FishExplorer.com Field Editor Fishing Blogs

Is it just me or is time really flyin' by as fast as it seems? Fall is one of my absolute favorite times to be outside and yet somehow I feel like I'm missing this season. We've been fishing a bunch and did a little grouse hunting to keep the pointing Lab happy, but it still feels like I'm missing it. Better work on that...

Last weekend the BASS Junior Bassmaster State Championship was held on Horsetooth. This is always my favorite event of the year to volunteer for because most of these kids really love to fish and will flat out soak up fishing knowledge. There are two age groups (11-14 and 15-18 or maybe 17...not sure) and each volunteer boat captain gets one kid from each group. They have 6 hours to catch their best 5 bass and the captain can't help with anything physical. We can make suggestions, offer tips, work on encouragement...but no casting, demonstration, or anything that might actually help put a fish in the boat. I try to get the kids to think for themselves in the belief that they'll learn more that way, so I talk them through the problem solving. My younger kid this year was an astute observer, and more importantly, very determined to win and it showed. After literally wearing his arm and wrist out working a jerkbait all day, he was rewarded with a win in his age group, big bass for the day, and the overall tournament victory. Well done kid...and the memory of the win will last a lot longer than the soreness in your wrist! 

(BTW kid, if you read this please email me the pics your dad took)

After years of hearing how good the Rocky Mountain Arsenal can fish, we hit it last Tuesday. Cool place for sure and a great testament to strict catch and release. After our outing, I spoke with some folks who've been fishing there since the 80's and it sounds like the fishing was the same back then, which is saying a lot given the size of the lakes and proximity to Denver. We got a bunch of pike and a really nice largemouth for our efforts and shot some good video. Also met a couple of FxR folks which was great.

I'm hosting the Fan Outdoors radio this weekend (Sept 19th, 8-10am FM 104.3) and have John Prochnow lined up as a guest. Don't know him you say? Well, I bet you've used his products at some point. Mr. Prochnow is the director of bait development at Berkley and is responsible for such products as Gulp!, Powerbait, and a slew of others. This guy knows more about what makes fish bite than probably anybody on the planet after 20 years at the top secret research facility in Spirit Lake, Iowa. I met him at ICAST and talked him into getting out of the lab and onto the airwaves, so I hope a bunch of you tune in to hear what he has to say. If you have questions (and I hope you do!) the call in number is 303.228.1043. For the record, we'll also get a rundown on fall laker fishing from Granby guru Bernie Keefe, and Kokanee spawn info from the CDOW.

Should be a good show, after which I'm heading to Oregon's Willamette River for a few days. Ya'll take advantage of Colorado's great fall weather while I'm gone! CL