Sportsman's News June 2017 Digital Edition

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Big Pike In Manitoba

June 2017 | Volume 13 | Issue 6

Camp Cooking

Gary Lewis

Smoke On The Water

The Best Gear For Cooking in Camp Chad LaChance

Cover Concepts Enter To Win An Elk Hunt

With Every DVD Purchase See Pg. 50 for details

The All New VX-6HD: Leupold’s Most Versatile Scope Yet. PAGE 8

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS 2322 W. Industry Way Cedar City, UT 84721

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Mike Deming President/Publisher 435-669-4624 mdeming@sportsmansnews.com

SENIOR EDITOR Kent Danjanovich 801-231-9838 kdanjanovich@sportsmansnews.com MANAGING EDITOR Dan Kidder 435-865-1680 dkidder@sportsmansnews.com ARCHERY EDITOR Shane Chuning 435-592-6106 schuning@sportsmansnews.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Lisa Deming info@sportsmansnews.com VIDEO PRODUCTION MANAGER Sam Staudt sam@sportsmansnews.com

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June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

WHAT’S INSIDE

WORDS FROM THE PUBLISHER

4 Big Manitoba Pike Leupold VX-6HD 8 Leupold's most versatile scope yet.

By Michael Deming

O

n March 30th of 2015, we launched the Sportsman’s News Pro Membership Sweepstakes.

Since that time, we have given away over $650,000 worth of trips guns and gear to our members. That’s right, almost three quarters of a million dollars in world class trips, guns and gear have gone to some lucky winners. Every ten days since the launch, we have given away grand prizes like Dall Sheep Hunts, Brown Bear Hunts, Trophy Mule Deer Hunts, as well as a bunch of bonus prizes. The center spread of this issue will show you exactly what we will be giving away over the next twelve months. Over the next sixty days, we have some of our very best trips coming up and there is no better time to become a member because the odds of winning are much better than drawing an average limited entry tag in most western states. There are currently just over 550 members and with a Sonora Mexico Mule Deer and a highly sought after Desert Bighorn Sheep hunt up for grabs, it’s not hard to justify another chance of drawing a tag for this fall.

I just got back from a southeast Alaska brown bear hunt with one of our Platinum Approved Outfitters, Alaska Raven Guides and Scott McLeod. This has been a trip that we have given away on two different occasions and will definitely give away again. These guys have been an endorsed outfitter for us for many year, which means we have traveled to their location to see how they operate, first hand. This is a must for us to purchase trips for our Pro Membership Sweepstakes.

We know that they run a first class operation and we also find out when the timeframe is for their very best trips. This is crucial when you are hunting migrating herds, runs of fish or in this case, spring bears.

In most cases, we book these trips two to three years in advance to get the best dates possible, giving our winners and film crews the best opportunity for success. When you look for the very best trips and tags available this far in advance, you don’t get it discounted. These are the most sought after trips available and sell out the quickest and these are the trips we want for our members. And I did say film crews as well. With the majority of our winners, we send one or two camera operators/field producers to capture the experience for all parties involved. The end product allows us to show our members and prospective members that these are truly the best trips around and with the best outfitters. It’s pretty nice to be able to have your winning trip captured and edited by professionals as well.

We know that everyone wants to win, but you can’t win if you don’t play. Once you sign up, you are automatically a winner with all the benefits you receive. You will get this publication delivered to your mailbox each and every month as well as the digital edition which has added articles and special offers not available in the printed version. You will also receive the Sportsman’s News Television DVD series with all the winners’ shows as well as hours of outdoor excitement, product reviews and tech tips (eight editions) throughout the year. You can see a full list of benefits at the www.promembershipsweepstakes.com website.

If you are looking to book a hunt or a fishing trip this year, the 5% discount provided by most of the Platinum Approved Outfitters to our Pro Members will save you more than enough for your annual membership. Our list of endorsed outfitters is significant, but more importantly is our list of “do not use” outfitters. We don’t publish this, but we are more than happy to share the names of some not so professional folks and will share our personal experience with you. A bad trip with a substandard outfitters will cost you way more than a great adventure with an endorsed outfitter.

For most people, a brown bear hunt like we just did finished in Alaska, is likely a trip of a lifetime.

The last thing you want to happen is to take that risk with someone who isn’t a true professional and cares about you and your success. It is still hunting and you aren’t guaranteed an animal, but the things in the outfitters control should be taken care of to the best of their ability and if something goes wrong, they should be willing to make it right. That’s what a Platinum Approved Outfitter does.

Become a Pro Member today for your chance to win a great trip with one of our Platinum Approved Outfitters.

Pro's Tip: Basics of Fishing 10 8 Everything you need to know to start catching memories.

Approved Outfitters Platinum 14Choose A Sportsman's News Endorsed Guide For Your Next Trip.

Fly Fishing Roundup 19 The latest and greatest gear for the fly fisherman.

Pro Member Sweepstakes 26Over $300,000 In Giveaways. Drawing Every 10 Days.

29Defining Fishful Thinker: Cover Concepts the Playing Field: Part 2

32Great PacWest Outdoors: Smoke On The Water fishing despite a cataclysm.

36 Video Product Review

Seven new product reviews for your viewing pleasure.

40 Camp Cooking Roundup

Latest gear for fixing your vittles.

46

Member Update: Frasier and 46 Pro Woodbury Safaris New Zealand's finest game.

50 Business Directory 52 Wild Game Recipe Wild Boar Lettuce Wraps

54 Adventures on a Budget Fishing Alaska

Ghost Stryke 58 Pak-Rat Quick Clip

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dave Domin Chad LaChance Gary Lewis

Steve Mayer Joseph Classen

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Big Pike In Manitoba

By Kent Danjanovich

Y

the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg on the evening of June 24th. I knocked on their door at about 8pm and met them both, in person, for the first time. This time, I got to see those big smiles, face to face as I filled them in on what would happen the next morning as we departed for the main lodge at Big Sand Lake.

The Big Sand van was waiting for us in front of the hotel by 6am and by 6:30, everyone who was going to the lodge found themselves intermingling at the Calm Air terminal. All of our luggage was weighed-in for the flight and then it was just a matter of waiting until our group was called. By 7am we were starting to get a little antsy and we were then informed that weather between Thompson (a refueling stop) and Big Sand Lake was a little dicey, so the boys poured themselves another cup of coffee.

Twenty minutes later we were out the door and boarding our plane. The hour and a half flight had seemed to ‘fly’ by when our pilot informed us of our final approach into Thompson. He also informed us that we would be on another ‘holding’ pattern there until they got the OK to continue on to Big Sand. So, we made our way into the small terminal to wait it out.

About 45 minutes later, it was back on our plane and off to the lodge. All along our way, I kept an eye on our lucky winners and found myself literally as lost in their excitement as they were. A short thirty minute flight found us circling the sand esker runway on our approach. As we came to a stop at the end of the runway, the outgoing group of fishermen were lined up, ready to depart for home.

As we deplaned, Rick Bohna, Big Sand’s general manager, greeted each of us and let us know that the fishing had been great and the weather was supposed to get better and better as the week progressed for us. With the crew quickly unloading our gear and reloading the outgoing groups’ luggage, our new group of 40+ fishermen made our way to the main lodge for brunch and a quick orientation. Fresh walleye, baked beans and taters welcomed us and believe me, tasted pretty darn good!

Big Sand Lake Lodge consists of the main lodge and eight duplex style cabins and then four outpost camps that are only accessible by float plane. We would be staying at the Jordan Lake camp and because of its closer proximity to the lodge, we would be the last group to fly out. So, our wait would be aided by a trip to the tackle shop for

ou have all heard me talk about my trips to Canada for big northern pike over the years. They are one of my most favorite fish to catch on a fly rod. And to tell you the truth, I don’t even mind throwing a Mepp’s or a Dardevle either when going after these gnarly toothed monsters! Every encounter (and there are always plenty of them) is a different adventure and you always have to be on high alert for the big one, ready to engulf your fly or lure.

Well, because we have had such great success on our visits to Big Sand Lake Lodge in northern Manitoba over the years, it made perfect sense to include them in our Pro Membership Sweepstakes in 2016. The prize package would include an all-inclusive trip from Winnipeg for two to join me during the week of June 25-30. The big day of the drawing finally came around and the lucky winner’s name was pulled out of the barrel.

Because I was going to accompany the winner and their guest on the trip, I was to be the lucky one to give them a call. After a couple of rings, a soft ‘Hello’ came across the line and I quickly introduced myself to Merle Plank of Tremonton, Utah. “Merle, you are our latest winner in the Sportsman’s News Pro Membership Sweepstakes”, was my opening line. After a few seconds of silence, Merle’s original reply was something like, “Yah right, who is this, really”?

Well, after a little more explanation from me and plenty of reassurance that it was legit, Merle finally realized that he had really won. “I have always wanted to take a fishing trip to somewhere like Canada or Alaska, but I never thought in my wildest dreams it would ever happen”, he uttered, with a grin so big that you could feel it across the cell phone waves!

For the next 30 minutes, I filled Merle in on the dates of the trip and what he needed to do to prepare for his fishing trip of a lifetime.

He asked plenty of questions about equipment and lures, along with what to wear and how to get there. I gave him as much information as I thought he could handle at the moment and told him that I would be in contact with him along the way as well to make sure he put together everything that he and his guest would need.

After two or three more visits on the phone, the time for the actual trip finally arrived. Merle and his brother, John, decided to make it an even more memorable experience and decided to make the drive from Utah to Winnipeg, Canada. It would be about a 20 hour, on the road journey, but one that would cover a pretty good chunk of land across the upper part of the country and give them a chance to see some spectacular views along the way.

Merle and John would meet up with the rest of our group that included myself and Pro Membership Sweepstakes winner Merle Plank of Tremonton, Utah, had always wanted to take a fishing fellow Sportsman’s News Pro-Staffers Rick trip to Alaska or Canada, and winning this trip gave him the opportunity to share it with his brother.

Rosenberg and John Wooge, along with Colby Labrum, Matt Rosenberg and Kent Frei at

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June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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some local knowledge and purchases and then a game or two of cards for the eight of us.

Finally, our turn arrived. But, because the float plane could only handle seven passengers at a time, four of us and most of the luggage were loaded on the plane and then off to the outpost camp. Fifteen minutes later we were unloading our gear on the dock at Jordan Lake. As soon as the task was completed, our pilot started the Norsman back up and turned from the dock to start his taxi. But because of an odd wind direction coming out of the west, the plane was pushed to the left of the dock, coming to rest on the only large rock in the immediate area. Myself and John Wooge, my cameraman on this trip, quickly donned our waders and boots and went to work on freeing the left float of the plane from its perch, a chore that would be a tough one.

Finally, we were able to angle the plane so that the pilot could start his taxi. As he made his taxi into the wind and started his take-off, water could be seen pouring out of his left float, not a good sign for getting the rest of our gear and the other four of our party from the main lodge that afternoon.

Our next move was to check out the camp, which included our two sleeping cabins, a main eating and cooking cabin and a shower cabin adjacent to the generator station.

Although this camp is used extensively during moose season, it had to be thrown into action for the fishing season because of a visit to one of the other camps by an inquisitive black bear that wanted to be destructive. So we went from cabin to cabin, doing a little clean-up and readying everything for the rest of our stay.

Finally, at about 8pm, we received a call on the CB that the plane would not be able to return that night, so we threw together a quick dinner and grabbed our gear to head out for a couple of hours of evening fishing. Since I was the only one of the group (Myself, John, Merle and John) that had experience in this kind of setting, I clued everyone in on what was what and we loaded into our boats and headed out to explore a few of the bays adjacent to camp. Actually, this opportunity proved to be a plus for the rest of our stay, as we were able to find a couple of great spots that we not only caught fish in that night, but also produced some great fish in the days to come.

The next morning found us cooking up a hearty portion of scrambled eggs and sausage as we waited for word of the arrival of the rest of our group. Finally, the call came and our group soon touched down, in a new plane at about 10:30am. As Rick, Matt, Colby, and Kent rounded up their gear, I threw together sandwiches for our shore lunch and then packed everything down to our awaiting boats. We paired off in twos for the day and then started our motors and headed down the western side of the lake in search of northern pike and walleye.

Although no monsters were caught on our first day, a glimpse of what was to come started to unfold and after a good day on the water, that steak dinner sure tasted good back at camp. After dinner, we again headed out to a few locations close to camp, with

Colby Labrum caught this nice northern on his 8-weight Redington fly rod.

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June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

everyone reporting back by about 10:30pm with reports of good success and new options for our next days’ adventures.

