Hobby Sports

Yesterday I received a call from my hunting buddy and he asked me if I was up for some dog training. My intention was to fish carp on my one weight but I decided that could wait another day. Its been some time since Kaiser and have hit Prado dog park for some training so Lous invitation was more than welcome. Having not shot my Merkel 47e since I got it back from the gunsmiths at Steyr USA, it was a good time to make sure they did the job properly (although I had no doubt that they did).

Kaiser definitely was rusty. He no longer is steady at wing and shot. Ill have to rectify that this summer. After the bird training I took him to the ponds and worked on his whistle and hand commands. He had not forgotten those, so I think hell do just fine in the blinds at Wister and San Jacinto. Last season I intentionally left Kaiser home during my duck hunts as I did no training last preseason so I was not comfortable with him in the blind. This year that wont be the case.

Loading my DT Systems bird launcher. Lou has the LCS launcher. One flaw in the DTS is that to arm it requires a magnet tool to lower the lever. Although I attached it to a lanyard that is connected to the launcher, I find that this is a poor design. What if one loses the magnet during training? You essentially then have a useless box as you can not arm the system without the tool.

Scenting conditions were poor. Kaiser is literally right above the bird before scenting it and going on point.

Bird launches as Lou takes the shot.

Lous dog. Two GWPs and one GSP. Each dog had three birds which made for a very long training session.

Sidelined last year, the Merkel 47e is back and ready for some quail this season. It will be nice carrying a light sub gauge again.

The Long Beach Casting Club hosted The Double Haul Ball today. This free event was SoCal surf fly fishing specific. Many of the big names in the SoCal scene showed up to present information that would be helpful to anyone trying to get into or trying to improve their skills at targeting corbina or any other surf species.

Since Im over the whole surf scene now and have moved on from it- Ive caught my share of corbina, croakers and halibut in the surf-  I did  show up not for the seminars but rather to catch up with some old faces I rarely see anymore, specifically Doug Uyematsu, Joe Libeu and Bill Calhoun. I wanted to catch up and see what each guy was up to and get their contact info so we could fish together sometime. I did,though, find the portion by Robby King regarding making fly fishing videos particularly interesting as well as the fly tiers at attendance.

Ive always like Uyematsus flies so I spent sometime looking at his flies he brought and found this one particularly interesting, its an oldie but I had never seen it since I left the surf scene:

Dougs Ghost Minnow
It was good seeing old faces and getting their numbers so that we could fish together since most of my old reliable fishing buddies have moved on.

I know someone who just returned from Argentina on a Goldern Dorado trip and it resparked my fascination with the place.  For more than a decade now Argentina has been on my mind. Ever since Wild On The Fly wrote an article about fishing Golden Dorados in the early 2000s, I have be dreaming about going. I almost made it too. At one time Argentina was having a promotion, an all inclusive trip including airfare from LAX to Buenos Aires for $2995. You had the option of fishing, I believe 3 days, in Central Argentina for Golden Dorado or fishing in the Patagonia for trout. I almost choose to go after Dorado but I could not find anyone who wanted to go with me. Instead I used that money and went back to Costa Rica with my friend Bryan Webb and his buddies in search of my tarpon.

I still wonder, what if I went to Argentina instead...That particular deal is no longer good and as this economy sucks and my disposable income not quite what it once was I am relegated to daydreaming. So I spend my time reading articles or watching videos.  It seems Argentina is making a strong case as the worlds foremost sporting paradise and pushing it pretty hard.  Years ago they came out with Mel Kriegers Patagonia.  This is a beautifully filmed movie that showcases not only Kriegers talents but Patagonias magnificant trout.  Obviously this film is an hour long commercial for Argentina fishing but I dont care.  I would rather watch this advertisement any day to any other stupid ad that pops up before you try to watch a youtube video.  Its fun to live vicariously through the film as you watch Mel throw some amazing loops to huge trout.  The film showcases the best Patagonia has to offer, including Sea Run browns down south at Tierra Del Feugo among other locations that hold giant size trout.  RIP Mel.

