Social Media for Outdoor Promotions - More is Not Always Better

As promised, I want to expand on my original blog Social Media for Outdoor Promotions - What, When, and How Much. The first point I made was that more is not always better. One of the best ways to look at this topic is to look at your own behavior on Facebook. Have you ever hidden anyone from your news feed? If you're too nice for that, have you ever wanted to hide someone from your news feed? One of the main reasons we unfollow someone in the outdoor industry on Facebook is because they over post. Your fishing friends will get sick of seeing you in their news feed if you post every hour of the day, and those are the people you are trying to reach.

A good social media promoter isn't one who shares the most content, it's one who reaches the most people with the content they share. It can be tough, especially if you pro staff for several companies who are on Facebook. No sooner than you share a post from one of them, does another one post something valuable. The important thing is to resist the temptation to share again right away. Unless a post is trending (being shared by a lot of people in a short period of time) then it's best to wait until later in the day. Otherwise people (who haven't unfollowed you) will scroll right by it figuring you're just on another one of your rants.

Over posting does two things; it dilutes the message of the individual posts, and it subsequently renders you invisible to the people you want to reach. I'll use a metaphor. Take a glass of really good root beer for example. If you offer it to everyone you know that likes good root beer they will probably be psyched. Repeatedly offer them more root beer and eventually they will get sick of it, and will avoid you to avoid being offered more root beer. Now take that same glass of root beer and put a little water in it. Chances are no one will notice. Add a little more water later, and even more later in the day, and at some point you will become known as the guy who waters down his root beer. Posting about the same thing over and over will make people sick of you and they will unfollow you, or become conditioned to scrolling when they see you in their newsfeed. Either way you have now become invisible.

Now take into consideration how the facebook news feed works. How many times have you noticed a post from several days ago appear in your newsfeed because one of your friends has liked it? If that same person just posted about the same product or business earlier that day, thinking it was okay because the first post was from yesterday, then it appears in your newsfeed twice. If this happens repeatedly people will stop listening.

In order to be taken seriously you need to calculate how often you post about the same topic or product. You also need to take into account how often you post on social media in general. If you're using Facebook for product promotion you should be limiting your posts to two or three per day (most days) so as not to become invisible. The next step is to make your posts count. How you phrase your post is equally as important as how often you post, but that's a topic for a future blog...stay tuned.

New England Ice Fishing Academy Enrolling New Students

Last year was the first season of the New England Ice Fishing Academy (NEIFA). The sole purpose of the school was to offer expert ice fishing instruction to ice anglers of all skill levels. NEIFA is the only outdoor school in New England whose only purpose is ice fishing education. The instructors (Tim Moore and Chuck Fritz) are seasoned ice anglers who fish professionally during the winter. Tim is an Ice Team pro and Chuck is a Let's Go Fishing instructor for the NH Fish and Game Department. The first season was a trial run to see what the response would be to such a thing in New England and the response was excellent.

Instructors Tim Moore (left) and Chuck Fritz (right)
collectively spend thousands of hours on the ice each winter.

Finalizing all of the details of the 2015 courses took longer than expected, so the original course schedule was shortened to only one class, but that class was well attended. After an in-depth classroom section learning about white perch the students joined us on Lake Winnipesaukee to practice what they learned.

NEIFA offers species-specific classes for a variety of species commonly found throughout New England including black crappie, lake trout, and white perch. Classes cost $150 per student or all three for only $400. Each class is broken down into two parts, an in-class section and an on-ice section. During each class students will be provided with everything they need to complete each section.

The in-class portion of each course is two hours long. Classes are held on a Friday evening at Bass Pro Shops in Hooksett, NH. Material covered includes information about the species, how and where to find them through the ice, the gear used, proper fish handling, and ice safety. There is a heavy focus on conservation and selective harvest.

The on-ice section of each class takes place the day after (Saturday) the in-class section. Students will be given directions to the fishing location during class. Once everyone has arrived that day the instructors will begin with a safety briefing before shuttling everyone out onto the ice via snowmobiles. Once the students are at the fishing area the instructors will begin walking them through all of the tactics discussed in class the day before.

All students of the 2016 course season will also receive an invitation to the year-end student appreciation cookout on Lake Winnipesaukee. NEIFA will provide burgers and dogs, and students can bring their own gear to do some fishing, or just socialize and eat.

Students of the 2015 White Perch class

A 51 Lake Trout Kind of Day

The fact that lake trout school up over deep water and feed aggressively in the fall is no secret, at least not to me. The last two or three weeks of September are my favorite time of the open water season to fish for lakers. It's a vertical jig bite in over 100' of water and often, for the lake trout, a race to see which one can eat a jig first.

To me there is little as fun as vertical jigging from a kayak. I love it, so I planned a long overdue trip to Lake Winnipesaukee. It's not a trip I like to make too often since the fishing grounds are at least 1.5 miles from the nearest launch. I have the Predator XL Minn Kota, so it's not like I'm worried about paddling that far. It's how early I have to get there and the fact that the wind can come up and blow you off the lake in seconds.

I arrived on the lake at 5:30am and made my way to the spot I picked out just as the sun was rising over the trees. The morning fog was thick over the water, but quickly burned off as soon as the sun rose. Like clockwork, or magic, the fish appeared and they were hungry. I was fishing in 150' of water and the lakers were suspended 100' - 110' down.

I dropped a Daddy Mac Lures 1.4 Albie jig (same as the 1.4 Elite only with a treble rather than single hook) and a group of lakers shot up and met my jig at 60' down. Sure enough, my line stopped paying out, so I closed my bail, tightened up on the reel, and set the hook. It was 6:30AM, and that's how my morning would go until almost 10AM. It was one fish after another ranging from 3 pounds to 6 pounds. My total for the morning? 51 lake trout landed and only three lost. I wouldn't want to throw out the word "epic" too loosely, but it was nothing short of it. Not long after 10AM, with the sun high in the sky, the wind came up and the bite shut down. That was fine with me. I'm not greedy. I had my fill and headed for home with a few photos, a sore shoulder, and a great story to tell. Lake trout season closes after September 30th and you can bet I'll be making another trip out there for them.

