Perhaps no one has been a more respected ambassador for hunting and fishing than Ernest Hemingway. Readers who may never hold a rod or rifle are transported to the African plains or the Gulf Stream waters whenever they read Hemingway’s lyrical stories, and though they may not respect what he is promoting, they can’t help but be enthralled by the tales woven by one of the world’s greatest writers. Here are 11 Ernest Hemingway quotes that prove that claim.

1. “You did not kill the fish only to keep alive and to sell for food, he thought. You killed for pride and because you are a fisherman. You loved him when he was alive and you loved him after. If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him. Or is it more?”

— The Old Man and the Sea

2. “I did not mind killing anything, any animal, if I killed it cleanly, they all had to die and my interference with the nightly and the seasonal killing that went on all the time was very minute and I had no guilty feeling at all. We ate the meat and kept the hides and horns.”

— Green Hills of Africa

3. “Best of all he loved the fall. The leaves yellow on the cottonwoods floating on the trout streams and above the hills. The high blue windless sky…Now he will be part of them forever.”

— Memorial for a friend killed in a hunting accident

4. “Now it is pleasant to hunt something that you want very much over a long period of time, being outwitted, out-maneuvered and failing at the end of each day, but having the hunt and knowing every time you are out that, sooner or later, your luck will change and that you will get the chance that you are seeking. But it is not pleasant to have a time limit by which you must get your kudu or perhaps never get it, nor even see one. It is not the way hunting should be.”

— Green Hills of Africa

5. “When you have shot one bird flying you have shot all birds flying. They are all different and they fly in different ways but the sensation is the same and the last one is as good as the first.”

— Winner Take Nothing

6. “Perhaps I should not have been a fisherman, he thought. But that was the thing that I was born for.”

— The Old Man and the Sea

7. “Somebody just back of you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your girl.”

8. “I came by there five years ago and where I shot that pheasant there was a hotdog place and filling station and the north prairie, where we hunted snipe in the spring and skated on the sloughs when they froze in the winter, was all a subdivision of mean houses, and in the town, the house where I was born was gone and they had cut down the oak trees and built an apartment house close out against the street. So I was glad I went away from there as soon as I did. Because when you like to shoot and fish you have to move often and always farther out and it doesn’t make any difference what they do when you are gone.”

— “Remembering Shooting-Flying”

9. “The way to hunt is for as long as you live against, as long as there is such and such an animal; just as the way to paint is as long as there is you and colors and canvas, and to write as long as you can live and there is pencil and paper or ink or any machine to do it with, or anything you care to write about, and you feel a fool, and you are a fool, to do it any other way.”

— Green Hills of Africa

10. “Then he began to pity the great fish that he had hooked. He is wonderful and strange and who knows how old he is, he thought. Never have I had such a strong fish nor one who acted so strangely. Perhaps he is too wise to jump. He could ruin me by jumping or by a wild rush. But perhaps he has been hooked many times before and he knows that this is how he should make his fight. He cannot know it is only one man against him, nor that it is an old man. But what a great fish he is and what will he bring in the market if the flesh is good. He took the bait like a male and he pulls like a male and his fight has no panic in it. I wonder if he has plans or if he is just as desperate as I am?”

— The Old Man and the Sea

11. “You are killing me, fish, the old man thought. But you have a right to. Never have I seen a greater, or more beautiful, or a calmer or more noble thing than you, brother.”

— The Old Man and the Sea

Note: Have other Ernest Hemingway quotes about hunting or fishing? Share them in the comments!

Fishing takes on many forms and why one angler does it versus the next varies as much as personalities do. A handful of anglers after they get very adept at catching fish consistently progress into trophy hunters and chase records, including world record crappie, intentionally. But most any angler would be thrilled to catch a record fish whether it be a state record or the very rare world record.

While in bass fishing, the thought of catching a world record seemed impossible again. Then, it was tied not so many years ago. And in crappie fishing, the black crappie world record was broken just a few years ago and it “officially” has the title of the largest crappie ever caught while the white crappie record has stood for more than 65 years even though it’s just a few ounces less.

With amount of state crappie records being broken in recent years, there will likely be another world record caught very soon. Many think the world records are swimming around now in some of the souths best lakes. But I believe that the world records are likely swimming around in a smaller body of water in the most prominent potential states. States where there is bountiful forage and longer growing seasons offer crappie a long time to get to weigh more than 5 pounds. And with the numbers of 4-pounders coming out of lakes like Grenada, I figure it’s only a matter of time before we see another world record crappie.

Let’s take a closer look at the world records and some of the bigger state record crappies ever caught.

WORLD RECORD BLACK CRAPPIE

Biggest Crappie Ever Caught

Angler Lionel “Jam” Ferguson was casting a Kalin’s Triple Threat Grub in John Deere color when he got the biggest bite of his life in May of 2018. He was fishing a small private pond in Tennessee when the big black crappie hit. He landed his crappie and weighed it at 5 pounds, 7 ounces, setting not only the new Tennessee state record for black crappie, but it also happened to be the new world record black crappie.

You can find Kalin’s Triple Threat Grub from the following retailers​:

• BassPro.com
• Walmart.com
• Amazon
• FishUSA

Not only was it the biggest black crappie ever caught, but to our knowledge it is officially the biggest crappie ever landed by an angler as the white crappie world record is 5 pounds, 3 ounces. There were rumors of a 6-pound crappie caught in Louisiana in 1969, but there are no details still to support it and supposedly it was thought to be a hybrid from the photos, so no one recognizes it as a record in the state of Louisiana or by the IGFA because it wasn’t classified as one type or the other. More on that catch later.

He bested the previous black crappie world record of 5 pounds even. You can see the full story of Ferguson’s world record crappie here.

WORLD RECORD WHITE CRAPPIE

Mississippi’s biggest crappie ever

In July of 1957 Fred Bright was fishing below the Enid Dam when he hooked and landed a white crappie weighing 5 pounds, 3 ounces. That record has now stood for 66 years although it’s reported as being caught in the reservoir not the river below it.

There are little to no details on this catch. It is said that he caught the fish with an Orchard Industries Action Rod with a Denison-Johnson reel. But no mention of bait, so most guessed it was caught on a live minnow. But for the most part that’s speculation.

The only mount of the fish was a replica. There are a couple of photos circulating as the official pictures of the catch. But outside of that there is not a lot of information. We’d love to know more on this story if anyone comes across some information that would be helpful.

Many believe the next world record white crappie will come out of Mississippi because so many 4-pounders have been caught in recent years in Mississippi fisheries. And anglers are getting better at catching the nomadic roaming big crappie on the larger reservoirs.

Some believe the record could come from Mississippi but equally likely in Alabama, Tennessee and Texas. These states have long growing seasons, but they also get optimal cooler weather that prolongs a crappie’s life. And they have very fertile fisheries in terms of forage. But some of us believe that the record will come from a smaller overlooked fishery near the world class trophy lakes.

LARGEST CRAPPIE EVER CAUGHT?

The unrecognized tale

So while this is a little tougher than the white crappie record information to track down, in 1969, for a time, the state of Louisiana recognized a supposedly 6-pound crappie that was caught from the bank in an airport canal on a cane pole and minnow.

In the book Crappie! by Jim Robbins, he recounts a story from another editor about the catch:

“Bob Dennie, editor of the Louisiana Conservationist, tells an interesting story of the largest crappie ever caught in Louisiana or, for that matter, the world. In November of 1969, Lettie Robertson was fishing from the bank in the Westwego Canal when she hooked and landed a crappie which was photographed and then weighed on certified scales at 6 pounds. A new world mark that would best either of the two current record holders in the black crappie or white crappie categories.”

