http://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blogBLOG RSSSat, 30 Jan 2021 20:15:37 GMTSat, 30 Jan 2021 20:15:37 GMThttp://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/the-anxiety-adrenaline-of-duck-hunting-part-iGeek, nerd, weirdo, or whatever else you want to call me... I'm a thinker and over-analyzer in any given situation.  Throw in the pursuit of a couple of God's finest creations, and it's enough to keep my mind racing for weeks on end.  Whether it's fish, ducks, or deer, I can spend hours contemplating a game plan, only to come up empty handed, which normally leads to hours of over-thinking my failed plan of attack.  Recent encounters have drawn me to ponder this roller coaster of thoughts andSat, 30 Jan 2021 20:16:54http://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/the-anxiety-adrenaline-of-duck-hunting-part-ihttp://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/the-line-between-manufacturing-creativityJust a week ago, I spent the entire weekend with a group of some of the most talented people in the duck hunting industry.  The annual Reelfoot Waterfowl Festival is a show that I look forward to every year as it always stirs up new ideas and desires that I take back to my own shop, and I use that momentum to keep me going through the winter months.  One question I asked several of my callmaking friends last weekend was, "Where's the line between manufacturing and creativity when it comesSat, 30 Jan 2021 20:16:53http://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/the-line-between-manufacturing-creativityhttp://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/what-you-need-to-get-started-in-callmakingIt's a common question many callmakers get from guys that are interested in getting started making duck calls.  "What do I need to start making duck calls?" or "What lathe, mandrel, drill bit,  (insert any common woodworking tool here) should I buy?" I put "started" in quotations, because you will never have "everything" you need to make duck calls.  There will always be new things you want to try and equipment you want to upgrade, but I'm going to share with you some of the essentials thatSat, 30 Jan 2021 20:00:25http://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/what-you-need-to-get-started-in-callmakinghttp://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/the-bearkraft-youtube-channel-a-craftsmanship-communityMany of you have seen the posts and maybe even watched some of the videos, but if you haven't, here's an introduction to what the BearKraft YouTube channel is and what it's going to be in the future.  If you're reading this blog, you likely already know the history of BearKraft Game Calls and what I've been doing for the past 14 years, but it has become about more than just duck calls and hunting.     Callmaking has taken my family and I on a journey in more directions than I ever couldSat, 30 Jan 2021 19:22:36http://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/the-bearkraft-youtube-channel-a-craftsmanship-communityhttp://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/the-pursuit-of-the-wildThe "pursuit of the wild", it seems a little dramatic and caveman like, but I believe there's an underlying need for man to experience a connection with the outdoors.  Maybe this need is what makes it easier to wake up on a Saturday when the alarm goes off hours before your normal workday would start?  As the culmination of the week's stress is prepared to be emptied into the wilderness, excitement builds in anticipation of what the day's events will bring.           Whether it's ducks,Sat, 30 Jan 2021 19:16:42http://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/the-pursuit-of-the-wildhttp://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/chaser-fish-the-8-trap-methodAs fishing has become more productive for me in 2018, I can finally start to talk about how to increase your hook up percentage.  Locating fish has been difficult to say the least, but once you know the fish are there, it's time to focus on techniques that can produce more fish.     Since I had normally fished murkier waters, I'm not sure if this has ever happened to me before, but on several occasions this year I've encountered what I call "chaser fish".  I don't know if this is just more ofSat, 30 Jan 2021 19:09:40http://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/chaser-fish-the-8-trap-methodhttp://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/bass-fishing-strategy-confidenceThe constant challenge of varying conditions paired with finicky fish behaviors is enough to drive most sensible people to find a different hobby.  But anglers are a different breed and I'm no exception, defeat is not acceptable.  I've tried a multitude of bait options, locations, and times of day, but nothing seemed to be working.  Time to regroup and develop a strategic plan.  Did I just say that??  This isn't work, it's supposed to be relaxing!  Maybe I'm a geek, but the thought of applyingSat, 30 Jan 2021 19:00:22http://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/bass-fishing-strategy-confidencehttp://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/structure-temperature-and-bait-where-do-the-fish-goGiven my time on the lake and the amount of fishing I've done, you can imagine the exchange of sarcastic and joking remarks shared between my wife and I when I come home empty handed without even the thrill of a single bite.  "The water is dropping to winter pool, it should be easier to find them soon...", "at least I don't have to wash my hands...", things of this nature are relatively common among our conversations, but it's not just a feeling of defeat.  Similar to spending time in theSat, 30 Jan 2021 18:53:54http://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/structure-temperature-and-bait-where-do-the-fish-gohttp://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/getting-started-cherokee-lake-fishingFinding fish isn't easy on any lake that you're unfamiliar with, but change the character of the lake, and it can be darn near impossible!!!  Shortly after moving to Morristown and continuing to have to repair my 1977 Evinrude, we found ourselves at Bass Pro Shops where Jessi stepped onto a pontoon boat and says... "If we had something like this, I'd want to go out on the lake more often".  I will admit, it was cramped on the 16' Starcraft that I had rebuilt, but it was enough to get us on theSat, 30 Jan 2021 18:42:40http://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/getting-started-cherokee-lake-fishinghttp://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/my-affliction-with-fishing-highland-reservoirsGrowing up in Middle TN, I didn't know what a highland reservoir was until 2015 when Jessi and I made the decision to move our family across the state to East Tennessee.  We absolutely love it here and feel like this move has been one of the best decisions we've ever made for our family.  My only experience with a highland reservoir prior to moving to Morristown, TN was Memorial Day weekend several years ago that we spent camping at Dale Hollow Lake.  If you've never experienced DaleSat, 30 Jan 2021 18:04:58http://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/my-affliction-with-fishing-highland-reservoirshttp://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/what-happens-to-bearkraft-game-calls-every-summerMost years, my callmaking activities cease once the weather starts to get warm in the spring.  To be honest, it's a much needed break after a winter of eating sawdust and wearing out my fingers trying to fulfill as many custom ordered duck calls as I have time to do.  Don't get me wrong, I love working in the shop and I'm no less passionate about callmaking than I've been in the past, but sometimes you just have to walk away for a while and do something for yourself.  The lake is my outletSat, 30 Jan 2021 17:55:07http://site4986529.bearkraft.com/blog/what-happens-to-bearkraft-game-calls-every-summer