Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Niko Romero has been fishing since he was a toddler, and fished his first tournament at age eight. He fishes Phoenix Junior Bassmasters, Phoenix High School Bassmasters, Wild West Bass Trail, and JML Outdoors. He already has a slew of sponsors, too, and he's only 14 years old. Niko is an avid bass angler who spends just about every free minute on the water, gaining the skills that made him the 2015 TBF Arizona Junior State Bass Fishing Champion and the 2015 TBF Junior Angler of the year. He... Full story
I'm an Arizona native, yet there are still countless sites in Arizona that are on my bucket list. My dad took me hunting and camping hundreds of times, and I've seen some gorgeous places – places that aren't on the typical tourist list of places to see. For instance, on a deer hunt off Dugas Road, I was walking along a small wash when it turned a corner and opened up into a little canyon. There was small stream, maybe a spring, that flowed just a short way before going underground. I'll Never F... Full story
Whether you are an angler, a hunter, or an outdoors enthusiast, one of the treasures we share is the abundance of wildlife in the Southwest. From rainbow trout in the high country to majestic elk in the forest lands to the antelope on our open plains, to the perky Gambel quail, to the endearing little black-footed ferrets, these beings who share our world can certainly be considered precious residents of our outdoors. At Thanksgiving time, when many concentrate on expressing gratitude for the... Full story
It's finally getting cool enough to do some exploring and hiking in the central deserts of Arizona. There are plenty of beautiful things to see in the desert - you just have to know where to look. A great place to base your adventure is Wickenburg, which is central to recreational areas, mining towns and sites, hiking trails, and tons of opportunities to learn about the plants and environment of the area. Wickenburg is a thriving town with plenty of places to stay - everything from dude ranches... Full story
Havasu Hosts IJSBA Fans from nearly 40 countries around the world will be watching as more than 750 competitors vie for titles in the 35th Annual International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) World Finals at Lake Havasu City. Included in the many competitions and events will be vendors with food and beer stands, a Parade of Nations that honors the participants and their respective countries' flags, and a Pro-Freestyle Expo. This is just one of several exciting Watersports events taking... Full story
In summer, we always seem to think of going to the high country - Flagstaff, Payson, the White Mountains - but Southern Arizona has some absolutely gorgeous places to visit, and the weather is great. We head south often because there are plenty of things to do and places to see. Here are five of our favorites. Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve This summer was the first time we've visited this amazing place, but it definitely won't be the last time we come here. We took our teenaged... Full story
The Phoenix at Lake Pleasant is one of several Arizona "girls" who offer scenic cruises on Arizona's spectacular lakes. From Lake Pleasant to Saguaro and Canyon lakes, these vessels, whom I like to call "hostesses" ply the waters while providing wonderful experiences for their guests. During the summer heat, The Phoenix, Desert Belle, and Dolly Steamboat invite you to cool off onboard and at the same time you are savoring the scenery, you can also enjoy some dinner perhaps, some music, and... Full story
Every summer we pack up the grandkids and head for the hills for a week or so of hiking and outdoor fun. I've been going camping, hunting, and fishing since I was a kid so I have a lot of experience with various kinds of camping gear. When my dad and my brother and I went camping way back in the day, all our gear was U.S. Army surplus. This meant everything for cooking was metal and weighed a ton, our tents were olive drab canvas and weighed a ton, our packs were olive drab canvas and weighed a... Full story
When the weather starts heating up in Arizona, everyone begins to long for a large body of water to dive into. In an ideal situation, this body of water would also be beautiful and have lots of things to do and to look at. This pretty much describes Saguaro Lake in a nutshell. Now before I go getting you all excited about Saguaro, let me first tell you that Saguaro is a very popular lake and if you want to find a parking place for your boat trailer, you need to get there early. Fat Bass Add To L... Full story
We in Arizona are blessed to have a world-class birding destination in our own backyard. Madera Canyon and Madera Creek cover four different habitat types, from the desert to the top of the Santa Rita Mountains. There are tons of great trails to hike, ranging in difficulty from paved and handicapped-accessible walking trails, to steep and difficult trails that will take experienced hikers to the top of the mountains. You'll not only see beautiful birds here, but also you'll have the chance to... Full story
Most Arizonans plus many others from out-of-state know and love the Flagstaff area. In fact, for Valley of the Sun residents, it offers a popular cool escape from the searing summer temperatures of the southern part of the state. Some Flag visitors camp, others fish and many just enjoy the ambiance of this lovely town in the "high country". As the cover photo indicates, there is another very popular activity in the Flagstaff area: hiking. Our Outdoors Editor Margie Anderson explains one of her... Full story
Until this past year, our visits to Flagstaff have always been during the summer. Since they were old enough to walk, we've been taking our granddaughters there to hike every summer, and we spend about a week exploring trails, caves, and everything the gorgeous area around Flagstaff has to offer. But now one of our granddaughters is a student at Northern Arizona University, so we go up to visit her and have gotten to experience Flagstaff during the fall and the spring. What a difference!... Full story
