A little present for my 2 readers.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
I'm Still Here....
just a lttle check in for my 3 followers: I'm still alive. Right now, I'm stuck in an assisted living envirpnment, back in the wheelchair, and likely for good.
Soooooooooo.........
I need to look into a nurse who loves fishing as much as I do.
Soooooooooo.........
I need to look into a nurse who loves fishing as much as I do.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Sail Specs, 18 ft^2
I'll be using a lateen rig sail for the conversion to an outrigger sail/rowing/motor canoe. I'll be using a 4 oz Dacron for the sailcloth in white, with a wind area of 18ft^2, with a bamboo mast and upper and lower spars like a Sunfish rig. The mast will be unstayed with a socket tabernacle/keel block, held in place by halyard pressure like the AMF/Alcort Sunfish.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Thoughts on the outrigger design
I was thinking, essentially, all I need is a pair of flotation chambers, that are cylindrical, and angled higher in the front than the back. So, how about a pair of 6'x6" sections of PVC pipe with the ends capped and glued, and the outrigger struts of 2" Heavy walled PVC, and attached to the boat at the aluminum crossbraces with zip ties. The idea is to have them be securely mountable, but easily removable for trailering the canoe.
They will need to be wide enough from the rails to allow for oars, since I also have the boat set up with oarlocks for rowing like a single racing scull shell for exercise for nonpowered trolling on the ICW. The width will also need to be there for stability with the outboard running....a 2 1/2 HP outboard will really kick a canoe along fast in relation to the hull design and it's not a Gheeno with planing chines for stability, but will be as fast as one. My canoe isn't a flatback, it's a double ender classic canoe.
They will need to be wide enough from the rails to allow for oars, since I also have the boat set up with oarlocks for rowing like a single racing scull shell for exercise for nonpowered trolling on the ICW. The width will also need to be there for stability with the outboard running....a 2 1/2 HP outboard will really kick a canoe along fast in relation to the hull design and it's not a Gheeno with planing chines for stability, but will be as fast as one. My canoe isn't a flatback, it's a double ender classic canoe.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Using a canoe for fishing the ICW and Flats
OK, I'm starting a new project. I'm making some mods to my old canoe to put my little 2 1/2 HP outboard on it and adding a couple stability outrigger/floats so I can do standing casts and throw my castnet from the canoe without tipping. I also need a bit more stability getting in and out of the boat, since my left leg is partially paralyzed and significantly weaker than the right after my strokes.
This will allow me to go after some areas that the big fish hang out, away from the herds at the causeways and piers. The motor will really help me with tidal currents, too. It;'s not real easy paddling or rowing against the tide......much like kayaking the rapids, but going up stream.
I have a design on process for a pair of epoxy sealed plywood streamlined floats for the dual outriggers. For the framework, I'm planning on PVC pipe and clamps for the gunwhales of the canoe. I'll be posting the progress and make the design and specs available here in the Fishing Report for free, as well.
This will allow me to go after some areas that the big fish hang out, away from the herds at the causeways and piers. The motor will really help me with tidal currents, too. It;'s not real easy paddling or rowing against the tide......much like kayaking the rapids, but going up stream.
I have a design on process for a pair of epoxy sealed plywood streamlined floats for the dual outriggers. For the framework, I'm planning on PVC pipe and clamps for the gunwhales of the canoe. I'll be posting the progress and make the design and specs available here in the Fishing Report for free, as well.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Memories of my Grandfather
My Grandfather on my Dad's side was a true fisherman. It was more an avocation with him than a sport or hobby. It centered him and gave him peace. This is something I can identify with totally.
My best memory of my Grandfather was brought to the fore, yesterday, when I was fighting that big Stingray. The memory took me back to when I was around 5 years old, just before my Grampa died. We were down at the channel by the boathouse at Cedar Point. I had just caught my very first fish......a tiny little Bluegill. I was using a toy fishing pole he'd bought me to play with with white cotton string and a hook and a bobber. Simplicity itself. When I caught the fish, I think Grampa was likely more surprised than I was. I learned a couple lessons or so that day.
First lesson: A fisherman always baits his own hook.
Second lesson: A fisherman always takes his own fish off the hook
Third lesson: If a fish is too small, put it back to grow up, and if a fish is really, really, really big and full of eggs, put it back because it keeps fish there for us to catch as part of the fish vs fisherman cycle.
After we were done with the fishing, we were at the hand pump, washing our hands to get ready to make a tomato sandwich from his little tomato patch by the boathouse, he told me he had a secret to tell me that all fishermen eventually learn. This secret is that fishing lines can sing. All it takes is a fish big and heavy enough that it takes the line tension right to the edge of it's breaking strain for a steady pull. This tension is a lot higher than the sudden breaking strain rating of, say, 30 pound test monofilament. The tension on the line, the breeze, and the vibrations the fish imparts to the line trying to pull away, create a ringing, high pitched tone, much like how a guitar string or violin string creates a tone......there just isn't a sound board to amplify it, so you just barely hear it.
This brings me to my fight with the stingray yesterday. I finally heard the line sing, yesterday. I was fighting a near 300 pound fish on 30 pound test, and the ray was pulling the line right to it's edge of strength and stripping line in spite of the drag being cranked down tight. Underneath the reels drag ratchet, I heard this clear ringing tone right at the top of my hearing range, a ringing tone that got deeper as the length of my line increased and the harmonic oscillation of the line changed frequencies, and went up in pitch again as I was able to win back line as well.
