting?” Pretty simple question………..or I should say “pretty simple answer” as I feel that both are important tools. But wait lets back up a minute. I did say that it was a pretty simple answer and yes it might seem that way to me, as someone who spends most of his time on the water that it is a simple answer, but the reality is……….it’s not that simple to many.

Funny how things really work………I can remember years ago there was a separation between fresh water anglers and salt water anglers…..One that very few anglers wanted or were willing to cross. “Back in the day” most of the fresh water anglers fished baitcasting style reels and saltwater fisherman fished “open” faced “spinning” style reels. Why?……. Think about it, take a walk down memory lane, remember the old bass shows everyone used baitcasters and then when salt water guys began to get a little exposure it was all spinning. Don’t know why, that’s just the way it was. If you crossed the line, you kept it to yourself……After all it was kind of like Vegas “What happened in your boat stayed in your boat”.

When you really come down to it, things have changed but not quite in the way your thinking. Certainly we can all agree that both sides of the fence; saltwater anglers and freshwater anglers now are comfortable with both spinning and baitcasting. I believe that we all can agree that fresh and saltwater anglers are comfortable with both, or are they? Yes and No.

If we want to call it a migration………certainly there are far more freshwater anglers using spinning reels than ever before…..but probably in the grand scheme of things there are more saltwater anglers that have not picked up a baitcaster yet.

What do you think the reason is? Personally I think the reason why freshwater anglers now use spinning reels as well, is the fact that when they are making a cast with their spinning rod, truly in the back of their mind they are wishing and hoping that a 10 pound Redfish will hit their bait…….but then if that is the case then what about us saltwater anglers? Are we tossing our baitcasters and in our minds we morph into Kevin Van Dam holding up our “Angler of the Year” or “Bassmasters Classic” trophy? You really think I would do that?………… Really, it’s no one’s business what I do on my boat, as I said earlier “what happens on my boat stays on my boat”. I would never admit it anyway. Lighten up everyone, just kidding

Bottom line many saltwater anglers have not used a baitcaster mostly because they have this inner feeling that they are awkward or just hard to use. Hate to use the word “backlash” but if asked, most anglers that do not use baitcasters, will use this as their number one excuse. Granted years ago that might have been a justifiable excuse but with today’s technology that excuse won’t fly anymore. Technology has reached such heights that the magnets and resistant levels can be set on most baitcasters and if set properly will under most circumstances prevent backlashes

Anglers that do not use spinning reels might say they encounter to many “wind knots” , feel awkward or maybe not accurate when it comes to casting ……..Well awkward can be referred to the very first time you attempted anything, including riding a bike but what happens after the third or fourth time of use. Just like anything else it becomes easier.

Ok now down to the facts, the real, or should I say “reel” reason why anglers should familiarize with the use of possibly both. Most professional anglers, both saltwater and freshwater, carry an arsenal of rods and reels. Included in that arsenal will usually contain both baitcasters and spinning. What’s the point you ask? Well there is a reason why we carry both…….a very good reason.

As an angler you should always look for that “edge”, that little “something” that will give you the advantage when pursuing your catch and this is the true reason why you will see anglers using both style of reels, because under certain conditions the reel you choose to use may either help or hinder you.

BAITCASTERS

Positives:

1. When mastered, are excellent for precision casting
2. Can be loaded with heavy or light line depending whether you’re fishing around structure or not.
3. By way of design, baitcasting rods and reels afford anglers great leverage when fighting fish
4. “Low profile” reels are extremely comfortable in the hands of anglers
5. New designs have anti backlash systems that are usually adjustable by engaging or disengaging “brakes”
6. Many baitcasters have “high retrieve” which becomes very useful when attempting to gather line back quick, especially when twitching top water baits

SPINNING REELS

1. Under windy conditions where anglers have to cast into the wind, hands down the best!
2. Light line specialists, this is the reel for you, as you can really “scale” down for ultra light action
3. Light line will afford long distance casting
4. Allows anglers to cast small and very light baits efficiently
5. Anglers can usually switch handles from left or right retrieve relatively quick and easy.
6. Very effective for flipping baits under docks, bushes (such as Mangrove Bushes)
7. New technology with most manufacturers, allow anglers further casting distances than ever.

