LIGHTEN UP

Originally published in Western Outdoor News the week of May 28, 2008

With each passing week, it seems like we’re seeing one more thing after another fall prey to the effects of higher gas prices and a slowed economy “up there” in the U.S. Icon after icon falls. Things we never thought would change, are changing.

Believe me, fish brothers and sisters, next to soccer or boxing, the U.S. economy is the most talked about coffee and beer discussion down here south of the border . It’s right up there with Follwed by whether “OBooomuh” will beat “Kleen-tune” to go against “Muh-keeen” for the White House in November.

Certain things were never supposed to change. There was a sense of entitlement to certain things. We were entitled to always seeing Superman win; re-runs of M.A.S.H. were always somewhere on the dial; and there was always SOMEPLACE that still sold 1 dollar Mexican beers.

Well, I think it’s safe to say that another era is drawing to a close. It’s no longer an aberration by errant airlines intent on making YOUR travel plans more difficult. It’s a trend now to make YOUR travel more difficult.

With each passing week it seems another airline (those that are still flying!) is eliminating the 2 free bags on international flights. Those halcyon days of carefree luggage are going the way of stingray bicycles; safe drinking water out of the garden hose; and riding in the back of open pick-up trucks.

First they limited luggage weight from 70 to 50 pound per check-in bag. But you COULD bring two pieces.

Now, it seems most airlines are cutting back. You get 1 free bag and then then pay from $25 or more for the second bag and up to $100 or more for the third bag. Think rod tubes and ice chests…yup…that’s right.

Hey, I’m not talking smack against the airlines. At least not for this. Fuel is fuel. There’s not a single part of our lives that isn’t touched by the increase in fuel costs. A plane can only handle a finite amount of weight. It takes more fuel to get that weight up into the air; keeping it there; and moving forward it from point A to point B. I get that.

The surcharge, if you will, “taxes” those of us who take up the extra weight with our toys and that third set of swim trunks; the Grateful Dead t-shirt we can’t leave home without; the 50 iron lures we need for just two days of fishing; and the boom box and CD’s we MUST have. And yes, ladies (you know who you are) those 12 pairs of shoes for the weekend trip.

If you’re like my dad who seems to get by on a week-long trip with one pair of socks, two boxers (one severely lightened by the lack of elastic), and his toothbrush, then you don’t have to worry. But that’s Old School. We of the modern world like our stuff. Gotta have our stuff.

But the new fiscal reality dicates differently. Lighten up.

If you’re traveling with buds, consider putting as many rods into a tube as you can. The big giant tubes won’t pass anymore. The standard-size tubes or home-made PVC tubes can hold a surprising number of sticks. For the average 2 or 3 days fishing trip, you don’t need 10 sticks each. And keep them short. Oversize gets charged too.

The days of the 100 qt. cooler are long gone. Go with the 30-40 quart chests. Do you REALLY need wheels on them? That adds a lot of weight. A 40 quart chest when filled properly with filets weighs just about 50 pounds.

Do NOT bring empty luggage like an empty ice chest either. What I like to do is put my clothes in a soft duffle. It goes into the ice chest on your way down. On your way back home to the states, hopefully, your cooler is now filled with fish. Your duffle bag now becomes your carry-on to go in the overhead.


If you’re fishing with friends, figure out that you each do not need a long-range sized tackle box. Each of you does not need 20 feathers and iron each. I know. I’m a tackle junkie too and I’m talking blasphemy. How dare I tell you to leave fishing gear home! Well, bring it but be ready to pay for it. Consider sharing tackle. You do NOT need 8 blue and white feathers each.

Unless you really MUST have some super dooper shampoo or something, consider either bringing travel sizes of cosmetics or buying stuff like a toothbrush, razors, shampoo and toothpaste here in Baja. Unless you’re staying out with the cactus and coyotes, you can pretty much buy anything here in Mexico now and all the name brands. And it’s probably cheaper. Most hotels have a convenience store.

