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So, I don’t expect anyone to actually read this but I think that it is high time for me to get back into the groove of writing to this site. Let’s be honest, I have kept the domain name for a reason. I actually have a new laptop and have a ton a new ideas. Now comes the time to make those ideas happen. I’m going to be talking pirates, maritime history, angling, and whatever else happens to enter my brain. Again, I don’t expect this to set the world on fire, but just publishing to the site is a step in the right direction.

As I was strolling through YouTube the other day during what has so far been a rainiest stretch that I can recall, I came across this little gem from the guys at Jackson Kayak in conjunction with some pro staff from Orvis. Other than the cool production of the video, what struck me the most was the simplicity of the whole fishing experience for these guys. They had their fly rods, nets, paddles, and that was just about it. It occurred to me that this was a simplicity that has been lost in most fishing circles.

I remember the day that a buddy and I drove down to the nearest Bass Pro Shops and we purchased first generation 12 foot Ascend angling kayaks. I purchased the kayak for two reasons, cost and simplicity. It was a way for me to get to where the fish were for less than $600. It was literally all that I could afford at the time. As for simplicity, I had one of the more simple load outs for kayak fishing that I could assemble in a mere matter of moments. It consisted of my PFD, paddle, three rods, plastic worm box, two tackle trays, a slightly modified fishing crate that I purchased in college, a pair of pliers, and a waterproof box. This was all that was necessary for a day of fun on the water. I have since upgraded the kayak and added a flag and light mount to my crate, but my gear has otherwise remained consistent.

The point of the above is to remind folks that they don’t have to spend a fortune to catch fish. I stroll through some fishing social media sites and the casual observer would think that he or she would need to spend thousands of dollars on custom gear in order to ever have a chance to land a fish. For what some of these ambassadors load onto their kayaks, they could have bought a fairly adequately rigged john boat. There is also a correlation between cost and simplicity. The more one spends on a kayak fishing rig, the less simple the rig is to prep and launch. Conversely, the less one spends, the more simple the rig is to prep and launch.

If you have thought about investing in a kayak for fishing or exploration but are discouraged by the perceived cost, please remember to keep it simple. Start with the basics, then you can add as needed. A good rule of thumb is that any gear that you use should help you catch more fish, catch bigger fish, or help you fish longer. Everything else can be left at the store.

-Al

Full disclosure…this post will be part endorsement for a really cool piece of fishing gear and part introduction to my fishing philosophy. I was reading through the Summer issue of The Drake magazine (one of two that I read religiously) and came across an article written by Steven Camelio about handcrafted leather fishing lanyards made by Joe Goertzen in Missoula, Montana. The lanyard that was featured in the article was clearly well used with a waterlogged patina. Based on that article and some other research, I went ahead and pulled the trigger and ordered one of my own. After receiving it in the mail, I can tell you first hand that much thought went into the design and construction of these pieces. It has everything that other lanyards have but the leather construction is such that you have enhanced tactical access to the tools that you need most. Forceps and flies and can be easily accessed through their respective leather holsters. It was clear that a serious fisherman had designed it. My hope is that it will last my lifetime and will be handed down to my children or grandchildren for them to utilize on their fishing excursions.

This leads me to the second purpose of this piece. I miss the days of purchasing gear that lasts a lifetime. I can vividly recall as a child in the 80’s waiting on the Bass Pro Shops catalog to be delivered to my house so that I could document which tackle I would buy through the coming year. Many of the items that I purchased in those days I still have today. I would pick out the nicest piece of gear I could find, save my money, and order it. As with the Goertzen fly fishing lanyard, I go through the exact same process today. Whether it be my rods, reels, tackle boxes, boat, or kayak, all of my gear has lasted many years and still have many years left on them. The point I am making is that the tackle industry should be supporting the fishing industry and not the reverse. Fishing gear should be designed to help you catch more fish or bigger fish and help you fish more efficiently. Conversely, fishing gear should not be designed to make you seem more “fishy” on your Instagram page. To that end, go get yourself a lanyard from Goertzen Adventure Equipment. They can be ordered from goertzenae.com.

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It’s the third Saturday in October and that wonderful time of year when the historic district of the quaint little town of Georgetown, South Carolina is transformed into a wooden boat lover’s dream. The Georgetown Wooden Boat Show is a showcase of nautical history and craftmanship. Front Street is closed and becomes the main corridor for the show, open only to foot traffic. The street is lined with everything from restored Chris Crafts to custom wooden kayaks and stand up paddleboards. There are also vendors of all things nautical, historical, outdoors, and artisan.

As you stroll down the street admiring these functional works of art, you notice that the only thing larger than the crowd is the excitement of the owners to tell you about these vessels. Their body language is practically begging you to ask them about their particular craft. As they explain every detail of the project to you, it becomes apparent that many man-hours went into this creation and much of it at a great personal cost. The involvement in the process becomes uniquely personal for them and contributes to everything from the whimsical name that is assigned to the craft to finding and rebuilding the period correct outboard motor for the boat. Even if you are not into wooden boats, the enthusiasm of the owners leaves you with dreams of finding that next project in the backyard of some random old salt and working to make it uniquely yours.

Just as you think that you have reached the end of the show, you notice a mass of folks headed towards the Harborwalk. As you infiltrate this conglomerate, you recognize that the rest of the show is at the docks adjacent to the Harborwalk. The marina is filled with larger historic wooden boats with the owners sitting on board. Most of the folks at the docks walk through and randomly admire different aspects of the boats but there are a select few that look at these boats a little differently. They are intently calculating the number of hours that went into the build or restoration. They are counting the number of coats of varnish that it took to achieve that mirror-like finish on the hull and woodwork. No matter how you look at these boats, you will most assuredly walk away with an appreciation for the workmanship that went into them.

In addition to the actual show, there is also a boatbuilding competition that is worked into the event. Teams are given plans for a row boat and four hours to build the boat in front of all of the boat show attendees. There is a litany of the sound of saws, hammers, and planers. At the end of the four hours, the teams who have completed the boat race them across the Sampit River at the Harborwalk. The whole affair creates a carnival-like atmosphere that is enjoyed by young and old.

The Georgetown Wooden Boat Show is a great southern event for several reasons. One, it still maintains its identity after twenty nine years of existence. The larger contemporary of this lowcountry show, the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, lost track of its meaning years ago. The Georgetown show was created to celebrate the maritime history of this community and still maintains that theme to this day. Two, the whole thing can be done in a day and does not really take any advance planning. Attendance and parking are free. This is also good because it really only lasts a day. The schedule also includes Sunday but none of the locals I have spoken with know why.

The only issue I have with the show is the ticketing system. There are several food and beverage vendors with wonderful regional cuisine along Front Street but they can only accept tickets for payment. These tickets have to be purchased separately from yet another tent. This minor issue can be quickly remedied, however, by visiting one of the trendy eating establishments along the waterfront.

In closing, if you are into boats, maritime history, and good people, then go ahead and mark the third Saturday in October on your calendar and make the trip to Georgetown, South Carolina. If you see me, give me a holler. You can learn more about the Georgetown Wooden Boat Show at woodenboatshow.com/.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all three of you to my new blog! I have created it to open the rest of the world up to my love of all things angling, nautical, history, reading, and writing. Most of the posts will be based out of my home state of South Carolina but I also plan to profile different anglers, boatbuilders, and watermen from all over the Southeast. They will be based on my unique experience and perspective and will focus on those individuals who have a genuine love of the water.

As you might be able to tell, this site is a work in progress and I hope to utilize the unique skills of my artist family to fully develop this site, so please be patient through the process.

I look forward to sharing my passion with you!

-Al