Arizona Wanderings

Dreaming…

August 31st, 2011

15 Comments

Since being bit by the bug of fly fishing, I have been going full tilt with no end in sight. When I am not hunting or being domesticated, most weekends can find me sleeping on the ground and stalking wild trout on the small streams in the mountains of Arizona. I have been blessed to expand my experiences on the Big D in Oregon, chasing grayling in Alaska, driving over to the San Juan in search of big rainbows, and going home to New York to pester native heritage brook trout. Any vacation my wife and I take is inevitably cursed when I pull up google to see if there are any trout streams nearby, and she has stopped rolling her eyes when I tote a fly rod and net through the TSA security screening at the airport.

As great as any fishing trip may be with all of its big fish, sceneries, and pictures, ultimately leaves you wanting more. Like an addict, before I am home an unpacked, my mind is racing to figure out how I can get a few more days to string up a fly rod in some new location. I guess what I am trying to say is that I have problem. A problem that I can live with and one that I will continue to nurture and grow.

While I am being honest, I will let you in on the grand scheme rolling around in my brain. With the summers free to roam about, I have been thinking about heading north. North of me are the great waters of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. I could easily take two months and get lost in the many blue lines that zig-zag across those states. Life is full of possibilities when you are looking out of a bug spattered windshield heading towards moving water.

Colorado greenbacks have been calling my name for quite a while now and I imagine that the Rocky Mountain National Park is more beautiful in person, rather than the pictures that I drool over on other sites. Yellowstone and the Tetons is where I “re-discovered” my passion for fishing, with a bubble and a fly. So, two weeks camping at the base of those beautiful jagged mountains and getting serious about fishing would suit me just fine. Montana and Idaho are a bit of a mystery to me still. When I hear the names of those big rivers and see the fish that come out of the waters there, it is almost a bit surreal. Like a far away land enshrouded in mist, I long to get there and explore the famous waters that I have heard (and seen) so much about.

The thing is, this trip is going to happen. It may not be next summer or even the summer after, but it will happen. And even though I talk and plan about fishing these famous places and rivers, what will inevitably happen is that I will hear or read about some small, trickle of a stream back in the middle of nowhere, and instead of fishing the big waters in search of big fish, I will be happily stalking along a small stream under a big western sky searching for those smaller fish eager to attack a dry fly. That is ok. I think I am a small stream guy at heart…

This blog entry is my submission for the Red Tuna Shirt Club and Outdoor Blogger Network Writing Contest.

Small Stream Fly Box Giveaway…

August 29th, 2011

105 Comments

In celebration of such a great summer and memorable turkey hunt last weekend, I tied up some of my favorite go-to flies and put together a small stream fly box for a giveaway. Also up for grabs is an Arizona Wanderings t-shirt. I will not be making you jump through any serious hoops to enter, so here are the basics.

1. Leave a comment on this post with either something you like about the Arizona Wanderings site, a favorite post, or maybe something you would want to see in the future on the site or in the shop. As much as this site is about my travels, I am always looking to add more features that would be of interest to my readers.

2. For a second chance at one of the prizes, “Like” Arizona Wanderings on Facebook and then comment a second time on this post, doubling up your chances and letting me know that you have done the whole Facebook thing too.

3. Two random number will be generated on Wednesday, September 7 from the blog comments and the first person can choose either the fly box or the t-shirt. The second number gets whatever is left.

The small stream fly collection will include a mix of:
– Mini-hoppers
– Sparkle parachutes (yes, I used some of my dwindling hackle supply for you…)
– Parachute Adams
– Hopper Juan Variants
– Bead-head pheasant tails
– Bead-head hare’s ear
– Zebra midges
– Simi-Seal Leeches

All the flies are tied by yours truly and are my favorite flies to use on just about any piece of moving water.

Don’t forget that quail season is right around the corner. Check out a preview of the new ebook Hunting Gambel’s Quail at the Arizona Wanderings Shop.

Rambling Review – Browning Pursuit Jacket

August 25th, 2011

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Rambling Review – Browning Pursuit Jacket

Why:

Even though Arizona is a desert, we still get some fairly serious weather that rolls through the mesas and canyons in our later season hunts. Mornings can start below freezing and the wind can make it feel so much colder. As I started my search for the right jacket, I wanted to find something that would be quiet and form fitting for bow hunting, but rugged enough to stand up to the prickly desert foliage. Enter: The Browning Pursuit Jacket

Odor Smart Technology — OdorSmart Technology

First impressions:

Soft Shell – The Browning Pursuit Jacket caught my eye immediately because of its construction. This outer layer of the jacket is a polyester/spandex blend while the inside is lined with fleece. This combination makes an extremely rugged article of clothing. The coat boasts an OdorSmart scent control as well as being wind and water resistant.

Pockets – This jacket has a two deep outside zipper pockets and one nice pocket on the inside that also closes with a zipper.

Detachable Hood – I know many guys do not like to have a hood on their jacket but Browning Pursuit fixes that problem. The hood offers warmth on those windy days when you cannot feel your ears, but you can take it off when the weather gets a little warmer.

