Thursday 31 January 2013

Biologists campaign to save fish

Biologists campaign to save fish

By Tang Chia-ling, Chung Li-hua and Jason Pan / Staff reporters, with Staff writer

A Napoleonfish, an endangered species, is pictured in this undated photograph.

Photo provided by Taiwanese Coral Reef Society

Marine biologists and conservation groups yesterday launched a signature drive for a petition urging the government to add two endangered bulbous-head fish species to the protected species list.
The petition will ask the Council of Agriculture to add the Napoleonfish and the Bumphead Parrotfish onto the Schedule of Protected Species List under the Wildlife Conservation Act (野生動物保育法).
The Napoleonfish is also known as the humphead wrasse, and its name in Chinese means “dragon king fish.” The bumphead parrotfish — Bolbometopon muricatum — is also known as the double-headed parrotfish. Both species are slow growing and long-lived, with delayed reproduction and low rates of replenishment.
“The number of these two fish species still left is lower than the number of Chinese white dolphins in the waters around Taiwan’s west coast,” Taiwanese Coral Reef Society (TCRS) chairperson Cheng Ming-shou (鄭明修) said.
TCRS secretary-general Chang Ming-lung (張銘隆) said that both the Napoleonfish and the bumphead parrotfish are considered giant species of the marine reef community, and they used to be quite common in the coral reefs near the shores of Taiwan.
However, they are now on the brink of extinction, after many years of unregulated harvesting by fishermen and spear fishing by recreational divers, he said.
“We estimate that there are only about 30 individuals of these two species left, which is less than the 66 recorded for the Chinese white dolphin in the Taiwan Strait,” he said.
“The Forestry Bureau held a meeting to discuss adding these two fish species to the Schedule of Protected Species List. However, Department of Fisheries officials thought there was insufficient data for assessment. So more data will need to be provided, and this issue will be put on the agenda of next month’s Wildlife Protection Advisory Committee meeting,” the head of the Forestry Bureau’s Protected Species Division, Guang Li-hao (管立豪), said.
It is quite alarming that it has been more than 10 years since a single Napoleonfish or bumphead parrotfish was sighted in the marine reef territories surrounding Taiwan and its offshore islands of Green Island, Lanyu (蘭嶼) and Penghu and recorded in the survey conducted by his organization, Chang said.
TCRS have sent letters to the Conservation Division of the Forestry Bureau, requesting to place Napoleonfish and bumphead parrotfish onto the Schedule of Protected Species List.
“My research programs focus on the waters around Kenting (墾丁) and the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島). During my diving expeditions over the past decade, I have rarely spotted the Napoleonfish,” said Chen Cheng-ping (陳正平), a Taiwan Ocean Research Institute researcher.
Cheng, who is a researcher at the Biodiversity Research Center of Academia Sinica, said the Napoleonfish was the largest fish in the nation’s coral reef ecosystem, and can weigh up to 200kg.
However, due to overfishing, “most Napoleonfish have been eaten. We hardly see them anymore in the waters surrounding Taiwan,” he said.
“The bumphead parrotfish is easy prey for fishermen, because it has a fixed habitat and keeps regular sleeping hours,” Cheng said.
Both of these species are excellent attractions that pull in tourists and divers to renowned tourist spots in coastal recreational parks around the world and protected marine areas around tropical islands, he said.


Full Article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/photo/2013/01/28/2008082939

Subhanallah! Keajaiban Alam Di Gurun Gobi (10 Foto)

Kira-kira 6 kilometer dari selatan bandar Dunhuang, China terdapat sebuah keajaiban alam yang mana ia mempunyai satu lanskap tasik yang sangat menarik. Ia juga turut dikelilingi dengan gunung pasir.

Melayukini.net – Subhanallah! Keajaiban Alam Di Gurun Gobi (10 Foto) | Kebiasaannya kita sering dibayangi dengan suasana gurun yang hanya berlatarkan tempat yang kurang menarik. Terdapat sebuah gurun yang terletak kira-kira 6 kilometer dari selatan bandar Dunhuang, China. Ia dikelilingi oleh gunung pasir menjadikan tempat ini satu keajaiban alam. Jika dilihat seolah-olah tempat ini menyerupai bentuk bulan sabit Sejak tahun 1960 kedalaman tasik disini terus menurun, tapi pada tahun 2006 kerajaan tempatan dengan bantuan kerajaan pusat mula memulihkan kembali kedalaman tasik ini. Jom lihat gambar di bawah ini.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Melayukini.net - Subhanallah, sungguh hebat ciptaan Allah. Terdapat sebuah tasik di tengah-tengah gurun tersebut. Apa yang menariknya, ia turut dikelilingi dengan gunung-gunung pasir. Alhamdulillah, pihak sana telah mengambil inisiatif mencantikkan lagi tempat tersebut walaupun ia jauh dan agak sukar untuk orang ramai bertandang ke sana.

 
 
Sumber: Conteng Kreatif | Koleksi Luar Biasa Dan Pelik Melayukini.net

Photo Shimano Stella


Underwater fish tornado off Baja California

Underwater fish tornado off Baja California

 
Fish tornado via Octacio Aburto
Fish tornado via Octacio Aburto

Photographer and marine biologist Octavio Aburto captured this amazing photo at Cabo Pulmo National Park in Mexico. He calls it “David and Goliath.”
 
