tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45291391285492985882024-02-19T09:53:20.327+04:00Steve Dobson's Fisherman's Blog"A man's got to believe in something. I believe I'll go fishing." -- H.D. ThoreauSteve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-17151567370846755982011-06-04T19:31:00.000+04:002011-06-04T19:31:26.531+04:00Nova Scotia Salmon Fishing Regulations for 2011<a href="http://www.gov.ns.ca/fish/sportfishing/angling/salmonanglingseasons2011.pdf">The Nova Scotia Salmon Angling Regulations for 2011</a> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUWZ_Y4JvafJ8Pslu8iuZCvaztTpZ6aFZVHJ7_B4V9UEd4CGwlhp1oL_Qhf0H9HevLuiTDU_09DQzjrauwC7Rb3cFXyymVGd-MtWHPEFU8wOeCzX39GR5UvxRLe_b02PppilS7nja6Omc/s1600/stevewest+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUWZ_Y4JvafJ8Pslu8iuZCvaztTpZ6aFZVHJ7_B4V9UEd4CGwlhp1oL_Qhf0H9HevLuiTDU_09DQzjrauwC7Rb3cFXyymVGd-MtWHPEFU8wOeCzX39GR5UvxRLe_b02PppilS7nja6Omc/s320/stevewest+sm.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve on the West River</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Click <a href="http://www.gov.ns.ca/fish/sportfishing/angling/salmonanglingseasons2011.pdf">this link</a> for a printable version of this year's salmon fishing regulations.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-57376385471139693542011-06-04T19:08:00.003+04:002011-06-04T19:16:27.553+04:00The 2011-2012 Newfoundland Angler's GuideFISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA NOTICE TO ANGLERS<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">DFO Advises Anglers of a Correction To The 2011-2012 Angler's Guide</div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiyBipwi9T-cEdYTBPRDXMpyezm9EajqoRfvvU-74hIujO-BD2k06921-xyMyUrQRdBk_YO7lpmch83rIZWM0wTheiG3AXnp_vyTAm7z-mPZyWqhh_Dt678_rHXU0rRAnpYK92OhrjJOj/s1600/jackwhacker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiyBipwi9T-cEdYTBPRDXMpyezm9EajqoRfvvU-74hIujO-BD2k06921-xyMyUrQRdBk_YO7lpmch83rIZWM0wTheiG3AXnp_vyTAm7z-mPZyWqhh_Dt678_rHXU0rRAnpYK92OhrjJOj/s1600/jackwhacker.jpg" t8="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warren with Labrador salmon caught on the Jack Whacker</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Anglers are advised of an error in the 2011-2012 Angler's Guide. On page 4, titled Retention Limits, the section for Unclassified Rivers (Zone 1 & 2) references Green tag #4 for Large Salmon. This line should be deleted, as retention of large salmon (greater than 63 centimetres)is no longer permitted in the recreational salmon fishery. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A corrected version on the 2011-2012 Newfoundland Angler's Guide is available on-line at: <a href="http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/">http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/e0005597">.</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/e0005597" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZwfuZB6Nkx9XvRsY2FeODqVX44znzmuqhbQXnoP4AAlBKTZ2CTDyCDXppnlhiIDoUr5Y-YhZKHj0i0hPF-cbyy4YOrBkMIXO8jS1-ZENI1cHWIPrYT4tAZuwjOn2wffjaX40P0Ep6fa_/s1600/anglersguide_guidedepecheur_2011_2012-eng.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><br />
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For all Angling Regulations pertaining to NL <a href="http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/e0005597">click here</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thanks to Larry Shortt for this update via the Flies and Lies mailing list.</div>Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-15443761180530736092011-03-04T03:49:00.000+04:002011-03-04T03:49:42.847+04:00Cheaters Sometimes Prosper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQSlE7bXAXbHD2kcHeeOHLeVCUkrQciAhGqPvsxM3sb4XOlum695DZdQx0G16KiOLGHIVV6_4C85FkY3hjUW9gXwjYNTAvU0Vv9cRAyoCl-4ISmwSRpUJNPlYXkJ5nuMGIjDV08musrVr/s1600/popper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQSlE7bXAXbHD2kcHeeOHLeVCUkrQciAhGqPvsxM3sb4XOlum695DZdQx0G16KiOLGHIVV6_4C85FkY3hjUW9gXwjYNTAvU0Vv9cRAyoCl-4ISmwSRpUJNPlYXkJ5nuMGIjDV08musrVr/s1600/popper.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I was messing around on the internet the other day and read a story about a guy caught cheating during a major bass fishing tournament. He had stuffed lead weights into his fish before the weigh-in.<br />
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It wasn’t just sticking a chunk of lead down the fish’s throat; he had a well thought out system with a treble hook tied to a short leader and then the sinker so that the lead wouldn’t go down the bass’ throat far enough to be detected just by feeling the fish’s belly.<br />
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He was caught when all of the fish which had died during that day’s fishing were filleted so that the meat would not go to waste. During the cleaning of the fish, the lead weights were discovered.<br />
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A little detective work soon narrowed down the suspects and at the weigh-in on the next day of the tournament his catch was scrutinized. All of his fish were discovered to have the added weights.<br />
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Because the prize value of the tournament included cash as well as a $50,000.00 boat, the cheater found he was not only facing the shame of exposure but also criminal prosecution. <br />
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Now here is the thing, this guy was a top bass pro with life time tournament winnings of somewhere around $300,000.00.<br />
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He had a well thought out system for adding the lead weights to his fish. A system that meant he had to rig up his hooks and leaders and weights with full knowledge and premeditation. <br />
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It wasn’t whim or a moment of careless desperation. How many times did he cheat? Once, twice, every time? No one knows but him and he isn’t saying.<br />
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If you do a Google search for “cheating + fishing + tournaments” you will find out that there are lots more examples; some funny, some stupid and some just disgusting. It makes for an interesting read.<br />
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It has been written that the quest for money is the root of all evil. It must be true if fishermen, otherwise the most trustworthy of liars, can be corrupted into being simply real liars by the prizes and cash of a big fishing tournament.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-76762809655494963012011-02-28T22:38:00.000+04:002011-02-28T22:38:18.966+04:00The Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling!I received an interesting email from Larry Shortt the other day. It seems that a new fashion trend is threatening the available supply of the long narrow feathers on the neck or saddle of roosters and other birds known as hackle. These feathers are highly valued by fly tiers and now apparently by beauty salon owners too. <br />
The fad is feather extensions in the hair. The Hannah Montana set is crazy about it. <br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/19485702" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/19485702">FineFeatherheads: Spring 2011</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4984665">Dakota Hills</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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The situation is simply that the growers of high quality hackle have found a new market and are cashing in as hard and fast as they can. The down side for us in the fly fishing community is that the law of supply and demand is driving the price up. I’m guessing few tackle shops are able to risk stocking expensive necks that may not move as fly tiers experience the sticker shock.<br />
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To the hair dressing trade, seven hackle feathers in a bundle cost $15 wholesale! And to get that price you must buy multiple bundles. $15 for seven feathers! No wonder the growers are ignoring the tackle shops and fly tying community. We expect to buy a whole neck for around $50 give or take. <br />
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If there is an upside to this I guess it is that the feathers come from a farmed bird, bred and raised for its plumage rather than from a wild creature. History tells many ugly stories of creatures driven to extinction by the whims of fashion. <br />
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It will be interesting to see how this plays out. My guess is that a ton of little bundles of super high quality hackle will be available from the Dollar Store in about six months as this fad runs its course. The speculators will go broke and need to liquidate the Metz Grade A necks they’ve been hoarding.<br />