They’re being real sticky about weights too. In my last trip, they were charging people who were even 1 or 2 pounds over. No lenience. The new world order has arrived.

By the way, I just saw yesterday. Some airlines are now charging $15 for the FIRST bag too.


That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.

With each passing week, it seems like we’re seeing one more thing after another fall prey to the effects of higher gas prices and a slowed economy “up there” in the U.S. Icon after icon falls. Things we never thought would change, are changing.

Believe me, fish brothers and sisters, next to soccer or boxing, the U.S. economy is the most talked about coffee and beer discussion down here south of the border . It’s right up there with Follwed by whether “OBooomuh” will beat “Kleen-tune” to go against “Muh-keeen” for the White House in November.

Certain things were never supposed to change. There was a sense of entitlement to certain things. We were entitled to always seeing Superman win; re-runs of M.A.S.H. were always somewhere on the dial; and there was always SOMEPLACE that still sold 1 dollar Mexican beers.

Well, I think it’s safe to say that another era is drawing to a close. It’s no longer an aberration by errant airlines intent on making YOUR travel plans more difficult. It’s a trend now to make YOUR travel more difficult.

With each passing week it seems another airline (those that are still flying!) is eliminating the 2 free bags on international flights. Those halcyon days of carefree luggage are going the way of stingray bicycles; safe drinking water out of the garden hose; and riding in the back of open pick-up trucks.

First they limited luggage weight from 70 to 50 pound per check-in bag. But you COULD bring two pieces.

Now, it seems most airlines are cutting back. You get 1 free bag and then then pay from $25 or more for the second bag and up to $100 or more for the third bag. Think rod tubes and ice chests…yup…that’s right.

Hey, I’m not talking smack against the airlines. At least not for this. Fuel is fuel. There’s not a single part of our lives that isn’t touched by the increase in fuel costs. A plane can only handle a finite amount of weight. It takes more fuel to get that weight up into the air; keeping it there; and moving forward it from point A to point B. I get that.

The surcharge, if you will, “taxes” those of us who take up the extra weight with our toys and that third set of swim trunks; the Grateful Dead t-shirt we can’t leave home without; the 50 iron lures we need for just two days of fishing; and the boom box and CD’s we MUST have. And yes, ladies (you know who you are) those 12 pairs of shoes for the weekend trip.

If you’re like my dad who seems to get by on a week-long trip with one pair of socks, two boxers (one severely lightened by the lack of elastic), and his toothbrush, then you don’t have to worry. But that’s Old School. We of the modern world like our stuff. Gotta have our stuff.

But the new fiscal reality dicates differently. Lighten up.

If you’re traveling with buds, consider putting as many rods into a tube as you can. The big giant tubes won’t pass anymore. The standard-size tubes or home-made PVC tubes can hold a surprising number of sticks. For the average 2 or 3 days fishing trip, you don’t need 10 sticks each. And keep them short. Oversize gets charged too.

The days of the 100 qt. cooler are long gone. Go with the 30-40 quart chests. Do you REALLY need wheels on them? That adds a lot of weight. A 40 quart chest when filled properly with filets weighs just about 50 pounds.

Do NOT bring empty luggage like an empty ice chest either. What I like to do is put my clothes in a soft duffle. It goes into the ice chest on your way down. On your way back home to the states, hopefully, your cooler is now filled with fish. Your duffle bag now becomes your carry-on to go in the overhead.


If you’re fishing with friends, figure out that you each do not need a long-range sized tackle box. Each of you does not need 20 feathers and iron each. I know. I’m a tackle junkie too and I’m talking blasphemy. How dare I tell you to leave fishing gear home! Well, bring it but be ready to pay for it. Consider sharing tackle. You do NOT need 8 blue and white feathers each.

