Kaenon Polarized

Last week, the crew of Tenacious traveled 244 miles west of Cabo San Lucas to the remote and uninhabited island of San Benedicto. Fishing was excellent and the boat’s freezers were filled to capacity. The boat and crew decked out in variety of Kaenon sunglasses will now return to Southern California in preparation for the upcoming 2010 summer fishing season.

We just caught wind of these ridiculous images of our friend Jared Lane from Fast Lane Sailing Center down in San Diego. Wearing Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses style, Burny Black G12, Jared caught a 100 lb thresher shark from a stand up paddleboard, actually pulling the shark up in his lap. Yep, you read that right.

Just another day in sunny Southern California…?

“There was some talk about fishing on a stand up paddle board going around our shop, and the idea to tow surf behind a shark came up. Is it possible? I thought it would be more than possible and was so confident I set the whole attack mission up. I had the whole thing planned out except for one minor detail… What do I do when it’s right beneath my feet?” – Jared Lane

Read the full story and see more pics and video on the Fast Lane blog.

by Matt Peters  (Guest Contributor)

The recent FLW Outdoors National Guard Eastern Series tournament on Lake Okeechobee was a sight fishing shootout.  The fish had moved up on beds to spawn and the winning weights came from guys able to get the big females to bite.   The conditions for the tournament were pretty ideal for sight fishing:  mostly sunny skies, with slight cloud cover and light breeze.

When it comes to sight fishing, you’ve got to be able to position your boat as far from the fish as possible, and yet still be able to see what is going on.  Enter Kaenon Polarized.   I wore the Arlo with Copper 12 lenses the entire tournament and was able to stay off the beds, work the fish from a distance, and get the job done.   The C12 lenses give you ample brightness to see down in the black Florida freshwater.   Of course, the polarization takes the glare off the water so you can see the fish, see your bait, and make the best possible presentations to irritate the big girls into biting.

The below picture shows my view of a bed without polarization:

Here is that same bed, holding a pair a Arlo C12s over the camera lens: (notice the 3 pounder swimming away at 10 O’clock):

And here I am with my Arlo C12s and some Day 2 tournament fish, including a beautiful 6 pound female that helped me to a 40th place finish and $5250:

I’m gonna be here another few weeks to practice for one more event on Lake Okeechobee, aka, the Big O.   When conditions get really cloudy and grey, I’ll be reaching from my Hard Kore’s with the Y35 lens to optimize the amount of light I can get to see, should the conditions turn from bright to cloudy.  Otherwise, I’ll just stick to my Arlo C12s.  Kaenon’s got you covered for sight fishing.

FISHING – COSTA RICA

Tournament season is in full swing in Central America and South Florida where the El Nino phenomenon has brought record numbers of sailfish to near shore waters. The first leg of the Los Suenos Signature Series was completed last week off Herradura Bay in Costa Rica. The fleet released 652 sailfish and 12 marlin over the course of 3 days fishing.

Jimmy Nestor UPD Matte Black, G12 lens and Kaenon visor, prepares to release a sailfish aboard the Viking 50 Game On.

Also, see all the action from the Viking 50 “Game On” during the 1st leg of the 2010 signature series held at Los Suenos, Costa Rica in this video:

Jonathon VanDam and Stephen Pineau took to the road after Christmas fleeing the icy cold Michigan weather. First stop was the Prettyboy reservoir in Maryland followed by a stop on the St. John’s River in Florida before heading down to sunny Boca Raton. The two are pre-fishing despite abnormally cold weather for the Sunshine state in preparation for the first Southern Open taking place next week in the Everglades.

Conditions in Maryland weren’t exactly ideal for fishing, but the boys went anyway.

Not what you want to see when you’re bass fishing.

Despite Frigid conditions the boys managed a couple good ones. Stephen Pineau wearing Kore with Y35 Lens, Jonathon VanDam in Lewi, Black with G12 Lens were rewarded for their suffering. While the fish got a little smaller, but the weather improved upon arrival in Florida

Jonathon hoping a gator doesn’t get to his bass before he can get it to the boat on the vast grass-beds of Lake Okeechobee.

EXPEDITION FISHING

Kaenon Polarized hunter extraordinaire, Alistair James sent us a recap of his recent holiday expedition in Nairobi which included fishing for Nile Perch. Not something you get to do every day…

“I was in Nairobi on business the first week of November when I met Johnny Chipman, a fellow hunting guide working in Tanzania. He mentioned that he would be heading to Lake Turkana over the weekend to fish for Nile perch and asked if I would like to go along.  Always willing to try something new, I immediately said yes. After a few drinks Johnny sketched a map on the back of a napkin to help me find the meeting point for our trip Thursday night.

