Well, we hope you all had a safe 4th of July yesterday.

We ended up gettingup early and going out with our friends at Wind Walker Expeditions 4-wheelin above Lake Pleasant with a couple of Patti’s friends from San Francisco. What a great time. I hope that we never forget that the 4th is celebrayed because of a few traitors that thought this country should no longer be under British rule and the the words from the Declaration of Independence was put forth for a reason.

That being said,,, we really have a great show for you today. Our first guest  has been a long time friend and Tice Supplee with the Arizona Antelope Foundation will be joining me to talk about their upcoming fund raising banquet.

In the second segment I will be talking elk with Kevin Rector from the Arizona Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will join me as we get you excited for elk season at the Elk Hunting Seminar to be held August 8th, from 1-5pm.

The to wrap up the hour I will be talking to Sharon Birk from Cordura Brand. She will be talking about the Baselayer Fresh FX products that Cordura Brand offers. As a matter of fact Cordura Brand sent the kids from Team Kili some of those very shirts for their trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro. We will be having them on at a later date to talk about their trip.

Kicking off the second hour,,, Marcus Tork from Watermill Express will be joining me to discuss the ease of preparing for an urban survival situation and knowing where to get goo clean water for your hunting or fishing trips, or if you just want to go camping.

In the second segment of the second hour Linda Dightman from Becoming an Outdoors Woman will be with me to talk about the August BOW camp and all the classes that are offered for all you lady outdoor enthusiasts.

Then in the last segment I have a lot of great news for you as we cover what’s going on around the state and what we are up to. We also wish to thank Arizona Boating and Watersports Magazine for the great article about the new “Xplor’r” Emergency Shelter.

We hope you enjoyed the show as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. We want to thank you all for making “Xplor the Outdoors”, the number one outdoor radio show in the state.

We also want to thank our men and women in uniform for making this the safest place on earth.

Until next week, be safe, God Bless and make it a point to take someone out and XPLORTHEOUTDOORS!!!

We’re Jim and Patti Solomon and

“We’re Makin a Difference in Your Outdoor World”

