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Capt. Brad Philipps uses Eagle Claw circle hooks in Catch-and-Release fishing off Guatemala
Posted on: Dec 06, 2010
Posted in: 2, Hooks, Pro Staff News
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Fishing Report – Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures – November 2010
As predicted we have seen some very good fishing this November off Guatemala. The amount of bait and activity out wide has been something to behold. Anglers who have made it to these rich waters have been rewarded with some superb action. Boats have averaged between 15 to 30 sailfish
releases a day with almost daily encounters with blue marlin in the 200 to 300lb range.
Mike Malin, his father Gene, Bill Frint and Rich Dorchak, were the first to join us in November going 7 from 22 on the sails their first day. The following they released 10 sails and strong blue in the 300lb range which Rich Dorchak did a fine job on as the angler. Their third day saw 8 from 21 and then 14 releases from 23 bites on the last day to see out a great trip which the group all thoroughly enjoyed.
Robert Schoenthal and his collegue Alex González made the trip down from a cold New York to enjoy our hot action. The duo released 7 from 16 bites on the 14th to start things rolling. With Alex having high sights on his first blue marlin we stuck to our guns in persuit thereof and were rewarded late the next day when the second blue of the day inhaled the mackeral pitchbait for Alex to enjoy the angling highlight of his life and release a feisty 225lb Blue to compliment the 6 sailfish Bob and he had already released. Day three saw Bob enjoying a relaxing day around the pool catching up on soem work, while we wore Alex out offshore, releasing 16 sails, putting some 30 to 40 pound dorado in the boat and having two blue marlin up we just couldn’t connect on. To say Alex and Bob left happy would be putting it mildly.
The 18th saw our OBX/Decisive team with us from the East Coast to practice fish a day prior to the PCCA’s final event which is historically held in Guatemala. Anglers Mike Viveiros, Dell Dembosky and Craig Johnson got off to an exciting start releasing a blue and 2 sails all at the same time all on 20lb early in the day. Only minutes latter we released another feisty blue to start their trip.
Following our initial plans of exploring prior to the tournament the following day we unfortunately seemed to leave the fish behind as we went looking but it did give us an idea of where not to go the next day.
The 19th saw the tournament start and we found the pick of the bite out west but we just could not get the hooks to stick and ended with a disappointing 13 from 38 bites, but Dell did release an exciting 250lb blue . After a good team talk we were back in high spirits on day two and found our groove, going an impressive 38 from 54 bites in 6 hours of tournament fishing to take top day honors and put us back within 5 fish of the top boat.
With a lot on the table for the final day we were back out west but just couldn’t get it going with a slower pick for everyone. With 45 minutes to lines out we were still 5 fish behind the lead boat and found a pocket of fish for the Decisive to turn it on. First we released a triple, two sails and a blue marlin in the 250lb range, exciting stuff with 20lb tournament line and so much at stake. Next a triple of sails, then a double, then a single, down to the wire it went to tie on points but loose by 7 minutes on time. Not to be disappointed Team OBX/Decisive was victories taking the Grand Championship Team for the Event, with Mike Viveiros taking the Grand Champion Angler for the entire event and Dell Dembosky taking the Top Angler for the Guatemalan Leg. All in all, a fantastic showing, a new PCCA release record with 676 sails, 7 blue marlin and a striped marlin to make for some unbelievable action.
The 22nd and 23rd saw our neighbour Scott Lund and his friend Ron with us. The sailfish were most certainly around and we encountered unbelievable numbers of them feeding on balls of bait, but it was marlin the boys were after so on we pushed in search of the blue dog.
With a few sails under our belt and some 20 dorado we unfortunately were not rewarded with what we were after, but a great time was had never the less.
Our bookings have filled nicely and we are convinced that those that have scheduled a trip will be rewarded with some fine fishing this season. For those looking to treat themselves to the fishing trip of a lifetime we still have some open dates in April and May of next year, so drop us an enquiry.
Until next report, compliments of the festive season to you all. Tight lines, Eagle Claw circle hooks and healthy releases.
