Monthly Archives: June 2011

Best Day Ever!

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Mia Anstine

A friend of mine recently posted that he was trying to figure out how to get away from his wife to go fishing.  I posted “TAKE HER WITH YOU!”  Why wouldn’t you?  The best times you ever have can be spent together - fishing.  This past weekend, I have to admit that Hank and I spent some GREAT quality time together.  We were thankful to have our three day weekend free with no work and nothing to stop us from hitting the river for some float fishing.

The season for float fishing is not very long in our little town.  Some years the season is early and others it is late.  This year it happened just right and we happened to have time to blow up the raft and get our fly rods out.  Hank and I spent three days on the water and watched as it went from good to better.  Hank was patient as I got the swing back in my cast and tried not to decorate too many trees with my bugs.  Once my rig floated along as we drifted and then the tip jiggled.  I yanked and set the hook.  I jumped up and down as my rod tip sank and then I slowly drug in…. wait for it!  Wait for it!  A little stick!  I drug into the boat and cleaned off my fly then we chuckled about how it faked me out.  We laughed as I caught my first “fish”.  We continued and floated along and held our breaths as we moved a few fish that didn’t take my fly.

Changing fly rigs a couple of times, and replacing the ones I left in the trees, I finally got it right.  I was casting well and hitting almost every hole as we floated by and then  WHAM!  A hard hit!  It yanked my rod and it jerked left to right.  I let out a little drag and then stripped some in.  All the while Hank was maneuvering the raft trying to help me land this monster fish.  I held my rod up and the tip bent down toward the river bottom.  More drag let out.  More stripping in!  What a fight!  Finally, he aired out and I saw it was a beautiful brown trout.  I did my best and worked him in.  Finally, landing him.

Hank was proud as I jumped up and down…. gently mind you because I had a beautiful, delicate creature in my hands.  I had the biggest smile anyone has ever seen because this was the biggest brown I had ever landed.  I quickly said take his picture!  Hank couldn’t find the camera, and I of course couldn’t hold onto him for long so I gently place him back in the river and watched as the “Big Brown” swam away.  Wow!  What a great fish!  I screamed to Hank “Best day EVER!”  He laughed and told me to get back in the front of the boat.  We had more fishing to do.

We floated our way down the river for three separate days.  Some fish were big, some were small and each time I caught one it was the “best day ever!”  And why wouldn’t it be?  We were having so much fun floating, enjoying the gorgeous scenery, fishing and spending quality husband-wife time together.

The last day I hooked the largest rainbow ever.  What a great fight he put up as well.  He aired out and I held tight to my rod being sure to keep the tip up as he fought.  The water splashed and the sun glistened off of him.  A wild rainbow with his amazing iridescent strip on his side.  What amazing fish they are.  I managed him safely to the boat and gently returned him to the water.  Then with another “best day ever!” under my belt, I continued to cast away.

Mia with the "best rainbow ever".

Mia with the "best rainbow ever".

Finally, I offered my rod to Hank and rowed for a short time.  My shoulder was so sore by the end of that third day that I was happy to take a break and try to man the oars.  Wouldn’t you know it?!  Right away he catches a great brown!  He is such a good teacher and such a great fisherman.  It was a happy ending to my “best day ever!”

Hank with a brown trout
Hank with a brown trout

It’s always an adventure!

…..

Don’t forget to read about Mia & the Little Gal’s adventures at the Women’s Outdoor News

Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.

Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows

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Categories: Float Fishing, Fly fishing, Women in the outdoors | Tags: , | 5 Comments

Shooting Fun with Women

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Mia Anstine

I am always encouraging ladies to get outdoors.  Ladies, if you have the chance, find an event and go.  It doesn’t matter if you know someone or not.  You will have new friends by the time you leave.  Women In The Outdoors (WITO) events are always fun.  I am getting excited for one this coming weekend.  It is a  fire arms safety and shooting course that the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) sponsors along with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW).  DOW officers, police officers and other volunteers offer their time to put on this event.  I went to last years and it was a lot of fun.  I of course met some new friends and connected with some old ones.  This year I’ve gotten a couple more friends to come with me and I know it will be another great time.

Last years course taught fire arms safety and let us shoot many kinds of fire arms as well as bows.   We were all divided into groups of 5 or 6 and delegated out to  go through 6 stations to learn about the different fire arms as well as bows.  Then we got to shoot them.