Our third day found us making our way to the farthest reaches of the lake, exploring the many bays and searching for tributaries that we knew would hold big numbers of walleye as well as some monster pike looking for their next meal. Because John Wooge and I were staying close to Merle and his brother, John, as we were filming for an upcoming episode of SNTV, Rick and Colby and Matt and Kent stayed together in their explorations before lunch. We had designated an area to meet at for lunch at about 1pm and we would then talk about what we would do for the rest of the afternoon.

By the time we met up, all of us had already had a great day of fishing. Stories were flying in every direction and I am pretty sure most of them were true! Merle and John were learning the ropes pretty good and had landed big numbers of fish, but no real monsters yet. Rick informed us that they had found a tributary at the end of one of the bays that looked to have some real promise, so after lunch we headed in that direction to take another look. Along the way, I spotted a small detour and our two boats soon found ourselves in a great looking bay, with weed growth forming to make for some great shallow water action.

John Wooge decided to get into Merle’s and John’s boat to film, so I worked my way to a rocky point a few hundred yards from them. After a few casts, I hooked into a good fish on my fly rod. Immediately, my big northern headed for the middle of the bay on a non-stop run. From my experiences in fishing for pike, this is always a definite sign of a big fish. As my backing started to show itself on my reel, I quickly tried to slow her down and regain some line. At this point, I gave a few waves to the other boat to head over to my location. It was a good thing that I did.

As the other boat approached, I am sure they could tell I had a big one on, if only by the wide smile that I was sporting. They eased their boat alongside mine and soon slid their net under our first big fish of the trip, a thick northern pike that would stretch our measuring tape out to nearly the 40-inch mark. Now Merle and John saw for the first time what was awaiting each of us in the tea-stained waters of northern Manitoba.

And about twenty minutes later, they would find out for themselves.

After we all landed a few more fish, we decided to head back out of the bay and up to the tributary that Rick had told us about. When we arrived, Matt had already

Merle and John Plank hooked into plenty of fish, including this hard-fightng walleye. The crystal clear lakes of Manitoba are teeming with game fish such as northern pike and walleye. Below Inset: A shore lunch at Big Sand Lake Lodge is a big highlight – that is if you can take a break from the unbelievable fishing!

landed two northerns over 40 inches and Kent and Colby were hooking into walleye on almost every cast. It didn’t take long for John Plank to get into the big fish action, as he found himself battling a 42 incher of his own that had engulfed his "Five of Diamonds" Dardevle. The rest of the afternoon saw us land well over 100 walleye and nearly that many pike. At about 5:30 pm, we begrudgingly set our rods aside for the ride back to camp.

Rick threw together a great pork chops and taters dinner for us and it was then back to our boats for some more evening exploration. The whole group was now getting the hang of things and big numbers of both pike and walleye made their way to our nets again that evening.

The next two days found us, of course, back to our new favorite spot on the lake, landing more big numbers of both species. This time, ten hearty walleye were set aside for a terrific shore lunch and believe me, if you have not had the chance to try fresh walleye cooked in a skillet over an open fire in the Canadian Wilderness, you are really missing out!

The next morning, unwillingly, we found ourselves loading our gear into the float plane and heading back to the main lodge. In all for the week, five Master Angler pike (41” and over) had been caught by our group and literally hundreds more, with many in the 32 - 40 inch mark to our credit. And yes, in the end, all of those stories that I had told our Sportsman’s News Pro Membership winner, Merle Plank about were really true! By this time, he was not only talking non-stop about this trip, but about looking to do another one and maybe even an Alaskan adventure as well.

Yes, being a member of the Sportsman’s News Pro Membership Sweepstakes truly

does have its benefits, so if you aren’t a member yet, what are you waiting for? Just ask Merle Plank and his brother John. For more information, visit our website at www.sportsmansnews.com.

And for more information about Big Sand Lake Lodge, check them out under Endorsed Outfitters on our website or at www.bigsandlakelodge.com.

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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The All New VX-6HD

Leupold’s Most Versatile Scope Yet

By Dave Domin

N

ew for 2017, Leupold is proud to introduce the VX-6HD. Built off the solid foundation of its predecessor, this game changing optic will allow hunters to have longer days in the field and shoot farther with greater confidence.

The VX-6HD is built around Leupold’s Twilight Max Light Management System which balances all available light wavelengths, eliminates glare, and pushes resolution to the limit. Beginning with high definition lenses for unsurpassed clarity, Leupold applies Twilight Max lens coatings. These coatings optimize the red and blue frequencies of light, those found at the very first and last moments of the day, while maintaining a high transmission of the light at the center of the spectrum, delivering exceptional contrast and low light performance. These lenses are then topped off with Guard-ion hydrophobic lens coating which sheds water, dirt, and fingerprints for an unobscured sight picture in all weather conditions. The next step is the elimination of glare. Although not often said, this step actually lowers overall light transmission by removing or absorbing stray light, only transmitting useful light to your eye. This is accomplished by first precision machining the VX-6HD’s interior and then by blackening the edges of key lenses within the scope.

Leupold VX-6HD riflescopes are equipped with the CDS-ZL2 elevation adjustment dial and a zero-lock windage dial. The CDS-ZL2 is a locking, two-turn dial with revolution indicator that cannot be inadvertently rotated. Once zeroed, a mere press of a button will deliver 38 MOA of elevation adjustment which is ample enough for those who prefer to dial their holdovers as opposed to using a ballistic reticle. The CDSZL2’s button will be flush with the edge of the dial during the first revolution, then be recessed into the dial during the second revolution. The windage dial also locks and once zeroed, will give the shooter 9.5 MOA of on-the-fly adjustment.

All Leupold VX-6HD riflescopes are CDS capable and include one free custom ballistic dial through the Leupold Custom Shop. Unlike other systems that use generic ballistics information to generate equally generic drop data, the CDS uses the shooter’s unique ballistics and environmental conditions to calculate true custom drop values that are laser engraved onto the dial. The first step in getting this done is to determine the best load for the rifle. Since no two guns will shoot the same load identically, it is important to get the most accurate ballistic data possible. Since the CDS system will only be as accurate as the information the shooter supplies to Leupold, loads should be chronographed and

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June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

the elevation and temperature, +/- 2000 feet and +/- 20 degrees Fahrenheit respectively, should match the intended use area. Leupold will need the following data, cartridge, bullet type, bullet weight, ballistic coefficient, muzzle velocity, average altitude, average temperature and sight height. The CDS will have a 100 or 200 yard zero in most cases (determined by the customer), then read in 50 yard increments out to the maximum yardage that can be reached in 38 minutes of angle (MOA).

The VX-6HD is available in six models, with eleven illuminated reticle options, and magnification ranges from 1-6x24 up to 4-24x52. The entire line of scopes feature Leupold’s exclusive FireDot® illumination system with an electronic reticle level feature.

The one button, low profile design gives the shooter 8 illumination settings to choose from, plus Motion Sensor Technology (MST) that deactivates the illumination after 5 minutes of inactivity and instantly reactivates it as soon as movement is detected.

The user activated electronic reticle level will allow shooters to quickly install scopes and make more precise shots at longer ranges by ensuring that the scope is within one degree of level.

The final step in completing the VX-6 riflescope is to purge it of its internal oxygen and replace it with Leupold’s exclusive Argon/Krypton gas blend. This gas blend is more resistant to thermal shock and diffusion than the traditionally used nitrogen gas, delivering 100% waterproof integrity. To top it off, the VX-6HD comes with a removable Throw Lever and Alumina Flip-Back lens covers, and is backed by the Leupold Full Lifetime Guarantee.

So if you are searching for the perfect scope that has everything you need and nothing you don’t, stop by your local Sportsman’s Warehouse and check out the all new Leupold VX-6HD today.

THE VX®-6HD WITH IN-SCOPE LEVEL: OUR MOST VERSATILE LEUPOLD® YET. With a VX®-6HD, you’ll take this and every other shot with confidence.

Its In-Scope Reticle Level blinks if your rifle is canted more than 1˚ left or right, for superior long-range accuracy. The two-turn CDS® ZeroLock® dials put you dead on at any distance. Armed with the Twilight Max® Light Management System, HD clarity and contrast, and a powerful 6:1 zoom, your VX-6HD is made to send every shot home no matter the light, conditions, or distance. When other scopes can’t, the VX-6HD is all can.

Always designed, machined, and assembled in the U.S.A. Discover more at Leupold.com.

LEUPOLD FULL LIFETIME GUARANTEE

LEUPOLD | AMERICAN TO THE CORE June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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PRO'S TIP

Basics of Fishing

Nothing is more refreshing and recuperative than time spent on the lake or stream trying to snag an elusive fish. Nobody will ever look back on the memories they had of playing a video game, but fishing memories last a lifetime.

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

F

or relaxation, enjoyment and general outdoor recreation, nothing beats fishing. For me, fishing is a spiritual undertaking, providing a chance to commune with God and nature, breathe fresh air and appreciate the beauty of creation. It takes me back to fond memories of my childhood, slowly cranking a SuperDuper spinning lure in the riffles of Lee Vining Creek in the Sierra Nevada mountains, for elusive rainbow trout. These kind of memories stay with you your entire life. It is no wonder that Jimmy Carter once said, ““Many of the most highly publicized events of my presidency are not nearly as memorable or significant in my life as fishing with my daddy.”

For many who were not raised with this tradition or who have somehow lost it in their adult years, the idea of snagging a silvery jumping rainbow from a clear mountain stream is alluring, but the actual information for making it happen is daunting. Don’t let it scare you. There is probably no outdoor sport that is easier to learn, cheaper to begin or more immediately rewarding. There are just a few things you need to know that will have you on the water in no time at all.

Licenses and the Law

In most states, you need a fishing license as an adult to fish. The cost is usually minimal for residents and significantly more for non-residents. In Utah, where I live, a one week fishing license for a non-resident costs more than a one year license for a resident.

The cost of the license can vary, but typically you can get a license for your state for the year for around $40 or less. If you live near the ocean, you may need to get either a freshwater or saltwater or a combo license to cover both lakes and streams, as well as ocean fishing.

Every state publishes a booklet with all their state laws, limits, descriptions of fish and overall regulations. These books are usually available online as well as in printed form and can usually be picked up where you would purchase your license. A fishing license can be obtained at most fishing tackle retailers, as well as some big box stores.

Some states also sell them right at their local division of wildlife office.

States vary, but most don’t require a license for children under a certain age. Some may require that a child be accompanied by a licensed adult and others just let kids fish without supervision. As children get older and into their teens, states often offer a reduced fee license until they reach adulthood. Many states also have senior citizen pricing as well as free or reduced fees for veterans and active duty service members.

Make sure you read up on any specific regulations for the body of water you will be fishing. Some areas have slot limits that allow you to keep fish below a certain length and above a certain length, but require you to release anything in between certain lengths. They may also have a special limit that is lower than normal for a particular body of water.

Gear

Here is where many people who don’t fish get stuck. They don’t know what types of gear they need and this keeps them from getting going. Don’t get hung up on the gear.

Most fishing tackle suppliers have knowledgeable staff who can help get you outfitted. Really all you need to go fishing is a pole, a reel, some line, a hook and some bait.

Everything else is secondary. As for your first fishing pole, start out simple. There are many setups on the market where everything, including hooks and sinkers and basic artificial baits, are all included already. They will have a reel that is pre-wound with a standard weight fishing line and may even be geared toward a specific species of fish.

In many cases, these entire setups can be purchased for under $30. Remember, millions of fish have been caught on a simple stick with a string, a hook and a worm. More fish

10 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

are caught each year on a basic starter kit for under $30 than all the $300+ setups ever sold.

Every Sportsman’s Warehouse store has a large whiteboard with recently updated fishing reports for local bodies of water. They will tell you what the water conditions are like, what baits the fish are currently biting on and many other details that will help you get on the fish. Seek out advice from the staff there, get a few items and be on your way. As you get more proficient in using the gear you have, you will start to identify shortcomings or limitations and you can then supplement what you have later on.

If you are just getting started, a spincast reel may be the best option. You simply push and hold the button, cast the line and release the button and then reel a little in to lock the spool. These are the most foolproof of all fishing reels for the beginner. They typically won’t give you the same distance as an open face spinning reel, but they will get you comfortable with casting and they catch fish just as well as any other kind of reel. Think of them as a fishing reel with training wheels. If you are outfitting the kids, a spincast reel is a must to get them started. The upside is that you can kick up the fun quotient by getting a setup with Spiderman or Elsa from Frozen on them. Heck, even I would fish with a Superman pole.

