Sunday, September 29, 2013

Simple White Bass Fish Tacos



This is simple fish taco recipe that I started making this past June after I got sick eating fried, grilled or baked white bass.  It doesn't really require any special ingredients and can pretty much be altered to your liking.

This Recipe is for 6-8 fish tacos
4 Large White Bass Filets (any white flaky fish will do)
Juice and zest from 3 limes
Your favorite taco seasoning
1 tsp. of sour cream per taco
1 cup of shredded red cabbage
Shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups Pico De Gallo
Tortilla shells

Directions: Mix the lime juice, zest and taco seasoning in a bowl with a top (a ziplock bag works perfect).  Marinate your white bass filets in the mix for 10 to 15 mins.  Once marinate time is complete cook your fish in a grill pan or in the oven (if possible the barbecue grill is a great option for a more smoky flavor) until the fish is done. While the fish is cooking go ahead and put your shredded cabbage, pico and cheese on your tortilla shells.  When the fish is done cooking add 1/2 filet to each tortilla (depending on filet size) and eat up.

Thanks for reading,
Kwan

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Understanding Gamefish By Temperature Pt1

We all know and understand that fish are cold blooded animals.  However, despite this fact we as fisherman and women must understand that fish are often divided by biologist into three different categories: warm water fish, cool water fish and cold water fishes.

Right now I'm only gonna talk about one group and that is the warm water game fish group.  This group of fish which includes a large group of panfish and catfish prefer water in a range from 70 to 80 degrees fahrenheit.

As anglers we must all understand that the temperature preferences of our quarry is only one piece of the puzzle that helps us locate and effectively fish for them. Remember fish must eat and many of their movements are dictated by their forage at that moment.

As well seasonal temperature changes will adjust the behaviors of many of these warm water fishes as many of them live in waters that seasonally ice over. For example catfish readily live in lakes that ice over however during this time of colder than preferred temps their metabolisms slow and they become less aggressive and active in order to survive the colder temperatures.

On another note many of the larger warm water game fish begin to spend more time in colder water as they age and get larger.  So remember, understanding the temperature preferences of game fish is just one valuable piece of the puzzle to making a better angler.

Next weeks post will cover cool water gamefish and the following week will cover cold water fish.  So Stay Tuned!

Thanks for reading!
Kwan

Thursday, September 19, 2013

DIY Solar Generator by Femmpaws



This solar generator is an amazing DIY project for those of us who spend any amount of time in the outdoors.  The link to the person who posted this video is:  http://www.youtube.com/user/wranglerstar

The link to the person who built it is:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Femmpaws

I'll be sure to look up some plans on diy solar generators for us all to view in the future.  

Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Quick Tips for Better Squirrel Hunting

 

Squirrel hunting, it's highly underrated and too much fun to ignore.  Whenever I mention it to any non-hunter the first thing the first thing they mention is how easy it must be to hunt squirrels.  Every time I hear this I can't help but giggle because their only opinion of squirrels and squirrel behavior comes from their views of the local squirrel digging through their trash or raiding the bird feeder.

Well if your idea of squirrels are the black and gold semi-tame trash bandits you see everyday in your neighborhood you are sadly mistaken of what truly wild squirrels are like.  First of all, squirrels that live in the woods are far more shy of people especially since they rarely see an actual person intruding on their woods.  On the occasions that they do see people they see us just like any other predator.  When they see a predator they run for the safety of their trees and clam up quick.  A few squirrels that were just barking and chasing each other around will disappear just as fast as you can snap a twig with your big clumsy boots.  However there are some things that will help you bag a few more bushy tails this small game season.

Listen Closely 
Sometimes the only way you'll locate the nefarious bushy tail is when they drop something from the trees.  So listen for falling branches and acorns.  While a squirrel may not make a sound when they've spotted you once they think they've out foxed you or that you've moved on they'll go back to feeding, albeit quietly.  So listen up for falling twigs and nuts.

SHH!  Be quiet
Think of squirrel hunting kind of like mini-deer hunting.  You can either sit and wait for them to move or you can do some stalking on the little guys.  Either way you have to be quiet especially if you're doing some calling and stalking.  One of the things I've done to aid me in my stalks is to ad some felt to my rubber boots to muffle the sounds of twigs underfoot.  Just because they're squirrels doesn't mean they're not smart enough to avoid predators and whether you like it or not you're a predator.

Don't look for squirrels
Early season can have you looking in trees loaded with leaves for squirrels that can use a large oak leaf as a hiding spot.  So one of the things I've learned is to don't look so hard for an actual squirrel but look for the moving branches that give away their movements.  That doesn't mean not look for actual squirrels it just means you have to be keyed in to the signs especially in early season when they are much harder to spot.

Start Barking
One of the things I've found fun and helpful when out bagging bushies is to call for them.  A couple of barks on a squirrel call will have squirrels barking back at you from all over the woods.  It's pretty cool especially if you have young hunters with you.  Have them start yipping away and they'll be excited from that  forward.  Also if you don't know what to do when you start calling take some time and listen to what the squirrels in your neighborhood are saying and mimic them.  But most all have fun with it.

Improve your odds with a PODS
Depending on your weapon of choice squirrel hunting is all about precision shooting.  So make sure you practice a lot before season starts.  Also to make it easier to hit a target as small as a squirrels head make sure you pack a bipod or monopod to get a solid rest.  This way once you've silently moved into position you won't have to waste time trying to settle the natural movement of your body so much to clear a good shot.   Remember a squirrel's head is not too much larger than a couple of quarters so you don't have much room for error so practice and bring a POD with you.

Look beyond your target
No matter what weapon you use to take your game you always have to think SAFETY FIRST.  This is just as true with squirrel hunting a .22 or .17 bullet can do just as much damage as a .45.  Make sure you're when you shooting at brush running squirrels be on the look out for hunters orange or other unwanted targets.  Also when you're aiming up in the air or on the ground at your target make sure you have a backstop.  If your aiming at a squirrel sunning itself and there is nothing but open air behind it, wait until you have a backstop.  After all bullets, buckshot and arrows are subject to gravity and must come down somewhere.


Hopefully I'll see you outdoors soon
Kwan

Friday, September 13, 2013

Why I'm Starting this Blog

Why am I starting this blog?  The question that I've been asking myself for the last few days leading up to the start of "The Urban Outdoorsman".   Every time I ask it I have to remind myself that there is a wealth of information out there that will aid us all in becoming better outdoorsmen and women.  As a result I've decided to share with you what little knowledge of fishing, hunting and woodsmanship I have with you all as well as share with you in my growth and experimentation as I learn more.  As a result you can expect to see posts about fishing (from the bank, float tube and kayak fishing), fishing DIY, hunting, wild game recipes and plenty woodsmanship in between.

Fortunately i know that I am in no way a professional sportsman.  I say this is fortunate because my understanding that I don't know it all gives me the mind to constantly learn and get better at ll things outdoors.  So with that said hopefully I can bring things to this blog that you all can learn from and I hope that you will all be willing to share your knowledge with me about the outdoors so that I might become better.

So stay tuned and thanks for reading.

Kwan

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