[skatemaster]

Just read the 2003 newsletter and also recall some posts from this board. Had some questions.

What is a Merv Stick?

Which rod blanks are popular?

Which Newells were popular?

Why the extended grips on the rental rods? Yellow grips?

Is there a preferred setup for bouncing a jig at 700'?

 

[Codkiller]

The Merv stick is a cheap fiberglass blank that Tim had made up at Saco Bay Tackle for his customers. Good but not great.

Most use the Lamiglass surf blanks which are cut down to about 8 feet.

The Newells are history on the Bunny Clark, they didn't hold up that well to the pounding they got on the BC.
The extended grips allowed the googans to rest the rods on the rail without ruining the rods, the yellow is shrink tube to protect the grips from the same.
To fish that deep you need spectra and a 16 oz angerman jig, I only remember fishing 117 fathoms a couple of times, most deep drops on the BC were from 75 to 100 fathoms. I don't remember the tide as being that much of a problem as most of these spots were off the edges and out of the worst of the currents.
Hope that helps.


Bob

 

[rodprof]

Skatemaster,

I will be siplaying at "The Bash" a deepwater cod jig stick made on a new prototype Lami composite blank I designed with them.

The original design was tested on Georges Bank last year with great success.

Al

 

[Codkiller]

Rodprof
Would that blank have a number yet?
How would it compare weight wise with the graphite Lami's?

Good luck at the "Bash"

Bob

 

[Goliath]

Never fished the BC myself, but have fished Montauk charter boats similar in size. All my custom jigging sticks are 8' and being 6' tall myself I feel it is the proper length for party boat cod fishing. However, when fishing on boats lower to the water I find the 8' rod to be a burden. If I ever do get to Maine to join you guys, I will bring along something shorter - 7' or so.

 

[Codkiller]

Goliath
I would bring the 8 footer on the BC and fish the bow or the stern, many times on the BC he who casts the farthest catches the most.

Bob

 

[Goliath]

Bob:

You're probably right. I've found that to be true on every boat. Especially when the tide is hummin'. Can't get vertical unless you can launch a jig away from the boat. When I was mate 20 years ago we used to take the breath away from our fares with the length of our underhand casts while bluefishing with 6 ounce diamonds. No Pro Gears, Accurates or other fancy stuff back then. Good old Penn Jigmasters, and our favorites, Daiwa 50H's. With 40 pound test mono, mind you. You guys who fish weekly and learned how to do it right know what I mean. Speaking of the BC, do you think he has any interest in acquiring a bigger boat? It seems to me that he turns people away. Based upon word of mouth and the teriffic website he could probably pack out a 100' party boat. Someone once told me he doesn't like to spend $ though. Nice threads lately. Right up my alley.

Frank

 

[Codfisha15]

frank,
if there's one bad quality about tim tower, itis how incredibly price conscious he is. For example, he charged me the full 8.00 simply to get shrink tube on my rod. I guess this is a good quality in that he treats all his customers equally but come on, man.

 

[Codkiller]

I doubt that Tim would get another boat
especially a bigger one, 40 or 50 feet is about as big as you can get into Perkins Cove. Bigger boat=bigger headaches.
Willy
I would never call Tim cheap, frugal maybe but not cheap, even if he is going to make you buy your jigs back.
Bob

 

[gmorhua]

100' foot party boat in Perkins Cove?

Goliath, I posed a similar question to Ian Keniston who is the first mate on the B.C., he said that there is a limit on how big a vessel can be in Perkins Cove where the B.C. goes out of. The cove is fairly small and I don't see a 100' supercruiser in it. If Tim had a ship that large it would sell out. I think that boat can be up to 60' in the Cove but am not sure, Codkiller might know this. I love the fishing spots and fishing on the B.C. but hate the boat. It is small, cramped and very wet but it is the fishing that brings me back along with cast on board (ie Tim, Kenton, Ian). One thing I notice on this boat is that there is almost no regard made to the ability of anglers. What I mean is if there is going to be a boat full of novices they will still go out and fish 300' if the fish are there, like wise if you are experienced you can fish this no problem, but if you are a first timer then you are going to have problems. Some of the biggest tangles I have ever seen have been on the B.C., due to novices that don't know how to tend their lines in deep water. However if you get there early enough you can pick the stern corners or the bow and get away from impendeing doom. I feel that some other boats fish to the ability of their anglers and that the B.C. doesn't do that! I am always satisfied fishing on the B.C. because I feel that they will fish anywhere there is fish either in 140' of water or 450', they try.

