While the article "Nature Calling – Cosmos Falling… in?" took us deep into the desert, or maybe rather far out in cosmos (what's the difference anyway in being a tiny grain here or there?) – this will "just" take us Fishing in Sahara.
First – just sit back in front of your computer – put the fishing rod and net down beside you on the floor for a while, and I will tell you about how I meet my "Desert Teacher".
Media View
When I was head of charter operations to Egypt, part of the work was to prepare for and take media around. My philosophy is always to show something "extra", something competing media did not get (- along with the "must see" places of course).
For the right media, a sudden tour on the Nile – banking on an island where one of the best chiefs are preparing a grilled lamb, give a far better story than a more standard Nile Cruise. After the journalists have been eating accompanied with a good wine to the music of reed flutes, white sails appears out of the dark night and dock by the island. Onboard on the traditional Nile sailboat, accompanied only by the amazing starry night and magical sounds from the Nile bank – the tour goes back to the hotel.
Not an easy adventure to forget even for the most blase journalist – and good turnout for any tour operators marketing department…
Into the Desert
This time it was a television team who should come to make a 45 minutes travel program from Egypt. The "must be's" was prepared, they should meet Director of the Pyramids area, Zahi Hawass in Cairo and visit the major monuments in Luxor. The producer had brought along his friend Morten Harket for the tour – so the team consisted of the program host, sound as cameraman, in total four persons. I refused to tell them what we should do the first days.
My arrival team was inside the airport in Luxor, and I awaited them outside with a big 4WD desert machine. Had used two days only to negotiate that we could rent the car, which could have space for the film team and my team. Well my team was less, as I only had two drivers with me – we should drive through the night.
All luggages were on the top of the desert machine, only the camera joined us inside (have yet to meet a cameraman or woman leaving the betacam too far away). We crossed the Nile, and after a dinner – our journey into the desert started. Not too comfortable for a long journey, but some bottles of the good Egyptian Stella beer helped. The morning came and we were in the first oasis Kharga. But we did not stop, we should to the next oasis – Dakhla.
After filming in the medieval old city of Dakhla, crafts and people in the oasis and a dive in the ancient Roman hot spring – we should meet the Chairman of the Oasis.
The Chairman
The film team had enough material, and nobody was too keen on meeting an official person – that's not the reason we where here. If you been around the globe as media representative, you soon find out that official persons are those you film to get your permissions – and cut it all away on the clip board after. Well, we had to meet this Chairman – after all it was me who had asked for it.
In the end he came to the hotel, entered and said: "Hello, I'm Mohammed Rafaat Abdelmomen, Chairman of Dakhla". He did not have to say it, we all knew the second he entered the room.
When one thinks "Desert" one normally think "Sand". When one thinks "People in the Desert", one normally thinks "travelling Bedouins". The "concept images" we have stored is not always the whole truth, so here are some facts:
Dakhla is not an Disney oasis with a water source and some few palms around – the around 400 square kilometres large oasis has an agricultural area of 22000 feddan (an feddan is 1.038 acres) and export olives, dates, onions and fruits to the Nile Valley. For most people of the Western Desert, farming are the main activity.
Mohamed Rafaat Abdelmomen is not a farmer, but he has his PhD in "Bio fertilization under conditions of the New Valley, and its effect on clean yield". So he is together with the Governor of the New Valley, making sure the farming in the desert Oasis is staying clean.
He is neither a desert Bedouin, still one of the most famous desert travellers of today – Lama – says he must have been born on the hood of a four-wheel jeep in a sand dune.
The film team did not need the presentation, they knew they had a "scoop".
We took the desert machine over to a new hotel under construction – the last project of it's kind by the late renowned architect Hassan Fathy. On top of the hotel under construction he stood and told about the importance of ecology for this planets future. Far into the desert, a film team and a pop star was the audience – listening with growing respect to the future of what up to then just had been a large desert hole on a long forgotten map.
They where prepared to meet history in the Oasis of Dakhla, not a maker of history.
When the sun had set in the west, we all sat under date palms and ate fresh grilled fish from the large lake of the oasis. I still wonder who was the fish and who were the bait when we went Fishing in Sahara.
