I took my kids deep-sea fishing in our last trip at Cape Cod (MA). One of the greatest pleasures is seeing them catch a fish. The tug of the bait, the anticipation of reeling it in, and the pride of landing a fish. Unless it gets away. For a child, that's worse than your ice cream dropping off from the cone.
I never thought there's more to landing a fish than just feverishly reeling it in. But according to www.takemefishing.org, there are some tips to increase your chances of landing a fish. You can view the full instructions here: How to land a fish. Here's a summary:
1. Set the Hook - Snap the rod sharply to force the hook into a fish's mouth. One snap will do. Striking too hard or repeatedly with a soft-mouthed fish can pull the hook through the mouth.
2. Fight the Fish - It's possible to land many small fish just by reeling them in. They'll fight, but the strength of the line and the rod should be able to pull them in slowly. FIghting larger fish requires a technique called "pumping the rod" with the idea of exhausting the fish.
3. Land the Fish - have a net handy to scoop up the fish. There are long-handled nets for boat fishing or fishing from docs. Short-handled nets are used for stream fishing. They also come in many sizes.
Occasionally, you realize you need to return the fish you land back into the water, either because it is too small, or you don't have the license to take home that particular fish. Here's a helpful video (below) on how to revive the fish before you throw it back into the water.
Technorati: camping-hammocks, camping-hammock-info, hennessy hammock No, you don't need one. But it's a lot of fun to bring one. Sure it's one more thing to add to your camping packing list, but if camping's about living it easy, kicking up your legs, daydreaming, or just enjoying a nap in the breeze, try tossing in a hammock.
Some backpackers and hikers even toss out the tent for the hammock for these reasons:
Camping hammocks are ultra-light compared to the traditional pop tent. And they take up less room when packed. Most hammocks for camping will pack the hammock, the tarp, mosquito netting, the ropes into one draw-string bag.
Typically, if you're camping with a tent, your site choices are very limited. No one wants to sleep on a slope, on top of rocks, or in a pit. Using a camping hammock opens up more campsites. As long as there are two trees available, you have a site!
A hammock is surprisingly comfortable. After a long day on the hiking trail, a good hammock will cradle your body gently but firmly, allowing you to rest quite well. When a hammock is properly hung, you'll have the choice of sleeping on your back or on your side.
Hammock camping is not just for warm weather camping. When the weather gets cooler, include a warm sleeping bag and a few hand warmers to warm your toes during the night.
Quick to setup and dismantle. It only takes 5 minutes or so to set up a camping hammock, including the tarp and support ropes. Setting up a tent takes at least 15 to 20 minutes especially if you need to spend time finding the perfect ground area on which to place it first.
Most of us would not give up the comforts of our camping tent for a hammock. It's still fun to bring one for recreation - taking naps, watching a kid figure a hammock out, extra seating at mealtime, extra 'bed' for an extra camper, or just for remembering the good old childhood days when you can just day dream looking at clouds move and change shapes.
Features to Look For When Buying a Hammock (demonstrated in video below)
Is it light? Does it pack well? Choose a camping hammock that is not just lightweight but can be packed into a very small pouch.
Is it quick to set up? Choose a style that can be set up and taken down easily and quickly.
Is it secure? What is the weight rating? Are the seams Double-stitched? Do the ropes and hooks look strong? A good hammock, even an ultralightweight one like the Texsport will support 300 lbs.
Does it protect you? If you'll be sleeping overnight in the hammock, make sure the canopy provides ample protection from the elements (including bugs, poisonous insects and small reptiles.
Will it damage the trees? The better hammock manufacturers include a tree-hugger that will be gentler on the trees than a thin rope. If it doesn't, you can purchase a tree-hugger strap separately.
Right from the beginning we warned you this camping blog is not for extremist rugged, survival-trained Eagle Scouts. Our slogan, "21st Century Family Camping Today, (ipods allowed)" says it all.
Well, what do you know, Eureka now has a camping tent with built-in power outlets for you to charge your ipods, iphones, and i-whathaveyous. Eureka tents have always been a leader in camping tents, but I hope they have not insulted their loyal camping customer base with this tent that's really your 21st century living room. Just watch the video below, and you will gasp in disbelief. When you get your jaw back together, you'll want one. Hold your horses, they are not cheap.
The one featured in the video costs $289 plus the power pack. It is 13 foot by 10 foot, very generous size, and lots of features you want in a camping tent, but might you achieve the same power capability by sticking with your tent, and purchasing a portable power pack, like the Duracell PowerPak ($99) separately instead?
