Popping video, how to

Here is a short video on casting and popping technique. It is my first attempt and more will follow.

Fishing the 10% method and Some Unusual Styles

Fishing, a sport that anyone can participate in. Young, old, male female, big, small it makes no difference to the fish. As far as I am concerned fishing is about putting in the hours. Doing the hard time per se. For first timers there is always an element of luck. Especially when they go out and land a huge fish of a lifetime and it was there first time to ever hold a rod. Such is lady luck.
The reality is a lot less glamorous. Fishing for hours on end without a bite. Fishing for hours on end in the rain without a bite. Then there is the fishing for hours on end without a bite while your fishing buddy is landing fish after fish. That’s the hard time.
I think the saying goes 10 percent of the anglers catch 90 percent of the fish. Reason being, the hard time.
People who catch fish regularly work hard for it. They learn to read the water and fish the tides. They are up at the crack of dawn and sometimes before. They never give up. If their favorite lure is not working then they change it and continue to fish the new one with confidence. If the new one is not working then they change again. It’s a never give up attitude that makes up the 10 percent.
There are many different techniques employed to catch fish and of course some of them are not very conventional but I am not judging.

Now this is what I call pushing the never give up attitude to the limit. Unfortunately I don’t think even lady luck will help this one.

This is what I call the scenting your lure technique. You put the lure in you mouth while carefully avoiding the hooks and get you saliva and scent all over the lure. According to some the fish then think they are kissing you instead of biting a hook. Of course it helps if you had sardines for lunch.

There is a not well known method of getting your lure out farther than you can cast. It involves a sea bird and the knowledge of bird whistling. Once mastered you can get your lure out to the fish without having to cast very far. The trick lies with the release from the bird. I am still unsure of this one but I have seen it employed several times.

Then of course there are those that just prefer to be friends with the fish rather than hook them.

This last method of fishing while standing in quick sand is beyond me. Be glad there are no crocodiles

I would like to say thanks to Katie Longo and Billy Longo for letting me use their images. In addition, I would like to give credit to Katie for putting in the hard time; it is starting to pay off for her.

Tight lines and screaming drags

Out of the boat and into the water

Sometimes bad things happen and good things come out of it.

Death of an outboard
My outboard motor blew up about eight months ago. That was the second time since I bought it 4 years ago. This time I decided not to fix it because I think it is a lemon, a Monday or Friday built outboard. On top of that, there are no competent mechanics around to do the job. Maybe on the main island, Viti Levu but not on the one where I live, Vanua Levu. In order to get the motor to a mechanic who could actually fix it I would have to drive 2hrs to catch a 12hr ferry ride and get a hotel room for the entire time it is in the shop. That is just not going to happen as I have already stated, I think it is a lemon so fixing it is just out of the question.


Solar powered fishing
The lack of motorized boating has forced me to adapt my well defined style of boat fishing. Having fished out of a boat for the last seven years, you could say I have formed a few habits to the way I fish. Now in general this is a good thing. I have certain routines and methods to create a comfortable and successful fishing trip. The problem with this is when something happens to the boat motor and I am forced out of my fishing comfort zone. Now I still have an electric trolling motor on the bow and it is getting used a lot. I charge it off a solar panel and that usually takes about 2-3 days of good sun to get a really good charge. There is a definite distance restriction when using electric only and for some reason I am always going into the wind. Realistically I can only fish with the electric about once a week. If I want to fish more, and I do, I am out of the boat and wading in the water.

Time to change
Being on foot now means I have to scale everything down. Tackle boxes, five gallon buckets, big landing nets, and multiple rods are completely out of the question. More like 5-6 favorite lures, pliers, fish glove, leader material and a knife. That is it, nothing else. I must travel light because more than likely I will travel far and deep. I could be chest deep with my rod held high or ankle deep casting over a small reef edge. Once the tide came in and I actually swam from one stone to another with only my head and my rod out of the water. I am sure that was a sight to see. The comfort zone as I knew it is no more and that is not such a bad thing.
Since I have started wading it has actually become easier to go fishing. I now take such a little amount of gear that I can be ready in just a couple minutes. Things are very uncomplicated now. I spend more time fishing and less time prepping, cleaning and putting away gear. I do not have to work strictly with the tides to keep the boat floating or lug a fuel tank and battery around.

Water hazards abound
As a regular boat angler I have found a few new obstacles to wading while fishing. I no longer have the height advantage of a boat when spotting fish, reef edges or weed beds. If the sun is in the wrong position or behind a cloud then it is very hard to see anything at all and feels a lot like blind casting. When the wind is blowing into my face I can not reposition the boat so it is at my back. The best I can do is put a heavier lure on and load up every inch of rod length to get a cast off. As for snags, when it happens and it does, I am faced with the dilemma of breaking the line and loosing my lure or swimming out and trying to get it free. It really depends on how far out it is and how deep it is. Probably the worst hazard I have personally faced is a stingray. Normally a very docile creature, but step on one and you will feel their sting. The more I fish my particular area the better I get to know it and the hazards. I have created a mental map of the area by using an elevated position to view it, especially at the low tide.

