January 22, 2010

by admin on January 21, 2010

Vic with a Steelhead on the Salmon River in New York

A few years ago I went fishing with a couple of work buddies up to Syracuse, New York for the steelhead run on the Salmon River. We were out on the river at dawn with 6 wt. fly rods using imitation salmon egg flys. It wasn’t ice fishing, but it was cold fishing! It took me about 15 minutes to land this steelhead. I took him back home to Maryland and Sarah and I ate him!

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January 1, 2010 – Happy New Year

by admin on January 1, 2010

Happy New Year, Everyone!

I’m planning a lot more activity on the blog in the new year:

  • How-To Videos
  • Articles
  • Gear & Lure Sales
  • New Trends in Fishing

…and more!

Until then, enjoy this video on ice fishing from Canadian fishermen!
Ice Fishing in Canada

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December 18 – Marquesas Keys, FL. (Pt. 3)

by admin on December 18, 2009

Dave with Sam

Dave with Sam

November 20

Day 3 of our trip to the Marquesas: Up at 6:45 to watch the sunrise. We washed down the deck, and made a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, coffee and toast. John took dog Sam ashore for a bathroom break. Sam fishes too and keeps an eagle dog eye out for tarpon. Charlie threw a line from the boat and jumped a tarpon. Dave caught a nice mangrove snapper… and we lost another lure. Damn braid line is not working! But, every day is a good one when you’re fishing! Pulled anchor and headed due north of the Marquesas to night anchorage at Boca Grande. The engine is off and we sailed!

November 21

Vic Barothy

Vic Barothy

Another beautiful morning. It rained last night, which was a good wash-down for the boat. Took a walk ashore to give Sammy some shore legs. Lots of drift wood and fine sand, and I went for a swim. Three days into our trip we were getting kind of funky so I took a freshwater shower & had a shave.

We pulled anchor at 10:15 and headed out to Hawks Channel. Charlie trolling a feather bait. Depth about 15-20 ft. so we turned toward deeper water for bigger fish. Ballast Key was on the port side, water color started changing from the turquoise of shallow waters to the deep blue of the Gulfstream. It was a good swell and we saw a sailfish off the starboard bow. It was a beautiful fish to watch but not one we could go for since we were doing strictly light tackle. But, the site of that sailfish – wow. It was something else.

In the early afternoon we turned ENE back toward Key West. Slowed down to troll for mackerel off the Key West marina. Birds were everywhere. Guess they know their meal tickets in the boats that head back to shore. The fishing was great on this trip but it was also a catalyst for reuniting with old friends and meeting new ones.

Dave, John and Charles

Dave, John and Charles

John

John Duke

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Dec. 6 – Marquesas Keys, FL (Pt. 2)

by admin on December 6, 2009

Daybreak off the Marquesas

Daybreak off the Marquesas

Got up at 6:45 and saw the sun rise. Charlie caught another yellowtail and a small red grouper. We pulled anchor and heading 270 degrees toward the Marquesas with clear skies and winds 10-15. Mackerel off the bow so we put out lines.

A few interesting facts: the Marquesas are a coral atoll, and the Attocha was found 9 miles WSW of the Marquesas called the Sands.

Reached the Marquesas mid-morning and went in by skiff. Had two lines out and lost several lures. I was using braid and braid does not like a fisherman knot! Saw several bonefish, and and had quite a few barricuda hookups. Late afternoon we moved over to an entrance channel and I caught a Jack while trolling on the way in.

Jumped two tarpons casting. One was about 30 lbs. and it threw the hook after 4 good jumps. I cast out again and hooked a smaller one, maybe 15-20 lbs. That one also threw the hook after about 3 jumps. What a rush! John caught a nice mangrove snapper, Charlie caight a bluefish off the stern – and we had instant dinner! Heading out again at first light to try again for tarpon.

Charles with Red Grouper

Charles with Red Grouper

The Bonefish Flats

The Bonefish Flats

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December 1 – Marquesas Keys, Fl (Pt. 1)

December 1, 2009

Located about 30 miles west of Key West, the Marquesas Keys are a group of mangrove islands and flats that make up part of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. Up until about 1980 the area was used as a bombing range by the USN (and an occasional wreck or underwater shell can still be [...]

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November 29 – Outer Banks, NC

November 29, 2009

Two days after I returned from the Keys, my wife and I joined our friends Jacky and Bryan for Thanksgiving in Sanderling, near Duck, in the Outer Banks. Not ever having been to the area before, but knowing we had a house right on the beach, I  brought along my ultra light and light-tackle rods [...]

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November 20 – Boca Grande Key, Florida

November 20, 2009

Victor reports that after leaving Ballast Key on Thursday, the Dreamcatcher went around the Marquesas Key and anchored last night off the SE corner.
Today they motored in closer and fished in the channel catching snapper (for dinner tonight), barracuda, and tarpon.
Charlie and Victor were planning on taking a float this afternoon in the long boat [...]

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November 18 – Ballast Key, Florida

November 19, 2009

First night out from Key West on the Dreamcatcher. We anchored at Ballast Key, a magnificent private island owned by Charlie’s uncle. Caught a barracuda from the pier, and yellow tail and  mutton snapper from the back of the boat. Yellow tail for breakfast this morning! Afterwards we’re pulling anchor and heading out to the [...]

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November 16 – and Beyond!

November 16, 2009

Tomorrow I’m flying to Florida to meet my old friends Capt. John Duke and Charles Greenfield for a trip out to the Marquesas Keys, 30 miles west of Key West. We’ll be aboard Capt. John’s schooner the Dreamcatcher (see link under “Vic’s Favorites) scouting out the light-tackle fishing potential for the area. Stop back for [...]

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November 11 – Nolands Ferry/MD/VA

November 11, 2009

Went to on the Noland’s Ferry a few days ago before the remnants of  Tropical Storm Ida bore down on the DC area.
Noland’s Ferry is about 4 miles east of Point of Rocks on the Potomac; a national park with picnic tables, hiking trails, and a steep boat ramp where I threw a couple of [...]

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