Open letter to the boot industry.

Dear outdoor boot and footwear makers,

Greetings I am an average hunter who likes his feet. In fact I love my feet to the point I wash them daily, trim the nails often and generally don't like breaking their bones (though I have three times). I don't want to sound like a nag, but is there something you guys can do about generally making a high lace boot comfortable and still maintain it's intended purpose, high ankle support and protection? It seems like there are a lot of you who insist on being like everyone else and making the same thing year after year and not attempting to revolutionize the industry.

I will not name names, but as I see it there are a lot of simple leather, neat poly and Gore-Tex misused in the same simple ways. And they all make my feet hurt. Please look into arch support and points in which material folds to determine if blisters and or bleeding may occur. I understand all boots need to be broken in but not at the expense of my dermis and toe nails staying on.

So take a page from the camo garment industry, they have new materials and new designs that we like and are buying. Just try to make the support of a ski/snowboard boot, the practicality of a trail running shoe, the durability of an alligator and the comfort of a slipper. I'll buy that and if you make in it my favorite camo I'll buy two.

Thanks for you time an effort,

The Bearded Boar

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Wordless Wednesday

I'd like you all to start sending me picks for the Wordless Wednesday post. Essentially it's just a picture of being outside, Game pic, or anything that does not need words to describe them. Sent me a pic I'll put it up.

Here's mine for the week.

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Fast Friday- Pre-Season

Preseason

It's almost here for most of us, hunting season. Some of us freaks have had our bows or gun out for months now and are ready to go, but many have not. If you have not there is no time like this weekend to let a few fly down range. Don't wait till the last minute to get ready.

Game sightings

How does your game look? Have you patterned them yet? Have new bucks moved in? Is that bull hit that all impressive 400+ class yet. Are your trail cams coming back with nothing? Just like dusting off your

 bow and gun maybe its time you now head out and take a look. Sit on a ridge and see what's out there.

Give a kid a memory

Last take a kid out with you this weekend while your outside. It is amazing how many people I meet today that say, "You hunt? Oh my dad does that, but I don't." Where did we go wrong? We need to keep out great traditions alive and well. Pass it on.

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Tying flies and a small pond

I moved up to the mountains recently to be able to get outside and enjoy the hunting and fishing with my family and so far I have not been disappointed. It's always fun to be able to fish almost every day at our two lakes that we have in our area. It makes R&D on flies real easy too. I can tie a fly and five minutes later be at the lake trying it on bass, crappie, catfish or even blue gill.  Here are some of the flies that I have been tying recently for my adventures.

This little guy was caught on a fly I call the Bu-lk and #6 Tiemco 200r with a bunny body, Deer belly head and a 5/32 bead. Rubber legs and a Rootbeer Flash for good measure.

My next creations that I have been stoked over are my Dingle Berry  poppers aka Hairy Popper. Elk hair tied onto a #4 Tiemco 200r hook with a few different feathers for that shimmy-shimmy lov'n.

The Kelly Galloup's Sex Dungeon. Killer for big Bass and Trout everywhere. A Tiemco 200R (notice a trend?) #4 front and #6 rear Maribu, Schlappin, Deer belly and rubber legs.

Lots of stuff are coming out of my head right now and the latest is El Gato de Muerte, the Cat fish killer. a Feather heavy fly tied on a you guessed it Tiemco 200R #4 and #6 hook. Has the flash and color irresistible to Cats everywhere.

Fun Stuff and looking forward to pumping out a few more of these fish friendly flies. And as the summer comes to a close be prepared for hunt heavy posts coming up in the near future.

Cheers,

The BB

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Fly Tying Tip- Feathers, get them organized.

It's pretty simple and quick this little set up took me less than 5 minutes.

-Save a few cans of corn, green beans or in this case Rotel Tomatoes and pinto beans when making dinner.
-Remove the label and clean the insides with hot water.
-Proceed to the tying station, man cave, or where ever you other half has banished you too.
-Drill an 1/8" hole in the top of the can.
-Using a 1/2" metal/pan screw ( or what ever you have) attach it to a small price of wood. In this case a 1/2"x1"x18" piece of redwood.
-Drill 2 pilot holes on the out side edge of the wood.
-Install either a 1 1/2" drywall or wood screw to the wall, desk or what ever.

There you have it a simple, cheap and easy way to organize your feathers.

Cheers,

The Bearded Boar

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Setting up the future

Nothing makes me happier to be a father than when my kids willingly ask to learn about the things I love doing and the things i am passionate about This past weekend both of my kids on separate occasions asked for me to teach them more about Flyfishing and hunting.

While my wife and I were running and working out at our local lake I broke out the 3wt for some Crappie lip rip'n. As I was pullin in a fish I noticed my 4 year old daughter sitting off on the bank a few yards from me pouting. When I asked what was wrong she replied "I want to learn to fish like you do." (Insert big pouty lip here). So I told her that tomorrow we can go out on a special date and I'll teacher her to flyfishing with out her brother around. Smiles all around from me. I think I see a Tenkara rod in her future.

As soon as we got home I was on the computer mapping out my assault on the Coastal Blacktail season, which starts In mid July for us bow hunters, and was messing with a Carlton's Double reed elk call when my son came up to me and asked for me to teach him how to use it. Normally he just steals them out of my truck and chews on them till they are slimy and useless. At first I said know, but realizing I had an opportune moment to teach my son reason prevailed. I helped him place it in his mouth (a disgusting occurrence, a finger in a 6 yr olds mouth is like trying to tickle a rattler under the chin). But after a few phonetical tongue twisting he made his first cow call. His eyes lite up like you would not believe and so did mine.

