A Mom’s Guide to Fishing and Camping
From La La Land to the Virginia Woodlands, finding my way outdoors
Flipping through the pages of the first Woods & Waters magazine I had ever read, which I picked up outside of a Dick’s Sporting Goods in my new hometown of Warrenton Virginia, I began to learn about a whole new world of outdoor opportunities.
Something fishy, and kind-of camping
Having lived in Los Angeles for the past 17 years, my outdoor experiences had been limited to excursions to parks on the outskirts of the city, and the extent of my fishing had been trips to a local concrete fishing pond, where equipped with bamboo poles strung with fishing line and corn kernels for bait, I fished on weekends with my 10-year-old son. The manmade fishing hole was stocked to the gills with trout, so we were guaranteed to catch something, but it was hardly what you could call sport fishing.
Our LA camping experiences – more aptly called “glamping” – were likewise contrived, where we bunked in airconditioned cabins, appointed with a full kitchen and bathroom. It was roughing it to a degree, as there was no room service, though the camp store did deliver marinated tri-tip for us to cook on the fire pit grill, after they lit the fire for us. Then there was the camping trip indoors at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum, where we slept in the North African Mammals Hall, under the watchful eye of the taxidermized okapi, and security guards.
Rural awakenings
I knew in rural Fauquier County in Virginia, our outdoor exploits would be different, as in actually outdoors, in genuine forests. I envisioned hiking through lush forests in the mountains, and angling in babbling streams. Upon reading some of the stories in Woods & Waters, I was at once exhilarated and intimidated. I read stories by fisherman who advised on the best fishing spots, based on water temperatures, breeding habits, ideal lures and other highly detailed information that these experts had gleaned from years of serious enjoyment of the sport.
By becoming a regular reader of the magazine and by talking with my new outdoorsy neighbors, I started to acquire knowledge about fishing, hunting and camping, which I found out were enormously popular pastimes is in the area.
I discovered that communing with nature would not be as easy as falling off a log. In fact, reading and hearing about all of the gear and skills I would need to acquire almost discouraged me from even venturing out; but instead of feeling overwhelmed, I decided to take wisdom from the adage, “Every journey begins with a single step.” I slowly began to educate myself and gear up, in order to gain confidence that I could manage on my own, or with my son, to have an enjoyable and safe weekend in the woods.
Learning the basics
I quickly learned that camping gear is an investment, and you get what you pay for. After buying a cheap tent and snapping two tent poles the first time I used it, I got myself a Slumberjack Trail Tent, which sleeps six – or three, if like me, you really like space to spread out. I loved that at night we could strip off the rain shield and sleep with just the netting over our heads, so it seemed like we really were sleeping under the stars.
I also learned that the small ground tarp included with the tent is ideal, versus a large tarp. Though it would seem bigger is better, if it rains, it’s not. Water will pool on an oversized tarp, instead of absorbing into the ground around the tent. This causes water to collect and flow underneath the tent and soak the tent floor. In this case, less (tarp) is more.
Mama’s got a brand-new bag
Though no one should go on a camping trip for a good night’s sleep, you can greatly increase your chances of getting at least several solid hours of shut-eye if you get the proper sleeping bag and cot. As someone who likes that nesting feeling, I opted for the flannel-lined Slumberjack Big Timber bag, which features a large foot box so I can comfortably sleep on my back with my feet up.
Due to a pretty severe case of arachnophobia, I prefer being sleeping up off the ground. A high air mattress works well, but it takes up a lot of space. I found the Tough Cot is a good alternative, as it is sturdy, easy to set up, and it doesn’t squeak every time you turn over.
Cooking with sass
While I started with the basics, and I depended on the kindness of fellow camp mates to bring the cooking gear, I gradually have added to my camping equipment with a SLIM-FOLD Cook Station, which is like bringing along everything but the kitchen sink – lots of surfaces for food prep, hooks for utensils, and racks for storage. My cookware included the Bass Pro 5-Piece Cook Set, with pots and pans that stacked up neatly together for storage.
Sitting pretty
After a few camping trips with more experienced campers, I noticed that camp chairs were a big thing. There are ones that rock, ones with sun shades, ones with dual drink holders, snack trays and other creature comfort features. Not to let my camping companion throw shade on me with his canopied chair, I sit easy around the campfire in my Three Position Director’s Chair with Ottoman. While it’s a bit of a load to haul from the car to campfire, it’s all worth the schlepping when I lean back and put up my feet.
Trolling the waterways
Once I got started, it was hard to stop with the accumulation of gear. Next, it was a boat, but just a small one. We got an inflatable Airhead Angler Bay boat, along with a transom, and a Minn Kota Endura Max trolling motor, powered by an OPTIMA Blue Top marine battery, which was easy to charge up at my car with the OPTIMA Digital 400 or at home with the Digital 1200 12V Performance Battery Charger. I was glad though that we got a carry case for the battery, as the battery was heavier than the boat itself (and my son) and a little tricky to hoist it into the boat.
Our little blow-up boat, which served as an awesome fishing vessel for me, my son and his friends, was a perfect starter boat, since it didn’t require the storage and trailer of a skiff. It could be inflated and deflated within minutes with my Ryobi inflator, and I could pack up into a box in my garage when we were done.
Bait me
As for fishing, we learned that May was a great month to fish at Lake Brittle as they stock up just before Memorial Day with 7700 bass and 7700 catfish, which is 1000 of each species per acre of lake. There’s also some yellow perch, and bluegill at Lake Brittle, but unfortunately a lot of the native fish are being eaten up by snakeheads, which apparently someone released into the lake, and these invasive fish are taking over the lake.
For bait, we found live bait is best at Lake Brittle. The boat rental and bait shop sells night crawlers and redworms as well as small and medium minnows. The catfish seem to like anything stinky. Some folks at the lake told us they even had luck with chicken livers. If you want to snag a snakehead, they seem to like the collapsible frogs or yellow spinner baits.
Boating by the rules
One thing I learned quickly was that if you have a motor on a boat — no matter what size boat, you must register your boat and display your registration. I got schooled about this when I was pulled over by the park ranger at Lake Brittle in a kayak. Yes, a kayak. He let me off the hook, as it was my first offense, and I promised to get the proper registration before my next voyage. He also dinged my son and his friend for sitting on their life vests instead of wearing them, and for them sitting on the bow. Lessons learned.
Now that I am geared up and I’ve gained a few skills, I feel even more motivated to take full advantage of the bounty of the Virginia countryside and its waterways. My son and I have gone from city slickers to outdoor adventurers in one year’s time. We have learned a lot, and we have gained a lot of experience, but the greatest wisdom we have gleaned in our exploration of the woods and waters of the Wild Wild East, is that there is much, much more to discover. And that’s what we plan to do.