Rigs

There are as many fishing rigs and jigs as there are fishermen. For those just getting started, your best bet is going to be a fixed bobber rig. Simply place a bobber on your line about 3-feet from the end. Tie a hook on the end of the line and place a split shot of sufficient weight in the middle. Put your worm on the hook and cast it out. If the fish aren’t biting, you may need to slide your bobber up higher so the worm sinks

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11

PRO'S TIP deeper. Another variation of this is to use a treble hook with salmon eggs. A treble hook has three hooks welded into a single unit. A salmon egg on each of these hooks is an attractive snack for trout, bass, pike, walleye, sunfish and just about any species of freshwater game fish, including salmon. Keep in mind the mouth size of your desired species. While I have caught huge fish on a tiny hook and itty bitty little guys on a large hook, it is best to try to match the size of the hook with the size of fish you expect to catch.

If the fish are sitting on the bottom, remove your bobber and instead of split shot, slide on a sliding egg shaped sinker. It is better to put a swivel on the end and then attach your hook the other eye of the swivel with a short leader line. This will prevent your sinker from sliding all the way down the line to the hook and it will then let your worm float slightly above the bottom.

If you put “Fishing Rigs” into Google images, you will be rewarded with thousands of images of various rigs for different fishing situations. The two listed above take advantage of the truly lazy fisherman’s cast and relax approach, letting your line sit there until something takes it. For those who want something a bit more active, a spinner bait or lure may be the way to go. Tie it on, cast it, retrieve, repeat. My first lure was a SuperDuper and I still swear by them today for trout. But I have caught the most different types of fish with a Mepps Black Fury and this lure is my safety lure, often working when nothing else has. I have also had great luck with a Kastmaster or a Daredevle spoon.

There are two basic knots you will want to learn for tying on your hooks and swivels. They are simple and we have a video showing both of them on our new YouTube page for outdoors beginners. Search for the Amateur Outdoorsman on YouTube.

There are just a few videos on there right now, but we will be adding a lot more in the next few months, so subscribe to be notified when we post a new one. We will even be doing some cool giveaways for subscribers.

Advanced Fishing Techniques

Fly fishing, trolling, bait casting and other more advanced techniques have a steeper learning curve. My suggestion is to definitely try these techniques at some point, but

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Big or small, it doesn't matter. The joy is in the fishing, not the catching.

if you are just getting started, stick to shore and basic spincasting or open-faced spinning techniques.

There are frequent workshops and classes on the more advanced methods at various outdoor expos and events in your community so you can try your hand. Many of the major outdoor expos have fishing experts doing demos in large glass sided tanks, so you can see what the bait is doing underwater. These experts love the sport and are happy to answer your questions. Our own Chad LaChance, the Fishful Thinker, does many of these expos, as well as writing a column for us every month with different tips, tricks and techniques. He

also has a great television show.

Learning to fish isn’t difficult. You are battling an animal that has a brain the size of a BB. The sad fact is, that dumb animal often defeats even the most experienced angler. Even Peter in the Bible, a professional fisherman, got skunked. In John 21:3 it says, “Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.”

At this point, some writers would toss in a Shakespeare quote, but all I really know about Shakespeare is that he makes a darn fine fishing pole.

But keep in mind the wise words of the old Swedish fisherman I met in Northern Wisconsin, “it isn’t about da fitch, it’s about da fitchin’.” Taking your kids fishing, spending time with them in the outdoors engaged in a fun and entertaining activity, is worth the minimal time, money, and effort you will expend. The memories you create will last their entire lifetime. And the worse you are at it in the beginning, the more they will remember your struggles and poke fun of you for decades to come. I still fish every chance I get and my best fishing buddy is still my momma; the lady who first taught me how to fish. And friends, life doesn’t get any better than that.

My momma, Donna Dixon, is the lady who taught me to fish, and still my best fishin' buddy.

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Fly Fishing Roundup

By Kent Danjanovich Senior Editor

F

ly fishing is an art and just like many other works of art, not everyone looks at it the same way. Because of this fact, the ever-changing circle of fly fishing rods and reels always seems to have something new and improved to make your efforts come a little bit easier.

The staff at Sportsman’s News spends hundreds of days a year searching for special waters all over the world. Now, not all of our efforts are from the fly fishing side of things, but if it can be done with a fly rod, you can bet we will give it a try. There is just something special and exciting about fly fishing. There is always something new to learn on every adventure and the fly fishing industry is one of the most innovative sections in the fishing world.

Whether you are a seasoned veteran or an inquisitive novice, here are a few of our favorite rods and reels that you just might want to check out the next time you are walking the isles at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse.

have found each of their new creations outstanding. To tell you the truth, I still use a couple of their CVX rods that are nearly ten years old on a few of my trips and I am amazed at their durability and performance

St. Croix Imperial

The St. Croix Imperial Fly Rod is handcrafted at St. Croix’s factory in Park Falls, Wisconsin with its mixture of both SCIV graphite and premium quality SCII graphite. Such a blend of materials produces an extremely lightweight and high quality fly rod. Additionally, it is designed for high performance where you can use it for fast-action fly fishing on your favorite river or lake.

Imperial’s fast action blank is stiff enough to send heavy sink-tips and weighted flies across the water like a dream, loading and shooting well. This comes in handy for my many Alaskan and Canadian adventures every summer. For the price, the Imperial fits the bill as a modestly priced workhorse.

The larger weight models come with an anodized aluminum reel seat, so the rod can be fished in saltwater without worrying about corrosion. The uplocking machined aluminum reel seat comes on the 7-weight models and up. The 6-weight and lower models have a machined aluminum reel seat with a rosewood insert. Included is a premium divided rod case with a snap locking top.

The St. Croix Imperial Fly Rod line contains a total of 34 models from 2 wt. to 10 wt. and even an 11’ switch model.

The St.Croix Imperial line of rods comes with a limited lifetime warranty that will cover just about every situation. Whether the rod fails due to a factory fault or you take a dive getting out of the drift boat and smash it tip down into a rock, the warranty will cover it with a minimal charge for shipping.

Redington VICE Fly Rods

The VICE is a classically styled, fast-action rod designed to be accessible to all anglers. The multi-modulus carbon fiber blanks offer increased levels of recovery for casting with greater accuracy and control and the subtle design touches like black anodized snake guides, laser-etched reel seats and saltwater-grade components all work together to create a fly rod that anglers just can’t resist. It’s available in a wide range for specialty sizes for unique applications.

Throwing tight loops and loading quickly, Redington’s VICE Fly Rods excel when casting flies into the wind and they easily throw softer, more open loops for short-range work. Multi-modulus carbon-fiber blanks provide greater accuracy and control so you can work the fly where you want it. Includes a Cordura nylon rod tube with built-in rod dividers and a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty.

We have been using Redington fly rods for years at the Sportsman’s News and

Temple Fork BVK

Engineered to the highest performance standards, the BVK utilizes new materials that dramatically reduce weight while creating an aggressive blend of power and strength. The result is amazing performance and an incredible price.

BVK rods are fast action rods designed to excel in presentation and distance.

The rich translucent olive blanks are topped with matching braided carbon fiber reel seats, their exclusive Tactical Series Stripping Guides, ultra-lightweight chromium-impregnated stainless snake guides and Flor grade grips that are comfortably contoured and uniquely contrasted. The guides feature super hardchrome anodized, stainless steel inserts pressed into a machined, hard-anodized, stainless steel frame for extreme durability in both fresh and saltwater. The BVK is offered in 3- to 10-weights.

I have always liked fast action rods because of their cast-ability and Temple Fork rods are truly a dream to cast.

TFO Professional Series II

With 16 models available, from a delicate 2-weight through their popular 10, the Professional Series II travel rods have taken TFO’s reputation to new levels.

These medium fast and progressive action rods are smooth casting and powerful, yet very forgiving and are an incredible value. Lefty Kreh himself says, “They are the perfect rods for all anglers and skill levels”.

4-piece construction make these the perfect travel rods. 16 different models ensure the perfect rod for every fishing situation.

As nice as the Professional II rods are to cast, they are even better looking to the eyes. Matte black finishes and gold logos complete their high-end look and oversized stripper guides make it easy to throw serious amounts of line. TFO’s heavier weight rods have June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Fly Fishing Roundup fighting butts for extra power when taking on the big boys. Easy to use colorcoded alignment dots make it easy to put the rods together streamside. Each rod comes with an attractive logoed rod sock.

All TFO rods also come with a full replacement warranty, no questions asked. Just send in the rod and Temple Fork will have it back out to you within 24-hours for just the cost of shipping. Now that’s what you call taking care of your customers!

Fenwick HMG

The HMG has a world of history before it. This rod was first introduced in 1973 as the world’s first all-graphite fishing rod and over 40 years later, it’s been reinvented as a modern classic, combining a light, comfortable rod design with a laser-tight, yet forgiving medium-fast action that gives you a crisp line feel and high line speed and accuracy in both close range and long casts.

This 4-piece rod comes in lengths of 7’ 6” to 9” and line ratings correspond from 4wt to 8wt. I’d recommend a mid-length, mid-weight if you’re looking for a new “jack-of-all-trades” model, but all of these rods can handle a tremendous variation of different sizes of fish.

New life is breathed into the classic design with modern details such as the matte black 4-section blank, complete with carbon binding, an aluminum anodized uplock reel seat and AAA grade cork handle. Inexpensive compared to the dozens of rods that have come after it, lovers of the HMG claim that, even after handling rods that are over twice the price, they keep coming back to the classic design and comfortable feel of the HMG.

Waterworks Lamson

Lamson has built a solid reputation over the years as a company that builds reels that exceed expectations. Never one to rest on their laurels, they have pushed the envelope of reel designs to cover everything from the entry level price point to the angler that frequents the salt and demands the very best. From Alaska to the tropics, the Sportsman’s News team has put Lamson reels to the test and has been very happy with how they’ve performed.

20 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Guru Series II

The Guru II from Waterworks Lamson is a continuation of the original Guru reel that incorporates updated designs to enhance the performance that anglers raved about from its predecessor. The Guru II features a new spool geometry for higher retrieve rates, a curved cross section arbor and more open ports for lighter weight and quicker line drying time.

This reel strikes a near perfect balance of reliability and affordability, so you just may have found the perfect reel with the Guru II. The Guru is a fully machined reel. Fully machined reels are not only more durable than pressure-cast reels, they are also lighter. Like all of Lamson’s machined reels, the Guru and all of its components are made in the USA in Boise, Idaho.

Right out of the box, the Guru is an impressive reel. A fully sealed drag keeps sand, water and everything else out of the reel. I’m not exactly gentle with my gear and I have had my reel dunked in water, sand, snow and any other element that could make a drag fail, but I have yet to see the Guru’s drag system perform anything but flawlessly. Even though the drag is really the most important part of the reel, let’s face it – looks matter! The Guru has a Type-II anodized finish meaning that over time you won’t see your reel looking like it’s taken much abuse. The silver-nickel color is low profile and clean and doesn’t take on many scratches or dirt over time because of the anodized finish.

On top of the sealed drag, anodized finish and durability, the Guru is a true large arbor reel. This means you have the capacity for more backing on a reel that might be used for larger species. This also means that it takes less turns of the reel to bring in your line, meaning you can put the heat on any big fish faster and have a better shot at landing them!

And for you fly guys that just have to have a black finished reel, well here it is! The new Black Guru II is virtually the same reel as the Guru II, finished in a smooth black Type-II anodize.

Liquid

The Liquid from Waterworks Lamson is a pressure cast aluminum reel, built around their proprietary, sealed conical drag system is 50% U.S. manufactured and 100% U.S. assembled.

While die-cast reels are usually built cheaply with poorly performing drag systems, basic features and lack of durability, the Liquid fly reel has turned the tables. Lamson has long been known for producing large arbor fly reels of the highest quality with lightweight strength, smooth drags and high-tech features.

The Liquid reel is no exception and for around $100, this is not a fly reel that is strictly designed for beginner anglers. It will function under tough conditions with long-lasting performance.

The Liquid is crafted from pressure die-cast aluminum which allowed Lamson to create compound curves and zero-radius inside corners for a precise fit and finish not found in other die-cast reels. A one-piece frame adds strength and a narrow large arbor design with a concave, curved spool holds fly line with plenty of backing capacity. The stealth black finish won’t spook fish with unwanted flashes and adds durability and abrasion resistance. With the drag system, Lamson did not cut corners on the Liquid. Their CNC-machined drag cassette is the same basic design as found on their high-end reels and has smooth fish-stopping power that is easily adjusted with a large drag knob.

Lamson’s Liquid comes in a full-range of sizes for many fly fishing applications from small brook trout in a mountain creek to hefty pike that require a 9-weight fly rod. Four sizes accommodate fly rods from three to ten weights and range from 3.34 to 4.65 inches in diameter and 4.23 to 8.19 ounces in weight.

Backing capacity spans from 100 yards to 250 yards.

Waterworks Lamson’s warranty is valid for the lifetime of the original purchaser of the reel against any defect in material or workmanship.

