Water timer on Turtle Creek Circle

First things first.  After turning the dial two notches to the left, the clock may take a few moments before it displays the percentage of water it will deliver.  I have it currently set at 70% (February) with three watering times daily.  Only one station waters almost all of the back yard, with a duration of ten minutes.

Figure 1.  Timer in operation mode

 In June July and August, if the plants look a bit dry, I suggest increasing the % of water delivered adjusting as seen in Fig 2.

Figure 2. Timer in seasonal water adjustment mode. with thumb on the increase button.

Turtlehead Peak

Red Rock Canyon Nat'l Recreation Area
February 19, 2015.  65 degrees at 11 a.m.  A challenging 2000' climb up a warm sun soaked ravine, amid century agave, yuccas, mormon tea, sage, cacti, daisies and dozens of other nameless plants.  We're not in Kansas, Toto.

Streaked azure over Turtle Head Peak

A bunch of Rocks

More Rocks

On top of Turtle Head looking north. -ish

Wow?  Wow.

Victory!

This old bike

Coastal cutthroat

Again, our favorite fishing hole, Feb 4, 2015.  Water levels middling, clarity good to maybe 3.5', color green without mud/dirt.

A 12" coastal cutthroat took the hook but didn't show much interest in fighting for its freedom, as it must have read the fishing guide (catch and release).  The small #2 hook seemed big for this sleek fish.  Once unhooked, it grinned and swiftly jetted off.  Nice not to get skunked and to know that beginner's luck can return.

A snagged lure is not always a lost lure anymore.

I just found the solution to snagged lures.

Tip #1.  Interpose a lighter test loop of monofilament between your hook and the wire loop.  If using 8# test in your reel, use 2# test mono.  I use 12# test since I have 30# braided on my reel.

Tip #1.  Or you can tie a single strand between hook and wire loop.  Then you can use 6# test.

Tip #2:  I attach a split ring to the hook, because the mono likes to work itself into the joint of the hook eye.

I tossed my lure into a tree, where it snagged.  I pulled hard and got all but the hook and the split ring.

I am re-configuring all the lures to incorporate a mono strand or loop.

Update Feb 5, 2015:  Latest trip snagged two lures, losing the hooks.

Fourteener Dec 16, 2014

Here 'tis:

14 lb silver salmon landed Tuesday December 16, 2014.  It's head is as big as mine.  Photo taken by Gary R.

Beautiful day on the river.  Notwithstanding someone taking a slide down the bank into the river.

Altering waders--big feet, normal leg length.

People with big feet, normal leg length and medium build have a problem.   I have waders in size 12 boot for my size 11.5 feet, but with legs about 3" longer than I need.  The "stout" size waders offered by some makers better matches normal leg length with big feet, but while also making the torso size about 8 inches greater than needed for a medium built body.

A brief web search shows that no one on the web has a method of altering these.  I thought briefly about cutting and re-gluing the legs, but a small gap in re-gluing would result in a leak.  The next solution:  fold down the neoprene pant leg on itself, and glue it down.

The process:

1. put on waders, stand up and fold down the amount of pant leg that makes them fit as desired.
2. Mark the bottom of the fold and the bottom section where the fold stops.  both lines should go all the way around the pant leg.
3. With a sharp knife, cut the fabric cover of the neoprene on the lines.
4. Carefully pull up on the fabric between the lines, leaving the neoprene exposed.
5. Apply contact cement ($5 at Home Depot) to the neoprene.  Do this is a well ventilated area.
6. Wait 10 minutes for the cement to get tacky.  
7. Press the neoprene together, matching the cut edges of the fabric neoprene cover.
8. Turn the pant leg inside out enough to expose the fold inside.  Cut away the fabric that touches and glue as in 5 and 6 above.

I'll soon know how this works.