Thursday, July 2, 2009

JIM'S GEMS -A FIGHT WORTH FIGHTING




THE “C” WORD
By Jim Foster

This article is way out of my area of expertise BUT it’s one I believe needs to be written.

For those of you who have been reading this blog for a few years you noticed that last year I added a new sponsor – ALPEN OPTICS.
This company has beginning this year jumped into the fight against cancer – more specifically breast cancer - with both feet. Hence, it is the subject of this article. Thanks to those who helped with gathering the information used here.

Breast cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the breast. It is considered a heterogeneous disease—differing by individual, age group, and even the kinds of cells within the tumors themselves.

Obviously no woman wants to receive this diagnosis, but hearing the words “breast cancer” doesn’t always mean an end. It can be the beginning of learning how to fight, getting the facts, and finding hope.

Women in the United States get breast cancer more than any other type of cancer except for skin cancer. It is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in women.

Each year it is estimated that nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die. A fact not widely known is that in addition to women approximately 1,700 men will also be diagnosed with breast cancer and 450 will die each year. Wake up guys.

In January of this year Alpen Optics introduced its new Alpen Pink 263P 8x25 compact and Alpen Pink 393P 10x42 full-size binocular. Alpen® Optics is the first optics company to partner with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and will make a donation to NBCF to help fight breast cancer.

“Pink is the color most associated with breast-cancer research,” says Vickie Gardner, vice president of Alpen Optics.

The NBCF is committed to spreading knowledge and fostering hope in the fight against breast cancer. By funding free mammograms for women who could otherwise not afford them and supporting research programs in leading facilities across the country, NBCF helps inspire the courage needed to win this monumental battle.

Now when you buy your next pair of binoculars you are helping the NBCF fight this dreaded disease.

I feel honored to have Alpen as a sponsor and be on their Birding Pro Staff and totally endorse this worthy effort.

Thanks Vickie!

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

BIRDS - A DIFFERENT RAPTOR





THE SEA HAWK
By Jim Foster

Just to clear the air so to speak the title of this article is not about a professional sports team in Washington State – it is about one of the most interesting of raptors, the osprey.

Known by several names including Sea Hawk and Fish Hawk the osprey is a large bird sporting a wingspan of around six feet and being one of the most successful hunters of raptor species.

The Osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant.

The Osprey differs in several respects from other diurnal birds of prey. Its toes are of equal length, its tarsi are reticulate, and its talons are rounded, rather than grooved. The Osprey is the only raptor whose outer toe is reversible, allowing it to grasp its prey with two toes in front and two behind.

The sexes appear fairly similar, but the adult male can be distinguished from the female by its slimmer body and narrower wings. The breast band of the male is also weaker than that of the female, or is non-existent, and the underwing coverts of the male are more uniformly pale. It is straightforward to determine the sex in a breeding pair, but harder with individual birds. Looking at the photographs try to tell the male from the female.

Fish make up 99 percent of the Osprey's diet. It typically takes fish weighing 5–10 ounces and 10–14 inches in length. However, the weight can range from 2 up to 68 ounces. I have seen a large osprey try to tackle a fish bigger than it can lift in the Lower Laguna Madre of Texas and a 15-inch rainbow trout on the Salmon River in Idaho.

Prey is sometimes spotted when the Osprey is up to 130 feet above the water. It will then it will plunge feet first into the water at times to a depth of three feet. The angle of entry into the water varies with the nature of the prey; steeper, slower dives are used when pursuing deeper, slow-moving fish, while long, quick dives are used for faster surface fish. After catching the fish considerable effort is needed to get airborne again. As it rises back into flight the fish is turned head-forward to reduce drag. When returning to the nest the osprey will hold the fish with one foot while acquiring the nest with the other.

The Osprey breeds by freshwater lakes, coastal brackish waters, and saltwater bays. Ospreys reach sexual maturity and begin breeding around the age of three to four years old. The nest is a large heap of sticks, driftwood and seaweed built in forks of trees, rocky outcrops, utility poles, artificial platforms.