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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22 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Fly Fishing Roundup Liquid 3-Pack Fly Fishing Reel and Spools

beginner-to-intermediate category. The reel comes in four sizes (3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10) and three different colors.

Redington has taken their super dependable CD Series reel and made it lighter and more attractive. This fully machined 6061 T6 aluminum mid-arbor construction reel features a cork on Teflon center drag design and a Koyo one-way clutch.

The drag system is free from “creep”, diminishes heat generation and has excellent grease retention. Ceramic coated bearings aid in its smoothness and durability. One of the hallmarks of any outstanding piece of fishing gear is that it can be fished with confidence, and the RISE will allow you to do just that.

The RISE’s ergonomics and fit are outstanding for a reel in this price category.

The spool-to-frame fit is perfect, with zero lateral play, resulting in a reel that’s a pleasure to operate. It comes with a nylon reel case and lifetime warranty.

The Liquid offers everything you need in a fly reel at an absolute bang for your buck. The 3-pack is even more of an extreme value, as it includes one reel and two spare spools in a nylon carrying case all for the price of one reel and one spool. This great reel pack offers beneficial interchangeability at ease for the multi-faceted angler.

Redington RISE III

Redington’s all new RISE III continues their ongoing quest to think beyond the bounds of traditional reel designs. It features a u-shaped large-arbor and a compact carbon fiber drag system that offers smooth fish stopping toque. Its lightweight design shows through in the modern aesthetic of the RISE and thoughtful details like twin molded, soft-touch handles and oversized drag knob help the reel perform in the hands of any angler.

THE RISE fly reel, Redington’s latest offering, fits firmly in the

Redington BEHEMOTH

The BEHEMOTH, if its name wasn’t enough to get the message across, is decidedly aimed at anglers looking to tangle with big fish.

The highlight of the BEHEMOTH is its drag package, which at the Redington-rated 30 lbs of weight/ capacity, is far burlier than anything I’m aware of in its class. In fact, a drag of that power is typically found in high-end reels that price out at around $700 - $900, leaving many anglers wondering what gives with the BEHEMOTH and its inarguably

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Fly Fishing Roundup reasonable asking price? Surely something must. Right? Well, as it turns out, not much. The secret to the BEHEMOTH’s affordability is its die-cast construction.

The reality is that the BEHEMOTH wouldn’t exist if it weren’t die cast. The BEHEMOTH incorporates spokes that criss-cross and interlock, meaning that the spool is not made up of several, individual spokes — instead the spokes merge and combine to form one solid-spoke in the injection process. The result is a spool with “incredible” structural strength to prevent torsion and embellish a deep V-cavity for extra capacities on backing.

And, BEHEMOTH’s spool lays out and picks up line very evenly. For the trout angler, reels that have this tendency are little more than a mild inconvenience, but for the big game angler, line that comes off or on the spool unevenly often translates into lost fish.

The BEHEMOTH offers anglers looking to expand their horizons a way to do so without dumping a month’s rent down on a premium fly reel. As with all Redington reels, it comes with a lifetime warranty to soothe you and remind you that everything’s going to be all right, even if something goes wrong.

Ross Cimmeron II

The Cimarron II just may set the standard for affordable large arbor fly reels by incorporating a superior drag mechanism that is extraordinarily smooth, heat resistant and provides incredible stopping power. The series is fully machined out of a proprietary aluminum alloy, fully anodized for protection and built to take the type of abuse applied to a reel that is used every day of the season.

Ross’s Cimarron II is the newest generation in a line of quality, Americanmade fly reels. Its bold, linear porting gives it a distinctive look, while reducing weight and maintaining the strength and rigidity that Ross is known for. The Delrin 500AF, Teflon-impregnated disc drag system has been upgraded using new composite materials and stainless steel, boasting over twice the amount of drag pressure of its predecessor. Even with all of this additional power, the drag remains silky smooth and has zero start up inertia, which will protect the lightest tippet. These features make the Cimarron II a fantastic reel with performance and reliability that will be at home on any body of water.

24 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Cover Concepts C

atching fish is not nearly as hard as finding them in the first place. After all, it doesn’t matter how good your go-to, top-secret, uber-lucky lure is. If you don’t put it in front of fish, they won’t bite it. Seasoned anglers know that the way to locate fish - any kind of fish - is to first study the “structure” - the bottom contour and composition - and Chad LaChance then locate the best “cover” on the best structure. In last month’s Fishful Thinker column, I detailed structure concepts, so now it’s time to talk about cover.

If structure is the shape of the bottom, including but not limited to channels,

drop offs, humps, flats and general shoreline shape, what exactly is cover? Cover is anything that sticks up from the bottom and/or out from the bank. It could be submerged, emergent or overhanging. Besides its relation to the water surface, cover could be comprised of rocks, weeds, bushes, wood or just about anything else that gives texture to the structure. In cases of an extreme lack of cover, fish may utilize shade lines or bottom content transitions the same way.

Before I go farther into this, let’s talk fish. Bass and walleyes are probably most known for their love of cover, but all species gravitate to it in some way. It may be only to access a food source that hangs around cover, like bluegills being preyed on by wipers that otherwise roam or trout feeding on bugs located in flooded willows.

Some species will spawn around cover, others may move to open water to spawn and return to cover to rest up afterwards. Regardless, understanding the combination of structure and cover is key to consistent fishing.

An important thing to keep in mind is that cover is only as good as the structure

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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it’s on. You can have the best-looking bushes in the whole lake, but mature bass won’t use them if they aren’t located on suitable structure. Conversely, even marginal cover will hold some fish if it’s on great structure. In this way, structure trumps cover. In an ideal world, I’d locate a great structural element – ie. a killer channel swing or isolated hump - with great cover on it. You may have heard of the “spot on spot” concept?

Well, the first spot is the structural element and the second spot is the cover on it. You can fish the whole piece of structure and perhaps catch a few fish, but hit the cover located on it and you’ve found the sweet spot and most likely the biggest fish on the structure.

As I already said, cover can be many things, man-made or natural. Aquatic vegetation is a major one, as is flooded terrestrial plant life or timber. Trees and bushes on the shoreline that hang out over the water are prime and dead trees that fall in can be as well. Cover could be broken rock/rubble/rip-rap or it could be docks, moored boats or even something as small as cables securing said docks. In some cases, cover is random or isolated while in other cases cover is almost too thick to be fishable.

In the absence of defined structure, dissecting cover becomes even more important.

My home state of Florida comes to mind, but any very flat, featureless water is the same. Prairie “potholes”, reclaimed gravel quarries, very old lakes that have silted in and even river “frog water” (wide, flat, slow and even flowing sections of river) all deserve the same treatment. In these cases, I look for either a mix of two types of cover coming together, gaps or edges in the cover or isolated cover. Sitting in a boat looking out over 50 acres of lily pads may seem daunting, so look for other vegetation mixed in with the pads, holes or clumps in the pads or any type of log, edge or something else different mixed in. You’d never have time to fish the entire 50 acres thoroughly, so concentrate on the highest percentage areas.

Expansive mud flats are common in western or old reservoirs; they also have almost no structure to them. But just the opposite as the pad field, they commonly have almost no cover. In this case, locating isolated individual pieces of cover - a single stump, rock, bush or even hard patch on the otherwise flat bottom - can pay off big time.

In general, I always look for a mix of cover types first. I especially like different mixes; weeds with scattered or isolated stumps or docks with brush piles around them, as BassX-8x5_4c_BassX Ad-final 8x5 2/17/17 9:09 AM Page 1 be good too. All opposed to two types of vegetation coming together, though that can

other things being equal, I look for something different. Facing a half mile long rip-rap dam (the dam is the structure, the rip-rap is the cover on it), I will fish anything that floated up to the dam, literally anything, including tires, logs, trash or whatever. Think spot on spot again.

Studying what cover types are available on good structure is the fastest way to break down new water or pattern familiar water. Fish edges, mixes, isolated pieces and most importantly pay attention to not only what kind of cover worked, but the relationship of the fish’s position to it. In no time at all, finding fish will become second nature and catching them gets easier!

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Fourteen models, engineered to excel at bass angling’s most productive techniques, seriously bend the rules when it comes to performance at the $100 mark. Premium SCII graphite blanks. Fuji® reel seats. Hard-aluminum oxide guides. Split-grip handles for balance and comfort. Even two coats of Flex Coat for long-term durability. Yup. You wanted it. We delivered. Lower those hands and type your way here for details: WWW.STCROIXRODS.COM

30 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

31

Smoke on the Water

Smallmouth bass, crude oil, and current events on the Columbia River.

By Gary Lewis

O

ne of the funny things about smallmouth is how they got out west. The bronze-bodied fish with the angry red eyes were brought by railroad in buckets from the upper Midwest in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

In some cases, smallies bound for elsewhere were released into creeks and rivers because trains derailed or were delayed. The hardy fish thrived wherever it found cool, flowing water.

It did so well in the Columbia, the state of Oregon recently did away with the size and bag limits for smallmouth bass.

Headed up to fish the Columbia with guide Drew Scharns, we knew we didn’t need to bring our own tackle and that made it a good opportunity to take motorcycles north to the big river.

Catherine Monchamp, Octava Best-Beck and I rode motorcycles from Wildhorse

The Union Pacific derailment spilled 42,000 gallons of crude oil before bursting into flames.

Tray Ardese with a Columbia River smallmouth bass taken a few miles upstream from The Dalles, Oregon. Keep as many as you want, but before you do, read the fish advisories and consumption guidelines. For bass in the mid-Columbia, the recommendation is no more than four meals per month.

Photo by Gary Lewis

32 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Harley-Davidson in Bend.

Tray Ardese flew in from Oklahoma, Mike Alquist drove down from Kent, Wash. and Sam Pyke drove in from Beaverton.

We met up at Cousins Country Inn in The Dalles, then headed to Zim’s Brah Haus for lunch.

That’s when our smallmouth bass fishing trip went off the rails. Our next stop was going to be the boat launch at Rowena and from there we were going to fish down toward Mosier.

Lisa Farquharson, the director of The Dalles Chamber of Commerce, sat across the table from me. She stared at her phone in disbelief. A fuel train had just derailed at Mosier and Interstate 84 was closed in both directions between The Dalles and Hood River.

Our guide, Drew Scharns, of Hood River Adventures, was on his way. He managed to get across the bridge and come east on the Washington side. Michael Gibney was pulling our second boat, but he got stuck in the traffic jam at Hood River. With a grow-

Take it hiking. Take it hunting. Take it on the water. Montana™ 650t features a bold 4-inch color touchscreen display with dual orientation capabilities. Preloaded 100K TOPO maps come standard, plus support for multiple mapping options like BirdsEye Satellite Imagery and BlueChart® g2 (each sold separately). Montana packs a 3-axis tilt-compensated compass, barometric altimeter, and a 5-megapixel camera to boot. Buy the power mount and City Navigator® and it’ll give you spoken turn-by-turn driving directions. It’s big. It’s versatile.

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June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

33

ing cloud of burning crude oil looming over the river, we had to come up with a new game plan.

All packed into one boat, Friday evening, while Interstate 84 was at a standstill, we launched well upstream at Celilo and unlimbered our rods. Because there were seven of us in one boat, Scharns pinched the barbs down on all the baits. And he put on his wide-brim hat and dark glasses for further protection against errant hooks.

We motored across the river. Not a one of our guests had caught a smallmouth bass before. That was going to change.

In the Columbia, smallmouth make a good living on crawdads, baby shad, salmon and steelhead smolts and other things that taste good with lemon and butter.

We started with crankbaits, casting them to shore and reeling back fast. It’s a good technique because, as Drew pointed out, the river was dropping at the moment and the crawdads have to move down out of the shoreside rocks to stay wet. For a crustacean on the move, that’s a good opportunity to get gobbled.

The sweet spot seemed to be eight feet off the bank at the transition point between shallow water and a drop-off. To maximize the time our baits spent in the strike zone, we cast at diagonals, bouncing baits off the rocks and into the water, charging them back.

After a couple of eightdollar lures snagged up, we switched over to 35-cent jig-heads with curly-tail grubs.

The best bites we found around rocky points where the currents picked up and downstream in the foam lines. Wherever there was a bit of shade, there could Catherine Monchamp, of Bend, Ore. and be bass resting next to a Drew Scharns, of Hood River, with a nice boulder. smallmouth bass taken on the day of the oil To the west, a plume tanker derailment. of smoke stood high in

Photo by Gary Lewis

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34 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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When the fuel tanker train derailed, the fishing trip went off the rails.

Fortunately, there were bass to be caught upstream. the evening sky. We talked about railroads, crude oil and the river while we burned ethanol-free up and down the river from spot to spot. Up on the highway, the big rigs and the passenger cars stacked up, praying for the roadblocks to open.