Size is Relative

My biggest striped bass ever at 46"

Anyone on Facebook has seen pictures of someone holding fish. If you fish, you see it more often than those who don't. It's the comments on those pictures that sometimes interest me the most. The comments range from, "great job" to, "you should have put it back to grow up." As a fishing guide I get to fish with a ton of different people from very different backgrounds. Some of my clients fish more than others and they come from all over the country. My experiences as a guide often make me realize that the term big fish is a relative one.

There are two factors that can determine whether a fish is big or small; the location and the angler. Let's take striped bass for instance. Stripers are migratory. We see far fewer fish in New Hampshire than they see in Connecticut or New York. The overall size of the stripers in New Hampshire will be smaller than states to the south too. Your chance of catching a 50 pound fish in New York or Connecticut are relatively good. Your chances of catching one that big in New Hampshire are not as good. So, a big striper caught in New Hampshire may seem small to an angler south of New England. I have had photos posted on Facebook of mid-40" stripers that I caught criticized and called small by some southern anglers who obviously don't realize that catching a striper that is closer to 50" than 40" in New Hampshire is a special thing. A small fish in one geographic location is often huge in another.

Size is also relative to the angler. Some people fish more than others. I had a kayak fishing client (Mike) this summer. We were into some good schoolie action when he hooked into a schoolie on the larger side of what we had been catching. It was a 26" little porker. See, there I go calling it little. For Mike, it was the biggest fish he had ever caught. To him it was huge and he will remember it for the rest of his life. On most days I would have thrown that fish back, maybe even with a bit of frustration over the time it cost me, and kept fishing for a bigger one without giving it a thought. Having clients like Mike help me remember that there are people who don't have access to schools of blitzing stripers, or any stripers, who would kill for the opportunity to catch a 26" fish from a kayak.

A happy Mike P. with the biggest fish of his life

I recently saw a Facebook post by someone poking fun at another angler's joy over catching a largemouth that they angler considered a trophy. I guess to him it was a trophy. It's important for me to remember that size is relative. Anytime I can't feel happy for another angler who sets a new personal best, or catches a fish that they consider to be a trophy, then I know for sure that the problem is with me. I know the feeling of catching new personal bests. I also know the feeling when someone with access to bigger fish minimizes my success and feels the need to piss in my cornflakes.

Social Media for Outdoor Promotions - What, When, and How Much

Social media has become the primary method of promoting products for many companies in the outdoor industry. For some companies, web and social media is the only form of advertising and promotion they use. Social media is mostly free and easy to use. Most people already have a Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram account. However, having a social media account does not make you an expert. There are a few things you can do that actually work against you. Here are a few things I have learned that can make or break a social media campaign.

1) More is Not Always Better. 
Having a social media account is like having short term memory. So much flows across most people's news feeds that it is easy to think you can get away with posting every hour. Maybe you can on Twitter, but definitely not on Facebook. Post too often and you will become invisible to most of the people who haven't hidden you from their news feeds. By invisible I mean, at some point most people will stop noticing your posts. They will become conditioned to scrolling right past when they see your name, thus rendering you invisible. We all have those people in our news feeds. Don't go too far the other way though or you will become irrelevant in no time. Ask yourself this: If no one is reading your posts, then what good is posting going to do you...or a company you work for?

2) Make Your Posts Count.
Don't make a post or share a post just to post, or the above will happen. If you're trying to build a brand, whether it's your own or another company's, your posts should be calculated. Make them count. Don't feel the need to share everything that comes across Facebook. If you just posted something about a particular company within the last hour and something new has been announced, it will be best to wait for a better opportunity to share the new info. You don't want to turn into a posting machine. Sure, it might be fun to share a different business page on Facebook every day, but only in moderation. Decide on a specific campaign, with a clear theme and a duration, ahead of time. 

3) Don't Be "That Guy"
You know, the guy (or girl) that drives everyone crazy with psycho rants about how they need to use a specific product, with only a mediocre reason (at best) for why. The last thing you want to do is alienate yourself from your audience. Think about the information you are about to convey and how you are about to convey it. Don't rely on posts such as, "use this product because I do." If you're "that guy" then no one hears you anyway because you have become invisible. Give a clear reason why you use it (and if you share it, it better be something you use or you will be crucified online) and why you think it works so well. 

4) Keep Track of the Time
Day of the week and time of day are two very important aspects of social media promotion. Many companies have weekly social media calendars. Posts are carefully planned out based on research, their own and others. Paying attention to your audience will pay dividends in the end. Keep a log of what days and times your posts see the most engagement. Also, note the types of posts that get the most attention. It will take you a while to figure it out, but there is a formula there. Certain posts will perform better at certain times.

I have had relatively good success building my own brands (Tim Moore Outdoors, Tim Moore Outdoors TV, and the New England Ice Fishing Academy) as well as helping companies and organizations such as Clam Outdoors, Ice Team, Vexilar Inc., Old Town Canoes & Kayaks, Here's My Gear, and more. Much of my success is directly related to the quality and frequency of my posts. I spend a lot of time cruising my news feeds to gather valuable information. I also keep track of which types of posts my audience is paying the most attention to. Pay attention to your audience. Figure out what they like, and give it to them. Try to cram something down their throats and you can kiss them goodbye.

Further Review - Old Town Predator XL Minn Kota

Last June I received a Predator XL Minn Kota kayak from Old Town Canoes & Kayaks. Now that I have had a few months to use it I thought I would share my thoughts on it. I have to admit, When I learned my Predator XL was on its way I wasn't sure how much I would appreciate lugging a full-size marine battery in and out of my house every time I used it. However, Old Town doesn't make a bad product and everything they make for fishing receives input from professional anglers and pro staff members, so my confidence in its functionality was high.

The Predator XL Minn Kota measures 13' long by 36" wide, and weighs 92 pounds without the consoles. The kayak has a 600 pound weight capacity. When you look at the Predator XL you will see everything you see on all the predators such as the multi-position Element seat, six removable mounting plates, slip resistant Exo-Ridge deck, scupper holes with Old Town's patented one-way scupper plugs, side rod holders with bungees and rod tip protectors, and molded paddle rests. What you won't find standard on the other Predator models in the extra click-seal hatch just aft of the seat, a foot controlled rudder for steering, molded cup holders on both sides, and the extra large center scupper for the consoles.

