New England Saltwater Fishing Show ~ 2014

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I still remember the first time that I went to the New England Saltwater Fishing Show. As I trolled through the isles, “WOW”, “OMG”, and “Wicked Awesome!” were my immediate responses to the booths I saw. The breadth and depth of the seminars were well worth the price of admission. The same holds true today!

New England Saltwater Fishing Show

This year there are no shortage of exhibitors: 300+ in total. I personally will be visiting:

This will be our third year exhibiting at the New England Saltwater Fishing Show. Each year, we debut a new feature of our secure online fishing journal. Stop by booth 323 and let’s talk fish. ;-).

This year’s show is packed with seminars. There are 26 seminar speakers. I personally will be attending:

I will be presenting “Wicked Chucking” on Friday (28-MAR-2014 3:30 PM Main Stage) and Saturday (29-MAR-2014 11:30 AM Main Stage). It’s going to be wicked!!!

Fish360 Wicked Chunking

The New England Saltwater Fishing Show is exceptionally fishy and well run show. If you fish saltwater in New England, you should drop in, troll through the isles, attend seminars, and talk fish with other like-minded people. You will love it. See you at the show!!!

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Maine Smelt Fishing 2014

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I went on the annual Plum Island Surfcasters smelt fishing trip to the Kennebec River in Maine.  The club’s go-to smelt camp is Sonny’s.

Fish360 Maine Smelting

Once inside our shanty, I wasted little time modifying a Sabiki rig.  I cut the Sabiki rig in half.  Tied the swivel to my main line via improved clinch knot. And then tied a double surgeons loop knot on the other end to hold a 1/4 oz Dipsey sinker.  A Sabiki rig with three or four hooks will catch smelt without the risk of self hookings during fish wrangling.

Fish360 Maine Smelting

I dressed the Sabiki hooks with tiny chunks of sea worm and sent my sinker 4 feet down to the river bottom.  While “dead sticking”, I saw smelt swim by and past my baits.  Were they inflicted with lock jaw?  Not sure.  But, I was not going to wait for an answer.  I switched to vertical jigging.

Fish360 Maine Smelting

As the tide flooded, I was rewarded with more water to jig through.  When the water column reached 6 feet in height, I hooked my first fish 1 foot below the surface.

Fish360 Maine Smelting

For the rest of the tide, the fish moved trough the water column.  My modified Sabiki rig with tiny chunks of sea worms seduced the smelt into striking.  I hooked fish at low and mid-column.

Fishing patterns are cyclical.  When on the ice, if one technique is not producing, switch techniques until you find a pattern that produces.  Keeping a fishing journal will help to identify fishy patterns. 😉

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Rockingham Fishing and Hunting Expo 2014

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I presented at Rockingham Fishing and Hunting Expo for the first time this year.  Wow!  What a fishy show.

Fish360 Rockingham Hunting and Fishing Expo

As a visitor, I found no shortage booths featuring fishing products and services.  As a presenter, I found the organization and technology to be first class.

If you attended my “Wicked Chunking” seminar and you have follow up questions, drop me a line.  If you missed my seminar, no worries.  I will be presenting an expand version at the Plum Island Surfcasters fishing show next month.

I am looking forward to the Rockingham Fishing and Hunting Expo 2015!  I have already started my new seminar.  OMG!  It’s going to be extreme! 😉

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Plano FTO Elite Series Spinner Bait Organizer

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This past season I had the opportunity to go fresh water kayak fishing for large mouth bass. OMG! What fun!! I reviewed my fishing journal and discovered that one of my most productive baits was the spinner bait. This easily justified me stocking up on this fish seducing bait. The unexpected challenge that I encountered was how to organize them.

Fish360 Plano FTO Elite Series Spinner Bait Organizer

Like other college educated professionals with a problem without an immediate solution, I went to the fountain of information: Google.   I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Plano has a spinner bait storage solution.  The PlanoFTO Elite Series Spinner Bait Organizer is available in two sizes: 3607-04 and the 3707-04.  The 3607-04 model can store 18 spinner baits and 3707-04 model can store 39 spinner baits.

