Comments on: We forgot the Conestoga when we started drinking Calistoga

By: KBarton10

KBarton10 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:51:33 +0000

That’s fair enough, but when lake water dampens my feet, fly prices increase to $9.50 per dry, and $14.30 per nymph. Tippet is a buck a foot.

Use of my spare rod because you forgot yours – priceless…

By: The Boat - Base Camp Legends

The Boat - Base Camp Legends — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:11:59 +0000

[...] We headed out to Owyhee Reservoir to do some bass fishing – and this was a special event because Owyhee was our prime bass water, but it was also a large body of water that we generally stayed away from because of the unpredictability of our beautiful floating vessel. “We” included Dad, Grandpa, my two older brothers, and myself. You’ll have to excuse the fuzzy details as they are recalled from the depths of my memory as this must have occurred around the time I was seven years old or so. We hit the lake and started up the reservoir. Initially, we had wanted to stay close to the ramp, but shoot, the reservoir is 52 miles long, so what’s the fun in just hanging around the ramp when there is 52 miles of fishing to do? We crept a little further and a little further from the ramp. We hit a cove here, then noticed a nice looking cove just a little ways further. We kept this up, till in one fateful cove, as we packed ‘er up to head to the next nice looking cove, the engine decided it’d had enough. Nothing. Not even a whisper of energy left in it. My mechanical father tried everything – from telling the boat what a beauty she was and how sleek and shiny she was to telling it what an ugly brute it was and some other things I didn’t quite catch. Finally, we succumbed to the reality that we were going to have to paddle back. We were now several miles up the reservoir – and to a seven year old it seemed like we were 50 miles up the reservoir. We realized we had just one old wooden paddle, some rope, and a few old whipped cream cartons. It’s amazing what becomes a paddle when one is desperate enough. Some might scoff at how unprepared we were, but when it comes to fishing, the only things we think about are: fishing pole? Check. Tackle box? Check. Let’s go fishin’ and we’ll worry about what might happen later. [...]

By: Lucky New friend

Lucky New friend — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:59:44 +0000

I am both honored and amazed to be even considered a part of the KBarton “new set of friends”. However, I draw the line by staying out of my REI tent, no sharing of my electric toothbrush and no tasting of my perfectly cooked and aged New York steak.

By: KBarton10

KBarton10 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:56:48 +0000

Pop,

I took your advice and got a new set of friends, these may be worse than the last batch..

By: KBarton10

KBarton10 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:55:45 +0000

In summary, we’ve got more hardcore than West Hollywood – as for Lea & Perrins .. that’s why you muscle the campsite next to you.

A half dozen unwashed and unshaven louts charging out of the darkness, would score some Grey Poupon, some Lea & Perrins, and whatever else looked good in their icebox.

By: Jean-Paul Lipton

Jean-Paul Lipton — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:26:10 +0000

Now I know why I can’t grow a beard; I was genetically engineered to be able to head right to the river without having to shave. Not that a roughfisher would anyway.

You wouldn’t see me the whole trip until it was time to go home; don’t need any dead weight holding me back from exploring water.

That bear better look out; I think he’s gnawing on my dinner.

By: Yomama

Yomama — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:05:46 +0000

Your pals around the watercooler sound like real leatherstockings. They are wisely observing that ancient wilderness maxim, “ANY DAMN FOOL can be uncomfortable in the woods !” Would it KILL you hairy Piltdowns to have to include a small bottle of Lea & Perrins in with the rotgut?

By: SMJ

SMJ — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:16:22 +0000

It’s nice to have a mix of people on a fishing trip. On the annual trip my brother puts on, there’s always one guy we practically never see (because he’s always on the river), and another guy who never leaves camp (most trips he doesn’t even put his rod together). The “river rat” provides the rest of us with detailed info on where he’s been fishing, what areas to avoid, what’s been hatching, what’s been working, etc. The “camp wife” makes sure there’s always plenty of wood and that the coolers are always full of beer. He’s also one helluva cook, so there’s always plenty of good grub. It seems to work out well.

As for comforts, I’d never take a shower on a fishing trip, even if one was available – wife might get suspicious if I came home clean. I’ve never owned a tent, but I did recently purchase a cot, and I’ll admit it’s nicer than sleeping on the ground.

By: Kbarton10

Kbarton10 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:55:11 +0000

OK, Tom makes three. I knew there were some stalwarts left

By: Tom Sorenson

Tom Sorenson — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:44:14 +0000

Ha! Love it. First time I took my wife on a fishing trip – boy, did she get educated! Unfortunately, she doesn’t go on those trips with me anymore….I wonder why?