“Lettie, glad that all the uproar over the catch was finally over, took the fish home and ate it for supper. However, Lettie’s crappie suffered a worse fate. The photograph could not reveal whether the fish was a white or black crappie, and since no bonafide authority had viewed the remains, it could not be recognized as a world record for either species. The state of Louisiana didn’t understand why there was so much fuss about whether it was black or white, they listed it as the state record sac-a-lait.”

Louisiana only recognizes the two crappie species individual records on their records list now. So probably back then they had no idea their state record crappie was also a world record and would be under much scrutiny. So it never came to be.

THE BIGGEST STATE RECORD CRAPPIE

There are numerous state record crappie weighing more than 4 pounds. In fact, 35 of the 50 states have records weighing more than 4 pounds. However only 5 states have crappie records weighing more than 5 pounds. Six, if you think the uncategorized Louisiana crappie claim should stand. Those states are as follows:

Arkansas — 5 pounds even — Lake Wihelmina —Donivan Echols — 2011 Georgia — 5 pounds even — Bibb Co. Pond — Theresa Kemp —1984 Minnesota — 5 pounds even — Vermillion River — Tom Christenson — 1940 South Carolina — 5 pounds, 1 ounce — Lake Murray — H.P. Owens — 1949 Tennessee — 5 pounds, 7 ounces — Jam Fergusson — Private Pond — 2018

A couple of states barely missed the 5 pound mark and are as follows:

Kentucky — 4 pounds, 14 ounces — Watershed Lake — Penny Hopper — 2005 North Carolina — 4 pounds, 15 ounces — Asheboro Lake — Dean Dixon — 1980 Oklahoma — 4 pounds, 15 ounces — Kingfisher Co. Pond — Frank Robinson — 1991 Virginia — 4 pounds, 14 ounces — Lake Conner — E.L. Blackstock —1967

Among bass anglers, there’s a major misconception about fishing frog patterns. Many anglers believe that there must be frogs living in the reservoir, natural lake or pond for a frog-style bait to be effective. Others think you need to have mats, weeds or moss to fish a frog.

None of those are true.

“When you put a frog on the mat, bass don’t know if it’s a mouse, a baitfish flipping around or a black bird. A lot of times, the frog imitates a number of things, not just a frog,” says professional bass angler Gary Dobyns, the all-time leading money winner in the West. “I’ve seen water snakes eaten when they are on top of a mat. Bass are ferocious predators. They just eat whatever moves on top of that mat and figure out what it is later. Half the time they don’t know what it is. Twice, I’ve seen bass try to eat full-grown coots. They didn’t get them, but they sure tried.”

Depending on weather and water temperature, frogs can be effective all year. May, however, is the traditional start of the frog season. Frogs can be effective from May through the fall in most waters in the western United States. Regardless of the water’s structure, most lakes, reservoirs, ponds, sloughs, backwaters, natural lakes and rivers in the West harbor a place for frog fishing. In fact, there isn’t a place in the West where a properly fished frog bait won’t catch bass.

“You can throw frogs on any lake, period, and they’ll catch fish,” says Dobyns. “I’ve caught my frog fish in Lake Mead, Lake Powell, Lake Oroville and in the Columbia River – places where you don’t have grass. You can catch frog fish anywhere.”

POLLEN LINESEvery serious bass angler knows that frogs can be effective anywhere grass is found. But Dobyns’ biggest secret is fishing frogs in areas devoid of greenery. For example, while few anglers fish pollen slicks with frogs, Dobyns wins tournaments by targeting them.

Floating pollen is common in most Western waters. Dobyns looks for areas where a breeze pushes pollen into a pocket or along the shoreline.

“Fishing frogs on a pollen line is my best-kept secret,” he said, fully knowing his words would soon be printed. “If you fish a frog on top of the pollen scum line, you can catch a boatload of bass. The bass hardly ever see frogs, so they are easy to fool. They’re sitting right underneath the scum line of pollen. It’s like a mat. They get right underneath it. There’s shade and no light penetration, so you always have bass there.”

And because no one else knows those fish are there, Dobyns is busy catching fish other anglers simply overlook. “It’s a secret. No one does it.”

Many bass pros seek out specific water to throw frogs, but Dobyns is a little more flexible. He commonly casts frogs into open water where most folks wouldn’t think of fishing them. “You can throw a frog in some places that you can’t throw anything else. A frog won’t snag, so you can throw it anywhere,” says Dobyns, who tosses frogs on 65-pound Power Pro. “Braided line is very important. You don’t want any stretch. With braid, you get good, solid hookups. You want to be able to power the fish out of the mat.”

GRASSLESS FISHING

Mats aren’t the only place where frogs are effective. Anglers can find success pitching frogs into debris pockets of wood, grass, pollen slicks, tules and any heavy-matted vegetation. On the contrary, many pros have made a living pitching frogs in open water.

“I like throwing them to the bank,” says Art Berry, former Bassmaster champion. “You need to be able to cast the frog to where the water meets the bank. The key is getting the frog as shallow as possible. Everybody knows that frogs live close to the shore. The bass pin them against the bank. You want to throw to the bank, whether there are trees, grass, moss or overhanging branches on the bank.”

The point is that you don’t have to find grass to enjoy success.

“Most of the frog-fish I catch are not caught underneath the mat. They’re caught around brush, trees and in open water around grass,” Berry said. “They’ll probably eat the frog in the spot where you didn’t think you would ever get bit.”

On the other hand, time of day can affect results. Weather can also be a determining factor in frog-fishing success. Many anglers see catch rates increase toward midday and late afternoon. This is because typically, the water is warmer during this time and bass are in covered areas. Dobyns finds the best action with frogs occurs on hot, clear, calm days.

“I think the hot is a given. It makes the fish get in the shade, which most of the time is going to be underneath the mats. Clear is because it will put them in specific spots. If it’s an overcast day they don’t need the cover, but if it’s bright and sunny they need to hunt any cover they can over the top of their heads,” added Dobyns. “Calm – well, I’ve always believed that topwater baits drive fish crazy in calm water. I like fishing frogs in calm water. I’ll throw them in wind, but ask what my perfect situation is, and it’s flat.”

HOW TO FISH A FROG

Knowing how to fish a frog is a science, not something that comes overnight. As with all techniques, the more you employ it, the more confidence you’ll have when fishing it.

“People wonder why a bass short-strikes a frog. It’s because often the angler isn’t fishing it right or the frog isn’t swimming right,” Berry added. “You need to get the frog to be able to walk. Most guys don’t know how to walk a frog and they don’t have the right gear when they fish them.”

By “gear,” Berry means line, rod and reel.

“You don’t want to go have an out-of-the-package frog tied on mono line,” he said.

However, you do want to learn how to train a frog to glide flawlessly through the water. Simply skirting a frog along the surface will generate strikes, but if you make sure the frog swims to its potential, you’ll increase strikes. Berry points his rod tip down, rather than up, and employs short strokes, perhaps four to five inches.

“I just imagine that there’s a needle on the end of my rod and there’s a balloon. I don’t want to pop the balloon. When I move the tip of the rod, I do so just enough to touch the balloon, but not pop it. It’s just like if you were working a Zara Spook,” he explained. “You don’t want to pull and pull the frog through the water because it won’t

swim right. You want the frog to stay in one spot as long as you can. You have to make the frog walk on slack line.”

