Rescuing a 1987 17′ Aquasport: Part 3

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Ed Mitchell

Rescuing a 1987 17′ Aquasport: Part 3

Its been awhile since I reported on this adventure. As you may remember, back at the end of March my son rescued a 1987 17′ Aquasport. Click on these links to see the first post and the second post. For a variety of reasons no additional progress has taken place until now. But the next step is underway. And most notably it involves the old transom.

Rescuing a 1987 17′ Aquasport

The hull itself looked pretty solid, but we knew right from the start that the transom was a major question mark. The left side had an odd wavy texture indicating it had been sloppily patched at some point in the past. So there was no question the transom needed investigating and might have to be replaced. As you can see in the top photo, my son first removed the last 18″ of flooring leading to the transom. This gave him access to the full interior backside of the transom.

The Transom Removed

My son believes the previous owner had used a “pourable” transom patch to solve a structural issue. Unfortunately the patch was not properly applied. There were voids in the material. Not good. And as I mentioned earlier, the exterior of the patch was heavily bulged.

At that point, using a carbide blade, my son cut the transom out. As you may be able to see, my son left on about two inches on either side of the opening to provide attachment points for a new transom.  How that will be built is under discussion. But the rescue is moving forward.  Onward.

 

 

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Foam Ice Floats for Holding Flies?

Posted on June 11, 2021 by Ed Mitchell

Foam Ice Floats for Holding Flies?

Foam Ice Float for Holding Flies?

My friend Phil showed me a novel idea. Using a foam ice float to hold flies. Not sure where he can across this trick, but he tells me it is popular on the internet. News to me.

These dowel shaped foam floats are intended  for ice fisherman. Why? They don’t ice up as fast as conventional bobbers. Plus they are cheap and widely available in a variety of lengths. I think the ones in the photo are 4″ Rod-N-Bobbs MR4YC Mr Ice Bobber. But there are plenty of others brands to chose from. look around.

As you would expect, at one end of the float there is a clip to attach your line. This clip, however, also permits a fly angler to attach the foam float to his or her vest,  or to a lanyard for that matter. Should work in a boat or a kayak too. Hey the sky is the limit.  Have fun with it. You might even want to clip it to your rearview mirror. Who knows? Or go ice fishing.

Like novel ideas? I came up with this stripping basket awhile back. Check it out.

Collapsible Dish Rack – Stripping Basket

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Dave gets a Red on his Helios 7wt

Posted on June 8, 2021 by Ed Mitchell

Dave gets a Red on his Helios 7wt

Just heard from my buddy Dave down Punta Gorda way. Man, he is a fishing machine! Great angler. He sent me this picture of redfish he got on his new Orvis Helios 3 fly rod. As you can see from the skies, the rainy season is underway down in Punta Gorda. And the color of the water is another solid clue.

Dave gets a Red on his Helios 7wt

His new rod is a Helios 3F, 9′, 4 piece, 7wt, courtesy of his stimulus check. Orvis makes  Helios 3 rods in both F and D models. The 3F being called a “finesse” action and the D a distance tool. Now Dave is a sight-fishing fanatic; hunting “tailing” reds is in his blood. So naturally he went with the “F'”. It was the smart choice.

Orvis calls their Helios 3 rods super light, but I can’t find an actual published weight. Ummm, seems odd. It may be a marketing strategy as rods weights have been a battleground between manufacturers before. Orvis and Sage locked horns years back. Still Dave tells me the rod is in fact light in hand, a great caster, accurate, and a “blast” on “tailers”. Adding that it reminds him of the old Scott STS. He and I both liked those rods. Dave went on to say that he knows some tarpon anglers that love the 10wt Helios 3. Well given that Dave is gifted angler with oodles of experience, those Helios 3s must quite good.

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My Son Found some Schoolie Bass

Posted on June 6, 2021 by Ed Mitchell

My Son Found some Schoolie Bass

A few days back, my son took his kayak down to the mouth of the Connecticut River. Things have been pretty slow, but this time he found some schoolie bass.

My Son Found Some Schoolie Bass

He tells me the tide was slack high and the bass were pushing bait up in the weeds. Where lucky egrets were scarfing down anything the bass missed. You gotta love it. Using his new Wild Water fly rod, the one I told you about awhile back, he landed several stripers. Nothing huge, but it must been fun. Nice going.

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American Angler’s Digital Version goes Belly Up

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Ed Mitchell

American Angler’s Digital Version goes Belly Up

American Angler’s Digital Version goes Belly Up

Not long ago, I posted on the demise of American Angler’s print edition. Well guess what? Back in July, American Angler’s digital version went belly up too. Granted I’m way the hell late in reporting it, but felt all along it was inevitable. Here’s former editor Greg Thomas’ final thoughts.

When American Angler stopped the presses and shut off the lights, the writing was on the wall. (terrible pun) The magazine wasn’t making moola. Frankly I doubt even American Angler’s parent company, Morris Publications, is on rock solid ground. Publishing is a troubled business, my friend. Many are called, but few are chosen.

Well, I guess the Coronavirus fiasco was a factor. Yeah, the bat bug gave the fly-fishing industry a blackeye. Retail shops had to close, at least temporarily. I bet some went belly up too. Guides, a fragile business to begin with, got an avalanche of cancellations. Some of which landed at the height of the fishing season. Even the big boys like Orvis and Sage had to mask up and shut down. And the worst of it landed in the fly-fishing travel industry’s lap. Man, they got both barrels. Anglers didn’t want to travel and even if they did airlines and lodges were closed.

On another level I would have thought our yearlong hermitage might have given American Angler a new lease on life. Internet traffic soared. Man, some states experienced upwards of nearly a 50% increase in internet traffic. The UK had nearly an 80% boost in demand. People were on their desk tops; on their laptops; on their IPads; on their mobile phones – all wandering the web. And sportfishing saw a huge surge during the Coronavirus. Folks hit the water in record numbers. Yes, fly-fishing is the smallest segment of sportfishing, but it saw growth too. Believe me. In fact, it may be at its highest level in a long, long time.

Still done is done. The magazine had a long wonderful ride, dating back some 40 years. Born under the name Fly Tyer, it was the brainchild of Dick Surette working out of his fly shop in North Conway New, Hampshire (Now called North Country Angler). Slowly it morphed into American Angler & Fly Tyer, and then simply American Angler. May American Angler rest in peace.

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