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For an interesting perspective on these sorts of price bubbles check out this article from <u>Bloomberg Businessweek</u> on the tulip bulb craze that happened in Holland back in the 1630’s. “<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_17/b3678084.htm">When the Tulip Bubble Burst</a>”.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-75158605260061683012011-01-10T19:45:00.005+04:002011-01-12T22:44:17.245+04:00How To Get Rid of Fruit Flies <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AKh2ba1NlViWX_mUFvTJPaBswkxs21SBW9SWHDNDGOtO7N8eDCZTCVjgXj1atxfd0OZLKDrkaTg3uypZfmQNpX1OelsgJFkQdE1Hy6CsbZ3G-oKMPbO9duCmGm0XKEuRKFGEvaQaq89F/s1600/fruitfly2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AKh2ba1NlViWX_mUFvTJPaBswkxs21SBW9SWHDNDGOtO7N8eDCZTCVjgXj1atxfd0OZLKDrkaTg3uypZfmQNpX1OelsgJFkQdE1Hy6CsbZ3G-oKMPbO9duCmGm0XKEuRKFGEvaQaq89F/s1600/fruitfly2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit Fly</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is the time of year when for some reason Fruit Flies become a real nuisance, I was thinking about how to get rid of them and came up with a simple but amazingly effective trap. It uses a recycled beverage container and four pebbles or something similar to lift it a quarter inch or so off of the counter. For bait, a little bit of red wine or cider vinegar works well.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Here is what you need: An empty, plastic water bottle, juice or soda container with a bottom that has a raised center. </div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbnXC3Y_LZLPztOIVcYmg1DGHl3_1PmC3Ps_umbs9ISATMyvjOPrzIre0J4qW4jqOGpQ6LURgqngdJCfpiUyJX2l5amwdd3Lc4CtyM2tE8Vs78-iUuP5i9CfHl1XM7sIQnYAydA1WosH1/s1600/fruit+fly+trap+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbnXC3Y_LZLPztOIVcYmg1DGHl3_1PmC3Ps_umbs9ISATMyvjOPrzIre0J4qW4jqOGpQ6LURgqngdJCfpiUyJX2l5amwdd3Lc4CtyM2tE8Vs78-iUuP5i9CfHl1XM7sIQnYAydA1WosH1/s320/fruit+fly+trap+8.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit Fly Trap bottom</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Drill a small, 1/8” hole in center of this raised bottom. I used a 3/32” drill to start a pilot hole and then widened it to 1/8”. <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Use hot glue to add something to the bottom corners to raise the trap a little bit so that the flies will be able to crawl or fly up into the center hole.</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwXhqM7nHrmTD9vORCmFFZvHfn9JjXMTNEkzbzkMxofUi3EDPhYDTcir9xkWKdiNWExIuL4Kt43lfXT279kEQAwPdD8oJkiLD6mWKya_rA7uWYeM3YyImesgOJGSx8mirf9ymvU1L83Gd/s1600/fruit+fly+trap+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwXhqM7nHrmTD9vORCmFFZvHfn9JjXMTNEkzbzkMxofUi3EDPhYDTcir9xkWKdiNWExIuL4Kt43lfXT279kEQAwPdD8oJkiLD6mWKya_rA7uWYeM3YyImesgOJGSx8mirf9ymvU1L83Gd/s320/fruit+fly+trap+6.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit Fly Trap raised</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Put a small amount of red wine, cider vinegar or similar aromatic liquid in the container so that it is just below the hole in the raised center of the bottom and your trap is set.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjfEhnH5iBIS3bUsC6tkYgY-jcwhrFja4rVb49p5cjWEHLJW1pYRQAkUdynsIw91lY-zNi59e5Mo4B4n_UdtvQDXZ6gF4YVUrxHKL4p8XV1tMY7i9NsWyc2NBZOWAMO32Lv5UAGv61iLx/s1600/fruit+fly+trap+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjfEhnH5iBIS3bUsC6tkYgY-jcwhrFja4rVb49p5cjWEHLJW1pYRQAkUdynsIw91lY-zNi59e5Mo4B4n_UdtvQDXZ6gF4YVUrxHKL4p8XV1tMY7i9NsWyc2NBZOWAMO32Lv5UAGv61iLx/s320/fruit+fly+trap+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit Fly Trap set</td></tr>
</tbody></table>To release your captured flies, just step out side and take off the top. They will happily fly away unharmed. For the more blood thirsty, just do nothing. They will soon land in the liquid and be unable to escape. <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOe9uQjtdki7DGC4cUdV6al45Dw55osJiSTGO67E6r4gyshyyrieZJOzBpBSKSsshcJ8DBJ1m6Ih0tVceiV8JtGMc6_ImPM-LjCIRDHA-F53ZCxSYebKDJxNrfsHtJLohF-AhUSqdZ0Ci/s1600/fruit+fly+trap+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOe9uQjtdki7DGC4cUdV6al45Dw55osJiSTGO67E6r4gyshyyrieZJOzBpBSKSsshcJ8DBJ1m6Ih0tVceiV8JtGMc6_ImPM-LjCIRDHA-F53ZCxSYebKDJxNrfsHtJLohF-AhUSqdZ0Ci/s320/fruit+fly+trap+7.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit Fly Trap working</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In principal the trap works exactly the same way as an East Coast lobster trap, just turned on its end. The creatures are funneled through a small opening into a larger space and can’t find the way back out.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I can’t get over how well this rig works. It took about two days to completely clear our kitchen of those pesky little flies. I’ve kept it set and sitting on the windowsill above the sink to pick off any newcomers looking for a place to settle.</div><br />
A fundraiser for your Brownie or Cub pack?:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOXUp7ZNNGx9f2BtPjXWRZM7zY7nusFYcRtBlwRy_htw1lU3SKdSMv3NefK8FbNoGTEV7sLftvKg3E9yXthLSNYcM3Eoc97NaZOL8JSynhsPmEv6s0smFwke-Bkpk5arHzeoh2LoByFbj/s1600/IMGP0819_resize.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOXUp7ZNNGx9f2BtPjXWRZM7zY7nusFYcRtBlwRy_htw1lU3SKdSMv3NefK8FbNoGTEV7sLftvKg3E9yXthLSNYcM3Eoc97NaZOL8JSynhsPmEv6s0smFwke-Bkpk5arHzeoh2LoByFbj/s320/IMGP0819_resize.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fruit fly trap in place</td></tr>
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Because this idea works so well and is easy to make using recycled materials that would otherwise be thrown into a landfill, it might make a great project for kids looking for a fund raising idea. <br />
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These traps could be decorated or customized to be either pretty or even more inconspicuous.<br />
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To illustrate this article I’ve used a large juice container just to make everything clear. The trap doesn’t have to be that big. It can be any size. <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The key is the indentation at the bottom of most plastic containers. A flat bottom won’t work! </div>Check your recyclables bin, I’m sure you’ll find the perfect thing just waiting to be re-used.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-86898506143716907652010-08-25T19:05:00.001+04:002010-08-25T19:20:29.615+04:00Service held in memory of Kent's giant carpWell, this is a great story from the UK. It reveals a bit about the character of out friends across the sea as well being a tremendous testament to catch and release fishing.<br />
This story comes from the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-11052759">BBC</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPVFU5qOrrIMpjq5sA_fhvs1zIkXOFDht0BkMqM4460RacoDbt_YnCXo4Z_e_JDVCHw4aK-klTcxqbMsaffqyzeioIkvaHVnHUkxgGnXutX7I62h0F3-eg-GjN9cteGLLDGTqlnl8LdZM/s1600/45+lb+Carp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPVFU5qOrrIMpjq5sA_fhvs1zIkXOFDht0BkMqM4460RacoDbt_YnCXo4Z_e_JDVCHw4aK-klTcxqbMsaffqyzeioIkvaHVnHUkxgGnXutX7I62h0F3-eg-GjN9cteGLLDGTqlnl8LdZM/s320/45+lb+Carp.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The carp was thought to be up to 45-years-old and weighed 67lb 14oz<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Here is the story:<br />
=======<br />
A special service has been held in Kent after the death of a giant fish.<br />
<br />
"Two Tone", a mirror carp thought to be one of the UK's biggest freshwater fish, died earlier this month.<br />
A plaque has been laid at Conningbrook Lake where he lived and Two Tone will be stuffed and donated to the Natural History Museum. <br />
<br />
Lee Jackson, one of the few people who managed to catch him, said anglers would be lost without him. It is thought that Two Tone died of old age.<br />
<br />
Mr Jackson said: "The fishing on that lake is incredibly hard. It took a certain dedication to stick with it.<br />
"Some of the guys have fished it for years and certainly didn't manage to catch Two Tone.<br />
"Those are the guys who you've got to feel sorry for. They must be walking around like lost sheep."<br />
<br />
Mr Jackson caught Two Tone after eight years of trying.<br />
Two Tone, who weighed 67lb 14oz, was found floating on the surface of the lake in Ashford.<br />
The fish, which gained its name because of its skin colour, was thought to be between 40 and 45-years-old.<br />
<br />
Anglers said it was only caught once or twice a year and no more than 50 times in its lifetime.<br />
<br />
=======<br />
Where else but in the UK?Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-52957342323569160262010-08-04T20:44:00.001+04:002010-12-02T22:45:00.637+04:00How To Get Started Float Tube Fly FishingThis is a re-post of an earlier article that got mangled during the blog migration. I have reinserted the pictures.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3Kd4jMgR5mMm-pSh0Wa7jlTQ749elcPsNTT4eOIiYbxTXXViqtNnSZ2ZrjdsUDUTAb_FczTZmz4kILGmjpZ2TrTEEnlcszq-QxgmretS_8pruD0xU9-CW_PZyJZMMJvJNCoOFNLAKUiQ/s1600/micmac+lk..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3Kd4jMgR5mMm-pSh0Wa7jlTQ749elcPsNTT4eOIiYbxTXXViqtNnSZ2ZrjdsUDUTAb_FczTZmz4kILGmjpZ2TrTEEnlcszq-QxgmretS_8pruD0xU9-CW_PZyJZMMJvJNCoOFNLAKUiQ/s200/micmac+lk..JPG" width="200" /></a></div>From the time that the brooks start to get too warm for trout fishing until the fall salmon season opens, one of my favourite things to do is go “tubing”.<br />
<br />
<br />
