Unfortunately every year, as practical sportman, we hear about someone falling through the ice and dying. Every year we get winter, snow and ice everywhere, yet, we as humans continue our pursuit of fishing in the form of Ice Fishing. What if the worst case thing happens to you, and you fall through the ice? How long do you have to respond to survive the experience? Depending on the temperature you have about 10 minutes at maximum. Why? Because you will lose the use of your arms, hands, fingers and legs and within an hour you could be unconscious and or dead from hypothermia! So what can you do? Here are some tips that could save your life.

Make a plan and stick to it. Before you go out, tell someone where your general destination is, what lake you are going to be on and how long you plan to be gone. If you go to another lake let that person know you moved, phone home ET! Take safety equipment along, ice picks and rope, small survival kit, extra clothes and outer wear, dry blankets and towel, fire starter and cellphone. You can get stuck or have a vehicle breakdown.  Read the rest at…click here

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Ice fishing is very popular you do not need many supplies, and the supplies that you need are affordable. There are many choices of equipment available, prices for the equipment range from the very cheap to the very expensive. Get equipment that is of reasonable to good quality, something that will last you more than one fishing season. Avoid the very cheap equipment they will not last long, you will need to replace them often. The Practical Sportman bet is to purchase slightly higher priced equipment so that you are guaranteed of a couple fishing seasons at least. One rule that is different for ice fishing is that you can have 2 active lines in the water but you must be within 30 feet of both.  You can aggressively fish with one rod and passively fish or dead set with the second.

 

Practical Equipment:

Fishing rods: all fishing equipment lists should start with a good quality fishing rod, including ice fishing. A good fishing rod for ice fishing is short and very strong to make sure that it can take the strain and weight of the fish. You can get rod/reel combos, teho 2 and 3 ice rods, or grandpa’s favourite a piece of wood 1 foot long notched on both ends.

FOR REMAINING ARTICLE CLICK HERE

 Author: Greg Parkin, A PracticalSportman, http://www.practicalsportman.com

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

You caught some walleye, now you are wondering on how do I clean this fish? If you follow the Practical Sportman steps below you will not only learn how to fillet a walleye, but you will also learn how to take all the bones out of walleye. So if you are ready, get your fish, knife and let's go.

Step 1

Place walleye on cleaning surface with back towards you. Using fillet knife, lift fin and place knife on skin behind gill plate at same angle as gill opening. Cut straight down to back bone, be careful not to cut through the back bone.

 

 

Step 2  FOR REMAINING STEPS CLICK HERE

 Author: Greg Parkin, A PracticalSportman, http://www.practicalsportman.com

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Cleaning Northern Pike Step by Step

 

Filleting Northern Pike is the fastest, most versatile and probably the most used method for cleaning.  When finished, the fillet can be used for frying, baking, bbqing, canning or any other way, for consuming the results of your successful fishing trip.  The first time you clean a northern your fillet is not going to be perfect.  As with everything, practice makes better. YES, when I did my first fish, Grandpa laughed until his sides hurt, it was not pretty, but I got it done, in pieces.  However, after that first one the second was better and by the time I was done the days catch, well let’s just say, Grandpa didn’t fillet any fish again when I was with him!

 

———————————————————————-

Copyright © Greg Parkin, The Practical Sportman

http://www.practicalsportman.com

———————————————————————

 

 

 

Step 1: Lay fish on cutting board, I start with fish belly facing towards me. I find this side is harder to do if I start and take off other fillet first.  The second set of fins seem to get in the way and make more work.

 

 

 

  

 

 

Step 2: With knife lift fin and place blade up against back of gill plate, but on fish body. Make sure your knife is at same angle as gill plate cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Cut straight down until you hit back bone. Read the rest of the article about Filleting Northern Pike here…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

So you were lucky and caught some Northern Pike, Now you want to know what to do with them?

 

First is to clean them, depending on the size and YOUR preference, there are basically 2 ways to do this.

