mikel
10-14-2008, 09:49 AM
Well, I was the guy...Friday morning...the story is below, but I have to say a quick hello first. I have watched this board for a while and enjoyed it immensely. I post at a local board in Santa Cruiz and the fish sniffer board a little. I'm a tuber in the higher E Sierra lakes and steelheader on the Trinity/Klamath...
I met Charlie Gonzales for the 1st time Friday morning and by Friday afternoon he was my friend. He :o may not be all that pleased with my report:eek: but I think it's a fair assessment of our day together...
The story below is my post on the sniffer board. I felt like I should join up here and share it.
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So, as I decided to wimp out of the trip to Heenan I located a guide to squire me down the AR in his drift boat after steelies and stripers. Sorry for no pics this trip...next time...
Met at Howe Ave at 6:00 and shuttled up to the launch area...got on the water at 1st light and swung flies and nymphed under a thingamabobber in the first sections. No takers, no lookers, no other fishermen. hmmmm
Switched over to stripers...throwing a 9 wt, full sink and a hoochie looking thing that was 4-5" long. My guide was extremely patient with me and gave me 2 or 3 solid casting tips that got me throwing that heavey mess fairly effectively after about 30 minutes of practice and hard work...
By now the wind is at 15-20, swirling and gusting to 30...really helpful for a guy struggling to throw a rig that clearly has him overmatched. BUT my guide remained patient and helpful and worked very hard to keep the boat in shape for me in that wind...tough conditions...
We drifted a great looking run with no results and the guide insisted on a short break and snack. I think he was concerned about a suicide attempt in his immaculate boat
He said he'd bring the food, so I was at his mercy. What does he bring out? Hostess cupcakes and poor coffee? No....fresh melon cut bite size, nice cheese and fresh crackers...good start...and then...not 1 but 2 different styles of DUCK SAUSAGE that was to flipping die for! Hey, you can't make this stuff up...
Spirits raised by the food we went back on the attack...winging that monster rig with a vengeance we got that hoochie thing is a gazillion fishy looking spots...uh, with no results...at all...
bummer
So we switch back to the nymphs as the water dictates...back in my element I'm running my thingamabobber through prime drift after prime drift...uh, was that a take down....nope, it was a snag...
Well, at the risk of keeping this from getting out of control...my poor guide worked himself to death in the wind and so did I but we didn't produce as much as a single takedown the whole day.
BUT....let me tell you about lunch...I'm all set for my soggy turkey club sandwich and this guy says "here, this shrimp cocktail is for you."
HUH? No kidding...the guy brings out a cold soup made with shrimp, striped bass, spiced up and full of veggies...We should have just eaten by a fire and talked fishing all day. The guy is the rowing gourmet!
I had a great time. we saw tons of otters, turkeys, deer, herons, etc...the river is beautiful. I got some great help with casting (that I never knew I needed til I tried the striper rig) and learned a ton about a new river...
My guide worked his heart out for me and we laughed and enjoyed being out there all day...no fish, but a great day...what more can you ask for, I guess...
-Mike
I met Charlie Gonzales for the 1st time Friday morning and by Friday afternoon he was my friend. He :o may not be all that pleased with my report:eek: but I think it's a fair assessment of our day together...
The story below is my post on the sniffer board. I felt like I should join up here and share it.
--------------------------------------
So, as I decided to wimp out of the trip to Heenan I located a guide to squire me down the AR in his drift boat after steelies and stripers. Sorry for no pics this trip...next time...
Met at Howe Ave at 6:00 and shuttled up to the launch area...got on the water at 1st light and swung flies and nymphed under a thingamabobber in the first sections. No takers, no lookers, no other fishermen. hmmmm
Switched over to stripers...throwing a 9 wt, full sink and a hoochie looking thing that was 4-5" long. My guide was extremely patient with me and gave me 2 or 3 solid casting tips that got me throwing that heavey mess fairly effectively after about 30 minutes of practice and hard work...
By now the wind is at 15-20, swirling and gusting to 30...really helpful for a guy struggling to throw a rig that clearly has him overmatched. BUT my guide remained patient and helpful and worked very hard to keep the boat in shape for me in that wind...tough conditions...
We drifted a great looking run with no results and the guide insisted on a short break and snack. I think he was concerned about a suicide attempt in his immaculate boat
He said he'd bring the food, so I was at his mercy. What does he bring out? Hostess cupcakes and poor coffee? No....fresh melon cut bite size, nice cheese and fresh crackers...good start...and then...not 1 but 2 different styles of DUCK SAUSAGE that was to flipping die for! Hey, you can't make this stuff up...
Spirits raised by the food we went back on the attack...winging that monster rig with a vengeance we got that hoochie thing is a gazillion fishy looking spots...uh, with no results...at all...
bummer
So we switch back to the nymphs as the water dictates...back in my element I'm running my thingamabobber through prime drift after prime drift...uh, was that a take down....nope, it was a snag...
Well, at the risk of keeping this from getting out of control...my poor guide worked himself to death in the wind and so did I but we didn't produce as much as a single takedown the whole day.
BUT....let me tell you about lunch...I'm all set for my soggy turkey club sandwich and this guy says "here, this shrimp cocktail is for you."
HUH? No kidding...the guy brings out a cold soup made with shrimp, striped bass, spiced up and full of veggies...We should have just eaten by a fire and talked fishing all day. The guy is the rowing gourmet!
I had a great time. we saw tons of otters, turkeys, deer, herons, etc...the river is beautiful. I got some great help with casting (that I never knew I needed til I tried the striper rig) and learned a ton about a new river...
My guide worked his heart out for me and we laughed and enjoyed being out there all day...no fish, but a great day...what more can you ask for, I guess...
-Mike