Please Support this project and protect the Wild Salmon

The Migration Begins! - The "Get Out for Wild Salmon" Video from Twyla Roscovich on Vimeo.

If you can do anything to help, please do!!

Go Here: http://www.salmonaresacred.org/

Capt Jim

The Yes bay View - This was taken last year and I am anxiously awaiting my departure in a few weeks to be back "Home" in Alaska.

All the guides are hired and the rest of the crew. They all have their reservations and are looking forward to a great season of fishing with our guests for 2010, both new and returning!

If you haven't finalized your plans to visit Yes Bay this season, call the office and make your reservations soon as we are nearly filled, although there are still prime dates available for small groups of 2 or 4!

I am looking forward to seeing everyone back at the Bay for 2010!!

Capt Jim

Fun Video - Tarpon on Fly with broken Fly Rod

A good friend of mine, Captain Dave Dant shot a pretty neat video of a tarpon on fly, big fish and while fighting the fish the fly rod broke...BTW - Capt Dave is one of the best guides in the Tampa Bay area and specializes in sight fishing for tarpon, snook, redfish and trout.

Pretty neat, go to his blog or web site and check it out, I just got the videos posted online...

Blog: http://sightfishtarpon.blogspot.com/

Website: http://www.sightfishtarpon.com/CDDTarponVideo.htm

Enjoy,

Capt Jim

Yes Bay Lodge - Trailer

Old Yes bay Video

Take A Kid Fishing!

This was written for the York Dispatch by a very good friend of mine and former fishing guide at Yes bay Lodge, Andy ( Whiplash) Snyder!

Get a kid hooked on fishing

COLUMN By ANDY SNYDER For The York Dispatch
Updated: 04/09/2010 07:00:40 AM EDT

Preparing for a child is a daunting endeavor.

Not only do I have to worry about the "normal" things, such as clothes, food and college education, but as any angling and hunting nut does, I have to contemplate things such as making sure my tackle bag has enough room for some spare diapers and whether I'll need a two-man deer stand this season or next.

With a couple of months to go before I hear those first intimidating, yet invigorating screams of my first child, I must admit I was a bit jealous this past weekend. As I walked the banks of the area's streams in search of trout, my eye was drawn to something else, those brightly colored children's fishing rods bearing characters such as SpongeBob, Snoopy and Barbie. I was a tad jealous -- not of the rods, but of the opportunity to take a kid fishing. Sharing in a first fish, a first deer or even a first cast are all memories I look forward to making over the next, well, lifetime.

Seeing so many fathers and mothers helping their sons and daughters search for trout this past weekend reminds me of a line I've heard a lot as I read all of the obligatory books and attended all of those repetitive parenting classes in anticipation of a little one. It says: "Children don't need your presents. They need your presence."

What could be a better reason to introduce them to the outdoors? Instead of plopping your kids in front of a TV set and letting some violent cartoon raise them, take the time to show them what lies outside.

Chances are it will become a lifetime activity that you can enjoy as a family for years, perhaps even generations.
What if you don't know how to fish or don't know much about the outdoors? No problem. It takes about as much skill to catch a fish or take a hike as it does to fire up a computer game.

Even if you still don't think you have what it takes to get the job done, there are plenty of outdoor-oriented camps coming up. Invest in a week of on-the-job training and you'll surely create a fan of the outdoors.

If you want to take a kid fishing this spring, here are a few pointers to get you started. First, keep things simple. All you need is a cheap rod, a can of worms and a few hooks and weights. Next, let them do the work. It may be a little more frustrating for you, but it will be a lot more enjoyable for them when they get to feel that first addictive nibble. Finally, keep it fun. Don't let the pressure of catching a fish overburden the joy of sharing time together. Some of my best memories on the water don't involve fish.

Getting ready for a third seat at my kitchen table is a scary notion, but knowing that I'll soon have a live-in fishing partner more than makes up for it. I just hope I can find a pair of waders that small.

Andy Snyder writes about the outdoors for The York Dispatch. He can be reached at sports@yorkdispatch.com. Read his blog, "The Outdoors Insider," at the Blogzone at yorkdispatch.com.


Enjoy,


Captain Jim

Anticipation!!

Hard to believe we are only about 10 weeks away from Lodge opening! I am busy getting ready for my annual trip North and I am anxious to get going. I went to the Post Office today and shipped two large boxes of my things up to Alaska, with the airlines charging so much for luggage and especially extra bags, it is easier and less expensive to let the post office do the lugging!!