Rory’s Tips
It looks like the traditional fireworks display at Lake Pleasant is not happening this year due to budget constraints.  However, Tempe Town Lake is having its 58th Annual Fireworks Spectacular from Mill Avenue bridge. This spectacular family night Fireworks Show will be choreographed to patriotic and classical music. Happy birthday America!
By the way, Tempe Town Lake has some pretty decent bass fishing, has plenty of yellow bass (use gold KastMasters), the lake is loaded with sunfish, and the shallow water makes it catfish heaven.
The full moon is July 7, which means this will be a pretty time to be on the water at night, but don’t expect your submersible lights to work as well. Check the moon rise and set times though.
Also, with moisture coming in from the Gulf (we used to call this monsoon season), the weather service is saying there is a good chance each day for thunderstorms and rain showers. These storms can make fishing in the desert and mountain lakes pretty good, but you also need to exercise caution and not be caught on or near the water during lightning events.
When the clouds build up and the barometer starts to drop, fish will typically begin actively feeding, sometimes at the surface. For our desert lakes, look for topwater action to pick up. In the mountain lakes, switch from bottom fishing to top-of-the-water-column techniques. Dry flies for fly fishermen and things like spinners, Rapalas, casting spoons (like KastMasters) and even flies on casting floats for spin anglers. When the rain starts, it can knock bugs out of the air, so bug-like lures can be devastating.
If you have kids, get them to catch grasshoppers in the meadows. A wiggling hopper on a small hook (I like a No. can drive trout nuts, especially in the gurgling streams. Also, listen for cicadas at home or in the forest. These little rascals can also drive trout and bass nuts. It’s a blast.
Also, when those mountain thunder bumpers gather, the wildlife can also get active. It’s a great time to slowly drive narrow mountain dirt roads looking for elk, deer, turkey and other critters. But be bear aware — keep a clean camp, and be sure to wash away all fish smells from your body before going to bed at night. If you eat s’mores, be sure you and the kids wash up thoroughly. You don’t want to smell like a nighttime treat for a hungry bear (or even a skunk).
Be sure to put on plenty of insect repellent, no matter where you fish.
I hear from Terry Gunn at Lees Ferry that the cicadas are starting to sing so this is the leading edge of the cicada bite right now. Fishing the Ferry in summer can be a hoot. Your upper torso can be sweating while your legs are turning numb from the cold water. It’s an Arizona fishing adventure just waiting to tantalize you in summer. A wild and rambunctious rainbow attacking a cicada at the surface will get your heart racing.
Also in the northern hinterlands, the great topwater bite is underway at Lake Powell. It’s time to hit the  “slurps.”
July nights are perfect for going after those bottom dwellers either from shore or boat. Use slip sinkers, treble hooks, and corn, hot dogs or stink bait (live chicken liver).
Please do everyone a favor — don’t drink alchohol and operate a boat. Our lakes are just too congested to have any impaired judgment or reflexes. Add in sun, boat vibration, and other things that numb the senses and you have a prescription for disaster. Don’t risk your life or anyone else’s. On the flip side, if you insist on drinking and boating, we’ll do our best to catch you and the consequences are dire. We are operating OUI checkpoints on some of the lakes. I don’t mean to be a safety pest, but please put on that PFD — it might just save your life.
On a lighter note, I will be gone this coming week (fishing the White Mountains, northern New Mexico and Colorado), but my good buddy and able co-worker Jim Harken will be filling in for me to assemble the report. But I’ll try to put together some tips before I leave. Maybe I’ll get to see you while I am fishing out there — could happen.
Had an interesting episode last week right in the Game and Fish HQ parking lot. A boat that had been on Lake Pleasant for 10 years was pulled out, but it was too tall to go down the freeway. They parked it in our parking lot. This boat was not only full of quagga mussels, it had the largest most mature quagga mussels any of us have seen coming from an Arizona lake. Folks, please Don’t Move A Mussel. Clear, dry and drain you boat each time you visit a lake, any lake. If you have a boat moored at a qugga infested lake, such as Pleasant, Mead, Mohave or Havasu, you need to take extra steps and have the hull and other submerged sufaces hit with a high pressure, high temperature power washer — by those who know what they are doing.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL YOU DAD’S!!!

We have another great show for you this week;

We’re going to start off the show with a swap meet that will be put on by the folks at the Phoenix Varmint Callers  on July 7th. Dick Snell will be with me to talk about that and the Arizona State Calling Championships that will be coming soon.

Then we’re talking to Brian Reece from Zack Tack, . “What is Zack Tack you ask”? Well your just going to have to stay tuned in to find out, but Brian has a few ingenius products like the Quikslide, the Cool Caddy and the Hood Pak  that he has come up with so you really don’t want to miss this segment.

Then we’re talking about clothing made from Bamboo. Yep, that’s what I said, Bamboo. It’s is totally amazing what, with the technology thses days what they can make clothing out of. Plastic water bottles, bamboo, you name it and there is probably something made out of it. Well, Debbie wright from Seed-Sucker will be joining Patti and I to reveal just what this clothing is.

To wrap up the first hour and head into the next, Mike Wallace from the Superstition Search and Rescue will finish up with some outdoor tips that could save your life.

Then in the second hour, it’s time to join  John Crossman alias the “Blue Bird” from Wind Walker Expeditions some wilderness tips. What’s dynamic about the Blue Bird is: this guy knows everything about wilderness survival, native american weapons design and how to even weave you own clothing from bark.

In the second segment, we’re going to meet a young man whose goal is to climb to the top of the tallest peaks in the world. Jordon Romero will be joining Patti and I to talk about this incredible goal.

Then, Buddy Mike Kimery from the Arizona Shell Factory will be with me to finish up the show. The factory has moved, with, as always, the quality equipment you demand for the outdoors. Mike will join me give you some tips for not only enjoying summertime camping but the hunting season as well.

We hope you enjoyed the show as much as we enjpoyed bringing it to you.

