All the other stuff

All the other stuff — 1 Comment
26
Nov 15

Happy Turkey Day

Heading out in the Marls

Thanksgiving is a good holiday. It is all about family and being thankful.

I have many things to be thankful for this year. Here are a few.

First, the fishing. I managed to get to Abaco this year and enjoyed the experience tremendously. It seems a long time ago now, but it was in 2015. I got to go there with my wife, children and my dad. It was a special trip.

I’m thankful I’ve learned more about the fishery out my front door and can now add stripers and halibut to the list of potential targets and fly fishing as a potential method.

I’m thankful I got to get my daughter onto twenty trout again this year up in Montana, and that she christened her new fly rod with an Upper McCloud caught rainbow.

That was about it for fishing this year. This is probably the year with the fewest flyfishing days I’ve seen since I started fly fishing in 1996. It just worked out that way. Maybe 2016 will be better on that front. I bet it will.

Of course, I have much more to be thankful for beyond fly fishing. I have a wonderful, intelligent and beautiful wife. I have two great kids. My dad is still around to torment me with his tales of all the fishing he is doing. I have my brother and his partner and a great brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

I have a great job that I love, working with people I enjoy.

We are buying a house and should be in our new, permanent digs by Christmas which should put an end to my nomadic roamings (12 moves in 20 years and I’m not even in the military).

I have my health and my incredible good looks, plus my humility and sense of sarcasm.

I hope you all have plenty of things to be thankful for in your lives and I hope our paths may cross (but not our lines).

Happy Thanksgiving.

All the other stuff — 2 Comments
21
Nov 15

Bass Pro comes to San Jose

I managed to stop by the new Bass Pro Outdoor World in San Jose when i was down to pick up my daughter.

San Jose Bass Pro

This is not a small store. It is massive. It has a bowling alley (although I’m not sure I get the connection). You can find bait fishing supplies, boating supplies, camping gear, kayaks and canoes and, of course, fly fishing gear.

It is so odd to see all the tarpon and tuna and dorado up on the walls in a place that doesn’t have much of any of those things. Still, a pretty fun place to go and look around. There is a big tank with all sorts of fish I’d like to catch.

They even had some Mako boats there that looked pretty sweet, although where you’d fish a boat more suited to ocean-side tarpon fishing than whatever you are going to find in the Bay, I’m not sure (honestly, I’m not sure… where would you take one of these?).

Mako boat

The store is a great thing for those that crave outdoor/fishing gear, but it does make me think about the little shops, like the California Fly Shop, that will likely end up hurt by this, or little Mel Cotton’s. People go from owners to employees. It changes the complexion a bit and it removes a lot of the personality from the experience.

Lost

I was thinking today, for no good reason, about how it is really hard to get lost around a river.

Rivers.

The river flows in one direction and is conveniently located at the bottom of the valley or canyon. Water that is above it will flow into it and it all just proceeds, predictably.

If the trail leaves the river and then vanishes and you find yourself in the woods with no compass, you simply need to listen for water or follow the contours of the land and it will point you, like a great big road sign, back to the river and home.

I was thinking how different that scenario is in a place like the Marls, where, unguided, I’m sure I would die. Every turn seems to strongly resemble the last turn, or the next, and what was flowing one direction once, will flow the other before long.

The vastness and unmappable nature of it would spell doom for me, directionally challenged with app open on my 6 mile commute to let me know traffic conditions.

You can’t just trace your steps by saying “OK, turn right at the mangrove,” because it is all mangroves. Mangroves and sand and water and more water and sand and mangroves.

There is a knowledge you develop if you know a place like that well, where you can tell the difference between the different mangroves, like a parent knows identical twins apart, but maybe not at first. To get that knowledge you have to put in the time, the hours, until it is all muscle memory and built in deep knowing.

I wish I had that. I wish I had some flat known like like. But the hours it would take to get to that point are already booked or spent or owed to someone for something, most of it for worthwhile pursuits and worthy people and so I find myself unable to mount much of a complaint… not a real one anyway.

I won’t get lost on a river. At least there is that.

