Bath Salts: No Wonder I Have Been Craving a Tubby

“Some say the effects of the powders are as powerful as abusing methamphetamine. Increasingly, law enforcement agents and poison control centers say the bath salts with complex chemical names are an emerging menace in several U.S. states where authorities talk of banning their sale.” (more info in case the missus seems more amped than usual)

As usual, I consider how in the hell did someone determine this? Some tired nude dancer lounging about in the tub after a tough day on the pole? Amazing Obviously, some chemist~cook is researching the hell out of precursors for zip and determining where they are legally utilized (bath salts and gardening, thus far).

Waterproof Cameras (Didn’t Get One for Christmas?)

WATERPROOF CAMERAS

I was at Best Buy the other night and noticed the Kodak Play Sport water proof video camera. A small little device the size of a crackberry. In researching the Kodak camera, I noticed these additional waterproof cameras at the Surfing Camera site. I have been amazed at the quality of work my little Pentax Optio 60 has provided the last few years. The newer cameras probably deliver even better quality now since I posted about them last year. Really a must have accessory to your outdoor pursuits. Prices are down and quality is up.

Fly Fishing Stillwater Tips

Stillwater flyfishing can be challenging at times but when the fishing is good, it can be most rewarding! Here’s three tips to improve your chances from Grizzly Hackle.Tip #1 – Try Different Retrieves

Many fly fishers simply cast their fly out and then strip it back in using the same old retrieve, at the same speed. While the law of averages says this might work a lot of the time, it’s a good idea to try different retrieve speeds. Sometimes, the fish aren’t that energetic, and want something that is moving quite slow. Other times, they are more interested in food that seems full of energy.

Tip #2 – Vary Your Depth

I’ve watched anglers fly fishing lakes with only a floating line. Often, a floating line is enough if the fish are near the surface, but on those days when they are hugging the bottom of the lake, you’ll need to get your fly down deeper and faster.

Tip #3 – Take Note Of The Wind Direction

If there’s a stiff breeze blowing, note the direction it is headed. The wind can stir up the surface of the lake, and move the fish’s food supply in the same direction. If the wind is blowing from the east, often fish can be found on the east side of the lake or pond, feeding on the food that has accumulated in that area.

Fly Tying: Pupalicious Flavors & A.D.D.

Nothing more shows my lack of tying self-discipline than a pupa pattern. On the one hand, my creative side is free to wander in reckless abandon and reap rewards of angling success for it. On the other, I hide behind that creativity with an impressionistic mantel that does not hold me to pain staking sameness of one pattern’s look. Am I that ADD? I don’t think so, but perhaps. I just love the vast possibilities of a pupa pattern and the amazing success one has with the patterns. Regardless of whether you swing, tumble, dredge, troll or suspend them, they produce. With rare exceptions, I have total confidence in these patterns and the vast array of possibilities. They produce; from the top to the bottom of the water column. Punto!

Enjoyable, simple, creative to tie. The possibilities are endless. The hook style is my choice and by no means the only one to use. Also, the bead is not required, other than I like them for getting down on streams. Go ahead, lose yourself to some reckless, unbridled tying with pupa’s. Now, these patterns are not necessarily a pupa, per se, in entomological terms, but more in fly tying terms. They could be an emerging phase or nymphal or whatever, depending upon where and how you are presenting them. They are not confined to the Caddis realm.

Fly Tying: PETA & Your Ethical Decisions

Ok, you ugly, insensitive bastards. You have a decision or two to make. Craft store, synthetic doll’s hair or Temple Dog. Elk hair or….. Partridge feathers or….. Grizzly hackle or……. Well, there are options like Ice Dub and …… Geeze, we may be fishing egg patterns after all. Of course, the fly tying issue has not crossed PETA Pathetic’s minds yet. But they are more than honed in on your hurting the fish. And, please don’t don’t send me the supporting documentation of studies re fish pain levels etc.

“There’s nothing funny about being electrocuted, drowned, strangled, gassed, beaten to death, or caught in a steel-jaw leghold trap just so that some greedy, heartless person can wear your skin because they think that it makes them look rich or glamorous. In reality, it just shows everyone how ugly they are.”  (or tie flies! you heartless, uncaring , oblivious person)

The Pubis Fly cannot be far behind. Well actually I think that has been tried.

What’s Wrong With Catch-and-Release Fishing?

Fish who are released after being caught can suffer from loss of their protective scale coating that makes them vunerable to disease, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in their muscles, oxygen depletion, and damage to their delicate fins and mouths. According to one fishery expert, catch-and-release victims “could be vulnerable to predators, unable to swim away, or if nesting, not capable of fending off nest raiders. Some guarding males could in fact abandon the nest.” Researchers at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation found that as many as 43 percent of fish released after being caught died within six days.  (ah, meaningful research. Don’t throw them back in you morons!)

Lion Tacos….No not Loin

I just remarked how watching  Shameless was akin to many awkward, uncomfortable, unspeakable mind warps. Well, I am almost as tweaked, as if being pulled through a ‘bunghole’ regarding a Tucson Taqueria (Boca Tacos y Tequila) offering up, on Exotic Taco Wednesday, tacos with Lion meat. Really? Where are all the hipsters who get their collective panties in a bunch over faux gras? Lion meat?