Unless you really MUST have some super dooper shampoo or something, consider either bringing travel sizes of cosmetics or buying stuff like a toothbrush, razors, shampoo and toothpaste here in Baja. Unless you’re staying out with the cactus and coyotes, you can pretty much buy anything here in Mexico now and all the name brands. And it’s probably cheaper. Most hotels have a convenience store.

They’re being real sticky about weights too. In my last trip, they were charging people who were even 1 or 2 pounds over. No lenience. The new world order has arrived.

By the way, I just yesterday. Some airlines are now charging $15 for the FIRST bag too.


That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.

With each passing week, it seems like we’re seeing one more thing after another fall prey to the effects of higher gas prices and a slowed economy “up there” in the U.S. Icon after icon falls. Things we never thought would change, are changing.

Believe me, fish brothers and sisters, next to soccer or boxing, the U.S. economy is the most talked about coffee and beer discussion down here south of the border . It’s right up there with Follwed by whether “OBooomuh” will beat “Kleen-tune” to go against “Muh-keeen” for the White House in November.

Certain things were never supposed to change. There was a sense of entitlement to certain things. We were entitled to always seeing Superman win; re-runs of M.A.S.H. were always somewhere on the dial; and there was always SOMEPLACE that still sold 1 dollar Mexican beers.

Well, I think it’s safe to say that another era is drawing to a close. It’s no longer an aberration by errant airlines intent on making YOUR travel plans more difficult. It’s a trend now to make YOUR travel more difficult.

With each passing week it seems another airline (those that are still flying!) is eliminating the 2 free bags on international flights. Those halcyon days of carefree luggage are going the way of stingray bicycles; safe drinking water out of the garden hose; and riding in the back of open pick-up trucks.

First they limited luggage weight from 70 to 50 pound per check-in bag. But you COULD bring two pieces.

Now, it seems most airlines are cutting back. You get 1 free bag and then then pay from $25 or more for the second bag and up to $100 or more for the third bag. Think rod tubes and ice chests…yup…that’s right.

Hey, I’m not talking smack against the airlines. At least not for this. Fuel is fuel. There’s not a single part of our lives that isn’t touched by the increase in fuel costs. A plane can only handle a finite amount of weight. It takes more fuel to get that weight up into the air; keeping it there; and moving forward it from point A to point B. I get that.

The surcharge, if you will, “taxes” those of us who take up the extra weight with our toys and that third set of swim trunks; the Grateful Dead t-shirt we can’t leave home without; the 50 iron lures we need for just two days of fishing; and the boom box and CD’s we MUST have. And yes, ladies (you know who you are) those 12 pairs of shoes for the weekend trip.

If you’re like my dad who seems to get by on a week-long trip with one pair of socks, two boxers (one severely lightened by the lack of elastic), and his toothbrush, then you don’t have to worry. But that’s Old School. We of the modern world like our stuff. Gotta have our stuff.

But the new fiscal reality dicates differently. Lighten up.

If you’re traveling with buds, consider putting as many rods into a tube as you can. The big giant tubes won’t pass anymore. The standard-size tubes or home-made PVC tubes can hold a surprising number of sticks. For the average 2 or 3 days fishing trip, you don’t need 10 sticks each. And keep them short. Oversize gets charged too.

The days of the 100 qt. cooler are long gone. Go with the 30-40 quart chests. Do you REALLY need wheels on them? That adds a lot of weight. A 40 quart chest when filled properly with filets weighs just about 50 pounds.

Do NOT bring empty luggage like an empty ice chest either. What I like to do is put my clothes in a soft duffle. It goes into the ice chest on your way down. On your way back home to the states, hopefully, your cooler is now filled with fish. Your duffle bag now becomes your carry-on to go in the overhead.


If you’re fishing with friends, figure out that you each do not need a long-range sized tackle box. Each of you does not need 20 feathers and iron each. I know. I’m a tackle junkie too and I’m talking blasphemy. How dare I tell you to leave fishing gear home! Well, bring it but be ready to pay for it. Consider sharing tackle. You do NOT need 8 blue and white feathers each.

