Thursday, January 28, 2010

A Good Bye


We had to say good bye to a beloved friend, companion, and "good dog", Espresso; our female black and tan Dachshund.

Born: Jan 5, 1997
Died: Jan 27, 2010

Espresso had developed a significant breast tumor 2 years ago, and over the course of time several other tumors along her back and breast area developed. Finally an agressively growing tumor came along, grew fast, broke through the skin causing severe bleeding.

We had to say good bye.

Here are some photos of Espresso and some of her friends:



Here she is when about a year old... she used to wait, with a treat on her nose, until a hand signal was given, then flip the treat in the air and grab it.


Monday, January 4, 2010

Flyfishing on the down-low

ok, it's the beginning of what looks to be a long, cold winter.

we've already had 2 feet of snow (though there is only a dusting on the ground as I write this)

we've already had days of 0 degree wind chills, with 50 mph wind blasts

we're past Christmas and New Years Day but a long, cold, way from the inshore water temps reaching 50F.

But, still, my mind contemplates catching smaller species of fish, by fly rod:

Spotted Seatrout SW Panfish: These include Spotted Seatrout, Weakfish, Sand Seatrout, Silver Seatrout, Red Drum, Black Drum, Atlantic Croaker, Spot, Northern Kingfish. For you spinning tackle guys we recommend still fishing because the bait these fish consume will be walking, crawling or scurrying away on the bottom. You've guessed it; this is a short, slow retrieve. The fly has to get to the bottom or at least near the bottom. An ideal situation is to sight cast the fish and let the fly sink. Yes. "Let it sink." For Spotted Seatrout the best approach is to cast to a white hole (a spot bare of sea grass) and bring the fly to the edge and let it drop. Move the fly the tiniest bit (3-inch strip) and let it settle back down. Repeat this and let me know how big that trout weighed. The best flies for Spotted Seatrout include the White Snookzit, Kelly spoonfly (salmon color), Silver Dupre Spoonfly, Salty Bugger and any shrimp or pigfish imitation.

Southern Flounder Flounders. This group includes the Summer Flounder (Fluke) and Sun Dial. Flounder eat mostly small fish, and bigger fish, and occasionally shrimp. The most successful lure is one with a white grub-tail. So, use a fly that has a thin grub-tail-type pattern. Use all white or white/orange or orange (Red Assassin in white or orange). This is a slow retrieve, since flounder are predominately bottom feeders.

Mackerels and Tunas. The grouping includes mostly offshore species of Wahoo, King and Spanish Mackerel, Cero, Frigate Mackerel, all the Tunas, Bonito, and Albacore. Of this group only the Spanish Mackerel (and sometimes False Albacore) is a coastal fish that sometimes roams offshore. Spanish M's are fast runners, tail walkers, blasting out of the water, doing flips, and just doing anything to lose a hook. They are great fighters on a fly rod. The best flies will have a lot of flash and imitate small silvery baitfish. The retrieve is fast. Unfortunately, these are rare for New Jersey, except near the end of warm, dry summers.