09.16.12 Back from a great two days in Montauk

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     Well, I made it out and back. I joined my buddy Capt Jason Dapra of BlitzBound Charters as he traveled from the Garden State to "The End" to bring his 23 foot Jones Brothers out prior to the start of his season. It was my first time out there and I was looking forward to seeing "live" what I have read about and seen so much of. 

                                      We got up there Friday late afternoon and dropped the boat and fished the evening and on Saturday put in around 1 and fished till 6. Had a blast chasing albies as they pushed through balls of bay anchovies. The fish were up and down quick so if you were in range it was a cast or two and they were gone. It was snotty Saturday morning so Jason gave me a tour of Montauk including a stop at Camp Hero, located at Camp Hero State Park which includes the famed Montauk Lighthouse. I was able to make some images of surfcasters on the rocks below and watched several take a beating as they walked, floated, and swam their way out to the best rock they could find. 


     At night the eats and drink were great at some restaurants in Amagansett where we stayed for the two nights. Things weren't in full swing just yet as the bass were starting to show up and show only for a bit maybe each day. The ones that were caught by other boats were dredged up on plastics, although I don't know what the surf guys were doing at night. And, of course, boats drifting eels at night I am sure are finding good bass.      It was to see so many fly fishing "reminders" while at Montauk. There were several Jones Brothers boats at the dock and on the water, and it seems more than 3 quarters of the anglers out were throwing flies for the albies. Below is Jason's buddy and fellow Captain Paul with two anglers that hooked up on several albies while on Montauk's South Side yesterday. 
     

     It was a great but quick trip and I had a lot of fun with Jason. We did have a few moments that stick out and some really make me laugh as I sit and pen this, unfortunately I can't repeat them.  I love the below picks as this albie desperately made a run for it to get back in the water. Also, on Friday we towed his buddy back as it turned dark from the North Side near the lighthouse. But yesterdays return in was the most memorable.
     We were on the South Side with a N-NW wind on the incoming tide. We had albies up here and there and ran around almost alone as the sun went down. It was about 6 o'clock and Jason and another Capt in a 19'10 LT Jones Brothers decided to end the hunt for albies there and to hit the South Side to take a look before we went in. He told me things may get a little sporty and we might get a little wet as we crossed the rips as we went to the South Side. But, once we cleared them we would be in good shape. So it was just a classic wind against tide, over the rips, that we had to get through. It was rough, and several times we looked back at  his buddies 19'10 Jones and admired the status of his bottom paint. Then we cleared Shaqwong....and it got really interesting. Tight 3-5 footers and then a stretch of washing machine waves kept us both "concerned" and saturated, well I was saturated as I didn't bring rain pants to wear.
     Needless to say we didn't stop to take a look for albies and both Captains got back into the inlet safely. As we passed the West Lake Marina a small boat with five on board waved to us as they headed out for what appeared to be a nice sunset cruise. Jason yelled over to them to cancel as conditions outside the inlet was dangerous. They just smiled and cruised along on flat water and continued out....we just shrugged our shoulders and made our way for the dock.

Captain Jason Dapra of BlitzBound Charters runs his 23 foot Jones Brothers for fly fishing and light tackle trips at the Jersey Shore in the spring and off Montauk in the fall. There may be one or two days open this fall, but if interested you should drop him an email to get a day for next year in his book.
Email address captjason@blitzboundcharters.com. He's a great guy, great fisherman, and after two days of being in the boat with him and yesterdays return trip in, a great Captain.

