Stretch Some Lines!

Long weekends mean that you’ll finally have time to get out on the water. However, your not the only one with this idea, and by the time you get out there people are lining the banks and every boat is fishing your favorite spot. It seems that more and more of your favorite holes are being over run.
In situations like this you have to get creative, and do a little research. It’s true that you will never find a lake in South Jersey that has never been fished, but you can find a few of the more remote lakes that see fewer people. You have a couple of options that will help bring back the peace and quiet of a day on the lake.

Fishermen are creatures of habit, and as such we tend to fish the same spots frequently. However, this practice causes us to overlook other great fishing opportunities that may be right under our noses. That is why it’s smart to turn to outside sources of information to expand your horizons. Utilizing the internet and flipping through the “New Jersey Lake Survey Fishing Maps Guide,” will help you on those days when your favorite lake is teaming with your fishing brethren.

There are many useful fishing websites on the Internet, but few offer great resources for those of us fish the lakes and streams of South Jersey. “The Bass Fishing Homepage”, has a section for lake reports. There are lakes reports from the most famous, as well as those smaller fishing holes all over the country. You can search these reports individually by state and date. Pick New Jersey from the drop-down menu, and put in the dates for last week and you’ll likely find lakes close to your home where people are catching fish. Most include effective lures, water clarity, and the top producing colors for that day.

Need even more information? Head out to the local sporting goods store and pick up a copy of the “New Jersey Lakes Survey Fishing Maps Guide.” The maps in this guide provide information on well over 50 lakes in New Jersey. Many of the lake maps also list the types of lures and the most effective colors to fish the waters successfully. The maps clearly outline depths, underwater structure, channels, direction of incoming and outgoing streams, and where boat ramps can be found.

Don’t get stuck in a routine. You can improve your tactics and strategy by fishing different lakes. Adapting to new locations can be difficult, but that is what fishing is all about.

Get your Hunter Certification..Before the fall season.

Hunting does not usually make news unless there is an accident or a protest. It is important to note that millions of hunters go out into the woods or fields of their favorite stomping ground and come home at the end of each day with nary a scratch. Accidents do occur while hunting, and will occur so long as those participating in the activity are human.

In an effort to reduce these accidents New Jersey requires prospective hunters to take part in an extensive hunter education course. The course is free, informative, and can be taken in three main categories: Shotgun, Rifle/Muzzleloader, and Archery.

In New Jersey, The hunter education program is completed in two parts. There is a home study portion that is to be completed in full before you can move to the second part of the education. This home study portion includes watching a video, reading the training booklet, and completing the accompanying workbook. Once this is done, you can register for daylong exam/field session.

The field session lasts most of the day. During this part of the hunter education program, participants must demonstrate the knowledge they obtained from the video and information booklet. This is followed by a shooting test. For archery this means you must shoot at least 3 arrows into the vital zone of a 3-D deer target. During the shotgun and rifle/muzzleloader test, participants are required to demonstrate safe handling of the firearm, as well as proper loading and firing.

As mentioned previously, the hunter education course is free. This is a thanks in part to the Wildlife Restoration Act. In 2003, a total of 2.65 million dollars was designated for New Jersey alone portions of that money are used every year to fund the hunter education programs.

There are few activities that you can participate in that provide as much for the conservation and support of our environment as hunting and fishing. The hunter education courses teach safety, but they also teach awareness for those around you and the environment. Sitting quietly in a tree stand, hunters witness natural events that are rarely seen by most people. In my stand not only have I seen deer but I have also witnessed a Red-Tailed hawk take a squirrel right off the ground, a couple of foxes chasing each around a dead tree, a family of raccoons digging in a tree looking for a meal, and much more.

Hunters contribute a lot to help sustain our environment and conserve our open spaces.

Global Warming

Whether you believe there is an issue or not this guy makes an interesting argument.




Interesting Argument About Global Warming - Watch more free videos




It is an issue of growing concern for many people, and whether you agree with this guy or not is not important. What is important is being aware of the issues and the opinions of others to help form the basis of your own opinion.

Don't forget your camera!

Here are just a few pictures from some of my recent outdoor adventures:


This is a sunrise over the Fourth Lake of the Fulton Chain in the Adirondacks.

This member of the Trillium family was taken not far from the campsite on Alger Island in the Adirondacks.






This colorful shelf-like fungus was at eye level and begging for a snapshot.






I accidentally chased this Porcupine up a tree...I hope he eventually came back down.

When you're hiking, don't forget your boots or you're camera...When you're camping, never forget your tent or your camera...When you're fishing, never forget your fishing rod or the camera.
Digital cameras are so easy to use. There are plenty of pocket-sized affordable models on the market that take very clear pictures so there is no excuse to miss that next fish, or deer crossing your path. Get out and get snapping!