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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Marin Hot Tub Country
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Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 30, 2004 - 02:50pm PT
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Inspired by the Hilarious Squirrel Solution thread, I thought I'd
try my hand at a little squirrel fishing myself. I am here to tell you that it is not
a trivial matter to "bag" a squirrel -- it took a lot of resolve and technique-refinements
to triumphantly land a trophy-squirrel. Please note that we are "catch and release"
fishermen, and that no pesky rodents were injured during this operation.
First, my co-conspirator spread a few cracker crumbs around the bag to attract
the attention of the curious squirrel:
Inside the bag were crackers and peanut butter smeared in the back.
Mr. Squirrel would sniff around the bag, and would do a couple laps around it
before cautiously sticking his head inside. He seemed to sense that getting all
4 of his feet in the bag would not be a good idea. Here's a video clip of our first
successful squirrel bagging:
(The sound must be turned up nice and loud to get the full effect.
The audio is workplace approved, so those of you
screwing around on the company dime don't have to
worry about getting into trouble)
(600 KB Quicktime Movie)
http://www.oceandave.com/Fishing.mov
And here's the MPEG version--playable on virtually any computer--which has
much better sound; has an extra 7 seconds of lead-in, and shows the squirrel
sensing the danger and being hesitant to "commit to the moves"...
(2.4 MB, with awesome 128 kbps audio track)
http://www.oceandave.com/Fishing.mpg
Enjoy!
Hardman Knott
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Southern Man
climber
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Aug 30, 2004 - 03:24pm PT
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That's better than any Bill Dance fishing video.
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dirtbag
climber
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Aug 30, 2004 - 03:30pm PT
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Dude, that's friggin' hilarious!
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Matt
climber
SF
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 30, 2004 - 03:41pm PT
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hey, can you get them to stand in a pyramid?
now that would be something...
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maculated
Trad climber
San Luis Obispo, CA
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Aug 30, 2004 - 04:57pm PT
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I am so totally going to hell for inspiring this.
You went wrong with the cheap bags. Gotta pick up some from the Yosemite grocery store. Those things are industrial.
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Apocalypsenow
Trad climber
Cali
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Aug 30, 2004 - 04:58pm PT
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Ahh yes, the things we all do on rest days...
Wait, was that a rest day?
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up2top
Big Wall climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Aug 30, 2004 - 05:03pm PT
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Beeeee-U-tiful!!
Did the squirrel sh!t the bag like the other ones? K-Mac, this is going to turn into a more popular rest day sport than slack-lining.
Ed
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maculated
Trad climber
San Luis Obispo, CA
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Aug 30, 2004 - 05:25pm PT
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Ed, I'm going to hell.
But at least I didn't KILL any squirrels. :)
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Clayman
Trad climber
CA
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Aug 30, 2004 - 05:29pm PT
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yes its fun, but you cannot call yourself a true squirrel fisherman unless you have constructed a squirrel launcher and then proceeded to send the furry rodents across camp through the air. that is the future.
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Marin Hot Tub Country
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 30, 2004 - 05:46pm PT
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Hey Maculated,
I was wondering if you could offer some tips or suggestions for more fruitful fishing.
At first we tried doubled bags, but found that the bag wouldn't have as big an
opening, and the squirrels wouldn't go in. Also, there needs to be minimal slack
in the system; there can't be any delay from the time the line is yanked to when
the bag gets launched. We were highly disappointed that the squirrel was able to
escape so quickly. After several viewings of slow-motion replays of the Squirrel Cam
footage, I have determined that the bag was too close to the branch, which allowed the
rope to swing and the bag to tip, turning the helpless prisoner into an instant "flying squirrel"...
So how long does the captive carry on like a whirling dervish? Do they ever settle
down and quietly accept the time-out?
Also, I was thinking a girth-hitch might close the top of the bag better than
a loop created by the Fig-8 knot. What do you think?
Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks again for the inspiration!
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maculated
Trad climber
San Luis Obispo, CA
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Aug 31, 2004 - 12:03pm PT
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Well, I suppose i can offer some well-earned advice:
"At first we tried doubled bags, but found that the bag wouldn't have as big an opening, and the squirrels wouldn't go in."