That was when I had the Eureka moment and realized that this must have been what Grampa L had been talking about to me.In fact, I remembered so clearly that I could literally see him, and hear him talking to me. It was a perfect recollection. It was a connection that stretched over a 50 year span, but was like it was just yesterday, at the same time, and it took me back to an innocent time. I'm very grateful for that! I'd love to be able to go fishing now with him, and now, in a way, I am. As long as we're remembered BY someone, we still have an existence and attachment in this world, and fishing is my connection with him.
My best memory of my Grandfather was brought to the fore, yesterday, when I was fighting that big Stingray. The memory took me back to when I was around 5 years old, just before my Grampa died. We were down at the channel by the boathouse at Cedar Point. I had just caught my very first fish......a tiny little Bluegill. I was using a toy fishing pole he'd bought me to play with with white cotton string and a hook and a bobber. Simplicity itself. When I caught the fish, I think Grampa was likely more surprised than I was. I learned a couple lessons or so that day.
First lesson: A fisherman always baits his own hook.
Second lesson: A fisherman always takes his own fish off the hook
Third lesson: If a fish is too small, put it back to grow up, and if a fish is really, really, really big and full of eggs, put it back because it keeps fish there for us to catch as part of the fish vs fisherman cycle.
After we were done with the fishing, we were at the hand pump, washing our hands to get ready to make a tomato sandwich from his little tomato patch by the boathouse, he told me he had a secret to tell me that all fishermen eventually learn. This secret is that fishing lines can sing. All it takes is a fish big and heavy enough that it takes the line tension right to the edge of it's breaking strain for a steady pull. This tension is a lot higher than the sudden breaking strain rating of, say, 30 pound test monofilament. The tension on the line, the breeze, and the vibrations the fish imparts to the line trying to pull away, create a ringing, high pitched tone, much like how a guitar string or violin string creates a tone......there just isn't a sound board to amplify it, so you just barely hear it.
This brings me to my fight with the stingray yesterday. I finally heard the line sing, yesterday. I was fighting a near 300 pound fish on 30 pound test, and the ray was pulling the line right to it's edge of strength and stripping line in spite of the drag being cranked down tight. Underneath the reels drag ratchet, I heard this clear ringing tone right at the top of my hearing range, a ringing tone that got deeper as the length of my line increased and the harmonic oscillation of the line changed frequencies, and went up in pitch again as I was able to win back line as well.
That was when I had the Eureka moment and realized that this must have been what Grampa L had been talking about to me.In fact, I remembered so clearly that I could literally see him, and hear him talking to me. It was a perfect recollection. It was a connection that stretched over a 50 year span, but was like it was just yesterday, at the same time, and it took me back to an innocent time. I'm very grateful for that! I'd love to be able to go fishing now with him, and now, in a way, I am. As long as we're remembered BY someone, we still have an existence and attachment in this world, and fishing is my connection with him.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Bonnethead Shark, It's What's For Dinner!
Today was a nice day over at Jensen Beach causeway. Fishing was slow with only 3 bites all day, but it was still profitable, so to speak. I had a good solid catch of a 3 foot Bonnethead Shark, for one thing.
Fish score today at the causeway: Me, 2 wins-1 tie-0 losses, fish,0 wins-1 tie-2 losses. Landed fish were the bonnethead and a hardhead catfish I tossed back....it was an anticlimax after the shark. Last fish, I actually managed to get to the causeway pier before it had to be cut loose. It was a really big stingray, about 4 feet across the wings and about 10 feet long, counting the tail. It had to weigh in around 250-300 pounds, give or take.
We had to cut it loose, because:
a) it was just too big for the landing net. It woiuldn't even fit in to the hoop and I have a big hoop on my net and even if I got it into the net, it was too heavy for it!
b), I didn't have the 5 or so guys with gaff hooks to haul it out and onto the pier. I still count that as having successfully catching the fish, though, and only wish my wife had been able to get the picture of the fish.
The coolest aspect of the whole ray fight is I finally got to hear something my Grandpa told me about when I was a wee kid and he was teaching me to fish with my little toy fishing pole in the channel behind the cottage: I got to hear my fishing line singing, right at the edge of it's breaking strain. There was this high pitched musical note ringing off the line, right up at the top edge of my hearing range. How cool is that?
 |
| 3 foot Bonnethead Shark |
 |
| Meet Ms Bonnethead. This is a female. |
 |
| I'm thinking how good this fish is going to taste, smoked with Applewood |
We had to cut it loose, because:
a) it was just too big for the landing net. It woiuldn't even fit in to the hoop and I have a big hoop on my net and even if I got it into the net, it was too heavy for it!
b), I didn't have the 5 or so guys with gaff hooks to haul it out and onto the pier. I still count that as having successfully catching the fish, though, and only wish my wife had been able to get the picture of the fish.
The coolest aspect of the whole ray fight is I finally got to hear something my Grandpa told me about when I was a wee kid and he was teaching me to fish with my little toy fishing pole in the channel behind the cottage: I got to hear my fishing line singing, right at the edge of it's breaking strain. There was this high pitched musical note ringing off the line, right up at the top edge of my hearing range. How cool is that?
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