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New England! A Kayak Anglers paradise. From the Penobscot River in Bangor, Maine to Calf Pasture Point and Town Pier in South Norwalk, Connecticut. We have every type of water imaginable. Rips, marsh, rocky shorelines, islands, bluffs, flats and so much more. Pick your poison. Do you feel like flyfishing for that linesider or how about tube and worming a rocky shoreline? Some of our home waters has a little of everything. And if we want a change of scenery? No problem! Car top to a new destination. We can all agree that the kayak, has given us a whole new outlook on how to fish and pursue Striped Bass. Many of us here were surfcasters and found the kayak as that perfect platform to get to where the fish are in a silent and subtle way. In this article we will take a look at some of the many locations around New England, discuss tactics, and experience the enjoyment from NEKF members perspective in the pursuit of our most prized fish, Lubina Estriada or Striped Bass!
New Hampshire Coastline:
Submitted by NEKF Member "Hooked"
Don't let the short coastline fool you. There are plenty of options for the NH striper fisherman.
In addition to the rocky coastline that reinforces the Granite State nickname, you will find sandy beaches, inlets into salt marshes and harbors, herring runs, offshore islands and most notably an inland body of water known as Great Bay, fed by the Piscataqua River, famous for it's deep water and ripping current. As with many other regions, you are limited more by parking than by almost any other factor.
The season is a bit shorter than our neighbors to the south but when it's on, NH has some of the finest striper fishing around. Soon after word gets out that bass are in the Merrimack, I'll head to the Hampton Estuary. While shore-based anglers are shoulder-to-shoulder a couple miles to the south, hungry stripers are filling the marsh. The water warms quickly over the mud bottom and dropping tides will flush bait into the channels. In springtime afternoons, this can make for constant action, either from the kayak or from the sod banks above.
Small soft or hard baits seem to be the ticket and though much of the early action comes from short bass, plenty of keeper size bass take up residence in the estuary. Seacoast Kayak is located on the Salisbury side of bridge, at the mouth of harbor, and there is launch spot nearby that offers access to the estuary and through the mouth to the ocean.
If the estuary is not producing and seas are calm, there are a couple of areas of submerged rocks about 100 yards straight outside and to the north of the harbor entrance that might be a worth a try. The water drops from 8 feet to 20 feet on the outer side of the structure and it's a perfect area to drag a tube through.
Once I get a couple trips under my belt, I'll head to Great Bay. Great Bay is like the Hampton Estuary on steroids. Bigger water, stronger current, more bass. In the early part of the season, the best action is with bass keying on herring. Get your topographical maps out and explore. The feeder-rivers are home to spawning grounds for herring so break out the Sluggo's and topwater plugs and head to the dams. Launch sites can be found in Durham at Adams Point or the Town Landing as well as spots in Greenland, Exeter and Dover. Pay attention to the tides since the bay empties and fills twice a day. Starting in June, the tube & worm is the sure-fire method day or night. Suds'n Soda Sports, a bait and tackle shop in Greenland could probably provide more advice as you are stocking up on worms and eels.
Although there are plenty of fish in the bays, I prefer the coast. If you could create a location that is perfect to explore by kayak, chances are you would come up with a place like New Castle, an island-town at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. Bordered on the north edge by the river with it's heavy current, with the eastern ledge facing open ocean and the west and south featuring a protected harbor with flats, mussel beds and a salt marsh with tidal creeks, this area offers ample choices for all striper anglers. Launch from Goat Island, or from Odiorne Point in neighboring Rye, and you have access to areas that will keep you in fish from the first school bass in spring to the last cows of the fall run.
After the striped bass arrive, but before the bluefish show up in force, dense schools of mackerel can be found in the deep water off Portsmouth. In the coming season, my plan is to fuel the jealousy of my boat owning friends by jigging up some bait and live lining it in the rugged shallows around Odiorne Point and Seal Rocks. They may have an easier time getting the bait but I know from experience that they can't get anywhere near the structure I can by kayak.
There is so much more available to the NH striper angler, but part of the fun is figuring it out by yourself. It's time to go fishing.
Launching area for New Castle, NH:
Massachusetts Plum Island "Joppa Flats"
Submitted by NEKF Member "Bluefish"
"We're everywhere."
From my house it is a short walk to the old boat ramp on Water Street.
I really enjoy walking through the oldest part of Newburyport early in
the morning, or after most people are comfortable in their homes, with
my yak to and from a trip on Joppa Flats. I've gotten plenty of looks
and questions, and even a few offers of beer on these treks. Sometimes
I bring a fish home for my family and friends that always gains the
curiosity of the kids I come across. I meet people on their way to
work, walkers, joggers, and you name it. The one thing they all want
to know is "where are you going fishing?" "Joppa", that's my answer.
Joppa Flats is part of the estuary at the mouth of the Merrimack River.
It is only one of the many great spots to fish in the Great Marsh.
The Great Marsh stretches from Hampton, NH to Gloucester and it is the
largest contiguous salt marsh in New England covering over 25,000
acres. I start fly fishing in late April-early May and finish the
season in October. I will fish from Deer Island up river by the Chain
Bridge, all the way to the Basin at Plum Island Point. However, I
spend the majority of my time on Joppa Flats. Stripers are the target
but I do go after the bluefish that move in during August to keep the
doldrums interesting.
To access Joppa you can launch from the ramp next to the Black Cow
restaurant, the Water Street ramp, Plum Island Point, or the Parker
River Wildlife Refuge. The Water Street site is the most tide
dependent, and I have dragged the yak across the mud to breaking fish.
This is much more fun than hauling out at low tide. Keep an eye on the
tide and the wind. An outgoing tide really starts moving. Once your
hooked up you can be a long way down the river before you know it. A
strong northwest wind on the outgoing will make for a long paddle back
to Water Street or downtown. Hugging the grass will give you some
relief. Also with the limited options to get off the water, sudden
thunderstorms can pose a danger. Boat traffic in the area on weekends
is like being on Route 95. Wake from the channel and boaters speeding
through the flats will keep your attention. Even at night on a high
tide there are many boats motoring in the area. Last summer two boats
collided in a hit and run. Weekdays and early morning or last light on
non-holidays significantly reduces the boat traffic.
On a typical trip I will bring three rods. A 9 foot ten-weight with a
350 grain sinking line, and two 9 foot nine-weight rods. On the
nine-weights I have added a ten-weight intermediate and a ten-weight
floating line. I used the sinking line a lot in May and June to get
under all of the twinkies we had last year. I will also use this line
for the drop offs into the channel where I find holding fish. Half
Tide Rocks by the American Yacht Club is another spot I like to use the
sinking line. With the yak I can sit right in the eddy behind the
rocks and cast to either side into the deeper surrounding water. I use
the floating line on calm days to prospect for fish or when casting to
fish pushing bait over the grass beds along Water Street. Last year
the intermediate was the set up of choice and on which I caught the
majority of my fish. The intermediate line worked very well when
drifting across the mussel beds off of Woodbridge Island in two or
three feet of water. Joppa holds a variety of food sources including
green crabs, grass shrimp, mussels, clams, sand eels, herring, eels,
sea worms, which all move around with the tide to the striper's
delight. In the fly box I carry a variety of clousers and deceivers,
half and halfs, herring and bunker patterns, gurglers, sand eel
clousers, shrimp, Chris Windram's One Fly, and Gartside's Wiggle Worm.
The Wiggle Worm is new and I am looking forward to throwing this sea
worm imitation on the flats. The olive and white clouser with copper
flashabou was my most productive for numbers of fish. White flies
(especially the East Coast Coast) brought about my largest fish. All
of these fish were caught within an hour after sunset on outgoing
tides. Maybe these flies looked like one of the favorite forages of
striped bass, the white Sluggo.
If you go to Joppa try the Salisbury side of the channel from the Ice
Pick (breaker) down river. Bouy 15 always seems to hold fish. Drift
the outgoing tide along the innermost moorings of the American Yacht
Club. Last summer the AYC put in a temporary marker for racing that
held fish for a long time. They must have been checking out the new
structure. The grass by the clam shack on Water Street holds fish on
high tides with a sunset. Woodbridge Island offers many opportunities
all around the island. The Plum Island River empties into Joppa and
the Basin around Woodbridge. Large schools of fish will drop out of
the river and wait for the bait fish to flush with the outgoing tide.
The mussel beds off of Woodbridge has always been a favorite spot
especially when they get exposed at low tide and you can walk and cast
into the deep drop offs. I have had stripers in a foot of water swim
between my legs coming across that flat. The Basin has some nice holes
to fish but tends to get a lot of boat traffic. If you paddle around
the Captain's fishing fleet at Plum Island make sure you don't encroach
on the surfcasters.
June and early July are the peak of Joppa. Once the water heats up
daytime fishing is very slow. In August I tend to fish more at the end
of the day. Bluefish will come in during late July and August so tie
on some 80# leaders or some wire. Late August is when the bunker start
coming down the river. I walk the docks at the marinas to check on
their size and progress down the river. September picks up again but
my time on the water decreases from there through October, but so does
the boat traffic.
There are plenty of places and a variety of times when Joppa is
productive. The area offers a variety of forage, whether it be bait
fish or you for the biting insects. At low tide Joppa might look like
a featureless flat. Once the water starts moving over it though, Joppa
provides plenty of opportunities.
I started this article with the quote "We're everywhere". Picture
yourself arriving at the ramp on Water Street at 4:30 in the morning
thinking that you are the first one there and three guys are standing
around looking at a fish. The guy with the hat looks up at you walking
your kayak and says "the Dark Side, we're everywhere" and hands you a
business card. You know the rest of the story.
Launch area for Joppa Flats:
Massachusetts Cape Ann
Submitted by NEKF Member "GRH"
The area I concentrate my kayak fishing on is Cape Ann. No area has the diversity that Cape Ann does, from the rocky shores of Gloucester and Rockport, close islands, numerous coves, points, jetties, sandy beaches, inner and outer harbor, both ends of the Annisquam River and the tributaries that feed it. Living on Cape Ann offers endless opportunities to locate and paddle into big fish, but it's the ability to find protection from the wind and waves that makes Cape Ann the ultimate kayak fishing location. Its protrusion into the North Atlantic that forces many migratory fish to pass by or settle in the Cape Ann vicinity, giving anglers opportunity to catch a wide variety of fish.
In the spring the first fish of the year seek out the warmer water of the tidal creeks of the Annisquam River. The shallow muddy bottom warms the water and attracts bait and predators alike. The Little River, Jone's Creek, Mill River, Goose Cove and Lobster cove all attract school fish starting in May, and best fished during the outgoing tides as bait funnel out of the smaller rivers. Fly fishing, jigs and plastics work well with the fast moving school bass. As May nears the end, larger bass begin to show and I look for them at the mouths of the river. Both ends of the river can be productive, especially the rocks near the Blynman bridge and the sandy holes around the Annisquam yatch club. In late May large schools of mackerel show up and provide large forage for the bigger stripers to chase. Big swimmers and chunk bait works well here, as well as surface plugs at dusk and dawn.. As June progresses, I focus on the rocky coast line for jumbo stripers. The tube and worm is my go to rig once mid June comer around, and I always find bass trolling the rocks off Lanesville, Sandy Bay, Lands End and Black Bess. Look for rocky points or offshore reefs that attract and hold bass during dropping tides.
As summer temps climb and the water enters the 60s, it time to fish the night or go deep. Big fish will move up close to the beach fronts during the evenings, and places like Pebble, Cape Hedge and Wingearsheek all produce nice fish both casting surface plugs and chunking during the cover of darkness. If you don't like yaking during the night attempt to concentrate on deeper water, like the backside of Thatchers island or off Dogbar breakwater. When things start to get slow, don't forget the harbors, both Gloucester and Rockport harbors hold fish and early morning bites before the boat traffic picks up. Focus on the docks where commercial boats unload and often dump by catch for lunkers among the pilings.
