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.  

Munn Lake

Wandering around Oly looking for a place to cast a lure.  Munn Lake, a year round fishing lake with boat ramp and internal combustion engines banned.  Below: Rainbow trout.  Catch and release only--they get to go home for dinner to grow bigger.

 ON a diy spinner lure.

Coho or steelhead?

I caught this fish 2014/12/19.  I cast a DIY spinner with orange sticker on the blade and an orange hook tube.  The fish took the hook about 15 yards downstream and pulled hard, taking out and giving back many yards of line for at least 10 minutes.  I walked downstream, taking back line until I got the fish to fight cross stream and even a little upstream from me.  Once it tired, I gently led the stubborn fish back up stream to where I could net it 20 minutes after hooking it.  Photo taken with a Kodak video camera, waterproof, but not very sharp.  This picture might help us identify the fish.  

Ben said, "Because of the forked tail I'm calling it a coho."
To which I replied,"Either way, wild ones go back to the river!
"Forked tail?  Um, the picture shows my hand grasping the tail base, which could give the appearance of a forked tail!  
"Fight over 20 minutes: 
"I don't have sufficient depth of fishing to say Chrome colored Coho can hide the white flag that long!  Gary R. thinks not. "

The lower jaw and tongue are white: steelhead.

The tail looks forked because my hand squeezes the rays together. If it looked like that without my hand, I'd agree with a coho i.d.  I cannot rely on this criterium for i.d.

The shape of the anal fin tells more:

1. on a trout (or steelhead, by implication) the tip of the anal fin reaches as far back as the base of the fin.   
2. On coho the tip falls slightly past the middle of the base.
In the picture above, after correcting for the frame cutting off the tip of the fin, I'd place the tip of the fin well within steelhead territory.

Evidence:  Mouth, anal fin, lateness in season, feistiness when hooked.
Verdict:  It's a steelhead!

I must quit the snide remark circuit

Why do I love F-a$$book?

Mark Hodgkins

November 19 at 6:37pm · Tumwater, WA · 

So who is going to Paradise on Mt. Rainier soon? I left some ski poles in the parking lot in September and the ranger has been keeping them in storage for me. Problem is, I don't see myself getting up there very soon due to injuries that will take me a while to recover from. Sure would appreciate it if someone can retrieve them for me. Let me know ahead of time so I can let the ranger know someone is picking them up. Thanks!!!!

LikeLike ·  · Share

• 

  Tim Romanski Now what fell off or isn't working?

  November 19 at 7:07pm · Like · 3
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  Janet Davidson You WILL recover, right? Hopefully, soon!

  November 19 at 7:56pm · Like
• 

  Carla Ahrens Have the Ranger mail then to you... you can pay it via cc?

  November 19 at 8:23pm · Like
• 

  Mark Hodgkins Just a temporary setback.

  November 19 at 8:40pm · Like
• 

  Mark Hodgkins Tim, I don't want to bore you with a long list.

  November 19 at 8:46pm · Like · 1
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  Hildreth Cooper Speedy recovery, "Doc."

  November 20 at 8:18pm · Like
• 

  Jeffrey Wong I don't understand. The Park Service is storing them for free. Don't you really want someone to take more of your stuff up there for them to store, to free up some garage space? 

  Just now · Unlike · 1
• 

  Jeffrey Wong Yes, I did click "Like" on my last comment.

  Just now · Unlike · 1

Northwest Coast Trail, Olympic NP South section, again

Again with Ben, August 6 & 7, 2014

Pictures only.