The Great Outsmores

We had a day that all fishermen live for on Sunday!  We hit a small local pond (about 10-12 acres) Sunday afternoon, and scored about 40 to 50 fish in four hours.  Mostly in the 1 to 2 pound range, but as you’ll see below, there were a few good bass too.

Conditions were mixed…  We checked the solunar tables the night before, which told us we were hitting the biggest feed pre-spawn that we could hope for.  So me & Wilson showed up at about 11:30 to find big wind gusts and mostly clear skies, which we thought might dampen our afternoon.   Not to worry though….  We tied the canoe up near the spillway, and I was off and rolling with three fish before Will hooked up with his first.  It would be a pattern leading to a top five fishing day for yours truly!

What worked:

I started off with red and black zoom worms, carolina rigged, with a 3/4 oz. bullet on the front end.  Through out the day bass of standard size ripped swim baits in the green and blue shades, as well shallow and medium depth crank baits (2-5 ft.).  All the sizeable fish were caught on the green (bass colored) swim baits - maybe getting territorial before the spring spawn???

What didn’t work:

Spinners and top water.  I was hoping that the aggressive nature that the fish displayed, and the chop that the wind produced would compensate for the sunny midday aversion to top water baits, but no dice.  We tried a couple chartruce colored inline and outline spinning baits, but no luck there either.

The Proof: 

All in all it was a very good day.   PS- we had a man overboard:

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This is a repost that I had to share.  So, credit goes to Bassinkorea over at the Ultimate Bass forums . If you haven’t checked them out, I highly recomomend it!

 I used to have a lot of problems respooling my reels. I used to put the new spools on the ground and wind onto the reel. Not really a problem until I went fishing……….LINE TWISTS 

Using an old (cheap) rod, I cut it up leaving only the reel seat. With me working in a large shipyard, I have almost unlimited access to almost anything I need. I attached some threaded bar to the end.

You can see I used tapered washers that hold the spool central and tight.

Here’s my Revo getting loaded up with power pro.

I have this in my office as I usually have time at lunchtimes to sort out my fishing gear, but it is 100% mobile so can be taken on the boat for emergancy use.

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With the arrival of another bluebird nesting season, Georgians can help these brilliantly plumaged birds find the perfect home, according to the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. Bluebirds, a beloved symbol of happiness, have charmed generations with their cheerful song, their beauty and even their fondness for nesting boxes.

The birds once depended on naturally occurring cavities and abandoned woodpecker homes in snags for nesting. But because of a shortage in these cavities, a lack that has affected other cavity nesters as well, bluebirds have largely become dependent on humans for nesting sites.

“This is an excellent time to start putting up bluebird boxes because eastern bluebirds are already looking for nesting sites in Georgia,” said Jim Ozier, a program manager with Wildlife Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section.

The Wildlife Resources Division Web site (www.georgiawildlife.com) has information on building and erecting bluebird boxes, complete with diagram instructions for the traditional round-hole box and the slot box (including the Gilwood nest box).

“Research has shown that the slot box design is very well accepted by bluebirds,” Ozier said. “We have also found that they work well at sites where people are having problems with house sparrows, an introduced species that may compete with other cavity-nesting birds.”

The design of the slot box allows for more sunlight to enter, making this type of box less suited for house sparrows.

Place bluebird boxes in open habitats with sparse trees and low vegetation, such as old fields, pastures and orchards. Many bluebird nest box efforts fail because boxes are put in shrubby and forested sites. When possible, mount the boxes on metal poles or sunlight-resistant PVC pipes equipped with predator guards.

“If you feel you may not have enough open space in your yard, go ahead and put up a box anyway because you may encourage other cavity nesters such as the Carolina chickadee or tufted titmouse to take up residence in your newly erected home,” Ozier said.

Georgians can support conservation projects for migrating hummingbirds and other nongame wildlife through buying a wildlife license plate featuring a bald eagle or a ruby-throated hummingbird. They can also donate to the “Give Wildlife a Chance” state income tax checkoff. Sales of the wildlife plates are the main source of funding for the Nongame Conservation Section.

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Hang up your feeders and they will come! Ruby-throated hummingbirds and other avian acrobats are returning to Georgia from their wintering grounds to the south. Ruby-throated “hummers” may travel more than 600 miles from Mexico to Georgia.