This past week I have been busy confirming all the information for the new guides, we look to have a great crew for 2010, with a bunch of returning guides and lodge crew, so it should be a smooth opening and an easy training week!

I am very anxious to get back fishing in Alaska...as cold as Florida was this winter, in some ways I felt like I never left, ironically there were several days when it was warmer in Alaska than here in St Petersburg! Must be that global warming thing people have been talking about!

If you haven't made your plans to come to the Lodge this year, now is the time. There is still a little space for small groups in some prime times, so give Kris a call and make your plans now!!

I hope to see you up there and look forward to fishing with all our customers for 2010!!

Captain Jim Lucas
Head Guide - Yes Bay Lodge

www.yesbay.com

Last Guide for 2010 Season!

Well, I had all the guides set for this season and then wouldn't you know it we had a drop out. At least it was for a good reason. Captain Greg Wickline had taken a job running a supply boat to Haiti for the relief effort and decided he wanted to continue with his efforts, so he sent me an email that he was going to have to decline our offer for a job.

No Problem - I had 3 Captains on standby - one good seasoned veteran fisherman who accepted right away then called the very next day saying he just fell off of a ladder and was going to have to have shoulder surgery, so he was out for this year...No Problem - Call Number 2 on standby, he is excited, accepts the position, then sends an email the very next day saying he decided to accept a regular full time management job, better for his career!

No Problem - Contacted Number 3 and BINGO - So far so good, it has now been two days and he is still on board, even sent pictures so I think we have finally rounded out our 2010 Guide Staff.

So let me introduce Captain Greg Walters.



Greg was born in Sitka Alaska and has fished his entire life, even at a another Lodge in SE Alaska, so he comes with experience. He has also spent quite a few years on large Yachts all over the world.

I think all this mess has helped us through fate, get a really good member for our guide staff!

Only a couple months and the 2010 crew will be heading to Alaska and setting up for your visit, we look forward to a wonderful season.



Oh and for all you "Cookie Monsters" out there, heard the best news today we have a returning crew member from year before last - Janna - so we can look forward to some wonderful cookies to munch on while we are out fishing.

I am really happy to hear she will be joining us as part of the kitchen crew this year!

Can't wait to get fishing again!!

Captain Jim
Professor

2010 Salmon Projections

According to the latest State of Alaska - Fish and Game Report we are in for another fantastic year of salmon fishing with all species up or at the same levels as last year except the pink salmon run, which will be a little lower this year, more back in line with a normal year as last year was one of the largest on record.

Here is the detailed data from their report - Predictions say salmon season will produce fewer fish By LAINE WELCH - Alaska's 2010 salmon season will produce 15 percent fewer fish, if predictions by state fishery managers hold true.

The statewide, all species harvest is pegged at 138 million salmon, compared to last year's catch of 162.5 million salmon, the 12th largest take since 1960.

According to the 2010 Run Forecasts and Harvest Projections report just released by the state commercial fisheries division, the shortfall stems from an expected decrease in pink salmon catches.

The statewide breakdown for this year's projected salmon catches calls for a slight bump up for Chinook to 515,000 fish; for sockeye, a catch of 45.8 million reds is an increase of 2.5 million; the coho catch of 4.4 million is up just slightly; staying the same is the chum forecast of 18 million fish. For those hard to predict pinks, a projected catch of 69.1 million is about 28% lower than last year.

Make sure you make plans to join us this year as it promises to be a good one!!

Capt Jim

I really need a dog like this!!

Jim

Sheepshead fishing

February 18th - Surprise Fishing Trip

I was heading down to Gulfport on some photography business with a plan for when I finished to stop by and see Capt Dave Dant to have him help me set up my new fly rod that I am taking to Alaska this summer. So as soon as I finished, I called Capt Dave to see where he was and of course he was out fishing...he said, where are you and I said not far from Gulfport marina, he said lets go fish, we'll come in and pick you up, bring along the fly rod I'll get it set up while you fish for some nice sheepshead!

Now - who could turn down an offer like that, so 20 minutes later, I am climbing on the boat and off we go!

First stop right in Boca Ciega Bay near the marina, we fish some pilings and in no time we have a couple real nice sheepshead in the well. I had no fish at home, so decided to keep a few for dinner.

We fished most of the day and even managed to get my fly rod set up. Although, I have ordered some better line which I will put on when it gets here.

Fish for dinner - had 4 real nice keepers, we released the rest, but these guys are good eating.