Until next week, Be Safe, God Bless and make it a point to take someone out to XPLORTHEOUTDOORS!!!

We’re Jim and Patti Solomon and,

“WE’RE MAKIN A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR OUTDOOR WORLD”

To listen to this Week’s Fishing report,,,,, CLICKHERE!!!

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/fishing_report.cfm?storeNum=117

If you missed Sunday’s LIVE Broadcast,,,,, CLICK HERE!!!!!

This we we have a great show for you and right out of the starting gate we will be talking to Glenn Fickett, from Sure Track to talk about the Bash Tri-Pod. This is something no hunter, bowhunters included should be without when you go out into the field. If your an archer, bowhunter, hunter or even a photographer. You will not want to miss this segment.

In the second segment, we’re traveling to Ohio with the President of Dude Girl Apparel, Kim McElhinney, after she completes the Dirty Dude Girl run. There is a great story behind this clothing line and as Patti is finding out more women that ride, horses, that is, are going crazy over this. 

Then to wrap up the last segment we’re “Cookin with Camp Chef” as Marketing Director, Steve McGrath joins me to talk outdoor cookin and tempt you with some ideas about what’s new for 2009.

To literally kick start the second hour, The owner of Action Motor Sports, Dennis Alesandro will be joining me to get you hunters ready for the season and Dennis has some great ideas to fight the high gas prices.

In the second segment, well, have you ever left the dock, in your boat, only to find out that you forgot to replace your drain plug? For that dilemma we have just the remedy. George Wize, the inventor of Boatwizedrain plug will be joining us to help you with that little problem as he has the plug that, if you forget the plug, the boatwize plugs itself.

Then in the last segment we will be talking to Jeff Basford, the President ofPaha Que Wilderness Tents. Jeff is joining me because about a month ago I designed an emergency  shelter that is so versatile that it sets up in minutes as a lean-to or converts into a low profile tent in case you are lost or get caught  in unstable weather. We called them the Xplor’r Series,,, after the radio show.The sweet thing about them is the Xplor’r Double only weighs 3.3 lbs and the Xplor’r Single weighs in at 1.8 lbs. They are made in the USA and come in assorted colors as well as: camouflage and Flo. Orange with a huge SOS printed on the top. The other exclusive design of these shelters is that they are attached to their own stuff bag so it will never be lost, and they stuff easily into a backpack, hunting pack or even a fanny pack. You can now order them online at www.pahaque.com.

We hope that you enjoyed the show and until next week: be safe, God bless and make it a point to take someone out to XPLORTHEOUTDOORS.

We’re Jim and Patti Solomon and

We are,” Makin a Difference in Your Outdoor World“

 To Listen to the show LIVE CLICK HERE!!!!!

