Innholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2024 i Game & Fish East

I’ve been fortunate to make friends and share experiences with many hunters across the nation. While the game they pursue and the methods they use vary widely, the most successful hunters I know have one thing in common: They scout early and often. It doesn’t matter if it’s turkeys or elk; the hunters who consistently fill their tags spend more time finding areas that hold game than hunting places that do not. Maybe that sounds like an obvious statement, but consider the research and effort it takes to pinpoint one or two particular trees on one specific bench leading to the most productive group of oak trees on the mountain, and a dedication to scouting becomes even more important. Digital apps and game cameras provide us with excellent information, but…

Some folks assume the hardest part of rifle manufacturing is building a rifle that shoots well. Many also believe the most important consideration when selecting a rifle is choosing the cartridge in which it will be chambered. Truthfully, the hardest thing for a manufacturer to do is build a rifle that will interface well with the most shooters. Similarly, your most important consideration should be finding a rifle that interfaces well with you. The second you grab a rifle, you start interacting with it, and the quality of that interaction determines how well you and the rifle work together. There are many points of interface on a rifle, such as size and weight, the trigger and the sights, but as important as all these are, it’s the stock that your…

On the surface, the ballot initiative that likely will be decided this November by Colorado voters would only affect a few hundred mountain lion and bobcat hunters and the outfitters who guide them to wild cats. According to its text, Colorado Initiative 91 would “ban trophy hunting of mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx” in the state. But make no mistake, says Dan Gates, executive director of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management (CRWM), a pro-hunting group that opposes the ballot measure. The initiative is so broadly worded that its passage would likely achieve what its proponents intend: to end all forms of legal hunting. “They say they want to curtail trophy hunting, but the definition in the petition says ‘intentional killing,’” Gates explains. “All of hunting is intentional killing. If they…

June is a month of great transition. Longer and warmer days will soon lead to rivers running hot and low. When that happens and the bite shuts down in your favorite trout stream, load up a canoe, kayak or car topper and head to the nearest lake or pond that harbors a solid trout population. As the mercury climbs, trout are forced to head deeper for the well-oxygenated water they need to thrive. While this begins to narrow the search, it does come with a few nuances. In the summertime, most Eastern lakes and reservoirs are split into three distinct layers. The top layer consists of extremely warm water and is uninhabitable by trout, while the bottom layer has the coolest water but is devoid of quality oxygen. This leaves…

With a 36-year history of making knives in the U.S. for hunting, outdoor adventure, everyday carry and tactical purposes, Benchmade expands its offerings this summer to include models purpose-built for fishing. The new Benchmade Water Line ($200 to $260; benchmade.com) consists of the 7-inch and 9-inch Fishcrafter fillet knives, the fixed-blade Undercurrent and Intersect, and the Adira and Mini Adira folders, which use the AXIS locking mechanism. All Water Line models have blades made from CPM-MagnaCut stainless steel, a relatively new alloy developed by metallurgist Dr. Larrin Thomas specifically for premium knives to provide excellent corrosion resistance, edge retention and toughness. The high performance of CPM-MagnaCut in these areas is ideal for the environments and tasks commonly encountered while fishing in both freshwater and the salt. The fillet and fixed-blade…

I’d only trolled 50 yards or so when one of my rods telegraphed the hit of a crappie, then bent into a nice arch suggesting the weight of a quality fish. A few short moments later, a 14-inch white crappie graced the bag of the landing net, the first of two dozen that would follow that mild early-summer day. Once spring evolves into summer, many anglers stop targeting crappies. The hot bite of spring, fueled primarily by the annual spawn, which draws concentrations of fish into the shallows, is a mere fond memory. Fish are now scattered, moving to the food and cover options that the warm months provide. Submerged wood and subsurface weeds have the potential to attract fish, as does open water that’s rich in bug life and…

