1st trout off a lure: 10.23.2011

This Rainbow Trout was the first I've ever caught off a lure.
The bro caught his FIRST FISH ever off a LURE on his FIRST cast of the day.

1 John

1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Pier Fishing DAY 1: Coast Guard Pier

So I've had the fishing itch for a long time now, and seeing as it's a little bit of a drive to any good freshwater fishing spots, I was stumped. Last Saturday was Fleet Week, and as you can tell (dear reader) from post before this that I gleaned quite a lot of info from Denny. So I thought, why not try pier fishing?

So I look up some piers and decide to head out to Coast Guard Pier in Monterey. Line in about 2:55, and within 5 minutes get a small black or blue perch. Within the half-hour I get 5 of these guys, all too small (about 6 inches). Then the Coast Guard people say they're shutting down the pier for about an hour and a half for "flare exercises." We all go in front of the black gates and start fishing. This is when I started talking to Wind, Alex, LaMarque, Terry, and finally Sergio. Got a lot of good stuff from the locals. That's what Stevie G. said: "Talk to the locals!"

Anyway, they finally open the gates and we all go back. We had discussed two different strategies:
1. Casting in the gap between the rocks and kelp
2. Casting over the kelp and letting the tide bring the rig in.

I caught all 6 of my little black/blue perch using the first strategy, and then about 1/2 hour before closing time (the pier closes at sundown), I tried the second strategy, using squid only (I'd caught 5 of the six perch on bloodworms, and the other one on squid). I cast over the kelp, got my line tight, and about 30 seconds later this guy got on:

It's inevitable that you're going to get snagged, but you just have to try to roll with it and watch your line and the kelp, making sure you know where your rig is in relation to the kelp and rocks at all times. This is why (so far) I've seen that only one pole is needed for this type of fishing. The bites can be very small, and sometimes the small fish peck at your bait so much it'd be impractical to have more than one.

The diversity of ethnicities of the fisherman (locals) who I talked to was quite interesting. Here's the rundown:
   LaMarque: African-American
   Sergio: Mexican-American
   Alex: Caucasian
   Terry: Asian-American
   Wind: Old Chinese Guy (in a motorized chair)

SF Fleet Week 2011: Jets and Fishing Tips

Woke up at 5:45 ante meridiem. Ate breakfast and after Jer came to out house, we headed out.
Get to our spot across from the Marina Green (after parking under the bridges about a 15-minute walk down) which happened to be quite packed out, and one of the first things I see is an Asian guy with a super-thin 8 or 9-foot fishing pole. So I go over there and start talking with him.

As it turns out, Denny is from Hong Kong, here for 2 half-year stays in the States while his sister gets her art degree. I picked his brain for as much info as I could. Here are some tidbits of info:

1. He was using yellow (not sure what type...his accent was pretty thick) 20-lb. braided line, and a 20-lb. fluorocarbon leader.
2. His hooks were about a size 12. (This was because he was targeting perch and smaller such fish.)
3. He started with 2 hooks above a small egg sinker, then switched to a sliding weight (still lightweight), swivel, then hook.
4. He stated that the former rig is for more advanced fisherman because it's more sensitive to the bite, but that the latter rig is easier and is better for novice fisherman. This was because the first rig is more direct to the pole and thus more sensitive, while with the second rig you tend to feel the bite less, and (I'm guessing) the fish might thus be on longer, meaning it's probably on when you start reeling in.
5. He's had the same experience where the fish will bite/swallow the bait, but stay next to the bait, so you don't even know he's on. You might wait forever until you think there's nothing there or you want to check your bait, but then you find out he's on. This has happened before in my experience with rainbow trout.
6. Most of the smaller fish tend to stay close to the shore around the rocks, because the crabs and smaller bait fish tend to stick around the same area. It's very logical, as much of what he said was...you just have to think like a fish.
7. Therefore, over-casting is often unnecessary and a waste of time. However, when going for the bigger fish (such as striped bass), it's good to cast as far as possible.
8. He usually uses a bobber (I thought he was saying "bubble" with his thick accent) when fishing, as it's much easier to find the fish this way. This is the way he usually finds them:
     a. Adjust the bobber to the depth where the sinker and bait are touching/dragging along the bottom. This way, the fish have the highest chance to see it. He stated that "90% of the time, the fish you're targeting are going to be bottom feeders." This is different from what I'd think of when using a bobber when going after trout (you want the bait maybe a foot or two below the surface) or bass with a worm.
     b. Using the clock/angles method, cast out short, longer, longest (etc.) Keep in mind that you're also adjusting the depth of the bait along the bottom.

