Goosebreast Rendezvous

Hit our goose pit today with Greg, Coke and Rich. We managed just two geese and had a fair amount working our spread. It was cold and gray, with clear skies and a touch of drizzle to make things perfect. The migration's been off a bit this year. Normally we'd have crushed them by now. Apparently, the first Canadian clutches of the spring were devastated by an early bad weather system, so the migration cycle's been off by a month or so. They finally seem to be here now and I look forward to ruffling some more feathers.

Backstrap Boogie

This doe was taken with my bow at Coke's Camp in November, 2011, during the rut, just before Thanksgiving gun season. I hunted alone and used my climber. I hunted half over freshly cut soy bean fields and half into the woods. Now enjoying her in family-sized portions!

Savage River Retreat

Went on a great three-day fly fishing trip this spring (2011) to the Savage River with some fellow Maryland Trout Unlimited board members. Incredible time. Water levels were crazy high, so we fished most of the tributaries of the Savage and crushed the native brook trout. Fishing, camp fires, good friends, adult beverages . . . does it get any better?

Gunpowder and Lead . . . and Owen

Took Owen out with Uncle Greg to brush the goose pit for the 2011 season. Owen got to take his first ATV ride and shoot his first 12 ga. shotgun. Awesome bonding with my future hunting buddy.

Sulphurs on the Gunpowder

Hit the Gunpowder this evening for the Sulphur hatch - first fish of the night with the new Winston BIIx 9' 5 wt. and Hatch 3 Plus reel. Cast like a dream - can't wait to try this rig on some Western Maryland pigs!

Sulphur Hatch

Hit Glencoe tonight with Coke for some evening fishing. Nymphs and streamers weren't producing, then noticed sulphurs and some risers as dusk approached, so I switched to a BWO (covered in Dri-Shake to look white) and got this nice Brown (and a Fall Fish). Also saw a baby beaver - must have been days old. He was having trouble in a current, so I brought him back to his dam. Pretty cool night.

 

Browns-n-Bows

Another great night fishing with Coke. Hit up Blue Mount Road and caught a nice Rainbow, Brown, and two fall fish. Rainbow was 12" and Brown was a solid 8"-10".

Double 'Bows

Went out tonight with Coke to one of his favorite catch and keep haunts. Landed these two very nice Rainbows. Also caught a large fall fish - they are a good fighting fish, but can be annoying after a while when you're trying to catch trout. As the light faded, I tried drifting a dry over a deep pool and watched a HUGE Brown rise to my fly ready to house it, only to flare at the last second. Pretty cool to watch the stalk.

First Dry Fly of The Season

Headed out around 3:00 p.m. today. Nymphed for a while and didn't have much luck. Around 4:00 fish starting hitting the surface, although I couldn't figure out what bugs they were eating. I tied on a BWO and second drift caught this nice native Brown. Cast a few more times and missed a strike or two, then switched over to a Mr. Rapidan and caught a monster Brown. Threw the hook just as I was about to net him. Argh! The "movie" below is a test with my cool new Flip camera/software.

Trifecta!

What a morning! Hit the dam end of the Gunpowder on Good Friday - not one other fisher. I caught 11 fish and lost at least twice as many (not sure why - hook set was too slow I guess). I caught the big three - Rainbow, Brown and a Brook. Figures though, the day I slam 'em I have no camera. I tried to use my wife's cell phone to capture the slaughter, but barely caught a few.

Over the Rainbow

First fish of the season. Went out tonight with Coke to Blue Mount Road to try our luck and scored a very respectable 14" 'bow. Not a bad start to the season. My goal this year is to fish every month of the year - no matter how hot, cold, snowy, rainy, etc.

Hunting With Sean Mann

What a killer goose hunt today! I had the fortunate opportunity to fill in a last minute spot with some buddies (for free!) to hunt in Wye Mills (Talbot County, MD) with Sean Mann and his crew on a 380 acre farm along two miles of the Wye River. We worked it hard from our pit blind and came away with nine geese. Unfortunately the day turned out to be a gorgeous, sunny, blue-bird day. Add that to late season, pressured/educated geese and it made conditions tough to limit out. Either way, we had a blast. We hunted mostly over those new Real Geese silhouettes (I found out that geese see in 2-D, so the big, expensive 3-D dekes don't make much of a difference).

The Pit Stop

Great morning goose hunting today from our pit blind. Tons of Canadian Geese overhead, but it was tough pulling these late season ganders into shooting range. And the wind kept switching direction, which didn't help our cause. We had a great spread of silhouettes, shells, and full bodies and plenty of good calling. Sean Mann would be proud.