With the idea a bass might want a change of taste from the usual diet of crustaceans, Scharns handed me a surface plug to imitate a salmon smolt. I cast it to the bank, let the ripples dissipate, then chugged it, waited for a three-count and chugged it again on and on for most of an hour.

When the shadows were long, when I was ready to change back to a curly-tail grub, a fish splashed at the bait. When it felt the steel, it blasted into the current. A minute later it took to the surface, trying to throw the hook. When it swooped too close to the boat, Scharns scooped it up in the net, a female with a tail frayed from nesting. We guessed her at about four pounds and turned her back to the river.

On the freeway, the cars and trucks were stacked up for almost 20 miles. We found our way back to The Dalles and the Clock Tower Ales in the old Wasco County Courthouse, via the old Moody Road, way above the river.

By morning, the road was clear again, although a little of that dark smoke still lingered over the water.

We motored west to the launch and drove to the mouth of Rock Creek where cleanup crews were at work to contain the small amount of oil that had seeped into the water.

Out in the current at the edge of the channel near Mosier, where the water drops off, we cast our offerings to one of my favorite predators, the smallmouth.

Smoke and motor oil-colored grubs are always a good bet and this day, after the spill, was no different.

Whatever the fish take them for, they take them hard and go right to the top to tailwalk the surface, gills rattling. It all works together for good for bass fishermen on the Columbia: the railroad, the reservoirs and the riprap that holds the banks in place.

Where the water starts to drop away, where crawdads get caught in transition, we took a lot of our fish on dark plastic crawfish imitations. Funny thing is, they’re made from crude oil.

Michael Gibney with a To order a signed copy of Fishing smallmouth bass taken near the Mount Hood Country, send $29.95 (includes S&H) to GLO, PO Box 1364, site of the derailment, the morning Bend, OR 97709 or visit www.GaryLewiafter the incident.

Photo by Gary Lewis sOutdoors.com.

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EL ECTRO - O PTICS DIGITAL B AL L ISTIC L ASER RA N GEFINDER

KILO® 2400ABS

BALLISTIC

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Perfect shot adjustments based on real-time distance, temperature, pressure, humidity, and windage with Applied Ballistics technology

User profiles synced directly to your smart devices displaying environmental calculations

The fastest refresh rates even over a mile with SIG’s ranging data engine

sigsauer.com June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

35

Video Product Reviews

Gear Aid Lights

G

ear Aid has been making products to repair and improve your outdoor experience for over 35 years. From repair tape to glues, to tent pole splints and repair kits, Gear Aid has you covered when it comes to fixing your gear in the field. Now they want you to be able to see that gear and recharge your essential devices in the field at the same time.

Introducing the Gear Aid LED lights and power stations. These powerful LED lights, in three sizes, provide hours of high intensity lighting, are waterproof and mountable in multiple configurations. Plus the included storage bag doubles as a light diffuser to give you a hanging lantern.

SPARK LED Light

The SPARK LED Light is small and compact and quickly recharges via the built-in USB port. It features three brightness levels, a folding kick stand, and a standard ¼-20 threaded tripod mount for use with a wide variety of mounts and attachments. It outputs 160 lumens of light on its highest setting and will run between 5 hours on high up to 25 hours on low with a full charge. It even has an SOS flashing mode, in case you need to use it as a rescue beacon. Four LEDs near the charging port quickly let you know it is charging and how much juice remains in the light. Fifteen high intensity LEDs put out a lot of light for such a small package that weighs a mere 4 ounces.

threaded mount on the pivoting handle also has a screw-in hook adapter to give you even more mounting options.

FLUX Light and Power Station

ARC Light and Power Station

With 60 high intensity LED, The ARC can output 320 lumens of light on its highest setting. It will run from 8 to 96 hours on a single charge. Additionally, the ARC’s 10,400 mAh battery will let you recharge a standard iPhone up to 5 times in the field, so it is a great supply of power for your cameras, GPS, and other USB charged devices with its 5V/1.5A high-speed USB output. In addition to being a bright little light in a rugged housing, the ARC features three different color temperature settings, so it is an awesome companion for filming. It also has 10 different brightness settings. It’s ¼-20

Scan this QR Code with your smart phone to view the Sportsman's News YouTube Channel.

If you thought the ARC was powerful, you will be wowed by the power of the FLUX. With twice the battery power, the 20,800mAh rechargeable battery will provide 12-192 hours of light and recharge your phone 10 times. The Flux has all of the features of the ARC but ramps up the power to 640 lumens of light on high with its 82 LEDs. All three lights come with white translucent carrying bags, that can act as a diffuser to lower the direct intensity of the light and help spread it around the periphery, for use as a lantern.

Check out the Gear Aid Lights and Power Stations at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Sig Optics Kilo 2400 ABS Laser Rangefinder

N

ew for 2017 is the Sig Electro-Optics KILO2400ABS Laser Rangefinder, truly one of the most powerful and durable rangefinders we have ever tested. It is designed for the extreme long range shooter, where pinpoint accuracy is essential.

The kit comes complete with everything you will need to take precision shooting to the next level. The Molle Bag holding your kit includes the KILO2400ABS in its’ own nylon carry bag, tripod adapter, smart phone jack wind meter, three batteries and SIG SAUER’s tactical pen/stylus.

The KILO2400ABS is embedded with Applied Ballistic Elite technology, which is designed to work hand in hand with the Sig Ballistic App for your smart phone. The rangefinder itself is built with a tough magnesium chassis, with binocular style eyecup and diopter adjustment. The 7X25mm monocular, with SpectraCoat anti-reflection coatings, provides excellent light transmission and optical clarity.

Out of the box, the unit is set for the simplest operation and all you need to do is install one of the three included batteries to be up and running. This will allow the most basic of users to push the range button and get extremely fast and accurate ranges out past 2000 yards. The Lightwave DSP Technology in the ranging engine provides the fastest ranging we have ever tested. Even during fog and rain, where most rangefinders struggle, the KILO2400ABS didn’t falter even in the harsh conditions of southeast Alaska’s spring bear season.

The trademarked Lumatic Display automatically calibrates the brightness of your LED display which ensures a bright display during sunny days and reduces it to a minimal amount of light in those twilight hours, as to not rob you of your night vision. The Hyperscan Mode is entered into by pressing and holding the range button. This will generate four readings per second, which is ideal when you are looking at extremely long ranges.

If you never use any of the other features of this rangefinder and aren’t a techy, you will be ecstatic with Scan this QR Code with your smart phone to view the KIILO2400ABS. However, if you are a gadget and tech the Sportsman's News junkie, the next level of this rangefinder will take you over YouTube Channel. the top. Paired with the Sig Ballistics App for your smart

36 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

phone, you can get the most out of your rangefinder. You can plug in up to four custom rifle profiles, which will then take into consideration the outside temperature, barometric pressure and humidity from the onboard sensors and will provide you with the correct holdover in MIL or MOA. The WeatherFlow Windmeter can be plugged into your smart phone and will provide you the correct windage adjustments for your custom rifle profiles. In short, if it has an effect on bullet travel, the KILO2400ABS has the ability to measure and account for the change in impact location.

Whether you are a basic user that wants a high quality rangefinder or an extreme long range shooter that wants to account for all outside forces, the SIG KILO2400ABS is for you.

Bushnell Engage Binos

P

roviding a lightweight chassis, best-in-class optics, and Bushnell’s EXO Barrier lens coating to repel water, fog, dust, oil, and debris, the Engage Binoculars give you a versatile viewing platform at a competitive price point.

The innovation begins with the frame. Made of lighter and stronger magnesium instead of aluminum, this frame will take a beating in austere environments while still keeping the weight manageable. At 23.5 ounces for the 10x42s and just 29.2 ounces for the 12x50s, the Engage chassis minimizes weight without sacrificing ruggedness.

On top of its magnesium chassis is a rubberized armor for a positive grip, even in a mist or downpour. A texturized grip panel on each tube provides even more slip resistance and allows you to hold them comfortably for long periods of time.

The Extra Low Dispersion ED Prime Glass lenses are fully multi-coated for maximum brightness and clarity. A Dielectric Prism Coating as well as Ultra Wide Band Coating on the lenses ensures true color and light transfer, especially during twilight.

A BaK-4 roof prism allows maximum light transmission in a straight tube design.

A lockable diopter focus ring, lets the user set the proper focus for their eye and ensures it won’t get moved. Rotating eye cups allow the Engage to be used with or without eyeglasses. A center focus knob makes it a breeze to adjust with even one hand. Additionally, the Engage binos can be mounted on a tripod for even more steady viewing. All of these features are what you expect from an optic with a much higher price tag, so the Engage is a great value without sacrificing functionality. Top it off with an ironclad limited lifetime warranty, so you know your investment Scan this QR Code with will be protected. your smart phone to view the Sportsman's News Sportsman’s Warehouse carries the Engage binos in the popular 10x42 and the more powerful 12x50 configuration. YouTube Channel.

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The 10x42s have a 340-foot field of view at 1,000 yards and the 12x50s provide 280 feet at 1,000 yards.

Check out the new Bushnell Engage binoculars at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse optics counter.

Aguila Rimfire Ammo

A

guila Ammunition is one of the largest manufacturers of rimfire ammunition in the world. Until the great ammo shortage of 2013, Aguila ammunition had a strong reputation for their quality, accuracy and unique product offering, however it did not yet have broad awareness. When ammo was hard to find, many grabbed every round of rimfire ammo they could get, and more and more people discovered the quality and affordability of Aguila and found that it provided a more accurate and reliable shooting experience at a great price. Now that there is more .22 ammo on the shelf, shooters have a wide selection of choices, but an ever-growing number of shooters are choosing Aguila above all else.

Sportsman’s Warehouse carries the full line of Aguila .22 long rifle ammo for everything from target practice to hunting small game. Each features the specially crafted Aguila Prime technology for reliable ignition in all conditions. Here are four key products consumers should be aware of.

Super Extra Standard Velocity

For everyday plinking, the standard velocity Super Extra provides a lead round nosed bullet, making it an ideal match for target shooting and competition. Many competitions, like the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association, require non-expanding solid tipped bullets. The standard velocities of around 1,130 feet per second of the Super Extra provide enough punch to cycle semi-autos, but without the higher speeds of high velocity rounds. Topped with a 40-grain bullet, they are inexpensive, readily available, and provide exceptional reliability, making them a great choice for target shooting.

Interceptor

The Interceptor packs a punch most people do not expect from a .22 LR. Generating 1,470 feet per second out of the barrel, the 40-grain flat tipped copper plated round is an excellent hunting round where deeper penetration is desired. It is the fastest 40-grain .22 long rifle round on the market and has excellent accuracy and consistency. The bullet delivers 113 foot pounds of energy and is still traveling at 1,130 feet per second when it reaches a target out at 100 yards, so it can go far and still deliver when it gets there.

Sniper SubSonic

For those desiring a quieter load or for suppressed shooting, the Sniper SubSonic provides a longer heavy 60 grain lead bullet, fitted to a short case to give the same overall length of a standard .22 long rifle. It leaves the barrel at 950 feet per second, below the speed of sound, so not only does it eliminate the sonic boom, but the combination of a shorter case, heavier bullet, and only 1.4 grains of powder, reduces recoil and the explosive report of the burning propellant. This makes for a whisper quiet round when suppressed and minimal report unsupressed. Because of their heavier bullet, these rounds are recommended for use in a rifle with a 20-inch barrel or longer.

If you haven’t already tried them, pick up some Aguila rimfire ammo at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse before your next range outing. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Super Extra High Velocity

The Super Extra High Velocity rounds feature a solid tipped, copper coated 40-grain bullet, and travel at speeds of around 1,255 feet per second. This means they are less affected by wind and have greater accuracy over longer distances. The copper plating and high velocity ensures the most reliable feeding in semi-automatic platforms.

Scan this QR Code with your smart phone to view the Sportsman's News YouTube Channel.

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

37

Video Product Reviews

Browning X-Bolt McMillan LR Hunter

T

he Browning name is steeped in tradition and is a name you can count on for dependable firearms. They provide first class craftsmanship and accuracy which is second to none. This has been the case for well over a century and the addition of the X-Bolt a few years back continued the tradition. In 2016, Browning offered the X-Bolt McMillan Long Range Hunter as a limited offering. This rifle was touted as a long range shooters dream.

The Sportsman’s News team ordered one immediately and it took nearly eight months to take delivery of this precision shooting rifle. We topped the rifle with a new Leupold VX6-HD riflescope in 4-24X52 to get the most out of this rifles long range ability. We attached the rifle with a 20MOA rail from Talley as well as medium height Talley tactical rings to accommodate the 34MM tube on the scope.