The Predator XL can be purchased with any, or all, of three consoles. The Minn Kota console weighs 25 pounds and has a 45 lb. thrust saltwater rated Minn Kota variable speed trolling motor with forward and reverse. The motor has Min Kota's Digital Maximizer which only sends the amount of power that the motor needs, which extends the amount  of hours you get out of one battery.The motor comes with two kill switches, one to connect to your PFD in case you fall off, and one that connects to the hull to prevent raising the motor while it is running. When you raise the motor the Quick Stand springs into action holding the motor up and out of the way. Being able to raise the motor is especially handy if it picks up weeds or worse, your line. The console also has a sonar mounting plate and wire storage area that will accommodate almost any sonar fish finder on the market. Inside the console you will find a ton of storage for essentials such as a shelf for your fish finder battery, pliers, fish grippers, etc. You will also find a USB charging port for charging cell phones, iPads, or whatever else you might bring on the water with you. The Utility console weighs 8 pounds and is basically the same console as the Minn Kota without the motor. It is all storage and has the same sonar mounting features. The Exo-Ridge console weighs 6 pounds and is basically a plug that, when installed, gives you a fully flat deck. Nothing above and nothing below. With the Utility Console and Exo-Ridge console you will be powerless, so to speak, and you will need to paddle.

The Predator XL might be on the hefty side, but it's easily manageable. I drive a pickup truck, so loading and unloading is easy for me. I would imagine needing some sort of assisting rack like the Telos Load Assist from Malone Auto Racks if you wanted to carry this kayak on top of an SUV. I also use a cart when I have to go any distance from the launch to the water, which makes things way easier. That said, what it loses because of its weight (which I find is nothing) it more than makes up for with its stability. The extra width of the XL, coupled with the tri-hull design, make this by far the most stable kayak I have ever paddled...or powered. There are only two reasons I will not stand to fish: when it is windy because it turns me into a sail and I drift too fast, and when I just feel like lounging. Chop and boat wakes present no problems for this kayak. It rolls over waves with ease. I can take waves head on and the water drains right out through the one-way scupper plugs, or I can take them sideways and simply roll over waves while I fish.

The Minn Kota Trolling motor is what makes this kayak stand out from the pack. Using my Navionics boating app I have clocked myself as fast as (5.2 knots) 6 MPH. Add wind or currents to that and I noticed reductions depending on how strong the currents were, or how hard the wind was blowing, but I usually travel at full speeds of around 3.5 knots (5 MPH.) The motor console comes with a Minn Kota battery box that has a circuit breaker. The kayak is pre-wired with a forward outlet for the motor console and a rear outlet for the battery.  I run a 29DC battery with extra cycling capability and I have spent 8 hour days on freshwater lakes without draining the battery. Tidal use is another story. I fish the infamously fast currents of the Piscataqua River in New Hampshire 75% of the time. Most days I can get six hours of use out of one battery. I purchased a second battery as backup or for when I have two guided trips in one day. Then I can simply swap out the battery and I'm back up and running again.

Having the Minn Kota motor provides hands-free fishing, which makes me more efficient. Being more efficient makes me more productive. I can get things done on the way to my fishing location that I used to have to do prior to launching or after I arrived. No more getting to a fishing spot, finding fish busting on the surface, and not being able to fish because I have leaders to tie. I can troll or drift without paddling. When I get a fish on I can maneuver the kayak however I need without as much risk of losing a fish because of dealing with a paddle and boat position. Take striper fishing for instance. I often fish structure such as rock piles and ledges in as little as 5' of water. When stripers are on this shallow water structure it is imperative that you do not drift over them or you will blow them off the structure. Often times a big fish will pull me right back into the structure. I can use the motor to back away from key areas and increase the number of fish I catch each outing, a feature you don't get with a paddle or pedal kayak.

Having the Predator XL Minn Kota has been a game changer. I can travel farther and fish longer thanks to the power of the Minn Kota trolling motor. I can safely fish places I have never been able to fish, whether it's because the location was too far away or in too much current thanks to the stability of the Predator XL. I can fish almost anywhere in the Piscataqua River with the exception of a couple spots. The motor makes it possible to get there, the comfort and stability make it possible to stay there. This kayak has opened up a whole new world of kayak fishing for me. It has allowed me to raise the bar. I caught a New Hampshire state record black seas bass this season in a place I can't paddle to because the current is just to fast. I caught my personal best striped bass...twice. First with a 39" fish and then with a 46" fish. This kayak has also raised the bar for me as a fishing guide. My clients love the security of knowing that if they get overtired I can pull them to safety, or just to give them a break. When I am guiding less experienced paddlers and we see striped bass on the surface in the distance, I can tow them to the fish, saving them time and energy. As for lugging the battery in and out of my house; it isn't nearly as bad as I thought. Probably because of how many more fish I am catching. I highly recommend this kayak if you love to kayak fish . Don't take my word for it though. Visit your local retailer and ask to demo the Predator XL and see for yourself why it's not just a fishing kayak, it's a fishing machine.

My Biggest Striped Bass Ever

On the night of August 21, 2015 I headed out with my good friend Chuck Fritz in search of big stripers from our kayaks. The night before I set my new personal best with a nice 39" fish. When I arrived at the launch it was daylight and there were tons of birds on the surface on the other side of the bay we were planning to fish. Where there are birds there is bait, and where there is bait there is usually stripers. Chuck was running late due to a thunderstorm that was headed my way, so I quickly unloaded my Predator XL Minn Kota and headed across the bay. I arrived at the fish and was able to land a few nice schoolies before I noticed the storm approaching. Safety is most important so I headed back to the launch to wait out the storm in my truck.

By the time the storm passed Chuck had arrived, so we unloaded his gear and headed out fishing. The fish were no longer on the surface, and the sun was setting, so I switched to eels and began slow-trolling. I picked up a 28" fish right away, but nothing after that for quite a while. I decided that I would troll my way across the bay and begin trolling just up from where I caught the 39" striper the night before. I trolled a good 1/2 mile of shore line without a touch. As I reached the area where I caught the 39" fish the night before I hooked up with a nice 30" fish in 5' of water. I didn't want to stay out too late, but I couldn't leave without giving that spot one more pass. This time I hooked on my biggest live eel and decided to give a more natural and slow presentation by drifting with the current rather than trolling.

