michaeloutdoor

Salmon River Madness

October 8, 2015October 9, 2015 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

Chronicles crew with a nice keeper chinook — Some of the Chronicles crew with a nice keeper Chinook Salmon

It’s that time of the year again! This weekend, we Boston boys will be making our annual trip to Pulaski, NY to butt shoulders with other fisherman on the overcrowded Salmon and Oswego River. Sounds fantastic right? The stress of potentially not securing your spot and fighting with a massive local “Oswegonian” is well worth it when your line gets tight and the drag starts screaming! A few of us went to college at SUNY Oswego and started fishing for these freak fish over eight years ago. Now that we have “respectable” jobs and more responsibility, we look forward to this annual trip to escape and continue our pursuits of these monster salmon and cold Labatt Blue.

Early Steelie caught by Mr. Jones on blue egg sac — Early Steelie caught by Davey Jones on a blue egg sac

I am going to give you the most important piece of advice to help you land a salmon this fall. Do not get too drunk the night before you fish. GET TO THE WATER VERY EARLY to secure a spot and do not leave until you are exhausted. The river will start filling up with fishermen between 6:45-7:15AM. If you safely get into position a solid hour before the others, there shouldn’t be an issue with crowds until 7:30AM. The rivers can get packed with people, but it is well worth it. The past few years, we have been having more success with hooking up and landing steelhead and bows. Salmon hook ups are frequent, but they run so hard and often come off the line.

I am not an expert at catching these things, but have had some good success following the factors listed below:

Water depth and flow – The higher the water level the better, the faster the water, the more oxygen, get the drift? There is a sweet spot with flow/depth. I like fishing the Oswego River when it’s between 4,500-6,000cfs. This river can be dangerous as hell if it get’s higher, but I have always had success during this flow.

Preliminary salmon runs – Location is key! Salmon can randomly begin their cycle depending on environmental factors such as water depth, flow and temperature. Typically the best runs start Columbus day weekend and end early November, but you never know when a major push will happen. Stay updated on local blogs and fishing reports and plan to have flexibility in setting the date for your trip.

Weather – The salmon run can greatly be affected by the weather patterns, a drop in temperature can result in a preliminary or unexpected run, as listed above. Cold nights and cooler daytime temperatures will help move the fish up river. You can never really predict the weather, but try and fish when it is getting a little colder.

“Stay Sensitive”- If you plan on using a spinning outfit, make sure you have the right line to feel your sinker kiss the bottom of the river while your leader sways into a fishes mouth. This ticking is important, because your hook (which should be on a leader, three feet behind weight) will hopefully pass through lines of fish. Salmon will rarely eat or go after your hook, so “lining” them is the best way to get success. Having minimal stretch line with narrow diameter will help you feel the tick and have more hook sets.

If you see someone attempting to snag the fish, rat their ass out to the DEC. Snagging is horrible for the fish and not real fishing. Thanks for reading and if you have any questions, please contact me at greenlakechronicles@gmail.com. Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Michael

Salmon River map

Early morning steelie on the Oswego river

Central New York/Fall/Fishing

Oneida Lake Fall Walleye Blitz

October 2, 2015 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

My Cuse buddies with a nice set of Fat eyes

I moved out of Syracuse, NY a little over three years ago and one of the things I miss most (other than dirt cheap rent) is the Fall Walleye Fishing on Oneida Lake. Walleye fishing becomes one of the hottest attractions of the fall, fish start becoming aggressive in their feeding routines, chasing bait into the shallower waters and circling the lake with a nightly feeding “schedule.”

What sets this time of year apart from the springtime walleye fishing, is the lure selection. In the spring we strictly utilized a 3/8” oz jig dipped with a juicy nightcrawler tail, jigging it on the bottom around 15 feet. As the temperature increases, the fish would head towards deeper waters, thus requiring a heavier jig. With fall the water temperature dropping, large schools of walleye gravitate back towards the shallows, consistently circling the lake for balls of baitfish. With the fish coming shallower and following a more aggressive feeding pattern, stick baits would be our main lure choice. We’ve had great success with the Rapala X-Rap. This lure is a “slash” bait that suspends in the water and produces a radical motion. The reason I love this bait so much is that it is designed for the shallower water and the color patterns offered are extremely realistic. The X-Rap gives you that edge in weed “evadement” and also allows you to cast a significant distance with its long cast technology. In my opinion, this is hands down the top bait to use in the fall. Just cast it out there and hook up.