Capt. Brad Philipps
“Decisive”
Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures
Fishing Update from California
Posted on: Nov 17, 2010
Posted in: Hooks, Lazer Sharp, Pro Staff News, Wright & McGill
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Jason Martinez checks in from California
As far as fishing goes, I have been fishing pretty hard the last month. California has had some great weather lately (about 80). Over all this year has been a terrible for fishing …every time I go it seems like “should have been here yesterday”. I have been fishing Santa Barbara Island the last two weekends, the bite for yellow tail, white sea bass & halibut has been good. Two weeks ago we tried to get the island but was unable due to 25 knot winds. The boats that were able to get to the island did catch fish. We finally got there this past Saturday to find great weather but the fish didn’t bite. The sport boat that has been catching the most fish, close to 50 a day, caught only 6 on Saturday and 4 Sunday. We went 0 for 2 Saturday and couldn’t get bit on Sunday. Fishing there sucks because if yellow tail, white sea bass & halibut aren’t biting and there is nothing else to fish. The island is under the cow cod restrictions which has specific rules on species and depth. It is not worth getting caught.
Squid has been available all year which is strange. Squid is usually available only in the spring to early summer. I have been using the P140-5/0 and that has been a good hook for that application. Here is a picture of a Sheephead that we let go. That hook was jammed right into the roof of his mouth.
I have put away the saltwater gear and will concentrate on freshwater.
For more info on the Cow Cod restrictions go to
http://www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/new/2010/27_20isoratt9.pdf
CATDADDY THE KANSAS CATMAN
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010
Posted in: Hooks, Lazer Sharp, Pro Staff News, Wright & McGill
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Rene “Catdaddy” Shumway has been busy pulling in huge catfish in Kansas. Look at the size of these two monsters.
If you would like to catch giant catfish like these check out Catdaddy’s website for more information
www.Catdaddyguideservices.com
The Jones Team use Unique Techniques and Technology to Pull Large Crappie out of Indiana’s Lakes.
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010
Posted in: Hooks, Lazer Sharp, Pro Staff News, Product Info, Wright & McGill
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Brothers Bob and Rick of Team Jones are not afraid to skip the small fish in the hunt for the lunkers. They are confident in using a specific technique known as spider rigging, where multiple rods are positioned on different corners of the boat like the legs of a spider. Team Jones uses Eagle Claw hooks set 18 inches apart with different baits and depths to comb the water. This technique is effective, but you need to know the right place to fish.
To be successful at fishing crappie you need to find underwater structure. Team Jones relies on the common fishfinder to navigate fishing hotspots. They look for canals, lumber, stumps, and any other structure to use to their advantage. The average fisherman has trouble reading or using their fishfinder. Learning to use your fishfinder correctly can make all the difference.
Look for the whole article coming out in Indiana Game and Fish
For tips and tutorials on how to correctly use a fishfinder go to:
http://www.lowrance.com/Support/Tips-and-Tutorials/
http://fishinweb.com/messages/messages/13028/13028.html?1258393767
Eagle Claw Nails a Big Striper!
Posted on: Aug 11, 2010
Posted in: Hooks, Lazer Sharp, News From Chris
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For years, Eagle Claw’s goal is to catch big fish, and allow our customers to have the best gear at an affordable price. Our Pro’s around the country are dedicated to proving that you can catch big fish, have a blast, and be superior without over paying! Eagle Claw products are affordable, yet top of the line in the fishing industry! One of our guides in Arkansas took a client out early one morning, targeting big striper! Here’s what he had to say…
“It was now nearing dawn; the first tinges of gray and pink were seeping into the horizon. We had been on the water since 5:30. Six o’clock was rolling around, and the water was eerily calm, without a single ripple. It was like being surrounded by glass in the darkness. All of a sudden, my client, a very large man I should add, rose out of his chair like it had caught fire, rod in hand. I realized now that he had a hit, and it was a big one. I ran to the remote for the trolling motor and had to whirl the boat around to keep the line from snapping and to follow his prospective catch. I was instantly relieved that I use Eagle Claw “Water Eagle” rods and “Lazer Sharp” hooks, because anything of lesser quality couldn’t have stood up to this beast. It took me and my client several minutes (and grunts) to haul our striper up out of the water. When we finally brought it in, we knew it was a large one. When we weighed it in, the scale topped at 42 pounds! The record on the lake is 55 pounds. I am very glad that I use such high-end Eagle Claw fishing gear, or my client and I would have missed out on a beast of a catch.”