The float tube and the fly rod go together like a salmon camp and bull shi…oops, a salmon camp and tall tales.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNd9fmq8A4ZgzJdkVWhShoE0NWqlUrFbk5wRnbYqjcRPlx75vPPvgDZr60cF11k2F30FyGOAu8FOQCfvLPOAhr3SrMmle3aUiZ6JXHjX3GykKf-pUx6jJFvTy0lM1VUgdcllqqbBBRZjIa/s1600/rise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNd9fmq8A4ZgzJdkVWhShoE0NWqlUrFbk5wRnbYqjcRPlx75vPPvgDZr60cF11k2F30FyGOAu8FOQCfvLPOAhr3SrMmle3aUiZ6JXHjX3GykKf-pUx6jJFvTy0lM1VUgdcllqqbBBRZjIa/s200/rise.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Why do it:<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Tubing is easy to do. It is a wonderfully relaxing and positively deadly method for stalking fish on calm water.<br />
<br />
For urban fishing where toting a boat or canoe is problematic it just cannot be beat. The same is true for back-country lakes and still waters. <br />
<br />
<br />
What is it? <br />
<br />
Float Tubing, Belly Boating or just plain” tubing” is a way to fish lakes and ponds with minimal and easily portable equipment. The tube is either a ring shaped or “u” shaped air-bladder covered with a rugged cloth shell. A seat is stretched across the middle and numerous convenient pockets and D-rings are incorporated into this cover. The fisherman attaches a pair of swim fins to his feet and sits in the tube. By means of a gentle flutter kick the angler can easily move his floating Lay-Z Boy anywhere on the water.<br />
<br />
What You Need: A tube, an air pump to inflate it, and flippers to propel it.<br />
<br />
There are a few types of float tubes - circular, the newer “u” shaped boat and the pontoon style that are more like a hybrid ultralight boat tube.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37YuYlbF6UeTDBeo7_OMuMcWQbCsGFNRjekRm-dyFZAXesjOfiGBqH2DQjYODEIxguD3sZXPznCrAcXcK21DyY9b2s76wGLayuVVDRaYb5BzRx0e-qTGZhCPuOZifLN3p5DWyhxu7VQaj/s1600/tube_fishing_rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37YuYlbF6UeTDBeo7_OMuMcWQbCsGFNRjekRm-dyFZAXesjOfiGBqH2DQjYODEIxguD3sZXPznCrAcXcK21DyY9b2s76wGLayuVVDRaYb5BzRx0e-qTGZhCPuOZifLN3p5DWyhxu7VQaj/s200/tube_fishing_rainbow.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>My first tube was the circular model. I enjoy everything about it except that it is clumsy to get into and out of when launching and landing.<br />
For tubing, I use a pair of cheap, boot-foot waders. Flippers fit better over the boots than over wading shoes.<br />
<br />
Here is a tip: I like to use scuba flippers instead of the strap on fins often sold with the tubes. They fit better, attach more securely and have a lot more power for the same amount of work.<br />
<br />
I have a small, hand powered air pump that fits into the back-rest pocket of the tube. For backwoods hike in spots I carry the tube deflated and about five minutes of pumping will get the tube ready for the water. I also have a pump that plugs into the lighter of my vehicle and will use that when launching in a city lake from a parking lot. I leave the hand pump in the tube and feel very comfortable that in a pinch; a bit of duct tape and few strokes of the pump will get me home.<br />
Casting and Fishing Strategies: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-TeYAkU5QThcVxOHN81k5I9BZnhakmua2cIZZgKW2qcGbIudmEY6-OB3rbE_pUABtWGGoFJWGxjoC2gZQJga_Ty36ilZtX5EdxJ8A9GBKIdSECF_vYf4ohxNotQ8CYg5DW0CksGl6nqb/s1600/tube5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-TeYAkU5QThcVxOHN81k5I9BZnhakmua2cIZZgKW2qcGbIudmEY6-OB3rbE_pUABtWGGoFJWGxjoC2gZQJga_Ty36ilZtX5EdxJ8A9GBKIdSECF_vYf4ohxNotQ8CYg5DW0CksGl6nqb/s200/tube5.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Casting from a tube will feel a bit odd the first few times you try it. The big difference is that you are closer to the surface of the water and need to keep your back cast higher than normal. To offset this, the tube is pretty stealthy so you can fish much shorter casts until you get the hang of the high back cast.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A good way to catch fish and get a feeling of security in the tube is also a great bass fishing tactic for tubing. Kick out about fifteen or twenty feet from shore and cast back toward land. Target the fly a few inches from dry land and retrieve it toward the deeper water. You can work your way around the whole lake without ever straying into very deep water.<br />
<br />
The “fish from shallow to deep” tactic works well for trout and pickerel too. <br />
<br />
Another dandy tubing trick to keep in mind:<br />
<br />
When bass fishing in a warm lake if you start to feel noticeable cooler water around your legs, stop immediately and back up a few feet; you have just found a spring. Often a spring entering in the midst of a warmer lake will be a honey hole for late season trout. They will often stack up in the cooler, oxygen-rich water.<br />
<br />
If you are tubing in cooler water and start to feel warm water around your legs just give your buddy a dirty look and get out of there. <br />
<br />
Accessories:<br />
<br />
I am assuming that as a fly fisherman, you already have all you need for fishing but for tube specific stuff, a small net bag and a light cord stuck in one of the tube pockets might come in handy on windy days. You can fill the net bag with rocks from the shore to make an anchor. You can also, if the wind is right, tie off to the end of a branch or clump of weed to hold your place. <br />
<br />
If you keep a few fish a landing net is essential for the tube fisherman. For a catch and release belly boater a pair of forceps on a zinger will work from the tube just as well.<br />
<br />
Safety:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5hbDTwaFDHJWZUZfPOlt_NrnacufzrjZmHPb8t3k19D66Yuuv-3B4UWqyHLO0TMMDXXIbqZWQ8Z6Tnhdid4L7zkel2opGRwtJ4PH6hPya8OsUrYKMJd7D1CU39yIjVatJb2vHM8Gs69A/s1600/btb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5hbDTwaFDHJWZUZfPOlt_NrnacufzrjZmHPb8t3k19D66Yuuv-3B4UWqyHLO0TMMDXXIbqZWQ8Z6Tnhdid4L7zkel2opGRwtJ4PH6hPya8OsUrYKMJd7D1CU39yIjVatJb2vHM8Gs69A/s200/btb.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>A roll of duct tape is handy and easily carried along as is a short, high volume hand pump. The truth is; the biggest threat to the tube is a stray fly hook. The chances are that even a hard striking hook will not likely pierce the heavy cloth cover and the air bladder. But even if it does, the resulting leak will be so small and slow that you can comfortably head back to your landing spot as soon as you notice the tube is getting softer. Worst case; pull into the nearest dry land, cover the leak with a bit of duct tape, give the tube a few strokes of the pump and head back towards your landing spot.<br />
<br />
I once noticed my tube getting soft when I was a long way from my car. I immediately started fishing my way back but as luck would have it, I got into a fabulous fish and then another. I ended up about an hour later still comfortably fishing from a tube which was now only about half-inflated.<br />
<br />
The worst that happened was that as I settled lower in the water, occasionally a squirt of cold water would get down the back of my waders when I leaned to set the hook on a bass rising to my bug.<br />
<br />
Even were the tube to deflate completely there is second bladder in the backrest that will easily support an angler and all his gear for the kick to shore.<br />
<br />
A float-tuber should keep a whistle or other noise making device attached by a lanyard to him, not the tube. Just in case you do need to call for help from a less than obvious place or to alert an inattentive boater to your presence.<br />
<br />
Some tube users wear a PFD or other flotation for extra security.<br />
<br />
To sum up, you must feel secure in a tube to be able to enjoy the experience. Whatever safety device you can think of, whether it is a life jacket or a flare gun, if you feel better having it then it is needed. However, the best safety device I can think of is “common sense”.<br />
<br />
Repairs:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJJcBoTQGP66k8stu-DYv3I7kx-y2koeNLEpFokoBC-CkkXnnXwmr4iuNCV4U9LstTfloybOoOy8UNGHm68npxy2q-XLtC57SYVAXYbi9UDvTCOTwpVxRqGqINrOpWxrStdmokSe2qL-I/s1600/tuberep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJJcBoTQGP66k8stu-DYv3I7kx-y2koeNLEpFokoBC-CkkXnnXwmr4iuNCV4U9LstTfloybOoOy8UNGHm68npxy2q-XLtC57SYVAXYbi9UDvTCOTwpVxRqGqINrOpWxrStdmokSe2qL-I/s200/tuberep.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>Tubes are easy to repair should you get a small leak in the air bladder. Leaks around the valves are more difficult and you should likely just buy a replacement bladder. They are readily available and often less than half the price of a new Float Tube.<br />
<br />
To repair a pinhole in your tube, remove the inner bladder from the cloth cover. Partially inflate it and rub a little soapy water over the bladder until you see bubbles starting to form in the soapy water from the air escaping through the hole in the bladder. Use a sharpie to draw a circle around the leak. Deflate the tube and dry the area around the leak.<br />
<br />
If your tube came with a patch kit use the patch and special glue supplied.<br />
<br />
Here is a tip: use a little piece of fine sand-paper and lightly roughen the surface around the leak. Also, lightly roughen the patch material before gluing.<br />
