Backwoods Bound Bullet

ARTICLE: HOT SPOTS FOR FLY-FISHING by Peter Vissalia

• Fly fishing for trout is one of those sports that people do more for the art of it than the sport. Fly fishing is both relaxing and therapeutic, as you sit in the great outdoors letting Mother Nature envelop you in her beauty while you wait for a nibble on the line. However, in order to fly fish for the best trout in the world you need to have ideal conditions that include cool and clean water, and the perfect stream. There are some places in the world that are perfect for fly fishing.

• Hampshire in England is one of those perfect fly fishing areas. You'll find Hampshire situated upwards from the Channel in a northerly direction. The streams in this area are pristine and wonderful, allowing for hours of uninterrupted fly fishing. England is well known for her lush and green countryside, but keep in mind that you'll need to visit in the spring and summer months to make the most of fly fishing in this generally wet country.

• British Columbia, Canada, is another part of the world that is known for its crystal clear streams along with many varieties of trout, including the largest kind of trout called the Steelhead or the Rainbow trout. This is one region which has the most attractive spreads of natural beauty wherein it would not be unusual for anyone to find trout that can measure up to a length of even 30 inches.

• Any lover of this sport, would be most upset at the very idea of missing out on this favorite pastime in Ascension Bay in Mexico because this area is famous for a special kind of trout called Permit. This particular trout is one of the most elusive salt-water fishes and a dream catch of every knowledgeable fly-fisher. The task of attracting this fish, however, involves a lot of determination as well as patience and anybody who is not ready for this, will have to be satisfied with other kinds of trout only.

• A trip to Rio Colorado in Costa Rica is a visit that you won't regret if you're looking for fly fishing in a sunny and hot locale. Whether you're looking for trout or tarpon, which is a huge fish that fights hard and long, you'll find just the right fish for you off the blue waters of Costa Rica. Keep in mind that if you're fly fishing for the large tarpon you're in for a big fight!

• Some of the other great places for fly-fishing are Labrador located in Canada, Kola Peninsula located in Russia, and areas of northern Norway. These places are good but don't overlook the areas where you live, or near your place. Don't miss out on the fun that is available at your own very back yard.

Peter Vissalia is a fishing lover and owner of Love Fishing, a leading Internet resource for information on fishing. For more info, visit Peter at: http://www.fishingplans.com

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ARTICLE: HOTEL SECURITY: REMAINING SAFE ON THE ROAD by Terence Dumarse

 Most; of us forget about basic security issues when we are caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Sure, we know danger can lurk around every corner, but we just plain forget to look, listen and be careful. Especially on a business trip, you have so many things to think about that you may not pay enough attention to hotel security. Your personal safety should always be a consideration when you are traveling, and so here are some tips to consider.

 You; probably never thought to ask member of the hotel staff to accompany you to your room to make sure it is secure before you enter. You might even be the type of person who pays attention to safety measures when you are alone, but don't think of this sensible solution to walking into an empty room. Most hotels would be happy to provide a staff person to escort you to your room.

 Since; most of the daily hotel traffic tends to be on the first floor, this allows criminals to gain access to a first-floor room with less fear of being noticed. When booking a hotel room, then, ask for a room that's above the main floor, and make sure that the rooms use electronic room-key cards as opposed to traditional keys. The added security of a peep-hole in the door is another feature that will help to keep you safe.

 You; think that a snack or drink is the first thing you need to take care of, but first make sure you have located the following items: smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and escape routes. In the event that a fire does break out, you want to be able to know about it quickly through the smoke detectors, and get out fast. Many travelers are very careless in this area. In the case emergency, there will be no time to locate these emergency features.

 Not; every criminal uses the same approach, but one of the more common ones is to hang about the hotel lobby in order to gain information about a guests room number or schedule. If, for instance, they see someone who is always very well dressed and exhibits fine jewelry, they're going to assume that there will be valuables in the room. They may attempt to learn your room number by listening carefully when you approach the main desk to check on messages or collect mail. The best defense is to state your room number quietly or, as some do, simply write it on a piece of paper and offer it to the concierge.

