12.26.12 "Baby, it's cold outside......."

To contact us Click HERE
 
     If you were out this morning then you might have had the same song in your head as I did. One of my favorite songs around the holidays is the 1949 song, "Baby it's Cold Outside" sung by Johnny Mercer and Margaret Whiting.

     It was 34 degrees out with a NE wind from 20-25 that reddened up the cheeks and made the hands a tad cold. I'd be lying to say that I gave it my all and lasted more than a half an hour. What is interesting is where are we with this years fall run. Last year the fall run lasted into February and March depending who you talk too.    Right now we have water temps hovering around 48 degrees with the primary bait, that I have last saw, as herring and bunker. There was rain bait a few weeks back but I haven't see it as of late. Yesterday smaller bass were found eager to hit the fly, and we've had some great days this mid-December with bigger bass, mostly found while out on the boat. Today will be the start of winters first punch to our area. According to to the Weather Channel the next 10 days will have temps above the freezing mark. We'll see what the water temps and bait and bass do as the New Year rings in.

                        


 

01.02.13 Looking to "Match the Hatch".....

To contact us Click HERE


     Well today the cold gripped the Jersey Shore as we awoke to temps in the low to mid 20's. The last few days have been tolerable in the 30's- but fishing has been slow as we all wonder if the "Fat lady has sung". I have found myself lately depending too much on Clouser/ Deceiver type patterns- which have and haven't worked.
     In the waters sea herring should be around, although I haven't seen the tell tale signs of birds dropping in from overhead on them. Adult menhaden is still around, evidenced by myself seeing one flop near the groin yesterday, and pictures of one snagged on Stripers Online. I am again seeing lots of crab parts on beach and rocks- a mixture of blue and rock crabs. I have also seen the birds diving around the rocks and coming up with them.
     Yesterday I used a orange flat wing pattern hoping the color might be more of what the bass are looking for. Last night I went back to the vise looking to tie up a crab pattern that may replicate the crabs in the water. I came up with the crab above, and today gave it a rough road (ocean) test on the end of the incoming and into the outgoing. Writing now, I am surprised it survived as I spent my of my time on a super slow dredging retrieve and high sticked through the rock fields.
 
                          



     The crab looked great in the water- even though it didn't get a bump. I am going to tweak a few things to the pattern and tie it a couple of different kind of ways. This fly isn't for the angler that likes to double haul- but it was okay to cast on my 10 weight with a 350 grain Depth Charge line.
     In the end I fished slow but moved across 5 towns, hitting 1 jetty and 5 groins. I was alone most often but did come across four other anglers- one skunked on a bucktail, one blanked with a Vision Eel,
the other on a Bomber, and the only successful angler got a keeper soaking clams. The gull on the bottom didn't do bad either- found dining on a gift from the clam fisherman.

Valentine's Yuuuummmy Dessert Recipe!

To contact us Click HERE
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

To contact us Click HERE
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

To contact us Click HERE
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.

Meadowlark Lights

To contact us Click HERE
We started the holiday season off at Meadowlark's new walk through winter light display.  The park was decorated with all sorts of fun Christmas lights.  


It was freezing out, so the kids were all bundled up with hats, mittens, sweatshirts, and winter coats.  Brayden didn't seem to mind the cold, but Taylor was not a fan.  I think it might have had something to do with her having so many layers on that when she sat in the stroller she looked pretty squished, but at least she was warm!


The best part of the light display was a part that had the lights turning on and off to different holiday songs.  We saw and watched all the different songs that were played.


Our holiday boy is so excited that Christmas is coming.  He loves all the lights, trees, and magic of the holidays.


At the end of the walk, there was a big fire pit to roast marshmallows!


When we left the park, Brayden was already asking what fun holiday thing we were going to do next.  I love that he gets so excited about the holidays!  Let the Christmas season begin!

