I heard a funny story the other day from a friend of mine.
He had been fishing at Teno river for a week last summer. He tried and tried but couldn't catch a salmon. That as such is not that funny, but he did caught something, a pike! That is funny. This guy travels 1000 km hoping to catch a highly valued, great fighting Teno salmon. Then he rows his ass to blisters trying to get salmon bite his bait. When finally something catches the excitement jumps to high heaven and early hopeful expectation of record salmon kicks in. But soon he realizes it's nothing but a pike! He could have gone fishing to any pond or lake near his home to catch a pike. And you never catch a pike from Teno...if that happens to you, your fishing mates will be laughing at you and cracking jokes on you for years to come :)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Time spent on fly fishing
I was wondering how much time people usually spend on fly fishing...I mean if it is your hobby, not your job ie. you're not a fly fishing guide or something?
I just counted that I fish on an average during the season for about 50-60 hours. Another way to count is days when I have fished and that number is around 15. Of this time fly fishing is at least 90%. This really ain't much, so you can hardly call me a pro :)
But when I think about the time I use for reading magazines, books and net about (fly) fishing and add time used for watching related films and now writing about fishing, it easily doubles the time used for fishing hobby.
So I guess I'm more of a virtual fisher? But hey, I named this blog Fisher Wannabe anyhow :)
I just counted that I fish on an average during the season for about 50-60 hours. Another way to count is days when I have fished and that number is around 15. Of this time fly fishing is at least 90%. This really ain't much, so you can hardly call me a pro :)
But when I think about the time I use for reading magazines, books and net about (fly) fishing and add time used for watching related films and now writing about fishing, it easily doubles the time used for fishing hobby.
So I guess I'm more of a virtual fisher? But hey, I named this blog Fisher Wannabe anyhow :)
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Too many gigs so little time
I have a major problem. There are quite a lot of good gigs coming up in my hometown during Oct-Dec. I really don't have the luxury of being able to go and see all of those due to time restrictions. Below is some listing of the upcoming gigs that I'm interested in. Maybe I could pick one from each month but it's a tough choice to make...
Oct 12 KOTITEOLLISUUS
Oct 19 THE 69 EYES + Deep Insight
Oct 31 THE ARK
Nov 03 VIIKATE
Nov 09 Eppu Normaali
Nov 21 U.D.O. + Primal Fear
Nov 26 ALICE COOPER + Uriah Heep
Dec 11 NIGHTWISH
Dec 13 MOTöRHEAD
Dec 27 SONATA ARCTICA + Thunderstone
Well, which ever gigs I choose to go to I'll report here or shorter in Twitter how they were
Oct 12 KOTITEOLLISUUS
Oct 19 THE 69 EYES + Deep Insight
Oct 31 THE ARK
Nov 03 VIIKATE
Nov 09 Eppu Normaali
Nov 21 U.D.O. + Primal Fear
Nov 26 ALICE COOPER + Uriah Heep
Dec 11 NIGHTWISH
Dec 13 MOTöRHEAD
Dec 27 SONATA ARCTICA + Thunderstone
Well, which ever gigs I choose to go to I'll report here or shorter in Twitter how they were
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Partying around the world
Where are the best parties in the world?
I'm surely biased (coming from Finland) when I say this, but I do think there are quite many great places to party in Finland. I don't think it's that much of a question of place or time but more of the mentality of the local people...or the tourists in leisure locations. Actually I think one must categorize partying places to "normal" cities or towns (category 1) and to leisure locations like skiing resorts and certain cities that have grown around travel industry (category 2).
Category 1
In Europe outside Finland I've at least partied in Paris, London, Amsterdam, Cannes, Nice, Monaco, Barcelona, Larnaka, Reykjavik, Stockholm and Vadso :). In Finland I've partied in all the major cities except Turku and in quite a many smaller places. Of all these places I think French Riviera sucks the most. There have been some great private company parties but the night life otherwise sucks if you are not there during the tourist season. And you can't get a taxi so you have to walk if you want to change to another bar or club. The two best places of these European cities for partying from my experience are London and Barcelona. London has the best clubs and a great number of choices. Barcelona is almost as good with those measures but food is way better there. Helsinki and Stockholm are quite ok as well but the people are a bit uptight (sorry).