 Never;, never let a stranger into your room unless you can properly identify them. Criminals have all sorts of tricks they use to gain access to the rooms of unsuspecting hotel guests. A common ploy is to pretend to be a hotel employee. If you are not expecting room service or housekeeping, call the front desk to confirm that a staff member has been sent up to your room.

 On; your way out of your room, its best to leave the lights on and the TV in order to give the appearance that someone is in the room. If you need a cab, have someone at the front desk call for one so that you don't have to go outside unattended, especially at night and be sure to grab one of the hotel's business cards before you leave the premises, in the event that something should happen. This will allow the authorities to trace your path, if you should become involved in a traffic accident, are suddenly overcome by a serious health problem, etc. It also helps to have this on hand if, when you enter a cab to go back to the hotel, the driver doesn't speak fluent English.

 Terence; Dumarse is the owner of FTP Hotel which is a premier Internet resource for hotel information. For more details please visit http://www.ftphotel.com.

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ARTICLE: TOPWATER BAITS FOR HUGE BASS by Steve VonBrandt

 There; are a lot of baits that take big largemouth bass, but to me, nothing is more fun than seeing a huge bass hit a topwater bait. The excitement that is produced when a big bass explodes on a buzzbait or a frog, is unmatched by any other technique. A lot of anglers don't believe that really big bass are taken on buzzbaits, spooks, frogs, and jerkbaits. Some of the largest bass we have caught have been on topwater baits, be it in the rivers or lakes, just about everywhere in the country. Some of the best baits and techniques described below will help you catch big bass on topwaters, and increase the excitement factor ten fold!

 NOISY TOPWATERS

 Most; of our fishing for largemouth bass is done in the Northeast; Delaware, Maryland, and New York in particular, but I have caught huge bass all over the country on noisy topwater baits. Noisy topwaters can produce some enormous explosions from big bass. It irritates them into striking, by provoking an aggressive and immediate killing response more than other lures. The key to catching big bass all over the country on topwaters is to match your tackle, bait, and presentations to different conditions. The reason I believe we catch so many big bass on topwater baits is because most people throw spinnerbaits, worms, and crankbaits. The bass learn to avoid these baits when they get larger. The topwater baits we throw haven't been used for years in some cases, and the bass aren't used to seeing them. Even in places where people throw topwaters such as poppers, they are more inclined to throw whatever topwaters they use only at certain times of the day, usually in the morning or in the late afternoon, or evening. We throw different noisy topwaters all day in different locations for some tremendous strikes.

 Almost; all the bass I have caught that are over 5 pounds, are loners, holding on a particular piece of structure in the lake. I won't say that you never see some large bass schooling up, but it is a rare occurrence. There is a theory that some bass in very big reservoirs in California, actually roam open water in large schools, never coming into the shallows at all. These are called limnecticly inclined bass, but it is still just a theory. Smallmouth bass are different though, they do school up in certain areas, and there can be many large fish all together at one time. I have had this happen all over, from New York to Missouri, but big largemouth's are generally alone. I use most topwater baits when the water temperature is 60 degrees or above, but I have caught bass on topwaters when the water temperature was in the high 50's. Whenever I see a stump, rock, or maybe a bush, further away from other structure, I throw a topwater right to it. The best way to provoke a reaction strike from a big largemouth is to cast the bait right to the cover, not beyond it. If you cast past the target, the bass will be alert before the bait gets there. You may have seen them boil or swirl when you do this instead of smashing it. They are tentative when you work the bait up to the cover, and then they just swirl at it, or miss. To provoke a big bass into exploding on the bait you must cast right to the cover!

 Some; of the best baits for this are the "Zara Spook," a "Creek Chubb," or any good prop bait, a minnow bait, a popper, and a "Crazy Crawler." The "Zara Spook" is a proven bait all over the country for this. It is really effective on main lake structures like humps and points, and has always taken big smallmouth bass. I use a Rattling Zara Spook, and it really increases the effectiveness of the bait. The walk-the-dog style of the bait, along with the rattles, produces some giant bass. Big Smallmouth bass will come from a great distance to smash this bait. The prop bait is a noisy surface bait that has to be used just right or it will spook the bass. I always use it when a front is approaching, and on stained to muddy bodies of water. It is the ultimate reaction bait, and definitely needs to be cast right to the cover, whatever it may be.

