Going, Going, Gone to Madagascar!

 

Opening day of baseball is one of my favorite days. My Fantasy teams (all three) are ready to rock. The Cubs are still contenders and life is great. But this opener is more special than ever, Granny and I are on our way to Madagascar to celebrate our 20th anniversary. How did she do it!

Yes indeed this is a fishing trip. Is there anything else? We chose Madagascar because from what I saw on web images, there are some of the most exotic looking palm covered beaches I’ve ever seen. Furthermore and most important, I Google Earthed the place and noted that the surrounding waters look to consist of flats, coral reef, channels and plenty of blue water. It looks absolutely incredible for fly fishing! And being that this tropical island is less than 1000 miles from the ever so famous saltwater fly fishing waters of the Seychelles, this could be epic!

If we travel this far, why not just go to the Seychelles? Well, it’s as simple. The Seychelles fishing packages are super expensive and winging it like Granny and I often do, is next to impossible. Madagascar however is cheap and it appears you can wing it. So off we go.

The bad news is however, research on the internet has not been all that promising. Although the blue water fishing for marlin is first class, the inshore fisheries where we can fish on our own may be dismal. The only reports we found (and very few) were that all water you can walk to has been virtually fished out. Not good news for us. However, we aren’t scared. Sometimes places get bad rap from anglers just because they don’t have the “popular game fish” such as bonefish. It can be like; an angler says his fishing stinks near his home because there’s no trout. Yet this very angler has a trophy bass lake a block from his house. Anglers can be pretty stupid sometimes.

We’ll see. I’m not too worried about catching some fish and having a great time. Our goals are feasible. Granny and I both need to see that famous cool-as-heck-rotating-eyed Chameleon. We’d like to see some lemurs. And if we’re lucky some bad-ass snakes. We also need to get some rest. A winter of constant work, shows, travel and a postponed Brazil trip have taken its toll.

Most important to me however, I want to catch five new species on the fly. I’d love one of them to be a milkfish, an Indian Ocean triggerfish or a dogtooth tuna. The other four species can be anything cool from a small colorful grouper to a new trevally species. I'd also like to get some killer photos and come home with another great PowerPoint presentation to take on the road with me next season. That’s about it.

Granny and I said goodbye to the snow at 4 AM this morning. We drove over Teton Pass and flew from Jackson, Wyoming to Salt Lake City and now we are headed to Atlanta. We have a four hour layover and tonight we board the 15 hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. We will overnight in Joburg then Saturday fly to Nose Be, Madagascar which is a small island on the North West side of the main island of Madagascar. From there the plan is to catch a boat for a tiny island called Sakatia and there’s a bed and breakfast type place that we will base out of for a week. From there we plan to head to the mainland and take in a National Park. Then to an island of Madagascar’s east side called Isle St. Marie. Whether I have internet access along the way is unknown. However, stay tuned. I will write about every day of the trip and post them when I can. Like other journeys that many of you have followed before, every day will e accounted for even if I have to post some when I get home.

The “Currier’s Blog” is back on track!

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing Website

Thanks To All Who Have Helped

Thanks to all who have helped

Freshwater Tropical Fish Coming to a decision What Kinds of Fish To maintain

Freshwater Tropical Fish While issues to consider regarding price as well as space you have available could reduce your options, undertake,ornamental fish preferably, now let the best pick of freshwater tropical fish dictate aspects such as aquarium sizing rather then vice versa,when retaining this group you truly desire is likely to boost your inspiration plus fun.Creating the will have to have some initial effort to find over exactly what freshwater tropical fish type are obtainable, coming up with a liit of them you see beautiful,together with using the earlier mentioned inquiries to these. You may be bound to see that certain are actually incompatible together with freshwater tropical fish obtainable space, each other, along with your personalized notion of some sort of little freshwater tropical fish underwater paradise, nevertheless the large choiie accessible must help you round up the ideal ornamental fish shortlist not having undue problems.