 
We saw a fire tornado, and in recent months it’s been a photo of a “fish tornado” making the rounds. Photographer and marine biologist Octavio Aburto captured this amazing photo of the at Cabo Pulmo National Park in Mexico, in the course of studying the courtship behavior of a species of Jack fish. He titled it “David and Goliath.”
David and Goliath, by Ocatvio Aburto.
Cabo Pulmo is a large marine reserve in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez, located north of Cabo San Lucas on Baja California’s tip. Image via Wikipedia.
Aburto said he hopes the image will foster appreciation for the marine universe, for Cabo Pulmo National Park in particular, and will “bring attention to other successful marine reserves, especially in Latin America.”
Mission Blue has an interview with Aburto, explaining how his scientific background inspired him to snap the mysterious imagery. Among other things, Aburto said:
The picture you see was taken November 1, 2012. But this picture has been in my mind for three years — I have been trying to capture this image ever since I saw the behavior of these fish and witnessed the incredible tornado that they form during courtship. So, I guess you could say this image took almost three years.
Read Mission Blue’s interview with Octavio Aburto here.

Bottom line: Fish tornado photo – titled “David and Goliath” – taken off Cabo Pulmo National Park in Baja, California on November 1, 2012.


Full Article:  http://earthsky.org/earth/underwater-fish-tornado-off-baja-california

Sunday 27 January 2013

Visit GoFishTalk.com

Welcome To www.GoFishTalk.com

GoFishTalk is a social network for those who are passionate about fishing. Hook up with other fellow anglers to swap stories, post questions about fishing and best practices, share photos, tips, knowledge, ideas, surf forums to discuss fishing and more. Don’t be shy! Even if you're just starting to try out fishing or are a seasoned angler, get onboard and join us today! Start making new fishing buddies or maybe even reconnect with old ones! So once again, welcome!

Features:
  • Video Sharing
  • Photo Sharing
  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Free Biz Listing
  • Customise Your Own Page
  • Events and many more.




Visit the latest social-media Network

Web site: www.GoFishTalk.com
Email: gofishtalk@gmail.com

OCEAN PARADISE

OCEAN PARADISE

INGREDIENTSOne Dozen Scallops ( Or Prawns or pieces of Crayfish)
One Dozen Bite sized pieces of Fish ( Any Type and / or smoked fish).
Note: Any combination of seafood can be used.
One Half Cabbage.
Some Broccoli florets.
Some Cauliflower florets
Red Capsicum strips.
225 gram can of Pineapple Pieces in Juice.
Two Small eggs.
One small bottle of fresh cream.
Medium white wine.
Milk.
Cheese.
Breadcrumbs.
Paprika.
Ground black pepper corns.
Cooking.In a small saucepan, add 75ml of cream, 75ml of white wine, one handful of grated cheese,
one heaped teaspoon of Chicken Stock Powder. The Juice from the 225 gram can of pineapple. Heat gently and stir.( Do not allow to boil) Add enough cornflour and water to give the consistency of custard.
Take a medium size casserole dish and add the scallops and fish.




Then pour the sauce over the fish and scallops. Next add a layer of pineapple pieces.



Then add a layer of sliced broccoli florets.



Then add a layer of sliced cauliflower florets.



Then add some sliced red capsicum pieces.



Now fill Casserole Dish almost to top with shredded cabbage.

Take 100ml of milk, place in separate bowl, add two small eggs, and 50 gram of melted butter. Add a generous amount of cracked black pepper. ( To suit taste). Beat with eggbeater lightly.
Now pour this mixture over the shredded cabbage.



Grate enough cheese to cover top of casserole. Place in a container. Add breadcrumbs and toss, so that the cheese is well coated with breadcrumbs. Sprinkle over top of cabbage.



Now sprinkle the top with Paprika to suit taste.



Preheat oven to 200 degree's Celcius. Place casserole just below middle rung and bake for 30 minutes. Check to make sure that cheese on top is not getting overdone after 20 minutes. If you feel it is, just cover with a piece of tinfoil. You can alway's finish the top off under the grill if you wish. 30 minutes will give crunchy broccoli and cauliflower. Add another 10 minutes if you like your vegatables softer. The scallops and fish will not overcook. And the cheese on top seals in all the flavours.

Take casserole from Oven and let stand five minutes. This will let the mixture set.



Using a serving spoon, serve.

On this occassion I coupled Ocean Paradise with simple boiled potatoes. Using the white to set the dish off.

Please note that this dish without the added seafood ingredients and bottom sauce makes a very tasty vegetable alone dish.Simpley increase the milk to 200ml. And it can be made with Cabbage only. I often add mushrooms. Allow your mind to travel as to what goes in. It also reheats very well in the microwave if required.

And finally

Ocean Paradise is served. So many taste sensations you will think you are in Paradise. Hence the name I gave it.




Thanks to "Hardy" for this recipe.



Source:   http://www.fishing.net.nz/

Kisah Pemancing Terserempak Bunian Mandi (Seram!)

Sebagai seorang pemancing yang tegar, diganggu makhluk ketika memancing dianggap sebagai satu pengalaman yang cukup mencabar. Ada juga yang sudah lali dengan gangguan tersebut. Kini ada yang terserempak dengan bunian.
 
