1- Rotary lawn mower. Save money on gas and maintenance. Build muscle, stay active. You would be surprised how easy it is, and how good it works.
Man powered mower
2- Ride your bike. Save money on insurance, maintenance, and gas. Build muscle, stay active, be healthy, decompress after a hard days work. It is hard to start the habit, but once you get on the bike it becomes natural and easier than hopping in your vehicle.
My dad’s bike from 1972
3- Chop firewood- warms you twice, yah you might need a chain saw to do the cutting unless you have a crosscut saw! You will be amazed at how efficient a wood stove can heat a home. Take it one step further and you can have a wood burning boiler.
Falling a tree
4- Shoot a bow instead of a gun. Therapeutic, relaxing, quiet, more versatile for shooting in sensitive / populated areas, better hunting opportunities, build muscle, reusable ammunition(arrows).
Archer Justin
5-Paddle a canoe instead of running a motor boat. What a hassle to tow a boat on a trailer, why not throw the canoe on top of your vehicle? Or pull it with your bike trailer 🙂 ? Then paddle your way around the lake or river. Build strength, stay active, enjoy peace and calm.
Well, with change comes trouble. But I am sure in the long run, the new BC LEH online system will be better than mailing in our cards of past that could be mishandled, lost, or destroyed. I am sure there are a lot of hunters in British Columbia that do not even have computer access ,so this new system will pose problems for them, and I do have empathy for those in that situation. But here is how you get started on the new BC LEH online system:
Got this press release from Sig today. New Copper Bullet Option for 300 BLK hunters:
sig copper 300 BLK ammo
SIG SAUER® Introduces New SIG HT™ 300BLK Supersonic Ammunition for Hunting
Newington, NH (January 11, 2016) – SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to announce a new supersonic 300BLK Elite Performance Ammunition round designed specifically for hunting. The SIG HT™ 300BLK cartridge features a 120gr all-copper bullet that delivers deep penetration, consistent 1.8X expansion and maximum terminal ballistic performance, creating an effective hunting round in the 300BLK caliber. The muzzle velocity of this 120gr, lead-free supersonic round is 2,250 fps from a 16-inch barrel rifle with muzzle energy of 1,349 ft-lbs.
Excellent for hunting deer, pigs and predators, the new SIG HT centerfire rifle ammunition gives those who hunt with 300BLK rifles an edge in the field. Its all-copper bullet profile and nose geometry are optimized for feeding smoothly in AR-style rifles. The SIG HT cartridges are made with newly designed premium nickel-plated 300BLK shell cases, not reworked 5.56 cases, and SIG SAUER uses flash-reduced propellant to minimize visible signature while shooting in low-light situations. Premium quality primers are also used to minimize variations in velocity.
“Given the popularity of the 300BLK, we wanted to offer ammunition truly designed for hunting that expands upon impact,” said Dan Powers, president of the SIG SAUER Ammunition Division. “The 300BLK is our first offering in this new SIG HT hunting line of premium grade rifle ammunition. The SIG HT 300BLK supersonic hunting round is in addition to our Match Grade subsonic and supersonic 300BLK rounds. In the coming months, we will be introducing a 220gr subsonic 300BLK hunting round in addition to new rifle ammunition in a variety of other calibers.” Exacting standards as the company’s premium pistols and rifles.
For more information, visit www.sigsauer.com/ammunition.
It is about time British Columbia got online with their Hunting Lottery system. Alberta has had their system online for years. I am happy about this as it will streamline the whole process as well as eliminate the rumour mill surrounding the BC LEH draw.
Hunter Registration and the Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) Application Process Are Changing. The Province will introduce a new online system for hunters in 2016, making it easier for you to register and apply for Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) permits. You can submit LEH applications online at home or at a Service BC, FrontCounter BC, or vendor location. The online service will be available for the Fall 2016 LEH Draw. More information will be provided in the 2016‐2017 Limited Entry Hunting Regulations Synopsis. You can no longer purchase paper application forms for the Fall 2016 LEH Draw or the 2016 Special Sheep LEH Draw. Forms for the Spring 2016 LEH Draw can be purchased only at the following locations:
All Service BC locations during regular business hours; Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. I tried going to Wholesale sports in langley to purchase a LEH card but they were all out and told me to buy them from the Service BC locations.