 The; popper is one of my favorite baits to use in places that have a lot of grass or milfoil that is holding bass . I recently started using a popper by "Viva" lures, that was recommended to me by "Carolina Fish and Fur." It has produced some great largemouth bass in the last few years. It is called a "Bug Eye Popper." It doesn't really make as much noise as some of my other poppers, like the Pop-R, but it spits out all kinds of water. It is a fairly expensive bait, but I believe it has accounted for several big largemouth bass that I wouldn't have gotten on another bait.

 The; "Crazy Crawler" is a bait that is similar to the "Jitterbug." I use this and the buzzbait a lot at night. I also use a real big size Jitterbug that they use for Northerns or Muskies, they have never seen it here in the Northeast, and really smash it at night. The buzzbait also produces some really big bass for us here in Delaware when used at night. We have caught some bass in the 7 and 8 pound range on many occasions with a "Black Flash" buzzbait by "Blue Fox," and a "Terminator Ball Buster." This year I'm going to be trying a new buzzbait made by "ZAP" lures.

 The; floating Minnow is another good bait in post-spawn, when big bass are around some shallow cover, but they aren't particularly aggressive yet. I use baits with rattles for this also. I've caught a lot of big bass on it in pre-spawn also. On really warm days early in the year, it produces well. I just cast it to the structure, let it sit, twitch it one time, and they usually just suck it in!

 The; other bait that a lot of anglers forget about is the "Bass Rat" by Southern Lures, and the "Tournament Frog" by Snag Proof. I insert rattles in these baits also, and they produce tremendous strikes through the pads and other vegetation in bodies of water from small ponds here in Delaware to bigger bodies of water like Lake Champlain in New York. I use a 7 foot, S-Glass St.Croix rod for them, with "Spiderline" Super Mono, in 17 pound test, or I use 28 pound test "Fusion." I fish the lighter baits with a spinning rod such as a G.Loomis, in 6 1/2 foot lengths, with 12 pound test "Excel" line. I use all the rods in a medium heavy to heavy action for these baits.

 LOCATIONS

 Although; most of our really big bass have come from shallow water, they were always in a place that was near deep water, where one or more grasses came together, and near the main creek channel. They always had some kind of deep water escape route nearby. I feel that in larger bodies of water the big bass spend much of their time in deeper water, and just move in out of the shallows as the opportunities arise, when hunting for food. As I mentioned previously, most anglers use these baits at sunrise or sunset, but I use them all times of the day. We won the Big Bass World Championship for Delaware in 1998, on a buzzbait, in the middle of the day, in bright sunlight! Big bass are always on the shady side of cover once the sun rises. They can be enticed into striking a buzzbait or other topwater, at all times of the day when presented properly. Bigger bass feed more frequently due to their body size, and when they do feed, they want a bigger meal if at all possible. They have to expend a great deal of energy to catch their prey, and want to make sure the size is sufficient to meet their needs. I grew up fishing small ponds and lakes here in the Northeast. This is a great place to learn how to catch big bass and practice the techniques you need to catch them in larger bodies of water. These small ponds and lakes have plenty of big fish left in them, you just have to present the right baits at the right time.

 Steve; and his son Kurt vonBrandt are tournament anglers as well as guides and video producers, and have their own radio and TV shows on the Internet and Comcast cable in the area. They are also Redman/BFL regional qualifiers, and the 1998, 1999 and 2001 Big Bass World Champs/Delaware.

 You; can book a trip or order a videotape from S&K; Guide Service that will help you learn new techniques to catch both largemouth and smallmouth bass by simply dropping them an email at [email protected] or by visiting the website at www.skguideservice.com .

