Lansky Deluxe 5 Hone Sharpening System

Lansky Deluxe 5 Hone Sharpening System
By Mike Bell, Sportsmen Portal Field Staff

Cost
$32.49 online

Product features

• Patented, precision-engineered, multi-angle flip-over knife clamp
• Sharpening hones on color-coated, finger-grooved safety holders
• One guide rod for each honing stone
• Specially formulated honing oil
• Extra long knife clamp screws
• Custom molded storage/carrying case to hold all system components
• Complete easy-to-follow multi-lingual instructions

Lansky sharpening angles

• 17 degree – A severe angle recommended for razor blades, X-Acto blades, scalpels or similar tools.  Provides an extremely sharp but delicate edge.
• 20 degree – A commonly used angle for higher quality blades and provides an excellent edge for kitchen cutlery and filet knives
• 25 degree – The recommended angle for most knives that need a durable, sharp edge.  Ideal for hunting and outdoor knives
• 30 degree – An outstanding angle for knives that see the heavy use of cutting cardboard, wire or carpets.  Recommended for heavy duty use.

Personal Assessment of product

Until coming across the Lansky Sharpening System, I was never able to put a sharp durable edge on my knives.  I’ve tried whetstones and though I could put a serviceable edge on my knife, it was never truly sharp.  I had friends, and family who were willing to sharpen my knives for me, but I was always bothered by not being able to do it myself.  I came across the Lansky Sharpening System from a co-worker.  He was telling me about his knife sharpening kit and offered to let me try one of my knives on it.  After receiving the kit and a few instructions from my friend, I gave it a shot.  I took the system home that evening and brought my dull hunting knife to a razor sharp edge on my first try.  This was the first time I was able to get a truly sharp edge on my hunting knife.  I was amazed at how easy this system was to use and purchased a Lansky that night.  After receiving my system in the mail, I had all my hunting knives honed and ready for the upcoming hunting season.  The great thing about this sharpening system is that it takes the “art” out of sharpening knives.  Just put your knife in the clamp, decide what angle you want on your blade, attach the rods to the hones, and use the slots built into the clamp to bring you knife to a razor sharp finish.  Though I already had an idea how to use the sharpening kit, the instructions were thorough and easy to follow.

Product Limitations

There are only a couple of things I could mention as “limitations” when using the Lansky Knife Sharpening Systems.  This system is used by running a hone over the knife as the fixed surface, as compared to running a knife over a whetstone as the fixed surface.  A little more care is needed when using the Lansky Sharpening System. The same friend, who introduced me to this kit, also cut himself bad when the hone slipped off the blade and ran his finger into the knife edge.  This is completely avoidable ,and the system is safe to use, but always use care when dealing with knives.  Also when doing large knives (above 6-7 inches) it is recommended to do ½ of the knife at a time.  When trying to sharpen the whole knife at once, the angle changes too much and the rods might not be long enough.  I have done our chef’s kitchen knife ½ at a time, and though it took a little longer, the end result was great.

Recommendation

The Lansky Sharpening System is easy to use and has brought out razor sharp edges on knives I have never been able to get sharp before.  The process of sharpening my knives before owning the Lansky Sharpening System had been frustrating and often times impossible.  After using this system, I believe this product would work great in any outdoorsmen’s home.

To Those That Wish to Give Back

By Don Ott, Sportsmen Portal Field Staff

I won't be redundant in the thanks to everyone involved with the September 19, 2009 3-D Benefit shoot. But as we know if it weren't for those people that see the good in all people and the importance of God in our daily lives the world we live would be in worse condition.   Without our sponsors and those of you who want to make a difference none of this would of been possible.

The preparation for the day was very time consuming. Once you see the outcome and the day comes to an end you can feel the relief and sensation of a task well done.

Once again there were many firsts as are with the great outdoors we all cherish so much.  New friends, old acquaintances, first time shooters, young and old combating the same passion united as one, and smiles that will last a lifetime.  Being blessed with the presence of Tina Pattison, Hunt of a Lifetime Founder, Arianna Evans one of our Hunt of a Lifetime children. Allowing the unknown person to experience the wow factor.

As I listened to so many people comment about the day and ask how to "Get WIRED".  They are pumped and now hopefully they ARE "WIRED".