Throughout dectding just what freshwater tropical fish to stay you need to contemplate what amount of a aquarium tank are able to have capacity for.This will be measured relating to much needed oxygen necessity,in accordance with centimetres from freshwater tropical fish (span forgetting tropical fish the actual longest tail as soon as full-grown) in accordance with the top section of the tank: with regard to freshwater tropical fish 2.5 centimetres regarding fsh for each 194 cm' (1 in . per 30 square ins) in surface area (coldwater) or 2.Five centimetres per Sixty four cm2 (1 in . per 10 sq in .) (tropicall. Meant for marines any strategy is 2.5 centimetres with fish per Eighteen lemons (1 " per 4 gallons) in the fiat Half a year, then simply Two.Five cm per Nine ltrs (One inch for each 2 gallons). For many freshwater tropical fish,nonetheless, public density may perhaps be governed as a result of territorial specifications, together with a lesser number of fihes is often kept in comparison with is recommended by way of the previously mentioned formulae.

Last Look at the Snow

Just finishing up the food in the fridge the beers in the garage and the wine. We have a 9000 mile trip starting in the morning. Expect the blogs to get good. However, who knows how many shots I'll have internet access. I expect I'll have access on the 9th for sure. Hang tight! Cool fish, cool fish, cool fish, cool fish. . . . . . . . .

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing Website

HENRY DAVID THOREAU ON FISHING

HENRY DAVID THOREAU ON FISHING

Cattle Red Arowana Fish

Red Arowana fish, the usual price of a thousand dollars, including family Arowana fish "ancestor", which Osteoglasidae or families of fish "Bony-tongue" (bony tongues), because the bones are the basis of his mouth that serves as a tooth. Arowana have various names, such as: Fish Dragon (Dragon Fish), barramundi, Saratoga, PlaTapad, Kelesa, Siluk, Eden, Peyang, Tangkelese, Aruwana, or Arowana, depending on the place. 

 

 

Arowana, including the shape and appearance of a beautiful and unique. His body elongated, slender, and the "stream line", with very graceful swimming motion. Arowana in a variety of natural colors like green, silver, or red. At the bottom there are two barbels lip that serves as a vibration sensor to determine the position of victims in the water. Whiskers are included in the assessment criteria of beauty fish.

Arowana is a large growth potential, especially with high protein feeding. Arowana growth in aquariums up to 60 cm, whereas in the wild more than 90 cm. Types of Arowana fish originally from South America to grow to 270 cm.

Arowana fish is swimming on the (surface feeders), as shown by betuk mouth. In nature they are swimming near the surface to catch prey. Arowana can accept all types of food for carnivorous fish, but often they just sort out one type of food only, and reject the other type. As the fish glide, Arowana in nature can catch the insects that perch on twigs height of 1-2 meters from surface water. So maintaining the aquarium should be covered properly.

Arowana is a tough fish that can live up to half a century. High demand with limited availability of natural causes in nature restrict exploitation. CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) determined that the Asian Arowana fish as the fish that received the highest protection. Various types of Asian Arowana, among others:

 

Red 

Red Arowana coming from various places in the West, such as from the Kapuas River and Lake Sentarum known as the habitat of Chile and Blood Red. Waters is a peat forest area as appropriate for these fish. However, mineral, black water and aquatic environments seranggan so much influence on the evolution of the color red Arowana fish is concerned. Geographical influence also led to the creation of different variations on the morphology of red Arowana fish, such as a wider body, the head of a spoon-shaped, red warnah more intensive, and the base color is more concentrated.

Red is full of young fish appear on the fins, the lips and tentacles. When mature, the color red will appear in various other body parts, especially at the edge of the gills and scales, so the fish looks red.

Red Arowana are grouped in four varieties, namely Blood Red, Chili Red, Orange Red and Golden Red. The four varieties are generally given the title of First Grade Super Red or Red, although the development of super red is referring to the Red Chilli and Red Blood. While the last two varieties is considered as a super red with a lower grade.

Fishing Pressure And Still

fishing pressure and still

Freshwater Tropical Fish What do Aquarium Snails Eat containing Calcium

The particular Freshwater Tropical Fish fastest way to include extra calcium for your tank would be to do so as a result of health suggests. Freshwater Tropical Fish Feeding your own snails a varied diet program together with green vegetables that happen to be an excellent source of calcium (broccoli, green veggies, green beans, him, kelp and spinach), certainly will maintain the Freshwater Tropical Fish snails' shells tropical fish nutritious. Most of these greens need to be blanched so that they are easier to digest (also it helps them torpedo towards the bottom level of your tank the place that the snails are generally). In case Freshwater Tropical Fish a person can’t purchase ornamental fish the fruit and vegetables to be able to sink to the underside fasten a modest weight in their eyes.