12.21.12 Went down to give it a go....this will be our first test post Sandy

To contact us Click HERE

     Thought I might be able to sneak out and get in a little fishing before the weather kicks in with the incoming tide. Low tide was 646 a.m. and I got there just about that time. I was all geared up having dressed at home and already stopped for a coffee and a egg white and turkey bacon on a round roll. (Not quite a bacon, egg, and cheese on a hard roll- but I am trying to be good.)     At dead low the SE wind was honking at 40 mph with gusts to 46 mph. Swell at 14 ft @ 8 seconds. I bailed on my first spot, then drove to my second- hoping to find that north side pocket that could possibly still be fishable. Forget it.

     As I stood on the boards in Allenhurst I realized just hard bad a weather day this could be for those people that took a hit from Sandy. I have seen many homeowners starting to rebuild their bulkheads and dunes along the beach, and they are in varying degrees of completion. The barrier island homes are still prone to flooding and with high tide almost 6 hours away this could be their first real test post Sandy. 
I hope all along the shore fare well today and tomorrow. Looks like fishing will be shut down for a while. Next boat trip looks like Christmas day- hope the bass are still around. 
From NOAA- 
Today: SE winds 30 to 35 kt with gusts up to 45 kt...becoming SW 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt late this morning and afternoon. Seas 9 to 13 ft dominant period 8 seconds...subsiding to 7 to 10 ft dominant period 9 seconds this afternoon. Rain early this morning...then a chance of showers late this morning.

Tonight: W winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 45 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Mainly in SE swell with a dominant period of 9 seconds.

Sat: W winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 45 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.

Sat Night: NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft...subsiding to 3 to 5 ft after midnight.

Sun: W winds 20 to 25 kt...diminishing to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 ft.

Sun Night: NW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft.

Mon: NW winds 10 to 15 kt...diminishing to around 5 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft.

Tue: NW winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming N 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. 

12.22.12 Found an oldie but a goodie...

To contact us Click HERE

     Soon the West Branch Anglers resort is celebrating 20 years in business. I discovered the WBA the same time I found the Upper Delaware. The memories early on are too many to name but I do remember a few things. Eating breakfast down by the river where they had the barbecues- (breakfasts made to order), Jim Serio working there, and Larry's Hotline- which I called 1,000's of times. And, of course, the cabins being located on the river. As I sit here, I can also remember the first few years when the trailers were still located where the executive cabins up to the River Run restaurant is now.
    Anyway, they are having a photo contest and I submitted this picture of me and my boy from 1997, his first visit to the WBA. If you are on Facebook, and would like to enter a photo, or would like to vote for mine, go to the WBA Facebook page, HERE.

12.25.12 Merry Christmas....Santa gave me a "six-pack" of nips

To contact us Click HERE


     Merry Christmas to all of my clients, future clients!, friends, followers, and your families. It has been a great year! We started 2012 fly fishing the cold January nights for striped bass, moved to the Upper Delaware for wild browns and rainbows on the best mix of insect hatches you could find, and then back to the Jersey salt in the summer months for blues and fluke, and wrapping up with schoolie stripers on Christmas Day. In between I was able to explore the waters around Newport and Montauk and give that carp craze a go. I hope to meet and see all of you in 2013, may it be a great year for your family, my family and the USA and the World alike.
     After waking up and having a great Christmas morning with the girls, my wife, and Father-In-Law I had a quick bite and headed out to sea. The air temps were good at 41, the winds a bit much at 18-23, but it was from the NW so I thought the inshore waters would be nice and flat. Today I had my timing all wrong. Wind against tide had whitecaps on the Sandy Hook Bay, and halfway out I just decided I didn't want to be "that guy" today. I was out solo so I was disappointing anyone but myself. After a quick trip back to the ramp, and then a bath for the boat, I decided to give the rocks a shot.
     The waters were green, clean, and flat. I was ill-equipped, as I left my stripping basket back at the ranch. The NW wind was probably around 18- with some gusts that pushed it a little harder. So casting would be okay, but line management on the rocks would be a challenge. I had on a Joe Phiefer fly and I stayed with it. After parking my truck and boat on a side street in Deal I took the walk down. I found flat rocks out along the groin where I could try and strip my line onto. After a few casts I had my first striper, with five more to 22" to finish the six-pack. These fish are the smaller fish we had about three weeks ago before some bigger fish we had on the boat and beach before the blow last week.
    Today looked pretty good, and maybe tomorrow, then it looks like winter will be landing. If the water temps stay down and the sand eels arrive or the herring stays, we may have bass into next year.



