Where to Begin When Booking a Fishing Trip?

Me catching a Bonita in Cabo, Mexico 2019

I have been fortunate and blessed to be able to go on quite a few fishing trips over the years. Mostly because my grandfather like to spoil me and my brother, but lately I have been paying for trips myself, like my most recent one in Cabo, Mexico when I was down there in 2019. Where do you even begin to find outfitters and guided fishing trips? The internet of course, but what if you actually wanted to meet the outfitters before the fishing trip? One place I am going to recommend may be a little unconventional, but if you have been fishing and hunting for as long as I have you know what I am talking about.

The International Sportsman’s Expo! Yes, every January growing up in Northern California my grandfather, and I would go to the International Sportsman’s Expo in Sacramento, California. The expo would host hundreds if not thousands of outfitters and charters who were selling trips to destinations all around the world. We would make a day of it, and meet as many vendors as we could and talked to a lot of people about the trips they were offering. We got tons of great information such as pricing, and dates. The best part about it was if you had any questions about what they were offering, you could ask them on the spot.

Now if you are unable, or unwilling to attend an event such as this, the internet is your next bet! When I was planning a vacation in Cabo a few years ago, I knew I had to book a deep sea fishing trip when I was down there. Since I didn’t have the chance to go to an expo, I decided to book online. I used FishingBooker.com. They were an excellent source of information, and provided the best rates for top quality fishing experience. I really liked that you could read all the reviews, and compare different charters. With things finally opening back up, I would love to start planning my next trip, and see where I should go next!

So let me know your thoughts! Have you ever booked a fishing trip? If so, how did you do it? Drop a comment down below, and like the blog. Also, please share this with your friends, and family alike. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, and Twitter. As always, stay safe and Hunt Nevada.

Fishing Nevada Vlog #1

Welcome! And thank you for watching the first Fishing Nevada Vlog. In this video I am walking you through a beginner’s journey to fly fishing. I start out the video explaining the type of equipment I have, and will hopefully be able to use for my upcoming fishing series. I end up seeking help from a local vendor the “Reno Fly Shop” that specializes in fly fishing in Reno, Nevada. I talk to them about my hope to fly fish the Truckee River with my current set up, but that is when the deliver me so bad news.

However, they were able to set me up with everything I will need to simply just get out there on the water. They sold me a fly box with hand selected flies that are working this month for rainbow trout. They set up my fly rod properly with the correct line, and knots. They also changed the hand orientation of the reel from left to right (something I did not even notice until the mentioned it). They even were able to tie on my leader as well! Below is a detailed list of items that I bought.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe! As always, stay safe and Hunt Nevada.

Absolute Trout 9.0 FT 4X https://www.scientificanglers.com/product/absolute-trout-1-pack/

Absolute Trout 7.4 LB 4X https://www.scientificanglers.com/product/absolute-trout/

Air-Lock Indicator https://www.scheels.com/p/echo-air-lock-strike-indicators-3%2F4-3-pack/05316371252.html?store=74&gclid=CjwKCAjw47eFBhA9EiwAy8kzNOKkLO5jtkNQ70xM1uZ4KAF9OFhkcvo5_-eKISvPR36Hh2orfmMUqBoC66IQAvD_BwE

Truckee River Dozen Selection https://renoflyshop.com/product/truckee-river-dozen/

My Results for the Nevada Big Game Draw…

Photo Credit: NDOW.org

Well it’s the moment we have all been waiting for; did I draw any big game tags this year? The answer is… No, but that doesn’t mean my hunting season is over. Far from it. Like I said in my previous blog, I am going to bird hunt that much harder this year. Whether it be for upland birds, such as chukar and quail, or migratory birds, such as ducks and geese, I am going to find the birds. I am also going to fish more this season, and try to learn how to fly fish. I am going to have my schedule pretty packed this fall, not only with hunting, but with school and work as well. That is why it is important that I do my due diligence now, and scout spots while I have time available, because come hunting season I will have a lot going on.

Now looking back at my draw results, am I happy with the choices I selected? Yes. However, I do have some regrets about the mule deer tag. I know I received a mule deer tag last year, but like I said in another previous blog, I can apply for a mule deer tag every year, and draw every year if I was that lucky. The reason being is because there is no wait period if I do draw one. I am disappointed that I didn’t draw a mule deer tag this year, but then again when your state only has a lottery system then that’s how it goes. I could’ve put in for some less proven areas just so I could get to go, but I would have needed to get really lucky because I didn’t have any bonus points. Like they always say, “There’s always next year”.

