The Great Outdoors

Experiencing the outdoors in New Jersey can be extremely rewarding. There are hundreds of lakes and river and miles of trails and beaches throughout the state. But sometimes, you need a little more. We are fortunate that our neighboring states also have a lot to offer the outdoor enthusiast.
It is New York, especially, that boasts one of the easiest access points to real wilderness within driving distance. The Adirondack Park designated “forever wild” in New York’s constitution and comprised of 6 million total acres, is one of the largest parks in the country.
Camping in upstate New York, whether you are in the park or close to its boundaries, offers amazing outdoor opportunities. Spring is an amazing time to experience the Adirondacks. The harsh winter in these mountains is followed by great spring thaw. The forests that were packed with snow are now turning green once again. Beavers are hard at work fixing and improving their dams, and like everywhere else this spring flowers are popping and leaves are sprouting.
If you are preparing your next outdoor adventure consider the Adirondacks. There are both private and public camping areas throughout the park’s 6 million acres. For a more rustic camping experience focus on those camping areas run by the New York Division of Environmental Conservation.
The Adirondacks offer an incredible amount of hiking opportunities as well. Boasting about two thousand miles of trails, opportunities abound for hikers at every level of experience. There are hundreds of trails all over the immense park. If you plan to hike the Adirondacks, do your research. This time of year, right after the winter thaw, many trails may be muddy and some streams impassable because of the melted snow.
When hiking in the Adirondacks, “Leave No Trace” principals are highly recommended. These principals allow everyone to enjoy the trails throughout the park, with minimal impact from human presence. These ideas focus on respecting the wilderness, leave what you find, and carrying out what you carry in, and being courteous to all those you find on the trail.
The next time you head out into the wilderness, be safe, be responsibile, and above all take the time to enjoy beauty this country has to offer.

Fun on the fly...

Many people equate fly-fishing strictly with trout, but in recent years fly rods can be seen in larger numbers off the beach, out at sea, and yes, even in your favorite Southern New Jersey freshwater lakes.
If you have never held a fly rod or browsed the fly-fishing section at your local tackle shop, you may be in for a surprise. The rods are categorized differently, the line is different, and the lures are much smaller. You won’t find a medium-light fly rod with eight-pound test on the reel; it’ll be a 5 or 6 weight rod with matching sized fly line and a 3.2lb tippet.

It sounds complicated, but if you remember a few simple tips you’ll be on your way to the perfect fly-fishing setup. First, fly rods average in range from about a 4 weight all the way up to a 12 weight. The smaller the weight the smaller the fish it is intended for and likewise for the heavier rods. Second, fly line comes in variety of ways, from sinking to floating, weight forward to double-tapered. Third, match the weight of the fly-line to the weight of the rod
Every expert fly-caster has a different theory on how to cast efficiently. If you are new to the world of fly-fishing head over to the L.L. Bean in Marlton, NJ and sign up for a casting course. An hours worth of instruction will save you hours of frustration out on the water. If you don’t have the time or the funds to take part in a class consider this, many tackle shops rent or sell hunting and fishing videos. Pick up a fly-casting video and practice the techniques described in your back yard.
By a few large fly poppers and head out to the lake at around dusk or dawn when the fish are actively feeding. If you drop one of these poppers into an opening of a lily field you are bound to entice a strike. When the popper lands twitch it by pulling on the fly line. We’ve all seen hungry fish snatch struggling insects. By doing your best to imitate this action you will be successful. It is important to feel the fish on the end of your line before attempting to set the hook. When you do simply pull down on the fly line and lift the rod. After you land that first fish it’ll only be a matter of time before this new hobby becomes an obsession.

Take your new lake map, one step further...

I've discussed how easy it is to make a basic web-based map using Google's "My Maps" feature. Now, I want to discuss how you can take a basic map and make it even better it by adding images and comments to key locations. Before we begin, You will need to use an image hosting site like ImageShack to upload your favorite pictures, and copy the image's location or URL so you can add it to your map (Example: http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9797/dougskinneruw9.jpg)

1. Go to http://maps.google.com, and click on the "My Maps" tab on the left.
2. Create a new map or open a saved one.
3. Add a new place mark or click on a previous place mark to edit it.
4. When you add a place mark a title and description box opens to allow you to label the location.
5. Click the link just above the description box that reads "Edit HTML."
   
6. Here you can enter the HTML code to post your uploaded picture. The HTML code for displaying images can be found here.
   
7. Once the map is saved your image will appear when you click on the place mark. Check out my map of Menantico Ponds for an example at "Where are the fish at?".

Be sure to save your map when your done. To share it with others click the "Link to this Page" link and once the page loads you can copy and paste the new address or URL and email it to all your friends.

If you are unsure about HTML and coding, do a search for Basic HTML in Google. You'll pick up the basics in know time and you can start sharing maps with everyone you know.

What's new in outdoors blogs?

On a recent trip around the web, I've discovered a few really useful blogs and message boards. Bookmark these sites to improve your web-based outdoor enthusiasm:

The Gear Hound --This is a blog associated with Field & Stream. New outdoor related gear is highlighted frequently, along with tips and tricks to use new gear effectively.

Field Notes --This blog is also associated with Field & Stream. The field notes blog is an extension of the opening pages of the magazine. It offers outdoor news snippets, new trends, and other useful outdoor information. An overall great place to get a daily fix of the outdoor world.

Fishing Jones --When your craving fishing talk, this is the place to stop. Ethics, news, tips, tricks, and stories abound on this well organized blog. I especially like the links to other sites. Anglers can use this site as a gateway to good fishing information.

There are a number of outdoor related blogs but in my brief travels I found these to be very useful. All three are updated on a regular basis which means that repeat visits will probably yield new information.

Maps, Maps, and More Maps

It's easy enough to find maps to your favorite fishing holes. But what if you want to highlight your favorite spots like I did for Lake Lenape?

Not only is Google Maps a useful tool to find directions, you can also create your own maps that you can share with others. Luckily, this process is relatively pain free.

1. Go to http://maps.google.com and look for the link on the left that says "My Maps."
2. From here, click on the "Create a New Map" button.
3. This will take you to the Google Account sign-in screen. If you have a Google Account just sign in. If you haven't created an account, you will need to, but no worries it's quick and it's free.
4. Once you're signed in, you'll be taken back to the main map screen. On the left, you will be able to give your new map a title and a brief description.
5. Choose whether your map is public or unlisted. Public maps will show up in Google search results.
6. Now you are ready to start mapping. Four icons will appear at the top of the map screen. The "hand" icon will allow you to drag the map, the "place mark" icon will allow you to add markers to the map to highlight specific areas, the "line" icon will allow you to draw lines connecting different locations, and the "shape" tool will allow you to highlight specific regions of the map.

Play around with all of the different options and create maps that work for you. Next week, I'll discuss adding pictures and useful descriptions to your maps. Until then, tight lines.

Upcoming Events:

Gloucester City Annual “Cattie” Tournament

Co-Sponsored by the Mayor and Common Council and

The Gloucester City Business Association

Saturday, May 12, 2007

$2,250 in Cash Prizes

Entry fee per boat - $40 Entry fee shore fishermen - $25

Sign up at Big Timber Bait & Tackle

2D Creek Road, Brooklawn, NJ

856-456-6622