Northwest Indiana Stream Closings (Now - June 15)

The East Branch of Little Calumet River (Porter County) from U.S. 12 upstream to U.S. 20 and Trail Creek (LaPorte County) from the Franklin Street Bridge in Michigan City upstream to U.S. 35 are closed to all fishing till June 15; DNR annual stocking of trout and salmon. For details contact the Michigan City Division of Fish and Wildlife at (219) 874-6824.

Indiana Umbrella Rig Update: 2 Baits Max

Umbrella Rigs, rigs that hold more than one individual bait, may not have more than two artificial baits on them when used in the state of Indiana. This has been updated from the prior ruling that all 5 baits were allowed.

The answer? This little guy below. The Yum ® Yumbrella™ Double Up™ Rig fits the bill for the new Indiana ruling. Twice the baits means twice the chances of catching fish! Check it out at Bass Pro here.

For more info visit www.LakeMichiganBigBassBash.com or call (219) 787-6800

Fishing Report: Lake Michigan Tributaries

A few steelhead continue to mitigate into Salt Creek, Trail Creek and Calumet River, with the lower sections providing the best numbers and hook-ups. Browns and Cohos have also ventured into the lower stretches of Burns Ditch to the Lake Michigan ice pack. Pier fishing at Washington Park has been difficult with the ice pack around the mouth of Trail Creek.

The hot ticket for the bait fishermen has been drifting spawn through deep holes for steelhead and for the fly anglers was working Woolly Buggers  through resting lies that offer the fish relief from the current. In Burns Ditch, anglers are catching Coho and Browns by trolling/casting crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, and various spoons. Flicker Shads, Rat-L-Traps are working well.

There hasn’t been a big push of fish yet, but there's definitely enough fish for some action and a good day on the water.

Free Fishing Days!

For 2013, Indiana has extended the Free Fishing Days from 2 days to 4.  Indiana residents can fish their public waters without purchasing a fishing license or a trout / salmon stamp.

 Dates:

April 20

May 18

June 1

June 2

Also, there are fishing education events and fishing derbies that are scheduled at several Indiana recreational areas.  Click here for more information and locations hosting events.

Try This!

Line & Lure is the reel deal for more than just conventional tackle.  For over a year, I have been using Line & Lure on my fly lines, leaders, tippets, dry flies and bass bugs, and its performance has been two thumbs-up! Cleaning and coating my fly line with this conditioner reduces line-to-guide friction and repels debris which increases line control (improved casting accuracy, line speed and distance) and better line floatability (easier line mending and pick-up, improved fly presentation).  On leaders and tippets, they float higher and cleaner.  Dressing my dry flies and bass bugs with Line & Lure has proven to be a major plus. They ride higher and longer than other dressings that I have used in the past.  Therefore, I have spent less time drying / re-dressing my fly and more time fishing. Also, using Line & Lure on your sunglasses adds a dust-repellant coating, along with, reduce glare and minimizes water spotting.

Tight Lines,

Andy

Bass Pro Shops 

Free Fly Tying Classes

Tuesdays | 6:30PM

Located at Bass Pro Shops in Portage, IN

 Join your friends here at White River Fly Shop for free coffee and fly tying every Tuesday year-round from 6:00-8:30 PM. Now through March 12, join our experienced and friendly staff for FREE tying classes each Tuesday at 6:30 PM. Each week learn a new fly and expand your tying knowledge! Just bring your vise and materials. New tyers are always welcome!

January 22, 2013

Bead Head Midge

with Andy Satanek

January 29, 2013

Clouser Minnow

with Morris Eddy

February 5, 2013

Baitfish Imitations

with Matt Kobylinski and Stefan Hess

February 12, 2013

Spiders

with Vern Engel

February 19, 2013

Green-Butted Skunk

with Eric Graham

February 26, 2013

Bead Head Nymph

with Andy Satanek

March 5, 2013

Bunny Leech

with Morris Eddy

March 12, 2013

Baitfish Imitations

with Matt Kobylinski and Stefan Hess

Late Season Whitetails

Late season hunting can be quite challenging, but it also offers certain distinct advantages.  One of the main challenges faced by late season hunters is the winter weather conditions.  This is not very comfortable for a lot of hunters.  The extremely cold temperatures and possibility for lots of snow, especially  in the north east, often keep many hunters indoors. If you are able to brave the tempsdeer are usually in herds running together, which makes seeing large numbers of deer more common. With the deer being herded together they are most commonly found wherever the food sources are located.  Most common places to find deer are in the woods eating on acorns that have fallen, as well as left over corn and bean fields that have not yet been picked or forgotten about.  Another key advantage is that during late season hunting pressure is very minimal in most places and deer are typically able to resume their usual patterns.

Extreme cold weather can play a big part in being able to bag a deer or having one walk right passed your stand. With the cold weather it requires the hunter to dress with a lot of layers, so pulling a bow back is a very difficult task to say the least. Having the proper hunting gear is critical at this time of the season and what I found works great for me is the Under Armour line of camo which can be found at www.basspro.com. The camo is very warm, so you will not need to layer yourself with bulky clothes which will let you pull your bow back just like during October months.

