Sunday, January 31, 2021

01.31.21Starting to feel like winter now....

 

     So I know it waaayyyy to early to really start monitoring the river but I couldn't help but notice the ice that has started to form on the river. Haven't really seen that this year. Water temps down at 32 degrees, air temps around 25 degrees, and we're about to get 12-16 inches of snow out here along the river tomorrow. Its good for the system, better than the flooding rain s of the spring. 

Saturday, January 30, 2021

01.30.21 We lost a good local guy.....



     Jeff Dement worked for the American Littoral Society and amongst many things he was in charge of the striped bass tagging program. He had an office out on Sandy Hook and spent hours teaching classes and seine netting the estuaries around Monmouth County.


     Before Jeff started working for the environment he was a Union structural Ironworker, that's him below working at the Union County incinerator. RIP Jeff


 

Friday, January 29, 2021

01.29.21Take a look at this when you're planning this year.....


     Its that about time of year when Cabin Fever sets in. Without the shows this year its setting in a little quicker and deeper than normal. So what do we do? We tie flies, we build rods, we make plans. We make plans to take those days of to make extended weekends, quick runs to our favorite fishing spots, or a vacation to a further destination. Before you go, if its truly a fishing trip, you might want to take a look at the mood calendar and tide schedule. 

    There would be nothing worse than having a dead low moon tide that occurs during the morning and evening when the fishing could be best. While I get it that you go when you can go, taking a look now can help you make the best plans, or lower your expectations knowing now that, in reality, your trip trip will just plain suck because of the moon and tides.

  

Monday, January 25, 2021

01.25.21 Love when memories show up on Facebook...


     So I fired up the computer and this was the image that greeted me when I went onto Facebook, which I do for the Marketplace. Anyway, its from 8 years ago, January 25, 2012. That's me on the third floor of the corner building at Broad and Monmouth and Streets in Red Bank. It was cold and freezing outside and I needed to practice for my upcoming FFF Casting Instructor Exam (CI) at The Fly Fishing Show. 

     Well, I attended the class, passed the written, spit the bit on the performance, mostly instructional  portion, and was told "I was very close". I took it the next year, and failed that time also. No three's a charm here, I'm good. 
 

Sunday, January 24, 2021

01.24.21 No Fly Fishing Show this weekend....

      Yep, would have been a good time, for many reasons, to enjoy the fly fishing show n catch up with old and new friends. While my fly tying room is full, there are a few things I need to get, so I'll reach out to Brad Buzzi and see if I can stock up before the season. 

      Looking at the next year schedule Edison's show is Jan 28-30th. 



     And while this blog is political, it can skirt the fringes of politics, current, events and fly fishing. Memes- I still don't know what that word means, have become a daily occurrence on social media, and now the mainstream media. while I listened to the inauguration on the radio between patients, I guess Bernie Sanders put on a show with his outfit and look while seated and social distancing. Some of them we pretty funny, not mocking the man, just whitty. Here's one to do with fly fishing and the other, just funny. 






Saturday, January 23, 2021

01.23.21 Gonna be a fortune to drive on land or on the water....


      Today, now three days after the inauguration, I went to fuel up at the WaWa in Ewing. The image above was from April 8, 2020, the image below is from today. $1.89 less than a year ago, today $2.55. Not sure if its Covid, politics, or prose fixing- but I think by summer it will be way over $3, maybe over $4. Time stamp. That just sucks





Thursday, January 21, 2021

01.22.21 Let the countdown begin......


       Delaware River stalking begins. Today I passed by, well I do everyday, but this time little south coming from Columbus Market. Saw the boat ramp at Bordentown and watched as the gulls picked up stuff up and down the river. 

     January 21st and it s 37 degrees, that' snot too bad. They say the bass start moving up when the water hits 50 degrees an the spawn occurs when it rises above 60, with 65 the best temperature. While there other components that attribute to a successful spawning year, the water temps, in addition to their natural instincts, put them in or near their natal grounds where they will attempt to spawn. 


Wednesday, January 20, 2021

01.20.21 President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.....


     Today Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took their oath of office. While this is a a fly fishing blog, every now and then I like to include some important events and give my two cents. I'm embarrassed the way our politicians act, well let me say the more extremist types on the far right and far left. I'm also embarrassed for the way the citizens of this country act, well let me say the more extremist types on the far right and left. I despise the media, well let me sat the more extremist biased types of the far right and left. 