Lastly, not getting a tag this year will allow me time to pursue other hobbies and I will be taking a trip down to my local fly fishing shop and filming the experience and hopefully have a vlog posted for everyone soon.

So let me know your thoughts! Did you draw a big game tag this year? If so, what and where? Drop a comment down below, and like the blog. Also, please share this with your friends, and family alike. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, and Twitter. As always, stay safe and Hunt Nevada.

My Strategy if I Don’t Draw a Big Game Tag Tonight

Photo Credit: ndow.org

Well tonight’s the night the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) notifies hunters whether or not they were successful on their big game tag applications. If you haven’t applied for big game tags in Nevada yet, then unfortunately it is too late. Applications closed on May 10^th at midnight, and now the time has finally come where we get the results. NDOW released a statement earlier this week saying that the lottery results are in, and they are preparing to send them to us at midnight tonight, 5/21. I am not sure if I will stay up until midnight for the results (I probably will), however I did want to talk about my strategy if I am unsuccessful. 

Now, I am a pretty lucky guy, but I am not optimistic that I will draw another mule deer tag this year. However, I am more optimistic about my other tags that I have out there. This year I applied for every species that I was able to apply for which included sheep/goat, antelope, elk, bear, and of course deer. My number one choice would be to draw an elk tag this year, but the areas I picked were tough with low draw results. I haven’t gone on an elk hunt in years, and I really want to go, so I hope this year is the year. Now, if I don’t draw anything this year, what is my plan? I am going to pursue bird hunting pretty hard this year if I don’t draw a big game tag. I want to scout more ponds, try new areas, and ask for permission on private land. I want to fully commit to finding the birds this season if I don’t draw.

If I do draw then I will need to balance my time, and budget for both. Now, Nevada doesn’t have an over-the-counter tag for any species, so the draw is pretty much my only shot at getting to go hunting this season. Now, I am hopeful that my friends will draw a tag this year, and I could possibly tag along on one of their hunts and help out by scouting, or hauling meat. I don’t care who gets a tag, I just want to go. So either way I will be going out there this season either as the hunter, or the helper, but I am definitely going.

So let me know your thoughts! Did you apply for big game tags this year? If so, what are you most hopeful of drawing? Drop a comment down below, and like the blog. Also, please share this with your friends, and family alike. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, and Twitter. As always, stay safe and Hunt Nevada.

Venison Philly Cheesesteak

Photo Credit: MyRecipies.com

I have got another wild game recipe for you guys, and boy is this one both easy, and delicious. For those of you that don’t know, a Philly Cheesesteak consists of thinly sliced beef (or in our case venison), onions, peppers, and cheese on a hoagie-style roll. That’s it! But first you might ask yourself what cut of meat should I use? Well, any really, but I would recommend the front, or hindquarter.

First you are going to want to thinly slice the meat, and marinate it for about an hour. Add the meat to a Ziploc baggie, and add olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, garlic salt, and pepper. Next cut up your toppings. That’s going to be your sweet onion, green pepper, and mushrooms. Once everything has cooked you can place your provolone cheese on top and let it melt. After the cheese has melted, scoop everything up and place it on a hoagie roll and BAM! You have a Philly Cheese Steak that probably took more prep time than actual cook time.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter (divided)
• 1 green pepper (sliced)
• ½ sweet onion (sliced)
• 4 ounces mushrooms (sliced)
• 1 pound venison steak (sliced ⅛” thick)
• 4 teaspoons olive oil (plus more for cooking)
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 dashes liquid smoke
• ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper and garlic salt
• 4 slices provolone cheese
• 2 hoagie rolls
• 2 tablespoons mayo

Directions

• Thinly slice the venison, and place in a Ziploc bag with olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, garlic salt, and black pepper. Let it marinate for at least one hour.

• Set broiler on high.

• Add 1 tablespoon of butter to a sauté pan set over medium heat, and add green peppers when melted. Let green peppers cook for 5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Remove from skillet, sauté the onions, and mushrooms until tender.

• Set aside peppers, mushrooms, and onions. Then add the second tablespoon of butter to the skillet, and turn up the heat to medium-high. Add venison, and spread out evenly in the pan. Let it cook until the underside is seared, then flip and repeat. Continue cooking until meat is no longer pink and is nicely browned. Add salt as needed.

• Lightly toast the interior of the hoagie rolls in a separate skillet, toaster, or under the broiler.

• Assemble the sandwich by adding half of the meat into each hoagie, and topping generously with pepper, onions, mushrooms, two slices of cheese, and a smear of mayo.

