Ice fishing

     Sundays here in Maine we are not allowed to hunt. Sunday Ice fishing is a great way to get the family out and enjoy the outdoors while being able to put wild game on the table. It is my favorite way to fish there is just something about having your traps set waiting for a flag to signal a fish. The pure excitement of everyone in your ice fishing party when a flag goes up no matter who's flag it is.
     This style of fishing is a great way to get your young kids into fishing and teaching them about putting food on the table. The nice part of ice fishing with kids is there are a lot of ways to keep the fun going for them while waiting for a flag. There is ice hockey, skating, snow ball fights when the snow is right and many more activities. When a flag goes up it brings the fun they are already having to another level. Personally I find this as a very enjoying way to spend time with my kids.
     The set up I like to use is the low profile polar tip-up traps with shiners hooked just under the spine. When setting the depth I like to  have it right off the bottom however that is going to depend on what you are fishing for I like to catch White perch, Lake trout and Brook Trout but if you were trying for  salmon I would set it a about a foot under the ice.
     This past weekend was the first successful ice fishing trip for my son. He really enjoyed the catch we got. Were able to hook a salmon just off bottom. The salmon was 19inchs which is legal keeper size where we were fishing so we decided to keep it. I cooked it trying Hank Shaw's recipe seared salmon with cucumber sauce I would highly recommend trying it out.

                     Jon
   

Stress less

  As the new year get started I was fortunate to start by going snowshoe hare hunting. Though an unsuccessful day by game in the vest. The measure of success is not measured on game taken. There has to be game harvested when hunting. If you are coming home empty handed every time out I would suggest a mentor to help you gain experience.
     Success in field comes in many forms. Today I hunted a place with a view of hills as far as the eye could see.  The scenery that you are able to see when you get out and hunt is something a lot of people only see in pictures. You should consider it a successful day when you find those places.
     Success is also found in the time behind a good dog. The refreshing feeling of being alone in the woods with just the dog is something you cant find in the fast paced world. No matter if you prefer pointing, flushing, retrieving or hound dogs being in the woods with them changes your mind set for the better.

     In the stressful world we live in today we need to remember to take the time to find the things in life that sooth are mind. One of my goals for the new year is more time in the woods and on the waters. Spending time with family, Friends and the dogs refreshing my mind and stepping away from the stress.
     
                      Jon