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I got a call the other day from a builder.  He wanted me to take some pics of his skiff that he is building.  This is the plug.  He has to do a finish sanding on it before he builds the mold.  I got permission to post a couple pics!   I will be getting more as the build process continues.

Hull length is 17’6″, 56″ wide at the water line.  Estimated draft sub 7″.

Base model retail expected around 15k.
Full trim package around 25k.

Bow flair

Hull shot

Step

If you have any questions please visit the post at Microskiff.com.

Seeing is believing and this is a very impressive design.  If you are interested on seeing more of the skiff shoot me an email at skinnywaterflyfishing@yahoo.com

-Richard

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Erik and I planned out a Tarpon trip almost a week in advance.  He was inching to get his first Tarpon in his Caimen.  We got skunked last year, and after spending 3 days in Marco still wasn’t able to seal the deal.  My plan was to go out the night before and dip some crabs. 

A kid that I have been giving fly casting instruction to hadn’t been night fishing before so I told him that I would put him on fish…but he had to dip crabs for payment, lol.  Apparently he had never diped crabs before either…

We met up at the ramp a little after 8pm, and the tide had just started to switch outgoing.  We made a couple throws with the castnet and got some whitebait for out dock light adventure and waited for the tide to get stronger.  The tide started to pick up and the crab flush was in full swing.  We were able to pick and choose what size that we wanted and within half an hour we put 2 dozen in the livewell.

Anyone that has been following me knows that I have been on a night fishing binge for a little while.  We went stait to the docks that have been producing bigger fish.  We showed up and the fish were sitting on the lights, but didn’t want to stick around long enough for a cast.  We waited them out and would make a cast way away from the light and bring it back to it, but the fish would still spook out if something splashed 10ft from them.

That was the theme of the trip untill about 1am.  With the tide had bottomed out and slack we moved to a higher current area.  We found Snookets stacked UNDER a dock with an above the water light.  Figuring the luck we had on white bait I whipped out the fly rod.  First cast was perfect.  Just upcurrent of the fish, and they didn’t spook.  Strip, Strip, Strip and a +20″ trout came up from the bottom and poped it right in front of the Snook.  Snook didn’t flinch.  I made a quick release of the trout for a follow up cast.  Same cast, same strip….Poped another big trout.  Went 3 20in’ers a row with one over easily 22″.  They were the most frustrating big trout ever.  I didn’t get a picture of them beacuse I wanted SNOOK and they were acting like ladyfish with reckless disregard for there personal wellbeing.  Time to move to another dock.

We pulled up to another dock that I had some good luck with last Monday night.  The fish were stacked up pretty good with at lease 20-30 mid sized Snook.  As we were pulling up we got to see some shrimp and glass minow gettng hit so the bite was on.  We drift up to the dock and I skip a white bait way back under the dock.  With my line tight I felt my bait stop swimming so I thought it was dead…a couple of seconds later my line started to go tight.  Made short work of it out of the dock so I didn’t think it was anything to be impressed about.  Lifted it’s head out of the water and it breached like a submarine….Big Red!  It realized that it was in trouble and started to pull some drag.  In short order it was in the boat.  38″, 14 1/2lbs.  It was also the biggest Red in the Lostman, and the biggest red that Steve has ever seen.

A couple of cast later Steve gets a bait to skip to the back of the dock and hooks up! 7lb Snook

We put a couple more fish in the boat and headed back to the ramp at around 3am.  Cleaned up the boat and made sure my crabs were sleeping good in the tank.  Got to sleep at 430am….

Alarm clock went off kinda early at 515am, wanted to meet Erik before the sun came up.  Luckly the ramp is just outside my door now.

Erik arrived at the ramp with the Caimen.  It was time to excise the deamon.  Loaded up the crabs and we were on the water headed towards the land of the Tarpon.  We got there too early and the bite had not turned on yet.  We drove around the staging areas and check to see if they were waiting on the tide to change.  At 630am we went back to Tarpon Land, and saw a boat hooked up.  We run over there to see 3 seperate pods of Tarpon rolling….all over 100lbs.  The were feeding on big threadfins…and all we had were crabs

Erik is standing on the bow and we get infront of the fish, cast….and the roll on by.  A guide boat next in line hooks up, and gets a jump.  There fish came off in short order.  We push back into the line again and the same thing happens.  This time the boat in line before us hooks up!  Gets a couple of jumps out and comes unbuttoned.  The fish roll past and this time the guide boat doubles up!  One of there fish ran right for the Caimen so we had to drift for a minute with motor out of the water.  It was looking like the right time, wrong bait situation.  But with the other boats not getting the fish in it was looking like a fair trade, lol.

