Grubs are Your Friend?

Let me start out by saying I HATE GRUBS!  I am on an all out war against them in my yard and garden!  I want to eradicate grubs from the face of the earth.  But... when it comes to fishing, I love them!  Of course, they are artificial with a cute little curly tail! 

Mr Twister Teenie Grub

Ok, before I go any further.  I want to make it clear that I am by no means a fishing expert.  There are people with a whole lot more fishing knowledge than me.  Actually, most people probably have more fishing knowledge than me.  I do love to fish and I promised I would highlight products on the blog.  I'm not sure if I have ever actually done it, though!

Now that we have established my lack of fishing expertness (I'm pretty sure that is not a word, but it's my blog and today it shall be a word) I will let you know what I like about the grub.  The grub is quite versatile.  It ranges from 1" and up.  You can use the 5" grub in larger rivers and lakes.  In our local area we have many smaller streams where you can't beat the 2" or 3" grub.  White and black are very popular colors.  The grub pictured above is the Mr Twister Teenie.  It is a 2" grub that smallmouth bass, sunfish, perch, crappie... just about anything worth catching, with go for.  With the warm temps this year, we have almost passed our peak season for using them, but the fish will bite on them year round in my experience.  Many companies make them in different forms.  Yum makes one called the Wooly Curltail.  Slider makes a 1 1/2" one called the Crappie Grub.  By the way, it works on more than just crappie.

To fish with these grubs in the local streams here, you don't want to use anything heavier than a 1/16 jig.  Anything heavier and you will be stuck on the bottom all afternoon.  You can use 1/32 if the water is low, but a 1/16 usually works.  Jigs come in many colors, I prefer unpainted.  I also like black, but I don't like taking the time to get the paint out of the jig eye, so I usually use unpainted. 

Mister Twister unpainted jighead

You fish this jig with your rod tip up.  If the water is a bit deeper, put your rod tip closer to the water for the lure to go deeper.  Be aware of the rocks.  You can also use a spinner with these, but that is a topic for another day.

We sell all these products in the store and use them ourselves.  By the way, if you are a lady or know a lady who would like to have some hands on fishing lessons, come to our upcoming class on June 2nd.  The info is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/311263968904241/  While your checking out the event, why not become a fan of our store on facebook as well: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Woods-Sporting-Goods/170594235269

Champions Part 2

Photo credit: washingtonpost.com

I love sports.  Always have.  I think at this point high school sports are my favorite.  It's the purest form of sports, maybe other than rec league.  There's a difference with high school though.  They are good enough to know their sport by then.  Many even excel at it.  They still have the love of the game and they play with all their hearts.  They play for each other and pride.

On Saturday, I traveled to UMBC (University of Maryland Baltimore County) to see the Gaithersburg High School girls win their second 4A Championship.  52-0!  Two straight years of wins.  Amazing.  I'm sorry that this is the first time I have seen them play.  I let work get in the way too many times, well actually last year it was surgery,  but not Saturday.  It was well worth it.  They played with heart, teamwork and determination.  It was clear they were the better team, not just by play, but conditioning.  Teams  To know they could count on one another.  I never saw them give up, even though they were down. 

I have to say, I'm maybe a little biased because one of the girls on the team will forever be called one of the "little girls"  by me.  So, she's taller than me.  Yeah, she's going to college.  Yeah, she's a two time champ in high school and a skilled player.   Look, when you know someone from birth and they are the youngest of a family of 7 that's how it is!  Sorry, Colleen.  Well, actually, not really.

So congratulations Colleen Marshall and Gaithersburg High School Girls basketball team!  You are truly champs, but even more important, you are a team of excellence.  If you'd like to read more about them check out the Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/girls-basketball-gaithersburg-beats-wise-for-second-straight-maryland-4a-title/2012/03/10/gIQACq993R_story.html

Good News is Good News

Soooo, I recently posted about litter.  I also asked for some pics of litter in your area.  No pressure, but I still haven't received any!  Just sayin!

Anyway, I went fishing on Weds.  Oh, I love fishing, but trout fishing?  Not so much.  They stock them.  You go fish.  It's like a lab experiment.  Ok, Ok, I know rabbit trail!  Anyway, I think someone read my blog.  At least, I would love to think I changed the world that way! Honestly, I think people just are as fed up as me with litter!  Check out what I found hanging on a tree:

If you look close, you can see some beer bottles right past the bag.

