Fishing Forum

[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][#002850]Well, it is time now for me to post, yet again, a report of one of the best fishing trips of my life … if not the best.

For the third year in a row, I have had the opportunity to take a guided fishing trip with Tarponjim ([url "http://fishflaminggorge.com/"]Jim Williams of Creative Fishing Adventures[/url]). Rileyfish, N.E.T.O., and I booked the trip with him a year ago.

Randy (N.E.T.O.) and I drove up the night before and stayed at the Villa Inn in Manila. Very nice accommodations for two guys. The Villa is a real decent place for just $50 ($25 per person). Two queen beds, shower, TV, etc. A regular motel without the pool. [/#002850][/size][/font]
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Mark (Rileyfish) drove up with Petty4Life and stayed in one of the KOA cabins next door.

Randy and I met Jim and Mark at the dock at 6:30 and headed out to Antelope Flats for our first stop, drop, and vertical jig for monster macks. We arrived to see a cluster of about 15 boats all in one area trying their hand at mack fishing.

Although I didn’t see any of those boats bring anything in, it might have been because we were too busy with our own excitement. I started the day off with this little 17 lb. pup.

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Then, we tied up a triple! Randy had a pretty decent pole bend on his:

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Mine was 18 lbs., Randy’s was 25 lbs., and Mark had the biggest one of 28 lbs.

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By then, I figured we could just go home because we had already accomplished more than I would have ever expected. But no, we had only been there an hour and the sonar was still hot with marks! We had just begun.

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Mark decided to make darn sure no one was going to top his 28er and so then next thing you know, he was yanking on a 34 lber!!! It was giving him a pretty good pole bend.

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I loved that fish so much, I decided to give you three looks at it here.

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That big ole 34 pounder got the traditional gentle release:

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Then we headed for other parts of the lake to see what we could catch. Being very unfamiliar with that lake, I couldn’t tell you where we were any time.

After a while, I boated a 21 pounder.

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It was truly a gorgeous day on the lake with no wind all day long.

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One time, while coming up from one of our jigging “drops”, my lure was about 15 feet from coming into the boat and suddenly, my rod tip took a dive. “Holy crap. What the heck was that?”, I thought. Next thing we knew, a 27 pounder was flashing on the surface and then headed back down to it’s home 70 feet down. Wow … what a rush! Ten minutes later we got him in the boat. But for some reason, I don’t seem to have a picture.

The next drop netted me this nice 28 pounder:

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He looked bigger than 28 lbs but he was full of air. Jim had to use his heavy lead “descender” device to give it a free ride down to the bottom where the mack was released.

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After that catch, I still managed one more little 20 lb mack. And I don’t seem to have a picture of it either.

Then, around 3:00 we called it a day and boated back to the marina.

The grand totals:

Randy ... 25 lb
Mark ... 28 and 34 (like all other years, the biggest)
Ralph ... 17,18,20,21,27and 28

Man, talk about a successful day of mack fishing ... WOW!

Randy and I made the long drive back home with LOTS to talk about all the way. Mark stayed to fish for kokanee with Pety4Life and others for a couple more days.

I sure enjoyed the company, dinner at the Mustang, fishing under the guidance of Jim Williams, and all the pictures and memories I need for the next year. I hope to do it again next year.
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WOW!!!!

Looks like a great time Ralph.[]

Three years in a row,you have to know somebody to get on the GDRB three years in a row[:p] ha ha!!![fishin]

Thanks for sharing,Did Jim get any of the action on video?
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Yea, Jim did get some video. He was pretty pleased with that tripple. I suspect the video may show up over on Free Form.
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Oh what would I give to hook into a "little" 20lb fish!!!
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Way to go guys![]
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And you were predicting a stellar day at Willard! HA! Shows how much ability you have to read into the future! LOL!

Fishing with Captain Jim is always a good time. It's also nice to be the hot stick for the day. All the braggin' rights till next year. Anyone can get lucky and catch a big one but sticking a bunch in one day more impressive.

I'll be up there tonight for the 3rd weekend this month to fish with Fishley and the Kokanee Forum folks. I love that place!
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Way to go guys, Great job []
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Wow!

I can't add much except that I was happy to just be there and catching my very first Lake Trout ever was just an added bonus. That triple came along early in the day and I thought to myself "These triples must happen all the time!". It wasn't until shortly after that I learned that they are quite a rarity...especially with a rookie like myself on board! I know it made Captain Jim's day!

Captain Jim never once had to super-glue my left hand to my rod...which he threatened to do to us if we ever let go. I thought he was kidding about that until later in the trip I actually SAW the tube of Krazy Glue on board! And even though I only boated the one fish (biggest fish of my life I might add), I missed a few other good bites. (and I thought I was good at jigging before this trip) I was humbled at how difficult these fish are to hook and catch, especially the way we did it. Not for the faint of heart. It was intense concentration the whole day...and if you failed to do your part, Captain Jim was right there to correct you. Fortunately for us, we all did our part and nobody got slapped around too hard.

I can't add much to how we all felt at the end of the day, but I think this photo says it all...not sure if this was right after #4, #5 or #6 for the owner of the hot stick of the day!

Randy

P.S. Ralph, I put all my photos on a CD and have it ready for you..you will like it! I am sure I have one of your missing fish...I didn't post it though as I didn't know which one it was...there were so many...you lucky devil!
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Thanks again guys. That was quite a morning! I have a snippet of video of the triple. When I download it, I'll post a link to it on a less-sensitive site. That was the sweetest hook-up of the season so far for me! The right guys, in the right place, at the right time.[laugh]

As for "knowing somebod to get on the GDRB 3 years in a row", its very simple.

Book early. Be definite about it. Pay your deposit ON TIME. Re-book the same days for the following year when you leave, a year in advance. Tolerate the slow days with the good. Some are great, some are tough as nails. Not everybody catches fish every day on the GDRB. Neither will you. Once you have days, they're yours until you give them up by not re-booking when you leave.

Now getting the first trip, that may require a patient wait and some flexibility for some open dates. Most groups say, "put us down for the same days next year!"

Thanks again Ralph, Mark, and Randy. See you next June!
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[] Very nice BOYZ!!![]
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I was hesitant to click on this post thinkin it would be a debate again, but great report and beautiful fish i hope to catch some that big
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Impressive!
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[font "Lucida Console"][#000000]I did good at Willard as you stated, how ever those 20-37lbs ers look very fun, I want to do it some time with jim. thanks for the most excellent photos.[/#000000][/font] [cool]
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[cool]Very cool, fellas! Nice report Ralph and congrats on the hot stick of the day. One of these years, I'm gonna book a trip with Capt. Jim. He's obviously the best after reading these gorge threads about his getting people on the big fish time and time again, year after year...
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great pictures. you really had a fun day on the water.
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Now that's what fishing should be!


(one of these days!)
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Thanks Ralph, Randy and Jim for another great day on the water with a group of top notch, great guys,

As always, its agreat day with Jim. simply put. he is the best.
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