1. Scale for baking or BBQing whole or cutting into steaks
2. Filleting for frying, canning, baking, bbqing

——————————————————————

Copyright © Greg Parkin, The Practical Sportman

http://www.practicalsportman.com

——————————————————————

 HOW TO SCALE NORTHERN PIKE

 

To scale the fish: you want to be outside or at the lake or cleaning house, this can be messy and the wife will have no sense of hee-haw about scales all over her kitchen. However, it can be done at the kitchen table IF you are careful and follow this advice. To Read Full Article Click Here:

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

NORTHERN PIKE SIZE CHART

Slough Shark, Hammer Handle, Pike, Water Devil, whatever name you call it by, it is the #1 fresh water trophy fish.  Just the name brings up images of monsters, now imagine catching these on a regular basis.  Both males and females mature at about 5 years of age. Males average 36 inches  and live up to 25 years.  Females live much longer and have been caught over 55 inches and exceeding 50 pounds.

 

——————————————————————

Copyright © Greg Parkin, The Practical Sportman

http://www.practicalsportman.com

——————————————————————

 

 

 

NORTHERN PIKE
	AVERAGE LENGTH		AVERAGE
AGE	Inches	cm	WEIGHT
1	10	25	0.2
2	13	28	0.5
3	19	48	1.4
4	22	54	1.9
5	24	61	2.3
6	26	66	2.7
7	27	68	3.1
8	28	71	3.4
9	29.5	75	3.7
10	31	78	4
11	32	80	5.2
12	32.5	82	6.3
13	33	84	7.6
14	34	87	10
15	35	88	10.5
16	36	90	11
17	37	93	12.5
18	38	98	15
19	39	99	18
20	40	101	21
21	41.5	105	23
22	43	109	25
23	44.5	113	28
24	46	117	31
25	46.7	118	32.5
26	47	119	34
27	47.5	120	35.5
28	48	122	37
29	48.5	123	38.5
30	49	124	40
30+	49.5+	124+	40+

 

 

About the Author:

————————————————————————————

Greg Parkin, A Practical Sportman,

With over 35 years of experience in the sports of

Fishing, Hunting, Trapping, Camping and Outdoor experience.

I can help YOU, “Get the Trophy Of  YOUR Dreams!”

————————————————————————————

Until then,

May you never get a backlash, 

 

Greg Parkin, The Practical Sportman

http://www.practicalsportman.com

http://www.parkinenterprize.com

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Walleye Size Chart

This chart will help you quickly find the approximate age and weight of your walleye based on the length of the fish. Male walleye mature at about 3 years of age. Reach about 24 – 30 inches and live approx about 20 years.  Females mature at about 5 years. Have been caught exceeding 36 inches in length.  They can weigh in the 20 pound range and live longer than males.  Weights are only approximate as the farther north these fish are the slower the growth rate. Also at different times of the year and available food sources the weight can change.

 

—————————————————————————-

Copyright © Greg Parkin, The Practical Sportman

http://www.practicalsportman.com

—————————————————————————-

 

 

WALLEY SIZE CHART
	AVGERAGE LENGTH		AVERAGE
AGE	Inches	cm	WEIGHT
1	5	14	0.2
2	8	20	0.4
3	10	26	0.6
4	12.3	31	0.9
5	14.2	36	1
6	15.5	39	1.3
7	16.3	41	1.6
8	17	43	1.8
9	18.7	47	2.3
10	19.1	49	2.6
11	19.8	50	2.9
12	20.4	53	3.1
13	21	54	3.4
14	21.5	55	3.7
15	23	58	4.5
16	24.2	62	5.2
17	25	64	5.7
18	25.6	65	6.2
19	26	66	6.4
20	26.2	66.5	6.6
21	26.5	67	6.8
22	27	69	7.2
23	27.8	71	8.2
24	28.5	72	9
25	29	74	9.5
26	29.5	76	10
27	30	76	10.5
28	30.5	77	11
29	31	78	11.5
30	31.5	79	12
30+	32+	80+	13+

 

 

About the Author:

————————————————————————————

Greg Parkin, A Practical Sportman,

With over 35 years of experience in the sports of

Fishing, Hunting, Trapping, Camping and Outdoor experience.

I can help YOU, “Get the Trophy Of  YOUR Dreams!”

————————————————————————————

Until then,

May you never get a backlash, 

 

Greg Parkin, The Practical Sportman

http://www.practicalsportman.com

http://www.parkinenterprize.com

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

PUTTING ON THE RITZ WALLEYE

This is my personal favourite recipe. Leaves the fish crisp on the outside,

but is tender and moist on the inside.