Easier said than done! But with practice, the technique can be perfected. By not pulling the frog, you’re allowing it to remain in the strike zone for longer periods of time, thus giving bass more time to grab it.

BIG BASS, LITTLE BASS

Many anglers perceive frogs as big-fish baits. However, they’re often surprised when barely legal bass grab half-ounce frogs, proving that bass of all ages and sizes are keen on eating frogs.

“I’ve caught non-keepers that eat frogs, but usually you catch at least keepers,” Dobyns said, pointing out that Kent Brown once caught a five-fish limit of 5-pound bass on frogs while fishing the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta.

On the contrary, a frog can be one of the most effective big-fish baits. “I think a frog is by far the best big-fish bait that’s ever been made, other than fishing a swimbait,” Dobyns said. “You’ll catch way more fish on frogs than swimbaits. I’ve won more money on a frog than any other bait.”

Choosing a frog can be a chore. Aisles at sporting good stores and tackle shops offer dozens of brands of frogs. Nevertheless, many that appeal to the eye aren’t effective in the water. Some anglers say that it’s a personal preference as to which frog they fish with. Others pay attention to the chemistry and construction of the frog.

SELECTING FROG BAITS

“It boils down to your personal favorite with some frogs. The thing that I want a frog to do is, I want a frog to be able to walk,” Dobyns said. “I want to be able to work my rod tip and get the frog to walk side to side, like you would a Zara Spook. I want to be able to work it across the mat, and when I hit open water, I want to be able to walk it to another mat. Many times I fish frogs in open water. I think I probably catch 75 percent of my frog-fish in open water.”

Nearly every major bass tackle manufacturer designs frogs. Some are more effective than others, however.

“What do I think the best frog on the market is? I think the best is Dean Rojas’ Spro frog. What makes this frog the best is, it’s very easy to walk. And the hook position on the bait enables you to catch almost 100 percent of the fish that strike,” says Dobyns, who casts frogs with a Powell 735C Frog Rod and a Daiwa TDA high-speed reel. “With some of the frogs out there, you may only catch 20 percent of the fish that bite because the hook is too far down on the body. This is because they just have a poor design. But with the Spro frog, the hook is in the perfect position and it’s 100 percent weedless.”

Having the frog glide fluently in the water is vital, but there are other factors to consider, too. Frogs come in several sizes, ranging from a quarter-ounce to nearly an ounce.

“I throw one size and that’s it,” says Dobyns, who throws only half-ounce frogs. “I think it’s a perfect size. It’s not too big to catch smaller fish, but big enough to catch big fish.”

SPLITTING HAIRS

Berry takes frog fishing to another level, though, and goes so far as to actually count the strands of rubber used to create each leg. He believes that there are very few quality frogs on the market. “The biggest thing for someone new to frog fishing is that they need to know that most frogs you buy at the store aren’t worth a damn,” Berry said. “There are no good out-of-the-package frogs, no frog that you can buy that will work great out of the package.”

Berry says frogs come standard with 20 strands of rubber in each leg. But for an imitation frog to swim properly, he says it can only have 10 to 12 strands of rubber on each side. “What I do is cut the strands off the frog so there are only 10 to 12. You want to cut the legs up near the base. You want to leave just a hair, maybe a quarter-inch before they go to the base of the frog,” he says.

ADD SOME COLOR

Berry isn’t done yet. Next, he takes a hand file and files the round weight in the rear of the frog, saying it’s imperative to file it completely flat.

“You can’t use a power tool to file it down because the lead gets too hot and you melt the plastic on the frog, which can cause the weight to fall out. You want to make sure the weight is flat so it’s paper-thin,” he added.

Berry then moves to step three, which consists of taking two Sharpie pens and drawing roughly 20 to 25 small dots on the bellies and the sides of the frog. Berry recommends laying it down on cardboard and putting its legs together. Then he adds a varied pattern of colored dots every quarter-inch, using combinations of white, black, green and yellow.

“When you use a Sharpie pen on the frog, the frog will look really pretty right off the bat. But the ink bleeds into the rubber after a couple of days, and the tiny dots become bigger and bigger,” Berry said. “That’s OK, this is what you want it to do. The key is coloring the rubber itself. Any frogs you see in water will have lots of dots on their bellies.”

LET’S GET REAL

Berry also colors the weight black and the eyelid (where your line ties to) black as well.

“It can only be black. You want your line to be black because black doesn’t show up as good in the water and it doesn’t come off your line. If you use a frog that has a shiny eyelid and a fish sees that, they aren’t going to eat it. Come on! They know that’s not a real frog,” added Berry.

“There are key things that a lot of people miss out on. Most of the frogs that are on the shelves don’t look real and by doing these little things, you can make your frog look real and ensure that it’ll swim like a frog.”

Berry credits Andre Moore, owner of Reaction Innovations, for most of his frog-fishing secrets.

“I feel like my frog will out-fish any frog on the market because of these adjustments,” Berry said. “A lot of people get mad at me because I give all my secrets away, but this is something that anyone can do. I’m into promoting the sport of bass fishing, and if people follow these simple things we’ve discussed, they’ll catch more fish. It’s taken my whole life to learn this. An average guy can go into the tackle store and do this. You can make the frog look real.”

What seems odd though, is that if this method works so well, why hasn’t a company made a frog that has all these qualities? “Because I haven’t told anybody yet,” Berry said. “There are a few people that do this already, but most guys don’t know about this.”

They do now!

Dobyns and Berry use Power Pro braided line religiously. They both go as far as saying that if you aren’t using 65-pound braided line, you shouldn’t fish frog baits at all. Neither uses monofilament line when fishing frogs. “There’s no stretch and the abrasion resistance is incredible. The key thing is the distance you can cast with a frog on braid. You can catch it a country mile,” Berry sai

d.

In this article, we explore the misconceptions around crossbows and highlight the very real dangers they pose.

This follows the recent inquest into the death of Shane Gilmer who was “unlawfully killed” by a crossbow.

Together with Shane’s partner, Laura Sugden, we are supporting a campaign to call for stricter laws governing the purchase/acquisition/possession of crossbows. You can view the Parliamentary Petition here.

Our Inquest expert, Gemma Vine discuss some of the common questions being asked about crossbows and the campaign to impose stricter laws:

Q: Why should the Government spend money changing the law when incidents with a crossbow are so rare?

Gemma says: At the conclusion of Shane’s Inquest Ison Harrison carried out research into incidents in which someone had either been injured or killed as a result of a crossbow. Our research was brief and reliant upon media sources obtained via internet searches and therefore we anticipate that we have only just skimmed the surface of the problem.

Worryingly in the last 5 years alone, there have been 21 incidents reported in the media of someone being injured or killed by a crossbow and a further 19 incidents where someone was threatened or caught brandishing a crossbow in public. Only this weekend (1.30am on 9 May 2021) an incident occurred in Barnsley where a young man was arrested by armed police for brandishing a crossbow in public. It is our belief that there has been a demonstrable increase in incidents involving crossbows over recent years and therefore is no longer a rare event.

Q: Isn’t there an argument that the Government should then ban the sale of knives as they cause even more deaths and serious injury than a crossbow?

Gemma says: Unlike knives crossbows can be fired at a distance and still cause devastating damage to the person who has been shot. Crossbows are silent, lethal weapons, which have a similar effective range to a shotgun but offer the accuracy of a rifle. A crossbow bolt when fired can be so powerful that in Shane’s case it travelled through his arm, fracturing the bone, then into the side of his torso, fracturing a rib, slicing through 2 internal organs before embedding into his spine. The force was so powerful that once in his spine the pathologist said he had great difficulty in removing the bolt.

