There are many websites that offer online fishing forums where anglers can talk and discuss in an organized environment about the topics that appeal to them most. In general, online fishing forums have a main posting board where anglers can talk about general fishing subjects. Then usually there are more specific subjects sub- topics where specific popular topics can be addressed.

Online fishing photo galleries have become probably one of the most popular topics on online fishing forums. Now anglers can share a photo of their catch with thousands of other anglers and it has become a virtual bragging board.

However, the really useful part is that you can see who’s catching what species, when and where. Before the Internet, finding out that type of information was nearly impossible. You either had to be physically at the particular location and happen to know the person or you would have to wait to get to the location to see how the bite was.

With online fishing forums, you can have an immediate fishing forecast including the current bite, weather conditions and a sample of what anglers are currently catching. Also, other benefits are the local tips and information exchanged between anglers about particular locations or tackle used. It is like a gigantic online tackle box waiting to be discovered.

There are many great online fishing forums, just browse the internet and you will be sure to come upon one. Then you too, will be able to join in the fun and talk about your latest catch.

Author Troy Denson is http://www.BoldWater.com online Fishing Forum administrator. You can talk online to other anglers about fishing, tips, fishing tackle, marine art, fishing forecasts and fishing photo galleries at http://www.BoldWater.com/forum

©Troy Denson, 2005

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You Just Might Be An Ultralight Backpacker If…

- Your wife’s purse holds more stuff than your backpack.

- You pack light for a family trip to Grandma’s house.

- You use the fruit scales in Walmart to determine the weight of a possible new piece of gear.

- At home you use just 4 toilet paper squares, to “practice”.

- You read that last one and say, “toilet paper?”

- You have no idea what the title, scale or contour interval of your map is because…. you cut away all of the margins to save weight.

- You sleep at home with the temps turned down while in the buff just to get used to the cold so you can take an even lighter sleeping bag.

- The thought of 1000 fill-power down gives you a little shiver down your spine.

- You’re glad you’re going bald.

- You’re wondering if your compass would still work OK without all that heavy liquid.

- Your woman says, “Go down baby!” and you hop out of bed hootin and hollarin and order a Western Mountaineering Highlite!

- You no longer have tags on any clothing you wear.

- Your mailman is trying to figure out why people send you empty boxes all the time.

- You eat with $40 titanium chopsticks instead of a plastic fork because they weigh .01 ounces less.

- You walk through the grocery store thinking “saltines have 1760 calories per pound, but mixed nuts have 2720 calories per pound”.

- Your waterproof/breathable rain jacket cost more than your best suit.

- You shave ALL the hair off your body to save a few ounces on your “from the skin out” weight!

- Your trail runners weigh more than your multi day pack.

- You know the weight of your backpack, and not your wife.

- You have to take your tent down to use your combination spork/toothbrush because you used it as a stake.

- You compulsively weigh things you have absolutely NO intention of ever taking backpacking, just because.

- You take laxatives before a trip, just to “lighten the load.”

A Note To Backpackers: You might be an ultralight backpacker if you can easily come up with more of these from your own experience.

Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of lightweight backpacking. More of “You Might Be An Ultralight Backpacker,” plus advice and stories can be found at The Ultralight Backpacking Site: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

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All kidding aside, fishermen and non-fishermen alike, will enjoy these conversation pieces,and the gold plated pushpins are a handsome addition to any bulletin board.

FLY TACKS are the brainstorm of two really bored fishermen in Oregon who obviously have been spending too much time playing with their flies. After deciding their flies were obviously not going to catch any fish, they found the best use for them ? holding up their losing lottery tickets, and thus FLY TACKS were born.

The two corporate moguls, who obviously have no sense of timing, have come out with their product just in time to miss all the Christmas catalogs. They have no budget for advertising and are hoping to cash in on the lucrative free business article strategy. Stoly Hackle, winner of the annual CEO coin flip, is hoping to get thousands of orders so P.D. Good, Production Manager, will be forced to spend the holidays assembling FLY TACKS in his living room. Not to mention the five-dollar bet that Hackle will cash in on if he manages to get five orders from this venture. FLY TACKS are the perfect gift for every fisherman or fisherwomen on your holiday giving list. FLY TACKS make a great conversation piece in the office, and are the perfect way to liven up the usually dull bulletin board. Your boss will love them!

Fly Tacks have already been featured in numerous newspapers,like the Times Picayune,Reno Gazette, and Sacramento Bee.The “Two Guys” have appeared on the Portland Oregon morning show as well as several radio interviews.They have even been recommended by Cosmopolitan Magazine as: “One of the gifts to get that NEW GUY you are dating.”