No matter the fish, no matter the climate and no matter the habitat, hatching and rearing fry is a formidable task. Just ask any mama largemouth. Although immature “hatchlings” emerge shortly after the actual spawn, tired, emaciated females need safe quarters in which to rest and regain their strength. Options vary by fishery, but docks represent one of the most consistently reliable post-spawn habitats. From simple pole docks to floating structures with tie-down cables and elevated walkways to marinas with multiple slips and piers, the broad appeal is undeniable. “I feel like they offer so much for the fish,” says Bassmaster Elite angler Wes Logan. “Docks have shade, cover and feeding opportunities. The fish can be in the shade and have plenty to eat while they’re recovering from the spawn.”…

Kayak fishing has become one of the fastest growing segments of outdoor sports, and for good reason. It’s fun. It’s challenging. It’s ecologically friendly. It lets anglers reach pristine areas away from maddening crowds that shore-bound anglers or those in larger boats often can’t access. Many of these magical places are waters teeming with smallmouth bass! You can drop a kayak into a backyard pond or drag it to the edge of a wilderness stream. Launching one is a relatively simple feat that seldom requires a dock or a ramp. A kayak—and kayak fishing—is also affordable. Even the most elaborate fishing kayaks are priced under entry-level bass boats. Given their relative cost, and their ability to reach stretches of water that boat owners can’t, kayaks offer many advantages. They’re especially…

Early one summer Shane’s cousins Brian and Ben, ages 10 and 8, traveled all the way from Detroit to stay with his family for a few weeks. The boys’ father—Shane’s uncle—hated that they had to live in the city due to his job, and he was afraid his sons weren’t getting outside enough and learning how to hunt and fish like he did as a boy. “Don’t worry, Ted,” said Shane’s father to his brother over the phone. “I’ll see to it that when the boys leave here, they’ll be regular Jeremiah Johnsons.” To Shane, who overheard the conversation, the plan had potential. He knew his father had to work all summer, and so of course “I’ll see to it” meant “Shane will see to it.” If teaching his cousins…

THE UNSEEN NEMESIS We’ve all had a day on the water ruined by windy conditions. In “Catch More Bass in the Wind,” Crash Course video host Shane Beilue shares three ways to make the wind become your friend. FISHING IN AN ECLIPSE In “How the Solar Eclipse Impacted Game and Fish,” Lynn Burkhead, writing from the path of totality, chronicles what outdoorsmen experienced during the rare event in April. (Oh yes, the fish were biting.) CATFISH FEVER “If I’m not catfishing, I’m catching bait for catfish,” West Virginia angler Michael Drake said after landing an Ohio River blue catfish that broke a state record, the fourth straight year the record has fallen. Get the story in our “Records” section. TACKLE EXTRAVAGANZA ICAST, the world’s largest sportfishing tackle trade show, hits…

The heat and humidity of mid-summer will soon be upon us, and as the season evolves, so must our approach to achieving fishing success. Gone are the days of easy bites, which happened so often as surface water temperatures first reached the 70-degree mark. Bass have long since left their beds, quality panfish have largely vacated the shallows, and cool-water species like walleye and northern pike have stopped visiting landing nets and livewells as frequently as they did just a few weeks ago. Yet the heart of summer, with holidays, family vacations and bucket-list fishing trips, still lies in front of us, and the need to get bit remains. One way to enjoy remarkably consistent midsummer fishing is to focus on moving water, from cold-water trout streams to the largest…

It was late February, and I was following a pack of beagles in hot pursuit of a cottontail on a patch of public ground in Ohio. Rabbits tend to like heavy cover. Intercepting them as they circle ahead of a dog pack often means hunters must wade through some gnarly brush. I managed to locate a well-worn deer trail that cut directly through the mass of honeysuckle and Russian olive. It made walking easier, and I was astounded by the overlapping layers of whitetail deer tracks. This was a virtual deer highway. It also wasn’t a secret to the local whitetail hunters. As I made my way along the lonely trail, I came upon the remains of one stand site and then another. All told on that quarter-mile trail there…