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ARTICLE: HOW TAXIDERMY WORKS by Jonathan Cree

 Taxidermy; is a strange profession which basically presents a deceased animal so that you can show it to people. You only have to go into a lodge or cabin to see heads of deer, bears, moose or elks displayed on the walls. Of course it doesn't just have to be massive animals that are shown, it can be small ones or even sea creatures but it does tend to be prized possessions that are put on display for everyone to see. Some people even have more than one in specific places in their homes; they act as trophies or mementoes.

 Do; they always use the real skin? In some instances parts of the original skin, fur, feathers or scale or the creature are removed. These are then attached to a synthetic likeness of the animal's body to create the complete product. In other instances the exterior of the animal is not used at all and all are recreated using man made fibers and substances.

 Where; does the word taxidermy come from? It actually comes from two Greek words "taxis" that translates into "movement" and "derma" that's skin in English. If you place the two words together you have "skin movement" which is actually pretty close to the true process of taxidermy. A taxidermist will skin an animal and then put this on a fake body which they will continually adjust and shift until it comes to life so to speak. In this simplicity the meaning of the word is very apt.

 To; say that taxidermy is simply the removal and transference of skin from a creature to its artificial representation is an over-simplification. Modern taxidermy requires a number of skills to be utilized in order to result in a professional, life-like end product. These skills include carpentry, woodworking, molding and casting, tanning and artistry. In order to provide an authentic representation of for instance a deer, the animal's natural hide and antlers are used, but the internal organs and other tissue are man-made. The eyes, for example, are made from glass and the eyelids are constructed from clay. In the case of the nose and mouth, these are sculpted from epoxy or wax onto the base or form of the representation. The base is typically made of polyurethane foam.

 In; many cases, such as with saltwater fish, no parts of the animal are used whatsoever. Instead, each piece is carefully man-made and applied to the form, in order to create an exact life-like appearance. For those fishermen who prefer to release their catch unharmed, this is ideal, since a life-like representation can be made when measurements and a high-quality color photo are provided.

 What; if you want to know more about taxidermy? Many people frown upon this profession as we love to do our bit in protecting species of animals and stop them being misused or mistreated. This has increased the popularity of taxidermy that uses all man made materials rather than parts of the original animal. If you need to know anything else, just use the internet as a resource by typing in taxidermy to any of the search engine keyword bars.

 Jonathan; Cree is the webmaster for FFF Taxidermy, Inc. which is the Internet's top taxidermy resource site. For complete information, please go to: http://www.ffftaxidermy.com.

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In this issue:

BACKWOODS TRIVIA: This month's question is from Ken Gregory. See if you know this one.

What two ex-U.S. presidents died on the same day?

Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.

Send your trivia questions to [email protected] .

RECIPE: - GRILLED SALMON

* Brush both sides of the fillets with olive oil.

* Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle on the thyme.

* Cover your grilling grate with foil if desired

* Place the fillets on the grill and cook over medium heat for 8 - 9 minutes.

* Carefully flip over and cook another 8 - 9 minutes. Fish is done when it flakes easy.

* Serve with lemon wedges.

For more great recipes deer recipes go to: www.backwoodsbound.com/zdeer.html

** ADVERTISE HERE! **

Place your ad here for only $6.00 an issue. Be seen by over 1500 potential buyers! Reduced rates for multiple issues. For more details go to www.backwoodsbound.com/advertise.html or e-mail us [email protected].

** STATE SHAPED TROPHY PLAQUES **

• Mount this summer's trophy bass on a Backwoods Bound State Shaped Trophy Plaque. Add a special touch and let everyone know where you caught your once in a lifetime trophy. You can pay for glued together sawdust if you want or spend your hard earned cash for a plaque made from solid oak. They are handcrafted right here in the heartland of the U.S.A. and not in some foreign factory. Americans working for Americans. Mount your trophy on something unique this year and have it stand out from the rest.

It is also time to get those antlers out of the garage and into the house. It's hard to brag about the last falls hunting adventure when your trophy is collecting dust on your workbench. Order a Backwoods Bound State Shaped Trophy Plaque. You'll be glad you did! Remember that ALL the states and Canadian provinces are available. For more information and photos or to place your order go to www.backwoodsbound.com/catalog.html.

