Keep your Camping Food from Getting Soggy with the Cooler Tray!

May 31, 2016 - posted by Rose Marion

Bryan stopped by and showed us how the Cooler Tray can keep our food from getting soggy while camping.

(yikes, who films in portrait mode?!)
When you’re camping, you want to keep all your food cool overnight or over the weekend. But that doesn’t have to mean soggy buns, soggy grapes, soaking-wet beverage cans that have gunk on them – ick!!

This is an easy & economical solution to that summer problem.

As one of our managers said, “I’m sure gonna miss scooping the hamburger labels out of the water when I empty the cooler…. NOT!”

What a cool invention! You can get yours in the Sporting Goods department of Smith & Edwards as well as right here in our online Camping Coolers section..

The Ice-Olate Cooler Tray is designed to adjust to fit practically any size coolers: from 45 up to 100 quart ice chests & coolers, by Igloo, Yeti, Coleman, and just about any other brand. It holds up to 80 pounds of food & drinks.

Thanks for coming by, Bryan!

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Northern Utah Fishing Report – June 2016

May 28, 2016 - posted by Chris Jacobson

I have two words for my fishing trips so far this year. RAIN OUT!

Man, that weather hasn’t been cooperating! It seems like every day I have time off, it rains or at least looks like it’s going to!

Now, I am not complaining. We need the water. Every drop is needed to fill our reservoirs up! As far as the water levels, Pineview and Causey are spilling. Which means there is a lot of water flowing into Willard right now! That is great news!

In fact, they have put more water in Willard this year, than they have since I started working here at Smith and Edwards. That means the fishing is going to be completely different this year.

Fishing in High Water Levels

The last few years, the forage fish have not had any cover to hide in and have been pushed to open water. Well, with the higher water this year, there is plenty of cover for the minnows to hide in. This is good and bad as an angler.

This is a good thing because there will be plenty of shad and other forage fish for food the next few years.

The bad news is that this year, the wiper and walleye will be spread out and hunting for more prey. That translates into having to troll longer and farther distances to find fish. That can be a pain and a bit discouraging.

Never fear though, rumor has it that with high water comes BOILS, which are super fun to fish! One can hope, right? We will have to wait until probably July and August to see if we get boils this year, but here is what we should expect for June fishing!

Fishing Willard Bay

Columbia and Huk Fishing shirts at Smith & Edwards

We love these Kryptek and long-sleeved fishing shirts from Huk and Columbia.

Fishing at Willard should really start to get good in June if you can stand the bugs. Mosquitoes will be in full force, so pack the bug spray.

Another good option is the new Huk Gear shirts or Under Armor shirts that we have in stock. They are long-sleeved but breathable, and have cooling technology in them. Check our fishing shirts out!

As far as lures and bait, mussels will continue to be great from shore. Also, try some Rapalas and other shad imitating lures around the submerged structure. Wiper and walleye will be hanging out close to the vegetation, waiting for shad to stray from cover.

People are still catching crappie from shore as well. Rapalas in the shad black and silver or blue and silver should work great. Click here for Rapalas and more lures.

If you are having trouble finding walleye, you may need to run a bottom bouncer and worm harness. With the new high water, the walleye will for sure be deeper most days. Don’t forget the planer boards either! They can be the difference from catching fish and not!

Have you seen the pelicans at Willard yet?

Pelican at Willard Bay - photo by Rose Marion

Rose went out to Willard this week and caught photos of some huge pelicans.

Fishing Pineview & Mantua

Bass fishing should really be picking up at both of these reservoirs in the next few weeks. I have had reports of bass on beds and some that haven’t made it to their beds yet. Definitely a great time to try and catch some good-sized bass from shore or boat.

We just got in our new line of Zoom baits in and any of the colors will be worth trying. The flukes are a great swim bait that can drive bass crazy. You should also try pitching some brush hogs or Carolina rigging a lizard as well. All are proven ways to catch fish all summer long!

Show me what you catch!