This rifle is available in numerous calibers, starting with the 6 MM Creedmore all the way up to the .300 WinMag., but we chose my favorite caliber. the .26 Nosler for this test rifle. We always shoot premium ammunition from Doubletap for our testing and in the past, all of the .26 Nosler rifles in X-Bolt have shot the 127 grain Barnes LRX bullet extremely well. However, this specific rifle performed the best with 140 grain Nosler Accubond bullets. We tested every load Doubletap Ammunition offers in this caliber to make sure we were getting the most out of the rifle.

The Doubletap 140 grain Nosler Accubond is coming out of the 26” fluted Scan this QR Code with your smart phone to view barrel at 3350 feet per t h e S p o r t s m a n ' s N e w s second and delivers a YouTube Channel. sub .5” MOA 3-shot

group at 200 yards (.25 MOA). This is the desired results we are looking for when we want to shoot out to 1000 yards or more. Remember, the difference between a .5” group and a 1” group at 100 yards grows from a 5” group out to a 10” group at 1000 yards with all things perfect, which isn’t usually the case.

The McMillan stock on this rifle is built for long range shooting. The fat pistol grip keeps you from gripping too tight and torquing the rifle and the flat forearm rests nicely on the shooting bags for a stable platform. The front of the stock has a sling stud to accommodate those of you that like shooting with a bipod. Holes designed for quick disconnect slings are also part of this lightweight chassis.

The free-floating barrel and the adjustable trigger provide you with everything you would get with a custom rifle, at a fraction of the cost. The long range accuracy on this rifle is more than one would expect from any custom rifle, as well. At 1000 yards, I was able to shoot consistent 5” groups in mild winds and gave me the confidence to take this rifle with me on a spring brown bear hunt in southeast Alaska. That’s right, a .26 Nosler for brown bears. A rifle that shoots with this precision and with minimal recoil is one that I can have confidence in putting my shot exactly where I want to and make a killing shot inside of 500 yards. Of course, my intent was to get inside of 300 yards, if possible and shoot him right behind the ear!

Garmin Fenix 5 Watch

W

ith all of the functionality of a multi-sport GPS enabled smart watch, As mentioned, the features of this watch are far too numerous to mention, because paired with a fitness tracker to chart and log all of your important it includes the features typically found in multiple devices, jammed into a single rugfitness metrics, the Fenix 5 from Garmin is a real performer, whatged unit that is small enough to comfortably wear on your wrist. ever your outdoor activity.

To see the full capability of this watch, check it out at your local Sportsman’s WareHoused in an attractive and rugged case, the Fenix 5 is a great house Gift Bar. looking watch that identifies the wearer as an avid outdoorsman. A bright colored 1.2inch display, with 240x240 resolution, uses a transflective surface to enhance visibility in sunlight, so it doesn’t appear washed out. Instead of a touch screen, the watch uses five buttons to navigate through the multitude of features and menus. This is a real positive when wearing gloves or in various environmental conditions More than just an attractive exterior, the watch is loaded with features, far too numerous to mention all of them here. First off, is battery life. The Fenix 5 will run for 14 days of regular use in smart watch mode, 24 hours in GPS mode and up to 60 hours in UltraTrac battery saver mode, which pings the satellites once a minute to keep you on course while lengthening the battery life.

The watch pairs with your smartphone to deliver text and phone messages to the screen so you know who is calling before reaching for your phone. It also pairs with the GarminConnect App to track all of your data, allowing you to easily swap out watch faces and program other functions in a more user-friendly manner than scrolling through all of the internal menus.

No matter the activity in which you enjoy participating, the Garmin Fenix 5 has you covered. From general fitness, to marathon running, to hiking, to skydiving, the Fenix 5 has a setting and a metric to track. A built-in elevation tracker, optical wrist mounted heart rate monitor and ability to link up with ANT+ accessories, give you even more expansive utility.

Because of its Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity, you can perform a multitude of functions, using your watch as a remote for everything from controlling music to hitting record on your Garmin Virb action camera.

The GPS is robust as well, allowing you to use Garmin’s BaseKamp App to pre-upload detailed maps with overlays and also utilize breadcrumbs to find your way back along your path, as well as see where you have been.

Scan this QR Code with your smart phone to view The 64 Mb internal memory can hold up to 1,000 waypoints and 30 differthe Sportsman's News ent routes.

38 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

YouTube Channel.

Sitka Gear Subalpine

I

t’s been over a decade since Sitka Gear burst onto the scene of the outdoor community. In 2004, they literally took the industry by storm and delivered high performance outdoor gear to the hard-core outdoor athlete.

Until this time, the hunter wasn’t considered an athlete. However, founder Jonathon Hart saw a serious need for these athletes out there, which would become one with the animals and the terrain they live in. These hardcore athletes didn’t need clothing, they needed gear and gear for all types of terrain and weather conditions.

New for 2017 from Sitka Gear is the Ascent Series Optifade Subalpine line. It’s more than just a new pattern, as this purpose driven design is what is putting Sitka Gear leaps and bounds ahead of its’ competition by providing extremely specialized clothing and equipment for very specialized hunters. What this means is that you will be able to not only have a product that provides great concealment, but one that is built for the specific types of hunting you do.

The Optifade Subalpine pattern is designed with the elk and deer hunter in mind. The science behind the pattern is for those of you that are stalking or ambushing animals from the ground, in tree covered, vegetated terrain. It has a super high contrast, with black being the dark and bone color being the lighter side. When you engage with animals inside of fifty yards, this contrast will create an illusion to the animals, making them look through you instead of at you. When you aren’t detected as a predator, this allows you to get much closer to your Scan this QR Code with prey. The greens and tans in the pattern allow you to your smart phone to view blend into nearly any terrain, from the desert floor the Sportsman's News of Arizona, to the thick timber of the northwest. The YouTube Channel.

Video Product Reviews

diversity of this pattern allows Sitka Gear to then define products which are very specific to each application.

This new Optifade Subalpine pattern will not only allow Sitka Gear to have a concealment pattern for every situation and terrain a hunter could need, but it is also allowing them to get very product specific for each and every hunting situation. Those of you that are early season archery hunters, where high level performance, breathability and functionality is the key, you will now have a highly tailored system in the Ascent Series Optifade Subalpine line, which is totally different from that of the late season rifle hunter, tackling sub-zero weather conditions.

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Camp Cooking Roundup Camp Chef Cooler 70

Meal preparation in camp means being able to keep your food and beverages cold to prevent spoilage. The Camp Chef Cooler 70 provides all of the benefits of an extreme cooler, with small details that set it apart and make it uniquely Camp Chef. The 70-liter spacious interior will hold a lot of food, drinks and ice; and the included wire basket will keep delicate items out of direct contact with the ice. Reversible rubber feet allow it to either slide or grip, depending upon your preference. Removable heavy-duty carrying handles allow tie downs to be used in the handle slots for even more secure anchoring. Strong rubber latches and an airtight rubber gasket, ensure your food stays cold for days. Made of a tough rotomolded plastic and featuring an over engineered steel hinge, the Camp Chef Cooler 70 will withstand serious abuse in the backcountry.

Arctic Ice Alaskan Series

Filled with a proprietary blend, these freezer blocks manage to keep beverages just above freezing and will stay cold for days, in a tightly sealed cooler. Available in four sizes; .75, 1.5, 2.5, and 5 pounds, the Alaskan Series will fit a variety of coolers or differing sizes.

They freeze in your home freezer in about 5-hours and will last for days, keeping your items icy cold. Their tough plastic exterior prevents puncture or breakage that can let the contents leak out. Using these blocks keeps your food from getting soggy from melted ice and is a great technique to keep everything cold for the duration of your trip.

Kelly Kettle Ultimate Stainless Base Camp Kit Taking the innovative double walled water kettle of the Kelly Kettle to the next level is the introduction of the Ultimate Base Camp Kit. The Kelly Kettle uses an inner chamber with a center chimney, atop a biomass stove, to rapidly boil water. Now, they have included a pot holder; hobo stove; stainless steel pot, pan, lid, cups and plates; a foldable grill and other accessories to make their kettle an entire cooking system. While you use sticks and twigs to build your fire for heating your water, you can also utilize the oncewasted energy escaping out of the chimney to cook other foods. All the accessories stack inside one another to fit into the included nylon storage bag and easily be transported to camp.

40 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Emberlit Fire Ant Multi-Fuel Stove

Most multi-fuel stoves let you use either propane or isobutane as fuel, but the Emberlit Fire Ant is truly a versatile companion that uses wood and twigs from the trail, as well as spirit burners or fuel tablets.

It is made of tough stainless steel or titanium for even more weight reduction. The SS version weighs only 6.5 ounces and the TI version weighs in at 3.5 ounces. Both versions fold completely flat and fit into an envelope smaller than a pouch of tuna fish. Even though light, thin and compact, the Fire Ant will hold a fully loaded Dutch oven and easily handle lighter camp pots and pans. Its innovative design ensures you get maximum heat from your fuel source by properly regulating air intake. It is easy to assemble and very quick to get lit and heating.

The Secret Weapon of BBQ Perfection... Now at Sportman’s Warehouse

www.sportsmanswarehouse.com June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

41

Camp Cooking Roundup KUJU Coffee

Not only is the innovative brewing packet of KUJU coffee an easy way to take your favorite java with you, it is amazingly tasty coffee. Available in three roasts, the dark Bold Awakening, the medium Basecamp Blend and the light Angle’s Landing, the beans are sourced from a farm that employs women rescued from sex slavery and a portion of every sale is donated to the National Parks Foundation.

The founders of KUJU Coffee come by their good citizenship honestly, as both are Eagle Scouts. Inside the sealed packet is a paper filter with fold out wings that wrap over the lip of your mug. Simply tear off the perforated strip on the top of the filter and slowly pour your hot water in to get a perfectly brewed cup of coffee, even in the most remote locations. And it is less expensive and better tasting than you would get from an overpriced national chain.

MSR Stowaway Pots

Whether you are cooking on a stove or over an open campfire, nothing transfers heat better than stainless steel. The MSR Stowaway Pots are made from durable stainless steel and come in three sizes; 475 milliliter, 1.1 liter, and 1.6 liter and feature a tight lid with a folding handle.

The handle snaps into place out of the way over the lid for storage, keeping your pot and any contents, such as a backpacking stove, secure. They are affordable and versatile camp cooking companions.

Camp Chef Everest Two-Burner Camping Stove

With two high pressure 20,000 BTU burners, this portable powerhouse provides the power of a much larger stove in a portable package. The lid connects to two, fold-out wind guards giving you protection from the wind from three directions. When closed, the aluminum lid protects the nickel-plated steel cooking grate and burners during transport. The stove has fully adjustable knobs and a piezo electric ignition, so you don’t have to lose the hair on your knuckles trying to get it lit. It runs on one-pound portable propane tanks, but Camp Chef also has an optional adapter to allow it to run off larger barbecue-style bulk tanks.

42 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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through a rigorous “Voice of the Customer” process – where numerous law enforcement and military trainers, firearms experts, distributors and retailers provided input, feedback and testing in the determination of the form, function and features of this firearm. The resultant new pistol is a revolutionary platform for Ruger, one that utilizes the combination of a recoilreducing barrel cam (which is designed to better spread recoil energy over time) with a low mass slide, low center of gravity and a low bore axis to provide an unparalleled shooting experience.

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June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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44 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Camp Cooking Roundup UCO Flatpack Portable Grill and Firepit

A lightweight and backpackable solution for places where uncontained fires are prohibited is the UCO Flatpack Portable Grill and Firepit. Made of stainless steel with a steel base, the grill folds up to less than 1.5-inches thick and weighs just 3.2 pounds, so it is light and takes minimal pack space, but provides 130 square inches of grilling surface. The side walls act as a windbreak, but vent holes allow it to be used with wood as well as charcoal briquettes. The nylon carrying bag contains all the parts as well as mitigating soot transfer from the grill to your clean clothes in your pack. The grill can go from carrying bag to fully set up in under 30 seconds with a little practice.

Camp Chef Pro 60X Stove

For those who like to bring everything to camp but the kitchen sink, Camp Chef offers a stove worthy of your range at home. The Pro 60X is an all new design offering two 30,000 BTU burners for serious cooking. Improved foldout legs lock easily into place and feature integrated levelers for use on uneven surfaces. A 448-square-inch cooking surface with heavy steel grate makes this stove a campers’ dream.

Camp Chef Stryker 150 Backpacking Stove Stanley Steel Pot + French Press

For those who are heavier coffee drinkers, the Steel Pot + French Press from Stanley is an ideal backcountry companion. It is a useful stainless steel cooking pot for boiling water or heating stew, but also has a high temperature nylon sleeve that acts like a French press for brewing your loose, ground Joe. The vented lid is made of the same thermal resistant nylon and has rubber fins for a tight seal so you don’t dribble your precious liquid out the sides while pouring out of the ample spout on the French press insert. Two folding wire handles on the side conform to the roundness of the pot to stay out of the way when stowed, but offer ample grip when in use and act as a heat sink to cool quickly so you don’t burn your paws. The 32-ounce pot is ideal for brewing several cups of coffee at once or for some people, one perfect cup to start your day. The French press does make a nice guard so you don’t burn your lip if you drink straight from the pot. I won’t judge.

