Wild Ed's Texas Outdoors: The Texas Native Fish Aquarium Project

© 2010 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.

Wild Ed has put together a native fish aquarium, and has started to document the native fish he as put in! This is a project that Ed came up with earlier this year, rightly thinking that the whole project, from set-up to stocking, and then the observations, would be an invaluable tool for educating his grandchildren. 

Wild Ed's Texas Outdoors: The Texas Native Fish Aquarium Project:

"The Texas Cichlid is the only Cichlid native to Texas and the only Cichlid native to the United States. It is a popular aquarium fish all over the world and under appreciated here at home in my opinion. It is also a popular game fish in Texas and northern mexico and is often referred to as the Rio Grande Perch. The Texas Cichlid is a subtropical fish that lives in the creeks, streams, rivers and lakes of Central to South Texas. Its native habitat is the lower Rio Grande drainage in Texas, and north-eastern parts of Mexico."

Great stuff that we should all be doing with our kids and grandkids! What an opportunity to help educate family and friends on the great outdoors. In fact, this is such a great project, that Bubby and I are going to put an aquarium together when I get home next year! I'll have to get with Wild Ed and see what kind of set up I'll need. I once saw an 80 gallon "High" fish tank, and I have always wanted one.

I wonder what size bass I could keep in it....?


Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Shindand Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

George Washington, Fisherman

© 2010 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.

George Washington, General of the Continental Army,

President of the United States...

and Fisherman

“Fishing Case for the Pocket—

properly furnished with Line & ca.”

As it turns out, our Founding Father and first President of the United States, George Washington, was an avid fisherman. From childhood, Washington loved to go fishing and bring his catch home to be prepared and eaten. Well into his latter years he fished not only from shore, for any number of freshwater fish, but offshore as well as his documented catches of cod attest..

We are fortunate to have one of Washington's original tackle boxes! As you can see above in the picture of George Washington's fishing kit, he traveled light. His fishing equipment fit in his pocket, where he would be prepared to fish at a moments notice.As I mentioned earlier, Washington was a fisherman throughout his life, including during his Presidency; and the Potomac was full of fish with regular runs of shad and herring, according to accounts of that time.

Interestingly, it is said that Washington's favorite food was actually fish, and shad was his favorite among fish.

There are some that insist that General Washington was a fly fisherman. Unfortunately, there is no proof that he ever flyfished. (Sorry Troutragous.) He was meticulous in his record keeping, annotating every expense he incured. While there is mention of nets, fish hooks, and line, no mention is made of any flyfishing gear.

Washington was also involved in a commercial fishing enterprise, and this is also noted in his ledgers from Mount Vernon.  He actually made quite a bit of money in the business selling fish locally in Alexandria and other Virginia towns, but his best markets were the British colonies of the Carribean, where he sold barrels of his salted catch. An interesting aside which relates to the abuses ofthe English Parliment against the Colonies, is that of the salt tarriffs. The best salt came from the Mediterranean. Parliment levied such a high tariff on this salt, that the colonies were forced to buy the poor quality salt available from the British. Washington was greatly vexed by this and remembered it well.

It is both fascinating and gratifying to know that our First President was a sportsman of highest caliber.

This post is a direct result of my new found interest in the pre-Revolutionary and Revolutionary era of the United States. As I search for the core values of America, those values that brought us to preemminence in the world, I will share with you what I find, both serious, and not so serious!  It is my belief that before I can understand where we are going, I MUST understand where we have been, what we were, how we became what we are. It will be a long journey, one that I hope you will share with me.

Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Shindand Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

Search terms:
Washington, General George Wshington, George Washington, Washington as a fisherman, Mt Vernon fishing, Fishing in the Potomac, Washington fishing, George Washington's fishing gear,

Boating in Cooler Weather, Watch Out for Manatees!

© 2010 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.

Protecting our Wildlife, Caution when Boating

Let's remember our wild neighbors when boating in the beaches, bays, rivers, and springs of sunny, fun filled Florida! Remember that manatees, our warm blooded, aquatic sea cows will congregate in warm waters as the tempertures drop.

Image Credit: ENS

From my friends at the FWC:
"Recent cold weather means high numbers of manatees may be concentrated in warm-water refuges near power plants, rivers and springs throughout the state. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) cautions boaters to be on the lookout for manatees moving into the Intracoastal Waterway to reach warm-water refuges at power plants and springs. Boaters should slow down and strictly obey posted speed restrictions in manatee protection zones.

