Cell Phone Battery-Brillo Pad Fire Starter Technique
Archive for August, 2011
“CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A judge on Friday threw out Obama administration rules that sought to slow down expedited environmental review of oil and gas drilling on federal land. U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal ruled in favor of a petroleum industry group, the Western Energy Alliance, in its lawsuit against the federal government, including Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.” Huff Po Enviro
DEFINITION OF A CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION
“Categorical exclusions (CEs) are categories of actions that have been determined not to have a significant effect on the human environment either individually or cumulatively.” Categorical Exclusions
14
Aug
11
Fly Fishing: Life Interruptus
I imagine every insidious (well not insidious, but invasive) hobby, or past time, has that pull; that pervasive pull on your mind, your equilibrium. I use to feel it about working out. Injuries have lessened it, but not wiped it out yet. Gardening is there as my connection to the soil, beginnings, nurturing and tending to endings.
Penny studies with me on how to catch fish. She seems equally fascinated with this passion. She likes the pictures a lot. SwittersB
But fly fishing and all the associated trappings is so a part of me that when I can’t fish or even tie, I do feel a withdrawal or craving that is so strong I can get testy. Wanderlust, skills performance, moving and planning, connection to the flows, observing for signs, tying to create to seduce. Take it away from me and I range from longing to severe withdrawal. Once there, getting ready, doing it…I am almost immediately at ease.
Life Interruptus: poor health, loved one’s needs, work, hard times or even other hobbies. You will know the worth of fly fishing et al, to you, doing it and once you are cut off. For me, fly fishing has deeply inserted itself into my sanity equation. It is a good thing….but, sometimes life does intrude. Have faith.
Watercolor 'Two Fish for Maddy' by Hossein Peigahi
A streamer pattern represents the great variety of freshwater and saltwater fish that are generally called ‘baitfish’ although they might take exception with that. The basic advice most experts will give you is to present the streamer pattern in such a manner as to suggest the ‘baitfish’ is injured or off kilter….erratic, jerky, disoriented are concepts to keep in mind as you present/manipulate the fly.
A heavily weighted head or a split shot (where allowed-check reg’s) less than a foot above the fly will impart the up and down, jerky actions of a fish in distress and vulnerable to the bigger fish. These presentations have to be calculated for moving waters (rivers or open waters subject to tidal flows & currents) or stillwaters. A lake will require more machinations unless you are moving along in a boat. As with all presentations, study up on how your imitation naturally acts in the water and then learn how to approximate that with your rod, line manipulations.
Also, research lines other than the floating line for presenting the streamer patter: Intermediates, Sink Tips, Full sinks. Now those lines are not very comfortable to fish with compared to the floater. But, you soon get the handle on stripping in enough to roll cast the line up out of the water, make a back cast or two and launch the fly out. The chuck and duck dangers can apply here. Be methodical and alert as you attempt to cast any heavy fly or fly/split shot combo. I strongly recommend you barb your hooks as a rule and that particularly applies to heavier flys. It is easy to drive them into you, your clothing or your neighbor’s neck. Much easier to back them out when barbed.
Big fish, and even not so big fish, eat smaller fish!
Fly Fishing, Outdoor Safety: It’s a bitch getting old. That could suffice. Says it all. But, then I wouldn’t have anything to write. Random recollections: back pain, hip pain, joints tight, balance issues, tentative moves, a little mounting anxiety, you get there yes, but you still have to climb out.
Muscle pulls and injuries are seemingly normal, early on, if you play hard, work hard. They heal. Some linger. You deal, you wear them like a purple heart…been there, done that. But, later the purple hearts acquire a patina, crusty like coating of something more intrusive…Arthritis
We hear this word, I heard this word, and associated it with little, elderly women with the sadly gnarled fingers/knuckles of their hands. Poor girls. Such dignity while continuing forth. Well, the insidious ‘A’ word does not confine itself to little old hands. It creeps into joints and the spine, into those that are not that old.
