Live To Hunt And Fish Podcast

On today's episode we break down sturgeon fishing on the Columbia River with guide Chris Vertopoulos. Anglers in Oregon and Washington are spoiled with an abundance of species to pursue.  Salmon, Steelhead, trout, walleye, bass, rockfish, halibut, tuna…… but one fishery that gets overlooked a lot is Sturgeon fishing.  Here in the Pacific Northwest we have the best sturgeon fishing in North America and possibly the world.  The fishing is fairly straight forward and the setup is basic and effective.  With fish ranging in size from 3 feet up to 12 feet in length, you never know what you will hook when you drop your bait to the bottom. Today Chris goes through his setup and how to determines where to fish.

If you have ever been to Southeast Alaska you know that float planes are a way of life there.  They are used to transport people and good all over the area.  Most are commercial planes  but living in Alaska with your own floatplane to explore the wilderness, that is a sportsman's dream! To be able to fly to a remote lake and fish for salmon, steelhead, or trout. Fish that may not have seen an angler for weeks, or months....  From that same lake you could hunt for big bucks on a remote mountain that rarely sees boot tracks. Flying over bears on the beach, moose in a valley, or mountain goats on a rocky ridge. You would get to see the wild areas and animals that make Alaska special. The possibilities would be endless.....

On today's episode we talk about Trolling 360 Flashers for Salmon with professional guide Josiah Darr.  Buoy 10 is where it all kicks off but that fishery is only open for Chinook Salmon retention for a few weeks. When Chinook retention closes at buoy 10 many people move upriver to follow the Chinook where they can still be taken home. Josiah prefers to run a certain type of flasher and spinner combination in that part of the river.  He uses 360 style flashers that run different than a standard spinning flasher and bait.  We break down his setup and all of the reasons why he chooses to set up that way.  Josiah shares his knowledge with us so you can catch more fish. Once you get your setup and speed right this method can be extremely effective and will likely by your go-to method. 

On today's episode we talk about Korkers traction footwear with  CEO Brian Chaney. We talk wading boots, traction, and innovation.  I wanted to go over the different reasons why Korkers boots perform so well and why they last. Brian is constantly pushing to make the boots better.  As a gear junky Korkers boots are a natural fit for me.  Lot of sole options on a quality product.  Don't take my word for it.  Listen, check them out, and decide for yourself.  I will be doing more episodes covering different products and I want to make something clear…..  I did this podcast to let you know about a product I feel is better than many and is worth a look.  Just like when you go to the Sportman Show to get information on all the new products.  My podcast will cover some products that I feel are good but you don't have to take my word for it.  I want to explain to you why I feel they are worth a look and you can decide from there.  My belief is that the right information can save us all a lot of time and money.  It see

Alaskan Dall Sheep hunt gear review. On this episode we review all of the gear we put to the test on this hunt.  The Alaskan mountains are the least forgiving place I have hunted.  I learned a lot about my gear on the his hunt.  It took a lot of research to finalize what I was going to take on this trip.  In the end the research paid off and most of the gear worked very well. I hope this podcast is helpful for you when selecting gear to use on your next hunt.  I want to thank you for taking the time to listen to us.  Your time is valuable and I appreciate that you chose to spend it with us. 

Buoy 10 Salmon fishing with David Johnson of David Johnson's Guide Service.  Welcome to the Live to Hunt and Fish podcast. Where we seek out the experts in the Hunting and Fishing world, and bring their knowledge to you. Each fall upwards of half a million Salmon will return to the Columbia River making their way up to the streams of their birth.  If you are into Salmon fishing you will want to be at Buoy 10 come August.  But there is a learning curve and dangers that need to considered before you leave the dock.  The area is immense with the Columbia River being over 3.5 miles wide here so safety is paramount.  The tides and wind are major factors in how you will be fishing this area and how safe it will be out on the water.  You will hear how David plans out his day based on the conditions.  We also discuss the gear he uses, setups, techniques, and even his preferred bait for this fishery.  We had technical difficulties on this one so there will not be a video version but there is just too much good info he

