02.07.17 Here's a look from May 2012.....

     So check this out. This was the scene from Big Monmouth in May 2012. It was at the height of the Sandy Hook to Long Branch dredging and beach nourishment. It just goes to further show what a waste this entire process is. Stop the madness. Rant never over on this one.

02.06.17 Where will all the beachgoers lay out this summer?

Seaview Ave., Long Branch

     The beaches are getting smaller and smaller. That may sound good, but the reality is way we now have is a gently sloping beach extending far out into the ocean. So unless you plan on sight fishing this upcoming spring don't get too excited.

     On November 21st while fishing in front of Pier Village I looked up and saw a good amount of birds in front of Seaview Ave. A quick ride there and I joined maybe four guys who were just starting to catch. Within twenty minutes the beach was full from Big Monmouth down to Pier Village. Below Charlie and I watched as Jack connected on his first cast.

     I wish I had a better pick to show, but where I am standing is at the end of the north side of the groin at the top of the page. Additionally, only one third of the rocks were visible and you could walk over them and not have to step up onto the rocks.

     It is really going to interesting this spring and early summer when the big bunker are getting blasted by the big bass, it will take a 14 foot spinning rod and a 6 ounce popper to get to where they are.

     

02.04.17 No February bass....but they are definitely there

     Got some potentially shitty news on Friday so I wanted to clear my head and hit the beach in the morning. Decided I didn't need to be there at first light with dead low at 7 so I got down an hour into the incoming. Deal is shut down as the madness continues. The sifting for ordinances is ridiculous. Why wasn't that incorporated into the initial pumping of sand? Talk about "Drain the Swamp". People are cheering Pauline as he fights for two more and an inch less for the fluke this summer?? Please give me a break with this guy. Arrests him already for at least stupidity. 

     It was raw cold probably in the teens when you factor in the wind. Allenhurst was all buttoned up but I was glad to find the below structure which should make one local lady happy as this is one of her favorite spots. I fished Bradley until my fingers wanted to snap off. I drove north and hit Long 

Branch. You can see the start of how notched groins get hallowed out at the beach end. Soon there will be a water pass through and a pocket on the north side, similar to the ones that were notched down south. I stopped at Pullman and bellied up, well drove up to the concrete divider. As I sat there I shot the shit with two guys that, while feeling stupid, admitted they swore they saw some fish active in the water. And, the said it wasn't water fowl. I shook it off until I went to Monmouth Beach and with a rod in my hand, I saw the same thing. The birds were around but not diving. I didn't see any bait. I thought it was an illusion. Water temps are above 40 and it has been a relative mild winter though.

    I am thinking that if you were to catch a day where there is some white water, with the ebbing tide around first light, and the  air temps are enough to prevent frostbite, you would find that there are bass swimming around looking to eat. But, I stopped in December.

02.02.17 ASMFC votes for "Option 5".....

     When the stripers thin out there's nothing more fun than fly fishing from the beaches for summer flounder, also known as fluke. Fisheries management is a bouncing ball, and the ball has bounced once again. Today the ASMFC voted on and passed Option 5, which, sets reduced limits for New Jersey fisherman.

     It needs further approval from the technical committee and the Secretary of Commerce, but if approved New Jersey would see the daily limit go down to three fish at 19 inches with a 128 day long season. New Jersey is rejecting this option and plans on leaving the 2016 regulations in place. Regardless of what you think, and which way of the aisle you are on, don't think for a minute that the politics and money that flows with fisheries management isn't in full effect right this minute. There will be pressure on the Trump administration to somehow keep things status quo for 2017.

     If you believe in the science that has been presented, then "you get what you get and you don't get upset". If you believe that the ocean is ever-sustaining, and that recreational guys always get screwed and have nothing to do with poor numbers, then you will join with the groups and the lobbyists and fight until the end, hoping to be able to catch more, and more, and more fish.

     One thing that does puzzle me is, how many short fluke get killed each year until anglers get a hold of the 17-1/2, 18, or now 19 inch sized legal fish? These fish eat, eat hard, and swallow deep. Gulp! and killies and spearing and squid strips deep down the gullet.

Stayed tuned......

01.31.17 Finally back and capped up......

     When I was guiding as full time as I could a few years back I had  a really cool truck. Some of you may remember it. It was like my home away from home. I spent a lot of time in it. Pulled up to or on the beach to look at the ocean or tow the Jones around. Or driving around with drift boat in tow figuring out what float I might due based on the flows and conditions. Several times I found myself sleeping overnight in the 8 foot bed either at a Route 17 rest stop or at one of the river access sites. Most times sleeping in the truck was to save money as either I was getting off the river to late or I just didn't want to cut into "profits" dropping a 50 dollar bill at the Capra. That truck was good to me....except when it came to gas mileage. That 2003 Ram 2500 Hemi got under 10 miles to the gallon. That's another reason why I probably find myself now working in scrubs.