There is a full moon on Sunday, June 7 and it looks like there is a low pressure system moving into the state — the barometer is dropping and it is expected to get cooler. These are good conditions for a late spring bite. either day or night, high country or desert impoundment. For night fishing, use dark lures in the warmwater lakes, or escape to the cool high country for some moonlight trout. Or maybe hit Upper Lake Mary or Ashurst for some voracious pike at night slow-trolling small swim baits.I heard from an old buddy, Don Martin in Kingman, that the night striper bite at Mead is rockin’. From past experience, submersible lights may not work to attract stripers at night when it is moon bright, but using a graph and chumming to hold schools of fish can also fill your livewells — whether it’s Mead, Mohave, Havasu, Powell or Pleasant.It also sounds like the bite is really great at Lake Havasu for stripers, with some nice largemouth and smallmouth thrown in for good measure.As usual, Roosevelt is also on fire — night or day, and for crappie, bass or catfish. No matter what your angling persuassion, it’s tough to beat Rosey right now. It’s going through what we call the “New Lake Syndrome,” so it is providing some of the best fishing in the Western United States. Don’t miss out.As a side note, I had at a handful of anglers call the past couple of weeks to complain because I put in small updates on our online fising report periodically as I get information from folks, hatcheries or wherever (sometimes up to a dozen times a week). The complaints were from those who get the e-mailed version of the report. They were unhappy because they miss out on the latest info. Not exactly sure the best way to solve this issue, but Game and Fish is about to enter the Twitter world, so maybe that venue might work for updates. Let me know what you think (raikens@azgfd.gov). Nicely please, I have a fragile soul after way too many years of unfettered public input. Plus I haven’t had my self-prescribed dosage of fishing therapy recently (this weekend hopefully).Back to the good stuff — crayfish. Craws, mud bugs or whatever you want to call them, it’s that time. Especially in the high country lakes. Crayfish aren’t native to Arizona, so help out our environment by catching and eating all the crayfish you can. I still remember doing a radio interview with a station in Baton Rouge a few years ago. They were incredulous that we ask people to catch and eat all the crayfish they can and that we have no bag limits. The Cajun DJ just couldn’t fathom such a society; down there crayfish are raised commercially because they are over harvested in the wild for this like Etouffe.It’s June, so typically this is the tail end of the best spring fishing in the high country. That might not be the case this year thanks to the strange weather patterns with a couple of weeks with monsoon-like weather. But regardless, the fishing is still great so make a mad dash to the pines as soon as you can before the Southwest solar cooker is turned up a few notches and the verdant high country green plants evolve to their mature crispy colors.By the way, I chatted with a longtime forester who said the pine cone production this year after back-to-back years of good snowpack is unbelievable — he hasn’t seen anything like this since the early ’80s (the acorn reproduction will likely be phenomenal too). With the recent rains, some of the riparian areas of the forest already have mushrooms popping up here and there. This might be a superb year for tree squirrel reproduction. Nice for the kids and camping, even better for the fall with .22 rifles in hand. Squirrel and black bean burritoes in camp along with fresh caught lemon and cilantro trout can pop up taste buds you didn’t even know you have. Might as well add some crayfish for a gourmet camp treat.I know this is a little off the fishing path, but when visiting places like Roosevelt and Bartlett, keep your eyes peeled for the coveys of quail. The Tonto Basin received some of its best winter rainfall in almost 30 years, and with the recent rainfall to help solidify things, it could be the Gambel’s quail capital of the known universe this fall. Start stocking up on those shotgun shells now and get ready for some excellent cast-n-blast trips this fall (espcially those of us who weren’t drawn for elk).Well, let’s go farther off the fishing path — this is a superb time for watching high country wildlife. When hiking, stop, rest and listen (don’t talk). Carry binoculars and scan the forest for moving legs, flicking ears, or swishing tails. You’ll be surprised what you see. Or slowly partrol the back country dirt roads. You’ll pick up most wildlife through the corner of your eyes.One last fishing tip — you won’t need a fishing license the next two Saturdays. Read the article below.Enjoy. Maybe I’ll see you out there.Fishing NewsKids can take their parents fishing for free on June 6 and 13Hey kids, if your parents didn’t get a fishing license yet this year, you can still take them fishing for free during the first two Saturdays of June, advise Arizona Game and Fish Department officials.Arizona’s Free Fishing Days celebrating National Fishing and Boating Week are on two consecutive Saturdays, June 6 and 13.“With most of our lakes full for a second year in a row thanks to excellent winter rains and snow pack, this is a phenomenal time to get your parents out fishing,” said Rory Aikens, the fishing report editor for Game and Fish. “It’s up to you kids to make sure your parents don’t suffer from an outdoor recreation deficiency.”Check the Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov for the latest fishing report so you can best plan your fishing outing. The Web site also lists the latest fishing clinics in case your parents need some basic tutelage on the fine art of angling.“Remember kids, at any time of year you can sign your parents up for any of our fishing clinics even if they don’t have a fishing license. Those who are registered for a fishing clinic don’t need a license during the hours and location of the clinic,” Aikens advised.For more tips on how to take your parents fishing, see the accompanying article (condensed) that appeared in the May-June 2008 edition of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine.

If you missed Sunday’s LIVE Broadcast,,,,, CLICK HERE!!!!!

Hey we’re back. Had a few technical difficulties to work through but we are BACK!!!