Once September comes around peanut bunker usually show in great numbers and bass can be found chasing the schools anywhere. Pebble Beach has held impressive massacres during recent years, and the bass tend to pin them in there for several weeks. Don't overlook the beaches during Sept and the beginning of October, as the smaller bass have moved on, just the big girls are around and everyone is thinking trophies. Small flies matching the peanuts and large poppers seem to hook the active fish when they are keying on schooled bait.
No matter the month or tide, there is always a place to fish off the yak around Cape Ann. I usually look for protection from the wind and fish the leeward coast. During an East wind, I will fish the harbor or Ipswich Bay. Northern winds chase me to Loblolly cove to Braces Cove, and South Western winds I will fish from Straightsmouth Island to Pigeon Cove, or Plum cove to Halibut point. There is always a protected area, so search out the calm water and avoid the swells the come in from the N Atlantic.
Launching area for Essex River in Essex MA:
Massachusetts Boston Harbor
Submitted by NEKF Member "Slappy"
Boston Harbor has just about every structural element that a striper fisherman could wish for: mud flats, deep channels, pilings, river mouths, rock piles, ridges, boulder fields, islands—the list is almost endless. Boston Harbor also has the key that makes fish pile up around the structure: current. Four times a day big tides pour in and out of the Harbor, turning all these areas into feeding stations. Don't think of structure as just a pile of rocks; think about how structure interacts with the currents.
For the kayak angler, the opportunities are endless because we have the key to getting in tight to where the bass feed. We can paddle to spots shore fishermen can't reach and we can go into skinny water that would rip the lower unit off a power boat. The key for the kayak fisherman is choosing which structure to fish and keeping our kayaks in the strike zone.
Most of my fishing is done at night and my preference is to cast and drift. This dictates the type of structure that I fish. I look for ridges, rock piles, and boulder fields with strong currents moving over them. Since I fish at night, I don't follow the birds; I pick my spots and fish them hard; I stay very tight to the structure that I fish. I typically fish in 2 to 15 feet of water and when I fish really shallow, I find myself bouncing off rocks.
So how do you find structure like this? Some spots, like the Faun Bar and the Deer Island rip are obvious, but you need to develop an array of spots to fish when the bite is slow. At night it is difficult to locate spots by reading the bottom—usually it is too dark to see, but you can understand the bottom by watching the surface. Pronounced current lines can show you spots that water funnels through; slick spots can show you where a ridge comes up close to the surface; roils on the surface can mark rocks or groups of rocks. Low tide is an opportunity to mark rock piles and ridges in your GPS. Rocks that are under ten feet of water at high tide are high and dry at low tide. My GPS is full of marks that may only be one or two rocks, but they consistently produce fish.
At night your fish finder is a key tool to locating and staying on structure. As you paddle from spot to spot, keep an eye out for anything unusual, even a slight drop off or change in bottom type can create a holding spot for fish. When you do locate a ridge or boulder field, reading your fish finder is key to staying on the structure. Many Harbor spots have fast currents moving over them and you will not be over the structure for long, keep an eye on the depth and when you are off the spot, don't keep casting, paddle back and fish it again. Often fish are concentrated on the edges of the structure, either the front or back of a ridge. Take note of where you hit the fish and plan your next drift to focus on that area.
Even if you are a drift and cast fisherman like I am, don't overlook the power of trolling as a search tool for finding the fish. When moving from spot to spot, I always troll and I pay attention to the areas where I hook up. I often find new spots this way and they are usually structural elements that I missed, often just a change from sandy to rocky bottom. Bass are seldom found alone, when you do hook up on the troll, take some casts in the area to see if you can locate the school.
Learning an area well will significantly increase your success rate. Keep a log book and note the tide and the structure that you fished. Note which part of the tide fished best and which direction the current is going. Some areas around the Outer Harbor can be counter intuitive because eddies reverse the current flow—this is especially true along the shores of Winthrop and Deer Island.
My approach to every Harbor trip starts with a plan. I check the tide charts to see which way the tide is moving, when peak tide is, and when slack tide is. Based on the current direction and the tides, I pick my starting points. I usually have two or three spots that I plan to hit on a particular tide and the spots are usually only a few hundred yards apart. I start by trolling from my launch spot to my first GPS mark and I troll until I am within casting distance of the mark. As I drift through the area I keep an eye on the fish finder to see if I mark any fish and to watch for the edge of the structure. As soon as I drift off the structure I paddle back up and do it again. There are many nights where the fish are only on one part of the structure, usually either the upcurrent edge or the downcurrent edge. It requires hard padding to keep in the strike zone, but it will often pay off with a big fish or a steady bite of just legal fish.
My GPS shows that I typically paddle (and drift) 7 to 10 miles in a four hour fishing session and most of my fishing is done within a mile of my launch spot. I spend very little time fishing off structure, and I am very aggressive about paddling back up to my spots. I will usually do at least four fishless drifts of a spot before I decide to move on, and when I do move on, I will often move a very short distance away so I can return when the tide is a bit higher or lower.
Have confidence in the spots you pick! There may be nothing showing when you first arrive, but as the tide picks up (or slows down) the fish may show. Some of my best nights came after I had pounded the water in the same area for an hour and a half. When the fish arrive a spot can go from dead to wide open, and it often does!
I generally don't give up on my plan until I have gone fishless for about two hours. At that point I will troll around the structure trying to locate fish. I will do a few passes in what I consider the key holding area, and then move on to another type of structure.
A word of caution: the currents around the Harbor are very dangerous. The Deer Island rip, Hull Gut, the Faun Bar, and many islands sometimes have standing waves and intense currents. These are not the spots for the uninitiated and experienced kayakers will often find the conditions challenging. Be careful!
Launching area for Winthrop (Deer Island):
Massachusetts South Shore:
Submitted by NEKF Member "Ernvaz"
The area of water I have concentrated my kayak fishing has been at the confluence of the Fore River and the Weymouth Back River in Weymouth, MA on the south shore. This area has been very productive for me using some very simple and common techniques. It has many natural attributes that attract and hold fish and provides an easy starting point for kayak fisherman. The area primarily holds Striped Bass from spring through the fall seasons and Bluefish late in the year.
To begin with, the location I mentioned above is sheltered from the open ocean by the long stretch of land that forms Hull. This sheltered area provides a calm body of water for an enjoyable day of fishing. There are many areas to launch a kayak that include Webb State Park, Wessagussett Beach, Abigail Adams Park, and Bare Cove Park. These launch areas will provide parking and access to the two rivers, are a relatively short paddle to reach a few harbor islands such as Grape and Slate. There is also a public boat ramp opposite the Wessagussett Beach with ample parking.
During the spring the Weymouth Back River has a good size herring run. The herring enter the river about mid April and swim up to Whitman's Pond to breed. As you can imagine the congregation of several hundred thousand herring, or bass candy as I call them, will attract stripers at the mouth of the river and draw them deeper into the river during high tides. Up until this year herring were a favorite bait, but the new regulations have put a stop to catching any herring for this use. Hopefully, that will bring back the population and save such a fabulous resource. Regardless of the ban, the herring are still there, which means the stripers will be right behind them and easily accessible with the right technique. This river also has a population of eels which are an excellent striped bass food source.
I have been very successful fishing this area while trolling the tube and worm from the kayak. It is an easy and productive way to fish that allows you to cover water quickly and find pockets of fish to concentrate on. I have focused on the mouth of the two rivers during the falling tides. The bait fish are pushed out in the current during this time of the tide, so the bass are eagerly waiting just outside the rivers. I have also focused on the several rocky points such as at Webb State Park. These rocks hold fish consistently and are conveniently located near a boat channel. The channel drops off quickly form about 7 feet to 35 feet of water. This steep drop off also tends to hold fish in good numbers. The deeper areas will require a weighted tube to reach the fish along the bottom, but a weight is not necessary in the shallower water. I have also been successful with bucktail jigs with a soft plastic. I have not tried the sluggos yet, but this year I will definitely make an effort to learn to fish this lure. The resident population of eels will probably make the black sluggos very successful.
In conclusion, this area is easily fished from a kayak because it holds fish throughout the year due to its supply of bait and natural attributes. It is easily accessible and provides fish the rocks, bars, and holes fish love to hide in. I hope you give it a try and see you on the water.
Launching area for Duxbury:
Massachusetts Cape Cod
Submitted by NEKF Member "Jigmaster Five"
Cape Cod is a big place, tho. It's hard to narrow it down to just 1 area. There's fish from the Canal to P-town. Fresh and Salt.
For stripers, I fish with arkansas shiner colored slug-gos on Gene Larew High-Tide jigheads in various sizes to mimic the size of the sand eels present (3"-6" or so). Throw in a few swim shads (storm, tsumani, calcutta) in natural colors to match baby bunker or herring. The only big difference between fishing the Cape and Boston is the water on the Cape can be very clear. I almost always use a fluoro leader and sometimes go down to 15 lb test to get the fish to bite. If that doesn't work, I got to 10 lb straight mono with a 4" slug or shad. For the early season schoolies, you can use a freshwater bass rod with 8 lb test and have a ball. At night, the fishing is generally better - the fish are closer and less spooky. But to be honest, I haven't done much kayak fishing at night on the Cape. I can say that from shore, things are much better.
As far as where to fish, the Cape gives you plenty of options. Early in the season (May 1st give or take 2 weeks), the first fish show up all along the South Shore (Menahunt Beach, South Cape Beach, Cotuit, Bass River, Red River are popular spots). A little later, fresh fish will come streaming into Pleasant Bay and move around the Cape and through the Canal. When the water gets hot, the best fishing is on the cooler north side (Barnstable Harbor & Brewster Flats) or backside of the Cape (P-town, Truro, Wellfleet). When the water gets warm, night fishing in the summer on the south side is your best bet - day time fishing can be good for blues and schoolies. In the fall, I just follow the bait and birds which can be anywhere.
Another nice feature of the Cape is there's always some place to get out of the wind and it's almost always windy on the Cape. In the summer, it blows SW almost every day which makes the north side even more desirable. In general, it will be deceptively calm in the morning with steadily increasing winds throughout the afternoon. The seas can blow up in a hurry, so be prepared.
Launching area for Nauset:
Rhode Island:
Submitted by NEKF Member "kcreeger"
Probably because I first fly fished in salt water there, Quonnochontaug salt pond and its breachway in South County Rhode Island are some of my favorite waters. I don't think there's much of a problem in talking or writing about it because it is such a popular and well known place; there are very few beans left to spill about Quonnie. Access is easy and you have a great variety of terrain within quick reach, from the rough and ready front to the quiet of the back pond. That said, you should be aware that because of its state fishing and boating access it is a major put in spot for motor boats. The pond itself has a marina and many homes around it. Weekends, and weekdays in July and August, can be crazy here during the daylight hours. Because you can walk the channel edge and way out onto the flats directly from the parking lot, Quonnie is also a mecca for wading fly fishers and others. On a Saturday evening in June there can be a solid line of fly and plug casters stretched north along the channel drop off. Though I fish it now mostly from a kayak, my first experiences at Quonnie were in the canoe I had used for years dry fly fishing my home water, a big tailwater river, for trout. It's safe enough to do that at Quonnie but you can still get pretty lost in fog that sometimes comes up with no warning. I've been there when recreational yakkers went out for a paddle at sunset only to find themselves shouting for help finding the boat ramp an hour later. Standard safety equipment including GPS, or at least a compass is essential even on the protected inside.