I felt a couple of bumps, but they turned out to be false alarms. My eel was doing what eels do and trying to hide on the bottom. I had no sooner resolved to the fact that there probably wouldn't be any giants this night when I got snagged, or so I thought. I gave my rod a yank to free it from the snag and when I did all hell broke loose. At first I thought my kayak was spinning in the current. I turned on my headlamp only to see that I hadn't spun at all. My line had shot out toward deeper water and line was peeling off my reel (the drag is silent.) The drag was as tight as I dared to have it, but I needed to slow the huge striper down and prevent it from heading into lobster trap buoy lines. I applied slight pressure to the spool with my thumb, which was just enough to stop the fish. I began fighting it back to my kayak.

As the fish got closer I saw a huge white flash. As soon as it saw my kayak it made another run back out into deeper water as if it wasn't even hooked. I was in awe at the power of the huge striped bass. The fight was on and I was in panic mode. I didn't want to lose such a huge fish. Some anglers, including me, fish their whole lives for a striped bass that size, and some never achieve it. I was able to turn the big striper a second time and get it back near my kayak. This time it gave me a good look at it before making a third run. It was a massive striped bass, the biggest I had ever had on. Its broad forked tail made my jaw drop and I had to talk myself down. I was panicking and it was only a matter of time before I did something silly like trying to grab a hold of the fish before it was ready to be grabbed. "Fight this fish the way you know you should," I told myself. I kept telling myself to, "Forget about the fish grip until the fish is ready," Yup, I was talking to myself.



The fish made a total of five long hard runs. Then as if to say, "I'm ready, you've earned it" the huge striper came up beside my kayak and I was able to get my fish grip on it. I let out a yell. I had just landed what would not only turn out to be my biggest striped bass from a kayak, but my biggest striped bass ever. It measured 46" long and had a 25" girth. It weighed 33.2 pounds. I called Chuck and had him help take photos. I was able to keep the fish in the water until we were ready, take photos, and revive the fish for several minutes. The massive beast swam away with its dorsal fin raised and looking healthy.The size qualifies it for an In-Fisherman Master Angler Award and a New Hampshire Trophy Fish Patch.

The Kombo Fish Tool

Social media is a great promotional tool for businesses. My career would only be a glimmer of what it is if it wasn't for the reach that social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide. Businesses can reach potential and active customers around the world, mostly for free. A classic example is the Kombo Fish Tool. Recently, while scrolling through my Instagram feed, a post by CanadianFishing caught my eye. It was a bright green club-like fishing tool. I was intrigued and after a little investigation I discovered that this tool was a fish club/fillet knife, with a built-in knife sharpener and cleaning spoon.

As soon as I discovered what this tool was, my mind instantly went to blue fish. As a kid I used to go fishing for blue fish every summer with my dad. He always had a club with him to quickly kill the blue fish that we planned to keep, and to prevent them from doing any damage with their razor-sharp teeth. He would club them and then cut their gills to bleed them; a tactic he said made them taste better. My Dad's clubs however, never had a knife built in. I knew right away that I wanted one so I approached Ryan at HelloKombo.com to get my Kombo Fish Tool (or KFT as I will refer to it hereafter) in the mail.

The blade is stored inside the club end for easy access.

After receiving my KFT and unpacking it I was immediately impressed with the weight and balance of the tool. It wasn't very heavy, but still felt like it packed a punch to get the job done quickly. The club end which houses the knife blade is vented to allow the blade to dry and help prevent rust; another feature that put my mind at ease. I have first-hand knowledge of what happens when you put a wet fillet knife back in the sheath and forget to dry it out, especially in salt water. A firm push of a button releases the knife blade which reassured me that the club wasn't going to come flying off when I wound up to strike a fish with it.

As a kayak angler it is often advantageous to kill a kept fish. It is not only humane, but makes dealing with kept fish much easier, especially large fish such as blue fish or striped bass. There is nothing a kayak anglers loves more than having a large fish flopping on the deck of their kayak while trying to maintain control of your boat in current or heavy boat traffic. Another great feature is that the KFT floats. If I did drop it in the water while kayak fishing I could just paddle over and pick it up.

ARGH!
Nope, the Kombo Fish Tool will not make you an instant pirate.

I scheduled a trip on the high seas with some friends aboard the Klaira D with Hardcore Anglers Fishing Charters and brought my KFT with me for a test run. I have to be honest, I haven't found a new favorite fillet knife in the KFT, I already have a favorite. What I did find was a tool that limited the amount of scrambling I would have to do, especially when the fishing is fast and furious. No more clubbing a fish, then running or reaching for a knife. With the KFT I have both in one. I can leave it next to the fish box and grab it as I need it.

Overall I was impressed with the KFT. It is not cheaply made and has a practical application for fishing. With a price tag at $29.95 I feel it is worth it to those who might find this tool useful. I recommend it. Check it out at www.HelloKombo.com for more details and ordering info.

Vertical Jigging Striped Bass with Daddy Mac Lures

Several times every year I am invited to fish with the crew from Daddy Mac Lures. One trip I hadn't been able to make was vertical jigging for striped bass, until this year. I was invited to fish with Daddy Mac Lures co-owner Jack Houghton and his son Jack Jr. We planned to launch from Marshfield, Mass at 4am and travel across Cape Cod Bay to fish the infamous Race Point off of Provincetown, Mass.

When my alarm went off at 1:30 AM the thought, "What's wrong with you?" probably should have crossed my mind, but it didn't. I was too excited to fish with the DM crew because they never disappoint. I was equally excited to fish Race Point because it is such a well-known striper hotspot. I hit the road at 2 AM and arrived at Jack's house in Abington at 3:30. We headed to Marshfield to launch his boat and after a stop to catch some live mackerel, we headed across Cape Cod Bay toward Provincetown, or P-Town as most refer to it. We caught mackerel as a backup in case that's what the stripers were keyed in on, but our plan was to fish top water and vertical jig if we could.

