Fishing

I'm willing to bet that a few of you have come across the Epic Meal Time team at least a time or two during the inevitable late night journey down into the bowels of youtube. A friend of mine showed me a video of one of their exploits a few days ago and it gave me an idea.Now, I'll admit, I'm a fly tying newb but I'll bet that some of you out there in Solid Hookups land have been thinking of, or have already tied an Epic Meal Time fly. A fly so hideous that only the most twisted monsters of the deep would venture a bite while any lesser fish would swim away scared. A fly so repulsive that any fly fishing classicist would vomit, weep, or weep vomit at the sight of anything so far from the "accepted" streamer designs that far too many hold sacred. So let's see em if you got em, substitute bacon strips for rabbit strips and get epic.

Thrift is not for Sissies from Chris Walley on Vimeo. Tags: Fish Stories

Saw this blog recently, Uprising. Brent Wilson, the author, shares a story about day where the weather doesn’t cooperate for poons and snook, but they still find some bones to save the day. I’ve never actually fished the Caribbean side of Mexico. I’ve fished just south of Mexico. I’ve fished within a cast of Mexico, but not actually in Mexican waters on the East Coast. I’d like to, for sure. They are probably out there somewhere. Brent talks about seeing a bunch of tarpon in a cenote and I remember seeing one myself down there on a snorkel trip down a centote south of Cancun. Pretty cool sight.

Uncage the Soul shared this note from Frank Moore to all of the contributors to the Mending the Line project. Dear Friends, those I know personally, and those I hope to see and know soon, so they will become close, loving friends also. When this trip and filming project first came up I told the people in the production company I did not want them to solicit funding from friends and those who would give out of the goodness of their hearts, but to have Corporate Sponsorship. Their answer, my wife’s, my family, and many friends was, “Just remember one thing, you will be honoring all of those who have served, living and dead, as you retrace your steps through Europe oh so many years ago.” I am so grateful, and yes so humbled, by the response individually from all of you to the call, (I still cannot believe it). Also to American Airlines for flying our son Frank, my wife Jeanne, and I, First Class from Portland to Frankfurt and return (WOW), and Patagonia for their above and beyond contribution to the trip. Mark Hemstreet, Shilo Inns, is donating lodging for us coming and going also. Mark’s uncle, Bob Hemstreet, was in my unit during the war, and probably got as close to Berlin before VE Day as any American Soldier. Many years ago Mark donated a long weekend for a reunion of 75 members of our Unit, including rooms, meals, banquet, and a trip to Lincoln City so those from the east coast could see the Pacific Ocean. I wish we could take each and every one of you with us on this amazing trip, that will take us to Luxembourg, and the American Cemetery there where we will be involved with the Memorial Day celebration, the streams of Normandy and Brittany to bring to life a dream of 70 years, then to June 6 services at the huge cemetery above Omaha Beach for that Memorial, as well as visiting the place where we went over the Dune at Utah Beach. I will be carrying the names of everyone of you with us wherever we go, so THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and much more, for the gift you have given and are giving to us. Wish I could hug each one of you. With love, Frank Moore

More of the same from the PTTS, a trail of gaffed, dragged and dead tarpon LINK (via: Save the Tarpon)

Just because we're idiots doesn't mean you should be too.

Lee N. with some freshwater poon.

This morning I got to the GOMH just after 5AM. The water was up even higher and the wind was blowing in hard on the North side. My first fish of the morning was this chunky 19" jumper on the swamp gas Grass Pig. Later on in the morning I got 20" slob of a jumpin bullhead. She was probably over 5lbs as that she was full of eggs. I fished some of the morning for silver bullheads with T.H.E. Jig and a minnow. I got this minnow of a bullhead. On the very next cast I got this slabber bullhead. 13" That was the only decent one I caught. I went back to the North side and got a toothy bullhead. 22" I quit fishing as a quarter to 8AM.

The Malheur Field Station was my next stop after a great trip on the Deschutes last week. I was not the greatest advocate of bird watching prior to visiting the Malheur Field Station. Frankly, it was a bunch of buildings … Continue reading →