They call me Gig

Man I love frog gigging. Had a great time this spring and even took the little ones down to camp for a family camp-out and late night gigging. Big ol bullfrogs and tons of fun. I am still waiting for a new challenger to step forward and beat my record, which earned me the nickname, Gig.

Let 2009 Bow Season Begin!

Great start to the 2009 hunting season. My fourth bow hunt and I arrowed a beautiful doe at Coke's Camp around 5:30 p.m. Weather was 20 degrees colder than the average and it had been raining since yesterday. Used new Beman MFX Team Realtree arrows with Shuttle T-Lock broadheads and they did NOT dissapoint! Awesome blood trail and she was down within 50 yards. I love doin' the backstrap boogie!

O-Dog Strikes Again!

Great morning at Uncle Coke's pond with Owen and my God-Daughter Caroline. Owen and Caroline caught 7 nice Bluegills (not counting the ones released). Owen also helped me reel in a nice Largemouth Bass too, which I caught on a Texas-rigged plastic worm. I took home the Bass and cooked it up for us as a treat. Fishing with Owen is quickly becoming my favorite thing to do. Another year and he'll be casting a fly rod like a champ!

Bass Fishin' with Owen

I took Owen fishing at Uncle Coke's pond Saturday. He caught five Bluegills and a small Bass with the rod his Uncle John gave him when he was born. I cast one out myself using the same rod. I felt a bite, set the hook (lightly, figuring it was another Bluegill), and saw a huge tail splash. The rod doubled over and somehow I fought a 3lb. Bass to the shore on his baby rod with floss-like line.

My Future Angler

My future angler, Owen, working out his gear. I think his first word was, "Flies." Expecting another boy in August - soon I'll have my own guide staff.

MDTU

I am now a proud board member of Trout Unlimited, Maryland Chapter. I will be serving on the Communications/PR Committee with Maryland's very own Dan Rodricks (of Baltimore Sun and WYPR fame). If you are a fly fisherman/woman or are simply concerned about conserving, protecting and restoring North America's cold water fisheries and their watersheds, I urge you to join Trout Unlimited.

Slab of the Week

Headed out this evening around Lower Glenco (Gunpowder River) with my Scott S4 and Bauer M2SL reel and had an interesting evening. I started off catching my share of those annoying little "Fall Fish." I then caught a tiny Brown and a huge Rainbow! I also caught a Sulphur on my waders, although not much bug action was going on overall. Most of the fish I caught were on a Sulphur. During one back cast, I caught up in the scrub and lost my fly. Since I was having success with the Sulphur, I faked the rest, applying Poo Goo and Dri Shake to a Green Drake and a searching pattern - seemed to work when they were at their whitest. Cool evening. Fished 'til dark.

Memorial Weekend Giggin'

We had a big crew for our camping expedition at Coke's Camp - 11 total. We had a blast. Grillin', drinkin' fireworks, tree stand inspections, guitar and stories by the fire...well, you get the picture. We had a late night foray with frog giggin' at a nearby pond. One pass from two groups yielded 11 big bullfrogs. We even brought the little ones with us to enjoy the experience.

Sulphurs on the Gunpowder

Great mid-day action on the Gunpowder. Caught five decent Browns on a dry fly (Sulphur). They weren't just sipping either - they were hammering the fly! The new Scott S4 cast like a dream and the Bauer M2SL reel had the smoothest action of any reel I've ever owned.

My New Baby

Your buddy pulls on the oars to line up for the drop and you make a rapid fire cast into a small eddy as the boat spills through the narrow drop. You high stick over the froth to get a few precious seconds of dead drift on your dry fly. That’s all it takes to bring the big brown to the surface. Now you’ve got to land him and there’s no back rowing to slow you down. With knees jammed in the lean bar, the boat bucks through the rapid, while you put the heat on and reach for the long handled net. Scott S4 flyrods www.scottflyrod.com handle the big tough stuff. High line speed, tight loops and power. Bring it on. What can I say...I am in love with my new Scott S4 10' 4wt. All Scott rods are built by hand, one at a time, from the highest quality materials. Paired up with my new Bauer M2SL reel www.bauerflyreel.com and, well, what more can I say. Stay tuned for fish porn.

Rockfish Opening Day

Luckily for me, my friend Curtis had a change in plans today, allowing us to get out for opening day of Rockfish season here in Maryland. Nothing beats a killer sunrise over the Chesapeake Bay on a beautiful 80 degree day.

There were a lot of boats as one would expect, yet not too much fish activity. We were only about 5 miles south of the Bridge and trolled with boat rods, planer boards, and a hand line around Thomas Point. The winter jellies were snotting up our rigs and we constantly had to clean them off. We ran 12 lines and caught two nice fish - 35" and 31". We were hoping for a third, but we had to head home early.