 

4 – 6 boneless walleye fillets (about 1 ½ – 2 lbs)

2 eggs

1 – 1 ½ cup finely crushed RITZ (plain) crackers (about 30)

¼  teaspoon, each salt and pepper

Butter or margarine to fry fish in

Lemon or lime slices optional

 

Put the Ritz crackers in a medium zip lock bag and do up zipper ¾ of the way.

Beat or crush crackers until fine. Add the salt and pepper and mix well.

In a shallow dish or bowl, beat the eggs until mixed.

 

Pour some of the crumb mixture on a plate, dip fillet into egg mixture then

coat with the crumb mixture. Repeat for all fillets add crumbs as needed.

 

In a large skillet on medium heat, melt and heat the margarine/butter. Add fillets

And fry 3 – 4 minutes on each side until golden and flakes easily.

Note: may have to add butter/margarine as flipping, you do not want fillets to stick.

Note: the extra crumb mixture will keep for about 2 – 3 weeks when sealed.

 

SERVE With Pan Fried Potatoes or Home Made French Fries

 

Practical Sportman

Greg Parkin

http://www.practicalsportman.com

http://www.practicalsportmanfishing.com

 

————————————————————————————————————–

 

HONEY-FRIED WALLEYE

Everyone who tries it loves it, the honey gives it a twist and a surprise flavour.

 

4 – 6 boneless walleye fillets (about 1 ½ – 2 lbs)

2 eggs

1 – 2 teaspoon liquid honey

1 – 1 ½ cup medium crushed saltines crackers (about 20)

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

¼  teaspoon, each salt and pepper

Vegetable or Canola oil to fry fish in

Extra Honey, Lemon or lime slices optional

 

In a shallow dish or bowl, beat the eggs and honey until mixed.

 

Put the crackers in a medium zip lock bag and do up zipper ¾ of the way.

Beat or crush crackers until medium fine. Add the flour, salt and pepper and mix well.

 

Pour some of the crumb mixture on a plate, dip fillet into egg mixture then

coat with the crumb mixture. Repeat for all fillets add crumbs as needed.

 

In a large skillet on medium, heat ¼ inch of oil. Add fillets and

fry 3 – 4 minutes on each side until golden and flakes easily.

 

Option: drizzle with honey (very little) garnish with lemon.

SERVE With Pan Fried Potatoes or Home Made French Fries

 

Practical Sportman

Greg Parkin

http://www.practicalsportman.com

http://www.practicalsportmanfishing.com

 

————————————————————————————————————–

 

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Taking that fishing trip of a lifetime to Canada this year? Going to try to

catch that trophy Walleye or trophy Northern Pike?

If you're heading to Canada, Here are some things you want to

make sure you have before heading on the trip away from home!

Plan your fishing trip to Saskatchewan.

———————————————————–

Copyright © Greg Parkin, Practical Sportman

http://www.practicalsportmanfishing.com

————————————————————

First and foremost make sure you have the proper paperwork

for a carefree crossing or it might turn into the headache of a lifetime.

 

The rules recently changed regarding the types of identification

needed to cross the border. Making matters even more confusing

is the fact that U.S. and Canada border requirements are not

necessarily the same but are closely linked.

 

The following documents of identification serve as satisfactory

proof of American citizenship when traveling to and from Canada

(note that photocopies of ID must be notarized):

 

You need will need minimum of 2 pieces of id:

at least one current photo id  (such as a current driver's license)

AND

a U.S. passport

a birth certificate

a certificate of citizenship or naturalization.

 

Personal Items To Ensure You Have:

Provincial Fishing License

No matter which province you decide to fish in you will need that

Province's current fishing license. Make sure to read the rules and

regulations regarding fishing in Canada and the enviornment.  

 

 

What about transporting your fishing rods and tackle?

Both can be checked as luggage but check on weight and length

restrictions and conditions with the airline you use. Also depending

on location you may have to catch a private plane to the actual fishing camp. 

The main airline may not have restrictions, but the private flight

will likely have weight restrictions, so choose your tackle with care. 

Bring your Rod, take off the reel and put it in your tackle box, put

your rod in a tube or hard case. Airline handlers are NOT very

care full.

 

Spare Spool with/or Spare Line

You have purchased a trip to Canada now before you go, buy and put a

new spool of line on your reel, buy 2. Walleye or pan fish (perch)

fishing, use the 6 – 8 lb line. Northern Pike or bottom bank and river

fishing, use 10 -12 pound line.