<br />
If your tube did not come with a patch kit, do all of the same steps as above but use Contact Cement and a small piece of wader material or rubber for a patch. Put contact cement on both the surface being patched and the patch itself. Let the glue set on both for about ten minutes then press the patch into place. Put a small weight on the patch overnight and it should be as good as new. <br />
<br />
Here is a tip: If the bladder has extra material extending past the seams. Clip a small bit of this extra material to use as the patch. Do not forget to roughen both the patch and the tube surface very lightly before gluing.<br />
<br />
Usually it is easier to avoid leaks.<br />
<br />
First, never over inflate the tube. When the outer covering comes tight and the tube is firm, that is enough. More air after that point is just stressing the air bladder and not making you float better or for longer.<br />
<br />
Questions:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPT1MWeXmdtgtqd37uFaNXNmUjGhnPz5y07xsSCp2GCX14MskeS3yBBVVLiKPcW0CmrzRhE1lzVsr_uwuCPOUFpX6BFKEujcMvVG6KxANGM0ZsrMhRADke5arLT6geEA05a8Wap_BOc4m/s1600/ntb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPT1MWeXmdtgtqd37uFaNXNmUjGhnPz5y07xsSCp2GCX14MskeS3yBBVVLiKPcW0CmrzRhE1lzVsr_uwuCPOUFpX6BFKEujcMvVG6KxANGM0ZsrMhRADke5arLT6geEA05a8Wap_BOc4m/s200/ntb.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>If you have any questions –drop me a note or leave a comment here. I will be happy to share what I have learned about this great way to fish.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-57633591003934599542010-06-18T18:26:00.000+04:002010-06-18T18:26:32.933+04:00More Blog Migration Issues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTYD74boqbH-N-mocPe3YTqHw8qVwwQ1EphP41zStzLHwOt8FdHQkNoaUbN2YP66LyIv9FN2l7tYwtBtI8CIOj142m-GVaRxZ8Xz0krWU79TRkmVyx7NuCGnWfJ6_ZoWzNFntbtHQeZVV/s1600/stevewest+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTYD74boqbH-N-mocPe3YTqHw8qVwwQ1EphP41zStzLHwOt8FdHQkNoaUbN2YP66LyIv9FN2l7tYwtBtI8CIOj142m-GVaRxZ8Xz0krWU79TRkmVyx7NuCGnWfJ6_ZoWzNFntbtHQeZVV/s320/stevewest+055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sorry about the problem with pictures missing in old posts. I just discovered that when I migrated to a blogspot.com blog from my old location the pictures were not migrated to a new server along with the posts. <br />
<br />
The old server crapped out and now all that you see in old posts is a red square with an X instead of a happy fishing shot. I'm slowly going back and re-uploading pictures but it will take some time. <br />
What a pain!Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-8838716923942622932010-06-06T22:53:00.000+04:002010-06-06T22:53:59.183+04:00Fixing a Broken Fly Rod Tip Top<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPP-PbPBHP5IEASTzPXvqoWJUsyca8twk6KMCPHE-tJw116s0paHHjuYC5wPObEvEx56z3aECToK-WrYFIJdyQyNOz2PAXqH7deijDslR9p05RyNmy5BKuFS75Y07LR90JRjlyEoFLOx2S/s1600/rod+tip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPP-PbPBHP5IEASTzPXvqoWJUsyca8twk6KMCPHE-tJw116s0paHHjuYC5wPObEvEx56z3aECToK-WrYFIJdyQyNOz2PAXqH7deijDslR9p05RyNmy5BKuFS75Y07LR90JRjlyEoFLOx2S/s320/rod+tip.jpg" /></a></div>Fixing a rod tip can be straight forward. <br />
You will need: <br />
<ul><li>replacement or the original tip top</li>
<li>heat set glue</li>
<li>fine sandpaper</li>
<li>heat source such as a lighter or match</li>
</ul>First make sure that the new tip top fits the remaining blank. Measure how far down the blank the new tip top comes and mark it just above where it emerges with a china marker or a bit of masking tape. Use the fine grit sandpaper to score and roughen the surface of the blank that will fit inside the new tip top and above the poinit where it emerges.<br />
<br />
Use a Bic lighter or a match to heat the special rod builder's glue stick and apply it to the roughed up portion of the blank. Slide the new tip top on before the glue sets. Make sure it is perfectly aligned with the other line guides. Be quick.<br />
<br />
If the glue sets before it is perfectly lined up, just heat the tip top and twist the tip to where it should be. You should use a pair of small needlenose pliers for this. You can remove any excess glue by picking it off with your fingernail.<br />
<br />
That is all there is to it. The repair is made and the rod is usable again. Knowing that rod builders use heat set glue to hold on the tips makes it pretty easy to do field repairs to rods that suffer an accident. My five weight broke just at the end of the tip top so I couldn't get the little piece out to make the repair in the woods and had to order a new top guide.<br />
<br />
A bit of a pain but I got it from <a href="http://www.cabelas.com/p-0003587312617a.shtml">Cabela's</a> within a week. The new bits arrived on Thursday and I had the rod repaired and was fishing that evening with it. The shipping cost me nearly as much as the part so I got a few extra.<br />
<br />
To restore the rod to "as new" a bit of thread wrap and a finish of high build epoxy are usually added but they are not really necessary. I'll use this rod as is until the end of the season then decide over the winter whether it needs a bit of trim.<br />
<br />
The repair has not changed the action or sensitivity of the rod at all, luckily. But then, I only lost about a 1/4 of an inch of the blank.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-3665745153754653492010-05-16T18:53:00.000+04:002010-05-16T18:53:44.073+04:00Broken Rod Tip While Trout Fishing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXq7mDjKmX05bbbREcxIALvhwQqMrYMGVEBlOKsHfphQPvxZzGCdyD8mmqSyR7_BPQSSXxV09S1x5l3jNjjaXYFUw81FbzGogGSXDth0-UckLNyU8UQv3Sl0DCoiWNlQHJX5KNLDKyCD2/s1600/Medway+country.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXq7mDjKmX05bbbREcxIALvhwQqMrYMGVEBlOKsHfphQPvxZzGCdyD8mmqSyR7_BPQSSXxV09S1x5l3jNjjaXYFUw81FbzGogGSXDth0-UckLNyU8UQv3Sl0DCoiWNlQHJX5KNLDKyCD2/s200/Medway+country.JPG" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div>I was fishing last weekend in the backwoods of the Tobiatic and Medway country on land owned by the Bowater Mersey Paper Company. The weather was lousy but the howling wind did keep the black flies away. There were lots of trout around and they were fussy enough to make the fishing quite challenging.<br />
<br />
I was using a five weight rod and somewhere between stopping for a sandwich and starting fishing again I managed to break the tip. Not quite sure how it happened but now I have to fix it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnU5hdzzhgEc8twRcAZPUtil2HhmlEjEcCXxHdhJdmHn2FesHpW_TYHkCtqFEDQ7hnx2yTAL0r1DtgO7KlJgtnol_t8nx-KTAMNmeMSQXc1dx450FFF6gTcoPfsrK6mnf10mjDbzZSsD91/s1600/dave+trout.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnU5hdzzhgEc8twRcAZPUtil2HhmlEjEcCXxHdhJdmHn2FesHpW_TYHkCtqFEDQ7hnx2yTAL0r1DtgO7KlJgtnol_t8nx-KTAMNmeMSQXc1dx450FFF6gTcoPfsrK6mnf10mjDbzZSsD91/s200/dave+trout.JPG" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div>The good news is that the repair won't effect the action of the rod. I base that judgement on the fact that I fished the rest of the day with the broken rod and had only slight problems with the line wrapping around the stub of the blank between the last guide and the missing tip-top. <br />
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It still cast well and could handle a feisty Speckled Trout.<br />
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Usually you can fix a broken tip right in the woods. The glue that rod builders use to secure the tip-top is a heat set glue so you just need a Bic lighter to heat the tip, pull out the old piece of the blank and slide the tip onto the remaining unbroken section. That will get you through the day until you can do a more permanent job.<br />
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This one broke flush with the base of the tip-top so I couldn't get the piece out to slide it on in a new position. I've ordered a new tip-top from Cabela's which puts my favourite rod out of commission until the new part comes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZRgqW7sAk2tKXNG7AhFKQRCXnDqDGg1zS0TI0nQpTg_6MZl4EyNaTC0WrFUVGlA17vUpimIJ0zwHvnXdVFsVpWaoHvqBHpy_8_MlrE3yMDCgEYZGEzNxGDFo7OAimz7qkB0704Kkdceh/s1600/shad+on+green+fly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZRgqW7sAk2tKXNG7AhFKQRCXnDqDGg1zS0TI0nQpTg_6MZl4EyNaTC0WrFUVGlA17vUpimIJ0zwHvnXdVFsVpWaoHvqBHpy_8_MlrE3yMDCgEYZGEzNxGDFo7OAimz7qkB0704Kkdceh/s320/shad+on+green+fly.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
Shad fishing has continued to be great. This is the best year in a long time for me with loads of fish each time out. Because my good rod is busted I've borrowed a rod from my daughter. <br />
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It's a 5 weight I built for her this spring. <br />
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The other day I found myself landing a whack of fish using a fly I designed and tied and a rod I built. Have to admit to feeling a bit of self satisfaction. There really is a lot more to fishing than the fish.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-12379893917729079822010-05-15T20:22:00.000+04:002010-05-15T20:22:53.082+04:00Fishing With Friends, a great local fishing show is now On Demand!Here is some good news for fans of EastLink TV and its great local fishing show, <a href="http://www.eastlink.ca/eltv/eltv_programs/fishingwithfriends.asp">"Fishing With Friends".</a><br />