Congrats on the big catch guys!!
A Retired Veteran Uses Eagle Claw to Land a Biggie
Posted on: Jul 29, 2010
Posted in: Hooks, Lazer Sharp, News From Chris
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Here is the story sent to us from a loyal and dedicated customer, Henry Hudson Jr. This fellow from Mississippi sent us this letter just to let us know about his humbled experience using Eagle Claw hooks, and how proud he is of them!
Here’s what Henry had to say!
“About 26 years ago, we built a 26 acre watershed lake on our property and stocked it with both Florida and Northern strain largemouth. Four years ago, I took out 26 bass over 6 pounds from the lake. It is obviously doing quite well.
Last winter I rolled 4 large concrete culverts off the lake dam and they sank in about 10-12 feel of water. I was attempting to create some good harborage for the bass. Here in the deep South, bass get lethargic during the heat of the summer and seek the coolest and shadiest spot they can find and just sit there waiting for a meal. They prefer something big and easy to catch. I thought that this spot might be the place to coax one into making a mistake.
As it is way too hot and bright to fish until about 6:30 pm, that is when this trip started. Using a quiet electric motor, I drifted into range of the submerged culverts. I was using a Gander Mountain rod with some purple worm attached on some 2/0 Eagle Claw hooks. I bumbed the worm over the culvert, and on the fall it started to head sideways and into deeper water. As I set the hook, I knew it was a big fish, and soon the drag on the reel confirmed my thoughts. It was a good fight but I had the gear on him and once I got my thumb and forefinger in his mouth I did not let him go! I will leave the weight of this big fellow up to everyone’s imagination…
Yesterday afternoon, I almost repeated the exact same story over again except for the fact that the fish was larger and the hook pulled loose from soft tissue about 6 feet from the boat. Never fear, I have this bass’ zip code.
I thought you might want to hear something good about your products. Keep them sharp, keep them strong, keep making them in the United States!”
Henrys Big Bass
Thank you Henry for such a great story! Now go land that monster that barely escaped you last time!
Colorado State Record Catfish Caught on Eagle Claw Hook
Posted on: Jul 28, 2010
Posted in: Hooks, Lazer Sharp, News From Chris
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Daris McKinnon was a man on a mission June 28 when he launched his boat on Aurora Reservoir. “I was hunting for ‘em,” he said of his determination to bring in a large catfish. “I caught it on purpose.” McKinnon, 43, a Parker resident, had done his research. He had studied the lake and the habits of its channel catfish. He had heard reports of large cats in shallow water from other fishermen and had seen them on his own. One had stood out. It had a distinctive splotch of white on its back.
He had been on the water four to five days a week through June but had come up empty. Maybe today would be the day. Soon enough, McKinnon spotted a dark shadow in the water, then the white-splotched fish. He cast his bait, a piece of yellow perch and, with growing tension, waited. The fish moved toward the bait. The bobber went under. McKinnon set the hook, and the battle was on.
“I pulled up my anchor, and it was pulling the boat around,” McKinnon said. “I had it on for what seemed like 20 minutes — you can’t be sure when you’re in a situation like that — and it was extremely fun. When I finally got it in, I was flabbergasted. But I was pretty confident I might have a state record.”
Daris McKinnon takes the record 35 pound, 8 ounce catfish from Aurora Reservoir.
In due time, it became official.
McKinnon’s channel catfish, taken with an Eagle Claw Red Hook on 65-pound-test braided line weighed 35 pounds, 8 ounces. It was 36 1/4 inches long and had a girth of 27 ¼ inches. It edged past the old record, taken one year ago almost to the day from Aurora Reservoir by Mike Stone, by 4 ounces.
“It feels fantastic, and I’m relishing it,” McKinnon said. “I hope it stands for a while, but records are made to be broken. Someone’s going to break mine.”
Having two state-record fish taken in a short time from the same reservoir is rare, certainly, but not a total surprise to Ken Kehmeier, senior aquatic biologist for the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s northeast region, which includes the greater Denver area.