To those that weren't able to attend you can still be apart of our wonderful family. Get involved, get "WIRED", and continue your support.  Thank you all for your kindness.

Take time to take a friend, loved one or a first timer and introduce them to our wonderful sport.



Above, Pat Gonsman, United Bow Hunters of PA



Sportsman Portal Field Staff, (from left to right), Don Ott, Teresa Patterson, Kyle Schwabenbauer and Andy Traister with Arianna Evans in the center. Arianna was presented with a plaque made by Joanie Haidel, Joanie's Beard Busting Calls.



Buying raffle tickets for prizes.



The "running deer crew", Jimmy Patterson (Teresa's son) and his good friend Nick Eberhardt.



Rex Fahr (right) Teresa's dad organized the 3-D shoot, and Brenda Martz, President of the Loop Sportsman Club.



Tina Pattison's son, Jaimie and his daughter shooting her bow.



The running deer target group effort



Arianna driving her chariot.



Wendy and Mark Blystone some of our "Wired Fans" from Facebook and My Space came out to join us for the shoot that day.



Rex, Jr. (Teresa's brother) and his wife, Larissa Fahr enjoy the concession.





Thanks to all our sponsors.





Jimmy Young and crew came out to support the cause.



Is he milking that deer???



East Coast Archery Manager talking with John Ott.



The "gut gang"



Tanner enjoying the ride.



Ben Fahr (Teresa's brother) and John Lubert out for the shoot.



Nice Sportsman Portal fan truck!

2009 Trout Contest

CLICK HERE TO ENTER PHOTO - You MUST REGISTER on our forum to participate

Each Category Winner Will Win All The Following Prizes:

• Sportsmen Portal "Team Angler" Shirt


• McConnells Country Store and Flyshop Fishing Hat


• Medalist Men's Scent-Inhibitor™ Silkweight Short Sleeve Mock

Rules

• Contest begins April 4th, 2009 and runs through May 26th. Because April is notorious for bad weather and high water, this contest will run long.


• To be eligible for the contest, you must be registered on our forum boards with a valid user name and e-mail address. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER


• The Deadline for entry is the same as the final day of the contest May 28, 2009.


• Participants will be randomly paired with one other participant when the contest is over. A point system will determine the score for each participant. The combined points for both participants will be entered as that teams score.


• The team with the highest combined score will be declared the winners. In the event of a tie the team with the most golden trout will be declared the winner. In the event of that tie, the team with the most trophy trout will be determined the winner.


• All photos must contain the 2009 PSP Trout contest identification tag. Click Here to download the ID Tag. Photos not displaying the id tag are not eligible.


• A best overall trout photo will be selected and the winner of that contest will also receive a prize!

Scoring for the contest will be as follows:

• Each participant can enter up to 5 fish in the contest. Only one trout from each species can be entered for each participant Fish will be scored according to type as well as size. All fish must meet the state minimum for length to be eligible. (If you catch a fish that is borderline, please include a measurement in the photo).


• Fish that have the entrails removed or have had the heads or tails removed are not eligible. Also, mounted fish and/or replicas are not eligible.


• All submitted pictures become the property of PSP and may be used for future promotional purposes.

Rainbow trout - 5 pts
Brown Trout - 5 pts
Brook Trout - 5 pts
Tiger Trout - 5 pts
Golden Trout - 10pts

Bonus Points

PSP Bonus
As usual, anyone displaying a PSP logo on their clothing or on their vehicle will receive 10 bonus points.

Trophy Trout Bonus
Any trout measuring over 16 inches will receive 10 bonus points. Please provide a clear picture displaying a measurement of the fish if it is over 16 inches. Fish that appear to be to close to call will be reviewed by the judges of the contest.
Tip: use a measuring device with large clear numbers on it. Display the entire fish in the picture.

Streamside Bonus
Pictures taken Streamside will receive 2 bonus points.

PA Trout Grand-slam Bonus
Participants that enter one of each species will receive 10 bonus points.

