Actually we leave for the Yucatan in three weeks
can hardly stand it.
can hardly stand it.
What fishing/outdoor/etc stuff are you most looking forward to in 2025?
- Thread starter Josh
- Start date
I lived and guided in Homosassa. Not in the days when the water turned black with giant schools of fish around St Martins Keys but it was still healthy enough that my 13 year old son was able to land 4 fish between 90 and 140 lbs in a day out of the 8 that he hooked. Water quality is certainly an issue and development is unchecked.. The fine state of Florida is full of crooked developers and greedy politicians and the crooked attorneys that keep them all out of jail. One thing I noticed during my time there that affected the travel and behavior of the fish was the influence manifested by 30 - 40 boats a day of wealthy anglers out there trying to buy a big fish. At times we are our own worst enemy. I was off Bayport the day Kilpatrick gaffed and dragged in that 202 lb fish. Thank God there was no Instagram or it all would have ended right then and there.
Would love to make the ConFab in mid May and win the two week New Zealand trout fishing trip prize for traveling the furthest with a truck full of fishing gear but I don’t think it’s going to happen. I think I pegged it at 3011 miles…but 1200 miles off-route. Maybe next year.
But, alas this year it’s a direct drive, late May, early June to Dutch John for a week on the Green, oil change in @up2nogood ‘s neighborhood and dinner then Montana to hopefully fish with a friend’s son who is a guide in the Bozeman area before the snow melt.
After that put it in the wind, northbound to meet the wife, grandson and family outside of Fairbanks AK for a week or 10 days. She’s flying in so 900 mile road days are achievable. May fish locally, might travel some with grandson, might not but some of the gear that would have gone to the meet-up will be left with Eric & family. After that, southbound to the Jasper and Banff area to placate the wife.
As an early birthday present I’m going to find myself on the Bow outside of Calgary to rest up for the return trip to the Lower East Side of the country. Logistically I’m looking at 11K -12K miles, a couple million trout and salmon
available along with some self directed peace and solitude. Of course the latter part is based upon the fact the fine folks of Canada will allow US in… but we won’t go there.
Thinking of doing a daily log/report of happenings and post it in honor of William Least Heat Moon’s Blue Highways, which, strangely enough now show as Interstate Highways, so…..I’ll figure something out. The one downside of this trip is my spring work gig of having to off load 11 boat delivery contracts, and counting, for the time period I’ve allowed for travel. That would have been 20K+ miles under duress so I’m fine with it.
Other than that, life will continue……until it doesn’t.
But, alas this year it’s a direct drive, late May, early June to Dutch John for a week on the Green, oil change in @up2nogood ‘s neighborhood and dinner then Montana to hopefully fish with a friend’s son who is a guide in the Bozeman area before the snow melt.
After that put it in the wind, northbound to meet the wife, grandson and family outside of Fairbanks AK for a week or 10 days. She’s flying in so 900 mile road days are achievable. May fish locally, might travel some with grandson, might not but some of the gear that would have gone to the meet-up will be left with Eric & family. After that, southbound to the Jasper and Banff area to placate the wife.
As an early birthday present I’m going to find myself on the Bow outside of Calgary to rest up for the return trip to the Lower East Side of the country. Logistically I’m looking at 11K -12K miles, a couple million trout and salmon
available along with some self directed peace and solitude. Of course the latter part is based upon the fact the fine folks of Canada will allow US in… but we won’t go there. Thinking of doing a daily log/report of happenings and post it in honor of William Least Heat Moon’s Blue Highways, which, strangely enough now show as Interstate Highways, so…..I’ll figure something out. The one downside of this trip is my spring work gig of having to off load 11 boat delivery contracts, and counting, for the time period I’ve allowed for travel. That would have been 20K+ miles under duress so I’m fine with it.
Other than that, life will continue……until it doesn’t.
Just getting the F@@# out and fishing, hiking, and 'sploring the thin blue lines of the Poconos with the pups!!!
Cheers
Cheers
Sure!!
Congrats! It's a cushy job, but someone has to do it! If you can work it our for the salmon fly hatch it just might ruin you for life (but what a way to go!).
I leave a week from now to drive down to La Ventana to wing foil for a month and a half, and get home just in time for the start of the nicer weather here in the Columbia Gorge.
From there it'll be a balance between fishing on less windy days and foiling when the (warmer) wind blows. I have tentative plans to fish Idaho/Montana/Wyoming this summer and fall.
From there it'll be a balance between fishing on less windy days and foiling when the (warmer) wind blows. I have tentative plans to fish Idaho/Montana/Wyoming this summer and fall.
