SFR Protect your fishing mojo. Sorry old friend, RIP.

Sorta fishing-related
jasmillo

jasmillo

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Forum Supporter
I’m talking hats people. Fishing hats in particular. On Sunday, @Kfish and I took the boat out looking for some PS coho. The wind called for 8-12 MPH winds with gusts up to 20+. Ok, not ideal conditions in a 17 foot Whaler but manageable. Especially in protected passages where we could poke out to the main body of PS if conditions allowed. In the end, they did. White cappy but safe. The fishing was shitty unfortunately so we decided to head into more protected waters where we could throw some flies versus trolling them for our silver friends.

Then disaster struck….

Heading back in, my beloved fishing hat, old blue, was caught by a nasty gust and the wind of a Whaler going 20 knots and blown of my head into the deep, blue waters of PS. “Grab the net” I yelled to Lou! I screamed as if announcing “man overboard” but with more urgency. It was to late though, by the time we circled back, old blue was gone. Crab food.

Now I’m in a funk. It’s all I’ve worn fishing for years!. So many memories. Coho, chum, bass, tuna, pike, big AK rainbows, WA stockers, SRC, etc, etc, etc….

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I feel like my fishing mojo sunk to the bottom of the sound with that hat. I’ve been walking around in a daze the last 24 hours. Can’t work, can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t stand my beloved wife who has been gleefully gliding around the house ecstatic since she heard the news. She hated that hat. She said she could smell it from my truck because everyone knows you DO NOT EVER wash a fishing hat. The mojo is IN the built up sweat, slime and grime. Everyone knows that and now my mojo is at the bottom of the sound. Has anyone ever gotten divorced over a hat? No, no your honor, not Irreconcilable differences, she was too fucking happy when I lost my fishing hat. Besides that, our marriage is fantastic but a man needs to have principles!

So I guess I am now on the hunt. What’s next fishing hat wise for me? As a native New Englander. Maybe another vintage Res Sox hat?

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As a native nutmegger, maybe I go vintage Whalers? I was never a big hockey fan even as a kid when the Whalers actually existed but the hat seems fitting for a fishing hat.

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Go traditional? Local fly shop? A lodge I’ve stayed at? A popular fly fishing brand? Everyone’s doing that. I just don’t feel like the mojo will be strong or at least unique with those options!

I guess I just have to make a decision and move on.

That said, if anyone see’s this that washed up on the shores of Kitsap county, shoot me an IM. I’m not saying I’d empty my 401k to get it back but then again, my wife has a 401k (damn, ok no divorce) and I can live with being frugal in retirement…

RIP old boy, you’ll be missed…

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I seem to lose at least one a year to Davey Jones' locker.
 
I wouldn’t go out looking for a new fishing hat just yet. It’s too soon and you’re clearly dealing with a raw, fresh wound. Take a beat, use some other hat you have for fishing, like your Sunday-Go-To-Meetin’ really nice ball cap, or that one you got from work 2 years ago. And then, eventually, one day in the future, perhaps when you least expect it, the answer to your new permanent fishing hat will reveal itself.
 
Evan B said:
I seem to lose at least one a year to Davey Jones' locker.
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I could not live a life filled with such chaos…

Matt B said:
I wouldn’t go out looking for a new fishing hat just yet. It’s too soon and you’re clearly dealing with a raw, fresh wound. Take a beat, use some other hat you have for fishing, like your Sunday-Go-To-Meetin’ really nice ball cap, or that one you got from work 2 years ago. And then, eventually, one day in the future, perhaps when you least expect it, the answer to your new permanent fishing hat will reveal itself.
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Don’t think I can take the time to let fate make that decision. To me, success as a fisherman comes down to a few key things in a very particular order.
1. The right underwear (don’t ask)
2. The right hat
3. The right location and timing
4. The right technique.

I can’t leave headwear to fate. To important…
 
jasmillo said:
I could not live a life filled with such chaos…



Don’t think I can take the time to let fate make that decision. To me, success as a fisherman comes down to a few key things in a very particular order.
1. The right underwear (don’t ask)
2. The right hat
3. The right location and timing
4. The right technique.

I can’t leave headwear to fate. To important…
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Don't forget how you hold your mouth, just as important as anything.

