Some days you catch fish and some days you don't. Even when I don't catch fish I often really enjoy my time on the water. There is so much to see out there, if you stop and look. A Lazy Monk Seal Tara has always been good at this. She isn't as into fishing as … Continue reading Sightseeing
Fishing Dojo Blog
Getaway
The bonefishing has steadily improved with the onset of summer in Hawaii. Two weeks ago Ed picked me up before sunrise and we headed out to look for tailing fish. We found those, and a bunch more. The conditions were almost perfect and we had the flats almost completely to ourselves. I hooked seven bonefish … Continue reading Getaway
The Importance of Play
It has been a busy Spring for me and fishing time has not been abundant. The scarcity has reminded me of the importance of play, which can apply to anything you enjoy doing, not just to fishing. It is easy, at least for me, to let my mind get captured by the idea of "progress," … Continue reading The Importance of Play
In The News
Back in January, after several intense weeks at work, I finally got out on the water for my first full day of fishing of 2022. I really wanted to catch my first bonefish of the year, and I did. It was a 3-4 pound fish that bit my small mantis shrimp fly on the edge … Continue reading In The News
Presents from the Sea
The halalu (baby scad) have been schooling in the lagoon and the shoreline is busy every day. It's another example of how the seasons in Hawaii are marked by changes in the ocean. . Another seasonal sight are the humpback whales that migrate from the North Pacific to rear their young and wait for the … Continue reading Presents from the Sea
Single Variable Fly Selection
There are several important variables when it comes to choosing what fly to use: how heavy, and how the fly is weighted, the size and shape of the hook, the size and profile of the fly, and color. In my experience, the actual fly pattern is probably the least important variable when it comes to … Continue reading Single Variable Fly Selection
The Pictures We Take
I have been fishing almost every week recently. Most days we have gone out, everyone has hooked something, so it's fair to say that the fishing has been good, but it hasn't been great. If you asked, I would say that nothing particularly noteworthy has happened. But when I sit down and start to look … Continue reading The Pictures We Take
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
My motivation for fishing is manifold. I enjoy the physical and mental challenge, the aspect of exploration, and developing a relationship with my natural surroundings: the weather, the winds, the water, and the fish themselves. While I am usually a catch-and-release type of person, once in a while I am also motivated to catch fish … Continue reading Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Feels Like Summer
Big O'io There are some places on the flats where big fish regularly feed, but they are crazy-difficult to catch. When I see these fish I go directly into stealth mode, with lots of crouching low to the water and slow-motion steps. Most of the time, no matter how stealthy I am, the fish turn … Continue reading Feels Like Summer
All-In
I remember reading somewhere that human beings are more likely to return to something over and over if the outcome is uncertain. We quickly lose interest in the sure thing, perhaps because it's a sure thing. I don't remember where I read that, but I believe the point was that we are psychologically hard-wired to … Continue reading All-In
The Fishing Dojo 