Moving in 2018!

I've re-located my writings to another platform starting in January, 2018.   You can find my new stuff and still maintain access to my original blogging at my new Numenon site!

I hope you find it; I hope you enjoy it!

Thoughts on Costa Rica

Between Nicaragua and Panama lies Costa Rica - from the web!

In many ways, I've been thinking about Costa Rica since October of 1980.  A high school senior at the time, I really had no idea where I wanted to go to college.  That changed when I attended a Dartmouth Alumni Club of Rhode Island function as a prospective applicant.  I probably thought I had better things to do that evening, but my Mom made me go.  The guest speaker was a student fresh from her study abroad.  She'd gone to Costa Rica as part of Dartmouth's Biology Department offerings.  Within minutes, I knew where I wanted to go to college; and as it turned out, I did!

I participated in the same academic trip as a last-term college senior.  I was in Costa Rica for seven or eight weeks, and it was glorious.  I was especially drawn to the Corcovado National Park area in southwest Costa Rica; it was a version of Eden.  Tropical forest, clear flowing, free-flowing rivers, and the ocean; tapirs, jaguars, snappers and sharks.  It was beautiful!  There was virtually no development or economic opportunity in the region at the time, and I had a fiancee and family back in the States.  But I left Costa Rica with a serious determination to get back!

My better half had also visited Costa Rica during her college experience, and we decided that we would go back.  I deferred on an opportunity to study there as a graduate student; I knew I'd return.  But our tenth, twentieth, twenty-fifth and thirtieth anniversaries all passed without our having done so.

Meanwhile, we'd been thinking about a family trip this January.  The kids are independent and their schedules will only get fuller.  This could be the time to do something so grand.  We thought about it a little more, and started doing some investigating.  I had some thoughts and predilections and followed through with some pointed research.  We narrowed down our list of preferences and sent off some inquiries.  My folks of choice came through with an appointment for a Friday evening telephone conversation.

After that comfortable exchange, I spent the next day by myself, working my butt off in an effort to get a Lake St. Clair pike or muskie to hit one of my baits.  I had a lot of time to think.  At some point during the day, I concluded that we had to go!

The very next day we purchased our airline tickets, and by the middle of the week, considerable funds had been wired to Costa Rica.  This was now real!

***

It's a family vacation, but of course my stipulation was that I'd be able to fish, and to fish hard and under fair circumstances.  That is, a roll of the dice and a single day of enjoyment wouldn't cut it;  after waiting this long and investing this much into the trip, I wanted to give the area a legitimate chance to show what it has to offer.  And, very fortunately, my family understands this.  

So, I have now arranged for four days of fishing during our stay, and our hosts appear to offer the highest degree of flexibility with those four days of opportunity.  Just based on availability, one day will be on a smaller (but still 24-foot), "inshore" bay boat.  One of the signature species of the region is the rooster fish; I'll be happy to spend a day in their pursuit.  I've caught a bunch of jacks, and they all pull.  But I'll be especially happy to chase roosters, since I've learned that they will hit topwater plugs and jump!  Other inshore species here include a variety of snappers to very large sizes, and I understand that blue water and pelagic species are within reach of this boat, under the prevailing conditions of any given day.  Plus, it will be warm!  In January!  This sounds like a winter's day with lots of good potential!

Rooster fish - from the web!

The other three days will be on a 27-foot center console.  (Can one think, Dream Boat?  One is tempted to do so.)  This boat offers both inshore and offshore options.  Our first day on board will be a family trip (all four of us.)  Having spoken with the captain, I am comfortable that he appreciates flexibility and diversity of experience.  As the first of multiple days that we'll be together, I trust that he'll want to provide a good experience for all on board.  I'll have no prejudices for any particular fish or fishing style this day; I will defer to Captain's Choice for our experience this day.

The remaining two days will be mine to do with what I please.  Some subset of the family may join me; but they may not.  Of course, weather permitting, I have to devote a day to offshore pursuits.  That blue water is my element, and I rarely have access.  Sails and dorado should be available; yellowfin tuna are a distinct possibility.  Of course, it's a big ocean and big predators come and go, so nothing is certain.  It is fishing, after all.  But I'd imagine that other tunas (blackfins? bonito?  little tunnies?) should be available, too, and to date, my biggest tuna might weigh two pounds.  (It pulled like hell, by the way.)  The folks in New England are crazy about their funny fish.  I'd not want to pass up a chance to throw some tins at, or troll up on light tackle, any of these fish, should they appear.  I know the captain drops speed jigs to the depths, too; I'm up for it!  Anything hits these; anything might be possible.