Unless you really MUST have some super dooper shampoo or something, consider either bringing travel sizes of cosmetics or buying stuff like a toothbrush, razors, shampoo and toothpaste here in Baja. Unless you’re staying out with the cactus and coyotes, you can pretty much buy anything here in Mexico now and all the name brands. And it’s probably cheaper. Most hotels have a convenience store.

They’re being real sticky about weights too. In my last trip, they were charging people who were even 1 or 2 pounds over. No lenience. The new world order has arrived.

By the way, I just yesterday. Some airlines are now charging $15 for the FIRST bag too.


That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.

PHOTO: Small roosters on the splasher! Catch and release. Single barbeless hooks are best to minimize damage to the fish and fascilitate releases.



ALL THAT COMMOTION!



Originally published the week of May 15, 2008 Western Outdoor News



Admit it. It’s fun to torment small animals. I don’t mean in a bad way so please no cards and letters! I do not hate animals.

But being high up on the food chain, we upright single-eyebrow-Neanderthals like to exert our superiority over the lesser species. C’mon. Before you judge me, how many times have you guffawed while rolling a ball past your cat watching him pounce on it over and over? Or taken your flashlight and run your poor family pooch all over the house and up the wall chasing the bouncing beam of light?

Yea, you know you do! That’s why American’s Funniest Home Videos made a zillion bucks.

Well, the last few weeks, I’ve been doing more than my usual share of topwater fishing with light tackle. The waters around our spot here in La Paz warmed early bringing with it a multitude of species we normally don’t see so early like dorado and marlin mixing it up with inshore species like pargo, jack crevalle, roosterfish, sierra, plus non-stop bonito and skipjack. In fact, these are just a few of the many species that have shown up.

Not that I’m bored or anything, but if you want to have some fun, try fishing surface poppers and other top water tackle on these fish. Even when fish are finicky, the predatory instinct in them that causes them to pounce and strike is an irresistible urge. It’s much like your kitty who yawns at a ball of yarn that just sits there, but will leap across the room to assault the yarn if it’s rolled across the floor.

Fish are like that too. Especially the hunters who can be enticed if you make a commotion or drag something across their faces.

Poppers and splashers are my favorites because there’s nothing like seeing a fish on the surface attack a lure where you can see the viciousness of the attack. For those of you who grew up fishing in S.California waters, you remember the old bonito splasher rigs. Essentially, they were cone shaped styrofoam , cork or wooden cylinders that had a big concave mouth.

The main line was tied to the big-mouth end. A leader was tied to the other with a streamer fly or even a shiny spoon. Cast out and cranked as fast as you could, that poppler splashed and gurgled and resulted in huge hits.

The same thing works in Baja. I’ve had roosters, snapper, sierra, not to mention tuna and dorado simply fight each other to get the noise-maker popping on the surface.

The same effect c an be used with large commercial-grade poppers sold by numerous manufacturers. Just don’t chitty-pop them like you’re fishing for largemouth bass at the reservoir. The more and faster you crank it seems the most hits you’ll get. Just hold onto the rod. For some reason the largest fish in the school is often the one gets to the lure first.

Another great method is “skip-jigging.” Basically, you throw lighter surface iron as far as you can. Rather then letting it sink you wind like your shoulder is going to fall off. You make that jig skip along the waves. Maybe it looks like a flying fish or escaping bait fish, but I’ve gotten some of my largest fish on this technique.

Now, for the real fun…take off the hooks!

This is when you can really amp up the entertainment value. Fish will attack the lures. They sometimes bump heads in mid-air trying to jump on the splasher. Dorado knocking into each other. Tuna wacking each other out of the air and back into the water! Often, one fish will grab the lure and run. The line goes tight like you have a hook-up. The rod bends… but there’s no hooks! The fish lets go. It comes flying back.