09.17.12 Got out to look before some nasty weather rolls in tomorrow

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     I had the afternoon free so I posted on Facebook that I was going to look for fish out front. 20 seconds later my phone rang. It was Captain Paul Eidman of Reel Therapy and the Menhaden Defenders. He said he was looking to do the same so we met up at the Belmar Municipal boat ramp and got out. Paul runs a Jones Brothers 19'10 LT so I felt right at home. The tide was just incoming and the winds were from the S at a steady 7. We were looking for albies and chased some birds up into Long Branch but only found bluefish under the birds. We drifted along the beach working as close to the groins as possible before heading out a bit to watch as the birds picked away at the rain fish. Paul had a spinning rod on board and teased the birds up with a popper that made shooting them a little easier. 
Looking forward to hitting the beach with some snot coming our way over the next few days. 

09.18.12 Nice to air your backing out every now and then

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     I took a ride down to the beach to see how things were looking compared to yesterday. The wind  was howling from the S at 20 with gusts over 25. I decided to give it a go and went with my Orvis Depth Charge line on my 10 wt and a white Snake Fly. I fished the north side pocket with the wind at my back. There was another angler throwing bucktails out midway on the groin.
     I moved up and back without a bump and then saw some mullet being bothered in the wash. From my position and with the wind at my  back I was able to the paint the beach with my fly. I made some casts and then felt a hard stick dead strike. The kind that feels like when you strip a fly into the rocks, and it sticks. So that's what I thought it was. But it wasn't. My line was moving out at a steady, deep, and angry pace. So I was quickly into my backing and I moved down along the rocks and jumped down onto the beach.

                                                 

     I watched as my backing disappeared off my reel and went farther out along the rocks. I was easily out 175 yards of backing, and I thought it might go. I tried like to turn the fish but to no avail. I was able to crank down a few times, but it just pulled again, harder. This lasted 8- 10 minutes and then it snapped off.

As I reeled in, and reeled in....and reeled in, I couldn't imagine what I had hooked into. My first guess was a cow nose ray. Don't know if it would grab a Snake Fly out of the wash. If it was a fluke....it would have been more like a halibut. It wasn't a bluefish, and if it was a striper it was a 50 pounder. Cobia? Drum?

I wish I had just got a glimpse of it.

I pulled out of there and went down a blocks and saw my buddy who watched my fight unfold from a distance. He made me feel a little better when he said, " I knew you had something good on..."

I guess you never know what is lurking under the waves.

09.20.12 First light bass bite

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     With low tide at 440 am I slept in a bit to catch the start of the incoming. I was on the end of the rocks at 6 fished the south side as the NE wind made throwing the fly a challenge. The mullet are here so I open with a Snake Fly in fluorescent blue, materials I picked up from the Orvis New York City store the last time I was there. I tied up a bunch of white but thought this color might show up nice in early light or breaking waves.
     The bite lasted over a half an hour with several anglers far and near hooking up and losing or landing bass to keeper size. There was also some small blues in for the breakfast meal.
     It's not much, but the water is 71-72 degrees so it starting to slowly drop. According to NOAA this half of the month average water temps should be around 66, you can see that graph HERE.

Remember last year fly guys and girls, a few fish in September with the mullet, then a looooooong dry spell as IBSP lit up, and then it was our turn late fall through the winter. Easy does it, you don't want to burn yourselves out early.

10.10.12 Now I'll be able to breathe that Jersey Shore and Catskill air a little easier

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     This morning I'm heading into Manhattan to go under the knife (for 3-1/2 hours) to have acute frontal sinusitis surgery with septoplasty. With the week my family is having the last thing they need is a big baby moaning about his face, so I'll try to Man-Up.

It all didn't sound too bad until I watched a YouTube video of what goes down,



And, after all that I'm spending the night and should be discharged late Thursday, but, then I have to go back after 48 hours to have the below done......How happy does this guy look?




So I'll be off the beaches the next several days, which is a shame because I think it's going to fish really good. Catch 'em up....and then release them!

09.21.12 Going through hell upgrading electronics

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     What a pain in the a%4 this has been. I've been doing my research and talking with guides and boat owners about which brands to consider. Needless to say, ask enough people and they will mention each  brand. I settled down with Lowrance and was going to purchase the HDS 8 Gen 2 with the Structure Scan. Then I bumped it down to the HDS 7. There's two transducers and they have to be placed properly or your outboard will shadow on the screen. My Jones Brothers 19'10 LT has trim tabs so that eats up transom space......

