Best Gift Ideas for Those Who Enjoy the Great Outdoors

The Best Gift Ideas for Those Who Enjoy the Great Outdoors

                                                                               Image courtesy of Pixabay

A Guest Blog by Patrick Young

Seeking the perfect present for a nature loving special someone? Look no further! Spotted Tail Fishing and Travel has found the best gift ideas for your outdoorsy loved one in your life.

Wanderlust

Does your nature lover combine the love of the great outdoors with a love of travel? Why not select a gift that combines both passions? Here are some ideas that marry the two hobbies beautifully:

●Framed maps. Maps from favored state parks and hiking trails can look really lovely in a frame. It’s a fantastic way to record where your loved one went, or the maps can signify eagerly anticipated bucket list trips.

●Bunting. Taking personalization a step further, a bunting made from maps or flags can be a highly individualized gift. Bits of lace or ribbon can feminize the look, tie with rope or twine for masculine appeal, or add an interesting washi tape that brings out your loved one’s sense of style.

●Keepsake box. Another fun use for those maps: decoupage them onto a box to store keepsakes and mementos. You can stencil your loved one’s initials onto the top for aneven more personalized touch, or attach a photo, token or other sentimental remembrance onto the lid.

●Shadow Box. Not feeling very crafty? If your nature lover is an angler, pull together various bits of ephemera, like fishing lures, fishing tour receipts, and the like, and sift them together into a display. It’ll look attractive on the mantel or shelf, and your loved one will enjoy revisiting the memories now and then.

Other explorations

Many outdoors enthusiasts prefer to navigate nature close to home, or are simply well-suited with other kinds of presents. Fear not – we found terrific options to tailor to those tastes, too.

● Nature photograph. Redfin reminds us that adding touches of Mother Nature in the home can offer a mood boost and a dose of stress relief. Give your loved one a framed print of their favorite fishing trip, state park or ocean view.

● Fishing book. If your angler lives in Florida or visits there often, the “Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide” by John Kumiski makes a great holiday gift. Filled suggested journeys via paddle craft, your loved one will have plenty of trips to plan for.

● Naturalist’s Notebook. Collecting field notes and observations is an interesting and fun way for nature lovers to explore and revisit their journeys. This five-year journal offers guidance for the sorts of experiences one might record, such as the first birdsong of spring and sightings of butterflies, along with illustrations and a calendar format. Campers, hikers, hunters and gardeners are sure to love this beautiful book. Attractive and inspirational, “The Naturalist’s Notebook” is available from Storey.com.

● Tent. For those who enjoy camping at the edges of trails, in the backyard, or deep in the forest, a good tent is a must-have. The “Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 Tent” offers a three-person, three-season shelter and is lightweight. Available from REI.com.

● Knife. A good knife is indispensable for most outdoor adventures. The experts at Gear Junkie recommend Gerber Curve Multi-Chain Tool for affordability and good quality. Comfortable, well-made and handy, it’s ready to go along for any excursion your loved one plans. Available at Amazon.

● Water. Access to clean water is not only a convenience but important for safety during outdoor treks. Provide your loved one with this basic essential by gifting the “LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle.” The built-in filter removes more than 99% of bacteria and parasites. Available from Amazon.com.

Finding that perfect present just got easier! Whether creative and inspirational or practical and hardworking, you’ll find something that fuels your nature lover’s dreams. Whatever your loved one’s passion is, we’ve got you covered!

What’s in Your Fishing First Aid Kit?

What’s in Your Fishing First Aid Kit?

Guest Post by Justin Walker

Bass in Michigan. Salmon in Alaska. Rainbow trout in Canada. Cod in the United Kingdom. Carp in Thailand.

Across the globe, fishing is a popular outdoor activity. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates the global number of recreational anglers ranges from a minimum of 220 million to a maximum of 700 million. In the United States, the International Game Fish Association estimates 8.5 million recreational anglers took 194 million fishing trips in 2018.