The conventional wisdom at Quonnie that has rung true pretty often for me in the last decade is to fish the outside on the outgoing, and the inside on the incoming. The exchange of water here is real big and bait in the warmer and protected salt pond gets flushed on the outgoing into Block Island Sound where passing game fish can smell it for a long way off. In a yak off the mouth of the breachway you can run into some interesting fishing on the outgoing. It's even possible to ride the very early outgoing out the breachway to fish the outside and then ride the early incoming back to fish the inside. You really have to be sure of what you're doing though if you are going to try that stunt because the rips and standing waves are intense when the tide is going full bore. The swell outside needs to be pretty calm as well. It's basically a lost cause to try to buck the current in the breachway in a non-motorized craft. Also, there are other ways to get at the mouth from the outside without running out it.
For fly fishers, the incoming is really the thing though. For one, it's generally calmer and less windy on the inside. Then there's the whole pond dynamic. It's pot luck, but if there happens to be a good school of baitfish or other forage near the mouth when the tide gets ripping it can get sucked right into the pond where predators will set up on structure to feed. The best situation, and one I try to plan visits to Quonnie around, is when the incoming is happening during the dead of night. The bass are much more likely to feed in the open and near the surface in the dark. Let's face it, it's a lot harder to fish deep effectively with fly gear than it is with a tube and worm or a deep diving plug (or bunker chunks and lead!). This and other related handicaps I happily accept as an idiot who only uses flies. One way to deal with it is to fish in the dark, something Daignault asserts we all ought to be doing anyways if not in a boat and fishing near the bottom – even then maybe. Another benefit of the dead of night is that the captains and the fair-weather hardware boys, and even the wading fly guys pretty much abandon the place once real night sets in. One of the best things about the pond is that there's a huge flat to the west of the breachway mouth and the main channel. Take a look at an aerial photo from Terraserver or Google Earth and you'll see what I mean. Parts of the flat are exposed on lower tides and much of it stays shallow enough to wade on most tides. A good part of whatever bait is in the flow gets pushed up onto the flat and the game fish will be there waiting. Even on floods that aren't carrying much forage, the fish will be there on the prowl for a while after the tide gets started. Yak across from the put in and you can pick them off blind casting from shallower water towards the channel. If there's bait in the flow, all the better. It's like casting streamers in a river – very cool. Just make sure you anchor holds when you get out to wade!
Conditions change constantly here and you can encounter everything and anything from the most common skunking to incredible frenzies, size twelve isopods in great clouds with hickory shad after them in huge shoals and the cows lurking in the channel ambushing them (time for that 10" streamer), to schoolies and keepers after silversides all over the flats (better have a fly they want – but if you do…) and almost any other situation you can imagine. I once talked with a much better fly fisher than me whose pleasure it had been to tease 40lb bass away from herding bait just off the east flat (lots of other possibilities there, but that's another story) with a cast of a dozen small dropper flies he would strip out of the bait schools.
Even the outgoing can be interesting on the inside. The flow out is easy compared to the incoming. With so much flat area it can be pretty easy to find an edge with the bass set up lazily in the current taking a morsel every minute or so. Locate them, figure out what they are eating and get a good cast and drift to one and you can be into your backing pretty quick.
In the fall the blues and albies sometimes come in – the blues much more often. You can have great sport chasing pods of blues around the comfortable confines of the pond in easy daylight conditions without much competition during the week. A canoe is still great for that – a high seat to cast from and a dry butt! And the blues sometime don't seem to care what the tide is doing if there is bait.
The local guru, a kind of kindred spirit to Boston's Jack Gartside is Kenny Abrams, the author of Striper Moon. There seems to be one of these guys about every hundred miles or so up and down the coast. His web site www.stripermoon.com is worth a visit for sure with its great pictures of baitfish and unique fly patterns.
There is so much great water in South County, more than enough to explore in a lifetime. The front is big and burly and has great possibilities in so many locations if you can deal with surf launches and landings, not to mention the other salt ponds, estuaries, breachways, etc., etc. It's hard to single out one spot, but Quonnie, because it was the first place I ever fly fished the salt, and because I happened to, out of dumb luck, stumble on one of those all night long blitz in your face kind of times, will always have a soft spot in my heart.
Launch area for Quonochontaug (Quonnie)
Rhode Island:
Submitted by NEKF Member "Lower"
Rhode Island is home to some amazing striper water. It seems as if everywhere you turn there are places that look "fishy". To a newbie or visitor it can almost seem overwhelming. What I want to do is to discuss a few spots that are both safe and productive for those new to the area.
When winter finally settles down and I break the kayak out of the cellar, the first place that gets my attention is the Narrow River. The Narrow River is an excellent spot to dust off the cob webs and get into some of the first schoolies of the year. I typically put in at Middle bridge. From here you can paddle up the river, or float out to the mouth. The one thing I have to point out here is the current can get moving pretty good when the tide is heading in or out. Just be prepared to paddle against the current if need be. Although there are some good spots "up river" I usually focus my attention between the bridge and the mouth. Throwing slim plastics on jig heads, as well as, storm type plastics seems to do the best. Look for deep holes along the banks and concentrate your efforts there. If the conditions are good, the mouth is a deadly spot. Eels at night, T&W, and swimming plugs are the ticket. This is a very rocky area that holds big fish. Again, use good judgment when leaving the river into the bay.
The next stop takes us to the Harbor of Refugee. This spot looks great on a map, but in person is quite large. Determine which area you would like to spend your time and try to launch accordingly. The best part of this harbor is that it is protected on all sides, creating a nice place to paddle. The west wall is the most talked about spot. Again, a great early season spot for schoolies. I have to say though; this gets less of my attention. I typically spend my time on the other side of the harbor. When looking at a map there are 5 jetties that come out from shore. To the west of those jetties is a big boulder field that ends in a mussel bed. This is a big bass area. Dragging eels at night can be deadly. This is also a great spot to throw big wood. A danny swimmer at first light over the boulder field can be very exciting! Throwing a "howdy" type plug or pencil popper when the sun comes up can also be productive. I hope to spend more time fishing this area this year.
One of the greatest spots in RI for a nice day on the yak is Quonochontaug pond. This is a salt pond formed behind Quonny breachway. For a tidal pond, it has tons of structure. There is a parking lot next to the breachway and the launch is a breeze. From the launch there is a channel that runs out. You can start fishing right in the channel. T&W, flies, plastics all work here. Just be sure to get your offerings down. Since it is a channel the fish tend to hold close to the bottom. Off to the right of the channel is a nice rocky area with a deep hole directly in front of it. Bass tend to hold in this area. Off to the left of the channel is a nice flat. It's separated into two by another channel. Great place to find fish early in the morning and late at night. Working a clouser on the flat is a good bet. I have seen some nice fish caught that way. If you continue past the flats towards the back of the pond you'll see a narrowing of the land. This narrowing holds fish. Gotta get deep though. They tend to hold on the bottom. The back of the pond has some great structure. There are visible rocks and a nice boulder field. T&W on the far side of the rocks always produces. I also like to throw poppers in and around the rocks. Don't ignore the shore line, a number of fish have been pulled from there. The back part of the pond is quite and beautiful. The pond is also great in the fall. The pelegics will show as well as a number of great blue fish blitzes.
Speaking of blue fish, the last place I'm going to mention is Barrington beach. Typically a nice easy launch right off the beach. This beach fishes well all summer, but fall is where it's at. If you've never sat in a kayak in the middle of a bluefish blitz, you haven't lived. It's unbelievable. Bluefish crashing everywhere. Fish knocking off the side of the yak, chunks of bait fish floating all over. Ton's of fun. I recommend launching early in the morning. I like to be on the water before day breaks. Then right as the sun comes up, so do the bluefish. Try to see how the bluefish are working. Don't even try to chase them around. They'll find there way to you. Fish a blitz, then wait. If you see a blitz out in the distance, leave it alone. They'll come around again. This is the most action packed fishing I know of. Evenings can be just as good.
So that does it. There are thousands more spots along the RI coast, but these should at least get you on the water. Be safe and have fun.
Submitted by NEKF Member "Curley"
I was humbled to be asked to write this as my kayaking experience isn't as long as others who have shown me the short cuts, but as the Riddler told me we all have something to share.
I started fishing for trout and bass as a kid with a neighbor at a local park pond. As a teen fishing fell to the side, but later on I was reintroduced by another friend. I got myself a canoe and would head out to the local ponds and have a ball with the bass. After a few years I jumped up to a small jon boat. The trailer made it easy to get in and out and I learned about boat control and how to read a depth finder.
I would cast to the shore line with one rod and had a shiner on a bobber on the other. I'll be $%#&^% if that shiner got me more fish than the plugs. So I started slow trolling shiners looking for structure and trying to figure out a pattern.There where the ocassinal trips to Meigs Point, but I never seemed to fair well.
Jump ahead to 3 years ago. I was surfing on ctfisherman.com and they'd added a kayak fishing thred.These guys were catching some good fish and it sounded like a hoot.There were links to kayakfishinstuff.com and a local sight Ultimatekayakfishing. I decided on a Tarpon 140, the 160 didn't have a tank well yet. Fished the monthes of July and August the first year and caught more stripers than ever. I was hooked.
The tube and worm was my lure of choice, It fit right into what I did for bass. Find structure and you'll find fish. weather it is rocks, humps or drop offs Don't be afraid of lobster pots, they are there for a reason. I don't mean to go aimlessly threw there spread, but work around them. As I started out I learned an area before I tried another. Now I have a few different places to try when conditiong require a change.
Invest in some electronics they can tell you whats down below. The best advice I can give you is turn off those stupid little fish and learn to read and adjust your unit. Eagle / Lowrance has an excelent tutorial and emulators for some of there units Take advantage of them. They want you to know how to use there equipment. The kayak has the pefect speed to give you a nice fish arch, I've actually called a strike. But remember, In shallow water you are seeing so little of what is down there. Try and find a pattern, are they hitting at 7 feet or are they taking it at 12 feet. How fast was I going? What direction was I going. Be sharp and pay attention to what you are doing and it will bring you success.
Tight lines and Good Diggin!
We hope that you found this article helpfull in the 2006 fishing season. Remember to have fun on the water, the fish will come!
New England! A Kayak Anglers paradise. From the Penobscot River in Bangor, Maine to Calf Pasture Point and Town Pier in South Norwalk, Connecticut. We have every type of water imaginable. Rips, marsh, rocky shorelines, islands, bluffs, flats and so much more. Pick your poison. Do you feel like flyfishing for that linesider or how about tube and worming a rocky shoreline? Some of our home waters has a little of everything. And if we want a change of scenery? No problem! Car top to a new destination. We can all agree that the kayak, has given us a whole new outlook on how to fish and pursue Striped Bass. Many of us here were surfcasters and found the kayak as that perfect platform to get to where the fish are in a silent and subtle way. In this article we will take a look at some of the many locations around New England, discuss tactics, and experience the enjoyment from NEKF members perspective in the pursuit of our most prized fish, Lubina Estriada or Striped Bass!