Sailfish - from the web!

Dorado - from the web!

That will leave a final day; I'd like to hope that the captain's idea for the day corresponds to What did I enjoy the most? or What do I need more of?  We'll see!

Cubera - from the web!

Rainbow runner - from the web!

Yellowfin tuna - from the web!

Regardless, I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.  I've learned from previous travels that if one gets too set in what one wants, and the prevailing conditions just don't support the successful outcome for that desire, one can be disappointed.  Worse, one can overlook (and miss out on) the superior options that might have presented themselves for the day.   At the very least, it will all be new, warm salt-water adventure!  And, I'll be "On A Boat!" With my family!   I know I'm overlooking all the other experiences that we'll share on this trip.  But for now, I'll admit that anticipating the fishing alone is enough for me.

***

Part of that anticipation is getting a simple tackle selection ready for some potential shore fishing.  We're trying to minimize luggage, and I've only a single travel rod available at this time.  But this casting rod fishes nicely, has subdued various double-digit stripers and can throw a two-ounce (or heavier) lure.  Paired with my Diawa Lexa 300 muskie reel and 20-pound braid, I think I'll be able to cast a good distance.  This tackle will be light enough that any fish (small jack, runner, ladyfish, etc.) will be fun, but still give me a chance at landing any respectable inshore fish.  I hope to find out.

Blue runner - usually bait, but still fun to catch!  From the web!

Jack Crevalle - from tiny to large; always tough.  From the web!

As far as lures, I am expecting light surf and open, sandy conditions.  Spoons, jigs and soft plastic stick baits all came immediately to mind, but Long Island "tins" and Hogy epoxy jigs have been added to cover sand-eel and topwater presentations, too.  I intend to keep this tackle selection simple and minimized; let's hope I make the right decisions.  When I throw in some 25-40 pound fluorocarbon leader, some Tactical Angler connecting clips, some pliers and a pair of cutters, I think I'll be all set!

Snook - from the web!  You can see how sharp their operculum cover is; I've learned from bad experience to use a heavier leader than "normal".

***

This stuff was fun to acquire for the trip, but it's even more fun to think that these will all serve me well later in 2018.  Whether it's in some sandy surf in Maine for stripers, from the Cape Cod shoreline for fall funny fish or somewhere else north of New Jersey, this stuff is going to work!

From a few degrees North Latitude to over 40, I have high hopes for this in 2018.

***

What better reason to go to the eye doctor than to get a fresh prescription for offshore tropical sunglasses?  Of course, I have existing daily vision needs, and with my new 100% office job, I know I'd benefit from a set of computer glasses.  But it was the prospect of replacing my old and tired fishing specs that really got me to the doctor.  While I had some ideas about really cool, blue lenses, I finally decided some glasses with better coverage but dark amber lenses would make the most sense, overall.  (The blue did not fare well in the gray, flat Michigan lighting to which I am exposed so much.)  So, I tried to be cool; but function prevails over form for me, once again!

What will I see?

***

I am, admittedly, a sucker.  I accept that; but it's for a good cause, and this just adds to my fun.  I just joined the International Game Fish Association (IGFA); many of the pics in this post are from their collection.  Anyway, it came to my attention that one had to be a member to participate in their annual fishing contest.  With 74 species on the line and this trip planned, what better year for me to enter?  Plus, as a member, I can get a discounted burial at sea!  So the $40 was really a gift to my family, should 2018 not treat me so nicely!  And if things don't go so badly, every time a new species hits the deck, I can at least think about this competition. I'll only need to win one of their trips of a lifetime to be really happy!

Northern Redhorse Sucker - from the web!

***

So, obviously, many of my thoughts and the Season's bounty received to date have been in preparation for the trip.  Not just for me, but for the rest of the family, too.  Rest assured, though, that I've not lost track of the Season's true meanings.  Our time together is gift enough; anything uniquely good that we happen to share along the way is purely bonus.  And if you've seen this, I wish you Peace; I wish you Well.

