I guess I’m regularly asked the most popular of bass fishing questions “Jim what is your favourite bass fishing lure”? There’s a post(s) on here somewhere where I answer that question and while its not definitive, it moves between three or four and I do have a great fondness for Orion lures, have had for a long time now and they have a special place in my heart. The sticker and the Joe are beyond doubt some of the best I have ever fished with.
The photo to the right was my first introduction to the Mr Joe back in late summer 2003 – this is the original resin model as cast by Eric. Ten years later during the summer of 2013 Sakura released a modified version and lo and behold the 10,5 cm (23g) version rapidly became a competitor for a top place lure for me (not easily done in my house) mind you! Its not going to replace the original Joe (nothing ever could) but it does add a dynamic that is different perhaps its the sound that’s generated by the new version (similar to the sound of a sammy or bonnie for that matter). I can strongly recommend the white and the white and chartreuse version at 10.5 cms especially on rough days…….the best really!
Digne réplique du leurre artisanal en résine Orion Mr Joe, la version Sakura se distingue avant tout par un corps en plastique et l’ajout de petites billes bruiteuses. Conçu avec une armature intégrale « full wire » ce stickbait coulant peut résister aux mauvais traitements infligés par les prédateurs tropicaux. En version 10,5 cm (23 g) ou 12 cm (35 g) ce leurre surprend par ses qualités balistiques : il fuse vraiment très loin, et droit ! Premier gros point fort. Une fois qu’il touche l’eau on le laisse couler quelques instants et il nage ensuite en « walk the dog » à la perfection lorsqu’on le récupère en imprimant des petits coups de scion. Le Mr Joe est donc une véritable arme secrète pour attaquer des postes ou des chasses de loin en bateau ou depuis le bord avec des conditions adverses tant il se lance bien ; il s’est révélé formidablement efficace (en coloris blanc ou blanc/dos cha
rtreuse) aux îles Bijagos et à Cuba notamment car très peu de poissons locaux le laissent passer sans lui donner la chasse… Et lui mettre un bon coup de dents ! Egalement testé en Irlande, il s’est avéré être un vrai « joker » les jours ventés avec une mer agitée. En fait, ici à Voyages de Pêche, on se demande bien où ce leurre ne serait pas « prenant » tant il est bon !
Rapport qualité prix très intéressant : 12 et 14 € (NB : Armement à changer si on vise des poissons musclés avec une tresse de 30 lb et plus.)
“… too many self-professed experts have made too much money complicating this sport. In reality, fly fishing is a lot simpler than many people think. You don’t need to know the Latin names of every insect, nor do you need to make 70-foot casts, in order to enjoy yourself.
The true path to enjoying fly fishing lies in every angler’s spirit.”
Kirk Deeter – The little red book of fly fishing.
“…the due diligence paid by both authors in breaking down the basics of gear, reading water and thankfully, etiquette, is solid stuff for anyone. At pocket-sized, it carries comfortably in a day pack for alpine or tidal missions beyond the world of wi-fi” – JG @ FFJ
Just been talking to Henry from Henrys Tackle in Dublin. I wanted to collect a new lure rod from him, rang him to tell him I would be up to collect it (romantic weekend away) and then promptly got roped into something by both Pat and Henry. I’m in trouble, bigtime!
End result is I will be in Henrys shop on Saturday 15th from about 10:00 to 16:00. If you would like to discuss any aspects of your bass fishing, that you might think I could help you with, on either Fly or Lure then why not drop in for a chat.
In fact because its a special year for me – if you do drop into the shop put your name in the hat for a free draw, PRIZE One FREE days guided/workshop on fly or lure in Wexford.
Bendy
Jim
Recycled commercial fishing net material used in angling solution!
Any body that knows me well also realises quite quickly I have a sad obsession with fishing bag solutions. The latest one to catch my eye is Fishponds Encampment Lumbar Pack. Apparently more flexible than a veteran yoga instructor this bag is one of the latest entrants into the Most Versatile Pack contest. 
Thank god for such a thing!
Sized for a couple of fly boxes and all your accessories, yet with enough support for heavier loads, what caught my eye too is that it’s constructed of recycled commercial fishing net material (Cyclepond). Fishpond are helping remove old nets from the ocean and beaches by creating a value for them and their high-tech recycling process uses 27% fewer natural resources and reduces greenhouse emissions by 28% compared to using virgin nylon.
The ELP is fitted with water-resistant zippers, cord loops for securing yet more gizmos, and nifty zippered pockets along the lumbar straps for quick access to the important stuff.
Im gonna have to stop this!
“Fish don’t care who you are or what you’ve done.