The good the bad and the fishy
Being without a motor has been both good and bad. The bad being the lack of freedom to move about and change locations if an area is not producing. When I had more mobility on the water I would fish as far away as 2-3 miles. My regular haunts included river mouths and mangroves as well as some really nice shallow reefs. These are all accessible by boat only therefore I no longer fish them. The good on the other hand has been the change in the way I fish in general. I realize I can fish with a lot less than I was fishing with before. I now spend more time fishing one particular area thoroughly before moving on. Within walking distance of my home I now catch good fish in places I normally would never have fished.

I have now added a completely new style of fishing to my repertoire. I still miss having a motor and the freedom it allows. However, the lessons learned and the fish caught have made it bearable to say the least.
If you happen to be without a motor just lighten up, get wet, and get back to catching a fish.

Tight lines and screaming drags

Fishing Fiji Style

Navigating the waters of Fijian culture
If you plan to go to Fiji and guide yourself fishing then you should be prepared. With a little cultural forethought you will be fishing in no time and trouble free.

Fiji is not Australia or the United States. Culture and traditions still play a major role in everyday life and need to be respected. All of the waters inside the barrier reef system called qoliqoli (ngoly ngoly) are controlled by different villages. To obtain permission to fish the waters you will want to visit a village. You need to present yourself and a sevusevu (sayvu sayvu) or gift to the chief or headman of the particular village where you want to fish. The sevusevu should be Yaqona (yangona), which is the root of a plant of the pepper family. It is best if you have a local person to take you in to the village and do the talking for you.

Entering a village
The modern day village still has some cultural nuances. Modesty is at the forefront and should be practiced. Here are a few basic rules to follow. Women should wear a sulu (wrap-around) and no tank tops or bikini tops. Remove your hat when you enter a village. In most tropical countries it is accepted practice to remove your shoes before entering. Picture taking opportunities are plentiful inside of a village. The children will always find you and your camera first so be prepared as they love to see themselves on the digital camera screen. Most people do not mind having their picture taken but always ask first.

Performing a sevusevu
After you have entered the village it is now time to meet the chief or an elder. They are the highest member of the village and are the only ones who can give you permission to fish in their qoliqoli. When you enter the room everyone will be seated around a tanoa (Yaqona basin) and the chief should be sitting at the head. This part of your visit is deeply rooted in Fijian tradition. A very serious tone and definite role playing will make it seem like a solemn occasion. Luckily you only have to sit watch and listen. Someone will do the introductions for you. Most of the formalities will be in Fijian and then it should revert to English so you will not be left out.

Drinking Yaqona
Once your sevusevu is finished then it is time to drink Yaqona.
Yaqona is Fiji Islands' national drink. It is derived from the roots of a shrub belonging to the pepper family. The roots, called waka, are dried in the sun and pounded into a fine powder. It is prepared in a tanoa and then drunk from a bilo.
The tradition of drinking Yaqona goes back many generations, originally drunk only by the high priests. Yaqona was chewed by virgin girls and spit into a tanoa where it was then mixed with coconut water and plain water. It was used by the priests typically for visions and fortune telling. The tradition of drinking yaqona has evolved into a social affair. When strangers enter a Fijian village, they seek out the chief or village headman to ask for permission to enter and visit, and are expected to present some yaqona. It is now used as a social drink enjoyed by all and encourages a sense of well-being.
You will be handed a polished coconut shell called a bilo, with mixed Yaqona. Take the bilo from them and in one or two gulps finish all of it before you return the bilo to the server. Do not put the bilo on the floor, as it is bad manners. Once you have returned the bilo then you will cobo (thombo) or clap three times. Everyone there will also clap three times for each person who drinks. This is a basic guide, as each village will have some variation to their style of drinking Yaqona.

Yaqona------------------------------------ Bilo's --------------------------------Tanoa

Down to business
Now that the formalities are done you can relax a little and talk easy. There will be lots of question and some will seem a bit prying but all with good intentions.
This is a good time to find out what attractions the village has to offer. You can arrange a fishing guide, a full village tour, or some other excursions.
It is almost customary for Fijians to invite you to tea of lunch. Accepting this will also give you more chances for a real Fijian experience

Time to fish
Once this is done you will be free to fish in that village’s qoliqoli. You might want to have a local with you when you first go fishing, as they will be able to show you some of the good spots. If you want to do some casting over shallow reefs or in a river mouth then use your own knowledge of fishing and fish habits to ask the right questions. The locals will be able to show you where the reefs are and how to get to the mouth of a river.
If you want to hire a village boat then you will need to discuss this with them and prearrange a price. If you are going to be out in a remote location then you might also have to supply the fuel.

