Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 291
Art wasn't just one of the best-known crappie fishermen in Arizona; he was also a dynamite bass fisherman. He was one of those guys who was generous with his know-how and even his fishing spots, and he was always willing to teach a seminar, visit a fishing club, or take an outdoor writer out on the water. We will miss him so much! Over the years, Art has helped me with stories about trolling for crappie, night fishing for bass, fishing plastic worms, fishing for spring crappie - you name it,... Full story
Gorgeous White Pocket, Ariz. - If You Get A Chance To Go, Do It! - By Margie Anderson John and I talked about doing a trip to White Pocket, but pretty much every site says you shouldn't go alone because the deep loose sandy road makes it easy for even a 4x4 to get stuck. Then one day I mentioned it to our granddaughter Trinity, and she told us that she and David always wanted to go there too, so could they come with us. Heck yes! Then Trin and I mentioned our plans in front of our granddaughter... Full story
Please Note - Articles and information will be added throughout the month. We welcome readers input on each article. Thank you. - Publisher It's All About Fish As the weather warms, a young man's (and woman's) fancy turns to thoughts of - fish. And, although there are many fantastic angling destinations in Arizona, Margie Anderson says to keep in mind the community waters that make fishing possible in waters near you. For some, this is the first opportunity to enjoy casting a line and a good... Full story
Our community lakes are such great places to fish – the Game and Fish stocks them with a variety of fish at different times of year, including trout, catfish, and bluegill. Some of the lakes have bass in them, too! You've probably got an urban lake close by – there are over 50! - and sitting on the bank with a line in the water is one of the best ways to spend a day that I know of. We've been taking our granddaughters to urban lakes since they were very small, and they not only love to fish, but... Full story
Nominations Open ForArizona Outdoor Hall Of Fame Deadline to submit nominations is April 7. Wildlife for Tomorrow is now accepting nominations for the 27th annual Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame. Established in 1998 through a partnership between Wildlife for Tomorrow and the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame honors individuals and organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions to wildlife conservation, natural resource preservation, and... Full story
This month is probably your last chance for a great low country outdoor adventure before it gets too darn hot and you only want to head for the forests. With that in mind, I've gathered up four of my favorite drives that John and I have done in the month of March. The best part is that each of these drives has great stuff to see even if you don't have a 4WD vehicle, with an added attraction for those of you who DO have a 4x4. Fairly Easy: Agua Fria Petroglyphs Take Bloody Basin Road east (I... Full story
Prespawn bass have a notorious reputation for being hard to catch, but fortunately not all bass in a lake spawn at the same time. This means that in early spring you’ve got fish that are still deep, some that are moving up, and maybe even some already making beds and getting ready to rock and roll. All of these fish may be catchable, and some of the best fishermen I know choose baits that can be worked at a variety of depths at this time of year. 1. Dart Head + Floating Worm Back in the day, t... Full story
John and I love to toodle around Arizona in our Jeep, and often we don’t actually have a planned route in mind. Such was the case last week. Our only plan was to avoid I-17. Since we live in the west valley, we hopped on the 60 and headed out past Wickenburg. My thoughts were that we’d be heading to Eagle Eye Road, but since I didn’t actually communicate that thought to the guy driving the Jeep, we ended up on Vulture Mine Road, headed south. Vulture City Tours You’ll come to spot along this ro... Full story
Cold-blooded critters like bass slow down in winter, and the colder the water gets, the slower the bass become. But they don't quit eating altogether, and if you know how, where, and what to fish, winter can be your best chance to bag a really big bass.Arizona Game and Fish biologist Bill Silvey explains: "As the air temperature drops, the water at the surface starts to cool off and become denser. Pretty soon it's colder than the water beneath it, and it starts to sink, while the warmer water... Full story
Lake Havasu on the Colorado River is a fantastic place to visit – it has great fishing, beautiful views, plenty of places to stay and play -- and the London Bridge. The London Bridge In the 1930s, the construction of Parker Cam created Lake Havasu. During World War II an R and R camp for the armed forces was built on a peninsula. A developer named McCulloch bought 26 square miles of desert (the current site of Lake Havasu City), and in 1968 he bought the London Bridge and had it dismantled a... Full story
Does trudging up the ramp to fetch your truck and trailer leave you huffing and puffing? What about throwing a jerkbait all day long – can your arm take it? How about your last pre-fish? Did you find yourself missing out on some opportunities because you just didn't have it in you to stand on the trolling motor for another hour? To get into better shape for your next fishing trip, start now. If you want to maximize your enjoyment of the outdoors, getting and staying fit should be a priority. T... Full story
If you stop and think about it, the days of the wild west aren’t that far behind us, and Arizona used to be wild as all get-out. Miners, ranchers, and sheep herders didn’t always get along well, and of course there have always been jilted lovers and jealousy, especially back when women were fairly scarce on the ground! So it’s no wonder that Arizona has so many haunted places! And in addition to those ghostly spots, we’ve got a lot of ghost towns in various stages of ruin that can be fun to visi... Full story
Whether in a canoe or kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard, all offer a calm, serene way to enjoy boating - unless of course there are many power craft sharing the lake or a sudden storm makes an appearance. Then, the best advice is to hug the shoreline and quieter waters, or if in real danger, the obvious choice is to get out of the threatening weather. (Experts will always advise that you "know before you go"; in other words, check the weather reports before putting in.) September in Arizona is... Full story
John and I are always looking for new roads to explore in the Jeep, and this past week we found one that we could have done in the car, so I thought I'd share it, because there were plenty of interesting things to see and some incredibly beautiful areas. You could do this whole loop in one day like we did, even taking time to hop out and wander around, plus a stop for a picnic lunch. In all, we covered 286 miles from the west valley, round trip. FIRST UP: DOLL BABY RANCH ROAD I saw this road on...