If you can’t trust Cosmo–who can you trust!!!

TWO GUYS WITH FLYS, INK. also have t-shirts and bumper stickers available, as well as several other fly products. All flys are beautifully hand-tied. Some are tied by” ex-friends” who had to meet the original deadline for production!!

FLY TACKS come in two flavors ? I mean styles, TROUT FLY TACKS and STEELHEAD FLY TACKS. For $19.95 + $5.00 shipping, handling, and first aid costs. You will receive four beautifully hand-tied flys on gold plated push pins, sent to you in a plastic case, which can be used as a fly box for your “outdoor fly experiences.”

If you get tired of looking at those flys on your bulletin board–simply grab a hammer and destroy your fly tack–and you will have common ordinary hand tied flys that you can go fishing with. PLUS you still have 4 gold plated pushpins that a guy named “Franco” in Rhode Island worked so hard to produce… BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE… no wait….. I guess there isn’t more–so hurry up and order before P.D. does that “nanner-nanner I told you so thing”– I hate that.

Order from: TWO GUYS WITH FLYS, INK., 9 east 4th st., Medford, Or. 97501 www.twoguyswithflys.com

Or you can call a live person at: 541-941-0139

“Used” Fly Tacks available for media upon written request.

A.J. Klott Author, writer of fishing humor,and “fly tack” peddler.A.J. writes about the people,characters and modern day events that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005. If you need a laugh or a fun gift, visit his website at: http://www.twoguyswithflys.com

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When you are going RV camping or just a simple weekend hiking trip bring along that camp gear checklist and just make sure you have plenty of room for food and camping supplies for the days your there.

Don’t over pack, just make sure you are packing the right stuff on that gear list that you would actually use, necessities are a must like your backpacks, tents, cooking equipment, sleeping bags, camping furniture for the kids so they can unwind and relax.

The easiest method of making up a quick camping check list is dividing your list into categories starting at food you will pack, camping supply needed or gear and equipment. Checklists should be made up at home, once you know your camping destination you can then figure what you need to bring.

In the end if you follow your checklist right up to before leaving the house you should have all the camping stuff you will need to make your trip a success with minimal headache.

L. Dente is a successful author and publisher of http://www.discount-camping-gear.org Get information on discount camping gear like backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, camping furniture, cookware and other camping stuff.

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Michael Russell MgrCentral.com Established 2001 Home Business Training and Information Guides

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To go camping does not have to cost a arm and a leg. With the basics found in your home you could go today. Lets see first you will need some type of shelter a plastic trap 8 by 10 will make a good tent some rope 50 ft will be lots the ¼ inch nylon rope will work. Tie the rope between two trees and place the tarp over the rope. Stake down each side of the tarp with screw driver numbers need 6 to 8 I buy them at flea markets and garage sales. If you have a second tarp place it on the ground under the tarp tent be sure not to place the ground tarp outside the tent if you do any rain water may flow in on the ground tarp and you may get wet.

Ok we have a shelter now we need bedding you have blankets and pillow on you bed at home so use them they will wash up. If you have no air mattress then use two folded blanket placed on the tarp them make up you bed on top of them. Sleeping is now taken care.

We have some place to sleep now what about cooking. You have pots and pans in the kitchen. Us the fry pan , small 1 qt pot 3 qt pot and the biggest pot you have great for heating up water. If you have a tea kettle made of metal take it. Most campsite have a fire pit with a steel grill to set the pots on. If there is a campfire ban in place you can use a portable barbecue. Take the utensils from the kitchen if you have bbq tools take them.

Not doing to bad we have a place to cook and to sleep. If you have kids you will need a few more tarps and make them up a tent beside yours. Take you deck chair to sit on if you have no chairs then when you get to the camp site look for log blocks they make great chairs can be found at the wood pile.

Your chuck box can be a cardboard box with a lid or folding flaps. Put you dry goods in to this box salt, pepper, cereal, potatoes, and whatever else you remove from the kitchen cupboard. Can goods beans, canned fruits, Kraft dinner you get the idea.

Your cooler can be another cardboard box but this one you will line with a trash bag. Place the bag in the box and position it in the corner with the excess fold over the top of the box on the outside. You will need ice to keep the frozen foods cool. Save up you milk containers plastic works best wash out and fill ¾ full of water an place in the freezer. When you have a few frozen containers you now have the ice that will keep your food cold.