Along with bowhuning, this year in Indiana hunters can take full advantage of the late season firearms for antlerless deer from December 26, 2012 to January 6, 2013.Remember that you must still follow the rules and regulations for legal firearms which are Shotguns, handguns, rifles with legal cartridges, muzzleloading long guns and muzzleloading handguns are legal during the firearms and special antlerless seasons. Only muzzleloading firearms are legal during the muzzleloader season. Hunters may carry more than one type of legal firearm when hunting during the firearms and special antlerless seasons only. Shotguns must be 10-, 12-, 16- or 20-gauge or .410 bore loaded with slugs or saboted bullets. Rifled slug barrels are permitted. Combination rifle-shotguns are not allowed.

Muzzleloading firearms must be .44 caliber or larger, loaded with a single bullet of at least .357 caliber. Saboted bullets are allowed, provided the bullet is .357 caliber or larger. A muzzleloading firearm must be capable of being loaded from only the muzzle. Multiple-barrel muzzleloading long guns are allowed. Rifles with cartridges that fire a bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger; have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches; and have a maximum case length of 1.8 inches are legal to use only during the deer firearms and special antlerless seasons. Some cartridges legal for deer hunting include the .357 Magnum, .38- .40 Winchester, .41 Magnum, .41 Special, .44 Magnum, .44 Special, .44-.40 Winchester, .45 Colt, .454 Casull, .458 SOCOM, .475 Linebaugh, .480 Ruger, .50 Action Express, .500 S&W, .460 Smith & Wesson, .450 Bushmaster, and .50 Beowulf. Handguns, other than muzzleloading, must have a barrel at least 4 inches long and must 21fire a bullet of .243-inch diameter or larger. The handgun cartridge case, without the bullet, must be at least 1.16 inches long.

Ice Fishing Weekend!

Join us December 8-9 for our annual ice fishing event and sale! With seminars, pros, and giveaways, there’s something for everyone here at Bass Pro Shops Portage!

Introducing the Snap Rap from Rapala

Friday, December 7, 2012

Seminar Room

7:00 PM

Tips from Clam’s Ice Team

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Seminar Room

1:00 PM and 3:00 PM

Tips from the Rapala Ice Force Team

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Seminar Room

1:00 PM and 3:00 PM

Tips & Techniques with Ted Takasaki

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Seminar Room

2:00 PM

Professional Angler Ted Takasaki will give us an inside look at ice angling from his own techniques. This interactive seminar will include the use of an aquarium to show differences in jigging techniques, lure preferences, and methods to attract the species you target. Ted will head down to the ice fishing department afterwards to help you choose the right equipment for your next hard water adventure!

Lake Michigan Report: Lake Perch

FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS, the $100,000 question has been, “Where’s the perch?”  Erratic weather conditions such as rapid temperature swings and heavy winds resulted in Lake Michigan’s Northwest Indiana waters to become unusually stained, throwing the perch off their normal pattern.

With several consecutive days of warming temperatures, moderate south winds and clearing water clarity, anglers are finally having success with perch fishing.  Two highly productive areas for perching are the “Hole in the Wall” at (East Chicago) and the submerged reef outside the “Donut” at Portage/Port of Indiana.

(Jacob, grandson of fishing department associate Andy, with pair of Jumbo Perch!)

The presentation and hot setup for catching a limit of perch is slowly dead drifting a tandem perch/crappie rig with each hook tipped with a minnow. Perch Flies are working especially well (white, orange and chartreuse have been the hot colors). When you’re on the fish, it is not uncommon to be battling two perch at once with this setup.

       Hold-on, there’s a bonus!  Anglers have been hooking-up on lake trout jigging Bass Pro Shops® Jigging Spoons (both silver and gold are producing) while dead drifting.  These lake trout are primed and when you hook-up, hang-on! they’re definitely going to put a bend in your rod!

Good Luck and Tight Lines!

 Here are some interesting facts about the wonderful pheasant. The average weight of male ring-necked pheasants is 2 to 3 pounds while their female (hen) counterparts average 2 pounds.  Roosters measure 24 to 35 inches long with their tail often accounting for more than 20 inches of that length. Hens are smaller with a much shorter tail. The flight speed is 38-48 mph (but can reach up to 60 mph when chased) some of thier favorite foods are corn, seeds and insects. The preferred habitat is  undisturbed grass areas.  They nest in this type of terrain and the pheasants lay about 12 eggs on average.  Overall only about 40-60% make it. Some of the major predators of the pheasant are the fox, raccoon, skunk, man and hawk.

Pheasant hunting is a great time to spend out in the fields with family and friends. I really enjoy the nice fresh air and the sounds of flushing out the roosters.  Nothing gets my heart racing like jumping a pheasant when I am least expecting it! My dad, brothers, and myself usually take a day and go to our family friends farm who has great fields for pheasants.  He even holds a youth pheasant hunt there, put on by pheasants forever. It is an amazing sight to see young hunters get excited when a rooster flushes out and the young hunter gets to shoot his first bird.

Pheasant hunting is a great time and I encourage you to give it a try this season!

