Live Outdoors! http://emholden.com/wordpress Outdoor Adventure Log Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:29:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Big trout once again http://emholden.com/wordpress/2012/01/02/big-trout-once-again/ http://emholden.com/wordpress/2012/01/02/big-trout-once-again/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:47:20 +0000 Erik & Michelle http://emholden.com/wordpress/?p=1467

Of course when a spot is artificial only (trophy quality) you expect good sized fish, but this spot is growing some GIANTS.  We each landed a dozen or more fish just this morning.  The Rainbows and Cutthroat are prolific and we are blessed with a great brown here and there too!  Besides pathfinder this may be our go-to this ice season :)

 

]]> http://emholden.com/wordpress/2012/01/02/big-trout-once-again/feed/ 0 Nebraska and Wyoming ice http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/12/27/nebraska-and-wyoming-ice/ http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/12/27/nebraska-and-wyoming-ice/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 01:33:57 +0000 Erik & Michelle http://emholden.com/wordpress/?p=1465 Monday morning we left Ogden, Utah after Christmas with our family in Idaho.  By 6pm we were in the middle of Nebraska ready to fish.  One of our favorite spots which had monster gills and crappie was the goal.  When we arrived at dark-thirty Tuesday morning we found our area with a gps and began jigging.  The sound of geese and ducks was the clue that there was still open water on the lake  and the lack of fish coming out of the hole confirmed our disappointment.  The fish just aren’t under the ice if there is good oxygen elsewhere.  So, we packed up and headed back to Casper so we could drive another 100 miles to the north to try our luck there.  This trout spot is as hot as ever.  Erik iced nearly 20 fish and the population is as healthy as ever.  We fished until 3pm before heading back to Casper.

]]> http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/12/27/nebraska-and-wyoming-ice/feed/ 0 Pathfinder http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/12/17/pathfinder-8/ http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/12/17/pathfinder-8/#comments Sun, 18 Dec 2011 03:23:10 +0000 Erik & Michelle http://emholden.com/wordpress/?p=1455 When we left Casper this morning it was 35º and windy.  As we approached the Sweetwater arm, the tempurature and windspeeds plumeted.  By time we reached the ice it was calm and 3º.  We invited the Hallocks and our friend Ken to join us for some fast tip-up action.  The action wasn’t nearly as fast as we are used to on this reservoir, but we still had a great time catching and releasing more than 2 dozen fish and keeping 4 for the grill (all over 20″).  Tip-up fishing gets crazy becuase the fish will move through in schools and several flags will pop up within a few very short minutes of each other.  Each member of the group runs for the next flag and slides in for the chance at a hookset.  VERY exciting.  Then in between flurries there is time to snack and share stories :) Great trip for friends and socializing!!

On the way home we had a big surprise!  We found 6 antelope horn sheaths as we were driving along a fencline that antelope frequently duck under as they move throughout there range. It was  a really interesting and surprising occurance!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

]]> http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/12/17/pathfinder-8/feed/ 1 Two days at Muddy Guard http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/12/11/two-days-at-muddy-guard/ http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/12/11/two-days-at-muddy-guard/#comments Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:43:53 +0000 Erik & Michelle http://emholden.com/wordpress/?p=1447 We always make sure to bring the 9″ auger to this lake!  It is not uncommon to pull 20+” trout on the ice and they are fat.  A multi-species fishery with rainbows, cuttbows, cutthroat  and browns!  We probably only average one or two fish every hour but with the size and quality so good it is worth the time and effort.  The weather this weekend was perfect!  Sunny, calm and high 30′s.  On Saturday we landed a dozen fish with the biggest rainbow being 23″ with a 14″ girth and the biggest cutthroat going 21″. We fished with a couple good friends Tyler and Taya Hallock.

Sunday morning and Erik was awake at 4:00 ready to try it again.  We only fished till 10:30 this morning but landed half a dozen 18″+ rainbows and cutthroats. The weather was again amazingly perfect, sunny and warm.

