Do You Know Your 3 E's?

"Gary of GermanikAngler.com discusses his fishing and blogging with us. Learn about his fishing 3 E’s Philosophy, how he became the angler he is today, as well as his plans to educate others about the sport he loves."

Why do you blog about fishing and the outdoors?

Writing about fishing and the outdoors gives me the ability to express myself creatively while discussing topics that I have known and loved a vast majority of my life. Despite growing up on the border of Queens, NY, I was exposed to camping, nature, and outdoorsmanship from a young age. My grandfather had been a Scoutmaster nearly forty years by the time I was born. My father, an Eagle Scout, was an Assistant Scoutmaster in that same troop. Between their involvement in scouting (eventually mine as well) and the fact that my mother also enjoyed camping (though by no means an outdoorswoman), I had been camping regularly since birth. In point of fact, my mother discovered she was pregnant with me while camping with my father and friends. Eventually camping became a way for me to spend more time fishing, my primary outdoor activity.

As for writing, that is something that developed in later years. I was not the most ambitious student growing up but discovered that I enjoyed writing if I was allowed to write on my own accord about topics in which I had a vested interest. Initially I found a creative outlet in poetry and history, in which I have an M.A. Now that my formal schooling is over I have turned to my first and primary passion.

You have a philosophy called the 3 E’s. Can you describe that for us?

Explore – Educate – Enjoy; Make it Count = E3MIC.

For sure, they are interrelated. If you are outdoors, you are exploring nature, educating yourself on your immediate habitat, and enjoying the time outside. However, you should be willing to take a step further and test yourself, especially when your standard practices aren’t necessarily working the way you planned in your current circumstances. While I provide some specific examples on my website, there truly are endless opportunities to put the Three E’s into practice regardless of motives.

Despite the fact that my wife has been and is extremely understanding, in terms of my semi-regular request to go fishing and camping, I am a father and husband first and foremost. The responsibilities of family and career limit my time outdoors. I have to make every moment count. With this in mind, I developed the philosophy of the Three Es as your time outdoors should never be wasted.

What are your goals for the blog?

There were actually two main goals in mind when I created the website. First, I must give credit to my buddy George (@RugidOutoors). He called to ask if I wanted to be part of the brand he was creating on social media. I was honored by the idea and greatly enjoy time afield with him. However, we did have a different philosophy about what the brand should be. Since I did not want to infringe upon his vision in any way, GermanikAngler.com was created in keeping with my goals and philosophy.

Having a creative outlet to discuss fishing and the outdoors provides me with an extreme sense of satisfaction. Originally, the goal was to have my website/blog be the main vehicle for my writing. The site is now support system for my writing in general which has since been published in digital and print media.

Finally, I must admit I had hoped to earn a Prostaff position so as to feel that I was part of the fishing industry and felt the website offered a bit of legitimacy. I have since moved on from this goal (in part due to having achieved it) and am more focused on writing. Nonetheless, I have enjoyed and/or learned from my Prostaff experiences.

Your favorite home water is the Upper Delaware River. Why do you love this fishery?

I started fishing the Delaware River once my father felt I was capable of listening to his satisfaction as a river holds additional safety hazards beyond those typically found on still water. Many days were enjoyed on the UDR with my father and Michael Padua, a family friend and founder of Sweetwater Guide Service. To this day, I prefer the Upper Delaware River to any other body of water. The river is pristine and free flowing, the view is consistently breathtaking, and wildlife abounds, Bald Eagles, bear, deer, and beaver to mention a few.

The fishing is unparalleled. My favorite species to target are Smallmouth Bass, Trout, and Walleye. They can all be caught on any given day from boat or shore. The Upper Delaware is one of the most underrated fisheries in the country and I would argue a World Class flyfishing destination for Wild Rainbow and Brown trout

When I was 10 years old, my family purchased a vacation trailer. I was fortunate fish the river extensively in the area surrounded by the Pocono Mountains. And while I had countless great days fishing with my dad, few compare to any of the days we spent on the Upper Delaware River together.