Codkiller, my rod has any extended foregrip modeled after the "Merv" stick, am I a "googan"?? Just kidding! I like the lenght for leverage when I am reeling up a big one, I can understand what you mean though on anglers putting the rod on the rail.

Willy, congrats on the 3rd place of FYR, although I KNOW you catch fish, it will be hard to beat Fred Kunz or Ken McLaughlin since they go out so much. Hey I am going on Yankee this Sunday are you going??? Signed on a trip for the Helen-H on the 22nd can you go then?

Ken

 

[Codfisha15]

ken, i was thinking of going on yankee this weekend, but i called them yesterday and they said that they weren't going any more in february cuz the weather had been so bad??? I dunno, that's what they told me. I have an "H" trip booked for the 20th (mon), sorry i won't be able to go wednesday, i have school starting again that day. Also, I made a reservation on a "share a charter" trip with dave waldrip, captain of the "relentless" (nauticaladventure.net), for the 26th. They are mostly fishing inshore this time of year and the fishing has been excellent, but it has been tough getting out. Anyway, just something to think about, Tim Rider might be going also. This offer also goes to any of you cod freaks out there in the boston are (the boat docks at constitution marina).
See ya,
wily

 

[Gamakatsu]

I really wish that there was some way for Tim to get a larger boat. The current BC is bad enough when it's crowded, but when it's rough, it plain sux. The last trip I made was on an August trip when the boat was full of tourists and the wind was blowing. In all the party boat trips that I've fished on or worked on, I have never seen so much vomit. There were about a 1/2 dozen of us who were not sick, but there was no escape from the 20 sick people crowded into a small area, all puking into little tupperware-like containers that he hands out to the pukers. Finally, I just put my raingear on and stood out in the spray that was blowing across the stern. The thought that kept crossing my mind is that I paid good money to punish myself.

I think that Tim is an ace captain and he runs a clean, top notch operation, but I honestly can't stand the boat.

Gamakatsu

 

[Codfisha15]

A similar experience this past october. There was a good 4 to 5 foot chop that day, and about 20 people were sick, and lieing all over the place. An interesting sight.

 

[skatemaster]

puking into little tupperware-like containers that he hands out to the pukers

That is really a pretty picture. Are trips ever cancelled? 4-5' chop doesn't even sound too bad.

 

[Codkiller]

Gam
You should forward that to Tim.
I won't do a full load day trip for all the reasons you have stated. The most miserable people I have ever seen on a fishing boat have been on the Bunny Clark. If you think that summer trip was bad you should see a full load weekend April trip in foul weather. Can you say cold, wet and sick.

Bob

 

[Codkiller]

Willy
Was that the day you were "tired"?

Bob

 

[Codfisha15]

nope bob, that was the week before. The day that i felt tired was beautiful, a two foot chop and blue skies. I just don't get it.

 

[TJL65]

Considering The Trip

I was considering a trip on the BC but these stories are enough to make me reconsider. Packing 30 anglers on a 40' boat is just wacky. Not my cup of chum.

 

[Codkiller]

TJ
Don't let these stories scare you away, the weather isn't always terrible, just come prepared as though it will be. There are times Tim doesn't have a full load on the day trips and those are the trips you want if you can call the night before. Tim cancels very few trips, mainly because the boat is a very safe one. Believe it or not it is one of the safest boats I have ever been on and I have had trips with Tim in 35 knts and 8 to 12 foot waves.
You pay your money and you take your chances.

Bob

 

[Gamakatsu]

TJ, don't let us scare you off, it really is a great trip to do. As long as it's not too rough, the crowds are usually managable. If you can't get right on the pulpit, fish the bow anyway. It's not the most comfortable footing, but at least you're away from the masses...

Gamakatsu