   DOVE SEASON IS APPROACHING FAST AND THE HUNTING TEAM AT BASS PRO WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH ALL.
DOVE SEASON FOR 2012 IS SEPTEMBER 1ST-OCTOBER 23RD AND NOVEMBER 9TH – NOVEMBER 25TH. IF YOU HUNT ON FISH AND WILDLIFE AREAS YOU HAVE TO USE NON TOXIC SHOT FOR DOVE. BASS PRO HAS A LARGE SELECTION OF FIREARMS FOR THE DOVE HUNTER. WE HAVE PUMP ACTION SELECTION INCLUDING MOSSBERG 500 20GA (Mossberg 500), REMINGTON 870 20GA (Remington 870), BENELLI, BROWNING, AND WEATHERBY. MOST MANUFACTURES HAVE SELECTIONS OF DIFFERENT GAUGES THAT WORK WELL FOR DOVE. OUR SEMI AUTO LINE INCLUDES SHOTGUNS FROM MOSSBERG, REMINGTON, BERETTA (Beretta AL391), BENELLI (Benelli Ultra light), BROWNING AND WEATHERBY. SOME HUNTERS PREFER OVER AND UNDER SHOTGUNS AND DOUBLE BARREL WHICH BASS PRO ALSO HAS A WIDE SELECTION IN STOCK.  HUNTERS SHOULD ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT DECOYS WILL AID IN BRINGING DOVES INTO THEIR HUNTING AREA. DOVE SEASON IS A GREAT TIME TO GET YOUNGER HUNTERS OR NEW HUNTERS IN THE FIELD. THE NEW HUNTERS CAN HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH ALL THE BIRDS IN THE AREA.

HAPPY HUNTING AND GOOD LUCK
BASS PRO HUNTING TEAM MEMBER
JODY JACKSON

On The Fly...

with Andy Satanek

Photo Contest | Flyfishing for Carp | Tying Carp Flies

PHOTO CONTEST!!

Bring in a photo of your best catch for your chance to be featured on the Bass Pro Shops Blog and win this set of 46 beautiful hand-tied flies (using White River Fly Shop’s best materials!) from Amflyfishing^® and valued at over $250! Submit a hard copy to the White River Fly Shop in Portage, IN of you holding your trophy fish to qualify for a chance to win!*

*Contest is only valid at the Portage, IN location. Employees of Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Marine or affiliates are not eligible for entry. Winner must pick up prize in-store. Email submissions and mail-ins not accepted. Photo must be submitted by 7 pm on September 30, 2012. Winner will be chosen on 10/1/12.

HEY, FLY ANGLERS it’s definitely time to be out on the water and wetting a fly.  The steelhead have started entering the tributaries of Lake Michigan (Trail Creek, Salt Creek and Little Calumet River), the largemouth bass in the ponds and lakes have settled into their summer patterns and are hammering streamers and surface flies, the Saint Joseph River and Kankakee River anglers are hooking-up on smallmouth bass off submerged rock islands and along fallen timber, and “the bite is on” for both Lake Michigan and Little Calumet River carp.

Cyprinus Carpio a.k.a. Common Carp

Targeting, hooking-up and battling this rough fish is relativity new on the fly fishing scene.  Fishing for carp requires several elements that the majority of fly anglers craves and tests their angling skills: sight fishing, accurate casting, natural presentation, and the battle.  Sight fishing is the most effective way to locate actively feeding fish.  An accurate cast and a soft delivery of the fly into the water is a must not to spook the fish.  Working the fly into their strike zone (inches in front of them) with a natural presentation is essential to coax them into inhaling your fly.  The fight will definitely test your equipment and angling nerves … a carp weighing in double digits will has enough agility and power to take you into backing.

Techniques

 For river carp, I favor a down-and-across stream cast, letting the fly dead swing into and hang in the fish’s strike zone with an occasional twitch to imitate an emerging insect.  For lake carp, working and moving the fly an inch or two along the bottom with a very slow “stop-n-go” retrieve has been very productive.

You don’t need any highly specialized or costly equipment to fly fish for carp! Bass Pro Shops / White River Fly Shop in Portage, Indiana has you covered to do battle with a trophy carp from the Dogwood Canyon Pre-assembled Fly Outfit at $99.99 to flies such as the Carp Hex, Carp Sculpin, Carp Tease, and Wooly Bugger.

Andy on the Vise: Carp Patterns

Beckster’s Carp Marshmallow (size 6 shown)

Hook – Curved shank, 3X long (White Water #WR-002)

Sizes – 6 to 10

Thread – Olive

Eyes – Yellow lead eyes

Tail – Olive marabou with 2 strands of gold Krystal Flash

Rib – Fine gold wire (countered-wrap)

Body – Olive marabou barbs

Hackle – Brown Indian hen

Head – Olive dubbing

Beckster’s Soft Hackle Carp Fly (size 12 shown)

Hook – Curved shank, 3X long (White Water #WR-002)

Sizes – 12 and 14

Thread – Olive

Eyes – Black bead chain

Tail – Brown Indian hen barbs

Rib – Small gold oval tinsel

Body – Light olive Antron dubbing

Hackle – Brown Indian hen

Head – Light olive Antron dubbing

Carp Craw (size 8 shown)

Hook – Curved shank, 3X long (White Water #WR-002)

Sizes – 6 to 10

Thread – Olive

Eyes – Black lead eyes

Tail – 2 strands of gold Krystal Flash with 4 strands barred pumpkin-green and orange Sili Legs

Body – Black barred olive rabbit strip (palmered)

Head – Olive rabbit dubbing

Andy Satanek, local fishing expert and owner of amflyfishing, is a proud member of our BPS fishing & fly fishing department. Andy gives free casting lessons at Bass Pro Shops upon request, and free tying lessons on Tuesdays from 6-8:30pm. To call and set up a free lesson, call Bass Pro Shops at (219) 787-6800.

