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It never fails – every time I’m on the water, be it on a powerboat, and sailboat or paddling I always hear a boater doing a radio check. And frequently, others demonstrating their total lack of understanding on proper radio procedure by engaging in two-minute plus conversations on channel 16 while everyone else listens in –- not unlike the person speaking loudly on their cell phone in a restaurant.Many apparently justdon’t understand, or have not taken the time to learn how to properly use their... Full story
Non-boat owner friends often comment just after boarding our boat in San Diego about the traffic on our VHF marine radio offering up the latest weather information. More than one frequently remark about what a beautiful day it is – so what's up with the weather concern? Capt Debbie and I are quick to remind them that while the sun may be shinning now and the breeze is gentle, the Southern California coastal weather can change rapidly. And we take advantage of the moment to educate our guests t... Full story
The thirty-third annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held Saturday, June 10 through Saturday, June 17, on both the South and North rims of Grand Canyon National Park. National parks such as Grand Canyon are protective havens for some of the last remaining dark skies in the United States. The event is sponsored by the National Park Service, Grand Canyon Conservancy, the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, and the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix. Numerous telescopes will offer views of... Full story
Jeff Blumenfeld, who has promoted Lake Havasu City for over a decade, now needs your help. Lake Havasu City is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Havasu on the Colorado River border of California and Arizona. The city was established in 1963 by Robert P. McCulloch, Sr. as a self-sufficient, planned community. Lake Havasu City is located on what is known as "Arizona's West Coast." Driving time is three hours west of Phoenix, 2-1/2 hours south of Las Vegas and four to five east of the Los... Full story
AZGFD Cautions Boaters, Anglers, OHV Users During Monsoon Monsoon Awareness Week is June 11-17 Monsoon weather is just around the corner, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) cautions boaters, anglers and off-highway vehicle (OHV) users that weather conditions can quickly change and become dangerous for those who aren't prepared. The severity of monsoon storms varies greatly, from a minor dust storm to a violent thunderstorm capable of producing hail, deadly lightning and flash... Full story
AZGFD Reports On All Things Fishing A recent article by Nixza Gonzalez for the A-Z Animals blog/website discusses some of the rainbow trout records in Arizona. The Arizona record for largest rainbow trout caught with a hook and line in an inland water is 15 pounds, 9.2 ounces, caught at Willow Springs Lake on Sept. 29, 2006, by Harold Wright of Sun City. The largest rainbow trout ever caught and released in Arizona’s inland waters is a 32-inch rainbow caught at Silver Creek on Jan. 30, 2010, by... Full story
Maricopa County's regional parks set May 1 as the start date for the annual fire ban (Maricopa County) – The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department initiated its annual fire ban on Monday, May 1, 2023. The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department's annual fire ban went into effect the same day. The department's annual fire ban dates align with the county's Air Quality Department burn activity regulations. Under these regulations, outdoor recreational fires are prohibited w... Full story
'The best boating experience is safe boating.' National Safe Boating Week will be held from May 20-26, 2023, reminding all boaters to brush up on boating safety skills and prepare for the boating season. This observance week is the annual kick-off of the Safe Boating Campaign, a global awareness effort that encourages boaters to make the most of their boating adventure by being responsible. "The best boating experience is safe boating," said Yvonne Pentz, communications director of the National... Full story
Faces Of CNIC: Mac Ralph Deines ‘Success At CNIC Equals Success At Any Other Command’ From Coleen R. San Nicolas-Perez Commander, Navy Installations Command Public Affairs Editor’s Note: This is a special edition of Faces of CNIC in recognition of the 130th birthday of the Navy’s chief petty officer. Chief Master-at-Arms Ralph Deines considers himself “nobody special.” Well, with all due respect to Chief Deines, the rest of us disagree. There is something distinctive about Deines that makes him... Full story
It never fails – every time I'm on the water, be it on a powerboat, and sailboat or paddling I always hear a boater doing a radio check. And frequently, others demonstrating their total lack of understanding on proper radio procedure by engaging in 2 minute plus conversations on channel 16 while everyone else listens in – not unlike the person speaking loudly on their cell phone in a restaurant.Many apparently justdon't understand, or have not taken the time to learn how to properly use the... Full story
AZ Lakes, AZ Pros – Bass Fishing In Winter Gary Dobyns Talks Winter Tournament Fishing From Dobyns To Margie Anderson I know Gary Dobyns is originally a California boy, but he’s in Texas now and no matter where he lives, he is arguably one of the best western bass anglers EVER. So this month, I’m letting Gary tell you how he approaches winter tournaments. Even if you don’t fish tournaments, this will help your winter bass fishing. So here’s Gary: One of the questions I get most is: What’s th... Full story
Wondering what to get that hiker, climber, nomad, off-roader, camper, or just plain day dreamer for the holidays? I've got you covered! I've been saving great ideas all year long so I could share them with you this month. I'll give you ideas from stocking stuffers to splurges, so you're sure to find something fun and fitting in this list. Aspen Water Bottle Hey, even if you're not an outdoorsman, carrying a refillable water bottle is a great way to save a lot of money – bottled water prices a... Full story
