2017 PHILADELPHIA OUTDOOR SPORTSHOW

 The last time I attended a Sportsman show was 1983 in Harrisburg, Pa. Since then I really did not have the urge to do so again. Perhaps it was the crowds or the two hour commute that turned me off.

 Ah, but now, right in our backyard, we have the Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow which is held in Oaks, Pa.  I happen to live only two miles away but have never visited during the annual four day spectacle. This year it was held February 23-26.  I was looking for some relief from my current bout with "Cabin Fever" and figured, hey why not!

A quick text message to a good friend, that I knew never missed the show, easily set the plan in motion. Fishing, of course, would be our primary interest. We would meet at the main entrance on the first day of the big event. Dennis also told me that Hank Parker would be one of the attractions not to miss. Since Den is a veteran of these shows he also told me that he would only bring $10 so as not to overspend  on lures and other fishing junk. Probably good advice to follow but I folded up a few twenties and stuffed them in my wallet just in case.

 An event of this magnitude attracts large crowds. We planned to avoid the weekend onslaught by going on the first day which was a normal work day for most folks. Tickets were available on-line so we took advantage of that option. This saved two bucks off the regular price plus some time waiting in line.


I arrived about an hour early and found plenty of parking close to the main entrance. A few other folks were already there and just hanging around outside in the warm weather. Dennis arrived shortly thereafter and at the stroke of noon the doors were opened. Turns out that we picked the right day as the crowd was very light which made it easy to browse around without getting trampled.

The fishing venues were staged right inside the door and continued up and down the next four isles. Rods, reels, lures, freshwater and saltwater. Each vendor was more than happy to engage anyone in conversation and present what they offered. Most were easy going and very polite. Only one or two were just a bit to aggressive for my style.

Trips to Canada were featured by a few outfitters offering fly-in or drive to lodges. Canada offers some fantastic fishing for Bass, Pike, Walleye and Muskie. From our area it is just a seven or eight hour drive to some of the best waters without spending a fortune. Many of these areas can be found on-line with a simple search or two.

Alaska, Mexico and other destinations were displayed as well. There were also a few local exhibits to appreciate.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission was well represented and welcomed any and all questions and comments.

 Dennis does a lot of web surfing and recently ran across a new local bait company on Facebook. ZEE BAIT CO. was on the list of vendors and their booth was one of our priorities during this visit. Zee Bait is based close by in Chester County so I will wave their flag here for a moment.

These two entrepreneurs, Dominique and Hunter, have a few new twists on the rubber bait scene along with a unique jig head to compliment it. They had a small but very well organized display. Turns out that their "Muddpuppy" might be just what we were looking for to catch a few hawgs this year. Anyway, after a extended chat about their offerings we bid them good luck and promised to send pictures of our assumed future catches.

Another attraction that is always fun if you bring children is the Trout Fishing Pond. For a small fee the kids can enter the pond and catch trout. There were no kids around when I stopped by but no doubt there will be plenty of excitement on the weekend days.

Then of course there was the HAWG TROUGH. A 5000 gallon fish tank on wheels full of Largemouth Bass (Hawgs).
This was also the backdrop for the many seminars that were given, free of charge, during the shows schedule.

Ah, the boats! Just the sight of all the new bass boats made me weak in the knees. They were all there to drool over. Whatever you ever dreamed of was displayed in full living color! 

Ranger, Triton, Skeeter,Tracker and others were all set up with every accessories possible. The 225HP engines were gleaming in the lights. Anyone with a meager $60,000.00 or so could hook up and pull away with the best of the best!  For those with a bit more self control there were nice rigs for well under $20,000.00 that would be just fine.

In recent years kayaks are becoming popular with many anglers. There was a nice area that featured different brands for any budget. There are Kayak fishing clubs that are active in our area and information can be obtained here Kayak Anglers Eastern Pa. Back a few years ago I did some Kayak fishing and found it to be pretty darn enjoyable. Looking over the display here has me pondering a possible purchase.