Capt Jim Lucas

Final Pictures from trip to and from Alaska 2009

I have now upgraded my photography site to allow the purchase of pictures, this also includes the fishing photos taken at the fish weigh in at Yes Bay Lodge, so if any of you want your fish pictures, you can find them here.

http://captjim.smugmug.com/

Search through the Alaska galleries and you will be sure to find your pictures, then you can purchase any that you would like, there are a number of sizes available and they are quite reasonable.

Enjoy the slides from my trip on the cruise to Alaska on the MV Ryndam and my trip home through the Canadian Rockies.

Getting ready to return to Alaska the end of May! Can't wait!

Capt Jim

Good Bye Captain Mel Berman

An old friend passed away today. Capt Mel Berman a long time Tampa Bay fishing guide and radio and television personality. On the air for almost 25 years every Saturday morning, I awoke most every Saturday morning listening to his show.

I have known Mel now for almost 5 years, he asked me to be on his show several times, although it never worked out, I told him that his show was for the Tampa Bay anglers and that people would not be interested in hearing about my fishing in Alaska or the various techniques we use.

Saw Mel on the water many times and he was always gracious and friendly. We only fished together a couple times and it was a pleasure. He was a very knowledgeable fisherman and loved to share his experience.

Anyway, he will be missed for sure.

Capt Jim Lucas

Final 2010 Guide Additions

Well the entire Guide staff is now confirmed and ready to go. We have three additional returning guides for 2010.

Captain Fred (Fireman) Rovey will be joining us for the beginning of the season, June through mid-July. You might remember Fred from the 2008 season which was his first year guiding at Yes Bay.



Then the dynamic duo of the Captain Sean (Harvester) Roberts and his fearless buddy Captain Sean (The General) McCossin will be returning to finish the season at Yes Bay. They spend the early part of the season out on Prince of Wales and have fished at Yes Bay for years. They will arrive around the beginning of August and close out the season with us.

Captain Sean Roberts - He's the one in the orange pants!



Captain Colin McCossin - He's the tall one!!



We are looking forward to another fantastic year at Yes Bay. The rest of the staff is nearly complete as well, so we are all making plans for a fantastic summer at Yes Bay Lodge in beautiful SE Alaska,

Capt Jim Lucas
The Professor

Fish Kill Update

I have received several emails asking about the fish kill in Tampa Bay and I found these pictures in the newspaper yesterday. In one retirement community they removed over 8 tons of dead fish… Where I live they also removed a bunch, since I don’t keep up with the goings on around here, I missed the opportunity to participate. Although, when out fishing with a buddy of mine the other day, we picked up two large trash bags full and could have done that many times over, we just collected the ones near the boat ramp.

Sadly many of the fish were snook, but happily the majority were tilapia and salt water catfish and some mullet.

Jim

2010 Yes Bay Guide Staff!

Our Guide staff for 2010 is all set. We had a ton of applicants and were lucky to stay focused and hire only guides with full time guide experience.

Our complete staff from last year is returning with the exception of one - Capt Sean Hagen (Shamrock) will not be returning. You might recall he and his girlfriend Ashton (Our wonderful bartender) went to town one weekend last season and got married. They were engaged before they arrived in Alaska. Well the honeymoon must have worked, because Ashton is due to have a baby in a month or so, which means Sean will be changing diapers instead of fishing in Alaska. Congratulations Sean and Ashton!

Slice returns for his 17th year and Slammer returns for his 11th year, Kicker and I return for our 4th years, Axeman returns for his 3rd year, Batman returns for his 2nd year and we have 5 new guides for 2010.


Capt John Luman - John hails from Oregon and has a ton of Pacific NW fishing experience as well as several years of Alaska fishing, so we are glad to have him. That is a nice King Salmon he has there, we expect many more in 2010!


Capt Guy Hickman will be the youngster of the bunch and hails from the Florida area. Guy runs a guide service out of Vero Beach on the east coast of Florida. For those of you who are not familiar with Florida fish - Guy is in the water with what is known as a Goliath Grouper, formerly called a Jewfish, until someone decided it was not politically correct and changed the name. They are a protected species and must be released. They have been known to weigh up to 700 pounds.



Capt Phil Chieco is another Florida guide and fishes from the east coast of Florida as well. Phil has a real nice dolphin fish (No relation to the Dolphin mammal), very good eating. It is also know as Mahi Mahi on the west coast and in Hawaii.

We have one other new guide - Capt Greg Wickline, no picture yet as he is very busy working running a supply boat between Miami and Haiti to help with the Earthquake relief effort. He can be commended for his service and getting involved. He promises to send a picture when he returns back to home in a week or so.

I will be sure to post it here.

