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Monday, 27 July 2009 00:00 |
Christmas is about to take place from August 7-23 at the annual 2009 Fall Hunting Classic at the Bass Pro Shop. This is the greatest hunting sale and show on the planet. I know; I’ve been there, done that and plan to go back.
Just imagine 53 stores, 17 days, 3 weekends and 1 big show. Over 50 national hunting pros will be giving FREE hunting seminars. You can also take advantage of Bass Pro Shops VISA gun rebate. These will be the lowest prices of the season on new 2009 gear. This year they will have the NEW NEXT GENERATION youth and parent weekend. For more details, visit: HYPERLINK "http://www.basspro.com/classic" www.basspro.com/classic.
Recently, my new Fall 2009 Hunting Catalog arrived and I spotted many items that would tickle my fancy and probably yours. Here’s m y wish list. Later, I will feature some of these items in my columns.
The REDHEAD 1856 Fleece Camo—windproof jacket, pants, hats and gloves—p. 28
REDHEAD blaze parka or bibs—p. 29
REDHEAD XPS baselayer thermals—p. 71
REDHEAD Silent-Hide jacket—p. 71. Pants, shirt and overalls are available in this whisper-quiet material. In fact, they have every camo pattern made. They even have ladies camo models, designed to fit the womenfolk, called REDHEAD Ladies Comfort Quest-p. 100.
For the duck and goose hunter, try the REDHEAD Canvasback Bone Dry camo system—p. 114
REDHEAD Aire 6” light weight hunting boot—p. 147
The new REDHEAD MEN’S 6” ALL-PURPOSE BOOTS—P. 164
The latest camping supplies, begins on p. 291
Coleman new family size LED rechargeable lanterns—p. 299
The new B.P,S, chairs with side table—the most comfortable I have ever used—p. 289
TRAILPACKS—the perfect gear storage—begins on p. 336
For something different, try the REDHEAD caliber waist pack.
Check out the new bright flashlights—p. 346
G.P.S. Navigational systems—p. 354
I’m a sucker for knives—p. 362
Leatherman Multi-Tools—the best you can get—p. 371
Very large archery department, including cross bows—p. 394
Many models of tree stands—p. 422 and ground blinds—p. 458
Game calls and deer scents by the hundreds—p. 472
Game feeders, all sizes—p. 488-----Game cameras—p. 494
Don’t forget scopes, binoculars, range finders, decoys and calls
I have listed 20 good reasons to go and look for yourself. Oklahoma City and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Garland and Grapevine, Texas are the locations for Santa’s work shop. If you can’t make it, call BPS at 1-800-227-7776 for a catalog. Your computer is a big help at http://www.basspro.com. I hope to see you there. L. fry
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Tuesday, 07 July 2009 00:00 |
It’s 4:30 a.m. as I watch Roy Rogers and Trigger, Dale and Buttermilk, Bullet and Nelly Bell catch the crooks on the Western Channel. The ghost of hundreds of lures, a bunch of rods and reels ,as well as tackle boxes sit idle in my shop as I try to beat the heat.
Remember when fishing was worms, minnows and stink bait ? It was simple and fun. Reminds me of barefoot, straw-hatted kids walking the bank. We used wooden boats where the depth finder was our rod tip, arm and eyes.
As the economy goes in the tank, the American life style we once knew is changing rapidly before our eyes and so is fishing. Several national boat and motor companies have closed manufacturing plants. Elkhart, Indiana, the home of many motor homes and camping trailers has gone broke. Even the pro fishing tours have reduced tournaments. The cost of these hobbies has become second fiddle to trying to feed a family. I suppose you can blame credit card debt, soaring gas prices, and fear of losing a job is taking some of the fun out of it. The people in Washington we trusted let us down. The fix is on, as Wall Street has gobbled up America.
What do you do about it? Don’t give up; just head a different direction. Today, many anglers are downsizing; so can you.