Melayukini.net – Kisah Pemancing Terserempak Bunian Mandi | Kegilaan kaki pancing terhadap hobi itu sudah lama diketahui. Mereka sanggup membelanjakan ribuan ringgit untuk membeli peralatan memancing sahaja.Ada pula yang mengambil cuti selama berminggu-minggu semata-mata untuk mencari lubuk ikan.Namun, di sebalik semua itu, cerita-cerita misteri sering melingkari kaki-kaki pancing tegar ini. Jurnal minggu ini berkesempatan berbual-bual dengan beberapa kaki pancing mengenai kisah pelik yang pernah mereka alami.Salah seorang daripada mereka ialah kartunis terkenal Ibrahim Anon, atau Ujang, 45.
 
 
Penggemar ikan kelah dan sebarau ini berkata dia pernah terserempak dengan harimau, gajah dan hampir dipatuk ular semasa memancing di Tasik Kenyir, Hulu Terengganu.
“Saya akan memancing di sana setiap tahun. Ngauman harimau sudah biasa didengar.
“Jadi untuk mengelakkan daripada bertembung dengan haiwan pemakan daging itu, kami kumpulan pemancing bergerak perlahan-lahan ke tempat lain.
Harimau
“Pantang harimau ialah jangan diganggu,” kata Ujang yang kini mengusahakan perniagaan berbentuk penganjuran aktiviti memancing.
Ceritanya lagi, tindakan yang sama juga dilakukan jika ternampak kelibat gajah.
Menyentuh mengenai kejadian aneh, Ujang memberitahu dia tidak pernah mendengar suara misteri apatah lagi terserempak dengan bunian.
UJANG hanya pernah terserempak kelibat gajah liar dan mendengar ngauman harimau.
“Mungkin itu perasaan kita sahaja. Paling penting niat kita adalah untuk memancing, bukan ada tujuan lain,” tegasnya yang hampir lemas dalam satu kejadian bot terbalik di Sungai Tembeling, Pahang tetapi mujurlah dia pandai berenang.
Seorang lagi kaki pancing, Ku Ahmad Adzam Ku Saud, 33, yang berasal dari Alor Setar, Kedah, pernah berasa seperti ada orang menepuk bahu kanannya semasa memancing di Taman Negara, Kuala Tahan, Pahang.
“Namun, apabila menoleh, tiada siapa di belakang saya.
“Pada mulanya saya fikir itu hanyalah khayalan tetapi perkara itu berlaku berulang kali menyebabkan saya percaya ia perbuatan makhluk halus,” kata penggemar ikan sebarau dan toman ini.
Bicaranya lagi, kejadian itu menyebabkan dia ketakutan dan kembali ke khemah semula.
Ku Ahmad demam selama beberapa hari selepas peristiwa itu.
“Saya juga pernah melihat gadis bunian sedang mandi. Dia kelihatan seperti wanita biasa tetapi kulitnya lebih putih dan berwajah cantik.
“Saya cuma nampak muka dan tapak tangannya. Tetapi itu sudah cukup untuk membuatkan saya terpikat,” katanya tersenyum.
Bagi Mohd. Suhaimi Abdul Karim, 29, yang berasal dari Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, dia hampir lemas selepas bot yang dinaiki bersama rakan karam semasa memancing di Pulau Sembilan, Perak.
Kejadian itu berlaku lima tahun lepas.
“Bayangkan pada masa itu saya dan tujuh orang rakan lain tidak memakai jaket keselamatan.
“Kami hanya berpaut pada badan bot tersebut dari pukul 12 tengah malam hingga 6 pagi sebelum diselamatkan.
“Selepas peristiwa itu, saya tidak lagi pergi memancing di laut,” katanya yang memberitahu bot tersebut bocor sebelum tenggelam.
Langsuir
Suhaimi juga mendakwa ternampak hantu langsuir semasa memancing di Taman Negara, Kuala Tahan.
“Ketika itu saya dan rakan-rakan berkhemah di hutan. Kami tidak nyenyak tidur kerana mendengar bunyi bising yang berulang kali.
“Namun, akhirnya mereka tertidur juga kerana terlalu penat kecuali saya.
“Saya sebaliknya keluar dari khemah untuk mencari arah bunyi tersebut.
“Sebaik sahaja dijumpai, saya terkejut kerana rupa-rupanya ada hantu langsuir sedang mengilai di atas sebatang pokok,” ceritanya.
Katanya lagi, hantu itu memakai pakaian putih, berambut panjang, matanya merah manakala giginya tajam.
“Akibat kejadian itu, saya demam panas selama beberapa hari,” ujarnya.
Mohd. Hanipah Wahi, 47, dari Sepang, Selangor pula menceritakan pengalamannya memancing di sebuah jeti lama di Bagan Datoh, Perak pada awal tahun 1990-an.
“Saya ke sana kerana rakan mengatakan kawasan itu terdapat banyak ikan. Jadi saya pergi seorang diri dengan menyewa sebuah bot.
“Hasil tangkapan cukup banyak tetapi apabila bercakap dengan orang kampung, mereka kata mereka tidak berani memancing atau menangkap ikan di situ kerana sering terserempak dengan hantu sungai,” katanya.
Melayukini.net - Kalau anda merupakan seorang yang minat membaca akhbar sisipan Joran, sudah mesti mempunyai satu kolum mengenai kisah-kisah pelik yang dihadapi oleh para pemancing ketika mereka sibuk mengail ikan. Tidak kiralah jumpa bunian atau apa sahaja, yang penting makhluk halus itu memang wujud.
 
