I’d like to introduce all my fishing brethren here at KFM to a dear old friend of mine. We first met sometime in the 70s when I was a member of a couple of outdoor book clubs. We haven’t always been in touch but when we renew our friendship, it’s like we were never apart except that I’m always learning something new. We most often get together when I have a dentist/doctor’s appointment and I know I’ll be sitting around awhile and have some time to kill. I also kept my friend in my travel trailer for times when the weather was horrendous and I wanted to get lost in another world. If you haven’t figured it out yet my old dear friend isn’t a person, it’s a book. The title is ‘Profiles in Saltwater Angling’ by George Reiger and it is literally a history of saltwater sport fishing. I’m not even certain how many times I’ve read the book as I tend to read it in sections now. It is so engrossing that I can’t imagine any avid angler who ventures to the salt not loosing themselves in it as I have so many times.

Most of us are aware of men like Zane Grey, Ernest Hemingway, and Joe Brooks and they’re in the book. However there are many men whose contributions a century earlier I wasn’t aware of; the men who started it all. While I’m an avid fisherman I admit I don’t know much of the history and origins of this sport that I’ve participated in since childhood. I found the entire book fascinating and still do having reread many of its chapters on the occasions stated above. Having grown up in the New York metro area I found it especially fascinating the fishing in Newark Bay and the Passaic River from the early 1800s; the runs of weakfish and fluke and the shear richness of the fishery. Many of us consider Joe Brooks the father of saltwater fly fishing but he’s actually superseded by Henry William Herbert by 150 plus years! However the book begins much earlier then there. It goes back to the days before Columbus when commercial fishermen sailed two thirds across the Atlantic from Europe to fish the Grand Banks. They never had a reason to keep going as fish was their goal and left the discovery to Columbus. Other fascinating tidbits such as in colonial days farmers purchasing shad along the Connecticut River were required to take an equal amount of salmon they were so plentiful. Here’s a fascinating excerpt from the book “Incredibly enough, one of the first Americans we know of to take exception to the rule that saltwater fishing meant commercial fishing was none other than George Washington, father of our country. Records indicate that early in the last decade of the eighteenth century, President Washington and a party of fellow anglers chartered a boat to take them from Long Island to Sandy Hook, presumably for some bottom bouncing with handlines.” Pretty cool isn’t it. Not only a founding father but our first President is also one of our first sport anglers.  Over a century later sportsman were hearing tales of a monstrous minnow that was an incredible leaper. Men traveled to Florida to learn about the silver king – the tarpon and test their metal against this fine sport fish. There is so much angling history covered in its 455 pages.

There are quotes, excerpts and pictures from angling publications that are over 100 years old. I especially found photographs from the late 1800s with anglers with their blue fin tuna fascinating. I can go on and on but I won’t. One thing the book really shows is how much we have lost. How incredibly abundant our fishes were and how their populations are a mere fraction of what they once were. It makes me wish I had a time machine and could travel back a few hundred years and enjoy this bounty. Scotty beam me back with a surf rod, kayak and some modern tackle and I won’t ask for anything else. Alas, fish stocks will never be like this again but we can visit this world through George Reiger’s penmanship. There’s not much better then curling up with this book on a day when the weather isn’t going to allow you to do much else and lose yourself in what once was and how modern sport fishing got here. Enjoy.

PS. A search on the Internet will turn up a bunch of copies that can be bought for as little as a few dollars. However don’t dawdle as the book is no longer in print and they won’t last and don’t ask to borrow mine cause I won’t lend it.

Paddlesport is Jersey Paddler’s big kayak show and sale. It’s one of the largest kayak events in the country and eagerly anticipated by thousands. As all of us know kayak fishing is exploding and this year the show is embracing this growth. I stopped by last year and by Friday night most of the kayaks that fish well were already sold out. So for this year they’re bringing in more of the kayak models fishermen want.

I tried to touch base with each of the companies to see what’s new that they’ll have at the show.

I spoke with Joe Warren from Confluence Water Sports. He said new this year is the Commander in a 14’ version.

I spoke with Marc Weiss of Hobie and new from them is a fish finder install kit called the Full Sized FF Install Kit. It integrates a 10AH gel cell 12 volt battery to provide more power to run larger units like the Lowrance Full Size series of FF that Hobie Offers. It can also be used to run the smaller units for longer periods of time. Kit incl. Waterproof 10AH Gel Cell 12 Volt battery with attached waterproof wiring and connectors, 12 volt battery charger, Foam battery pad, transducer pad, zip ties, marine goop, wire connectors, rubber grommet and wire cap. MSRP $99.95

Jackson Kayaks, a whitewater company, will have its new fishing SOT there. It’s called the Coosa and I’ve already had a chance to paddle one. It’s a very cool craft that’s built from the bottom up for fishing moving water. It has a bunch of unique features and I’ve had lots of inquiries about it.

I spoke with Andy Zimmerman, CEO of Legacy. Nothing new but he’ll be at Paddlesport and it isn’t often you get to speak with the top gun of a company and have him assist you with your purchase.

Johnson Outdoors, which is Ocean Kayak, Old Town and Necky will have some new stuff. From Ocean Kayak the new Tridents (with mod pod, new comfort tech seat and wear prevention strip on stern of hull underside), Hopefully, the Ultra 4.7 (on order but not sure if they’ll be in from New Zealand in time for show), From Old Town there’s the Saranax 146 XT canoe from OT, Camden kayaks, Dirigo new basic version kayak, Nalu 12.5 SUP, Trekker bent shaft canoe paddle and the Vapor 10 angler.

Besides gear the event will feature a slew of kayak fishing seminars. This is the largest collection of kayak fishing seminars I’ve ever seen. I’ll be there and I’m scheduled to do 2 different seminars.

John “Toast” Oast a member of the Ocean Kayak Pro Team will be doing a seminar on kayak rigging.

Dan and Hank from Anthracite Outfitters in PA will be doing 3 seminars; river kayak fishing, kayak fishing and expeditionary kayak fishing and camping. So whether you’d rather go it alone or have them to the heavy lifting they have lots of great info to share with you.

Bob MacMaster a naturalist and guide will be doing a seminar on kayak fishing basics. Bob is frequently at the Paddler shop and does seminars for them throughout the year.

Cory “Routhless” Routh from Legacy Paddlesports will be speaking about the myriad of kayak fishing opportunities around his native waters of Virginia at the mouth of the Chesapeake. It’s an extremely diverse environment with a great mixture of northern and southern species and is within a day’s drive of the NY metro area.

Drew “BasserDrew” Gregory from Jackson Kayaks helped design the Coosa and he’ll be speaking about fishing moving water from a kayak. Its different then fishing still waters and Drew will talk about it.

Another feature of Paddlesport will be the ‘Panel of Kayak Fishing Pros’. It’s an ‘Ask the Experts - Kayak Fishing Q & A’. It’s the first I’ve heard of putting such a panel together and a great idea. It’s a great way to get your questions answered and someone will probably ask about something you haven’t thought of and will find beneficial. I know I’m looking forward to it.

Space only allows me to write so much about each speaker and the seminars they’ll be presenting. For a full description go to www.jerseypaddler.com/paddle-sport/general-info/speakers.html