Once the fish cleared we pushed back into the line.  Erik made a couple nice cast.  The fish started rolling right to where his crab was!  The current made the line go slack a little bit.  Erik reeled in the slack and FISH ON!  He made a good hookset and the fish was up in the air.  I fire up the motor and start us heading in the right direction and grab the camera.

Tarpon was wearing out fast!  Trying to get a gulp in for another run.

In what seemed like a blink of the eye the fish was boatside.  I tried to get the leader grab for him but missed on my first attempt.  Driving the boat with 3ft rolling and breaking waves and a camera is hard enough.  I positioned the boat for a good touch for Erik.  We started to drift into the fish and Erik went for his first attempt.  I kept all of the picks because it was priceless.  The next 3 pics are in sequence, lol

It didn’t happen, we did get a much needed shower though so no complaints.  Second attempt.

Erik got his Ace, first Tarpon hooked in the Caimen was also landed.  Good odds!

Perfect Hookset!  It was buried so deep that when Erik pulled the hook out it left the barb inside the jaw.  So the Tarpon has a new filling, lol 

We wanted to stay out more, figuring we still had a little over a dozen and a half crabs.  The wind was picking up and it was getting a little hairy.  We were the only skiff out there for a reason.  We headed back in for the day.  Time for some much needed rest!

This post was just featured on the front page of fishingporn.com (it’s not what you thin)!  Check it out.  It is a new fishing forum for fresh and saltwater, and swag den.  The pron king just added a new section called fishbook also, like facebook but for fishing.  Already have some custom Redfish deeks heading my way from them.  They have all the species fresh and salty.  And if you don’t see one that you want, they will make it for ya!

-Richard

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This fly is great for Night time dock Snook.  It is weedless, aka “dockless”, by design.  Made to resemble a small glass minnow or white bait it’s action is suspending and darting.  Downside to this pattern is sometimes multiple fish will fight over it and none will get the hook.  Or the problem that I have been having, the Snook eat it so deep that they chew through the 30lb floro in under 2 minutes.

Materials
Hook: Gama SC15 1/0
Thread: White flat wax nylon
Body: One long white saddle hackle
Head: Pearl Flashabou, Green Supreme Hair
Eyes: 3/16″ Mirage Eyes (stick on), 5 minute epoxy

Tricks to the pattern:  Use as little thread as possible to avoid bulk in the head.  DON’T USE ZAP A GAP.  It cooks off at to high of a temperature and makes it so that your adhesive eyes wont stick.

Step 1: Using pliers hold the eye of the hook, and a small section of the shank bend the opposite direction of the gap of the hook.  Stop when the bent section is parallel with the barb of the hook.  Get it close, it doesn’t have to be perfect.  The more you bend the hook the weaker it gets!  Think of a paperclip.

Step 2: Attach thread just beyond the bend of the hook, and wrap towards the barb.

Step 3:  Attach your long hackle with the Natural Curve facing towards the hook.  Select a hackle that has a flexible stem or it will break the first nibble.  Once secure, wrap your thread forward to the eye of the hook.

Step 4: Palmer the hackle forward leaving a little gap between each turn.  This will allow the fly to keep somewhat of a transparent look like a glass minnow. Secure at the bend of the hook.

Step 5:  Work your thread to just behind the eye.  Attach 3 pieces of Pearl Flashabou.  Wrap your thread back to the bend of the hook to secure it to the shank.  This will create the lateral line.  Work your thread back to the eye of the hook.

Step 6:  Cut a small amount of Green Supreme Hair and attach it just behind the eye using 2 turns.  Bend it back and wrap 2 turns on top of the Supreme Hair.  Wrap your thread back the same distance as you did with the Flashabou using as little thread as possible to avoid bulk.  This will insure that your Flash and Supreme hair form a strait line covering the barb of the hook.  Whip Finish.

Step 7:  Turn your fly upside down.  Using the thumb and forefinger pinch your Saddle Hackle and pull down creating the body of the fly.  While holding it run a bead of glue (I used hard as nails) down the shank of the hook to secure it in place.  At the same time put some on the head of the fly.  Hold the fibers until when you let them go they don’t flair out anymore.