What’s the appeal? Fishing is a great way to connect to nature and a safe way to get outdoors during a pandemic.

Whether you are new to the sport or a long-time angler, medical and fishing experts have recommendations for the essential you need in your fishing first aid kits.

Patrick Pendergast at The Fly Shop, a leading outfitter, travel agent and retail store said he carries the Northwest River Supply Paddler Medical Kit with him while fishing. “It comes in a waterproof dry bag and has most of the essentials you would need,” he said.

Amy Ray, president of The Sisterhood of the Outdoors, recommends bringing something wire snappers on fishing trips in case you have to push a barb through your finger. “Where we go, you can’t walk out,” she said. “Although we’re most often dealing with cuts and scrapes — a slip of a knife is the most common injury — it’s important to have the basics with you at all times.”

Fishing isn’t as high risk as some sports. “The most frequent injuries are hook related, or falls,” said Jeffrey Weinstein, medical operations supervisor at Global Rescue. He explained that people may be on prolonged fishing expeditions, at sea or in remote areas. “Minor injuries can become big issues if left uncared for while trying to get out of a remote area,” he said.

So what are the essentials for a fishing first aid kit? Here are the top four categories from experts in the field: 

  • Basic Wound Cleaning and Care: alcohol wipes, Steri strips, saline rinse, gauze, tape and adhesive bandages, and an ace bandage wrap. 
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): for protection from COVID-19 include non-latex gloves, an appropriate mask, hand sanitizer, and eye protection.  
  • Splinting and Hemorrhage Control Equipment: tourniquets, rolled gauze, triangular cravats, a SAM splint, and finger splints. 
  • Over-The-Counter Medications: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs like Ibuprofen), Antiplatelets (aspirin, for possible heart attacks), anti-diarrhea medications, laxatives, rehydration salts, topical creams/steroids/triple-antibiotic, toothache ointment (Orajel), antihistamines, aloe for burns, motion sickness medication, an epi-pen (for anaphylactic emergencies), antiemetics (for nausea – and may require a prescription)

Weinstein recommends vacuum sealing different modules within your fishing first aid kit to protect it from water exposure. “I would vacuum seal a medications module, a bandaging module, and so on. Then I would vacuum seal all the bags. This way if you open one module for something everything else is still protected. I would also carry extra zip-lock bags to seal an opened module,” he said.

Whether you’re fishing close to home or abroad in a remote location, smart anglers will carry a complete fishing first aid kit before their first cast. 

 

 Justin Walker is Global Rescue’s Fishing Manager and has fished all over the world. 

 

The Angler’s Book of Favorite Fishing Quotations- A Review

The Angler’s Book of Favorite Fishing Quotations- A Review

If you want a book that tells you how to fish, look somewhere else. If you want a book that shares the intellectual pulse of the angler, though, The Angler’s Book of Favorite Fishing Quotations is a fantastic little book- for the desk, for the coffee table, or even for the john.

“The fishermen knows the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.” -Vincent Van Gogh

Many well-known anglers have been quoted in this book- Izaak Walton, Thomas McGuane, Arnold Gingrich, John Gierach, Lee Wulff, Al McClane- the list goes on. For those who write or give talks about fishing, The Angler’s Book is a must-have reference. For the rest of us it’s merely an extremely enjoyable way to connect with other anglers who may have gone on to the great fishing grounds in the sky.

“Most of the world is covered by water. A fisherman’s job is simple- pick out the best parts.” -Charles Waterman

The quotes are not inserted willy-nilly. There’s an order. The Table of Contents reads-

-Soul of an Angler
-Connecting with Nature
-Building Character and Skill
-Humor on the Hook
-A Meditative Sport

It’s nicely sequenced and beautifully done. This reviewer highly recommends this book for anyone whose interest in fishing lies somewhere past the worm-dunking phase.

