Extra Extra, read all about it!

Good Morning!
I have not posted in a while, lots going on and blogging takes a back seat, not that anyone's life is effected by my lack of ramblings, I just like to think so. Anyways, for those of you in blogger land who do check in from time to time, here is a little nugget of something I was able to work on and get done.

Our local Chapters Trout Unlimited Newsletter...Enjoy!

http://www.tullytu.org/newsletter/

Jose Wejebe-Spanish Fly Memorial Triburte

I always enjoyed his program. I'm not a huge fan of most of the hunting/fishing shows on TV, in fact, most of them irritate me. I think what made Jose a little different was the wisdom and experience he gained before becoming a TV personality. He seemed to exude more insight and a demeanor more akin to the culture of saltwater fishing.

If you have a minute, check it out.

Jose Wejebe-Spanish Fly Memorial Triburte

A good resource!

Hey all!

Just wanted to throw a quick hit out here today. As the weather gets nicer and we "wake up" to more opportunities to do more of our outdoor activities, we may find ourselves needing tweeks and upgrades to all our favorite "toys."

Just wanted to make you aware of my local sporting goods shop, Woody's. I've gone there for all of my bowhunting needs. Keep this one in your favorites, if you have the opportunity I'm sure you'll find they have what you're looking for and are great to deal with.

http://www.woodyssportinggoods.com/

And do yourself a favor and "Like" them on facebook for specials, deals, and good tips too!
In fact I'm going there tomorrow for the last night of our 14 week winter archery league. We shoot on an indoor video screen, if you haven't done that yet I highly recommend it, it's a blast!

4 to 1

Four hours...one fish. What a ratio!

oh well, I'll use the old cliché saying...I don't care how many I catch, it’s just being out there that counts...

If that were the case I'd go "out there" without my fishing rod....at any rate, it sounds nice.

Here is a pic of the one that didn't get away, complete with another cliché, the old "fly rod in the teethe pose!!!"

The true Joy of the day was my buddy Eric using a fly rod to fish for the first time, welcome to the brotherhood man!!!

Monday Poem-

I sit and stare

                As I get gray hair

                                At a computer screen all day….

The clock ticks by

                But time does not fly

                                As I work begrudgingly for my pay….

The creek will wait

                No, I don’t use bait

                                I’d be fly fishing if I had my way…

Responsibilities….I’ll not be shirkin'

                For I am accustomed to workin'

Yet too much work can

                Make a jerk

                                …of this “would be great outdoorsman.”

Unreal....

I recall Planet of the Apes when Taylor realizes he's been on earth the whole time-

"You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!"

The politicians, they giveth and they taketh away. Things they vowed to protect, put in jeopardy for the sake of the almighty dollar. It's the only "green" that matters to them. They've decided to open ANWR for oil drilling.

Funny I'd just mentioned the topic in a previous post and then I see this. Hey, while we're at it lets blast the hell out of Bristol Bay for the pebble mine and really screw Alaska.

Read it and weep...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46421782/ns/local_news-anchorage_ak/t/us-house-lifts-ban-anwr-drilling/

I think the goal of conservation should not be to stop once we think we've protected something, but to teach the value of conservation to future generations, so it never ends.

This is just sad...

Gear Review and a special day out!

Last month my father and I decided to meet up at a local State Game Lands rifle range and fire off a few rounds, it was a great morning! Although the cold winds kept knocking the target off the long range frame, we had fun.  After seeing what the Mossberg Slugger could do at 100 yards we decided to have fun with a Ham family relic, our old Winchester 30-30. This gun in particular has special meaning, as it belonged to my dad’s brother who passed shortly before I was born. He was an avid outdoorsman who spent much of his time hiking, hunting, and trapping. The gun is a classic; I’ve opted to leave it as is….meaning I won’t put a scope on it. I won’t drill it or weld it or do anything to try and scope it…with my naked eye I can make the shot at 50-60 yards with the original barrel sight, and that’s good enough for me, heck, one can even do better than that I’m sure.

The ol' Winchester

There is something special about a rifle like that, that is a classic on its own and has special meaning at the same time. Shooting it always feels great, and it’s one the best models anyone can own.