Fish360 Plano FTO Elite Series Spinner Bait Organizer

I purchased two 3607-04’s.  One for “dirty” water spinner baits of various weights and one for “clean” water spinner baits of various weights.  I load mine up to 80%. This allows me to access my baits quickly.

Purchasing tackle storage solutions is a small investment that is easily justified: The less time you spend fishing for your gear, the more time you spend fishing for fish! If you fish spinner baits, you need a Plano FTO Elite Series Spinner Bait Organizer. 😉

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Fishing Belt Accessories

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A fishing belt, unlike a traditional belt, is a multi-functional piece of equipment. By adding the right accessories, you can maximize your belt and be more productive on and in the water.  Accessorizing your fishing belt starts with two indispensable pieces of equipment: clips and stainless steel D-rings.

Fish360 Fishing Belt Accessories

The clips can secure your pork rind pouch or eel bag. The stainless steel D-rings can hold gear like your leader wallet, lip grippers, and gloves; they also make great anchors for your Dragon Tail lanyards.

The AquaSkinz E.H.P.S belt, stainless steel D-rings, clips, leader wallet, pork rind holder, and eel bag are a great modular system. You can easily configure and re-configure your fishing belt per your fishing style or method of choice prior to each fishing trip. Now that’s fishconomic 😉

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Fishing GoPro

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Historically, catching a fish from strike to landing on camera has been a challenge.  Fish are difficult to predict and the cameras varied greatly in size, weight, and water resistance. But now with modern technology, you can keep your two hands on the rod, hook, and land your fish while the whole experience is captured effortlessly via GoPo!

Fish360 Fish GoPro

Learning to use GoPro is easy. The user guide is well written and there is no shortage of YouTube videos.  But, how do you fish GoPro?

There are two ways to secure the GoPro WiFi remote while you fish. One option is to secure the Wifi remote to your rod by passing a piece of Velcro through the side slots and wrap it around the rod.  A second option is to hang the WiFi remote from piece of Vinyl tubbing around your neck.  The remote is waterproof, but If you are skishing, put the remote control in a waterproof bag and secure the bag to vinyl tubing; the re-charge terminals are exposed!

There are a several options for mounting the GoPro camera while you are fishing.  The right mounting option depends on how you fish.

The GoPro head strap is a very versatile camera mounting option. You can use it from shore, kayak, canoe, dory, or boat.  It works great while skishing also. To get a consistent first-person point-of-view, secure a small triangular jig to the back plate; this will position the camera at the appropriate angle every time.

The GoPro tripod adapter is a great way to secure the camera to an adjustable three legged aluminum tripod.  If you are fishing from shore or on ice, this is a great option for a third-person poit-of-view.

If you are on a kayak, canoe, dory, or boat consider getting two GoPro’s and mount them to get a first person and third person perspective.  Scotty andRam Mount ave several mounting products.  For a fish-eye view, the best mounting option is: TrollPro.

Before you head out on your next fishing trip, fully charge your GoPro WiFi remote and camera using a double USB power charger on a timer switch.   After your fishing trip, download all the video and picture files from your large capacity microSD card.  For photo editing, I use GIMP.  And for video editing, I use GoPro Studio. Both are free and run on multiple operating systems.

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Skishing with Grip Studs

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When skishing, I prefer long split fins for maximum propulsion with minimal effort.  My Tusa fins provide just that.  But!  Like other long split fins, they have soft 1/4″ thick heels— which is not a stable platform for studs.  Using high density polyethylene (HDPE), I made a cleat for each fin.   I pre-drilled 5/16″ holes into the cleats and threaded #1800 Grip Studs into the holes using the GripStuds tool on a power drill.  After securing the Grip Studs to the cleats, I mounted the studded cleats to the heels of my Tusa fins using marine epoxy and 3/4″ aluminum posts and screws.   In theory this fin traction solution should work.  Theory is good for academics.   When skishing, gear failure can be life altering.   I field tested this setup on the reacherous rocky shoreline of Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts while my friend Jonathan O’Connor worked my GoPro.

