Cast & Blast?
The "cast" part of the equation: a brawling Connecticut River brown trout that took a well presented streamer.
This responsive longbeard had 3/4" spurs and was definitely the king of his domain. He came strutting in with two hens that also responded well to my calling.
When the term "cast and blast" is brought up in casual conversation, a hunter or angler might naturally think of cool, crisp autumn days, spent in pursuit of feathered and finned quarry. Typically, one goes upland bird hunting in the morning when the bird scent is heavy and conditions are best for dogs to find wily grouse and woodcock. Then, the afternoon is reserved for pursuing trout and salmon, perhaps near the warming surface waters, as anglers hope to catch that last fish of the season on a dry fly.
Here in northern New Hampshire, we have a two week overlap for those that prefer to cast and blast in the autumn: the upland hunting season begins on October 1, while the fishing season on the Connecticut River ends on October 15. It's the best of both worlds, if you love chasing wild birds and feisty fish.
Luckily for us, there is a second "cast and blast" season in the spring, and it lasts a bit longer. By May 1, the trout and salmon (cast) fishing in northern New Hampshire is getting underway, getting better as the month goes along, and the wild turkey hunting season (blast) starts on May 1 and concludes on May 31, giving sportsmen and women a full month to get a cast and blast fix. The most confusing part of this time of year is making sure that your combo hunting/fishing license is in the right vest when you venture forth.
After my guiding schedule ended, I have been out hunting a couple of times, and the birds seem to be acting much the way they do earlier in the season. The birds that I have contacted have still been with hens for the most part and have continued to be vocal. That doesn't mean they're always going to come to your calls, but at least you know that they're out there, and that's a large part of turkey hunting.
Today's hunt was everything a turkey hunter dreams of: late morning calling, answered by a steady stream of gobbles. That gets the heart racing, and scrambling to find a good hiding spot is ultra important. It didn't take long for the gobbler to come ambling in, towed along by one of the hens, strutting all the way. In a short time he was well within shotgun range, and a well timed shot took him at 25 yards.
Yesterday afternoon, I was able to get out on the river for a few hours, and among several fish that I had on or observed actively feeding, one big brown fell for my Olive Soft Hackle Streamer. It put up a good struggle and was released back to the depths to be pursued again another day. It was further proof that May can be a great time of the season to take advantage of all the fishing and hunting opportunities that our area has to offer.
I must make clear that "cast and blast" usually means going hunting and fishing in the same day, and that I did not do this over the last couple of days. After all, getting up early for turkey hunting, especially late in the season, tends to sap the energy for an afternoon fishing session. It certainly could be done however, particularly if a short nap was incorporated in to the schedule. There's only five more turkey hunting mornings left, and I'll be out for a few of them to close out my season.
Here in northern New Hampshire, we have a two week overlap for those that prefer to cast and blast in the autumn: the upland hunting season begins on October 1, while the fishing season on the Connecticut River ends on October 15. It's the best of both worlds, if you love chasing wild birds and feisty fish.
Luckily for us, there is a second "cast and blast" season in the spring, and it lasts a bit longer. By May 1, the trout and salmon (cast) fishing in northern New Hampshire is getting underway, getting better as the month goes along, and the wild turkey hunting season (blast) starts on May 1 and concludes on May 31, giving sportsmen and women a full month to get a cast and blast fix. The most confusing part of this time of year is making sure that your combo hunting/fishing license is in the right vest when you venture forth.
After my guiding schedule ended, I have been out hunting a couple of times, and the birds seem to be acting much the way they do earlier in the season. The birds that I have contacted have still been with hens for the most part and have continued to be vocal. That doesn't mean they're always going to come to your calls, but at least you know that they're out there, and that's a large part of turkey hunting.
Today's hunt was everything a turkey hunter dreams of: late morning calling, answered by a steady stream of gobbles. That gets the heart racing, and scrambling to find a good hiding spot is ultra important. It didn't take long for the gobbler to come ambling in, towed along by one of the hens, strutting all the way. In a short time he was well within shotgun range, and a well timed shot took him at 25 yards.
Yesterday afternoon, I was able to get out on the river for a few hours, and among several fish that I had on or observed actively feeding, one big brown fell for my Olive Soft Hackle Streamer. It put up a good struggle and was released back to the depths to be pursued again another day. It was further proof that May can be a great time of the season to take advantage of all the fishing and hunting opportunities that our area has to offer.
I must make clear that "cast and blast" usually means going hunting and fishing in the same day, and that I did not do this over the last couple of days. After all, getting up early for turkey hunting, especially late in the season, tends to sap the energy for an afternoon fishing session. It certainly could be done however, particularly if a short nap was incorporated in to the schedule. There's only five more turkey hunting mornings left, and I'll be out for a few of them to close out my season.