 
Sumber: Harian Metro Online | Koleksi Fakta Dan Informasi Melayukini.net

Angling in Yellowstone National Park

Angling in Yellowstone National Park is a major reason many visitors come to the park each year and since it was created in 1872, the park has drawn anglers from around the world to fish its waters. In 2006, over 50,000 park fishing permits were issued to visitors.[1



Fly fishing in the Firehole river

Angling in Yellowstone National Park is a major reason many visitors come to the park each year and since it was created in 1872, the park has drawn anglers from around the world to fish its waters. In 2006, over 50,000 park fishing permits were issued to visitors.[1] The park contains hundreds of miles of accessible, high-quality trout rivers containing wild trout populations—over 200 creeks, streams and rivers are fishable. There are 45 fishable lakes and several large lakes are easily accessible to visitors.[1] Additionally, the park's remote sections provide anglers ample opportunity to visit rivers, streams, creeks and lakes that receive little angling pressure. With the exception of one specially designated drainage, all the park's waters are restricted to artificial lures and fly fishing. The Madison, Firehole and a section of the Gibbon rivers are restricted to fly fishing only.
Anglers visiting the park to fish will encounter cutthroat, rainbow, brown, brook and lake trout, mountain whitefish and arctic grayling. The park's fishing season runs from the Saturday in May associated with Memorial Day to the first Sunday in November each year. The National Park Service regulates angling in the park and classifies different fish available to the angler as either Native or Non-Native species. Any native species—cutthroat trout, grayling and whitefish—caught must be immediately released unharmed. Non-natives—rainbow, brown, brook and lake trout have different bag limits depending on the waters fished. Some non-natives are also subject to catch and release regulations and all lake trout caught in Yellowstone Lake or river must be killed. All hooks used in the park must be barbless or have their barbs pinched down. Many specific waters or sections of waters are closed either permanently for either safety reasons, wildlife management or to protect thermal features. The National Park Service may also enact emergency closures and restrictions because of low water, high temperatures or fires.
Anglers should always be familiar with the most current regulations, restrictions and closures. A Yellowstone National Park fishing permit is required to fish in the park. State licenses are not required.[2]
Angling supplies are available in the park's concession stores and in the towns associated with major entrances to the park—West Yellowstone, Montana; Gardiner, Montana; Jackson, Wyoming; Cody, Wyoming and Cooke City, Montana

History


A Mistress of the Gentle Art from A Woman's Trout Fishing in Yellowstone Park, 1897[3]

Cutthroat trout fishing at the outlet of Yellowstone Lake circa 1916[4]

Man fishing in the Yellowstone River, 1909
The original expeditions that explored the regions that ultimately became Yellowstone National Park in 1872 caught fish in many of its waters to supply themselves with fresh provisions. It wasn't long after the creation of the park, that park officials understood the importance of angling to visitors and the importance of creating a ready resource to supply hotels and camps within the park with fresh fish. This resulted in the first government stocking of native and non-native species in 1889 and continued with a variety of successful and unsuccessful stocking efforts until 1955 when all stocking programs in the park were discontinued. Today's park trout are completely wild populations. Many of the park's waters held no fish prior to government stocking operations which introduced mainly non-native species to the rivers and lakes and redistributed native species.[5] In fact, with the exception of the upper Yellowstone river drainage, all the lakes and streams above major waterfalls were devoid of game fish prior to government stocking operations.[6]
Trout have been planted in nearly all streams in the park except those that are tributary to Yellowstone River, and the experiment has been so successful that there are now but few places in this country where better sport can be had by the fisherman...In order that it may never be necessary to make any restrictions it is strongly urged that a small fish hatchery be established here. If this can be done the streams can be kept so full of trout that it will be impossible for the tourists to deplete them.
Captain John Pitcher, Acting Superintendent, 1901, [7]
Probably the most dramatic example of this is the Firehole River above Firehole Falls. When the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition camped on the shores of the upper Firehole in the fall of 1870, the river was barren of trout. The same was true of the Gibbon River and Gibbon Falls. Today, the upper Firehole is one of the premier angling destinations in North America. One of the earliest accounts of trout fishing in the park is from Mary Trowbridge Townsend's 1897 article in Outing Magazine A Woman's Trout Fishing in Yellowstone Park in which she talks about catching the Von Behr trout in the Fire Hole [sic] river.
Long dashes down stream taxed my unsteady footing; the sharp click and whirr of the reel resounded in desperate efforts to hold him somewhat in check; another headlong dash, then a vicious bulldog shake of the head as he sawed back and forth across the rocks. Every wile inherited from generations of wily ancestors was tried until, in a moment of exhaustion, the net was slipped under him. Wading ashore with my prize, I had barely time to notice his size—a good four-pounder, and unusual markings, large yellow spots encircled by black, with great brilliancy of iridescent color—when back he flopped into the water and was gone. However, I took afterward several of the same variety, known in the Park as the Von Baer [sic] trout, and which I have since found to be the Salmo fario, the veritable trout of Izaak Walton
Mary Towbridge Townsend, 1897, Outing Magazine, .[8]
In the early days of government stocking operations all types of attempts were made to introduce desirable species for the angler. In the case of Yellowstone, both landlocked atlantic salmon and largemouth bass were introduced but never established themselves in the park.[5] Yellow perch were illegally introduced, established themselves in a few lakes and were later poisoned out. By the early 20th Century, a number of hatcheries were established in the park by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. These hatcheries not only produced stocks for the park, but also took advantage of the great spawning stock of Cutthroat trout to supply eggs to hatcheries around the U.S. Between 1901 and 1953, 818 million trout eggs were exported from the park to hatcheries throughout the U.S.[7]
The hatcheries and stocking operations had both positive and negative impacts on the quality of angling in Yellowstone National Park in the first half of the 20th Century. Many native populations were displaced by non-natives, but there was quality brown and rainbow trout fishing in the Firehole, Madison and Gibbon river drainages. Stocking and hatchery operations had had an overall negative impact on the Yellowstone cutthroat and Westslope cutthroat populations and in 1953 the National Park Service began closing the hatcheries and stopping stocking operations. The last fish stocked for the benefit of anglers was in 1955 after some 310 million fish had been released in park waters since 1889.[7][9]
The regulation of anglers in the park also evolved significantly since the park's creation. Original angling was a subsistence affair to fill a camp's larder and feed visitors to the park. Although fishing methods were limited to hook and line early in the park's history, there were no limits. In the 1920s, a daily limit of 20 fish was set. This was reduced to 10, then 5 and then 3 in 1954. Limits have fluctuated based on waters and species ever since then. Until 1969, bait could be used in most waters. In 1950, the Madison and Firehole rivers were designated as "Fly Fishing Only." The lower Gibbon river was given that designation in 1968. In 1970, regulation turned to minimum size limits for cutthroat trout and there began an era where the emphasis of regulation became the protection of native species. Angling permits were free in the park until 1994 when a $10 fee was charged for a 7 day permit.[9][10]

