BC Spearing Trip: Round Two!

[feign]

Erik, just wanted to remind on Lars pick-up at Horshoe Bay as well. Are you going to take out the back row? We can meet sometime next week to finalize plans.

Gabe, thanks if we can stay over on Sat night. We will need directions to your place and contact number. I still have your cell if it hasn't changed. Also, I talked to TC about two tents on a site, they said no problem and no charge. However, on the website it states an extra $10 charge per night. We can work it out. I you wanted to combine with us or with Fattah possibly I think we can consolidate.

lee

[Fondueset]

DeepRN -Normally when I spot a critter for a pic I work my way up until it's body language gets edgy - this beast didn't budge but the look in it's eye actually freaked me out a little - heres another one - these are uncropped and taken with a wide-angle lens - depth around 14 meters - distance in the close shot about 4 - 6 inches!

[feign]

Night of the living ling....

[Erik]

Originally Posted by feign

Erik, just wanted to remind on Lars pick-up at Horshoe Bay as well. Are you going to take out the back row? We can meet sometime next week to finalize plans.

Yeah no problem Lee, the back seat will be out and we'll have tons of room.

[DeepRN]

I'm stoked for the travelling now too. We can provide directions to our place (couple of minutes off the highway) once we're getting closer.

Chris, that wide-angle lens shot is super! I know i've said this at least ten times, but I'm still amazed at the vis you have in lake Michigan. Good diving/good photos!

[DeepRN]

I was wondering just now, if anyone one in our group has (or has picked up) a break-away rig for halibut. I was also thinking that a slip-tip and maybe even a bungee attachment could help with reducing tearout...


Edited: Just read a few good thoughts in Eric's speargun design thread. Someone was mentioning that halibut could very well simply settle back down on the bottom (wherever that happens to be), allowing for a diver to continue further dives to the fish (or even do a pulldown along the floatline for another spear, or a kill by braining the fish with a knife) Good thoughts.

[feign]

No, I didn't get a breakaway, but I have dedicated the MT with 5/16" (8mm) shaft and large two-barbed tri-cut tip and 3 bands as a large halibut slayer for anyone to use. I believe this set-up has a good chance at success. The barbs are closer to the tip than a single flopper shaft, so they will have a better chance at getting all the way through a fish on the bottom, because the shaft may be stunted in its flight path depending on the density and contents of the bottom terrain. Large 2 floppers = less likely to tear out. 3 bands and heavy shaft for more momentum and penetration power.

[iceselkie]

Hey guys, sorry, I edited out our personal info. I'll leave you a PM.

[Erik]

Party at Bri/Gabe's house!

[DeepRN]

we have news. will PM...

[Amphibious]

ok boys and girls, I'm heading down early, I will be there thursday night or friday afternoon. nothing happening here in town for the next few days, might as well get some diving in look for a little blue toytruck at the camp site, there is cold beer in the cooler.

[Erik]

Nice time in TC with Amphibious (Colin), feign (Lee) and Lars from Maple Ridge.
Thanks to Gabe and Brianna for putting us up and feeding us, nice to visit of course, and our prayers for your little guy for a strong recovery.
The water was 8C..... usually 10C up there and this kicked the hell out of us as we were spending 4 hrs in the water on the boat-dive days and we were getting tired by the end of the week.
Due to lack of participants we had to cancel some boat-days as we could not afford it between the 4 of us (originally 10 scheduled). Luckily Lindsay was nice enough to let us cancel the extra days, including the Browning Pass day as he was able to pick up other work during the week.
We got out Greenling limits most days (3) and Rockfish (1), but only saw small Ling Cod and nobody got any at all.... Haddington was closed and IMO a good idea as the amount of Commercial and Rec fishing is starting to impact the north part of Vancouver Island it seems.
Lee was our camp cook... more like camp chef. If you've sampled his cooking you'll know what I mean. We were roughing it in every way but the meals were world-class- thanks Lee! The Blackened Fish, Greek Salad, Tempura and Seafood Chowder were amazing >8^p

My thoughts overall are that if we cannot get Ling up north, and being that the water is 6 to 8C warmer near Nanaimo, then next time I'm going to the south of the island. Greenling are excellent eating and good sport when you take long shots before they come looking for you, and with the 7mm Elios I can easily spend 6 hours in the water without getting cold- especially cumulative dropping of core temp.
I will be taking Indo family to the south part of the Island in August, will do some hunting, and will report.
Again DBlue moves my cyber-community a step closer as I finally met Willer after 5 years or so lol.
Good luck on the new opportunity Willer!
Warmly,
Erik Young

[Amphibious]

trip was great even if the ling were missing! the water was cold, but I found it very tolerable, wouldn't hesitate diving there again.

so here is a pic of a local that didn;t want me taking the easy way back to the campsite one afternoon of flyfishing in Bauza cove....

http://usera.imagecave.com/cwiller/Bearatthecove.JPG

[feign]

Thanks guys for a great trip. We missed everyone who was unable to come.

Highlights for me:

-Dive boat was a Zodiac Rib with twin 115 engines
-Lindsay providing survival suits between dives to keep warm
-Dolphins at our boat
-Lots of seals, some very close and personal
-Lots of good eating seafood
-Amazing weather
-Island of bald eagles
-Stubbs island current diving
-Dinner with Gabe and Bri
-Colin's hunting stories and generous sharing of equipment and food, including handling of the new Imersion gear
-Jim donating to our campsite cost
-Dropping my gun without float line with rockfish in cave and spear caught in rocks (I lost the spot and had to do multiple dives searching up current for my gun)
-Erik's good diving company and conversation on drive
-Lars' enthusiasm for a big spearfishing trip and for his fire skills
-Camping in a beautiful north island forest
-Nightly campfire
-No mean whale lady and great relations with the TC people

I will post some pics soon.

lee

[feign]

Trip pics.