Officially a Gumpy Old Man

[SkunkedAgain]

Good on ya Jeff.  When I devolve a bit further into geezerhood I may just call on ya to prop me up a time or two.

Couldn't help reflecting on my fishing experiences with my dad.  One of the things I mentioned at his service was that he was the first to put a fishing rod in my hand...and I was the last to put one in his.  In between we shared a lot of good times on the water together.

Pat, you are more than welcome to call on me.. I’m kind of cranky but I’m getting it figured out how to make it happen. 

That thought from your Dads funeral is pretty touching, kind of makes a guys eyes water when I think of my Dad. Thanks Jeff

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Seems like you had plenty of reason to be growly about that. Obviously they were way too close. Myself I go fishing to get away from people, if I go to a fishing tournament I expect to get crowded.

When you’re closer than the water is deep you’re probably too close. They were probably twice the depth of the water so if a tiger Muskie with some size nailed it I could have gotten tangled in their lines. To me it’s too close when there isn’t a reason to crowd in, the whole face of that dam fishes very similar so they could have went west of me and had plenty of room to not crowd anyone. I guess that is the thing that bugged me, was there was nice areas just a short distance away. Oh well they didn’t show till after 10:00 so we had already had a great day. I guess the biggest thing that bugs me, is that kind of behavior gives Utah fishermen a bad name so when I go to another state to fish I’ll probably be judged to be like them. I hope I’ve learned better behavior so I’ll be welcomed when I visit other areas. Thanks Jeff

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Jeff, I sure hope my boys haul me out and sit me a chair when I get to that point. Thanks for sharing

I still owe you guys an ice trip. We better start thinking about that, the lower elevation ice has peaked I think and I expect we probably are two to three weeks at best left. I’m heading to the gorge next weekend so maybe the next if you’re up this way we can try to get you on some fish. Size and lower numbers Hyrum, numbers of fish probably Newton. Let me know if you’re still interested. Later Jeff

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Jeff, you are a great Son-in-law.

Greatness is a guy that sticks his hand in the mouth of a tiger to save someone else’s first Muskie and then comes up all cut up from the battle. Sure appreciate you. Later Jeff

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Too bad you can’t build a moat around your fishing spot or at least use your trebuchet to launch a few flaming balls at those who lack common curtesy these days. That’s what we used to do when I was a boy. 

Ya know I seen a video of someone who cut a circular island with a chain saw then spun the island like a carousel so his lines would troll in circles. You might be onto something there. Later Jeff

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With Hyrum & Rockport producing bigger perch this year, those are my go to spots this season.  I'm thinking Rockport this Wednesday and maybe Hyrum on Friday.

If I was going to be around I’d have joined you, but heading to the gorge to fish with Joe. Good luck, we had to move a bit last Hyrum trip, but there were still some really nice fish on the camera. I heard rumors of good fish on the west end, but I haven’t fished there yet to see if they are true. We fished 200 or more yards east of last years spot and closer to the north bank. That’s where we found them. Give me a call if you’d like more detail on that spot. Later Jeff

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Skunked- I’m happy you could take your FIL fishing with all the challenges. You will surely be blessed and made a big different in his life for those few hours. You’re a fine man and your handled thing much better than I did.

No I didn’t handle it very well, cuz I let it bother me. But you are right that it did make a difference for both Rich and his wife Vicky, it’s getting to be a terrible load for her to take care of a husband with failing memory. She really needs that break to try and recuperate from the load. So I’m kind of blessed to be able to take care of him while I do something that I love to do. Plus I don’t think my wife counts it as fishing time so it’s like free time for me. Double bonus. Later Jeff