Just a few of the boats at Race Point

After arriving at P-Town and figuring out where the fish were, thanks in part to some fellow Daddy Mac Lures pro staffers at Reel Deal Fishing Charters, we realized that we were in luck because the vertical jig bite was on. This was all confirmed when we made our way around The Race and saw the fleet of boats drifting in the same area. It didn't take long to find the fish, but they were eating sand eels and with the amount of sand eels for them to choose from, getting them to eat what we had was tough.

The future Capt. Jack Houghton Jr.
Mark my words!

The fish pick the winners and It didn't take long to figure out that they wanted the DM 3.5 Trophy Series in Blue Mackerel, followed closely by the 2.8 Elite Series in sand eel green. We started finding fish in around 100' of water, but as the day progressed the fished moved into around 70' of water. Drift of of the 70' depth and we'd drift off the fish. We had a good time and hooked into some nice fish. At the end of the day there were more missed fish than fish landed. Some days are just like that, you take what you are given. I did land my biggest striper of the season, and my biggest ever vertical jigging. I also got in an entire day's worth of vertical jigging with Jack who is one of the best vertical jig fishermen I know, which was invaluable. I'm a huge fan and if you want to find me on the water, you might want to look for me over deep water in my kayak vertical jigging for stripers.

Interested in a New Hampshire striped bass kayak fishing charter? Visit the kayak fishing page at TimMooreOutdoors.com for more details.

Striped Bass Blitz in my New Old Town Predator XL minn kota

I have a few trips with my new Predator XL minn kota under my belt and all I can say is, wow! I have mainly fished for striped bass so far. The thing about fishing flats for striped bass during the day is that the fish are feeding on schools of tiny baitfish such as silversides and sandeels. The bait is always trying to get away from the schools of hungry stripers which means they are always on the move. The fish will come up in one place, feed for as long as they can keep the bait condensed, and then they go back down to reform the bait into a tightly packed ball. Where will they come back up? Well, if your in a kayak it seems like it is always a half a mile away. Often times they go back down before you can paddle to them making for some very long and very tiring days.

Last Saturday was this was and I was fishing with my good friend Chuck. Poor Chuck paddled his arms off for one or two fish while I, with my Predator XL minn kota, caught at least 30 fish. There was no denying that I caught more fish because I had the motorized kayak plus the fact that the smaller profile of my kayak didn't spook the fish as easily as a boat does.

Fast forward to the following Tuesday. I headed out for some recon because I had an upcoming guided trip. The skies were overcast and there was little wind. Both perfect conditions for striped bass surface action. As I was unloading my Predator and gear I noticed a few distant birds working some bait on the surface. I quickly unloaded and got on the water as fast as I could. As soon as I approached where I saw the birds I could see schoolie stripers feeding on the surface. Backs were coming out of the water and fish were tail-smacking bait. Tail smacking is a common technique used by stripers to stun bait and swing around to eat the stunned prey. There were fish blitzing everywhere!

I made my first cast and hooked up immediately. I caught several more schoolies between 20" - 24" before the fish went down. I remarked to myself that days like this are when the fish stick around for long periods of time. Sure enough, within minutes the fish were right back up and continued to blitz for hours. I played with using different lures, but the stripers were so fixed on what they were eating that it was only a paddletail shad which was able to get their attention. I have no idea how many fish I caught that day. I had the GoPro running and put together a nice short video. Eventually my arms were so tired from catching fish that I couldn't set the hook anymore. I left the fish blitzing just the way I found them five hours earlier.

Interested in a guided striped bass kayak fishing trip? Visit the kayak fishing page at TimMooreOutdoors.com for details.

Old Town Predator XL Minn Kota: Rigging and Maiden Voyage

I received my new Predator XL Minn Kota late in the day on Friday with just enough time to unwrap it, register it, and get a couple of Scotty rod holder mounts installed before losing daylight.  With daylight waning I headed inside to mount my Sonarphone SP200 T-BOX to the Minn Kota Console.

I have been using the SP100 T-POD for a couple of years, but I was really looking forward to being able to use the Navionics Boating app in a split-screen mode and the dual-beam skimmer-style transducer. Installing the SP200 was made easy by the removable mounting plates on the top and bottom of the motor console. The only change  I needed to make was to enlarge the hole that went from the transducer wire tunnel into the console to accommodate the plug end of the SP200. In anticipation of receiving her I purchased a new 160 minute deep cycle marine battery at my local warehouse store and had it charged and ready to go.

My plan was to head out just after first light the next morning so I could get used to the set up before my friend Chuck arrived, and hopefully find a few striped bass to cast at. I realized in minutes that there was little to get used to, except not having to paddle. I immediately found myself accomplishing tasks on my way to the fishing spot that I normally had to make time for, usually before launching or after arriving at my fishing spot. This left me feeling more prepared and less rushed.

I launched and made my way across New Hampshire's Little Bay to an area with submerged structure that almost always holds fish when the current is running. It was about an hour past low tide and I was expecting to see fish when I turned on my iPad. I quickly noticed that I was able to position myself over the structure in heavy current and, using the motor and foot pedals, hold myself in place to get a good look at my fish finder. Sure enough, the fish were beginning to set up on the structure.

I dropped a Daddy Mac Lures 1.4 Elite Deluxe to the bottom, reeled up two cranks, and had a bite right away. I set the hook and reeled in what felt like a 28" fish. However, I suspected that the current was playing a big part in how big the fish felt. Sure enough, it was a small 18" schoolie striper. I wasn't complaining though, I just like catching.

Eventually Chuck arrived and joined me. It wasn't long before I turned to see him about a half mile away. The wind and current were in the same direction and Chuck was struggling to stay over the structure we were fishing. He did the best he could to stay over the fish, and I did the best I could not to point out his struggle to stay over the spot, and my lack of.

One of the characteristic signs of striped bass is the presence of diving terns. Some days they just never show up, but today wouldn't be that day. We noticed some terns diving about a half mile away. I cranked up the 45 pound thrust Minn Kota and headed their way. This is where things often get frustrating. I can't count the number of times I have seen diving birds that far away and made my way toward them, only to have them move on or the stripers to go back down before I could get to them. Not today though. I was able to get to the breaking fish in no time and having a smaller profile than most of the boats out there, I didn't spook the fish. For the next three hours I caught fish ranging from 22" - 28" on almost every cast. I caught them on the Daddy Mac 1.4 Elite Deluxe and on 6" paddle tail shads.When the fish moved, I was able to stay with them. Chuck on the other hand was at a clear disadvantage. Since the fish almost always move up current and into the wind, Chuck struggled to get near them and as soon as he got to them and made a cast, the fish moved farther away. I know the feeling and while I sympathized, I wasn't going to let that stop me from putting the hook into more fish.

