Flambeau Outdoors Articles

Fool the Dog That Can't be Fooled | Flambeau Outdoors

2020-02-26T10:00:00-06:00

Being a coyote hunter is like being in a fraternity. The first time you experience success calling or decoying one of these cagey creatures, a hunter can wear that memory like a badge of honor. Coyotes are one of Mother Nature’s most wide spread and effective predators. As a savage, top-end predator in the most wild landscapes in North America, coyotes are very adaptable and can be found in many urban settings as well. Like all categories of hunting, predator hunting has had many nuances added to the game in recent history. Decoying tactics is one nuance that has elevated many hunters from good to great. To be a great at decoying coyotes requires time in the field and some basic biological knowledge of your quarry. Here’s a few insights to help get you started on the path to successfully decoying impossible coyotes.

Basic knowledge is key

Key information, such as population density, den locations, and time of year, will source some predictable behavior and let you know if decoying is a viable option or not. December and January are the best time of year to integrate a decoy into your coyote calling tactics. During late summer and fall, most coyotes on the landscape are young-of-the-year animals. Only months in age under the protection and service of their adult caretakers, they haven’t gained the confidence to challenge other coyotes. Decoying early in the season will likely scare off most coyotes that aren’t willing to risk a fight or injury for a meal. When December rolls around, those same young pups are now older and tougher. Most realize by now that to survive they’ll have to sometimes fight for a meal. Decoying will breed competition, and competition breeds hunger—more likely this time of year to get the desired response. For the same reason, it is always best to stick to the areas where coyotes are plentiful. Coyotes in these areas will have no patience when they come to chase off your unwelcome protester. You can find out where the coyotes are by scouting yourself or communicating with landowners in the area. Getting in touch with local game and fish biologists can also provide great information on where to begin your efforts.

Be a glutton for punishment

Many of you will smile when you read this, but it is the truth. Predator hunting requires more trial and error than almost all other hunting opportunities combined. Time and again, even the most accomplished predator hunters hike back to the truck empty handed. When you are first learning, don’t just buy a new decoy and take it with on every stand. Hunt with and without it. You’ll learn more about the difference in behavior and reaction to your calling when there is a decoy present versus when there isn’t. A coyote decoy usually doesn’t provoke a hard charge—it is more of a calculated approach to the intruder. You can predict them to come down wind, so adding scent to your decoy will be crucial in most cases. So often, these wild predators will come in a very sly fashion and never really stop long enough to get a clean shot. Awkward shots happen all the time in coyote hunting. Effective decoying tactics allow you to better predict the path that animal will take into the area. Setup accordingly, and while the target animal is preoccupied with your decoy, you will have just enough time to get set up and comfortable for a steady, clean shot.

Decoy selection is crucial

Get the most realistic looking decoy you can afford. Coyotes have unbelievable senses, including eyesight, and are not easily fooled. Put your money into something that looks real like the Masters Series “Lone Howler” from Flambeau Outdoors. The faux-fur tail is poseable, which makes this decoy look perfect, even up close. If you plan to move often or hike long distances between stands, you’ll want something light to carry with adjustable features to give you added versatility to your setup. The Lone Howler does all of that.

At the end of the day there is no substitute for learning than days in the field. Go out and try it. Basic knowledge, effort afield, and the right decoy can get fool that dog that can’t be fooled. Good luck!

Why Walleyes? - Tips and Tactics for Catching Our Favorite Fish

2019-06-03T12:10:00-05:00

In my opinion, early season walleyes can be fooled most easily with a jig and a minnow.

What is it about walleye fishing that we love so much? Is it how good they taste after being rolled in flour and tossed in a frying pan?

Maybe it is the way the big ones stay down and make your rod bend and work.

Is it the challenge? Walleyes can be finicky to the point of frustration.

Or is it so we can play with our electronics and trolling motor so much while we fish for them?

Either way, when the opener rolls around for us, the landings fill up with trucks and trailers and anglers are jigging, pitching, and trolling with various types of gear from sunup till sundown.

With a few days of the season now in the books, I’ve talked to guys that had success pulling cranks along dropoffs, pitching into the shallows, and dragging jigs at slow speeds. So, what is the right way?

All of them, if they’re working of course.

There are certain trends that seem to get the job done at different times of the year. Early in the year, as the water is still warming, the go-to tends to be a jig and a minnow. Our first day on the water this year, the smallest crappie minnows worked best for tight-lipped fish. I heard other reports that creek chubs were the ticket on a different lake the same day. The key is having different options and changing things up if you need to.

Dragging a minnow while trolling anywhere from .5 to 1.5 miles an hour is where I’d start. Make sure your hook is heavy enough to keep contact with the bottom. In darker waters you can get away with larger jigs. As the water clears up, you’ll want to go to a lindy rig-type presentation to offer a bit more stealth.

When you’re trolling, I’ll drag the jig right on the bottom. Occasionally, I’ll lift it and let it drop to bounce on the bottom. That can stir things up a bit and rile fish up. If you’re bouncing that jig along the bottom past marked fish without strikes, you can try turning the boat slightly every so often. Or you can also change up speeds or give your rod a twitch. Any of those actions that can cause abrupt movement could trigger a strike.

Fishing shallow, warmer lakes, I would troll in the 6- to 10-foot area in the mornings and evenings. You could even stay there during the day in stained water on colder days.

Depending on your lake, it might save time to cruise around searching for fish with your electronics first. If your water body doesn’t have noticeable structure, the walleyes might be spread out. In that case, trolling shorelines will be the ticket.

If you have structure, bottle necks, or even bowls, vertical jigging can be tough to beat. Using a spot-lock feature, or a good ol’ fashioned anchor can hold you on a spot so that your line can be as vertical as possible. I’ll pound the bottom to make some noise and get a little mud moving to try and attract any fish nearby. Then I’ll vary my presentation up from short twitches to even letting it sit on the bottom still. I like to jig off the back of my boat where my sonar is located to try and watch what’s going on down there. Look for a pattern when fish it and try to replicate it the next time you mark one.

In my opinion, early season walleyes can be fooled most easily with a jig and a minnow. Whether pitching, trolling or even vertical jigging. If you have spots with current, get along those seams and put your bait in the bottom. If the fish are hungry, you’ll find them.