We hope you enjoyed the NRA shows that were uninterrupted and without commercials. The last I heard there was over 77,000 folks in attendance. WOW!!! What a crowd. The good news is the NRA is growing monthly at 100,000 members / month since January.

Well to start the week off we are heading right into the “Global Warming Update” with Matt Cherrill and sponsored by Global Warming and Cooling . With all the crazy things that are going on in the economy the folks have got some great ideas for you to save money and that’s a good thing in this day and age.

In the second segment, Gary McCraw from Randall’s Firearms will be joining me to talk calibers for hunting and what’s going on with the shortage of ammo and for those of you that reload, primers.

To kick stat the second hour,,, Operation Game Thief Manager, Ken Dinquel,  from the Arizona Game and Fish Department will be on hand with a segment of “The Poacher Chronicles” and to talk to talk about the unique way the Game and Fish Department are exposing poachers here in Arizona.

Then in the second segment Steve, from Fisherman’s Choice Pro Shopwill be on hand to talk not only about their web store but the new guide service they now have.

Then in the last segment, the State Chair for the Mule Deer Foundation, Art Cracker will be with me to talk about the upcoming banquet. Patti and I will be there as we are the Masters of Ceremonies for that night. Art will be talking about the program for the night and what goodies will be there to win and support wildlife.

Then Patti will be with me to talk about upcoming events and some more exciting news with The Xplor the Outdoors Crew.

We hope you enjoyed the show this week. You can go back on our site to pick up the NRA shows with Michael Waddell, Past NRA President Sandy Froman and many more.

Until Next Week, be safe, God Bless and make it a point to take someone out and XPLORTHEOUTDOORS>

We’re Jim and Patti Solomon and

“We’re Makin a Difference in Your Outdoor World”

 To Listen to the LIVE Weekly Fishing Report,,,,, CLICK HERE!!!

My best tip for this holiday weekend is to arrive at the lake and be ready to fish during nautical twilight (4:30 a.m. or before) to hopefully hit the bite yet miss the crowds. You might be yawning a little, but you might just catch fish for breakfast or brunch by the time most people arrive.

What’s the old Army marketing slogan — we do more by before breakfast than most people do all day? That’s fishing.
Or if getting up at O-dark-thirty is not your thing, just stay up all night instead.  The New moon is May 24, so this is a perfect time for subsersible crappie lights to work for bass and crappie.
Shore fishing at night is viable for bottom dwellers such as catfish and carp. Remember you can have two hooks per line, and two poles if you have a two-pole stamp. Corn and hot dogs provide simple yet effective baits. Remember, it is legal to chum in Arizona.
By the way, carp are the number on sport fish in Europe and once you catch one of these line-burning monsters, you’ll understand why.
Another way to escape the burgeoning ranks of recreational boaters is to fish Alamo Lake. Water skiers and jet skiers avoid this lake — there is no marina and no gas. In all the years of fishing Alamo, I have only seen one ski boat there — I think they were lost.
Lake Powell is yet another place where you can escape the crowds — if you are willing to go far enough. If you launch at Wahweap or Antelope Point, it’s a good idea to get to or past Padre Bay. Or take my tip from last week and drive to Bullfrog (about an 8-hour drive or so from Phoenix) and then launch. By the way, if you love to catch walleye and smallmouth, don’t hesitate, go now (see Wayne’s Words below).
I’d also be surprised if Lees Ferry has crowds this weekend. For being a world-class fishery, it always seems strange that it can be a place to escape crowds at times even though the fishing there is pretty good year round. Go figure!
For all of you heading to the mountain lakes, take along some buckets for crayfish. Youngsters especially like to catch these delectable crustaceans. All they need is a piece of string, possibly a stick and a piece of meat (hot dog, bacon or whatever). If you want to get fancy, use a fishing pole.
Crayfish are not native to Arizona. So you can have fun, help the environment, and harvest some great eating. By the way, most folks just eat the tails. My tip for preparing crayfish is to bring your water to a rolling boil, take the pan off the stove (and keep it off), put in your crayfish, and when they turn bright red (usually 3 to 5 minutes), they are fully cooked. You can use a crab boil.

