so much love and memories in those eyes
Your One Photo - 2023
- Thread starter mcswny
- Start date
I didn’t take a lot of pictures this year, but I think this one sums it up. Oliver is somewhere on this lake behind me.
Paige
Wishing I was fishing the Sauk
Was his first fish!
Credit for this pic and how this trip came together goes to @Cabezon
I’ve wanted to take a tuna on the fly trip ever since I saw it years ago on the Emerald Waters website. The gear, the flies and just how badass it looked. Well the years went by and I always thought one day I’ll make it happen. I’ve always struggled with a bout of anxiety from time to time and I’ve questioned whether or not I’d be up for the challenge of going out to sea on a trip like this. Will I get sick? Will I enjoy my company? Will I freak out and panic once the mainland is out of sight? All of these questions went through my head as a newby to the ocean game and I ran through all of the worst scenarios in my head. For sure I would be blowing chunks, fetal position in the cabin while yelling for the captain to turn the boat around
This year, when Steve sent the open invitation I pulled the trigger and booked a date. My anxiety instantly kicked in. WTF, fishing is supposed to relive my stress, not induce it.
As the “impending” trip was coming closer I found solace in tying a bunch of albacore flies which helped to reinvigorate a love of tying flies for me, something that had been waining a bit. I got inspiration from a lot of tiers on this site and dove into the East coast saltwater style patterns and techniques. Being creative/artistic has always been a form of therapy for me. Filling a box of tuna flies kept me on track mentally and spiritually so to speak.
The trip finally draws near…
Trip gets cancelled due to bad weather. Trip #1 gets rescheduled. Rescheduled trip #2 gets canceled due to bad weather. Steve pulls it together to reschedule a third and last go at it.
The weather was not looking good for the final rescheduled trip (#3). My GF and I got a hotel in Westport that weekend and dug some razors the first few nights. It was windy as all hell and there were sneaker waves reported by the locals. It was easy to see that the ocean was not in a good mood. I patiently waited to hear back from Steve to give the green light on the tuna trip while I restlessly waited in my hotel room. I thought for sure it would be canceled again and I felt equal parts disappointment and anxiety induced relief at that idea. A half day late (due to the weather) the green light came through and it was finally real. Oh shit, it’s really going down. I’m going on that boat, like it or not…
The next morning came and I met the group. My team was awesome. @Cabezon, @SilverFly and @jasmillo as fishing partners and a cool captain and deckhand. The early morning banter with the captain and fellow anglers put my nerves at ease. A few hours later we hit the tuna grounds. It was a surreal experience being that far out and seeing all of the wildlife. The images of white sided dolphins and humpback whales are forever burned into my brain. A cocktail of scopalomine and Dramamine had me feeling proper, no sea sickness for me. In fact I was feeling pure stoke all day. I can’t wait to get out there again and I’m super grateful to those who made it possible.
Dave
Mines a terrible shot with zoom, but it kinda looked like this with the tears in my eyes.
When you get bent like that on your first fish, I imagine you get hooked pretty quickly
One of many adventures we shared this past year. We were the only ones there and for a while just sat in total silence, taking it all in. Small fish were caught. Taken just a few days after our 38th anniversary. Together for 48 and after putting up with all my sh*t she still wants to hang out with me. Without question the luckiest man alive.
Those little guys were hilariousJust look at that smile
We aren't fishing this time, but here's my fishing/hunting/outdoor partner in the prime of life.
It is the lower falls.
NFR, my wife and I celebrated our 40th this summer with a trip to France, capped by an evening in Paris hiking along the Seine hitting a handful of prime night photography spots. This shot of the Eiffel Tower at midnight behind the beautiful Pont Alexander was the icing on the cake.
What a gorgeous shot!
Did one of those this summer too, best one I had been on by far and saw the bubble feeds too! cool shot!
Pink Nighty
Life of the Party
Dude.... this. A million times over. Shout out to you man, keep your mentals right.View attachment 94731
Credit for this pic and how this trip came together goes to @Cabezon
I’ve wanted to take a tuna on the fly trip ever since I saw it years ago on the Emerald Waters website. The gear, the flies and just how badass it looked. Well the years went by and I always thought one day I’ll make it happen. I’ve always struggled with a bout of anxiety from time to time and I’ve questioned whether or not I’d be up for the challenge of going out to sea on a trip like this. Will I get sick? Will I enjoy my company? Will I freak out and panic once the mainland is out of sight? All of these questions went through my head as a newby to the ocean game and I ran through all of the worst scenarios in my head. For sure I would be blowing chunks, fetal position in the cabin while yelling for the captain to turn the boat around
This year, when Steve sent the open invitation I pulled the trigger and booked a date. My anxiety instantly kicked in. WTF, fishing is supposed to relive my stress, not induce it.
As the “impending” trip was coming closer I found solace in tying a bunch of albacore flies which helped to reinvigorate a love of tying flies for me, something that had been waining a bit. I got inspiration from a lot of tiers on this site and dove into the East coast saltwater style patterns and techniques. Being creative/artistic has always been a form of therapy for me. Filling a box of tuna flies kept me on track mentally and spiritually so to speak.
The trip finally draws near…
Trip gets cancelled due to bad weather. Trip #1 gets rescheduled. Rescheduled trip #2 gets canceled due to bad weather. Steve pulls it together to reschedule a third and last go at it.
The weather was not looking good for the final rescheduled trip (#3). My GF and I got a hotel in Westport that weekend and dug some razors the first few nights. It was windy as all hell and there were sneaker waves reported by the locals. It was easy to see that the ocean was not in a good mood. I patiently waited to hear back from Steve to give the green light on the tuna trip while I restlessly waited in my hotel room. I thought for sure it would be canceled again and I felt equal parts disappointment and anxiety induced relief at that idea. A half day late (due to the weather) the green light came through and it was finally real. Oh shit, it’s really going down. I’m going on that boat, like it or not…
The next morning came and I met the group. My team was awesome. @Cabezon, @SilverFly and @jasmillo as fishing partners and a cool captain and deckhand. The early morning banter with the captain and fellow anglers put my nerves at ease. A few hours later we hit the tuna grounds. It was a surreal experience being that far out and seeing all of the wildlife. The images of white sided dolphins and humpback whales are forever burned into my brain. A cocktail of scopalomine and Dramamine had me feeling proper, no sea sickness for me. In fact I was feeling pure stoke all day. I can’t wait to get out there again and I’m super grateful to those who made it possible.
Dave
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