 

Needle nose pliers

Northern pike have lots of teeth. Those teeth can shred your finger

very quickly and they bleed for a long time and sting as well. I

suggest you get at least one pair for your box.

 

Mouth Spreader (fish gag)

Use to hold the fish’s mouth open, while you remove your lure. You

will be surprised as to how well Northern Pike can keep that mouth

closed making it impossible to get your lure out.

 

Snap swivels

Tied to your line they act as a swivel and snap. To keep line from

twisting and tangling, and a quick connect to lures and leaders.

 

Leaders/Fluorocarbon

Northern pike can bite through line faster than you can cut it with a

knife. Leaders prevent this, they come in 6, 9, 12 or 18 inches long.

Fluorocarbon line is new, but heck if it can hold a real shark it

will work for Northern Pike. Remember, here in Saskatchewan with

every cast you do not know but a “Slough Shark”(northern pike) may

bite.

 

Eye buster tool, Clippers or pocket knife, Hook Sharpener

All new hooks usually have paint in the eye hole. In order for you to

pass your line, snap swivel or leader snap through you need to get

this paint out. Finger nail clippers or knife are used to cut extra

line when

finished tying knots to lures, snaps and leaders (don’t use your

teeth). One of the most important items you will need is a good hook

sharpener. Always, make sure to sharpen hooks before using them,

almost all fish are lost at initial bite because of a dull hook.

 

Emergency rod tip, sinkers, split shot, weights, and bottom bouncers

Accidents happen, most rods break between the last two eyes on your

rod. You can cut off the extra rod at the top of the second eye but

casting is still going to be a pain. Weights used to get lures down

to fish. Summer walleye fishing may need to bounce off the bottom of

the lake as you float or slowly troll.

 

Safety Kit, Fire proof, wind proof matches, small heavy blade knife

Bandages, as well as for the basic survival items it contains. Make

sure matches are in a water tight container (never know when you will

have to make a fire). May need, if for nothing else, to cut limbs for

the fire.

 

Fillet Knife, Couple of large zip lock bags

If you do not have a guide, YOU will have to clean your fish. Most

lakes have cleaning stations, make sure when cleaning you leave the 2

inches of outer skin on for species Identification the Conservation

Officer is going to be looking for when you get checked. As well make

sure you have your Licence. Bags to put the fillets in, carry your

maps, holding your fishing license, use for anything that you need to

protect from water or dampness.

 

Bug repellent, Sun tan lotion, Good wide brimmed hat

Of course there is bugs, mosquitoes, no-see-ums, horse flies, sand

flies, and a whole host of biting critters. Protect your nose, ears,

and arms, reflection from the water makes sun burns very easy and

very intense in a very short time. The last thing you want is heat

stroke, being sick or hospitalised does not a good fishing trip make.

 

Rain Coat, Extra shoes, 1 change of clothes

Pack these in a separate daypack (over and above luggage,

carry with you even in the fishing boat)

The weather here is unpredictable.  It can be perfectly calm one

minute and the next pouring rain. We have a saying here in

Saskatchewan, “If you don’t like the weather, give it a minute, it

will change, and/or turn around and face the other direction”

 

The number 1 thing to make sure you have in your backpack or tackle

Box Bring a roll of TP paper, leaves are a bit rough. Hope you can tell

the difference between regular leaves and poison ivy (hint avoid any

serrated edge leaves).

 

Going to Canada fishing, for most fishermen, will be the trip of a life time,

do not let it be ruined at the border, or forgetting to bring items.

Oh, and don't forget the camera.  The scenery here is spectacular.

Remember, one picture is worth a thousand words!

So, how many words are you going to capture while you are here.

 

About the Author:

——————————————————————————————————————

Greg Parkin, A Practical Sportman,

35 years of experience will help you

Fishing, Hunting, Trapping, Camping and Outdoor experience. Let me help YOU, “Get the Trophy Of  YOUR Dreams!”

start on your path today:

http://www.practicalsportmanfishing.com ——————————————————————————————————————

Until then, May you never get a backlash,

Greg Parkin, Practical Sportman http://www.practicalsportmanfishing.com http://www.parkinenterprize.com

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.