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You want more visitors to your site, right? You need to get your site to start appearing in search engine results. Read on for great suggestions about search engine optimization.
Coding is an important aspect to consider when you are using SEO. For example, a site that relies heavily upon JavaScript must be coded efficiently, so that it can be indexed by search engine spiders. Be aware that Flash has limitations and that you need to add text in describing your content.
Be aware that additional advertising won't have a real effect on your SEO. It brings in new traffic, but doesn't affect rank.
To achieve the best ranking in search engine results, incorporate a number of keywords related to your market niche in the meta tags for your website. Many experts have also recommended including misspellings of the keywords in the meta tags if someone happens to spell it wrong. Search engines will be able to see these meta tags and you will show up in a much larger amount of searches. Make sure you use the plurals and the misspellings of you niche's keywords.
You want to make sure that your keyword is included in your domain name. Picking a keyword that people search for as your URL will ensure that your website is easier to find in search engines. Keep in mind that not all people that come to your site go there due to advertisements, some people are there due to the products in your website.
Increase your PageRank by attracting new visitors and establishing rapport with them. You want them to remain on your site as long as possible. You can measure your visits to your site by using things like Quantcast Scores. This could have a bearing on your PageRank. This influences the PageRank of a site. Try adding forums to the site, or allow for comments on key topics and articles. Encouraging participation will increase the amount of time visitors want to stick around.
Once you have chosen the keywords that you will use throughout your site, incorporate them into your page title, as well. Your title should be relevant, it will be the first impression that you leave with users who may or may not visit your site. This will help your site get clicked since it will fit searches better.
Make your content better to boost page rank. Visitors won't remain at your page unless they are getting what they want and need from it. Therefore, content is king.
A site map is an important part of your website if you want search engines to be able to create an index of your site pages. A site map could be a navigation bar, or for sites with a lot of pages, it could work like and index that has links to each page. This helps search engines follow links all the way through your entire site. Even if your site is small, a site map can have a big impact on its search engine rankings.
SEO is an important marketing tool for any business owner. When your website appears in search engine listings, you are boosting your page's traffic. These tips should prove to be quite helpful to you.