“If you don’t go fishing because you thought it might rain you will never go fishing. This applies to more than fishing.” -Gary Sow

The Angler’s Book of Favorite Fishing Quotations. Happy reading.

John Kumiski

New Book No Fishing Report

New Book No Fishing Report

Below are a couple last photos of Connecticut. You won’t see this on the crowded highways. They were shot in Indian Well State Park.

 

Susan and I got home in the wee hours Wednesday morning. Between the mountain of correspondence, a doctor appointment, yard work, and a small craft advisory I did not get out to fish. But six copies of my new book arrived! So we have a new book no fishing report.

We flew Frontier. There was no entertainment provided. I had a book and an ipod, so I was good. And the flight was short, only from Connecticut. Frontier ain’t frilly, that’s for sure.

My new book, Fishing Florida by Paddle, is now available. I am certainly biased but it looks great! If you buy it from me I’ll sign it! Click this link for more information!

I found twenty copies of Fishing the Everglades in the attic. If you’ve been wanting one of these long-out-of-print gems, this is your big chance!

That’s this week’s New Book No Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Every day is precious- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

The Last 2019 Alagnak River Fishing Report

The Last 2019 Alagnak River Fishing Report

Fellow guide Karl Baird with a nice king salmon.

Thank you for reading this last 2019 Alagnak River Fishing Report from Katmai Lodge- written from the comfort of my desk at home!

With the exception of one day it did not rain all summer. There are fires everywhere, with lots of smoke in the river valley much of the time. Anchorage was the same way- you could not see the mountains from town.

Last year’s silver salmon hotspots are dry now. We kept catching fish, but fishing remained tough to the end. Everyone had to switch to jet boats since the river was so shallow.

In spite of tougher than usual fishing, it was a good season. The lodge and the folks I worked with are great, and so is the river. I look forward to returning next summer. That ride home, though, is so looonnnnngggggg. And I get here just in time for a hurricane!

Last week I promised some exciting news- I have a new book coming out! It’s a guide book to fishing Florida by paddle craft. Click this link for more information, or to order!

That’s the last 2019 Alagnak River Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

New Book- Fishing Florida by Paddle!

Announcing a New Book on fishing Florida by paddle craft!

FISHING FLORIDA BY PADDLE- AN ANGLER’S GUIDE

By John Kumiski

From Pensacola to Jacksonville to the Everglades, fishing by paddle craft in the Sunshine State offers seemingly endless journeys. Whether in the cypress dugouts of the Calusa, Dimock’s wood- and-canvas tarpon fishing canoe or in modern fiberglass and plastic, humans have been paddle fishing in Florida for thousands of years. Sprinkling colorful history throughout, author John Kumiski highlights the state’s best paddle fishing destinations, both freshwater and saltwater, including the bass of Farm 13, the redfish and trout along the Big Bend Paddling Trail and the snook and tarpon of the Everglades. Learn the locales and what to do when you get there, including launch points, shuttles, rentals, tackle, techniques, guides, and more.

Foreword by Doug Olander, editor & content director, Sport Fishing Magazine.

FISHING FLORIDA BY PADDLE- AN ANGLER’S GUIDE, published by the History Press, will retail for $21.99. Publication is set for October 28 or thereabouts.

Check back for ordering information!

An Angler’s Journal- A Review

An Angler’s Journal- A Review

My friend Rodney can tell you what he caught on this date 10 years ago, where he caught it, how he caught it, what the weather was like, where the barometer and moon phase were, and more. I’ve never had the self-discipline to record all that information- until now.

An Angler’s Journal (Quiet Fox Designs, 160 pages, paperback, $12.95) provides me with a space for everything a fisherman needs to remember in one organized place, including locations, companions, weather, equipment and lures used, and size, number, and species caught. The illustrations are beautiful.

