After 35 years of chasing stripers on bait, 3 years ago I get a new nieghbor, Tony Buzolich. Tony's passion for big water fly fishing quickly rubbed off on me. Now with several trips to Mexico, Florida, San Diego, along with many trips to the delta I am an addict. Worse yet, the Sacramento River is only 20 minutes from my house. I am now a fly fishing junky with an empty bank account who spends his days planning the next adventure and looking for the next rod or reel I can't live without.
After 6 years of being neck deep with my son Kyle and Little League baseball, we have traded in his glove for a fly rod. On May 21st, me and Kyle headed over to the Sacramento River for his 1st attempt at a striper on fly. I put him on a 7wt because anything larger is a struggle. Setting the boat on top of rock wall, his 1st 4 casts were dismal at best. After a little coaching from dad Kyle dropped the clouser a foot off of the wall with his next cast. After a couple of short strips his rod bent slowly over. Thinking he was hung up I took the rod from him. I started up the motor to head upstream and try and retreive the fly. I then saw the line going towards the center of the river at warp speed. I quickly gave Kyle the rod back and the fight was on!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After about 15 minutes we netted a nice 13 pound male. After some quick pictures he slid the fish back into the water (under protest because fried striper is his favorite meal). Unfortunately, soon after my trolling motor batteries died, ending the day. Within an hour my cell phone was also dead, a proud dad calling everone he new (of course Tony 1st) bragging about Kyle's catch.
Tieing a few clousers for the day------------------------------------$7
2 new trolling motor batteries--------------------------------------$330
A 7wt with reel and line--------------------------------------------$700
Helping my son catch his 1st striper on a fly------------PRICELESS!!!!
Tony has become my closest friend and fishing buddy. He is the kind of guy who would give not only the shirt of of his back but the one's in his closet also. Thanks buddy.
Bill Siler
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