The Outfitters and Writers


Original Fishing Bridge at the Yellowstone Lake outlet. Built in 1901

Typical Yellowstone Fish Catch (1923)
Yellowstone National Park and its rivers and lakes has always been a mecca for serious fisherman, especially fly fisherman. The literature and popular press of the sport has extensive references to fishing adventures in park waters. Many of the serious writers in the sport used park waters to test, prove and write about new techniques, equipment and fly patterns. The great angling in the park spawned legendary outfitters in the towns outside the park such as West Yellowstone, Livingston, Gardiner and Jackson.
In 1936 and 1937 a British businessman and fly fisherman who emigrated to New York in 1930 by the name of Howard Back visited the park and compiled the first real assessment of the various waters and what the fly fisherman could expect from them. In his The Waters of the Yellowstone with Rod and Fly (1938), Back described his fishing experiences on what he called the Four Rivers which include the Madison, Firehole and Gibbon rivers, as well as the Yellowstone river. Prior to Back's work, the only available serious reference for anglers was a 1921 Bureau of Fisheries publication entitled: The Fishes of the Yellowstone National Park—With Description of Park Waters and Notes on Fishing, a publication that Back encouraged all prospective anglers visiting Yellowstone to read,[11][12] In 1938, at the same time Back was publishing his work, Dan Bailey, another eastern angler was opening Dan Bailey's fly shop in Livingston, Montana 55 miles (89 km) north of the Gardiner park entrance. Although Dan Bailey guided and serviced fly fisherman throughout South Central Montana, much of his business was guiding and outfitting fishermen in Yellowstone National Park. Dan Bailey's Fly Shop is still in business today servicing anglers visiting Yellowstone.
Although West Yellowstone had become the major tourist entrance to the park since the Oregon Short Line began operations in 1907, the establishment of serious fly fishing outfitters in West Yellowstone didn't occur until the mid-1930s when Don Martinez, the fly tier who popularized the woolly worm opened a seasonal, one-room fly shop. In 1947, a fly fisherman and tier who worked for Martinez, Pat Barnes opened a fulltime fly shop, which today is Bob Jacklin's Fly Shop on the corner of Yellowstone and Canyon streets.[13] The real landmark came in 1952 when a young man from Manhattan, Montana by the name of Bud Lilly opened Bud Lilly's Trout Shop on the corner of Madison and Canyon Streets. Lilly guided anglers, taught fly casting and outfitted anglers in Yellowstone for 35 years and did more than anyone else in the 1950–70s to promote fly fishing and fisheries conservation in Yellowstone throughout North America. Many of the great post-WWII era anglers first came to Yellowstone and the West because of Bud Lilly's Trout Shop and his writings.[14]
Gardiner, Montana although not the size or draw of West Yellowstone got its own local fly fishing legend in 1953 when Merton J. Parks opened Parks' Fly Shop. Still operating today and run by his son, Richard Parks, Parks' Fly Shop and its guides have contributed significantly to the angling history of the park with the publication of Fishing Yellowstone National Park—An Angler's Complete Guide to More than 100 streams, rivers and lakes (1998).
Many well-known angling authors have written about their experiences in Yellowstone National Park. Howard Back was the first, but many influential anglers used Yellowstone as a backdrop for their angling stories, adventures and technical work.
Ray Bergman, the well-known angling editor of Outdoor Life magazine was a fan of the Firehole river and gave it many pages of coverage in his classic work Trout (1938, 1952). Here's a typical passage describing his fishing experiences in the Midway Geyser Basin section of the Firehole:
...Then came an experience that was new to me. By this time I had reached within casting distance of a sizable boiling spring and could see its waters mingling with those of the stream. Close to the wrinkle caused by the meeting of the hot spring and the cold water I saw a trout rise. It was only a dimple, but from the suction I thought it was a good fish. Conditions couldn't have been better for the float of the fly. When the little Royal dropped to the water it drifted along in a lifelike manner until it reached the place where I had seen the dimple, and then it disappeared. I raised the rod and was fast to what felt like the best fish of the day. Vint came along just as the hook went home, and some minutes later I had the satisfaction of having him take my picture as I held up the seventeen-incher with white steam of the boiling spring for a background. It wasn't the best fish of the day, but it was the first time I had ever taken a trout where I could have boiled it within a few feet.
Ray Bergman, Trout, 1952[15]