Now as far as the negatives, I’m not sure there is any, other than using either reel under conditions that are not favorable for them like casting into heavy wind with a baitcaster, or loading up your spinning reel with heavier line than it is designed for and expecting it to cast far.

No question every angler should have both on board so no matter what conditions you are faced with, you as an angler will be ready.

Now deciding on which one to buy may be confusing…..but it really isn’t…….When it comes to Spinning match the size reel to the size of fish that you most often pursue. I always try to use the smallest size reel that I can get away with and as far as baitcasters the main decision will be deciding whether you prefer “low profile” or “round” style reels.

As an angler you owe it to yourself to go to your favorite tackle store and actually put several reels in your hand and try them out. Make sure the salesman puts a little line on the reel so that you can feel how smooth the drag is. If it is not smooth, stay away from it.

Oh and here is a great tip: Take a look at PLANO’S 3600 series, especially model 3645 as this is a perfect storage box for your spare spools, both baitcasters and spinning. Spooling your spare spools with different size line will allow you the versatility to switch from light to heavy line depending on the conditions and the size of the fish you come across. If you have larger spools, just upgrade the size of your Plano storage box.

Bottom line, get experienced with both, practice with both and I can assure you that having spinning and baitcasting in your boat will make you a better angler.

Capt. Mike Frenette
PLANO

By Jason Say, Co-Host Wired Outdoors
WiredOutdoors.com
Facebook – Facebook.com/wiredoutdoors

I enjoy this time of year almost as much as hunting season itself!  Keyword being ALMOST.  I know for many of you across the United States, hunting season has already begun, but here in Northwest Pennsylvania, hunting season doesn’t get started until October 1st.

I love this time of year, and I LOVE THIS GAME.  Myself as well as the entire team have been doing all the hard work in the preseason to hopefully see it all pay off this hunting season.  This year’s preseason included, planting food plots for the first time, scouting, practicing, getting some first time hunters ready to go, and hanging lots and lots of stands.

This will be the first year that we have planted food plots and we have been blown away with the results.  We planted our plots from Whitetail Institute in the first week of August and by the end of August we had over 14 inches of growth.  The photos will speak for themselves and it just goes to show, if you listen to the experts, don’t cut any corners and get the rain when you need it, these are the results you get!

Whitetail Institute Pure Attraction and Imperial Clover after less than a month from planting.

Whitetail Institute Secret Spot and Imperial Clover after less than a month from planting.

Whitetail Institute Pure Attraction and Imperial Clover after less than a month from planting.

While planting food plots, hanging stands and all the things that come with getting ready for hunting season are exciting, I am most excited this year to hopefully see my nine year old son Colin take his first whitetail!  We are happy that Horton Archery is now a partner of Wired Outdoors.  When they first approached us, I explained that I am a die hard bow  hunter and will shoot my bow as long as I can pull it.  They explained they aren’t looking for the guy like me, they are looking for the young kid who can’t pull a bow yet, or the older guy who can no longer draw a bow.  This couldn’t have been a more perfect fit, with a young son, who has been begging me to go hunting and a father who can’t draw a bow anymore.  So I got my son Colin the new Horton Team Realtree Ultralight and my father the Horton Vision.  Of course with all this new equipment, we protect it with nothing but the best and we are using the new Plano Manta Crossbow Case.  Wish us luck and as any father out there knows, there is nothing that a dad wants more than to see his son or daughter enjoy hunting and the outdoors!

My 9 Year Old Son Colin’s New Horton Crossbow and his Plano Manta Crossbow Case

The other great product we have been using all season long is the Plano All Weather Bow Case with the new Grab-n-Go Soft Case.  This product has been great regardless if we are shooting at the local archery club or hunting bears in Alberta!  The convenience of having a soft case, Grab-n-Go, that fits directly in our All Weather Hard Case has been awesome.