A four hour drive from Nairobi going north on Thursday afternoon proved the napkin sketch more or less reliable as I arrived on location and met up with Johnny just before dark.  There we were joined by four other friends and together we packed two Land Cruiser pickups and had an early night with the intention of starting first thing the next morning.

We had a fourteen-hour drive north to the southern tip of Lake Turkana.  The closer we got to the Lake, the more barren and dry the landscape became.  The local herders all roamed with Kalashnikov rifles, but appeared for the most part friendly.  A couple hours before the lake we stopped in a small mission where a Dutch missionary family told us that a fight had broken out the day before and that everyone was low on ammunition so we should be safe.

As the sun was setting we arrived on the lake shore.  Because of the intense thermal winds we set up camp in the lee of a rock formation.  I just slept that night on a ground mat with a blanket, but when the breeze died sometime after midnight I wished that I had brought along my mosquito net.

Early the next morning we were up and launched the small aluminum boat that had been carried all the way to the lake on the top of the pickup truck.  There were quite a few crocodiles in the lake, so we were on the look out when launching the boat.

We fished for perch in the mornings and evenings by trolling Rapala lures.  During the midday heat we fished the shores for a big species of Tilapia that feeds on the algae growing on the rocks in the lake.

We fished all day Saturday and Sunday and trolled briefly Monday morning before packing up and driving back south.  The lake is an amazing example of desert and water coming together creating an almost surreal landscape.  Highly recommended.”

FRESH PRESS

Kaenon Polarized fly guide, Nick Pujic (Kore C12) appears on the cover of the current issue of Fly Fishing in Salt Waters – November/December 2009.

FLY FISHING – MOZAMBIQUE
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water! Trapper Rudd shows that having the right equipment can make all the difference. Wearing Kaenon Sunglasses in Hard Kore C12, Rudd holds up a very large, angry tiger fish he caught fly fishing on the Zambezi River in Mozambique.

Trapper Rudd, wearing Hard Kore Black C12 and owner of Cutthroat Anglers, experienced off the charts snook fishing deep in the mangroves jungles of the Yucatan. Armed with a fly-rod, specialized fishing Kayak, and plenty of Skoal Wintergreen – Trapper hooks up to a HUGE snook.

OFFSHORE – LOS CABOS BILLFISH TOURNAMENT – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Following the shotgun start of the first fishing day of the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament, the 60’ BCE Bandit, fresh from its strong finish at Catalina tournaments last month, raced ahead of the fleet to the Gordo Bank where they were able to get baited up in just a couple minutes. Just as they began trolling the baits a big black picked one up and they were on. Anthony Hsieh was on the rod, and had the fish boat-side in about 5 minutes. After a tough 15 minute battle on the gaff, the 451# black was boated – the only qualifying fish weighed on day one.

Captain Tommy, Corey, Anthony (Arlo Tortoise G12), Kevin Nakamaru (Kabin Tortoise G12) and the rest of the BANDIT Team.

Day two turned out to be groundhog day for the BANDIT boys – boating a second slightly larger black and winning both days’ jackpots to take home a whopping $420,875 for their efforts. Not a bad couple days’ work.

A very stoked Anthony Hsieh with a second $200,000 black marlin in the boat. When you’re hot you’re hot.

Meanwhile team Karma, with Angler Steve Spina, and Kona Captains Kerwin Masunaga, Boyd de Coito (UPD Black G12), Shane O’Brien (Arlo Matte Black G12) and Russ Armstrong showed up at the scales with an absolutely massive 363# yellowfin tuna.

Fishing aboard TENACIOUS, Captain Gene Vanderhoek (Rhino Black G12), Sam Choy Jr. (Rhino Matte black G12 RX), Chris Choy (Lewi Black G12), Ron Tegland Jr. (Burny Black G12) and Ron Tegland Sr. (Porter Tortoise C12) finished second in the billfish release division with 3 striped marlin released.

Brothers Chris Choy (Lewi Black G12) and Sam Choy Jr. (Rhino Matte black RX) prepare to release a striped marlin aboard TENACIOUS.

FISHING
Bassmaster Norther Open – Lake Erie

Jonathon VanDam wearing Hard Kore C12 lens for bright conditions and Y35 lens when it was cloudy, hauled in 24 pounds, 8 ounces — the largest bag of the tournament, to claim his first BASS win Saturday. At just 21 years old, this was Jonathon’s first tournament on Lake Erie. During the third and final 2009 Bassmaster Northern Open, VanDam’s two-day total of 44 pounds, 14 ounces was nearly 3 pounds ahead of the runner-up. Nephew of 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam, a five-time AOY, Jonathon’s $26,743 payday was a great start to his uncle’s nearly $3.5 million in Bassmaster checks he’s received in recent time.