The main feature of the journal is the expedition log. Every new entry in the log has two pages. On the first you record key facts about your trip- date, time, weather, air and water temperature, where you fished, who you fished with, fish caught and how you caught them, and any other information you care to add. The second page has space where you can draw or place a picture of your fishing spot. You can annotate this picture with important information like water depth, current flow, water temperature, shoals, hot spots, etc. When you’re finished you have a comprehensive record of your fishing trip.

The journal also contains a life list, and has plenty of space for photos of your catch and your friend’s.

When the journal is full, you’ll have a wealth of data to refer to on future trips, and a scrapbook of your favorite angling memories. Keeping a log book is an essential part of successful fishing. An Angler’s Journal is a great piece of equipment– you won’t find a better log book.

-John Kumiski

Hi-Tec Socks Review

Hi-Tec Socks Review

It’s not often I review an item like socks. Hi-Tec socks deserve a review, however. They are awesome, cushy, warm, comfortable, everything a pair of socks should be.

In addition, all Hi-Tec footwear is backed by a 1 Year Warranty and a 60-Day Comfort Guarantee.

My tests of these socks happened on a trip to Tennessee. I wore the Cushion Boot socks inside my waders while fishing, and the Performance Hiking socks while hiking. In both cases the comfort was extraordinary. The Cushion Boot socks kept my feet warm all morning, even while wading in a cold, tailwater river.

Hi-Tec socks are made of a premium merino wool/acrylic blend, designed specifically for outdoor endeavors. They feature a reinforced heel and tow, superior cushioning ability, arch compression for support, and are breathable. When you put them on your feet feel great all day.

Hi-Tec socks come in five different styles, so you can find the socks that best suit your needs.

It’s hard to enjoy your day when your feet are cold, or blistered, or hot and sweaty, and not happy. Probably the best thing that you can say about a pair of socks is, “I didn’t think about my feet all day,” no matter what you are doing. When I took my socks off after being active in them all day, my feet were still very happy. What more can you ask of a pair of socks?

Hi-Tec socks are the best socks I’ve ever worn. They have my highest recommendation.

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2017. All rights are reserved

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Innova Swing EX Inflatable Kayak Review

Innova Swing EX Inflatable Kayak Review

Innova Swing EX review

The Innova Swing EX

This is an Innova Swing EX Inflatable Kayak Review.

Let me preface the following remarks by saying that because I am a fisherman who lives in Florida, my preference is for a sit-on-top kayak. The Swing EX is a sit-inside.

It’s the most comfortable sit-inside I’ve tried. But we get ahead of ourselves.

Innova kayaks are built in the Czech Republic. My guess is that the assembly instructions are translated from Czech into English. The instructions weren’t clear to me, and I had to go to YouTube and find a video in order to get the boat assembled the first time. Once you understand how it goes together, though, assembling this boat is quite simple.

Innova Swing EX review

The air valve is clever. When the red button is up, air stays in. When it’s down, air comes out.

One caveat- inflating the boat. The kayak has three valves that allow you to fill the three chambers with air. The valves have a red dot in their center, which can lock them closed or open. If the valve is locked open, when you remove the fitting from the air pump all the air you just pumped into the chamber comes rushing right back out. This is disconcerting if you don’t understand how the valve functions.

Of course at first I didn’t. I had to play around with that first valve. You simply push down on the red dot to set it to the other mode, as it were. Then when you remove the air pump fitting, the air stays in the chamber.
When you want to deflate the chamber, you just press the red button. Once you’ve figured it out, you have to admire the clever design.

Clever design features were not limited to the valves, though.

Innova Swing EX review

The inflatable seat- quite nice.

The seat is inflatable (you use for lungs for this), quite comfortable, and quite adjustable, with three straps holding it in the desired position. The footrest likewise is inflatable, with a single strap holding it in the desired position. It’s easy enough to adjust that I easily adjusted it to my liking during my water tests of the boat.

Innova Swing EX review

The inflatable foot rest and forward cargo space.Please ignore the white guy legs.

Bungees and cargo nets across the decks fore and aft allow you to store small items securely, with immediate access.

