Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 376 - 400 of 489
You never know when a storm is going to hit, even if you pay close attention to all the weather forecasts. One day in Abaco, Bahamas, we knew there was a storm coming and, like other boaters, picked what we thought would be a safe marina. It would have been safe, if the storm had done what it was forecasted to do. The following story is from our log written as the storm was happening. Our knots came in very handy because we had no time to even think. We just had to tie the right knots and tie... Full story
Each year America's State Parks announces a national collaboration of all 50 State Park systems across America to sponsor guided "First Day Hikes" on New Year's Day. Arizona State Parks will charge day-use entrance fees only for the First Day Hikes at 13 different parks on Jan. 1, 2014. According to State Parks Director Bryan Martyn, "We are committed to promoting outdoor recreation as a way to get families outside and unplugged from their video games and other electronic media. This is a great... Full story
Keep in mind that here in Arizona, there is plenty of year-round fishing. Bass and other sport fish may not be as active, but they are still catchable. In many cases; it's a matter of slowing down your presentation and going to smaller baits. Some pro anglers, on the other hand, have been known to not only slow down their presentations, but also upsize their offerings to make it worthwhile for big bass to dine. The Reel Deal It's winter trout and crappie time. First, The Trout There are rainbow... Full story
Knowing more about where to look, how to look and what you are looking for in a given environment can greatly enhance your wildlife-watching experience. People often miss animals that are very near because they are not thinking about looking for wildlife. To begin to see more wildlife, you need to focus on looking for it using all of your senses. Where to Look Think like wildlife. Learning a little about what wildlife needs to survive gives clues to where you can find them. Different species... Full story
The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is now closed to vehicle traffic for the season. Arizona State Route 67, leading to the North Rim closed on December 2, 2013. State Route 67 and all services on the North Rim are expected to re-open for the 2014 season on May 15, 2014. Campground, Yurts Available The North Rim campground and yurt will still be available for winter camping, and are accessible via inner canyon trails from the South Rim or by cross-country skiing and snowshoeing- a 45-mil... Full story
Things can get hectic in the winter – the kids are still in school and the holidays can make everyone feel rushed. Getting outside and taking a nice long hike can be one of the most relaxing things you can do. Exercise reduces stress, and if your kids are going stir crazy, letting them burn off steam on the trail will go a long way toward restoring peace in your home. You don't have to take the entire weekend off, or even a whole day – there are probably places to hike right near where you liv... Full story
"We got down to the Banks yesterday midday, " reported Excel skipper Justin Fleck January 1, 2014. "After bouncing around a little bit the fishing has been good. Most of the fish we're catching fish from 50 to 100 pounds. We got several fish in the 170 to 195-pound range, and we caught one Cow at 210 pounds yesterday afternoon. Anyway we're getting steady action, they started biting in the morning, and we usually have two or three hooked. The guys are having a good time, the weather is coming... Full story
I started fishing off Cape Town, South Africa, when I was six years old, and haven't quit since. Emigrating to the United States in 1977, I was delighted to discover the excellent boating and fishing in Southern Calif. I presently reside in North San Diego County, which I consider "God's country" for weather, boating and fishing. I purchased Reel Busy new in 2007 and covered approximately 11,000 miles with 1,600 engine hours. (Suzuki's engines are good for 5,000-7,000 trouble-free hours, with pr... Full story
All over the country - well, at least in the Desert Southwest - fall is in full swing and recreational boaters and anglers are trying to squeeze in their last good day on the water. But when they do, boaters need to follow a safety playbook appropriate for this time of year. That's because boaters often let their guard down when safety becomes an even greater challenge. What makes fall boating safety so different? The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water explains: Beware Of... Full story
Have you ever wanted to tell someone to take a hike? Well, on Nov. 17, National Take A Hike Day, you'll get your chance! "At our next board meeting, my colleagues and I plan on joining forces with the Parks and Recreation Department as they tell people to 'take a hike'...literally," said Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Andy Kunasek, District 3. "In recognition of National Take A Hike Day, the Parks Department is waiving the day-use park entry fee on Nov. 17 to further encourage... Full story
Our South Florida weather continues to be on the strange side. It's almost December and we still haven't seen temperatures dip below 60 degrees let alone 70. But that should change in a few days. A pretty good cold front has been predicted to move into South Florida by late tomorrow night and that weather change should spark some interesting fishing. Offshore waters have been too rough for me to try recently and on a few days I have had some of the offshore fishing captains fishing right next to... Full story
Join local astronomy experts, Tony and Carole La Conte, from Stargazing for Everyone, on Saturday, Oct.12 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Desert Outdoor Center at Lake Pleasant as they bring the universe to you. Learn about the constellations, planets, star clusters and nebulas as you peer through telescopes and binoculars and enjoy stories about the night sky. The two-hour stargazing event is a great way to learn about the galaxy while taking advantage of the beautiful weather. During the presentati... Full story