Image Credit: Wkipedia

"When the weather changes, large numbers of these mammals move in and out of warm-water refuges and feeding areas," said Kipp Frohlich, the FWC's Imperiled Species Section leader. "That's when the greatest danger from boat strikes occurs. This pattern will repeat itself as winter cold fronts come and go."

The FWC and its law enforcement partners will be increasing patrols and strictly enforcing manatee-protection-zone speed limits to aid the animals during this period when they are most vulnerable to vessel strikes.

To avoid striking manatees, vessel operators should wear polarized sunglasses to help them spot the creatures in the water; and watch for the large, tell-tale circular slicks on the surface of the water (manatee footprints) that indicate the presence of manatees."

For more information on Florida's manatees, visit MyFWC.com/Manateehttp://myfwc.com/Manatee. To report an injured or dead manatee, please call the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

UPDATE: The cold weather earlier this year led to a record high number of manatee deaths in 2010. From the beginning of the year through Dec. 5, biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) documented 699 manatee carcasses in state waters.

This preliminary data indicates the number of manatee deaths documented from Jan. 1 through Dec. 5 is nearly double the five-year average for that time period. There is more, read the report here.


Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com. He will get back to you, even if he is in Afghanistan!

Buy Local! Flyfishing Artwork by Blogger Joel DeJong

Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.

It's the holidays, and I have been wanting to post this much sooner. With the ecomomy being what it is, and my desire to help our friends, I wanted to point out and give everyone a heads up on the artwork of Joel DeJong of Year on the Fly Blog.

Daily Flies

On January 1st 2010, Joel DeJong, an accomplished artist, challenged himself to paint or draw a fly for each of the 365 days of the year. Joel started posting one original painting or drawing a day for an entire year. Mixing his love of Fly Fishing with Painting, the posts are centered around the subject of flies, fish, and the art of Fly Fishing. From the Adams to the Zonker Joel hopes to cover some of the best known flies as well as a few of my own creation!

After numerous requests for information of purchasing the artwork he posts on a daily basis, he decided to add a page to Year on the Fly blog that will allow you to purchase an original piece of his Year On The Fly series artwork.

He has made the process simple,  when you see a fly Joel has posted anywhere on his blog that you can't live without, and would  like to purchase,  follow these four simple steps:

1. Email Joel at jmdjdejong@gmail.com to make sure the item is still available.  If you have any questions on the piece such as size and composition please ask.  This is very important.  Ask any questions about the piece you desire BEFORE you hit the paypal button.  Joel will try and keep back posted flies updated with a sold status if they are no longer available.

2. Joel will then Email you back if it is available at which point you can return to this page and make a secure PAYPAL payment.  In his return email, before you purchase the item, he will send you all the info you need on the fly including the size and verification of which fly you are asking about.

3. After the payment is made, Email me and again indicate the fly you wish to purchase so Joel can be sure which fly you desire before he ships the item. Please indicate the name of the fly and the date on which it was originally posted for easy, accurate assurance of which fly you desire to purchase. By double checking Joel can be sure that you are getting what you want.

4. You will receive the piece of art work in 7 to 10 business days of payment, at which point you can hang it proudly next to your fly tying bench and tell all your friends where you got it.

The cost is also simple:
Dailyflies are $25 dollars and $3 for shipping. They range in size from the inch and a half to no larger than 8.5x5.5" as of right now. They will come to you with a presized white mat ready for you to place in a frame.  What you are getting is an original piece of art and NOT a print.  Imperfections are a result of the artistic process and they are what makes the piece an original.

The only exceptions to this offer are the larger paintings that include fish. These pieces are obviously more extensive and have a range different of prices. Those special pieces can be obtained by emailing me at jmdjdejong@gmail.com .

The Big Fish!

Here is your chance to purchase a quality print of one of the fish that have been painted through the course of the year. Available now in 8x10in as well as 5x7in sizes, these prints would look good over any fly tying bench or on any wall in your man cave.



Leaping Trout



Brookie, Bow, and  Brown

 

Brown In Hand


  



Rising Brown

 

Brookie



Wide Open Cutthroat




Rainbow and Soft Hacle



Brooks, Browns, & Bows



White Fin Brookie

Red Stripe Rainbow



Flies On Pad

   
These prints come in an acid free white mat with an acid free backing board.  The 8x10 prints come in a 11x14in mat and the 5x7 prints come in an easy to frame 8x10 print.  Single purchases can be made via the paypal Buy Now buttons on Joel's purchase page.  Paypal also accepts all regular credit cards.  For international purchases, please email me before purchasing so I can work out proper shipping, I will then email you the total cost.  Unfortunately, the paypal button is for US residents only.