“It’s a pretty productive body of water,” he said of Aurora Reservoir. “It gets mostly good, mountain water, and when that warms up, they (catfish) start to grow well there. We have a number of reservoirs along the Front Range that have some large catfish. I know of big catfish in Boyd Lake, Lon Hagler, Lonetree . . .the big ones are there, but they’re an underutilized resource. They’re not fished for very much. You have to target the bigger fish and spend some time on the lake fishing for them.”
Big cats mostly prowl at night, and traditionally, fishing for them means fishing after dark. That is not possible at Aurora Reservoir, which is open from dawn to dusk, making McKinnon’s catch all the more exceptional. He believes timing was among the key factors.
“The water’s pretty cold in the spring, and they come into the shallows for a short time, looking to warm up,” McKinnon said. “They’ll be lying in the weeds sunning themselves. That’s when you can see them, and if you make a quiet approach, maybe you can catch one. It’s too late this year; they’re gone already. But they should be back next spring — maybe sometime in May.”
McKinnon, a concrete cutter by trade, is not about to give up fishing for the season. After a couple of fruitless return trips to Aurora Reservoir in pursuit of channel cats, he’s turning his attention to smallmouth bass and possibly blue catfish.
“I just enjoy fishing,” he said. “I think Aurora has some blue catfish, and it would be kind of neat if I could get a big one of those.”
The state record for blue catfish, taken from a private pond in Lincoln County in 1976, is 20 pounds, 1 ounce.
McKinnon already has four DOW Master Angler certificates for smallmouth bass, one for largemouth bass and hopes of catching a state-record smallmouth.
He’ll keep trying for other big channel cats but says he probably won’t keep one unless someone beats the current record.
“My record won’t stand,” he said. “Someone else can catch another one if he’s dedicated and goes after it. I just hope it doesn’t happen real soon.”
Congrats to Daris on the monster fish!! Continue the good work and keep making Eagle Claw proud!!
7th Annual Kids Fishing For Charity Event is a Success
Posted on: Jul 22, 2010
Posted in: Hooks, Lazer Sharp, News From Chris, Wright & McGill
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Every year for the past 7 years, Eagle Claw has teamed up with the New Brunswick Sportsfishing Association to hold the Kids Fishing for Charity event. The most recent one for 2010 was held on July 10th. Jason, a dedicated volunteer, talks about the event and explains why the event is so important, what the average person can take away from the event, and how this event can change the lives of so many underprivileged children suffering from Juvenile Diabetes.
Kids line up and await the start of the tournament.
Heres what Jason had to say…
“The New Brunswick Sportsfishing Association just finishing holding their 7th Annual Kids Fishing for Charity Event on July 10, 2010. All money raised is donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I am pleased to say we raised $2000.00 and the New Brunswick Government just announced that they will contribute $2.00 for every dollar we raised. Juvenile Diabetes strikes far too many of our children and each donation, no matter the size, takes us one step closer to finding a cure for this terrible disease. In 2010, the event collected and donated $6000.00 to this worth-while cause.
Out of all the tournaments throughout the year this is the one I enjoy the most. Just to see all of the smiles on of all the kids’ faces. This event also gives kids a chance that they might not normally get: a chance to go fishing and to get in a fancy bass boat and experience the thrill of fishing.
We have Angel boaters that do not have their own children to take. So they volunteer their time and boat for such a worthy event. Angel boaters are willing to take one (1) child and their parent/guardian into this event. The entry fee is $25.00 per boat which goes towards our donation.
The kids are split up into 3 groups for this event. The group’s ages are 6 to 8, 9 to 11, and 12 to 15. The first group was set at 6 to 8 but every year we see more and more eager anglers under 6 signing up for this event.
Until 2 years ago, I was an Angel Boater. At that time my daughter was 4 and she decided she was old enough to start fishing tournaments. She has won a trophy both years she has fished. The way she is going I might have to expand my fishing room to hold all her trophies. Rumor has it that the Eagle Claw scouts have their eye on her.
The target species are Yellow Perch, Chain Pickerel, and Smallmouth Bass. Each child is allowed to bring one of each species in to be measured. Our Tournament Advisor also volunteers his time and experience to measure and release all the fish.