What three pieces of advice do you have for someone fishing the River for the first time?

Know the species you are targeting including the best time of year and conditions. For example, fishing in the early part of the year may dictate that you head to the West Branch and headwaters for trout while a few weeks later you’re targeting the Shad run. As you head into June, you are likely heading down stream and can expect to catch 40-60 bass between you and buddy on a really good day. Knowing what, when, and where will increase your chance for success and enjoyment.

Additionally, find a local expert. Whether you are an experienced angler or brand new to the sport, fishing with a local guide offers a variety of benefits especially when fishing a body of water for the first time. If you can afford it, spending a half or full day with a guide will only increase your chances of success. You are fishing with a person whose main objective is to yell “fish on”, and provide additional opportunities to obtain knowledge from the source. The lessons learned may potentially be applied to other locales and/or improve your chances of success if you return.

If you prefer a self-guided tour, I recommend hitting up a local tackle shop. Tackle shop owners , like fishing guides, are small business owners They are entrepreneurs who thrive on word of mouth and repeat business. More often then not, they are willing to share information that will increase your chances of success; best locations, water conditions, best lures or patterns, etc. Consider the fact that they have their fingers on the pulse of local fisheries and are generally the medium through which a great wealth of first hand information is exchanged.

Finally, the principles of fishing a river or lake are fundamentally the same but learning how river flow affects fishing is key to success. Look for subtle and not so subtle changes. I target eddies (often formed by a large rock), the whirlpools that form (no danger to you or the boat) seemingly out of nowhere, and areas where there are changes in current speed. These changes disorient baitfish and often result in a tight line.

Where else do you consider your home waters?

I consider myself a man without a country. Though I have recently taken up surf fishing, I still fish freshwater primarily It is possible I know the UDR better than more local options. I do enjoy early season fly-fishing on the Island and take my daughter fishing. When she joins me, I return to the lakes my father brought me to when panfish and pickerel were king. Those waters will always straddle a combination of nostalgia and future hope.

You recently wrote about fishing with family on your blog. Who were your early fishing influences? And what did they teach you?

My primary fishing influence was my father. He started taking me fishing when I was three and I immediately took to it. Dad taught me all of the basics of fishing while instilling a deep respect for nature and the importance of conservation. As I grew and became advanced, I preferred lure fishing and began absorbing more from my secondary fishing influence, Michael Padua. My father’s preferred method of angling is bait fishing but I have fished exclusively with artificials and soft plastics since I was 12. Mike has been the biggest influence in that aspect of my angling education.

You had an August (2016) bass fishing trip to Maine. Where did you go? How was the trip?

I visited the Belgrade Lakes region. Unfortunately the fishing was SLOW this year. Last year (2015) the conditions were perfect for bass fishing and the quality/quantity of the catch reflected that. This year, environmental conditions proved difficult. The lake, which typically runs 68-72 degrees, was 78 degrees and has been for much of the summer due to the mild winter and recent drought which has reduced the water level by more than 1 foot. Combine that with swirling winds a majority of the time and it spelled a recipe for SLOW fishing. Several locals lamented how the fishing last year was significantly better and unfortunately I was forced to concur. Of course the day we left I looked at the lake temp on the depth finder and saw that it had dropped four degrees overnight. Looking at the lodge website afterwards stung a bit.

What is your review of the fishing lodge where you stayed?

Whisperwood Lodge & Cottages is a family run business with excellent food, rustic yet clean lakeside accommodations, and reasonable rates. The proprietors I first became acquainted, Doug and Candee, are still involved with the business but have since transitioned business operation to their son, Cameron, and his wife. I am very happy to see that Whisperwood will stay within this family and have been impressed with Cam and Renee.

Interview with Dock Talk 365

Gary Maerz

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