Note: You do not need a hunter number or license to purchase an application form. If you have already purchased LEH application forms, you can use them for the Spring 2016 or Fall 2016 Draw. After that, paper application forms will NOT be accepted.
I have tried multiple ways to smoke salmon and the dry brine method is my favorite. It is much simpler, cleaner, and quicker than keeping your fillets in a gooey tub overnight. Not to mention, the taste is far superior.
What you will need:
A smoker, alder chips, and salmon fillets (obviously).
Dark brown sugar.
Non iodized salt. I like to use coarse canning salt.
Garlic cloves.
Mixing bowl
Tupperware type container for salmon fillets and brine.
1. Prepare the fillets
Make sure you are using wild fresh salmon. Best is Sockeye or Chinook, but any wild salmon will do.
You can cut them into 2-3″ wide strips or leave them whole if they are not too thick, and leave skin on.
Slice diagonal lines into the fillets to allow greater brine penetration.
Dry brine is ready for the garlic.
2. Prepare the brine.
The ratio is 4 cups of brown sugar, 1 cup of salt, 10 cloves of garlic.
If you need more brine, keep the ratio the same.
Mix in mixing bowl.
Fillets in Brine
3. Brine the fillets.
Cover the fillets generously with the brine mix.
Stack in Tupperware starting with skin side down.
Stack flesh to flesh, and skin to skin.
Cover and let sit in fridge for approximately 6 hours.
The container will turn into a gooey mess
Dry brine turns gooey
4. Rinse and Rack
Gently rinse coarse granules off fillets under the tap.
Spray racks with non stick cooking spray like Pam. This will make removal later much easier.
Place on rack.
Let dry with good circulation for 6 hours to develop sticky top layer.
Salmon ready for smokingSalmon in the big chief
5. Smoker time
Use smoker outdoors with nothing flammable in close proximity. Don’t use extension cord.
Pre- heat smoker for 15 mins.
Add alder chips and racks of salmon fillets.
You can add chips to determine strength of flavour. Usually more pans of fresh chips at the beginning.
Keep in smoker for around 6 hours. You can check earlier if you would like.
Bonus info
The fillets always taste better the next day after cooling and sitting in the fridge.
You can vacuum pack the smoked fillets to preserve them longer in the fridge.
Some people use a blanket or a box over the smoker, but I never had good success with that method.
2011 was a great year for fishing. I would have to say it was my favorite fishing year ever. On the majority of days you could expect to get 2 Sockeye salmon and 1 Chinook. This year I really got the feel for landing Chinook salmon on the river.
Chinook salmonA Spring in the sinkFraser ChinookMy Chinook with 2 Sockeye salmon alongside my friends Chinook salmon. This was a common day in 2011.
This little reel had a few draw backs. The major one is that it did not hold a lot of line, the other being it was light duty. The positive was I could cast this Diawa Exceler reel further than anyone in the river and get into the spring holes. I only got so much life out of it before it finally broke immediately after landing a Chinook salmon. I had to replace the line multiple times that year but it was worth it.
My Diawa Exceler reel breaks after reeling in a Spring salmon.
Every year there seems to be a set of different stories that run in the circles of BC resident hunters around Limited Entry Draw time. I have heard superstitious people swear by using blue ink, black in, red ink, felt pen etc. I have heard in years past that “anti’s” (Anti-Hunters) have been completing C.O.R.E, getting their hunter numbers, and buying LEH draws so they take chances away from legitimate hunters in the province. This year there was a believable rumour going around that postal workers who were not fond of hunters, would just throw out any LEH draw cards or envelopes addressed to Wildlife Branch on Jutland rd that would pass through their hands. This story made cautious LEH applicants send in their LEH cards in by registered mail or express post insuring no chance of being discarded.
Just in time for spring bear hunting season.
Imagine, having the convenience to bring up the field care chapter, or any other reference material from the entire Black Bear Hunting Encyclopedia book and DVD, while you are in the bush hunting with your mobile device?
So what did you put in this year? I put in for the basics, Moose, doe, elk. Last year there was a delay in getting results due to the increase in applicants, I assume this is the case again this year.
Wanna win $100 at Bass Pro Shops? Follow these steps:
Log into Twitter and to go Hunter Ed’s page: Tweets by hunter_ed
Click “Tweet to Hunter Ed”
Upload an image of yourself with your hunter education card or certificate and include the hashtag: #HunterEdReward
Click “Tweet,” and you’re done!