This show was well organized although much smaller than the extravaganza that you would see at the Harrisburg Fair Grounds. Dennis and I went a little over our $10 dollar budgets, which was no surprise, and picked up a few new jig heads and rubber baits. We also gained some new tips from attending two seminars.

O, and yes Hank Parker saw us and begged us for a picture. We just couldn't say no!


 From left to right ...Dennis, Hank and yours truly.

Thanks again for following "ONE CAST ... ONE FISH!"

WELCOME TO "ONE CAST ... ONE FISH !"

Congratulations!
You somehow stumbled upon my new blog. A few of you folks might recall that I did a blog titled "Fishing Fever" for the Royersford-Limerick PATCH back in 2012.

I think that exposure captured at least a dozen followers! Fishing Fever ended after one year and 52 blog posts because I did not get 1,000,000 likes on my Face Book page! I did, however, turn that blog into a published book form.
I'm just a regular guy that enjoys writing and is addicted to fishing but this time I'm shooting for the masses. I just hope I can keep up with answering the comments once the word get out that I'm back. Also, please be patient with me as I get the hang of this blogging thing. Feel free to hand me any advice that would improve your reading experience.

"One Cast ... One Fish" will feature a variety of fishing twists and turns as I recall some old times as well as new fishing adventures. Some content may be current and true, some may be fictional and far fetched. I plan some, but not to technical, advice along with bits of humor and just plain fish tales.

Anyway, thanks for clicking the link that brought you here and I hope you continue to read

"ONE CAST ... ONE FISH !"

© 2016 LCFdesign

Len's Secret Fishing Spots !

An "Interactive Map" and guide for day trip fishing.

 Next will be my personal Google map that will show a few of my favorite, but not so secret, fishing spots. At this time all of the areas are within a short drive if you are in Montgomery, Chester, Berks or Bucks County. As time goes on I may add to the map and include other lakes, streams or rivers. There is information about the body of water as well as access points, parking and species of fish.

Instructions for using the map:

You will be able to left click on the blue icons to access information about that particular spot. Here is an example of what it will look like when you go to the link below.

 Also you can zoom in and out with the roller on your mouse or use the "+ and -" sign in the bottom right hand corner of the map. Move the map left, right, up or down by holding your curser down with the left button and moving your mouse in the desired direction. You may also access the different areas by clicking on the names in the left hand box. This feature may not show if using IPhone or other similar doohickey.

Here is the link to get started: Len's Secret Fishing Holes !

Thanks again for reading "One Cast ... One Fish !"

© 2016 LCFdesign

A FISH'S STORY ...

I wrote this piece back in 1985 as an autobiography (me being the fish)

Preface - Imagine a small farm pond near the village of Milford Mills in Chester County, Pennsylvania around 1973. This is just prior to the valley being flooded to form what is now Marsh Creek State Park There were a few farms in the direct path of the planned waters. These farms had small ponds that were inundated as well. A Largemouth Bass is hatched in one of those ponds. As it's environment changes, the fish's life is depicted here. So with the stage being set I now become the fish! ...

 I was born (hatched), in the spring of 1973, in a much smaller body of water then the one that I was finally taken from. My mom was a smart and finicky one. She had picked the one mate that selected the very best nest. My dad, whom I was never too close to, was a real leader. I believe he may still be around because I saw him last spring.

 Life was pretty calm in our secluded one acre pond located just down back of the barn. Most of the time I stayed in the shallow water around the weeds and overhanging bushes. I had plenty of small bugs to eat that first summer and reached about 3 inches in length. Instinct told me to beware of the larger fish, frogs and snakes that would occasionally visit the hiding places I was familiar with.

 I was puzzled by a sharp drop in the water temperature one day but soon adjusted to it. My need and desire to eat was not as great and I stayed in one place much longer now. The daylight seemed to shorten as well and the shallows became much colder. The other creatures had also disappeared and I realized that something had changed. I retreated to deeper water to think about it. The temperature in the depths was a little warmer and I found an old log to hide in. When hunger arose I was able to find small aquatic insects to hold me over.