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If you are a customer of <a href="http://www.eastlink.ca/about/index.asp">EastLink</a>'s cable television services you may have noticed a significant upgrade to EastLink TV recently. You can now watch EastLink TV's local television shows, including "Fishing With Friends", On Demand. Better yet, it is free.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4RX38oGCxS_uuwEG5WLL4CoKxmEZMgdyUzeA8VwP6cj4Cs-qP2UUJ6qYvjWvWIF8KskemKbckCRNPLusscyL56WxT3CgFpyOMkr2M5-FdV0Fq9AYexPPARA6Yv29Ew01sNwths8hmXoH/s1600/Fishing-Show-Listgif.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4RX38oGCxS_uuwEG5WLL4CoKxmEZMgdyUzeA8VwP6cj4Cs-qP2UUJ6qYvjWvWIF8KskemKbckCRNPLusscyL56WxT3CgFpyOMkr2M5-FdV0Fq9AYexPPARA6Yv29Ew01sNwths8hmXoH/s320/Fishing-Show-Listgif.gif" wt="true" /></a>Here is the cool thing, all of the programming that appears On Demand will be available nation wide. In Atlantic Canada and Ontario the On Demand menu will read, "EastLink TV". In the West it will say, "Community TV". </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When you click on that you will have the choice of Alberta, Atlantic, British Columbia and Ontario. Click on Atlantic and then select "Fishing With Friends". </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I promise you will enjoy the sights and local colour of my slice of paradise. The show is mostly about fishing here in Nova Scotia with side trips to nearby provinces for a lodge visit or two. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU-YQu1XBeiICUxDn1pVhozdtTTnpI10RkaSKuy5bCg0eCPn2DdXcjUsNKT5cP40TdaK3eByvMa_q_LQE_USNJXgun_D9GuJXpyH_5VDsqtamVMTYn-3fb-1hIvnBjnq8vw53Oscu5S-J/s1600/Clapperton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU-YQu1XBeiICUxDn1pVhozdtTTnpI10RkaSKuy5bCg0eCPn2DdXcjUsNKT5cP40TdaK3eByvMa_q_LQE_USNJXgun_D9GuJXpyH_5VDsqtamVMTYn-3fb-1hIvnBjnq8vw53Oscu5S-J/s200/Clapperton.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The producer/host is a fellow named Steve Clapperton, a real character with an obvious passion for fishing and the natural wonders of Nova Scotia's outdoors. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">With co-producer and videographer, Danny Harvie, these two guys have created a truly enjoyable program for everyone who loves to fish from the novice to the grizzled old veteran.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">While you are looking, also check out "Welcome to my Kitchen", the most appetizing cooking show I've ever seen. Makes my stomach growl just thinking about it.</div><br />
The service is just being launched so it may take a month or two until it is fully populated with programming content so keep your eye on it and enjoy "Fishing With Friends".Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-76770144147153427232010-05-08T22:56:00.000+04:002010-05-08T22:56:32.979+04:00An Interesting Tactic for Fussy Shad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreu7dxUgVCHZuS_Elbe3FnYye3sg2B7y_g0Nr-8IBFNdmxC8WrJLsWpGF40iIxtlXyAysIrybN__x4q_waYm8SMYgUmxahT9BmGsRxvVuCk-ogNqBIX-wp76MZ2LN8FMPpMi1i8gnoS4X/s1600/Shad+1june05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreu7dxUgVCHZuS_Elbe3FnYye3sg2B7y_g0Nr-8IBFNdmxC8WrJLsWpGF40iIxtlXyAysIrybN__x4q_waYm8SMYgUmxahT9BmGsRxvVuCk-ogNqBIX-wp76MZ2LN8FMPpMi1i8gnoS4X/s320/Shad+1june05.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><br />
Well I hit the jackpot the other day while Shad fishing. I lost count of the fish landed and any guess would sound too much like BS so I won't even try. The secret to success was a new technique I have been trying.<br />
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The river is loaded with fish but hook-ups are sporadic right now as the fish are preoccupied with the whole finding a partner and showing off thing. I was getting the odd one by changing flies frequently and fishing the standard down stream cast and strip method. That wasn't too bad but I was fishing over dozens of fish with such small success. There had to be something wrong with this particular presentation.<br />
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So, knowing that shad will often take a fly rising from the bottom I lengthened my leader to about 8 feet and started fishing a short cast in the high stick, nymphing style I would use if I was fishing for trout in this pocket water and concentrating on letting the fly bob up in a Leisenring Lift at the end of a short drift.<br />
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Bingo, a fish on the first cast. The rest of the evening went like that. Fish were hitting like crazy with some colour preference for orange just as the sun started to set. It is a great way to fish through the dense schools with out worrying about foul hooking.<br />
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We all know that what worked once won't always work again when it comes to fooling fish. To see if it was a fluke or not I took my daughter with me to the same pool yesterday after work and taught her the technique. She was into a fish on her second cast. We had a ball for the next couple of hours with several double headers and one or the other of us almost constantly into a fish.<br />
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If you are ever in a situation where the fish are bouncing off your boots but not taking your fly try this old trout fishing trick. It may just change your luck.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-55491014117402364882010-05-04T04:20:00.002+04:002010-05-05T00:35:49.175+04:00Shad on the Fly 2010<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eMPsU8Bp4mXz9qp5K5UCi5RkCfc8pwEA0ludIfCoZx3fMhKItvmFhNf66uwNhDgAkADUbKtBV4iyTPQ9nde1oD_LYjG6dVIbUKaRPxxn9BYdkw_mdDDa2x1IH32SlvuuobRytPvA95fg/s1600/big+shad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eMPsU8Bp4mXz9qp5K5UCi5RkCfc8pwEA0ludIfCoZx3fMhKItvmFhNf66uwNhDgAkADUbKtBV4iyTPQ9nde1oD_LYjG6dVIbUKaRPxxn9BYdkw_mdDDa2x1IH32SlvuuobRytPvA95fg/s200/big+shad.JPG" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Wow, check out this picture. Sure glad I took a minute to tie up some pink and gold flies.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2ek9jjAPztBVnxzjjZo8ScpFHJoutZl2OH8R0IDww58YSoKYMSUsp6_LBixJ23Ph_6-WqYw3VzgekQlD9eHuoidMRik3j-m0yFOGqH7B_Eq4AO5CRXw0z_Bakdm4AllhDgGfq08qj_C5/s1600/big+shad+with+pink+fly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2ek9jjAPztBVnxzjjZo8ScpFHJoutZl2OH8R0IDww58YSoKYMSUsp6_LBixJ23Ph_6-WqYw3VzgekQlD9eHuoidMRik3j-m0yFOGqH7B_Eq4AO5CRXw0z_Bakdm4AllhDgGfq08qj_C5/s200/big+shad+with+pink+fly.JPG" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><br />
My friend Aaron and I hit the Nine Mile after work the other day and had the whole place to ourselves.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We looked over a few of the higher pools but decided to walk the mile or so to the spot where I had been fishing with some success the last few times I'd been out.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It turned out to be a good decision.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The technique in these long deep pools without too much current is to cast across and down stream about 45 degrees. Let the fly sink and the line straighten out. Then, let the fly dangle on the straight line for a few seconds before starting a medium fast stripping retrieve.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFMQA_lNiZ6lMS-hTYLw6AZ1-VXaH6ysjtURi7oZjbVucvYOG3WbE-Q61YZFbHRZWGIWZk8iXGixfiKr9pbmpIV5XUGJ66LsgNw_OxNRxDx_NPI_o2IBwz2naXICvAz1DxQwcQWlQsPmU/s1600/aaron+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFMQA_lNiZ6lMS-hTYLw6AZ1-VXaH6ysjtURi7oZjbVucvYOG3WbE-Q61YZFbHRZWGIWZk8iXGixfiKr9pbmpIV5XUGJ66LsgNw_OxNRxDx_NPI_o2IBwz2naXICvAz1DxQwcQWlQsPmU/s200/aaron+1.JPG" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sometimes the fish will take on the swing, sometimes on the dangle but most often they will take on the first strip or two. They will of course surprise you often enough to make the above not really very good advice.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here is the good advice: Be ready for a take any time your fly is in the water. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You gotta' love shad fishing on the fly!</div>Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-25303909920687329862010-04-28T02:12:00.000+04:002010-04-28T02:12:21.549+04:00Shad Fishing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkelg99BeLn6DVn-MVqyOYOPRJGtDZ7xNIhuqHHde1Sbj8iz_fMz-ffXYb6jMchRPnrwESATWGKDZYq4WdxxZNKtTgsLNmSnrmBWRyFy8APmjFEEfrLKEDAZ33bMff_Tugq4DpyvgtdrpK/s1600/shad2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkelg99BeLn6DVn-MVqyOYOPRJGtDZ7xNIhuqHHde1Sbj8iz_fMz-ffXYb6jMchRPnrwESATWGKDZYq4WdxxZNKtTgsLNmSnrmBWRyFy8APmjFEEfrLKEDAZ33bMff_Tugq4DpyvgtdrpK/s200/shad2010.JPG" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div>You know, Shad fishing is funny business. Sunday I stood within sight of a guy who was hooking fish every ten minutes for at least an hour. Know how many I hooked? Zero, Nada, Nothing, None.<br />