If you are smitten with the Eureka N!ergy Tent in the video, don't get it on the Eureka website ($289), Amazonhas it on sale for $230 and free shipping. Add another $60 for the Eureka N!ergy power pack.
What do you think? Drop us a comment and tell us if being able to use a hairdryer (what's next, a vacuum cleaner) in a camping tent is really camping?
Technorati: rv camping, littleguy teardrop trailer, tent camping The joy and convenience of RV camping has taken a hit this summer with outrageous gas fill up costs of $500 to $800. If you feel compelled to let your RV sit at home this year, take the opportunity to try out other forms of camping. Summer won't be summer without a few nights under the stars.
Option 1. Tent Camping - If you own an RV, one of the reasons is likely to be that you don't like the hassle of setting up tents (and breaking it down). But when was the last time you looked at camping tents though? Today's tents are light and weather-proof, and are a snap to set up. The Wenzel Timber Ridge Sport 9-by-7-Foot Four-Person Dome Tent takes only a few minutes to set up, even for beginners. At $39, even if you resume RV camping, it's a spare handy shelter to have for kids to sleep and play in.
Option 2: Yurt Camping - Check your local state parks and campgrounds if they offer yurts. Yurts are move-in-ready tents. When you check-inn at the campground office you will be given a lock combination code or key that will open the door of your yurt. Did you hear that? A door. Yes, a Yurt has a door. You open that door and you find furniture, simple appliances - some even come with linens and utensils. Read my earlier post about this unique outdoor camping style: yurt camping.
Option 3: Tagalong Trailers - If you've been considering scaling down your outdoor abode, maybe it's time to consider travelling with a small tagalong trailer, instead of a living room on wheels. The Mercedes class of these is the sleek Airstream Basecamp. At $26K list, I will need to trade in my kid's college savings to afford one. Don't think my hubby will go for that.
A more affordable version is the LittleGuy TearDrop Trailer which starts at $5,495. You can see pictures of the manufacturer's web site: http://www.golittleguy.com. It's still not chump change. It's like deciding to buy a scooter to drive to work and leave your Hummer at home. Want to save even more? Build it yourself, just like Mary and Myron did (see video below).
Technorati tags: camp cooking, campfire recipes, easy camping recipes One of the highlights of camping is cooking and eating outdoors. The cleaning up part is not as much fun. Here are 5 easy camping recipes in a Ziploc® bag that you can enjoy and not end up with a pile of preparation or cooking dishes.
Recipe #1 - Ziploc® Bag Fudge
What you need:
• 1 lb box of powdered sugar
• 2 packets of a cocoa mix or you can use ½ cup of cocoa
• 2 tbsp of butter
• 3 oz package of cream cheese
• 2 1 gallon Ziploc® storage bags
What to do:
Combine all ingredients into one of the bags and seal it up. Place the filled Ziploc® bag into the other bag. Pass it around to all of your campers so that they can squish the contents until it is all mixed thoroughly then enjoy. Camping Tip: Measure all the dry ingredients Read more
It’s very important to stay hydrated when you are outdoors. Being aware of the many water bottle options available on the market will help you decide which type of water container would match your needs on your next outing. Every time I shop for a camping gear, I’m taken aback by the myriad of options out there. Camping and camping gear have definitely grown up from the drab, gray old flapping canvas tents that our parents experienced.
Who would have thought a simple concept could evolve into all these different styles and design? (see video below).
Nalgene Water Bottles- This is the classic shatter-proof hard-plastic bottle that has a wide mouth opening that allows easy filling for ice, but the mouth is still narrow enough to drink comfortably. The cap is rubberized to make it easy to open with sweaty hands and has a sturdy carabineer loop for storage outside on the pack. This is a great bottle for short excursions. Note: The traditional Nalgene water bottles (also callsed Lexan water bottles) have been found to leach chemicals that can disrupt hormone levels. Stay away from them. Instead, insist on the non-leaching BPA-Free version ($9.95).
Aluminum Water Bottles-The aluminum bottle often has a sleek, high-tech look to it, even makes a fashion statement. You may even bump into titanium versions in this class of stainless steel water bottles. The Kids sigg Aluminum water bottles, are a favorite with celebrity moms like Madonna and Cindy Crawford! Looks aside, the aluminum makes it lighter, more durable than its plastic counterparts, and water stays cool in it due to the nature of aluminum.
Insulated Water Bottles - This bottle carrier is an insulated pouch that allows you to place a water bottle in side. The insulation help maintain the temperature of the liquid inside the bottle. It has a strap attached for easy carrying on hikes and jogs. It also has a clip that allows you to clip it to a back pack. Unlike the bulky insulated containers of the past, some look quite handsome like this stylish insulated bottle sleeve by Camelbak. Great for short excursions and carrying cold soda.