Step 8:  Stick on your eyes.  Try to do this while your glue is still tacky.  This will help with adjustments.  Make sure that they are strait and even.  If the head of your fly is too bulky they will not sit right and this will cause your fly to track weird in the water.  This is a top shot of the eyes, it shows that they are strait and square.

Step 9:  Using 5 minute epoxy cover the head of your fly.  Use as little epoxy as possible, and avoid getting it in your fibers.  Make sure you epoxy over the eyes or the Snook will knock them off.  Place on epoxy turner or just spin it in the vice until it cures.

Top side picture showing the eyes covered in epoxy

Step 10:  Trim your Supreme Hair to a little longer than your hackle fibers.  And your fly is complete!

Tie a bunch, you will go through them.  What you used to loose on docks you will start loosing in fish.  Take a minimum of 6 with you on all trips.

-Richard

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This is a trip of a different kind.  Through networking with Saltyshores.com I meet Dale Snead with Operation Still Waters.  Operation Still Waters recognizes the healing properties of fishing and being on the water.  They aim to provide that experience to those who have been wounded serving as Military, Law Enforcement, or Firefighter.

We were the first to be able to help get someone out for Operation Still Waters.  Gerry and His father met us at the house around 8am, and we loaded up the boat and headed up to St Pete.  Waiting for the tide to change we had breakfast at a local dive, Skyway Jacks.  If you haven’t been there yet it is amazing.  Cash only, get the meatloaf and eggs.  More food than you can eat, and perfect for the almost food induced coma energy rush perfect for fishing.

We made it to the ramp around 930ish and dunk the bay boat.  before we backed down the ramp my Pa realized that the Ball lock was not tightened down on the trailer tongue.  We made it all the way from Bradenton, to St Pete including the Skyway without it popping off, LUCKY!  We dunk the boat and get on our way My Pa, Bret Williams a local FireMedic for Sarasota County, Gerry and his father, and myself.

We hopped up on plane and ran to the staging area for the fish at the tide turn.  As we were making our way around the Sandbar to the spot we ran right over them!  We came of plane and I made a short cast to the fish, and hooked up.  Passed the rod off and Gerry was in for a rude surprise.  Even on heavy tackle these drum will give you a run for your money.  After a good little fight we got it boat side for a pic.

When we hit the school they were sub 6ft of water.  After we hooked that one the school took off running and we lost sight of it.  So we had to get back to work and find them again.  It didn’t take long before we met up with another boat that was pushing them along.  Within 15 minutes we hooked up on another fish.  Bret with his biggest black drum.

After that fish was landed we were found.  2 boats became 7 in the blink of an eye.  There were a couple guide boats in the 24ft range that were going Tit for tat on cutting each other off with 3ft of clearance making it not fun, or safe to stay on these fish.  They were being pushed and pressured hard.  We picked up and started looking for our own school of unpressured fish.

We ran for 6 miles and didn’t find anything and we started to weigh our options.  No way that there was only one school of those fish.  We had seen over 2,000 fish within the past week.  We start working our way to the Skyway.  We found a boat with something popping out in front that looked like a school of Mackerel eating on top.  We will take it!  As we approach the boat the water out in front turns brown like the plague.  DRUM!  The other boat had found his own school, and was putting the hurting on them!  Unpressured fish in 8-15ft of water TAILING on the surface.

I casted a couple of rods out and it was instant hook-ups!  Rod bending action for all.  Gerry and his Pa had a double in the boat in short order.

After that Gerry’s Pa got a little hair, and decided to throw the light tackle at them, St. Croix Premier 8-15lb, Penn reel w/8lb PowerPro, 25lb leader, 1/4 Mission Fishin Jig Head, DOA GoldRush Paddle Tail.  Two cast later he stuck one!  He put the hurting on the fish for a good 25-30 minutes.  Getting tired he wasn’t watching his step and fell in the deck!  I was casting another rod off the bow and caught the action out of the corner of my eye.  Bret was quick to respond to help him out and I grabbed the rod from him so he could get up.  Then it happened.  Another one ate on the rod that I was casting!  I set the hook and held on, rod in each hand hooked up on 40+lb drum!  Bret took over on the heavy rod and I was determined to land this fish that took out Gerry’s Pa.  About 15 minutes later I got it boat side.  It was a Wale!  We had to get a picture of this fish!  Bret and Charles getting it done.  Charles couldn’t hold him!  Easily over 50lbs of fish!  He took a long break after that one.