I like to also boil up ears of sweet corn. They are a natural on the camp table, especially with some fresh caught trout and wild rice on the side.

Hungry yet?
If you don’t have enough crayfish for all, get creative. Put them in some pasta for crayfish salad. Basically take any recipe that calls for crab or lobsters and simply substitute crayfish. Nice and simple.
Woods Canyon, Willow Springs, Black Canyon and Bear Canyon are all good crayfish catching lakes in the high country.

For trout fishing, though, it’s tough to beat Big Lake. It attracts the most anglers — and with good reason. This is the largest and one of the deepest of our mountain lakes. Big Lake has rainbows, cutthroat, brookies and Apache trout. But don’t expect to fill your creel with recent stockers — most of the trout you catch here will be wild like, even if they started their life at one of our hatcheries. We stock this lake early and late in the season with hordes of immature trout, then let them grow up wild like.
Bear Canyon is also a nice lake to try. It lacks amenities, requires a short but steep hike in (and out), both of which keep other anglers away by the droves. There is okay shoreline access if you don’t mind hill-side living — this is a steep canyon lake.
Chevelon Lake is another hike-in special the crowds avoid. But there is a strenuous, lung-challenging hike back out. Plus, shoreline access is terrible. This lake is best fished with float tubes or other easy-to-transport floating devices. If you are old and out of shape, you might want to consider fishing someplace else.
Don’t forget to make sure you boats are free of quagga mussels when heading to our high country lakes. Be sure to clean, drain and dry each time you go boating and then wait five days in between putting your boat on different lakes. Help protect on wonderful fishing lakes.
Go catch some memories this weekend. Maybe I’ll see you out there.

Fishing News

CLICK HERE to here the LIVE broadcast from the NRA Annual Meeting

 Well we are down to the last day of the NRA Annual meeting and so far this has been an incredible three days.

We have some great guests for you today and the list goes on and this week only the show will be uninterrupted and commercial free..

In the first segment I will kick off the last of the series from the NRA convention to give you an update of what has happened so far for those that missed the Friday and Saturday Shows.

In the second segment,,, Century International Arms’ Marketing Director, Howard Sucher will be joining me to talk about the company and what you will see as you come down to see them at their booth #2855 where we have been broadcasting LIVE the last three days.

Next up,,, Walker English from the Fair Trade Organization will be on-hand to elaborate about the importance of not letting this administration restrict our importation laws.

Then to kick off the second hour the Marketing Director  from Otis Tecnologies will be-on hand to talk about Otis and what she has seen happen over the last three days.

In the second segment, Ron Petty, the marketing Director for Hevi-Shot will be joining me to talk about what’s new and  the difference between using the standard shotgun ammo and what a lethal, non-toxic shot gun ammo can do.

Then wrapping up the last segment,, Norvin Hornberger will be joining me to talk more about BSA Optics and GAMO USA.

We hope you enjoyed this edition of Xplor the Outdoors with Jim and Patti LIVE from the NRA Annual Meeting

Until Next Week, Be-safe God Bless and take someone out to Xplor the Outdoors.

To Hear the LIVE Internet Broadcast,,,, CLICK HERE!!!!

If you missed today’s LIVE broadcast,,,,, CLICK HERE for an on Demand version.

Well it’s day 2 of the NRA Annual Meeting and I was pleasantly surprised to see as many supporters of the Second Ammendment rights as I saw at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Today from 1-2 we will be braodcasting LIVE once again from the Century International Arms Booth with some pretty interesting guests. Past NRA President,,, Sandra Froman will be dropping by booth #2855 to chat about the convention and I am hoping that outdoor legend, Jim Zumbo as well will be joining us for this show. The thing is, at a convention of this magnatude, you never know who is going to drop by.

Be sure to tune into tomorrow’s show from 7-9AM. LIVE once again from the NRA Annual Meeting at the Century International Arms Booth #2855.