Form Fitting – Although the sizing was a little bit off, the XL fits me just right (normally I can get away with a large). The arms are slim and not bulky allowing me to shoot my recurve without having to put an armguard on. Although it fits very well, I am still able to load up on layers if necessary.

OdorSmart Technology – I am not one to jump into all the hype of needing to wear specially constructed garments to cut down on scent. I believe in playing the wind and being smart. Mankind has been killing animals for centuries just fine without the marketing of scent free clothing. All the same, the Browning Pursuit jacket does boast OdorSmart Scent Control Lining.

Field Use:

I have worn this jacket for 2 seasons of hunting and plan on many more years of use. Glassing for deer or javelina on those early January mornings, things can get real cold, real quick. The coat is incredibly warm for its relatively lightweight and the wind resistant material coupled with a fleece lining definitely delivers. I will say that once I start moving and hiking (generally uphill) things heat up pretty quick inside this jacket. My normal layering has me in a long-sleeved t-shirt, my Cabela’s Wooltimate Vest, with the Browning Pursuit on top. Once I start hiking the Pursuit jacket comes off and I stalk in just the vest. On a tree-stand though, the Browning Pursuit jacket is the ticket and keeps me warm all day long.

I really like the camouflage pattern that Browning has on this jacket. Although not a huge freak about the actual pattern itself, I believe the purpose is to break up the silhouette of a human. The Mossy Oak Treestand pattern does just that and I think it is appropriate for many different hunting situations.

The Browning Pursuit jacket is great for late season Arizona bow hunting (or any cold weather bow hunting) because it is so quiet when I need to position myself and draw my bow. The slim sleeves keep the jacket bulk down allowing for the string to clear my arm.

The wind always blows strong during javelina season and the utility of this jacket is great. Since it is not extremely bulking it folds up relatively small and can be tucked into a pack for the stalk. The jacket is water resistant and does a good job of beading up water during inclement weather. After two seasons of use I have reapplied a water resistant spray to keep up its water resistant features.

Pros:

Extremely quiet

Wind/Water resistant

Rugged Construction

Light but extremely warm

Camouflage pattern

OdorSmart Technology

Cons:

Sizing may be off (I recommend trying the jacket on)

No armpit vents

Prognosis: An amazing bow hunting jacket that rises to the occasion when taken into some very nasty country. I highly recommend this jacket if you are looking for a durable, quiet, and warm softshell jacket.

* Disclaimer:

The reviews at Arizona Wanderings are my honest opinion. Arizona Wanderings is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review. My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established.

Arizona Bowhunting: Merriam’s Turkey

August 22nd, 2011

10 Comments

Archery season opened on Friday, and while I went to work, my buddies were already sitting in their treestands. When quitting time came, my truck pointed north in order to leave the blazing desert sand behind and before dark, it climbed the bumpy forest road to camp. The guys had seen a couple of doe here and there, and some had seen turkeys through the ponderosas, but their turkey tags had been filled during the spring hunt. After a few very slow seasons with a couple of blown opportunities, I was itching to get into my stand in the morning.

I beat daylight to my hunting blind and when I checked my phone it read 5:00. After organizing my few essentials, I settled into my seat to wait for daylight. My stand sits about 50 yards off a large water catchment on a faint trail, and as I sat peering into the ever lightening dawn, I told myself that whatever came first, turkey or buck, I was going to put it down. (The fall season in Arizona allows for any turkey, male or female, to be harvested.) Around 7:30, I look up from my book to check a noise I heard, and sure enough a flock of turkeys working through the forest in front of me poking at the ground and putting to each other. I waited patiently as they made their way through my shooting lane. After a quick scan, I could see that all the birds were female, so I reared back and sent an arrow into the closest one. To my surprise, the bird dropped where it was. Half expecting it to jump up and run/fly away, I quickly nocked another arrow but the bird laid still. My first Arizona Merriam’s turkey and who would have thought I could make it happen with a recurve.

Arizona Merriam's Turkey — Arizona Merriam’s Turkey

By the time I had cleaned the bird, put her on ice, and made my way back to camp, it was going on mid-day. I had too much energy to go back and sit on the same stand that I had made so much noise on that morning, so I strung up the fly rod and hit one of my favorite streams. A great end to a unforgettable day in the woods.

Arizona Merriam’s Turkey: Bowhunting Success

August 21st, 2011

2 Comments

The truck is covered in mud and I have gear to sort, wash, and put away. More to come once I get things cleaned up…

Rambling Review – Fox Breed Recurve

August 18th, 2011

9 Comments

Rambling Review – Fox Breed Recurve

Why:

I grew up shooting a compound bow and more or less fell out of hunting during my later highschool and early college years. Once I moved to Arizona, a good friend of mine turned me on to traditional archery. He had a number of different recurves that I took turns shooting and the more I learned the more I realized that I needed/wanted one of my own. The search began and I shot several different bows and perused online forums, dealers, and shops looking for something to catch my eye. By a stroke of luck found this beautiful Fox Breed recurve that stands 58 inches tall and at my draw length of 28 inches, pulls about 58 pounds. Within a week, the bow was in my hands and I was all smiles.