I like a one stop store like **** ****** but really wish there was a dealer store or marine electronics store where you could bring your boat and find out which set up would work best...and a wet demo would be great. In the last week I have been in the store for hours and on the phone with both **** ****** and Lowrance for the same amount of time.

People take electronics of all kinds for granted, kind of like here it is, buy it......and if you don't like it just return or if you do like it it will be outdated in a year or two.

Hey, it's almost a $2,000 investment......I'm taking this seriously!

10.08.12 A death in the family.....and some time spent watching the water

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Elaine (Ticola) Reich 1937-2012

     The past three weeks have been difficult for our family. My Mother-In-Law took ill quickly and was hospitalized and yesterday she passed away with her family at her bedside. During the past weeks I had continued to fish, thinking in my heart of hearts that she would recover.      Today I took a drive down and sat on a bluff over looking the ocean. It was a crisp, but beautiful morning. I watched as the waves rolled in and baitfish moved along the beach heading south. And not once did they appear nervous, nor a big fish blow up on them. And then I started to wonder. Has our fall run started?

     We have bait......we had some bass two weeks ago, then more recently there was a night bite a few towns up from where I normally fish, and then we had albies. In the mix was some bonita, and some blues, mostly small snapper, tailor, or cocktails, but every now and then a gator would surprise.      I have been to Montauk this fall, a week or two earlier then the bass, but we had albies up and down. The albies are still around, well, they're still at Breezy Point, at least they were.     Right now we have some cold weather which is getting everyone in their fall migration modes.....but remember.....last year started really good at IBSP in November, the late second week, and didn't "arrive" for us till mid to late December.      I was out on Sunday cruising looking for birds, bait, or heads....and only found tough mid sized predator fish. There were plenty of boats out, mostly fishing low and slow for porgies or sea bass.       I hope we get a good steady blow, a good Nor'Easter , now that would get the fish moving and the bait all churned up in surf.....and then I think our fall migration will begin. I just hope the fish don't by-pass the New York Bight and show up along the beaches down south. 

10.09.12 Mother Nature delivered just what we needed

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     I remember writing a post post yesterday saying how we needed some "good" weather to drop in and churn things up a bit, well, Mother Nature answered this morning. We got down to the ocean around 520 am and when I got out of my truck I could hear the waves crashing and the NE wind howling. It was blowing 20 steady, and the water, from what we could see as we walked down, looked really good. We started out on the rocks fishing the south side of the groins looking to get a little help on the casts from the wind. It was Snake Flies at first, then Surf Candy...neither brought a bump. We jumped down to the beach where it was difficult to get the fly where we wanted. 
                                   
    Towards the end of the outgoing we moved to a different groin and fished the north side, into the 25 mph wind. We were loaded with the 350 gr Depth Charge line so that helped a bit, but the casts were limited to 20-25 feet. Rich had seen some bass busting the surface and after a few casts we were hooked up into a nice fiesty schoolie bass.      
     As the minutes went on the gusts picked up and we called in a morning at that spot. We moved down a few towns and fished some really fishy looking north side pocket water that a few guys had just left without moving a fish. A black Snake Fly and about a dozen casts brought three schoolies to hand, the smallest a two year old that jumped out of the crest of a wave to grab the fly.      There was action up and down the beaches yesterday depending on where you fished, and this morning it continued with a pick of schoolies to just under keeper sized bass. Hope it continues.    

10.10.12 Now I'll be able to breathe that Jersey Shore and Catskill air a little easier

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     This morning I'm heading into Manhattan to go under the knife (for 3-1/2 hours) to have acute frontal sinusitis surgery with septoplasty. With the week my family is having the last thing they need is a big baby moaning about his face, so I'll try to Man-Up.