subset: commoncrawl


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Technicians are usually taught pole-climbing as soon as they are hired, but this was deemed unnecessary for me as my group were being sent directly to Manhattan. In order to make it easier to loan us out (and, I suspect, easier to eventually shuffle us around) myself and a few of my co-workers have been sent to pole-climbing school.
The picture above is pretty much the last time I smiled up there; you can see I'm wearing a harness, which we only used the first time. While my recent weight loss has had many great advantages (there is no question that climbing is much, much, much easier), the fact that my body is currently in a state of constant change makes me — if you'll forgive the pun — uncomfortable throwing my weight around. This isn't about being in danger (the strap is solid), it's about the fact that I'm kind of a klutz to begin with and right now I have no idea right now where I begin and where I end, which makes actually working up there rather difficult. It is analogous to the awkwardness of the adolescent growth spurt, just kind of in reverse.
You know how those video two-fers usually suck? Unless they're a franchise, most of the time there's one really cool movie paired with a really lame one. Well, in a real classy move, Warner Brothers decided to put two movies that make an awesome double feature, the Brian G. Hutton/Clint Eastwood WWII double bill of Kelly's Heroes with Where Eagles Dare!!! Even better, they're fantastic transfers each housed on a separate disc so there was no compromise in image quality despite the length of both films!
Image Entertainment will be releasing Season One of The Twilight Zone on September 14th (it's available for pre-order at Amazon). Only six episodes of the second season were shot on videotape, so this has the potential to be as eye-popping as Star Trek TOS was on Blu-ray. Apparently Marc Scott Zicree, author of the indispensable book The Twilight Zone Companion, is involved with the extras, which sound pretty impressive.
I haven't done a meme in a while, so you can all blame this relapse on revolos55:
Here's how it works:
Leave me a comment by saying "Beam Me Up, Scotty!"
I'll respond by asking you five completely random questions.
Update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
Include this explanation and offer to ask other people questions.
My questions from revolos55:
- What mythological figure do you find most interesting?
I have to say that ever since one of my professors Royal S. Brown connected Vertigo to the myth of Orpheus, I've always found a particular resonance thereof because of the inherent themes of the power of art and voyeurism. I see these themes recurring time and time again throughout cinema; almost the entire film noir genre is based in them!
- You can resurrect any dead filmmaker to direct an adaptation/remake of a film made after their passing; which director and which film?
You know what? I'd have loved to see Samuel Fuller or Stanley Kubrick make a film about the 300 Spartans, although obviously not Frank Miller's take on it.
- Give me the pitch for a movie where the Ghostbusters team up with the BPRD.
Ah… no. Sorry. I love Ghostbusters to death, but the sequel was lame and I wasn't impressed by Hellboy when I saw it. I say let it be.
- Which Star Trek captain would you prefer to serve under: Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway or Archer?
This is an interesting question because there are several variables to take into account above and beyond the characters of each (who were, after all, designed to be representative of some of humanity's best aspects). One must consider how each captain deals with discipline and how large the crew is (which is a vital aspect of a person's relationship with their commanding officer). I would also have to bring up that because of my own personal interests, I would probably be in the engineering section, which means that if I'm in TOS I run the risk of one day being in an away team with a red shirt. Fuck that shit; as much as I'm inclined to say first season Jim Kirk, my interest in self-preservation rules him out.
With the hairpiece out of the way, that for me really leaves the two bald guys, and it's really a dead heat because I would like to serve under them both but for very different reasons. Both are no-nonsense but extremely fair, and each carry their respective commands with authority through the strength of their stern personalities. But… and I know there are some who would find this blasphemy… I have to side with Ben Cisco on this one for two reasons. The first is that while Jean-Luc Picard is certainly a fine commander, Cisco has a certain specific panache to him that I just have to respect (yes, this is about him leaving the baseball behind on Terok Nor). The second is that I am really kind of dying to try his father's gumbo.
- You have 24 hours to live and you must spend them watching movies: which ones do you choose?
Wow. This is hard because of my whole "no desert island disc" lists. This, of course, isn't the same thing, so for purposes of this meme I'm going to interpret your question as meaning "if you found this out right now" so that it is understood than any of these choices would be null and void as of tomorrow, when I would be in a different mood and make different choices.
Right now, my inclination would be to go classic and pull out my laserdiscs of the Star Wars trilogy and play them real loud. I'd probably watch something lightweight afterward, like a comedy, maybe The Princess Bride or Some Like It Hot. Since I "know" I am "going to die," I would have to squeeze in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan in there somewhere. I'd probably send myself off with something horribly dystopian but fun, like The Road Warrior or Escape from New York so I could face my impending demise with some attitude.
- What mythological figure do you find most interesting?
Happy Brooklyn-Queens Day! (yes, it is a holiday, and yes, I had it off from school)
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I will not tell you that The Good Soldier Švejk is a must-read novel even I think so. And this is because it has lots of hilarious quotes to liven up your mood. More often than not, people enjoy reading books that have funny citations to fully enjoy the beauty of life and share it with others. But really, what can be found in this novel?
The Good Soldier Švejk is Jaroslav Hašek's incomplete satirical novel. After his death, the book was exemplified by George Grosz and Josef Lada. Most of the characters and situations appear to have been stirred by the service of the author in the 91st Infantry Regiment of the Austro-Hungarian Army, although The Good Soldier Švejk likewise talks about the wider anti-war subject matters. Basically, it is a sequence of ridiculously hilarious quotes and chapters as well as delves into the hollowness of contradiction generally and of martial chastisement, particularly the military discipline of Austrians. Here are a few hilarious quotes from the novel The Good Soldier Švejk.
But first, why do we need hilarious quotes? Well obviously, they help us manage our anxiety easily and in the best way possible. If you feel that you need something which can perk you up right at this moment, you can go ahead and browse the Internet for some truly hilarious quotes. With the daily pressures from work or school and home, hilarious quotes are what you need every day to put a smile on your face and immediately replace your bad mood with a good one. The saying that goes, "Laughter is the best medicine" holds true for people for people who are always depressed and strained from everyday life. Read some hilarious quotes to make yourself laugh. When people hear it from you and see that you are happy, their mood will gradually change and feel the same way that you do.
Hilarious quotes from the novel The Good Soldier Švejk
* "Jesus Christ was innocent too,' said Svejk, 'and all the same they crucified him. No one anywhere has ever worried about a man being innocent. Maul halten und weiter dienen ('Grin and bear it and get on with the job') - as they used to tell us in the army. That's the best and finest thing of all."
* "After debauches and orgies there always follows the moral hangover."
* "The lieutenant's fooling around again with the telegraph girl at the station," said the corporal, after he had gone. "He's been running after her for a fortnight and he's always frightfully furious when he comes from the telegraph office and he says about her: "She's a whore. She won't sleep with me!"
* "When Švejk subsequently described life in the lunatic asylum, he did so in exceptionally eulogistic terms: 'I really don't know why those loonies get so angry when they're kept there. You can crawl naked on the floor, howl like a jackal, rage and bite. If anyone did this anywhere on the promenade people would be astonished, but there it's the most common or garden thing to do. There's a freedom there which not even Socialists have ever dreamed of."
These hilarious quotes from The Good Soldier Švejk will help you deal with life cheerfully and calmly.


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In May 2006, I had my prostate ablated with laser surgery. Since that proceedure I have not had a moments peace. continual, and incessant urination. Sometimes 10-15 times a day. I seem to retain urine as the amounts expressed are between 4 and 8 ounces several times a day.