A good, single ply paper bag should do it. Try Trader Joes. You may have more fiesty squirrels.
"Also, there needs to be minimal slack
in the system; there can't be any delay from the time the line is yanked to when
the bag gets launched. We were highly disappointed that the squirrel was able to
escape so quickly."
True. This is why we chose webbing and an bendy branched-tree. It created a dampening spring action upon deployment.
"After several viewings of slow-motion replays of the Squirrel Cam footage, I have determined that the bag was too close to the branch, which allowed the rope to swing and the bag to tip, turning the helpless prisoner into an instant "flying squirrel"..."
Precisely. We watched imitators try to keep their squirrels bagged, and all came under this same problem. In your zeal, I would suggest only pulling the bag taut enough so that it does not give said squirrel foot purchase. I have photos of the squirrel-in bag- because we never yanked more than waist high.
"So how long does the captive carry on like a whirling dervish? Do they ever settle
down and quietly accept the time-out?"
About ten seconds after your squirrels escaped.
"Also, I was thinking a girth-hitch might close the top of the bag better than a loop created by the Fig-8 knot. What do you think?"
That happens to be the knot of choice for maculated and fargoan's Squirrel O' Matic.
Try GORP. It won't weaken the bag like peanut butter oils will. Then have fun trying to decide if your squirrel managed to eat any or if those really are "raisins."
Going to hell in a hand basket . . . wanna hold hands and skip on the way?
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coylec
Big Wall climber
Portland, OR
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Aug 31, 2004 - 11:13pm PT
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:: shakes head ::
cruel, cruel, cruel. alright, i'm done.
that video is freakin' great -- funny stuff.
yeah, where's your handbasket?
coylec
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Juggler
Trad climber
Earth
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I did see this done successfully back in May using an unused poop tube. Once the trap was sprung there was no escaping for the squirrel. At first it was still head down and then it managed to right itself and could only wait patiently until it was released.
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Flash
Ice climber
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Just use a fishook on fishing line with a nut on it. Make sure you have some needlenose pliars in case the squirrel swallows the hook. If you just pull the hook out it might tear their tongue and that would be a bummer.
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Link
climber
Yosemite, CA
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Gimme a break people. And we wonder why Camp 4 and climbers get a bad rap...
I seem to remember a conversation on this site about how climbers respect Yosemite, treat it well, enjoy it the way it was meant to be enjoyed...
Thanks for making my job that much harder.
-Link
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Dave
Mountain climber
Fresno
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 3, 2004 - 07:35pm PT
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Hey Link - you could use the same technique to catch the rogue climbers overstaying their camping limit. Just use a supersized haulbag. ;)
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Irisharehere
Trad climber
Gunks
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Baited with hybrid Aliens!
Irish
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David Nelson
climber
San Francisco
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Jefferson: you are missing the facts as they came out on the previous thread, including the admission from the woman involved that she had been drinking, in celebration of an ascent. Enough of the "facts" of the original post have been destroyed conclusively that the credibility of the entire post is zip.
Let's not destroy the squirrel fishing thread with this topic: go back to the original thread.
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David Nelson
climber
San Francisco
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Link,
I know that harassing the animals in Yosemite is illegal, but you have to admit it is funny! I normally walk the straight and narrow, but this sure tickles my funny bone. Sorry it makes your life harder. I guess I need to work on my ethics a bit...
(but it is still a scream...)
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Marin Hot Tub Country
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 4, 2004 - 11:06am PT
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I just returned from our latest squirrel-fishing expedition. During lulls in the fishing,
we occupied ourselves by climbing on pristine granite. I have learned the following:
Squirrels seem to disappear for several hours when dogs are in the area,
so so don't bring a dog to a squirrel-fight. Or conversely, take a dog camping
if you don't want to even see squirrels for the entire duration of your stay.
Man's best friend appears to be an amazing deterrent; much scarier than
a bit of trashing around in a Whole Foods shopping bag!
The same fat squirrel that starred in my video finally
reappeared, but would not enter the bag. So squirrel "bagging" appears to work
well as a deterrent. We eventually got tired of not catching anything, and reluctantly
had to get off our asses and do other stuff. Oh well...
Here's a cool little page with several really good fishing photos, including this one:
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