As I’ve previously mentioned—and used successfully on walleyes this year—the Bait Butler by Flambeau Outdoors is an essential tool for fishing with live bait. This fisherman’s tool will help cycle water to keep your bait alive in the warm weather months—meaning your water will be cooler, fresher, and cleaner. The Bait Butler gives you efficient and easy access to the minnows and fits universally fits on five-gallon buckets. The online price is $44.99 at www.Flambeauoutdoors.com, and when you consider the price of bait and having to replace it, the Bait Butler can pay for itself quickly.

The Live-Bait Struggle Stops Here with the Bait Butler| Flambeau Outdoors

2019-03-15T15:00:00-05:00

It’s a system designed to keep bait, and water, fresh for longer periods of time. But its real benefit is its innovative process of making those minnows easier to access with your hands.

“I dumped out those minnows in the bucket for you.”

During a recent trip back home, I spent an afternoon fishing with some family, and despite a small amount of success getting fish to bite, we left the ice with a healthy number of live minnows. Wintertime allows for cooler garage temperatures, giving you more time to keep minnows alive. Unfortunately, that also allows for freezing opportunities.

I was working the freezing-and-thaw cycle—bringing the bucket inside every so often—to try and stay ahead of the game and keep the bait alive for our trip planned for the next day. That’s when my dad uttered those fateful words that brought my plan crashing down. Apparently, the bucket had overstayed its welcome during the “inside” part of the cycle.

The struggle that is the “bait lifespan” has been a problem for some time. I’ve had smelly buckets full of dead bait in the basement, and I’ve had frozen buckets that needed to be thawed out, thus becoming a smelly bucket full of dead bait later. It was time to try something new.

The Bait Butler from Flambeau Outdoors seemed perfect. It’s a system designed to keep bait, and water, fresh for longer periods of time. But its real benefit is its innovative process of making those minnows easier to access with your hands.

The way it works is simple: You snap it on your 5-gallon bucket, add water add bait, and go fishing. A net is attached to the cover and engineered so your bait swims inside the net, inside the bucket. When you’re ready for that shiner, you unclasp the secondary lid and pull up on the rod sticking out from the top. The first function of this rod is to open the lid to the bait with one hand. Secondly, the bottom of the rod has a scoop attached to the net that lifts out of the water, leaving minnows within easy reach. This keeps you from having to go wrist deep in the water as your hand chases minnows around the sides before they wiggle out between your fingers. Now, you’re able to grab a minnow, hook it up and close that lid, which puts your bait back down in the water, all with only one hand.

The Bait Butler comes with a number of accessories on the lid including hooks for hooks, a rod holder, a place to hang your aerator, and even a spot to put a glow stick on the inside to give you the ability to see your bait when you’re fishing after sunset.

While those accessories are nice and will take some of the hassle out of live bait fishing, I found the ease in which water can be changed to be one of the best features. Because the bait stays in the net, which is attached to the lid, you can just lift the lid off the bucket, dump the water, add new water, and reattach the li-net-bait combination and be back in business within seconds.

While this application will help in the inside and outside cycle of keeping your bait alive during the winter, it will actually be more effective in keeping your bait alive in the warm weather months as water will be kept cooler, fresher, and cleaner.

The Bait Butler is universal, so as buckets wear out, you can just snap it on a different bucket. The online price is $44.99 at www.Flambeauoutdoors.com, and when you consider the price of bait and having to replace it, the Bait Butler can pay for itself quickly.

Fooling the Boss Tom with the King Strutter | Flambeau Outdoors

2019-03-15T15:00:00-05:00

There are few scenarios more frustrating for a turkey hunter than trying to pull a dominant

gobbler away from his harem of hens.

You’ve done your homework and have found the roost, but all your time scouting seems useless after failed attempts to get the dominant tom into range. Your seductive clucks and purrs are no match for the swooning longbeard—and can you blame him?

That boss tom knows he’s got a good thing going with his group of females and doesn’t see a need to leave. Sure, some jakes may have given your spread a look, but after laying your eyes on the king of the roost, he’s all you can think about.

It’s not easy—but getting a mature tom away from a group of hens and into your spread can be done. In order to do this, one has to first think like your adversary. Achieving flock dominance is no simple task for a turkey, and no doubt this old boy has fought his way to the top. He’s living comfortably now, enjoying the fruits of his labor.

Heck, it’s almost like he knows you’re there, as you are leaned up against that old oak tree, 250 yards away, watching him pirouette around five different hens. Or was it six? No matter, his day of reckoning will come soon enough.

One of the best ways to get a love-struck gobbler within striking distance is by giving him some competition. Spring turkeys are extremely territorial and are well aware when an unfamiliar face shows up. Utilizing a full-strut tom decoy, like the King Strutter from Flambeau Outdoors, is one of the best ways to get a mature bird to make his last mistake. The King Strutter will give you a boss-tom presentation and realism that gives results.

Location is everything for this gameplan to work out. A few springs back, I was hunting in northeast Nebraska when I encountered an almost identical situation mentioned above. I had “put to bed” a group of birds that were headed to roost in a large row of oaks the evening before.

The roost butted up to a sizable field where the birds had been milling about that afternoon, so I figured my best bet was to set up on the opposite corner of the field, which gave me enough distance to not spook the birds in the morning.

I arrived early the next morning, fully expecting to be tagged out before breakfast. On paper, my plan seemed perfect. The birds would get down from the roost, and the boss tom, that I had seen the night before, would lock eyes on my full strut decoy and come charging.

As the sun began to peek over the horizon, I quickly realized my “perfect” spot had some serious flaws. The corner of the field where I set up was slightly lower in elevation than the rest of the field, and this unfortunate event put my decoy spread out of sight for the birds across the way.

I had no choice but to sit tight and hope that I could pull the birds close enough to at least get a view of my decoy spread. My clucks and yelps were no match for the group of hens mingling with the gobbler I had spotted the night before. As the morning progressed, I heard the group move farther and farther away, eventually slipping deep into the woods.

I made a move to higher ground closer to the roost, where I knew that the birds would be able to see my full strutter plain as day from a distance.