On The Fly...

with Andy Satanek

How to Cast More Accurately | Wet Flies 101 | Wet Fly Recipes

Fishing a wet fly, as the name would imply, involves a sub-surface presentation.  The wet fly represents a swimming or emerging aquatic insect and can be presented throughout the water column from just below the surface film all the way to the bottom of the stream.

An effective wet fly presentation is using floating fly line and casting the fly down-and-across the current.  As the fly line starts to drift downstream incorporate an upstream mend.  The mend will straighten the alignment of the “fly line + leader + fly” (placing the fly line upstream of the slower drifting fly). This provides a drift free presentation of the fly, a better opportunity to detect the strike, and greatly increases the odds of hooking a striking fish.  Allow the fly to drift in the current until it swings straight downstream from you and let the fly hang there momentarily, then slowly rise your rod tip and incorporate 2 or 3 twitches to simulate an emerging fly – this slight movement will usually entice a reluctant fish to strike.

A simple and effective variation of this technique is to impart small twitches (using a three count pause) though the entire drift of the fly – Twitch, Pause, Pause, Pause, Twitch.

My favorite wet flies are the Payette Special, Royal Coachman and Beadhead Partridge-Hare’s Ear – in size 12 and 14.  I’m usually using a 9 to 10 foot leader with a 4X fluorocarbon tippet.  When I need to get the fly deeper, I will attach a split shot about 8 inches above the fly.

Materials for wet fly patterns are available from Bass Pro Shops / White River Fly Shop – Portage, Indiana. We will be glad to show you which materials you need and how to use them! Fly tying sessions are held at every Tuesday evening from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (CST) and all skill levels are invited to join in!

___________________________________________________________________________________

Payette Special

Hook – Standard nymph (1X long, 2X heavy)

Sizes – 8 to 14

Thread – Black, 8/0

Tag – Copper wire, small

Rib – Copper wire, small

Body – Peacock herls

Hackle – Black, tied wet-style collar

Wing – Pheasant tail fibers

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Royal Coachman

Hook – Standard wet fly

Thread – Black, 8/0

Tail – Golden pheasant tippet fibers

Body – Peacock herl, red floss, peacock herl

Hackle – Brown hen, tied wet-style collar

Wing – White mallard

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Beadhead Partridge- Hare’s Ear

Hook – Curved shank (3X long)

Sizes – 8 to 16

Beadhead – Gold

Thread – Tan, 8/0

Tail – Natural Hungarian partridge fibers

Rib – Gold oval tinsel, fine

Body – Hare’s ear dubbing

Hackle – Natural Hungarian partridge, tied wet-style collar (two wraps)

Collar – Hare’s ear dubbing

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How to cast more Accurately

Let’s talk a little about casting accuracy.  We all go through a spell where our fly is landing off the target (to the right or the left) – when this happens, look at two elements of the cast:

• Your thumb location on the rod handle.

•  The path of your rod tip during the casting stroke.  

Focusing on those two elements will get you back on target.

1

The thumb is on top of the rod handle and pointed at the target through-out the entire casting stroke.  The path of the rod tip moving backward and forward through the cast stroke will determine the accuracy.  Focus on the rod tip taking a straight path on the back cast and then the forward towards the target (this applies for any plane – whether an overhead or a sidearm cast).  Also, a positive mind set and confidence play a major role – this is achieved through practicing accuracy before you hit the water.

Place a bucket on the lawn and practice casting at different distances and planes (overhead cast and sidearm cast) trying to place the practice fly in the bucket. 

Focus on the 4 key components of the cast:

·       The pause at the end of the stroke allows the line to straighten-out (the length of the pause is determined by the amount of line being worked).

·       The rod tip on the stroke follows a straight-line path (crucial for accuracy).

·        The applied power peaks at the end of the stroke – allowing the fly rod to properly load.

·        The crisp stop at the end of the stroke – allowing the fly rod to unload and deliver the line.

When you are on the water, once you have identify your target and started your cast – don’t take your eyes off the target.

There’s a saying, “aim small, miss small.” If you are focused on hitting your target, you may miss. But if you focus on hitting your bullseye, you will at least hit your target.

Good angling and tight lines!

 Andy

Bass Pro Shops online | White River Fly Shop online

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Andy Satanek, local fishing expert and owner of amflyfishing, is a proud member of our BPS fishing & fly fishing department. Andy gives free casting lessons at Bass Pro Shops upon request, and free tying lessons on Tuesdays from 6-8:30pm. To call and set up a free lesson, call Bass Pro Shops at (219) 787-6800.

…Tough Fishing?

Time to Get Wacky.

5 ways this little rig can give you BIG results.

By Alex Ferguson, Bass Pro Shops  

It’s no news that summertime brings increased fishing pressure, heavy boat traffic, and cold fronts that can make the bite tough. Many anglers struggle with finding a pattern that works in these conditions. The first thing that may come to mind is to downsize your offering and slow things up. As true as this may be, sometimes it takes a little more to get the results you’re looking for.

In the summer months, while weekend warriors buzz around the lake on jet skis and speed boats and it seems like someone is fishing in every direction you can possibly look, there’s still hope…if you’re patient. Some of the most productive fishing can come from slowing your presentation down to a screeching halt.

And this is how it’s done.

The picture up top is a Jackall® Flick Shake Worm on a 3/32 oz Jackall® Tungsten Wacky Head. The picture to the right is a 5 3/8” BPS stick-o-worm in the color Texas Smoke rigged on a #1 Owner Wacky Hook.