In US soil I partied in Seattle, San Francisco and many of the Silicon Valley cities. So I still have a great deal of good partying places to test drive like NY City and Chicago. San Francisco is a great place for partying if you choose the right night of the week. The only problem is that it seems like partying is totally forbidden in this city (as well as the rest of the America) on some weekdays like Wednesdays for example. Everything closes so early and all the places are almost empty.
Many times the best parties are in small roadside bars of small towns. The atmosphere is so warm and you actually do get to know new people. The locals of course are happy to see new faces and everyone pretty much knows each other so that naturally affects the atmosphere. If you are surrounded by strangers you have your guard up but with your own people you are more relaxed and can easily tolerate a couple of strangers.
Category 2
Usually all the leisure locations have great parties as people are more relaxed there and not worrying about the next morning. In Finland the best places in this category are Levi and Ruka (IMHO). I haven't partied in too many places of this category abroad, but one place to mention is Las Vegas. I must say both Ruka and Levi beat Las Vegas 100-0...well maybe not quite, but 2-1 anyway. Las Vegas get the lone point for the great amount of options for partying. Levi and Ruka get their points for the more relaxed atmosphere and the friendlier people. I've heard some of the ski resorts in Alps are also good for partying, but my bet is they won't beat Levi and Ruka.
Almost a category of its' own are the big sea cruisers. I don't know if there are any as crazy cruises as the "love boats" cruising between Finland and Sweden. I've only taken this cruise once and it was a great party. But still I think it doesn't quite get to same level as Levi or Ruka.
Now don't get me wrong. Partying is not that important for me, but I thought it's a funny subject to write about :)
I'm surely biased (coming from Finland) when I say this, but I do think there are quite many great places to party in Finland. I don't think it's that much of a question of place or time but more of the mentality of the local people...or the tourists in leisure locations. Actually I think one must categorize partying places to "normal" cities or towns (category 1) and to leisure locations like skiing resorts and certain cities that have grown around travel industry (category 2).
Category 1
In Europe outside Finland I've at least partied in Paris, London, Amsterdam, Cannes, Nice, Monaco, Barcelona, Larnaka, Reykjavik, Stockholm and Vadso :). In Finland I've partied in all the major cities except Turku and in quite a many smaller places. Of all these places I think French Riviera sucks the most. There have been some great private company parties but the night life otherwise sucks if you are not there during the tourist season. And you can't get a taxi so you have to walk if you want to change to another bar or club. The two best places of these European cities for partying from my experience are London and Barcelona. London has the best clubs and a great number of choices. Barcelona is almost as good with those measures but food is way better there. Helsinki and Stockholm are quite ok as well but the people are a bit uptight (sorry).
In US soil I partied in Seattle, San Francisco and many of the Silicon Valley cities. So I still have a great deal of good partying places to test drive like NY City and Chicago. San Francisco is a great place for partying if you choose the right night of the week. The only problem is that it seems like partying is totally forbidden in this city (as well as the rest of the America) on some weekdays like Wednesdays for example. Everything closes so early and all the places are almost empty.
Many times the best parties are in small roadside bars of small towns. The atmosphere is so warm and you actually do get to know new people. The locals of course are happy to see new faces and everyone pretty much knows each other so that naturally affects the atmosphere. If you are surrounded by strangers you have your guard up but with your own people you are more relaxed and can easily tolerate a couple of strangers.