First impressions:

The Look – The Fox Breed is considered a 50s style recurve which gives it a gorgeous nostalgic look. The combinations of Osage and Cocobolo wood used in my particular bow is really stunning and even to this day I never get tired of looking at it.

The Service – I bought the bow second-hand from a shop in Oregon. Apparently the original owner had commissioned the right handed bow only to find out that he was left-eye dominant. Lucky for me, I got an essentially brand new custom bow for half the price. Once I had the bow, I called up Fox Archery and talked to the bowyer Ron King himself. He spent 20 minutes on the phone talking about brace height, extra strings, and archery hunting with me and overall went the extra mile for me as a customer.

Take-Down – When I was looking for a bow, I made sure that whatever I bought would be a take-down model. In the event that I am traveling out of state or maybe someday out of country, I wanted to make sure that I could have a bow that would travel compactly. This particular Fox Breed is a two piece sleeve take-down.

Field Use:

Thousands of arrows have been put through the Fox Breed and after shooting a dozen different bows I am still amazed how forgiving this particular bow is. The Fox Archery site describes the Breed as “retaining the natural pointing and forgiveness of the long bow, added to the lightning speed and smoothness of the recurve.” I could not agree more and really enjoy shooting this bow. The bow shoots extremely quick and quiet. When shooting with a group of other archers, the Breed shoots noticeably quieter than other recurves or longbows.

The bow feels good in the hand and I really like the grip on the Fox Breed. I have heard other archers complain about the “longbow style” grip of the bow, but I am extremely pleased with how it feels. There is no hand shock after the shot and the bow pulls smoothly with no stack. It balances sweetly in the while shooting, and when I am toting it around the desert, it carries nice and light.

I absolutely love the height of this bow. At 58 inches, it is definitely on the shorter end of the spectrum. This comes in really helpful when hunting out of a blind. It is much easier to maneuver in an enclosed space with a shorter bow. I believe this allows for much more diverse hunting scenarios too. Whether in a blind, tree stand, or on the ground, the shorter limbs could save the hunt.

I have carried this bow on many different hunts but have only been successful a few times. I blame this more on my time focused on fly fishing than anything else. It is tough to sit in a tree stand knowing that the creek is a mile up the road with hungry trout just waiting for the fly. What I love about fly fishing is that it has all the elements of an archery hunt (spot, stalk, execute) but can be done at any time (but I digress…). Archery seasons in Arizona are few and far between with animals being even scarcer. With that said I have taken an extremely nice feral boar on an out of state hunt and finally connected with a javelina this past season. In the field the Fox Breed does the job and I am very happy with the arrow penetration that I get at 58 pounds.

I have traveled with this bow and have been very happy with how compactly breaks down for travel. I will do a write-up on my traveling setup. (Stay tuned.)

Pros:

Beautiful custom craftsmanship

Flat shooting/Forgiving

Extremely quiet

Short, Versatile Height

Take-down.

Cons:

Custom bow pricing – (Check traditional bow forums. If you wait, you will find a reasonably priced, secondhand Fox bow)

Prognosis: I will shoot this bow until I am old and gray. It is beautiful to look at, fun to shoot, and the perfect tool for the field. If you are looking for a traditional bow, do you yourself a favor and buy a Fox Breed.

* Disclaimer:

Fly Fishing Arizona: The Fish of the Summer…

August 15th, 2011

18 Comments

Leaving every shred of evidence out of the story, I will attempt to give a play by play of my Saturday. I was fishing a small stream picking up the usual 4-12 inch fish enjoying the peace that only a lonely overcast day on a small stream can truly bring. After a dozen fish attacked the tan mini-hopper, I snipped off the small dropper that I had tied on, and enjoyed small stream trout actively feeding on the surface.

I caught a really nice 14 inch brown and had mentally checked it off as the fish of the day but figured I would fish up a little farther, before checking out another stream. A good size boulder sat off to the side of a pool not much bigger than a kitchen table and although the pool was small the deep hole under the rock was dark and deep. Crouching, I flipped the fly and drifted the back of the pool and pulled one small fish. Normally one fish will spook the pool but I rolled the fly to the head of the seam and as it swirled, a big head sipped the tan bug from the surface.

The fly rod doubled over and the fish went to the bottom. He stayed there for a bit and then tested the walls of his small home but found nowhere to go and with such a large body could barely maneuver. With no where to run, jump, or pull I put a net under him that was no where near able to fit him. I pulled the camera, snapped two pictures and quickly put him back.

From the pictures, you can tell this old boy has been sitting under that rock for a long time, eating bugs and getting fat. I do not expect to find another fish like that anytime soon, although I know they exist in just about every stream. I was lucky and I know that. After I let him go, I sat for about 15 minutes and let my legs stop shaking. I fished the rest of the day, but it was pretty halfhearted after such an unbelievable morning.

Small Stream Arizona Brown Trout…

August 14th, 2011

8 Comments

A few more pics and some insignificant details on Monday…