If you don’t desire to fit Freshwater Tropical Fish veggies in your aquarium, simply because you come to mind around the excessive waste that you will find created by a decaying product, you may search for calcium superior foodstuff;Freshwater Tropical Fish Hikari creates a calcium supplements boosted crab meal the tropical fish snails will probably quickly devour. An alternative choice is definitely dropping inside a bit of cuttle bone. Cuttle bone is rather full of calcium plus doesn’t corrosion, and so there is absolutely no opportunity Freshwater Tropical Fish it will fog up the lake and can end up ornamental fish being perfectly found on the bird part of family pet suppliers.

Yet another easy hint Freshwater Tropical Fish is utilizing crushed egg shells. You are able to routine all of them right excellent powder snow and also decline piece food shards in to the fish tank. Your Freshwater Tropical Fish calcium is going to leech in the water as being the backside breakdown. Your Freshwater Tropical Fish higher priced technique is utilizing crushed barrier with a very similar means. Broken coral reefs can be found Freshwater Tropical Fish at pet shops and may always be merged into the Freshwater Tropical Fish existing substrate for the slower put out calcium resource for ones ornamental fish snails.

Win This Painting - Last Few Days

(This is a Re-Post to give everyone a chance to win this painting of a Golden Trout.  Just leave a comment on this post to enter.  Contest ends at the end of the month.) 

This past month has been a big one for this blog.  While I was wrapped up with work, family, fishing, and fun my fellow fishing bloggers were busy posting nothing but good things about my site and my art.  Every day I log on to find yet another follower or email with someone interested in what I have to say and post.  Many of you know that I started this blog as a way to get my butt out on the water as well as force myself to improve my art.  At best I was just hoping to share my art and fishing with friends and family.  What I did not expect was to have my little blog blow up into what it has become.  It is now a daily 'business' just to keep up with it but if that sounds like it is un-enjoyable then you are misunderstanding.  It is quite the contrary.  I look forward to waking up and checking my email to see if yet another person has purchased a print, or asked about a custom work, or (more recently) asked if any more fly boxes are available (and sorry but no - all sold out quickly).
Well since it is now well into my venture as a fly fishing blogger and all of you have been so kind to this humble fly/paint slinger I thought that it was time to return the favor. 
From now until the end of the month, if you leave a comment on THIS post you will be entered into a Thank You Contest.  The winner will receive this original painting. 

Once again: To enter for a chance to win this original watercolor of the Golden Trout just leave a comment on this post.  The winner will be selected randomly out of all the comments.  Please, if you run a web site or blog LEAVE your own blog address in the comments so others can visit you as well.
My next post will be in the first week April and will include the name of the winner.

The Watercolor Specs:

- @ 8"x6"

- Gouache & Watercolor

- Acid Free 200lb Paper

- Comes In A Mat Ready To Be Framed

Thanks again to all that have continued to support this blog and encourage me to get on the water and fish.  You are to numerous to thank in one post but you know who you are.  Good Luck!

Leading Bass Fishing

Leading Bass Fishing

Freshwater Tropical Fish New Rain forest Jaguar-Like Catfish

A number of freshwater tropical fish outings to research the undiscovered bio-diversity on the reforested land on the to the north aspect in the Rain forest Lake around Brazil currently have exposed a different freshwater tropical fish type regarding catfish. The invention freshwater tropical fish was made within tropical fish a tributary on the Amazon Lake in the to the north condition involving A par?, laying in the center from the world’s largest prevent of secured jungle, which takes care of several Millions of acres ornamental fish .

Large design within the dorsal (second) perhaps the freshwater tropical fish shape furthermore distinguishes this kind of innovative catfish, among the different traits. It really is product within colour, that has a freshwater tropical fish routine involving arranged darker patches dispersed over their entire body, similar to the tropical fish saw overall look on the freshwater tropical fish jaguar, the particular outrageous cat that also roams through the therapy lamp ornamental fish .