As late spring turns to summer, Northeast anglers are transitioning to the glory days. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are in various stages of the late spawn, good pike fishing can still be found in and around shallow bays and tidal river fishermen are in the end stages of the American shad run. However, amid all the excellent angling options available now, don’t overlook the endless shallow lakes and ponds that dimple the region as the bluegill spawn continues. In fact, biologists have discovered that bluegills will spawn throughout the summer and up to five times a year depending on water temperature. For my money, catching a truly giant bluegill is substantially harder than catching any 6-pound bass. NARROW DOWN THE OPTIONS Bluegills, of course, can be found in pretty much…

I was losing blood fast. The setting sun dipped just behind the tree-tops, blanketing the shallow, weed-choked cove in shade. Then, as if someone flipped a switch, I was swarmed by mosquitoes so terribly that I had to wipe—not swat—them off my arms and the back of my neck. It was a stagnant 90 degrees, and every inch of exposed skin was slathered in sweat and squished bugs, but I couldn’t leave. I’d paddled all the way back to this spot hoping that the fading light would entice a snakehead bigger than the ones I’d caught earlier to move up onto this flat so thick—with muck and duckweed and lilies—that you could barely tell there was any water. I purposely overthrew, landing a red-and-black frog in the tall grass on…

Striped bass season is always a blessing. There are dinks and shorts swimming in the salt ponds in April. In early May, slot-sized fish fill the herring runs, and when the squid invade the rips, the cows come home. The beaches are chockablock with migrating linesiders and tough-to-catch bluefish—and that’s all before the very best of times arrive. When it comes to striped bass fishing, many anglers fish the flats, and the fish arrive there shortly after the sand eels do as summer hits. After too many mornings of rain and wind, those bright, sunny days with light, variable winds feel like a vacation to the Bahamas. WHAT’S A FLAT? You won’t see the word “flat” on any nautical chart from the late 1800s, but you will see the…

Part of the fun of fishing from a kayak is equipping the boat with gear that answers a specific need and customizes the craft for given conditions and presentations. From motors to storage and safety, accessories enhance the on-the-water experience. Here are four pieces of gear we’ve tested and found worthy. NEWPORT NK180PRO ELECTRIC KAYAK MOTOR Kayak anglers can navigate effortlessly to favorite fishing spots with the NK180Pro, experiencing a remarkable 16 percent increase in speed. This motor features a 25 percent decrease in noise, gaining a tactical advantage without sacrificing functionality. The NK180PRO also provides a 25 percent increase in efficiency, extended range and reduced charging demands while maximizing precious fishing time. The updated throttle design, now with an IP67 rating, offers a waterproof, intuitive interface for precise control…

The chukar made a fatal mistake, sweeping up and over the sandy desert bowl I was hunting. I made a towering, 40-yard shot, and the bird fell, rag dead, almost at my feet. I moved away to let my hard-working German wirehair do the retrieving honors. It was a fitting culmination to years of misses, thousands of practice rounds and a lot of blood, sweat and tears born out of frustration. Chukars and pheasants still fly off unscathed, but not as often as they did since I’ve become my own shotgun instructor. You can help yourself become a better shotgunner, too. There are ways to spot issues with your shooting and correct them on your own through simple drills (and lots of practice). Here are some suggestions that might put…

To see it in the pages of a magazine or on social media, spider-rigging can be hugely formidable—especially for hook-and-bobber panfishermen. However, according Wally Marshall, aka “Mr. Crappie,” spider-rigging for crappies can be as simple as you want to make it. “It’s about two things,” says Marshall. “Boat control and gear.” Spider-rigging is a deadly crappie tactic, popular in the South and Midwest, that allows anglers to cover a lot of water while offering multiple presentations. A popular setup involves six to eight rods spread evenly across the boat. Each rod should be rigged with different jig-and-live-bait combinations in order to probe multiple depths and find fish more easily. Many Eastern states don’t permit the use of that many rods (check your state’s regulations), but that’s OK according to Marshall.…