Wacky rigging involves hooking a worm through the center, rather than the end. The rig is almost too easy. It’s a dead stick presentation, meaning all you do is let the worm fall to the bottom. The result is a side-to-side sweeping, darting action on a stick bait-style worm, or a quivering action on a Flick Shake worm. If he doesn’t hit it in the first 15-20 seconds, odds are it’s not going to happen on that cast. Reel it up and cast about 10-20 feet away from your previous cast. Since wacky rigging almost entirely dependent on sight, it works best in clear to slightly stained water.

***

Let it fall. This do-nothing technique creates a natural appeal for easily spooked bass and can yield big results. We can’t stress this enough, s-l-o-w  d-o-w-n.

Go light. 6 to 8-pound test fluorocarbon is almost undeniable. Fluorocarbon is invisible, sinks, and has low stretch and increased sensitivity, which makes for the perfect line in this case. Match it up with a Johnny Morris Signature Series 20 spinning reel and a 6’8” medium power extra fast action Carbonlite and you have the ideal setup for ultimate sensitivity, maximum feel, and unbelievable performance at an incredible value.

Target grassy flats. Especially in 5-10 feet of clear water. Bass will roam these flats early which will likely hook you up with great results. If you can find deeper weeds (9-12 ft), try the 1/8 oz wacky jighead after the first few hours of daylight have passed.

Easy, Killer. Light hook sets are critical when setting the hook. The classic Bill Dance jerk-back-in-your-seat hookset is likely going to bend your hook out and lose the fish. No, it’s not that the hooks are bad, but they have to be light because of the clear water and slow presentation. Remember, 8-pound test is all you’re using.

Nail it. Adding an insert weight to the end(s) of the worm will offset the action, making it dart or spiral on its way down. The unique action can be great way to differentiate your presentation if you are fishing with a partner who is using the same rig.

***

Anyone can go out and fish on a tough day. But what separates good fisherman from the rest is their ability to locate and catch fish when the bite is tough. For you, whether that means downsizing, slowing up, or locating specific structure, the rod is in your hands. Now get out there and fish!

Find Scum Lines to Score Big Summer Bass!

By Alex Ferguson & Andy Satanek| Bass Pro Shops

Scum lines are often overlooked by anglers targeting big bass.  Bass utilizing this cover are usually in a feeding mood, and scum lines provide them with an ambush point to attack prey.  Scum lines holding bass can extend out from the shoreline a couple of feet to several yards.  The prime holding locations within a scum line will offer bass direct access to deep water.

Two very productive lures for fishing scum lines are Bass Pro Shops’ Kermy Frog (left) and Southern Lure Company’s ScumFrog (below).  The weedless design of these lures will allow weed clutter to slide over and through without fouling up on the hooks.  The soft flexible plastic body provides a natural feel to the bass on the strike and gives way for a positive hook set.

When fishing these lures through the scum line use a slow dragging retrieve.  This gives the bass plenty of opportunity to track down the lure.  Fish the outside edges of scum lines with immediate access to open water, increasing the pace with short strokes (stop-and-go). Make the lure dart and swim in an erratic motion.

Topwater fishing in the scum can be intense. The strike is quick, aggressive and explosive, and can occur at any moment. Be ready!!

Use 50-65 lb Excel braid and a stout rod to get the fish up and out of the heavy vegetation and avoid the risk losing the fish. A great rod is the Bass Pro Shops 7 foot heavy action Carbonlite Micro Guide rod. It weighs next to nothing yet its strong enough to easily get the job done right.

Check This Out!

Fishing & Fly Fishing associate Andy Satanek’s granddaughter Becca, 8, showcases her Northwest Indiana scum line largemouth, caught on a Natural Green Bass Pro Shops Kermy Frog!

Well July the first is just around the corner and that is a great time of the year for hunters!  What is open during this hot time of the year let me tell you the answer is CROW!   We all dislike  them!  They are loud, annoying and just plain nuisance birds.  The great thing about hunting them is you need a gun, a few decoys, a call, a license and the ability to stand still.  My first tip is to find them.  This is very easy, as long as you have ears you can find crows!  Find yourself a crow call.  I have found crows in just about any open field that has trees.  They like to rest in the tree tops and act as look outs for their buddies that are most likely on the ground eating fresh kills, corn or soybean.   Once you have located them the toughest part is done.  Do not worry about them leaving because they will not.  Crows fly several miles in a days time to locate food, which means if the food is present so are the crows!  The correct shotgun for crow is anything that you would use for waterfowl hunting.  Crows can fly pretty high, so I would suggest at least a 28" barrel.  I like to use my Remington 1187.   You are going to be doing some really fast shooting so a good reliable semi auto will defiantly get the job done!  Bass Pro Shops has a great selection of shells that will get the job done.  I suggest a heavy 6 shot.  Some will say that it has too much punch to it, I say NO!  I have seen a crow get hit hard 3 times with a 7 1/2 shot and keep flying.  Winchester and Remington both make a great shell you will not go wrong with either of them.   Next  comes the decoys.  I use a hard plastic decoy with glass eyes.  Crows have great sight and the slightest mess up on your part will end your hunt before you get a single shot off.  I love to hunt crows during the late season in the snow and the hard plastic decoys seem to repel the snow better and look more natural.   Now you are ready to hunt!

