They Have The Passion Weekly - A Reel Lady

In honor of the opening of Connecticuts Spring turkey season, this week's They Have The Passion post features Glynn over at A Reel Lady.  I've been following Glynn's blog and as well as on twitter and she has been nonstop tweeting and writing about her turkey chasing adventures.

Glynn describes herself like this :

"I love high heels, good jeans, purses, and makeup, but I love fishing, hunting, and being outside."  

Okay, anyone can say that right, but you have to prove it.  So how many pocket knives do you have on you?  Well Glynn claims she has 3 pocket knives in her coach purse. That's right 3!  I'm not sure if that is a sign that she needs help or that she wants to ensure she has a sharp knife with here just in case she runs across a fresh road kill.  From what I read, I'm going with the roadkill theory.

Glynn fighting a small tarpon down in Florida

In Glynn's bio she states:

I want to learn to shoot a bow, so I can go gator hunting, and bow fishing. I also want to catch a sail fish, marlin, and halibut. I love the feeling I get when I hear the drag getting pulled on a line.

If the above doesn't convince you that she has the passion for the outdoors then make sure to read her posts about her turkey season so far.  Like I said, I've been following her hunts and she has no quit in her and is pushing for success on harvesting a turkey with her bow.  Turkey's are hard enough with the shotgun and this young lady wants to use her bow.  Yo go Girl!  I don't want to ruin the ending but I know the outcome of her drive for success with the bow this spring and you will just have to follow her blog to find out how it ends. 

Click on the photo to see if Glynn out shot her husband on this trip.

I would like to talk with her husband though, as Glynn credits him with teaching her to fish and in learning to shoot a bow, but when I read the claim below it reminded me on why I stopped taking my wife to the range and the water and probably why I should stop taking my daughter hunting in fishing as well.

He wouldn’t admit it (on most days), but I can outshoot him with a shotgun AND a rifle (for the most part).

Looks like Glynn might be making the better shot claim with the bow as well

I love to see women and kids share in our great outdoor traditions of shooting, hunting and fishing and following along with Glynn on her outdoor adventures just makes me believe that our traditions are in good hands.  So make sure to stop by A Reel Lady and add her blog to your reading list, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Thanks for sharing the Passion Glynn and just a reminder that you are a little behind on the turkey hunting posts.

They Have The Passion Weekly - The Jersey Angler

Bart from the Jersey Angler

This weeks THTP post features Bart over at The Jersey Angler.  I know what you are thinking..Fish...in New Jersey?!  Trust me when I tell you this, there are and some beauties to be caught along with some incredible fisheries in New Jersey and the Jersey Angler will take you there.  Bart has been fly fishing for over 30 years and has a passion for all aspects of the sport of Fly Fishing.  Anyone that would bring a portable tying vise with him on a business trip either has a sickness or a serious passion and that should tell you something about Bart's passion for fly fishing.

Bart is also currently serving as the President of Central Jersery Trout Unlimited and is also heavily involved in conservation of our cold water resources.  Bart has the passion for trout and fly fishing for sure and is working to ensure that we continue have places to pursue our passion for fishing.

A nice brown that fell to one of Bart's ties

As someone who is still very green when it comes to fly fishing and fly tying, people like Bart and sites like the Jersey Angler are an important piece of my fly fishing development as they offer up many great tips and tricks related to fly fishing and fly tying and help drive my passion with pictures of large trout.  Bart has some incredible fish pictures on his blog and I prefer the ones that include the fly he caught the fish on the best - like the one above.

There is always something of interest for fly fisherman at The Jersey Angler.  If it is not a fishing trip report with great pictures of some incredible fish, then it is information about fly tying or conservation.  You can even catch a gear review or two.  Stop on by and say hello to Bart and check out his blog.

They Have The Passion Weekly - Country Captures

For this weeks THTP post I decided to highlight Coy over at Country Captures.   Most of us are never far from a camera while out enjoying our outdoor passions and for most of us getting a picture is not the #1 objective of our trip.  For Coy getting the picture is his passion and being from South Central PA sure offers up some great subjects and locations.

Any image of a wood duck is tops on my list

Coy lays out his passion for wildlife photography this way.

Having been a hunter all of my life and a Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer for over two decades, my photography interest focuses predominately on wildlife. Photography allows me to interact with and observe wildlife in ways that consumptive only hunting could never hope to. My hope is that sharing my work through Country Captures will encourage others to find a deeper appreciation for our natural world.

I can't disagree with Coy on this one.  I find myself on many outdoor trips more interested in getting a good picture then hanging a tag on my game.  For me it has to do with the long childhood dream of wanting to be a wildlife videographer, but make no mistake I still want to eat.

Coy even gets to play games - Looks  like Hide & Seek to me

Coy's images are just incredible and when viewing many of them you can't hep but think about the patience and determination it takes to get up every day and go out and take a pronominal photo.  It's not really much different then getting up, strapping on the old hunting boots and grabbing your bow or gun except for the fact that you need everything to line up perfect to get that great photo but you don't need everything perfect to put venison on the table - you normally just need the animal to show up inside your shooting range and to make a good shot.  When hunting the only light we care about is the legal start and end of shooting.  Coy has to worry about too much light, or not enough, reflections, how much light to let in or not let in.  It's all still somewhat a mystery to me but I am trying to learn.

Coy's tools - looks just like the one I will use Saturday for Turkey.

Country Captures is a regular stop for me and either during or just after my visit, I often find myself daydreaming or thinking about where I can find a willing participant for a photo the way Coy did.  What I find most interesting about wildlife photography is that you have to use many of the same skill sets that we strive to perfect as hunters and it is a typical game of hunter and the hunted, expect at the end of the day you know that same animal will be waiting for you again tomorrow.

Stop in and check out Country Captures and see some of Coy's Photos and share in his passion.  I promise you will be amazed at many of his captures.

They Have The Passion - Small Stream Reflections

This weeks featured Outdoor blogger that has the PASSION is Alan (aka Brk Trt) from Small Stream Reflections.

A willing participant in Alan's Passion

For anyone that has ever fished or thought about fishing small streams with wild trout then Small Stream Reflections is a must visit blog. Alan's passions for fishing small streams that hold wild trout as well as for tying those flies, especially some beautiful streamers, for hunting those trout and I can't forget his passion for cooking, will always make for a very interesting and mouth watering read. Be warned, if you are trying to diet, then keep those rice cakes handy because most of Alan posts have a picture of food and it is hard to control your urges when you see his creations. I just now realized how those wild trout must feel when one of Alan's ties comes drifting by - Mouth a watering and an uncontrollable urge to feed.

Look at the markings on this one

Alan's posts are always filled with great images of the streams he is fishing and the fish he is catching.  I don't think there is anything more incredible looking than a wild trout, except for some of the streamers Alan is always tying up.   Alan always shares his ties and usually some history behind the flies and streamers he is tying.  

Just one of Alan's Streamer ties

There is more than just incredible pictures of wild trout and beautifully tied flies, as Alan will offer up some history lessons, gear information, book reviews,  and of course food.  Something for every fly fisherman on his blog.

So stop on by and visit Alan at Small Stream Reflections but remember, if you are like me and have a problem controling your cravings you might what to skip past the end of each fishing report or you could be faced with something like this.........

Alan's homemade corned beef hash