Winners will be announced on May 28, 2009

Click Here For Complete PSP Contest Rules

Zebra Midge

By Joe Hnatishion, Berks County, Pennsylvania


There is one fly that will catch fish on the Tulpehocken Creek twelve months a year. One fly is all you need. It is the zebra midge, a simple fly that imitates the most abundant insect life in this stream. A midge, in its larva state, is distinguished by an enlarged head that is fused to a segmented thin body, usually dark in color and is smaller than a dime. Trout in the Tully depend on this aquatic life for nutrition throughout the year.

The midge is often overlooked by fly fishers due to the popularity of the caddis hatches that begin in late April and the trico hatches that begin in late June. What makes this fly so unique is the ability to fish it twelve months a year with great success, as compared to the caddis and trico imitations.

The zebra midge imitation can be fished by a number of methods. It is a sinking fly, so most of the time it will be fished dead drifted on the stream bottom with or without a strike indicator. The secret with this fly is to keep it rolling and drifting with the current down deep. Trout key on midge naturals as they get dislodged from the rocks and debris in the stream and drift with the current. This is exactly what the fly fisher is trying to imitate.

To better your chances with strikes, a tandem rig (2 fly set-up) with a strike indicator can be used. In one version, the zebra midge can be tied 12-16 inches behind the first fly, usually a type of bead head nymph, with a strike indicator further up the leader. When fishing this set-up, both flies should be drifting along the stream bottom. A good rule of thumb: if you’re not getting snagged every few casts, you’re not on the bottom. One need’s to be where the trout are feeding and that is down deep. Make sure there is enough line between your strike indicator and the first fly to achieve this. A simple technique to use to estimate stream depth is to look at the water height on your waders and add another 12 to 16 inches to compensate for stream flow. The flies will not hang directly under the strike indicator when fished, due to the differences in drift rates between the strike indicator and flies, thus the need for extra line length.

In times of high fast water, like the springtime, a weight may be added between the strike indicator and first fly to get the tandem rig down deep. Don’t be afraid to experiment with this set-up. That’s what makes this fun.

A third way to fish the zebra midge is solo through the strike zone of feeding fish. Many times feeding trout can be seen thrashing and slashing in a stream’s current a foot or two below the water’s surface. Carefully cast to these fish a few feet upstream, adjusting for stream flow, and let the midge dead drift through their strike zone. This is one of the most exhilarating moments of fishing a midge pattern, sight fishing to feeding fish just under the stream’s surface and actually seeing the “take”. Fish-on!

Zebra midges may be purchased locally at Tulpehocken Creek Outfitters (TCO), West Lawn. TCO will be glad to answer any questions about fishing this pattern and the equipment best suited for the presentations described.

The next time you head out to fish the Tulpehocken Creek, don’t forget about that small fly that will produce big results all year long, the tiny zebra midge.

Finally Made It - Fly Fishing The West

By Mark Ferringer, Venago County Pennsylvania

The mercury climbed to a steamy 95 degrees as my wife and I exited the rustic airport in Missoula, Montana.  Mountains enclosed the valley and a faint fog of smoke from distant forest fires created a haze in the distance.  Yep, we finally made it “out west,” and this would turn out to be a wonderful trip.

Mountains, Mountains, Mountains!

As we drove to our cabin in Seeley Lake, we crossed both the famous Clarks Fork, and then the Blackfoot River; both of which were beautiful, and the latter of the two was of course made famous by “the movie.” They were both beautiful and to my surprise had many access points.

Our first excursion was to Rock Creek, and after stopping by the home of the Testicle Festival for some Rocky Mountain Oysters (yes, they are exactly what you think they are!) and Moose Drool Ale, we were ready to put the steel to some fish.  August is Hopper season in Montana.  BIG hoppers.  It was like cicada season all over again.  The bigger, goofier, more rubber-legged the imitation, the better.  We fished droppers, although fishing nymphs at this time of year tends to call attention to mountain whitefish, as the trout are looking up.  This was a beautiful medium sized stream with plenty of fish in it.  The big combo here for the locals was a hopper with 18-30 inches of tippet to a San Juan worm.  I felt that as being morally troubling so we stuck with big #10 golden stones.  I didn’t fly to Montana to dunk a fake worm!