     We have become, or allowed us to become a nation divided. Divided because we pick sides, and even through the rhetoric and, well bullshit, we, as hypocrites, wave the banner and yell all the while we are holding ourselves in some higher morale character then the people around us. We have become a nation of cowards and followers, like sheep. 

     I prefer to keep myself in the middle of the road, you know kind of Average. Pulse doesn't change either way. I will always support, but may not vote for the current President. I supported Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, and now Biden. Joe Biden is MY President. If Trump won he would be MY President. I always hated to see people saying "Not My President", well folks thats just not true. If you are a citizen of these United States, then there is only one President, and now, thats Joe Biden.

     You can think that a president isn't your president, just like your parents aren't your parents, your boss isn't your boss, or that you don't have to pay taxes or obey the law, well you do. Now that doesn't mean you have to agree with everything that that person or party believes. Now that's hard to believe when you see how lopsided the votes are in the Senate and the House. Party lines, have to go, as does term limits, and hopefully one day the two-party system. 

     So now I hope, and may God Bless Biden and Harris as they lead us forward. They will do their best, succeed hopefully at most, hopefully be able to make amends when they fail, all the while the people of this great country stop hiding behind the bullshit and look out and care for each other. Stop believing everything the media tells you, stop reading to social media bullshit from strangers, family and friends, and take care of yourself and each other. 

And can we all just go fishing? 

 

Thursday, January 14, 2021

01.14.21 "Here's your mail....".


     It was nice to look up and see something in writing anything other than psych. Theresa handed me the On the Water 2021 Anglers Almanac, which reads "Your Guide to Fishing New Jersey". 

Mmmmm...I like to read about fishing New Jersey, because that where I fish

    I was eager to get into this issue while I had some time between patients. Now last year someone I know graced the cover of one of the issues. It was the New Jersey edition, nut the image was shot up in Massachusetts. I know stripers move, but I think, that issues that are titled by state, should have images from that state and fishery, otherwise I call "Fake News". 

     This years cover, as always great cover art work done by OTW editors, is well, shot somewhere. Could be Jersey, could be Montauk or Block, we'll never know, and most people don't care.

     Now inside, the usual great layouts and mix of art and words. Pete Barret does the fly article, which isn't Jersey, per se. And then the articles go on, wind farms, clamming, boulder fields, ice fishing, striped bass, brown trout in NY....am I missing something? 

     Jimmy Fee, the editor, does a great job. Its nice to see magazines still out there and some, making a profit or a living. Its nice that they pay for content, and I have been lucky to both provide images, inside and cover, and articles, for print. That said, hopefully next year 'the guide" will be more of that. Maybe all the articles for that state written by Captains and anglers who spend round the calendar year fishing for striped bass. I'm in. 

702 PM update.....sent from a friend- maybe it was caught in New Jersey, or not




 

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

01.12.21 Found this from 9 years ago.....


     This popped up on my Memories on Facebook. It was from the winter that never came and the fall that never ended. Can you name the spot?

     Here's what the caption read "Found fly anglers working the outgoing tide. While scouting saw a kayaker launch and then catch a keper sized striper while working the rocks".
 

Monday, January 11, 2021

01.11.21 Gettin' her ready.....

     So my wife asked what I wanted to do for my birthday. We, I said, "I want to take my boat and get some gas". I dragged my mom along for the ride, and she too thought, local gas station, get gas, be home in 30 minutes. However, the gas I wanted was ethanol-free and it was from WaWa which was located in Allentown, PA, about and hour and 10 minutes away. 

     Well I got to get the trailer out and about and some heat on the tires and axle. Found out that the drivers side lights are out and need to be redone. When I got the boat home I gave her a once over, emptied the compartments and fired her up. After a quick charge on the battery and some water to keep her cool she purred like a kitten. 

     March 1st the Delaware River opens and so does the Rarity Bay. I'll be out early this year, and the boat will meet the Delaware for the first time. No sense in winterizing her now, and forget the shrink wrap, I'm praying for a mild winter. 

     And for dinner on this 53rd birthday? A great meal with a trio of great ladies at Tony Da Caneca in Newarks' Ironbound section. We had cataplana a "algarvia, paella Valencia. and skirt steak followed by some delicious desserts. It was a Nic e change of scenery from the usual haunts in Mercer and Hunterdon Counties. 