While the article "Nature Calling – Cosmos Falling… in?" took us deep into the desert, or maybe rather far out in cosmos (what's the difference anyway in being a tiny grain here or there?) – this will "just" take us Fishing in Sahara.
First – just sit back in front of your computer – put the fishing rod and net down beside you on the floor for a while, and I will tell you about how I meet my "Desert Teacher".
Media View
When I was head of charter operations to Egypt, part of the work was to prepare for and take media around. My philosophy is always to show something "extra", something competing media did not get (- along with the "must see" places of course).
For the right media, a sudden tour on the Nile – banking on an island where one of the best chiefs are preparing a grilled lamb, give a far better story than a more standard Nile Cruise. After the journalists have been eating accompanied with a good wine to the music of reed flutes, white sails appears out of the dark night and dock by the island. Onboard on the traditional Nile sailboat, accompanied only by the amazing starry night and magical sounds from the Nile bank – the tour goes back to the hotel.
Not an easy adventure to forget even for the most blase journalist – and good turnout for any tour operators marketing department…
Into the Desert
This time it was a television team who should come to make a 45 minutes travel program from Egypt. The "must be's" was prepared, they should meet Director of the Pyramids area, Zahi Hawass in Cairo and visit the major monuments in Luxor. The producer had brought along his friend Morten Harket for the tour – so the team consisted of the program host, sound as cameraman, in total four persons. I refused to tell them what we should do the first days.
My arrival team was inside the airport in Luxor, and I awaited them outside with a big 4WD desert machine. Had used two days only to negotiate that we could rent the car, which could have space for the film team and my team. Well my team was less, as I only had two drivers with me – we should drive through the night.
All luggages were on the top of the desert machine, only the camera joined us inside (have yet to meet a cameraman or woman leaving the betacam too far away). We crossed the Nile, and after a dinner – our journey into the desert started. Not too comfortable for a long journey, but some bottles of the good Egyptian Stella beer helped. The morning came and we were in the first oasis Kharga. But we did not stop, we should to the next oasis – Dakhla.
After filming in the medieval old city of Dakhla, crafts and people in the oasis and a dive in the ancient Roman hot spring – we should meet the Chairman of the Oasis.
The Chairman
The film team had enough material, and nobody was too keen on meeting an official person – that's not the reason we where here. If you been around the globe as media representative, you soon find out that official persons are those you film to get your permissions – and cut it all away on the clip board after. Well, we had to meet this Chairman – after all it was me who had asked for it.
In the end he came to the hotel, entered and said: "Hello, I'm Mohammed Rafaat Abdelmomen, Chairman of Dakhla". He did not have to say it, we all knew the second he entered the room.
When one thinks "Desert" one normally think "Sand". When one thinks "People in the Desert", one normally thinks "travelling Bedouins". The "concept images" we have stored is not always the whole truth, so here are some facts:
Dakhla is not an Disney oasis with a water source and some few palms around – the around 400 square kilometres large oasis has an agricultural area of 22000 feddan (an feddan is 1.038 acres) and export olives, dates, onions and fruits to the Nile Valley. For most people of the Western Desert, farming are the main activity.
Mohamed Rafaat Abdelmomen is not a farmer, but he has his PhD in "Bio fertilization under conditions of the New Valley, and its effect on clean yield". So he is together with the Governor of the New Valley, making sure the farming in the desert Oasis is staying clean.
He is neither a desert Bedouin, still one of the most famous desert travellers of today – Lama – says he must have been born on the hood of a four-wheel jeep in a sand dune.
The film team did not need the presentation, they knew they had a "scoop".
We took the desert machine over to a new hotel under construction – the last project of it's kind by the late renowned architect Hassan Fathy. On top of the hotel under construction he stood and told about the importance of ecology for this planets future. Far into the desert, a film team and a pop star was the audience – listening with growing respect to the future of what up to then just had been a large desert hole on a long forgotten map.
They where prepared to meet history in the Oasis of Dakhla, not a maker of history.
When the sun had set in the west, we all sat under date palms and ate fresh grilled fish from the large lake of the oasis. I still wonder who was the fish and who were the bait when we went Fishing in Sahara.