Furthermore, unlike knives which can have a day to day purpose like kitchen knives etc, we can see no routine reason why someone would need to own a crossbow. It is illegal to hunt with a crossbow and there are very few sporting competitions in the UK which allow the use of a crossbow. As a result there should be very few people in the UK who would legitimately need to possess a crossbow, and therefore it can be as easily regulated as those who possess a firearm.

Q: Why should crossbows be regulated the same way as a firearm – are they not different?

They are different in terms of construction, so they don’t fit within the definition of a firearm (as they don’t have a barrel) and the existing legislation would have to be adapted significantly to bring crossbows into line with firearms.

However, it is clear that in terms of lethality there is very little difference between the type of crossbow used to kill Shane and injure Laura and a shotgun or rifle.

It would be relatively straightforward to mirror the existing licensing regime for shotguns and firearms to apply to crossbows. The template for a proper licensing regime is there, within the 1968 Firearms Act and the Home Office Guide on Firearms. The 1968 Act regulates the sale, possession, transfer and use of firearms and ensures that only persons of sound mind, temperate habits, with adequate security and a good reason to use a firearm can obtain, transfer or possess them. Only those persons who are registered as firearms dealers can sell firearms and ammunition (to those who have a shotgun / firearms certificate).

Essentially, the police have the power to revoke certificates and seize weapons if they feel that there is a danger to public safety or the peace, or if they believe the certificate holder to be of unsound mind. Any aggrieved person who has their certificate revoked can appeal to a Crown Court for the firearms and certificates can be returned.

Not all firearms are regulated and less powerful crossbows could potentially escape regulation on the basis of not being ‘lethal’ in much the same way as air rifles. A simple method would be to regulate the sale and possession of crossbows with a draw weight of more than 1.4 kg (as per the Crossbow Act 1987) and to adopt a licensing regime only for more powerful (lethal) weapons.

Q: The government have said that there are already controls in place relating to the sale/purchase and possession of crossbows why do we need a change in the law?

At present the only legislation that is currently in place to specifically address the sale, purchase and ownership of a crossbow is the Crossbow Act 1987. This Act prohibits the sale, purchase and ownership of a crossbow to anyone under the age of 18. There is also legislation in place prohibiting the use of a crossbow to hunt and carrying a crossbow in public. This is however the extent of the legislation in place to prevent the injury or death of a person by using a crossbow.

At present there is nothing in theory to prevent a person suffering from severe mental health issues, with convictions for domestic violence, in the process of an acrimonious divorce and subject to a protection from harassment order from ordering a powerful crossbow online or by walking into a shop selling them. That may be an extreme example, but the dangers are blindingly obvious.

The Home Office makes reference to them having legislation in place to prosecute someone who uses a crossbow to carry out an assault on someone, however this legislation is reactive and not preventative. It is too little too late for the family of someone who has been killed by a crossbow or by the person who has received serious and devastating injuries as a result of one being used on them.

Q: What do you want to achieve by a change in law?

Gemma says: We do not want to ban the sale or purchase of a crossbow, nor do we want to prevent someone from owning one if they want it for a legitimate reason. What we want is for the sale and use of crossbows being regulated in line with the current regulation of firearms.

This would mean that anyone who would want to buy and own a crossbow would have to apply for a license and be assessed by their local police force. This would ensure that the police are aware of who possesses, uses and can access a crossbow in the UK and where they are kept in the property. It also means that if there were any concerns at all about someone’s mental health or behaviour the weapons could be seized for investigations to be carried out or their license revoked.

The indication given by the firearms officer at Shane’s Inquest was that this weapon was a danger to the police, requiring an armed response to an incident where it is known that one was being used. Furthermore, because crossbows are not currently regulated there was no way for the police to know how many crossbows Shane’s killer possessed, or where they were being kept in the property. This meant that they did not know whether when he left on foot he had more in his possession, which increased the risk to the ambulance service and the unarmed police in attending to Shane’s injuries when he was bleeding out in the property.

Q: Where can we find more information about crossbows and specifically Shane Gilmer’s case?

We have written a number of articles about the Shane Gilmer case here:

• Prevention of Future Deaths Report Released Following Shane Gilmer Inquest (May 2021)
• UK Campaign To Change The Law Governing Crossbows (April 2021)
• Jury Return Conclusion At The Inquest Into The Death Of Shane Adrian Gilmer (April 2021)
• Ison Harrison Help Family Look For Answers In Tragic Death of Shane Gilmer (April 2021)

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UPDATED 03 NOVEMBER 2024

by Robert Ceran

The Carolina rig is a classical rig that’s been around for more than a century, and is used regularly by bass anglers.

But what many beginners don’t know is that you can use it equally well for catching walleye, and since it’s one of the easier rigs to set up, it’s a great choice if you’re new to walleye fishing.

In this article we’ll show you how to set up the Carolina rig for walleye, as well as the best tactics to catch lots of walleye with it.

What is a Carolina rig?

The Carolina rig is one of the simplest rigs for walleye fishing. Basically, it consists of a sliding sinker riding on the main line, and a swivel tied between the main line and leader.

At the other end of the leader is either a hook (for live bait), or a jig head baited with a grub trailer.

Carolina rig for walleye vs bass – what are the differences?

If you’re a bass angler, chances are that you’re already familiar with the Carolina rig, which is one of the most popular rigs for bass fishing in the summer.

But it’s important to note that there are several key differences in how this rig is used for bass versus walleye.

The Carolina rig for bass is most often used with a casting rod and reel setup, and the sliding sinker is 1/2 oz or heavier (up to 1 oz or even more).

In contrast, a Carolina rig for walleye is fished with a lightweight spinning rod and reel setup, and the sinker is usually 1/4 oz or less (most often 1/8 oz).

So it’s fair to say that a Carolina rig setup for walleye is a finesse version of the same rig used for bass.

How to tie a Carolina rig for walleye

Tying a Carolina rig for walleye is very simple. You’ll need the following components:

• 7’ to 8’ medium light spinning rod
• 2000 size spinning reel
• 10 – 12 lb test braided main line
• 8 lb test fluorocarbon leader
• 1/8 to 1/4 oz sliding sinker
• Plastic bead
• Size 5 barrel swivel
• Size 6 hook (or medium sized jig head baited with grub tail)

Start by spooling your spinning reel with the braided main line, and then set it up on the rod with the line threaded through the line guides.

Then thread the sliding sinker on to the main line, followed by the plastic bead. After this, tie the main line to the barrel swivel. In case you’re wondering why you need the plastic bead – it stops the sinker from getting stuck on the knot.

Next, tie the fluorocarbon leader to the other eye of the swivel, and then tie either a hook or a jig head to the other end of the leader. The length of the leader should be at least 18 inches, but can be longer (up to 3 feet).

How to use a Carolina rig for walleye fishing

Since walleye are bottom dwelling fish, using a Carolina rig is a great way to present your bait to them just above the bottom.

If you’re using live bait, the simplest method is to cast out the Carolina rig to an area where walleye are likely to pass by on their foraging patrols. Great places for this are the drop off areas of structure, like underwater islands, mud flats, or points.

After you cast out your Carolina rig, you can place the rod in a rod holder and wait for a bite, which is good if you’re fishing with multiple rods. Alternatively, you can slowly retrieve the rig.

If you’re using a jig head baited with a grub tail, you need to retrieve it actively after every cast, to entice walleye to bite the lure.

The advantage of this approach is that you can cover more ground that way. Of course, you can also use both approaches in parallel, by using multiple rods.