New in 2017

I'd just like to quickly acknowledge some of the new stuff, tactics and experiences that I enjoyed in 2017.  The breadth of this "newness" isn't all that astonishing, but I think the depth to which I pursued/employed some of these things/experiences/concepts was new, in and of itself.  Once gain, my 2017 Fishing exceeded my expectations in many ways.  "New" stuff, locations and techniques certainly enhanced my experiences and appreciation.

Lures

My Christmas 2016 stocking contained a couple of Duo Realis spy-baits.  I'd specifically requested these, thinking about Lake St. Clair smallmouths.  But when my first, early-March trolling session for pike was not producing as I'd hoped, and a jerk-biting bass had already revealed itself over Reeds Lake's shallow weeds in the very cold water, I picked up my spy-baiting rig for the first time.   Within the first few casts, I got hit, and hit hard!  I missed this fish, but not too much later, I somehow hooked and landed a very light-hitting, heavy pre-spawn bass.  It was a great confidence builder for me with these lures, and they produced nicely for me in some tough, cold-weather conditions.  I've still got a lot to learn with them, but they've earned a permanent spot in my boat.

The Duo Realis spy-bait (top, in perch color) was a reliable producer in tough, clear cold-water conditions.

Shallow, pre-spawn pike love to eat spy-baits.  It's difficult to choose to throw an expensive lure on light line with no leader, but I caught many pike without ever getting bitten off!

Everybody east of Lansing seems to be crazy about walleyes.  Having caught a few on tube baits while targeting pre-spawn bass on Lake St. Clair, I decided to add some crawler harnesses and Gulp! baits to Numenon's storage areas.  I decided to deploy these a few times over the course of the season.  It usually turned a slow day into an enjoyable experience.  I'll have to admit, a Mack's Smiley Blade seemed to outproduce traditional spinners, and is super easy to deploy.  

All this stuff earned a near-permanent place aboard Numenon.  For some reason, the combo on the bottom featuring the green Mack's Smiley Blade was a killer!

I broke down during the late summer, and with St. Clair's Big Rubber Season approaching, purchased some Swedish Pig Shads from https://www.kanalgratis.se/en/.  My biggest regret for the season is that I did not parlay these into a big Esox photo opportunity.  If that's the worst part of the season, I've got no real gripes!  And I did have a strike, a few follows, and faith in the potential of these subtle swimmers.  Maybe 2018 will provide that photo.

Presentations

My season began with some three-way rig-trolling for pike.  This isn't exactly a new technique, but I rarely use it, and we did catch the targeted species on our first trip of 2017.  The hardware and sinkers are now always in the boat!

This old-school, bottom-tapping combo caught the first fish of 2017.

I wish I had more to say about The Technique of Silent Capture.  I probably said enough about it, above; spy-baits are the real deal!  I look forward to expanding my experience with spy-baits, especially in tough conditions, in 2018 and beyond.  With no closed season for pike on Lake St. Clair, I might choose to chase them there early in 2018.

I found out that I also enjoy fishing Blade Baits in cold water.   This technique paid off handsomely with a couple of nice fish on tough days.  Again, this isn't exactly new to me; but developing some confidence and site-specific knowledge with them, is.  They are always in the boat with me, and I suspect that if I can find some early-season smallmouths on Lake St. Clair (i.e., before the jerk-bait bite and general shallow-water invasion), these could be the ticket to a pile of nice fish.

My last nice bass of 2017 ate a blade bait in over 30 feet of water.

In 2016, I taught myself to successfully fish lipless crank-baits in cold water by using a Carolina-style retrieve; just a slow pull with the rod followed by picking up the slack.  This forced me to slow down and keep the bait (Berkley War-Pig) on or near the bottom, just like the venerable Carolina Rig.  I felt every tick, bump and strike; and caught some awesome largemouths!  In 2017, I extended this to Carolina Cranking, retrieving crank-baits in cold water in the same manner.  It paid off immediately and repeatedly!  This strategy fully plugged a hole in my repertoire between jerking and lipless cranking.  It filled lots of other holes, too, over the course of the season.

You can learn a lot from fish like this!