“This has been my dream for a long time; I’m really pumped right now,” Jonathon VanDam said. “I’m speechless. I’ve been close a couple times, and this is awesome.”

FISHING
Filmed in Key West, the Everglades and the Bahamas during the 2009 season, SLAM focuses on all the major species: Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, Redfish and Snook. This film portrays the most important aspects of Saltwater fly fishing. Visit WorldANGLING for more.

Slam by WorldANGLING fly fishing South Florida for Permit, Bonefish, Tarpon, Snook, and Redfish from WorldANGLING on Vimeo.

Brian “Bear” Holeman, wearing Rhino Tobacco G12, holds a nice redfish. The Holeman brothers, Travis and Brian along with the crew from World Angling Productions won The Drake magazine’s Fly Fishing Film awards this weekend at FFR show in Denver.

FISHING – Malibu, CA

After finishing runner up in the mixed division and 3rd in the Women’s at the 2009 US Spearfishing National Championships in Malibu where her Kaenon choice was Georgia in Almond, Kimi Werner returned home to Hawaii shoot another Women’s Spearfishing record – this time an 8.1 Mu, shown above.

SALTWATER FLY FISHING – San Diego, CA
Conway Bowman in Lewi Black C12 took client Jeff Patterson for a day of fishing last week and ended up with the catch (and release) of a lifetime when a juvenile great white shark showed up in their chum slick 5 miles off the coast of La Jolla, CA. Casting to what they believed was a small mako shark, the fish took a streamer fly and quickly ripped off 275 yards of line before being brought boat-side 25 minutes later where Conway took the hook out and released the 6 foot long 150# shark. This is the first time anybody has successfully caught and released a great white shark with a fly-rod!

Bowman knew something was up when a sea lion that had been in the chum slick began acting squirrelly and moved farther out.

“All of a sudden the sea lion split and sat out there 100 yards from the slick,” Bowman said. “That usually means a big mako is in the area. But all of a sudden, the great white shark rolled up. It was something, seeing a small great white like that. Usually, even the smaller ones are 10 to 12 feet, not 6 or 7 feet like this one.”

As the great white is a protected species, Jeff and Conway were happy to take a couple pictures, pat the shark on the head and let it go on its way.

OFFSHORE FISHING – Kona, HI
Gene Vanderhoek and crew Chris Choy (Porter Black G12) have been racking up the blue marlin releases in Kona this summer aboard the Sea Genie 2.

Gene has been winning the IFGA award for most Blue Marlin released anywhere in the Pacific for the last several years, Chris and Gene successfully released 86 blue marlin during the 2008 season.

The Pacific shortnose spearfish are the rarest of all billfish species, but actually quite common in Hawaiian waters. The Sea Genie crew release all of these too.

All in a day’s work- 3 blue marlin and a spearfish released by 3pm. These guys make it look easy. Chris hoists the release flags as the boat arrives back at Honokohau harbor.

FISHING
Kaenon Polarized enjoyed a strong presence at the 2009 Series Championships with last year’s World Cup winners Carlton Rice (UPD Matte Black G12) and Captain McGrew Rice claiming 2nd in Friday’s daily and 3rd overall aboard Ihu Nui.

Kevin Hibbard (Rhino Tobacco C12) and crew Davey Wolf (Rhino Matte Black G12) won Sunday’s dailys with a 75 pound yellowfin on J.R.’s Hooker which was good enough for $6,800.

The marlin are snapping off Kona with plenty of 100-200 pound fish being tagged and released during the tournaments.

A blue marlin swims boat-side with hooks barely hanging on to the bill.

Mike Direggo (Rhino Tobacco C12 RX) brought his crew over on his charter-boat Maggie Joe from Oahu to participate in Kona’s summer tournaments. Mike runs one of the most respected charter operations in the islands out of Oahu’s Kewalo basin.

Captain Shane O’Brien (Arlo Matte Black G12) at the controls of the Strong Persuader.

Brad Demasco (Lewi Tobacco G12) aboard Ho’okele.

Captain Boyd Decouto aboard the Foxy Lady, in UPD.

Fresh off a year-long stint aboard the Madame and Wild-Hooker mother-ship operation in the Atlantic, Bronson Cablay (UPD Matte Black G12) kicks back aboard the DOJO.