Place at least two in the bottom of you ice box then place the frozen meats, milk, juice into the box. You should place vegetables on top if there is room place a third frozen milk jug at the top of the box. You will need a lid for the ice box take another box and fold the flaps inside and slide the box over the top of you food box. Remember to keep this ice box out of the sun and you will find the ice will last about 4 to 5 days.

Other things to bring candles will work if you do not have a flash light but be very careful as a candle can start you tent bedding on fire and will cause a forest fire so never leave a candle un attended. A roll of tin foil will be needed - the thicker the better - works very well for cooking in. Bring a plastic pail to carry water in. A plastic basin will work to do dishes and wash up little dirty faces and hands.

There are many things you have in the house that will make the camping trip fun use you imagination. And get out and explore the parks and lakes in your area…

Ranger Bob has been having fun camping for years and wants to share all his knowledge with you so be sure to visit him at Camping-For-Fun

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If the camp gear outlet you find is an established one, you will find some of the best sales and discounts on clearance items as well as discontinued ones. Some outlets also offer mailing lists with information on camping tips and information on the newest camping gear and equipment just out on the market.

Read up on camping resources, news and articles from consumers and experts who know everything about family camping. Find information on the best camping outlets that sell equipment and gear at almost wholesale prices or who’s having blowout sales.

Some of the most important items to bring along on your camping trip include backpacks, sleeping bags, tents and camping furniture like a table and chairs. Most camping equipment outlets will sell some of the best camping name brands like Hillary, Coleman, Ozark Trail, Brunton, Eureka, Jansport, Swiss Army, Boy Scout, Quest, Kelty, North Face, Gregory, Closeout and Motorcycle to name a few.

L. Dente is a successful author and publisher of http://www.discount-camping-gear.org Get information on camping gear, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, furniture, and cookware.

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Michael Russell MgrCentral.com Established 2001 Home Business Training and Information Guides

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Staying warm in the wilderness is about proper gear and good skills. Proper gear means clothing and equipment suited to the enviroment you’re in. This is a subject in itself, worth studying if you spend much time backpacking. With better materials and designs, the newest clothing and equipment saves lives. It is skills, however, that make the biggest difference.

How To Stay Warm - Tips and Skills

- Set up camp in the right places. Hilltops are windy and cold, and cold air also fills valleys at night. Level ground somewhere in between, out of the wind, is best.

- Wear clothes to bed. Shake and fluff them up to make them insulate better. Some recommend against sleeping in clothes, but I’ve tried it both ways many times, and it’s always warmer with clothes on.

- Wear a hat. This may be equal to a pound of insulation in your sleeping bag. A lot of heat is lost through an uncovered head.

- Go to bed dry. Stay up until your clothes have dried, or change into dry clothes. On a warm, dry night, however, you can put damp clothes on your sleeping bag to dry them with body heat. You may need warm, dry clothes the next night (Thinking ahead is a great wilderness skill).

- Breath into your sleeping bag. Only do this in a dry climate, or if you’re sure it’s your last night out. You’ll get damp, but you should dry quickly from hiking in the morning.

- Take a water-bottle full of hot water to bed with you. This is easier and safer than heating rocks and placing them around you.

- Make a pine-needle mattress. Dead leaves and dry grass work too. Scatter the leaves in the morning, so they won’t smother the plants underneath. I’ve slept warmly below freezing, with no sleeping bag, in a pile of dry grass collected from a frozen swamp.

- You can breath into your sleeping bag if you’re really cold. You should only do this in a dry climate, or if you’re sure it’s your last night out. You’ll get damp, but you should dry quickly from hiking in the morning.

- Fill a water bottle with hot water, and take it to bed with you. This is easier and safer than heating rocks and placing them around you.

- Adjust your clothing as you hike. Remove and add clothes as necessary to stay warm without sweating. Sweat can cause you to lose heat rapidly when you stop.

- Stay dry. On a cold day, wet and hot can become hypothermia soon after you stop moving those muscles. On a hot day, however, wear wet clothing to dry it out in preparation for a possibly cold night.

- Conserve your energy. It’s tough for your body to keep itself warm with no energy reserves. You may also need that energy to gather firewood or hike to the car to escape a blizzard. Finally, you’ll make better decisions if you aren’t tired, and you’ll remember how to stay warm.

This is a sampling of wilderness skills and knowledge. There are many more things to learn about how to stay warm. In fact, I’ve left out one of the most important, because it deserves its own artcle: how to start a fire in any conditions.

Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos and stories can be found at The Ultralight Backpacking Site: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

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