Sure enough, later that afternoon, the gobbler I had been after came to back to the field with his group of hens. This time he caught glimpse of my full strut decoy. He left his companions with no hesitation, storming towards me with tenacity. He presented a perfect shot at 25 yards, and with that one simple move to higher ground, I was able to tag out.

It certainly doesn’t always work out like that, but under the right circumstances a full strut decoy can lure that wily old gobbler into range.

Take a Buddy Turkey Hunting | Flambeau Outdoors

2019-03-15T10:15:00-05:00

My friend looked over at me and in a hushed voice he said, “They’re right on top of us!”.

For those who enjoy the outdoors, the arrival of spring is like the return of an old friend. The woods come back to life as winter begins to loosen its grip—how tight that grip is, of course, depends on where you reside.

For wild turkey hunters, spring marks a period of time we’ve been waiting on all year. It’s a magical period, where the anticipation is half the fun. I’d venture to say that you’d be hard pressed to find a hunter who hasn’t started preparing his gear well in advance of the season.

I was lucky enough to be introduced to the thrill of chasing gobblers by my father at a young age and was immediately hooked—or should I say “spurred.” We hunted hard in my home state of Minnesota every spring, with some seasons being more successful than others. As time went on, I was lucky enough to accompany my father on trips to other states in pursuit of longbeards, only further fueling my addiction.

The act of having a guiding hand to introduce me to this passion has inspired me to try to get someone else involved in the world of the heart-pumping gobbles and fired-up toms. I couldn’t help but think of one of my good buddies who had a remarkable big-game resume. He had hunted brown bears in Alaska, braved the rugged terrain of the Northwest Territories for Dahl sheep, and had harvested numerous mature bucks in Wisconsin.

Of all the epic hunts he’d experienced, I couldn’t believe that he’d never chased gobblers. That fall, we devised a plan to hunt his piece of land in Buffalo County in Wisconsin the following spring, and I’d show him what all the hype was about.

Luck was on our side from the beginning, and we both got drawn for our preferred season in the first week of May. We spent the first afternoon hunting a field edge. Although we weren’t able to pull any birds in close, I was able to glass a group of hens heading to roost on the ridge situated above us.

The morning alarm sounded early the next morning, and we headed back to the area where we thought the birds had roosted. I opted to go with a full strut tom decoy perched above a breeding hen, a combination that few dominant toms can resist.

A great combination for this type of set-up is the MAD Spin-N-Strut tom and Shady Baby Breeding Hen decoys to fool that springtime tom into shot range. The Spin-N-Strut features a reliable pull-string operation that allows you to create natural movement without any “tomfoolery.” The Shady Baby is a must have for any decoy spread and creates an urge for toms to breed based upon the breeding position deployed by the decoy.

And our presentation worked. We tucked back into the timber on the field’s edge. Before I could even rest my head on the oak behind me, the first gobble boomed through the woods. As if on cue, three more distinct gobbles rang out, each one louder than the next.

My friend looked over at me and in a hushed voice he said, “They’re right on top of us!”

I couldn’t help but chuckle and recall my first spring morning in the turkey woods. I knew that the job was far from over and began to call softly to the group. The responses were immediate, and our hearts raced with each thunderous gobble.

As the sun began to crack above the horizon, I could hear the birds began to get off the roost. I began to cluck more aggressively, knowing the birds were close.

After 10 minutes of silence, I started to get nervous. Had the toms left the area with the hens we had also heard that morning?

I began to doubt our spot, but just then my pal grabbed my arm and motioned to the corner of the field. Sure enough, four longbeards had appeared about a hundred yards away. I watched as they strutted, knowing that it wouldn’t be long before they noticed some competition.

They detected our decoy spread almost instantly and made a beeline towards us. I glanced over at my partner and watched his eyes widen as the beards swung with each step. We had briefly discussed the scenario of having more than one shooter in the spread, but in bated breath I told him we’d pull the “one, two, three, shoot” method when the birds got close enough.

In under a few minutes, all four gobblers were a mere 15 yards away, taking turns squaring off with the tom decoy. We managed to each pick out a bird, and I gave the fatal countdown. The hunt was all over before 6:00 a.m.

We both exchanged shaky high-fives as we picked up our birds, and needless to say, he was hooked, or “spurred.” Our trip to Wisconsin’s bluff country has now become an annual affair. The feeling of getting someone else addicted to this great sport was even better than harvesting a big gobbler. This spring get someone else involved in the wonderful world of turkey hunting, you won’t regret it!

Midwinter Panfish: Finding Fish in Subzero Conditions

2019-02-16T15:54:00-06:00

A change in ice fishing tactics can account for some of the best days of the ice season. An angler just has to know where to look.

For those of us living in the frigid north, the stretch between Christmas and spring can be a drag. Cold temps, snow, and an overall lack of sunlight can lead to a lot of folks hunkering down and avoiding outdoor activities. The same could be said for panfish, as the ice thickens and temperatures plummet, the once active eaters become more lethargic. However, this doesn’t mean anglers should stop targeting them.

Midwinter can actually be one of the best times to find large schools of fish, as the lack of oxygen levels in lakes tend to concentrate them in predictable areas. A change in ice fishing tactics can account for some of the best days of the ice season. An angler just has to know where to look.

Structure

During the early ice period, crappies and bluegills tend to relate to shallow water with healthy weed growth. These are the same areas that hold fish during summer and fall months, as weed beds tend to have the highest oxygen levels and presence of food.

As the winter progresses and ice thickness increases, low sunlight levels cause green weeds to wither and die, forcing fish to move elsewhere in search of food and oxygen. Deep basins become the stomping grounds for mid-season panfish for that very reason. Even in the coldest conditions, basins provide big crappies and bluegills ample oxygen and food sources.

On many lakes, there is more than one singular deep water “hole,” so it can be tricky to decide where to first look. My favorite areas to start looking are places that are close to the shallow weed beds that held fish earlier in the year. Like humans, fish become slower (and lazier) in subzero temps, so they don’t want to travel too far. Deep holes adjacent to shallow feeding grounds usually hold the highest number of willing “biters.”