It hits the water with a splash only to be picked up again by another fish who tears off with it. It’s like when you a kid playing keep-away. One guy grabs it and runs from the pack being chased by everyone else. The fish is only running with it! BOING! It comes flying back out of it’s mouth and another fish grabs it.

That one lets go and the lure flies back and hits the water again. And the cycle repeats itself. Hours of cheap entertainment. Get several of you on the boat doing the same thing and watch the waters foam!




That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.

WELCOME TO THE BAJA!

From Western Outdoor News Spring 2008

The sun doesn’t rise in the Baja. It explodes out of the Eastern horizon like a viscous ball of heat. Five minutes ago, you couldn’t tell where the ocean ended and the sky began, but now, the vague hues of light hit the precipice of grey where the ocean kisses the mists. The sliver of la luna still hangs translucently waiting for it’s demise. Within minutes the dome of searing orange light literally pushes the Sea of Cortez aside like a finger trying to poke through a balloon finally ripping through in a bursting bubble of light and heat.

Your boat pushes ahead, crashing through the small morning swell. Face forward, the rays of sun cast a mandarin glow on the skin of your friends and the gleaming fiberglass of your fishing craft. The dry air of the early morning mixes with the salty spray that you lick off your lips. Even behind your sunglasses, you squint into the sun and grin. Behind you, deckhands ready the rods and reels. Lures are clipped into place. Drags tested. The outriggers are run in and ready to be run back out. Deep breath and exhale as a smile tugs the corners of your mouth.

That’s not freeway exhaust. That’s the Sea of Cortez you smell and taste. It’s the inexplicable mix of bait and brine and motor oil and 200 hp of raw power under your deck mixed with tad of suntan oil and some of that great salsa you had for breakfast burrito. Your knees are getting the hang of flexing easy with rhythmic hit of another swell. Can anything be better?

For once, you’re not staring at the license plates in front of you of another pissed off commuter. There’s no e-mail. A list of phone calls to return didn’t greet you right outta the box. Your biggest decision today will be whether to have corn or flour tortillas and whether it will be Tecate or Tecate Lite. The ONLY snow you will see will be inside the rim of a margarita glass. Hold all calls. Deadlines be damned. You busted your butt for months getting ready for this.

Today, you’re not responsible for anything other than making sure you don’t fall out of the boat or let your amigos catch you doing something foolish with their digital cameras. Maybe even catch a fish or two. You love your job. Love your wife and kids, but today… Today, you’re not” Mr. Big.” Or “Mr. Dad.” Or “Mr. CEO.”

Once again, you’re Jimmy or Bobby or Billy. You don’t even have to give anyone your name! As far as anyone is concerned, your name is “amigo.” And so is everyone else. And that’s fine.

You check your buddies. You haven’t seen these guys in ages. You remember a time when you all ran with the wolves…or thought you did. You were legends in your own time, but now, you’re all “growed-up”

Everyone is broader in the beam. “Double XL” is no longer that football play from high school. It’s a t-shirt size and spots of grey now fleck grizzly faces. But, they’re your fishing brothers and the good times are fewer and far between these days making these few moments all that more special.

Today, you get to crank back the clock a little bit or at least click the stopwatch off for a few days. The world can wait.

You head off to some spot on the nautical map where the waters run blue and the fish run big. Today you all get to be Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn again and everyone gets to kiss Becky Thatcher. Your soundtrack is a Jimmy Buffet tune that bounces around joyfully in your head. “The Weather is here. Wish you were beautiful” competes against that inane Spanish chatter on the radio that sounds like one-long-blasted-word.

And the sun feels warm. And the bow slaps water as it crests over each small swell. Whoosh! Whoosh! The engines hum east towards the rising sun. Today, you are king of the world again for just a little while and this morning holds the promise of adventure. You’re in the Baja, amigo.

Run out the lines! Time to fish…


If you ever need to reach me, I'm at riplipboy@aol.com