The annual Free Fishing day is coming up: Saturday, June 11th. That’s the same day as our Range Day event – so go fishing in the morning, send me a picture with #smithandedwards so I can see it and add it to the Braggin’ Board – then head out to the Perry Three Mile Creek Range to shoot our guns & ammo. Have a great month out there!

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Tactical & Concealed Carry Outfit for Him

May 19, 2016 - posted by Rose Marion

This spring we visited the Perry City Three Mile Creek shooting range to show off some of the new Tru-Spec® tactical clothing that Ryan, our Surplus manager, has added to his department, as well as the tactical & range bags we’ve just added to the Smith & Edwards online store.

Who else could we ask to model this cool gear but Tyler? Tyler works at our Gun Counter and has a first-hand grasp of what a shooter needs, both from a military and recreational viewpoint.

Tyler at the Three Mile Creek range in Perry, UT: Showing off his Tru-Spec sweatshirt and tactical pants, and 5.11 drag bag.

Tyler got to stand around looking tacticool while I snapped photos, and then we got to shoot some video (and he got to shoot some targets). Nothing better than seeing it in action!

Tactical Pants

One of the most popular items Ryan’s added is this line of tactical pants. While we stock both BDUs and tactical pants, these are the ones our customers strongly prefer. These Tru-Spec® tactical pants fit better and have great pockets. Plus, they hold up really well – whether you’re bending and lifting a lot, lying prone to shoot, or wearing them for chores outside.

Tyler’s wearing the Khaki Tan Tru-Spec® 24-7 Series Tactical Pants.

Range Bags

One of Tyler’s favorites from the stack of tactical gear was this American flag Victory rifle case from Allen Tactical:

From rifle and handgun cases to duffel-style range bags and even backpacks with handgun compartments for the shooter who takes 5 handguns at a time to the range… we stock what you want!

Fit up to five handguns in their own individual cases in this G.P.S. tactical backpack!

Fit your ears, eyes, and ammo in a range bag from 5.11, US Peacekeeper, and Voodoo. Get yours here.

Do you also hunt as well as shoot targets? You’ll find a HUGE range of rifle slings, in tactical styles as well as basic and Muddy Girl prints, at Smith & Edwards.

As well as scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars.

Don’t forget your eyes & ears! Get your shooting hearing and eye protection here. You can also get shooting targets and snap caps on our website.

MOLLE Gear

Whether you’ve served our country in the armed forces or not, sometimes the best tactical bag is the bag you build yourself. You can find mil-spec MOLLE (MOdular Lightweight Looad-carrying Equipment) gear at Smith & Edwards from trusted names like Voodoo and 5.11. We also carry dump pouches, magazine pouches, medical pouches, and even grenade pouches for any configuration you can think of. Click here to explore MOLLE gear.

Concealed Carry & Tactical Shirts and Jackets

Tyler showing the Atlanco Concealed Carry Shirt

Tyler wearing his white Tru-Spec Men’s 24-7 Series Short Sleeve Concealed Holster shirt. Get yours here.

This shirt is also available in black.

Tru-Spec Tactical Clothing at Smith & Edwards

Make sure & check out Tru-Spec’s whole line of tactical shirts, jackets, and apparel at Smith & Edwards!

Tyler wore the Tru-Spec® 24-7 Series Tactical Softshell Jacket in Coyote, the Grid Fleece hoodie in black. Click to see the jackets yourself!

Paracord

Tyler made his own paracord survival bracelet – make your own with one of the 150+ colors we carry. Click here to see all colors of 550 paracord.

Want more tactical?

Want to see all our tactical and shooting range gear? Want your own DOWNLOADABLE Smith & Edwards target? Click the link below!

Photography by Rose Marion.

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How to Make your own Laundry Bucket Washer (video)

May 6, 2016 - posted by Rose Marion

Pig muck-covered overalls? Horse leg wraps? Greasy shop rags? There’s no way those are going in the nice front-loading washing machine.

Here’s a neat way to turn 5-gallon buckets into a shop washing machine that keeps the mucky things out of the clothing laundry. We saw this on Pinterest and HAD to try it out!

Plus, you can also keep this on hand for emergencies: the Zombie Apocalypse or when the power goes out.