When retrieving a jig on a Carolina rig, let the sinker sink to the bottom regularly, as this will stir up sediment, and call in curious walleye to investigate.

Most walleye anglers like to use a floating jig head combined with a Carolina rig, since that way the jig floats about 1 foot above the bottom, where walleye are more likely to notice it than sitting right on the bottom. This is the most popular method used to catch walleye on the Maumee river.

The only problem with using a floating jig head on your walleye rig is that bites can be very subtle, which means you need to learn how to sense these bites via the smallest tugs, nudges, and other signals coming through your line.

This is why we recommend using a braided main line, since it doesn’t have stretch, and therefore transmits everything straight to the rod and reel.

Lindy rig vs Carolina rig – which one is better for walleye fishing?

If you take a look at our detailed walleye rigging guide, you’ll notice that the Carolina rig is very similar to the Lindy rig, which is another classical walleye rig.

So what’s the difference between them? While both rigs are almost identical, the Lindy rig uses a sliding Lindy weight, while the Carolina rig uses a sliding sinker instead.

In contrast to the round shape of a sliding sinker, a Lindy weight has an elongated stick shape, and comes with a wire extension at the bottom.

The shape of the Lindy weight greatly reduces the chances of getting it snagged on cover as you pull it across the bottom, and because of this, it’s often referred to as a “no snag sinker.”

So while you can use both rigs almost interchangeably for walleye fishing, the Lindy rig has an advantage in that it gets snagged much less frequently.

There are two scenarios where the Lindy rig doesn’t have an advantage over the Carolina rig.

The first of these if you just cast out your rig, and then leave it in place for walleye to find your live bait, and the second one is if there’s not much cover for the weight to get snagged on, in which case a regular sliding sinker will do just fine.

In case you’re also a trout angler, did you know that you can use a Carolina rig for trout fishing?

The Sabiki rig is a cutting edge fishing technique that was first used for baitfish angling in Asia. Sabiki rigs have grown to be known as flasher rigs by a great section of the fishing community. They are the absolute fishing tackle and are now employed all over the world.

The rig consists of flies with a branch line fastened to the hook. The hook has a flattened end resembling a spade that reflects light and makes the fly even more visible to the fish.

The fly is attached to the mainline by a stiff monofilament that we shall refer to as the branch line. It is stiff so that the branch will hang out away from the mainline to make the assembly appear natural. This also reduces collision among the baitfish, increasing the chances of biting.

It also reduces the chances of tangling up the mainline. If you are patient enough, you even end up with bites on all 6 or 8 hooks.

If you feel like this assembly is too much to keep up with, you will be pleased to know that you are not alone, so did most of us at the beginning. We were overjoyed to learn that most Sabiki rigs come already assembled and are easy to unpack.

How to Use a Sabiki Rig

Due to the make-up of a Sabiki rig, it offers a ton of opportunity and triggers fish to fiercely fight for the food! The features make the Sabiki rig great but it also comes with a different set of skills and you should know how to us it properly before getting started. The main thing to keep in mind when using a Sabiki rig is to not jig or rip too hard or too quickly – in other words, when you feel a bite, don’t jig immediately as you would with a normal hook.

Instead, let more fish fill the other hooks for a few seconds after feeling the first bite. This may be tough because every fishers natural reaction is to rip up instantly as soon as they feel a bite. The harsh ripping motion will cause other fish around the hook to flee and you’ll miss your chance to snag multiple baitfish. Remember: they travel in large groups so if you feel one bite, then you’ll most likely get others a few seconds after.

Fishing with a friend can also be helpful because, as we mentioned above, the Sabiki rig will hook you multiple fish, which means it’s a two-person job to bring those in. Make sure to move carefully and strategically, especially when you’re unhooking your fish. The last thing you want is to injure yourself or the cause unnecessary harm to the fish.

Depending on where you are, adding some extra chum to the hook will help, especially if you’re not getting enough bites. Use small pieces of shrimp or other baitfish – using store bough frozen shrimp and thawing it out works just fine.

This not only increases your changes of hooking a fish, but also increases the size of the fish. Like we mentioned, baitfish travel in large schools and the competition is fierce – if you create an environment that’s more competitive, then you’ll likely get the bigger fish.

What to Look for When Getting a Sabiki Rig

The Sabiki rig provides the best platform for bait fishing and keeping the bait alive as it allows you to catch multiple bait in one cast. You need to maximize the returns by ensuring you get the right one for your specific type of baitfish and the prevailing conditions.

It is designed for light fishing, but since these bait are for larger sport fish, you should be prepared for a few surprises once in a while as you are not the only hunter.

Below are some of the basic items you should consider for your ideal Sabiki rig.

Colors

There are various considerations you should balance between:

• The depth of the targeted structure
• How sunny is the day?
• Distance from the coastal waters
• How cloudy is the water?
• Your target species

As you go deeper, lighter colors lose their visibility while darker colors become more distinguishable. Water absorbs the sharpness of bright colors in what is called the scatter effect.

Fish have an evolutionary advantage with vision underwater and can see better than us the deeper we go. The darker colors become more metallic and vibrant to the fish the lower we drop, so they will just as easily attract your target species.

These variances are why flasher rigs will sometimes use contrasting coloring or paired colors to have an advantage in all scenarios.

If you do shallow water casting, you need not worry about these differences as what you see is not much different from what the fish see.

Hook Size

If the hook is too small, it will not snare the fish after the bite, and if it is too large, the fish won’t be able to bite in the first place.

Depending on the type of fish, expert anglers usually carry two close sizes so that if one is not working, they can switch to the other. This doesn’t take away the importance of determining the right hook size before you set out.

Type of Fish

Thin lines, hooks, and lures may work for small fish like the bluegill or perch but will not hold up against bigger fish. Once in a while, you attract more than the intended baitfish.

Durability

You should examine the composition of the Sabiki rig before you commit. Materials like high carbon steel for the hooks and fluorocarbon filament for the mainline and the branches are sufficient to put your mind at ease. They have both been enhanced to be tough enough for the water and to resist wear and tear.

Strength

Consider the test of both the mainline and the branch against the kind of fish you are targeting and the number of hooks on the Sabiki.

The larger the fish and the more the hooks, the stronger the line needs to be. The tensile strength is often indicated on the package as the test.

Sabiki Rigs You May Want To Sample

Why the Hayabusa Mix Flasher Sabiki Hot Hook Stands out

This Sabiki rig has been hailed by many experienced bait fishermen to be one of the best gems ever to be dispatched from the Hayabusa kitchen. It enables you to catch live minnows as it ensures you have ample opportunity to keep them alive for their intended purpose. There are various reasons for this consensus.

Reputation of the Manufacturer

Hayabusa is one of the most lauded brand names in terms of fishhook making. They have perfected the art over many years of innovation and the quest to stay relevant to current needs. Their products are working, and they have earned their loyalty.

Durability

Modern technology has been employed in ancient knowledge to produce some of the finest hooks that are easy to use but are tough against extreme conditions. Carbonated steel can withstand any punishment the water will throw at it, so the hooks will hold. The monofilament line used as the mainline and branches is fluorocarbon-based, making it not only tough but strong enough to carry the weight of the fish over and over without letting up.

Opportunities for Variation

You can catch fish without bait on the hooks, but it is more effective to put decent baits on them. The shiny metal pieces that are constant in most Sabiki rigs are sufficient to trigger a bite from a baitfish.

They go a step further and introduce enhancements for these lures in various forms such as flashy colored flies, wings laced with fish oil, synthetic fish skin, and even actual fish skin.

