Monday, November 21, 2005

Responsible Recreation

Responsible Recreation

Keys to Responsible Recreation in the BackCountry

by: Chuck Fitzgerald

Having a good time is pretty high on everyone’s to do list, especially when surrounded by awesome views and super-awesome friends. We hike, bike, climb, camp, raft, fish, hunt, four-wheel, sleep and eat – among other things – in the backcountry. If not done properly, that’s a lot of wear and tear on our natural resources. Responsible recreation ensures future outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors as you have. Without a recreation code of ethics, our backcountry would become a thing of the past. Here are some universally agreed upon keys for having a good time – the right way.

-Take only pictures, leave only footprints. If you carry it in, carry it out. This will eliminate litter.

-Protect water sources from contamination. Use bio-degradable soap, or try hot water soap-less dishwashing, bathing and clothes washing. When using soap (even bio-degradable) and toothpaste, dispose of the wastewater at least 100 feet away from natural water sources, well or faucet water sources.

-Be a good neighbor - control your noise and your pets. Always keep your dog on a leash no longer than 6 feet, and away from public swimming areas. Barking and not cleaning up after pets leads to many complaints from other outdoor enthusiasts. Do not leave pets unattended.

-Be respectful of the natural environment – keep the trees and shrubs alive and growing. Nails and wires should not be used on trees because they can cause serious damage to trees. Burn damage will permanently scar or kill a tree.

-When hiking or biking, stay on designated trails. This keeps damage to vegetation and erosion in one place.

-Before leaving your campsite, clean your fire pit and your campsite. Make it as clean as you would want it if you were arriving that day. The next user will appreciate it.

Leave-No-Trace, www.lnt.org, offers the following Principles for Outdoor Ethics: Plan Ahead and Prepare, Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces, Dispose of Waste Properly, Leave What You Find, Minimize Campfire Impacts, Respect Wildlife and Be Considerate of Other Visitors.

Here is the Tread Lightly!, www.treadlightly.org, pledge: Travel and recreate with minimum impact, Respect the environment and the rights of others, Educate yourself – plan and prepare before you go, Allow for future use of the outdoors – leave it better than you found it and Discover the rewards of responsible recreation.

Responsible recreation means having the common sense and the courtesy to enjoy the backcountry without spoiling someone else’s experience. Most outdoor enthusiasts understand this very well and spend a good deal of their time restoring, enhancing and conserving our backcountry. Have a good time when you’re outdoors, share these keys with your friends and use this information to Get It Right The First Time.

Get Outdoors!

Chuck Fitzgerald ©2004. All Rights Reserved.

About The Author


Chuck Fitzgerald is the President of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online store providing backcountry specialty gear and educational information for outdoor enthusiasts. Visit http://www.backcountrytoys.com/ to receive the free newsletter "FreshAir” or call (800) 316-9055.
chuck@backcountrytoys.com

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Responsible Recreation

Friday, November 18, 2005

Stuffed Fish

Stuffed Fish

Ever Try Stuffed Fish

STUFFED FISH

3 or 4 lbs. Whole fish
salt and pepper
1 package stuffing mix
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 tbsp. Lemon juice

Preheat oven to 450 deg. Fish should be rinsed and patted dry.
Cut the fish along the backbone to remove the bone.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stuffing should be prepared according
to the directions on the package. Put stuffing into cavity of fish.
Using toothpicks , close the cavity. Arrange fish on a grease baking sheet.
Top with melted butter and lemon juice. Bake for about 10 minutes for
each inch of thickness on top shelf of oven.
8 Servings

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Thursday, November 17, 2005

Fishing Safety Rules

Fishing Safety Rules

Making the most of your time - Fishing Safety rules everyone should know

by: Rebecca Blain

When you are going fishing, whether nearby your home or on a long distance trip, there are many fishing safety rules that you need to keep in mind.

These rules can help prevent injury to yourself and others while shore and boat fishing.

There are several different areas of fishing safety that you should be aware of. These include the following:

Equipment Safety
Pier Fishing Safety
Offshore Fishing Safety
Shore Fishing Safety and Noodling
Ice Fishing Safety
Equipment Safety

Before you go fishing, you need to make certain that all of your equipment is in safe working order. This should be done before you even consider going out to any waterfront. You need to check several things while looking over your various pieces of equipment.

First, you need to check your fishing rod and reel. Both of these pieces should be in top condition, with the rod having no cracks or breaks. If your rod separates, you need to make certain that it is very secure when it is built together. The reel itself should operate smoothly, with the line coiling without tangles. If the line is tangling quite a bit within the reel, you will need to unbind the line and replace it with new. If this behavior continues, you should consider a new reel.

The type of line that you use should be a consideration as well. Dependent on the conditions you are going to be fishing in, you will want to use different line. With rocky bottoms, where your line is going to get caught easier, you will want to use a lower line rating. If you are fishing for larger fish, the test on the line should be increased to match what you are planning on catching.

The final fishing safety check that you should make is on your tackle, sinkers
and lures. If any of these are rusted, you should replace them with new ones,
as rusted equipment can change a mild injury into tetnis or a worse illness.

Pier Fishing Safety

One type of fishing that many people enjoy is pier fishing. When you go fishing
off of a pier, there are several fishing safety rules that you should keep in
mind. First, you should only place your feet into the water if you know that
there are not vicious fish, such as Muskie, in the water. Muskie, as well as other types of vicious fish, are renown for biting off the toes of unsuspecting fishers off of piers. For this reason, you should avoid doing this. In addition to this,
you should never run on the piers, especially if you are carrying any sharp equipment. The most important thing to keep in mind when pier fishing is to use
your common sense. Falling from the pier, especially taller ones, can be life threatening. Leaning over the pier edge, as well as being careless, can put
yourself and others in danger.