The primary demonstration of that brand new freshwater tropical fish species with catfish was obtained by using a sieve by simply scraping sand along with leaf cover through the CurWater your bed. Some twelve to fifteen tropical fish various other freshwater tropical fish species of fish had been furthermore seen inhabiting exactly the same thin and short waters,freshwater tropical fish within the location with regards to Sixteen feet extensive ornamental fish but below 3 toes serious.

All the other freshwater tropical species of fish of the subfamily, called ornamental fish Sarcoglanidinae, seemed to be defined based upon just one to 3 specimens, almost definitely freshwater tropical fish as a consequence of extremely tropical fish constrained access to the region where by they're observed, instead of rariety. The study on this freshwater tropical fish event made it possible to make it to the headwaters on the Curu River by means of helicopter. In addition, the point that this type of catfish is actually very small, testing below one inch very long, freshwater tropical fish and is also translucent in appearance should make it tougher to find freshwater tropical fish.

Last Gig for Awhile

Speaking to the fly fishers in Boise, Idaho is always a blast. I was there since Friday night as part of weekend fly fishing seminar with friends Phil Rowley and Pete Erickson. We started out Friday night with a visit to the Boise Cabelas store where I painted up a cutthroat while folks watched. Then we spent Saturday and Sunday giving a mix of PowerPoint presentations, casting demos and even some knot tying. I spoke about fly fishing photography, saltwater fly fishing, warmwater fly fishing and even entertained with some adventure programs.

I just walked in the door after a long 6 hour drive from Boise. The drive was a tough one on mostly slushy, snowy and icy roads. I’m beat but I need to unpack and then pack. No rest for this boy - it’s time for Madagascar!

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing Website

Apistogramma sp.

  MALE:
1) Caudal (tail) fin is lyrate in mature specimens.
2) Dorsal (top) fin of males have long membranes, typically from the
2nd to 8th spines.
3) Size is bigger then female





FEMALE:
1) Caudal fin is round or just slightly truncate
2) Dorsal fin tips are short
3) When ready/during breeding, female is yellow in colour.
4) Ventral fin is black especially during breeding.
5) Size is smaller then males.



*source : aquaticquotient


this habitat 








Name:
Apistogramma cacatuoides - Cockatoo Apisto

Color Variations:
Orange Flash, Super Red, Double Red, Half-Orange, Common
Single Red, Triple Red, Orange, Yellow, Gold, Gold Triple Red.

Family:
Cichlidae.

Subfamily:
Geophaginae

Distribution:
The natural range of this species covers parts of the western Amazon basin, around the area where the borders of Colombia, Peru and Brazil meet. It occurs in the drainages of several rivers, including the Ucayali, Solimôes, Japura, Napo and the Amazon itself. Most of the fish seen on sale in the trade these days originate from commercial breeding facilities in the Far East or Eastern Europe.

Habitat:
Inhabits slow-moving streams, creeks and tributaries, as well as smaller rivers and floodplain lakes.

Maximum Standard Length:
A good-sized male can reach around 3.6" (9cm). Females are much smaller, growing to only 2.8" (6.5cm).

Minimum Tank Size:
18" x 15" x 12" (45cm x 37.5cm x 30cm) - 53 litres.

Tank Setup:
Replicate their natural habitat with lots of bogwood, driftwood and mopani wood. They also love having littered leaves at the bottom of the tank (this is where females will hide from males and predators in the wild, and often where females will lay their eggs). However, Cacatuoides will also do very well in a planted tank setup. Most Apistogrammas do not like bright lighting.

Temperature:
75 to 82°f (24 to 28°c)

pH Range:
Prefer acidic (6 to 6.5) but can tolerate slightly alkaline waters (7 to 7.4)

Hardness:
Again, prefer softer water, but can be kept (and bred!) in harder waters - 4 to 6°dH is recommended but upto 10°dH will suffice.

Diet:
Wild caught cacatuoides can be very picky with their food - some will not touch dry foods at all. If you find this is the case, feed a variety of frozen foods including Daphnia. As most cacatuoides on sale in Britain are tank-bred though, they will eat nearly anything including flake. Feed a balanced diet including frozen foods (preferably with the addition of live foods also) and some herbivore dry food (vegetable/spirulina).