• Place sandwiches briefly under broiler to melt the cheese, approximately for one minute. Be sure to watch the sandwiches, as they will burn quickly.

So let me know your thoughts! Have you ever tried this before? If so what wild game did you use? Drop a comment down below, and like the blog. Also, please share this with your friends, and family alike. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, and Twitter. As always, stay safe and Hunt Nevada.

Fishing Nevada

Photo Credit: travelagewest.com

Well, I couldn’t hold out any longer. I am starting a new blog series called Fishing Nevada, and I will be exploring all things fishing related in Northern Nevada. I find myself in a lull when it comes to exploring the outdoors this spring, and this is how I am going to attempt to remedy that. Lately, I have been getting outside in the form of golfing, but it doesn’t feel like enough. Before I go any further, I will come clean right now, I am not that great of a fisherman, but I do want to get better. I want to learn how to cast a fly this summer, and find new spots, or at the very least understand what I am doing wrong. I have been out of the fishing game for a long time, and I think this is the perfect opportunity to get back into it. I have fished the local Truckee River for trout before, but I haven’t had much success. I was using a spinning rod and reel, and from talking to a lot of friends the best (and probably) only way to fish the Truckee is with a fly rod. Fly fishing is a totally different kind of fishing altogether.

Fly fishing requires a lot of skill, and practice. And once you finally get good, is when you actually start to catch fish. So I am going to bring my readers along for the journey by not only blogging about it, but actually vlogging about it on my YouTube channel. I am going to create new videos this summer, and hopefully provide content that all of my followers will like. I am going to take you on every step of the way through my process and hopefully by the end of it, I will learn a lot about fly fishing in Nevada. Like I said before, I like to share my failures, and I know there are going to be a lot of them, but I also plan on growing from them.

So let me know your thoughts! What do you think about this new series? What would you like to see me do? Drop a comment down below, and like the blog. Also, please share this with your friends, and family alike. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, and Twitter. As always, stay safe and Hunt Nevada.

These Boots Were Made for Huntin’

Photo Credit: Kenetrek.com

Hunting boots have come a long way from when I started hunting back in the early 2000’s. Back then, hunting boots were very stiff, and didn’t have a whole lot of comfort. You would normally buy the boot, and then immediately replace the insole with a better one to provide any support. They would also feel stuffy because of the Gore-Tex waterproof lining, and of course I probably wasn’t wearing the right socks to boot. Lastly, they weren’t too expensive, from what I could remember paying, maybe anywhere from $100 to $200 max. Nowadays, that’s more of a down payment on some of the new boots that have hit the market. Now, for the real question, “Are they worth it?” Well, let’s break it down.

Like I said previously, the technology, and comfort of hunting boots has come extraordinary lengths from just 10 years ago. Companies like Kenetrek came on to the scene and made a big splash in the hunting boot industry. I used to work in Cabela’s footwear about 10 years ago, and I still remember the first day we received a pair of Kenetrek boots in our freight. I was talking with other outfitters about them, and could not believe the price. $350 for a pair of boots?! That sounded outrageous to me at the time (and looking back, I probably should’ve bought a pair when I still had my discount). Now, the Kenetrek Mountain Extreme Non-Insulated Boot cost $465. So what makes this boot so expensive? A lot actually. This boot comes with one of the best warranties I have ever seen from a boot manufacturer. On their website it states, “Our products are warrantied to be free of manufacturing defects. If any Kenetrek product fails due to defective materials or poor workmanship within 12 months from the date of purchase and before the soles are worn 75%, they will be repaired or replaced by Kenetrek. Damages caused by improper care, alterations, accidents, or natural wear and tear are not covered. Send your defective or damaged products to Kenetrek for evaluation. If Kenetrek deems your product defective, we will repair or replace it at our expense.” This boot is also made from some of the highest quality of materials which also factors into the price. I remember trying on the boots, and realized that the sole had zero give, however the sole also made a U shape that propelled you forward as you walked. It almost felt like if your foot was in a big black foot cast you got from the doctor’s office. The boot was designed to keep your foot in place, which in turn would cause less foot stress, and wouldn’t hurt your feet. I wasn’t quite sold on them, and ended up purchasing a pair of Danner Pronghorns that I still have to this day. I bought my Danner’s on sale for less than $200, and I still really like them. My boots would need to seriously break down before I consider spending $500 on a pair.

So let me know your thoughts! What kind of boots do you have? Would you recommend them? Drop a comment down below, and like the blog. Also, please share this with your friends, and family alike. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, and Twitter. As always, stay safe and Hunt Nevada.