Locations

I saw a lot more of Lake St. Clair and her moods.  There's a lot more to see.  She's been tougher to crack than I expected, but I have had more than enough success to realize her potential.  And, perhaps more importantly, I have faith that this potential can be realized on any given cast; especially the next one!  

Lake St. Clair seduction

I have fished Benzie County's Crystal Lake for decades, but just about always for trout.  And usually then, as a backup for other dreams based on typical weather conditions.  But I've known about her big bass for years, and have even caught a few while trout fishing.  I hit Crystal Lake specifically for smallmouths in early June.  I think we were just a tad too late for the best fishing; but we still had some very fine fishing.  I've got a tons of waypoints; it's just a matter of going back! 

Good buddy BL with his largest smallmouth from our trip to Crystal Lake.  An annual trip Up North with BL in search of brown bass is another burgeoning tradition, cemented in 2017.

I fished Michigan's Torch-Clam-Bellaire Chain of Lakes for the first time in September, 2017.  Of course, I'd been aware of them and their potential for decades, and I even used to fish Intermediate Lake (connected, and just upstream) pretty hard.  The fishing on my "new" chain wasn't easy; but my average smallmouth was awesome, I lost a giant, and I also caught a targeted muskie and some pike.  As a bonus, Lake Bellaire (admittedly, probably my favorite of the three) is very close to BL's deer camp.  Hmmmm...

Lake Bellaire

Coming "home" on Clam Lake

Torch Lake is aptly named.

I'd also like to recognize the Huron River Metropark System; nice, reliable facilities on a variety of lakes, all seemingly well-maintained.  Worth the annual fee, in my book.

Other

I guess I should note that my 2017 Physical Re-location provided a basis for many of these new experiences.  The work days are longer, but our new home is our haven; plus, there are so many new waters within a day's reach.

Is there anything more restful than watching whitetail fawns from your living room?

I already mentioned an Annual Spring Trip with BL for up-north bass.  He's netted many fine bass bass for me; I'd love to return the favor.  Repeatedly.  We'll see which lakes we choose in 2018, but we will have our choice!

When it is cold and/or miserable outside, why not enjoy a Hot Lunch, Kanalgratis-Style?  I've often been too busy fishing to even think about eating, but I learned this year to occasionally slow down, eat and warm up.  Hot dogs, tinned spaghetti, Dinty Moore or similar; the calories will keep you going!

Inaugural 2017 Hot Lunch aboard Numenon

Hot Dog Selfie at Sea

A gifted me with a Berkley Surf Wagon for my late summer birthday.  While most locals proclaimed it to be fabulous and cool, they may have been just being kind to my dotardly ways.  Regardless, it sure made hauling a variety of gear up and down the hill a lot easier!

Berkley Surf Wagon

My new work schedule introduced Flex Days in 2017; a weekday off every two weeks!  I converted some of these into some fine fish, and even more of them into fine days fishing.  My Flex Experiences were elevated when I received a Pup Tent for Fathers' Day.  I kind of ran out of Summer to use it too much in 2017, but this simple gift will be put to good use for the remainder of my career, I am willing to bet.

Beautiful Flex Day; Beautiful Pike

Now have Pup Tent; willing to travel!

2017 Fishing Wrap

This has all been chronicled from here through there, but why not have it all in one place?  These thoughts are in large part driven by my readily available pictures, but I can't sit here on this bleak, wet November evening and not conclude that I've enjoyed yet another fine fishing season.  I know for a fact that I had my best bass season ever, and I enjoyed lots of stripers during two quick trips to Maine!  Trout were entirely absent; but there's only so much time!


March; All of my fishing was on Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids.  I started the open water season during the end of pike season, but quickly switched to Catch and Immediate Release bass fishing when I caught a couple of quality bass in very cold water on March 5.  I caught a bunch of pike, too, while fishing for pre-spawn largemouths.  

I'd just missed what I presumed to be The Fish of the Day when felt some heaviness on my Spy-Bait.  It turned out to be this fine bass; she was a true harbinger of good things yet to come in 2017.

Spy-baits (top) and jerk-baits (bottom) produced in 2017 from Day 1; and handsomely throughout the colder waters of Spring 2017.

Pre-spawn and spawning pike love this spy-bait!  What a way to spend a weekday afternoon!