This makes the baitfish go wild, but Hayabusa had already anticipated this, and the rigs have different variations of multiple hooks to reel in as many as you possibly can. This is the ultimate baitfish machine.

Originally posted here.

When it comes to precision shooting, having the most accurate 22 rifle at 100 yards can make a world of difference.

Whether you’re a competitive shooter, a small game hunter, or simply enjoy hitting the bullseye with unmatched precision, finding the right rifle is crucial.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the realm of 22 rifles and pinpoint the 22 rifle that exhibits the highest level of accuracy when shooting at a distance of 100 yards.

So, grab your coffee, sit back, and let’s dive into the world of precision rimfire shooting!

What Makes a 22 Rifle Accurate at 100 Yards?

Before we delve into the specific rifle we’ve chosen, it’s essential to understand the factors that contribute to accuracy at 100 yards. Here are the key elements to consider:

Barrel Quality and Length

The quality and length of the barrel play a significant role in determining a rifle’s accuracy. A well-crafted barrel with precise rifling and a suitable length can stabilize the bullet and minimize its deviation, resulting in improved accuracy.

Known for their phenomenal rifle and pistol barrels, Faxon Firearms has stepped into the rimfire barrel game in a big way.

FAXON RIMFIRE 16″ STRAIGHT FLUTED BULL BARREL FOR 10/22

The barrel used here is manufactured from 416-R stainless steel, given 6 groove rifling at a 1:16 twist, and a Recessed Target Crown. Additionally, the barrel is finished in a Black Nitride for added protection from the elements.

Action Type

Different action types, such as bolt action, semi-automatic, and lever action, have varying degrees of accuracy.

Bolt action rifles are known for their exceptional precision due to their inherent design, which locks the bolt tightly into the barrel, minimizing movement during the firing process.

However, the FX22 bolt design by Faxon Firearms closes that gap significantly.

FAXON RIMFIRE BOLT ASSEMBLY FOR 10/22

Related – Ruger 10/22 Bolt Upgrade By Faxon Firearms

Trigger Quality

A crisp and consistent trigger is essential for accuracy. A smooth and light trigger pull enables shooters to achieve more precise shots, reducing the risk of jerking the trigger and throwing the shot.

Faxon utilizes the proven Ruger BX-Trigger in the FX22 rifles.

RUGER BX-TRIGGER FOR 10/22

One of the standout features of the BX-Trigger® is its significantly reduced pull weight. While the standard 10/22® trigger typically has a pull weight of around 6 pounds, the BX-Trigger® brings this down to approximately 2.75 pounds.

This reduced pull weight translates into a smoother and more responsive trigger pull, allowing for greater accuracy and control over those longer shots.

Ammunition Selection

Choosing the right ammunition is vital for accuracy. Factors like bullet weight, velocity, and bullet design can affect the trajectory and stability of the bullet, ultimately impacting accuracy.

Our two favorites are CCI Stinger and Lapua Center-X.

CCI Stingers are the gold standard in small game hunting. They are fast, accurate, and deadly thanks to its copper-plated 32-grain hollow point bullet.

CCI 22 LR STINGER CPHP 32GR

Lapua Center-X is generally accepted as the gold standard for long-range .22 LR shooting.

LAPUA CENTER-X – 250 ROUNDS

If you’re shooting in competitive matches that are 100 yards or more, then Lapua Center-X is your ticket.

Optics

Having high-quality optics, such as scopes, can greatly enhance accuracy by providing a clear sight picture and magnification for precise target acquisition.

Getting an optic specifically designed for the 22LR round, such as the Crimson Trace Brushline Rimfire, is going to greatly increase your accuracy out to 100 yards.

BRUSHLINE 4-12X40MM BDC-RIMFIRE

The Crimson Trace Brushline 4-12x40mm scope with the BDC Rimfire reticle has been specifically designed to enhance the hunting experience for those pursuing small game. This exceptional scope features a 1-inch tube constructed from aerospace-grade aluminum, which not only makes it incredibly lightweight but also ensures its durability even in demanding conditions.

The scope has undergone rigorous environmental testing to guarantee its reliability, and it has been nitrogen-purged to prevent fogging, making it completely waterproof. Furthermore, its shockproof design ensures that it can withstand the bumps and jolts commonly encountered in the field.

One of the standout features of this scope is the MOC (Multi-Coated) ELD (Extra-Low Dispersion) glass, which provides exceptional clarity and optimal light transmission. This advanced glass technology ensures a sharp and vivid image, allowing hunters to spot their targets with ease.

The magnification ring and turret of this scope are designed with aggressive knurling, enabling effortless adjustments. This means that hunters can quickly and accurately adjust their magnification levels and make precise turret movements without any difficulties.

Overall, the Crimson Trace Brushline 4-12x40mm scope with the BDC Rimfire reticle offers hunters a superb optic that combines lightweight construction, durability, weather resistance, superior glass quality, and ease of use.

Most Accurate 22 Rifle at 100 Yards: Faxon FX22

The Faxon Firearms FX22 line of firearms is meticulously crafted to deliver an unparalleled plinking and target shooting experience.

This exceptional line encompasses a diverse selection of rifles and a pistol, all meticulously chambered in the versatile and cost-effective 22 Long Rifle cartridge.

Irrespective of whether you are a novice or an expert marksman, the FX22 line offers steadfast and precise firearms suitable for a wide array of shooting endeavors, ranging from casual backyard plinking to competitive shooting events.

The FX22 line presents an extensive array of configurations to cater to your specific preferences, including rifles with various barrel lengths, handguard styles, and stocks, along with a compact pistol option. This ensures that there is an FX22 firearm ideally suited to fulfill your unique requirements.

As a result, these firearms have gained tremendous popularity among shooters of all skill levels who seek both reliability and precision. If you are in pursuit of a versatile and cost-effective line of firearms designed explicitly for plinking and target shooting, look no further than the remarkable Faxon Firearms FX22 line. It is your ultimate solution.

Faxon FX22 Grey Birch MFG Chassis

Out of all the options available in the FX22 platform, the Grey Birch MFG Chassis is our favorite.

FAXON FX22 RIFLE, GBMFG CHASSIS, 16″ BARREL

The FX22 is our favorite rifle due to its exceptional features and top-notch construction. It is built with the Grey Birch MFG “La Chassis,” providing a solid and reliable platform for shooting. The chassis is constructed from Grey Birch polymer, which offers durability and stability while keeping the overall weight of the rifle low.

One of the standout features of the FX22 is its 16″ Medium Fluted Barrel made from high-quality 416-R Stainless Steel. This barrel not only ensures durability but also offers exceptional precision. The fluting helps to reduce weight and improve heat dissipation, making it an excellent choice for extended shooting sessions. The barrel is finished with Black Nitride, providing added protection against corrosion and wear while giving the rifle a sleek and attractive appearance.

The sporter chamber type and 1:16 twist rate make the FX22 well-suited for hunting and reliable performance. The 1/2×28 muzzle thread pitch allows for easy installation of various muzzle devices, giving you the flexibility to customize your shooting experience according to your preferences.

The FX22 receiver is constructed of 6061-T6 Aluminum, known for its strength and light weight. It is finished with a Black Hardcoat Anodize, ensuring long-lasting durability even under challenging conditions. The integrated 0-MOA 1913 Picatinny Rail on the receiver makes it effortless to mount your favorite optics and accessories, enhancing the rifle’s versatility.

