June 19, 2003 Newsletter

This morning while ‘enjoying’ a micro-waved breakfast in the shop, I reflected on the wonderful day at the coast I enjoyed less than 24 hours ago, and began running through my mind why in recent years I feel this mellowness, this glow, even the day after a brief trip to our salt pastures.  I recall all the years of boat ownership with the buying and selling scenario’s, the repairs to the motors, the cleaning of the boat, the planning, the transporting, launching, storing, running around trying to find fish, etc. etc. and concluded my ‘mellowness’ is in fact the satisfaction I derive from letting a guide provide all these things.

I fished, once again, with Capt. Chuck Naiser (naiser@dbstech.com) who again provided the high tech clean boat, gas, and an ongoing dialog about the birds, the bait fish, the tide levels, many humorous stories, all the while teaching and fine turning our casts and pointing out fish we never would have seen.  Maybe its my age, (you know,God and I were twins!) but I am glad I owned all those boats in the past and am very glad I now can enjoy a relaxing time on the water without any of the worries.  Chuck and I mused about the future – how many guys are going to spend the prime of their lives doing what we do leading the way for others to enjoy what we enjoy so much.  It sure as hell isn’t for the ‘easy life’ or short hours, and it sure as hell isn’t for the money!  Boat ownership is wonderful but if you calculated the costs to own and operate a boat, plus the time spent in maintaining, I would wager you could make many, many guided trips for less and enjoy the utter relaxation that I feel upon returning home.

Our morning began with a spectacular sunrise as you only see on the Gulf Coast, multitudes of colorful birds, menhaden showering out of the water being pursued by ladyfish, mullet thrashing about wildly and yes, redfish tails waving in the air.  My partner was new to fly fishing and in fact had never been to our salt pastures.  It’s been so long since my first experience that it is hard for me comprehend his first experiences with the sights, sounds, smells of our estuaries.  And, as in all beginner fly fishermen, the casting was difficult, line management awkward, and he had to listen to a barrage of instructions all the while either Chuck or I were shouting out the location and distance of a fish.  It happens every time.  And it happens the very first thing in the morning.  By the end of the day my partner was relaxed and able to cast beautifully, especially when he didn’t have a fish in front of him!  Every salt water fly fisher has to go through their first day with a couple of know it all’s like Chuck and I, but a lot is learned.  He is a dentist and the first redfish he caught, he threw the fly right into the fishes open mouth – Chuck and I both saw it happen!  He never did see the fish – he must have said “open wide” out of habit and the fly was inserted!  I thought Chuck and I would die laughing but good experience was gained in fighting a nice 19-incher.

Mike Munoz just called from Corpus.  He said the North jetties had tarpon rolling everywhere but no hook-ups.  One of these days. . . . . .

I want to mention again the success’s my wife Linda is having selling used rods on eBay.  If you want to upgrade your old rod with a new one, bring it in for me to clean up and sell and I will credit the proceeds toward the purchase of a new rod/reel.  Casting and spinning rods are difficult to re-sell but those fly rods seem to go fast.

My thanks to Randy Bland for providing an elevated casting hoop to practice accuracy in my casting area.  It’s a real test to get your loop through at 40 – 60 feet!

I have greatly expanded my fly selection and at very good prices.  So, if you are going to Alaska, offshore, almost any freshwater fly, I probably got ‘em.

I also have a wonderful line dressing that makes even an old line cast better than new.  Cost only $9 and is a lot cheaper than replacing that old line.

I have also expanded my Action Optics line of fishing glasses.  Good selection.  Optics are first in importance to shallow water fishing.  I expanded my selection of fly lines – I’ve got the good ones!

My thanks to my wife Linda for my Father’s Day present (actually, from my two Brittany Spaniels).  My gift was a surprise cleaning of my shop!  She had our household cleaning ladies scrub the place while I fished yesterday and it looks much better than it ever has!

Thanks.