Skipping is one of the most popular dock fishing tactics, but it’s also one of the most intimidating. Follow these words of wisdom to avoid psyching yourself out. CASTING STYLE: The more time you spend trying to calculate the right angle for a sidearm line drive, the less likely you are to nail the cast. A smooth sidearm roll cast best serves the objective. ROD CHOICE: You’ll want a medium-heavy model with a soft tip for firing a bait under cover and enough backbone to extract a fish. A 6-foot-10-inch to 7-foot length usually will suffice. It’s all relative to angler height and reach. LINE IT UP: A full spool tends to loosen near the top, so don’t burden yourself with more line than you need. In most cases, 100…

Looking for bass action close to home? Keep on the lookout for small to medium-sized flats in areas you currently fish. You’ll find them anywhere that sand is deposited, including at the mouths of rivers and estuaries, in quiet parts of a salt pond and at the end of a sweeping beach break. RIVER MOUTHS: Many eastern rivers empty into the Atlantic, of course, and the mouths of several feature productive flats for summertime striped bass. The mouths of the Kennebec (Maine), Merrimack (Massachusetts), Connecticut and Housatonic (Connecticut) rivers, as well Maryland’s Susquehanna Flats, are all worth a try. SALT POND FLATS: Any of the salt ponds on Massachusetts’ South Cape and in South County, R.I., have flats that produce reliable summertime striper fishing. Some of the ponds have cinder…

While kayaks are ideal for finding fish on small, secluded waters, many current models are just as adept at taking anglers on adventures to big rivers, sprawling reservoirs and even offshore saltwater destinations. The options among fishing kayaks have never been greater, thanks to improvements in hull materials and construction, propulsion technology and smart design that enables customization for specific excursions and species. The kayak gurus at Florida Sportsman recently put a variety of new kayaks to the test on numerous waterways, and the following models showcase the versatility now available to anglers. OLD TOWN SPORTSMAN BIGWATER EPDL+ 132 LENGTH: 13'2" | WIDTH: 36" WEIGHT: 143 lbs. fully rigged CAPACITY: 500 lbs. HULL CONSTRUCTION: single-layer polyethylene PROPULSION: e-pedal, paddle MSRP: $5,999.99 oldtownwatercraft.com TOP FEATURES: Designed to keep anglers in the chase,…

More than a decade ago, Ruger set new benchmarks for performance and affordability with its bolt-action American Rifle. This year, the company introduced an upgraded model, the American Rifle Generation II, which includes several new features designed from customer feedback and engineering ingenuity. Most noticeable is a Cerakote finish on the barreled action that is as attractive as it is durable. The medium-contour, cold-hammer-forged barrel has deep spiral flutes on most versions (depending on chambering) to reduce weight without sacrificing accuracy, while also dissipating heat efficiently. Most versions also have threaded muzzles and come equipped with a radial-port muzzle brake. The gray splatter-finished synthetic stock offers custom fit via a removable comb riser and length-of-pull spacers to accommodate a variety of optics and shooter statures. Adding or removing spacers allows…

Interest in straight-wall cartridges has surged in recent years as several Midwestern states have started allowing their use in deer hunting. Traditionally, these states only permitted hunters to use shotguns firing slugs, muzzleloaders and big-bore revolvers due to concerns over stray bullets in areas with high human population densities. However, most have determined that the fat, short projectiles fired from straight-wall cartridges offer similarly reduced risk, while allowing hunters to take far more accurate and ethical shots in the field. Thus began the straight-wall cartridge boom we are currently experiencing. Hunters wanting to up their capabilities in these states have looked to classic straight-wall cartridges and have also expressed interest in new designs. In response, manufacturers have been offering more load options for existing straight-walls and even developing entirely new…