Every child receives a participation medallion and a grab bag with goodies like Eagle Claw hooks, soft baits, books, and even a Dave Mercer Bobble head. Trophies are awarded for the three top fish in every category. Every child is giving a chance to pick one gift from the prize table that was donated from generous people and companies. The prizes ranged from rod and reel combos to a Super Soaker squirt gun. In addition to the prizes, five bikes were donated as a special draw for the kids. With 56 kids fishing this year, it made many children happy and enlightened a few people’s minds.
After the kids weighed in their fish they were treated to a BBQ, snacks, and cake.
I would like to thank everyone that helped make this Annual Event such a great success. My daughter is already making plans for next year.
I am grateful to be fortunate enough to belong to an organization that has the same passion about taking care of our sport and resources to provide our kids a chance to enjoy this sport for years to come.” – Jason
Jason sits with his daughter while everybody enjoys a BBQ.
Do your part to help out when necessary. Eagle Claw is a proud partner of the Kids Fishing Derby and we understand the significance of the help we can give. Thank you, Jason, for such a wonderful and inspiring event that you dedicate so much of your time and efforts to. Eagle Claw, along with millions of other people, are proud and thankful for the determination and understanding you give to the children with Juvenile Diabetes.
Putting Circle Hooks to the Test
Posted on: Jul 22, 2010
Posted in: Hooks, Lazer Sharp, News From Chris, Product Info
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Lone Star Outdoor News matched small circle hooks with small, medium, and large bluegills in late June on a Central Texas pond. Three fisherman used Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp circle hooks, sizes 10, 12, and 14 baited with pieces of nightcrawler or with Gulp! crickets a foot or so below a small slipshot. Over a four hour period in 90+ degree Texas heat, more than 60 bluegills were landed and realeased out of a hot hole in the 5-acre pond, giving the hooks and baits a fair test.
Hook Location: Of all the fish they landed, only one fish had “swallowed” the hook and was hooked fairly deep. The hook removed relatively easy with no harm to the fish. Every other fish was hooked in the mouth.
Hook Removal: The small circle hooks were easy to remove, but forceps or a pair of needle-nose pliers could be helpful. The hooks have short shanks and are tough to handle with fingers. The barbed hooks were easy to remove with pliers or by hand after pinching the barb down.
Hook Sets: As with large circle hooks, no swift jerk is required, and attempting to set the hook (as if you were bass fishing) won’t catch many fish. In fact, the jerk usually pulls the hook out of the fishes mouth. Fishing in about 6-8 feet of water, simply lifting the rod is proven most effective.
Hooking Success: The group missed a few more fish than traditional hooks, but the fish were so plentiful it didn’t really matter. The bite was subtle on the test day, often only noticed by a slight twitch or tightening of the line while the bait was on the fall. The light bite may have been another factor in the number of missed fish.
Baits: The bluegill hit both baits consistently, but the Gulp! crickets won out on this day by a significant margin. The tiny legs on the plastic bugs may have attracted the fish, or a huge grasshopper crop in Central Texas may have played a role. The plastic crickets held up well, didn’t get dirt under the fingernails, and each bug was good for several bites and successful catches.
Overall: The tiny circle hooks were a big success. No fish were killed in attempting to remove hooks. No cutting the line and leaving the hook in the released fish hoping the fish would make it. The hooks are a definite plus for fishing with live bait, still fishing while anchored, or anywhere that fish populations are such that large numbers of fish are expected to be caught and released.
Kind Word From a Faithful User
Posted on: Jul 20, 2010
Posted in: Hooks, Lazer Sharp, News From Chris, Wright & McGill
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One of our most faithful customers, Nickie Morton, comments on the trophy fish he caught, and how Eagle Claw hooks and Wright and McGill rods allowed him to catch the fish of his dreams! Here’s what Nickie had to say:
“I would just like to say thanks for making a great product! On July 5th while fishing the Caney Fork river in Smithville TN I hooked into a monster brown trout! I was using ultra light gear and your number 6 pan fish hook and managed to land a 8.75 lb brown trout after a 2.5 hour fight! Thanks for the great product with outstanding quality!
Thanks Again!”
Faithful customer, Nickie Morton, stand with his 8.75 pound Brown Trout caught out of Smithville, Tennessee.
Our mission is to provide all of our customers with outstanding quality products that get the job done, every time! With affordable prices, we guarantee that the joy and excitement found in fishing is attainable by any and every customer! Thanks again Nickie for the story, and keep up the good work!
