We spent two weeks in May sailing through the Leeward Islands of French Polynesia. Our shipmates were two good friends, who actually know how to sail! Together we chartered a bare boat (meaning without crew), the 43 foot Utrillo. This is our second sailing adventure. Two years ago we joined the same friends for an … Continue reading Fishing from a Sailboat
Fishing Dojo Blog
Another May
Looking back I realized that I started this blog eleven years ago this month. . During that time, many of my favorite blogs have disappeared. Their authors have gotten busy or moved on to more current social media platforms, but about once a month I still sit down and post something. I don't use "hashtags" … Continue reading Another May
Fish Art
This is a birthday card I received from my family last Fall. The painting was done by my father, Terry McIlrath. He has been a professional artist since before I was born, and has been drawing, painting and sculpting fish images for just as long. Fish and art have long been parallel themes in my … Continue reading Fish Art
Winter Fishing Blues
I used to get a bad case of the Winter fishing blues every year. I could usually make it to February without going too crazy but eventually I'd bundle up and go looking for something to catch, which was usually nothing at all. For many fishers (especially the carp on the fly variety) Winter is … Continue reading Winter Fishing Blues
Sunset Smallmouth
What do you do after a long day of fly fishing for carp on the Columbia, after dinner has been eaten and the dishes have been washed? Go fishing for smallmouth bass! sunset smallie carp fishing at dusk Here in the tropics, the seasonal shift in daylight hours is pretty minimal, from about 12 hours … Continue reading Sunset Smallmouth
Flats Fishing by Boat
Flats fishing on foot and flats fishing from a boat are fairly different experiences. Like most things, each comes with it's own advantages and disadvantages. I have spent quite a bit of time fishing solo from an inflatable boat or SUP board, but this was the first year I have spent any meaningful time fishing … Continue reading Flats Fishing by Boat
Oregon 2018 Part 3: How to Catch a Sturgeon on the Fly
The demise of our inflatable boat changed my fishing strategy. I had planned on using the boat to fish for carp on a number of backwaters and lakes connected to the Columbia River. Instead, I had to focus on places with shoreline access. Despite this turn of events, the fishing only got better and the fish … Continue reading Oregon 2018 Part 3: How to Catch a Sturgeon on the Fly
Oregon 2018 Part 2: Listing to Starboard
Ever since we started visiting the Columbia Gorge, Tara has wanted to paddle across the river from Oregon to Washington (visiting different states is a bit of an obsession for people from Hawaii). Last spring we packed up our Sea Eagle inflatable kayak and brought it to our cottage on the Columbia River. I was … Continue reading Oregon 2018 Part 2: Listing to Starboard
Oregon 2018 Part 1: Mount Hood Country
We are back to our regular lives in Honolulu. Back to our cat, our garden, our jobs, and back to the salt - the waves, the tides and trade winds, bonefish and papio. A month away is a long time. Significant things happen in a month, and mundane things too, like old water heaters and … Continue reading Oregon 2018 Part 1: Mount Hood Country
Pilgrimage
I have gone papio fishing a few times this Summer, but mostly I have been fly fishing. It's not that I prefer fly fishing, rather it is that I have an ulterior motive. This July will be our annual pilgrimage to the Columbia Gorge. I am hoping for some excellent carp fishing, but to … Continue reading Pilgrimage
The Fishing Dojo 