The female lays two to four eggs within a month, and relies on the size of the nest to conserve heat. The eggs are incubated for about 5 weeks to hatching. The newly hatched chicks weigh around 2 ounces, but fledge in 8–10 weeks. A study on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, had an average time between hatching and fledging of 69 days.

Some owls and hawks will prey on the chicks but this is somewhat rare here in the Lower 48. Due to the ospreys hunting ability most chicks are fledged but then may be lost for one reason or another after leaving the nest and protection of their parents.

An observed behavior surprised me – that behavior by the female was to spread her wings providing shade and a cooler environment for her young.

The osprey is an interesting bird and the more I watch and photograph the family in the nest the more interesting they are.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

Monday, June 22, 2009

HUNTING - DUCKS UNLIMITED (DU)






The Model For Getting Things Done
By Jim Foster

Today looking over the specialty conservation organizations, one stands out as the model for many of the rest. That group is Ducks Unlimited.

Beginning in the 1930’s DU has fine tuned it’s programs and meetings to allow multi-million dollars projects all across the United States and Canada and created fund raising formula for others to follow. Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Quail Unlimited, to name a few.

During the dust bowl of the 1930s, drought wreaked havoc on North America's waterfowl populations, turning the birds' northern breeding grounds into dry basins. Waterfowl numbers dwindled, and a small group of sportsmen called the More Game Birds in America Foundation decided to take action.



In 1935, the group conducted the International Wild Duck Census, the first aerial survey of Canada's breeding grounds. Based on the results, the Foundation initiated a program in 1937 to restore and improve the drought-parched prairies of Canada. They dubbed the program Ducks Unlimited, incorporated it that same year, and aimed to complete DU's work in five years at a cost of $3 million.

Ducks Unlimited has now conserved 10 million acres of habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

"Ten million acres is an impressive number," says DU Chief Biologist Bruce Batt, "especially considering that only includes the acres DU worked on. Millions of additional acres have been impacted through public policies that DU supports, many DU members have restored wetlands on their own property, thousands of farmers flood their fields annually for waterfowl, and I could go on."



To appreciate the significance of conserving 10 million acres, one must first appreciate the size of that much land. Ten million acres could accommodate Connecticut, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, with 368,000 acres to spare. To conserve 10 million acres over 65 years requires conserving more than 421 acres per day.

While attending the Outdoor Writers of America conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan Ducks Unlimited invited a group of writers to a dinner held at Pine Hill, a shooting resort and the home of an ongoing DU project. Owner Jim Rypkema was our gracious host and DU had arranged to have many of their project leaders, biologists, and DU Chapter members on hand for interviews and questions. He also showed us around the place and the results of his efforts were obvious.

As a waterfowl hunter I have been impressed with the work DU does in working with wetlands and waterfowl habitat.

For more information about DU or to find the dates of their many banquets go to; http://www.ducks.org/

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

Friday, June 19, 2009

FISHING - TAKING THE FIRST STEP



WADEFISHING
By Jim Foster

Quite a few anglers would like to try wade fishing if they just knew the basics. Some have never waded the Lower Laguna Madre and want to know how to wade and what they might need to get started. So here we go.

Wade-fishing equipment is fairly simple. There are several manufactures of wading equipment that make the sport much safer and more comfortable. The equipment is simple and relatively inexpensive – oh yes, you can find the “pricy” stuff.

The first item of wade fishing gear an angler should have would be a good pair of wading shoes or boots. These can be special Wade fishing boots made to be worn with stocking-foot waders, a plain pair of high-top tennis shoes, or the zip-up-the-side special wading boot.

If you choose tennis shoes then the high-top styles are better than the low top variety because they help keep sand and bits of shell out of your shoes. During the cooler times of the year a pair of neoprene waders will help keep you warm in the cooler water.