Art at NP shaping your foil boards?
Congrats on the retirement and moving to a sunny and warm place, but why give up fly fishing?
Not giving it up completely, just selling a lot of things I don’t want to keep in storage. My wife and I plan to return to the Seattle area about every four months for a week or so.
I guess I meant, don’t you plan to fish down there? Just pretend that RB in your avatar is a dorado and go nuts!
I remember the first time fishing for Rooster Fish...
Hooked a fish and thought this must be a giant.
Fish came in at 5lbs!
I think Mazatlán has some descent Rooster fishing.
You are a lucky dog.
Enjoy and congratulations
Hooked a fish and thought this must be a giant.
Fish came in at 5lbs!
I think Mazatlán has some descent Rooster fishing.
You are a lucky dog.
Enjoy and congratulations
Should be an incredible trip!! A daily log would be wonderful!!!!Would love to make the ConFab in mid May and win the two week New Zealand trout fishing trip prize for traveling the furthest with a truck full of fishing gear but I don’t think it’s going to happen. I think I pegged it at 3011 miles…but 1200 miles off-route. Maybe next year.
But, alas this year it’s a direct drive, late May, early June to Dutch John for a week on the Green, oil change in @up2nogood ‘s neighborhood and dinner then Montana to hopefully fish with a friend’s son who is a guide in the Bozeman area before the snow melt.
After that put it in the wind, northbound to meet the wife, grandson and family outside of Fairbanks AK for a week or 10 days. She’s flying in so 900 mile road days are achievable. May fish locally, might travel some with grandson, might not but some of the gear that would have gone to the meet-up will be left with Eric & family. After that, southbound to the Jasper and Banff area to placate the wife.
As an early birthday present I’m going to find myself on the Bow outside of Calgary to rest up for the return trip to the Lower East Side of the country. Logistically I’m looking at 11K -12K miles, a couple million trout and salmon
Thinking of doing a daily log/report of happenings and post it in honor of William Least Heat Moon’s Blue Highways, which, strangely enough now show as Interstate Highways, so…..I’ll figure something out. The one downside of this trip is my spring work gig of having to off load 11 boat delivery contracts, and counting, for the time period I’ve allowed for travel. That would have been 20K+ miles under duress so I’m fine with it.
Other than that, life will continue……until it doesn’t.
How are you getting from Fairbanks to the Jasper? If you have the extra time, a stout vehicle (you must have for the journey you have planned), and don't mind a few extra miles, would recommend going via Chicken Alaska (when I went through, home to 12 people and one grump), over the Top of the World Highway (believe me, "highway" is a misnomer), and down through Dawson City (Hwy 2) to Whitehorse. Be sure to get a picture of the license plate sign in Watson Lake and stop and have a soak in the Laird Hot Springs first thing in the morning if at all possible).
The drive from Jasper to Banff is as beautiful as it gets (though likely pretty crowded at the time I think you'll be going through). The 2024 fire destroyed a lot of the town, though most major landmarks were unscathed. I preferred Jasper over Banff, which is very touristy. You'll get to see the Columbia Ice field before it melts away (already huge amount lost), and Lake Louise, if you can get past the crowds (or stop very early AM), is stunning!! Have fun on the Bow, some very nice trouts in there.
Again, not sure what route you're taking to get back east, but if ya gots the time, I would recommend the Canadian route along the TC highway. The north shore of Lake Superior is a great drive, and if you see a hitch-hiker in Wawa, pick him up (I hitch-hiked across Canada in my later teens, famous story/legend out there about being sstuck in Wawa).
No matter what or which route you take, sounds wonderful; it's a Journey I am planning on once I retire (couple more years yet).
Be Safe!!
cheers
Feb. - finish the van project.
March - April 15 - Skagit Steelhead
April 25 - May 6 - Sedona AZ
Rest of May - mid June - BC
Late June - early July - MT
3 weeks at Baker for sockeye.
Rest up until coho and putting on a new roof and painting the house.
After Coho - ?
March - April 15 - Skagit Steelhead
April 25 - May 6 - Sedona AZ
Rest of May - mid June - BC
Late June - early July - MT
3 weeks at Baker for sockeye.
Rest up until coho and putting on a new roof and painting the house.
After Coho - ?
A good time for that is after the slopes firm up from the runnoff of a recent rain or snowmelt, letting the water do a lot of the work for you. A garden cultivator is a great hand tool for exposing what is in the freshly stabilized soils.