It all didn't sound too bad until I watched a YouTube video of what goes down,



And, after all that I'm spending the night and should be discharged late Thursday, but, then I have to go back after 48 hours to have the below done......How happy does this guy look?




So I'll be off the beaches the next several days, which is a shame because I think it's going to fish really good. Catch 'em up....and then release them!

Children's Play Space Design

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Playground that actually can occur in the home. In fact, a small house not once, can accommodate your child's games.The agenda for the first time in designing a playroom for your child is adjusting to the needs of the child's room. For example, children under five years of age (children) who want the space for a more comfortable and uncomplicated.If you have young children, parents should not build a townhouse. The soil should not use material that has a slippery surface. Understandably, usually children under five years likes to move, although the course is still unstable. "Furnishing the house also does not need people. 


So baby can still move freely.To add a fun environment, you can paint the walls of the nursery with bright colors like red, pink, green, yellow or orange. Ria atmosphere occurs if there are more photos of favorite cartoons of children on the wall. So, although minimal furnishings, the room where children play still looks attractive.If you have trouble choosing the right design, serving recipes M. Zaenal Abidin, PT Pavilion Architect 95. He said, echoes the idea of ​​playing the normal course of visiting the child, such as kindergartens, nurseries, schools or take the concept of nature. But remember, comfort and safety of the child should not be overlooked.To create a comfort, you should notice is the air temperature in the room. You know, if your child is playing, his movement is very fast, very fast for child's sweat. If possible, install air conditioning (AC) in the games room, with temperatures around 20 degrees to 28 degrees Celsius. The temperature was quite comfortable for your child to move ahead and sleep.

If you can not install the air conditioner, keep the play area was open space.You can make use of plants normally found in front of the house. Add a few feet of grass that is used as the basis for small-type game. Do not forget, a fish pond is also the main attraction. 


However, the pool was not too deep, so as not to endanger the child.Although small house, you can still have a game room for the baby. You can combine a family room with room to play. You can add goodies typical children. In this way? there are advantages too, because you can chat with your family and your child can play hard.Safety, children's play area should not have a wall or partition that separates the other room. This applies to the play area within the home or outside the home. The aim is that parents or caregivers can monitor your baby with ease.


Children's Play Space 

10.10.12 Now I'll be able to breathe that Jersey Shore and Catskill air a little easier

To contact us Click HERE

     This morning I'm heading into Manhattan to go under the knife (for 3-1/2 hours) to have acute frontal sinusitis surgery with septoplasty. With the week my family is having the last thing they need is a big baby moaning about his face, so I'll try to Man-Up.

It all didn't sound too bad until I watched a YouTube video of what goes down,



And, after all that I'm spending the night and should be discharged late Thursday, but, then I have to go back after 48 hours to have the below done......How happy does this guy look?




So I'll be off the beaches the next several days, which is a shame because I think it's going to fish really good. Catch 'em up....and then release them!

Children's Play Space Design

To contact us Click HERE
Playground that actually can occur in the home. In fact, a small house not once, can accommodate your child's games.The agenda for the first time in designing a playroom for your child is adjusting to the needs of the child's room. For example, children under five years of age (children) who want the space for a more comfortable and uncomplicated.If you have young children, parents should not build a townhouse. The soil should not use material that has a slippery surface. Understandably, usually children under five years likes to move, although the course is still unstable. "Furnishing the house also does not need people. 


So baby can still move freely.To add a fun environment, you can paint the walls of the nursery with bright colors like red, pink, green, yellow or orange. Ria atmosphere occurs if there are more photos of favorite cartoons of children on the wall. So, although minimal furnishings, the room where children play still looks attractive.If you have trouble choosing the right design, serving recipes M. Zaenal Abidin, PT Pavilion Architect 95. He said, echoes the idea of ​​playing the normal course of visiting the child, such as kindergartens, nurseries, schools or take the concept of nature. But remember, comfort and safety of the child should not be overlooked.To create a comfort, you should notice is the air temperature in the room. You know, if your child is playing, his movement is very fast, very fast for child's sweat. If possible, install air conditioning (AC) in the games room, with temperatures around 20 degrees to 28 degrees Celsius. The temperature was quite comfortable for your child to move ahead and sleep.

