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Fishin’ Adventure 2011

Sunday, January 2nd, 2011

Did you know that you can order t-shirts or caps with your name on them? Oh, I don’t mean Bob, or Charles, I mean with your blog name on them? Or your boat’s name, or your ranch name… or the cutesy name you call your fishing group?

Sure!

There’s a place online where you can order just a few items with your logo on them. No more wanting a set of matching t-shirts for your annual barbecue, or fishing weekend, and not being able to get them without ordering a gross. You can order fishing shirts (Chuck’s Fishin’ Buds) or hunting t-shirts. You can order military clothes , matching reunion shirts, even outfit your kids with matching shirts so you don’t lose ‘em at Six Flags. (Don’t ask.)

Shoot, the matching shirts don’t even have to be shirts, you can get BALL CAPS!

I know a couple families that order the aforementioned reunion shirts for their big spring get together, and I’ve known couples that ordered them for a wedding party. (It was a countryfied wedding.) I know people that have ordered ball caps to keep their whole crew ‘spotable’ at the fairgrounds, and the rodeo.

Shoot, your filly wouldn’t even need to know anything about hunting or fishing in order to get you a little gift. Imagine, Joe & Bob’s annual fishing trip, 2011 on your matching shirts.

Ok. Maybe that’s a little far-fetched.

fishin shirt

What would YOU put on some shirts?

Tags: fishing logo shirts
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Tackle Box Preparedness

Thursday, December 23rd, 2010

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Toms of Maine. All opinions are 100% mine.

You never know what a fisherman might keep in his tacklebox.

Me?

The usual of course, spinners, weights, hooks and the like, but I also keep something that I’d probably be a little embarrassed about if the world knew. (And now I’m telling you!)

I keep a small package of Toms of Maine toothpaste!

Tackle

Why?

Well now, you just never know when fresh breath might be handy. Suppose you needed to head to town, or go in the bait shop, or decide to eat dinner at the catfish cafe because you didn’t catch dinner!

You don’t mind offending your fishing buddies but you might feel a little different about the waitress at the cafe!

Tom’s Of Maine‘s Wicked Fresh toothpaste is natural, just like the rest of Tom’s products. I’m a fan of natural. Wicked Fresh is made with natural oils and it has the needed cavity protection. Also gives you long-lasting fresh breath. There’s also a matching mouthwash,  Tom’s of Maine’s Wicked Fresh!™ Mouthwash helps stop bad breath without the burn.

Life is full of Wicked Fresh moments. You wouldn’t want to scare away a big fish because of bad breath, lol, or maybe you just want to sidle up to the wait staff at the local catfish cafe. There’s even a contest that you enter by telling ‘your’ “wish you were wicked fresh’ moment. You can find that at That’s Wicked Fresh contest page.

Either way, it pays to be prepared, in all ways.

“““““““““““““““““““““““

If you’re into Facebook you can follow Toms of Maine and/or follow them on Twitter @TomsofMaine.

Tags: breath
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Label Printing Says Volumes About Your Product

Saturday, December 18th, 2010

I attended a wholesale gift show not too long ago. I was looking for products that I might could offer alongside this blog. Not too many trade shows around here and I wasn’t expecting to find much but I did run across a guy selling fishing lures.

Now he was new to the business and I think he’s got a little ways to go before many people will want to resell his product. Oh don’t get the wrong idea, the product was great, but his packaging was ‘cheapo’. I talked to him a little bit, about the line, his packaging, his label printing, and his thoughts about future product development.

For one he was using plain old paper labels on the packaging. I’m thinking surely he realized that a ‘paper’ label on a fishing product just isn’t going to last. It’ll end up getting wet, the ink will smear and the paper will peel up and off leaving the consumer wondering ‘what’ brand that great product was.

I told him that there are places you can get premium labels printed that are weatherproof and tearproof, UV laminated and UV coated, just the thing for a product that’s going to end up in a tackle box. Sure it might cost a little more than that cheap paper label, but his product would look better, and probably sell better too.

I couldn’t convince him, but I do think I’ll go back to the next one and see if any of my suggestions took root and grew.

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12 Volt for Your Cell

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

Having trouble keeping your cell phone charged when out on the lake? (or your flashlight or your laptop) Did you know you can get a marine version of your car’s cigarette lighter socket for your boat?

Yup. Only run ya about $20.

