- Messages
- 49,540
- Location
- Make America Grey Again
That sometimes happens.
..Like take this spring for example....
I may go take a look, I've been told I should have a tuner pedal.Sweetwater is having a sale on guitar pedals.
Hey, what's the make of that knife?I put the Whaler in, it works well. I had my daughter help because I blew my knee out. She is very capable and usually catches more and bigger than me. I had a nice few days where the wind was from the South, the tide coming in, no boat traffic, and I could drift my little 12 ft deep creek quietly. The fish were feeding on grass shrimp and I used a 1/2oz leadhead, with a grub body, and a sliver of squid for flavor. Over the course of week I nailed 7 big Fluke, biggest 21", all most delicious woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on! and fought like hell. I keep forgetting to snap pics but I remembered again just as I was cleaning the biggest 21"er. This is more and better fish than all last summer combined.
...and don't we all love the fatties?I actually took a pic before carving this time. I kept two fatties out of a dozen I boated today. This guy was almost 21". And THICK!
That is the point I tried to make - that those smaller fish need to be left to mature so the fishery remains healthy..."caught another keeper which I offered back in friendship"
I only fish for the table, so I can appreciate that gesture. With the minimum length at 19" these days, it is hard to fill the freezer as we used to do. On the other hand, a 19" fish used to be so rare as to get you on the cover of The Fisherman magazine years ago. When the size was 14" too many small fish were kept. Now I would not dirty my knife on a 14" fish. I do see a LOT of 16"-17" fish that will be next year's keepers.
No Bluefish yet. The big Gorillagators swept through early disrupting the Striper fishing. I like the fight, but they taste like motor oil. I wait for the Cocktail Blues around 2-3 pounds. Tasty!
..Lipless crankbaits like that catch lots of fish. I don't use those but occasionally go with a Sugar Shad or Rat'l Trap. I found them good for trolling in the early days of Spring once upon a time when I fished from a boat. I bought a set of 1/8 oz Sugar Shads over the winter and will sure give them a go this summer.When I used to fish bass the best lure I ever used was a Rapala Rattlin' Rap. When I caught my first smallmouth I went to grab it and its dorsal quills got me. Fuck that hurt.
I actually took a pic before carving this time. I kept two fatties out of a dozen I boated today. This guy was almost 21". And THICK!
Only not. Bill Lewis' Rat'l Trap was the original, first produced in the 60s.I think Cotton Cordell invented the type back in the 50s...The Cordell Spot.
My fisherman neighbors says his fave way is to use a cedar plank and layer lemon and onion slices under and over the fillet and bake at 225 for 20 minutes. (Doesn't seem long enough to me, but he seems to know what he's talking about)How do you cook Halibut? If I grill it or bake it, it always tastes dried out?
Another knife company that once manufactured in NY State was Camillus (Camillus, NY) I had thought they went out of business in the 80s, but was reading they were sold in bankruptcy in 2007 to a company who is today manufacturing in China but headquartered in Connecticut (something like that). I have an old Camillus stockman - a bit rough but can cut things still. Just now looking at vintage single blades on ebay and might pick up a folder sometime.It is a Schrade Uncle Henry Steelhead, an old one from when still made in NY. Very slim and stiff. Quite probably the best filet knife ever made. I used to scoop them up on Fleabay but they have skyrocketed in price lately.
....all of which got me to thinking I'd spiff up that old Camillus. The main blade is a tad misaligned and the one side scale (delrin) had a greyish haze on it. Cleaned it off then notices the haze was gone...until it dried. Tried cleaning it - no luck. Looked up the issue and found that cleaning with a lubricating oil will do the trick. If that removes the oxidization or just moistens it so the haze is made transparent I don't know, but it looks pretty now.Another knife company that once manufactured in NY State was Camillus (Camillus, NY) I had thought they went out of business in the 80s, but was reading they were sold in bankruptcy in 2007 to a company who is today manufacturing in China but headquartered in Connecticut (something like that). I have an old Camillus stockman - a bit rough but can cut things still. Just now looking at vintage single blades on ebay and might pick up a folder sometime.
. I would love to have some blues (not the Little Walter kind). Been many years now since I've seen any in the market. People often say they are too oily, but in addition to that I love the flavor - butter and lemon.Several thunderstorms seem to have cleared out the green scum. In fact I can see bottom in 10 feet of water. I went yesterday and had wind-tide-sunset all in my favor. I bucktailed up a dozen Fluke. All throwbacks except for two fatties. No Bluefish even after casting my arm off. The water is very clear for July.