Baits

Unlike larger gamefish that feed on minnows and smaller fish, crappies and bluegills gorge on micro zooplankton. These small aquatic creatures are a staple in their diet, especially during the winter months.

Selecting the right bait is critical in coaxing tight-lipped fish into biting. Small tungsten jigs have taken over the ice fishing world in recent years, and for good reason. Although they are more expensive than their lead-based counterparts, tungsten is almost twice as dense as lead. This allows anglers to fish a compact jig profile more efficiently, as it sinks much faster than a lead jig of the same size. My go-to size for panfish is a 4 millimeters (1/16-ounce) tungsten jig, but I will go up or down a size depending on the mood of the fish.

Cold hands can ruin a day on the ice fast, so being able to rebait your hook as easy as possible after every bite is huge. To solve this problem, Flambeau Outdoors has developed a revolutionary new live bait retrieval system called the Bait Butler. An integrated lid system effortlessly fetches live bait for easy selection. The Bait Butler includes a Flambeau portable aerator and features one-handed operation, a unified system to easily change water to keep bait longer, a rod holder and rails for accessories. The Bait Butler fits most 5-gallon buckets.

As the saying goes, you can’t catch ‘em from your couch, so head out and give basin panfish a shot!

Overlooked and Undervalued: Eelpout

2019-02-08T13:00:00-06:00

These creatures roam deep water, inhaling anything in their way. Hated by many, loved by few, the fish I am referring to is the almighty “Burbot.”

Across the ice belt, anglers are given the opportunity to target numerous fish: bluegills, crappies, lake trout, walleyes, whitefish, and the list goes on and on. Now, don’t get me wrong, these “typical” fish are fun to chase through the ice, but there is one unsung hero of the depths that lacks the respect it deserves.

These creatures roam deep water, inhaling anything in their way. Hated by many, loved by few, the fish I am referring to is the almighty “Burbot.” Also known as “Eelpout,” these fish frequent deep and clear lakes across North America and Europe. Size varies depending on the lake, but fish up to 25 pounds have been recorded.

A few years ago, I had gone out to a local lake to target walleyes for the evening and set up in about 29 feet of water. The walleye action was poor, but I managed a few for the table. As I was just about to pack up, I noticed a strange mark rising off the bottom on my flasher. Before I could even move my spoon, my rod was doubled over and the fight began. I remember thinking, This is going to be the biggest walleye of my life and no one is going to be able to take my picture! Well, it was not a walleye.

As I shined my headlight down the hole, I recognized the unique pattern and color of a burbot. At first, I was disappointed. All this time I had spent fighting this fish, it wasn’t even a walleye. But then, I had a revelation of sorts. This fish beat me up, made incredible runs, and was finally landed after what felt like hours. It was at that moment that I gained respect for what many consider a “trash fish.” I ended up catching two that night and started to research how to specifically target them.

Tactics

When targeting burbot, it’s crucial to have the right tools for the job. These fish are powerful swimmers, so using at least a 28-inch rod with a medium to medium/heavy action is necessary. There are various line choices, but I prefer to use 15-pound braid tied to a 12-pound monofilament leader (about 2 feet in length). The braid provides plenty of power while the small mono lead gives some stretch on the hookset, as not to pull the jig out of the fish’s mouth.

Burbot are voracious feeders, so don’t worry about using a finesse presentation. The best bait setup I have found is a large rattling spoon or jig head, at least ½ ounce in size. Tipped with two or three fathead minnows, it’s an offering that big “burbs” can’t resist.

These snake-like fish tend to feed close to bottom, so keeping your bait low is key. Three to four foot strokes that fall to the bottom create a commotion, triggering fish into swimming over to see what in the heck is going on.

If you are fishing with a sonar unit, many times you will not mark the fish because they hang so tight. Often the bite will occur when lifting the jig up to “pound” the bottom again.

Another added bonus of burbot is that they are often nocturnal feeders. When work gets in the way of the primetime “dusk” bite for other fish, the eelpout will be there all night long.

Areas

During midwinter, the best areas to fish are steep breaks with access to deep water nearby. These areas serve as feeding zones, and often times fish will move up from deeper water at night in search of an easy meal.

Eelpout spawn underneath the ice, so in March large schools of fish will move up to shallower humps, forming “spawn balls” filled with aggressive fish. The technique to catch them still remains the same, just slide into shallower water.

Table Fare

Not only are burbot a blast to catch, they taste delicious. Often referred to as the poor man’s lobster, these fish have firm white meat that can be prepared a number of ways. A classic recipe is chunking the fillets and boiling them in 7-Up, then served with melted butter over the top. It’s that easy!

Good luck and enjoy the raw power of the pout!

How to Hunt the Fields—Have Success with Flambeau Full Body Decoys

2019-01-03T05:16:00-06:00

Scouting, early set up, and the right decoys can lead to great success in the field.

A field hunt for mallards is arguably the most exciting waterfowl hunt possible—snow goose tornadoes and timber hunts excluded. Although mallards work similar to snows when they’re in big flocks and watching them spin closer and closer can get the heart pumping as much as greenheads dropping into the trees.

The number one rule of field-hunting success is like anything else: Get out and scout. Putting miles on the truck and boots to find the birds will always be my biggest advice.

Scouting for mallards isn’t easy. They don’t show themselves much during the day. Just before sunrise, and just before sunset, are your best times to be on the road. You’ll want to find a decent amount of birds in multiple groups, because inevitably, they’ll come in big groups in the morning as well. If you don’t have multiple flocks, it could be a one and done situation.

And honestly, sometimes that’s the way it is. In fact, we’ve had all the mallards show up 10 minutes before legal shooting time, land, get nervous, and leave before we could fire a shot.

That brings me to my second piece of advice: Get set up early. Mallards tend to start showing up while most guys are still putting decoy stakes in the ground. If they show up before legal shooting time and you’re ready to go, you might get them to land or at least keep spinning around without busting you and bugging out. I like to be set, with everyone comfortable in their layout blinds, at least 20 minutes before legal shooting time.