       I can remember the sound and the BOOM! that followed in 2013 as my son Sean and I drove on Route 35. She got towed to the Dodge dealer in Ocean. They diagnosed her "as done". They gave me $4,000 for her which I thought was fair. I put it down on another 2003 Ram, this one a 1500. She was purty and the CarFax came up clean. The truck was almost too clean. I should have known because a few weeks later a guy stopped me and said, "Hey that was my truck". He was a cop in Newark and vividly remembers the night they stole it from the precinct and joy ride it and crashed it on Raymond Boulevard. I could have turned it back in, but I settled for cash back from the dealer and a new set of skins. While she has been pretty, and relatively good, she does get sick from time to time and require yet another thousand. I remember Theresa telling me, "Why don't we just go and get you a new truck?' Perfect! Problem is they cost $40,000, and that's like $600 per month. So I pay my mechanic.



     So I feel fishy in this truck, although I felt really fishy the other. What I have missed, besides my stickers, is the cap. I love a truck cap. I recently stopped at a dealer and priced out a LEER and A.R.E. They ran from $1,400 to $2,000. Too much for a 14 year old truck with 165,000 miles. So I have spent some time on Craigslist and calling dealers that carry used caps. Nothing. Until last week. I found one that not only was made for my year but also was the same color. Today Theresa and I traveled to Feasterville Pennsylvania to check out and buy it. It had been on for a while and started at $500....then went down to $300.....and we agreed on a $250 sale. It's perfect. I am very happy.

01.30.17 Started on the beach.......Part2

                                        

      There she was, just as I left her after our May 2015 trip up at the West Branch Anglers. After this weekend at the FFS I got that Upper Delaware and guiding in general bug traveling through my veins. I think Sherri at FUDR set me off as we spoke about the One Bug this year. I didn't do it last year and it bothered me as I have a great time and more importantly it's for a great cause.

     So as I walked the beaches early yesterday morning I decided that I would run up to Roscoe and get my drift boat and bring it home to New Jersey to get it ready, once again, for the spring. Besides the frozen ice on top of the boat and the tires being frozen into the ground she was good to go. It took me awhile to chip the ice away but luckily the tree cover had rained enough down onto the cover to insulate the ice from sealing to it.

       Once free and a quick ride up the hill in a few inches of snow and I was on my way. It took a mile or so for the tires to heat up and then ride smooth. A stop at the Dette Pool parking on the Willow to make sure all of the ice and snow were off and to give it a once over and I was back on 17 heading to New Jersey. I left Red Bank at 815 and was back 3. even though it was in the low 20's it was good to smell that smell, walk on that grey wet dirt, and hear the river gurgle in the background. 

01.30.17 Started on the beach.....Part 1

     Just needed to get out. I forgot my waders but I didn't care so it was Crocs on the rocks. I really wanted to see how some of my favorite places looked a week past the blow. Wow. That's all I can say. 

I think the below image really says it all, especially for anglers that have walked over that pole sticking out of the beach. Last week that wasn't visible. Thats a nine foot rod standing next to it, I would say Big Monmouth lost 5-6 feet of sand. I made some casts, of course not expecting anything, and that's what I got. It looked fishy and the birds were out looking and at times picking. Surf Cams have the water temp at 43 degrees......there are fish there if they are right. 

     I walked both Big and Little Monmouth and we are just about where we were before the destruction started and the sand and money started to flow. If you look you can see the troughs starting to carved in over the bar. For that remember, well you remember.

     Little Monmouth is just about back. Some can remember fishing from the rocks into deep water on a good tide and a few more storms and things will be back. Sad things in all of that sand just gets pulled out into the ocean covering so much natural underwater landscape. I wish Mike Laptew could bring his underwater cameras down and we could actually see what the ocean floor looks like along the Jersey Shore. This is the season between the shows and tying to get out and scout.....if you see a man standing on the beach shaking his head with his eyes down maybe that's Frank Pallone worried that the gig and the money and votes can't continue with such poor results to show for so much waste.

01.29.17 The 2017 Fly Fishing show recap.......

     Theresa and I spent two days at the show and had a great time. I could probably write a million words about everything and everyone I saw but I'll try and keep it short, or shorter. I think it was a good show from the crowds I saw. Saturday mid morning thoughout the day was very busy, and since the show is so spread out its hard to figure out just how many people were there. For most vendors, its not the amount of people that pass by, its how much those that do spend. There was a lot of destination booths there and we did spend some time at the Esnagami Wilderness Lodge booth, www.esnagami.com. With the exchange rate at .76 its a great deal. It peaked our interest and made us think of maybe taking a trip.