My group began at the archery station. We were given instruction and some of the history and use of different types of bows as well as arrows. The instructors told us about the arrow shafts, fletchings and heads as well as why we use each type and so forth. Then we got to shoot at balloons and practice targets. I first shot a recurve bow. It is a traditional type bow with a long limbs and the tips of them curve away from the shooter. It also has a single string that is pulled to launch your arrow. After that I shot a compound bow. That is a shorter, more compact bow that has cams and a string that runs a maze through the cams. It allows you to pull back  more weight with less pressure yet when you let go it offers more energy behind your arrow. They did also have a long bow which is more traditional like the Indians used to have. I didn’t have a chance to shoot that one.

Next stations, .22 rifles and then .22 pistols.   At the pistol station we also got to try out a couple of .44′s and .45′s.   The weekend’s course would qualify us for our certificate to apply for a conceal carry permit so there was a lot of education at each stand.  We learned  a lot about the responsibility of owning or carrying a conceal carry weapon.  The instructor was great at instilling the responsibility of a conceal carry weapon.

After the rifle and pistol stations, our group headed over to the muzzle load tent.  Here we were taught how to load, fire and clean the rifle.  It was pretty cool because some of the ladies in my group had never shot firearms, and one in the group shot a bullseye on her first shot with the muzzle load.  It was great to see the excitement the group had for her!  She also showed some spirit and was a great sport as we had fun seeing who could shoot more clays at the shot-gun station.  She sure is a great shot and I am pretty sure she’ll be shooting a gun again!  –Hooked!

Our group with a first time bulls-eye!

Our group with a first time bulls-eye!

The last station was one of the most exciting.  We shot the semi automatic AR-15 and then the biggie…  The 50 Cal… Oh yeah, a sniper rifle!  As we approached the tent, we could feel the air percussion blow us back when shots were fired.  A few ladies were worried about shooting such a large gun, but all lined up and gave it a try.

Mia Anstine shooting the .50 Cal

Mia Anstine shooting the 50 Cal

Everyone left with a smile and new friends.  So if you have a chance, don’t pass it up.  Get out and join other ladies in the outdoors.

It’s always an adventure!

…..

Don’t forget to read about Mia & the Little Gal’s adventures at the Women’s Outdoor News

Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.

Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows

Categories: firearm safety, shooting safety, Women in the outdoors | 2 Comments

Stick A Tick

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Mia Anstine

Earlier this spring, I was lucky enough to go to Oklahoma for a hog hunt with my friends from Outdoor Connection and Prois Hunting & Field Apparel.  When I arrived in Oklahoma, the first thing I was told was to be on the look out for ticks.  My friends told me the ticks would be much smaller than Colorado ticks and more numerous.  They said to be on the look out for seed ticks which are very small.  Right away I was attacked by one burrowing its way into my shoulder.  It was horrible.   Later in the trip, I went hiking near a lake, and when we went to load back up in the truck, I had ticks all over my jacket and pants.  Ticks were surely a problem in that area.  That is where my friend Keli Van Cleave  comes in.  She said she had something for me, and sent me a sample from Stick A Tick.

Stick A Tick

Stick A Tick

At first sight Stick A Tick is similar to a lint roller.  However it is much more compact.  At 4-3/4″ long it is handy enough to fit into a pack or maybe even your pocket.  The size makes it ideal for toting in the outdoors.  Stick a Tick has an outer cover to protect it while it’s bouncing along on your trip.  You simply unscrew the cover and expose the sticky cylinder.  Roll it along your jacket, arms or any area you think may have ticks.  It traps them and they are gone.  Once you have used up a tape portion on the roll, you simply tear it off.  If you happen to be in an area where you can not dispose of the used portion, they have designed a handy compartment in the end of the handle to place it until you can properly dispose of it.

I do see a coule downfalls to Stick A Tick.  The first is the fact that the roller is somewhat noisy.  It rattles as it rolls.  If you were out hunting, it would surely be too noisy to be rolling up and down your arm.  I however would surely appreciate not having to slap at my pants or jacket to get them off.  I also have very long hair, and if the wind were to blow, I am certain I would have a mess stuck to try to de-tangle.  Of course, I can always pull my hair back into my cap to help prevent picking up additional insects.  Otherwise, Stick A Tick is a very handy little device.  An idea that is perfect especially for getting ride of those nearly microscopic seed ticks.  I am sure to take this one on my next trip to the south where the blood suckers are out in large numbers.  With a swipe, Stick A Tick will clean them right off arms, legs and clothing.

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Don’t forget to read about Mia & the Little Gal’s adventures at the Women’s Outdoor News

Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.

Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows

Categories: hunting | 4 Comments

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