Fall Fishing I first saw Ben in action in 1993, when I was his observer at an All Star Championship. The first day of the tournament was on San Carlos, and I had the opportunity to watch Ben fish a variety of lures, including worms, spoons, jigs, jerkbaits, and even a Pork-o! Nice Weather The championship was in September, and for a change the weather was pretty nice. It was cloudy and cool, and the water temperature was a little over 77 degrees. Ben started off in the very back of a cove,... Full story
Cool, clear air. Sparkling stars on velvet sky. Heady fragrance of pine. Soft breeze. Gentle stream songs. Delicious aromas of brewing coffee, of sizzling bacon. Silence. Peace. Refreshment. These are some of the descriptors I could use as I remember my days of camping in Washington State and in Alberta, Canada. Mind you, I could also say "cold", "freezing", "chilling", but those would apply to late-season camping in the Northwest. Not here in the Southwest. In fact, generally that is one of... Full story
Note - All photos courtesy of John and Margie Anderson Camping is the ideal outdoor adventure – it can be inexpensive and close to home, and gets you out in the fresh air and away from the news stories. If you're new to camping, don't feel like you need to go out and buy a bunch of stuff. You can probably borrow a lot of what you need from friends and family, or find used gear online. Find out if your neighborhood or church has a "Buy Nothing" program. Once you sign up, you can get a lot of g... Full story
Most of the trout in Arizona are stocked fish, which means that trout fishing is mostly a "put and take" game. The Arizona Game and Fish Department puts the trout in, and we take them out. Most of the fish that are stocked are small, what the Game and Fish calls "catchable" trout, but some of our lakes and streams have genuine trophy fish, and the Game and Fish Department usually throws in a couple of bigger fish in each stocking just to give you an incentive to fish. Don't miss the Arizona... Full story
From bears to bison, from trout to turkeys, from fish to falcons, our Arizona wildlife is a plethora of precious beings who share our world. Arizona Game & Fish is a major guardian of this resource, assisted by various species-specific groups and caring individuals. The Wildlife for Tomorrow's Hall of Fame each year recognizes people and organizations who have significantly cared for the environment and those who inhabit it, our wildlife. We congratulate this year's inductees and thank them... Full story
Mochi loves off-roading! Note - all photos were by John and Margie Anderson. When I was a kid, my dad always took us kids hunting off Dugas Road. There used to be a dirt road and a gate right on the side of I-17 and that road led to Hooker Tank, and from there over the hill to road 68D which goes from Dugas Road north to Squaw Peak Road. We loved it there and since we went there so often we all knew that area very well. There's a lot to be said about knowing all the best and prettiest places in... Full story
If you like bass fishing, you will love fishing for pike. Pound for pound, they are among the most aggressive fish you will ever tangle with, and they can weigh up to 40 pounds or more. Even in a state as far south as Arizona, northern pike thrive at higher elevations and provide plenty of action for anglers who would otherwise be dangling earthworms for trout. Behave Like Tigers Pike not only behave like tigers, they have a mouthful of teeth to match. The jaws, roof of the mouth, and even the...
Eight inductees to be honored Aug. 24 at the Wigwam Resort. PHOENIX - Make plans to honor your fellow conservationists at the Wildlife for Tomorrow(WFT) Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet Aug. 24 at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park. Eight new members will be inducted this year, a diverse group of experts and advocates who have made significant contributions to Arizona's natural heritage and have demonstrated passion and leadership in shaping the future of wildlife conservation in Arizona:... Full story
When bass go deep, like they do in winter and summer, it takes a combination of the right lure and the right technique to catch the big ones. Football head jigs dressed up in skirts and grubs are ideal lures for these deep-water hawgs. A jig has all the features that tempt fish and make them eat – the profile is relatively small, but bulky enough to look like a decent meal, and the legs and skirt wave around even when the lure is not moving, so the lure constantly sends out signals that a b... Full story
During the Covid lockdowns John and I weren't really too bothered because everything we like to do is outdoors. Our son David and his wife Elizabeth were getting cabin fever, so we decided to take them on a little off-highway adventure one day in June 2020. They have a Four Runner and David and I both had our ham radio licenses by then, so we decided to head for the hills. Choosing A Destination My favorite way to choose a destination for John and me is to go immediately to Trailsoffroad.com... Full story
Induction banquet is Aug. 24 at the Wigwam Resort. The Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation (WFT) has selected eight individuals for induction this year into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame. This year's inductees are a diverse group of experts and advocates who have made significant contributions to Arizona's natural heritage and have demonstrated passion and leadership in shaping the future of wildlife conservation in Arizona. They are - • Thomas Slaughter • Randy Stalcup • Jim Walker • Tom Britt... Full story
