The Field & Stream Tips Blog

Fish Nymphs and Buggers Scent Free

Whenever I'm flyfishing with a nymph or Woolly Bugger, I like to take some mud side from the stream and work it into the fly. This does a good job of removing my scent from the fly.
Rob Sullivan, Peterborough, N.H.

Add a Wind Checker to Your Gun

Before I head out hunting, I always tie a piece of string or dental floss to the end of my gun barrel. This way I can tell which way the wind is blowing at all times.
Jack Kline, Superior, Wis.

Make Your Own 3-D Turkey Target

Three-dimensional turkey targets are great shooting-practice tools for bowhunters. Problem is they're expensive. To make your own, take your oldest turkey decoy and fill it with expanding insulation foam. After the foam dries, place it in front of your block and start practicing.
Chris Duke, Milton, Ontario, Canada

Sharpen a Knive With a Car Window

To touch up the edge on my fillet or hunting knife when I'm not at home, I use the ground edge of a door window on my truck. I sharpen the blade just as I would if I were using a whetstone. This restores a razor edge to the knife every time.
Karl Bechtel, Newburgh, Ind.

Spool Mono in a Floss Dispenser

A while back, after I yanked out and cut the last strand of dental floss from one of those white plastic dispensers, I wondered if the dispenser could still be put to use in my tackle box. Turns out, it could. I wrapped monofilament around the small spool inside the dispenser. Not only is this a handy mono carrier, but the built-in cutter works great for snipping leader.
Donald Wier, Lititz, Pa.

Unspool Your Reel With a Drill

To remove old fishing line from your spool in a hurry, use a drill. Simply tie the line to the bit, then pull the trigger. The line comes tearing off the spool in seconds. Afterwards, remove the bit, and the bundle of line will come right off.
Tyler Anderson, Jenison, Mich.

Release Deer Scents With a Nasal-Spray Bottle

I had an empty nasal-spray bottle, and I boiled it to remove the smell. Then I filled it with some deer lure. Now, when I want to release just a mist of scent, I catch a breeze and squeeze the bottle. It works great, and I don't waste as much deer lure.
Chris Thompson, Elkins, W.V.

Measure Your Catch With a Curtain Rod

I fashioned a light, accurate, and inexpensive offshore fish-measuring device from an adjustable curtain rod. I use a rod that extends from 24 inches to 48 inches, and I used a permanent marker to mark measurement points along the rod, indicating the legal lengths for various species. This way, I just line the rod next to my catch and I can quickly tell if it's legal to keep the fish. I also make note on the rod for daily bag limits.
Randy Black, Sellersburg, Ind.

Stuff Tube Lures With Scent Balls

I fish with tube baits almost exclusively in the spring. And to make them even more irresistible, I dip small pieces of cotton balls into bait scent and then stuff them into the tube before I insert the jig head. This creates a scent trail, which drives big bass crazy!
Greg Jacobsen, Clark, N.J.