“If you haven’t already seen a ruby-throated hummingbird in your backyard, you should soon,” said Jim Ozier, a Nongame Conservation Section program manager with the state’s Wildlife Resources Division.

Following the long, grueling migration, this diminutive bird must seek out about half its weight in food every day. Typical body weight of a ruby-throated hummingbird is 3 to 3.4 grams. To maintain their high metabolism, hummingbirds must feed frequently on high-energy food sources such as rich but easily digested nectar, or tree sap that collects in yellow-bellied sapsucker foraging holes. Hummingbirds also need protein, which they obtain by eating tiny spiders and small soft-bodied insects found on flowers or in sapsucker holes in trees.

Hummingbird enthusiasts can provide rich food sources for these travel-weary visitors by planting coral honeysuckle, columbine, bee balm and other native plants, as well as by putting up hummingbird feeders. Periodically clean feeders, making sure that all molds and bacteria are removed. But do not use harsh cleaning agents. Feeders can be easily cleaned in dishwasher or with mild soap and warm water.

Refill hummingbird feeders every few days with a simple mix of one part sugar to four parts water. For best results, bring the water to a boil before adding the sugar and then continue to boil three to four minutes, allowing the mixture to cool before filling your feeder. Refrigerate unused portions.

Homeowners who seem to enjoy the greatest success in attracting hummingbirds combine the use of feeders with planting flowers that produce an abundance of nectar. When planting flowers for hummingbirds, incorporate flowers that bloom from early spring through fall. Flower gardens will also attract a variety of other enjoyable nectar-feeders such as butterflies.

Occasionally, “lost” migrant hummingbirds not considered native to this region are seen at feeders. To report unusual hummingbirds seen in your backyard, please contact Wildlife Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section at (478) 994-1438. Information sheets on Georgia’s hummingbirds can be found at www.georgiawildlife.com.

Georgians can support conservation projects for hummingbirds and other nongame wildlife by buying a wildlife license plate featuring a ruby-throated hummingbird or a bald eagle and U.S. flag for their vehicle, or by donating to the “Give Wildlife a Chance” state income tax checkoff. The checkoff and nongame license plate sales are primary funding sources for the Nongame Conservation Section, which receives no state appropriations.

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I know what your thinking, paddle boats are for girls.  With Hobie Cat Mirage Adventure Island you can propel yourself via paddle, pedal, or sail. And it looks pretty stable too.  Technically, they’re not paddles -they’re a “Mirage Drive” which is like two fins that somehow propel you through the use of two fins hooked up to bicycle pedals.  Here’s some features from Hobie’s website:

• A boomless, roller-furling sail rig similar to the rig on the Hobie Bravo with plenty of sail area for excellent performance, completely manageable from the cockpit with the pull of a line.
• Two retractable amas that fold up against the side of the boat, again with the simple pull of a line, for easy docking, maneuverability, and transport.
• The cockpit is the stable platform of the Hobie Mirage Adventure Kayak, offering full versatility as a pedaling kayak when conditions are not convenient for sailing. All 2007 model year Adventure Kayaks, including the Fish model, will have inserts molded into the hulls so that they may be upgraded to an Adventure Island with a kit available through the Parts Department. The ama colors will be limited, and the Adventure Island will cost more when purchased via an upgrade kit rather than purchased initially as a complete boat package.
• The Hobie Mirage Drive allows the boat to be pedaled while under sail, or simply pedaled with the sail furled for versatility not found in any other sailboat.
• The Adventure Island is loaded with additional standard features such as a daggerboard; oversized “Twist and Stow” rudder; Mast and Sail Cover; and an Ama/Daggerboard Bag.

If it just had a built in cooler……..

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My favorite paddling shop,  Go With The Flow, is putting on Canoe and Kayak demo event on the Chattahoochee in Roswell this Saturday and Sunday (April 5th & 6th).  This is your chance Atlanta to try out over 100 canoes and kayaks on the water!

Here’s the skinny:

• 100+ boats to demo
• Held at the Azlea Park on the ‘Hooch in Roswell
• April 5th and 6th, 10 am to 4 pm
• $10 for adults, children under 12 are free (proceeds go to UCR)
• Discounts on boats from 10-16%

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