The thick ice cover made it dark for what seemed like three months and I could also feel the need for a better supply of oxygen. Not long after that I noticed that the light was beginning to return and the water had been re-oxygenated. As the ice cover deteriorated something told me it was now warmer in the shallows. I slowly moved away from the security of the log and investigated.

 To my surprise, my mom was back near where I was born. I watched her alot but always from a distance and in hiding. I learned many things this way.

 The shallows were still my main stomping grounds but one day I was able to travel much further than ever before. It was like I was in a larger pond! By the middle of summer the old nest site and other familiar objects were in much deeper water and I was unable to swim around the whole pond in one day. There was sure a lot to eat now and that is what I did. I ate everything in site!

 In just two years the little pond that I once knew was now so large that I was familiar with only a small portion of it. I was larger and stronger now and investigated my expanding environment on a daily basis. Although there were many different places to go I soon established my own territory which was to be my main place for the rest of time.

 My first contact with life outside of the water came one day when I was waiting in ambush for a school of minnows that I knew were moving around near a weed bed. Although usually in numbers this one came by alone and almost what seemed to be, out of nowhere. I darted in for the kill from behind my clump of weeds.

 In less that a second I know that something was wrong. I was unable to return to my hiding place and the minnow seemed to be pulling me around. I fought hard but was soon lifted up and out of the water in some sort of bag. Strange beings touched me. The minnow was taken from my mouth as I began to lose all sense of life. I felt the vibrations of a new sound that were something like this. "Sorry Son, that one is not in season and will have to be returned to the water. Ok Dad, but it sure is a nice one. Maybe we will catch him again in season."

 I blindly headed downward, shocked and confused. I sat motionless for an hour. Time stopped around me and I knew not to move for awhile. I was startled by movement to my left side. It was just a passing perch and it kinda brought me out of my trance. I began to recognize my surroundings and moved to a more familiar site. In time I had put together the puzzle which led to my near death. A large floating object had drifted over me just before the minnow came. I had ended up in that floating object! How I got away is not clear but I knew it was nothing I did because I had run out of energy. I would now, at all costs, avoid that situation again.

 The next couple of years proved to be a total learning experience for me. The spring and summer days almost always brought large numbers of those floating objects along with an array of single rubber and metal objects which resembled, to some degree, the shapes of things that I normally eat. I was smarter than most other fish and never looked twice. I became a nocturnal hunter and stayed deep during the daylight hours.

 Winter was a time of rest but occasionally I did search out food. The winter of my 7th year was when I learned a valuable lesson which taught me to become even more selective in my meals. I had heard or felt the sounds before but never directly overhead as I did then. They were much like thunder or rocks banging together.

From twenty feet down I felt secure even when a small circle of light appeared from above. I had not eaten for three days and right here in front of me, not two feet away, was a meal of size to maintain my strength. I sucked it in. Immediately I knew it! How could I have been so dumb again. I exhaled quickly but the hook snagged my outer lip skin and I was lifted from the bottom. Maybe because of fright and being mad at myself I was able to run to a sunken tree stump that I had become accustomed to. I quickly hid in it's twisted roots. The hook ripped free.  I starred at it as it slowly rose up to the circle of light and disappeared. I put this experience together quickly. I will never, never be tricked again!

 I'm getting larger now and really like my home. Sometimes I swim for quite a distance and see other fish my size but rarely a larger one. I feel like a king. Small sunfish are easy to catch and other prey are no match as well. I never have to hide from frogs, snakes or other fish. Even the couple of big muskies that prowl this area know I'm more that a mouthful and they leave me alone. Once in awhile I cruise up in the shallows and can see other life forms on the banks above the water line. If they see me they get pretty excited and jump around. I then retreat to deeper waters and away from them.

 My main home is a perfect spot. Average depth of fifteen feet and many trees that appeared from nowhere a few years ago almost overnight.  I have lots of hiding places that I use as ambush points and there is deeper water close by for periods of rest. I'm one of the largest bass around and I do feel like I own this "bar" ...