In order to gain the most from our personal fishing experience we would be well advised to take our lessons from the fish and not from touters of popular and trendy secret information. Granted, a small part of this information is valid, but much of it is a marketing smoke screen. The business of fishing is big business and it is not about catching fish but rather catching the attention of the fisherman for reasons of their own. Experienced fishermen are the ones who know about catching fish, ask them how to do it.
We tend to make fishing more complicated than it is. Year after year the same fishermen catch 90-percent of the fish. They do it by using their intelligence and by being alert to what is happening at the moment. They have learned the fundamentals and they make sure they put them into practice. They know how baitfish and gamefish interrelate; they are aware of the normal patterns of fish migration; they understand the physical and mechanical limitation of their tackle and learn from their experiences not from their routines”
Ken Abrames – StriperMoon Fundamentals
It’s simple really, I have my head down; have had for a while and I guess it’s a case of having to do what’s necessary for the moment but I’m nearly there, I can see light at the end of the tunnel! This is the last semester of my degree programme, thank god, but with it comes a greater effort needed to clear this last hurdle before completion at the end of April, it occupies a lot of my time. After four years it’s in sight at last.
On top of that I’m lucky to be working in a very flexible situation for a company here in Wexford. What started as a planned short winter ‘system implementation’ consultancy has now extended into or morphed into a much more demanding and yet satisfying role in project management at the company. We have managed to agree a ‘flexible’ work schedule that allows me to fish and work to a large extent when the season is running through 2014 and beyond.
Thing is, the third item, the fishing and the fishing business needs its own momentum maintained. I have had to relax off this for a while and I guess it’s evident from the lack of posts of any content on Probassfisher. This is a risky business as any slip or lack of focus in the fishing business and it goes backwards very quickly. But I have no intention of letting that happen. In fact I will have a lot to celebrate in 2014.
As I have completed ten years of international guiding and enter year eleven a few things are coming to an end and are being completed, some are changing. I am fifty this year and intend to do a LOT of personal fishing, something that I have missed really badly working as a fishing guide, I’m not complaining mind. Normally my guiding season runs to about 70 days of guiding plus maybe 20 SWFF workshops depending on the nature of spring and late autumn, this year I’m cutting some summer time for my family and myself, a personal birthday present, I’m catching up!
On top of that I started working with Glenda Powell in mid last December with the intention of completing the APGAI instructor’s programme. This is the last piece of a long and difficult jigsaw that hopefully I can complete before the end of 2014. And that’s it, no more. With a completed BSc degree in Tourism enterprise management, advanced trainer leave no trace, trained to train and hopefully the last hurdle, the APGAI completion, I will bring these along with the Season 2014 plan to move and develop the fishing into 2015 and beyond.
The 50 days and nights of 2014 that I’m keeping for ‘me’ is of course an opportunity to fish in places and with people all along the coasts of Ireland.
I recently met and chatted to a young creative Wexford film maker. We have a schedule of sorts laid in for 2014 for a short film on Irish saltwater fly fishing that I hope we can make together and with other people too. It starts later this month with some of the tying sequences being shot, but not in the usual manner!
I’m seriously considering moving to www.jimhendrick.com on a semi-permanent basis, this is a small project that has evolved over two years and I think the 50 days (and nights) of personal fishing, my thoughts and techniques will feature on THIRTYARDS rather than probassfisher, perhaps only for 2014, who knows?
With European magazine editorials lined up, customers too, working with the Marine Institute, Glenda, 50 days of fishing freedom, developing THIRTYARDS, coastal destinations and making the film plus lots more I have a happy and busy year to look forward to.
Who knows I might see you out there!
Early one morning I cast to a grey and cold sea under a low misty sky, the waves breaking super white against the rocks. Held h
idden in their petrol clear circular hearts were secret steel fish that I felt were hunting there. I imagined the fish moving fast, low and tight to the bottom invigorated by the crystal water, swimming quickly and tracking together in patterns of efficiency and stealth invisible between silver curtains of bubbles. The fish, a pack bound together in a fractured world of light and wave where no small living thing would move for fear of being eaten. I felt the anticipatory flame of expectation flare in my heart, a basic and primitive sense that told me it was right. Jim Hendrick
//player.vimeo.com/video/70891866
CATEGORY NOMINEES:
TAPAM BY DANEL GOZ AND JAN BACK KRISTENSEN
CONNECT BY CONFLUENCE FILMS
PREDATOR BY GIN-CLEAR MEDIA
GEOFISH BY MOTIV FISHING
RIDING HIGH BY WATERLINE MEDIA
THIRTYARDS 
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