Gone fishing on my bike

I was thinking to go to see my friend on my Brompton on Saturday, but the storm was coming through, so I gave up that idea.

The weather turned out to be great today, so I went fishing on my bike this time.  It was nice to cycle along the river in a lovely weather. In terms of fishing, I got one decent bream which I unfortunately drooped before I managed to take photo (so, I have uploaded a photo of a small bream that I got on Friday instead).

土曜日は、自転車に乗って友達に会いに行こうかと考えていたのですが、天気は、午後から雷雨という予報だったのでサイクリングは止めにしました（予報の通り、３時くらいから空が真っ黒になって雨が降り出しました）。

日曜の今日は、快晴。という事で自転車に乗って家の近くの川へ。釣りの方は、写真を撮る前に逃げられた３４センチくらいのクロダイが一匹。金曜日の夕方は、ベイトが沢山いて魚の反応も良かったのですが、どうやら土曜日の雨でベイトはどこかに移動してしまったようです。

A small bream I got on Friday

a tyre tube and tools I bought the other day

Penguin Island Field Day

I went to our fly fishing club's Penguin Island field day today.

Actually  I didn't make it to the island.

By the time Mike and I got to the jetty to cross to the island around 10:30, other members were already coming back from the Penguin Island.

Apparently some got a few small fish including novelty fish like flounder that I have never caught , but fishing had been slow on the island side since early morning. 

So, after having coffee, we moved to the Point Peron.  We didn't see any fish at start, then a few schools of kahawai went pass like lightning.  Luckily I managed to hook up one nice fish, and it was fun and exciting to fight it on my little fly rod.

Mike and I went to  a little bay at Safety Bay first

A drop off looked good but we found no fish

An interesting rock at the Point Peron

Kawahai that I landed

It became a big pile of fish fritters later

Fly fishermen lining up along the reef edge

Lensbaby Double Glass Optic

I have hired Lensbaby with Double Glass Optic for this weekend, and here are some photos I took today.  

It is an interesting lens unit and fun to use. I think our school kids will love it. They seem to have fascination for those images created with fish-eye lenses, toy cameras and so on.

For me, however,  I don't think I can see myself using the lens unit every time I go out, at least when I go fishing. Unless I catch a beautiful mermaid, I won't need a soft focus lens or something giving me bokeh or the blur in the shape of a love heart.

I would probably get a new pancake lens from Canon, if I have money to spare on a lens right now.

Lensbaby with Double Glass Optic

MSR Alpine Salt and Pepper Shaker

My mother in law came back from her Japan trip last week, and I got some souvenirs.

Here are salt and pepper shakers from MSR. These are small enough to fit inside of my cooking pot along with other camp cooking items like Trangia burner and Clikstand. I think I can carry enough salt & pepper and other exotic spices for a week long trip with two of these containers.

I also got a cute mini titanium spork from Snowpeak which can complement my pair of folding chopsticks which is also made by Snowpeak.  It looks small and fiddly, but it surprisingly fits nicely in my hand.

P.S.

I have been using theses MSR gizmos since, and I have found that holes on these are too small for things like large pieces of sea salt and ground black peppers, which I like to use, as well as other cooking herbs like basil and oregano. I have cut holes bigger and it seems they work better now.

Mini spork and salt & pepper shaker

The spork just fits inside of the chopstick bag

My Rapid River Waders

I finally got tired of my ever leaking Patagonia's wader, so I got a new one from L.L.Bean at the same time I ordered wading boots from them.

I have gone through several pairs of waders from Patagonia in the past, and every one of them started to leak along seams within the first season or so (8 to 14 months, I would say). The waterproof fabric also began to delaminate around a crotch area at the same time. It then became a matter of constant repair jobs with Aquaseal. I could have kept gluing to fix leaks on my last pair as I did in the past, however, this time, I had enough.

パタゴニアのウェーダーの水漏れには正直がっかりです。早い時には半年、一年も経つとシームの所から水がジワジワと漏れ始めます。そうこうしている内に、股の付け根の所が引っぱられるストレスで防水層が剥がれて、その後は、水漏れが発生する度に接着剤を塗って直す作業の繰り返しです。

これまで使ってきたパタゴニアのウェーダーの数着が全て同じ様な結末でした。そういうことで、もうパタゴニアのウェーダーには見切りをつける事にしました。

Repair jobs on my Water Master Waders

All waders fail soon or later, but for the high price of US$300 (plus $60 shipping to Australia), Patagonia can do a better job to design their waders along their wading boots, I think.

I am not using my waders to climb up the north face of the Eiger.  It is just something to keeps me dry while I am fishing. I have used other breathable waders in the past which were cheaper but lasted bit longer.  They were better on my pocket and on the planet.

Anyway, a new pair of waders that I got is called Rapid River Waders from L.L.Bean, and it was US$180 plus shipping. I am very interested to find out how it is compared against Patagonia's waders.

どんなウェーダーでも遅かれ早かれ水漏れが発生します。もちろん使い方にもよります。でも、アメリカドルで$３００、その上に、送料が＄６０もします。こんな大金を一年ちょっとしか持たないパタゴニアの水漏れウェーダーに払うのはもう嫌です。

ということで、前回L.L.Beanのウェーディングブーツをオーダーした時に、ウェーダーも買いました。＄１８０ドルのウェーダーが＄３００ドルのウェーダーと比べてどうなのか？　とても興味のある所です。

Rapid River Waders

It has a hand warmer pocket with fleece lining

Socks are thick and comfortable

Hooks seem to be fine with saltwater use

How I spend my Friday afternoon

I was on the Manduarh Estuary after school yesterday.

I cross the two bridges of Mandurah in the morning and afternoon, and for the past few days, I have been seeing sea gulls and terns being busy on the water cashing some bait. So I thought I should have a good chance to get some fish as well.

I fished for an hour or so, and I got some fish and kept two to take home.  I saw many small bait about 4 to 5cm long holding in the current which probably explains why smaller flies were working better than those bigger flies that I normally use for tailors, herrings and river kahawai.

Rain clouds were moving in

Pelican was chasing me to get my fish