As far as decoys go, a well-known secret is that a Canada goose decoy can be the best mallard decoy. I’ve even called in mallards using a goose call.When it comes to numbers, you can never have too many decoys in the spread. But, you don’t need 1,000 of them if you are on the “X” where you know the birds will be. Earlier this year, I set about an eight-dozen decoy spread that included Canada geese and some mallard full bodies. A simple spread for the solo hunt I was on, and it worked flawlessly. If I’m not in the field that the birds worked the night before, I will set as many decoys as possible to try and traffic birds in the area.

While goose hunters might go blue in the face running their short-reeds, duck hunters don’t need the lung capacity of an Olympic swimmer to call in ducks. Some light quacks to get their attention, and a feeder chuckle when they’re working the spread, are all you need. In other words, don’t overcall.If a spread looks right, they’ll spin and spin and spin and should give you a good opportunity. Of course, these are wild birds, so I will try different notes and combinations to see what makes them react best.

The Storm Front ™ 2 Full Body Mallard decoy, by Flambeau Outdoors, can get you in position to get those ducks in range, even when you might not know exactly where they’ll be. These full bodies are Flambeau’s banner decoy series that takes its name from the most-anticipated phenomenon of the waterfowl season, the arrive of fresh birds to your spread with a storm front. These decoys are carved by renowned master carvers Tom Christie, Dave Van Lanen, and Rich Smoker, providing unsurpassed realism and unequivocal durability. With the polymer blend for longevity to the ultra-visible, ultra-violet UVision paint technology, the Storm Front 2 decoys are a deadly fusion of what birds need and the hunter demands.

To summarize, field hunting mallards isn’t rocket science. But with ample scouting, early set up, the right decoys, light calling, and a dose of good luck, you can have a mallard hunt as exciting as they come.

Closing the Gap with Flambeau Deer Decoys

2018-12-19T12:15:00-06:00

Conditioning deer using decoys can lead a greater sense of calmness, which in return may lead to a successful hunt.

Classic conditioning plays an important role in deer behavior, deer hunting, and the tactics you take to be successful going forward. Deer will establish and evolve their habits and behaviors around both negative and positive stimuli, i.e. conditioning. So what is conditioning?

To simplify conditioning: whitetails are presented with a stimulus or a “situation.” Once presented with this situation, they begin to form a behavior towards it. They will be especially alert and show hesitation at first. If the experience goes well, they will be a little more relaxed during the next interaction. Eventually they will write the situation off as normal, posing no threat. Should it go bad, they will form negative associations with that stimulus—So goes the process of conditioning.

Similar to theories on confidence baiting for deer or coyote (in states where it is legal), the application of multiple feed sites, instead of just one, makes the situation more natural to the wildlife, and thus more likely they will use the sites without perception of human intervention.

This conditioning results in a natural environment and a greater sense of calmness. So, similar to making the feeding experience more natural, the same effect can be had by using deer decoys.

Visual confirmation is often a fast and affirmative stimulus for deer. Deer are a fairly social animal, and one thing they are positively conditioned to is the presence of other deer.Conditioned behavior favors the response to this visual stimulus because deer decoy use is far less prevalent in the hunting world than baiting, so most deer have never had negative associations with motionless deer. To them, they are just another deer, which to the hunter holds invaluable amounts of positive associations.

The logic is quite simple. If there’s other deer (decoy) at the bait site or in the field, more than likely the scene is relatively safe, and to a certain extent, the deer can essentially drop its guard. Start to add in decoys in feeding positions to display even more relaxed body language, and the effects of conditioning start to sway in our favor.

One look at the Masters Series decoys, from Flambeau Outdoors, and a hunter can see how this element of conditioning applies in the field. The decoys, which are the most life-like deer decoy available, are molded from the amazing realism created by the award-winning sculptor, Chris Schiller. Deploy the Boss Buck and the Grazing Doe, and a strategic hunter could entice a territorial trophy buck to come running. www.flambeauoutdoors.com/Hunting/Big-Game/Decoys

While there is no silver bullet when it comes to hunting, there are certainly some simple ways to stack the odds in your favor and a good decoy will do just that.

Public Land Decoy Strategies for Your Waterfowl Opener

2018-10-24T02:30:00-05:00

Being prepared and keeping tactics basic can lead to much success on Opening Day of waterfowl season.

You’ve had the day marked on the calendar since the end of the previous waterfowl season. The duck opener is almost here, and while it may not have the prestige it once had because of the various early goose and teal seasons, you can bet that most public hunting waters will be busier than a Wal-Mart parking lot on Black Friday before sunrise that Saturday.

My biggest piece of advice for opening weekend is to scout. Don’t just show up at your favorite slough expecting to shoot a limit by 7:30 that morning. Fill a thermos of coffee, grab your binoculars and start putting on miles. Find out where ducks are roosting and then where they’re going. Find as many spots as you can, so if opening morning arrives and you have another crew camped out on your pond, you can have backup spots to hunt.

Nothing ruins a good hunt like having two decoy spreads too close to one another. That doesn’t mean you can’t hunt the same water, but have respect for the guys who got there first – and don’t show up after shooting light and drive a boat through someone else’s spread either. Certain techniques can give you an advantage over competing decoy spreads.

Once you’ve selected a location, take the time to figure out where the best place is to hide. Check your weather app and check wind direction. If you have waders and can stand in the water, look for good cover in which to stand with the wind at your back.If you’re using a boat, make sure you find a place to hide it if you’re not hunting out of it. It’s also helpful if you can position the sun at your back to make it harder for the ducks to see you and easier for you to see and identify them.

When it comes to decoy placement, you can keep it pretty simple. You don’t need a giant spread in the early part of the season unless you’re competing with other spreads in the area. When hunting puddle ducks, I will leave landing pockets in front of the shooters.If the wind is at your back, set groups of decoys out to the left and right of each pocket. If you’re set up for a crosswind, you can do more of a j-type set, with a line of decoys along the shore then hooking out with a pocket in front. The landing pockets don’t have to be big or in any sort of shape, just natural looking and with enough space to land birds.

For divers, you’ll want to set your main mass with a landing pocket in front of you. Then, starting on the edge of your pocket, string a diver line straight downwind.How far down you go is up to you and will depend on how much room you have. If you’re on a big lake, you can start it further down for more visibility. It also gives ducks a chance to set up before cupping toward your pocket. In light winds, you might have birds land short if you go out too far. Usually early in the season you don’t have to be too precise as birds aren’t as wary as they will be after dodging steel for a few weeks.