After that the school got even more tightly packed.  I snapped a couple pics while I still could.  If any other boats saw this we would have been had.  They go another 50ft out each side of the frame, and Surface to Bottom.  3 tailing, with one hooked up in lower left.

We stopped taking pictures.  It was interfering with fishing.  We were doubled and tripled the whole time.  After we ran out of the 7 dozen Shrimp we started throwing artificials and the bite kept on!  Taking pictures of the fish would have been counter productive.  I was having to unhook fish, make cast, drive the boat, unhook fish, unhook another fish, make a cast, drive boat, lol.

Then it happened.  Gerry hooked up with his big fish of the day.  By now Gerry had the fighting the fish down and had this one to the boat in short order.  It was the a very healthy 50+lber!

Another boat showed up in the mix and was helping us coral the fish away from the Zoo.  There fish kept coming unbuttoned at the side of the boat.  I told them if they got a double in I would get a pic for them.  I got a couple, but this is the best one.  Right after this the gentleman on the left started yelling at me, “I can’t hold him any longer!” and he dropped the fish over the side of the boat.  Both in the 45lb range.

My Pa decided to get in the madness and got this double in short order.

After we put a couple more in the boat everyone started taking 5 minute breaks after there fish, and declining hand-offs on hooked fish.  So we called it a day a little before 4pm and headed back to the ramp.

My Pa pulled the boat onto the trailer and I clipped it into the winch.  He ran it to about 1ft from the roller and let me crank it the rest of the way in.  I got it close enough to put the chain on it so we could get in on flat land.  Once up the ramp I went to pull the boat the rest of the way up to the roller and SNAP!  Winch Strap broke just below the double stitch of the clip.  Lucky #2 or some good Karma, either way I am not complaining!  Cut it off and retied a knot so we could make it home.

Later that afternoon I got an email from Gerry and Dale Snead about the trip.  Short story about Gerry and the trip!

On that fateful day of September 11, 2001 Gerry Crews was in rural Florida suveying when he heard news of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers. Before the second plane hit, he was already on the phone with recruiters. The Navy veteran had stepped up again to serve his country, this time with the Florida National Guard. After a short refresher at Camp Blanding  and Fort Stewart the 30 or so volunteers were put into the Third Infantry Division and were on their way to Iraq, Once there, Crews was a forward observer and saw action from North Iraq to Ramadi and Bagdad. During one of the firefights the thought occurred to him that day was his birthday, he had just turned 45. Some time after that their compound came under attack. Being off duty he grabbed his body armor and his kevlar and ran to the fight. During this particular fight Crews tore up his knee yet stayed “in country” until the job was done. Once stateside, he required a couple surgeries on his knee and is yet in need of another. His time in the Army was over.

Upon returning home he discovered life as he had left it had changed. It is all too common for many returning home. Things were tough for him but through is faith, family and friends he now has a new lease on life.

Bruce and his son Richard Traugott were one of the first to offer to do “anything necessary” for Operation Still Waters to help get Vets, LEO or Firefighters on the water and offered to take out Gerry and his father Charles (Poppa) Crews for a day on the water since Gerry had to sell his boat some time ago.

After a little work on scheduling, today was the day to get out on the water.  Both Gerry and “Poppa” had sore arms from the number and size of the black drum they fought today.  “Poppa” said that he never would have dreamed they they would catch and release “over 400 pounds of fish”. Throughout the trip there were multiple hookups and the number of fish caught was forgotten in all the excitement.
The pictures tell the full story.
Gerry wanted to be assured that his personal grattitude was relayed to Bruce, Richard and Brett and OSW.
Much grattitude to Bruce and to Richard for their willingness to help and providing a lifetime memory for one worthy vet and friend Gerry and his dad “Poppa” Crews.
—————————————————

It was also found out after the trip that Charles “Poppa” Crews has terminal Lung Cancer.  Making this trip even more meaningful to everyone involved.  Great time had by all!