Going through this process you will find yourself in the heart of a Fijian village, experiencing real Fijian culture and I hope catching some nice fish.

Beginner popper fishing

Poppers are one of the most heart stopping, adrenalin pumping, and visually exciting forms of fishing there is.

Almost every type of fishing uses poppers from fly fishing to spinning, bait casters, trolling, and even hand lining, inshore, offshore, lakes, streams, rivers, and estuaries.

The variety of fish species that can be caught on poppers is only comparable to the shear number of lure styles. Poppers are possibly one of the most versatile lures you can have in you tackle box. They come in sizes as small as 1cm and as large as 30cm and every imaginable color scheme, from clear to reflective holographic scale like imagery.

The first step to using and being successful with poppers is to make the commitment to give it a go. I mean a real go. It may take awhile for you to break the popper code. Going out once and casting a popper around for 20-30 minutes and giving up because you did not catch anything is not going to cut it. You have to put in the hard time. I have taught many people to fish using poppers and not a single one caught a fish their first time out.

The saying “big bait big fish, small bait all fish” holds true. I started popper fishing with a 5cm Sure Catch. I bought them in every color I could find. I fished them every time I went out until I cracked the popper code and could catch fish consistently by changing colors and retrieves. Then I started to buy different kinds and sizes of poppers. I learned to read the bait fish for size and color. I also learned to change colors and retrieves with the weather.

It has been said that one fish on a popper is equal to seven fish caught almost any other way. The surface strike is one of the most exciting things to see. It can be compared to the thrill of switch baiting for large game fish. You see it all happen right in front of you. Once you catch your first fish on a popper you will be hooked.

For the sake of space I will assume you have an idea as to the kind of fish you want to catch. I will also assume that you have caught them before using other lures such as divers, soft plastics etc. If you have not then you will need to do some initial research before you try fishing with poppers.

I have found the Uni Knot to be one of the best and easiest to tie. You can leave a loop in it or pull it right down. It tests close to 100% in most applications. “The strength of the Uni-Knot isn’t diminished when the line is broken with a jerk,” Vic Dunaway. When taking big hits from Trevally you need that kind of insurance. I also use a lot of offshore snap swivels, makes it easy to change lures. I have only ever had 3-4 fail in many years of fishing. The Uni Knot also works with braid. I usually tie a Bimini Twist in my braid and then use a Double Uni Knot for my connection to the leader and then a Uni Knot to lure or snap. I have also found the action is not lessened much without a loop. That being said, if it is very calm and water is clear then I would usually go to a loop for presentation purposes.

The general rule is the darker the day the darker the color the brighter the day the lighter the color. I use the water color also, if the water is very green I lean towards a greener colored lure, brown water towards darker brown with loud rattles.

If you look at the front of a popper it has a cupped shape to it. When I say pop, I mean for you to pull that cupped face through the water with a rapid but smooth jerk using the rod tip or you can give a very quick turn of your reel. This action will make your popper go pop in the water and also throw a little splash out the front. Depending on the size of the popper as to how hard to pop it, also the style and type of fish you are chasing. If you have a lot of chop you will need to create a bigger pop so you can be seen and heard where as if you have a glassy day your pops do not have to be that big and aggressive.

The retrieve is one of the key elements to successful poppering. Different fish respond to different retrieves. I find Jacks and Emperors prefer a pop with a long pause followed by another pop and long pause. Sometime you will need to ad a little wiggle in if there is interest but no bite. When fishing for Trevally I use a rather steady pop and retrieve. If there are bites but no takers then I try a flat out retrieve, still nothing then long pauses and erratic retrieves.

Bream can be a bit tricky, as you need to place your cast spot on, usually under an overhanging branch or over the top of a partially sunken log or in the middle of some oyster racks. Let it sit for about the count of ten then start your retrieve one pop followed by a long pause and so on.

When fishing for Barramundi it is much the same as bream a slower retrieve and maybe a few wiggles added in for good measure.

As with all fish trial and error and matching the hatch. Sometimes the only thing working is a clear lure and other times it might be a black and orange one.

It is going to take practice to get the kinks worked out of your retrieve after all Rome was not built in a day. You will get the line wrapped around the rod tip, the hooks will be fouled, and even the occasional birds’ nest on a spinning reel is not unheard of.

Be sure you wind on the down stroke after you pop. Pay attention to your spool, if the line is getting slack on the spool make a long cast and wind back with out popping to get your line laid down tight. If you pop too hard you will find the lure jumps out of the water and will usually foul the hooks.

While you are still learning go slow and expect to have many foul-ups. It is a new style of fishing for most and will take time to get it right.

In no time at all the thrill of your popper disappearing in a sudden explosion of foamy water will have you hooked and coming back for more.