Dr. Ishigaki’s Tenkara Flies

In my previous post, I told about my trip last weekend to the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum to see Dr. Ishigaki present and demonstrate tenkara. It was a great experience. After the demo, I presented Dr. Ishigaki with a replica of an 18th century fly I tied – complete with a horsehair snell. He was delighted and in return, gave me 2 of his tenkara flies – right out of his personal fly box! It turns out that he only fishes one pattern, in multiple colors, usually size 12. Tenkara is more “presentation” than … Continue Reading

Tenkara – How my blog introduced me to Japanese fly fishing

テンカラ – Tenkara

Yesterday, my son Nick and I drove 4 hours (each way) to the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum in Livingston Manor, NY to see Dr. Hisao Ishigaki give a presentation and demonstration on tenkara fishing (Japanese fly fishing). How I learned about this event and tenkara fishing is an interesting story in itself!

Followers of my blog might have seen a comment made last Thursday (May 21) by CM_Stewart on my Horse-hair Fly Line post. “Chris”, as it turns out, is an early practitioner of tenkara here in the US. He is interested in horse hair … Continue Reading

Soccer Photos of the Week

It was another beautiful weekend of spring soccer in New England. The theme this week is “goal”. All three photos show a goal scoring play.

Pick 1

Description

A little skirmish with the keeper

Shooting Conditions

Camera model: Canon EOS 40D 
Lens: Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal length: 100 mm
Exposure: 1/1250 at f/5.6
Exposure mode: Manual
ISO speed: ISO 400
Metering mode: Spot

Pick #2

Description

Right place at the right time.

Shooting Conditions

Camera model: Canon EOS 40D 
Lens: Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS USM… Continue Reading

Soccer Photos of the Week

Week of 5/9/2009. Only had 2 games this weekend.

Pick #1

Description

Quite the stride there. That’s my son Nick bringing it to the goal.

Shooting Conditions

Camera model: Canon EOS 40D 
Lens: Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal length: 190 mm
Exposure: 1/1250 at f/5.6
Exposure mode: Manual
ISO speed: ISO 400
Metering mode: Spot

Pick #2

Description

Is it karate or is it soccer? Socrate? Karaccer?

Shooting Conditions

Camera model: Canon EOS 40D 
Continue Reading

Soccer Photos of the Week

Another catch-up post, this time from the seek starting on Saturday 5/2.

Pick #1

Description

A nice “airplane” shot! This shot led to a goal.

Shooting Conditions

Camera model: Canon EOS 40D 
Lens: Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal length: 100 mm
Exposure: 1/1250 at f/5.6
Exposure mode: Manual
ISO speed: ISO 320
Metering mode: Spot

Pick #2

Description

Another partial airplane shot – flaps extended!

Shooting Conditions

Camera model: Canon EOS 40D 
Lens: Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS USM… Continue Reading

Soccer Photos of the Week

I’m a little behind on my posting! This post is for photos taken from Saturday 4/25 to Friday. Overall, it was great weekof spring soccer!

Pick #1

Description

Believe it or not, the ref called this on us (maroon). It almost looks like the player in green is going for a dive, almost.

Shooting Conditions

Camera model: Canon EOS 40D 
Lens: Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal length: 160 mm
Exposure: 1/1000 at f/5.6
Exposure mode: Manual… Continue Reading

Horse-hair Fly Line

fysshyngI have been studying the history of fishing for several years to learn more about the rods, flies and techniques used by early anglers. There are many early books that have survived , including “A Treatyse of  Fysshyng with an Angle” attributed to Dame Juliana Berners and originally published in 1496! The contemporary ”The Compleat Angler” by Izaac Walton, originally published in 1653 and a second part added by his friend Charles Cotton (gotta love that hair!). These works … Continue Reading

Soccer Photos of the Week

It’s that time again! This weekend was drizzly, cold, windy and overcast – perfect to challenge a weekend photography warrior! I had lots of photos to choose from this weekend though. After reviewing the shots in detail, I thought a good theme would be “holding”. The referee did not call either of these.

Pick #1

Description

Maybe not so blatant holding in this shot but in the next 2 frames the bright red player had a pretty good grip on our player’s jersey!

Shooting Conditions

Camera model: Canon EOS 40D … Continue Reading

Fly Fishing on the Squanacook

I got a bit of time to fish my favorite stretch of the Squanacook today. It was a bright sunny day (65°) with a light breeze. I got to my favorite section and there were 2 bait fishermen there – one upstream and one downstream from “my” spot. Their bobbers drifted slowly down stream.

I looked around and noticed little black stoneflies laying eggs on the water. The female hits the water with a splat and skitters across the surface – upstream, downstream, with the wind, against the wind – what ever direction they want. One even landed on my thumb, … Continue Reading

Got up at the crack of dawn to lose 2 flies & catch 1 trout

I met my friend Dave on the Squanacook below Townsend Harbor dam this morning at 6:30am. It was cold! I worked my way downstream to an area where a large log crossed the stream and created a pool. Caught my only rainbow under that log. I got off to a rough start – catching trees along the bank.