CAST & CATCH23APRIL 2019

That’s also a reason I replace the tiny trebles with a stronger single hook. If I’m fishing for small barracuda with light tackle, I’ll add one or two locking snap swivels to act as a “wire leader” against the fish’s sharp teeth.

In Hawai‘i, we mostly see the gold or silver- and-blue finish on Kastmaster lures. Sometimes we’ll see a rainbow trout finish. Kastmasters come in a multitude of colors and design finishes, including the recently added UV and glow paint. How about a hammered finish, or a built-in rattle?

When you have something good, there will be lots of copycats. Side by side with the cheaper knockoffs, the Kastmasters’ superior design and quality finish set them above the competition. The Kastmaster lure has been around for more than 60 years with little change to its design. If your lure is catching fish, don’t mess with it.

Aloha. . . . Stan

Choosing a great lure . . . continued

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Making Flies and FriendsIt was an early Sunday morning. My buddy

Roland Gomes and I wanted to try some new zones. With an epic fail of a leader break on a 40-plus-lb ulua a couple of months before–an event that kept replaying in my head every time I hooked up to a fish–it was redemption time.

We met at a new spot an hour before the sun was going to rise and got our gear together. I set up my 10-foot Penn Battalion rod and Battle 6000 reel with freshly spooled 42-lb test Gosen braid. It was line that I had never used before, so I was uncertain how it would handle a fish. I tied on my favorite Colt Sniper Green Mack and got going.

We walked for 20 to 30 minutes and found a couple of ledges that looked “fishy.” The water was kind of rough, but we figured we would try. After a couple of casts, we were soaked. Then we saw a finger of land extending out to the drop-off. The water seemed calm around it, so we headed there.

On the first cast, “Boom!” A 4- to 5-lb ‘omilu hit and put up a good fight. I brought it up and let it go. On the second cast in the same area, the strike was unbelievable. The reel screamed, and the fight was on. I steered the fish away from the ledge and brought it closer. As the sun peaked over the mountain, I could see the color of the fish. After a 15-minute fight, I got the fish up to the leader. Roland went down to grab the leader. Replaying in my head was the memory of the leader breaking on our fish a few months before. Roland grabbed the leader and the tail. The 16-lb ‘omilu was secured, and redemption was ours!

I hated replacing my grubs when their tails got taken. Then I switched to Big Island Baits from braddah Andy Scott, and they have become my only go-to soft baits.

I started tying flies in 2016, making small flies for menpachi and papio. Then I started thinking, why couldn’t I make flies for pelagics? I made a couple, met some people through Instagram and sent some to them. I’ve met a lot of friends that turned into family by making flies. Justin Maldonado, one of my good buddies, invented his Richie Rich Collection with me. They had im-mediate success, picking up aku and shibi. Those lures even managed to pick up a 57-lb ‘ahi plus numerous kinds of bottom fish.

Knowing that what I made caught fish, I was hopeful for what was to come. My hobby developed into a passion. It’s exciting to know that what I make can help many fishermen/fisherwomen provide food for their family and friends. My product also provides them with a story and a memory to last a lifetime.

. . . Jake Asuncion Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i

Stan’s son Chris and his friends caught these fish while using Kastmaster Lures.