When purchasing via the Buy Now button, please type in the name of the print you would like to purchase.  The name of the print is just below the work itself.

Again, here is a great opportunity to buy original hand painted work, and limited prints, directly from the artist. Not only are you spending your money right here at home, but you are showing your love for the great outdoors.

Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch™
Member: Shindand Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

The Range Reviews: Remington R-25 Multi-Caliber AR-10

A© 2010 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.

The Range Reviews: Remington R-25

I recently had the opportunity to field test the Knight's Armament Company's SR-110 SASS here in Afghanistan. Unfortunately I was not permmited to take any pictures. Shoot, I couldn't have any civilian communications, recording, or even an IPod when I went into the camp I was visiting. No worries though, I had a good time!

That got me to thinking about Remington's offer, the R-25. I had recieved notice on the weapon some time ago, but being more of the wood and rust blued steel kind of guy, I had filed the email in the "From the Manufacturer" file. I burrowed through the file and pulled it out, and studied the information available on the net.

Let's check the specs out. The upper and lower receivers are made from aluminum forgings. The handguard is a turned aluminum tube. All parts are impervious to the weather, so weather changes will have no effect on accuracy. The Remington R-25 rifle has a free-floating 20 inch fluted barrel, that is button rifled in a 1:10 twist rate. Remington had the good taste to provide a recessed crown at the muzzle. Moving to the receiver, you will find a Mil-Std-1913 “Picatinny” top rail. You can mount any number of optics with standard MilSpec mounts on the rail. The gas block where the front sight mounts, has rail slots for mounting other accessories such as a laser. The R-25’s pistol grip is identical to the AR-15/M16 and AR-10 series rifles, as is the buttstock. On the bottom of the buttstock and forearm are sling swivel studs. The butt also has the standard hinged trapdoor lid designed to hold a military cleaning kit, but that is not included.

Just like your AR15 or M16/M4, a captive pin at the rear of the upper receiver pushes out, the upper can then pivot forward on the front pin. You now have access to the bolt and trigger group. With the upper receiver pivoted forward, pull back on the charging handle and the bolt slides out for maintenance and cleaning.

Now, to placate Kalifornia, the factory R-25 magazine's capacity is a measely 4 rounds for all calibers. That's still three more than my Ruger #1, but luckily the R-25 will accept standard 20-round AR-10 magazines. Overall length for the Remington R-25 is 39.75 inches, and the average weight for the rifle is 8.75 lbs.

Interestingly, Remington opted to make the R-25 available three additional calibers, all based on the 308 Winchester case. The R-25 is configured to allow users to switch between 7.62mm NATO/.308 Win., .243 Win., and 7mm-08 Rem., simply by switching upper receivers. For hunting applications, this might be an optimal solution for those that require a multi-calber solution for different hunting applications. In my opinion, the Remington Model R-25 multi-caliber rifle could stand to add a couple of more rounds to its repetoire: 358 Winchester, and the 260 Remington! Now we are talking versatility.

For those that are interested in the tactical applications of the rifle in addition to the hunting capabilities, you will find that the the AR-10/AR15 family does not require one to "refamiliarize" oneself with a completely different platform. Whether tactical operations or hunting applications, you can concentrate on what you are doing. Operation of the firearm, the ergonomics, and all the controls are identical. Furthermore as options are added to the rifle you can test them under real world, albeit non-threatening, conditions.

Now for the some of the less than desireable features:
-I am told that the trigger is lousy out of the box. Nothing new there, as most rifles exhibit poor, lawyer-proof triggers. Fortunately, there are plenty of aftermarket triggers you can install and make the trigger purr.
-There are many reports of the 308 version jamming with anything but commercial ammo.