The warming spring weather brings out "the best in show". Make that plural: shows! The first of the Arizona favorites is the 16th annual International Sportsmen Exposition & Arizona Boat Show, this year at WestWorld of Scottsdale from Thursday, March 10 through Sunday, March 13. One of the highlights of the Expo is shown on this month's cover - the giant WesternBass.com Aquarium Demonstration Tank, which is presented again this year by Arizona Boating & Watersports/Western Outdoor Times news... Full story
The SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trades) was held in Las Vegas this past January. As always, the show was enormous and it took several days to get around to seeing everything. Even after several days, I'm sure I missed some great stuff, but I did see a bunch of things that I can't wait to tell you about. Wildo Campware I remember when my granddaughters were in grade school and I volunteered in the cafeteria. They would give the kids these little plastic sporks to eat with that were... Full story
One of our favorite places for a relaxing and beautiful hike is the Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park on Highway 60 just south of Superior, Ariz. This lovely place is open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has over two miles of trails to explore. It is $10 per person to enter, and that includes guided nature walks if you want to go on one. They also have classes that you can sign up for, including photography and various craft classes. There are fees for the classes. 'Walk About' Australia... Full story
Margie Anderson has again been honored with the Arizona Game & Fish Commission's "Outdoor Writer of the Year" award. Anderson and her husband John are invaluable parts of our Arizona Boating & Watersports/Western Outdoor Times team. Together, they contribute informative and meaningful articles on a plethora of outdoor topics: hiking, fishing, shooting, outdoors products and news, wildlife (including birding knowledge) and more. This couple knows and relishes the incredible wonders offered in... Full story
The State Parks in Arizona are offering guided hikes for New Years Day as part of a program called 1st Day Hikes. Guided hikes are great, even if you are an experienced hiker, because the guides will have lots of information about the area that you might not have known. The State Parks are great places to visit at any time, and the opportunity for a free guided hike is a bonus. Generally, the weather is cool on New Years Day, but at higher altitudes, you should add layers. Also, bring your own w... Full story
This destination provides not only beauty and serenity but also lessons from a history that was the opposite: bloody and violent. Fort Bowie is a National Historic Site near Willcox, Ariz., between the Dos Cabezes Mountains and the Chiricahuas. It's a fascinating place, and part of the charm is the fact that once you drive to the parking lot, you need to walk three miles to get to the site and back. This makes the visit an adventure. The hike is pretty easy, with under 200 feet elevation gain.... Full story
Every angler loves to get fishing gear as a gift, but if you're not a fisherman yourself, it can be difficult to pick out something useful and appropriate. A great gift for a bass angler is not necessarily a great gift for a trout fisherman or a crappie angler. So here are some ideas specific to what your angler loves to fish for. Bass Anglers Savage Gear won best of show for their 3D shrimp at ICAST this year, and they have other 3D lures as well. One thing that works particularly well for big... Full story
Editor's Note: All of us at Arizona Boating & Watersports/Western Outdoor Times congratulate our Outdoor Editor Margie Anderson on her third win of the Arizona Game & Fish Commission's award for Outdoor Writer of the Year. We are especially honored to have her on our editorial staff, along with Don McDowell (our Sportfishing editor) of Shake, Rattle, and Troll Radio who has received the Media of the Year award twice: in 2012 and 2014. It has been our honor also to receive the Media of the Year... Full story
Before you know it, the annual gift-giving season will be upon us. I don't know about you, but I like to start the shopping early to spread the cost over a couple of months. If you've got outdoor types on your list, here are a few ideas that are sure to make them happy. Weego Chargers Weego has a great gift package this season: It's a Weego Jump Starter Battery+ bundled with a Weego smartphone charger. The Weego is pocket sized and capable of starting 12V batteries in cars, boats, trucks, etc,... Full story
Arizona is a dynamic state with a wide array of climate zones, and conditions particularly in the northern part of the Grand Canyon State allow for a beautiful array of fall foliage colors from mid-September through mid-November. Drives along U.S. Highway 89 will take you through an elevation change of more than 4,000 feet in the relatively short distance of 80 miles and plunge you into a mountainous kaleidoscope of fall color that covers the entire autumnal spectrum. Here are a few sites that... Full story
I've been telling you about a lot of great hikes lately, and hiking is one of my favorite outdoor activities. Because I've been hiking and hunting for so many years, I've learned a thing or two about what to carry. Thing is, you want to be prepared because you could be miles from the car with no cell service, but you don't want to lug around a lot of extra weight. I am always the one with the backpack on our family adventures, and I sure don't want that thing heavier than it needs to be. So,... Full story
We have been taking our granddaughters on hiking vacations to Flagstaff every summer for the past twelve years or so. Recently, the oldest received a scholarship to NAU and while she was at orientation, she attended a lecture on things to do around Flagstaff. "Grandma, I've been to every one of them!" she reported. There are just so many things to do in and around Flagstaff that one vacation can't cover them all. As the granddaughters have grown, the things we do together in Flagstaff have... Full story
Riordan State Park - Memories In A Mansion - Built in 1904 for two Riordan families, Riordan Mansion is an impressive reminder of gracious living in a small, territorial logging town. The historic building is an Arizona treasure - a remarkable example of Arts and Crafts style architecture featuring a rustic exterior of log-slab siding, volcanic stone arches, and hand-split wooden shingles. The expansive home has 40 rooms, over 13,000 square-feet of living area, and servants' quarters. The... Full story