I believe the hunting version came out just last year, I purchased it once I heard about it.  Again the Argentina tourist board were smart enough to hire an authority in his field, Craig Boddington, as they were to hire Mel Krieger, to come and film the excellent opportunities to hunt this large South American nation.  As with the fishing version, Big Game Argentina with Craig Boddington is beautifully put together and showcases the awesome hunting opportunites available throughout the vast landscape of Argentina.  Craig hunts it all from stags, to boar, to mouflon, to waterfowl and doves among others.  If you ever thought about traveling to Argentina to hunt or fish you should check out either one of these DVDS.  If you have no interest in doing either the movies are still worth a look.

My off seasons are usually spent watching hunting videos. This season is no different. Recently I received a package of four DVDs. One of which I just finished watching. Without a doubt, Mountain Buffalo is the greatest hunting film I ever seen. Narration is available in a number of languages including English, German, French, Danish and Spanish. The German client scene is subtitled.

The film takes place in Northern Tanzania near Mount Loosimingor as Rainer guides and narrates each hunt. Watching the film you quickly realize that this film is much more about the hunt and the stalk rather than the kill.

If Mark Sullivan or Mark Buchanan films are your cup of tea youd definitely find this film a bore. Unlike those films Mountain Buffalo is shot in documentary style. The production, cinematography, editing and narration is simply amazing. The film follows three cape buffalo hunts. Each gives you look inside Rainer Joschs hunting philosophy and style. Rainers words illustrate this “The pursuing of an animal shall only become interesting when the hunt provides a challenge to the hunter. The taking of an animal should not be too easy, the risk of an unsuccessful outcome adds mystery and personalizes the hunting experience and is therefore a prerequisite...”

I truly love this film and I found out that Rainer has made a new film. Apparently it is already out in Europe and I cant wait until it comes out here in the US.

Like any idiot that has too many toys, I often neglect some of my material possessions whether it be a fly rod or reel, gun, or in this case a watch.  This Anonimo has been left seating on the benches for years now.  I almost forgot I even owned it.  I have since rectified that and have been wearing it almost daily and on all my fishing outing in the past month. 

This is big watch which is much the fashion these days.  It is a 44mm case and if it looks like a Panerai well it should.  There are some historical influences which I will discuss in a minute.  Anonimo is a Italian dive watch with long tradition of Florentine watchmaking.

Panerai in recent years has exploded in popularity largely from celebrities like Sly Stallone, Jason Statham seen wearing them.  This popularity lead a holding company of luxury goods (I forget which one and Im too lazy to look it up) to buy the brand but the holding company only had interest in owning the name not skills of the Italian workforce.  The company moved Panerai out of Italy and into Switzerland leaving hundreds of Italian watchmakers out of work.  The Swiss Panerais are excellent watches but they fail to capture what made Panerai, Panerai. 
As Panerai left Florence, proud Italians refusing to see their tradition and art die created Anonimo.  Using the abandoned talent and equipment, todays Anonimo is much more in line with the old school Panerai than the modern day Panerai could ever be.  Todays Panerais are Panerais in name only.  They carry very few traits that made Panerais famous.   For what I can see the only thing they kept other than the large face is the crown seal that they use on the Luminor models.  I will say todays Panerai movements are much better than their predecessors and of that of Anonimo.  Panerais were orginally worn by the Italian Navy Divers and were also commission by other Navys across the globe.  These dive watches were made with leather straps.  Yes a diving watch with leather bands.  Waterproof leather bands.  Current Panerais with leather straps can not be swam with as they do not possess the waterproof leather straps.  A diving watch that you can not dive with, makes a lot of sense doesnt it?  Anonimos on the other hand, like the original military watch, can be dove with on as it uses the Kodiak process that waterproofs the leather and can be used in fresh or salt water.
My Anonimo is a Cronoscopio Mark II Special Edition limited to 50 pieces.  Mine is 12/50.  The watch is has a day date function and is a chronograph.  As a limited edition, it has a different face than the regular edition and thats about the only difference to my knowledge.   With a clear case back you can see the movement which is modified Valijoux 7750.  The bezel and back cover are screw locked similar to those early day Panerais.
Much is said about Anonimos cases and the Italians are proud to flaunt them.  Panerai actual started out as a company that specialized in fine mechanisms such as mechanical depth gauges, compasses and torpedo detonators for the navy.  They were tapped into making a dive watch when all other Swiss watches at the time did not meet the testing requirements.  Panerai encased a Rolex caliber in a modified depth meter and delivered it to the Admiralty.  Ten were promptly ordered and the rest is history.  The stainless steel case on my watch is satinated AISI316 Plus and is sand blasted while the bezel and back cover are polished. 