     As far as new, or newer stuff, a few fly reels grabbed my attention. Orvis' new Mirage which is due out in May 2017 is a Vermont made improvement to the Mirage I currently use. But what got my attention was the year-plus-old

$129.00 Redington Behemoth. Many times anglers are looking for a good entry level reel at an affordable price and this reel will surely satisfy those beginners, as well as those who can defy that more money equals best value. Its a neat reel and you can see more 

                       

     Since the aisles were packed with destination offerings the few fly shops that were there were busy looking for fly tyers looking for materials. Tight Lines booth was packed both days I was there and the tyers booths were busy demonstrating and selling as well. Regal Vice had a nice booth with talented tiers on hand.  I always like stopping by and chatting with old friends and seeing what they're spinning. I always make a purchase at each booth and most of my haul this year was in materials. 

                               

  I spent the most coin at Capt. Bill Murphy's booth gearing up for the sand eels of Martha's Vineyard. After years of donating to Coop's and his floating sand eel fly I decided that I would purchase the materials and make my own this year. I got enough EZ'Body and Bodi-Braid to keep me busy at the vice for awhile. I enjoyed watching Brad Buzzi tying up a fly with the Baitfish Emulator Flash so a variety of colors will set me up well for day and night fishing. Its always fun spending time with Brad who's always giving to any info or technique tyers need to make their tying fun and effective. 

                                

      I also spent some time and made some purchases at the booths Joe "Birthday Boy" Calcavecchia, Joe Cordeiro- who sold me on some shrimp patterns for the rivers and bays, and Scott Stryker,

                     

who's sweet herring fly made its way into my bag. Theresa spent some time doing reflexology on Scott and his neighbor Pat Cohen. It made for some good fun and times and a few double takes as people passed by. Pat's creations always draw a crowd and I discussed having him make a striped bass fly, which I should see later this year and will share with you. 

                                

Ben Rinker an Jonny King were at the Bear's Den booth and King's squid flies are just sick to look at I would assume to fish, gotta get me one of those, I got the recipe, but I don't think that'll help much. 

                           

      As far as good old stuff. we had good times at the show and at dinner with Jim and Laura Matson from BrineFly Innovations, the makers of the Pulse Disc. If you want to add some life to your flies than you should make the investment into the Pulse Discs and, after a quick learning curve, you will add action and more fish to the end of your line. Trust me, they work. 

      I also stopped by the Post Fly booth. Although its been around a few years I haven't paid much attention. It seems each day that I am on Facebook their ad, or a post, pops up. It's set up as a monthly subscription where a fly, fresh or saltwater, or a fly tying kit, is delivered. It's something new each month. They are based out of Boston so they provide flies and materials that are East Coast themed. You can check them out at PostFly They also offer incentives for guides, and its good for their clients especially the cross overs or those new to the sport. 

     In the just cool category are the girls from FlyVines who make jewelry and other cool things from recycled fly lines. They employ 30 stay-at-home moms so it's good for the environment and a good "shop local" king of business. we bought the adjustable bracelet. You can donate your used fly lines to them by sending them to Montana, and they tell me they'll send you something for your donation.

                 

     Best raffle goes to FUDR, Friends of the Upper Delaware River, who are raffling out a new Hyde drift boat. Raffles are $40...can you imagine winning a drift boat with two 20 dollar bills. Only 500 tickets will be sold and it will be raffled off at the One Bug April 28-30th in Hancock. www.fudr.org

     Theresa took Cathy Beck's casting class and like everyone warns "don't let your spouse teach you how to cast". It was money well spent and she had a great time and learned a lot and was eager to demonstrate her new skills when we got home on Sunday. Can't wait to fish with her this year. 

     I also got to spend a few minutes at the authors booth with Rick Murphy, whose Fly Fishing for Striped Bass, is one of my favorites and a must read, and Bob Popovic's, whose Beast Fleye's seem to be the big, no pun intended, this year. I have to tip my hat to Bob, and all of the other legendary innovators in this sport, who travel and attend just about all of the shows and spend countless hours with fly fishers and fly tyers alike. With no disrespect, doing shows is exhausting for even the young and fit and trim, and as we get old and crickety so do they. It's their love of the game that keeps them coming year after year after year. 

     As far as grip and grins.....we got a few. Theresa with Donald Trump Jr., whose attendance was both well under Secret Service watch, and not without tons of looks and on-line comments because of his political party and United States President Father. We also met Rebekka Redd, who I didn't realize was on twenty years old, who was very sweet and nice.

      One of my favorite images from the show captures for me one of the best parts of the show. It's the times spent after the show, sometimes deep into the night, sharing stories, and drinks with friends and or future friends. I was surprised that the bar traffic wasn't busier Friday and Saturday night, but do realize that people travel to local restaurants or have get-togethers in their rooms sharing good times in just a different environment.

     One thing I did realize is that I do miss being a part of the "business" and the circuit, either the shows or the talks that I used to do. I signed on with FUDR for this years One-Bug, either as a guide or in any other way Theresa and I can help out. I am also torn with "doing" both the upcoming Fly 

The Fly Fishing Show 2014

Symposium and The Fly Fishing Show. Yes, it costs good money, but it is good both personally and for business. I'm hoping to return to guiding more this year as I have figured out the balance between work, school, and fishing.