]]> http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/12/11/two-days-at-muddy-guard/feed/ 0 Dome Rock http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/11/26/dome-rock-3/ http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/11/26/dome-rock-3/#comments Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:51:09 +0000 Erik & Michelle http://emholden.com/wordpress/?p=1440 We decided to take a drive and see if any ice thick enough to walk on has formed yet.  We headed toward Dome Rock which is an artificial only trout fishery.  We pulled up a couple hours before dark and drilled a couple holes to test our luck.  Within a few minutes Erik had a nice cutthroat on the ice.  The bite didn’t last long, but it was nice to see these beauties growing bigger and to know it is now ICE SEASON!!

]]> http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/11/26/dome-rock-3/feed/ 0 Thanksgiving Deer http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/11/23/1425/ http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/11/23/1425/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:00:17 +0000 Erik & Michelle http://emholden.com/wordpress/?p=1425 Sometimes you wait all day for it and other times it happens too fast to comprehend. We really thought we messed up this morning when we miscalculated sunrise and then didn’t even hear the alarm! Upon exiting the truck seeing light in the sky, we knew we needed to race down the mountain to have a chance at an early morning stroller.
We left the truck (Chad went north and we headed south) and moved as quickly as possible down the mountain to the area where we expected some good movement this mild breezy morning. No time for taking it easy or for bathroom breaks, we arrived at the spot just after first shooting light. We had no sooner sat down on a ridge looking into a patch of oaks when Erik spotted a deer moving through left to right. Michelle had only put out a seat cushion and was opening the pack for some essential gear. She grabbed her shooting sticks and got in position, looking for an opening that the buck might pass through. There are only a few spots that allow for an open shooting lane in this area and one must be ready when a deer enters. As soon as the buck moved through one of these spots, Erik softly blew the grunt tube. The buck paused and that was all it took. As the shot rang out the buck kicked like a bronc and took off down hill into another patch of oaks. Trailing him was no issue, at the spot of impact there was a crimson trail that would have been traceable in the dark of night.

Later in the day, as Michelle lounged in the camper, Chad was also successful in tagging a buck. He had seen quite a few does and fawns and finally had a buck present a shot worth the taking.

One of the fun parts of hunting the Hills is placing trail cameras up for the duration of the season. It is amazing the wildlife that we DON’T see when we are out hunting!

]]> http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/11/23/1425/feed/ 1 Black Hills 2011 2nd weekend http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/11/13/black-hills-2011-2nd-weekend/ http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/11/13/black-hills-2011-2nd-weekend/#comments Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:33:50 +0000 Erik & Michelle http://emholden.com/wordpress/?p=1417 What a gorgeous weekend! It was more than 40º when each one of us got out of the truck at 5am and the wind was very slight. Back to the same spots to await and see what was in store for the day. Within a half hour of shooting light a shot rang out through the hills and Erik was sure not to miss this day! A flock of turkeys was heard fighting amongst themselves a short distance from where Erik was hunting. Within a few seconds of hearing the rucus, a herd of whitetails came running past Erik a mere 60 yards away. When the buck stopped and presented a shot Erik didn’t hesitate endind his string of misses! We were on the way home before noon with a buck in tow.

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]]> http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/11/13/black-hills-2011-2nd-weekend/feed/ 0 Black Hills 2011 1st weekend http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/11/06/black-hills-2011-1st-weekend/ http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/11/06/black-hills-2011-1st-weekend/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:06:34 +0000 Erik & Michelle http://emholden.com/wordpress/?p=1415 We went to the Hills on opening weekend. We often have good luck early in the season and the weather tends to be a bit more stable. This was the change from daylight savings, which always makes one nervous to wake up too late or too early to beat the light. As always in the Black Hills for whitetails, Erik and Michelle went opposite directions from the truck. Each has a great spot that always has deer moving through to cross to other feeding and bedding grounds. About a half hour after light, Michelle saw movement straight ahead about 90 yards. Instantly it was obvious it couldn’t be a deer or even a canine. The way the animal moved it was almost like it was gliding across the ridge. It was a mature (probably female) mountain lion out for an early morning hunt or heading to bed for the day. Not 5 minutes after the lioness floated by, a decent buck followed almost in her tracks- if he only knew…. The deer refused to stop in an opening when Michelle blew the grunt tube and he continued on unaware.
Within a few minutes of telling Erik about the incounter it was time for Erik to have some action. A nice buck walked into range and gave a good shot. After squeezing off a shot the buck jumped and then started walking stiff leggedly. From the trees below the buck another buck walked out and the two bucks started sizing each other up. Another shot opportunity came and another shot was taken. After the two bucks ran out of the clearing Erik made his way over to look for the buck. Nothing was found after coursing through the area for over an hour! The rest of the day was fairly uneventful for both hunters with only one other buck seen just before dark but not giving a shot opportunity. Sunday morning Erik hiked into his area and had another shot at a good buck just after daylight. After looking for sighn of a hit in the fresh snow Erik determined another miss!!!

