Hot Outdoor Recreation Posts


How To: Lash a bamboo tripod
In this tutorial, we learn how to lash a bamboo tripod. First, you will tie a clove hitch by taking one piece of bamboo and wrapping the rope around it, then crossing the two sides of the string together to make a hitch. Next, you will secure the clove hitch around the third piece of bamboo. Now, you will rap all the pieces of bamboo together with the rope. Continue to do this until all the pieces feel secure together. Wrap the rope several times around each of the pieces, then wrap it in the...

How To: Fish for bass using the flicker shad bait
Big surprises come in little packages, and that's certainly the case with this flicker shad bait. This flicker shad has been proven to attract bass or any fish that feeds on shad, so if you want to learn more, watch as Wade Bourne of MyOutdoorTV shows you how to fish a flicker shad.

How To: Seal and waterproof the belt housing on a Can-am
John Cannon shows you how to remove and seal your belt housing on a Can-am to make it waterproof.

How To: Wrap a wooden staff in rope
In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you will learn how to decoratively wrap a wooden staff in rope. First make the clove hitch at one end of the wooden staff, and tighten it firmly. Pass the rope around the staff and take the working end of the rope above the standing end, take another turn and pass it under itself. Push the knot to the end of the staff and tighten firmly. Next step is making a spiral hitch. Take the other end of the rope to the other end of the staff, put a half clove ...

How To: Tie a bowline fishing knot
Know your knots! With this free video tutorial, you'll learn how to tie a bowline knot. The great thing about a bowline knot is that no matter how much tension is applied, it will always slip back out when you want it to. The knot is easy to tie provided, of course, you know how to go about making it. For an easy-to-follow, step-by-step overview of how to tie this useful fisherman's knot in a minute's time or less, watch this free video knot tyer's guide.

How To: Tie a fly to a fly fishing line
The most important aspect of fly fishing is the fly! In this tutorial, learn how to tie a fly to your line for fly fishing. You will learn how to attach a fly to the leader on your line. A fly isn't attached to a fly fishing line because the leader is attached to the fly line, and the fly is attached to the leader. Find out how to moisten fly line to reduce friction and strengthen the knot with help from an experienced fly fisherman in this instructional video on fly fishing equipment.

How To: Tie the Easiest Loop Knot for Fishing
A loop knot can be used to attach most fishing lures and all hooks and flies. A loop allows greater action of the lure or fly and always ensures the line will pull straight down the shaft. With knots that cinch tight agains the eye of the hook, the may move off to one side causing it not to pull straight.

How To: Adjust the Parking Brake on a Honda TRX 450R
This video will show you how to adjust the parking brake on a Honda TRX 450R.

How To: Bind poles together with a Japanese square lash
This clip presents an introduction to the ancient Japanese technique of square lashing. Once you get the hang of it, you'll find it's quite easy. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started doing square lashing yourself, watch this video tutorial.

How To: Make clean burning fire starters with non-toxic materials
It's really easy to take lazy route and purchase fire starters at a grocery or hardware store to aid you in creating campfires, but storebought fire starters tend to have massive amounts of environment polluting chemicals and toxins that you probably shouldn't be anywhere near.

How To: Use round lashing to build a flagpole or A-frame
Round lashing refers to a knot that you can use to hold two poles together easily and securely. This is useful for constructing a flagpole, as the creators of the video did here and building a-frames. This video will show you how to use round lashing quickly and easily for your next outdoor project.

How To: Make a comfy DIY camping chair for less than 5 dollars
Not every camper is looking to totally "rough it" while they are in the woods. In this clip, learn how to make a comfy, folding camping seat out of cheap supplies for less than five bucks! This foam pad is far better than the ones you buy at those expensive camping stores and because you made it yourself, you know it will work. The best part? If you lose it or it gets ruined out there in the wilderness, it was so cheap and easy to make that you can just create another one!

How To: Tan a cow hide
Preparing a cow hide can be a bit trocky if you don't know how to do it properly. Lucky for you, that's what we're here for! Watch this two part tutorial on how to properly tan a cow hide. Enjoy!