I use a very simple strategy when hunting these predators.  The first step is to set your decoy spread.  This is very important.  The circle formation seems to do very well for me.  I put about twenty crow decoys in a circle with either a owl decoy or some type of fresh kill in the middle.  Everyone knows that the owl and the crow are enemies so this is a very sound strategy.  The fresh kill can be made by just about anything.  I like to use a magnetic rabbit better known as a Quiver Critter.  This is a rabbit decoy that erratically shakes and looks like an injured rabbit.    Now find a good spot about twenty yards off of your decoy spread and put your chair or bucket down.  This will be your shooting spot.  Call, Call, Call.  Two long bursts followed three of four short bursts works great.  You can find a great deal of instructional tapes to let you know how to call, my advise is to practice!  I suggest going to the library and reading some books for great calling tips.  Remember to be very still when you hear your first crow.   The next thing you know they will be all over you.  Most states have no limits on crows, so drop as many as you can and have FUN!

Remember shoot straight unless you are hunting close to me!!

Todd J

Bass Pro Shops Portage, IN

Hunting Manager

Well the hot weather is here so you don't have to worry about deer for several months, WRONG!  Now is the time to get ready for the best year of hunting that you have ever had.  Every year on the last day of the season, I take my bow hangers, pull up rope, padded seats and scent containers and get them put away  for the next season.  About the first week of June, I get ready to hit the trails and get to work.  First thing I always do is to help the deer take the correct trail to my stand and my food plots.  Remember that you can persuade the deer to go right  where you want them to by clearing some brush and forcing them to take a certain path.  I always like to take a few rides on my four wheeler dragging something that will not take NO for an answer.  If you don't have a four wheel ATV visit our store or our website to find the correct one. We also have many ATV accessories that can be dragged behind your new ATV to really widen that trail.  Remember that a deer is like a human in the way that they will travel.  The easiest route is the one that they are going to take unless it happens to be during the RUT.   Once they do this fifty or sixty times it will be like waking up in the morning they will just do it.

Once you help Mr. Deer find your stand you want to, start trimming away all the branches that made you miss that big one last year.  The best way to do this is to have a friend come with you, so you might have to spring for lunch and beers, but it will be well worth it when your grilling back straps come September.  You want to be the one in the stand because every ones point of sight is slightly different.  Have your buddy go to where you are pointing and trim what you tell him to trim.  Now remember you may be sitting or you may be kneeling  be prepared for any type of shot.  Don't go beyond about 40 yards, this should be plenty.  This will be your initial trimming session, you will have to come back about a month before the season starts to do a little bit more trimming.  I always try to get all of the last minute stuff done about a month early and then STAY OUT OF THE AREA!  This will pay off believe me!

 When the season is finally here always remember that you do not want to spook the early season deer, so do not use a bunch of strange smells that may get Mr. Deer thinking something is wrong.  Later on when we are closer to the RUT we can worry about these scents.  Some friends of mine wonder why they cannot get an early season doe within sixty yards of their stand, when I ask them what scents they were using they tell me nothing much just some doe urine, a few squirts of buck urine, fox urine and a hint of acorn.  WOW do you think that deer was a tiny bit confused?  In the early season I use some cover scent such as fox urine or skunk scent to hide my smell and that is it!  

This is a few easy steps to help you get the jump on your season.  Let me know what works for you and what does not.  I will see you in the field!  And remember shoot straight, unless you are hunting close to me! 

    Todd J Hunting MGR Portage Bass Pro Shops

Indiana DNR Changes Size Limit on Bass Effective May 25, 2012

By Alex Ferguson, Bass Pro Shops Portage, IN

After years of discussion on changing size limits in Indiana, the DNR has released a rule change to protect bass populations and improve the quality of our bass fishing. Up to five (5) Black Bass (smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass) in rivers and streams can be harvested if they are under 12 inches or over 15 inches, with a maximum of two (2) bass over 15 inches. The change was in response to the growing concerns regarding the increasing harvest of smallmouth bass, and its effect on population, reproduction, and fish quality. The rule change was supported by many groups, including the Natural Resources Advisory Council, Indiana Sportsman’s Round Table, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, and numerous anglers statewide.  The rule only applies to rivers and streams, with a few exceptions (listed below).

The following message was released by the Indiana DNR:

New black bass rules take effect this week

Rule changes adopted earlier this year to provide increased protection for black bass in certain rivers and streams will become effective on Friday (May 25, 2012).

With a few exceptions, a person catching black bass (smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass) from a river or stream may keep only those fish that are under 12 inches or over 15 inches long. The daily bag limit for black bass is five fish singly or in aggregate, which means the catch limit may include any combination of the three bass species. No more than two can be over 15 inches.

The exceptions are:

–Rivers and streams in counties bordering the Ohio River still have a 12-inch minimum size limit, with an aggregate bag limit of five black bass. Those counties are Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Ohio, Perry, Posey, Spencer, Switzerland, Vanderburgh and Warrick.

–The Blue River in Crawford, Harrison and Washington counties still has a 12- to 15-inch slot limit and an aggregate bag limit of five black bass, with no more than two being more than 15 inches.

–The minimum size limit on the Ohio River main stem (not bays and tributaries) remains at 12 inches for black bass, with a daily bag limit of six.

The changes are in response to public concerns regarding harvest pressure on smallmouth bass that were expressed during the Indiana Natural Resources Commission’s comprehensive rule enhancement project.