“At our next board meeting, my colleagues and I plan on joining forces with the Parks and Recreation Department as they tell people to ‘take a hike’…literally,” said Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Andy Kunasek, District 3. “In recognition of National Take A Hike Day, the Parks Department is waiving the day-use park entry fee on November 17 to further encourage people to ‘take a hike’ in a County park.” “While there is very little information available on the history of National... Full story
YUMA, Arizona - It's that time of year! As the chill creeps in up north, Yumans are enjoying spectacular sunsets and fresh mornings in the world's sunniest destination. So what are you waiting for? Make your travel plans now around one of our favorite annual events: Yuma Medjool Date Festival, Nov. 16 (Historic Downtown) - Yuma is one of the world's leading producers of this gourmet date - Medjools grown here are shipped worldwide, even to the Middle East! Enjoy a full day of fun, with food,... Full story
September is the first fall fish-sampling period. Utah Wildlife’s first two electrofishing sample sites revealed some interesting details. The first sample was taken in Lone Rock Canyon near the back of Wahweap Bay. The first cove on the left heading up Lone Rock Canyon contained more shad than we could scoop up in our nets. That was a surprise. It was obvious that yearling gizzard shad were using the muddy, shallow, warm cove to avoid striped bass predation. Adult stripers cannot survive in 8... Full story
Widespread rains across the state have helped drop lake water temperatures. Look for fish to get active once again, assuming this typical pattern holds true. We'll see. Lake Pleasant The top-water striper bite at Lake Pleasant is picking up. Get there at first light or you might miss the boils. Cover lots of water and look for birds or surface activity. Try top-water lures, jerkbaits and flies. (Zara Spook Juniors and buzzbaits tend to be successful this time of the year.) Roosevelt Lake The...
A series of parasail incidents resulting in fatalities and injuries have occurred over the last few years. Since 2006, there have been 11 deaths and 52 injuries as a result of parasailing activities. There have been several common factors in all of these incidents that are unique to parasailing. The following mnemonic 'Know Your ROPES' was designed to remind parasail operators of important safety issues that may help prevent future casualties: • Remember that most parasail fatalities and injurie... Full story
As the picture shows, that is a full grown horse with water up to its belly while the cows just have their feet immersed. It tells a safety lesson. This uneven terrain is what is under you while navigating on the water. So, it's important to know the water levels and where you are and to always do a “sanity check” of your surroundings and coordinates. What fun one can have on a slow boat cruising along any of our Arizona lakes, packing a lunch, joining friends are some of the joys of boa... Full story
Arizona's Lake Havasu City, which rose out of the desert 50 years ago this month and is perhaps best known for the iconic London Bridge reassembled there in 1971, has taken another important step in marketing itself. The Lake Havasu City Council formally approved its first official logo and flag, two important components of the city's first branding campaign. The new branding initiative, the result of two years of surveys and consumer testing, is designed to attract active residents and... Full story
South Florida is in a transition period as we move out of our summer pattern and into the beginnings of Fall. If you have been keeping up with my fishing reports you have noticed that this has been one of the weirdest summers in a long time when it comes to fishing and weather. And this has not been a good thing! Even though we have had some outstanding fishing adventures the weather has kept us at the dock and off the water more than usual. Almost every fishing guide has been eagerly waiting... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has lifted campfire restrictions on most department-managed lands in eastern Washington, where cooler temperatures and fall rains have reduced fire danger. Clay Sprague, WDFW land manager, said the department’s action is consistent with changes in fire rules approved recently by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which provides fire protection for many state wildlife areas. "A cool, damp start to autumn resulted in t... Full story
SPOKANE - Starting this week, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) plans to conduct controlled burns on parts of the Sinlahekin, Scotch Creek, and Sherman Creek wildlife areas in northeast Washington to reduce wildfire risks and enhance wildlife habitat. Depending on weather conditions and approval from the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), controlled burning could get under way as early as Sept. 26 in Okanogan County. Tom Leuschen, WDFW wildlife area fuels... Full story
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Arizona State Forester today released the Yarnell Hill Fire Serious Accident Investigation Report, which analyzes the circumstances leading to the June 30 entrapment and deaths of 19 firefighters of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew. The report and accompanying documents are available at https://sites.google.com/site/yarnellreport/. The State of Arizona convened an accident investigation team July 3 to review the conditions and events leading to the tragedy. T... Full story
So we all plan to go out to the lake. We have listened to the weather forecast and storms are either not identified or often not discussed because the chance is low. Even so, as you go about your day on the lake, be vigilant of those storm cells that are small and fast moving. Most of the time you will have a great amount of wind blowing through the area prior to the rain. If you were paying attention to the weather, then the best thing to do is to move to a sheltered cove and just wait for it... Full story
Lake surface temperature and lake level are declining. Cool monsoon weather patterns are adding much-needed rainwater to the lake but not enough to keep the lake from declining one foot per week. Fishing success for stripers on anchovy bait and smallmouth on plastic bait is still exceptional. Adult stripers are holding at about 30 feet where cooler temperatures make life more pleasant for these hungry fish. Add some anchovy chum to the water and stripers come running. Best fishing spots are... Full story