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In another stunning departure from the Trump White House, Deputy Assistant to President Trump, Sebastian Gorka, has resigned.
Gorka was aligned with Steve Bannon, who recently left the White House in what has been described as a deep state, soft coup.
The Trump White House has systematically purged all advisors who helped Donald Trump formulate his campaign policy, but have had minimal influence in a 'Wall Street-Military General' dominated White House.
Next in line, as the soft coup finalizes…Kellyanne Elizabeth Conway.
The Federalist reports…
"In a blunt resignation letter, the national security and counterterrorism expert expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the Trump administration. "[G]iven recent events, it is clear to me that forces that do not support the MAGA promise are – for now – ascendant within the White House," Gorka wrote. "As a result, the best and most effective way I can support you, Mr. President, is from outside the People's House."
Gorka's letter expressed unhappiness with the direction the Trump administration's foreign policy has taken, as signaled by the president's recent speech on Afghanistan:
"Regrettably, outside of yourself, the individuals who most embodied and represented the policies that will 'Make America Great Again,' have been internally countered, systematically removed, or undermined in recent months. This was made patently obvious as I read the text of your speech on Afghanistan this week…
"The fact that those who drafted and approved the speech removed any mention of Radical Islam or radical Islamic terrorism proves that a crucial element of your presidential campaign has been lost…
"Just as worrying, when discussing our future actions in the region, the speech listed operational objectives without ever defining the strategic victory conditions we are fighting for. This omission should seriously disturb any national security professional, and any American who is unsatisfied with the last 16 years of disastrous policy decisions which have led to thousands of Americans killed and trillions of taxpayer dollars spent in ways that have not brought security or victory."
Sebastian Gorka made news when he brought up Ukraine's US election meddling with the Hillary Clinton campaign and the DNC, while appearing on CNN with Anderson Cooper.
Gorka crushed CNN wth this statement…
"The story only has legs because the fake news industrial complex is obsessed. Nine months of accusations with zero, zero evidence of anything illegal."
"On the contrary, the DNC sends its operative onto the soil of a foreign nation, to the embassy of the Ukraine. Not to collect dirt, but to actually use it in a coordinated campaign with a foreign government."
"That's what CNN should be covering. But why aren't you?"
.@SebGorka: 'CNN wants salacious, sensational coverage for ratings, so your corporate sponsors will have more money. That's fake news.' pic.twitter.com/c6XssS7yPf
— Josh Caplan (@joshdcaplan) July 13, 2017
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Duran.


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|Don Wittman
Wittman broadcasting the 2002 Winter Olympics
|Donald Rae Wittman[1]
October 9, 1936[1]
Herbert, Saskatchewan
|January 19 2008 (aged 71)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
|Other names
|CBC sportscaster
Donald Rae Wittman (October 9, 1936[1] – January 19, 2008) was a Canadian sportscaster.
Born in Herbert, Saskatchewan, Wittman attended the University of Saskatchewan and got his start in the field of broadcasting as a news reporter with CFQC radio in Saskatoon in 1955.[2]
As a sportscaster, Wittman covered many sports including athletics, baseball, basketball, golf, and was most known as a commentator and announcer for the CBC's CFL coverage, on Hockey Night in Canada, and for major Canadian and international curling tournaments.[2]
He joined CBWT's supper-hour news program 24Hours in 1970 as sports anchor alternating with Bob Picken. He also worked on Winnipeg Jets television and radio broadcasts.
During the late 1970s–early 1980s, Wittman hosted Western Express, a half-hour weekly program broadcast in Western Canada which consisted of lottery ticket drawings for the lottery of the same name. The format of the series included Wittman co-hosting with media and community personalities from towns and cities across the region and conducting interviews in-between ticket drawings. (Western Express later changed its name to The Western and converted to a scrach-card lottery format).
Famous events covered by Wittman include Donovan Bailey's 100m sprint world record at the 1996 Summer Olympics[2] and the infamous brawl between Canada and the Soviet Union at the 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Wittman won two ACTRA awards,[2] was named Broadcaster of the Year by Sports Media Canada in 2002,[3] and named to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 2003.[4][5] He was inducted to the CBC Sports Hall of Fame in January 2008.
On January 19, 2008, Wittman died as a result of cancer in a Winnipeg hospital surrounded by his family.[6] He was 71 years old. He is survived by his wife, 2 daughters and a son.
Wittman is an "Honoured Member" of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.
Wittman was noted for his charming baritone voice.
Awards & Achievements[edit | edit source]
- "Honoured Member" of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1990)
- Sports Media Canada Honour Roll
- Sports Media Canada Outstanding Sports Broadcasting Award (2002)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Obituary: Donald Rae Wittman. Passages (20 January 2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Don Wittman - CBC Sports. CBC Personalities. CBC. Archived from the original on 2007-02-09.
- ↑ Don Wittman, CBC Winnipeg – 2002 – Award for Outstanding Sports Broadcasting. Sports Media Canada. Archived from the original on 2008-01-23. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
- ↑ Inductees. Canadian Curling Hall of Fame. Canadian Curling Association. Archived from the original on 2007-10-05. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
- ↑ "CBC's Wittman to join curling hall of fame", CBC Sports, 2003-03-06. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
- ↑ "CBC Sports' Don Wittman dies", CBC Sports, 2008-01-19.
Further listening[edit | edit source]
- Munich 1972: Encounter with terror. CBC Archives. CBC Radio (1984-08-01).
External links[edit | edit source]
|This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Don Wittman. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).


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Shortly after meeting my husband, he introduced me to A Song of Ice and Fire, knowing how much I loved great fantasy novels. I devoured every book in the series that had been written up until then, and spent years wondering when George R. R. Martin would have the next one finished.
Then the announcement came that HBO was making it into a series. We were so excited, but so very nervous to see whether it would live up to the high bar the books had set. The series premiered the spring I was pregnant with my first child, and excitement turned into glee, as each episode exceeded our expectations.
Now, five seasons and 2 children later, I have begun to draw parallels between Game of Thrones and being a parent. I'm not sure whether Mr. Martin intended for these similarities to be so apparent, but to me, they're clear as day.
Sex is necessary to advance the plot.
Hell, they invented a term for what GoT does: sexposition. The story moves forward via conversation during a sex scene, in the series. Your story moves forward because of the actual sex. If you don't know what that means, Google "birds and bees."
Every time you think you know what's going on, the rules change.
All those stages your baby goes through give you just enough time to catch your breath, figure things out, and then start scrambling again, as things change for the umpteenth time. Sounds exactly like every season of GoT.
"The night is dark and full of terrors."
In the beginning, this refers to all those midnight feedings and diaper changes. As your kids grow, though, it begins to refer to the act of actually getting them to bed. "I need to pee again." "Can I have a bedtime snack?" "I had a bad dream!" "There's something in the closet that I'm afraid of…" Wanna know what you should be afraid of, kid? The look on my face when you wake me up in the middle of the night for the sixth time!
The "dragons" get bigger every year.
They start out so tiny and cute, and you think to yourself, these things are the best EVER! Everyone should have one. But they are as unpredictable in real life as they are on the show. Plus, the possibility of them becoming assholes grows exponentially, as they themselves grow.
"A very small man can cast a very large shadow."
I know this refers to Tyrion in the show, but I'm pretty sure it's also rather prophetic of the role our one year old son has in our family. That boy owns us.
"You know nothing, Jon Snow."
I don't think there's ever been a television quote that captures parenthood more accurately than this one does.
The ladies know what they want.
Maybe your daughter is like Arya, strong, determined and takes no shit. Or maybe she's like Margaery, sweet, determined, manipulative and takes no shit. Or maybe she's more like Cersei, a total asshole who also takes no shit. Note the theme here?
You have theories on how the story will go, but you're really just guessing at this point.
What happens, as time goes on, is up to one person and one person only: George R.R. Martin. Or your child, depending on what we're referring to. At a certain point, you're just going to have to trust that what they're doing is the right thing.
Edited to add:
Oh. My. God. How could I possibly forget the best quote of them all?!
"Valar dohaeris"
Translated from high Valyrian, it means "All men must serve." HAHAHAHAHA. Yes, that just about sums up parenthood, doesn't it? All parents must serve…their child's every whim. Anyone who has had a toddler or a threenager knows that it doesn't get any more accurate than this.


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How blessed am I to have family that makes it so sad to leave? Kent and I ventured to Orlando this weekend to meet up with his Dad, Nanny & Dylan and the entire Kinberger crew. Kent's uncles Rob & Jay came through and Dylan brought his friend Myles, makin' the group of us 14 total.
It's always a good time with the Blosser/Kinberger family & this weekend was no exception. We spent Saturday by the pool, getting fiercely competitive with cornhole. Kent and I both skirted the weekend without crazy sunburns, laying a nice tan foundation for our trip to Puerto Rico this coming weekend!
On the drive back, Kent was talking about how leaving family is always sad. Guess that just means we're lucky to have family that makes it so hard to leave.