Remington Model R-25 Multi-Caliber Rifle Features and Specifications:

- Free-floated button-rifled 0.680″ Muzzle OD ChroMoly barrels with recessed hunting crown for superior accuracy
- Fluted barrel design reduces weight and promotes rapid barrel cooling
- Clean-breaking single-stage hunting trigger (factory set to 4.5-5lbs)
- Receiver-length Picatinny rail for adding optics and accessories
- Ergonomic pistol grip for rock solid aiming and control
- Front and rear sling swivel studs
- Full Mossy Oak® Treestand™ coverage
- Includes 4-round magazine
- Legal for hunting in most states
- Compatible with aftermarket DPMS 308 Win Magazine Boxes
- Lockable hard case included

Company Contact Info:

Remington Arms Company, Inc.
870 Remington Drive
P.O. Box 700
Madison, NC 27025-0700
TEL: 1-800-243-9700
Fax: 1-336-548-7801
Email: info@remington.com
R-25 Info Page: http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/Model_R-25.asp
Website: http://www.remington.com
MSRP is $1,532 USD.

There are several other semi-auto 7.62×51mm NATO/.308 Win.
tactical/sniper rifles that could conceivably be used in a hunting application. There are the AR-10 based systems like the Knight’s Armament Co. SR-M110 S.A.S.S. (Semi-Auto Sniper System), and Armalite's AR-10 SuperS.A.S.S. In addition there are the M1A variations like Springfield Armory's National Match M1A, Super Match M1A, or M25 Whitefeather Tactical/Carlos Hathcock M1A. Any of these have the capacity of being dual role rifles in your personal inventory.

Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch™
Member: Shindand Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com.




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Scott Croner Albert A Rasch Albert “Afghanus” Rasch Albert A Rasch Scott Croner Nebraska Hunting Scott Croner, Merriam's Turkey Hunting Albert A Rasch Scott Croner Albert A Rasch Albert “Afghanus” Rasch Albert A Rasch Scott Croner Nebraska Hunting Scott Croner Merriam's Turkey Hunting Albert A Rasch

After the Shot, Tracking and Trailing

© 2009, 2010 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.

Even with every preparation, proper equipment choice, and skill, there are always times when game is not killed outright. A moments inattention, or perhaps premature congratulation may allow an animal to run off when the hunter should have been preparing for a follow-up shot.

It's that time of year again, and folks are out there filling there tags. Recovering game that doesn't drop immediately after the first shot, requires a moment of thought, and the acknowledgment that the work is just beginning.

The first thing you need to do, even before taking the first shot, is to be aware of the surroundings. You have to know where you are, and where your quarry is. When you have the shot, and take it, know where the quarry is exactly. As the range increases the difficulty of finding the exact spot becomes more difficult.

Also watch the reaction of your game. Deer will take off at a dead run, or jump straight up and kick when hit in the ticker. Hogs turn on the afterburners when shot and then either pile up or get into cover. Watch where the animal goes and try to remember where you lost sight of it.

After taking the shot, crank your scope down as low as it goes. You'll thank me for it later if you need to get an animal in your sights quickly.

When you make your way to the spot where the animal was, carefully note any sign such as hair or blood. Also sight along the path it took on its way out. The blood left at the initial site may provide clues to determine where you hit. Bright red, frothy blood indicates a lung shot. Dark colored blood could mean the liver was struck. A heart shot will be bright red blood. Look for signs that may indicate a poor shoot. If there is digested vegetation mixed in with the blood it could very well indicate a paunch hit.

When an animal takes off, the direction it went will frequently be marked by blood spatters. At times it may diminish to drops. This is all too common with hogs, where the fat and hide will frequently stop the external bleeding. It is important to follow up slowly and carefully, noting every drop of blood and every disturbed leaf. Blood can be anywhere from the sides of the trail to the ground. Wild Ed of Wild Ed's Outdoors, reminds us also to keep an eye on the brush or grass on either side of the track, not just at ground level but higher. The height can indicate where an animal has been hit. Mark your observations with tissue paper or surveyors tape, (Make sure you pick it up when you are done!) so that if need be, you can retrace your steps.

If you lose the track, go back to the last sign you found and carefully start again. Remember look at it from the animal's perspective. This means get down on your hands and knees. You will be surprised what it looks like from down there! Follow the path of least resistance.

Always be on the lookout for your game. It could be that dark spot there, or the light line there. Always be ready.

Tracking a wounded animal is hard work and a grave responsibility. Every effort should be made to recover a lost animal. In many states there are tracking services available that use blood tracking dogs to find lost game.

Born-To-Track News and Views covers the Blood Tracking dog world, and in particular the Wire Haired Dachshunds. Look through the archives and you will find several posts on deer that have been found by these amazing dogs. And golly, they are cute as can be!

In those states where dogs cannot be used, then you must use every sense and every clue to find your animal. Perseverance and patience are the keys to recovery.


Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch™
Member: Shindand Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com.