RECOMMEND THE BACKWOODS BOUND BULLET TO A FRIEND!

Know a friend who enjoys the outdoors as much as you do? Recommend The Bullet to them. It's easy to do, just follow this link or copy and paste the url into your browser! http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/backwo.ezine Thank you!

FISHIN' TIPS: When fishing for bass in medium height grass, try pitching a Texas rigged worm or lizard into holes in the grass. Watch your line because a lot of strikes occur on the fall. Also try running a spinnerbait across the grass so it just hits the tops.

Send your tips to [email protected] and we will post them on the site or use them in an upcoming issue of The Bullet

WHAT'S NEW

• Our offices will be closed from July 2 - 15, 2004 for a much needed vacation. It isn't often that the entire staff leaves at once but things just worked out this way. Continue to send your tips, recipes, photos and fun facts and we will sort through them when we get back.

Not much else new to report on this month. New recipes and photos are constantly being added to the site. Check the site often for new things and be sure to send us your stuff. We are always needing new photos, tips, recipes, fun facts and articles. To paraphrase Uncle Sam "We need you!" Send your stuff to: [email protected].

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** ADVERTISE HERE! **

Place your ad here for only $6.00 an issue. Be seen by over 1500 potential buyers! Reduced rates for multiple issues. For more details go to www.backwoodsbound.com/advertise.html or e-mail us [email protected].

See this month's Crazy Captions photo at: www.backwoodsbound.com/funphotos.html and send us your Crazy Caption. Have a photo that would make a great Crazy Caption? Send it to [email protected].

INTERESTING QUOTE: An old Cherokee proverb: "Tell me and I will forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I will understand." Thanks to Jim Pankey for sending this in.

Seen or heard an interesting or humorous quote? Send it in and we'll post them next month. Send them to: [email protected]

RECIPE: - TURTLE SOUP # 1

* Prepare a richly flavored chicken broth seasoned only with salt. Set aside.

* In a skillet, melt the chicken fat or butter. Add the meat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

* Add the onion and saut' over medium heat until onion is soft.

* Add the meat/onion mixture and any fat to the chicken broth and heat to a boil.

* Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

* Dip servings into bowls and sprinkle with parsley. Top with a paper thin slice of lemon.

Our thanks to Jo Hampton for sending in this recipe. For more turtle recipes visit our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/zturtle.html.

HUNTIN' TIP: - Some squirrel hunting tips this month. The first one is from Dustin Vieler, "When squirrel hunting with an air rifle use wadcutters not pointed pellets. Pointed pellets give too much over penetration especially when hunting with a powerful air rifle. This one from Andrew, "When squirrel hunting tap 2 dry sticks together they come to inspect the noise." And finally this one from Nolan Short, "When squirrel hunting if there are two of you one stand by a tree and the other person walk around the stander because the squirrels will move around the tree and give the stander a shot.(always remember to know were the walker is)

For more tips visit our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/tipshunting.html. Send your tips to: [email protected].

** ADVERTISE HERE **

Place your ad here for only $6.00 an issue. Be seen by 1500 potential buyers! Reduced rates for multiple issues. Contact us at [email protected] for details.

FUN FACTS: - Some fun facts on animals. This one from Nina, "Cats get up to 15 to 19 hours of sleep a day!" One from Abby, "An ostriches eye is bigger than its brain." And last but not least, this one from Leigh-Ann who writes "Many saltwater fish species start their lives as female (for example, Clown Fish). One will evolve to be a female and one a male. In a tank environment, the first introduced to the tank generally becomes the female." Thank you all.

RECIPE: - BANANA-COCONUT BREAD

* Mix together 1-1/4 cups of the flour, coconut, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl.

* In another bowl, combine the banana, oil and honey. Gently stir into the flour mixture until combined.

* Add part of the remaining 1/4 cup flour if needed. Batter will be lumpy.

* Spread batter evenly in a lightly greased 8 x 4 inch loaf pan.

* Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

* Cool 10 minutes then turn out of pan. Cool completely on rack before slicing.

For more delicious dessert recipes go to: www.backwoodsbound.com/zdess.html.