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]]> http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/11/06/black-hills-2011-1st-weekend/feed/ 0 Gordon’s Elk http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/10/29/gordons-elk-2/ http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/10/29/gordons-elk-2/#comments Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:37:15 +0000 Erik & Michelle http://emholden.com/wordpress/?p=1413 Once again Gordon shows us determination and the love of the outdoors superceded age. We were unable to find accessable elk in the snow covered hills on opening day and decided to let them cool off for the next weekend before giving it another try. So, on the third weekend of the season we headed to an area where Gordon and Erik have bagged several elk in hopes of finding a nice bull. The moring was calm and cool and we were fortunate to be in an area with no competiion to hasten our progress. We took our time working to a bowled out canyon and spent the last moments of twilight listening. Of course the rut is mostly over and bulls aren’t very vocal this time of year and we heard nothing but morning song birds, so we started still hunting down the ridge in order to work towards a nice place to have Gordon sit and watch for elk to feed out of the woods. However, before we could drop in all the way Erik spotted two bachelor bulls feeding on a ridge that had burned a few years earlier. We were unnoticed by the elk, so we had plenty of time to set up and get Gordon sighted in on the bulls. He made a great 270 yard shot and mortally wounded the larger of the two. Not knowing the exent of the damage, Gordon put one more shot in the elk that sent him to the ground. It was a hunt guided by God; we were able to get in, find the elk, take one swiftly and pack him out without straining the hunter.

]]> http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/10/29/gordons-elk-2/feed/ 1 Antelope, twice http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/10/20/antelope-twice/ http://emholden.com/wordpress/2011/10/20/antelope-twice/#comments Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:49:12 +0000 Erik & Michelle http://emholden.com/wordpress/?p=1404

Mike and Kate both picked up tags for antelope to hunt just east of town. It took us a few weeks to get a date where we all could meet and Thursday was the one! Our good friend Jeff met us at the house and we all headed out after a filling breakfast and fancy coffee. The area is at the base of the mountain and close enough to town to make an easy day hunt and we took full advantage of the leisure. We were in no rush to get a goat on the ground, so we took our time glassing the area before making a plan of attack. Our first venture brought us right up on an old buck that we hadn’t seen earlier. Mike hurried to get in a good position, however, this wiley goat was not interested in sticking around to see just exactly what we were up to. He headed over a hill and we tried to get on him one more time, but again he out manuevered us. We then turned our attention to a small herd just over the next ridge. They were working their way right to left in front of us toward the mountain. Jeff was spying a nice buck and double checked with

Mike about his confidence at 300 yards. Mike set up on the antelope and got on him just as the herd decided they didn’t like what was going on. He squeezed off on the buck at 330 yards and nailed him behind the shoulder. The buck ran a few yards along with the herd and just as he went out of site around the ridge, dropped. The camera man unfortunately was focused on the wrong buck, so the action was not recorded :(
After taking care of the carcass and having a quick snack it was time to look for a suitable (in-range) antelope for Kate. We jumped in the Ranger and headed toward where we had seen antelope when we were first glassing and stopped in a ravine to stay out of sight. Jeff found a wandering buck right away to our east and we started sneeking to a spot where Kate could set up behind some brush to take aim. She got set up lying down and found the buck in her sights. Her first couple of shots missed, but the antelope didn’t seem to know anything was amiss and continued feeding toward us. She hit him two shots in a row and stopped him in his tracks! He would have likely laid down soon after, but Erik had her put another in him that sent him down hard.


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