The NRC Advisory Council, Indiana Sportsmen’s Roundtable, fishing groups and individual anglers supported a rule change to further restrict the taking of black bass, especially smallmouth, to potentially provide a larger number of bass for anglers in the future. The protection for black bass that are 12- to 15-inches long is intended to limit harvest of these fish when they have the highest reproductive potential.

The new rule does not affect existing regulations on lakes or reservoirs (including Lake Michigan), where black bass must be at least 14 inches long to be kept. Black bass size and bag limits at specific locations such as state fish & wildlife areas, state forests, national forests and other sites outlined in Indiana Administrative Code 312 9-7-6 also remain unchanged.

On The Fly! 

with Andy Satanek

Fishing Conditions

Weather Conditions:  Low 60’s, sunny, 8 MPH northeast winds

Water Conditions:  65 degrees at the shoreline, clear, water level is down approximately 2 feet

Fishing Report

This morning, I grabbed the 4 weight fly rod and headed-out to local pond for largemouth bass and bluegill action … Wow, what a morning of fishing action!  I lost count on the number of bass, but the top 5 ranged from 18 to 21-1/2 inches in length (two 18”, 19.5”, 20” and 21.5”), while the bluegills ranged from 7” to 8-3/4” in length.  The majority of the bass were caught in 3 to 4 feet of water off points that dropped off into deeper water.  The flies used were the Black Wooly Bugger (size 10) and Yellow Foam (size 10) but the hot fly pattern was definitely the Black-Nose Dace Streamer (size 10) with fast strip, strip, strip and 2 second pause retrieve Bass would follow and then hammer the streamer on the pause.

Equipment

The bass were in a cautious mood. This is where the 4 weight fly outfit shined, allowing the line and fly to land softly and quietly on the water not to alert or spook the fish.  The rod had enough backbone and sensitive tip section to land a 21-1/2 inch largemouth bass while not breaking the 4X fluorocarbon tippet (6 pound test).  The 4 weight outfit consist of:

·         TFO Lefty Kreh Signature Series rod (4 wt, 8 foot, 2 piece)

·         White River Classic large arbor reel (3/4 wt)

·         Cortland Mirco 20 pound fly line backing

·         Scientific Angler Lefty Kreh Signature Series fly line (#4, floating weight-forward)

·         4X fluorocarbon tippet (6 pound test)

All of the above is available from Bass Pro Shops in Portage, Indiana.

Recipe

Black-Nose Dace (size 10 shown)

The black nose dace is a species of freshwater fish commonly found in lakes and streams throughout the Midwest and into southern and eastern Canada. It is a food source for a variety of gamefish, including perch, crappie, bass, and trout. Although color and pattern may vary based on natural conditions, its simple design does not in any way hinder its effectiveness.

Hook – Streamer, 3X long, 2X heavy

Sizes – 8 to 12

Thread – Black, 8/0

Body – Silver tinsel

Belly Wing – White bucktail

Wing – Olive bucktail over black bucktail

Head – Tying thread

The weather forecast for the next couple of days is looking favorable!  Go wet the line and have some fishing fun. 

Tight lines,

Andy

Edited by Alex Ferguson © 2012 Bass Pro Shops

Hello fellow hunters from Bass Pro Shops!  It is spring time again and time to get those food plots ready.  Some hunters under estimate how well a small food plot will improve your deer season success.  Food plots can range from a quick small area of Harvest Throw and Grow to a larger area of  clover.  Harvest Throw and Grow is a very easy way to get a really good result.  I have used this product in very small hard to reach areas and larger areas with similar results.  I shot a 10 point buck that dressed out at 205 lbs in a 3 foot by four foot area that was almost directly under my stand.  How is that for results?  Like the name says -- just throw and go! Attracts and holds deer wherever you want to hunt. Plant without disking so you can plant in areas that aren't accessible to heavy tilling and cultivating equipment.  For a little bit bigger of an area I prefer Mossy Oak Biologic Clover Plus.  Bigger deer. Bigger racks. Bigger trophies. They're all possible, thanks to Biologic New Zealand Seed Blends™. These products were scientifically developed in New Zealand specifically for whitetail deer. These feeds are scientifically proven to grow trophy deer better than any other commercial or natural feed available. Better tasting than natural food, deer actually seek out plots where it's planted. And with 38% crude protein, it's almost twice as nutritious as clover. Biologic Seed Blends were developed with 2 things in mind, antler growth and a healthy, heavier animal.http://www.basspro.com/Mossy-Oak-Biologic-Clover-Plus-Wild-Game-Seed/product/30995/67697#description

Either one of these products are quick easy to use and will produce great results.  With the extended deer season that is coming this year, why not make it the best season you have had in years?  Be carefully not to confuse the deer and give them too many choices.  Rule of thumb is if you already have them going past your stand to get to the bean or cornfield you probably do not need to put a food plot in.  But if you are set up on a bedding area or a pass through route, it would not hurt.  Please feel free to stop by the hunting department at your Portage, IN Bass Pro Shops http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&appID=94&storeID=54

Visit us any time for any questions that you may have and remember shoot straight, unless you are hunting close to me!

Todd J

Hunting Manager

On the Fly Tidbits: Crappies and Streamers

Andy Satanek- White River Fly Shop, Portage, IN

Records: “Holy Crap-pie!”