The best time to fish in the fall is dependent on a few environmental factors:

Water temperature: colder temperatures allow fish to swim into the shallows feeding on baitfish.
Wind direction and speed: generally you want to fish into the wind or in a cove where the wind is pushing waves to shore. This will push the bait closer and in turn schools of walleye will aggressively follow.
Time of day: preferably in the evening within an hour of sunset. You can start fishing in October and end Mid-November, just keep in mind, the activity is dependent on the water temperature as mentioned above

Hot Color Patterns

Silver and Black
Clown
Perch
Fire Shad and Standard Shad

Thanks for reading and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at greenlakechronicles@gmail.com. Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for good pictures and videos!

Michael

Hunting recipes

Wildgame Cooking Recipes Bearman Style

September 29, 2015September 30, 2015 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

Max — Bearman with a nice hook up in one of the glacier lakes

Max “Bearman” Fiedler is an outdoor celebrity within my social circle and one of my best friends. One of the things I respect most from this guy, is his complete reliance on subsistence living. Bearman is an avid hunter and fisherman, but he also appreciates a healthy garden and livestock. Living in Montana allows a breath of opportunities for protein and Max is proud to admit that he hasn’t purchased chicken, beef or any other meets at the grocery store, since he moved out there in 2012.

Bearman with his 2015 Montana Black Bear

I gave Bearman his nickname within the first few days of us meeting in college, about a decade ago. I was reluctant to befriend him at first, since I didn’t think there would be another kid out there as passionate and crazy about hunting as myself. However, when he told me the story of when he stalked and harvested a 300lb black bear on a mountain ridge in Sullivan Country, NY, I quickly grew respect for the guy. Bearman shot that Pope and Young bear at 15 yards with his old PSE compound, and he was 16 years old!

He is a humble hero with beautiful woodworking capabilities and Boone and Crockett quality in the deer woods. In college Bearman would host generous Sunday night dinners, with massive amounts of venison chili, smoked fish and tenderloin sandwiches. He loved these gatherings, because not only was the food good, but we all got to trade outdoor stories as well as introduce our passions to some city kids. I have included some of Bearmans favorites recipes and brine’s for wild game. Check out these savory wild game secrets below and enjoy!

Bearman’s Top Outdoor Brine’s & Recipes

Smoked Trout Brine

12 cups water
1 cup kosher salt
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/8 cup minced garlic
Glaze ( After Smoking )
Honey, Jack Daniels, Black Pepper
Let fillets (skin on) soak for 8-24 hours in refrigerator
Dry then place in smoker for 3-8 hours on low heat until meat starts to separate.
Cool fillets and apply glaze.

Corned Venison Brine
3 cups tenderquic cure (can be obtained at Agway or Wegmans)
6 qts water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tbl spoon mixed pickling spices
2 teaspoons paprika
5 teaspoons bay leaves
2 cloves garlic (add after boiling)
Combine and boil except for garlic for 5 min. then let cool. Let sit for 21 days
Be sure all roasts are covered and stir daily
Cook in crock pot with onions and 1 can of beer for 4-6 hours,
slice thin and place on toasted bread with cheese and sauerkraut for the best sandwich you’ve ever ate!

Bearman’s Killer Venison Chili
1 1/2 – 2 pounds ground venison cooked first before placed into crock pot
2 – 24 oz cans crushed tomatoes
1 small can tomato paste
1 can black beans
2 cans kidney beans
1 can white/light kidney beans
1 can corn
2 green peppers cut into 1/4″ cubes
2 wite/yellow onions
2 tbs chili powder
2 tbs red hot hot sauce
1 tbs minced garlic
salt+pepper

Put in crock pot for 6- 8 hours and eat over rice/crackers.

Thank you for reading and good luck on your next outing adventure! If you have any questions regarding wild game recipes, please email me at greenlakechronicles@gmail.com. Be sure to also check out our Facebook and Instagram pages!

Michael

Action Camera Videos/Fishing/massachusetts

It was a Swift River weekend

September 28, 2015 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUWLRUd21lc&feature=youtu.be

My goal for the last few years was to get a “go-pro like” action camera and bring it along on my outing adventures. Been chirping for years to my buddies about all the “unreal” things I’ve seen and sick of having them not believe me.

I did not want to spend $400 + on a camera that I will most likely beat the hell out of. Recently I purchased the new DB Power action camera, cheaper equivalent to the popular go-pro. The first video I shot, is of a school of fat rainbows mocking me in the middle of the bend hole at the Swift River. I was hoping to get an action shot of a fly take, but they just looked at the camera and swam away.