                                     

12.26.12 "Baby, it's cold outside......."

To contact us Click HERE
 
     If you were out this morning then you might have had the same song in your head as I did. One of my favorite songs around the holidays is the 1949 song, "Baby it's Cold Outside" sung by Johnny Mercer and Margaret Whiting.

     It was 34 degrees out with a NE wind from 20-25 that reddened up the cheeks and made the hands a tad cold. I'd be lying to say that I gave it my all and lasted more than a half an hour. What is interesting is where are we with this years fall run. Last year the fall run lasted into February and March depending who you talk too.    Right now we have water temps hovering around 48 degrees with the primary bait, that I have last saw, as herring and bunker. There was rain bait a few weeks back but I haven't see it as of late. Yesterday smaller bass were found eager to hit the fly, and we've had some great days this mid-December with bigger bass, mostly found while out on the boat. Today will be the start of winters first punch to our area. According to to the Weather Channel the next 10 days will have temps above the freezing mark. We'll see what the water temps and bait and bass do as the New Year rings in.

                        


 

12.27.12 Time to clean-up and reflect after Christmas

To contact us Click HERE


     With Mrs. Claus back to work and the hectic holiday visits over today I got the task of the post-Christmas clean-up. What that usually means is relocating gifts to back under the tree, polishing off the remaining food and desserts from Christmas Eve, and vacuuming up dog hair along with small parts from toys. All this while my boys try and conquer the planet in Halo 4, my older daughter sleeps in, and my little one has a tea party with her friend. And this as my dog stares at me wondering when I will take her outside and play sticks.
     But, as I clean up I found some things that were interesting and made me smile. While the older teenagers are in worlds of their own (which is normal development they tell me) my youngest daughter is enjoying her time of life balanced between herself, her friends, and her parents. And boy do I love being the beneficiary of a young daughters love. My older kids lists were full of xBox games, iPods, make-up and gift card and some good old money requests - but my youngest made my holiday just by her wish list, and then gift alone.

                       

     One page one of her list was a mix of assorted names and part numbers from the American Girl catalog. It took me awhile to cross reference the numbers and then figure out who I gave which number too in order for them to get her something that she wanted. Luckily in the end there were no duplicates. But on page two was the best request I could get from one of the kids-

" Dad can you take (me) on the boat. and te(a)ch me how to tay a fly".

It almost brings a tear to my eye as I picture her sitting there writing it out.


     I did good on some other gifts this Christmas as well. 10 pairs of non-white underwear are always a welcome sight under the tree, a book on fly tying, an old, 1927, edition of Outdoor America, a box of chocolate pretzels and an Orvis gift card.



     But again my youngest got me with her can't-wait-till-tomorrow- Christmas Eve gift. It was paper weight that read - "My dad rocks". And inside were magical words from someone who loves me as much as life itself. It read,
"Dad I love you so much you did so much for us. I love what you do for us. Happy Christmas to You"

     I have to say my boys got me pretty good, and made me laugh a little too. My boys aren't fisherman, or boaters for that matter. But they came up with the idea to make some coupon books. The ones we never cash in, but this year I will. In both of the books there is a coupon for fishing and boating. Great, I will have my boys out to fish one day, and boat another. However, if you read the fine print there are some stipulations in the coupons. One son put an expiration date on my boating coupon for May 2013, and the other put that my fishing coupon had to be used in conjunction with my boating coupon. Gotta love those kids.......they are the best. 
                                 