Dan Bailey's Fly Shop, Livingston, MT (2008)

Bud Lilly's Trout Shop, West Yellowstone, MT (2007)
Charles Brooks was a trout fishing technician whose works: Larger Trout for the Western Fly Fisherman (1970), The Trout and the Stream (1974) and Nymph Fishing for Larger Trout (1976) were largely based on research and fishing experiences in Yellowstone and adjacent waters.[16] Brooks was a retired Air Force officer who settled in West Yellowstone in 1961 and began a quest to understand the entomology of Yellowstone's rivers, especially the imitation and presentation of nymphs. Brooks immortalized the Madison River as an angling icon in his The Living River—A Fisherman's Intimate Profile Of The Madison River Watershed—Its History, Ecology, Lore, and Angling Opportunities (1979).
One cannot own a river or even part of it, except in one's heart. But if affection, pride, knowledge, and experience for and about a river counts for anything, the part of the Madison River in Yellowstone Park belongs to me. It also belongs to 220 million other Americans, but few know and love it as I do.[10]

Fly Fishing in Yellowstone


Nymphing in the Gardner River
Today, Yellowstone National Park is a fly fishing destination. Although artificial lures are allowed in some waters, most anglers, especially in the rivers and streams are fly fisherman. The accessible, insect rich rivers and streams provide reliable hatches and allow both novice and accomplished anglers alike a wide variety of opportunities for both technical and easy dry fly, wet fly, nymph or streamer fly fishing. There are nearly 50 outfitters in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho licensed to provide guided fly fishing experiences in the park and operate fly shops outside the park.[17]
Major hatches and typical patterns used,[18][19][20][21][22][23],.[24]
HatchTypical Patterns
Mayflies
  • Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olives)
  • Ephemerellidae (Hendricksons, Sulphurs, Pale Morning Duns)
  • Drunella (Green drakes)
  • Siphlonuridae (Gray drakes)
  • Heptageniidae (March Browns, Cahills, Quill Gordons, Pink Ladys)
  • Adams
  • Sparkle Dun
  • Green Drake Emerger
  • Blue Wing Olive
  • Pheasant Tail Nymph
  • Prince Nymph
Caddisflies
  • Brachycentridae (Apple caddis and grannoms)
  • Hydropsychidae (Spotted sedges)
  • Glossosomatidae (Little black caddis)
  • Lepidostomatidae (Little brown-green sedges)
  • Rhyacophilidae (Green sedges)
  • Soft hackle nymphs
  • Elk hair caddis
  • Sparkle pupa
Stoneflies
  • Pteronarcys california (Salmon Fly)
  • Hesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone)
  • Suwallia pallidula, Isoperla sp. (Little Yellow Stoneflies)
  • Sofa Pillow
  • Salmon Fly nymph
  • Brook's Montana Stone
  • Golden Stone Nymph
  • Little Yellow Stone
Terrestrials
  • Ants
  • Grasshoppers, Crickets
  • Worms
  • Foam Ant
  • Fur Ant
  • Dave's Hopper
  • Foam Hopper
  • San Juan Worm
Baitfish
  • Sculpin
  • Longnose dace
  • Silverside Minnow
  • Chub
  • Muddler Minnow
  • Woolhead sculpin
  • Dark Spruce
  • Woolly Bugger

 

Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

More Stories: http://Gofishtalk.com

Southernsportz 865

 

Dunedin-based Southern Boats, the makers of Southernsportz hulls, began life as MG Engineering back in 1997.
In 1998 the company moved to larger premises, but by 1999 further demand forced a second move to their current base in Mosgiel.
The company was reformed as Southern Boats Ltd by partners Alan Renfree and Mike Coombs. Alan has since retired, leaving Mike and wife Lois as owners.
Southern Boats now employs fourteen staff, who make a range of 5.5m to 9.2m semi-production aluminium hulls that can be customised to the owner’s requirements. Hull number 328 was being built as this review was being written – a pretty good effort when it is remembered that many of these are large, complex constructions.
A national network of dealers supplies boats in Northland, Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, and Wanaka, with the Otago region handled from the Dunedin factory.