(Coming out of caricature here for a moment to add that in November of 1982 myself and some friends secured permission and proceeded to drop and sink many cedar trees in Marsh Creek Lake. Some anglers know of the area referred to as "the bar" in this story and it was one of our main target areas for the trees. Rick had recently purchased a Lowrance 1510C paper graph depth finder and we surveyed our handy work like this)

and now back to the fish....

 It's getting cold again, I will be 12 years old this spring so I guess it is time to rest.

 Well this winter is almost half over. I think I will go up on the flat to get a bite since I'm kinda hungry. Meandering slowly around I hear the humans pounding on the ice again. I know to be careful. I think I will sit here for a bit and see whet develops.

 (While the big bass rests a conversation is taking place nearby) "The ice looks safe Dennis, lets try to get out on the "bar". The fishing has been so slow in the coves and I think the fish may be out there. I can only stay till 10 am so I'm just going to jig, no tip-ups today". "Wow, the ice sure is slick today and really clear too. Ok, Rick, we are just about where we dropped the trees two years ago. I'll drill some holes here and try it." ok, back to the fish again ....

 This looks like a good place to sit in ambush till something comes along. All I have to do is not eat anything that doesn't come in bunches. Those ice fisherman are not to close anyway so maybe I'll get lucky and get a quick meal and get out of here. I just know this is my lucky day. Last week I saw a school of small sunnies up here and if they come by now it will be a fast feast.

 Sitting motionless now I detect movement in front of me. Be still now, wait till they get right in front of you... I don't want to expand much energy right now. Wow, look at 'em all, there must be fifty of them! They are only 5 feet away now. I never saw so many in one easy bunch. This is going to be a feast.

 I attack now and inhale three or four right away. They scatter but school up again and make a run for it. It will be worth chasing them so I smash into them again. Two more go down my gullet. Now they scatter, breaking off into smaller groups. The chase is on! I pursue a group of ten. Approaching them I gain speed and come in from an angle, I miss! Again I lunge at them and injure one as another fills my mouth. I now catch the flash of the injured one out of the corner of my eye. Like lighting I swirl and engulf him. What have I done!!!!  I exhale hard but feel the hook grab my lip.

 The chase has led me far away from my ambush point. I must fight now. I'm strong, I'm King, I will not be taken! I see the hole above me and the red suit my enemy is wearing. He is no match for me! I dive hard and gain on him, the hook slips a little and I feel I will win my freedom in a second. Maybe if I go up a little and run again that will do it. I let him bring me up a little and hear the voices again... "It's a big Bass! Don't touch the line Dennis, just get the gaff ready"

 The hole is getting close now...Dive! The restraint is stronger now, I can't get down. I make a circle. There is much activity above me. Much too close for comfort. I'm dragged toward the hole. I know if I come out now I'm done and won't be returned as before! My fight is diminished, I shake my head in a last effort to free the hook which is barely hanging on. If I just wasn't so tired I could do it easily. I'm right under the nole now and I feel a large hook enter my gill opening. I'm out! I've been had. It is over! The silver Swedish pimple is removed easily and I'm being held up as the cold finishes my life.

"Nice one Rick! ... Must be about 6 or 7 pounds"

Time: about 9:30 am

Date: 27 January 1985

Place Marsh Creek State Park

Fish: Largemouth Bass

Weight: 7 lbs 10 3/4 oz

Congratulations Rick !

Note: The trees have long ago deteriorated and you will not see any trace of them if you are using sonar in that area.

© 2016 LCFdesign

Canada Ice Fishing ...

I have just returned from southern Ontario with little to brag about but a fine trip none the less. Accommodations were ready made at a good friends home and the 7 1/2 hour drive was uneventful but relaxing. Also, Rick had forewarned me that the fish have not been in a good mood for most of the winter. I was not going to cancel my visit based on that little tidbit of information. Since I already had the required Ontario Outdoors Card my first stop was to purchase a Non-Resident Fishing License.