So worth it!

Tags: 12v, cell phone
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Buddy Needs Help – Snoring Mouthpiece

Saturday, October 9th, 2010

Ever bring ‘that’ buddy along fishing?

You know, the NOISY one? You wonder how you’ll ever catch any fish with him being so loud?

Then, the warm sun puts him out like a rock and you’re thankful for some peace and quiet, and some quality fishing, when he starts snoring like a buzz saw?

Dang! Next time, you’re going to suggest to his wife that she get him a snoring mouthpiece and make it take it with him on the next fishing trip!

Those mouthpieces work! They work by gently positioning the lower jaw forward during sleep, keeping the tongue from falling back and blocking the airway.

Course he might be a little embarrassed to pull it out in front of his friends, but hey, then we could catch some fish!

sleepin' on the dock

Tags: snoring
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12 Volt Power Issues

Monday, September 6th, 2010

Not enough 12 volt power sockets on your boat?

Did you know that your local marine store has marine versions of your car’s cigarette lighter socket?

Yes! You can then power your cell, your pc, a flashlight and more all right there without ever getting out of the boat!

Boy, now if my wireless service would just pick up way out on the lake…

Tags: 12 volt
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Anchors

Friday, August 27th, 2010

There was an anchor on the electronic bulletin board at work the other day. No boat, no rods, no gear, no vests, just an anchor.

Sure made me wonder, what the heck did he do with the rest of this boat and stuff?

Wonder if he found the anchor. Stumbled across it on a lower than normal lake? Snagged it with a line and hauled it out of the water?

I never asked, but ya know, someone needed an anchor saver. An anchor saver is a little device that hooks between the anchor and your chain and releases with a release pin. That allows you to back off of whatever is hanging you up and allows you to retrieve the anchor.

Sometimes lessons are learned the hard way.

Tags: anchor saver
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Crappie at Hefner

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

If you can get past the roller bladers, and the runners, you’ll find some good crappie fishing at Lake Hefner. True, the place is packed with young healthy people, running, jogging and skating, not to mention the place is full of sailboats and restaurants dot the shores, you can still find yourself a spot to fish.

Crappie are good there year round and newcomers to this lake should try the rocky area near the dam as well as around the lighthouse area.

Hefner DOES have a daily permit… ($3)

Tags: crappie, lake hefner
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Thunderbird

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

I live a stone’s throw from Lake Thunderbird – it’s a handy fishing spot.

You have your purists who call Thunderbird, Dirty-bird, but that’s Norman’s water supply. It’s really only dirty when the water level is low – most of the time the lake is as blue as any other.

Of course, the blue is from a distance, up close you can see that the water IS murky and dirty. But that just makes it a great lake for crappie!

People are pulling foot long crappie out of T’bird these days.

The docks were a favorite spot for many fisherman but sadly we lost the northern dock area to a tornado earlier in the year. I haven’t been back to that side of the lake yet, but I bet as they rebuild that it’ll return to being a great spot to fish.

Tags: Lake Thunderbird
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Pennsylvania Loans Gear

Monday, July 12th, 2010

The kids want to try fishing. But gosh, what will it cost you just to ‘see’ if the kids would like it or not?

Folks in Pennsylvania now have an answer to that problem! The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission loans out fishing rods, reels and tackle boxes filled with equipment to anyone who asks.

The 5-year-old Borrow a Rod and Reel Fishing Tackle Loaner Program works like a library. At dozens of loaner sites, anyone — from beginners to those returning to the sport — can simply show ID, fill out a card, borrow the gear and bring it back when they’re finished. Fishing license regulations, seasons and creel limits apply. Equipment can not be reserved.

The loaner program is a partnership of the Fish and Boat Commission, the American Sportfishing Association, and local sponsors of individual loaner sites. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources helps by providing loaner tackle at many state parks.

As well as loans made to individuals, the equipment can also be borrowed by groups conducting angler education programs. The equipment is purchased by Fish and Boat through its education wing.

In southwest Pennsylvania, loaner sites are located at Keystone State Park in Westmoreland County, Raccoon Creek State Park in Beaver County, Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County and Mahoning Creek Lake Park, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project in Armstrong County.

Encouraging new anglers to take that next step to investment in fishing licenses and equipment is an important part of the program.

Tags: loaner program, pennsylvania fish and boat commission
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