I have different hats for different species...never wear my trout hat when fishing steelhead...
🙂
 
jasmillo said:
I could not live a life filled with such chaos…



Don’t think I can take the time to let fate make that decision. To me, success as a fisherman comes down to a few key things in a very particular order.
1. The right underwear (don’t ask)
2. The right hat
3. The right location and timing
4. The right technique.

I can’t leave headwear to fate. To important…
Click to expand...
Problem for me is I have a very large, oddly-shaped head. So hats don't quite sit right on me. Doesn't take much to send them on their way.
 
Evan B said:
Problem for me is I have a very large, oddly-shaped head. So hats don't quite sit right on me. Doesn't take much to send them on their way.
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My head is fairly large. I think old blue was 7 5/8’s. Fairly well proportioned though. I think Lou surmised the grease from lack of washing made that hat too slick to wear in blustery conditions. He may have a point.
 
Who would have thought that thing sank quickly as it did being so oily? I grabbed on to something to prevent going overboard myself when the boat did a fast 180 for it.

You need to diversify with several hats like me. A blank no brand blue trucker for the summer, simms goretex for rainy days, and a cotton Winston for the winter. That way you won’t have all your mojo invested in one basket :)

Do we need to go build up your mojo at a recently stocked lake when you get your new hat? Should be able to catch several dozens in short order.
 
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I feel your pain. I was traumatized when my former spouse tossed my lucky sweatshirt years ago.
 
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I only had 3 rules on my boat…

1. I am the captain, and whatever I say is law, without question.

2. I do not turn around for hats.

3. When in doubt, always refer to rules 1 & 2.

I don’t wear my favorite hat fishing, ever.
 
jasmillo said:
My head is fairly large. I think old blue was 7 5/8’s. Fairly well proportioned though. I think Lou surmised the grease from lack of washing made that hat too slick to wear in blustery conditions. He may have a point.
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I think the grease on mine is what saved mine kept it afloat this past summer on Henry’s , it was rough , and windy . The unfortunate part was a pair of oakleys on them also went overboard. :( But the hat remained floating , and we got turned around , and got it . Picture does not do it justice, it looks almost decent in this picture. Of course it got washed a bit in Henry’s. IMG_4488.jpeg
 
Brute said:
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I only had 3 rules on my boat…

1. I am the captain, and whatever I say is law, without question.

2. I do not turn around for hats.

3. When in doubt, always refer to rules 1 & 2.

I don’t wear my favorite hat fishing, ever.
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Piss poor rule, but please remind me of this if I ever get an invite on your boat so I can plan accordingly.

Won’t turn around for hats. That’s like saying you turn around if someone’s first born went overboard.

CanoeGuy said:
Sorry for your loss. I don't understand how you kept the color so uniform - it looks new in all the pics. Or was it that the sweat stain had worked its way all the way to the top and the tip of the bill?
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A couple things.

1. My wife is sneaky. She kind ways to get ahold of old blue periodically and wash it. You can’t wash away all the mojo on a hat that magical. I do blame her partly for the tough coho beach season we had this year though.

2. I fish in WA year around. Rain keeps helped keep the top of old blue clean. Though not sure it helped a ton (see point #3). Maybe because it was a wool hat? It seemed to more easily repel stains than cotton hats I’ve fished with in the past. The brim was getting nasty though and the inside sweat band, well let’s just say it was showing signs of disintegration.

3. I wear hood of some kind pretty much year around. For warmth in the winter and sun protection in the summer….and old blue protection regardless of season.
 
CanoeGuy said:
Sorry for your loss. I don't understand how you kept the color so uniform - it looks new in all the pics. Or was it that the sweat stain had worked its way all the way to the top and the tip of the bill?
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In addition to @jasmillo 's "sneaky" wife (his words not mine!), you don't exactly work up a sweat walking from the parking lot at PNP out to the beach...
:LOL:
 
Early in my steelhead fishing I became fearful that the mojo was in my hat. I made a point of wearing another hat until hooking up with a steelhead.

Now when I get a new beloved hat I wear it until it is being worn while landing a fish, then the hat is properly broken in.

The MOJO comes from within
 
Matt B said:
In addition to @jasmillo 's "sneaky" wife (his words not mine!), you don't exactly work up a sweat walking from the parking lot at PNP out to the beach...
:LOL:
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PNP… I wouldn’t dare sir! Or would I? That is a thinly attempt at getting me to disclose my favorite coho spots! Nice try, I’m on to you.

On a side note, depending on the weather you could work up a light sweat walking out there from where you need to park nowadays.
 
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