Fishing Addiction Group

[Sourdough]

Just before this nasty weather set in a friend and I headed to the swordfish grounds (1,500 feet deep). Our first bite was from a nice Wahoo that hit the tip rod as we were dropping the bait down. Little later we caught a Pomfret (called Monchon in Hawaii) on the buoy rod while we had a swordfish vandalizing our tip rod bait but not getting hooked. Getting late in the day we decided to do one last drop. We caught this small, beautiful swordfish on the buoy rod. After getting a couple of pictures we sent it back to the deep.

 

[fourfive8]

Fishing this August Naknek and surrounds. CPR rainbows and char. Joined by some locals.

 

[fourfive8]

Pretty normal gear and baits for August SW AK. 7 wgt fly rod. For rainbows- dead drift or swing large, orange tint flesh flies, Dalai Lamas, rabbit leeches, smaller brown/black jigs or ~8mm plastic beads. For char- dead drift ~8mm plastic beads. For silvers (cohos) with spinning gear- Yakima squid spinners or twitching 3/8 oz dinger jigs. Fly outs courtesy Beaver on floats. Continually BOLO for and dodging bears… everywhere.

 

[fourfive8]

For serious trips, for larger trout and salmon I use proven rods and reels. There are many out there that are much more expensive but I’ve settled on these….
Shimano Stradic spinning reel. Bauer fly reel with cork on PFTE plate drag that prevents the dreaded herky jerky when handling stronger fish. Batson travel flyrod I put together to save some money. Ugly Stik travel spinning rod. Hard to beat the inexpensive Ugly Stik for toughness and utility Pays to use good rods and reels as they tend to reduce fatigue and frustration. I’ve noticed the smallest things can make a big difference like having to manually flip the bail on a spinning reel after casting as the reel’s timing is random or not in best position after each cast. I prefer fast tip flyrods and spinning rods. Fast tip flyrods with some backbone make hauling and shooting line possible. Long, slow tip, noodle spine spinning rods wear me out.

 

[fourfive8]

Two of my favorite types of fishing. Swinging a flesh fly for big rainbows in a large river or drifting a bead for char in a small river. Nothing like a tight line take when swinging for big strong rainbows that have just moved into a river from a lake. Also nothing like the continual action of drifting beads for char gorging on sockeye eggs.

 

[UKHunter]

A recent trip to the eastern cape, SA.

 

[Sourdough]

So what do I do? Sold my company, moved to Florida and turned 70. Retire? Like maybe get a little dog, take it for walks and pick up its poop and carry it around in a small plastic bag. When did dogs become the masters of humans? Okay that's another discussion entirely.

Maybe sit around the Cracker Barrel (all the puns you can think of are intended) and talk with the other old crackers (I couldn't resist).

None of these and anything else you see most old guys doing are my style.

I know, start a new career! Why not. Keeps me healthy, keeps my mind sharp. Become a commercial fisherman (very hard, demanding work by the way). And I've done just that. Today I sold my first catch to a fish wholesaler.

Now I'm not going to get rich doing this, but I'm fishing anyway and if I can get to where expenses are covered that will be fine.

I had two outstanding young men as mates (looking forward to fishing with them again). That allowed me to run the boat from the Tuna Tower, which I hadn't yet had the opportunity to do. Weather and the seas were perfect for it. We all had a blast.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Nice bunch of schoolies

 

[Sourdough]

Nice bunch of schoolies

Got my trip ticket from the wholesaler. Sold them a dozen. 50lbs was the combined weight. Not bad.

 

[Ragman]

So what do I do? Sold my company, moved to Florida and turned 70. Retire? Like maybe get a little dog, take it for walks and pick up its poop and carry it around in a small plastic bag. When did dogs become the masters of humans? Okay that's another discussion entirely.

Maybe sit around the Cracker Barrel (all the puns you can think of are intended) and talk with the other old crackers (I couldn't resist).

None of these and anything else you see most old guys doing are my style.

I know, start a new career! Why not. Keeps me healthy, keeps my mind sharp. Become a commercial fisherman (very hard, demanding work by the way). And I've done just that. Today I sold my first catch to a fish wholesaler.

Now I'm not going to get rich doing this, but I'm fishing anyway and if I can get to where expenses are covered that will be fine.

I had two outstanding young men as mates (looking forward to fishing with them again). That allowed me to run the boat from the Tuna Tower, which I hadn't yet had the opportunity to do. Weather and the seas were perfect for it. We all had a blast.

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This prairie boy has a Florida fishing trip on my bucket list!