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We both seemed to be doing the same thing as to technique, casting across and down, letting the fly swing until it straightened out and then retrieving with short strips every five seconds or so.<br />
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The day before I had done the same thing in the same place with good results but on this day I was having no luck.<br />
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The one big difference was that I had been using pink flies the day before. He was using one today but <br />
I had lost my last pink to a log just before leaving the night before.<br />
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The funny thing is that as I was gathering my gear to go out again Sunday morning I thought about tying up a few pink and golds but decided that I'd rather be fishing than fly tying.<br />
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Well, that is what I ended up doing- a lot of fishing and not much catching. I'm not certain that was the problem but I've seen enough days when certain colours were all the fish would touch that I've been tying up a handful of pink and golds this evening just in case. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RYbR9wGNawXk0hXAhoirJhKokwNy3mGj6v0K_spEIrADFPZ3hIolY29OIO8fIfmAKdh43rijZDzJN1-FkjBGf_RrHGEnLN1NCX1QAI89ae2Kp3x_ZKK3iuLATVdMI2SKuETc4KqytC1t/s1600/fly1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RYbR9wGNawXk0hXAhoirJhKokwNy3mGj6v0K_spEIrADFPZ3hIolY29OIO8fIfmAKdh43rijZDzJN1-FkjBGf_RrHGEnLN1NCX1QAI89ae2Kp3x_ZKK3iuLATVdMI2SKuETc4KqytC1t/s320/fly1.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div>Here is what they look like. You can add a bit of lead wire for high water conditions but usually the bead eyes are sufficient. When they work they can't be beat. When they don't...well, you know.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-20821303181706640152010-04-25T02:37:00.002+04:002010-11-08T03:45:05.930+04:00The Shad Are In- Shad Run 2010 is Underway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujbg1dQiulpY0dEkY9DJSkj9p8PeAV-A6oqh0uystMWhMX1ur7gxPWhAwEn7EDGfWqERbNDnI2h6JcDGgasmuSQnU9x5mZcaUKJItYJeQIaqUFVcBLhodNOy_TxDKK5fvGewg8updSutC/s1600/first+shad+run.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujbg1dQiulpY0dEkY9DJSkj9p8PeAV-A6oqh0uystMWhMX1ur7gxPWhAwEn7EDGfWqERbNDnI2h6JcDGgasmuSQnU9x5mZcaUKJItYJeQIaqUFVcBLhodNOy_TxDKK5fvGewg8updSutC/s320/first+shad+run.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div>Went out to check on the Shubenacadie River and the Nine Mile today. Figured I'd get some trout fishing in on the Nine Mile which I did, lots of trout around. As I got farther downstream towards the Shubenacadie I started seeing the tell-tale swirls of Shad moving in the river. I fished hard for an hour then decided to walk down to the junction with the big river. That is where I hit the fish.<br />
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I met this fellow, Greg Lovely, and we fished across the brook from each other for an hour or two. He is a good fisherman and tells a good story too.<br />
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Between us we touched about twenty Shad this afternoon. Landed a few, lost a few and had lots of action and even a few double headers.<br />
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As I type this my arm is still a little sore from what my buddy Brad calls "Arm aching action". Get out there boys the fish are starting to move up the rivers.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-43949226558399388552010-04-19T03:01:00.002+04:002010-04-19T03:05:47.367+04:00Shad Flies and Some Experiments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosyD7oNXKxxFTRrZF_XYoU5bTjuC7mImvhSLtVdnRDyVqR_-tySpblE1wIu5It7H0o9qGhrbbB8Sb87Zr5llQJljQg6FL6YRw42xPdUmsfmLw9-stKQCt2uamNc7CKPkM5XkV-wsGW7mi/s1600/new+style.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosyD7oNXKxxFTRrZF_XYoU5bTjuC7mImvhSLtVdnRDyVqR_-tySpblE1wIu5It7H0o9qGhrbbB8Sb87Zr5llQJljQg6FL6YRw42xPdUmsfmLw9-stKQCt2uamNc7CKPkM5XkV-wsGW7mi/s320/new+style.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div>I have been thinking about flies for Shad fishing in the last few days. The main flies I have been using for the last couple of years have been an ultra simple thing with heavy lead eyes in a bunch of different colours. Quick and easy to tie it sinks like a stone and catches a few fish. The problem is that it isn't really a great fly. <br />
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When fish are the least bit selective, I'm just out there practising my casting.<br />
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So here is what I've been doing. I've been thinking back to the basic flies and colours I've used over the years and am tying a few variations of each style to see how much difference the separate pieces make. The idea is to still have a simple quick to tie fly but one that actually works a bit better than what I've settled on over the last few seasons.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRGXVxwFptleBIdybt_lvsh1qc8vtPjFSbNht-JD792PvajNzVcvK_jWgjHYxytJpBOOMftSWVrxv4vfTkDq3vz47OUy-Y7ReWuRYJSMe8J-keYoKcQzjJWM3IZ6XJMP9HLhRrwivtudW/s1600/shad+patterns+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRGXVxwFptleBIdybt_lvsh1qc8vtPjFSbNht-JD792PvajNzVcvK_jWgjHYxytJpBOOMftSWVrxv4vfTkDq3vz47OUy-Y7ReWuRYJSMe8J-keYoKcQzjJWM3IZ6XJMP9HLhRrwivtudW/s200/shad+patterns+2010.JPG" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div>Here is an example of a simple red and white fly version of a shad dart. Some with buck tail, some with crystal flash, some with lead wire, some with bead eyes, and so on. All variations of the same fly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2Y1ad302_QVohOz03o-_XtOf_dQmExWiaNk8rP1oh6OQSIeG9HfggpBvZShiapZkXAi9_gPX15MTOYo2TjlFG2LWixBek2tnps-AUPIB6Ic6Fn3XlMtT14To9BGKUjHgoqI4_3GzI5XM/s1600/killer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2Y1ad302_QVohOz03o-_XtOf_dQmExWiaNk8rP1oh6OQSIeG9HfggpBvZShiapZkXAi9_gPX15MTOYo2TjlFG2LWixBek2tnps-AUPIB6Ic6Fn3XlMtT14To9BGKUjHgoqI4_3GzI5XM/s200/killer.JPG" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div>I'm still going to keep it simple, using a basic pattern with different colours, weights and tails. I've got another week or two before the run hits to get a bunch tied but it should be an interesting season.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-70748171983789318602010-04-14T00:57:00.000+04:002010-04-14T00:57:57.934+04:00Ocean Trout Farms - Rainbow Trout Escape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEEnU0TUxlYfL6h8LYFT4npToqgVPLZgJ4TVuWHywhn6h8QFs-hXbjiTbIeMDWvYmcXBGMvF2XB_97MRLI4uAIizYqGuETpRR88w_n2n8QBWJ9Qk3mlSoBsd2A6qjFfJq9PzekoS5gu7T/s1600/stormfish2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEEnU0TUxlYfL6h8LYFT4npToqgVPLZgJ4TVuWHywhn6h8QFs-hXbjiTbIeMDWvYmcXBGMvF2XB_97MRLI4uAIizYqGuETpRR88w_n2n8QBWJ9Qk3mlSoBsd2A6qjFfJq9PzekoS5gu7T/s320/stormfish2.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>Well it has happened again. Another 2,000 Rainbow Trout have escaped from Ocean Trout Farms, a sea based aquaculture operation located in Queens County, Nova Scotia.<br />
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The operators of the fish farm think hungry seals may have caused the problem that allowed the fish to escape.<br />
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The last time Ocean Trout Farms was mentioned here was in 2007 when 500,000 Rainbow Trout escaped during Hurricane Noel.<br />
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Those trout showed up in rivers along the coast from the Mersey and Medway all the way to the Sackville River here in the HRM.<br />
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The fear is of course that the fish may carry diseases and parasites from living in farm conditions that could get into the wild populations of Atlantic Salmon and Speckled Trout here.<br />
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There is also concern that non-native Rainbow Trout could colonize some of the local rivers and lakes putting the native species under critical pressure.<br />
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This escape happened earlier this month but I heard nothing about it until I happened to see a small article in today's newspaper. I wonder what obligation this company is under to report escapes, mortalities, disease outbreaks or parasitic infestations? Having said that, I am not sure what value that information would have after the fact anyway.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-12138969942145030032010-04-12T05:31:00.000+04:002010-04-12T05:31:56.170+04:00First Trout of 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmvPNLfBMaHdRrkwGskAcuWb9UknL2sI739r95_iEUHpNUBV08Aklu-jMMbwB0Sqd7E32xXDG_TUiNYGTZBXKE6H2T6GyWzMb_SELI9md102F3NYXlFWdzc1Jow-la30DewpF_ZTUs7WP/s1600/first+trout+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmvPNLfBMaHdRrkwGskAcuWb9UknL2sI739r95_iEUHpNUBV08Aklu-jMMbwB0Sqd7E32xXDG_TUiNYGTZBXKE6H2T6GyWzMb_SELI9md102F3NYXlFWdzc1Jow-la30DewpF_ZTUs7WP/s320/first+trout+2010.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div>Spent sometime fishing today with my buddy Brad. We started in Musquodoboit and worked our way around to the Ninemile River. Stopped and looked at the Shubenacadie to see if any Shad were moving yet. <br />