Here are answers to frequent questions to help you plan your "Trip Back in Time". Open Rain Or Shine The Festival is open Saturdays and Sundays including Presidents' Day Monday 10 a.m-6 p.m. every event day, rain or shine. Mark your calendars for February 4-5, 11-12, 18-19-20, 25-26; March 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26, and April 1-2. What is the Renaissance Festival? The Renaissance Festival is a medieval outdoor amusement park, a 16-stage theatre, a 50-acre circus, an arts and crafts fair, a Jousti... Full story
The Boat-Buyer's Toolbox When it's time to buy a boat, you'll need all the tools available to score a great deal. By Charles Fort Wonder just how popular boating is? In the United States, one in three American adults participates in boating every year. That translates to a lot of boats, and a lot of people buying boats. In fact, 1.5 million of us buy a new or used boat every year. Whether you're a first-timer or an old salt, there are things you can do to ensure that your next purchase goes off... Full story
No, a lot country this September out at Lake Pleasant. Peoria Country Fest will feature everything from bull riding (the real deal) to rockin' music from four popular country bands: Justin Hitson & Southbound, Billy Shaw Jr Band, Ryan Bexley and Josh Roy. Grab your cowboy boots, bring the kids and celebrate your western heritage at this festive event. Camping might be just the ticket to round out the weekend; all the facilities are there at Lake Pleasant. And, speaking of camping, Maricopa... Full story
Take this four-question true-false quiz; rental beacons available. The proliferation of personal locator beacons (PLBs), whose diminutive size belie their enormous on-water safety advantage, are no longer thought of exotic rescue electronics. "PLBs are user-friendly and easy to maintain, and we are seeing more boaters using them as a mainstream rescue device," said BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water Assistant Director of Boating Safety Ted Sensenbrenner. However, do... Full story
Then the weather heats up and the fish quit chasing reaction baits, John Murray starts using a spoon, especially at Lake Pleasant. "Spoons will catch everything in the lake," says Murray, "including not just bass but stripers, whites, crappie, and even catfish." The beauty of spoons is that you can fish them on almost any structure. Murray likes white spoons, and he likes to have feathers on the hooks. For deep summer fishing, he usually chooses a jigging spoon like a Crippled Herring and... Website
This is the time of year when the monsoons hit with a vengeance, and I can't tell you how many times we've been rained out when we are vacationing in Flagstaff. Since we took the granddaughters there almost every year for a week or so of hiking, there were inevitably days when we had to retreat indoors. Storms Brewing? Usually, we were able to get at least one hike in up on the mountain before the storm hit, but not always! Once a huge thunderstorm blew in right while we were riding the ski... Full story
PHOENIX, August 29, 2022 – In observance of the Labor Day holiday, Tonto National Forest district ranger offices along with the Supervisor's Office will be closed Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. Ranger district offices will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, Sept. 6 along with the Supervisor's Office. Note, the Supervisor's Office is only open Tuesdays and Thursdays due to a staffing shortage. The Forest Service offers the following tips to help visitors safely enjoy their visit: Campfires c... Full story
AZGFD Catutions OHV Riders, Boaters, Anglers, During Monsoon Monsoon weather is right around the corner, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) cautions boaters, anglers and off-highway vehicle (OHV) users that weather conditions can quickly change and become dangerous for those who aren't prepared. The severity of monsoon storms varies greatly from a minor dust storm to a violent thunderstorm capable of producing hail, deadly lightning and flash flooding. "Arizona is known for its...
Like Tai, take it easy. Tai puts safety in first place at night. "You absolutely must have a spotlight at night," says Au, "but Arizona law says you can't drive with it constantly on. What I do is barely get the boat on plane, take it slow, and use that spotlight intermittently to make sure where I am." Knowing what marker buoys mean is crucial – the buoys with vertical stripes mean "don't go between here and shore". A diamond on a buoy is marking a hazard like a submerged rock, a square contain... Full story
We save most of our desert drives for winter because although our Jeep would make it through snow and mud, many northern Arizona off-highway trails are closed in winter, and we also don't like to make deep ruts in muddy roads just from a conservation standpoint. It's too hot in summer to really enjoy a desert drive, because we like to get out of the Jeep and do a lot of walking and exploring. In the summer we have not only the excessive heat to contend with, but also my constant fretting that... Full story
Cut Your Own Christmas Tree With some restrictions, you are allowed to go out in the following forests, find your perfect Christmas tree and cut down with your own hands. The outing is often a great family and friends event. It's a great time to enjoy the cooler weather, get outdoors, and celebrate the season. Christmas tree permits are available over the counter at many Forest Service offices. Supplies are limited. Since not all offices offer Christmas tree permits, and some offices may be... Full story
Christmas Gifts For Outdoorsy Types Need some stocking stuffer and gift ideas for your outdoorsy family and friends? Look no further – here are a bunch of great ones at all different price ranges. UNDER $25 STANSPORT knows it's never too early to start kids on a love for the outdoors, and they make it easy for you by providing fun stuff for your little explorers at great prices. For instance, you can get a Kids' Insect Catching Kit for $25.99 and a Kids' Magnifying Jar for 10.99. That will k... Full story
Boating, Auctions, Yard Sales, And Brunch Are All Just Ahead Now: A Special Offer From Bartlett Lake Marina Enjoy Bartlett Lake with your whole family! The weather is gorgeous, and Bartlett Lake has great ideas for enjoying some time on the water. Until December 15, the marina is offering a pontoon boat or ski boat rental for a full week day (Monday through Thursday, excluding holidays and subject to weather) for special prices. We are offering a 20 foot Pontoon Boat that will hold eight people... Website