Here's that once in a blue moon

outdoors

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009

I don't know if you noticed, but that full moon we had over us Monday night was pretty darn bright.

I got up a little after midnight and actually had to pull the blinds in our bedroom for it was waking me up. I believe you could have almost read this newspaper by that bad boy.

In case you're wondering, the November full moon is called the beaver moon.

Many cultures give the moons names every month, and that's what American Colonists dubbed our November globe.

Whether it was named because beavers are really active this month building and repairing their lodges or this was the best time of the year to set out beaver traps we'll probably never know.

It is also referred to as the frost moon and I've sometimes heard it called the hunter's moon.

Many people use the phrase once in a blue moon to describe something that happens on a very infrequent schedule –– you know, like the editor giving me a big raise.

A blue moon is in fact the second full moon that occurs in a single calendar month, and that happening really is a fairly rare occurrence. Our last blue moon was in June 2007.

Now, you may be thinking that because our November full moon this year came about so early in the month, we might actually have ourselves a blue moon later this November.

Nope. That's not going to happen.

The next full moon will be on Dec. 2, and that one is referred to as the cold night or long night moon.

However, the next one after that is coming on Dec. 31. That will be New Year's Eve and a blue moon on the same night.

You can be certain that doesn't happen too often.

Tough economy

We all know about the problems with our car companies, banks and restaurants.

However, with the exception of the firearms and ammunition industries, many businesses and groups in the outdoors world are hurting big time.

Wildlife advocacy groups in particular are bleeding some deep red. These groups depend upon membership fees and donations to keep their causes afloat, and those sources have been drying up fast.

For example, Quail Unlimited, the largest and best known of the quail groups is in deep trouble. According to the Outdoor Wire, that organization is having severe legal trouble right now and also is suffering management problems. Quail Unlimited has essentially become ineffective on a national scale.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has been downsizing and cutting expenses. Ducks Unlimited is sharing resources for their convention this year with a division of the Safari Club to further cut their costs.

Irwin Jacobs, the founder of the Forrest L. Wood tournament fishing circuit, is in bankruptcy with his huge Genmar Corporation. Brunswick sales are down 36 percent and Mercury Marine just reported a 29 percent decline in motor sales for this year's third quarter.

Just a few days ago, I heard the Ford Motor Company is finally doing pretty good, and they expect business to be really very decent in the future.

Let's all pray we've finally turned the corner with this horrible economy of the past few years.

New Wii toy

Shimano Xtreme Fishing for Wii is now shipping to retailers throughout North America. This innovative game will guide players by boat or scuba gear through exotic environments ranging from the cold, dark waters of the north to Amazon waterfalls and submerged Mayan ruins.

There will be a choice of spear fishing or using a traditional rod and reel combination. The suggested retail price is $29.99.

Fishing update

The first of the big ocean-running rockfish have finally returned to the Chesapeake Bay says Christy Henderson at Buzz's Marine.

No great numbers yet, but it has begun. The gannets are also just starting to show up.

Ken Lamb at the Tackle Box in Lexington Park reports some very nice resident rockfish breaking above Deale chasing alewives on the surface, and smaller stripers were near Sandy Point and the mouth of Town Creek. More of the same can be found up the Patuxent between Marker 5 and Green Holly.

Andy Andrzejewski of Reel Bass Adventures (301-932-1509) says some of the Potomac River largemouth bass were still relating to the remaining grass bed edges that remain a little green, and other good fish are moving now to wood, rocks and creek channel ledges.

Down at Lake Anna, some very nice crappie action is going on. A whole lot of really fine 12- to 14-inch fish are being caught every day on small to medium minnows near docks and bridge pilings. A citation crappie down there is 15 inches.

High Point Marina is also reporting stripers feeding from one end of the lake to the other with multiple patterns all effective.

Pledge drive

Dick's Sporting Goods is now kicking off a holiday inspired Anglers' Legacy Pledge drive.

From now through Nov. 21, those who take the pledge at www.AnglersLegacy.org to introduce someone new to the sport of fishing or boating is eligible to win a daily $50 gift card, courtesy of Dick's.

Anglers Legacy is a program aimed at increasing first time boating and fishing experiences, and they have already recruited 185,000 ambassadors nationwide since this program began in May 2006.

For official rules, go to the Web site listed above.

zbasser@aol.com