Links, Links, Links....

It has been a while so I thought I'd pop in with some interesting things I've been reading, listening to, and stuff I just think is really cool...

What am I reading?

"The Fish's Eye" by Ian Frazier: An essayist, a humor writer, and a social commentator, Mr. Frazier entertains in this short book of essays about everything I enjoy doing. Like most outdoors writers Frazier attempts to answer the whys behind why he loves to fish, but in contrast to many outdoors authors Frazier includes fishing excursions in cities, towns, and other places not known for angling pleasures. It's a quick read that is both funny and thought provoking.

"Streams of Consciousness" by Jeff Hull: This past weekend (Jan. 26th), I went to a Fly Fishing show in Somerset, NJ. For me this is the northern part of the state, and I don't often visit, but I make an exception for this show. I spent the day wondering the aisles, sitting in on presentations, and begging companies for fly fishing accessories for the High School Outdoors club I run with another avid angler. On my way out the door this book caught my eye, and I am glad it did. So far, his views of angling mirror mine, and some of the things he takes away from the water are really interesting. If you're looking for something to help get you through the winter, check this one out.

What Am I Listening to?

At work I am part of a "Biggest Loser" contest with about 25 other participants. So that means I have to watch what I eat and exercise a lot more. I'm not sure about any of you, but I hate exercise. So when I'm running on the treadmill I need to listen to something stimulating to keep my mind off the fact that I am running in place and sweating on everything. For that I have turned to podcasts, and this one (the only decent outdoors related cast I have found), has helped me get through my sweat filled miles on the treadmill.

"Dirt Bag Diaries" by Fitz Cahall: At last I have found an outdoors related podcast that has some depth. What it's all about according to Cahall, "This world is filled with great stories. They come from friends during big wall belays, around campfires and on long drives across empty deserts. I look forward to telling as many as I can." This is a podcast I can get behind, and the few episodes I've listened to have been very entertaining.

What's on my favorite blogs?

DV from the "Days Afield" blog brought in 2008 with a Bang by posting a story about a hunting trip with his neice. I am a huge supporter of getting kids and teens involved in outdoor activities. What is really cool is that he posted a video of the hunt that was put together very well.

Arthur over at Simply Outdoors keeps the info on the blog constantly flowing, but I really enjoyed a post from January 26th. Arthur found a way to help beat the winter cabin fever by chasing some rabbits in the snow.

Last week, Bryan over at DeerPHD, posted a story about how hunter's can learn a thing or two from the golfing world. While I'm not a golf fan he does make some valid points and it definitely worth checking out.

These are only a few of the great posts that I come across everyday, be sure to check the rest of the links in my blog roll for some more outdoors related information. Speaking of which, one of the most important outdoor blogs these days is The Outdoor Blogger's Summit. So if you have an outdoor blog and want to get in on the summit or at least become part of a great network of outdoor bloggers you have to check it out.

Update to Yesterday's post

About an hour after I posted yesterday, I received a quote that makes my point exactly and I wanted to post it here:

I fish because I love to. Because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are invariably ugly. Because of all the television commercials, cocktail parties, and assorted social posturing I thus escape. Because in a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing what they hate, my fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion. Because trout do not lie or cheat and cannot be bought or bribed or impressed by power, but respond only to quietude and humility, and endless patience. Because I suspect that men are going along this way for the last time and I for one don't want to waste the trip. Because mercifully there are no telephones on trout waters. Because only in the woods can I find solitude without lonliness...And finally, not because I regard fishing as being so terribly important, but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant -- and not nearly so much fun.

--John Voekler

While I am not strictly speaking a trout fisherman, I am an angler and this quote fits me, but it can also apply to everyone who has ever picked up a fishing rod, hiked in the woods, hunted game, photographed nature's wonders, pitched a tent in a secluded glen, or just marveled at anything outdoors.

Stop and smell the fish scales...

After my vacation, I thought a lot about why I enjoy the outdoors as much as I do. More specifically, why I can spend 8-12 hours on the lake fishing without getting hungry, cranky, or tired.

For the first time I have recognized passion in my hobby. It came while I was packing up to leave Florida, and only now have I had to time to reflect on the feeling I had while I was down there. Here's what happened:

As part of the packing-to-return-home ordeal I had to go down to the car and get my fishing rods so I could put them in the rod holder for the flight back. It was pouring, and time was of the essence, but that didn't stop the itch. The itch is that feeling that you have that is almost unbearable to ignore, and irritates you until you scratch it. My "itch" that day was for one more cast.

Now, "one more," is never actually just one more. It's often as many casts as one can safely get off before missing anything too important (like a flight home 1000 miles away).