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ROCK SPRINGS — Penn State administrators in Old Main and on Ag Hill were elated months ago that the state was proposing flat funding for the university's agricultural research and extension line items.
They were hopeful for extra money, but in tough economic times, they weren't going to count their chickens before they hatch.
As it turns out, a state budget passed that would give the College of Agricultural Sciences $1.5 million more than administrators originally anticipated for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
On Wednesday, at the university's and college's annual Ag Progress Days, administrators gave public thank-yous to state officials and groups who support agriculture during the annual government and industry lunch. It's an event that brought together nearly 700 attendees consisting of agri-businessmen and women and municipal, county and state officials.
"There is too little public recognition of how much we all depend upon farms as stewards of our soil, water and wildlife resources," Penn State President Rodney Erickson told the crowd, quoting the late John F. Kennedy. "We're working to change that. Special thanks go to our agricultural advocates, who have made it their mission to preserve and protect Pennsylvania's agricultural heritage and future."
Ag Progress Days gives Penn State the chance to show off its contributions and achievements to agriculture. The events will wrap up Thursday.
Wednesday's invitation-only lunch had a slew of local figureheads who ate the buffet lunch, such as state lawmakers Jake Corman, Kerry Benninghoff and Scott Conklin, and Penn State agricultural trustees Keith Masser and Carl Shaffer.
During his speech, Erickson rattled off a list of accomplishments in the College of Agricultural Sciences, such as its being ranked No. 9 worldwide in the fields of agriculture and forestry and a $10 million federal grant received last fall for research into growing energy crops on marginal and abandoned land.
He mentioned student achievements, too: Students took first place in a national competition for their creation of a quiche-like dairy product they dubbed a " moofin." And he said Penn State can boast that its alumni are the superintendents at the golf courses that hosted this year's Master's, U.S. Open and PGA Championship, the three premier golf tournaments.
Erickson, who said he was born into farming, will return to farming when he retires next year.
Benninghoff, a representative from Bellefonte, said after the lunch that it was beneficial to hear how funding is used for education and research in agriculture. It's ultimately taxpayer money that the legislature distributes, he said.
"It's nice to be able to bring the bacon back home, as they used to say," he said. "It just comes full circle, and I'm glad to see that."
U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard Township, stressed to the crowd the continued importance of agriculture when it comes to national security.
"The threat to national security is when we would have to rely on another country for our food supply," he said. "You keep that from happening. You feed the nation and you feed a lot of the rest of the world."
He also got a laugh out of the crowd, using a play on words, when he made fun of himself saying that he was given 15 minutes to make remarks.
"With that much fertilizer, I'd burn crops off at the roots," he said.
Later Wednesday, Thompson was more serious when he and state agriculture Secretary George Greig fielded questions from the public.
When asked about immigration and farm workforces, Thompson said farmers and ranchers need properly trained workers.
"We cannot get Americans to do those jobs. That is the reality of farming," he said. "If we can't get a trained workforce, then we can't feed ourselves."
One man asked about the status of farmland preservation, and Greig said the state has 475,000 acres that are preserved. It's tough, he said, as Pennsylvania's close proximity to population centers in the Northeast puts pressure on the state's farmland.
Thompson also said farmers throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed region have worked to keep their cattle out of streams, out of concerns that the cows contribute to polluting the waters. One woman disagreed that the problem had gone away, and Thompson said work needs to be done.
The hourlong session will air soon on PCN, but a specific time and date wasn't immediately available.
Penn State is budgeted to get $46.2 million from the state this fiscal year, an increase of 3.4 percent over last year.
Barbara Christ, the college's interim dean, has said that money will mostly help maintain programs and minimize downsizing. The college will create three research centers using $300,000 from the bump in state funding, and information about the centers will be presented Thursday at Ag Progress Days, Christ said.
In addition, Christ said the college has restructured its extension programs in a way that is more collaborative and team-oriented than in the past.
For instance, she said, an expert in dairy nutrition who works at the Lancaster County Cooperative Extension office would be synced up with other extension workers across the state who have expertise in the dairy field.
The college continues to operate an extension office in all 67 counties, but the college's vision would essentially remove the county boundaries so that people who use the extension services can access help across the state, she said.
Original Article Here


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Use the below hashtags when you want to share something in the group. There is no specific day that you need to use these (except #MotivationMonday, of course)
Show us what you are planning or working on this week.
Share a blog that you recently read and loved that you think will inspire the rest of the group.
Got something to celebrate? Go ahead and tell the group so we can celebrate with you.
Use this hashtag when you could do with some support from the rest of the group. This can be anything from a new idea, a new design, to branding your business, copywriting, marketing or website design.
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text: Last week, I had the pleasure of photographing a gorgeous couple expecting their first child! Alexis and Stephen live in Atlanta and traveled to Charleston to attend the first of two baby showers being thrown in their honor! Alexis grew up here and wanted to do a maternity session downtown to showcase the beauty of our unique city. White Point Gardens also known as Battery Park was the perfect location. I'm so excited to share these!


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"We all make mistakes in life. We all have regrets about our words and actions. We all wish we could rewrite events in our past. The gift is in learning the lessons that our errors came to teach us and show us, and then use that wisdom we gained as our guiding light towards a better future." – Dr Jeff Mullan
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A tribute to the people and places our Electric Torches call home.A THOUSAND YARD STYLE
Tinker. Tailor. Soldier.
Robert Spangle is a man of many talents. A man who tinkers; a designer whose life is reflected in every stitch and cut of his utilitarian and elegant creations. A tailor from Savile Row with a profound sense of style, who travels the world making his observations with a Leica in tow. A soldier, who served in reconnoissance in Afghanistan for the United States Marines.
Robert's life colors his art, and gives character to his myriad works. Whether words and photography for some of the world's leading publications, or his own brand of Observer Collection products, you'll find parts of a life well-lived imbued in every piece.
We are pleased to share part of his story with you on our latest installment of Profiles in Light.
Read more from Profiles in Light: Robert Spangle on The Observatory.


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What is a Writ of Garnishment?
In the United States civil justice system, a writ of garnishment is a court order that directs a third party to set aside funds they owe to, or hold for, the benefit of a debtor, so that the funds may be disbursed to a judgment creditor. Although the term 'garnishment' is often used interchangeably with other post-judgment collection remedies — such as attachment or a real estate lien — garnishment is most often used for attaching a debtor's wages to satisfy an outstanding civil judgment. In some jurisdictions, a writ of garnishment is called trustee process, because the employer, as a third party, is directed by the court to segregate certain funds that are due to the employee for the benefit of the judgment creditor.
In order to obtain an order for garnishment, a plaintiff must first obtain a judgment from the court with which he filed his civil lawsuit. Once the court enters a judgment for the plaintiff on its docket, the plaintiff becomes a judgment creditor, and the defendant becomes a judgment debtor. A victorious plaintiff, or judgment creditor, can attempt to collect his awarded by applying to the court for post-judgment collection remedies, which can include, attaching the judgment debtor's assets, putting a lien on his real property, and garnishing the his wages.
In most states, a judgment creditor must obtain an execution on the judgment before he can begin post-judgment collection procedures. An execution is a document that bears the official seal of the court that issued the judgment. It also identifies the plaintiff as the judgment creditor and the dollar amount of the judgment. Once a judgment creditor obtains an order for a writ of garnishment, he must serve notice of the order on the debtor's employer. The employer must then deduct the court-approved amount from the employee's wages, and remit the sum to the court. The court then disburses the amount to the judgment creditor. In most cases, a judgment creditor must apply to the court to obtain a writ of garnishment for each pay period.
In many states, a judgment creditor can garnish only a specified percentage of a judgment debtor's weekly wages — usually 25% of the debtor's disposable income. In addition, Social Security and disability income, as well as unemployment compensation and veteran's or welfare benefits, are exempt from garnishment. Should a judgment debtor offer to pay the judgment creditor the remaining amount of the judgment owed, the writ of garnishment would be dissolved.
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Discussion Comments
@MissDaphne - State laws vary, but yes, it should be an option. Might be time for a new lawyer! Some years ago, a friend of my sister's was in a very similar situation. Her new lawyer got the amount raised and got the guy's wages garnished, so she went from being supposed to get $225 but actually getting nothing to really getting $300.
The thing about wage garnishment is that the person does have to be making some money or there's nothing to take. My cousin defaulted on his student loans, but garnishment didn't make much difference because he was making just minimum wage. There was hardly anything there to take.
Is wage garnishment an option in child support cases? A friend of mine is in a really tight spot. Her ex is supposed to pay $500 a month, but she's lucky to get half that. Sometimes, she doesn't get anything at all. But he does have a job. Her lawyer hasn't mentioned garnishment as an option.