How To: Set up a classic A-Frame tent
There are tons of quick pop up tents available nowadays, but the classic A-Frame tent still remains one of the most popular. A-Frames are those classic tents with the spikes in the ground that hold it up. They take a little more effort to erect but they are perfect for backpacking or short camping trips.

How To: Use a slip bobber rig when panfishing
To catch a lot of bluegill fish, the best way is with a slip float rig. The weight is all at the bottom of the line. Wade Bourne, host of Wade's World on MyOutdoorTV, shows you how to use a slip bobber rig when panfishing.

How To: Properly tie and anchor your boat
This video is some real basic stuff about boat tying and anchoring. Watch to see the right way to tie and anchor your boat.

How To: Tie a Japanese knot or Square knot
Learn how to tie a Japanese Knot or Square Knot - a decorative knot that forms a square shape. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.

How To: Tie a slim beauty shock leader knot for fishing
The slim beauty shock leader knot connects monofilament line to a heavier leader, that retains most of the original line's breaking strain. This knot was created to be strong, but cast to put together. Watch this video knot-tying tutorial and learn how to tie a slim beauty shock leader knot for fishing.

How To: Tie a "bowyers knot"
Watch this quick and simple video showing you how to tie a "bowyers knot" in a string ready to fit to your longbow.

How To: Do beginning archery
In this video series, our expert Charlie Labarda will show you how to fire a bow and arrow including how to select the right bow, how to shoot while standing, sitting, and kneeling, and how to use the sights.

How To: Loosen or Unstick Frozen RV or Camper Stairs That Will Not Fold In
Video: . This video will show you how to free-up manual folding RV stairs that are frozen and will not fold in or retract for you.

How To: Do a slapdown ollie up a curb on a longboard
Longboards are known more for their efficiency of transport and thrilling downhill riding than for tricks. Silly Rabbit, tricks are for shortboards! Or not. This video will show you how to do a cool little longboard trick, a slapdown ollie onto a curb. It's pretty easy, and is a very cool way to arrive somewhere on your longboard.

How To: Splice a loop into the end of a three strand rope
Sometimes when you're camping it's necessary to pitch a little something called a tent after a long trek hiking and exploring the great outdoors. And when you're ready to call it a day, make sure you can do so peacefully without the fear that your tent contraption will fall down on you during the middle of the night.

How To: Replace the gear cables on your mountain bike easily
If you need to perform some regular maintenance work on your mountain bike, this video may help. In this tutorial, you'll find out how to replace the gear cables on a mountain bike. It can be difficult to do and requires some time, but with this tutorial things may get just a bit easier. So if you need to replace your bike's gear cables because they're worn or damaged, then check out this video. Enjoy!

How To: Rig a slip sinker rig for walleye fishing
The slip sinker is used with the slip sinker rig to troll bait slowly across the bottom, primarily for walleye fishing, but also it will catch catfish and other bottom-dwelling species. If you want to find out how to rig the slip sinker rig, watch and learn from Wade Bourne of MyOutdoorTV.

How To: Remove a boat from the water for transport & storage
Eddie shows us how to remove a boat from the water in this video tutorial. First, take down the canvases and wrap them up. Now, put the antennas down and drive the boat to the loading dock. Next you will need a large truck that has a hitch and trailer attached to it, and secure everything so the boat stays on and doesn't come off of the trailer. Take the drain plug out of the boat before you transport it, to make it lighter. Transport the boat to your house, and place bricks over the front so...

How To: Rig a crankbait
In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you will learn how to rig a crankbait. It is so named because it floats on the water and does nothing until the crank is turned. The turning of the crank provides the action to the bait and attracts fish to it. To rig it, there is an attachment point on the diving lip of the crankbait; it can be a small hole for the line to be passed through or a split ring to attach the line. Tie the line to the lip with a clinch knot and you are in business. In case...