Back to the river. As I stood atop the rise above the river, I remarked that the distance and pathway are almost always more cumbersome than it appears from atop. Those rocks are bigger than they look from above. The water is bigger, faster, less than you think from above. So, before you commit down over the edge make sure you size it up well before you make the decision to commit your body to the downward and lateral trek across those boulders.
The ankles, hips and back are tight. The reduced range of motion catches up with you. You commit to those steps out over deep, jagged holes. You reach and place the foot and feel restrictions you didn’t use to feel. The next step is not as fluid as you support your body in a tenuous position over a hole. It dawns on you that your body is tight. You also notice that when you stand upright for a moment you are a bit wobbly. Balance is impeded and you lurch this way and that. Not good. You reach out for the rocks, bent over, holding closer to those abrasive supports. No warm ups or stretching will do much for this reality. You best pick your routes or places to fish with care. The old Clint Eastwood admonition of ‘a man’s got to know his limitations’ is true.
Back Side Creek, Poking Around (SwittersB)
Descending down, fly rod in hand is supposed to be exciting anticipation. A stalking of sort. Don’t let your limitations hinder you, plan ahead. Calculate your route and once you learn that those rocks are bigger than you realize, avoid those routes in the future. Leave it to the younger person that has a bit of Parkour hops in their steps. This is a reality moment that we all must accept. If you don’t, well you will be wearing a bigger purple heart.
ASHLEY STRIPS YOUR GLOCK & MORE EYE HANDY TIPS
I had previously promised a quarterly tease, but less graphic than in the past. I do believe I am a good two quarters behind, so to speak. So, here is the link re field stripping your Glock and other Eye Handy D.I.Y. tips. The info just happens to be demonstrated by young ladies and great graphics. If you are anti-firearms or anti-sexy women then do not open the links. Do not venture forth. Pretty tame stuff…just interesting concept.
Streamer Presentation Techniques
The reality on many streams and lakes is that ‘baitfish’ imitations account for many large fish. Probably, in many instances, streamers account for more trophy fish than the traditional fly patterns. That said, many anglers don’t have a streamer pattern in their boxes or forget where they are. So, a good over view of how to fish a streamer, particularly on a river is in order. There is more to it than the wet fly swing/strip it back presentation. I have an assortment of Muddler’s, Spruce Flies and, of course, Woolly Buggers in my streamer box. Do I fish them enough…nope.
“Starting this summer, bull trout of different life stages will be reintroduced into historic bull trout habitat in the upper Clackamas River above the confluence with the Collawash River, within the Mt. Hood National Forest. Donor stock comes from a healthy bull trout population in the Metolius River. The project is expected to include additional fish transfers annually for at least seven and possibly up to 15 years. The goal is to reestablish a self-sustaining population of 300-500 spawning adult bull trout within 20 years.”
Metolius R. Bull Trout to Travel to Upper Clackamas River
One of the laments of fly fishers, or fishers in general, is the decline of a fish population or body of water. On a global scale we talk the theoretical, impersonal when it comes to declining fish population in the oceans. But, when it is a piece of water we have a history with it becomes personal. When the decline comes, when it is realized, the memories become nostalgic to the point of bittersweet. There is nothing there to renew the memory, to reconnect to the past. This happens in much of life, of course, but fly fishing was and is my escape from life and when it is altered things can get askew. There are enough reckonings in life.
In 1960, Lenny and I were driven up the Clackamas River by his dad in an old DeSoto. When we reached the North Fork Reservoir the pavement ended and a narrow dirt road commenced, winding upward into the wilderness. Lenny’s dad took us to a place far beyond where the pavement ended. Lenny and I caught many large (to us) trout that day and yes we killed them all. I have been drawn to the upper reaches of this drainage ever sense…in particular the Collawash River and the Bull of the Woods Wilderness area. In the years that have passed, the fishing has progressively diminished.
Typical Little Aggressor
I long ago stopped killing fish. I see few other fishers. Wild trout seem almost non-existent. The hatches seem adequate or at least equal to other watersheds that support trout. Yet, in these wild, upper reaches the reality has changed. There are few fish. What a shame. Perhaps the Bull Trout project will brighten someone else’s future. If they allow fishing. Many waters are closed to trout fishing to protect the Bull Trout that remain. Great. So, the reality is more people focus on put and take stretches of rivers or lakes and/or the truly remarkable waters draw ever more attention.