  There are a few options to consider when making your purchase. Here is a link for more information about the: Ontario Outdoors Card and Non-Resident Fishing License

Most of he larger lakes did not provide safe ice. Our initial plan was to fish Loughborough Lake for Lake Trout but without safe conditions we opted for some of the smaller lakes in the area. Our biggest obstacle turned out to be the weather.


Upon arrival at his house we hurriedly unpacked my crap and jumped in his truck and headed to Spring lake for the not to be missed "afternoon bite".

 We also wanted to get on the ice before the predicted rains came in overnight. Well as we all know the famous "afternoon bite" sometimes never happens as was the case this time around.

At days end we counted just a few small Perch. That night the heavy rain came in along with temps in the 40's. The downpours stopped around 7 am and we decided to get out there again.

Now we would visit Grady Lake. We were please to find a steady but somewhat slow bite. The ice was 12" thick but had 2 inches of fresh rain water on top.

That made the walking conditions a bit treacherous for us. We ended up catching Largemouth Bass, Crappies and Perch. All were released for future anglers.



Rick is some kind of gourmet cook and that evening he put together a darn good meal. Starting with "Crappie Cakes" (Think like crab cakes), peas and carrots on the side and then surprised me with Fiddlehead Ferns ! (Those strange looking things in the picture) Never heard of them but when I googled the name I was pleased to find that they are very healthy for you.

Our evening entertainment was relaxing with a brew and watching the Fishing Channel on TV while talking about Whoppers!.











The next day brought colder temperatures. We made a 45 minute drive to Cronk Lake.

We heard from a friend that had a friend that said he had some luck there recently. Well we drilled a dozen holes in various depths but had only one 14 inch Largemouth to show for it. Around noon we decided to pack it in and go get a sandwich for lunch. Plans were made to visit a lake that was a bit closer to home base and again hoped for a whooper of an afternoon bite.


The Upper Rideau Lake is a fairly large body of water but the ice was safe in a few prime areas. The quarry here was to be jumbo Perch.

All we had to do was wait till late afternoon and they should turn on. Now the vastness of this lake also made for a bit of a wind tunnel and the wind chill quickly took a bite despite all the clothing that I had layered on.

Because of that I was unable to endure the full tour. So with just a couple of Perch to our score we packed up early and headed for the short ride to Rick's home.


Saturday morning started out with a hearty breakfast as usual and the thermometer gave a reading of -16 Celsius which, for you non-Canadians would convert to 2 degrees Fahrenheit. Today we would make a 45 minute run (Yes, as Rick would say.."Everything is 45 minutes away") to Crosby Lake. This lake is almost impossible to access unless you own property on it or know someone that does. Rick again made a few calls the night before and permission was received to park at a private residence.

Starting out at the western end we soon found out that there was a very prominent weed bed that extended far out from the shore line. Our Vexilars indicated that there was about 15 feet of water with the last 5 being solid weeds. This should be fantastic fish habitat but we could not get a blip of a fish after drilling about 15 holes. So around noon time the cold again got the best of us. We had a invite for dinner with a good friend and it was easy to pack up our gear and call it a day.

I was hoping to have tales of big Pike and beautiful Lake Trout but it was not to be this time around. For now, we can only recall the memory of fish like these from years gone by...

                                                       

Side note: Rick has a nice ice fishing tent, heater and other things that would have allowed us to beat the cold but we didn't have anyone with us that could carry it out and set it up for us! LOL

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment !

© 2016 LCFdesign

STRINGERS ...



We are now in the age of "Catch & Release" and a good old' fish stringer is pretty much a thing of the past. However, there was a time that no angler worth his weight would venture out without one. Research tells me that patents were granted for stringers as early as 1907 and probably even before that but I did not dig to deep into it's history.  A stringer was used as a way to keep fish alive, display them for the all important photograph and of course carry your catch home. In 1984 this stringer of Largemouth Bass and Crappies made on heck of a photo! This stringer was a rope type.

Stringers can still be purchased where ever fishing tackle is sold. You will find them made from metal like this...