Browns On The Rise

Went out on the Gunpowder today and had a great time fishing. Started off nymphing with tandem midges and hooked up with two - lost two others jumping the hook. Switched to a small black stone as they started hitting the surface. Caught another and probably missed about twelve.

Fish On!

Took Owen to a fishing spot north of the MD line today with his buddies Anna and Caroline. It's a perfect place for little kids, since there are 7 or 8 different ponds all stocked with various fish (trout, land-locked striper, bass, bluegill, etc.). Here he shows off his angling skills on a bluegill. Not bad for 2 years old!

Limbrat Étouffée

Kill tree-dwelling vermin, remove PJs, take to flame, chowdown. Drive safely. It's really that simple to get a good meal of squirrel. Limbrat whackin' is truly bigfun any ol' way ya choose it - bow and arrow, pistol, rifle, scattergun, slingshot, falconry, grenades, and my favorite, flamethrower. How can ya go wrong?

First Trout of 2009

My friend Coke and I scouted a new spot along the Gunpowder River this evening. The main season opens on the 28th, but this was an open "put and take" area we had wanted to investigate. As the picture shows - a small Brown and a respectable Rainbow. Should be delicious in the skillet or smoked. Can't wait for warmer temps.

From Feathers to Fins

Well it's the end of another memorable hunting season and looking forward to some exciting angling. This picture was taken by me from our goose pit the last hunt of the year. Thought it looked kinda cool shooting up at the stacked decoys in black and white. Might print it and frame it. Kind of a different shot. Hope everyone had a fruitful season - looking forward to throwing some flies soon.

First Wet Line of the Year

Today was oddly warm here in Maryland - especially after temps in the low teens and crazy ice. Relative I guess, since it was about 43 when I got out on the water, but by mid-day, the sun came and the jacket came off. The water was a bit low, but flowing. Had one small Brown strike and that was it. Look at this gorgeous background. This is one of my favorite entry spots. Now that's a Sunday morning...

My Two-Year-Old Nuge Fan

Owen, my two-year-old must listen/dance to Ted Nugent's Stormtroopin' every night before he goes to bed. He even dances just like the Motor City Madman!

Backstrap Boogie!

My friend Ted with a beautiful 8-pointer he harvested from our deer camp Saturday evening (gun season) following Thanksgiving Day. This is the second nice buck Ted has taken from there and the second 8-pointer taken since opening of muzzleloader season. Was planning on getting down there to hunt that following Sunday (which was allowed in our county for that date), but turned out to be a horrible weather day.

Good Bye to My Buddy

It is with a heavy heart that I post this. I had to put Gunner down Saturday (11/16). He was my best buddy for over 12 years. A lot of you knew him and I will miss him terribly. My house feels empty, despite three of us and Lucy, our black Lab. This was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Hopefully he is chasing ducks, geese and squirrels somewhere pain-free.

The Gander Lander

It's about that time! Next Saturday, November 15th is the start of goose season for us. We were out today builing a new roof for the pit. We even brought the lil' uns with us to help brush the blind. Owen (pictured far left), Anna, and Caroline worked very hard with Coke, Greg, and myself to prep for what we hope to be another great season of goose hunting. We saw a string or two of around 100 (or so) geese fly overhead, so hopefully the temps will lower and the feathers will drop!

Muzzleloader Starts with a BANG!

My friend Coke was successful this weekend at deer camp. This is his nice 8-pointer from Queen Anne's County taken in the eveing hunt with his muzzleloader.

Talkin' Turkey and Other Things

My friends Greg and Coke (Greg's father) had a great hunt in the north-central mountains of Pennsylvania. Both got two great Toms with varying beard legnth. The coloring of Greg's fan is pretty light and will make a great mount. After an hour or so of stalking the gobbles in the hilly mountains, Greg closed the deal - and by a tree with an old horseshoe nailed to it nonetheless...'nuf said...

The second picture is of a Fallow Deer (doe) Greg saw while in the forest and just had to take it. A nice 125-150 yard quartering-away shot through a small opening between two trees dropped the doe instantly. Beautiful shot! Too bad full-mounts are so cost-prohibitive.

High on the Hog!

I had a great time this weekend in the beautiful north-central mountains of PA with my friends, Coke and Greg. I stalked this wild boar (sow) with my Hoyt V-Tec and was very pleased. Only about 30 minutes into stalking did I manage to arrow this beautiful red Russian boar. After my first shot (27 yards), which was right on the button, she turned aggressively towards me, ready to charge and light me up with those razor-sharp tusks. I had enough trees between us to allow me time to finish it up with another arrow (or two). They are very hard to take down as I learned and very aggressive fighters. While not the Erymanthian boar, I am very pleased with my harvest and look forward to enjoying the feast.