This bass wasn't 23 inches long, but she was easily over 5 pounds.  She was just one of many lunker bass to come aboard Numenon in 2017.

April; I couldn't go anywhere else, and once again, all my effort was on Reeds.  The convenience and quality of Reeds Lake fishing kept me plenty happy.  Plus, we'd just sold our home of 20+ years; I was going to miss this gem!  I needed to enjoy it while it was still so convenient!

My first bass of April was no joke!  More success jerking on Reeds Lake!  This was a beautiful Sunday morning with friend BL aboard.

When the jerk bite slowed, I expanded my areas by searching for pre-spawn bass with rattle-baits (top) and cranks (bottom.)

My first War Pig rattle-bait fish of 2017 was a real good one.

Just a few casts later, this verified 6-pounder ate the same bait.  Within the half hour, War Pig produced a virtual limit of well over 20 pounds of largemouth bass.  This wasn't my heaviest limit ever, but it was close; and it certainly came in the shortest time span, and all on the same bait!

This bass anchored another fine virtual limit, but one I had to really work for, and one compiled on a variety of baits.  Different days on the water provide an opportunity to learn different lessons.

May; My Lake St. Clair fever was fueled by my previous experiences there and our move to mid-Michigan.  It's only 90 miles away and now within a sane day-trip radius.  It's proven to be more difficult to unlock than I expected, but it still has produced good experiences and/or nice catches just about every trip.

New job, new work schedule, new water and perhaps The Premiere Fish of 2017; a Master Angler, 6-plus-pound Lake Saint Clair smallmouth.  She ate a specifically chosen crank-bait on a pretty tough day.  She made the day!

A short move and a few casts later, this tough channel cat smashed a spinnerbait in shallow, muddy water.

June; This is always a month of transition in Michigan, but by shifting the focus to the clear lakes of Northern Michigan, I prolonged my spring bass fishing enjoyment.  I hit several lakes with a couple of buddies, and made a solo trip to Grand Traverse Bay.  So much water, so little time!  By the end of the month, everything had shifted into summer mode, and any of the easy local fishing was done for a while.

BL scored this nice smallie on our inaugural trip to Crystal Lake in Benzie County.

The following day found us on Douglas Lake.  Fishing was a bit tougher, but we caught some nice bass.  This particular one wasn't the biggest, but she sure was the roundest!

Simple, fun weekday fishing on a new lake with my girls; what else could one want?

Late Spring Beauty

Father's Day brought me a little pup tent, a State Forest Campground and a trip to Traverse Bay.  This set me up nicely for another Flex Day fishing trip the next day!

Traverse Bay wasn't easy, but provided a beautiful setting for some nice smallmouths.

When the bass fishing on Lake St. Clair is in a post-spawn funk, why not enjoy some white bass between walleye bites?

July; If my local fishing suffered, it was only because of holiday travels and time spent in Maine.  No complaints from me on this, I spent just about every dawn and dusk on our dock, fishing for mackerel and striped bass.  Mackerel (i.e, bait) were locally scarce, but the bass were there in numbers, and I caught them while I could!  Returning to sweet water near the end of the month, I continued to catch some nice weekday fish on Reeds Lake.  I didn't think I would choose to drive back there just to fish, but I did, several times over the remainder of the season, and I will likely continue to do so.

Our dock in Maine has many moods.  Every day, every tide is a bit different.

I enjoyed lots of action for some pretty decent stripers on our first trip to Maine for the summer.

I returned to Reeds Lake on another Flex Day and enjoyed some quality deep cranking.

August; I explored new lake a couple of times, and I shared super nice day on the water and meal with my youngest daughter.  Other than that, heat, work and lethargy kept the lid on any local fishing excitement.  Fortunately, we returned to Maine for a short visit, and I continued to experience a pretty good bite from the stripers.  Mixed in with the schoolies were some pretty decent light-tackle fish, too.

M returned from school and summer adventures to share a day in the boat and to catch her first bass in quite a while!

Our second trip to Maine for the summer provided some additional fast action for stripers.  This was the biggest of my season.