Still too early for Shad it seems but we did find a few trout. There was a hatch of Black Stoneflies going on and off all day but very little sign of trout feeding on the surface. <br />
I had some luck with a Hare's Ear nymph and a Dark Brown Stonefly Nymph. Brad did alright but wouldn't tell me what he was using.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-86796842176997566822010-04-09T04:38:00.001+04:002010-04-09T04:41:19.556+04:00Nova Scotia Shad Run 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT21sCQkJgAelqQxHlmfULthvKKT-R-fKzOov6NjkbKHFVl988lLQaxHFDmx56IfuBitWF4HvIRZqquXyOmKQbr33EwLpmtqITdA12a8ePbu5yFsZIG_eGvvgZAAsf7oiWEwnZpuBw0_kr/s1600/shad+on.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT21sCQkJgAelqQxHlmfULthvKKT-R-fKzOov6NjkbKHFVl988lLQaxHFDmx56IfuBitWF4HvIRZqquXyOmKQbr33EwLpmtqITdA12a8ePbu5yFsZIG_eGvvgZAAsf7oiWEwnZpuBw0_kr/s320/shad+on.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div>With everyone's favourite Nova Scotia Fishing dot com website shut down for a little while how about putting updates here in the comments section for those other Shad fishing fanatics out there. With the price of gas, it is expensive to run up to the Valley or out to Shubenacadie on a hope.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdt34fXDUKKvLpCPihLghXIzi48MH8OEFrU3PD1_nQ20kb6XDElAcpxOOa6CY7qEWjpHu4Pq8oeJDspRG3yg-KHxW8MSFNScA4JavJueuRX0-9ZIS2uAgEyafuYWCWfczSz27vGkvbbjB/s1600/shad+on+fly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdt34fXDUKKvLpCPihLghXIzi48MH8OEFrU3PD1_nQ20kb6XDElAcpxOOa6CY7qEWjpHu4Pq8oeJDspRG3yg-KHxW8MSFNScA4JavJueuRX0-9ZIS2uAgEyafuYWCWfczSz27vGkvbbjB/s320/shad+on+fly.JPG" width="320" wt="true" /></a></div>If you have any information on when the Valley runs are starting or the Shubenacadie run, let us know please.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-43992538739073336692010-04-08T03:26:00.000+04:002010-04-08T03:26:23.694+04:00Building a Fly Rod - Part 7 Finishing the RodOnce all of the wrapping is complete it is time to string the rod and make sure everything is right before epoxying the wraps.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">By pulling the rod gently into an arc you can confirm that the guides are exactly where they should be. Make sure that there are no flat spots in the line as it follows the rod's shape. Nothing is permanently fixed yet so the guides can still be moved or removed and re-wrapped if necessary. This is the time to pay attention to the details.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeISk0ccrOuNLnpc6n34lUWCgnM5uh4ZuiaMqOpi0jrUEKUakr1xE1StLCJu49CQSuX0ouzun8jBO0sFqMHbDYe3leSf4_r1bV65EKcvwOs_eQnpCgGfPlHZy0oE94OOPx8xUUhY797yZ/s1600/rod+wrapped+and+ready+for+finish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="69" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeISk0ccrOuNLnpc6n34lUWCgnM5uh4ZuiaMqOpi0jrUEKUakr1xE1StLCJu49CQSuX0ouzun8jBO0sFqMHbDYe3leSf4_r1bV65EKcvwOs_eQnpCgGfPlHZy0oE94OOPx8xUUhY797yZ/s200/rod+wrapped+and+ready+for+finish.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>After I was finished with the fussy parts all that still needed doing was to sign the rod with length, line weight and of course the name of the new rod's owner.<br />
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To finish the rod the wraps are saturated with epoxy and turned very slowly until the epoxy cures into an even, permanent bond. I should note here that you can use a colour preservative solution on the thread wraps to keep the original colour intact after applying the epoxy. You can use no colour preservative and let the thread become translucent which is what some of the high end manufacturers do or you can use an NCP thread which holds its colour when saturated. It is all a matter of choice although some folks argue that a saturated thread with no colour preservative is stronger.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I used NCP thread to preserve the colour scheme and pop the whole thing into a double rod dryer so that I can do both sections of the rod at once.</div><br />
A rod dryer uses ultra low RPM motors to rotate the rod while the epoxy sets creating a smooth, uniform finish. This could be done by hand but it is such an important part of rod building that it should not be left to chance. The rod dryer is the only specialized tool I bought ready made. They are very easy to build if you are so inclined. Drop me a note and I'll send you pictures of how one goes together.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu9TtOcQMmxxjwHHFXcd9O93R4j6cqimlgESkC3cv5DHiai0ca7egwpjOO1WbJXGSCBO7og6Im89A1CAgSurRgeL-LWLgJVEtwgltNu4rS64EoQOAymOjFgew5zWN-4zEAvmPHrr8n1yO/s1600/finished+rod+project.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu9TtOcQMmxxjwHHFXcd9O93R4j6cqimlgESkC3cv5DHiai0ca7egwpjOO1WbJXGSCBO7og6Im89A1CAgSurRgeL-LWLgJVEtwgltNu4rS64EoQOAymOjFgew5zWN-4zEAvmPHrr8n1yO/s320/finished+rod+project.JPG" /></a>So now the rod is finished and the new owner is delighted with it. I had only cast it in my yard to test it since I wanted to deliver it before fishing season opened. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I borrowed it last Saturday to try it on some open water and caught a couple of fish. I should have named the rod "Lucky".</div>Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-32836840763900496792010-04-08T03:16:00.000+04:002010-04-08T03:16:22.369+04:00Building a Fly Rod - Part 6 Wrapping the Guides<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dAUig0HcpdfhV3VuXqH6lIyxkkKKoxjGRTtvr7MZB1CX3EdMuHy8HaERQh2Rbs9Ec8Lt5G8bOp6qRuP6sbffOnNykuutezQwJtcuQCEiwpuh7_BCF9LkTHqMIaWGlngOsKQKAvHeLSHE/s1600/wrapping+rig+and+wrap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dAUig0HcpdfhV3VuXqH6lIyxkkKKoxjGRTtvr7MZB1CX3EdMuHy8HaERQh2Rbs9Ec8Lt5G8bOp6qRuP6sbffOnNykuutezQwJtcuQCEiwpuh7_BCF9LkTHqMIaWGlngOsKQKAvHeLSHE/s320/wrapping+rig+and+wrap.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The blank is marked at each guide location. Now the interesting part of the build begins.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I start by placing the stripping guide and fixing it into place with a little bit of masking tape. Just to make sure that everything will line up I mount a reel to the blank and sight along it to the stripping guide. When it is exactly where it should be the reel is removed and the wrapping begins.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My set-up for this is a homemade set of rod stands and a couple of thread tensioners mounted on a piece of wood. It is a little bit crude compared to some rigs but it works fine.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Power winders are available and while they are pretty slick I really enjoy the hand winding process.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">To start a wrap I cross the first two thread wraps and pushing them tightly together with my thumbnail, keep turning the blank until the tension of the wraps evens out and the thread turns are laying neatly side by side.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Tension is important , too tight and you'll create a dead spot where the blank is compressed and liable to damage in the future. Too loose and the wraps are messy and won't lay right. It is another one of those things that is done by feel. When it is right, it feels right and looks right.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEb2uVbXP0-P4YRX8FkWdDL_nw97hLr7-kuqJt4cQiOhJ5bdsRlZcvS48nqiZAwqiTtJqGJWGCyV7Heg-ZA1CJBzX62fwPMadNrQOuip1GAz-HTYSr6r_GAs9SgW8LWyVGHQy_oB43H4Y/s1600/hook+keeper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEb2uVbXP0-P4YRX8FkWdDL_nw97hLr7-kuqJt4cQiOhJ5bdsRlZcvS48nqiZAwqiTtJqGJWGCyV7Heg-ZA1CJBzX62fwPMadNrQOuip1GAz-HTYSr6r_GAs9SgW8LWyVGHQy_oB43H4Y/s200/hook+keeper.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If the feet of the guides have been filed to a nice taper the winding thread will just follow up and over to cover the guide foot. About ten rotations from the end of the wrapping, a loop of thread is laid on the blank and the wrapping continued over it. To finish, clip your thread free from the spool, slip the tag-end through the loop and pull it under the wraps. Clip it off where it emerges and use a quick flash of flame from a lighter to remove any fuzz.</div><br />
Sometimes you will want to leave the tag end long until you are ready to apply the finish epoxy. The reason is that each guide needs to be straight in line from the reel seat to the tip top. With all of the winding and handling they can creep out of line. They can be nudged back into place and the wrap tightened using the tag you've left.<br />
