...and I feel fine! Continued.

Just out of curiosity.  Did anyone get the joke regarding the title of the last 2 days articles in relation to the context of the articles?  If you did not, check this out.  It is a little diddy by a band called R.E.M.

Any way, back to the countdown of the top places that you must fish before you die.

Lake of The Woods, Minnesota.  The self proclaimed "Walleye Capital of the World", Lake of the Woods is home to monster fish.  Although this lake is a walleye pilgrimage for many, anglers can expect to catch a variety of species.  Everything from Walleye to, Sauger, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Musky, Crappie, Largemouth, Smallmouth, Sturgeon, Whitefish, and Tulibee can be hooked into on this 6th largest freshwater lake in the USA.  But to make this prestigious list, fishing locations must prove to be a little extra special.  The extra incentive of Lake of the Woods you may ask?  There is never a bad season for fishing.  Sure the fishing may slow down at times, but this lake has proven to be fruitful during the spring, summer, fall, and especially in winter.  Ice fishing is not for everyone.  But those who do ice fish know that there is nothing better than pulling a huge fish through a little hole surrounded by your friends.  And what better place to take an ice fishing trip to than Lake of the Woods, where they take ice fishing serious.  Check out these guys, Angle Outpost Resort.  You can have the option to stay in a sleeper cabin on the ice or at their personal lodge where they will drive you to a ice house in an awesome ice cat for the day before picking you up and cleaning your fish back at the lodge.  I personally have not been on a trip with Angle Outpost nor am I sponsored by them, but they are the best deal I have found and would love to go fishing with them!  Let's just hope the ice arrives early this year... Before December 21st...

 
Alaska.  It is true that Alaska has been a little over commercialized over the last decade, but Alaska is still one of the last pristine places to fish on Earth and within North America.  The fishing here is just magical.  There are so many species and seasons to fish in Alaska it will make your head spin.  I honestly do not have to say too much within this paragraph in the attempt to entice you to take a fishing trip to Alaska.  Just look at these pictures.  I'll wait until your done looking....   Not pictured in those fine pixels is an angler with a Dolly Varden Trout.  Raise your hand if you have ever heard of the Dolly Varden Trout aka Dolly Varden Char.  Probably not too many of you are sitting at your computer, or with your phone, with a hand in the air.  Of course a halibut, rock fish, and salmon are all good target species, but the Dolly Varden would also be high up on my list.  This fish can look vary similar to the Brook Trout, have very pretty coloration, and also eats very good if you chose to make a meal out of them.  And if you are preparing for an "Earth altering event" on December 21st, if you get to Alaska to fish, target the Dolley Varden.  There is a lot of them and if you clean and dry this fish properly, you will have ample protein and food source during any situation.

....and I feel fine!

Whether you want to admit it or not, it is coming.  It will be here before we know it.  It's significance is different fore many people, but everyone knows about it.  And unless you have been living under a rock for the past year you all know what it is.  December 20th, 2012 is only 100 days away.  It is time to start preparing.

All of this "the world is going to end!" jargon has really got me thinking.  I mean, what if our world really does explode from a rogue meteor and we as human beings cease to exist after that day?  Many people believe that something like this is going to happen.  There is even an website dedicated to it -> December 21st 2012 Official Website.  And of course, if it is on the internet, it must be true, right? So like I said, this got me in "prepare" mode.  If the world really is going to end, I need to do something....

...So let me present to you the Top 4 places that you must fish within the United States before December 21st, 2012.  (2 locations today, 2 revealed tomorrow)  All of these locations are a "must do" trip as an angler before their life comes to an end.