All the other stuff — 2 Comments
07
Oct 15

Getting the Bahamas Back on Their Feet

Let’s get on board with this, OK?

PRESS RELEASE

The Abaco Fly Fishing Guides Association (AFFGA) is spearheading a RECONSTRUCTION FUND to benefit fly fishing guides and the accommodating establishments that cater to fly fishing anglers that lost their ability to make a living because of the destruction in the Southern Bahamas from Hurricane Joaquin.

AFFGA is working with world-wide industry members and partners to raise funds and has organized a Bahamian Advisory Board to help get the word out to those affected. The board will help gather relevant data regarding the requirements of those in the affected areas who are in need of assistance to rebuild their fly fishing businesses.

Once an assessment of the specific needs of the individuals affected by the storm are known AFGGA will reach out to our partners who may be able to help fulfill their requirements in order to alleviate some of the pain of the rebuilding process. Your donations may pay for materials and equipment or be awarded as cash to recipients based on need.

Anglers and Industry partners, we need your help to make this happen!

You may make donations via PayPal at www.affga.org Please indicate RECONSTRUCTION FUND or HURRICANE RELIEF as the purpose. Or you can mail checks made payable to Abaco Fly Fishing Guides Association to the following address:

Abaco Fly Fishing Guides Association

c/o GB Express Exports Inc.

610 SW 34^th St. Suite 107

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

Your generous donations will be distributed by the Board of Directors of AFFGA based on the needs expressed by those affected with the intent of helping as many people as possible. A full accounting of donations and expenditures will be made within three months.

AFFGA Board of Directors:

Justin Sands

Cindy Pinder

Buddy Pinder

Patrick Roberts

AFFGA Reconstruction Fund Advisory Board:

Mr. Gregory Bethel, Senior Economist, Department of Marine Resources

Mr. Benjamin Pratt, Senior Manager, Ministry of Tourism

Ms. Cheryl Bastian, Vice President, Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board

Rev. Felton Rolle, Owner, Salina Point Bonefish Lodge, Acklins

Mrs. Arnette Chisholm, Owner, Chester’s Highway Inn Bonefish Lodge, Acklins *

Mr. Nevin Knowles, Owner, Long Island Bonefish Lodge, Long Island *

Shavonne Davrville, Owner, Gems of Paradise, Long Island * * still trying to make contact to confirm participation

If you need further information, please contact Cindy Pinder at 561-202-8575 or via email skeeterone@coralwave.com. LIKE US ON FACE BOOK – ABACO FLY FISHING GUIDES ASSOCIATION to keep up to date on progress. Please spread the word throughout the fishing world as we need your help to rebuild the fly fishing industry in the Southern Bahamas. Thank you!

All the other stuff — No Comments
04
Oct 15

Bahamas Fly Fishing Hurricane Relief Fund

Bahamas Fly Fishing Relief Fund
Joaquin has caused some major damage in the Bahamas as it sat over islands like Long, San Sal, Crooked and Acklins for days. Since it formed locally, many of the precautionary measures normally taken were impossible. Once the immediate food and shelter issues are taken care of there will be a lot of folks who need some help getting their businesses back up and running to support their families. The Bahamas Fly Fishing Hurricane Relief Fund is intended to help members of the fly fishing industry who need help getting their businesses back up and running. This isn’t about giving a man a fish, or teaching a man to fish (they know how to do that already), it is about getting him back out fishing again.

How it works
Funds will be collected by the Abaco Fly Fishing Guide’s Association. To apply for help applicants need to be a member of one of the fly fishing associations (AFFGA or BFFIA). Applicants just need to say what they need the money for and how it will help them get their business back up and running (a more flushed out application will be made available once we get a sense of how much money has been raised). Funds will be administered by the AFFGA. Amounts given will be determined based on the total amount raised, the need stated and the principal of widest possible impact (helping as many people in a meaningful way as possible).

Oversight
The total amount of money raised and the total amount of money given out, for what and in what amounts, will be posted within 3 months.