Thanks to Melissa in our Housewares department for showing us how to do it, and Marty for cleaning the leg boots!

Tip: Did you just buy a new pair of dark-wash denim jeans? Add a cup of vinegar and don’t add soap. Then, add your new jeans and let them sit overnight. This will help set the dye, and you won’t get as much indigo rub-off on the rest of your laundry!

Make your own DIY Laundry Bucket at Home

You’ll need these supplies:

Two 5- or 6-gallon buckets
1 bucket lid
Plunger
Bushing: we used a 1.5″ x 1″ reducing bushing
Drill with 1/2″ and 2″ hole saw drill bits

Directions:

Drill holes in one of the buckets, both the bottom and 1/3 to 1/2 of the way up the sides.
Drill a hole in the lid with a 2″ hole saw. Then, insert the bushing.
Now drill 1/2″ holes in the rubber plunger.
You’re done!

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Q&A: Why use a Gun Vise?

April 25, 2016 - posted by Rose Marion

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Send us your question to help@smithandedwards.com. We’ve got good advice, bad advice, & years of experience with all kinds of crazy outdoors activities. Send us your question, you just might get something fun or helpful back!

Question:

I saw your post on how to clean a rifle. I’ve never used a Gun Vise to clean my rifle… does it make any real difference? -Major Paul

Answer:

You don’t have to use a gun vise to clean your rifle. But it’s a good idea to have one, or a bipod, so your rifle is secured and the stroke of the cleaning rod is consistent with the plane of your bore.

A lot of people also use a bore guide so that when you clean from breech to muzzle, you don’t scrape your crown on the muzzle end. You don’t really want the cleaning rod to contact the crown. A vise will help you clean consistently without scraping the sides. Also, that keeps the mess in one area.

Thanks for asking!
– Mike Vause

Smith & Edwards Gun Counter

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Why We LOVE Honey: Cox Honeyland!

April 19, 2016 - posted by Jerica Parker

Henderson and Marion Cox started in the bee industry in St. George, Utah. Since then, the family has carried the tradition of bee keeping and honey production, and in 1989, Cox Honeyland opened for business. Now, the fourth generation of family is running the business in Logan, Utah, with more things than just honey, including lotions and other food items.

Here at Smith & Edwards, we have proudly carried Cox Honeyland for the past 20 years.

Honey has so many benefits!

Besides being all natural, healthy, yummy and sweet, it makes a great food storage item!

On top of that, there are other cosmetic uses that not many know about.

What’s even better? Finding honey that is harvested locally!

Why is local honey better?

We love the local Cache County honey from Cox Honeyland.

Have you ever had honey that tastes or looks a little different than other jars? Honey bees fly as much as 55,000 miles within a 5 mile radius, all the while collecting nectar from flowers. The nectar gathered from a specific region will give the honey produced a slightly different taste and color. Cox Honeyland honey has three different honey varieties: Clover-alfalfa (lighter color and mild taste), Cache Valley (darker with more flavor), and Mountain Snowberry (mountain wildflower flavor).

So wherever you get your honey from, it will be slightly different than honey from another place.

Fight those allergies!

A benefit of getting local honey is that it is said to help boost immunity for seasonal allergies. Naturally made, honey is healthy for you.

Tip: Have a sore throat? Mix honey with a spoonful of lemon juice in a mug filled with steaming hot water to soothe your throat and relieve congestion.

Pure and Healthy

You can tell honey is pure when it crystalizes. That means that there are no preservatives added to the honey. The great thing is that honey never expires! (Which makes it great as a food storage item!) When it does crystalize, simply place the jar in a pan of warmed water and it will soften back to its smooth texture.

What else?

Honey is great for various different uses, some can be surprising! As a natural sweetener, honey makes a great substitute in recipes for sugar. Using this replacement in some recipes reduces up to half of the sugar a recipe calls for.

Cox Honeyland has recipes using honey – Click here to see them!

Honey also has cosmetic benefits. “My dad would have us wash our faces with crystalized honey as kids. When honey crystalizes, it makes a great natural exfoliator”, Maleesa with Cox Honeyland told me. You can also use the beeswax to make your own lip balms, lotions, massage bars, and more.

