By Bryan Rose
To excel in the sport of fishing, one must always seek out the best knowledge and tactics available. In almost every article written by or about Adam LaRosa of the Canyon Runner, an unending thirst for knowledge is brought up as a key to his success and that of the rest of the Canyon Runner crew. For this same reason the crew of the Canyon Runner spends a few cold winter weekends, not in Florida fishing for sails and swords, but back home in the northeast sharing their wealth of knowledge with hundreds of sportfishing fanatics. Legions of these offshore anglers fill conference centers from New England to the Mid-Atlantic looking to learn the skills that have made the Canyon Runner crew the envy of most who spend time along the edge of the deep Atlantic. It was that reason that brought me to the Atlantic City Sheraton on a blustery January morning with the hopes of filling my own thirst for knowledge. For those who haven't taken the time, there is no better place to refine one's knowledge of offshore fishing than a day at the Canyon Runner Seminars. The crew behind the series is one of the very best in canyon fishing and come willing to share every tip and trick that their huge amount of time on the offshore grounds has generated.
The day started early and with a bang, or perhaps a hiss, as with over 300 faces looking on Ed Hoff of Viking Rafts demonstrated something that fortunately few in the room including the hosts had ever seen - the inflation of an offshore life raft. The demonstration helped kick off the day's lectures, with the Canyon Runner crew going over the all-important aspects of safety and maintenance.
Not to be overlooked is the danger that heading 100-plus miles offshore when unprepared can represent and this was a reality that LaRosa and crew didn't mince words on. Judging the abilities of your boat, assembling the proper safety gear and using the best forecasting were all points that the attendees were encouraged to consider. The crew covered safety first before talk of tackle or tactics even began. This dedication is something that should take top priority in all of our trips.
Mate Brad Burgess then took the crowd through caring for tackle and the approach that the Canyon Runner crews take on every trip and before every season. While the bent rods and cockpit chaos often get the headlines, the countless hours of rigging, checking and rechecking tackle and gear is what makes the time spent on the water most productive. This work ethic is another straightforward key to success that has kept the Canyon Runner scoring wherever they fish.
Finally, before the crowd broke up into separate rooms for breakout sessions the Canyon Runner crew went over one other key aspect of their success, the art of trolling in the wake of the Canyon Runner Viking and soon their custom built 60-foot Ritchie Howell or 32-foot Regulator. While the new boats may mean refining the tactics that have been so effective to date, it's a change we must all overcome as we apply the proven tactics to the nature of our own boats. While tweaking the textbook patterns may be necessary to match any craft, several fish-catching spreads were detailed with different line and lure combinations and even go-to patterns for heavy weather or imperfect conditions.
In the first hour of the day more information was shared than most old-school captains would divulge in a lifetime. This was despite the fact that the best part was just beginning. The crowd split amongst the individual rooms of the conference center for the breakout sessions where intimate settings and a hands-on approach took over.
