Friday, September 18, 2009
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If you would like to advertise with us here at Ben G. Outdoors Please feel free to contact me @ benjogustafson@gmail.com and we can discuss the options I have for ad placement and my prices.
Thanks
Ben G.
Thanks
Ben G.
Trout fishing Part 1
As you probably already know last weekend I went on a trout fishing trip. This trip was way more fun than I imagined it would be, so here is a bit about the first part of our trip. Hope you enjoy.
We started out early Saturday morning. I was up at four and George picked me up around 4:30AM. Then we headed over to Gary’s. When we arrived we put all of our stuff in the suburban and were off on our six hour drive to the north shore. It was a pretty uneventful drive Gary brought along some magazines for us to read, we talked a bunch, and I think George took a snooze.
Our first stop was the cross river. My guess was that Gary and George had fished this river before, because they knew right where to go. After we parked I packed up my backpack with all my new fishing stuff, changed my shoes, and grabbed the camera. We were off on my fist Minnesota trout fishing trip.
We walked down a short trail, over a bridge and then down to the river bank. We started fishing almost right away. Fallowing Gary and George I watched them as the hopped from rock to rock. We stopped not far up the river when Gary said, “Ben cast in the small eddies and you will catch fish because that is where they are hiding.” So the next eddy I saw that looked promising I casted my spinner out into, and wouldn’t you know I caught a little brook trout. At that moment I knew this was going to be a good trip.
The three of us kept leapfrogging each other up the river catching small rainbow trout all the way. Just as we arrived at the fist big pool I realized I was missing the top portion of my new fishing rod (which was in my backpack). I did a bit of backtracking and couldn’t find it any where. Being the fishing was so good I decided I would look for it on our way back down the river so I could keep fishing.
Right when I got back to the pond Gary and George were fishing George caught a very nice rainbow. It was too bad he couldn’t keep it. In Minnesota you can only keep the stocked rainbow trout (you can tell because they have a clipped fin).
George's Rainbow Trout
We kept on going up the river catching a trout here and their mostly rainbows. We finally ended up at a spot where we couldn’t get any further up river. Instead of turning around we decided to see if we could get around the clifs blocking our way, but after walking for about 20 min. we decided it was best to just go back and eat lunch.We did a little fishing on the way back down the river but didn’t catch too much. I never did find the top half of my new pole, but that is ok I sill had my ultra light.
We went back up the trail and to the truck. By this time we were all pretty warm, and decided it would be a good idea to hop in the truck and find a shady spot to eat lunch. We found one and ate our sandwiches in the shade. After lunch we were off to the next river.
PS I have more pictures of the next river.
Ben G.
Related Posts
Trout Fishing Part 2
Trout Fishing Part 3
Trout Fishing Part 4
Trout Fishing Part 5 (Final)
Good Reading
Valley Creek Tenkara
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Trout fishing trip on the horizon
image credit MarvinSiefkeAs I mentioned in an earlier post I am going on a trout fishing trip on the 12th (this weekend:)). I finally got a chance to go shopping over Labor Day weekend.
I was in dire need of a few new fishing supplies. I was in the market for a new fishing rod, one that split in half. This way it would be easy to carry it on a four wheeler. Me being the bargain shopper I am, headed straight for the sale section and quickly found a couple of rods that would fit my needs. I decided on a six foot Daiwa Crossfire rod and as luck would have it the rod came with a reel. Although I wasn’t really shopping for a reel, but I am sure I can find a use for another one. The whole set up only cost $30. I also had to purchase some light mono line, small trout fishing net, and a little tackle box.
Then I thought it would be a good idea to pick up a few fishing lures. I started out by grabbing a couple of Blue Fox spinner’s one silver, and pink and the other gold. I grabbed a few hooks and some power bait too.
As always I spent more than I wanted too, but it was needed.
A couple of nights ago the three of us got together, so we could discuss what was going on with the trip (time we were leaving, what to bring and so on). Gary showed me the tackle box he brings for the trout fishing trip.