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Crematoriums are a part of human history, and human societies have been burning the remains of their deceased for almost as long as there have been societies.
These days, the process has become decidedly modernized, with crematory manufacturing and services looking increasingly high-tech and sophisticated.
While the cremation process can seem straightforward, the equipment involved is increasingly state-of-the-art.
What is a crematory?
Though the words are often used interchangeably, a crematorium and a crematory technically differ. The crematorium is the physical location where the cremation occurs, whereas a crematory is a furnace or machine in which the body is placed to burn.
Many funeral homes now include cremation services but rarely is there a separate crematorium facility. Instead, the crematory equipment is added to the existing building, perhaps in the basement.
Though cremations have been performed in open fires and pyres throughout history, a modern crematory "hearth" is an enclosed space capable of heating up to 2000° F (human cremation requires temperatures of at least 1400° F). Most of the latest crematories have electric controls with digital screens. They are also capable of holding multiple bodies at once.
The crematory fuel
While human remains have been burned using wood and coal for generations, in a modernized crematory, the fuel of choice is either natural or propane gas. This fuel allows the fire to burn hotter and longer meaning that in many cases, a body will be completely cremated in two hours or less.
A fully equipped crematorium
While the crematory is the most important piece of equipment for cremation services, it's hardly the only thing necessary to provide a full service. In a crematorium, before the actual cremation can take place, the bodies have to be stored. For this reason, there are body coolers capable of holding multiple bodies at once.
In the coolers, you will find roller shelves to make the storing and moving of bodies easier. The bodies themselves are kept on body trays (usually stainless steel), and when it is time to move a body from the cooler to the crematory, bodyboards are used for simple transfer.
After a body has been cremated, the remains (also known as "cremains") will be put through a cremated remains processor. The initial burn doesn't completely reduce the body to ash, and usually, there are remaining bone fragments. The cremated remains processor pulverizes the cremains to powder, which is what is placed in the urn.
A state-of-the-art crematorium
As more and more funeral homes and their clients are looking to expand their options for memorializing the deceased, crematory manufacturing and services are in increasing demand. A fully equipped crematorium allows families to respect the wishes of their deceased loved ones in a technological advanced and safe environment.


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With 76 countries ratifying the United Nations' Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques, one may wonder just how much the weather can be manipulated by the government (not to mention what else they might be up to). [George Bush was trying to kill minorities in New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina. He was just too dumb and hit Mississippi instead–but I digress.]
Adding to the stack of conspiracy theories will soon be this report from www.wired.com: Air Force's Top Brain Wants a 'Social Radar' to 'See Into Hearts and Minds'.
The capability analyzes behavior to predict future behavior. Sounds like high-tech profiling–not necessarily something new. But with the DoD funding millions on a program to evaluate behavior, who knows what it could become.
I could care less how much anyone watches what I do, but if you start looking at my heart and mind, we have problems. From the Holy Bible, God states in Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Apparently, the government is funding an effort to figure it out. The Bible also declares God as a revealer of secrets in Daniel 2:47, "The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret." Imagine that–government with a god-complex.
Good news for anyone that ever clicked "liked" on this blog: "'We do better than human estimates, but not by much,' one Pentagon-funded predictioneer admitted."
If you're excited to run-off and joint the New Earth Army, you may still be ahead of your time.


text: Today I have a little giveaway for you. Coconut Lane have kindly offered to give a £10 voucher to one lucky winner to spend on their website. If you haven't seen their website, it's full of cute wall art (like in the photo above), greetings cards with messages like – "You are the Kendall to my Kylie" and jewellery. I recently bought one of their rings, which you can see in this post, and I really love it! You can enter via the Rafflecoper at the end of the post and there are no mandatory entries, so enter as many as you like! View Full Post


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Privacy policy, terms and conditions
Collection and use of information
Training Connections Australia (TCA) is committed to protecting your privacy. All information gathered by TCA will be stored securely.
The information TCA collects about website users will be used only for research and permission based marketing activities. Findings from research will be reported in aggregate form to TCA and its related entities.
TCA does not collect any personally identifiable information about you unless you voluntarily submit such information via registration for a course, filling out a form or survey, entering competitions, promotions or similar. Personally identifiable information includes names addresses, phone, fax or email addresses. Any personal information collected on our site remains confidential to TCA and its related entities and will not be sold, published or shared with other third-party companies.
We do not wish to obtain personal information from children who are using our site unsupervised.
We ask that children to obtain the consent of their parent or guardian before providing us with any personal information.
It is our policy to only send emails to customers who give us permission, however you may occasionally receive email communications from TCA to provide information which we think you will find useful/beneficial, including information about new products and/or services.
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The German government's civil defence plan, which as reported yesterday urged Germans to stockpile enough food and water for ten and five days, respectively "in case of an attack or catastrophe", has been strongly condemned by the opposition party Die Linke (the Left Party), who accused Merkel that her proposal could result in a public frenzy. "By bringing out new plans all the time, the government could make people afraid people and even lead them to panic buy," Dietmar Bartsch, co-chair of Die Linke told the Rheinische Post on Monday.
The government shouldn't be adding to the sense of fear on a daily basis, Bartsch added cited by the Local, although we would note that the government could have easily avoided the daily "sense of fear" had it simply blocked Merkel's "open door" refugee policy in the first place
Bartsch was responding to Interior Ministry plans published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Sunday, advising people to stockpile food and water.
The plan, which makes civilian backing of troops a priority while boosting the resilience of buildings and increasing capacity in the healthcare system, is due to be adopted by the government on Wednesday.
Merkel's government is updating Germany's civil-defense guidance for the first time since 1995 to reflect evolving threats, according to the Interior Ministry. It follows the long-term reassessment of risks including terrorism and natural disasters based on a broad analysis, not any specific threat events, ministry spokesman Johannes Dimroth says.
Dimroth added that the update is a "logical consequence" of developments since the mid-1990s, which were marked by sense of reduced risk after end of Cold War. The proposal is also Germany's first civil defence strategy since the end of the Cold War.
So far during August, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has made two much-debated announcements on proposals believed to have been developed in response to three bloody attacks in Bavaria in July, two of which had Islamist links, and the third of which, a gun spree in Munich, involved the deaths of ten people. The teenager responsible for the Munich gun spree is not believed to have had any political motivation for his actions.
In the first raft of proposals, de Maiziere threatened to strip citizenship from jihadi fighters who have dual citizenship, as well as completely doing away with dual nationality.
Last week he also came out in favor of a partial ban on the burqa in public spaces, saying that showing one's face "belongs to our culture.
Most notably, however, in late July after the spike of terrorist attacks on German soil, de Maiziere ordered increased security presence at airports, train stations and other public places, and added the"German army can play a domestic role in special cases." Which is ironic, because while Germans may or may not be freaking out over the new civil defence directive, what they probably should be more concerned about is that the government can now deploy the army domestically in what, in its opinion, represents a special case.


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How Far Can I Move With My Child?
Sometimes, life happens. A new job, new relationship or death in the family may necessitate a move, but to relocate a family is almost never easy. This is true because Illinois law does set some restrictions on relocating children, especially during or after divorce. Very often, one parent's interest in seeking new opportunities must be balanced with the other parent's right to parenting time and their children's interests in staying where they are comfortable.
Recent Changes to Relocation Laws
Before 2016, Illinois law held that a parent could uproot their children for any destination within the state, but if he or she chose to leave the state even by a very small distance, permission of either the other parent or a family court was required. With the revamping of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA), a new approach was adopted.
Under the current law, any parent living in the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry or Will can move a child to a new residence within Illinois, up to 25 miles from the original home, without permission of either the other parent or the court. If a parent resides with their child outside of those counties, the distance is increased to 50 miles, simply because the middle and southern counties in the state of Illinois are larger and less dense than the six surrounding Chicago. If a parent wants to move outside the State of Illinois, the distance of 25 miles remains the same before they must seek permission. It is also important to remember that within that distance, Illinois remains the home state of the child for purposes of disputes over parental responsibilities.
Requesting and Obtaining Permission
If your change in circumstances will require a move beyond the parameters set out in the law, you will have to obtain permission either from your ex-spouse, from the family court, or in rare cases, both. If your ex-spouse declines, you must seek approval from the court. A judge will consider the reason for your request, but he or she will also seek to balance its necessity with the best interests of your child or children.
Some factors a judge will weigh in determining whether or not to grant a relocation request include:
- How attached a child is to their home and community;
- The feasibility of parenting time for the spouse staying behind;
- The motivation for the move;
- The motivation for the other parent's objections;
- The wishes of the child, if they are able to appropriately express them; and
- Many other factors involving the child's physical, mental and emotional well-being.
It is important to remember that just as you may not contest a move solely to frustrate the other parent he or she also cannot do that to you. If he or she is found to be resisting the relocation solely to obstruct your plans, they may be sanctioned by the court. Do not be afraid to raise the issue if you suspect it.
Call a Family Law Attorney
Regardless of the nature of your move or your relationship with your child's other parent, relocations almost always go more smoothly when there are legal professionals involved. The experienced Kane County family law attorneys at MKFM Law understand the difficult balance that often needs to be struck in cases like these. We will do our best to find a solution that works for everyone involved. Contact us today at 630-665-7300 to discuss your situation.