The next piece of equipment would be a wade fishing belt. The belt should have a rod holder and a stringer clip. I have been using a NUMARK model that comes with all the basics plus a Velcro pouch for extra tackle, and a matching stringer clip and stringer.

Some anglers prefer to wear a fishing vest instead of having the small pouch on their belt. The vest does allow you to carry much more fishing type stuff. I wear a belt and a vest because I like to carry a lot of STUFF.

A long stringer will come in handy by keeping your fish away from your legs and make it easier to walk without a constant tugging on your belt. Many wade-fishermen are also trophy anglers and will only keep the larger fish if it’s going to the taxidermist. Wade-fishing tackle is basically the same gear you would use in a boat.

At times fishing around the many small islands and spoil areas you will see tailing redfish. Here's how it’s done.

Wade to within casting range of the fish - No Splashing - When you are in position cast your lure or bait well past the fish then bring your bait back through the feeding fish. If the first cast is a little off, don't get excited and spook the fish. Try the cast again until your bait is taken by one of the feeding fish.

As far as things to avoid, the most common of the saltwater boogers is the stingray. This flat, bottom-loving creature is found in the same areas as redfish. Many times it’s hard to find one without the other. To avoid a problem shuffle your feet as you walk along.

Wade fishing is a fun, relaxing and great way to find and catch a good stringer of reds, speckled trout and flounder. It is easy to master and there are numerous locations to wade for game fish.

A few good spots that are accessible without a boat are Holly Beach, Laguna Vista Cove, the water across from the Port Isabel High School, South Bay via Boca Chica Beach, on either side of the Queen Isabella Causeway (island side), and the miles of bay north of the convention center on the island.

Now that you have the basics, go get your feet wet. Good Fishing!

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

Sunday, May 31, 2009

FISHING -BEYOND THE LOWER LAGUNA MADRE





FISHING SOUTH BAY
By Jim Foster

It happened well over two decades ago but I can still remember my first time to enter South Bay. My thoughts were not on big redfish and speckled trout. After talking with several of the old timers my thoughts were mostly focused on whether or not I could get out of the shallow Bay.

The narrow inlet was easy to see at low tide but the tide was rushing in and would soon make the channel much harder to see.
Anyway in true “Gone With The Wind” fashion I thought, “I’m in now, I’ll just catch a few fish and worry about getting out later.”
Three hours and several rod-bending fights later I eased back into the channel and was soon back in at the boat ramp in Port Isabel.

The morning had been spent both wading and drifting some of the prettiest water the Lower Laguna Madre has to offer. As an added incentive I knew this could be one of the areas where the next state record speckled trout could be caught.

South bay is located about as far south on the Texas coast as one can travel without crossing the Rio Grande River. The mouth of the border river with Mexico is located only a few miles across the now visible sand dunes. During times of quiet the surf may be heard pounding on the Boca Chica beach.

Many years ago the bay had openings on both the Gulf side and a major opening along the north side of the bay. Over the years the opening from the Gulf has naturally closed until there is an expanse of sand and dunes separating the bay from Boca Chica Beach and the open gulf.

Dredging of the Brownsville Ship Channel over time and other navigational projects has helped to narrow the opening to only a few hundred yards and three shallow channels.

The 3400-acre bay is now considered a Coastal Preserve, State Wildlife Management and scientific area. South Bay remains open to anglers and will remain open according to officials in Austin. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has tried to close down vehicle access to South Bay in their normal “shut-it-down & keep `em out” policy but were over-ruled in this case.

South Bay offers the angler a combination of structure causing even the most jaded saltwater angler want to fish this bay. Vast areas of sea-grass and potholes provide resting areas for big speckled trout, redfish, and some snook.

South Bay is the first to be encountered by fish entering the pass between the southern tip of South Padre Island and Brazos Island in the Brownsville Channel. During incoming tides fish are guided into the bay, a natural process of water movement and structure.