POCO BUENO TOURNAMENT- Port O’Conner, Texas
Captains Clay Hensley (Jetty Seaweed G12) and John Uhr (Basis Black G12) and crew aboard the 54’ Spencer Seay Goddess won the 2009 Poco Bueno fishing tournament last weekend with a 429# Blue Marlin. Because of the long distances (100+ nautical miles) crews must cover to get into deep water the fleet departs at midnight. The Seay Goddess crew powered out 220 miles before putting lines in at an offshore seamount that looked promising on satellite imagery. At 1:30pm the fish was boated and the crew powered back to Port O’Conner for the weigh in- their fish turned out to be the right one- winning the team bragging rights and a cool $550,000 paycheck.

OFFSHORE FISHING – HAWAII
Kimi Werner took a little break from spear fishing to take advantage of the Hawaii Offshore Spring Ahi run (yellowfin tuna over 100#) off Oahu’s West side. As usual, Kimi came home with a huge catch, celebrating her 160# and 180# ahis while wearing EDEN Tobacco/Olive Fade G12 Lens.

INSHORE FISHING – SAN DIEGO, CA
Michelle Woo Bowman, wife of Conway Bowman, has been putting her time in fly fishing and conventional fishing off of her Stand Up Paddle (SUP) board, in the kelp beds off La Jolla, California. Also known as SUP Fishing, the art of blending surf and fishing is catching the attention of fishing and water enthusiasts alike. While the fish have been getting bigger and bigger, nothing she’s caught before compares to the prize white seabass Michelle hooked up late June during an early morning session.

Michelle with the big one- wearing Hard Kore Tobacco Y35 and Kaenon hat

To see how SUP Fishing goes down, check out Michelle in action.

FISHING – SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
One of the hottest areas of fishing these days incorporates the cross-over athletes / waterman, who are into hard core fishing. Whether it’s Will James in Hawaii pioneering big game marlin fishing off Kona on his retro-fit Jet Ski, or these guys, San Diego surfers Morgan Promnitz and Jared Lane kayak fishing off the Point Loma surfline in the kelp beds. Ripping surfers and well known in the San Diego scene for what they do on boards, they’re now making a name for themselves in the hottest sector of fishing – Kayak Fishing, by going after shark for the fight, or prized table fair, Yellow Tail and White Seabass. Kaenon Polarized is becoming the choice for sight fishing as this fast changing surf and fishing scene of California explodes.

Morgan Promnitz in Klemm G12 with a Thresher Shark he will release. And White Seabass, below.

Jared Lane wearing Calais Matte Black with a couple of super tasty White Seabass

FISHING by WILL JAMES

Martens, collecting one of his many largemouth bass wearing Kore Large C28.

Aaron Martens takes the victory in the Marine Formula STA-BIL Southern Elite Series Challenge, catching 107 pounds 8 ounces of Largemouth Bass during the 3 day tournament on Lake Guntersville. Collecting his first victory of the year, wearing Kaenon’s Kore Large C28, Aaron Martens lost much of his 7 pound lead on the final day, but was able to hold on to the lead to win the tournament. Top pros like Martens, love the versatility of Kaenon’s Copper 28 lens for sight fishing, and rely on this lens to see underwater feeding and hiding grounds. Whether Bass or Fly fishing, the C28 helps to spot and size up big fish. Combined with his 2nd place finish two weeks ago, the $100,000 victory puts Martens in fourth overall in the 2009 Toyota Tundra BassMaster Angler of the Year standings, and is within striking distance of points leader Kevin VanDam with only 3 elite series events left.

SPEARFISHING

Kimi Werner wearing Leila Ivory C12 and her huge Ulua she caught.

Oahu’s Kimi Werner at it again -this time besting a 56.75 Ulua (Giant Trevally)- the undisputed king of reef-fish off of Oahu’s Waianae coast. Ulua are typically found lurking deep in “houses” (deep caves in the offshore reef system) by spearfishermen (and women) during the daytime hours. These fish are notorious for gear-busting runs, which make them especially difficult to catch, and the top prize for Hawaiian spearfishers.

FISHING

Morgan Promnitz, wearing Jetty Tobacco C12, holds up a nice yellowtail

Morgan Promnitz, a ripping San Diego surfer of Fast Lane Sailing and Kayak Center – in Mission Bay, San Diego has been raising the bar and setting the trends in the West Coast kayak fishing scene over the course of the last couple of years. Morgan recently sent in this pic of a nice Yellowtail caught off the kelp beds of San Diego on his purpose-rigged Kayak.

The trend of Kayak Fishing for quality and big fish is exploding. Note the Bass Pro hat with Kaenon’s on…hhhmmmm, Bass Pro…fishing…West Coast Style!

FREEDIVE SPEARFISHING

Kimi Werner, US Women’s National Spearfishing Champion is at it again – shooting a couple nice Kumu (White saddle Goatfish) and a new women’s record Munu (doublebar goatfish) off Mokuleia beach park on Oahu’s North shore last weekend.