Getting ready at Rock Creek

The Clarks Fork is a much broader, much more demanding stream.  A variety of tactics worked here including big streamers, hoppers, caddis, and big, nasty nymphs.  I was fortunate to take a beautiful 18” cutthroat out of a wicked, deep run with snags on both sides.  He took a big golden stone nymph.  Again, if you choose to fish small nymphs like I traditionally enjoy, whitefish will plague you cast after cast.  This stream would be more suited to floating; and my next time out will definitely include a float trip.

A fat cutt from the Clarks Fork

The rest of our trip was spent on the Blackfoot.  I thought that because of “the movie” that this would be a river full of weekend yuppies and guides that would have $4000 worth of gear on, and their noses aimed in an upward manner.  I was pleasantly surprised.  There was a lot of access, and the people that I met were very nice and willing to help.  On that note, I must say that I met a ton of people out there from PA.  In fact, I don’t think that we went into a fly shop that didn’t have at least on Pennsylvanian either working in it or guiding.  (Maybe that is saying something about us…)

A Blackfoot Cutt

Anyways, I found that the fish in the Blackfoot were very responsive, but lacked the overall size of other streams in the area (I was told this before I went).  We caught lots of fish in the 8-10” range, with a few exceptions.  Juls had a hog on at the head of a beautiful run, and it made a glorious escape by breaking water and allowing us to get a look at exactly what it was- a big burly bow.  Oh well, we had a fantastic time, and I will return.  On a different note, I must say that western trout lack the selectivity that PA trout do.  Accurate imitations are rarely needed, and a well-presented fly will almost always work.  There was so much water to fish in this state, and it is so vast that a week just won’t cut it; especially if you want to see some of the other sights this beautiful state has to offer.  Tight Lines.

Some of the hoppers and big stones I was throwing

The gear that I used was pretty basic.  A 9 ft 6 wt Sage SLT with a Ross Evo 3 Reel, a ton of huge tippet (1x-3x) for throwing those huge monstrosities, and felt boots with BIG STUDS.  Wading many of these waters in not for the faint of heart.  A wading staff may be a good idea, although I am too stubborn to use one.

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Thanks for the great story and photos Mark. You can send us your hunting or fishing story and if we use it on our web site we will send you a Pennsylvania Sportsmen Portal T-Shirt. The Pennsylvania Sportsmen Portal is all about folks who hunt and fish in PA and we love to feature our site visitors. Only criteria is, you must be a Pennsylvania resident. Stories can be from out of state adventures also, but we are really looking for stories that feature hunting and fishing in PA. Click Here For More Information.

Mister Twister Electric Fisherman Fillet Knife

Product Review by Mike Bell, PSP Field Staff

Cost
$20.99 Online

Product Features

• Knife contains:


• Heavy duty gears and bearings


• Extra sharp stainless steel blades 7”


• Quick and convenient blade release


• Safety lock


• High impact motor housing


• Handy recoil cord


• Runs on 110V AC (standard electrical outlet)

Personal Assessment
Recently I went to a local lake and did surprisingly well on crappie, bluegill and even a few nice sized perch.  I was hoping to catch a few fish for a fish fry and ended up keeping about 25 panfish.  I absolutely love to fish and feel there is no better food than beer battered fish with home cut French fries, but one of my least favorite activities is filleting fish.  Since purchasing the Mister Twister Electric Fisherman fillet knife several years back, I’ve cut my time in half getting better fillets with much less waste.  My technique to fillet using the Mister Twister Knife is to lay the fish flat with the backbone facing me: cut just behind the gill to the backbone, turn knife and cut through the ribs along the backbone to the tail, flip and skin the fillet in one motion.  Flip the fish and do the same on the other side.  After doing a couple of fish you can get into a rhythm and before you know it you’ve just finished filleting your last fish.   After finishing I remove the ribcages with any sharp knife, wash the fillet well, and put the fillets into a container for freezing.  To be fair, I’ve only used this knife on panfish, walleye and the occasional trout, but this knife has performed flawlessly without a hint of trouble since I’ve purchased it.  My blades have held up great through the years but if necessary, Mister Twister sells replacement blades (7or 9 inch) should your originals dull.

Product Limitations
There is only one limitation I could come up with when thinking about the uses for this product.  I know I’m stating the obvious, but you need an electrical outlet to use this fillet knife.  There are cordless electric fillet knives out there and I’ve used them, but in my opinion, they are not near as powerful and the battery life on the model I used was poor.  There was no comparison between my Mister Twister knife and this other cordless model I used on a fishing trip to New York.