OMG!  The Grip Studs griped on the slippery rocks ornamenting the shoreline of Cuttyhunk Island without compromise!  The HDPE cleat kept the Grip Studs vertical whilst supporting my full body weight.  But, in order for this setup to work, your feet need to be all the way into the large “boots” of your fins.  This will keep your centre of gravity above the cleats, which helps you maintain your balance as you negotiate entry and exit over slippery rocks.   The marine epoxy failed to adhere to the HDPE under pressure.  It’s a good thing I had the aluminum posts and screws!  I have since completely removed the marine expoxy and added two additional aluminum posts and screws to each fin.

When it comes to negotiating a safe entry and exit across a rocky shore line, I trust my Portuguese bottom with field-proven Grip Studs.  No screws through soft 1/4″ thick rubber for me!

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CTS S8 Surf Series Custom Rod

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This past season I field tested the CTS S8 Surf Series (SE1201-2 12′ 2-4 oz) rod built by RH Custom Rods. Wow!  This rod has power!!  Fast current and big surf conditions is where this rod excels!!!

During my field tests at the cape cod canal, I was able to propel lures of various geometries and weights to great distances with minimal effort.  I out cast my neighbors 2:1.

On my Cuttyhunk trip, it was raining horizontally and the wind was blowing with a determination to knock me off my rock. The one plug that I was able to cast through the wind was a generously weighted needle fish from Striper Maine-iac.  With the same reel, line, and plug, I was able to out cast my previously go-to rod by 3:1!

Fish360 CTS S8

The rod is 12 feet in length, but it’s so light that it feels more like an 10 foot rod.  After four hours of non-stop casting: no back pain and no arm or shoulder strain.  The carbon helix core and zoned action gives the S8 Surf Series rod the optimal balance between casting distance, weight, and power.  Bottom line, my new CTS S8 Surf Series rod built by RH Custom Rodsis wicked! 😉

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AquaSkinz Leader Wallet

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Before I go fishing (saltwater, freshwater, or hardwater), I always pre-tie my leaders and rigs.  I use to organize them in small Ziplock bags. This simple leader and rig management solution works.  But, it’s not Eco-friendly and managing a lose collection of Ziplock bags whilst fishing is unnecessarily challenging.  I am now use the AquaSkinz leader wallet.

Fish360 AquaSkinz Leader Wallet

The AquaSkinz leader wallet can hold six leaders or rigs in it’s heavy duty re-openable pouches.  There is a respectable amount of space in between the pouches to store additional leaders or rigs.  I keep my “next” leader or rig in one of these spaces for quick access.

Fish360 AquaSkinz Leader Wallet

The AquaSkinz leader wallet can be secured to your belt by using the beltloops on the back of the leader wallet or by clipping it to a stainless steel D-Loop.  When I am rock hopping in the surf or skishing, I secure my AquaSkinzleader wallet to my belt by using the loops.  When I am Surfcasting at the water’s edge or freshwater/hard water fishing, I secure my AquaSkinz leader wallet to the stainless steel D-loop on my belt via clip.

Fish360 AquaSkinz Leader Wallet

When I go plugging, I load up my AquaSkinz leader wallet with 50 and 80 lb Ande monofilament leaders.  When I go chunking, I load up with my AquaSkinzleader wallet with 80 lb Ande monofilament rigs (minus the hooks).  When I go freshwater and hardware fishing, I load up my AquaSkinz leader wallet with 10 and 20 lb flurocarbon leaders.  Bottom line, I never go fishing without myAquaSkinz leader wallet. 😉

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River Monsters River

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Have you seen an episode of Animal Planet’s River Monsters?  Jeremy Wade is a great story teller.  He hooks your attention at the begging of the episode and reels you in slowly until the very end.  In his book River Monsters True stories of the ones that did not get away, Wade shares his personal stories of chasing 16 different river monster species.  Yes!  16 species!!

River Monster by Jeremy Wade

I have seen many episodes of Animal Planet’s River Monsters.  But, reading the stories in Wade’s book has given me a greater understating and appreciation of the challenges of landing river monsters.  You not only need strong angling skills and top gear, but also a healthy appetite for taking risks. Jeremy Wade is a true scientist driven by a curiosity to learn what swims in our rivers.

In his stories, Wade is honest, open, and personal.  And at times, terribly funny.  If you target trophy fish, River Monsters True stories of the ones that did not get away by Jeremy Wade is a must read! 😉

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