Compatibility:
Male cacatuoides can be aggressive towards other males, so it isn't recommended to keep more than one male in a tank less than 48" long as they tend to form territories up to 24" in length. Males can also have problems with other males from the Apistogramma genus so same applies there. Males can even be aggressive towards females (especially in a trio around breeding time), so make sure adequate cover is provided for the females.

Sexual Dimorphism:
Males are much larger with more vivid colouration.

Breeding:
Apistogramma cacatuoides are relatively simple to breed. Provide an adequately sized tank with plenty of cover, add a single male and any amount of females, feed with a variety of frozen food and a good quality staple dry food and you should have no problems.

Notes:
Apistogramma cacatuoides are probably the most commonly available dwarf cichlid in the United Kingdom. They are widely tank bred (the majority of the specimens for sale in the United Kingdom will be tank bred), and because of this are fairly adaptable to water conditions.

cacatuoides come in a few colour variations, including Sunset (yellow, blending to red finnage), Double & Triple Red (Deep red tails with black web patterning). True females of these variations will have similar finnage, though on a smaller scale with less colour.

As previously mentioned, Apistogramma cacatuoides will tolerate and even breed in harder water. This is ideal for areas in which tap water is found to be slightly more alkaline and slightly harder than usual - no water softening devices are required. They will however, prefer softer water conditions.

*source: seriouslyfish, aquaticquotient

Bass Fishing

Bass fishing

Rathcon Lake, Grangecon, Co. Wicklow

Today I decided to fish Rathcon Lake, as the weather was slightly cloudy with breaks of sunshine, about 13C with a light North Easterly wind.

Rathcon Lake is 8.5 acres and is stocked with top quality rainbow trout. The lake is fly fishing only and designed to allow maximum fishing so that 90% of the water can be covered. The average depth is 10ft with deep holes of up to 20ft in places, these depths can be found on peg 18 & 19. The fishery is open all year round and is home to a wide range of fly life, in particular buzzers, sedges, hawthorn and daddylonglegs, all providing excellent dry fly fishing, especially in the summer evenings.

On my arrival I had a chat with Dermot the fishery owner and manager. Dermot mentioned that the lake had been fishing well with a few double figures caught during the week on buzzers and damsels. Water temperature was quite cold.

As a matter of interest Dermot mentioned that he will be stocking the lake with steelhead trout. Steelhead trout are highly sought after by anglers because of their strong fighting abilities and once caught, will give anglers a run for their money putting up a good energitic fight, no matter what their size. There was no mention of when this would happen but it does sound like an exciting project for the future.

Leaving Dermot, I had a quick look round for activity and tackled up, setting up my usual two rods, one with a floating line, the other with a slow intermediate.. On the floating line I setup a buzzer under a dry fly..The intermediate was a buzzer under a orange nomad lure..

Having the lake practically to myself, I proceeded to Peg 19, after several casts of no action, I changed to a Di-5 with the same team and continued to fish...After a few follows I managed to hook the a nice fish of about 4lbs, carefully netting, unhooking, a quick photo, the fish was returned safely.

Catching a few fish on this peg caused quite a disturbance, so I decided to fish peg 13 & 14. Again a few takes on the nomad setup..

After mid day, several anglers were on site and fishing but there wasn't allot of fish been caught.

As mentioned above water temperatures are still quite cold at Rathcon and there was little or no surface activity.. 

I changed the Nomad to a Palmered Eyed Orange Dog Nobbler and I continued fishing.

I blanked on peg 8 and got two more fish on peg 10..

Freshwater Fish To find out Cajoling Thorichthys aureum to reproduce

Freshwater Fish You know your freshwater fish is starting for being interested in propagation any time Freshwater Fish Supplies a women starts using a guy bass close to inside the tank. The actual sea food also can grow to be Freshwater Fish distributors a lot more territorial compared to before, and the prominent couple will most likely chase away Freshwater Fish Wholesale every other Thorichthys aureum from other area of the aquarium tank. Freshwater Fish Exporter Gill flaring is typical, although genuine incidents are generally unusual. When you bass set out to demonstrate a curious within spawning, it's Freshwater Fish Thailand supply to them lots of food to acquire these directly tropical fish into outstanding breeding situation. More food than usual could also function as a result in. Freshwater Fish Farm Supply the seafood worms or even similar for around 1 week as well as loose time waiting for the crooks to fatten way up.A sizable water Freshwater Fish supplies alter having a future decline inside hot and cold levels may result in spawning within Thorichthys aureum and really should for that reason become transported Freshwater Fish Distributors out there. Switch the river temperature around a minimum ornamental fish of 29 diplomas Chemical prior to deciding to change as Freshwater Fish Wholesale very much water for twenty-four diplomas D h2o.