View of the creek on the other side.

                                      

Yes!  I was so happy I had to pull out my phone and take some pics.  Which reminds me.  I need to start carrying my camera if I'm gonna take good pics.  The phone is ok, but not as good as my camera.

I'll leave you with this pic.  This is the reason I don't want to see litter.  Isn't this beautiful?  The sun is just starting to touch the water.  Again, sorry about the picture quality, it was my phone...

Pictures Anyone?

So, some of you may be wondering why I have had so many comments on my last topic.  Is litter that important to people?  Well, yeah, it is.  I have had some great responses with a lot of passion behind them!  Seriously though, the reason is I have been participating in http://www.blogelina.com/ 100 comments on my blog.  It has been wonderful.  I have learned so much about blogging from reading other people's blogs.

Anyway, you don't want to hear about any of that!  What you want to know is, "What does that title mean?"  Well, out of the posts, one of the people commented that you could start a blog with pictures of areas with litter.  So guess what?  No, I'm not starting another blog.  Hey, you don't need to be that happy about it!  I'm going to start a weekly feature.  Maybe we will post it each Saturday, or just a random day of the week.  We will have a picture along with the description of the area that has litter.  Maybe bringing light to this will stop folks from doing it.  Also, I'm hoping it will bring attention to the area so we can help get it cleaned.

This is where I need your help.  I can't do this all myself, although I already have an idea of some places.  Will you help by emailing Woods Sporting Goods pictures of places that you have seen?  I will credit you for finding it, unless you don't want me to, of course!  Just make sure you give me a description of the area and if there is something specific about it let me know.  By the way, you may not put your neighbor's yard in this.  Just because he has 2-3 abandoned cars and a dog kennel full of hound dogs doesn't mean I'm posting the pic.  Take that up with him!

So, I'll be out and about taking pics this week and I look forward to hearing from you.

Now That's Just Trashy!

I live in a beautiful area of the US.  I mean, it's so beautiful that people come here for vacation.  Let me be clear, that this is not just a problem here.  I think it stands out more though here.  I mean, sunrises and sunsets are picturesque.  The sounds of the river flowing is therapeutic.  But the trash... it's downright disgusting.

I have been out fishing and filled a grocery bag with the trash that was left out there.  Old bottles of Powerbait, packages of live bait discarded, drink bottles, etc... you name it, it's there.  Why on earth would anyone feel they have the right to litter?  I can't figure this out.  These places that are trashed are beautiful.  Lakes surrounded by mountains, small streams so clear you can see to the bottom...  even if they weren't beautiful, the world isn't our personal trash can!

Why would you want to leave litter here?

People are always complaining that they can't fish for trout in many areas because landowners have said, "Enough is enough!"  I don't blame the landowners.  My parents live along the river.  Yesterday, my sister and my kids walked along the road that is adjacent to the river and their property to pick up trash.  They picked up 4- five gallon buckets of trash.  They couldn't even get to the end of the property because the buckets were full.  In this trash, there were: beer bottles, fast food bags, water bottles, and candy wrappers to name a few.  I have even found a fishing license along the road before.  Since their property is marked no trespassing, I find that interesting.

Listen, I'm no tree hugger, but this is ridiculous.  Let's be a little more vigilant by doing the following things:

#1- Do not, by any means, leave fishing line on the shore of any body of water.  It's dangerous to animals who get entangled in it.  Put it in your tackle box or the pocket of whatever you are wearing.  Throw it out when you get home.
#2- If you brought it with you, take it back.  There should be no packaging left.  If it had product in it, you surely wouldn't leave it!
#3- If you see some litter, pick it up.  It will take you all of a couple minutes and it will not end up in the water later.  Clean water is what we all want, right?
#4- Teach your kids to do the same.  Leaders lead by example.  I know my kids hate to see litter when we are out enjoying nature, because they see the various forms of garbage that have been dumped on my parents property, which have included- toilets, refrigerators, numerous deer carcasses (yes, that's littering you didn't choose to leave the carcass on your property did you), electrical wiring, and tires of various sizes just to name a few.

Hey, if we just live like a Cub Scout, I think it will solve the problem!  My son learned these rules when he was a scout:
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/resources/LeavenoTrace.aspx