It goes to show you, big game and big fish are amazing to conquer, but I still get that first buck jitters when I teach my kids. So cool.

Do yourself a favor, take a kid outside and teach them something new. It will remind you of why you started venturing deeper into the woods to pursue fin, fur and feather.

Cheers,

The BB

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Troubled Waters

I spend a lot of time in California's Central Valley for work and usually after a long day of toiling upon the earth I find it necessary to unwind a flyline or draw my bow to relax. I found a little irrigation pond one afternoon that is just full of fat spawning bass. Out came the 7wt and my big flies. It was on.

No sooner did I find the place then the owner of the property shut it down (note I did get permission first from the ranch manager). So last week there I stood speaking to the same Ranch Manager and he was very apologetic about having to tell me I could not fish the pond. Apparently too many people were taking all the bass and catfish and leaving all their trash, not to mention cutting the fences around the pond. He said sorry we talked for a few more minutes and I was on my way.

Nothing is more frustrating than hearing a local pond has been closed because of a select few who do not respect the rules of angling. Respect for the waters, respect for the fish and respect for others. If all followed these rules we'd be okay and there would be no need for special Trout Wilderness areas or catch and release rules on Muskie and Walleye, but that is not the case. As a great philosopher once said, "God is great, beer is good and people are crazy." DB.

On the upside, it looks like I'll be back on the pond with special access this week. The owner likes my videos I guess.

Cheers,

The BB

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The Fishing hole

It's apart of life for us to bring the stresses of work home with us after a hard day. Whether you toil inside n office or under the bright sun the results many times are the same, complete exhaustion. Today that was me. So instead of wasting away on my home away from home I ventured out to a fishing hole I found out about from a few guys who work for me. The result was a small irrigation pond full of giant spawning Large Mouth Bass.

I caught two that were diligently watching over their bed of young ones and then for some reason just felt like stopping and listening to the afternoon wind, all 25 mph of it. Let me tell me tell you it is not fun throwing a 6" articulated flies in 25mph winds, but I digress. I simply decided it was time to sit and listen for a few, in fact that is what I am doing right now. The Starlings, Mud Hens, Mallards, wind and song birds are all giving me a symphony of natures subtle beauty. I can now say I am relaxed.

It has been the highlight of my week to say the least and has lifted my spirits of being in 100 degree weather for the past month. But that is what being an outdoorsman is about, no matter where you are at any given time finding the greatness in Creation.

So with my flyrod in hand I carry on to another day. Neither wind, sun nor my job will keep me from enjoying the adventure that is outside. For all of you stuck somewhere, find a pond and get lost in the beauty and the struggle of fly and fish.

Peace be the journey,

The Bearded Boar

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Pigs, Turkeys and Redlining

Monday 3pm
I call the ranch management to tell them I'm coming out to pig hunt on a property to which the said they were cooling off the property for two weeks. Okay, no big deal there is a turkey property near by I can hunt that also has pigs. So I thought I can arrow a Thunder Chicken and scout for pigs at the same time. Mind you I have never been to this ranch.

530 pm
Work is over and I'm heading out, try to tell the wife where I'm going but cell reception drops. Ah no problem, just turkey hunting. First mistake.

615 pm
Unlock the gate to the ranch and camo up and strap on my snake guards. Spend the next hour glassing, calling and going over the map, oh wait I forgot to download Cabelas Recon to my new phone. Second mistake.

630pm
So armed with a map that was given to me by the ranch which looks to have been copied 10,000 times I ventured forth. No pigs or turks in sight or in each shot.

730pm
On the "High Def" map I did have I spotted an area that looked to have been some what clear and open with nice rolling hills so I trekked over there and found myself getting further and further back in the ranch and on roads the my little 2x4 was working harder and harder to keep going on. Third Mistake.

815pm
The above picture was taken just before all hell broke loose, the calm before the storm as it were. On the map I had it showed a road going back to the gate and it was the shorter than going back the way I came. I gave it a gamble and started down the trail, my nice road a low rider could drive on turned into a 4x4 trail from hell in one crest of a hill. By the time I figured this out and hit the breaks to reverse it was too late, I was committed and skidding down the trail. Fourth Mistake.

820pm
It's now getting dark and as I crest another hill the earth falls out just ahead of me. The trail now turns sharp left and runs about 24" from the cliff, I'm now stuck, can't go forward, reverse is now my only option. 50 yards in reverse with brush scratching my truck, a cliff to the passenger side and impenetrable brush to the driver. Mirrors are useless all I could do it use my back up camera and over the shoulder. I finally got to a place to turn around notice my road I was trying to find had a small road closed sign on it. So my only choice was turn around and head back the way I came in. Up a trail I barely made it down.

830pm
First attempt was unsuccessful despite flooring it ands when I was backing down it I started to slide of the trail again. Finally I was at a spot where I could take another run and just put some good ole Mountain Man determination in it and dropped the pedal to the floor. Stuff was flying all over my truck, dust, rocks and branches out the back. My truck redlined for the first time, but I got out of there.

So all being said it was a good time scouting and I pushed the limits of my truck. So now when I go back there on Thursday, I know which roads to stay away from.

The Bearded Boar

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Post work pig sticking

So by time some of you read this post, this is what I will be looking at. A few hundred acres of pig bliss in Central California. I'm up here working for a few months and since I do not have any daily family responsibilities what else am I to do. Was out there scouting last week and found good sign, so I have big dreams for today. We'll see.

Thanks all for sticking around while my life transitioned from Southern Cali to Central Cali and from one job to the next. Well I'm back and ready to rock. Hope to have a pig report here soon.
Cheers,

The Bearded Boar

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