Now even more excited then ever I went home with some good ideas of what to bring with me. When I got home form our meeting I went straight to my tackle box and grabbed a bunch of stuff to put in my trout fishing tackle box. I found my trusty speedy sharp (this is one of the best tools I have) and placed that in my new tackle box along with some small hooks, some more sinkers, a couple of plastic minnows and a few jigs.
I think I’m set the only things left for me to do is get my trout stamp, pack, and switch reels on my new rod.
Thanks
Ben G.
Related Posts
Trout Fishing Part 1
Trout Fishing Part 2
Trout Fishing Part 3
Trout Fishing Part 4
Trout Fishing Part 5 (final)
Friday, September 4, 2009
Why I write this Outdoor blog!
Image credit tnarikI hate to say it, but the reason I originally became interested in blogging was the potential to make money. What I ended up finding out was I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my stories and opinions with others. I decided to focus on writing about the outdoors because I love being outside, and I love to hunt and fish.
Here is an excerpt from a prior post called How it all Started and Brought Me here! this explains a bit more as to why I blog.
“Over the last five years or so I have wanted to start my own business I've looked in to so many different things I can even count them any more. Then shortly after deer hunting this season my wife said to me Ben you get so excited about hunting what’s with you you’re just like a little kid. Then it hit me like a brick wall “hey dumbo why didn't you think of this sooner. You love to hunt why don't you try something in the outdoors industry.” Here I am pursuing my dream, and it's something that I am very passionate about. This is just the first part of my journey in the outdoor industry and plan to keep moving forward from here.”
As previously stated I want to get more involved in the outdoor industry and I believe blogging is a good way to open up new doors and meet new people.
Over the course of writing my blog I have come to find out I enjoy writing. (I wish I knew this back in high school and college.) It‘s fun to get my ideas on paper, polished or not. Sometimes writing posts for my blog helps to relax me, or get frustrations out.
Another reason I keep blogging is the community of outdoor bloggers. It is just great to hear all of the feedback everyone leaves. I also enjoy all of the support around the outdoor blogging community. If you ever have a question or a thought you can ask anyone, and most of the time they will gladly help you out.
Ben G.
Friday, August 28, 2009
My List of 10; What can I hunt or fish for next?
image credit Pegabovine OK I have been hunting and fishing for quite some time, and I have been pretty limited to the types of hunting and fishing I have done. There are quite a few different animals and types of hunting and fishing I would like to try out. I have either been limited by time or money. I did knock one off of my list this spring. Turkey hunting oh was it fun, and now I’m going to go every year. I think my brother (check out his blog ArborView ) wants to go with next year. Luke and I will take him to our secret spot, and hopefully he will have more luck then I did. So here is my list in no particular order.
1. I would love to find the time to go bow hunting for deer (or any animal for that matter). I think it would be very challenging and a lot of fun. I guess I just have to save up and buy a bow. Maybe I can convince Wyatt to start bow hunting, and I will have to go then. Right? (I’ll be waiting for a while.)
2. Duck hunting, I’ve never officially been duck hunting, but I have shot a duck or two while out grouse/pheasant hunting ((it was legal I had my stamps). We use to always get our small games licenses and every stamp we could buy just in case). I think this one would be the most achievable for me.
3. Goose hunting, OK I went goose hunting one time, but I didn’t even see a goose. I guess it counts, but I want to get some shooting in (this one should be pretty easy to do again).
4. Deep sea fishing, I think this would be a blast. I don’t even care for what type of fish. (After I catch one or two fish I’m sure my list will grow to different species of fish.) This one might be a challenge living in Minnesota. I have fished off shore in Hawaii, but I was just a kid and I don’t think I caught anything.
5. Antelope, now this seems like a real challenge. Nothing for miles around, but fences and tall grass. How do you even get close enough to shoot these guys? Hopefully some day I’ll find out.