Now that you know why we love honey so much, it’s time to get your own! Whether it’s for your food storage, cosmetic benefits, or just to enjoy now, local honey is the best!

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WAKE THE BAY: Your April Willard Bay Fishing Report

April 9, 2016 - posted by Chris Jacobson

#WAKETHEBAY

Willard Bay is roaring awake for 2016! We are super excited to get this fishing season underway and I think Willard Bay isn’t going to disappoint this year. Check out this quick video we put together because we couldn’t wait to get out there!

FISHING REPORT

They raised the dike last year like some of you know, and early indications are that it is going to be an adequate watershed year. Hopefully that translates to a longer fishing season and more water in the bay.

To celebrate what should be an awesome year, we want to know how you #wakethebay! By that I mean, I want to see all of your Facebook and Instagram shots of you out on Willard Bay chasing the wiper, walleye, or whatever finned friend you like to chase.

Wayne Russell wakes the bay with kids & wipers!

Also, we have some killer deals in the Smith & Edwards Fishing department starting Saturday, April 9th and running for two weeks. Check them out online or watch your local newspaper for the ad coming Sunday, April 10th!

I had the opportunity to go out yesterday and go fishing on the bay. Let’s just say, I was a little nervous at first. We fished for 3-4 hours without much more than one fast strike and done. We didn’t even have time to get the rod out of the holder.

We kept at it though, and finally around 6pm we got into the wiper. We even hooked into a couple big crappie. I left my scale at home but they were almost the size of a dinner plate!

We were trolling a few different colors and patterns to try to figure out what they wanted. The hot color for the day was Fire Tiger. I think that had to do with the water being so murky. The bright colors showed up a lot better than some of the others.

The action was fast once we found the fish. They seemed to be in 14-18 feet of water. Although, the most active fish were in the top of the water column. The water temp was fluctuating between 56 and 60 degrees. Perfect to get the fish to be a little more active then they have been. My trip started out slow, but by the end of the day we caught close to a dozen fish and had a blast. Even got a little sunburnt!

Looking ahead to what the month of April could bring, we should see the crappie fishing picking up with them coming in close to spawn in the next few weeks. The walleye spawn is all but over now and given a few weeks to recuperate, we should see them being caught in better numbers as well.

All of the fishing hinges on what the weather does. It looks like it should stay relatively warm, except for a few days of temps in the 50s. That should mean the water temp should stay up and fishing should be good and getting better going forward.

Look for the Fire Tiger colors to stay really hot. Especially if the water stays really murky. Other good colors are going to be the old standbys. The silver and blue or silver and black cranks and the gizzard shad cranks will produce fish. Especially as the new shad for this year get bigger.

These next couple of months are the best fishing on Willard and I hope y’all get out and enjoy the sun and fun.

GET YOUR GEAR

Click to shop fishing gear online with Smith & Edwards… and get EVEN MORE gear in the store, just off Exit 351. Visit us on your way to the south marina of Willard Bay!

SEE THE WAKE THE BAY AD

The WAKE THE BAY Sale runs April 9-23, 2016. Show us on Facebook and Instagram how YOU #WAKETHEBAY!

Thanks to Curtis Carter for the stunning photos!

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Prepare with 72-Hour Kits & Bug Out Bags

April 2, 2016 - posted by Rose Marion

It’s that time of year to check your preparedness gear, make sure you have a communication/meetup plan for your family, & rotate your food storage.

One important piece of your preparedness plan is having a bag with all your necessities. Some people recommend a bug-out bag, but here in Utah a 72-hour kit is the most recommended pack to have.

What’s the difference? Mike Vause from our Sporting Goods department asked Ryan Seager, our Surplus manager, and Jean Dimick, our Preparedness manager, and here’s what he found.

What Ryan suggests for a Bug-Out Bag

A bug out bag, or go-bag, is a small bag designed to get your from Point A to Point B. Point B should have more supplies, such as your 72-hour kit or your food storage.