Recommendation
I would recommend this product to any fishermen, from those who like to take a few home every once in a while, to those who eat their catch on a regular basis.  This knife is inexpensive, durable, and makes a nasty job much easier and quicker to accomplish.  In my honest opinion, Mister Twister makes the best and most powerful electric fillet knife on the market.

Plano SoftSider System (Fishing Tackle Bag)

Product Review by Mike Bell, PSP Field Staff

Cost
$27.99

Product Features

• Large Tackle Bag


• Adjustable Nylon Strap


• Includes four 3700 (large) ProLatch utility boxes


• 3 zippered large pocket

Personal Assessment
Before spring arrived, I was looking for an alternate way to store my fishing tackle.   I had a large plastic tackle box which I lugged around every time I want fishing.  This box was not only heavy but took up way too much room in our boat.  I saw these SoftSider Systems offered by Plano and knew I had to give them a try.  I enjoyed the convenience and portability of these tackle systems the first time I used them.  I have the 3375 SoftSider System and the Guide Series Medium Bag 3336 Tackle system.  I also purchased many of the stowaway plastic boxes which hold everything from spinnerbaits and rubber worms to my crankbaits.  Now instead of lugging all of my tackle with me, I just swap the StowAway boxes in my bag to suit the kind of fishing I’m going to be doing that day.  The straps make the Tackle Systems a breeze to carry and the pockets are perfect for extra tackle such as bobbers, pliers, fishing line, maps or anything you might want to bring along.  To say this product is portable and convenient is an understatement.

Product Limitations
I keep this section in my reviews to give the reader ideas as to what application the product wouldn’t excel at.  I can’t honestly figure any application short of wading on a stream where this product wouldn’t be useful.  The strength of the Softsider is the fact that it is universal.  You can make the bag fit your needs regardless of what type of fishing you are doing.

Recommendation
I would strongly recommend the SoftSider System to anyone who needs a good way to store their fishing tackle.  The product line includes bags and stowaway boxes of all sizes and will suit the needs of any fisherman.  I especially like the ability to throw the strap over my shoulder and carry my tackle hands free.  The StowAway boxes are adjustable and will hold tackle of most any shape and size.  If you are looking for a new and possibly better way to store your fishing tackle, check out the Plano SoftSider Line.

Spring Trip To Steelhead Alley

Recently I had the opportunity to make a trip to Erie with a couple of coworkers/ friends of mine.  We made plans last week and finalized them on Easter.  I would drive separate and meet Scott and Steve at the Elk Creek access.  Before arriving, I made a stop at a local bait store to get some leaders and talk with the owner.  The news was not good. He said the tribs needed water and they haven’t had a fresh run for some time.  Though I didn’t like what I heard at the bait shop, I was still looking forward to fishing with Scott and Steve.  My hope for this trip was to see Steve land his first steelhead.  He had made the trip once before, but unfortunately the tribs were blown out and he didn’t have the opportunity to fish.

Scott and Steve Gearing Up For Steelhead Action

I have fished with Scott several times, and he just flat out knows how to catch fish.  He is one of those outdoorsmen who knows how to get it done whether it’s elk hunting out west, archery hunting for whitetail, turkey hunting, or fishing for any species in PA.  Beyond this, he is just a good guy to be in the outdoors with.

Man, is it cold out!

We met at the access, and decided to fish a section of stream which held many fish earlier this year.  Upon arrival, we were surprised to find we would be the only people fishing this area.  I remember thinking this could either be very good or very bad, and was confused as to why nobody was around.  The weather was bitter cold and windy, but the stream had good color and decent flow.  The first spot we fished was a large slow hole below a train trestle.  It wasn’t long after we got our lines wet, that Steve coaxed a nice hen into hitting his yellow egg sack.  After a relatively short battle, Steve landed his first steelhead!  I took a couple pictures, offered congrats and soon we were back fishing.  Steve no sooner got back into the water and had his second steel in the net.  Things went dead for a while and Scott switched to live minnows.  This proved to be the right move as both Scott and Steve took turns catching fish up until the time we left.  At one point it was a hookup every four casts or less with several doubles.