The bolt of the FX22 is made of 17-4 Stainless Steel, renowned for its corrosion resistance and strength. The firing pin profile is round, ensuring reliable ignition and consistent performance. The Tandemkross® Spartan Skeletonized Charging Handle allows for quick and easy charging, adding to the overall convenience and efficiency of the rifle.

Another notable feature of the FX22 is the inclusion of the Ruger® BX-Trigger®. This trigger offers a light and crisp ~2.75 lb trigger pull, enabling precise and accurate shooting. With this trigger, you can expect improved accuracy and better control over your shots, making it an excellent choice for target shooting or enhancing your shooting skills.

In conclusion, the FX22 stands out as our favorite rifle due to its outstanding combination of features. From its durable and precision-made barrel to its lightweight and sturdy receiver, this rifle offers reliability, accuracy, and versatility. With the added convenience of the Tandemkross® Spartan Skeletonized Charging Handle and the superb Ruger® BX-Trigger®, the FX22 provides an exceptional shooting experience for both hunters and shooting enthusiasts alike.

Related – 3 Ruger 10/22 Mods from Faxon Firearms

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How accurate is a .22 at 100 yards?

While the .22 LR demonstrates effectiveness within a range of 150 yards (140 meters), its typical effective range is considerably shorter.

When using a high-velocity 22-caliber round at a distance of 100 yards, the bullet will, on average, deviate 5-6 inches below your line of sight. At 150 yards, this deviation increases to 20 inches.

For squirrels and rabbits, the maximum effective range is usually 75 to 100 yards, with a more realistic range of 25 to 50 yards, depending on the rifle and the shooter. Bullet drop becomes negligible within such ranges.

What is the most accurate 22 rimfire?

When it comes to accurate .22 rimfire rifles, one notable option that stands out is the Faxon FX22. The FX22 is renowned for its exceptional precision and reliability, making it a top contender for shooters seeking a highly accurate rimfire rifle.

The Faxon FX22 boasts a range of features that contribute to its accuracy. It is equipped with a 16″ Medium Fluted Barrel made from high-quality 416-R Stainless Steel, ensuring both durability and precision.

The FX22’s sporter chamber type and 1:16 twist rate further contribute to its accuracy. This chamber type and twist rate combination ensures reliable performance and precise bullet stabilization, resulting in improved shot placement at various distances.

The FX22’s bolt, made of 17-4 Stainless Steel, ensures reliable function and contributes to consistent accuracy. The firing pin profile is round, further promoting reliable ignition and shot consistency.

Additionally, the FX22 is equipped with a Ruger® BX-Trigger®, which offers a light and crisp ~2.75 lb trigger pull. This trigger enhances accuracy by providing a smooth and consistent trigger break, allowing shooters to maintain precise control over their shots.

What is the most accurate 22 caliber cartridge?

The .22 Long Rifle (LR) is widely regarded as a highly accurate .22 caliber cartridge, suitable for a variety of shooting applications.

The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22 WMR) offers increased velocity and energy, contributing to improved accuracy at longer distances.

Lastly, the .22 Hornet, although a centerfire cartridge, is recognized for its exceptional accuracy in specialized firearms. Ultimately, individual preferences, shooting scenarios, and firearm compatibility play a significant role in determining the most accurate .22 caliber cartridge for each shooter.

Conclusion

Finding the most accurate 22 rifle at 100 yards can greatly enhance your shooting experience and precision.

The Faxon FX22 series of 22 rifles offer exceptional accuracy, build quality, and features that cater to both beginners and experienced marksmen.

Remember to consider factors like barrel quality, action type, trigger, and ammunition selection when making your choice.

Whether you’re hitting the range for practice or heading into the field for small game hunting, the Faxon FX22 will be your trusted companion.

Yes, deer really like salt blocks and salt blocks are among the most used deer attractants around. And the reason is that deer can’t seem to get enough of salt or salt blocks in the wild. But why are deer so hooked on salt? This is the question we will be looking to answer in this article.

Why Do Deer crave Salt?

There is a heated debate among hunters and even biologists as to why deer love licking salt blocks. And the debate centers on whether salt is necessary for deer growth or not. But, regardless of which side of the argument you fall, there is no denying that sodium is rare in nature. So sodium deficiency creates more craving for salt.

Also, there is no denying that deer and other animals, humans included, can get addicted to salt. I am sure you know a friend who can’t seem to get enough of salty foods. This is because salt causes a spike in the brain’s dopamine, known as the pleasure hormone.

Because of this, deer typically get a strong urge to lick salt blocks. And since sodium is a rare compound in nature, salt blocks provide a constant supply of salt for deer. This is why deer are so hooked on salt; salt blocks are such effective attractants.

Do Deer Really Need Salt?

This is the question that elicits heated debate among hunters and biologists. However, research on the subject reveals that deer are attracted to sodium chloride and calcium chloride salt licks.

And for those unaware, sodium chloride is the scientific term used to describe table salt. Researchers have also found that calcium and sodium are important to deer bodily functions.

For instance, deer antlers comprise 20% calcium and 10% phosphorous. As such, in one way or form, calcium and sodium are essential to deer. Thus researchers and scientists recommend a salt concentration of 16% calcium and 8% phosphorous.

Why You Should Add Calcium And Phosphorus In Salt attraction Areas?

Deer are known for their impressive antlers. But how do deer get the calcium they need to grow them? For example, bucks extract 40% of their needs from their skeletal structure and apply it to growing antlers. This is why many people recommend adding about 16 to 20 percent calcium, and eight to ten percent phosphorus in deer feeders or salt attraction areas for deer. In these ways, you actually help supply the deer with what they need and help maintain their habitat.

Types Of Salt Attractants

When you decide to use salt to attract deer, there are different varieties to choose from. Some come with additional minerals, such as proteins. You can also find flavored salt attractants such as apple-scented attractants.

But where salt attractants vary significantly in their physical forms. For example, you can get attractants in the form of either powder or a rock-like block.

Which Is Better, Powder Or Salt Blocks

So should you go for powder salt attractants or solid salt blocks? Well, both have their pros and cons. Powder salt attractants are easier to use for attracting a herd of deer. You can spread the powder attractant over a wider area to attract more deer.

With a salt block, only one deer at a time can lick the block, depending on size. This means attracting a herd of deer using a salt block is a bit tricky. Also, salt blocks can be heavy, making them challenging to transport and set up.

However, salt blocks, which typically look like rocks, have one thing going for them. Because they look like natural rocks, they blend in better with natural surroundings.

How to Attract Deer With a Salt Block

Research shows that deer get attracted to salt during spring and summer. This is when the vegetation is lush, and deer are growing their antlers. Also, this is the time of year when most does are rising their fawns.

When To Put Out Salt Blocks For Deer: Best Time To Use Salt Attractants

The best moths to use salt attractants seem to be the months of April, May, and June. This is because usage and the need for salt among deer gradually decrease after June.

Where And How To Apply Salt Attractants

To attract deer with salt attractants, you must know how and where best to do it. Here are some Tips

1. Using powder attractants, the best soil to spread it over is heavy clay soil.
2. Salt leaches into the soil and disappears. Therefore powder salt attractants do not work well in sandy soils.
3. Also, you want to apply your attractant on flat ground. Typically you cant to place the attractant in a ridgetop in a shallow depression.
4. Also, I will advise you to place the salt brick under any kind of cover because if you do not so after a few rainfalls the brick will dissolve which is just a waste of money. If you can’t cover the brick then just rely upon the block.
5. You can also apply the attractant on a known deer trail, where you know deer pass frequently.
6. As for when to use the attractant, the best month is March. This will ensure the attractant will be fresh when the deer demand for salt peaks in the summer and spring.
7. When placing a salt block, choose areas surrounded by bushes or trees. Ideally, a place where you can hide and stalk deer without being detected. Salt blocks have a hole drilled into one end.
8. Take a wooden or steel post, drive it into the ground, and mount the block onto it using the hole drilled into it. The pole should be about 3 feet tall, so the block is 3 feet from the ground.