Bone breaking arrow performance with Garrett Schlief of Grizzly Stik. Every archery hunter will eventually send an arrow that doesn't penetrate or deflects and ends up not landing a lethal blow.  For a long time this was just an accepted part of being an archery hunter.  Sometimes it just happens….. That doesn't have to be the case.  Through years of research and advancements in arrow technology we now have great options that can deliver an arrow with bone breaking performance.  One of the leaders in that movement is Grizzly Stik who sells arrows and broadheads to make a complete system.  Their company began with that same disappointment of hitting a moose shoulder blade with a traditional arrow setup.  That scenario drove the search for a more dependable arrow delivery system.  The goal was a broadhead built to break bone and keep going…..an arrow strong enough to stay together and keeping delivering that force through the animal.  From that need Grizzly Stik was born. If you are looking for a more dependabl

Fishing for Albacore Tuna off the Oregon and Washington coast. Fishing for Albacore Tuna is a newer fishery for Northwest anglers, but it is growing every year.  For those that want to learn how to catch these tuna Del Stephens is your guy.  He has been very involved in the development of and all events related to the tuna fishery.  He has a TV show called Canyon Warriors and runs the website www.tunadogoffshore.com. He also share his knowledge in seminars and a book he wrote on Albacore Tune called "The Dark Side".  You can find a lot of information at his website including his blog, seminar calendar, and how to buy his book.  Del has spent a lot of time chasing tuna all over the world and is a wealth of knowledge so be thankful he is so willing to share his knowledge with the rest of us.  Enjoy the podcast.

On this episode I sit down with Shannon Mobbs and Cory Ford of Angry Spike Productions to talk about their recent Sitka Blacktail hunt in SE Alaska.  This was a true DIY adventure hunt, on public land with over the counter tags.  They picked a remote island in Tongass National Forest and tackled the Alaskan wilderness head on.  They worked through a few obstacles of course.  Things like steep mountains, rugged terrain, biting bugs, and one lost quiver of arrows.  But I'll let them tell the story…… Enjoy the podcast.

Fishing the Deschutes River in central Oregon with with Amy Hazel.  Amy and her husband John own Deschutes Angler Fly Shop in Maupin so they are located in the center of all the action the Deschutes has to offer.  The Deschutes cuts through the middle of the state and runs for 252 miles from its' headwaters in southern Oregon to the mouth where it flows into the Columbia River. The Deschutes has a strong population of Summer Steelhead and "redside" trout that make the Deschutes a jewel among the rivers out west.  There are a few rules involved in fishing the Deschutes but those rules are also how this amazing fishery stays available to anyone who may want to catch fish there.

On today's episode we talk to Wil Askew about hunting turkeys on public land. Recently I was lucky enough to join Wil on two hunts on public land in Washington.  After those hunts we sat down in the turkey woods to record this podcast.  We talk about how he got into turkey hunting years ago and how that has become one of his favorite species to pursue.  We also break down some of the calls he uses, what they mean, and when he uses them.  Along with the calls Wil keeps moving, working to find a responsive bird.  A technique often referred to as run and gun.  I enjoyed hunting with Wil, seeing how he gets it done in turkey country.  I learned a lot and I hope you do as well, enjoy the podcast.

On today's episode we talk about Summer Chinook on the Columbia River with professional fishing guide David Johnson.  This run of fish was once known as "June Hogs" and for some are still called that today.  Today's run and fish pail in comparison to their long ago namesakes but this is still a great fishery to take advantage of.  With recent restoration efforts by the tribes of the region the fishery has been growing and expanded the sport fishing opportunities.  I sat down with David in his boat after a day of fishing to talk about this unique fishery. 