To add realism in your decoy presentation, Flambeau has introduced its Gunning Series Decoy, an homage to the rich history of waterfowling that duck hunters so proudly revere, modeled after the heritage of duck carving, and in a design that makes the decoy ride the water like a live duck. The Gunning Series keel design features an anatomically-inspired rounded hull with a low profile, blade keel and stainless steel insert weights for live duck performance in all conditions. Because this decoy does not want to sit still, even in mere inches of water, it provides an extra advantage for those opening day decoy spreads.

Also, this Series also features the patented UVision paint technology for high-definition color scheme that reflects the real UV signature of waterfowl plumage to the eye of live ducks.

Spinners aren’t always necessary, and on some public waters, they may not be legal. Make sure to check your federal, state and local regulations. When used, I like to place spinners in my landing pockets and sometimes slightly off to one side so if ducks key in on them, they aren’t staring straight at the shooters behind them.

We all want to be successful on opening day, and these techniques can give you an advantage over competing decoy spreads. Scout so you know where the birds are and where the hunters aren’t. Strategically place yourself for camouflage and wind while presenting the most realistic decoy placement possible. Increase your advantage by showing live ducks the realism of movement of the Gunning Series keel design and of color through the UVision paint technology. The science gets results. Good luck this season!

Combat Fishing - Battle the Fish Not the Conditions

2018-10-23T02:30:00-05:00

When the water temperatures cool down and the bite heats up, these tips will help you stay ready for the fight ahead.

Fight Fish, not Frustration, with Flambeau Tackle Management Systems

It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen. As the cold winter releases its grips on Lake Erie, and the ice breaks apart, the changing seasons marks a monumental event.

Every spring, Lake Erie walleyes leave the lake in search of warmer water for prime spawning conditions. Many of them make their way up the Maumee River, located in Ohio. With the arrival of the fish brings hordes of anglers from just about everywhere you could imagine – all with the same hopes of hooking up with a big ‘eye.

The run has turned into such an event that there is a “Walleye Hotline” you can call to get up-to-date information regarding river conditions.

Smaller male walleyes (known as jacks) show up first and, depending on river conditions, can begin running as early as March. The big females follow, with some truly giant fish in the mix. Of course, there is no set time that the run begins, as it is totally weather dependent. A general consensus is that the fish usually begin their pilgrimage when the water temps reach 40 degrees in the river.

Since the Maumee River presents ample fishing opportunities for anglers who don’t have access to a boat, the banks quickly become lined with folks after the big one. This is where the term “combat fishing” comes into play. Shoulder to shoulder fishing is the norm, and anglers have to be prepped for battle.

Tackle organization is paramount in the fast-paced world of combat fishing. The Maumee River, like many other river systems, has snags that can result in lost tackle, so having plenty of options stowed away is a necessity.

Being able to have quick access to gear is a basic requirement when combat fishing, so picking the right tackle storage option is crucial. Flambeau has a number of products that will save you time and headaches when waist deep in flowing water.

For those looking to be as lightweight as possible, the Flambeau Portage Sling gives fisherman the perfect wearable soft-side storage system. The pack has room for one 4000 series Tuff Tainer and one 3000 series Tuff Tainer, making it a great option for those looking to travel light while still having enough storage for tackle.

The Portage Sling features a single, ambidextrous strap that can be adjusted to be worn over either shoulder.

For tackle junkies like myself, Flambeau makes plenty of other larger options to hold multitudes of gear. The Portage Backpack, which is essentially the big brother to the Portage Sling, provides a huge amount of room for just about everything you could possibly need for a day of bank fishing.

The Portage Backpack includes four 5007 Tuff Tainers and one WP5005 Tuff Tainer, but anglers can mix and match a number of their favorite Flambeau boxes inside the pack.

Sure, fishing tackle takes up a lot of space, but what about everything else needed for a day on the river? The Portage Backpack has it covered, with a top divided “attic” storage area that can hold sunglasses, tools, and any additional equipment needed. The pack also features a customizable compartment that can hold up to three spools of line, with external feed grommets. This makes retying a cinch in the tight confines of combat fishing, and ultimately this kind of efficiency will lead to more fish in the net.

Combat fishing can be crowded and frustrating at times, but having the proper storage systems can reduce the number of headaches. Next time you head into battle, make sure you’re properly equipped with right kind of tools for the job.

The last thing you want is to lose your spot in a busy bank fishing scenario, so why not have everything you need at your fingertips?

Night Bass Fishing and Tackle Organization - Plan Your Success

2018-09-24T12:00:00-05:00

Flambeau's innovative tackle storage allows you to stay organized when the sun goes down and the bite heats up.

Few bass fishing techniques are more fun than top-water baits. Heck, I’ve even been guilty of hitting the water and only throwing top water when I know others might work better . . . It’s just that much fun.

Now, imagine all the excitement of the top-water game exponentially amplified. “How?” you may ask . . . but, just wait until the sun goes down. One of the most fun ways to fish for bass is by targeting them at night - not only is it a complete riot, it can also be extremely effective as well.

Some of my earliest memories of bass fishing involved a small paddleboat and my favorite buzzbait. I’d wait anxiously for the sun to set so I could quietly comb shallow-water pockets, where big largemouth were chasing baitfish. The moment I caught my first night fish I was hooked, both literally and figuratively. In the dark, the playing field is leveled in a sense as you have to rely on feel and your ears for the “blow up” of a bite.

I have since upgraded from the small paddleboat of my younger years to a much fancier bass boat, but my night fishing techniques have not changed. Stealth is important, so I rely on using an outboard motor as little as possible. When pulling up to a spot, I use the trolling motor only to position the boat. Once situated, an anchor line is dropped and the fun begins. Oftentimes I’ll fish a spot thoroughly (20 to 30 minutes) before pulling the anchor and moving. It’s vital to get as much out of each anchor set as possible.

Night fishing is certainly not limited to fishing from a boat. Do you a favorite bank spot? Give it a shot after dark.