Eventually we decided to head in. Poor Chuck's arms were smoked from paddling which offered me a great opportunity to try towing another kayak. I tied off to the side of Chuck's kayak in a way that allowed us to quickly and easily detach and towed him all the way back to the launch. It gave him a much needed break, and gave us a great chance to recap the day. I had fished, and fished aggressively, for over 8 hours and my battery still had plenty of juice left.

I have no idea what my total catch for the day was, but it was a lot. My arms felt like rubber and it wasn't from paddling, since I never picked up my paddle.  The fish were there, the boat was right for the situation, and the day was a huge success. The stars aligned, and fish were caught. It was just the sort of day every kayak angler dreams about. The only thing lacking was the size of the fish, but that will come...very soon, so stay tuned.

This new kayak is going to be the perfect addition to the Tim Moore Outdoors guide service kayak fleet. It will allow me to get to my clients faster and offer an element of safety and comfort for those who find themselves in need of a tow.

First Productive Flounder Trip

I headed out last week in my Predator 13 kayak hoping for two flounder to eat for dinner that evening with my wife. After a very slow start to the flounder season I figured the bite would be on since the water has been warming, or so I thought. Upon paddling across the first harbor I fished I noted water temperature was 46.4 degrees, much colder than I had anticipated. I was hoping for 50 degrees. I was loaded with light tackle, flounder rigs, and sea worms. It was winter flounder, or blackbacks, I was after. They are delicious fried or baked, and I had my mouth watering for some fried.

I headed to one of my more reliable spots, a sheltered harbor with mud bottom, but I was uncertain since my last two tries there produced nothing. Sure enough, four hours later and having drifted the entire harbor twice, I still hadn’t had a bite. It was discouraging to say the least. I had one last trick up my sleeve that I wanted to try before admitting defeat. It was a small area of the harbor, only accessible at high tide. I paddled in, dropped my line, and hooked a fish right away. It was a short 6” flounder, but it was more than I had caught in the previous four hours. Even though it was too short to keep (NH has a 12" minimum length limit) it was promising since where there is one, there are usually more. One more drift and one more flounder, except this time it was a 16” fish. I was psyched. I only needed one more keeper to make a good meal for two of us, but it wasn’t going to happen in that spot. After fishing it out with several drifts and rechecking my regular hole with no results I decided to pack up and try a different harbor, one that I wasn’t as familiar with for flounder. I was determined to go home with dinner without having to stop at the grocery store on my way home.

I loaded my kayak and fishing gear and headed to the new location. Two hours of drifting produced nothing. The wind was favorable for a drift back toward the launch so I figured I would head in with my tail between my legs. I re-baited and began my final drift. I figured I would pick something up at the store on my way home to go with the flounder in hopes that I could stretch what I had into a meal for two. Not long after beginning my drift I felt the infamous double-tap of a flounder. I gave it a few seconds to “climb on” and gently set the hook. It was a nice one, definitely a keeper. I put the fish on the stringer and continued my drift. A minute or two later another bite, and another fish. This time it was a bit smaller, but still a keeper. I felt like I was on top of the world. No trip to the grocery store for me. I wondered, could I be so lucky again? Was there a pocket of fish holding in this one area for whatever reason? I continued my drift while I started putting some of my stuff away. I looked up and saw that I was dragging weight on my line, but figured it was sea weed. I lifted my rod and began reeling, but quickly realized it was another respectable flounder. I fished for nine hours, the last three hours of the incoming tide and all of the outgoing tide for four flounder. I'm just glad I was able to pull off dinner in the eleventh hour.

Batteries and Battery Maintenance

We live in an age where marine electronics, whether for open water or ice fishing, are commonplace. We hear about their uses and advantages all the time. We seldom hear about the batteries that supply them with power, or how to take care of them. All batteries, regardless of type, have certain maintenance recommendations. For ice fishing electronics such as Vexilar sonar flashers, underwater cameras like the Fishphone, and other accessories that run off a 12 volt lead-acid battery, the recommendation is to recharge the batteries once per month. Most electronics run off of 12 volt lead-acid, or deep-cycle, batteries which are basically made up of plates, lead, and lead oxide surrounded by a solution of 35% sulfuric acid and 65% water called electrolyte which allows for the flow of electrons between the positive and negative terminals.

My basement charging station makes it easier to
maintenance charge batteries during the busy summer season.

"To help avoid sulfated batteries, and get the longest life out of them, you should maintenance charge your lead-acid batteries once per month when not in regular use."

When not in use, the sulfur bonds to the negative terminal inside a battery. When you recharge your battery the sulfur is broken up and returns into the solution. However, if left uncharged for too long the sulfur that accumulates on the negative terminal becomes too thick for a regular charge to break up, and you have a battery that will not charge, or a sulfated battery. There are devices on the market that claim to de-sulfate a battery, but guess when you typically find out that you have a bad battery? When you go to charge your electronics for their first use of the season. Who wants to deal with de-sulfating a battery the night before a big trip? To help avoid sulfated batteries, and get the longest life out of them, you should maintenance charge your lead-acid batteries once per month when not in regular use.

Clam Drill Plate with Dewalt drill powered by a Lithium ion battery.

"Simply put, it is best to store your lithium batteries at half charge during long term storage."

Lithium ion batteries are another story. Typical lithium ion battery consists of two electrodes. A cathode, or positive electrode usually made out of lithium-cobalt oxide, and an anode, or negative electrode usually made out of graphite. Like lead-acid batteries, there is also an electrolyte, typically a gel, which allows the flow of electrons between the cathode and anode. When you charge a lithium ion battery, an electric current forces the lithium ions to move from the cathode to the anode. When you discharge the battery the opposite occurs. To kill a common myth, lithium ion batteries do not have a memory. If you only drain them part way every time you use them the battery will not develop a memory and only allow you partial capacity, as was the case with older NiCad batteries. Lithium ion batteries are far more technical than lead-acid batteries and I could go on for days about how they work, but I won't.