But I digress, it was raining steadily and a cold front approached so I knew two things were happening. First, approaching cold fronts often kick fish into high gear. They get excited, hungry, and aggressive as the front bears down. Second, temperatures were dropping fast, and at a certain point fishing would shut down altogether.

Quickly becoming drenched I went to the dock and with the grace and effort of a gazelle bounding away from an approaching lion, I casted as hard and fast as I could. The lure hit the water and with a few gentle twitches was immediately inhaled by a large Jack Crevelle. I was surprised by the attack and did not set the hook in time, which the fish took advantage of by immediately letting go of the hook.

The second cast proved more fruitful, this time I was prepared and set the as soon as I felt the fish bump my lure. It wasn't the biggest fish, in fact it was smaller than the first, but I landed him. Now, I was completely soaked and would have to change before we could leave. But it was worth it, it was enough to alleviate the itch I had to cast, at least temporarily...


My buddy "Jack"

In warmer weather, here in New Jersey, I often feel the same sort of itch. I can't go more than a day or two without planning my next excursion. I have always felt a passion for fishing, but have never explored the feelings. It wasn't until my trip to Florida that I grasped the intensity at which I need to stretch some line.

Hobbies are an important aspect of our lives. They give us something to enjoy without the added stress of supervisors and bosses. I consider myself lucky to have a hobby that keeps me outside often because I get to see amazing things both on the water and off.

Winter Projects....

Happy New Year everyone...

I thought, for my first post of the new year, that I would talk about what I have lined up this winter. Since I've started fishing from my kayak, I've been introduced to the world of DIY. That's right "Do It Yourself." Kayaks have only recently been manufactured with models designed specifically for fishing. As such, the area is still growing in popularity. Most companies build a basic model and it is up to the kayak owner to use their ingenuity to rig their outfit to fit their fishing needs.

Here's what I have lined up to get me through the winter and read for the spring.

1. Installing a fishfinder: This isn't a complicated process on most larger boats, but finding and securing the transducer in such a way that it works through the hull of the kayak can be a bit tedious. There are a number of ideas out there, but I plan on focusing on a combination of heavy duty foam and vaseline.

The idea is simple. Make a hole in the foam slightly larger than the transducer, secure the foam to the inner hull of the kayak, and fill it with vaseline. Once filled you insert the transducer. So long as air bubbles are kept out of the goop the transducer should be able to read through the hull and help me find all that hidden structure I've been missing for years.

The second part of this chore is finding an adequate power source. Most seem to use a 8 AA Battery adapter, this way the fish finder can run off rechargeable batteries rather than the giant 12v marine batteries they use in large boats. It will be important for me to find a way to keep the batteries high and dry in the hull to prevent surges and problems.

2. Creating an Anchor Trolley system: The anchor trolley is a moving line along the side of the kayak that lets the user control the angle at which the anchor sits off the kayak. Keeping an anchor in one position on a windy day often means you can't get in the right position to fish a certain area. The anchor trolley allows you to adjust that position without moving the anchor or the boat.


The image above is the achor troller system sold by KayakFishingStuff.com. The anchor is attached to the white line in the image and the black rope can be moved along the side of the boat to reposition the anchor trajectory.

You can purchase a kit, like the one sold at KFS or you can purchase the hardware and try to do it yourself...That's my plan. I have the line guides that I need and instead of the plastic ring in the picture I will be using a carabiner key chain clip that you can usually find for free or at little cost.

3. My final project this winter will be to create a stakeout pole. The stake out pole is just another form of anchor. Kayaks can be used is very shallow water, where the use of a stakeout pole is more convenient than an anchor. The pole is just forced into the lake bottom and keeps the boat in place while you fish. You can even attach it to you're anchor trolley and position it as needed.


The anchor trolley and stakeout pole is highlighted in this picture. This isn't my kayak, I was fighting a nice redfish I caught in Florida on vacation. I took a guided trip with Florida Fishing guide Josh Harvel of Yaknitup Guide Service.

I'm not sure what I'll use to make the pole. The one I used in florida was a reinforced piece of 1" PVC that had part of an old fishing rod fitted in the end with epoxy. The narrow broken fishing rod made it easy to penetrate the muddy bottom. IF you don't use something like that, it would be easy enough to create a point at the end of the PVC by cutting it at an angle. The idea is that the pole can be deployed quickly and easily, so the sharper you make it the quicker you can get it in the ground.

So, as you can see, while the lakes are frozen here in Jersey or I'm just to cold to get out on the water, I'll be busy in the basement improving my "yak" rig.

Do any of you have any winter projects planned?