At $8.95 per taco the obvious things pop into mind: aren’t they protected? Are these ‘hatchery’ Lions, so to speak? How is a hole in the wall taqueria in Tucson, Arizona able to import Lion meat? From some deranged Saudi prince connection via the Congo and a smuggling route through Nogales? Does the FDA know about this? Bizarre Taco Time is a better weekly special name. And, that is a little spendy as I normally order 4 tacos. River Front Times Gut Check article

Stillwater Rigging, Techniques and ‘Bungs’?

A couple interesting pieces at GFF re rigging the Diawl Bach (Little Devil) and Buzzers on a reservoir-loch-lake near you. It is a bit early for many of us either because of ice or regs. But, for others it is a timely impetus to brave the cold winds and waves. A bung is a word for a strike indicator. Defined as a:  ‘A kind of plug or cork..’  My mom had a much different and derisive use of bung coupled with hole aimed at those she shook her fist at (she was a feisty, old German women): ‘a cork or other stopper for the hole in a barrel, cask, or keg; a bunghole’. I know. I just launched into that when I saw the GFF reference to bung for a strike indicator. I hadn’t considered the word in years. I think I will use indicator, even bobber.

A. Ferguson commented at SB re a previous post on his slick, slender buzzer pattern. So, given the piece by GFF re slender, chrionomid-buzzer patterns we’ll show this excellent tutorial (SBS: Step By Step) again “The Electro Static Buzzer SBS”.

Many in B.C. will take exception with my comment, and I don’t blame you, but the seemingly definitive experts on fishing chironomids are the Brits. Different techniques perhaps? Perhaps not. Either way, good to study the techniques and patterns from the lochs and reservoirs.

Shameless with William Macy et al is akin to………

Bad!!!!!!!!!  Mind crushing bad! Uncomfortably bad. So bad you will marvel at how they assembled so much uncomfortable, unspeakable bad in one hour of addictive mind warp. Crass? Believe me, yes.

Frank

Dear me, spare yourself the mind twisting experience of that amazing ensemble cast that takes your brain on a ride on Shameless on Showtime. Watch it if you dare. William H. Macy will win an Emmy. The cast is top to bottom amazing. Kids in it…not for kids <14 or so (depending upon your threshold for explicit sex, suggested sex).

Nothing to do with fly fishing, fly tying, outdoors? It is why the hell you thank your lucky stars and turn toward the solace of the rod and water.  You won’t find balance, harmony, mellow here. Ok, back to normal….

Now you see why I don’t do movie, music, TV reviews……. Ok, I had  a few too many Stoli’s and Cranberry juice bebida’s. Actually, I posted this yesterday with a, I thought, creative, edgy, over the top string of obscenities and uncomfortable visuals following the “akin to….” part. I was quickly overcome with some latent, Catholic guilt thing and cleaned it up. Not as edgy as I thought.

Stillwater Fly Fishing: Slip Bobbers and Flies

Slip Bobbers: I have written a couple of times about this technique, I first saw on a BC TV production with Brian Chan. If you query slip bobber in the search box you can find those additional posts. Today, I wanted to point to a nice piece by ‘Doc’ Monteith at Fly Fishing Central that has some specific visuals of not only the slip bobber rig but of the fly set up as well.

One thing I have adopted long ago for working the horizontal presentation was the non-slip loop knot. But, Monteith advocates it for vertical presentations as well. I find the larger loop and hooking capabilities interesting. I would hesitate to impart too much available movement in a vertical presentation, yet Monteith says it has improved his hookups. Worth a try for sure....

“Whether using one fly or a multi-fly rig, presenting your flies is important and the knots you choose to use can impact your success. For years I tied my chironomids using an improved clinch knot to the eye of the fly, then a couple years ago I started using a non-slip loop knot. This change in presentation has increased my catch rates substantially and I now only use the clinch knot in specific situations. The non-slip loop knot is not only strong but because it doesn’t synch up to the eye of the fly, it leaves the fly moving freely and more naturally in the water. I’ve found the size of the loop does not appear to affect catch rates…..”   (more to read)

Wild Steelhead in Seattle Restaurant? Damn Ballsy

Well someone smacked their balls soundly enough to get it pulled from the menu. Dumb. Permanently boycott the bastards at Ray’s Boathouse I say….. Shooting Head (for more)

Now my story won’t get any recognition, but I thought it timely. I was exiting a SE Portland Safeway when I looked up and there on the backside of a non-trendy restaurant (there are actually a few in Portland) was a marquee highlighting Steelhead & Steak, nightly for $10.95.

Country Bill's and Aqua Steelhead (SwittersB)

I called and nicely enquired about the freshness of the Steelhead and the source. The bubbly waitress (now you know it was a non-trendy restaurant…the waitress was not a pinched, pretentious twit) told me the Steelhead was delivered by Pacific Seafood.

A quick on line review of Pacific Seafood, a Portland based company, revealed the source of their Steelhead: ” The steelhead used for both products is sourced from parent company Pacific Seafood’s aquaculture farm located in Nespelem, Wash., situated in the Okanagan Highlands on the Columbia River.”  (Not as alarming as Wild Steelhead for sure, but there is that Aquaculture thing again on the Columbia River?!)  Pacific Seafood

Oh, sorry to all the very nice, non-pinched, non-pretentious waitstaff at those trendy Portland restaurants.

Ballsy: ‘Vulgar Slang. Very tough and courageous, often recklessly or presumptuously so. ballsy.’