I was able to land one fish before getting blatantly disregarded for the rest of the trip. It was a cool morning, probably around 43′ degrees and I expected the fish to be eating up a storm. They were biting from 7-8:00AM ish then slowed down. I kept going after them, but they stopped considering what I had to offer. Thought it would be cool to try and get them on camera, so I slowly walked into the bend hole. I know the footage is a little shaky but its pretty cool to seem them underwater. Thank you for viewing this post and be sure to follow our Instagram, YouTube and Facebook pages for more great footage and still photos.

Michael

Fishing

Cabelas Stowaway Rod Review

September 28, 2015September 30, 2015 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

Shawn casting a nymph/scud into a Millers River hole.

My buddy Shawn, a Chronicles Pro-Staffer, and I trekked out to North Central Massachusetts this past weekend, with high hopes in landing a few fat rainbows, browns and native brook trout on the Swift and Millers River. The night temperature was very chilly and the morning projections looked to be a misty and cold nymph kind of day. I was using my Temple Fork Outfitters rod and Shawn pulled out his new Cabelas Stowaway 6. It was a fun day and Shawn wanted to share his thoughts and opinion on this new rod. Read his personal review below:

“Over the years there has been many claims as to what the perfect dry fly rod is………………

I live in New England and have recently purchased the Cabela’s Stowaway 6 rod 3WT – 8’, 6’’ with a combination of the Cabela’s Prestige Premier reel. A classy mix between stiffness, control, durability and aesthetics, not to mention it comes in a compact 6 pieces for easy transportation.

When looking to make a purchase I wanted something I could use locally on New England’s smaller streams and rivers with the capability of being used for the annual Montana fishing trip on the Little Big Horn River that I make every year. With a steady Dun and Trico hatch, the indigenous Rainbow’s and Brown didn’t stand a chance! The longer length than traditional lighter rods allows for cuts against the wind that usually a 4WT is needed for. Which is exactly what I needed since I prefer the fight (and the rush) lighter rods tend to provide during a hook.

Shawn with Montana fishing guide. Fat brown down!

I couldn’t be happier with this purchase, and definitely would recommend this rod to other anglers interested in having a quality tool without the price tag of Sage, Orvis, or Winston rods. If you have any questions about these Cabelas products, please email us at greenlakechronicles@gmail.com.”

Thanks for the review Shawn. I hope you enjoyed this post and if you have any questions, please contact us right away! Thanks for reading and be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for awesome pictures.

Michael

Saltwater Fishing

New England – Fall Striper Run

September 25, 2015 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

This weekend will be a hot one for striped bass in New England and I plan on getting out and trying my luck at some fat slobs off the coast of Block Island, RI. Trying out my new go pro aboard Capt. Kelly Crunch charters, I am hoping to post some sick videos and fish proof this weekend. We will be fishing the south side of Block Island, where recent fishing reports boast of fat bass keepahs, bluefish and the sporadic albie schools. Night fishing will give you the best opportunity to catch a 28″ plus bass in the fall. The larger fish are more active in the cooler waters at night and fishing pressure is not as “shoulder to shoulder” as it can be during the summer run.

Other than striped bass, Rhode Island fishing in the early fall can sport some tasty false albacore, black sea bass, scup and fast blitzing blues. I can tell you all kinds of fluff and advice about saltwater fishing (mostly my personal opinion and bias) but if you are curious to learn solid information and get tips to improve your game, I strongly advise you click this On The Water link. They are a huge resource for me and many other anglers to get no BS fishing reports and hot new techniques to try out. Capt. Kelly is projecting a big yield tonight, but I will have the video proof this weekend. If you have any questions about this post, please contact me at greenlakechronicles@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!

Mike

New York/Wine

I like wine

September 24, 2015September 24, 2015 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

I am a big bow hunter and it’s that time of the year again when I will be posting pictures and articles about hunting tips and secrets during my hopefully successful season. I am counting down the days until the opener in New York and anxiously think about all of my preparation this summer, hoping it will pay off. A remedy for this anxiety, that has given me pleasant relief………… is Vino and foliage!

One of the most beautiful seasons of the year, is early fall and one of the best activities to enjoy the crisp weather change in the Northeast, is a wine tour in the Finger Lakes region of New York. It has all the positives here! Wine (most importantly), stunning landscapes, some romance (if you must) and extraordinary foliage. My fiance and I very much enjoy the red grape varieties, but the finger lakes offer some interesting options for both red and white wine lovers. The picture above is from the front porch of the Leidenfrost Vineyard which is located on Seneca lake, in western New York. This is an awesome place to explore some of the finer reds of the region. Drinking wine while

looking at the foliage above Seneca Lake is not a bad way to “kill time” before hunting season. It’s fun and you will class yourself up a bit!

Me being super classy on a wine tour, one week before deer season!