September; This can also prove to be a difficult, windy transition month, but in 2017, I experienced the hottest weather, as well as some of the best fishing, of the season.  A and I shared a few days on new lakes in Northern Michigan.  I enjoyed easy access to some fine, quality water, including a few mornings with Numenon already in the water and ready to go, docked behind our simple rental house!  Consistent with 2017's theme, the fishing was never easy, but through a continuous and concerted effort, a few very nice fish came to hand.  Returning "home" to Lake St. Clair, I enjoyed a pleasant day searching for new, offshore bass spots.  For the first time this season, calm winds allowed me to go anywhere I desired.  This trip made me realize how big and varied this water really is.

Sunrise on a new lake; what might happen?

It took me quite a while to get my first bite on Lake Bellaire, but it was worth it!  Once again, the fishing wasn't easy, but I enjoyed bites from quality fish during my couple of days there.  I will be back!

Another quality Lake Bellaire smallmouth; a bit later, I lost my largest bass of the year when it jumped in classic fashion and threw my Senko back at me.

My first and only muskie of the year came under unexpected circumstances; hot temperatures and on a busy, unfamiliar lake with a low muskie population density.  But one never knows; one might as well try!

I was drop-shotting for bass, but this beautiful pike made my day on Lake St. Clair!

October; I succumbed to muskie/Esox fever.  I started the month with an hour of deceptively easy and productive high-speed trolling.  The remainder of the season turned into a grind.  My last bass of the season was another quality Reeds Lake largemouth, as I took advantage of a lull in pike action to try some deep-water blade-baiting in the rapidly cooling water.  I will need to do more of that in the future!

My season shifted gears as I launched into this first October sunrise.  I was targeting Esox with high-speed trolling tactics.

I enjoyed surprisingly good success on October 1.  I was looking for muskies, but quality pike kept me busy and happy.

My first choices for high-speed trolling spent a fair amount of time in the water.  The Shad Rap (bottom) became a productive staple.

Another Lake St. Clair sunrise; I hit the water filled with optimism, but ended my LSC season with a series of skunks as I continued to pursue pike and muskies.

I'd included a casting rod and my blade baits in case the Reeds Lake pike trolling got too easy.  I'm glad I did, this was the nicest fish of the this Flex Day!  And I should mention the blue landing net; a winter gift, it reduced my boat side losses to zero and paid for itself in lures not lost.  Thanks, A!

Hot Lunch, a 2017-born Numenon tradition on miserable weather days. 

Another tough day, but another fine bass.

Big Rubber!  I am sure that I have the information to confirm that I am a significantly worse angler when throwing these lures, but they seem to be the consensus approach for Lake St. Clair muskies in the fall.  I do think that some day, one of these lures will produce a personal best Esox on Numenon.  And I did have that day on LSC where I enjoyed a touch and three additional follows... I'll continue to throw them, I am sure.

November; The weather has closed in, and with holiday travels and an uncertain forecast beyond next weekend, I have winterized and stored Numenon for the winter.  I managed a single November on-the-water session in windy, wet conditions.  I interrupted my Big Rubber casting with a couple of quick trolling sets, and the Giant Shallow Shad Rap scored again.  It was only another squeaker/keeper-sized pike, but catching this fish was certainly better than closing the series with a set of complete skunks.

Not necessarily the specimen I'd hoped to finish my season with, but welcomed aboard anyway.  I'm pretty sure I've run out of time; in fact, I just winterized and otherwise put Numenon to sleep for the winter.  I'm not happy about that, but I have to admit, I had a good year with her.  I look forward to 2018 and beyond; and I'm quite certain that some good things will happen early in 2018.

What do I have to say about this?

If nothing else, this illustrates that I am a truly fortunate guy in many respects.  I already know this, but how often does one stop and actually utter such a sentiment?  (Not often enough!)  I've got the means, drive and abilities (as well as familial support) to do all this for fun, and my new work situation has probably only enhanced these pursuits.  What ever small disappointments I might have about the season (too much time fishing by myself, no personal best muskie to end the season, no international smack-talking photo of an Esox with a Swedish Pig Shad in its maw), these pale in comparison to the therapeutic value of the time invested in this pursuit, the beauty of the sunrises, sunsets and natural settings, the beauty and wonder of the fish themselves, and even the time I've spent reflecting on and valuing these experiences.

So, on to the holidays, and then on to 2018!  I expect a fast start and good things!  Cheers to all!