Plano All Weather Bow Case with the Soft Case, Grab-N-Go

Want to win these awesome cases?  Plano is running a great contest where you can win the Plano All Weather Hard Case, the Grab-n-Go soft case, Manta Crossbow Case and more.  CLICK HERE to register today and good luck!

Of course, no preseason blog would be complete without some photos of some good bucks on our hit list this year.  As you know, Pennsylvania isn’t known as a big buck state, but year in year out, we are seeing more and more good bucks!

2011 HIT LIST

Split Dixon

Splitter

Boss

Target

Hillbilly Bone

Clubber

Don’t forget you can follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/wiredoutdoors,  all season long as we post our webisodes as the action happens.  You can also see all our webisodes “ON DEMAND” on our website, just click here!  So hopefully in the next few weeks, you will see one of these big bucks above on the ground! Hunting season is almost here and I would like to wish everyone GOOD LUCK this year and most importantly hunt safe!  I LOVE THIS GAME!!

Is it the anticipation that sends your blood pressure over the roof, prior to the strike? Or the explosiveness of the strike itself that just captivates the minds of all anglers. Whether your preference is salt or fresh almost any angler will attest that “Top Water” if it can be done, would be the number one choice. Oh, and did I tell you that it really doesn’t matter what species your pursuing, a top water strike is just that, a top water strike. Can you see I am getting excited just talking about it and that’s because the past few days we have been slamming the Giant Reds on top water; 25-45 pounds of pure strength that will send shivers down your spine…..Well let’s get down to it. Here are a couple of tips that may help your next fishing trip become a success.

Can you use top water baits under every condition at any time. I guess you could but if you did you probably would limit your success rate…….Knowing when is essential…..Pods of bait on the surface, calm waters, over cast days, diving birds early morning and late afternoon any of these conditions, can get me fired up! Now you don’t need to have all of these conditions to make it work, just one piece of the recipe, is all that’s needed. OK if you find all at the same time………Just get the net, cause its going to be “Big Time”

There are a number of baits that are on the market and yes, they probably all work but my favorite are the baits that you can “walk the dog” with. What ever the reason is, that wiggle waggle motion coming across the water is just so enticing. C,mon you know exactly what I mean. When you are twitching your wrist and that soft rod tip is making that surface bait dance so seductively, you just know a strike is imminent. By the way, using a rod that has a soft tip is really what I like as it enhances that bait action and is really fore giving when the strike occurs. A stiff rod could result in missed strikes. 7’ rods are perfect for this; light action to light/medium action rods are perfect.

Whether you are a monofilament or braided type of guy it’s OK. Only hint here is that if you are using Braid, tack on about 12-18 inches of mono or flora-carbon to the end of the braid as this segment of mono will give your bait more action than having it tied directly to the braid.

Personally I like to work my bait back to me fairly slow and steady. Lots of times a fish will come up swirl, miss the bait, don’t know how they do, but if that happens, what I like to do is stop the bait and twitch my wrist so that the bait stays in one spot but continues its side-to-side action. To the fish it appears that he has wounded the baitfish and there is a good chance he will turn around and grab it.

Did I forget to tell you, if you see the birds diving, bait on the surface, or possibly you have marked fish just below the surface, position your boat just far enough away so that you can present your bait without spooking anything. Twitch your bait, slow retrieve, and hang on its going to happen. Big hint here; don’t set the hook until you feel pressure, cause when your watching the show, your first instinct will be to “load up” as soon as you see the strike. “Feel the bite, then you strike”.

Use your Plano Tackle to help you be prepared. Have all of your top waters in one special box and have it ready when the moment comes!