I recently started looking at Anonimos online and am shocked at what they are currently going for, Im sure that is partially due to a weak dollar.  I believe there is small but growing fans of Anonimo, I do not believe it will ever reach the status of what Panerai currently holds but I believe these watches are worth a look.   They are less about status and more about having a connection with the past.  I personally like that fact.

There is some information regarding how Panerai came about and some pctures of early Panerai models in the book 1001 Wristwatches.

After this mornings heartbreak, I chose to hit the water one more time this afternoon. A slight breeze caused chop on the water making it difficult to see any fish in any water deeper than calf level. So all I could spot are fish near the banks. The first carp I saw, I didnt even have a chance at casting to it before it spooked. Moving down stream I saw a small bass or perhaps a bluegill and before I could cast it fled. The second carp I had a good chance and threw the fly just in front of it but it chose not to take my offerings. With only three casts to it, it moved into slightly deeper water and I then lost him in the choppy water. Eventually I got bored of trying to sightcast so I blindcasted into a narrow ambush point and foul hooked a turtle. After releasing it, I moved down the river to see at least 4 bass jump. All out of my reach so I wader toward them but no fish were willing. I decided to head back but before I left I decided to check out one more time the area I got bit this morning. I saw the hump of a feeding carp in the shallows. I moved out of the area and headed 15 yards upstream so I would not spook him. Feeding facing the cattails, the carp gave me a difficult cast especially with the wind in my face. All my casts missed the mark, not one landed toward its face. With a errand cast, I plopped the fly too hard on the water and the fish was gone. I headed back to the car spooking three more carp all of which gave no opportunity for a cast.


Notice the rings at the top left. The hump of the carp may be seen.


Sorry pal that was unintentional. The turtle just before release.

I slept in on accident this morning as it was bone chilling cold.  It actually was a good thing as by the time I made it to the pond I wanted to deke up, I found it was frozen solid.  I would have been pissed had I woke up early just to find out it was a waste of time.  I spent the whole morning exploring for new areas, basically I wasted the whole morning driving around missing exits or making it to roads that were closed due to snow. 

Bill told me of the area he hunted just before Christmas, I tried to make it there but the road was too sketchy for me to go it alone.  Since I was in the area I checked out a few watering holes that I never seen, of course they too were frozen solid.  So I turned back and headed to the lowlands.  I drove around looking for an area to jump shoot some ducks.  After sometime I managed to finally find an area that I could actually walk along the river.  I parked and after about fifty yards, I flushed a drake mallard and took him with the right barrel loaded with Bismuth number 5 load and he buckled as I was tracking him down, fifteen more mallards flushed and I took another drake I didnt track him as Kaiser jumped off the 8 foot bank toward the river.  I knew at least the birds fell on the opposite side within the reddish wood branches.  The river was too fast for Kaiser and he was reluctant to go in.  I climbed down and had to pick him up and put him back on the bank.  I rushed to the car and put on my waders and headed out with Kaiser to find a spot to cross together.

The banks on this section were too high so I put Kaiser back in the River and headed out myself.  I managed to cross and struggled to make it up the bank on the opposite side.  I looked through the vegetation and spent 45 minutes trying to find at least one of those birds.  No luck.  I went back to the truck and drove 20 minute to find a bridge to cross to get the other side.  Finally reaching the spot I let Kaiser out to see if his nose could find the birds but unfortunately I was not exactly sure where the hit the ground.  After about 30 minutes I gave up as we were running out of sun.  When I lose birds, I get pissed, I get even more pissed when they are fat mallards especially when it was my first double on ducks and would have been Kaisers first mallard.  Oh well I guess thats hunting.

I drove to another spot I thought would be a good spot for some pass shooting.  Once I got out of the truck, three unknown ducks flushed and then a hen mallard flushed before I could even get my gun.  We walked along the river as the sun was setting.  Three small ducks flew overhead but were way out of range.  And after that it was time to head back to the motel. Well see what tomorrow brings...