Category 2
Usually all the leisure locations have great parties as people are more relaxed there and not worrying about the next morning. In Finland the best places in this category are Levi and Ruka (IMHO). I haven't partied in too many places of this category abroad, but one place to mention is Las Vegas. I must say both Ruka and Levi beat Las Vegas 100-0...well maybe not quite, but 2-1 anyway. Las Vegas get the lone point for the great amount of options for partying. Levi and Ruka get their points for the more relaxed atmosphere and the friendlier people. I've heard some of the ski resorts in Alps are also good for partying, but my bet is they won't beat Levi and Ruka.
Almost a category of its' own are the big sea cruisers. I don't know if there are any as crazy cruises as the "love boats" cruising between Finland and Sweden. I've only taken this cruise once and it was a great party. But still I think it doesn't quite get to same level as Levi or Ruka.
Now don't get me wrong. Partying is not that important for me, but I thought it's a funny subject to write about :)
Friday, August 3, 2007
Salmon catches, what now?
Once a salmon catches your bait, there are many ways to get it up from the river. Usually fishermen first tire out the fish (how to do this is another story) and then either hook it, net it or lift it by hand. I have also used all of the above mentioned methods.
But I have witnessed two different variants of another type of method to get the salmon up from the water. Both of these styles are rather dynamic.
The first one happened when I was just a kid and my kid brother was obviously even younger...something like 9 I think. We were fishing in Utsjoki river and just about to leave the river empty handed. My brother failed in his attempt to cast the lure and I heard him cursing when the lure hit the water only about 3-4 meters from him splashing the water. But salmon anyhow caught the lure and he shouted "fish!". He realized at once that this wasn't a grayling that he had so far only caught in his short fishing career. Immediately he grabbed the line and threw the spinning rod on the stony bank and started pulling the line in. In a half a dozen pulls the salmon was on the bank as well and then it got loose. Quickly he jumped on it and hit its' head with a stone. I went to see the fish (nice small salmon, "tintti") and then I saw the lure. The hook had straightened and that's why the fish got loose at the bank...luckily not yet in the water. I asked him why he pulled the fish in the way he did and the answer was "I was afraid the line might break". You can't beat that logic :)
The other variant of pulling the salmon to the bank was demonstrated by a friend of mine who hadn't actually fished much before. When a salmon caught his lure he shouted "there's a fish...what should I do?" I told him very knowingly (I was still just a kid) that he should tire it out. Well he didn't know what it meant so he just turned around and ran away from the bank to the bushes holding the spinning rod on his shoulder shouting something like "huuuuu...!". Well the salmon followed nicely. Luckily the line and the hooks held.
Maybe it is actually this simple and we sport fishing enthusiasts just don't realize it and we play around with the fish for nothing? :)
But I have witnessed two different variants of another type of method to get the salmon up from the water. Both of these styles are rather dynamic.
The first one happened when I was just a kid and my kid brother was obviously even younger...something like 9 I think. We were fishing in Utsjoki river and just about to leave the river empty handed. My brother failed in his attempt to cast the lure and I heard him cursing when the lure hit the water only about 3-4 meters from him splashing the water. But salmon anyhow caught the lure and he shouted "fish!". He realized at once that this wasn't a grayling that he had so far only caught in his short fishing career. Immediately he grabbed the line and threw the spinning rod on the stony bank and started pulling the line in. In a half a dozen pulls the salmon was on the bank as well and then it got loose. Quickly he jumped on it and hit its' head with a stone. I went to see the fish (nice small salmon, "tintti") and then I saw the lure. The hook had straightened and that's why the fish got loose at the bank...luckily not yet in the water. I asked him why he pulled the fish in the way he did and the answer was "I was afraid the line might break". You can't beat that logic :)
The other variant of pulling the salmon to the bank was demonstrated by a friend of mine who hadn't actually fished much before. When a salmon caught his lure he shouted "there's a fish...what should I do?" I told him very knowingly (I was still just a kid) that he should tire it out. Well he didn't know what it meant so he just turned around and ran away from the bank to the bushes holding the spinning rod on his shoulder shouting something like "huuuuu...!". Well the salmon followed nicely. Luckily the line and the hooks held.