Construction

The EHT (Enclosed Hard Top) design is a fine entry, deep-vee hull (deadrise is 20° at the transom) with no strakes and the downturned chines becoming pronounced towards the Portafino-style stern.
This aluminium hull is constructed with 5mm bottoms and transom, 4mm sides (5mm is an option) and a 4mm-chequerplate deck. Under the deck are four full-length bearers constructed from 5mm plate. The butted-plate keel join is made more rigid by welding a flat plate across the vee of the hull 50mm above the keel line, forming a triangle in section. This also allows for discreet drainage from the forward sections without compromising the buoyancy tanks. The deck is supported by frames at 300mm centres.
Chine construction has an ‘L’ shape rolled in the bottom of the side plates. The bottom plates are overlaid on the flat, allowing a double full-seam weld to be made.
The decks of this particular boat have been lowered, partly to make it easier to put into survey in the future, and to allow more storage space in the portafino section under the transom. In practical terms, this gives a higher transom and sides.
The other result of the deck lowering is a slight reduction in the five, discreet, buoyancy-tank dimensions. The tanks are pressure tested to 40psi, well above industry standard. Although not currently in survey, this hull was built to survey standard and designed to have reserve buoyancy for six persons.

Power and performance

The 865 EHT is rated for 250-450hp. Owner Daniel Millar had decided to go down the outboard path, both for economic and cockpit space reasons. Mounted on the back was a 250hp Mercury Verado, spinning a 13” pitch Mirage Plus prop. This may seem like a pretty modest pitch, but the Auckland Marine Centre has found that the high-revving Verados (6400 maximum rpm) actually require relatively low-pitched props to function effectively. The rumour is that there may be some changes in the gearing of these outboards in the near future, to avoid the need for developing a new range of props.
The big rig developed 32 knots (59.3kph) at 6180rpm and cruised comfortably at about 22 knots (40.7kph). Daniel has been fishing the boat hard over the summer and supplied me with some representative fuel-use figures: cruising at 22 knots, the Verado used 40 litres per hour, and trolling at seven knots, it used 10 litres per hour. Dan reckoned that a dawn-to-dusk trolling day, including an hour’s run to and from his fishing grounds at either end of the day, was costing about $200, or $50 each when split between a four-man crew. The underfloor tank takes 350 litres of fuel.
We launched the big rig at Omaha, an hour north of Auckland, and headed for the Mokohinau Islands, about 30 nautical miles distant. It was a bit of an ‘iffy’ day, blowing about 20 knots from the south west – a stern sea – but was forecast to drop back by the afternoon and turn around to the north, providing a nice quartering stern sea to go home with.
This didn’t happen of course. Although we had a great ‘downhill’ run out to the islands, after donating some tackle to the snake population, we had to face up to a long beat back into a head sea.
It was tight and nasty, rising to a couple of metres in higher current areas, but the big Southernsportz took this in its stride. Despite our speed being reduced to 10 knots (for our comfort) at times, the hull was stable and responsive in the rough stuff, taking the conditions a lot better than the crew did. A robust and solidly-built boat, conditions were warm and dry in the enclosed hardtop.

Anchoring

The boat we trialed, Southern Extreme, was fitted with a permanently mounted Sarca anchor, handled by a Maxwell Freedom 500 warp and chain capstan. Access to the chain locker was through a hatch in the forward bulkhead, and the controls (with thermal overload) are at the helm position. Access to the bow is best through the large hatch in the cabin roof, an easy spot to switch the capstan to freespool from, should you wish to drop the anchor faster than allowed by the wind-down system.
Good wide bulwarks allow a simple walk around the side of the cabin to get to the bow, complemented by substantial bow rails and grabrails on the cabin top – although a few more non-skid-finish panels towards the bow would be good. A good functional anchoring set-up.

Layout

The fully-lined cabin sleeps three adults full length when a berth infill is added. A toilet with macerator is fitted behind the console bulkhead. A locking, hinged hatch allows access to the wiring and steering behind the console. There is stowage space under the berths, and also in large side shelves. For stay-away trips, a dining table can be fitted between the fore-cabin berths. A cabin light is fitted, and a wide entry makes it easy to move from the wheelhouse to the fore cabin.
As mentioned, the wheelhouse deck, like the cockpit, has been lowered over the standard model. In the wheelhouse this means plenty of headroom and also necessitated a platform at the helm position to give the helmsman good visibility through the 6mm toughened glass windows (sliders of the same material are fitted at the sides).
A good-sized dash is fitted with a back lip, and is carpet covered as an aid to stopping items bouncing or sliding off, as well as to reduce internal glare on the windows. A Furuno Navnet unit was fitted at the helm, the large screen allowing good-sized readouts of both chartplotter and sounder on split screen. It also displays the image from the 24nm Furuno radar mounted outside on the rocket launcher.
Other instruments include the Mercury Smartcraft display (which posts a whole raft of engine functions), a sound system and Uniden Solara VHF, both mounted in a roof console. I was quite taken by the Lenco trim-tab controls, which showed clearly the position of each tab.
The Merc Smartcraft power-assisted throttle/shift was smooth and a pleasure to use, except that it was mounted in such a position that I kept bumping it with my knee in the rough conditions, altering the setting. Quite possibly it was custom fitted for the owner and suits his build better.
The helm seat is a swivelling, upholstered bucket style with a footrest fitted. Behind is the galley unit, with bench-top sink (hot and cold water) and two-burner gas cooker. A squab is fitted over the top for extra seating, and underneath is locker stowage.
A cleverly designed bench seat provides seating on the passenger side. By means of raising and lowering sections it can be converted from two single forward-facing seats into a full-length bench seat, and then, by lifting out the hinged backrest (which is stayed to the roof with cables), into two single berths. Underneath are a stowage locker, stowage space, side shelf (matched by one on the helm side) and a Vitrifrigo marine fridge.
There is a hold under the wheelhouse deck, and plenty of grabrails are fitted, including a central one under the wheelhouse roof – particularly useful for moving about when underway at speed. The wheelhouse/forecabin is enclosed by a sliding, lockable, cabin door, and one of the rear windows has an opening slider to help with the ventilation.
Immediately aft of the wheelhouse bulkhead are a couple of units with squab tops that double as seats. One is a kill-tank/stowage unit, while the other contains a gas bottle, Rinnai gas califont and pull-out nozzle for the cockpit shower (this also supplies hot water to the galley).
The decking is chequerplate with a tubemat top, providing good footing. As mentioned, the lowered deck makes for (effectively) high sides and allows for two levels of side shelves approximately three metres long.
The transom has a swing-door walkthrough on the helm side, and a well-protected battery locker, housing the twin batteries with selective charging system. A locker underneath the batteries provides more stowage space and serves to protect the fuel lines running from the transom-mounted port to the underfloor tank. Two good-sized aluminium cleats are screwed to the stern corners.
Over the transom is the boarding platform, with fold-down boarding ladder on one side and auxiliary bracket on the other. On the stern, under the waterline, are mounting brackets that allow (in this case) trimtabs and transducers, without drilling holes through the hull.
Overall, a good level of finish and construction.