Here's a photo of one of the perch Denny caught:

That's all I can think of for now...oh, and the Super Hornet had a SICK shock cone on his high speed pass.

Here are some shots I took fr/ Fleet Week:

SCRIPT for Copyright: Cooper Std
SIZE: 72p

For posterity...

Italy: 2008
Fishing: 2009
Volleyball: Fall 2010

Knee Pads = More confidence?

So I'm on my school's Intramural volleyball team, and the way the team's set up will have me playing the position of libero. I had no idea what the libero did, but after some research (googling and such), I've got some good info.
The libero gets most of the free balls, serve receives, and basically all the balls he/she can get to. You've gotta be a stellar passer and oftentimes have to set if the setter gets first ball. You also have to be a good digger and cover for the swingers, so this job includes getting horizontal for many points.
Reading this, I bought some Asics Rally knee pads at Big5 for $17 and change. Wore them on the court tonight and loved them! They're really comfortable, and didn't really slide down my legs at all (it was minimal movement if that), and in addition, we stayed on the court for the first 2 hours! It was pretty SICKKKKKKK.
I found that I'm more comfortable and confident anticipating and diving for more balls because I know I've got knee protection. Before, I used to give maybe 85 or 90% off of free balls, but now I'm going for every ball I can get to, which is what the libero is supposed to do.
Next up is dedicated volleyball shoes, which run anywhere from about $80 and up. It's an investment for sure, as I'd only be wearing them for volleyball and specifically in gyms.

Anyways, I got some good swings in tonight, and a sweet kill (tip) on left front over 2 blockers.
'Twas an eventful night!

Manning...UP: the 3rd brother?

Man up.
"Just between you and me, I've got something to say.
I want to get it straight before the sun goes down."
If you're in the wrong, make it right.
God won't forgive you if you've got something between somebody and you know it's your fault.

Learn to say, "I'm sorry." Admit your mistake.
If marriage is in the future, you're going to have to do it more, so learn now.
The learning process...it never ends.

Practice what you preach, and learn that it's not the weak but the strong who admit they're wrong.
That there is forgiveness and healing and restoration that come from Him Who knows you and everything about you.
Do it. Just do it. Learn to do it.
I'm in the wrong. I'm sorry. Let's move onward and upward.
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." Philippians 3:13

Let's move on.
It's a new day.
His mercies are new every day, every morning, and how we need them each and every day!

Just as you are. Just as he is. Just as I am.

No longer as an interest.
No longer as the one.

I saw no alternative.
I'm sure you didn't want me.

Was it true then?
I'm guilty of the same things.
We're in the palm of a hand making a fist.

Maybe you were born for this time, this day.
Maybe your hands were made to bring healing.

Watching and waiting.
Will it happen? Will this happen?
Is it set in stone? Predestined to happen whether one likes it or not?

Learn to breathe. Learn to crawl.
Make it a habit.
Make it something you believe in, not something told or taught to you.
Make it yours. Own it. It's yours to take.

Faith without action is dead, as it's written.
Don't forget what you saw in the reflection, in the glimpses past.

The tongue is the rudder, and words the tool.
The Psalms to deal with God, the Proverbs to deal with men (B.G.).

Now that I have seen I'm responsible.
I will tell them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Just sever all ties. It wasn't meant to be.
You've done all you can, now let it be.
Intercede. Ponder. Don't give yourself away.
Guard your heart. It's the only one you've got.
It's the only one you've got.