Regular Salt Licks Vs. Mineral Blocks

Mineral blocks differ from salt licks because they have additional nutrients such as proteins. Salt licks, on the other hand, contain salt only. So which ones are better? Salt licks may be a good option during summer or spring when deer crave salt.

But come winter, their appetite for salt will have decreased. Using mineral blocks instead will be a good idea. These blocks can be scented to attract deer all year round. Therefore mineral blocks can attract deer all year round, while salt leaks are suited to summer and spring.

Thus for the best results, you are better off going with mineral blocks over salt licks. The best place to place mineral blocks is along a trail leading to a food source. So you can use mineral blocks with food plots, where you put the blocks on a trail to the plot.

FAQ

Conclusion

There is a lot of information and debate about whether salt is essential to deer growth. But all parties agree, though, that deer, like most other animals, love licking salt. Therefore salt attractants in particular mineral blocks will be a good choice if you want to attract deer.

Salt attractants come in a variety of types, and there are many options available for you to choose from.

SPANISH LAKE, Mo. (KTVI) – Joshua Jones Jr. is taking it all in after a recent midnight miracle on the Missouri River.

Inspired by a contest, and with support from his father, Joshua made a once-in-a-lifetime catch around midnight Wednesday, reeling in a 108-pound catfish from the river near the St. Louis suburb of Spanish Lake.

Joshua had actually dozed off when the catch happened, exhausted after a long night of fishing.

“I was sleeping when the fish got on, so it kind of woke me up,” said Joshua. “And then I felt the pull and drag, which really woke me up.”

It took about 20 minutes of fighting the line, but Joshua was able to reel in a monster-sized catfish and get it on the boat.

“It was pretty exciting at first when I was fighting the fish,” said Joshua.

He developed his passion and fishing skills through a bond with his father, Joshua Jones Sr. The two have spent countless hours out on the water.

“I had him on the bank before he could walk, trying to catch bluegills,” said Joshua Sr.

A love for angling is something Joshua Sr. learned from his father, driving his inspiration to teach his own two sons.

“I couldn’t wait to have a boy to take out with me and fish and be my best friend out on the river,” said Joshua Sr.

A best friend, also ready to battle the bite. “Take your time. Take your time. Take your time,” said Joshua Sr. recalled telling his son as they worked to tire the massive fish.

Joshua Jr. recalled several instances where he had to grab the catfish with his own hand, guiding it in the right direction. After grueling minutes of toggling with the fishing rod, the small boat’s crew conquered the catfish.

“It’s a monster! It’s a monster!” both said in a video they recorded of the encounter.

What did young Joshua do with his big catch? He took a photo with it, then released it in hopes of entering it into a contest.

“He was determined and always told me, ‘I’m going to catch the record. I want to catch a 100-pound fish, and he caught it,” said Joshua Sr.

“We come out here to fish, but we also come out here to hunt for those big fish,” said Joshua Sr.

They were hoping for a $500 reward in a Mad Katz fishing contest. Joshua Jr. and his father thought they’d be making history and getting a few extra bucks for their bait. Unfortunately, they were disqualified due to a rule violation – judges were unable to visually see the bottom of the net while the pair completed the weigh in.

“A lot of guys search for a fish like that for a long time,” said Joshua Sr.

The whole Jones family has caught countless catfish out on the Missouri waters, but they haven’t seen anything of this size before. Joshua Sr. realizes that no matter how big the catch, fishing is more about the connections.

“To get out here and experience such a thing, to throw a fishing rod, big fish, small fish — a lot of times, it doesn’t matter. Just love the experience itself,” he said.

According to CatfishEdge.com, the largest catfish ever caught in the Missouri River weighed 130 pounds. Greg Bernal caught the catfish in 2010, a one-time world record.

Tincturing is the use of alcohol to remove and ultimately preserve the medicinal compounds found in an herb or mushroom. Since chaga has both water- and alcohol-soluble compounds, a proper extraction will include both methods, called a “double extraction.” Adopted from Mushrooms for Health: Medicinal Secrets of Northeastern Fungi by Greg Marley.

Ingredients:

• Dried chaga, chopped or ground as finely as possible
• Grain alcohol (ethanol) or vodka (100 proof or higher)
• Spring water or distilled water

Equipment:

• Stainless steel or enameled cooking pot or a slow cooker (e.g. Crock pot)
• Cheesecloth
• Glass jars with clean, tight lids
• Liquid measuring cup with clearly marked graduations
• Chef’s thermometer with probe – optional

Step 1: Alcohol Extraction

Dried chaga should be crushed or otherwise reduced into the smallest pieces possible, using a hammer, mortar/pestle, or meat grinder. The resultant dry material should be placed in a glass jar and covered completely with alcohol, capped, and placed in a dark space away from direct sunlight. Shake or stir the material every few days, adding alcohol as needed to keep the chaga covered. After 2 to 4 weeks strain the mixture through several layers of cheesecloth and keep both the alcohol portion (tincture) and solid portion (marc).

Step 2: Hot-Water Decoction

Place the marc portion in a pot or slow cooker and cover with just enough water to submerge it. Cook uncovered for two or more hours at just below boiling, adding water as necessary while the mixture reduces. Cool and strain the resulting marc, keeping the liquid portion (decoction).

Step 3: Mixing the Finished Tincture

Measure the volume of your liquid extracts (both the alcohol tincture and decoction). The final tincture product should be at least 25 percent alcohol for proper preservation, so knowing the proof used in the initial alcohol tincture prep is important. For example, if you used 100 proof vodka (which is 50 percent alcohol) and ended up with 12 ounces of tincture, half of that volume is pure alcohol (or 6 ounces). Therefore, the finished tincture in this instance would be 24 ounces; 6 ounces of alcohol, 6 ounces of water (from the initial alcohol tincture) and 12 ounces of decoction. Calculating the alcohol to water ratio needed for your final product is easiest if using pure liquor but can become confusing if using less concentrated alcohols. Keep the following equation in mind:

A + B + C = 4A

Where:

A = Volume of pure alcohol (Initial alcohol tincture volume X percent concentration of alcohol used)

B = Volume of water in initial alcohol tincture (Initial alcohol tincture volume – A)

C = Volume of decoction

4A = the maximum volume of the finished tincture resulting from the addition of the correct volume of decoction

As an example, if you began with 190 proof liquor resulting in 12 ounces of initial alcohol tincture volume, the mixture would be 95% alcohol, and your equation for determining the amount of decoction to add for the final product would be:

(12 x .95) + (12 – 11) + C = 4A, or

11 oz + 1 oz + C = 44 oz, solving for C gives us 32 oz.

Keep in mind when calculating the volume of total alcohol and have to round off the result, round down. In this instance the final amount of tincture is 44 oz, therefore requiring 32 oz of decoction be added to the 12 ounces of initial alcohol tincture volume, giving us the proper 75 percent water / 25 percent alcohol ratio.

Combine the correct amounts of initial alcohol tincture and decoction. Stir or gently shake the mixture prior to dividing it up into smaller containers. Store in a dark space. Tinctures will last for several years if properly made and stored.