 Or even a length of nylon rope with a metal loop at one end and a large strong needle on the other as pictured here ....

 Also there is a wire basket that serves well and collapses for easy storage when not in use. Just drop 'em in the spring loaded lid and they are secure and safe from predators ...

 Way back in my youth we improvised by using a small tree branch. Broken off so that it formed a "V"shape with one side of the "V" shorter than the other. We would insert the longer end through the gill and out their mouth and slide them down toward the shorter end for easy transport.

Maybe I should patent that idea!

Here, again back in the mid 80's a heavy stringer of Striped Bass was a real show stopper! Here they are displayed on the more common metal stringer with individual snap hooks.

In the spring I do make use of a stringer when the Yellow Perch or Crappies are biting and a fish dinner is on my menu. Another time you will see stingers in use will be the first day of trout season. Anglers will have them attached to their belts hanging heavy with their catch while they wade up and down the stream.

Some night fishing in Canada, back in the mid-eighties, yielded a few nice Walleye for a tasty meal ! Again shown for the important picture with a metal stringer.

A stringer of some type is still the best way to display your catch before preparing them for dinner.

Thanks for reading "ONE CAST .... ONE FISH"



© 2016 LCFdesign

LURE LORE ...

Fish can be fooled with just about anything that is colorful and has some movement to it. Back in my youth we did not have the money to buy lures so we were forced to use our imaginations. Many of my first fish were caught by tearing of the tip of a match just below the red sulfur head and then carefully impaling it on a hook.

 This would be dangled in front of a sunfish and proved to be a very effective lure not to mention that they came twenty to a pack and usually free for the asking!

 Today there is no shortage of fishing lures. The variety of shapes, colors, textures and sizes are endless. Visit any store that sells fishing tackle and the display of lures will dazzle you. I have never walked by a wall of lures without stopping to fondle a few.  Manufacturers go to special lengths to make lures that catch fish. They test and tune lures to perfection. Many company's will supply professional fisherman with their products so that they can be proven to work before actually putting them on the market for us to purchase.

 Lures are given names that will give you some indication of the fish they are designed for. Some are branded with aggressive names like "Killer" this or that. Others might hint at it's unique action like "Twister" or "Spinner". No matter what the name, design or nature of the lure you can bet that the packaging is created to catch you! More money is spent on captivating you then is budgeted for design of the lure itself. This is true for almost any and all products in retail stores. We all have lures in our tackle boxes that have never caught a fish. They are waiting patiently in their space for another chance to prove that you did not waste your hard earned dollar.

Some anglers have taken it upon themselves to design and make lures for their own use. The most popular is probably the good old spinnerbait and of course the tried and true rubber worm.

 A few more talented folks will layout detailed plans and construct lures that are absolute works or art. Although beautiful in every detail, and would probably catch a fish on every cast, they will never be put to the test. They will, instead, be displayed for their artistry and craftsmanship.

 I have a very good friend that happens to be one of those people that can design and create things that should be in museums. Anyway, a good number of years ago he surprised me with a gift that was beyond what I though he was capable of. He handed me a wooden box with a sliding top and I was puzzled as to what might be inside. As I slid the top open I was lost for words and could not believe what was before my eyes. Here, laying in a bed of cedar shavings, were two hand made lures with such detail and perfection I was looking for a manufacturers name. In a few seconds I came to my senses and it was obvious that he alone, had crafted these works of art.

Here is a real beauty that he thoughtfully named, "SWAMP LIZZARD" 

Here is the other that had no given name so I call it the "RIDEAU SPOOK"

 A few years ago he gifted me with another home made lure called "MUSKRAT SUSIE" which I have no doubt would be the best Muskie lure the world has ever seen. Here are a few pictures of that priceless creation.

and now a group photo ...

Without a doubt I will soon find myself in front of a lure display and getting hooked on the new lures and their fancy packages. I just know I have some room in my tackle box for one more!

Thanks for viewing .... Len

© 2016 LCFdesign