I’m a firm believer that kids who are exposed to fishing grow up to become good stewards of our natural resources. Unfortunately, the long-standing tradition of a father teaching his son to fish has diminished because of parents’ loss of interest and today’s hectic lifestyles. And because kids have so many recreational choices – many of which are less wholesome – fishing is losing popularity among youngsters. That’s where you come in. You can make a difference in a kid’s life by simply taking the time to introduce him or her to this wonderful pastime. If your children are grown, there’s probably a neighbor child who would love for you to teach him. But that may not be as simple as it sounds. I know, I taught my five kids show to fish and made more than my share of mistakes along the way.

Here are some things to remember:

• Teach basics away from the water. Sit down with the kids at home and show them how to tie a hook, add split shot to the line or position a bobber. Once you see that they can do it alone, you’ll feel more comfortable with letting them do it at the lake. And that’s significant; kids feel more important when trusted to rig their own lines and bait their own hooks.
• Use live bait and fish for what bites. One way to ruin a young child’s enthusiasm is to take him bass fishing with artificial lures. A child needs lots of bites and excitement. Live bait provides that. And remember, a kid does not care what kind of fish he or she catches.
• Let them cast. Sure you’ll be frustrated with tangles, but that’s part of the learning experience. Casting helps break the monotony when fish aren’t biting, and they’ll learn better mechanics in time. Teach them with short rods and spincast equipment because it’s easier for them to use.
• Make them the focal point. Leave your rods at home, because you’ll get caught up in your own fishing when the kids need your undivided attention. Wait until the child is proficient before you participate as a fisherman.
• Keep fish and cook them. Catching-and-release principles should be taught later. Let the kids help you clean the catch, and have the fish for dinner. That adds to the fun and builds enthusiasm. However, don’t keep fish and then throw them away. Teach the child how to put fish to good use.
• Make it fun. Don’t make kids conform to what you want. If the kid wants to cast across the pond instead of where you want him to, let him. One big mistake adults make is we forget that our priorities are different than the kids’. We think catching fish is the key to the kids having a good time, but that isn’t always the case. The quality of a trip isn’t always measured by how many fish you catch. Catching fish is important, but the adventure and the thrill you can provide keeps kids wanting more.

You can find more articles, quick tips and much more at HankParker.com.

Wired Outdoors Shots 22 Hogs In Two Nights!
By Jason Say, Co-Host Wired Outdoors
WiredOutdoors.com
Facebook.com/WiredOutdoors

WATCH VIDEO BELOW!

Well the title of this blog may be a little misleading, but what we call hogs in Pennsylvania is much different that Texas or Florida.  We are talking about groundhogs and there is nothing better to do during the summer to keep your skills sharp than shoot some long range grass grizzlies.  While keeping your shooting skills sharp is critical, the most important thing we do is help out many of the local farmers, whose property is being destroyed by these varmints!

On this particular hunt I was the cameraman and just love going along and seeing these guys being able to consistently shoot groundhogs at 300 yards plus.  You will also see that we are using some pretty sophisticated shooting setups and we trust nothing but Plano to keep all of our shooting equipment safe.  We hope you enjoy the video and that you get a chance to get out and help your local farmers.

Chris O’Hara, Kyle Schwabenbauer and John O’Hara

With Plano’s Support, Wired Outdoors and Camo Cares Raises $40,000 In One Day Event To Send Children With Life Threatening Illnesses on Their Hunt of A Lifetime
By Jason Say, Co-Host, Wired Outdoors
WiredOutdoors.com
www.Facebook.com/WiredOutdoors

WATCH VIDEO

Wired Outdoors is happy to announce that with the generous support of our good friends at Plano and many other sponsors, we were able to raise $40,000.00 in a one day event to raise money to send children suffering from life threatening illnesses on their “Hunt of A Lifetime”!  While we raised enough money to send over 13 kids on their dream hunt, we will be tagging along on Billy Myers Elk Hunt this October in New Mexico.

The video can tell the story much better than I can about Camo Cares and what the day is all about.  We would also like to thank Plano for all their support in helping these special kids dreams come true!!

Left To Right: Mike Weigle, Jason Say, Tina Pattison (Founder Of Hunt Of A Lifetime), Kyle Schwabenbauer and Wendy Wenner