Crater Lake National Park.  Crater Lake is located within a very old inactive volcano.  How awesome, right?  There is literally no place like this on Earth.  A once prestigious volcano within the Cascades Mountain Range,  Mount Mazama erupted catastrophically one day about 7,700 years ago.  This massive eruption caused Mount Mazama to collapse inside of itself and become dormant.  The lake that then formed inside this basin was a result of an accumulation of rain and snow over 250 years.  Originally, fish did not naturally inhabit Crater Lake, so the fish that live there today are a result of stocking programs.  Uniquely, the fish species that were stocked did extraordinarily well.  The last time Crater Lake was stocked was in 1941.  Today you can find Kokanee and Rainbow Trout within the waters of Crater Lake.  More info regarding licenses and such can be found here.  Be sure to visit this location as far in advance before December 21st, just in case it decides to become active for that date.



South Florida.  Southern Florida can offer a variety of fishing opportunities for many people.  Whether you are into saltwater fishing or freshwater fishing, Florida is a hot spot for a plethora of fish species.  But there is one fish specifically that you need to try and catch before you die or the world ends, and that is the Peacock Bass.  Even though this fish looks reminiscently similar to a largemouth, the peacock bass is not a "true" bass at all.  It is in the genus Cichla, whereas the largemouth is in the genus Micropterus.  The Peacock Bass is native to the Amazon River and South Africa so fishing for this particular species in S. FLA may be your only chance.  The Peacock Bass is mad aggressive and will put up a better fight than any chunk bucket-mouth you have ever hooked into.  Not only are they more fun to fish for, but they are arguably a more "pretty" fish than any large or smallmouth.  


Check back tomorrow when I reveal the other 2 "fish before you die" locations!  What do you think they will be??



Crater Lake Pic:  http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/021/cache/crater-lake_2107_600x450.jpg

Trout Week; Day 7

Trout Week 2012

As Trout Week comes to an end with Day 7, I would personally like to thank everyone for reading my articles.  I hope that these articles were able to educate as well as inspire you to get out and enjoy all the streams that Pennsylvania has to offer.  I may be biased, but in my opinion, Pennsylvania is one of the best states within the United States for trout fishing.  The only way that you will get better as an angler is to get out on the water as much as possible.  Knowledge comes with experience, and catching more fish will arrive with a combination of knowledge and experience.  It is up to you to make that happen. 

As a reminder, as of September 4th, the Late Season regulations arrive for all PA anglers who wish to keep trout.  7 inches is still the length requirement, but the creel limit is cut down to only 3 combined fish.  To check out waterways in your area for late season stocking be sure to view this link.  And please remember to keep our streams and lakes clean.  Take out whatever trash you bring into an area.  Clean up any extra line or trash that you may see around you.  Leave the area you fish better than how you found it when you arrived.  Without conscious minded fishermen and women like you, we will not have healthy ecosystems to fish in the future.

Be sure to continue to check this blog every week for new information on everything fishing in PA and throughout the country.  I will be making multiple trips within this year to many places and will be sure to post my experiences, advice, and tips for everything I experience.  Other than trout, you can expect updates and articles written about everything that swims.

Lastly, if you have any advice, or would like to see something different within this blog, I extend my offer to please e-mail me your opinions.  You can contact me by either living a "comment" at the end of each article or by sending and e-mail to hookemfishingtv@gmail.com .  Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions, comments, or pictures and they WILL make my blog.  I would love to honor any and everyone who reads my writings.

For those interested in the Trout Week prize pack competition (day 7 is listed below).  Be sure to e-mail me, address provided above, with each days "Prize Pack Code".  Please include your name and mailing address.  You have until, Tuesday, September 4th, to e-mail me and enter the contest.  
Remember, you need to provide:
-Each days "Prize Pack Code"
-Your Name
-Your Mailing Address


I will chose the winner at random when the clock strikes 9:00pm EST on September 4th.  The winner will be announced via this blog.



And of course you can follow me through twitter and facebook.
Twitter: @TruezE
Facebook: Matt Truesdale

Good luck fishing!  Tight Lines and Fish On!!!

Drink Straub Beer!  A true PA native!

Write this down!  Trout Week day 3 prize pack code: Thank You Fans