Alright, we all know Sockeye salmon fishing on the Fraser is not so much enticing the fish to bite, as it is “flossing” them in the mouth. But, that does not mean there is not any skill involved. I am not claiming to be the best fisherman on the river by any stretch, but here are some tips to ensure you have the best chance of flossing that Sockeye salmon and landing it.
1) Have the proper gear. This means from the rod & reel, right to the hook.
Shimano rod and reel
You will need a proper salmon rod and reel. The most popular combo on the Fraser river is the approximately 11’ long Shimano Convergance Rod with an Abu Garcia level wind reel. Some guys have the better Shimano Calcutta reel. Grandpa’s trout rod with a coffee grinder reel works, but it is not ideal, and you won’t land Chinooks with that.
Next up is line. I definitely recommend 50-60 pound braided or synthetic line. It does not stretch like monofilament line and it is much tougher. Synthetic line also lasts longer as it doesn’t break down in UV light as mono does. You will really notice a difference in the feel of bouncing betty down river. You will have a direct connection with less lag than when using mono. As soon as the betty stops you will be able to yank on it and free it from the bottom, or set the hook immediately in the fish’s mouth. If you are using mono, the line will stretch first causing lag time from any action to your rod. So you will snag less, therefore lose less gear, set the hook better, and end up catching more fish with synthetic line. Make sure you know how to tie proper fishing knots as that is a bad way to lose fish.
Now you need to get leader savers. This will help the hook drift in a more optimum position down stream, as well as reduce the friction of the bouncing betty from hitting your line. This $1.50 piece of gear will save you a lot of time, line, and heartache. It is worth it. It will keep you from tangling as much, keep you fishing in the river more, and reduce the amount of gear lost. This is where you attach the main line, leader line, and bouncing betty.
The leader line can be 20 pound mono line. I usually get Maxima Ultra green. This will be the inherently weakest link in your setup, but it is ok because it is also cheap. After a while the rocks will chew away and nick this leader line. If you feel multiple burrs you might want to change this up so it does not break when you hook up. If fishing for Chinook, you definitely need to keep this fresh. Sockeye fisherman will want to keep their leaders around the 8-12’ mark. Learn how to snell a hook as it will be a much stronger fishing knot.
Hooks have to be sharp. Your hook is the head of the arrow as they say. Keep it sharp by replacing it or sharpen it on a stone when it gets dull after catching a few fish. Your hook should also be “snelled” onto your line so it is stronger than a conventional knot. Size 2 or 3 should work fine but remember to get barbless for the Fraser river.
Wool and corky can be experimented with at your discretion. I catch fish with or without a corky so I won’t say one way is right or wrong. Basically the idea is that it keeps your hook a float off the bottom slightly. Some guys tie the corky behind the hook so it does not have a chance to interfere with the fish’s mouth. As for the wool, it does not really matter for sockeye but I keep red or orange on just in case a Chinook sees it.
2) Cast correctly.
Okay, so now you have your gear setup right, you cast into the right spot, now what? Well right after you cast, quickly check your reel to see if there is any loops that you can quickly pull out so you don’t get future problems in your reel. Then start reeling in until your line gets to 12 o’clock right in front of you. What this does is prevent any slack from building up as that will make you snag the bottom and get stuck. It also pulls your line straight so the apparatus will drift down the river correctly after passing 12 o’clock. If you do not reel in to straighten your line you will either: a) snag the bottom, or b) your line will not be straight as it drifts into the sweet spot. The sweet spot is after 12 o’clock to about 10 o’clock. Reel back in when your weight stops bouncing or your line is parallel with the river bank.
3) Adjust to the conditions.
If you are not getting any results try adjusting: leader length, bouncing betty weight, corky, wool, or try a different spot. Sometimes you will catch a sockeye on your first cast, I have done it twice this year. Sometimes you will be out there for an hour with no “luck” and a guy will come right beside you and hook into a sockeye. Why does this happen? My theory is different casting habits and different casting distances get into areas that have not been repeatedly casted through, therefore leaving some pockets of un-harassed fish. You step in and cast a bit further than everybody else has been casting, you may hook into a fish. So in saying that, do be afraid to try changing spots, just be courteous of other fisherman out there. If you are casting way further, you may end up drifting too far down river and others will cast onto your line. Also, do not cast too far up stream as you will hook into other fishermen’s lines. Just cast to about 2 o’clock and reel until your line is even with you.