Fishability

This hull is a stable work platform. It has a big cockpit, with good footing provided by chequerplate decks covered with tube mat, and can easily fish four anglers. There are six aluminium through-gunwale rodholders, with gimbal pins at the appropriate angles. A large baitstation mounted on the transom provides a further two rodholders.
On the hardtop is a six-position rocket launcher, best reached with a foot on the gunwale or bench seat. There are two under-deck kill tanks that look as if they could take a decent kingie full length, and room under the transom for a fish bin on one side, or a reasonable chilly bin on the other. A ‘fish TV’ livebait tank is built into the transom, allowing instant checks on livebait health – and a bit of entertainment, too.
The owner, Daniel Millar, is a super-keen fisherman. He put 300 hours on the boat this year, resulting, amongst other things, in a couple of striped marlin, one of which weighed 155kg. I would have thought that the high cockpit sides would have been a bit of a handicap for stand-up fishing, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem. Dan doesn’t neglect the basics either, and along with outrigger mounts, he has a fitting that will take a davit for lifting craypots.
Divers are catered for with under-deck stowage, a transom walk-through, boarding ladder and freshwater deck shower.

Trailering

This is a big rig, coming up to full legal-width and length. Fully laden with water, fuel, tackle and supplies for a three-day stay-away, the rig hit 3.4 tonnes on the weighbridge. We towed it to Omaha, an hour north of Auckland, and Dan’s Landcruiser seemed to handle it without difficulty.
Southern makes its own trailers from aluminium, keeping the weight down. The 865 EHT is carried on a tandem-axle A-frame design. There are nine side rollers per side, and 10 keel rollers. A boardwalk is fitted down the middle to aid hooking the winch on. A manual winch is fitted with both 5:1 and 10:1 reductions.
The brake system is an interesting one. It is a Carlisle Hyrdrastar XL supplied by CM Trailer Equipment of Ashburton. The trailer-brake system is hooked up through the trailer lights’ plug, and is activated as soon as the vehicle brakes are applied. A battery operates an electric-hydraulic pump, which in turn operates the brakes on the trailer. The battery charges through the lights plug, and driving with the park lights on keeps it charged.
There are six pressure ranges that the trailer brakes can be set to. A laser beam decelerometer controls the degree of brake pressure – the harder the vehicle brakes, the harder the trailer brakes are applied. The beauty of this system is that it will work with any vehicle that has a lights plug – a dedicated tow vehicle with a special fit-up is not required.
Other trailer fittings include stainless callipers and treated discs on the brakes, steps on the wheel guards (although the boarding ladder is an easier entry to the hull), submersible lights, a spare wheel and a wind-down jockey wheel.
This is a big rig, but is still well towable. The owner takes it down to Mayor Island, and has beach-launched it at Ahipara in the Far North.

All-in-all

This maxi-trailer boat is well set up for comfortable multi-day stay-away trips, and is dedicated to hard-core fishing. The construction and finish seems pretty good (a three-year warranty is offered), and the 865 EHT is not even the largest hull of the range – a 9.2m is available. Those looking for a big rig should not ignore Southernsportz.

Specifications

Overall length 8.4m
Beam 2.8m
Bottoms 5mm
Sides 4mm (5mm option)
Transom 4mm and 5mm
Deck 4mm
Topsides 4mm
Rec. HP 250-450hp
Deadrise 20°
Base hull only $67, 000
As tested $168,000

A permanently mounted Sarca anchor and Maxwell capstan handle the anchoring chores.
With an infill, the spacious fore-cabin sleeps three adults – or all your fishing rods.
The galley provides basic cooking and cleaning facilities for stay-away trips.
The sliding, lockable, enclosed hardtop provides shelter and comfort for the crew.
A cleverly designed bench seat offers multiple seating and sleeping options.
Furuno’s Navnet unit displays chartplotter, sounder and radar.
The high-sided cockpit provides plenty of workspace and fishes four with ease.

Full Article:  http://www.fishing.net.nz/