The Call of Fall Hunting Campfires, Remember December Striper Fishing, & Night Hunts with Night Vision and Thermals

CATFISH RADIO with Luke Clayton and Friends - December 6th Show Notes Segment 1: Campfire Talk with Luke & Larry Weishuhn

Mr. Whitetail, Larry Weishuhn, joins Luke to discuss his deer hunt on Matthew Brown's land near the Red River, complimenting the landowner on his knowledge of the country.

• The Kill: Larry successfully killed a six-year-old buck that weighed 187 pounds on the hook.

• Hunting Time: The buck was taken at 12:03 PM in the middle of the day, confirming that mature bucks can move all day, especially during the rut, and emphasizing that hunters shouldn't be afraid to hunt during midday hours.

• Buck Behavior: The buck had a strong, musky odor associated with the rut. It was rattled in, initially turned to leave, and then stopped and came back toward Larry after he grunted at him.

 

🎯 Hunting Gear and Optics

 

Larry discusses the specialized gear he used for the hunt:

• Rifle: A 7mm PRC rifle.

• Barrel: The rifle was fitted with an Aviant heat-releasing barrel.

• Optics: The rifle was topped with a Stealth Vision scope, which is manufactured in Crockett, Texas.

  • Stealth Vision scopes use 34-millimeter tubes and feature an optional lighted reticle.

  • These scopes have a little green light that indicates when the scope is level, which is the ideal time to pull the trigger.

• Bullet: He used a Hornady ELD-X 175-grain bullet, which he placed through about a "two-inch window" to hit the deer.

 

Segment 2: Lake Texoma Striper Update (with Bill Carey)

 

• Prime Fishing Season: Bill Carey calls December "Remember December" and "the best of both worlds" for size and number of fish.

• Weather Conditions: He notes that December is the "peak of the fall" and that overall, the weather is getting warmer and milder than in previous years, making it a great time to fish, especially during Christmas break.

• Fishing Techniques & Gear:

  • Under the Birds: Stripers are being caught "under the birds," which is impressive because they're catching 10-pound fish using this technique. The fish push the bait balls to the surface where birds spot them, and the anglers cast their jigs into the resulting feeding frenzy.

  • Lures: The current top bait is jigs, using flukes that have a fork-tail or straight-tail (less vibration) on a three-quarter to one-ounce jig head.

  • Retrieval: A simple medium retrieve works well, although the hosts admit to the old habit of shaking the jig. Strikes often occur on the pause.

  • The Thumper: The use of an automated, motorized thumper (a rubber mallet in a box) is confirmed to work by sending sound waves that attract schooling stripers. This technique will be in its prime at the end of the month into January and February, alongside dead sticking.

  • Striper Aggression: Stripers are very aggressive and curious, often resulting in multiple hookups or other stripers following the hooked fish right to the boat.

 

Segment 3: Digital Night Vision (with Shane Kessler of ATN)

 

• Guest and Company: The segment features Shane Kessler, a pro-staffer with ATN Corporation, discussing night hunting optics.

• Digital Night Vision (ATN X-Site):

  • Function: Digital scopes use a digital image that requires an external IR light to enhance visibility once the sun sets. It allows hunters to use one scope for both day and night hunting.

  • Benefits: Features like video recording allow hunters to review shots, which helps locate game if no blood trail is found. The scope can stream live to an iPad or phone, enabling a coach to ensure a shooter's crosshairs are correctly placed.

  • Limitations: Digital scopes are not good in heavy cover/brush because the IR light will refract off leaves and distort the image.

  • Tips: Shane notes that the one-shot zero feature is very easy to use, and it is essential to properly align the IR beam to the scope's view.

 

Segment 4: Thermal Scopes and Hunting Recap

 

• Thermal Scopes (ATN Thor LT):

  • Function: Thermal scopes detect an animal's heat signature, allowing the user to "look through" brush and heavy cover, as the heat signature is unaffected by foliage.

  • Affordability: Thermal scopes are now affordable (e.g., the Thor LTV at roughly $1,600) and are no longer out of the average person's price range.

  • Models: The 320 resolution is sufficient for most hog hunters shooting out to 125 yards. High-end models (Thor 5) are available with built-in laser rangefinders and ballistic calculators for technica