Maybe it is actually this simple and we sport fishing enthusiasts just don't realize it and we play around with the fish for nothing? :)
My first salmon
I caught my first salmon when I was 10...I think.
It was a half cloudy late June day. I had already been fishing for couple of hours on my home rapid Mantokoski in Utsjoki river. Then I felt a strong pull on the line and my heart rate must have jumped to 200. I realized right away that this wasn't a grayling or perch (the only fishes I had ever caught before that). I got the fish pretty close to me when the cover of the closed reel got off and the line started running as the fish started swimming away from me. I grabbed the cover and quickly attached it back. I didn't loose the salmon, it was still there.
After a while I was again preparing to "land" the salmon but then the crank of the reel was detached. Unbelievable! Luckily I was able to attach the crank and continue reeling the salmon in.
In the end I dragged the salmon up from the river and knocked it out with a stone. I was soooo happy, the smile definetly was from ear to ear. I immediately packed everything and almost ran back home. I was very proud to show my first salmon to my parents. The fish weight was 1,2 kg. That remained to be my record for many years.
It was a half cloudy late June day. I had already been fishing for couple of hours on my home rapid Mantokoski in Utsjoki river. Then I felt a strong pull on the line and my heart rate must have jumped to 200. I realized right away that this wasn't a grayling or perch (the only fishes I had ever caught before that). I got the fish pretty close to me when the cover of the closed reel got off and the line started running as the fish started swimming away from me. I grabbed the cover and quickly attached it back. I didn't loose the salmon, it was still there.
After a while I was again preparing to "land" the salmon but then the crank of the reel was detached. Unbelievable! Luckily I was able to attach the crank and continue reeling the salmon in.
In the end I dragged the salmon up from the river and knocked it out with a stone. I was soooo happy, the smile definetly was from ear to ear. I immediately packed everything and almost ran back home. I was very proud to show my first salmon to my parents. The fish weight was 1,2 kg. That remained to be my record for many years.
The first time
Ok, I'm not talking about getting laid here, but my very first fly fishing experience.
This happened a few years back. My friend and I visited Pohjois-Suomen Erämessut fair, which is a quite a big fair for fishing, hunting and other outdoor activity stuff, and we both bought fly fishing sets. Those were complete impulse purchases, Vision 3Zone, 9 feet, 5# and reels and lines.
Next day we went to a lake to practice casting. To my surprise casting wasn't all that difficult. A day after that we went to Koitelinkoski in Kiiminkijoki river to try if we could catch something.
Lo and behold, after a while I got a trout! It was my very first time fishing in Kiiminkijoki and my very first time fly fishing anywhere. This guaranteed that I was hooked for fly fishing.
Since then I haven't caught that many trouts from Kiiminkijoki as I usually don't have time to go fishing early on in the summer before summer vacation. During summer vacation (July) I fish in different waters close to Utsjoki where I was raised. After summer vacation usually Kiiminkijoki is so dry and smelly that I don't want to fish there. But anyhow, quite a nice experience for a fly fishing rookie!
This happened a few years back. My friend and I visited Pohjois-Suomen Erämessut fair, which is a quite a big fair for fishing, hunting and other outdoor activity stuff, and we both bought fly fishing sets. Those were complete impulse purchases, Vision 3Zone, 9 feet, 5# and reels and lines.
Next day we went to a lake to practice casting. To my surprise casting wasn't all that difficult. A day after that we went to Koitelinkoski in Kiiminkijoki river to try if we could catch something.
Lo and behold, after a while I got a trout! It was my very first time fishing in Kiiminkijoki and my very first time fly fishing anywhere. This guaranteed that I was hooked for fly fishing.
Since then I haven't caught that many trouts from Kiiminkijoki as I usually don't have time to go fishing early on in the summer before summer vacation. During summer vacation (July) I fish in different waters close to Utsjoki where I was raised. After summer vacation usually Kiiminkijoki is so dry and smelly that I don't want to fish there. But anyhow, quite a nice experience for a fly fishing rookie!
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