                                          

12.28.12 Found some interesting things today on both sides of the sea wall

To contact us Click HERE


     Well today I "pulled" the boat and dropped it off at Gateway Marine to get winterized and shrunk wrapped. While there she'll get some body work done on some fiberglass chips that were caused by 1) Clousers bouncing off the hull 2) Attempting to put her in and out at the damaged Belmar ramp shortly after Sandy and 3) a few tough load at the ramp in low water. So in March she'll be ready to roll. This spring I'll have on dual prop trolling motors to work in stealth mode in the rivers and on the flats.      On my way up to Middletown I made a detour and stopped at Lake Takanassee located in Long Branch. The water looked low and a quick glance from the parking lot where the old Takanassee Beach Club used to be, or as others may know it as U.S. Life Saving Station #5, was all it took to see why. After this last Nor'Easter the dam and the eastern end of the lake breached causing it to drop considerably.       I walked down to the beach where several guys working metal detectors worked the fresh sand and looked up. I tried to see if this was opened up by someone looking to control flooding at the back of the lake into West Long Branch, but it wasn't, at least from my eye. On the Elberon side the lake had cut a deep trench into the properties of the homes there, exposing both rocks and concrete deadmen that were placed there a long time ago to prevent erosion and breaching of the dam. I asked some guys who were fishing on the west end of the lake if they knew what happened. They said that yesterday the water was blowing under the railroad overpass from the smaller lakes in Takanasee Lake Park and Whale Pond Brook. They also said that wood was removed from the eastern side of the lake to let the lake drain. I didn't see any controlled area on that end of the lake or any piles of large wood or machinery that would have removed the wood.      I think this is a serious situation that needs to be addressed quickly. I spoke with Capt Paul Eidman of the Anglers Conservation Network, HERE, and he said he was going to contact the DEP. This could be a win-win for both the health of the lake and the return of river herring to a viable freshwater spawning ground. For sure a new dam needs to be constructed, and the installation of a fish ladder or some other type of passable diversion could allow fish to pass. One of the guys I spoke with said he recently caught a sea-run brown trout that was confirmed by the NJ DEP. ( I am going to follow up on that story).     With the current storms and rainfalls and flooding Lake Takanassee needs a good shore clean up all the way around the main lake and the smaller lakes in the park. So if you know any groups looking for a project, this one would be perfect. 
SEE MORE BELOW ON MONMOUTH BEACH-















     So after leaving Long Branch and heading north on Ocean Avenue I saw this house located on the Shrewsbury River just north of the Rumson Bridge. I think this may be the only alternative homeowners have in the towns located on the rivers, bays, and oceanfronts. Get the house up high and on sturdy pilings. I read and interesting story in The Star Ledger about a home that survived where the breach occurred in Mantolocking, HERE.


     On my way home I couldn't help stopping in Sea Bright to see how the 13 million dollar beach replenishment fared after the latest storm. The first thing I noticed was the flooding that had occurred on Ocean Ave and the sand that was stacked on the road sides of the sea wall. I saw a few other interesting things. One the sand has been pushed up to even grade with the top of the sea wall, don't know if that is permenant. Two, at Galilee Road a swath was cut leading to private steps, and during the storm two days ago it created a funnel and the water and sand poured up and over the sea wall and onto Ocean Ave. Three, on the beach, sand had already been lost back into the sea. Check the pictures where the sand has been cut and carried away from groins that were covered in the past weeks. And fourth, as the machinery moves into Sea Bright and approaches the destroyed Driftwood Cabana Club, excavators there work feverishly to remove the building and debris so that sand can be pumped up onto the beach? And lastly, I noticed the make up of the sand in some sections of the "beach nourishment", it looks more like concrete mix than sand pumped from the ocean floor. 
I'll stay on it and keep you informed.