For my first fishing of 2018 I decided to start small. Very small. We took some micro-fishing gear out to one of our favorite places, a long level reef full of pools and holes that teem with a variety of tiny fishes.   For bait I brought along some bits of squid. The squid is … Continue reading Start Small →

It's Holiday time in The Islands! After cinnamon rolls and presents we packed up and hit the beach to enjoy some fabulous winter weather.   I spent some time fishing the surf for papio with the hope that we might enjoy sashimi for the new year. While I didn't find anything big enough to eat, … Continue reading Island Christmas →

This summer, after prolonged and careful consideration, we bought a pair of inflatable stand up paddle boards from Bote, the 11’ Breeze and the 11’6” Drift. Our first excursion was to the North Shore where we made a round-trip paddle between two beach parks. Along the way I experimented with fishing in a few spots. … Continue reading iSUP youSUP weSUP →

The second leg of our Australian journey was in Kakadu, the country's largest national park. The indigenous people of Kakadu mark six annual seasons on their calendar. We arrived during Yegge, on the shoulder of the wet season, the time of year when early morning mists hang low over carpets of water lilies.   The … Continue reading Good Tucker →

We traveled to Australia for the first three weeks of June. The first leg of the journey was spent sailing around the Whitsunday Islands in a 32 foot sailboat. This was arranged in large part by our friends from Washington D.C., who actually know how to sail! I was a little apprehensive because we had … Continue reading Whitsunday Islands →

Hawaii has a history of micro-fishing, of a sort. During the Summer months, schools of 'oama, juvenile goatfish, gather in the shallows along coastlines throughout the state. The easiest way to find 'oama is to look for the people catching them: groups of people of all ages, standing quietly in the shallows with small hand poles, plucking … Continue reading Micro-Fishing Part III: Micro-Fishing in Hawaii →

I suppose that there is no need to address the enthusiasts out there of the merits of micro-fishing. If you are already a fan, feel free to stop reading and go fishing instead. For anyone else who might raise a skeptical eyebrow at the suggestion of catching little fish on purpose I propose that micro-fishing … Continue reading Micro-Fishing Part II: Why Bother? →

This short series of posts will explore micro-fishing. This time:  Part I: Looking Back..... Years ago, when I was “retired” for the first time, and pretty much fishing every day, I spent some time considering recreational fishing as a business. The supply side of this fishing economy has grown far beyond the local tackle shop. … Continue reading Micro-fishing Part I: Looking Back →

Our Columbia River cottage is finally ready for visits! In November we took advantage of a long weekend to sneak off to Rowena. The Fall leaves were golden, still hanging on before the first frost of the Winter. As the time for carp was well past, I had no plans to catch any fish. Everyone else, it … Continue reading Late in the Game →

I prefer active fishing: wading, casting, stalking fish.  I also strive for simplicity which means I prefer fishing with flies and lures over bait because I can pack less and don't have to constantly maintain my terminal tackle.  But once in a while, I just want to sit on the beach. "Dunking" or casting a … Continue reading Take the Bait →