Can't get out of the gate...

The Weather : Great
The Fishing : Getting Better
The Trip: Canceled

This is the weekend sounds ideal:

- 80 Degrees
- 2 to 3ft Seas
- Variable Winds
- Big Rock Tournament 
- Good Fishing Reports

However the roadblocks of life have come at full force. The trip was originally set back till Sunday due to prior engagements. That is no prob just roll the plans over to the next day. Then the phone call that shut down the whole operation.

A Little back story--last time when we got back we backed the boat into the dock and noticed oil leaking from the motor. The mechanic has been working on it this week, he went to lunch today and didn't return. So now we are missing a key element in going fishing---The Boat. Things in life can drive you crazy, piss you off , and make you a terrible person to be around all weekend. 

So I will take the roadblocks of life as a sign switch gears tie up some loose ends and finish my to do list. This weekend I plan on enjoying the good weather, the Big Rock webcam, tying some flies, and Dinner with Sara.

J.Jones

Blue Water Therapy

The Forecast : They Missed It
The Fish : Weren't Hungry

Our morning started late the 4:45am wake up call never came so we where up a quarter after five and headed out the door, little before six we where planing out. We knew it was going to be a bumpy ride, but two miles outside the inlet we hit a pretty high six foot swell and that set the tone for the day. The sea was mostly two footers with some four mixed in. Then a six footer would sneak up on us, they would send us climbing up and crashing down with a thud that was felt with big swell. Alright little clarification this was not a scene from deadliest catch, but rather a rough run offshore in a 23.5ft boat put into English class description. Anyways the forecast read 2 to 4ft with 5 to 15mph winds, yeah it blew 15 plus from the start.

My postcard pic from the ride in 

We went on to pass the king fisherman at the knuckle 9 buoy and found a nice sport fisher to follow out. This made for a bit better ride as the sport fisher cut down some of the waves. He soon stopped out at the 14 buoy which is about halfway to the big rock. We proceed on for another hour till we reached 60 fathoms near the big rock.

Jeff set the lines and I drove the boat as the weather was to rough to set the boat in gear and both of us set the baits. The radio was not giving me any hope as only one boat had picked up a peanut dolphin. So we trolled on, and about an hour later...click the line come out of the outrigger but no drag screams, must be grass.

It's a tuna after it, looking back a yellowfin tuna running the surface diving at bait relentlessly. You could see it's football shape and tail which each rise and dive. Then he was gone, just gone...The tail of the bait had been bitten off and the leader had some scars, we had just missed a 50 pound tuna by less than an inch. However the show was spectacular, so we circled area never found a hook up. The desperation and disappointment of the voice on the radio revealed no new dolphin, so everyone was just dragging baits.

As twelve approached me and Jeff where shot out of hope,eating cookies, and talking about the tuna we missed. The the drag screams off the portside we, our reaction time was far from great as we kinda looked at the rod then back at each other. Jeff jumps up and yells fish on, I clear lines as the drag runs scream, the fight lasted about five minutes as I stood there with a hand on the wheel and one on the gaff.

As the dolphin neared there was no one with him, I tried to talk Jeff into letting me fight and he become the gaff man. Yeah he pretty much told me to be a man a stick em, my gaff history is far from good as practice on bailers was a fail. This was clutch time I couldn't mess this up, so the dolphin cruised up to the side and I stuck em and slung him up in the boat like I had been doing it for years.

That was the only dolphin we caught but it was a still good day, I had gaffed my first good dolphin and Jeff didn't have to go to the office.

Finding Good Weather

Well its Thursday and we have stalked NOAA marine forecast for almost a month. The tropical storm has left the coast of North Carolina last week. The weather report is calling for 2 to 4ft sea with 5 to 15mph winds sounds like our kinda day, but you can never really trust these weather reports especially in small offshore boat.

We made the call at 1pm and by three my bags where packed and I was scrambling out the door. I was the first to make it into town and kinda late for checking the fishing report. By checking the fishing report I mean mean mugging charter boats as they take pictures with their clients. So strolling up and down the Big Rock landing I found small numbers of dolphin each boat had about six and no big bulls. Not what I wanted to see especially since the last month they have been catching around thirty a day, but we have to get out there and see for ourselves.

Most Charter boats wont give you the time of day, let alone a fishing report. I was also in search of finding a good weather report two boats gave me the "we haven't checked the weather report". Luckily I found a charter boat on the far end of the landing away from the restaurants and shops. It wasn't the prettiest sportfisher but a rugged salt worn cig smoking captain was happy to talk to me even after I told him I wasn't in the market for a trip. We talked about the fishing report, boats, the economy, and most importantly the weather.

As he smoked a cigarette he looked up the weather for me in two different places besides NOAA. The wind looks like it will be around 5mph in the morning and around 1pm it will move up to almost 20mph and seas building.

As I sat at the Ruddy Duck munching on some mean nachos waiting on Jeff to arrive, I sat back and reflected that there are still good people left in this world. I know the old captain wasn't going to give over his fishing spots but the time of day was satisfactory for me and the weather was a plus. So tomorrow we will go out and fish on our separate boats his 20 ft bigger than mine, and he will forget he even talked to me but I will remember him for trying to help me find good weather.

J.Jones

Carolina Connection: The Big Rock Teaser

With Just a couple of days before the big rock Mark Montocchio and the 36 North crew have constructed a Big Rock Promo video. It is really gives you the feel of the Big Rock along with some sick video.

I am personally excited for the big rock and will be following Team Enigma,because a good friend of mine is fishing on the team. You can follow the big rock via Facebook and on the web at WWW.TheBigRock.com

J.Jones

Rod Repair: Applying Finish

The last step in fixing a rod by putting on a new wrap is to apply finish to the wrap. The epoxy I use is Flexcoats high build it runs about $13 at Mudhole Tackle supply. I am not the greatest at finishing a rod but I am getting better with time and practice so if your does not come out perfect the first time don't panic. If you get the "Fuzzies" you can gently sand them after the finish has dried and add a second coat. There are countless articles and message boards to reference by googling rod building fuzzies.

Once again I am going to leave you with a Youtube video that is easy to follow and understand.

Once you have allowed your finish to dry wait atleast 24 hrs or more before bending or fishing with the rod. This allows time for the Finish to full dry and any stress can causes cracks in the finish.

Out With The Old 

In With The New (with a little ECU touch) 

I hope I have provided the basics of rod wrap repair, any question feel free to comment or email me. If I don't know the answer I can find it. Just remember this is not a fast process the first couple times around, take your time enjoy it and good luck. 

J.Jones 

Actually Entertaining Books: Sowbelly

Sowbelly is a story of obsession, passion and chasing the world largemouth bass record. The author Monte Burke who works for Forbes travels the country interviewing multiple characters with different life stories, and methods of pursuing the world record. Burke also has a North Carolina Connection growing up fishing farm ponds as a kid.

Since 1932 after George Perry caught a 22 pound bass on montgomery lake in Georgia, many have persued  the record. This book entails just a few and the lengths they have gone to chasing the record. One has lost his daughter and wife, another built his own bass pond designed to grow the largest bass, and others have risen early in the morning and fished all day in any weather.

The book also gives a great history lesson in how Texas and California grow the largest bass at the state level. As Burke spends time with biologist in Texas's bass lab, and in Cali how a stocking program has shown results in forms of giant bass. Along the way Burke makes some stops learning the world of garage lures that have changed the game. 

This novel is a suspenseful easy to read story that brings a record chase into perspective. The good news is that you can pick a copy up for about $5 on Amazon. Some may not come with cover like the copy I own pictured above but its not about the cover it's about the story and this one has changed my perspective.  

J.Jones

Fly Fishing Foundation: Reels

There is two different sides of advice you might hear when selecting a fly reel. "It not that important it only holds  line" or "get a good quality construction with a good drag". Just like life a certain situation determines you need for this or that. If your trout fishing for 8 inch brook trout then sure get a cheap $20 reel it will just hold line. However battling a bull redfish or if your planning on needing some stopping power or line management you better pony up and buy a good quality reel with a great drag system.

So lets it break down

Construction: 

Composite: Fly reels using plastic composite construction have become more common these days due to the economical advantage of the price tag. On the other side you have to remember you get what you pay for, as a heavily used composite model will not hold up in the long run like a metal model. Also you will find some mid grade drag systems in a composite but it stops there. If you not sure how much your going to fish or you don't have deep pockets a composite construction is a good place to start.

Metal/ Die Cast: These reels are cut out of a solid block of metal whether it be aluminum, titanium, or some other kind. These reels usually play host to high quality internals, cool colors, and heavier price tags. Don't think that just because its a metal reel it is high quality remember there is always someone looking to fool you, and it's better to stick to better known brand names.

Retrieval Types :

Traditional/ Mid Arbor:
Arbor is defined by what the fly line wraps around on the reel.
These are your traditional average sized fly reels they retrieve at a slower rate, and feature a decent line capacity. Most commonly found in small line weight reels due to there small line diameter and capacity needs.

Orvis Mid Arbor 

Large Arbor:
Stylish and usually found on larger weights due to need of line capacity and faster retrieve. Growing in popularity due to the increase of saltwater fishing and a younger generation of anglers who appreciate the look.

Orvis Large Arbor 

Automatic:
Uses a spring loaded retrieval to "reel", these are alright if you are bream fishing other wise put it on a self and call it an antique. The automatic has gone by the way side just as the wooden creel and floppy hat.

Drag systems:

Click and paw:
Most common a spring tension triangle piece and a gear determine the drag of a reel. These have been around a while and they work, just not on big fish. You will fins that reels that feature this are cheaper and even some higher weight reels still feature them. This drag will not hold up to fast or multiple runs by a fish for very long.

                                   Cortland Retro                                  Ross Fly Start 

Disc Drag:
The Disc drag is designed to apply pressure between the spool and reel housing thus resulting in a good distribution of tension among the entire reel. There are many different kinds of disc construction some using the newest plastic and other still using cork. However a disk drag provides what you need for big fish management.

Your Part: Is to do your homework, read reviews talk to tackle shops, your friends, guides, and on forums. Select a reel based upon what your fishing for, how often your fishing for it, and how much money your willing to spend.


J.Jones