Lake Wallenpaupack

Me and my brother-in-law, Jonny, trying some shoreline fishing at Lake Wallenpaupak over Labor Day weekend. I have never seen so many boats smashed into one area of water in my life - it was a constant wake! This was the only piece of water we could relax in for a few minutes. We ended the night around a big bon fire and enjoyed a fair amount of adult beverages. The highlight was fly fishing in a kayak under the moon. Beautiful weekend!

Soul of the Knife

My friend Coke and I, who are both admirers of well made knives, recently made a trip to see Tom Adkins, famed knife maker, in Delmar, MD. Tom is one of the few craftsmen who actually forges his own steel. All of his knives are handmade and can take 80+ hours to complete. This skinning knife is made from carbon steel. The handle is rare desert ironwood and MD whitetail antler, with a brass separation ring and guard. Tom is a great guy and is an active member in the Furnacetown Blacksmith Guild. His prices are super reasonable and with any purchase, you receive a certificate of authenticity, detailed care instructions, and free sharpening for life. Sheaths are crafted by him as well, each with a date and number. If you have something specific in mind, he can create just about anything for you. These knives are top-notch.

All Tied Up

In my fly tying nook at home in the basement. Fresh and saltwater patterns abound - replete with fur, feathers, chenille, Dacron, cement, and a sundry of other goodies (including good scotch!). This has quickly become my off-season hobby. I've even caught a few nice trout on my own flies - the true testament to success!

Get High on The Hog

Last May, Coke, Greg and I ventured down to the Buck & Boar (http://www.buckandboarofsc.com/), in beautiful central, SC, to get on the Pork Chop Express.

The property that makes up the Buck & Boar has been managed exclusively for wildlife over the past 20 years. Over 30 food plots and year-round supplemental feeds ensure their herds grow to reach their full potential. You see plenty of game because they do not over hunt their herd. You are hunting a wild herd of animals. Do not confuse the Buck & Boar with a canned hunting operation. The animals are wild and elusive, not stocked farm animals. The hunting is fair chase so be prepared to hunt hard and shoot straight.

Everyone at the Buck & Boar was was extremely gracious - they worked hard to put us on hogs - stalking, stands, etc. If you call, ask for Troy or Dwayne. The accommodations were nice and homemade meals even nicer. I love that Southern sweet tea! We spent the nights sitting around a fire butchering our meat (as all men should do), and recounting the excitement from that day's hunt. These are true Russian-bloodline boars and are BIG and MEAN.

We were on the tail end of a hunt with another group, who used hound and catch/bay dogs and a 7" or 9" K-Bar, and that's it. The dogs flushed out a boar out and chased him into a pond. The dogs swam after him, goin' at it, and when they finally chased him close to shore, this guy (standing in 4' of water) shoved that K-Bar right into the old pump station. Just seconds before, that monster boar sliced at him like a croc on crack, almost disemboweling him. Talk about exciting hunt. Phew! One thing I learned real quick that day - boars can swim, and swim well.

The Vulch Strikes Again

My friend, Dave, gettin' down with the back-strap boogie. Nice over-the-shoulder shot from 60 yds. - double lung. She ran another 120 yds. through thick, thick stuff, with only a little blood trail. We were only equipped with one of those million candle-powered lights (that run out after 10 minutes) and a lantern from camp. We found her and got her out, but Dave left his light at the scene, which was now dead. Somehow he found his way back in total darkness and recovered the light. Amazing. PA deer hunters always know what they're doing.

Dog Trainer Extraordinaire

Tim Carrion and his Chessie, Tucker, competing at the American Chesapeake Club's (ACC) Field Trial Specialty in Winslow, New Jersey. Tim is a good friend and a great trainer/handler. If you're ever in Maryland and want to run your dog with folks that know what they're doing, light me up.

Wood Duck Craze

Me, Greg and Teddy (and trusty Cabella) hunted a small rain-filled pond at our Queen Anne's deer camp one night at dusk. The Woodies came out from the woods after engorging themselves on acorns, and stopped by to get a drink. It was like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. Needless to say, we crushed 'em within 2 minutes. Three hens and three drakes. What a fun shoot. We went back to camp and cooked up the hens for dinner and kept the drakes for mounting. Beautiful birds.

Deal Island Take II

We were fortunate enough again to draw a permit to hunt Deal Island. Limited out with my Boys, Butler and Voelker. What more can I say?