How To: Remove XT or XTR chainring spiders from your crank
Removing the spider from your mountain bike crank is an important part of the cleaning process, allowing you to get at areas on the crank that you never would be able to otherwise. This video features a demonstration of how to do this for XT or XTR chainring spiders. For those who refuse to compromise while cleaning their own bike, this video is a must.

How To: Make homemade freshwater fish bait
Gone fishin'? If you love to fish, but don't love the high price of bait from your local tackle shop, check out this tutorial.

How To: Make your own shortbow
In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you are going to learn how to make your own short bow. For this you will need a 15mm and 7mm PVC tube both of 85.5cm length, a 55.5cm long 20mm PVC tube, a 20cm long 25mm PVC tube, hammer, a wire of about 1m long, tape, nails, saw, measuring tape, pencil, scissors and a 3.5mm drill. Put the smaller tubes inside the bigger tubes and position them symmetrically by taking measurements and mark the center point of the outermost tube. Drill a hole at the c...

How To: Restring a fishing pole
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to restring a fishing pole. Begin by twisting off the drag cap and take off the spool. Take your fishing line and run it down the rode holes. Flip your bail up and tie a quick knot. Put it on the spool and reel it in. Hold the rope with some tension and reel it in slowly. If you reel it in too fast, the line will easily get tangled and you will have to remove or cut off the line. This video will benefit those viewers who are interested in fishing and ...

How To: Reel a fishing rod
In this how-to video, you will learn how to reel a fishing rod. The most common mistake with people using spinning reels is that they are using it upside down and backwards. The correct way is making sure the spinning reel is facing downward and you are reeling forward. With a conventional reel, the reel should be facing up. The crank should be going forward. Never crank the reel backwards. Make sure the non reeling hand above the reel to help give you torque in order to fight a big fish. Wit...

How To: Chop through dense forests with a machete
In this video, Chopping It Up, we see how some men camping and scouting in the remote central Brazilian jungle hack their way through the thick brush with machetes. We watch as they clear a path to the top of a mountain. It's a lot of work! We're told how they identified a route where the need for hacking would be minimized, on an old trail. The problem, however, is the sunlight on an old trail causes it to get choked up with vines and other thick growth. To clear the path with the machetes, ...

How To: Tie an Artillery Hitch (Loop) knot
Learn how to tie an Artillery Hitch or loop - A secure way of forming a loop in the standing part of a rope so that the loop lies perpendicular to the line. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.

How To: Tie the Handcuff knot
Learn how to tie a Handcuff Knot. This is a handy knot for those times when an emergency set of handcuffs are needed :) Firefighters also use this knot, coupled with a half hitch over each loop, as a man harness. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Tie the mooring hitch knot for boating
The mooring hitch knot for boating is a more secure knot than the better known (and easier to tie) slippery hitch boating knot. The mooring hitch knot holds fast while under tension yet can be released quickly with a tug on the free end. Despite it's name, this is a temporary boating knot and not to be trusted to moor a boat or anything else of value! Hope this knot tying instructional video helps you perfect your mooring hitch boating knot. Enjoy! Tie the mooring hitch knot for boating.

How To: Tie a Flemish Eye fishing knot for wire
Check out this fishing tutorial video that demonstrates how to tie a Flemish Eye fishing knot for tying wire ends for terminal tackle. Just follow the simple steps as outlined in this instructional fishing video and learn how to tie a Flemish Eye fishing knot. Start reeling in the big fish!

How To: Tie a simple crappie jig for fishing
Looking to do some fishing this weekend? Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to tie a simple crappie jig. This is one of the easier patterns to start off with for those with no fly tying experience.

How To: Tan a deer hide the old fashioned way
This is the first step in tanning hides and making leather the old fashioned way. Sometimes called braintan, smoke tan, Indian tan or home tan. Watch this demonstrator scrap the hair and grain from the hide.

How To: Set a Pipe Trap
This video will demonstrate how to properly set our Pipe Trap. Also known as a Tube Trap, this kill trap is effective for small animals like squirrels, rats and chipmunks. This clip will show how to use your foot or hands to set the trap. Learn how to bait the trap as well.