Following the east shore of the bay south anglers have several large sand and grass flats with scattered potholes visible in the clear water. There are very few “deeper” areas in this bay. One of these, 2 to 3 feet at mean tide, is located half way between the mouth of the bay and the southeast corner. This is a good area for trout and redfish in the summer and spring and redfish during most of the year.

This area may be drifted as well as waded with better than average results. Waders have found that big topwater lures like the Storm Big Bug and Rattlin’ Chug Bug are super baits that result in crashing strikes. The key in this area is working the bait at a moderate to very slow pace in order to induce a hit. Soft plastics fished either alone or under a popping cork is another favorite South Bay favorite.

For most of the year the prevailing winds are from the southeast. It would be advisable to motor out from the bank then either drift or wade the east shoreline with the wind at your back. Working this shoreline on a rising or falling tide can be extremely good. Waders will find a very friendly bottom in this area with mostly hard sand and grass.

Located just inside the entrance to the bay and extending to the west is the largest of several tabletops in South Bay. Even at a high tide the water on the tabletop is very shallow and even the tunnel type flats boats find it hard to run at times. The edges however can and do produce good catches of fish during most of the year.

Although not considered as sporting, some anglers and a few more meat conscience guides anchor and fish this area for redfish and black drum. Using a live or dead finger mullet or pinfish on the bottom can be very productive. Sheepshead, and a few flounder may also be caught along the tabletop edges and drop-offs. Smaller tabletops areas are located in the far southern quadrant.

Beginning in about the middle of the bay are oyster beds some of which are still active. These are prime fishing spots but boaters should use caution when motoring through. It is a very good idea to learn this part of South Bay before venturing in alone. The water is shallow and the obstacles are unforgiving. Boat hulls and lower units are at hazard.

Along the west side of the bay grow several small islands with stands of Mangrove trees stretching their roots into the water. Some grow around or near the oyster beds. Seagrass and potholes along with other structure are found in their vicinity. Casting a lure or fly to the base of these small trees has been the beginning of many a hard fight from a large redfish, speckled trout, or big snook.

Yes, South Bay is one of the best places to try for and catch a “wall hanger” snook. Most knowledgeable anglers will release these scrappy fish to fight again and then produce offspring for future anglers. During high tides there are several thousand yards of fishing water directly west of the mangroves.

Moving clockwise or back to the northeast along the flats are several miles of top wading water and the variety of species is truly remarkable. A few years ago a friend and I with fly rods in hand fished the north shore for over three hours and during that time one of us had a fish on almost continuously. We both caught several snook, redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. It was a memorable day of fishing. During the time we were fishing we only encountered one other fisherman in the bay and he was drifting well over a mile from us. By the time we walked back to our boat the other boat had departed and we watched a most spectacular sunset as we left the bay.

The entrance to South Bay is located just past Marker # 22 on the Brownsville Channel and only a few miles west of the tip of South Padre Island. The closest boat ramps are the public ramp located next to the new Sea Ranch Fishing Pier and the boat ramps in Port Isabel. Bait shops along the Port Isabel Channel offer everything from tackle to live bait and quite a few extras. A good spot to stop for supplies and some of the best information is the R&R Hi-Way Bait Stand & Marina. The place is run by fisherman with several decades of combined experience with South Bay and the surrounding waters. Lodging and other services are close, varied, and available.

A word of caution: South Bay offers the saltwater angler a beautiful place to fish but with it comes with restrictions. The bay is full of hazards and is a very shallow bay. Learn all you can about the area before going it alone. It might be a good idea to hire one of the local guides for your first or second trip into the bay and see where you can run your boat and where it’s not advised. And lastly, check the tides before fishing South Bay. The best fishing is on a moving tide either in or out.

Remembering the fish follow the bait and the tides move the bait should help you find your starting point in South Bay. As you fish this bay take a second and think about your location. You are, in most cases, the most southern saltwater bay fisherman in the continental United States.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com/

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

JIM'S GEMS -A TASER HERE A TASER THERE!