If you have any questions about this article or other winery options in the Finger Lakes region, please do not hesitate to contact me. I suggest making this trip in early fall, but most of the wineries are open year round and provide interesting tours and tastings for every palate. You can also visit this LINK to learn more. Thanks for reading!

-Michael
greenlakechronicles@gmail.com

National Park/Road Trip

Soul cleanse

September 22, 2015 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

One of the best decisions I have ever made, was quitting my consulting job in Upstate New York, packing up my apartment and taking a six-week road trip across the U.S. This was my first real job since graduating college almost three years earlier and I already felt like a drone; monotonously performing the same activities over and over. Don’t get me wrong, I was very grateful for this job opportunity, but after a few years I knew it was not going to be a career. One day, my buddy and I walked into our bosses office and handed in our resignation. We had already determined that a road trip across the country was going to “cleanse our souls” and give a foundation to start anew upon our return. A week after our resignation and move, we ventured out west wide eyed and enthusiastic for the unknown.

This trip would entail 13,000 total miles, 32 states, three time zones, four oil changes and one bad ass 255,678 mile Toyota-Camry. My goal with this post is to not tell you how to plan your sabbatical or urge you to quit your job, but to share some of my experiences and advice. Our purpose was to explore and appreciate other parts of our country, seek out answers to what the hell we wanted to do with our lives and most importantly, quench our adventure thirst.

SLEEP– you will barely get any if you plan on trekking across country with your buddies. This picture was taken as a “remake” from how we ended up in the middle of Arches National Park in Utah. We arrived around 2:30AM after a long drive from Las Vegas, plagued by headaches and sleep deprivation. We ended up sleeping on the side of a road in the park, one of us in the car and the two others on the ground on sleeping bags. The giggles from tourist a few hours later, woke us up and prompt us to get hiking. That was one of the most memorable nights of the trip. My advice, grab a hotel or comfy tent site after two full days in Las Vegas. You need rest.

CAMARADERIE- My buddy and I planned this trip together for months prior to giving our boss the gas face. It was easy, because we worked at the same company and were roommates. If you plan on taking your trip alone, no sweat, this part of the article does not apply to you. Traveling with my buddy was awesome. We got to share the amazing landscapes, culture and experiences together, while individually seeking out direction. I generally did not drive, which was perfect, because I got to sleep and be annoying to the gomer who did. I worked the map, took pictures and videos, watched our spending budget and shouted back seat commands. It got tense here and there, but with every new mountain or portrait that came into view, we dropped jaws and soaked it in. Also, taking selfies with someone is way cooler than holding the phone up alone and snapping one off.

Prepare to have your mind BLOWN- I grew up in Upstate NY, so I was used to seeing green everywhere, then bright fall colors followed by awful snow and muddy springs. I never went past Ohio.The second we hit the mid-west, my mind started to melt. The vast plains, massive windmills, mountain ranges, the colors of fall in Colorado and the black volcanic sand on the coast of Oregon. It was unreal. If you are ever at a point in your life where you do not necessarily know what is next, I would advise taking a personalized road trip. You will learn things about yourself and experience new adventures, then with a clear mind, figure out your next steps! Take a look at some cool shots below:

Colorado Fire — Early September in Colorado. We’re about 12,000FT from sea level here.

Grand Canyon — The grandest of all Canyons

Morning Glory- Yellowstone National Park

Uncategorized

Practice- Getting ready for Archery Season

September 17, 2015September 17, 2015 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

I currently live in the Northeast and predominately hunt a handful of private lots in the Southern Tier of New York. The end of September is one of my favorite times of the year. Throughout the summer, I have been accumulating new gear, practicing with my Matthews Outback, prepping my hunting areas and pumping myself up for the archery season opener in early October.

It is absolutely critical to become not only familiar with your equipment, but to have muscle memory and natural instinct with every item you own. We’re talking clear fundamentals of archery hunting–practice, practice, practice! Practice with your hunting apparel on, from a tree stand, at different/funky distances and under a time slot. When I was in college, I barely practiced with my bow. I thought, hell I will shoot a few arrows and be ready to go when a big buck comes out. That hungover attitude cost me two of the biggest bucks I have ever encountered, watching my arrows go flat under within 30 yards. This could have been easily avoided if I got up in my climber and practiced shooting down.

You know this, it’s simple. Get out and practice. Make a contest of it with your friends, barter for lunch for the most bullseyes and long shots. Introduce non s hooters to the sport so you can add another colleague and brush up your skills at the same time. The video above is from this past weekend, when I took my buddies, my fiance and sister out to shoot. We had a blast and continued to fine tune our equipment.

Author: michaeloutdoor