If you can not install the air conditioner, keep the play area was open space.You can make use of plants normally found in front of the house. Add a few feet of grass that is used as the basis for small-type game. Do not forget, a fish pond is also the main attraction. 


However, the pool was not too deep, so as not to endanger the child.Although small house, you can still have a game room for the baby. You can combine a family room with room to play. You can add goodies typical children. In this way? there are advantages too, because you can chat with your family and your child can play hard.Safety, children's play area should not have a wall or partition that separates the other room. This applies to the play area within the home or outside the home. The aim is that parents or caregivers can monitor your baby with ease.


Children's Play Space 

Valentine's Yuuuummmy Dessert Recipe!

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This Valentine's weekend, I'll be serving our guests red velvet cake.  It's a popular dessert and shows up in many bakeries and restaurants.   Here's a recipe to make for your sweetie this Valentine's Day.

Oh, and if you haven't booked your Valentine's Lover Package yet, check out our special and call us at 1-800-258-2625 or reserve on-line today!

Red Velvet-Cherry Cake Roll

Cake:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups cherry-flavored cola
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup buttermilk
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon red food coloring
2 teaspoons almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Filling:

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1-1/2 cups cold heavy cream
2 teaspoons almond extract
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Butter an 11" x 17" rimmed baking sheet and line with parchment paper; butter the parchment and dust with flour.

Bring the cola to a simmer in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and cook until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 10 to 12 minutes.  Let cool.

Whisk the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.  In a separate large bowl, whisk the granulated sugar, vegetable oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, almond and vanilla extracts, and the cola syrup.  Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.  Spread the batter on the prepared baking sheet.  Bake for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes. 

Dust a clean kitchen towel, not terry cloth, with confectioners' sugar.  Invert the cake onto the towel and peel off the parchment.  Trim the cake edges.  Begin rolling the short end of the cake around the towel and let cool completely on a rack.

In a large bowl, make the filling by whisking the cream cheese, 1/2 cup heavy cream, and the almond extract until well combined.  In a stand mixer, whisk the remaining 1 cup of cream and confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form.  Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.  Chill until ready to use.

Unroll the cooled cake and spread the filling on it.  Gently reroll the cake and transfer it to a platter.  Dust with confectioners' sugar.

North Conway Named 1 of 25 World's Best Ski Towns by National Geographic

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Folks in the Northeast U.S. do not have to travel far to stay and ski in 1 of 25 world's best ski towns recently named by National Geographic.  They can visit North Conway, NH in the heart of The Presidential Range of the White Mountains.  Mt. Washington is the highest peak at 6,288 feet on the East Coast.  There are seven alpine ski mountains in Mt. Washington Valley and six cross-country ski trails all within a half-hour of North Conway.  The first purpose-cut ski runs and ski schools in North America were established here in the 1930s.

Cranmore Mountain Resort located just outside of the village attracts families because of its excellent ski school.  It also has non-skiing attractions like snow tubing, a mountain coaster, climbing walls, and indoor tennis.

We're hoping that March will go out like a LION with more snow accumulation for skiing and snowshoeing opportunities for everyone. 

The Buttonwood Inn has a lot to offer everyone and we're just 5 mintues from the village.  We also have access to snowshoe trails out our back door.

We also have discounted ski tickets for our guests.  So check out our ski packages and book on-line or call us at 1-800-258-2625 today!