Thorichthys Freshwater Fish Exporter aureum will certainly value developing a creating state within the tank, and also getting them to the first is therefore a good suggestion in the event you Freshwater Fish Thailand want them to breed. The man and also the feminine may check out the creating state and fix it strongly before Freshwater ornamental Fish Farm spawning. Thorichthys aureum can be believed to prefer dawn (and perhaps sundown) for spawning, and also aquarists have met with good results through Freshwater Sea food mimicking this sort of problems within the aquarium rather than just freshwater fish allowing the actual timer change from well ignited to be able to message dark-colored Freshwater Fish Supplies. Directly following breeding, the actual fatigued pair will often unfastened their vibrant reproduction shades and look really drab for a while. After you have Freshwater Fish Distributors got the Thorichthys aureum pair to be able to Freshwater Fish Wholesale spawn the first time, they will often carry on and spawn often. Balancing involving Freshwater Fish exporter ample numbers of foodstuff as well as over-feeding may tropical fish be challenging.

The two Freshwater Fish Farm your along with the feminine can be saved in the aquarium since they are the two committed mom and dad. The offspring can hatch-out in just a day or two, but can be may take as much as 6 days and nights before Freshwater ornamental Fish Singapore the fry costs nothing swimming. The fogeys will certainly drill down a abyss within the substrate as well as transfer the fry Freshwater Fish Supplies in the creating web site into it, to keep them far more protected. In the event that tropical fish you will find some other grown-up seafood within the aquarium tank, the fogeys will follow them away Freshwater Fish Distributors in the abyss to prevent predation. Because fry grow older, you need to nevertheless get rid of all mature Freshwater Fish Wholesale except for the parents, because as the fry will get bolder and also bolder, the risk of predation boosts. It really is extremely hard to the Freshwater Fish Exporter parents to observe their fry on freshwater fish a regular basis in the event the fry starts producing Freshwater Fish Thailand their very own tiny adventures.

Maintaining Ornamental Shrimp

Ornamental Shrimp Conservation Tips

Four important things to note, before keeping ornamental shrimp: 

• Good aeration .
• Cycle a great aquarium (aquarium filter is adequate and mature) .
• Does not include plant "dirty", the new etc.
• Do not add too many addictive substances.

Preparation of materials: 

• Aquarium (minimum length 60cm) 
• UGF filter (personal recommendation) 
• Canister (optional) 
• Aerator (if not wearing a canister) 
• Power head (if not wearing a canister or aerator) 
• Soil / substrate / sand - Read recommendations substrate 
• 0.5 x volume of aqua lights. For example aquarium 90liter - 40-45 watt lamps (personal recommendation)

Having the right setup is very important for ornamental shrimp, this is one determinant of your ornamental shrimp populations.

An aquarium is mature (well cycled) usually takes about 30 days of initial setup. Of course, this process can be accelerated by using the old media into the new aquarium. But this is not recommended unless you are sure that the media of the old aquarium is really safe, because the old media may contain unknown parasites or viruses that can be harmful to the shrimp.

Instead, it would be better to include a variety of bacterial powder, nitro-baster, bio-bacteria, or even some basic fertilizer for aquarium. Try as much as micro-and macro-organisms can breed in the aquarium.

There are many models for shrimp aquarium setup. The main difference is its average in the filtration (the filter used). 

• Under gravel filtration (UGF) is supported by the canister. 
• Filtration using a sponge 
• Filtration using a HOB (hang on back)
• A combination of filtration canister

My favorite is the under gravel filtration using a power head or the aerator. Combined with a canister or UGF. My recommendation if sufficient budget, please use the UGF + Canister, but if you can use to setup middle UGF with power head or aerator.

Installation sequence is:

• UGF (under gravel filter)
• Cover with mesh
• Substrate / Soil / Sand - (read the recommendation of substrate)

 Do not forget to keep the temperature at 24-26