How to give
You can give to the fund through the AFFGA’s PayPal account (the link is on the left side, just click on the PayPay icon). Simply include “FLY FISHING HURRICANE RELIEF FUND” in the purpose.

First, we need to raise some money, then we can see how much support we can actually give so we can let the guides know how much help they can get. So, if you know some industry folks or a few hedge fund guys who love bonefishing, let’s get some money into the AFFGA so we can get some help to those guides impacted by that rat bastard Joaquin.

The Bahamas is a special place. These are good, hard working people. These are people we like and people we generally spend some of our best days with. Let’s do what we can to keep them in business.

All the other stuff — 3 Comments
04
Oct 15

Joaquin Recovery – How You Can Help

Joaquin was kind of a bastard for the Bahamas. Since it formed locally it was difficult to complete preparations. Then, the storm nearly stalled over Long, Crooked, Acklins, Rum Cay and San Sal and dumped buckets of rain (up to 25″) and unleashed raging winds of over 100 mph. There is a lot of devastation.

These people are going to need some help. These are people you likely have stayed with, fished with or eaten with if you visited these islands.

Here are some funds set up to help.

Hurricane Joaquin Relief – a Crowdrise site.

Elbow Cay Community Association Hurricane Relief Fund – from Indiegogo.

I’m looking at setting something up to help the guide/lodge community get their businesses back up, but the immediate need is food, water, shelter.

A list of efforts from The Tribune.

All the other stuff — 8 Comments
16
Sep 15

Prospects

As I look out at the life and work commitments through the end of 2015 I see no daylight for the long rod.

Fall used to be just about my favorite time to fish. The fish seemed hungry, the rivers were emptying of people as either college football or the NFL took up weekends for people less interested in trout than I was.

The McCloud. Closing. Where I am not.

The threat of cold fronts or hurricanes has mostly kept me from looking to the flats, although I know the fish are still there, still eating and maybe seeing less pressure now than in April or May.

Now, however, now I see no possibilities. I’m back to mostly weekends with my daughter during the school year, so I can’t go wander around my rivers whenever I want. There is also the wife and the boy to think about as well.

Later in November and December it is conference time in my world. Nephrology in San Diego and Hematology in Orlando (let me know if you are going to be there). There is prep for those conferences and then follow-up and the Holidays.

The fishing? I don’t know where it fits in. Not like I live in Miami. Not like I can really just go fishing without preparation and airfare and hotels and gathering of gear and intel.

It seems like there a couple of sweet spots both younger than I am now and older than I am now where the fishing prospects are bright. Now… now I just get to look at the pictures and read the stories and think about where I’m going to go in 2016 when I’ll get back out on the water again.

All the other stuff — 2 Comments
22
Aug 15

The blog turns 6

I started the blog on my birthday in 2009. Since I had another birthday on Friday that means the blog had a birthday too. Six years of Bonefish on the Brain.

Nice fish.

As of late it is all about the Bahamas, but bonefishing is something that spans certain latitudes around the globe. The Pacific, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, even the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf have, so I’ve heard, bonefish.

Bonefishing is also about a lot more than just the fish. There are places and people to get acquainted with. There are drinks to be had, meals to be eaten. There are a whole bunch of fish you encounter out there on the flats as well. If you have love of bonefish, you likely also love tarpon and permit and jacks and cudas, I know I do (except permit, permit are jerks). Spoon bills and osprey and sharks, dolphin, turtles… so much to see and experience and I kind of love it all.

When I look on the facebook page for the blog it is very noticeable how many profile pictures have a fish in them (most). That always lets me know “these are my people,” even if my profile pic is of me and my son at the moment.

Bonefishing is about a lot of things to a lot of people. For me it is about the first moment of recognition, when the undulating pattern of water over sand materializes into a bonefish or a string of bonefish and you know you are about to get a shot. I love that moment. It is my favorite fly-rod-related feeling.

Thanks for sharing your moments with me and for allowing me to share mine with you.

Here’s to six more years.

All the other stuff — 1 Comment
16
Jun 15

Truths I don’t want to hear

Not fishing, not catching, most like running from the storm!