Camelbak Hydration Packs – Hydration packs come with backpack straps, or clips that you can easily attach to your back pack. Camelbak is the dominant manufacturer of this style of water carrier. It has a bladder inside that can carry 70 oz to 100 oz of water. Filled with water this pack can weigh 3 to 8 pounds. Recently they started manufacturing kids and womens packs, such as the Camelbak Women Charm Hydration Pack ($35) which carries just 50 oz. A tube long enough to reach from the pack to the wearer’s mouth is attached and used as a straw, allowing you to drink hands-free. The pack is fully insulated and made rugged to prevent wear and tear, and leaks. This back is an excellent choice for long excursions, or situations where you need to stay hydrated hands-free like long distance bicycling.
Collapsible Water Pouches- I’m not really sure why anyone would choose this over plain old Poland Springs water bottles. Friends who use them do so because they packs easily in a backpack full of stuff. Frozen at home, they also keep the camping cooler cool longer and turn into drinkable water. For me personally, they remind me too much of hospital IV dispensers.
Built-in Purifier Bottle - The Katadyn purifyer water bottle features an internal EPA-registered Virustrat cartridge and carbon filter to remove microorganisms and all viruses from any water source. The bottle is designed to fit in most bicycle water bottle cages or cup holders, but has a carry loop as well. This 26-oz. bottle weighs less than the smallest backcountry microfilters and no pumping is required, making it perfect for extended backpacking or mountain biking around questionable water sources.
Disposable Water Bottles - Don't forget the boring, unsexy but convenient disposable water bottles. Get a 24-pack from Walmart and grab and go in an instant. This is my family's choice of water bottles, if only because my kids keep losing their water bottles. Would I rather they leave behind a 25 cents Poland Spring water bottle, or a $19.99 aluminum Sigg water bottle?
Many people love wearing their sandals into the outdoors, but are you aware that not all sandals can handle the abuse camping entails? This is one camping gear that doesn't get enough attention, but you'll find that selecting the right footwear can go a long way towards making sure that your camping experience is a pleasant one. Take some time to think about what you need to get out of your sandals and you'll be well-prepared the next time you are thinking of wandering out into the woods. Good outdoor sandals or sports sandals all have a few basic properties that you should lookout for. Read more
Family camping is not just about remembering how to tie a half hitch knot or light a campfire. It’s about remembering how to tell a ghost story, or teaching your kids the forgotten art of hand shadows.
It’s remembering how great it is just to hang out together and stare at the blinking stars. If you've not gone camping before, try backyard-camping. Every year, at the end of June, the National Wildlife Federation organizes a nation-wide Backyard Camping event. This year, it's on June 28th. You can learn more about it at the official Great American Backyard Campout site.
Get outside and experience the joy of being outdoors.
Afraid you'll be bored to death sitting in a dark tent? Check out these camping activities:
Ok, we go camping to get away, to unplug, to reconnect with nature, and now I talk about geocaching?
Well, please bear with me. Geocaching is different. While it involved electronics, it's not a couch potato activity and you are unlikely to be reaching into a bag of potato chips while geocaching. Geocache is the latest outdoor craze to hit treasure hunting enthusiasts across the world. It's a natural camping activity because you are out there already.
To enjoy the sport, you need to be familiar with using a global positioning unit (GPS).
You see, in thousands of locations worldwide(!), people have hidden small containers in which they’ve put a logbook or notepad, plus a few trinkets such as small toys, fridge magnets, key rings, bumper stickers etc. The co-ordinates of these locations are then recorded online so that geocachers anywhere on the globe can Read more
Hiking and backpacking in the wilderness means leaving the safety and predictability of civilization behind. That is part of the adventure, and part of the danger. Here are six hiking and backpacking tips you can use to make it much safer, without taking away from the adventure.
1. Carry a compass, a map, and the knowledge of how to use them. Even if you don't have a good map. any map is better than nothing. People lost in the wilderness have often hiked farther into it because they had no idea in which direction was the nearest road. Practice with the compass near home, and use it before you need it, just to keep in practice.
2. Bring the necessary safety items and knowledge. On Mount Whitney I saw hikers eight miles from the nearest road, at nightfall, Read more
separately instead? 
in the video, don't get it on the Eureka website ($289), 
takes only a few minutes to set up, even for beginners. At $39, even if you resume RV camping, it's a spare handy shelter to have for kids to sleep and play in. 
. 