If you notice your bouncing betty weight keeps getting hung up on the bottom of the river and you have to keep yanking on your rod to keep it moving, try lightening your bouncing betty. If you are not contacting the bottom much, you may need a bigger weight. I prefer to have a constant tapping on the river bottom as the apparatus drifts downstream.
4) Land that fish.
Make sure you are ready for the opportunity. Every time your weight stops bouncing it is either a) a fish, or b) a snag. Immediately yank the rod tip up with your thumb on the spool of your reel (so more line does not come out). What this does is either a) free you up from the snag or b) set the hook into the fish. If it is a fish, you will know as your rod tip will be jerking faster and you won’t feel the weight bouncing on the bottom as much. After you yank the rod tip up, be sure to reel in the slack you just created. If it is a fish, they can get off your hook with slack. Slack is the enemy. Keep your rod tip up facing the fish.
Now landing a sockeye is not as difficult as a Chinook, but you need to do some things properly to make it happen. Always keep your rod tip up so you keep the tension on the salmon as well as direct the Sockeye’s head up. With a Sockeye, you can just start reeling and it will come in. Once you reach the shallows you really need to be sure it does not tangle around other boats or other fishermen’s legs. A simple “fish on” will alert those close by to move as you bring it in. Reel as much line as you can in while keeping the rod tip up. If you allow your rod tip to go down the fish will have direct link to your reel allowing it to bounce off the hook by a) creating slack or b) break line because the rod is not doing the work of absorbing force. SO KEEP YOUR TIP UP as you walk back onto shore fast! You want to pull that legal sockeye up onto the rocks good and fast. Most people lose their sockeye on the rocks because they lose the tension in their line and the Sockeye frees itself from the hook, and back into the river it goes. Once you start walking backwards, keep the tip up and head to shore fast until the sockeye is up on dry land.
5) Be Prepared before you go out.
You catch fish by fishing, not by undoing tangles and changing gear on the shore. This means you need to be well practiced in your casting, and again, having the proper gear on in the first place, before going out fishing. If you are new to the level wind style reels, go out to a soccer field and practice casting into a shopping cart with your bouncing betty. Here you can adjust the settings on your reel as well, so you are good to go before going out on the river. Make sure you have enough leader line, corky’s, wool, hooks, leader savers, bouncing betty’s, licence, knife, and bags for transporting your limit of Sockeye home! Sockeye season is for fishing! Make sure all your behind the scenes stuff is taken care of before so you can enjoy catching fish during the season. Then after the season smoke some salmon.
Alright, this year is supposed to be a big one so here is how I fared:
Day 1. I got 2 Sockeye salmon in the first 30 minutes of fishing. No the one is not foul hooked. I put the hook into it so I could tie it up while it sat in the river.
2 Sockeye salmon in the Fraser River.
Day 2.I got 2 Sockeye in the first 20 minutes. 1 on the first cast.
2 Sockeye salmon
Day 3. Skunked. Commercial fisheries wiped out the river temporarily.
Sunset on the Fraser
Day 4. On a time limit, just got a single in an hour.
Day 5. Went out with my father in-law and we got 2 each within 1.5 hours. You have to look closely at the picture to see the 4. One is in the shadow on the right, and the other one is under the other 2 sockeye.
4 in the cooler
Day 6. Got 5 between 3 of us within a couple hours. On a time limit again.
5 Sockeye Salmon.
Day 7. Got 2 Sockeye salmon in 20 minutes.
Two Sockeye salmon
Day 8. Went out for a Sunday evening trip. River was slow. I got 1 within an hour and a half of fishing.
Whole Sockeye BBQ
Day 9. Two Sockeye salmon within 3 hours of fishing. It was a laborious job.
Sockeye Salmon with filet knife
Day 10-Aug 31. A hard long 4 hours of fishing yielded this single after I lost one on the shore.
Fraser Sockeye
Day 11, September 2-2014. This was the best day yet. I caught my 2 within 10 minutes. My friend had his limit within the hour.
4 Sockeye salmon.
Day 12, Sept 3. Not as good as the last day but I still got 2 Sockeye in 2 hours of fishing. My bro got 1. I had one break my leader as it was peeling line off my reel.