Some of the best night-time fishing spots are the ones that produce during the daylight as well. Bass will still roam the same kind of structure as their day-time haunts but will usually push up a bit shallower. I prefer to fish shallow-water spots with some kind of natural vegetation like reeds, lily pads or submerged brush.

The best top water baits for after-dark activities make a racket on the surface. Buzzbaits, poppers, and prop-style baits are all great options for enticing big bucketmouths to bite, as they all make a good deal of noise and cause some kind of water displacement.

Generally, I start out with a buzzbait (dark in color) and will move on to baits that I can pause and work slower if I can’t trigger a strike with the quick moving buzzbait.

With night fishing, organization is major key to success on the water. Having your baits properly organized ultimately results in more time spent fishing and (hopefully) more fish in the boat.

For my buzzbait organization, I rely on the Flambeau Large Big Mouth Spinnerbait Box. Featuring four compartments, this box can hold a pile of buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. The best part is that the box keeps baits free of tangles and neatly organized. On top of that, the three anti-corrosion Zerust dividers protect your baits (or investments as I like to call them) from rust and corrosion.

Zerust-infused plastics emit an odorless, harmless vapor in a contained area to naturally form a protective layer around exposed, clean metl surfaces to prevent oxidation-reduction and stop rust and corrosion. If you’re like me, odds are you already spend a lot on tackle, so having high quality storage is essential.

As far as the other top-water baits go, I like to use the Flambeau Ultimate Tuff Tainer in the 4005 size. This box provides up to 16 different compartments and can be tailored to your own specs with 11 Zerust dividers.

These two boxes hold all of the options I could ever need for late-night bassin’ and eliminates a lot of hassle when trying to find a specific bait in the dark.

The next time you’re hankering for some big bass blowups, wait until the sun fades away. You won’t regret it.

UV Light and Duck Vision – Paint the Right Picture on Your Decoys

2018-09-04T06:03:00-05:00

Flambeau’s exclusive UVision technology brings real science to your decoy setup.

Is it waterfowl season yet?

I swear . . . I can’t stand this time of year. Mother Nature tempts us daily with these cool, damp mornings. The leaves are already turning up north, believe it or not, and I’m seeing more wildlife moving through the fields and skies too.

I’ll be brutally honest . . . I’ve been staring out the office window dreaming of endless flocks of ducks and geese dropping from the sky, silhouettes floating towards me as the sun rises in the distance.

As I sit and stare, instead of type and talk, my dreams bring back sweet memories of the good ol’ days . . . and some bad ol’ days too.

I like to think I pick the rights ponds, strategically set decoys, camouflage and call well. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed some epic days of decoying ducks, one in particular when I couldn’t catch up to the blue bills, but they kept coming back for more. Other memories come to light of watching flock after flock just simply fly by us, wingbeats seemingly waving good-bye as their tails disappeared on the horizon.

What sets these days apart?

A myriad of reasons are cause for my frustration, I’m sure. But, after some deep thought, the devil is in the decoy’s details . . . and here’s why . . .

You’ve heard the term ‘a bird’s eye view’, right? Birds migrate many miles and spend their travels a’sky searching for either food or safety with sight being their most important sensory ability. Waterfowl can see fine detail up to three times farther away than humans according to Kurt A. Anderson, Joshua M. Unghire and John Coluccy, Ph.D. in their article “A Bird’s Eye View” published by Ducks Unlimited. It seems ducks can detect you blink in the blind, so no wonder the slightest movement or off-colored detail sends them the other way.

Their sensitivity to light is also far superior to humans with their ability to see ultraviolet (UV) light through an extra set of cones designed specifically for this purpose. Have you ever hunted over a bad decoy paint job? Trust me, it matters.

Undetectable to the human eye, waterfowl feathers naturally reflect UV light to produce a living signature that inflight ducks and geese use to evaluate the authentic "safety" of a potential landing zone. Since UV light is prominent at dawn, during the prime time for waterfowl hunting, the differences in UV intensity from waterfowl feathers influences attraction of flying ducks overhead, oftentimes determining cupped wings versus disappearing tails.

Flambeau Outdoors takes this science and applies it to waterfowling at the next level. To specifically combat a bird’s superior vision of UV light, Flambeau has developed the exclusive and patented UVision paint technology which replicates the UV reflection of live waterfowl plumage to use avian biology in the hunter’s favor. Approaching waterfowl come to trust these natural light conditions and feel safe to land. Decoys without UVision can trigger danger responses in waterfowl, and we all know what happens next.

“Ducks see things in a different light. I have to admit I thought I was a better caller than the other guys, but it was probably the UVision and Flambeau decoys that made the difference,” said Kim Norton, Flambeau Outdoors director of new product development and marketing.

Founded in Wisconsin in 1947, Flambeau has built a waterfowling legacy through decades of dedication to providing waterfowlers realism that gets results. Exclusive to Flambeau decoys, nothing outperforms the science of UVision technology to decoy more birds season after season, hunt after hunt.

Let science seal the deal.

Corrosion Resistance for the Traveling Hunter - Flambeau Zerust

2018-08-02T09:00:00-05:00

Uncle Tom didn’t realize that a fireside joke told during my first North Dakota pheasant hunt was practical, sound advice bestowed upon an aspiring hunter, a lesson that has stuck in my mind to this day.

With a sideways grin, Uncle Tom said, “Matt . . . every time you get home from work, you MUST carry a gun case with you into the house. Do it. Every day. Don’t forget.”

I was confused and asked why.

Uncle Tom laughed, “Your future wife will get used to it. So each time you buy a shotgun, you can sneak it inside, and she’ll have no idea.”

Brilliant.

Although a tongue-in-cheek joke, I have religiously practiced this maneuver and believe me . . . it works. Using this, I’ve been able to amass a respectable gun collection, one that I know has value and is important to protect.

My sense of gun collection preservation has never been so evident than after I purchased my first collector through a colleague at a classic firearm show in Las Vegas this past year, a modest Fox Sterlingworth side-by-side beauty built somewhere in the 1910s. This gun is not adorned with fancy, shiny scroll or striped European wood, but it carries tradition and class, a practical firearm with years of upland history inherent in every scar and scratch.