For a lightweight, but robust option, the self-contained Stryker 150 from Camp Chef provides a propane powered mighty burner with a heat ring to increase efficiency. The 1.3-liter aluminum pot is wrapped in an insulated sleeve to retain heat and protect your hands from heat. Inside, it is marked with graduated units to make mixing with freezedried camping meals a breeze. The Stryker includes a base for your 1-pound portable propane tank that has extendable fins for increased stability on uneven surfaces. An electric ignition on the burner means no matches or lighters are needed to get it lit. The Stryker is so efficient that it will bring half a liter of water to a boil in under two minutes. Additional accessories like a tea kettle, frying pan and 1.5 liter cooking pot, all incorporate the heat ring technology to save fuel and get dinner on the able more quickly. Without a fuel canister, the Stryker weighs 22.6 ounces and both the stove and stabilizing base store inside the pot and the locking handle snaps in place to hold on the lid.

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

45

PRO MEMBER UPDATE

O

ne of the premium hunts included in our Sportsman’s News Pro Membership Sweepstakes is our Dall Sheep Hunt and the very first one we gave away was awarded to Troy Holm, of Nebraska. A phone call to the lucky winner was as exciting for me as it was for him, as I was scheduled to be on this trip with him as well.

Our initial conversation was just what I expected. It went something like this, “Mr. Holm, you won a Dall Sheep hunt in Alaska for the fall of 2016”. He responded with “#@%$, you have to be joking, I never win anything”. I’ve come to realize that this is pretty common for most of our winners. I then provided him the details of the trip and let him know that an email would soon arrive with more info.

Several days passed and I got a message from Mr. Holm asking if it was possible to change this trip to something else. I couldn’t imagine not wanting to go sheep hunting, but that’s just me. When I got him on the phone, he said that he had always dreamed of going to New Zealand to hunt the roaring red stag. He asked if we could trade out his sheep hunt for a red stag for him and his wife. I figured that we could easily sell the sheep hunt, which was already paid for and roll it into the New Zealand trip when we could all go. Troy was very cooperative in the timeframe, as long as he could do the swap and with a few phone calls, I was able to add another couple to our already booked trip in the spring of 2017.

We would be hunting with long time Platinum Approved Outfitter, Lindsey Frasier and Woodbury Safari’s Lodge on the South Island of New Zealand. We scheduled the trip for the latter part of April, which would put us on the tail-end of the stag roar and the front-end of the tahr rut. We had hit our schedule absolutely perfect when we arrived. The fall colors were just starting to set in on the mountains, while the farmland along the coast was still bright green.

We arrived at the world famous, Woodbury Lodge, which is a couple of hours drive from the Christchurch airport. This is a prestigious, 11,000 square foot lodge, with each guest having their own private suite, with bath. The lodge is adorned by trophies from the New Zealand area, as well as many from the United States. The main lodge and dining area is where you spend most of your time at the lodge, with a huge fireplace, bar and dining table, which comfortable seats 20 people.

A giant red stag is an amazing specimen, especially when they have north of 500 inches of bone on their head.

46 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Trade My Winnings

By Michael Deming Hosts, Kim and Lindsey Frasier, as well as a full supporting staff are at the lodge to take care of all of your needs or desires. To say that this place has all the comforts of home would be an understatement. It is truly a world class destination.

Troy’s wife, Emily, was chosen to be our first shooter and even though we had paid for a silver medal stag in the 330-360 inch range, Troy decided to upgrade her stag to a 380-400 class stag. Travis McClintic would be our guide for the week. He spends the majority of his time in Michigan, but guides in New Zealand every year from February through June. He had already guided several stag hunts on the block where we would be hunting on our first day and he knew of a few heavy horned stag that would be in that 380-400 mark, meeting Emily’s desires.

We started the first morning off at the range so that Emily and Troy could get a little more familiar with the ranch’s rifles. They had chosen not to bring their own rifles and although it is a fairly simple process to import your rifles, about half of the hunters choose to use these rifles. A couple of shots each and we were off to hunt.

We quickly set up our spotting scopes and started picking out the open hillsides. Although the roar was at the tail end, this cool morning was stirring the last bit of rutting activity. The roars carried all up and down the valley and got every stag fired up. As the sun started to light up the hillside, we were able to see the stag who was making the roars. Lots of smaller stag in that silver medal area were still trying to get into the action, but it appeared that the big stag had come to the conclusion that the rut was over and they were comfortable in their position to lay in a sunny bed and roar. After several hours of spotting, Trevor finally found a pair of stag in a stalkable position.

We left a couple of folks in the spotting position while the rest of us went around to participate in the stalk and film the experience. Although the mountain was steep and a slow process, the stag cooperated and stayed put until we were al-

PRO MEMBER UPDATE

Emily Holm made a great shot at just under 400 yards to put down this 400-inch stag. most into position. As we got around the hill, both stag got to their feet and started feeding away. We hastily got Emily into position and at 310 yards, she squeezed the trigger only to have the shot sail high. Fortunately for us, they had no idea where the shot came from and quickly settled down. We helped get Emily into a more comfortable shooting position and she made a precise heart shot at 387 yards, anchoring the big stag. Everyone got a good feeling of how steep the mountain was as we approached the downed stag. The 387 yards took us well over 30 minutes to

cover, before Emily could put her hands on her prize.

The monarch was just short of 400” SCI and made for a world class trophy and fulfilled her lifelong dream of harvesting a red stag in New Zealand. Troy knew that it was his turn next to hunt, but we would save that for another day, as it was going to take the better part of this day to get Emily’s trophy back to the lodge.

As we came off the mountain, we spied a giant red stag. He was too far to go after on this day, but Trevor said he was a true giant and would likely score over 500” SCI. It was obvious that a stag of this quality was something that captivated Troy and some coaxing by his wife that night had Troy committed to upgrading his trophy to something of this class. Since the hunt was already paid for, it was like just paying for a trip to New Zealand, but he would now be able to harvest a true trophy of a lifetime.

Trevor said that he had seen two other stag at another hunting block which he wanted Troy to see before he pulled the trigger. So, the next morning, we were off to another ranch. This place wasn’t quite as large, but the uniqueness of the terrain made it very interesting. The stag knew how to use the topography to their advantage as well. After walking around for several hours, we had only seen two stag and none the caliber Troy was looking for.

As the heat of the day approached, we spied one of the giants Trevor had been looking for. He was a monster stag with double drop tines. He was breathtaking, but smart and easily dropped off the hill and disappeared underneath us without providing a shot opportunity. As evening approached, Trevor finally spotted a bull in the shadows. We pulled out the spotting scope to reveal a giant red stag. He was north of 500” and everything that Troy was looking for. However, he was too far away for a shot and our attempt to get closer spooked the wily warrior.

We made a mad dash down the ridge in hopes of catching the giant and his buddy going across the flat and out of the trees. We waited and waited, but they never showed themselves. Trevor snuck back up the ridge to see if he had circled back on us and sure enough, he had given us the old double back. However, he was holed-up in an area that he felt Troy could possibly get a decent shot at him.

Thirty minutes later, Troy was laid out in the prone position, with the big stag just

IZING HER RB AT OPTIM URE IS SUPE AT N ER NMENTS. H RO OT VI M IN THEIR EN E IV RV SU WINCHESTER® CREATIONS TO TOO. THE NEW E AR E ECT W G GOOD THIN D WITH PERF ILT FOR SPEE BU IS N, 4 IO X® AT R SUPE ING GAS OPER D FAST CYCL D AN AN CE N TO LA ON BA TO SWING .

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4/28/17 4:59 PM June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

PRO MEMBER UPDATE under 300 yards away, feeding. With less than thirty minutes of daylight left, Troy squeezed the trigger and put the end to a lifelong dream of a New Zealand red stag of epic proportions.

But with the perfectly placed shot from Troy, the stag then tumbled off of a cliff and out of sight. We all held our breath in hopes that he wouldn’t break any points.

We were scrambling to get to the last resting place with some daylight. Fortunately, the stags’ fall put him just a few yards above an old road, which Trevor knew well.

We drove right to the big stag and as we approached, he literally took my breath away. He was a true giant and a trophy of a lifetime. As we drug him into position for photos, we were happy to see that his magnificent rack was still intact from the fall. We snapped photos and were fortunate enough to load this giant into the truck, whole.

The next day, we were able to officially tape this guy out and he stretched the tape at a whopping 519” SCI. Troy and Emily Holm definitely made the most of

The Woodbury Lodge is home for the hunters during their stay. it features five-star accommodations and food.

their Pro Membership Sweepstakes good fortune and even more so with their upgrade to Gold Medal status for their stags.

The Sportsman’s News Pro Membership Sweepstakes will offer another hunt with Lindsey Frasier and Woodbury Safaris Lodge in 2018, with the hunt taking place in 2019. Don’t miss your opportunity to win this Red Stag/Tahr combo hunt for one hunter and a guest as well as $300,000 worth of other great trips, guns and gear by entering at www. promembershipsweepstakes.com

Pro Member Sweepstakes winner Troy Holm made the most of his grand prize and upgraded to harvest this giant 519-inch red stag.

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June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Digital Edition Only Special Content

Presents Wild Game Recipes of Steve Mayer "The Wine Guy"

W

Wild Boar Lettuce Wraps

e were sitting around, sipping on an adult beverage, and trying to figure out a recipe to showcase a package of ground Wild Boar meat. Eileen said, “How about making some lettuce wraps”, and here we are with a tasty new way to enjoy feral hogs!

This Asian-inspired dish is super simple to make, and makes a perfect appetizer. They are hard to stop consuming, so if you wish to make it into a meal, I would at least double the recipe!

Ingredients • 1 teaspoon olive oil

• 1 pound wild boar meat, ground

• 1 small white onion, diced

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• ¼ cup hoisin sauce

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

• 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce

• 1 ½ tablespoon grated ginger

• 1 (8 oz) can sliced water chestnuts, drained

• 2 green onions, sliced diagonally

• Kosher salt and black pepper

• 1 head of butter lettuce

• Sweet chili sauce for dipping

Toppings • Chopped peanuts

• Grated carrot

• Chopped cilantro

Preparation Method

This recipe works perfectly for ground meat with-out any added fat since you want it crumbly anyway. Any game meat can be substituted for the boar, but the pork

52 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

really shines in this one. You can add some fresh serrano or habanero chili’s to kick the heat up, or your favorite Asian spices to add your own twist. We added some sesame oil, and I added some ghost chili powder on mine, and we were quite pleased with the result.

You will need a large frying pan or wok for this one pan concoction. Add the olive oil to the pan, and bring up to temperature over medium-high heat. Crumble in the boar meat and stir frequently until browned. Stir in the onion, garlic, hoisin, soy, vinegar, Sriracha, and ginger. Turn down the heat to medium and sauté, stirring frequently, until the onions start to soften and turn translucent. Finally stir in the water chestnuts and green onion and cook another minute. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Prepare your lettuce. Our top choice in lettuce was a nice head of butter lettuce that can be found in most grocery stores in a plastic clamshell pack with the roots still attached. This is theoretically “still growing” and ultra-fresh.

Regular iceberg lettuce makes a fine wrap. You can use any type of lettuce that you like that has large leaves to serve the mixture in. Remove the leaves one by one and use the ones that make the best “bowls”. The idea is to fill the bowls and use them as a lettuce taco shell to “wrap” the meat in.

Stack the lettuce leaves on a serving tray with the toppings and a bowl of sweet chili sauce for dipping on a serving tray. Place the meat in a serving bowl alongside. Prepare one at a time by spooning several tablespoons of the meat mixture into each lettuce leaf. Top with your choice of toppings, fold like a taco and add some dipping sauce, and eat just like a taco.

All this talk of food makes me thirsty, and selected pairings for these Asian delicacies are as follows.

Wine: A dry Riesling or a nicely chilled dry Rose’.

Beer: A Hefeweizen or a Saison Cheers!

Digital Edition Only Special Content

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

53

Digital Only Special Content Adventures On AEdition Budget

Fishing Alaska Fishing Alaska on a Budget

By Joseph Classen

F

ishing the salmon-filled waters of Alaska is the ultimate dream for many anglers. It certainly was for me. I grew up in Missouri and fished for virtually every species of fish that swam in our many lakes, ponds, creeks and rivers. If it had gills and lived in the water, I was after it. While I enjoyed the variety of fishing opportunities in the Midwest, I longed to someday explore the waters of the Great Land. I watched Alaska fishing shows on TV with an almost religious fervor and paged through so many magazine articles on Alaskan adventures that I wore out my thumbs. Yes, indeed, I was bitten hard by the Alaska bug loooong

before I ever called it home, as I now do.