I look forward to fishing with these guys for the 2010 season and beyond. Yes Bay Lodge is proud of the fact that we are always able to secure top quality fishing guides and 2010 promises more of the same.

Capt Jim Lucas
Professor

Cold Weather Damage

It is hard to believe how much damage our cold winter has caused, the fish kill seems to get bigger and bigger everyday. Mostly because the water is warming up and now the dead fish are beginning to float and it is much more obvious the amount of fish that have died. The good news is, the fishing still remains pretty good, the trout and redfish were not affected too much. Seems that the only real sport fish that has been seriously affected is the Snook. A fish we all value and had just made a huge come back from the red tide from several years ago. So hopefully the season closure will help them again regain a strong footing in Tampa Bay.

Agriculture also took a huge hit with the strawberry season cut short, the orange groves have suffered and the vegetable farms got almost entirely wiped out. Another little know industry is the tropical fish farms, they were devastated. Most will be out of business as they had no way to keep their breeding ponds warm and lost their entire crop. So if you have an aquarium, plan on spending more for some of those little tropical fish!

I took my walk yesterday morning at Sunken Gardens, just to see how much damage there and it was depressing. This place is normally very lush and green and the sun barely shines through the canopy of the jungle. Sadly, they will have much planting to do and trimming before the spring wedding season as there are many weddings performed there. I was happy to see the resident flamingos were still in their glory and took a few pictures.





Then it was off to Sawgrass Park for my real walk along the boardwalk for my exercise. It was very dead there as well, but managed to see a nice squirrel and a baby gator, so it made the trip worthwhile...







I have finished hiring all the guides for the 2010 season at Yes Bay Lodge, we will have a great crew again, with all but one guide from last year returning. Sean (Shamrock) Hagen will be changing diapers while we are fishing, he and Ashton are expecting a baby soon and she refused to give him a hall pass to come back to Alaska. We are planning on a full crew for 2010 as bookings are very strong, so if you have yet to make your reservations you better get to phoning Kris. There are some great show specials right now, so make you plans and join me and crew at Yes Bay in 2010!

Capt Jim
Professor.

Tampa Bay Fish Kill

The picture above is from the newspaper.

Here is a nice trout I caught.

I went out fishing yesterday and it was a very slow day. Water temperature is still way low and the fish are not chewing. The water temperature in the bay and along the beaches went down into the low 40’s which has caused a pretty major fish kill in Tampa Bay and in fact in most areas of the state of Florida. So much so that the Fish and Game has decided to extend the block on keeping any Snook this year. There are literally thousands of dead snook floating around the Bay and with the season scheduled to begin on the first of February, they decided to keep it closed for at least the rest of this year and they may extend it for another year after some final research on the total kill.

Jim

Alaska 2009

Here are some pictures that I took on my trip to and from Alaska this year!



Enjoy,

Capt Jim

Christmas Gifts

I decided to do something different for the girls in my life this year and all summer I collected Otoliths (Ear Bones) from the yellow eye snapper which were caught on my boat. Sometimes I passed them on to my guests and sometimes they made it into my collection for the summer, with the plan to have some jewelry made for my sister, my niece and my grand niece.

So now that Christmas is over and the secret is out, I can show you how they turned out!



The Otolith or earbone is particularly large in most bottom fish or reef fish as opposed to swimming species such as the salmon or tuna. They have long been collected as good luck charms and were very popular as jewelry among Native Americans.

I had a local jeweler who makes custom jewelry order in the ear ring stock, then drill a small hole and mount them on the ear ring stock. They are quite striking and certainly unique.



All packaged up in a nice jewelry box they are very nice and made a very unique gift and something that very few people will have or for even know what they are.



All of the ear rings I made this year were from Otoliths from the yellow eye snapper. These are also called Red Snapper in Alaska, very similar to a grouper from Florida although bright orange in color. They are also a VERY tasty meal and a prized catch in Alaska! The largest caught on my boat this year weighed over 11 pounds and there were a couple a little bigger brought in by other boats.

In many cultures these are called "Lucky Stones'., on one side an angled groove forms an "L" or "J" and are said to represent "Love & Joy". They have been found at ancient Indian archaeological sites and were used in commerce and worn for decoration and worn as good luck charms to prevent sickness. Ancients considered them valuable in treating certain diseases.

According to history, Otoliths were known as far back as at least to the time of Aristotle. For centuries Lucky Stones have been used as protective Amulets to ward off evil, made into jewelry and traded into far away lands.

Scientists value the Otolith, because they contain growth rings and can very accurately determine the age of a fish and it's growing cycle.

Enjoy,

Capt Jim