Thursday, January 7, 2021

01.07.21 God Bless America....

     Was working yesterday so I didn't see what was going on in Washington. Doesn't surprise me. The events of this past year didn't surprise me. My pulse doesn't really change about these things. I stay in the middle, on just about everything. My knowledge and opinions aren't strong enough, or correct enough, to try and engage others or have them see my middle of the road views. 

     Now my pulse may not change, but that doesn't mean that I don't get saddened when I see people put their own beliefs and agendas into action, usually at the harm of others, either physically or psychologically, or both. I can have a conversation on just about nothing, and never feel the need to be right or change someones mind, unless its about something I do or about someone I love. 

     I always say, put other people first, stop to help others, and do the right thing when no one else is watching. I am sure I have harmed others before, and that is the part of each of us we have to improve and make amends for. 

     During the last year I have done just that. Share the peace and the love. Stay in my own lane. Understand that the actions of a few cannot be blanketed over an entire population, culture, even fanatic. I do believe that social media and the media has jumped the shark and is doing more negative than positive, that is why I don't watch or engage. My only social media I used is Facebook, to share some fishing and personal stuff with friends and family, but I am questioning if that is even a negative thing these days. This blog, never gonna stop, because its almost 100% fishing related. 

Take care of yourself, and each other. 

 

Monday, January 4, 2021

01.04.20 First shot 2021...


      Had to be down that way so I threw my stuff in the truck and gave it a go with just an hour or so on the ebb tide. Nearly 50 degree air temp and 47 in the water. Water was stained and the last of the swell was breaking off the beach. Mostly tried off the rocks but didn't manage a tap. 

    When I was walking down to the next groin met up with a guy who had just hooked a 14 inch bass. It was nice to get out, see you on the mid-Delaware in March.



Sunday, January 3, 2021

01.03.21 So here's the best of 2020....



     So the kid will always win. Looking back on 2020, and through the mess, mess of Covid, mess of the way we acted as human beings, the mess of politics, there was some good fishing times. I could say I had a good year, really started to get dialed in, just get dialed in, not dialed in, to the Delaware River striped bass fishery, good times, but that f'in drive, along the Jersey Shore, the much anticipated Martha's Vineyard week, and a shot on the Upper Delawareduring the summer. And the winner is.....

     ....May 13th and fishing a higher tide at the Trenton Makes Bridge with Erin. Why? Because it was time together, and yes, because she caught a fish. While we know its not about catching, sometimes you need to catch some fish in order to get the disorder brewing. You can recap that night HERE

      Erin's first fish on a fly rod, well officially, was May 21, 2009, you can recap that HERE. I know enough with the kid already, but the early one, from 12 years ago is a fun read. You all know my 



kids, made or borrowed, have never followed my footsteps with fly fishing. They may pick it up to appease me, but never on their own, and for never more than five minutes. I have given up all hope, but then every now and then my last true hope, Erin, says or does something to hang on. In 2017, she showed an interest in tying flies, that lasted, well about a night, but the seed was planted. And this

                                                


year she landed a few striped bass on the fly, now the seed is starting to grow some roots. Hopefully 2021 will have her see all the wonderful things fly fishing can bring into her life, time with dad, time outdoors, meeting new people, and beginning a life long passion, and addiction, that we all enjoy. 

Friday, January 1, 2021

01.01.21.....Happy 2021


     Happy New Years to you and yours! Hope its healthy and Covid free, quarantine ending, financially rewarding, and if revenant to your life, very fishy. I got fishy plans this year, some old, some new, some group, some solo. This year will be very fishy for me...I just need it. I see a drift boat back in my life sometime, not sure just when. I love to have one, even if I'm not guiding. Sadly my aluminum boat would have suited me well bouncing off the boulders down here in my parts of the Delaware while on the hunt for stripers, but it is was what is was and is what it is. 

     Before my truck took a salt bath in December I had ordered historic and personalized plates. After completing the application and "proof" process" I waited, and in the meantime dam near sank her, but just before the new year the plates arrived. 

     If you know me then you know I am huge Grateful Dead fan. In 2009 I introduced BERTHA, a conversion van that served my family well since the mid 1990's. In good time she was sold but I still have the plates. So when it came to naming my 1995 GMC pick up it would have to be a different name



 as there will only ever be one BERTHA. So I took a shot, figuring all the Dead related names would be going, but I was wrong. So I introduce, well you've seen her before, ALTHEA. Below is a little jingle sung by Jerry in 1991, enjoy!