Steve's First Steelhead

Scott's First Steelhead of the Day

My contribution to the trip included one steelhead and a couple suckers.  I tried everything from egg patterns to minnow imitations but the steelhead (with the exception of one) just weren’t interested in my flies.  Although I didn’t have a great day catching fish on a personal level, it was a great time fishing with friends and sharing a first steelhead experience.  Congrats Steve!

My Big Catch of the Day - Sucker!

As the bait shop owner reported, the fish have been in the streams a while, and most had the cuts, sores, and scars to prove it.  Several of the hens caught were full of eggs and a couple were spawned out.  There were a few clean semi bright fish caught, but no chromers.

Train Crossing the Bridge While We Were Fishing

The cold was getting to me after a few hours, so I decided it was time to call it quits.  I went over to Trout Run to see if I could get a few photos of steelhead in this little stream.  Trout run is nursery water that is off limits to fishermen (except at the mouth of the stream in Lake Erie).  In the fall, Trout Run can literally be black with huge fish and can sometimes draw quite a crowd.  The following are a few pictures of my visit to Trout Run.

Trout Run Nursery Water

Enjoy the outdoors and be safe!

Thoughts From Our Recent TripTo Erie

So many times, we as outdoorsmen and women get so caught up with the size and quality of the targeted trophy, we tend to forget about the real meaning of what makes the outdoors special.  When I hunt or fish, my goal is to achieve what I set out to do… see animals and catch fish!  The last couple of years my desire to be successful hasn’t diminished, but time spent outdoors has taken on a different meaning to me.  A great example of this change of philosophy can be shown in this trip to Erie steelhead fishing.

Jason Taking Time To Pose While Landing a Steelhead and Shawn in the Background

The wheels were set in motion to go steelhead fishing by my brother Shawn and my Cousin Jason.  They were talking about going to Erie on Monday and decided to move it back a day to include me because of my work conflicts on Monday.  Both Jason and Shawn called me last week and we planned on going up on Tuesday Dec 18th.  If I were reading this, I would probably be thinking big deal, so they moved the trip back a day to include me.  Well to me it was a big deal because they both had to work the day following the trip.  Jason had a 4 hour trip and my brother had a 3.5 hour trip to make it back to work the following morning.  As I was setting at home that evening, I was thinking how lucky I was to have these and many other great people to share outdoor pursuits with.

I know Jason already wrote a journal on this trip so I just wanted to touch on the high points that weren’t mentioned in his article.  First, before even touching the bank of the creek we had to wade through an icy beaver pond (not an easy task).  A 250 lb fat boy isn’t exactly a picture of grace in neoprene waders, so of course I ended up on my hands and knees, not once, but twice going through that pond (look at the sleeves in my pictures).  The soft bottom and the thin layer of ice didn’t help things, and of course I didn’t bring an extra pair of gloves.  Luckily, Jason had an extra pair and possibly saved my fishing trip (it was 21-29 degrees that day).  Thanks for the gloves Jason!

You can see my wet sleeves and this photo was at the end of the day!

Another part of the trip conveniently left out was the scenery pictures from the top of a train tressel.  Neither Shawn or Jason are especially fond of heights and my decision to take pictures didn’t go over well.  I was in the lead so neither Jason or Shawn could get around me.  I don’t believe they wanted me to stop and take pictures, but I took my time and enjoyed the moment of their sheer panic, and got some very nice photos to boot.   Please don’t think I’m evil as I probably get more than I give when I’m around those two.

Shawn Crossing the Bridge.  He isn't to fond of heights.

Jason Was Claiming That He Was Getting Sick From The Height???

Even though I have caught many more fish on the tribs, I can’t remember a more enjoyable time on those waters.  Overall, this trip was a great success and I hope it is the first of many for us.  We have fished together many times, but never in Erie, and never for steelhead.  I learned a great deal from fishing with these two on this trip including how to tie and fish a dropper fly, and different presentations used in different holes.  I am a novice fly fisherman and enjoy watching others and hopefully learn to become a better fisherman overall.  Thank you guys for allowing me to be a part of this trip and I hope to meet you on the tribs again soon.

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Good luck on your outdoor adventures and be safe.

Mike