Tag Archives: proving grounds

Firearms

Home on the Range

A week or so has passed since our last full blog update. There is so much Fly Fishing, shooting, Hay making and exploration occurring, it is summertime and the living is easy! We have been carefully chronicling all of the adventures for your weekday amusement.

Hunter Safety Course

Mark and I successfully passed the New Jersey Hunter Safety Course on Saturday June 9th at the Clinton Wildlife Management Area. It is an excellent course with very useful infield instruction.

Remember these three rules:

  1. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
  2. Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
  3. Know your target, in front and beyond.

Sleepy Hollow Lake Bass Tournament

This was a complete bust, we failed to pre-register the boat and it didn’t start in the morning. We are looking forward to finishing Gil’s boat project so we can fish the legendary Sleepy Hollow Lake. The New York State White Crappie record was taken here in 2001 (White Crappie 3 lb. 13 oz. James Weinberg Jig Sleepy Hollow Lake, Greene Co. 6/9/01).

Target Shooting

On Sunday, Mike, Deb and I shot the Remington 12 Guage at clay targets out on the MKFF Proving Grounds. The weather is significantly better than last week for outdoor activity. Check out the pictures of the fun.

Panfish Update

Again, on the MKFF Proving Grounds we have been pounding the water for Bass quite hard lately. At this point in time it appears the Sunfish are building their nests near the shore. The Bass fishing dynamic has been altered. The biggest Bass are circling the pond surface while the smaller guys are hiding in the weeds.

Bass

Stillwaters Run Deep

Gallery 2 Comments

Brenton returned back to New Jersey from Utah for Father’s Day Weekend. Needless to say the MKFF East Team met the West Team and we all went Fly Fishing. As previously discussed, Bass fishing is so hot right now. Largemouth Bass are killing Poppers on the farm ponds, while Smallmouth Bass love the Wooly Bugger out in the Paulinskill. This trend continued unabated through the weekend, with a slight downturn in Smallmouth catch count towards the end of the weekend. Check out the gallery and enjoy!

Bass

Poppin’ For Bass

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It’s the season for Fly Fishing with Bass Poppers, that’s what my aquatic friends residing in the Moose Knuckle Proving Grounds casting pond told me today. The Bass have been spawning for quite a few weeks; in fact, it is nearing the end of the spawn now. The water is a pleasant 75 degrees, pulling into optimum range for Largemouth Bass Activity. Furthermore, the weather is changing and a storm is about to blow in for the evening.

Frog Style Popper

Tactic

Bass are a very aggressive species. The old bucket mouth will strike anything that looks, feels or sounds like food. While a Trout is consumed with fear of expending energy to catch quarry that is not food, a Bass is overwhelmed with fear of missing its next morsel of food. The Popper I have above mimics a frog and there are quite a few of them out today. Another favorite of mine is the Mouse, nothing like convincing a Bass to inhale a Deer Hair Mouse.  

The Little Bass

According to Moose Knuckle Bass expert Mark Beardmore, previously of Sanibel Island fame, to catch a Bass on a popper you, “…It depends. I like to vary it. For me I vary it by the small ripples it makes, which sounds ridiculous.  Basically just count.  Pop, then wait a second and continue for a little while. If that doesn’t get any bites speed it up or slow it down depending. When the fish hits it, but misses it, I like to immediately change to a very fast twitch like it, the Popper, is wounded but trying to get away. But not a pop.” As mixed up as that all sounds, just use the method while Fly Fishing, it works.

Bass Fisheye

Fish Story

Reader beware the accuracy of this account may change and grow more dramatic over time.

As I previously mentioned the storm clouds were gathering in the distance. In addition the wind was blowing gale force against my casting direction. I waited for a lull and hurled my frog popper out. Performed the slow ripple retrieve and waited….explosive strike! Pulled out a tiny bass. Now excited, I went, I cast parallel to the weed line. As I throw he popper out, it lands hard on the water with a splash; it sits and the ripple dissipates. I start to strip again and a Bass explodes out of the water swallowing the popper. Now the fight is on, with the four-weight rod this is an intense battle. Finally he wears down and dives into some weeds, I try and pull him up and out but he will not budge. At last I jump in the water as he is stuck right at the edge and pull the Bass out right by his lip.

Old Bucket Mouth, Sage VXP 4WT and Lamson Litespeed 2.0

L.L. Bean Fly Fishing for Bass Handbook, 2nd