Black Crappie, IGFA World Record All Tackle – 5 pounds
April 21, 2006 / Private Lake – Missouri, USA
White Crappie, IGFA World Record All Tackle – 5 pounds, 3 ounces
July 31, 1957 / Enid Dam – Mississippi, USA
Indiana’s Crappie Record – 4 pounds, 11 ounces
1994 / Private Lake – Jennings County

Overview

The black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) prefers clear water with an abundance of submerged aquatic with a sandy or muck bottom.  The white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) is more adaptable to stained water and silt bottom.

Crappies are sight feeders … their eyes are large and set high on their head.  They also hear well and are easy spooked (a quiet and careful approach is essential).  Their food base consists of plankton, insects, crustaceans and minnows.

In the spring, crappies will start to spawn when water temperatures are between 60 to 65 degrees.  The male crappies heads into shallow water areas with dense weeds and fan the nest.  The female crappies will arrive to deposit the eggs.  An adult female crappie may spawn several times during a season and deposit up to 300,000 eggs.  Spawning female crappies are very reluctant to eat or strike a fly.

During the pre-spawn and post-spawn, crappies will position on the first break out from nesting area and are very aggressive and vulnerable.  Crappies tend to gather and move in loose groups.  As the water warms, they start to migrate to deeper water.  While a group of crappies can be located on the bottom the lake – their tendency is to suspend over or next to structure.

In the late fall, crappies will return to shallow water to gorge themselves for the coming winter months.

Streamer Patterns
I have caught crappies on dry flies, wet flies, and nymphs … but the most productive fly pattern has been the streamer.  Crappies love to eat minnows (about as much as I love eating banana cake topped with white frosting and vanilla ice cream!).  A streamer provides the appearance of a minnow and the retrieve needs to mimic that of a minnow moving through the water.

The Clouser Minnow is my first choice. The weight helps keep the fly down and in the strike zone. (Bob Clouser, the inventor of this world-famous fly, works in our White River Fly Shop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania!) The Bucktail Streamer and Zonker Streamer are also excellent patterns.  The length of your streamers should range from 1 to 2 inches (sizes 10 to 6).  If you are getting strikes and not hooking-up … do not hesitate, switch to a smaller length streamer.

My favorite color combinations for the Clouser Minnow and Bucktail Streamer are chartreuse/white, yellow/white, olive/white, black/orange and the Mickey Finn. The white/chartreuse Zonker Streamers are solid producers in my opinion, but the other colors work well based on water clarity and conditions.

Equipment and Setup
A hooked crappie is not known for blazing speed and powerful runs – but turning their flat body to create resistant making them difficult to move and creating an opportunity for the hook to tear free from their paper-thin mouth.  Therefore, you don’t need specialized equipment.  My preference is a 5 weight fly rod (9 foot, 9.5 tip flex), disc-drag reel and floating weight forward fly line.

For shallow water situations a 4X fluorocarbon taper leader and tippet will get the streamer down to attract their attention and draw strikes.  When crappies are suspended 5 to 8 feet deep, I’ll add a sink-tip leader (6 foot length of sinking line with loop to loop connection; Class II – 1-1/2 to 2 inches per second or a Class III – 3 to 4 inches per second) to the fly line and use a 3 foot length fluorocarbon tippet tied to the fly.  These two setups allow me to stay in contact with the streamer and detect light strikes.

Approaching Target Areas and Retrieves
I like to use the wind to slowly drift my canoe into to targeted areas.  This gives me a quiet approach to avoid spooking the fish and allows me to cast with the wind.

The key is slowly moving the streamer through the water while maintaining just enough contact to feel a strike (strikes are light and usually just a tap-tap-tap).  The hand-twist retrieve and a short strip-pause retrieve have worked well.  The hand-twist retrieve will keep the streamer continuously and slowly moving through the water.  The strip-pause retrieve consist of 4 to 6 inch strip then employing a 2 to 3 second pause, this gives the streamer an erratic action.  Count down your presentation, this allows you to know exactly the depth you are fishing and return to that depth when you catch a fish. If you would like to learn these presentations, you can stop by on Saturdays between 12-4 pm for a free fly casting lesson, or call the White River Fly Shop to schedule a free casting lesson with me!

Recipes

All the below listed recipe materials are available from your Bass Pro Shops / White River Fly Shop – Portage, Indiana.

Clouser Minnow, Yellow / White (size 6 shown)

Hook – Mustad 3366
Sizes – 6 to 10

Thread – White, 8/0

Eyes / Weight – Black bead-chain eyes, medium

Body – White tying thread and white bucktail

Wing – Yellow bucktail over gold Krystal Flash

Head – White tying thread

Bucktail Streamer, Olive / White (size 8 shown)

Hook – Streamer, 3X long

Sizes – 6 to 10

Thread – Black, 8/0

Tail – Silver Krystal Flash

Body – Silver Holo Tinsel, medium

Belly Wing – White bucktail

Wing – Olive bucktail topped with peacock herls

Head – Black tying thread

Bucktail Streamer, Mickey Finn (size 8 shown)

Hook – Streamer, 3X long

Sizes – 6 to 10

Thread – Black, 8/0

Tail – Yellow bucktail

Body – Silver Holographic Tinsel

Lower Wing – Red bucktail

Upper Wing – Yellow bucktail

Head – Black tying thread

Good luck on all your fly fishing adventures, and come see us in the White River Fly Shop for all your fly fishing needs!

Tight lines,

Andy Satanek