There are these sayings one hears (I’ve heard them come out of my own mouth even) that can really drive you mad.

Maybe it is a tolerance thing and you hit it at a certain point, say, day 3 without a tarpon really even looking at your fly. Maybe it is 4 days. Regardless, there is a point when you you can see it coming, you know someone is going to say one of these things and you want to run up the tracks and flag down the locomotive before it hits the washed out bridge (you, fishless, or rather me, fishless on day 3-4 is the washed out bridge in this case).

Two of the most egregious of these sayings are:

“You can only catch fish when you have your line in the water.” Yes… true, but the other side of that is the “There is a fine line between fishing and waving a rod around in the air like an idiot.”
“That’s why the call it fishing, not catching.” True… but I’m out there to catch things, not just share their water. I know I’m supposed to enjoy “just being here” and all that, and I do, but I am there because I want to connect with the sliver king, because I want to do some catching.

These are thoughts you have when you mostly don’t catch anything. I had lots of time to think about these things since my hours on the bows of various skiffs was mostly not taken up with casting to or fighting fish.

Sure, I can laugh at it all too, so don’t take anything above too seriously. At the end of the day, I don’t. But a good rant is cathartic.

All the other stuff — 6 Comments
25
May 15

A young man’s game

I’ve been thinking about the trout fishing I’m not doing right now on my home waters of the Upper Sacramento and McCloud Rivers. I see the pictures come through on Facebook of friends up there, getting after it, fishing those waters that once so captivated me and still hold a very special place in my heart.

I was remembering a trip over a decade ago I took on the McCloud at the close of the season. I was hiking up the river, fishing solo, and I came to a section where the banks meet high rock walls as the river flowed out of a gorge section. As I hiked up the trail along this section of river I looked into one run far below and saw a massive trout. The thing had to be 10 pounds, almost certainly a brown trout, and it marauded around the pool like it owned the place. I wanted that fish.

To get to the fish I had to scale down a rock cliff, which I did, rod in my mouth to keep two hands free to grab the rocky cliff face. When I got down to the water I got one cast into the pool and one of my flies (an egg pattern) was immediately hit by a good trout. It was a good fish, not 10 pounds good, but a good fish nonetheless. After a couple minutes I landed a beautiful 19″ rainbow. The big brown didn’t like the commotion and had vanished.

The way I fish for trout on my home waters and how my home waters fish best is by aggressively covering the water. You get in and walk up the river, climbing over rocks and logs and whatever else is in the way. It is a tight-line, short-line nymphing technique using two flies and one more split shot than you might otherwise consider wise. You pound the pockets and the runs and you strike on everything. Sometimes there is a fish when you strike. That’s why you do it.

I was thinking about that episode on the McCloud recently from my perspective today. I realized I wouldn’t have climbed down there now. I’m more cautious. I have two kids and a wife who depend on me and I can’t do foolish things. My body also doesn’t respond as well to challenges as it once did.

While I wouldn’t have made it down to the bottom of the gorge, I know if I did the cast I would have made would have been better than the one I made all those years ago. I’ve lost some of my aggressiveness, but I’ve gained some skill.

When out on the flats there isn’t much of a place for aggressiveness, but skill gets you everywhere.

I wonder if that’s one of the things I like about bonefishing, that shift in focus, that shift in what ends up being important.

I can still wade semi-irresponsibly and cover the water, but I find myself on my rivers much, much less often and the call I hear is usually from the flats in places too far away and too expensive to visit frequently.

Fly fishing is still a huge part of my life and I imagine it will be until I can’t fish anymore. Maybe the trout will come back around for me in terms of importance and maybe one day again I’ll get to know a river’s pulse and hatches and moods like I used to. Maybe I’ll come to appreciate different aspects of the trout game in the future that don’t rely on the aggressiveness so much.

Maybe I’ll seek out spring creeks or take up lake fishing. Maybe I won’t and I’ll still pine for bonefish and skinny water flats and the need for long and pretty casts. We’ll find out.

Bonefish on the Brain Bonefish and all that relates (maybe a bit about tarpon too).