Here’s some downsizing tips that work. A belly boat, or float tube, is inexpensive and works. Tuffy Smotherman and I were fishing Jack Murray’s pond at Speer, Oklahoma in tubes once when I met my greatest fear—snakes—water moccasins to be exact. While I was bobbing around in my tube with a stringer of fish swimming around my bare legs, I hung a nice bass and got ready to string it. When I raised up the stringer tied to my float tube, guess what—a huge water “moc” was wrapped around it and attacked the fish. I just unsnapped the stringer and it sank to the bottom of the lake where my heart was by now. I took a couple of paddles to get away from the “fangs” and let out a war hoop that the Lord above could have heard. By the time Tuffy got to me, I was half way out on the bank, tangled up in my tube. Other than tubes are great.
I tube fish in the river all the time. The tube I use is from the Bass Pro Shop, called the Lost Lake model, costing from $60.00-$90.00. They have several models to choose from. Look them over.
These float tubes have a back rest and pockets for small fishing tackle , stringer, sunscreen, water and a pistol just in case something slithery gets near you.
A casting or spinning rod and reel works fine. Flippers or a small paddle will move you along. Fish upstream if you’re in the river. Most of the time, it’s low and you can bob around in tennis shoes and may not need flippers. Rod and reels like ZEBCO and QUANTUM in Trout Seeker, micro-lite models in 5’6” loaded with 4 to 6 pound line works great. Open face, under spin and closed faced reels will also do the job. I trout fish with some of this equipment also.
Fishing in the current and around boulders is best in the river. Over hanging trees and lay-down logs in the shade hold fish. Early and late are the best times to fish. Remember, fish don’t have eyelids. When the sun comes out, they go deeper.
When I use spinning equipment, I like ball bearing snap swivels that help eliminate line twists and it makes changing baits easy. A good set of needle nose pliers is a must to dislodge the hooks from the fish and maybe your hand.
The typical float tube I like to use is a Bass Pro Shop White River model, costing around $60.00. You can fly fish out of it also and I do. CRÈME mini worms and pond favorites will catch many fish. Popping bugs on a fly rod is great fun. I love to catch and eat pan fish. Many times I fry them up for a shore lunch.
For an economical fishing trip, this works on streams like Mt. Fork, Glover and Little River and even farm ponds. L. Fry
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Tuesday, 21 July 2009 00:00 |
It’s 5:00 a.m. Tuesday; a wet start and occasional showers kept me company as I watched the early morning news shows. Vaughan Patterson drove by at 5:30 a.m. and gave me my usual “honk.’
Fishing was slow last week; I didn’t get to go. I cured the urge with a trip to “Fish Tales.” Everyone there lined up at the trough and left happy and heavy.
The news and economy are scary; worst than a horror show at the Erie Theater. For example, the F-22 airplane only costs 380 million dollars each. The military doesn’t even want it. Nothing works. It can’t fly in rain or sand. It takes 30 hours of maintenance for each flight. The President cancelled the program. However, in the last week, Ron Emanuel and his henchmen twisted enough Congressional arms to restart the program with 1.75 billion dollars. Only our government continues to pour money in a bird that won’t fly.
The economy has put outdoor recreation in the tank. In this economy, trips will be few and far between. It makes you wonder when the government will step in and offer some guidance. Well, guess what, they are working on backdoor gun registration. Here’s the information:
Senate Bill SB-2099 will require us to put on our 2009 1040 federal tax form all guns that you have or own. It may require fingerprints and a tax of $50 per gun.
The bill was introduced on February 24th and will become public knowledge 30 days after it is voted into law. This is an amendment to the Internal Revenue Act of 1986. This means that the Finance Committee can pass this without the Senate voting on it at all.
The full text of the proposed amendment is on the U. S Senate home page. You can find it by doing a search by the bill number, SB-2099. http://ron.dotson.net/guns/sb2099.htm.
You know who to call; I strongly suggest you do. Please send a copy of this e-mail to every gun owner you know to help STOP this bill. (Signed: David H. Lorenz, USMC Retired)
It’s time to contact your congressman about this silliness. If Congress keeps ignoring the people’s input, then it’s time to replace them with new faces. America is ANGRY about the Washington intrusion on everyday life.
Thursday, July 23, Father Time catches up with twin brother, Wyndol, and I. We turn 68 and feel like it most of the time. Our get up and go has gone. These former Hugo Buffaloes gallop has turned into a trot. Last week, Wyndol and I visited our favorite store, the Bass Pro Shop. It’s like Santa’s Toy Shop. You want everything. The FALL HUNTING CLASSIC will take place in early August. When I get more information on it, I will pass it along. L. Fry |
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Tuesday, 30 June 2009 00:00 |
“Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner” echoes through the woods and waters of southeastern Oklahoma as three University of Oklahoma All-Americans invaded Raincreek Outpost (Fry camp) north of Sobol, Oklahoma, near Little River just above Pine Creek Lake.
