Fishing Knots...Part 3 of 6, The Albright Knot

The Albright knot is used in situations where you need to join two lines of greatly unequal diameter or of different material. Mostly used in saltwater situations, I prefer this knot for joining of fly line to backing material.

Step 1. Loop the heavier line (wider diameter) and place it between your thumb and index finger of your left hand. Pass the lighter line through the formed loop leaving yourself about 8 inches. Pinch the lighter line in with the line already in your left hand.

Step 2. Make approximately 10 wraps with the lighter line wrapping away from you and working from left to right. With each wrap, work your thumb and index finger along holding these wraps in place, trying not to let up any pressure on your left hand. On the 10th wrap, come around and then through the remaining loop. Taking the standing line in your right hand, and pull gently as you push the wraps with your left hand towards the closed loop.  Alternate between the end of the lighter line, and on the standing part until the wraps are against the tag end. Make sure the wraps do not go over each other and that you don't push them to far. Pull the tag tight then pull on the standing part of both lines until the knot is secure.

Step 3. Finally, clip the two short pieces close to the knot.

Springtime Is A Perfect Time to Scope Out Summer Activities in 4-H

The 4-H Extension Agents in Brevard County, which include Vanessa Spero-Swingle and Gus Koerner are planning a bunch of fun learning opportunities for kids this summer! Some of the activities are open primarily to those enrolled in 4-H, but there are also a bunch open to anyone in the community. One of the 4-H mottos is Learn By Doing, and we are firm believers, that kids and young adults, learn the most and have the greatest amount of enjoyment by jumping in and getting their hands dirty! (Photo caption: Planting today for something beautiful tomorrow at the Budding Gardener’s Camp 2009)

The best place to learn about these camps is on the County Extension web page. Another great place is the semiannual Extension insert in the Florida Today, which is published in March – watch for it! Did you know we’re also on Facebook?? Search for Brevard County 4-H!

Some of the fun activities include: in April – The Brevard County Fair in Melbourne, in May – Youth Fly Fishing Clinic in Cocoa, in June – Outdoor Adventure Camp and Budding Gardner’s Camp in Palm Bay, 4-H Legislature in Tallahassee in July – 4-H Congress in Gainesville, 4-H Shooting Sports Camp in Lake Placid, and in August – 4-H Summer Camp at Ocala in Altoona.

From customer feedback we know the kids and volunteers leaders have fun at these events, and learn so much! Another common comment from the parents and kids who attend these activities is that they are some of the most reasonably priced in all of central Florida. So check some of them out, and come join us in the fun! For more information with dates and times, please call Ms. Vanessa or Mr. Gus Koerner at 321-633-1702.

Share The Sport

Mr. Gus teaching Josh how to tie an Improved Clinch Knot.

This is a topic that I write and speak frequently about, sharing the sports and crafts we love with the younger generation.  Be it fishing, shooting, sewing or what ever, many of these skills are being lost as the years go on.  My daughter is a kindergarten teacher and she did an classroom poll of how many of them knew how to tie their shoes.  I think the number was about 5 out of 25 or 20 percent of the students.  Looking down at their feet, you could see a host of slip on or hook and loop type fasteners.

A rewarding moment came to me today during our first fly fishing clinic.  We had already learned the fundamentals of fly casting and tying a fly, and now it was time to attach the fly to the leader and get some fish!  Near the lake front I was helping Josh get things going, and asked him if he knew how to tie a knot, and he said no.  "What about your shoes?", I asked.  Another no.  At the time, he was wearing Velcro (Registered Trademark) fasteners, and he said he didn't have any other kind of shoes, nor had he ever.  Well he successfully learned how to tie his fly to the leader and was able to go wet his hook.  He went away with a little more knowledge, and I left with a great sense of satisfaction knowing I had taught a kid to tie his first knot - of many more I hope!

Fishing Knots...Part 2 of 6, Improved Clinch Knot

Fishing Knots All Kids Need To Know... If you had to pick one, and only one knot to learn or teach to a rookie, this is the one. It is much more reliable than its little brother, the Clinch Knot.  The Improved Clinch knot is used for fastening a hook, swivel, or clip to a fishing string or the leader to the fly. If you are using over 12 Lb. test line, this is not a recommended knot.

Step 1. Thread your leader tippet through the eye of the hook. Wrap the end of the leader around the standing line 5 times for lines up to 8lb test and 4 times for lines from 8-12lb test. (You can also turn the hook 5 or 4 times)

Step 2. Take the tag end of the leader and pass it through the gap between the eye of the hook and the first wrap. Continue the tag end back up through the main loop just formed.

Step 3. Moisten the knot with your mouth, and while holding the hook in your left-hand pull on the standing leader allowing the knot to seat tightly against the hook. Clip the excess line.

Going again.

Mr. Gus Outdoors is going again thanks to two people, a deceased British writer and a Montana Trapper.

Cyril V. Connolly (1903-1974) wrote, "Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self."

Lately I have been obsessed with trapping, yes - the capture of fur bearing mammals.  During my studies I ran across a fellow from Montana who has done an excellent job with his blog, Trapping Today.  To call Jeremiah just a trapper does him an injustice.  He is a wildlife ecologist and biologist, fellow outdoorsman and a brother alumnus of Utah State University.  Please visit his site and read some of his fine stories.

I'm looking forward to continuing this endeavor.  I hope you'll follow along. - gus

Fishing Knots All Kids Need To Know - Part 1 of 6

Knot tying is one of the great skills every person, not just every kid should know!  In 4-H, knot tying would not be considered a life skill, because we learn that true life skills, are skills that carry over in to multiple areas of our life.  But tying  represents a greater ability to utilize raw materials (such as rope or twine) to fashion it together to perform a useful service (hold something together).  So instead of knot tying being the life skill, it is actually a sub-skill of being self-sufficient or self-relient.  Got it?

I think my first knot was learning to tie my shoes when I was just a wee lad.  Later on in life I realized it was a skill that set me apart from my buddies when it came to making neat things such as slingshots, tree swings and bridges to cross the creek without getting my shoes wet.  Two of the best books out there on knot tying include The Ashley Book of Knots, by Clifford W. Ashley, 1944, ISBN-10: 0385040253, and the Little Red Knot Book, by Harry Nilsson, 1995, ISBN-10: 0969873409.  As far as I'm concerned a person needs no other knot books than these two, to get 99 percent of all things accomplished with rope string or twine.  With the permission of Mr. Nilsson, I have obtained the right to reprint some of his images for this non-profit use of educating the public.  I won't be featuring all of his knots in this series, but just a few to get the average angler started.  Go get your self some 1/8 inch densely woven cord and try your hand at some of them.