FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

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The Best Wading System on the Planet.

It has been a 3 week stretch of travel from Montana, Louisiana, Arkansas, and then Oklahoma.  We just got home from the last leg seeing the parents and grandkids.  I am ready to get back to normal, if it ever does around here.  Being gone almost 3 weeks has put a damper on the fishing but that is about to change, thouugh I am still waiting on the weather.  The wind is blowing 25mph+ as I write this and is forecast to possibly hit 30mph the next 4 days.  So I might slip out to the lake for a short run in the next day or two, but the bay is on my mind.

*****************The Paddle Shad did some serious damage at the Chandeleurs and it will do the job here this summer.  And the new bait is coming, I have seen it and it will be a fish catcher.

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I meet Steve a couple of weeks ago when I picked up his Wade Right after his had a defective buckle.  Tim and Jason had already sent a new one, they stand by their stuff and treat their customers right.  Steve is a little unusual as far as waders goes, he accesses his wading spots from the bank.

A nice limit of Wednesday trout.

                                                          And a bonus limit of reds.

So we made a date to fish together sometime, and if this wind will lay down hopefully it will be soon.  He is living proof that while a boat is nice it is far from necessary.  It just depends on how bad you want it.  Nice string, thanks for the pictures.  I will be in touch.

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The part for the trolling motor came and I fixed it today.  Not a hard fix by any means but it says something about Krestas.  A year or so ago I took my old one to be repaired and they had it over a month.  It started doing the same thing shortly after I got it back from them so I finally broke down and just bought a new one.  Well the new one started doing the same thing so I took the handle apart and found the broken 0.55 cent part.  So hey, I still have the old one so I will take it apart and see if the part is still good.  Guess what?  No part, just left off when it was “fixed”.  How do I know it was just left off?  The handle is sealed and there is no way it could break or come lose and get away.  Maybe it vaporized!  Shoddy work when it took me 55 cents and 15 minutes to fix.  A lot better than a month and $100.  Before I took it there someone cautioned me about doing any kind of business with them, should have listened.

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While out running errands I decided to stop in at the lake and pay my annual fee.  I was somewhat surprised when renewing my annual GBRA pass to Coleto Creek.  This year it has jumped to $185.  Talk about inflation, pretty amazing.  I normally do not complain about fishing license fees, ramp fees, etc, they are worth it, but in this case it is a good thing I fish there quite a bit.  Not sure the quality of the fishing is worth all that.  But who knows, maybe they need the extra money to replace the dam on Dunlap.

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And I heard from fishfearlarry.

Doug, Yes sir! That was my brother you met at the ramp yesterday. Allen told me he met you yesterday. Have a great vacation in Montana with the wife and I am looking forward to living the La trip with you through the blog when you get back!

I figured that was your brother.  The La trip was a success like last year, and I will pencil in next year as soon as I hear from the boys.  It really is a trip every hard core salt guy should make at least once.  And I did want to mention another option if a guy was wanting to take his wife, Due South Charters out of Biloxi.  A couple of the guys on the trip fished with them once and had no complaints, and while a little more expensive you have 2 man (0r woman) staterooms for a little more privacy.  The Southern Belle is more of a “guy” trip boat, but I would not take any other.  They are tops in my book.  Good to hear from you.

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And long time reader Rick sent along this question.

I am trying to put together a trip to Quepos. What airline did you use and who did you use for the shuttle. We have contacted Steve , who John recommends for lodging and transportation but just asking questions, you know. How was The Falls.? 30 year anniversary, I got to get this right.
Thanks in advance!!!

I sent along some info via your email but wanted to add one more comment.  One of the guys on the La trip who has fished extensively overseas has also fished with John and had a great trip.  So can’t wait to hear if you make the trip, I would make it tomorrow if I could.  Like the La trip John’s operation is one of the best bang for your $$$ I have found. Good way to knock the sailfish, mahi, and maybe even a tuna or marlin, off the bucket list.  Fish 3 days, you never know.

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And I got the follow comment from Sam.

Hello. Judging from the pictures, the weather was nasty on you, but you seem to be so happy posing for the picture with the Trout. But the views, they are just amazing!!!

The fishing that day on Whitefish was tough, but I loved every minute of it.  And the views, all I can say is the more time the Boss and I spend in the mountains of NM, Colorado, and now Montana, the more we love it.  In fact as I type this the Boss is looking at another trip back west in July.  Sooner or later I might even succumb to the fly rod.  Thanks for the comment, feel free to comment anytime.  And I clicked on the link in your comment, is that your site?  If it is I would be happy to share it.

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And last long time reader Elaine sent this along.

Thank you for sharing the wolf trip. Very interesting reading and nice pictures.

Of all the trips we have taken this was one of the best by far.  Doing it with real pros made it so much better.  But there are so many trips to come that they each have their own character, and we plan on keeping on as long as we can.  Great to hear from you.

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Bend Over!

And one last personal comment.  Talk about a rip off, try paying the property taxes we pay in Victoria.  Folks are up in arms this year as the appraisals skyrocketed.  What makes it stupid is only a small percentage are actually viewed, they just make this shit up.  Seems like the plan is raise them a ton, then give people a break who contest, but don’t lower it that much, so the total take increases.  My property taxes are  $1000 more than my brothers in College Station, and he has a much bigger, and more valuable, house and property in a fancy subdivision.  And they are $3000 more than my folks nice house in Arkansas.  Mine have continually gone up the 10 years I have been here.  The local politicians all have their hands up shaking their head saying its not me – so then who the hell is it?  The masked property tax monster?  Hypocrites.  (And please don’t respond to this, it is not a discussion, just a rant at being ripped off.)

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To those of you I missed my apologies, but I must admit a couple of weeks away from the old “interweb” has not been a bad thing.  But time to get back on the horse and do a little fishing.  Unfortunately, surprise – surprise, our forecast includes 30 mph winds the next 4 days, and then will finally settle down some.  With it the serious saltwater fishing will begin.  And as usual love to hear from any of you, keeps it more interesting.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines