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8 Ways Our Fishing Trip Almost Fell Apart

October 7, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

Written by CollegiateCamo Pro-Staff Matt Truesdale

The first time venturing on a fishing trip with your friends is always full of excitement and thrill.  Unfortunately, as much as you do not want to admit it, or how much you plan, it is also a trip full of mistakes.  Situations will always arise throughout your trip where you wish you would have either A) Done something different B) Known something beforehand C) Brought something different or D) Wish you had done something different.

This past summer I had the great opportunity to go on a Canadian fishing trip to Dua Lake in Azilda, Ontario, with my good buddies William Leete and Nate Rhine.  We had an amazing time and would not have changed anything.  With that being said, we may have made some mistakes that we learned from to only improve upon for our next trip!  So take it from me, if you are planning a fishing trip in the near future, use these words of advice.  They will serve you well and facilitate in a successful and fun trip!

  1. Make sure your GPS is updated! This is crucial in order to minimize the amount of times you get lost.  I learned this first hand on my trip as I was abruptly woken up in the back seat to Will yelling “CRAP!  We just went 50 miles in the wrong direction!”  Needless to say, GPS units need to be updated periodically as new roads are built and as roads are changed.  This is especially true when entering a different country!   Our GPS unit did not recognize any roads once we got 3 miles into Canada.  Be sure your GPS does recognize other countries!
  2. Make sure to pack extra of your favorite snack! By the end of our third day, of a 7 day trip, we had already run out of our snack of choice, Herr’s Chips.  Down time from landing lunkers, especially at night when you’re playing cards and having a couple cold ones, will always lead to snacking!  Although we were able to slice our extra potatoes to fry as a substitute, it still was not the same.  So make sure to stock up on your must have munchies!
  3. Pack Water!!! This may sound obvious to many of you, but for 3 guys in the mid 20’s we intelligently decided to use the money intended to buy water for other liquids and attempted to boil lake water when needed.  Yes, this did work for the first couple days, but it soon turned into a nagging chore, and of course we never planed ahead.  Breakfast one morning took 2 hours as we boiled water, and then waited for the water to cool so we could make pancakes.  Trust me, by mid week you will be kicking yourself for not brining water.
  4. Purchase all of your food and drinks in America!!! Groceries and beer are extremely, extremely expensive in the great North Country.  We did manage to make our food purchases prior to crossing the border, but failed to do on the later necessities.  By the end of the week we were faced with a very high bill for our drinks that we could have avoided.
  5. Remember your depth finder! We were fortunate that we did not have to haul any boats to Canada.  The outfitter we went through provided all of the boats and gas for the week.  Knowing that boats were already waiting for us, we completely forgot to pack our depth finders.  We still caught a ton of fish, and you will as well, but a depth finder would only enhance your opportunities to catch the big ones!
  6. Inquire about hot lures and baits! The week prior to venturing to your destination it is always a good idea to call the outfitter and ask what the fishermen have been using recently.  This will help you decide what lures you should make sure to pack and pack more of!  Most outfitters will also supply you with your choice of live baits.  If not, any live bait usually works pretty well.
  7. Cook your food fully! Now, how obvious does this one sound, eh?  I learned the next day that a little bit of slightly undercooked polish kielbasa will have an adverse reaction on your stomach.  I stayed on the lake for as long as I could, but eventually had to take a time out for a couple hours.  Although I got better within a couple hours, I was lucky.  We were on a lake that was only accessible though boat plane.  We were completely alone.  Had I gotten very ill, it would not have been good.
  8. Braided line is overrated! I took a couple rods with me on this trip.  One was rigged with braided line while the other rod was rigged with regular monofilament.  I did not catch a single fish on my braided line rod in two days.  I was catching all the fish on my other rod.  That second night I completely re-rigged the rod that had the braided line on, and replaced it with 12 lbs Trilene TransOptic monofilament.  That third day I was catching fish on both rods!

I wish you luck in your fishing adventures!  I hope that these tips will help or assist you in the future, but know that the best way to learn is through experience!

If you would like to follow me through Twitter, you can find me at: @trueze

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Fishing With Family and Friends in Cape Canaveral

September 14, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

Written by CollegiateCamo Pro-Staff Donny “Gatorman” Bartow

Summer times almost gone! Woohooo!  Bring on Old Man Winter because the only thing I will miss is fishing, but I’m sure my mind will be too busy focusing on big game animals across the states! Well, I won’t really be missing out on fishing all that much because I live in the south and Old Man Winter rests here before and after tormenting the northern states but as long as he cools us off I’m good with that!

Fishing down here is always good! Too many species to target to not have good fishing! This summer I did a lot of fishing with my family, and friends! I mainly fished salt water and have realized what an addiction it is, because there is also the one fact of too many species to not commit to it! Where ya say was I fishing? The main salt water destination I chose was around Cape Canaveral Fl., in the Indian River and my targeted fish was…yep you figured right…Gator Trout!

I was lucky enough to be guided by my Uncle Travis who put me on more fish than we could keep! Nearly every time we went out, which was every Thursday afternoon, we limited out! It was a blast that will get and keep you addicted!! We also caught some red fish, ladyfish, salt water cats and saw a wide variety of other animals but the best treat was a Manatee! Man that’s one funky looking water beast!! Very cool to watch though! This type of fishing is one of the easiest there is; as a matter of fact it’s so easy even a caveman can do it! Please note this was not taken from the popular insurance commercial!! HAHA seriously though if you wanna take a kid fishing for the first time, you gotta take ‘em gator trout fishing! nMy youngest son went a few times and unfortunately I don’t have the pics of him with his catch but trust me when I say my 10 year old out fished me!!! Ya know I love the outdoors but when I get to spend it with my family that’s what makes the memories last! Good fishing and good Hunting and always remember to take a kid and always stress and teach safety!

God Bless… Gatorman OUT!

(Fan of the Florida Gators? Check out our University of Florida Gators Camouflage Decals!)

 

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Steelhead Flyfishing in Minnesota

May 14, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

Written by friend of CollegiateCamo and loyal K-State fan Justin Bayes.

I recently found myself riding in a good friend’s SUV, cruising up Highway 61 on the north shore of Lake Superior. We had kicked off one of our annual fly fishing trips in the usual fashion the night before and as a result, we were running late. While choking down a cup of gas station coffee, we were still laughing and retelling lies about days gone by and previous fishing trips. We then pulled off of the highway next to the Sucker River. I remember thinking to myself that the name of this particular tributary seemed a little odd. It hadn’t occurred to me that I would be standing in freezing cold water, with air temperature readings in the low thirties and forty mile an hour gusts blowing off the lake. The gusts were so powerful they were casting egg patterns to a fish that might not even be in the river yet. All the sudden the name made perfect since…..suckers indeed!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with these beautiful fish, a steel head is actually a rainbow trout that spends the majority of its time in the ocean or the Great Lakes, only entering a river system for a short time twice a year. They can be very difficult to catch and most people only land about one out of every 5 or 10 they hook. These migrations of steel head are triggered by water temperature, run off, and other seasonal changes. These same conditions also trigger trout bums from far and wide, who will drop everything in their normal lives in order to get on the rivers when the fish are up. We were no exception.

We spent the majority of the first day in the normal haphazard manor that always seems to accompany two fly fishermen from central Kansas in a strange place. We went from river to river, studying the pockets, checking water temperatures and occasionally wetting a line.  By the end of the first fishless day, we made the decision to abandon ship and go with plan B. Plan B has outperformed the former the majority of the time anyway. Basically, you just get as close as possible to the guys who look local and are catching fish.

The rules are as follows:

#1 Do not attempt…or look like you’re attempting to fish in any way….Just watch and learn.

#2 Let it be known to these hardened veterans, that you are from a place as foreign to them as the moon, and that you will likely never share any information about the river.  Nor will you ever be back to beat them to their secret spot.

#3 Take the time to speak to several of the locals, because each of them will lace this information with occasional half truths in order to protect themselves. You must get enough data to effectively throw out the inconsistencies and form an accurate plan.  Mission accomplished!

We awoke the following morning to a little more of the same as far as the weather. But the mood was light and full of anticipation for what the day might bring. Pulling off at a tributary near Deluth, MN I noticed that the slow fishing and bad weather the day before had kept a lot of people in bed or at work. We had the place to ourselves. Having scouted out a spot the night before, we quickly moved into the river and silently began going through the motions of getting the weight set right in order to “tick” the bottom where the fish should be using the depth to get up stream. After that, it’s a simple game of….”was that a fish, or was that a rock?” This went on for the better part of an hour and my interest had shifted to more pressing matters like my head wondering if my wading boots too small, or is this water really that cold? Then I set the hook on another rock. Wait a minute…..rocks can’t swim. I snapped out of my trance just in time for a quick strip set and drove the hook home. Glancing to the right with a huge smile, I see my buddy Scott running to the bank to drop of his fly rod in exchange for the net. Awkwardly he attempted every angle to get the fish in the net, and at one point, he even had it bridged across the entire top, but it was too big to fall in! Towards the bank we went and eventually he was able to scoop it on to shore. This beautiful cam loop rainbow was the result of all that work.

After that, we both knew it was time to get serious and had the confidence to grind out that spot for the rest of the day. It wasn’t long before Schmidty was hooked into another nice looper, which was handled in similar fashion. Our goal for this trip was one nice fish a piece, so having both done this, it was a success. The only problem was that we were here for steal head and so far, we hadn’t seen one. With this in mind, we got back to the chuck and duck style of fishing we’d grown familiar with again.

With the pressure off, I was really enjoying being on the river. Even during the early spring, it is such a beautiful place. I found myself absorbed in it for a short time until I caught something out of the corner of my eye. Looking up river I see a silver streak surface momentarily.  My voice breaks the silence…..

“Chrome.”

“What?” Scott replied.

I shouted, “CHROME, MAN!  There’s steel head moving up!”

Scott asked, “Where?”

“Right there….up river.”

About that time I feel a deep thump on the butt of my rod followed by the sound of my line buzzing off the reel at a pace that would make Carl Lewis jealous. Schmidty turned just in time to see a 30 inch steel head leap 4 foot into the air and change direction at the same time. Lucky for me, it was now running down river into a more favorable section for landing one of these crazy things. I spent a fair amount of time trying to keep it off the rocks and out from between Scott’s legs. Finally we were able to get it to shore.

For those of you who haven’t tried this, get out there and give it a try…..and don’t forget to wear your CollegiateCamo gear!

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Kayak Fishing with Juan Veruete

March 26, 2011 by · 1 Comment 

Written by Pro-Staff team member Matt Truesdale

Answer these questions to yourself.

  1. Have you ever been fishing?
  2. How bout kayaking?
  3. Now, have you ever been kayak fishing?

If you answered “No” to question 3, or have never even heard of kayak fishing, do not be alarmed.  And, yes, kayak fishing is a legitimate way to fish!  I admit that kayak fishing is a little different then slamming down on the throttle of a tricked out bass boat.  But utilizing a kayak to fish is an often more successful method and one that is overlooked by anglers!  In fact, kayak fishing has been so successful that it is one of the fastest growing recreational sports to date.

As cabin fever begins to set in for outdoorsmen across the country and whether or not Punxsutawney Phil had seen his shadow, the spring season cannot get here soon enough.  In the mean time there is no better opportunity to begin your spring fishing preparations.  Dust off your chest waders, re-string your reels, and reorganize your tackle box.  It is time to think FISH once again.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Juan Veruete, owner and operator of Kayak Fish PA, LLC.  Among many topics, Juan discusses  how his first fishing trip as a child was almost his last (literally), the advantages of kayak fishing, the future of the sport, and how he followed his interests to land a hook, line, and sinker of a dream job.  Fishing pun intended!

Q. Juan, how did you get involved in fishing?

A. Well that is actually an interesting story, and one that almost ended my life believe it or not.  The first time I had the opportunity to fish was when I was 6 years old.  A bunch of older kids in my neighborhood were going fishing on the first day of trout season and they had asked me to go along.  At this time, fishing was something that I never had the chance to try, but was something that appeared to be a lot of fun.  It was very convenient because Wallace Run was only 200 yards from my house.  We decided to try and cross the stream at one point by using a log that was lying overtop of the water like a bridge.  On my way across the log, I accidentally fell into the water and was literally hanging on to the log for dear life.  You can say that I almost nearly drowned, but one of the older kids was able to pull me out of the water.  Now this was the first day of trout season as I mentioned, in Pennsylvania.  So you know it was a cold and dreary spring day and the water was very cold as well.  Regardless of my current soggy situation I was determined to catch a fish and continued on with the trip.  I only caught one fish that day.  It was the first fish I had ever caught.  I was cold and tired, but it was the most fun thing in the world for me, catching that fish.  I have been fishing ever since that day.  I was hooked.

Q. How did you get involved with kayak fishing?

A. I got involved with kayak fishing several years ago.  Prior to my use of a kayak to fish, I fished out of a Jon boat.  I would put my Jon boat in any body of water that I could navigate for the most part, specifically on the Juniata River.  One day I was looking at different fishing gear, browsing the internet, and I happened to stumbled across an internet forum discussing kayak fishing.  Kayak fishing, at this point when I found the internet forum, was something I had never heard of before, but it sounded very interesting and fun.  After researching a bit more bout kayak fishing and giving it some thought, I literally went out on day, tried some kayaks on the water, and made a purchase.  What really lured me into kayak fishing was the fact that a kayak can get you into places on a stream or any body of water that most people cannot get to when shore fishing or fishing from a boat.  Kayaks are so much smaller and more navigable than any other water craft, and can open up so many opportunities on the water. You can drag or paddle into holes that other anglers literally cannot get into.  I caught 3 large mouth bass, all over 20 inches, my first month fishing out of a kayak.  The fact is, while in a kayak you can go into spots and place lures in front of these fish that have never seen a lure or any presentation before.  The initial success I had kept me wanting more and wanting to go out as much as possible in my kayak.  It is very addictive when you get involved as a kayak fishing angler.

Q. What separates kayak fishing from other forms of fishing, such as from a boat, a canoe, or even from shore?

A. There are many positive tangents involved with kayak fishing.  Kayak fishing is very affordable for the most part for people to get involved in.  Some people may think that a kayak limits an angler with how they can fish or what they can use.  The truth is that an angler can fish out of a kayak just like they can fish from a bass boat.  You can flip the cover and sight fish in kayaks, just like in a boat.  There are even kayaks on the market that are designed to stand up in as well.  And again, kayak fishing is so much more affordable than people think.  An angler can purchase a high quality used kayak for around $450, compared to what many boats cost, it’s definitely worth the money.

Along with affordability, kayak fishing is stealthy and gives an angler a great advantage.  They (kayaks) are a lot less intrusive when moving on a body of water, moving into a hole, or to cover. On average, I catch more big fish while kayak fishing than I did back in the days of fishing out of my river Jon.

Q. What is the best time or season to kayak fish?

A. Late spring, summer, and early fall is the best time to get your kayak on the water and do some fishing.  During this time, especially in the summer, the water level is fairly low and warm which makes paddling more enjoyable. The fish are also more active and aggressive when the water is warm. Any time your kayak fishing be sure to leave someone close to you with a float trip itinerary.  The float itinerary should be complete with the time and place you are choosing to put in and the time and place you are expecting to take out.  A float itinerary is important so that if something happens to you on the water and the person you left your float itinerary with does not hear from you after your expected take out time, they can call emergency services.  I also urge everyone to wear a PFD at all times while on the water.

Q. What does your kayak fishing company offer to the public?

A. Kayak Fish PA, LLC provides new and experienced kayak anglers with the essentials to become a better kayak angler and to be safe on the water.  Kayak Fish PA, LLC is more than a guiding service.  I conduct what I like to call “Guided Kayak Fishing Classes”.  My guided classes include a wide variety of topics.  In the class I focus on what I call the 3 pillars of kayak fishing success: Paddling Technique and Position, Fish Behavior and Location, Lure Selection and Presentation Techniques.

I typically guide for river smallmouth bass since that’s my “specialty”. I usually take my clients on a float trip of about 5 miles. That length of float takes about 6-8 hours during which I cover a variety of specific topics like water safety, paddling technique, holding position, bass behavior and location, presentations, and strategies.

Teaching is my primary focus but I definitely want my guide clients to have fun on the water and catch fish. Honestly, how can you not enjoy a day on the water! The teaching aspect of the trip is really important to me because I want my guide clients to have the skills needed to enjoy success beyond the day of our trip. It is a well rounded class where I fully communicate, connect with, and educate the individual, rather than just tying on their lure and pointing out where to cast

Q. What do you hope people get out of a kayak fishing trip with you?

A. I hope that the anglers leave with a better understanding of their kayak, paddling techniques, water safety, fish location and behavior.  I also like to have the anglers leave with some good solid strategies that they can use on their own when they kayak fish in the future.  In other words, I try to have my participating anglers leave with a good base knowledge of kayak fishing and I try to get them hooked into the sport.  I have a ton of fun with kayak fishing and I like to try and pass on the fun to them, so they can continue to do well and continue to have fun.

Q. Where do you see the sport of kayak fishing in the future?

A. I see kayak fishing continuing to grow, especially within fresh water.  Kayak fishing in saltwater has been popular on the West and East coast for many years.  Freshwater kayak fishing is still somewhat of a novel sport but growing in leaps and bounds.  Here in Pennsylvania when I am preparing to put into the water, I look like an oddity to almost everyone around me.  People are always curious when they see me with a kayak and all my fishing gear at the same time.  Many people still have not heard of what kayak fishing is, let a lone see a guy with a kayak fishing rig.  It is at these moments I have the perfect opportunity to educate them in what kayak fishing is, and the people always seem interested and amazed.  In fact, the fastest growing sector of kayaking is the recreational kayaker and the fishermen are seeing how good angling can be from the use of a kayak.  There are even tournaments today specifically for kayak fishing, and kayak companies are constructing kayaks for kayak fishing.  The sport will continue to grow; I have no doubt at all.  The bottom line is that it is fun, enhances the fishing possibilities, and is affordable.  When you have a combination of those 3 aspects, you are destined to do well, no matter what it is.

Q. Where do you see your company in the future and where do you hope to see yourself in the future?

A. Right now Kayak Fish PA, LLC is growing better than I expected at this point when I first started the company.  There is a lot of interested from anglers in booking classes and trips with me, and my time fills up very fast when the spring season weather starts to get to Pennsylvania.  I even have people who want to book second trips with me so they can continue to learn more techniques and more about the sport.

I started the business because I honestly just love to fish, and I enjoy teaching people what I enjoy.  For myself, I thoroughly have a lot of fun spreading the fun and knowledge to anglers who are interested in the sport.  I see my business continuing to grow as the industry continues to grow.  I have recently been invited to different sportsman shows and asked to provide short workshops on kayak fishing.  My name and my company’s name is spreading fairly rapidly, but honestly it’s really still just grass roots right now.  No matter what, I’m doing the coolest thing there is to do, and I believe that.  I get to wake up everyday and do what I love to do.  I am essentially getting paid to have fun.  I mean how can it get any better?  Offering a service people appreciate is great.

Get More Information about Kayak Fish PA

If you would like further information on Kayak Fish PA, LLC or would like to schedule a trip, you can contact them via the following:

Upcoming seminars dates by Juan Veruete of Kayak Fish PA, LLC:

Juan’s Credentials:

  • Certified level 1 kayak instructor by the American Canoe Association
  • Pennsylvania Boaters Safety Certification
  • Red Cross certified in CPR and First Aid
  • Pennsylvania licensed and insured guide.
  • Winco’s Custom Lures, Pro-Staff
  • Temple Fork Outfitters, Pro-Staff
  • Columbia Sportswear, Pro-Team
  • Kayakbassfishing.com, Pro-Staff
  • Susquehanna Fishing Magazine, Pro-Staff and staff writer
  • Centre Sportsman Outdoor TV show, multiple guest appearances

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9th Annual “Eat an Animal for PETA Day”

March 14, 2011 by · 1 Comment 

I was invited to Eat an Animal for PETA Day via facebook a few days ago. The event is taking place tomorrow, March 15, 2011. I have to say, I was a little shocked to receive an invitation only because I had never heard of this even before. I have done some research, looked online for information and came to some of my own conclusions about this organization. I encourage others to do the same. Just to throw a hint out there, most things in life are “black and white”, but I’m thinking some of their practices may fall into a “grey” area.

So, will I Eat an Animal for PETA tomorrow? Yup. I eat animals daily. They provide plenty of protein and taste delicious. As of right now, there are 56,460 people “attending” this tongue-in-cheek event. While you are thinking about it, do you need a truck tag that says “EAT DEER” OR “EAT DUCK”? If you are an avid person of the outdoors, you probably need one. We carry them here at CollegiateCamo.

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NEW! College Team Fishing Reels

February 19, 2011 by · 3 Comments 

CollegiateCamo is happy to introduce some really awesome fishing reels from Ardent Reels! We are thrilled to offer reels to show your love for LSU Tigers, KU Jayhawks, MU Tigers, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Florida Gators. With March Madness and spring just around the corner, what better way is there to show your pride for your favorite team?

What are the specs on these college team fishing reels, you ask? The Ardent C400 Free Spool Casting Reel provides the best value in a durable high-performance reel. Ardent’s new Comfort Grip™ frame design features corrosion-resistant aluminum for lightweight, easy casting.

Specifications:

  • ONE-PIECE ALUMINUM ALLOY FRAME
  • 4+1 STAINLESS STEEL BALL BEARINGS
  • COMFORT GRIP FRAME DESIGN
  • 6-PIN CENTRIFUGAL BRAKE SYSTEM
  • WEIGHT 9.7 OZ
  • GEAR RATIO 6.3:1
  • LINE RETRIEVE 26″/handle turn
  • LINE CAPACITY 8/180 – 10/150 – 12/120
  • 3-YEAR WARRANTY

Take a look! They are very nice reels and very competitively priced. Show your pride on the water and make your friends jealous!

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Wild Brown Trout in Pennsylvania

January 31, 2011 by · 3 Comments 

What a way to spend a weekend!  CollegiateCamo Pro Staffer Matt Truesdale caught and released this  wild brown trout on Spring Creek outside of State College, PA the last weekend in January. What a beauty!

Pennsylvania Wild Brown Trout

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Scary Statistics: Fewer Youths Hunting and Fishing

February 18, 2010 by · Leave a Comment 

We recently read some disturbing numbers in the article from the Wall Street Journal, “The Outfitters’ Lament: Too Few Kids With Guns.” I was shaking my head with concern over the statistics about the youth of America and what they’re missing out on in the great outdoors.

What a shame that video games have taken away young people’s enjoyment of the outdoors and spending time in the outdoors, hunting, shooting and fishing. We see overweight children and are disgusted by their sedentary lifestyles. Many rural families for generation after generation have migrated to the cities leaving no one on the farm to foster these sports. If we’re not careful, there will not be enough generations left to even pass on the memories and life values learned in the field.

So many youth will grow into adults and never know the joy of sitting in a tree stand watching a squirrel approach within inches, or watching a river otter along a bank as you check out the “just right” fishing hole. I could go on and on with breathtaking memories spent hunting and fishing as a youth that I feel all young people should be encouraged to experience and enjoy.

Besides the valuable lifetime experience hunting provides, we are all aware of how massively outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen support conservation with the revenue from our hunting and fishing licenses. For those who don’t hunt and fish but enjoy the outdoors in other areas, conservation programs are in trouble without the support of this revenue!

This particular article speaks of the outdoor industry and how we’re all trying to curb this decline, but it’s going to take a “fad” of sorts to make it fun, acceptable and cool again. We need to fight for the cause and embrace what promotes these outdoor activities with pride.

CollegiateCamo is doing our part by combining the collegiate-loyal with the outdoors-proud. We show our passion for the outdoors, hunting and fishing by offering the community camouflage college decals and apparel.  Maybe what it takes is “hanging on to the coat tails of successful endeavors and combining the two to excite our youth about the outdoor sports.”

What are you doing to keeping hunting and fishing alive?

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