I was also excited because the day offered a chance to try some new bullets I’d been meaning to shoot.

A short while ago I had the pleasure to connect with Steve from Bulkammo.com. He introduced me to the website and the great deals they offer. They are a great company whose mission is to offer sportsmen and shooters cost effective ammunition. The company is made up of former military and law enforcement personnel, people who understand the need for a quality product to use with our firearms. They also understand the frustration that results from not being able to find the particular bullet you might be looking for in your local retail establishments. Bulkammo.com looks to provide the serious shooter with the right product for their passion. Most importantly they can offer this great product line with equally great service, while being very cost effective. By utilizing the latest technology in online shopping, their pricing is sure to please, and your online shopping experience is a breeze.

 

From the Website I obtained 2 cases of cartridges for my 30-30 Winchester, the brand? Sellier & Bellot. This is a great and well known ammunition manufacturer, and they’ve been in business since 1825. I won’t go into their entire history here, but I’d urge you to read about this Czech based company on their website http://www.sellier-bellot.cz/.

I was very impressed with my experience in dealing with Steve and shopping on the website. I did a price comparison and found that their cost is usually about $2 cheaper per box of ammo than my local retailer. Something more important to consider is their options. The local sporting goods shops may have as good a selection in the peak of hunting seasons, Bulkammo.com has a superior selection all year round, and of course, you can order them from the convenience of your own home.

I had no doubt the bullets would perform and perform they did, even with the aforementioned wind howling like a banshee the bullets shot strait and we filled the inner circle of the paper time and time again.

"Dead Eye" Shootin' there.

Next time you need some ammunition, be sure to pay these guys a visit!

www.bulkammo.com

It's hard....

It’s hard. You want to do what’s right, or at least believe strongly what you do is right. You want to stand firm and have confidence in what you say. When people ask you a question, you want to answer with conviction.

There is a problem in achieving this feeling of self-assuredness, and a little known secret is, the problem often lies in knowing too much, and not knowing too little.

There are issues that plague me, damned dirty issues.

I was in a bagel shop this morning, and overheard a conversation at a table across the way.

“Boy these gas prices are unreal! Damn oil companies charge so much.”

“Well they import the oil you see and that gives them the right to charge as much as they want.”

“Well, I don’t know why we don’t just drill our own oil, it’s not like we don’t have any.”

“Yeah, I know, we should just drill out own….that’d fix everything.”

Hmmmm….the rally cry of any presidential candidate who swears he can create jobs and drop the price of gasoline, drill here in North America. “We have plenty of oil reserves" they say…

Well, yours truly here happened to have done a research project on this very topic some years back for a course I took. And due to my actual research and my NOT taking the news at face value, I can say that it isn’t worth it. Destroying the last refuge (ANWR) of a multitude of animal species would accomplish a handful of jobs for a few years and devastate Alaska in the process.

It’s not our reliance on foreign oil that is the issue; it’s our reliance on oil period that is the problem. That's also a conversation for a whole other blog post some day.

What the heck am I rambling about? Not only about Alaska, and oil, and twits in bagel shops with tunnel vision that refuse to understand consequences of the actions that make their lives a little easier.

Here, I'll offer an exhibit B. Catch and release fishing, or catch and eat fishing? Some say not many fish survive a fight with an angler, so we stick a hook in their face just to release them, doomed to expire courtesy of a physiological reaction of a lactic acid overdose? Maybe you should just take it home and grill it? Then again, we know keeping every fish we catch is a good way to deplete the species….duh! Hmmm...different sides once again.

Ok, before I subject you all to some overblown diatribe, I’m going to stop it there.

I guess this is why they say ignorance is bliss. Just do what you’re told and think like they want you to think, be a part of the herd and let them run you off the cliff, it’s ok, you’ll be happier that way.

Maybe I think too much…But I’d rather be accused of that than accused of not thinking enough. The problem is anything worth standing firm on is of course worth knowing all the facts, and sometimes that fact finding mission just open cans of worms.

With two sides to everything, it might not always be easy to pick one….

Still, the power of being educated is all important…it’s evolution you see. We have the power to think, learn, and be aware.

If you ask me, sometimes it’s a curse.