6. Netting suckers with Jesse in northern Minnesota. Jesse one of my good friends who lives north of Virginia was talking to me about netting suckers this spring. Wow did that sound like a ton of fun. I’m hoping to make it up there next season.
7. Hog hunting, for some reason I have always thought this would be a blast. I am thinking this one would be challenging because from what I remember on grandma and grandpa’s farm pigs are very smart.
8. Bear hunting, I think this one would also be a lot of fun. I’m pretty sure Amber wouldn’t let this one fly. I wouldn’t want to put her through all the worries either, because I know she would worry the whole time I was gone that I was going to get attacked.
9. Coyote, I guess this one would work in place of bear hunting, it might not even be close to the same, but it’s still predator hunting.
10. Salmon fishing, it would be great to get a chance to do this. Maybe someday I can go Salmon fishing around the streams that feed into Lake Superior.
I think I could just keep going and going with my list, but I’ll stop now and call this my top ten list of Hunting and Fishing I would like to do. I hope you will be able to hear about some of these hunting and fishing adventures my in future posts.
Is there any type of hunting and fishing you want to do, but just haven’t gotten the chance? Let me know I’d love to hear about it. Maybe we can plan a hunting or fishing trip together.
Ben G.
Other lists
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Dates to remember for this up coming 2009 MN hunting season.
Morning Dove season opens 9-1-09
Snipe and Rail Season also opens on 9-1-09
Early Canada Goose Season 9-5-09 (Tentative)
Dead line for Antlerless Deer Lottery 9-10-09. I urge you to take a look at the deer hunting map because the DNR changed a bunch of the Managed deer hunting areas to an Anterless Lottery. They also made a lot of changes to zone 3 early season.
Youth Waterfowl Hunt Day 9-19-09
Archery Deer Season 9/19/09
Small game season 9/19/09
Sharptailed grouse season 9/19/09
Woodcock Season 9/19/09
Take-a-kid Hunting Weekend 9-26-09
Moose hunt north east 10-3-09
Pheasant season 10-10-09
Early Antlerless Deer opener 10-10-09
Fall Turkey Hunt 1st season 10-14-09
Prairie Chicken season 10-17-09
Fall turkey Hunt 2nd season 10-21-09
Furbearer trapping north zone 10-24-09
Fox - Gray and Red Fox season 10-24-09
Badger, Opossum and Raccoon season 10-24-09
Furbearer trapping south zone 10-31-09
Deer hunt - Firearm opener 11-7-09
Deer hunt - Muzzleloader season 11-28-09
Trapping season – Bobcat 11-28-09
Fisher and Pine Marten season 11-28-09
Spring Turkey Hunt Lottery Deadline 1-8-10
Thanks
Ben G.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Shaping up to be a busy fall
I am starting to get really excited about this coming fall. I already have a two day fishing trip set up and a tentative one day small game trip.
If all goes as planned I will be heading up to the north shore area of Lake Superior. I am leaving the Saturday fallowing Memorial weekend for some trout fishing with my Father-in-law George & Brother-in-law Gary. I can’t wait; I haven’t been trout fishing since I lived in Idaho in over ten years. I know they have been doing this for a few years now, but I’m not sure how many. I was going to go last year, but, Wyatt was due to be born around that time.
I am also going to go small game hunting with my buddy Luke. I believe we are going to go mostly for ruffed grouse. I haven’t been out small game hunting since the fall of 2007 again because of the birth of my son. So this will be Daffy’s first official bird hunt. I hope the training I gave her last summer stuck. I guess I’ll find our around the 19th. Maybe I should give her a little refresher in the next couple of weeks. I’m getting butterflies in my stomach just writing about this stuff.
From what I have been reading lately it seems like we are going to have some luck on this hunt. The drum counts were way up this spring. Also when Luke and I were out turkey hunting this spring I couldn’t help but notice the grouse drumming all day long. This looks like a good time to hit up some of our old hunting grounds. We may even stop by my Grandparents house for huge lunch, and take a short nap (just like we use to do every fall). I can’t wait.
Ben G.
Related posts
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