On today's episode we will be talking about something that has been a concern of mine for some time.  We all take pride in bringing home clean meat to our families.  After an animal is taken we all take care to cut around the entry and exit holes, making sure we get rid of bloodshot, pieces of the bullet, and damaged meat.  But do we really get all the pieces of lead left by the bullet…….?  As I researched the topic I found that it is nearly impossible to remove all the fragments from a lead bullet.  Even the best bonded bullets on the market leave a trail of lead that can be seen on an xray.  Less expensive bullets that aren't bonded look like a grenade went off.  With the little research I did my concerns seemed valid and I made the switch to all copper bullets for my own peace of mind.  This year at the NW Sportsman Show and I ran across the booth of Leland Brown. He is the coordinator of the Non-Lead Hunting Education program at the Oregon Zoo.  I stood in front of it to take in the ballistic gel blocks a

On this episode I sit down with Shannon Mobbs and Cory Ford of Angry Spike Productions (ASP) for short.  We talk hunting Roosevelt Elk during the rut.  I have known Shannon for a few years now and he has always been willing to take a moment to answer my elk questions.  His advice is rarely indecisive and usually includes the mantra of "Keep pushing in on him, if you can get closer".   This was my first time meeting Cory and I see why they have become such a lethal pair.  Hunting Roosevelt Elk, is what they do. These guys are hardcore hunters.  Chasing monster elk in the coastal forests of Oregon and Washington.  Their methods are targeted to draw out the dominant herd bull.  These guys go after elk with a tenacity that is fun to watch.  Their hunt films are raw, real, and genuine just as these guys are in person.  Also their approach to hunting elk is unique and has a thoughtful perspective that is different from many in the industry.  If you can take a moment to view the video version of this on our Youtube

Trophy Steelhead are something that I have traveled far and wide to pursue.  They are elusive and are the thing of fishing legend.  Even so if you focus your time in certain rivers, at certain times of year, you can hook up with one of these monsters.  On this episode we talk to guide Chris Vertopoulos about how he targets these rare fish.  We go over our preferred hook size and line weights.  A few stories are told which explain why we choose that type of gear. We also tell a story from way back about how we first met and and how small this fishing community really is.  You can contact Chris on Instagram and Facebook, or on his website at www.northwestanglingexperience.com Thanks for listening!

If you wanted to develop your own line of camouflage who would you want to design it?   It would have to be someone who was good with colors and shapes…..someone who could make two dimensional look three dimensional.  Like those animators at Pixar do with their movies.  Well that is exactly who designed the Cross Cover Camouflage for Gulch Gear.  His name is Brian Tindall and he was an award winning animator for Pixar and now he is making one of the coolest new camos out there.  His knowledge of shapes and light is impressive and he used that knowledge to produce a very effective camouflage. gulchgear.com Check out the Youtube video.  https://youtu.be/wc8YoE36Ej8  

On this episode we sit down and talk Spring Chinook with fishing guide Chris Vertopoulos. He resides in Portland so he knows the Columbia and Willamette rivers extremely well. We go over his preferred techniques, bait, and gear.  We talk about trolling speed, moon phases, and a lot of things in between.  Chris is a genuine nice guy with a wealth of knowledge he is more than willing to share.  If you want to contact Chris check out his website at www.northwestanglingexperience.com He is also on Instagram and Facebook so give him a follow.  Thanks for listening Check out the Youtube video. https://youtu.be/0EvgxQXA9Zo

On today's podcast we speak to Joseph O'Neil who manages the Oregon Hatchery Research Center.  They are located on Fall Creek which is a tributary of the Alsea River on the central Oregon coast.  Joseph was nice enough to show me their facility and some of the research they are doing for salmon and steelhead hatcheries.  There was so much to take in I had trouble gathering my thoughts afterwards for the podcast.  They are conducting a lot of research to hopefully produce a better hatchery fish for the future.  This is an uphill battle with budgets having less funds and legal requirements put on hatcheries to produce, but something has to be done.  Some studies say hatchery fish are currently 10 times less likely to survive and return to spawn than their wild, or native, counterparts.  A staggering statistic!  We cover topics such as their research on how fish use magnetic fields to navigate in the ocean, or how the health of a hatchery smolt's fins can be effected by the feeding technique used by the hatchery

On this episode we speak to Sam Sawyer about Sitka Blacktail Deer on Prince of Wales Island, in Alaska. We talk about the techniques he uses to break down the landscape so he can focus his time targeting mature bucks during the rut. Prince of Wales Island is part of Tongass National Forest so most of the island is public land. We talk primarily about rifle hunting but archery hunting is an option for the avid hunter. With a little research and some work on the ground anyone can go there and have a successful hunt for this unique species of deer. https://youtu.be/-ASzXVGsMtI