Fishing
Best bets to clean rod grips
Keeping your rods clean might seem like a fairly simple chore: Just hose them down at the end of every fishing trip and they’re ready for the next time, right?
Articles by Dan Kibler
News Breaker
7 steps to display beards from gobblers
Years ago, my dad took me on a trip to look for hunting land in the mountains of West Virginia, and on one piece of property, the landowner pulled out an old cigar box to convince us how good the hunting was on the property.
Freshwater Fishing
Bigger baits mean bigger crappie
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to handle a really big crappie.
Deer Hunting
Until the rut kicks in, keep calling, rattling low key
Few people in the hunting industry would ever describe Marshall Collette as “understated.”
The big, garrulous hunter, a long-time pro staff member for companies like Mossy Oak and Quaker Boy, is rarely at a loss for words or opinions.
Deer Hunting
Scout by ear when acorns fall
Most deer hunters scout with their eyes — either watching through binoculars, looking over trail-camera photos or actually in the woods, searching for deer sign.
Bass Fishing
Get up extra early to beat the heat
August temperatures can be pretty rough on fishermen, and not just because of the heat. Lakes and rivers are full of recreational boaters, which can be as big a headache as 95-degree days with 80-percent humidity and no wind.
Bass Fishing
Hoppers call in summer bass
Bass fishermen have a lot of different lures to choose as their go-to baits at different times of year and for different fishing situations.
Freshwater Fishing
How to double up on crappie
With the exception of largemouth bass and catfish, guide Maynard Edwards of Lexington, N.C., has given up on using just one bait or lure at a time.
“I double-rig everything now,” Maynard said.
Bass Fishing
Pro’s tips: Make the most of Senkos
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Davy Hite makes no bones about the fact that his favorite lure is a Buckeye Mop Jig, but when it comes to springtime fishing for prespawn bass, he’s going to have one lure tied on for sure, and that’s a Senko.
News Breaker
Are decoys turkey killers or rescuers? Veteran hunter is careful with decoy use
Some turkey hunters swear by decoys, and some swear at them. The truth is, neither situation is correct; if used properly, at the right time, decoys can help you wrap a tag around a tom’s leg. If used incorrectly, at the wrong time, it will put wind in the bird’s wings.
Bass Fishing
A spinnerbait primer: Which blades bring glory?
Spinnerbaits are among the most-effective and most-popular lures that bass fishermen carry in their tackle boxes, especially in the spring. But they are also lures that present fishermen with all kinds of options in terms of sizes, colors and the size, shape and colors of the whirling, jangling blades that give them their fish appeal. And that presents fishermen with a lot of questions about which to use, and when.
Bass Fishing
Unlock the Alabama rig for winter bass
Love it or hate it, there’s little doubt that the Alabama rig has added a new dimension to bass fishing, and especially during cold weather when fish really key on schools of bait.
Crappie/Bream
Crank up more crappie
The best places to troll crankbaits for winter crappie. […]
News Breaker
Best bets to kill more late-season doves
Most hunters who head for dove fields only around Labor Day weekend might be missing out on the opportunity for some great wing-shooting, because dove seasons in most Southeastern states don’t end until mid-January.
Deer Hunting
Up big-buck odds with ‘scrape transplant’
Gary Frisbee hunts in western North Carolina’s high country near his home outside Hot Springs, where the deer herd isn’t particularly large. Still, the 28-year-old has killed plenty of big bucks in his first 15 years in the woods.
Deer Hunting
Should you cull bucks?
The morning is crisp and clear, with an almost imperceptible breeze — in short, a wonderful day to spend in a deer stand.