We couldn’t have picked a hotter weekend. It was like camping and fishing in an oven or sitting in a skillet full of hot grease. If it weren’t for the portable battery fans I got at Wal Mart, we might still be in camp- petrifying.
This was the only time we could get together, so like foolish ol’ men, we started the adventure Friday evening. That morning was spent buying groceries, loading canoes, fishing and camping gear.
We left Hugo around 5:00 p.m., trying to beat the heat. It didn’t work. My cousin, Phillip “Bevo” Fry was the only “Longhorn” in this part of the country. Grandson, Jeffery Jones and his Hugo Buffalo teammate, Tyler Loflin, would also meet my brother-in-law, Tommy Johnson and his son Greg, who was trying out his new canoe for the first time.
I met our Sooner friends at Persinger’s Store in Sobol, Oklahoma about 9:30 p.m Friday night. Our guest was Leon Cross, an All-American guard for Bud Wilkinson
in the 60s, Leon also coached football at West Point and the University of Oklahoma. He was recruiting coordinator for head coach, Chuck Fairbanks at O. U. Remember Tinker Owens, Jimbo Elrod, Steve Davis and Lucious Selmon? They were just a few of the All-Americans he recruited. Later, he became associate O. U. Athletic Director in charge of major fund raising which added money for the stadium expansion projects in the athletic department. Legendary Wade Walker was the athletic director during this time.
Recently, Leon helped raise a million dollars for the Bud Wilkinson Event Center, located on the second floor of the Jim Thorpe Association Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. Pat and Jay Wilkinson will help dedicate it during an October 30, 2009 noon luncheon ceremony. Many famous athletes and coaches will be in attendance. Tickets will be on sale for this great event. You can call the Jim Thorpe Association for more information.
Last week, they dedicated the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (F. C. A.) Chapel at the center. F. C. A. was started by Don McLehan , a basketball student manager for Coach Henry Iba in 1950 at Oklahoma State University. Frank Broyles, Merv Johnson and Eddie Sutton were just a few of the famous coaches present, according to Leon.
Oklahoma University gymnasts, our guests at Raincreek Outpost, were recent O. U. graduates. Jake Messina (2005-2009) was a member of the O. U. National Champion Gymnastic teams in 2005, 2006 and 2008. He was All-American in the floor exercise in 2005 and pommel horse in 2009. Jake was from North Carolina and is attending graduate school at O. U.
Jake said”when we got to the spot to launch the canoes, Lyndol said that the water was a little low. Little did we know that meant we would have to drag our canoes for 4 of the 8 miles down the river. It was beautiful though and we caught lots of fish and even saw an eagle.”
Jason Laughton was on the men’s O. U. Gymnastics team from 2006 to 2009. He was a member of the National championship team in 2006 and 2009 and All-American on the pommel horse in 2008. By the way, this was the first time this California athlete had ever fished. He caught a canoe full. His fishing partner was Jake Messina of North Carolina who caught his share of fish also.
Friday night, Jeffery Jones brought out his guitar. The O. U. boys had a guitar also and a set of bongo drums so the music broke the melting silence of the woods. It was great to hear both country and pop songs. Jeffery’s “Graduation Song” that he wrote and sung brought tears to our eyes as we remembered the good ol’ days.
We struggled to get up Saturday morning after a late night. The cabin was full. One of the athletes slept in a hammock hung in the rafters. It gets mighty hot in the attic. He’s tough as nails; reminded me of Tarzan.
Phillip’s pork loin, Leon’s green chili stew and a hidden cold watermelon may have saved our lives. Boy was it good! We lined up like hogs at a trough.
Low water, rock gardens, miles of a boulder-strewn clear water stream, a flat tire with no jack or lug wrench and 105 degree heat index were must some of obstacles we faced. Taking everything in stride, it was one of our best camping and fishing outings. There’s nothing like a bunch of good ole boys gathering on the creek bank, especially if they’re from O. U. and even one from Texas. L. Fry
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