BITTERSWEET BERRY RETURN

[chinook]

[] On October 23rd, I was fly fishing the Berry and having a career day catching over 40 fish on flies and tube jigs when my sister called me to say that my Father had just passed away. Strawberry was my Dad's favorite place to troll with me and some friends. Needless to say, it was that my Dad passed away and I was not there, but it also was neat experience to be fishing where he loved to be.

Yesterday was my first time back since. I had a little hard time with the emotions, but I knew my Dad would want me to go back and catch one for him. We fishing Mosquito Bay and after finding the right place and depth, we caught some nice fish. Thanks Maniac for sending me the lures I ordered and the secret cutr bug. I caught the first fish on the secret formula. We caught fish on cutr bugs, paddle bugs, dead shinners, tube jigs and little tiny crystal buggers. I caught a 23 incher and looked up and said, "This one was for you Dad!" Like I said, a great Bittersweet Day!
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[UintaIce]

That's a great story. I just lost my favorite uncle to cancer, and I feel the same way when it comes to the emotions and ties to fishing.
Sorry for your loss.
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[BEARCLAW]

Man, the berry holds some bittersweet stories. My uncle died of a heart attack about 4 years ago and he absolutely loved fishing the berry. Sure wish I could have learned more from him before he passed. Everytime I go back I do the same thing when I land a fish, this one's for you uncle davey!
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[Flycasting]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I too have lost a very close relative whom I fisheded with frequently, and learned much of what I know from. Every time I fish the Gorge, it's a little emotional for me, even after a few years now.

Glad you were able to get into some nice fish! []
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[waterat]

I know how your felling chinook. The bery was my Father and grandfather's fishing hole. My father grew up on the Berry with his dad. I ended up in Califorina some how. My father and I took several trips back to Utah for vacation and we fished the Berry every chance we could with my grandfather. My father passed away in 1999 of cancer. I took a job in 2001 that landed me in Utah. I ended up taking several trip to the Berry with my grandfatherover the next few years. He also just passed away in December at 92. Evey trip to the Berry now brings back the special memories. I too have held up a fish or two for them.
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[bwhitty]

sorry to hear about your dad passing. mine passed away in october as well. but how lucky you are that you and your dad spent some quality time fishing. my grandpa loved that reservoir and that makes it feel like alot more than just a body of water.
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[chinook]

Sorry about your Dad as well. It does feel like a special place when you spend time with Grandfathers and Dads.

Thanks to all you guys that have shared special memories about the Berry. The one thing that I learn from all of this is "Pass it On" I want to make fishing special for my boys and my grandsons so they too can hold up a fish for me when I go to the big lake in the sky.
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