New in outdoors equipment

If you're looking to do a little back-country hiking this year, maybe combined with some fishing for native brookies or, later in the year, some hunting, there's a new pack out there worth a look. High Peak has been selling backpacks in Europe for years; now the company is brining its products to this country via High Peak USA. One of those is the Alpamayo 55. Said to be much lighter than other packs in its category, the Alpamayo 55 is designed with "PU" fabrics that allow for 3,500 cubic inches of storage capacity while weighing just 3.96 pounds. It features an EZ Hook adjustable harness system that lets users customize the fit of their pack, too. It's a "technically advanced harness system specially designed with the subtleties of the human spine in mind." The close fitting design hugs and conforms to the wearer's body, reducing drag while the EZ Hook system allows users to adjust the length of pack's frame in 30 seconds or less. Users need only to disconnect the hook-and-release harness adjustment panel, slide the panel to the correct position for their torso height and press the connection back together. The pack also features an expandable top lid pocket, adjustable chest and hip belts and 3-D molded foam backing and side compression straps. The pack has one large main interior pocket and smaller front pocket for additional storage of tools. Suggested retail price is $110. For information: write High Peak USA, 262 SW 43rd St., Renton, WA 98055; or visit www.highpeakusa.com .

Lure of the week

Lure: Turbo Toad

Company: Bass Pro Shops

Lure type: Buzzbait

Sizes and colors: Available in a 6-inch model in seven colors: leopard frog, white, jungle yellow, midnight, bullfrog, chartreuse and chrome blue.

Target species: Largemouth and smallmouth bass and northern pike.

Technique: This lure is meant to combine the noise and attraction of a buzzbait with the enticing action of a frog. Fish it around the edges of weeds like you would a weedless frog lure, being sure to move it fast enough to get the blades spinning.

Suggested retail price: $4.29.

Notable: This lure features a four-blade prop, frog-shaped head, twin tail trailer and a single hook rigged to be weedless.

Tip of the week

A lot of things play into catching fish: water temperatures, cover, and pressure among them. One thing always holds true, though. If you want to catch fish, you've got to get your lure or bait down to where they are. That means fishing different lures at different times. If fish are holding shallow -- say 10 feet or less -- use lightly-weighted worms or minnows, shallow-running crankbaits, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and topwater plugs. If fish are deeper than that, switch to jigging spoons, jigs, worms with lots of weight, sinking plugs and deep-running crankbaits.

Recipe of the week

Basted turkey wings

Ingredients

» 6 turkey wings

» 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

» 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

» 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

» 1/4 teaspoon allspice

Directions

Put the turkey wings in a large saucepan and add enough water to cover them. Add salt to taste and cover with a lid. Cook over moderate heat -- perhaps 40 minutes -- until the wings are tender. Next, cool the wings slightly and remove them, reserving the brother for later. Run the wings well with cinnamon and the remaining spices. Finally, place the wings in a roaster and bake at 350 degrees, basting them frequently with the broth and drippings, for 30 minutes or until they are golden brown.

Article by Bob Frye,
Everybody Adventures, http://www.everybodyadventures.com

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