Filed under Fishing, Fishing Trips by admin
Without argument one of the most well known areas for anglers that want to land that record breaking fish is in the cold, northern waters of the most northerly of the US states. Alaska salmon fishing, in the rivers, lakes and the ocean on the western side of the state are world renowned for their excellent salmon fishing and the huge number and variety of fish that exist in the waters.
Hot Spots for Salmon
Literally waterways in Alaska will have some type of salmon species that are native to the location, but there are some areas that are particularly known for their trophy-sized salmon of various types. Below is a general list of the body of water and the type and size of salmon that are typically for the area and body of water.
Kenai Peninsula and River one of the most famous of all the Alaska salmon fishing hot spots, the Kenai Peninsula and river are home to several varieties including King Salmon, Chinook, Silver and Sockeye or Red salmon. Typically the variety of salmon will have different weights but the fish in this area may range in size from 25 to 90 pounds for mature adults.
Golsovia River, on the edge of the of the Bering Sea this is a quiet yet highly productive area of the Alaska salmon fishing tour area, renowned for not only salmon but also for Artic Char fishing opportunities. The salmon species that are found in this area include Chum, Pink, Silver and King salmon. The best time for fishing in this area is June to August, with most guests easily reaching their limit and then using a catch and release program to continue to enjoy the fishing experience.
Sitka – this area of Alaska has always been known for its fishing opportunities. There is a limit on King salmon at one per day or three annually, but there is no annual limit on Silver salmon, also known as Coho, and a six per day catch restriction. Sitka is one of the larger cities in Alaska so it makes an idea base point for families that are going on Alaska salmon fishing trips.
Yentna River – one of the most popular fresh water salmon fishing systems, there are a variety of creeks, rivers and tributaries that are excellent to fish for several varieties of Alaska salmon. Fishing can be done by boat, off the shore or even by nets with the proper licensing and depending on the time of year. The varieties of salmon that can be caught in this area include King, Silver, Sockeye, Pink and Chum. Typically salmon are fished using spin or fly-fishing methods in these waterways.
Alaska salmon fishing offers breathtaking scenery in largely pristine and untouched areas. Many of the locations, especially the remote fishing lodges require fly in access to the lodges, but also provide the best opportunities to fish areas where there is a largely untouched salmon population. Alaska salmon fishing has its peak seasons between July and August when the weather is relatively warm and there is ample daylight for long hours of fishing enjoyment.
Read more on Experience The Excitement Of Alaska Salmon Fishing…
Filed under Fishing Trips, Salmon Fishing by admin
If you are in Russia during the winter months, you had better be ready for the cold. Even if it is freezing outside, it doesn't mean you can't get out and go after a few fish.
Ice Fishing in Russia
Living in Russia for a year was an amazing time. It was also a time of discovery on a scale you can't imagine. As with many cultures, there were vastly different aspects and slight different ones that made it all well worth the time. I enjoy getting out to the lake for a bit of fishing and so do the Russians. This is true even if it is winter.
If it is winter in Russia, we have to be talking about ice fishing. If the Russian winter stopped Hitler in his tracks, you know it is going to be an interesting time out on the lake. Fortunately, the Russians have developed a way of staying warm while sitting on the ice after years and years of study and development.
What is the magic? You guessed it – Vodka! There is saying in Russia when it comes to drinking vodka – warm on the inside and cold on the outside. Vodka is offered up as more or less radiator fluid for your body. I have to admit it works very, very well.
Once you head out to the lake, it is a pretty simple process. Find an area that looks less thick and break out a long, stiff saw. You then start trying to saw, pound and hack a hole in the ice. Yelling helps and is generally encouraged. Vodka is as well. Once the hole is opened, it is time to find some small stools, bait your line and have a seat. Down goes the line and up goes the vodka. Frankly, the fish are pretty safe.
When ice fishing in Russia, the prospect of catching something depends on a number of factors. First and foremost, the type of fish is entirely dependant on the lake you are on. The second issue, however, is more important. How long can you stand to sit there? It is cold like you can't imagine. At 30 degrees below zero, even vodka is not going to keep you warm for long. You can dress with so many layers that you look like the Michelin Man and it still is not going to be a long session.
Do I recommend going ice fishing in Russia? Sure. Once and only once! Then you can say you did it while you are hunting for some aspirin.
Filed under Fishing Trips, Ice Fishing by admin