Whether you hunt the pheasant fields, duck blinds or spend hours in a deer stand, Mother Nature exposes your firearms to rain, sleet or snow at some point. Weather conditions will not stop me from dodging alders in the grouse woods with that Fox this year. But, how many times have you taken a gun out of the case on a long trip to discover the beginnings of rust or other corrosion? It’s not a good feeling, and I don’t want my Fox to suffer the same fate.

Protecting my firearm investment from corrosion was a must, and I found security from the elements in the vast array of Flambeau products incorporating the patented and proven Zerust technology. Zerust for hunters is ground breaking – there is no other way to put it or more eloquent way to write it. Zerust is a must for any firearm owner.

The vapor corrosion inhibitor portion of Zerust products is made of proprietary chemical formulations that are invisible, odorless, non-toxic, non-reactive, non-flammable and non-allergenic. Basically, you don’t even know that Zerust is there except that it prevents corrosion and rust on your most prized firearms or fishing tackle.

The chemical formulations release a corrosion inhibiting vapor that diffuses throughout an enclosure, such as a gun case or tackle box, and settles on exposed metal surfaces to form a microscopic corrosion inhibiting layer. The protective layer will remain on the surface of the metal as long as there is no significant, continuous exchange of air within the case or box.

If you hunt, you travel. Flambeau provides multiple options available to protect firearms for the traveling hunter and doubles down to prevent corrosion with Zerust technology. When I travel, I use both hard and soft gun cases depending on various aspects of the hunt. Flambeau’s Safe Shot Gun Cases are perfect for long trips with a lot of gear – the hard cases, single or multiple gun, protect your firearms and optics from the inherent perils of travel, and they incorporate Zerust too. For shorter trips, Flambeau’s Soft and Floating Gun Bags with Zerust liners offer flexibility and easy access. For your gun cabinet or safe at home, Zerust Plaques come in various sizes, and all hunters should have Zerust Gun Plugs for every barrel you own.

And Zerust has long-lasting effects. Zerust provides effective corrosion protection for clean metals for up to five years when used correctly and utilized within three years from receipt. That old Fox Sterlingworth has been putting birds in the vest for over 100 years, and I plan to keep up the tradition this coming fall. With the help of Flambeau’s Zerust technology and products, I can rest assured this significant investment and the memories that it makes will continue for future generations.

Protect Your Investment With Flambeau Zerust – What Is Your Tackle Worth?

2018-07-09T22:07:00-05:00

We all have more money tied up in fishing gear than we would like to admit – protect your investment from rust and corrosion with your favorite Flambeau products incorporating the patented and proven Zerust technology.

The squalls were unrelenting that morning with Mother Nature sweeping fishermen off the river from straight-line winds and sideways rain. We could not leave, however, as the walleyes were feeding, and I was loving every minute of the struggle.

With my hood cinched like a porthole to keep water from leaking down my neck, that solid tug on my rod tip meant one of two things, either a big feeder held deep, or I snagged again on one of the numerous boulders or sunken trees. The river current pulled the boat hard and “snap!” . . . I lost another jig, lodged on a rock this time.

I balanced my feet on the waving boat, reached down and unlatched my Flambeau tackle bag for another orange jig head. Losing hooks was a regular occurrence on the river, and with the rain my Tuff Tainer boxes were drenched inside and out every time I opened went to reload.

After the day, I literally dumped out my gear to dry it out. Naturally, I started worrying about corrosion from the extreme elements, and trust me, I personally know corrosion. My grandpa gave me an old metal stringer when I was a budding angler, a tool that is now over 30 years old with latches rusted solid. But with all the fishing memories tied to that stringer, I will never throw it away.

If you fish hard, this rust would happen to all of your gear if you did not take proper care and precaution. We all have more money tied up in fishing gear than we would like to admit, but you can protect your investment from corrosion with your favorite Flambeau products incorporating the patented and proven Zerust technology, a savior for the future of anglers who care about their gear.

Zerust is a patented VCI polymer technology molded directly into Flambeau plastic components that provides up to five years of hassle-free, long-lasting rust and corrosion protection. Zerust-infused plastics emit an odorless, harmless vapor in a contained area to naturally form a protective layer around exposed, clean, and dry metal surfaces to prevent oxidation-reduction to stop rust.

Test Results: Tackle dipped in saltwater. Rinsed with freshwater. Left in the bed of a pickup exposed to the elements for 30 days.

“You can’t see it, you can’t smell it, you can’t taste it (and neither can the fish), but the power behind that invisible Zerust vapor is something to behold when it comes to what it is capable of in terms of negating such a mighty force of nature – corrosion,” said Flambeau Marketing Manager Charlie Puckett”

Zerust protection can be found throughout almost all of Flambeau’s products for fishing and marine uses, including but not limited to the Tuff Tainers and soft side lines, particularly the Ritual and Portage Series tackle bags. Diligent fisherman can also purchase Zerust Plaques, sold separately, for their current tackle systems. These products serve to protect, built to safeguard your investments from the elements both inside and out.

“It’s impossible to completely prevent rust without going through complicated treatment procedures that ultimately aren’t justifiable when it comes to fishing tackle,” Puckett continued. “As precious and essential as our tackle may be for the single-minded purpose of catching fish, that metal gear has to be exposed to the two main ingredients of corrosion - oxygen and moisture - in order to start landing fish. Some rust is always inevitable in certain conditions. What it comes down to is tackle management and maintenance. What we give the angler with Zerust is the simplest, easiest method for protecting the valuable tools of the passion from turning to useless junk by slowing and controlling the growth of rust. That’s something invaluable when we’re talking about valuable tackle.”

If you fish hard through all of the elements like me and could have bought that coveted sports car with the money you have spent on fishing gear over the years, protecting that investment with Flambeau’s Zerust is a must.

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Matt Soberg learned to fish and hunt from his father and grandfather in Minnesota. He earned his juris doctorate degree in 2005, is currently the director of communications for the Ruffed Grouse Society, and freelances for numerous fish/hunt publications and websites. You can normally find him afield teaching his seven-year-old son the ways of the north waters and woods.