Finally, I am about to conclude negotiations with “Team Navy” for ‘offshore’ big game fishing out of Aransas Pass in their brand new 38’, 10 ½’ beam Fountain fishing boat powered by 3 - 250 horse Merc’s!  I have a photo of this beauty in the shop and on my computer.  I have sent deposits for reservations on the following dates:  Monday June 7^th; Tuesday June 8^th; Monday June 14^th; Tuesday June 15^th.  Several of you have already spoken for space and will have the first opportunity at reserving your chair on the boat, others that may have an interest will be on a first come first served basis and you can do that by emailing me credit card info complete with expiration date and zip code, of course, check or cash is always welcome.

 

The costs for a 12 hour day will be $225 per person, 4 fishermen per trip (any tips you may want to make to Capt. Glasier and the deck hand would be additional)!  I plan on accompanying as a ‘5^th wheel’ on the two Monday trips and will make myself available to help out with the equipment and tend to your needs.  Boat Capt. Glasier is a fly fisherman as well and will take us out to the East Breaks about 65 miles offshore where we begin fishing in the Gulf Stream.  Each trip is for 12 hours!  We will troll with offshore equipment and maintain teasers behind the boat and when fish are raised, offer chum to keep them around while presenting our flies.  This is the most exciting fishing you could imagine.  I expect we will have possible chances at Billfish, Dorado (dolphin fish); Yellow Fin Tuna, Black Fin Tuna, Wahoo, Cobia (Ling), to include just a few of the many species that live in the deep water.  This is offshore trolling so rarely does anyone get sick and with the speed of the boat (you remember Miami Vice?), we will be in ‘fishable waters’ much quicker than usual.

 

The costs will cover the boat, fuel, Capt Glasier, a deckhand, chum/bait, ice, water, and all the offshore equipment (except fly rods!).  I will have a selection of flies and leaders prepared as well and when I am along, a couple of my personal fly rods that could be used.  Fly rods of choice would be a salt water 8 or 9 weight for the ‘chicken dolphin’, 10 weights for black fin and small yellow fin, cobia and the like, and 12 weights and up for the big dude’s.  Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested so I may fill out each group.  This trip is for a total of 16 fisher’s at 4 per trip!  Should I receive an overflow of requests I will book other trips accordingly.  My thanks go out to the wonderful folks with the U. S. Navy and my friend and Fire Chief Dale Polk of the Navy base in Ingleside for helping me make the arrangements.  The costs are but a fraction of what this would cost with a boat such as this using commercial outfitters.

 

Retired Navy Captain Bob Ferguson will be in the shop on fly tying night May 24^th and will have many things to talk to the fly tiers about including a demonstration of the Mokai boat.  He will bring it along and park it in front of the shop.  The Mokai is like a Kayak, like a small boat, but has a Honda air cooled, jet drive motor!  I saw a video tape on the Mokai and it is truly amazing when considering the applications.  Bob has developed the ‘Wonderfurl Leader’ so many of us have enjoyed and will share many good stories.  I hope we have a good turn out for this highly decorated veteran of 3 wars!

 

Please, if you want to continue to receive my newsletters and you change your email address, notify me of the new address.  My last newsletter I had 20 some returned as undeliverable.

 

I have numerous customer fishing stories to relate but I am afraid I have rattled on long enough although I will pass along one as it is somewhat related to our upcoming offshore adventures.  Mike Smith while in Florida, landed a 15 pound plus ‘little tunny’ or false albacore on his Sage 8 weight!  You need to ask Mike about the speed and power a tuna has particularly how much backing it took off his reel while the boat was chasing the fish!

 

Thanks.

 

Dennis O. Freeman

RODMAKERS

13457 Blanco Road

San Antonio, TX 78216

rodmaker@rod-makers.com

210-479-3477