Scraping Barnacles

Like many men, I grew up idolizing my dad. Sure, we had our disagreements as I grew up but most of the time he was my hero. He stood tall, was quick with a joke, admired and respected by many, and loved by me and my brother and sisters. He was a Coastie and I wanted to be on a ship like him. I joined the Sea Pilot Cadets when I was a boy instead of the Boy Scouts. I learned about sailing, tying knots, and the ways of the water, lessons that stayed with me throughout my life. I watched every show that had to do with fishing and sailing, even SpongeBob. It seemed whenever someone got in trouble and got stuck with a job they didn’t like it was scraping the barnacles off of some ship.

Imagine my surprise when my wife brought these home. 

Yup, that’s right, barnacles. Pretty but big, nothing like I’m used to seeing. Then she started telling me about this show she watched where the host ate barnacles. She said it took place in Chile and no, it wasn’t that guy on the Travel Channel who eats anything and everything even eyeballs.

I volunteered to cook that night……burgers and fries. No barnacles. Gotta watch that woman.

Raiding the Tackle Box: Making Fishmas Tree Ornaments

Talking about old fishing lures and making key chains got my wife thinking and looking through my garage. I hate when she ventures into the man cave. Not that I mind her company but she cleans, moves stuff around, and appropriates things, this time, fishing lures. Seems she had a little Christmas tree stashed in a closet that she wanted to make into a Fishmas tree. After a trip to Walmart for bobbers, curling ribbon, and a bag of split rings she got to work.

First, she went through my tackle box. She picked out a few that were old and worn out, you know, shabby looking. 

Then she gently scrubbed them up. Used a soft toothbrush so she wouldn’t loose the paint on the lures.

Next, she removed the hooks. If you’re going to do this, be careful not to get stuck.

 

Here’s where the ribbon and the split rings come in. Cut 2  6 inch lengths of ribbon for each lure. Then, thread the ribbon through the split ring and tie it in the middle.

Attach the split ring to the end eyelet on the lure and make the ribbon curly using something flat. Easy to do with curling ribbon. All the lure needs is a hook to hang it from the tree.

 

The bobbers were even easier and a lot safer. No cutting off old hooks. Use round bobbers. The wife used 1 1/4 inch bobbers. They come 6 to a pack and cost about $1.50.

Push up the shaft and the hook will come up on the other side. Place a length of ribbon there, about 6 inches works good. Tie the ribbon to the tree. That’s it. Merry Fishmas!

 

   Came out kind of cute. Got a fisherman or woman on your list but don’t have old lures? I found some at Wally World a pack of 5 for $10. Brand new so you can skip the scrubbing part. Have fun and HO, Ho, Ho, Merry Fishmas!

Dan the Man and Fishing Lures

Welcome to my blog where I jot down ideas and tell stories about my life in the North Florida woods. I live here with my wife, 3 dogs (poodles I've trained to hunt), one cat (the other got snake bit), and a lovebird I bought for my wife. We live far back enough from the road that not too many people can see the house. Good. That's the way I want it. The folks who matter know where I am and come to visit often. We have a big house, a bigger garage, and about 20 or so boats. We'll talk boats later.

Hunting and fishing in the part of north Florida I live in is a way of life for many and definitely is for me. I live for it. I plan next year's hunt the day after hunting season is over. I know the moon cycles and the way it affects the deer and fish. My favorite TV channel is the Weather Channel. My favorite clothes are camo.

Yesterday my wife found some old, excuse me, vintage fishing lures while yard saling and decided to make key chains out of them. Cool idea. She showed me them before she started and I swiped one before she could "upcycle" it (her words). Great little trout getter. The keychains are cool, too. She did them up and posted them in my Etsy shop, MetalWoodsnWater. Now she wants to decorate the Christmas tree in old fishing lures and bobbers. I do believe she's redder than me.