BAD COP – NO DONUT
By Jim Foster

If this story weren’t so sad, it would be funny.

OK folks, I will admit I don’t have much regard for most law enforcement people, starting with the Feds and working downhill.

The people hired and paid by “the people” leave a lot to be desired. It does seem most are self-serving nerds who have been given some little power and can't wait to use it. Most of these “headline wannabes” seem to fit the pattern of those who ran amuck in Waco and Ruby Ridge. The words “Protect and Serve” written on police cars are just that, words.

The use of tasers has been the topic of at least one of my BLOG articles in the past. These things kill people, the lady in the airport for example. Six large policemen couldn’t subdue a medium sized lady so they tasered her and she died. And, the death of a teen-aged boy caused by the subject of this article, the Warren police, happened only a short time before. Now the Warren police and tasers are back in the news.

The Warren “donut boys” have tasered the most deadly of all creatures – a black cougar. Never mind if it was a stuffed toy.

The lead paragraph in the Macomb Daily News read; “Warren police fired a stun-gun at a large cat that officers believed was a panther but turned out to be a stuffed animal, the department's top official confirmed Thursday.”

The protectors of the citizenry saw what looked like the outline of a panther-like animal lying in the pipe. In the article Police Commissioner Dwyer is quoted to say, “ it was looking out at them…” “So, they backed out in fear it would lunge at them.”
After nearly an hour after the police arrived and after several peeks into the pipe they decided the beast should be tasered.

So what was this most dangerous of beasts? It was no more than a black, stuffed toy panther.

So what’s the Bubba rule? If you THINK it will resist SHOOT IT.

I’ll bet these Barney Fife types like sprinkles on their donuts.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com Please put YOUR BLOG in the subject line. Thanks!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

BIRDING - BIRDING THE BEAR







PHOTO: The flying owl in the top image is a Short-Eared Owl.

BEAR RIVER MIGRATORY BIRD REFUGE
By Jim Foster

Located in northern Utah is the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (MBR). This is where Bear River flows into the northeast arm of the Great Salt Lake. This joining creates the marshes found at the mouth of the Bear River and are the largest freshwater component of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem.

Considering the fact that arid desert lands surround these marshes explains why they have always been an oasis for waterfowl and shorebirds.

The Refuge and other wetlands associated with the Great Salt Lake provide critical habitat for migrating birds from both the Pacific and Central Flyway of North America. This area contains abundant food for birds. Birds come to the Refuge by the millions to eat and rest during migration.

During my visit it seemed like a yellow-headed blackbird occupied every available perch while the water hosted hundreds of pairs of Grebe of several species. Canada Geese couples were busy introducing their small yellow goslings to the land and water.

As part of Great Salt Lake, the Refuge is designated as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site. The millions of feathered visitors that congregate at the refuge during migration will ultimately spread out over the hemisphere. Recoveries of birds banded at Bear River Refuge have shown that while many remain in the United States, Canada and Mexico, some may fly as far as Russia, Central America, or islands in the Pacific Ocean.

HERE ARE A FEW BEAR RIVER REFUGE FEATHERED FACTS.

* Refuge breeding colonies of white-faced ibis contain as many as 18,000 birds.
* Up to 10,000 American avocets breed at the Refuge annually.
* One of North America’s three largest American white pelican breeding colonies, containing in excess of 50,000 birds, is found on Gunnison Island in Great Salt Lake.
* Northern Utah marshes host up to 60 percent of the continental breeding population of cinnamon teal.
* The Great Salt Lake boasts the largest fall staging concentration of Wilson’s phalaropes in the world, at approximately 500,000 birds. Red-necked phalaropes number nearly 100,000.
*The Great Salt Lake area hosts greater than 50 percent of the continental breeding population of snowy plovers.
*Bear River Refuge may attract over 65,000 black-necked stilts in the fall, more than anywhere else in the country.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com.