You might keep your bug-out bag in your car or truck, or in your desk at work; some place you can get to it easily and go.

So it’s a minimalist kit that has just the necessities to survive. You can buy a pre-made bug out bag, or create your own based on your needs & preferences:

1 quart water, a container, & water purification method
Food (preferably a high-calorie bar)
Bivvy or compact sleeping bag
Poncho
Paracord
First aid kit
Multitool with a good blade
Lighting: headlamp or area lighting
Gloves, hat, scarf, light jacket, and spare clothes (if possible)
Fire starter
Personal defense

Jean’s picks for a 72-Hour Kit:

A 72-hour kit has the supplies you need to survive for 3 days. You’ll store more food and supplies than a bug-out bag, and for this you should consider a large backpack from the camping department, rather than a slim tactical pack. See Hiking & Camping packs here.

You can download a list of suggested items for your family’s 72-hour kits Get a printable ID card and 72-hour kit ideas from Smith & Edwards, as well as ID cards for your children:

Did you know?

Save the Children has excellent resources for teachers, parents, and caretakers. Check them out here! You can even make your own ID cards for your children on their website.

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We’re getting Cabin Fever… are you?

March 19, 2016 - posted by Rose Marion

When I’m not at Smith & Edwards, taking photos is a huge hobby of mine.

I’ve been in Utah for 6 years, and while I’ve loved wandering backroads for barn photos and along the river parkways for macros and mushrooms, I’ve never ventured up the trails for some stunning shots.

Til now!

I’ve got Cabin Fever and I bet you do, too. Come explore the hikes & trails of Weber county with me! Mike Vause has picked out some gear for me, and I want to see if you can keep up!

I’m wearing the Columbia Switchback II Jacket (in “rose” color), Columbia gray Anytime Outdoor Long shorts, and Merrell waterproof high top hiking boots. In-store, I’m wearing Ariat Real Riding Eclipse jeans. Yep, I got all that gear at Smith & Edwards!

Visit Camping & Hiking to get the best gear.

And check out the boots department for Merrell, Hi-Tec, and Under Armour hiking boots and trail running shoes.

You’ll find even more gear in-store at Smith & Edwards, off exit 351 just north of Ogden. Have fun out there!

Shop the Cabin Fever Sale!

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Spring into Action: Active Outfits for March

March 4, 2016 - posted by Misti Kosoff

The temperatures are up, the sun’s shining – it’s time to get back out there!

You couldn’t ask for a better playground than the North Ogden – Farr West area. With Highway 89 to bike or jog along, as well as the Rail Trail and the south marina of Willard Bay to explore, against the majestic backdrop of Willard Peak & Mount Ogden, there’s hardly a better place to bike, hike, drive, or jog.

For Her: Yoga & Jogging

Welcome back sunny weather with sun salutations in cute new gear!

What’s on her feet? FitKicks! These fabulous slipper-sock-like shoes have grippy rubber soles, cushioned feet, and a stretchy, colorful covering that makes them so comfortable to wear.

Jerica’s wearing gray & lavender FitKicks!

If you’re going to a dance, going on a car trip, hate wearing lace-up shoes to the gym, or slide around on your yoga mat too much, you’ve got to try a pair of these fun Fitkicks!

Jerica’s wearing:

UnderArmour lightweight loose heat purple hoodie (also available in lime, orange, pink, & yellow!)
FILA core printed racerback tank
FILA 3/4 capris, in black with purple stitching
Gray Fitkicks headband & shoes with lavender accents

For Him: Weights & Jogging

You don’t have to put on bulky jackets to stay warm! Get in a workout outdoors this spring with easy-to-layer lightweight polyester shorts, shirts, & jackets.

Brent’s wearing:

FILA Performance heather shorts
FILA stitched up crew shirt
Adidas Climalite 1/4 zip lightweight jacket
Black & green FitKicks

Come explore Farr West!

The city of Farr West is well into their latest park project: constructing Smith Family Park, which is directly across Highway 126 (2000 W) from Smith & Edwards. The Rodeo arena is taking shape, and the playground equipment has started to arrive. We’re so excited to see this huge family park taking shape!