My wife and I live on Kodiak Island and along with being a jack of many trades, I’m also a fishing guide during the summer and fall months.

I embarked on my first fishing trip to Alaska when I was in my early twenties.

And, like all the trips that would follow in the years to come, it was a do-ityourself, tightly budgeted adventure. A buddy and I flew into Anchorage, borrowed his brother’s old RV and headed off to fish our way around the Kenai Peninsula. It’s a long story, but that first trip was a total disaster! While actually being in Alaska and experiencing all the mind-blowing beauty was more incredible than I imagined, the fishing itself was a nightmare! Our nights were spent in rather nasty, over-crowed campgrounds and our days were spent mostly combat fishing the big, popular road accessible rivers. We spent hours, literally shoulder to shoulder with countless other disgruntled fishermen, casting heavily weighted salmon flies over and over and over again, with painfully slow results. It was rather chaotic to say the least and it was definitely not what I had in mind. As time and experience taught, there was certainly a better way.

Alaska is a HUGE place with many rivers, lakes and shorelines to fish. Fishing nirvana such as this can be yours a lot cheaper than you may think.

54 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Planning Your Alaska Fishing Adventure Let’s start from the top. If you are dreaming about fishing Alaska, but have a tight budget, that dream can still become a reality, but it’s important to start planning as far in advance as possible. The motto, “Prior preparation prevents poor performance,” applies to many things in life and especially to a do-it-yourself Alaskan fishing adventure.

There are many ways to cut costs and still have a truly world-class experience, but it will take some thorough research and effort, which is half the fun, really!

Keep in mind though, if your funds are limited, your fishing pursuits will be limited mostly to road accessible locations such as rivers, lakes and beaches, as guided charter boat and float plane fishing adventures are extremely expensive, unless divided up among a rather large group. But, have no fear - you can have a fantastic experience, catch lots of quality fish and spend way less money by focusing your efforts on road system rivers, lakes and beaches. So, first of all, sit down and make a list of your goals.

Where, specifically, in Alaska, do you want to focus your fishing efforts on?

What species of fish are you primarily after? Will you be fly fishing, using a spin rod or both? Having clear, concise plans for your adventure will help you greatly

in ultimately fulfilling them.

There are two, large, primary expenses for any Alaska adventure: getting there and having a place to stay. Airfare to Alaska, depending on where you live, can be costly. This is one reason to plan your trip as far in advance as possible.

Plane tickets are significantly cheaper when you buy them many months ahead of time and airlines often have big discounts that come up at different times throughout the year, especially in the offseason. Another major way to cut your airfare is to immediately get an Alaska Airlines credit card. This is not a paid advertisement or personal endorsement, but simply the facts. Upon approval, you will get a significant number of free travel miles and, most importantly, a companion ticket, which essentially is a two for one airfare discount. The savings add up fast and can cut costs immensely!

If you have a similar miles’ plan with a different creditor, get the details and take advantage of it. You can save hundreds and even thousands of dollars when it’s all said and done. Of course, use your head. Don’t do anything crazy with your credit card in an attempt to get to Alaska.

An additional travel expense for those who fly to Alaska will be car rental. This cost, too, can be greatly reduced by plan-

Digital Edition Only Special Content

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Digital Only Special Content Adventures On AEdition Budget

ning way ahead of time and being realistic. Don’t “over-rent,” if you can help it. Based on your well-researched travel plans and targeted fishing area, rent the most economical vehicle you can. Learn to do more with less, as that is the name of the game for DIY adventures.

A fun and exciting alternative to flying to the Great Land and having to rely on a rental car, is loading up your trusty vehicle and hitting the road! Driving the ALCAN (Alaska Highway) is perhaps one of the most memorable and adventurous ways to get to and explore the 49th state. One will experience spectacular scenery, see lots of wildlife and also have abundant fishing opportunities along the way. If you have the time and are up for the adventure of a lifetime, I highly recommend an ALCAN road-trip.

Naturally, the cost of fuel will add up, but it can still come out much cheaper than airfare when it’s all said and done.

If this is an option for you, get a copy of the most recent edition of the Milepost and study it thoroughly, as this annually published book is truly the Bible for traveling the North Country.

As I mentioned, your second significant expense for an Alaskan fishing adventure will be lodging. A hotel, motel or B & B that may go for around $90.00 a night during the “off-season” in Alaska can easily cost you $200.00 or more during the peak, summer/fall months. The solution? Camp as much as possible. Hey, this is an adventure, after all and if you drive the ALCAN, you’ll have all your camping gear with you anyhow. There is no better way to enjoy

A hefty Kodiak king salmon, caught off an easily accessible beach. With a little effort, combat fishing chaos can be avoided in Alaska, even on road system waters.

the Alaskan outdoors than sitting outside under the midnight sun and enjoying the heavenly aroma and taste of grilled salmon. Which, by the way, is another major way to cut costs: plan on feasting on freshly caught fish as your primary food staple. Just be sure to be “bear aware” at all times! There are many options for camping (paid and free) while on your fishing adventure and some camping areas are definitely better than others. The Milepost is a great resource for finding out more and simply doing a Google search for “Alaska camping locations and regulations” will summon up a wealth of vital info A do-it-yourself Alaska fishing adventure is fun for planning your for the whole family! trip

56 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Location, Location, Location.

Alaska is a mighty big state, with hundreds of lakes and rivers, big and small and miles upon miles of fish-able beaches along the coastlines. While a handful of legendary rivers seem to get all the publicity, there are countless others, some even unnamed, that get very healthy runs of salmon, along with supporting good populations of Dolly Varden, rainbow trout and other species of fish, all without the crowds and chaos of those big, popular rivers. There is not nearly enough space in this article to go over the specifics of all those locations, so again, thorough research and planning is key to success! And, the place to start that research is the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website www.adfg.alaska.gov There, you can get an abundance of information about fishing options all over the state, along with contact info for fish biologists and other department staff members who are happy to help you and answer whatever questions you may have. Not to mention, you can also purchase your fishing license online, which by the way, will cost you $25 - $105 depending on whether you want a one to fourteen-day non-resident permit. A king salmon stamp will cost you an additional $15 to $75, again depending on how many days you plan on fishing.

Along with a wealth of online informa-

tion to plan your adventure, there are lots of great books on the market for fishing Alaska’s road accessible areas, which offer directions, fishing tips, calendars for salmon runs, gear recommendations, etc.

To top it off, visiting the websites of the travel bureaus and chambers of commerce for each major region of Alaska can also provide an abundance of valuable data.

To sum things up, there is a lot of legwork, research, and preparations to be made for planning an ultimate Alaskan fishing adventure on a budget. But, don’t be intimidated by all the details, as again, the planning and studying is half the fun, as it fills one with a child-like, giddy spirit of anticipation for what is to come! Whether you are planning a once in a lifetime trip or the first of many, take that first step and commit to doing it now. I can guarantee that the memories of such a trip will be among the most cherished of your life, both as a fisherman and more so, simply as a human being.

Author Bio: Joseph Classen is a lifelong outdoorsman, professional Alaskan guide, author and nature/wildlife photographer. To learn more about his work, please visit his photography website – Alaska Wall Art - www. alaskawallart.com and his guide service website – Wild Revelation Guide Service LLC - www. wildrevelation.com

Digital Edition Only Special Content

June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Digital Edition Only Special Content

Ghost Stryke Digital Hearing Protection

By Chad LaChance

I

f some on e h a d c o n v i n c e d m e 3 5 ye a r s a g o that my he aring wou l d be w re c ke d b y m y l i fe s t yl e ch o i c e s , I w o uld b e far b e tte r off. A l a s, n obo d y d i d a n d n o w I p a y fo r a l l that fie ld s ho o ting and c o n st ru c t i o n s i t e s . No w m y h e a r i n g i s pe rmane ntly damage d and I p ro t ec t w h a t ’s l e ft o f i t a t a l l c o s t s .

How ab ou t be i n g a bl e t o n o t o n l y p r o t e ct y o u r p re c io us he aring fro m g u n shot s w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e i n cr e a s i n g y o u r c ap ab ility to he ar th at wild t o m? I wa s i nt r i g u e d b y t h e p o s s i b i l i t y and no w I’m s o ld o n G h ost St ry ke el e c t ron i c e a r p l u g s .

“Elect ron i c e a r pl ug” s o u n d s s u s p i ci o u s l y l i k e a he aring aid and in one wa y i t i s. Gh o st S t r y k e p l u g s c a n i n c r e a s e yo ur he aring up to 8X, allowin g yo u t o h ea r a n y t h i n g fr o m w h i s p e r i ng p e o p le to dis tan t g ob bles. At t h e sa m e t i m e , t h e y p r e ve n t y o u fro m he aring no is e s louder t ha n 8 5 d e c i bel s , t h e r e b y p r o t e c t i n g y o u r ears fro m damage .

L oud nois e s a re red uc e d u p t o 3 0 d B .

Ghost St ryke e a rpl ug s co m e w i t h d i ffe r e n t e a r pie c e s ; fo am fo r maxim um redu c t i on a n d si l ico n e fo r m a x i m u m b o o s t . Bo th are c o mfo rtab le enough fo r a l l d a y u se a n d a n e x t r a s e t o f e a c h a r e inc lude d, alo ng wit h a cle a n i n g brush . T h e k i t a l s o i n c l u d e s a s m all fie ld c arrying c as e and even c o me s wi t h t h e r e q u i s i t e b a t t e r i e s .

I t est ed Gh o st S t ryke s fo r m o r e t h a n a m o n t h i n the fie ld; no fail ures, no p ro bl e ms, n o r i n g i n g e a r s , ye t g r e a t l y i mp ro ve d he aring, e s pecially for f a r o f f so u n d s . T o s a y I ’m i m p r e s s e d is an unde rs tate me nt.

M y only r e gre t i s t h a t I d i d n ’t t r y t h e m s o o n e r !

Pak-Rat Quick Clip

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ast rifle season I hiked 56 miles over eight days. You know what all of those miles had in common? I fought my gun. Yep, even with a great sling built with non-slip material on the inside, when the backpack shoulder straps and rifle sling try to occupy the same shoulder, there is conflict - the sling wants to slide off the shoulder. Thus, we hike with one hand on the sling to counter it or at very least constantly reposition the sling strap. Not anymore because I found the Pak-Rat Combo rifle support system.

The heart of the system is the Pak-Rat Quick-Clip that attaches to your backpack’s shoulder straps and holds the rifle sling secure. It can be very quickly released with one hand and no looking, yet holds the rifle as you move around freely. The clip is a game changer alone, but can be combined with the Rat-Tail, which is a stretchy loop attached to your backpack waistband or belt. It takes the weight of the rifle off the shoulder and redistributes it to your waist, while holding the stock in place. Genius!

The last part of the system is the Prolinx sling which is lightweight and slightly stretchy for comfort. In my testing, I was able to jog with my rifle staying securely in place on my shoulder. The Quick-Clip can be purchased separately or in a kit containing the whole system. My next rifle season just got a bunch easier!

58 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Digital Edition Only Special Content

Shooters & Hunters: Help Prevent Wildfires

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he target shooting and hunting community prides itself on being safe and responsible with firearms in all situations—from using them outdoors to storing them safely at home. Sometimes, however, unusual conditions such as extremely dry environments require an extra level of awareness and safety on the part of shooters.

Wildfires have many possible causes. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, reminds all shooters that during dry and hot weather conditions their use of certain ammunition and targets could accidentally ignite a wildfire. NSSF reminds all target shooters and hunters, as well as other outdoor enthusiasts, to consider the potential consequences of their activities in fire-prone environments and offers these reminders:

• Make it a point to know the regulations and rules related to shooting in areas experiencing dry and hot conditions, whether on public or private land or at shooting ranges. Many national forests, for example, do not allow recreational shooting when fire restrictions are in effect.

• Consider the type of ammunition and targets you are using. Minimize the risk of fires by not using steeljacketed ammunition, ammunition with steel-core components, tracer rounds or exploding targets in fireprone areas.

• Remember that equipment, such as cars and ATVs, can have extremely hot exhaust systems that could ignite dry vegetation, so park only in designated areas.

• Extinguish and dispose of smoking materials safely.

• Follow guidelines to extinguish campfires.

• Warn others of potential dangers and behaviors for starting wildfires.

• Report any wildfire you see to authorities.

• Spread this message to other target shooters, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.

NSSF.ORG June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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60 June 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS