Wired Up Clay Bodies

This was way harder than I thought it would be - primarily because the wiring jig I had compressed the clay body as it wound the wire under the fixed loop. Bottom line is I can use the jig, but I'll have a large gap in the end of the clay body and the finished wire rig (the lure would be free to move back and forth along the wire). To resolve the issue, I basically used pliers to wire the second loop on each lure (the first was done with the jig which you can see in the above picture). I still have to put on split rings and a dressed treble, but WHEW - these were work!!!

New South Swell - Late May 2017

There's a good sized swell on the South Shore right now. I was out with Burr and Scott this morning and we picked off a few good ones!!! The waves were well overhead on the sets and the wind was very light - perfect!!! I love this spot when the conditions are like this - makes me love my home even more!!!

"Lahaina Noon" in Honolulu, Part 1

If you do a google on "lahaina noon" you'll be able to read up on a phenomena that happens in areas between the Tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. I couldn't get my hands on a celestial bodies almanac - but I did know the general time the sun would be over head at noon (yesterday +/- a couple of days). This was yesterday just past noon - pretty cool that not much of a shadow was cast. So the sun will continue tracking north until the summer solstice, and then sometime in July we'll get another of the "no-shadow at noon" days.

Surf Rod Setup Testing

I tested out the Alvey and the Shimano Ultegra-St Croix Tiumph set ups. I used a 2 ounce egg weight and a 4 foot 12# leader. I could consistently get the Triumph out just past where the waves were breaking. I guess all that says is I'm comfortable casting spinning gear. I then put the same set up on the Alvey. It took a few casts to get used to having my right hand up higher on the rod and not managing line release with it, and the opposite with the left hand. Then it took more casts to stop having the line wrap up around the spool handles after the cast was done (this is more me and not the reel/rod). Eventually the line snapped and I don't even know which way the weight went. Bottomline - it's going to take practice to get used to the Alvey, but there is potential. I can see using this in sandy areas where you have time to recover after a bad cast, but if you are casting in rocky or coral areas, the regular spin setup are going to be better. Or you could be an Alvey casting wizard and cast anywhere you want. I'm no where near the latter...

More Clay Body Lures

I haven't rigged the first batch yet, but I was working some more clay and made another two. These are 1.8 ounce (wet - should dry down to 1.5 ounce) cup faced with bubble trail holes. There are two of them - it's not the same picture posted twice. I will rig the original set soon, but I also wanted to get these into the kiln.

Something New to do Something Old

The reel and the rod were on sale (and included shipping), so I figured I'd give it a try - cast with the face flat (like spinning gear), and retrieve like fly fishing gear. We'll see how it works...

Getting Ready to Rig and Dress These

I've had these back from the ceramics studio for a bit now - I've just had other things to do and honestly I've been totally avoiding the need to relearn the wire bender. Well, with a short trip coming up, I figure I need to get these done. I weighed them to see how much weight they lost in the kiln process (fired twice - bisque and high temp). Without using a calculator, on the average they lost about 15 to 25% of their wet weight. Since these are on the smaller side it is likely they'll gain all that back once the wire, hook and dressing are added on. Stay tuned...

Marlon Caught Two - I Caught a Skunk

Marlon and I went fishing at the flats - I brought a spectrum of implements to try out - start with bait to get rid of the skunk, then try some flies and grubs and some small lures. I didn't get past the bait phase... Marlon's first fish was the hawkfish (which got itself wrapped around the rocks -twice; and I had to do the unwrapping so in reality I believe I can take half credit for this catch). After a while Marlon got this goatfish I did have a follow from a small omilu, but no wrestling match. I gave up on the outside and decided to see if the bonefish and kaku would play in the shallows. even broke out the new cupfaced kaku fly - it works well to push water, but no joy. I did see a barracuda and cast a few times to it - I didn't even get a head turn. So in the end, Marlon went catching and I went fishing.

Getting Ready...

With Spring firmly entrenched in the Northern Hemisphere, it is only a matter of time before the oama start coming in to the shallows. And behind them will be the predators that need to fatten up on oama. I was stuck in town the other day (really bad westbound traffic) - so I thought I stop off at Charlie's Fishing Supply. I ended up buying some yellow crystal flash that is close to the color of the oama back. Here's a Clouser tied up with the new crystal flash. I also tied up another orange fly... just because... I need to get out and tie these on (maybe Saturday morning???).

Sunday Morning Surf at White Plains Beach

The family hit the beach yesterday to wet our gills (it's been a while). Waist high, not to windy and lots of space for everyone to catch their stoke. Marlon was out with the board Charlie gave him, and Amy was out also with her new GoPro 5 (nice kit). Marlon is getting good at paddling a lower volume board - I bet soon I'll be breaking out the planer again to carve out some ripping shortboards!

Marlon and Noe Racing

Speaking of the kids racing, Marlon and Noe did race yesterday at a Waikiki Yacht Club sponsored race. The conditions were really tough - fast counter currents, wind from every direction, no wind, and some confused racers (learn your rules people, Marlon and Noe did), but the kids still had fun.

Arrrhhhhhh - A Pirate Berth

We saw this yesterday while the kids were racing in Waikiki. Pretty cool!!!!

And While We're on the Topic of Meals...

This is one for the record books - La made and ate biscuits and gravy!!! And it was fantastic!!! Definitely cannot eat this everyday... without reducing your lifespan by several years - but what a wonderful treat!!! She never ate this before in my presence!!! After 16 years of marriage, countless stops along many freeways for food, having lived in the South for many years - all with her look of "how can you eat that stuff". You have just witnessed a miracle!!!