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I clip them. It makes a neater looking job while building and the worst that can happen is that an occasional wrap will loosen up and need to be redone.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dAUig0HcpdfhV3VuXqH6lIyxkkKKoxjGRTtvr7MZB1CX3EdMuHy8HaERQh2Rbs9Ec8Lt5G8bOp6qRuP6sbffOnNykuutezQwJtcuQCEiwpuh7_BCF9LkTHqMIaWGlngOsKQKAvHeLSHE/s1600/wrapping+rig+and+wrap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dAUig0HcpdfhV3VuXqH6lIyxkkKKoxjGRTtvr7MZB1CX3EdMuHy8HaERQh2Rbs9Ec8Lt5G8bOp6qRuP6sbffOnNykuutezQwJtcuQCEiwpuh7_BCF9LkTHqMIaWGlngOsKQKAvHeLSHE/s320/wrapping+rig+and+wrap.JPG" /></a></div>Once the basic wrap is complete it is nice to add a little bit of contrasting trim. This is started and stopped exactly like the main wrap. the trim is for vanity. It looks nice but doesn't really do anything except please the builder and hopefully the eventual owner of the rod.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-58449484159902143172010-04-04T01:13:00.000+04:002010-04-04T01:13:50.570+04:00First Fish of the New Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsGaastPLG1ly4kfYu73NHrme-IcbsaL3WYl2EHljTXeBueWviwRMDBnDhiRvpDObMGQ1hxYw0uMNDINKJI4TbewZh3enNwtUHANnbjOz3h_nkcsFSY1s74Vi1Jm-FHxHAIA_lNQq14MK/s1600/first+bass+of+season.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsGaastPLG1ly4kfYu73NHrme-IcbsaL3WYl2EHljTXeBueWviwRMDBnDhiRvpDObMGQ1hxYw0uMNDINKJI4TbewZh3enNwtUHANnbjOz3h_nkcsFSY1s74Vi1Jm-FHxHAIA_lNQq14MK/s320/first+bass+of+season.JPG" /></a></div>We interrupt the story of building a rod with a little note about the new fishing season starting here in Nova Scotia. I ran up to a nearby spot to try for a few trout. No trout but a couple of Smallmouth Bass, one nice one. <br />
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Always good to start the season off with a few fish coming to the fly. <br />
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Next chapter coming soon in the Fly Rod Build -Wrapping the Guides.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-14143047086644590932010-04-02T18:35:00.002+04:002010-04-02T18:38:18.310+04:00Building a Fly Rod - Part 5 Guide Placement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbSuy6D7uhF6QH1GNSGi99aKSTHnLXcVrhyphenhyphen2p0ILqE7f5P4h1jVvlfhzflHV8X1gsiOLQTxrhjDM4iVoH0SaBaV2SOmLMVVR4ge9-FWGcpr5x0cFAMwuJxWj2f7Od0yMYqk4nKV-RZ4dR/s1600/home+made+wrapping+rig.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbSuy6D7uhF6QH1GNSGi99aKSTHnLXcVrhyphenhyphen2p0ILqE7f5P4h1jVvlfhzflHV8X1gsiOLQTxrhjDM4iVoH0SaBaV2SOmLMVVR4ge9-FWGcpr5x0cFAMwuJxWj2f7Od0yMYqk4nKV-RZ4dR/s200/home+made+wrapping+rig.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>You might have noticed from the pictures that when it was time to start fitting the pieces I transferred the marks showing me the guide side of the blank from masking tape to the blank itself. The best way to mark directly on a blank is to use a China Marker. That is a waxy pencil for marking on glass, metal or fishing rod blanks. The best part is that you can rub the marks off with a finger or cloth as you need to.<br />
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This blank has recommended guide placements at 4, 9, 15, 22, 30, 39, 49, 60 and 71 inches from the tip.<br />
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Having measured for the guide placement and carefully marked the blank it is set aside. I will prepare the guides for wrapping by carefully filing the guide feet so that the thread, while wrapping, will easily fall into place and flow easily up and over the guide feet without any bulges or over wraps.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZV6Nd8eS3xUnxKWNVqGoy2RMBcn13ZajiwGR5sqK6oQF6xfA8lWoSfwQzAar2x-F-KN2PFIYeUS8cb_YeAmBvaKUQTE6Kgf5V9ThnMT0BqHnHLFnnJZQGziDv5_kMxFgxu1YRXEkiZuV/s1600/wrapping+rig+and+wrap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZV6Nd8eS3xUnxKWNVqGoy2RMBcn13ZajiwGR5sqK6oQF6xfA8lWoSfwQzAar2x-F-KN2PFIYeUS8cb_YeAmBvaKUQTE6Kgf5V9ThnMT0BqHnHLFnnJZQGziDv5_kMxFgxu1YRXEkiZuV/s200/wrapping+rig+and+wrap.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #0c343d;">-</span><br />
When the guides are all ready to go after that long and fussy job I will measure the rod blank one more time just to double check that all of the markings placed earlier are accurate.<br />
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Guide placement can be checked once the guides are in place, wrapped but not epoxy finished. At that point the rod can be strung and pulled into an arc. Any flat spots or misaligned guides are pretty obvious and can often be nudged into place without a complete re-wrapping.<br />
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Now that it is time to wrap the first guide this rod is starting to come to life.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-48301569361434412292010-03-27T19:39:00.001+04:002010-03-27T19:42:01.704+04:00Building a Fly Rod - Part 4 Preparing the Cork Handle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbcffMI8AmRRWu6tYNGzGw2N_yU8Xch70jtpT9AK153u-BDn1DJX1ZIbJlR9Pa2xQekK9khWJWpdCoYyV7oFuftqxV-RKCU0GXODPAEBUqG7sZaWRi6JZOXZ06DAawaCn_uQDk8z-hFpc/s1600/countersinking+reel+seat+hood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbcffMI8AmRRWu6tYNGzGw2N_yU8Xch70jtpT9AK153u-BDn1DJX1ZIbJlR9Pa2xQekK9khWJWpdCoYyV7oFuftqxV-RKCU0GXODPAEBUqG7sZaWRi6JZOXZ06DAawaCn_uQDk8z-hFpc/s200/countersinking+reel+seat+hood.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>I am using a pre-made handle. This is a half-well handle and very comfortable for light rods.<br />
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Handles are made by forming a blank of glued cork rings. The rings are stacked to the length desired, clamped until the glue has cured and then the cork blank is turned in a lathe. It is not so much cut as sanded into shape. That is messy, fussy work and without a lathe I'm not quite sure how one would manage to make one.<br />
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The handle I have has to be fitted to the rod blank and the up-locking part of the reel seat needs to be counter sunk into it. This is for looks as well as a good firm mounting of the reel.<br />
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To fit the handle it is slid over the rod blank from the top and down toward the butt until it binds. A few strokes of a rat tail file and repeat the fitting. This is called reaming the handle and continues until the cork handle will slide into place but no farther.<br />
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Again the blank is marked so that you can rough up just the parts that won't be seen. Then it is ready for gluing.<br />
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A good handle fits so that it won't squeeze all of the glue out when it is slid into place but can't slide farther down the blank than it should. Tricky but all it takes is patience. Doing the fitting by hand is much more likely to end well than using power tools like a Dremel or rigging something up with a drill. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKgDPUdCk2H_2MKABlcte5JA7JhWmp3FYTQipjpYVmoTQbvxRaLQTr79G0VQWKt36uw_2NLKfHianPjdT7KbzLHOrvNqaVhZ9VVRYAudg8CdzO5Iz-nsHyPsRd48ODklXKhM5YgqgOt43/s1600/reel+seat+and+handle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKgDPUdCk2H_2MKABlcte5JA7JhWmp3FYTQipjpYVmoTQbvxRaLQTr79G0VQWKt36uw_2NLKfHianPjdT7KbzLHOrvNqaVhZ9VVRYAudg8CdzO5Iz-nsHyPsRd48ODklXKhM5YgqgOt43/s320/reel+seat+and+handle.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what it looks like fitted to the blank with the reel seat mounted.</div>Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529139128549298588.post-54730156044261198652010-03-27T19:11:00.002+04:002010-03-27T19:42:54.470+04:00Building a Fly Rod - Part 3 Attaching the Reel Seat to the BlankNow that the reel seat is glued up and cured it is time to prepare the blank. A blank will usually be much smaller than the hole drilled through the reel seat so you need to fill that gap to keep the reel seat centered on the blank while the epoxy cures.<br />
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Step one is to carefully mark the blank so that you know how much of it will be covered by the reel seat. Using a fine sandpaper the part of the blank that will be hidden is roughed up so that the glue will have good contact with the surface.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY_yVwD-EQ32AoVHxG-DyEreQ0Tkti-OYxvzcsShtc_6tTAGGt6p-BRG8fI_6NET8OGOGIbpYinb58ulQssOTRq4GA3ry9IDRhA2teJS-49E9xIX28sL3alb5HdGXwlobeHFI2oBr-mtl/s1600/blank+ready+for+reel+seat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY_yVwD-EQ32AoVHxG-DyEreQ0Tkti-OYxvzcsShtc_6tTAGGt6p-BRG8fI_6NET8OGOGIbpYinb58ulQssOTRq4GA3ry9IDRhA2teJS-49E9xIX28sL3alb5HdGXwlobeHFI2oBr-mtl/s200/blank+ready+for+reel+seat.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>After wiping the blank clean of skin oils and dust a couple of mandrels are formed using masking tape. These are just to keep the blank centred in the reel seat and are not an important structural component. It is the epoxy glue that will do the work. <br />
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It is wise to do one more dry assembly before mixing the epoxy just to make sure everything is going to end up where you expect it to and its ready for the glue. <br />
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Remember if the reel seat has a cut out for the reel foot it must be lined up with the spline markings along which you will be wrapping the guides.Steve Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03850567525708829500noreply@blogger.com0