Simply put, it is best to store your lithium batteries at half charge during long term storage. This keeps a relatively even amount of lithium ions on each electrode and is your best shot at preventing a battery failure. Some resources tell you to maintenance charge your lithium ion batteries every six to eight months, but remember to drain them down half-way if you do. Storing your batteries in high temperatures or at full charge can also cause damage to one or both electrodes and ruin the battery.

I have a charging station set up in my basement. I set up a power strip which I can plug all, or most, of my chargers into. Once a month I simply flip the switch on the powerstrip and the chargers do their thing. Most marine electronics such as Vexilar flashers come with automatic chargers that stop charging when a battery is full so I don't have to worry about remembering to turn off the powerstrip. My basement is relatively cool which helps prolong the life of my lithium ion batteries. Maintenance charging batteries will keep your batteries ready for when you need them most, and cause less headaches when you need them the least.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up!

Some stories you just can't make up. Like the one about my three turkey hunting clients who all shot turkeys at the same time. Or better yet, my client Brantly seeking redemption after a disappointing miss on a beautiful mature longbeard. I guide Brantly and his wife Vero on a regular basis. They hire me to guide them ice fishing, deer hunting, and turkey hunting every year. Early in the first week of the New Hampshire spring turkey season I took Brantly out for his turkey hunt. I called in a beautiful longbeard and unfortunately Brantly missed. The next day it was Vero's turn and after a close encounter with a mature longbeard, we ran out of time and had to walk away from him, heads down, tail between our legs. Brantly scheduled another hunt for just over a week later in hopes of a little redemption.

Mornings in the turkey woods are often the best part

When I picked Brantly up for his hunt I told him he had two choices. He could hunt three mature longbeards I had found in different area, or he could head back to the spot where he missed his bird in hopes of redemption. He chose redemption. We arrived at our hunting location and headed out to the exact same place we were set up the week prior, with only a minor adjustment to blind placement. I set up two hen decoys and the wait began. We sat and watched the sun light up the sky in hopes that we would hear tree gobbles at any minute, but nothing. A little later Brantly told me he heard a gobble, but I hadn't heard it. We continued to wait, making a few yelps every 20-30 minutes. Then we both heard a gobble, but it was too far away to tell where it had come from. As the dew began to dry from the grass we heard another distant gobble. Again we discussed how we couldn't tell where it was coming from, only a general direction. Then, at about 6:55am I saw movement through some brush in the distance. I was pretty sure it was a turkey based on the speed, color, and size. Within seconds Brantly spotted a huge tom working his way down the hedge row of the field we were in. Then I saw him, a huge tom in full strut, working his way along the far edge of the field. I remarked that if I could coax the big boy into stepping off the tote road and into the field, we had a shot. Otherwise he would likely hang up and walk away when his prospective hens (my decoys) refused to close the gap.

We sat and watched in anticipation as the big tom strutted back and forth. Would he break and come our way, or would we be disappointing having had a look at such a nice turkey? He was huge! Then, as if we were being rewarded for our efforts, he stepped off the tote road and began making his way across the field. He was headed straight at us. I knew that if we could sit still and not get busted, he would come right to our decoys, especially since he was all alone...or so we thought. The bird made his way toward us and into shooting range, but we decided to let him get even closer. Brantly didn't want to miss again and I had the video camera running. Just then I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye to our left. To my shock, another mature tom was headed right for the other one! They headed toward one another and the fight was on. Seconds later the bigger of the two was chasing the smaller tom away. When I refer to him as smaller, I don't mean by much. Luckily, the big boy turned around and headed back toward the decoy setup, but the smaller bird was persistent and kept the bigger one distracted. Finally, the big tom made his way back toward us and I told Brantly to take the shot. He made a great shot and the bird toppled over. Our troubles were not over though. The other tom decided he wasn't finished and wanted a little payback. He proceeded to pummel the dead bird, ripping out feathers and getting a little redemption of his own. I had to run over and shoo him off...three times!


Brantly and I high-fived and had our celebration, but our living feathered friend wasn't finished. He wanted what he came for...what he thought were the two hens looking poised and ready. I decided to take a chance and called Brantly's wife Vero. I told her to get her hunting clothes on, grab her license, and meet us at our hunting location. We tagged Brantly's bird and headed out to my truck to wait for Vero. She arrived about fifteen minutes later. Brantly handed her the shotgun and decided that he would stay behind.

As Vero and I made our way back down the edge of the field I spotted the turkey. He was in the middle of the field, about 60 yards from our blind. We backed out and headed down the opposite side of the field through some glossy buckthorn hoping we could get to the blind without him seeing us. About halfway to the blind I spotted the tom, snood raised, he was on high alert. We were busted! We attempted to wait him out, but he wasn't moving. I had to make a decision. I decided we were going to walk to the blind and hope that, with some of my most enticing calling, he would come back after we ran him off. We got in the blind and once we were both settled I made a few yelps followed by a couple of purrs. We had been in the blind for about 3 minutes when I leaned back to get a look out one of the rear side windows of the blind. To my amazement the other mature tom had returned and was crouched in the grass just 20 yards from us! Once Vero had a chance to see him I started the video camera and told her to take her shot and, BOOM! She made a great shot. We called Brantly, who was sittng in the car, and told him to come back into the field for photos. We tagged Vero's turkey, took photos and video comentary, and headed to the registration station. Like I said, you just can't make this stuff up! Be sure to watch my YouTube channel (and subscribe) for the turkey hunting episode in the coming week or so.

Here are the stats.

Brantly's Turkey:
24 pounds, 10 1/4" beard, 1" spurs

Vero's Turkey:
19 3/4 pounds, 10" beard, 3/4" spurs

My New Hampshire Spring Turkey Hunt - Part Two

Once I finished cleaning and replacing parts on my Dad's old 11-87 I vowed that I would return to that field for my shot at that same bird. I had no grudge against him, he was just doing what turkeys do, I just wanted to see if I could get him after missing him the day before. Plus, I only had one more day to hunt before i began a week straight of guided hunts. After a disappointing miss the day before I wanted to harvest that bird more than ever.