Group Gatherings Mother's Day Weekend

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We had several lovely families stay at The Buttonwood Inn this past Mother's Day Weekend.  Our inn is large enough for families and group gatherings because we can seat about a dozen people in our Living Room and in the Mt. Surprise Room.  Our front porch is a popular spot for guests to enjoy their morning coffee or afternoon tea watching the hummingbirds and birds.  We have several double-seat Adirondack chairs on the lawn for those who want solitude just staring at the mountains and forest.  The in-ground heated pool is fun for anyone who likes to swim or float on a tube.  Families with children can play and rejuvenate before heading off for dinner.

The daughter and son-in-law who reside in Boston arranged the Mother's Day weekend for her mother, father, and sister who flew up from Louisiana. It was the perfect getaway because they were able to reconnect and relax at our inn, and yet shop, hike the trails on Bartlett Mountain, and go on a fly fishing excursion.  On the first day of their arrival, they headed downtown to shop in Settlers Green Outlets and local curiosity shops, had dinner at a local restaurant, then came back and relaxed in the hot tub.  The daughter also reserved an hour-long in-room massage for her mother on Mother's Day morning, which she thoroughly enjoyed.  Bill booked a half-day fly fishing excursion for the father and son-in-law with North Country Angler.  They were thrilled to have caught four brook trout (caught and released).  While the men were fishing, the women hiked the Mt. Surprise and Buttonwood Inn Trails to get up to the Bartlett Ledges.  At the end of Mother's Day, the entire family had pizza and watched movies in the Mt. Surprise Room. 

I made a lime cake frosted with lime cream cheese icing for Mother's Day afternoon tea service.  Here's the recipe.

Lime Cake with Cream Cheese Icing



Cake:


Butter, for greasing pan
Flour, for dusting pan


One 3-ounce package lime flavored gelatin
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 large eggs, slightly beaten


Glaze:


1/2 cup lime juice (from 3-4 large limes)
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar


Icing:


1/2 cup (1 stick butter), room temperature
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
One 1 pound box confectioners' sugar
Zest of one lime


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and butter and flour a 9”x13” cake pan.


In a large mixing bowl, mix the gelatin, granulated sugar, flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Stir to mix well. Add the oil, orange juice, lemon juice, vanilla, and eggs. Mix until well combined. Pour the batter evenly in the pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Test for doneness inserting a toothpick. Cool the cake in the pan for 5 minutes.


For the glaze: While the cake is still hot, mix the lime juice and confectioners' sugar together well. Pierce the cake with a skewer to allow the glaze to soak in better and pour it over the cake. Allow cake to cool completely as you prepare the icing.


For the icing: Cream the butter and cream cheese. Beat in the confectioners' sugar until mixture is smooth and easy to spread. Add the lime zest until combined. Spread the icing on the top and sides of the cake.

Father's Day 2012

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For Father's Day, the kids and I took Jon to see the Nationals play the Yankees!  Although we were in Nationals gear, Jon was quietly rooting for the Yankees.  We had wonderful seats right near home plate.


Even better, our seats were in a special box that gave us access to an air conditioned viewing box.  Taylor loved all the excitement!  She didn't actually watch any of the game, but she loved people watching.  Everyone of course thought that she was adorable in her baseball jersey.  She wore Brayden's hat for part of the game, which added to her cuteness level.


Brayden was excited to be at the game.  He actually watched a bunch of the game and asked questions about what was happening.


It was incredibly hot out, but we all still had a great time.  We took the kids up to the inside box for 2 innings to cool down, but then we headed back down to our seats.


Brayden was a huge fan of the all inclusive food that came with our seats.  He had cracker jacks, a hot dog, a fruit cup, cotton candy, and a bunch of other little candy treats.


Both kids did super with the heat and the crowds.  Taylor stayed awake right up to the 8th inning when she finally fell asleep on me.  The game was great and Jon had fun seeing his Yankees win!


On the way home, we stopped at the Cheesecake factory for dinner and to keep up Jon's tradition of eating a piece of cheesecake on special occasions.