Also for updates on what is going on with Operation Still Waters check out there Facebook page athttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Operation-Still-Waters-Inc/294237441790?ref=ts

-Richard Traugott
skinnywaterflyfishing@yahoo.com

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Got her a 2 weeks ago, and have been trying to get pics.  Leia is a 6 month old Doberman/Husky mix (pending DNA confirmation).   In many ways puppies are much harder to take pics of than kids.  They move quicker, and almost impossible to stage a pic.  Add to that we did it at a dog park so she had 100′s of distractions!  But we made it work after 5 trips, 8+ hours, and 100′s of digital images….

This one would be epic… but really shot one shutter speed to slow

And the winner!!!

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Made it out with Erik for a little Fly Only fishing. We scouted for 4 hours and didn’t really see anything. Towards the end of our trip I noticed something off in the distance that looked like a roll in about 8″ of water. I kept watching it thinking that’s gotta be a fish. I poll over to it…and it was a nice healthy Redfish, about 9 1/2 lbs.

Key word is “WAS”

Headed over to the FS Show after that and got to see the the Green Vantage. Much better in person!

-Richard

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Yesterday afternoon we went over and registered at New Smyrna Outfitters for the Fishbites tourney. The rules are, take any picture with the bag of soft plastics in it. Well we went out and fished a little later to get on the afternoon bite. Paul (Fishtrapper) told us at that location the fish are crawling, and when you pole the hull will be sticking on the bottom. He told the truth. We started to pole up to the first fish and the boat started to stick. About 10 pushes later CRACK, broken push pole. We were able to get both sections and the longer part was about 14ft.

On the way back to the ramp chasing Paul we ran out of gas. Paul was nice enough to turn around and give us a tow back to the ramp. Turns out the Yami 50 2smoke is a work horse! Paul was able to tow us back to the ramp…on plane, at 18-19mph. I snapped a couple pics, and this was the best one. In keeping with the Fishbites rules it has the bag in it. Broken Push Pole, Spilt Beer, Outta Gas.

This morning started off a little better. We decided to try to pole with the Wang Anchor. It worked out pretty good. With Erik working the Wang he stuck this fish in short order.

Then it was my turn. We started to set up on a larger school of fish and I pulled this one out on Fly. The Fly is an Unnamed tie by Chuck from New Smyrna Outfitters. As soon as I can get the name of it I will post it up.

We made it back to NSO for the photo contest. I ended up getting second place with this one.

Another picture from yesterday. In TB we don’t really get fish with this much color in the tail.

-Richard

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Today was the first day of the 3 day event with ECC/New Smyrna Outfitters.  It was a great start with Erik on his second cast sticking this 10 1/2lber

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Capt. Jon (Shadowcast) gave me a challenge for a Tarpon Fly. To make a realistic Palolo Worm fly pattern. I have been working on this fly for a little while and finally put one together that I would put my name on. It can be tied in floating, suspending, or sinking. I have already had this fly out in the lake for testing. It’s has a strait darting action when stripped, and a very natural drifting motion when stopped.  It is lightweight and a great casting fly even when wet.

Looking for my next challenge!

-Richard Traugott

skinnywaterflyfishing@yahoo.com

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RULES:

East Cape Canoes & Skiffs and New Smyrna Outfitters have teamed up with FishBites to host a great event called “Capture The Moment.”

The idea is simple: Take a picture on February 20, 2010 with a digital camera incorporating FishBites in the photo somewhere and the best photos win! All you must do to enter is sign up before the event or on the 20th at New Smyrna Outfitters and take a picture that captures your moment of fishing and you could win.
Examples: A boat filling up with gas for a day on the water with FishBites on the deck; a freshly caught fish with FishBites hanging out of its mouth.
When you sign up, you’ll receive a sample bag of FishBites for you to use. The day of the event, you just need to bring your camera (and don’t forget your camera cord!) with you when you come to the check in at New Smyrna Outfitters.
Remember this: come up with the most creative way to capture the moment of fishing with FishBites and you can win!

Note: the photos you submit will become the property of East Cape Canoes & Skiffs and may be used thereafter for commercial purposes.

Prizes are great as one is a $500 gift certificate, Custom built Crowder Rod ( valued at $300 ) and more!
Plus, Raffles going on and food as well…
So, mark your calander & make a trip in to NSB Outfitters to sign up and get your free FishBites.

Weigh-in/Downloading will start at 2pm and close at 4pm. Also come meet the crew from East Cape, FishBites, WANG Anchor Systems, Carbon Marine, Cast-Away Custom, BoldWater and more!
For more info please call NSB Outfitters @ 386.402.8853 or East Cape @ 321.217.1086

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