Later that day I received a text from my friend Katie. She said there were several toms behind her house every morning and one of them was big. She told me I could hunt there if I wanted. Wanting to tag out more than regain my pride I decided I would hunt at Katie's rather than where I had missed earlier that morning. I arrived at the new location the next morning in the dark. Just after I finished setting up my blind I received a text from Katie informing me that there would be someone else hunting out there that morning. She apologized because she had only just found out herself. Not knowing where the other hunters were I decided to go back to plan A, and my chance at redemption. I packed up my blind and headed back to my original spot.

When I arrived at my hunting location I was a half hour later than planned, but given the fact that the birds were not roosting where I was setting up, and that they were not arriving until around 7am, I figured I still had plenty of time to set up without getting busted. I also knew that if I used the same setup as the day before, in the same spot, that there was no way that bird was going to come in again. So, I decided to adjust my location as well as the position and number of my decoys. I patiently waited as the sun rose through the trees in front of me.

One thing I noticed about the toms in this are was that they almost never gobbled, not even from the roost, which I think was to my advantage since most hunters scout by sitting on the side of the road listening for gobbles. The sun rose in the sky and the dew began to melt away as I sat and wondered if I made the right choice by coming here again. Just before 7am I watched a lone hen walk out about 20 yards in front of me and hop up onto a log to sun herself. There was no sign of the tom from the day before. I wondered if he had left the area, but a few minutes later he assured me he hadn't with two thunderous gobbles when he spotted my decoys.

He made his appearance in all his glory as he worked his way toward my decoys in full strut, spitting and drumming the he owned the place. His bright white head glowing like a beacon for me to aim at. I wasn't going to miss this time. I waited and watch as he worked his way in behind my decoys and then around to the side. As he strutted around in front of my decoys I waited for him to turn broadside and gave a couple quick alarm putts with my mouth. He quickly came out of full strut and stuck his head upward as if to say, "here you go." I squeezed the trigger and down he went. I had my redemption, and also regained my confidence in Dad's old 11-87. The fact that I was able to get him to come in only a day after shooting at him and missing didn't hurt my hunting confidence either. The bird weighed 19 1/2 pounds, had a 10 1/2" beard, and 1" spurs. Just the way I wanted to kick off my 2015 spring turkey season. I could now focus on my clients without feeling the disappointment of watching one of them kill that bird.

Clam Outdoors - Elite Hunter Ground Blind

For years I resisted the peer pressure to turkey hunt, or hunt anything for that matter, from a ground blind. I never thought the effort to carry it into my hunting location and set it up in the dark, or risk having it stolen by setting it up the night before, was worth the reward. That was until I began guiding youth turkey hunters. Youths have a tendency to get antsy and fidgety when they have to sit for long periods of time with nothing to do, which will ruin a turkey hunt for sure. Then I had the opportunity to turkey hunt with my good friend Mike P. at his place in Vermont. I was successful at harvesting a mature tom turkey from Mike's ground blind and I was sold on hunting from one. After seeing how much movement we were able to get away with I knew I would eventually purchase one, but which one? There are more ground blinds on the market than you can imagine.

Price wasn't my main hurdle, as long as I was able to get a blind that was light enough to carry long distances into the field, would last long enough to justify the cost, and was easy to set up in the dark without the aid of a light. As a member of the Clam Outdoors pro staff I knew about the Elite Hunter Ground Blind, but Clam is so well known for ice fishing that hunting blinds are probably the last thing you might think to buy from them. Clam Outdoors makes the highest quality and most functional ice fishing equipment on the market. They also make Quick-Set screen houses which were born from their hub-style ice fishing shelters. I knew right away that if they put the same standards into this ground blind that they do their Quick-Set screen houses and hub-style fish houses, I would be happy with it. I was also pleased at the fact that the Elite Hunter Ground Blind comes with a lifetime warranty against manufacturers defects, so there went my concern about it standing the test of time provided I took care of it. Here are a few things I noticed within the first few times using my blind.

The Elite Hunter Ground blind has a 60" x 60" footprint with 78" x 78" elbow room dimensions. It is large enough for myself and two other people, but I would likely limit it to two people (myself and a client) if there were a bow hunter with me. It weighs in at 27 pounds which is on the heavy side for a ground blind of its size, but that's because it is made with 600 total denier fabric. It also has Clam's Thermal Trap Technology, that retains heat and reduces condensation. I found the insulation especially useful on opening day of the youth season when it was 35 degrees. I was able to kick on the Mr. Buddy Heater and keep my youth client and his father nice and toasty. I'm really going to love the added insulation come deer season. I found that the Thermal Trap Technology also helps deaden sounds such as whispers and movements of fidgety clients.

Like all of Clam's hub-style houses, the Elite Hunter Ground Blind has the largest hubs in the industry making it easier to set up and ensuring a long life in the field. It takes me around 60 seconds to set this blind up in the dark with no help, and without a flashlight, which is huge when trying to get in close to roosted gobblers without waking them. There are 12 window openings with shoot-through mesh and each window opening has magnet and zipper closures. Yeah I know, blind owners hate zippers, but the only zipper I really need to operate is the entrance opening. I removed all of the shoot through mesh from the large window openings so that I can use any window I want without worrying about the Velcro. I use the magnets for the window enclosures making opening and closing them completely silent. My clients and I will be mostly gun hunting out of it and I frankly want to get the muzzle outside when possible to save what's left of my hearing.

To summarize, the Elite Hunter Ground blind is exactly what I needed. I can set it up fast and quiet, it's warmer on cold days, it's virtually bullet proof, and at $369.99 it still comes in less than some of its "top of the line" competitors. As far as I'm concerned it is worth every penny. So far this season me and my clients have had birds around us every time we have been out in it. I harvested my bird from it, one client missed his shot, and another client killed his first turkey ever from it. So far, everyone who has used the Elite Hunter Ground Blind this season has loved it, including me.

Interested in turkey hunting from the Clam Outdoors Eliute Hunter Ground Blind? Visit www.TimMooreOutdoors.com to book your guided turkey hunt before the remaining available dates fill up.

For more info on teh ELite Hunter Ground Blind and all the great products from Clam Outdoors visit www.ClamOutdoors.com.