Clackamas-Collawash R. PP
Clackamas R. Bull Trout tagging 2011 Poster, old Ripplebrook R.S. (SwittersB)
”Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive”
Fly Line-Butt Section Connection (Kind of....)
When you buy a fly line and have it put on the reel, at the shop, insist on the shop employee attaching a butt section of 18″ not 6″. Not with a loop, without! Learn the Surgeon’s Knot or Blood Knot and attach your nice, new tapered leader to the butt section via one of those two knots. From there repair your own leader by replacing lost sections with sections of progressively smaller mono. Carry these small spools of mono, in various sizes to repair the last half of your leader (depending upon the type of fish you are chasing) I usually have larger diameter spools of mono back at the rig should disaster strike and I have to rebuild the leader from scratch. Do not keep buying new leaders every time you break off 3′ of tippet/leader. This is your choice, your money, but over the long haul you save some money and develop the knot tying skills to avoid the disaster above.
There are previous posts here on SwittersB re leader construction and formulas. The ‘net has lots of information re formulas of so much (a % usually) of this X and then that amount of a different, smaller X. Study up on leader construction. May I admit to never having adopted the X concept? I have a basic memorization of X = # line size. I was a gear guy as well as a fly fisher for years. Leaders were built with so many inches of 10#, 8#, 6#, 4# mono. The fly fishing industry feels compelled to continue with the X diameter system and for you to memorize certain X diameters are equal to certain fly sizes etc. Whatever. If you chase trout, or whatever you pursue, have a good idea of the approximate pound strength of your mono related to the X factor. From there your finger tips will sense the approximate thickness (X or #) you have broken off at, on the leader, (my fingers feel the line is about 6# or 4X) and I am going to rebuild the leader/tippet with a section of 4# or 5X to maintain a taper and proper turnover. If my fly is of the miniscule variety then I will factor in a section of 6X as well, and so on. You should have the 3-4 spools you need with you on the water. If you travel ultra light, you may only carry a couple of spools.
Everything About Leaders at GFF…Excellent Resource
Nail Knot, Nipper, Hook Eye Poker
The above knot does not lend itself to proper, quiet presentations. It gets hung up on the guides as you pull your line through to string the rod. Hell, it looks terrible! I infrequently tie this knot myself, so I am by no means as adept as the kids that spool an re-spool lines all day and tie on new butt sections in a shop. There is a handy tool, I have had for years, and use four or so times a year (usually for some one else’s mess) is the ‘nail knot’ tyer device. Sometimes this comes with a nipper and a stylus to poke through hook eyes that have been glued shut. A handy little gizmo, it is well worth the initial expense. Of course, if you want to use a nail/needle then have at it. ‘Tie Fast Nail Knot’ is an excellent little tool as well and used by shops all the time. Tie Fast Knot Tyer by DPruitt
'Tie Fast' gizmo
It you are going to deceive the fish, then no tangled webs…learn your knots and use them! These gizmo’s will help….if you practice.
06
Aug
11
Fly Fishing: Bug Catcher
Common Garden/Cross Spider (Araneus diadematus) SwittersB
To me, there is nothing seemingly ‘common’ about this spider. It was a long ways from any garden as well. As I explored along the rocky shoreline of the Clackamas River, I came across this sizable spider working away on a web. A steady up river breeze ushered along hatches of assorted Caddis, PMD’s and midges. Remnants of a sizable Stonefly emergence littered the moss covered boulders. This busy spider prepared to intercept some portion of the shore bound insects. Once he was done, he tucked himself beneath some mossy growth attached to a boulder that supported his fly catcher. You are exactly right: the fishing was less than stellar on the Clack/Collawash R., so I passed off the time looking about the shoreline for this and that.
Cross Spider Hiding and Waiting for a trapped morsel (SwittersB)
Mt. Hood National Forest Proposes Decommissioning 255 miles of Collawash River Drainage Roads