Innova Swing EX review

Cargo nets fore and aft for small items.

For larger items, you’ll find ample cargo space in front of the footrest and behind the seat. Access these spaces through two zippers that run parallel to the long axis of the boat, one fore, one aft. My tests were without significant cargo.

Innova Swing EX review

Bungees and zippers fore and aft for larger items.

I found the boat to be well designed and well made. There was nothing cheap or chintzy about it.

The Swing’s initial water test was on a small local lake. Winds were light, quite a lovely day, actually.

A removable fin keel kept the vessel tracking remarkably straight. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the Swing was to paddle, and how well it tracked. Paddling the Swing EX was a little more clumsy than paddling my Prowler. Because in the Swing you sit in a hole on the top of the boat, you need to keep your arms up higher than when paddling the SOT. In my opinion, this was a little more clumsy.

The second test was on the Econlockhatchee, a small river near my home. I brought a fishing rod. Any boat I own has to have fishability.

For the same reason as in paddling, fishing from the Swing was clumsy. I kept hitting the edge of the cockpit with the line, or the reel, and had to hold my arms up higher than I am accustomed to. That having been said, I did catch two bass in two hours, and missed another strike. So you can fish from the boat. Be careful with sharp objects, though. It is an inflatable, after all.

Innova Swing EX review

I caught this bass from the Swing EX.

While the Prowler is better for fishing, and I’m unlikely to get rid of it, the Swing has some advantages over it. For one thing, although they are the same length when the Swing is inflated, it weighs about half of the Prowler’s 55 pounds. For another thing, with the Swing you don’t need roof racks or a trailer. It comes in a backpack. You can assemble it in minutes when you get to the water. When you’re done you can fold it up and put it back in the pack, or let just enough air out to shove it in the trunk or in the back of the van.

Innova Swing EX review

You can also just tie the boat to the roof of your vehicle- no rack needed.

For folks with storage space issues, the Swing makes way more sense. It fits in a backpack. A hard kayak’s length doesn’t change. The Swing is way more “storable”.

All-in-all I think the Innova Swing EX Inflatable Kayak is a neat little boat. While it doesn’t fit my particular needs very well, I can see where it would fit the needs of any paddlers who require a boat they can store and transport easily. At $1000 it’s certainly affordable. You could do much, much worse.

And that is my Innova Swing EX Inflatable Kayak Review!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2016. All rights are reserved.

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GoMacro Macrobars Review

GoMacro Macrobars Review

macrobar

This is a GoMacro Macrobars Review.

When it’s time to fuel up, some folks go to Micky’s. They don’t need to read this.

Folks who want a dense, healthy, nutrient-filled snack that has a list of ingredients that anyone with English proficiency can understand (instead of needing a graduate degree in organic chemistry) need to check out the line of Macrobars from GoMacro.

GoMacro produces a variety of flavorful, wholesome, vegan, macrobiotic, sustainably sourced bars. This company also goes that extra length to have a positive effect on the world. What’s not to like?

Here’s an ingredients list from one of their bars: Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Sesame Butter, Organic Dates, Organic Raisins, Organic Puffed Brown Rice, Organic Sesame Seeds.

Gee, what’s missing here? High fructose corn syrup, trans fats, genetically modified organisms, and any type of preservatives. All of our food should be this pure.

People like runners, hikers, cyclists, paddlers, and others who use muscles to get from point A to point B should be eating this stuff!

While I wrote this I sampled the Morning Harvest flavor. This tasty 59 gram bar packs 240 calories, has 11 grams of healthy fat, five grams of protein, and 15 grams of sugar. Not great for sitting around the office with a cup of coffee, but on a strenuous hike it would be absolutely perfect!

For more information on, or to purchase some of, GoMacros tasty treasures, visit their website at https://gomacro.com.

Thanks for reading the GoMacro Macrobars Review!

Buen provecho!

John Kumiski

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