Offshore Fishing Safety

When you go on a boat for a session of offshore fishing, you need to be extra careful. Out of all of the forms of fishing, this is the most dangerous. You need
to be aware of the weather and potential weather changes at all times. In addition to this, you need to make certain that you are always wearing a life preserver. While these may be uncomfortable, or ugly to wear, they can make the difference between life and death. You should always make certain that you know you do not
hit anyone with your hook when you are casting. This is the most dangerous aspect of offshore fishing, as you are most likely fishing in close quarters, which requires
a higher level of skill when you are casting. Hooking yourself or a companion is a real likely hood in this style of fishing, unless you are extremely careful.

Shore Fishing and Noodling

Shore fishing is the style of fishing that most people participate. During fishing seasons, hundreds of people gather around oceans and rivers and ponds to take their hand at trying to catch the largest fish possible. Lures are constantly flying through the air, and lines get tangled more often than not. When you are shore fishing, you need to make certain you are aware of all of the people around you,
and that they are aware of you. Taking children to crowded beaches for fishing can be extremely dangerous, as they can get hooked while running and playing. Injuries sustained in this manner can be severe. As long as you are careful, and you do not run or dart across the path of someone casting, shore fishing can be the safest of all types of fishing.

There is one form of shore fishing, however, that is extremely dangerous. This is called "Noodling". Noodling, or another term for "Idiot", is the practice of wading out to waist or chest level and bending down to search holes, logs and other hiding holes for catfish. Then you wiggle your fingers. If there is a catfish - or another type of creature in residence - they will attack your bare hand. Then the fight begins, and the Noodler needs to bring the fish to shore. Many lose their lives yearly to this extreme sport, and it should be avoided, as it is not safe.

Ice Fishing Safety

When you are going ice fishing, there are a lot of safety rules that you need to follow at all times. Unlike the other forms of standard fishing, ice fishing presents a lot of health risks. First, you should never go ice fishing without a well built shack. The shacks provide you shelter while you are ice fishing.
Without this shelter, you will be susceptible to hypothermia and other health related problems.

The second thing you need to keep in mind at all times is the condition of the ice and the weather predictions. Falling through the ice while ice fishing, especially alone, is a death sentence. Being trapped on the open ice during a blizzard is also extremely dangerous, even with the shelter of an ice shack available. When you are stocking your ice shack, you need to make certain that you have enough wood for the wood stove, or heating device within the shack. This device should also be cared
for and watched over at all times, so the ice beneath the shack remains stable or that the shack does not burn.

If you keep these fishing safety tips and rules in mind, you should be able to
have an enjoyable time fishing without high risk of injury to yourself or others,
no matter which form of fishing you choose to participate in.

Rebecca Blain is a professional and hobbyist writer who enjoys taking care of her Siamese Fighting Fish and educating people about discount fishing reels & supplies which you can read more about here: http://www.discount-hunting-supplies-and-tips.com/discount-fishing-supplies.html



Trout Fishing Secrets
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BROILED SALMON

BROILED SALMON

BROILED SALMON WITH CUCUMBER SAUCE

4 Salmon Steaks or Fillets
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 medium cucumber, pared and diced
1/2 tsp. salt
dash pepper
1 tbsp. chopped chives
or green onion tops
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
2 tsp. lemon juice

Using mixture of melted butter and lemon juice, brush both sides
of the salmon steaks or fillets.
Broil about 6 inches from heat for 7 to 10 minutes, turn continue
another 7 to 10 minutes until fish flakes easily.
Serve hot with Cucumber Sauce.
Cucumber sauce is made by mixing the rest of the ingredients listed.
4 Servings.



SALMON IN PARCHMENT

Pinch dried dill weed
pinch crushed dried thyme
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 lbs. fresh or frozen salmon, cut in 6 fillets
2 tbsp. butter or margarine
1 lemon, thinly sliced
6 sprigs fresh parsley or
2 tsp. dried parsley
6 pieces 8 X 8 inch parchment
tartar sauce

Mix together first 4 ingredients, set aside.
Coat each fillet with melted butter.
Sprinkle with the herb mixture
Put one or two slices of lemon along with One
sprig of parsley on each piece of parchment.
place one salmon fillet on each piece of parchment.
Fold the parchment paper to keep in ingredients.
Put each wrapped parchment on a baking sheet. Bake at 400
degrees for about 15 minutes. Cut open and serve on
Parchment paper with tartar sauce. 6 Servings

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Monday, November 14, 2005

Winter Trout Fly Fishing

Winter Trout Fly Fishing


Have you ever tried winter fly fishing? Read this article by Cameron Larsen.

It is winter time now. One step on the frozen porch steps first thing in the morning removes any doubt of that fact. Winter time brings on many thoughts, holidays, dark afternoons, football on TV and for me some of the best trout fly fishing there is. That’s right trout fishing, winter steelhead fly fishing has been around a long time, and gets more popular every season. But the truth of the matter is trout fly fishing can be excellent, the crowds are down to non-existent, the scenery and wildlife are plentiful, and it makes those long days of early spring with non-stop rain and overflowing rivers more tolerable.

For the rest of this article click on the link below.


Winter Trout Fly Fishing

Winter Trout Fly Fishing