Triple Trip Report – Epic Itinerant Anglers
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Three Trips
Three IA Board Members (and myself)
Three Itinerant Locations
Three Weeks ApartThis is what it’s all about!
Prelude: Featuring Joel Thompson “AKA Moosedog”Chapter One: Dallas Maverick, featuring Dusty Montgomery
Chapter Two: Kayak Cool, featuring Bob Riggins
Chapter Three: Tarpon me Crazy, featuring Brett Hoskins
Prelude: Joel Thompson is the MAN! He smelled my weakness (Tibor Reels) a mile away. Like a crack dealer in Miami, he came through with a smoking deal on my coveted green Tibor Backcountry Wide for the Saltwater 6 wt (Scott E4). Thanks Joel, that is one gorgeous reel! ;D
Chapter One: Dallas Maverick.I had to fly out to Dallas on short notice to give a Friday lecture. So. . . . I called Dusty to go fishing. Stayed an extra night so we could go out Saturday. IT WAS HOT!!! The fishing was marginal but we did manage to hit some great water and pools. Dusty landed a small bass but that was about it. We drove over 75 miles and fished three different locations, including an expansive carp flat. No pigs landed but it was great to finally meet Dusty and see Dallas – I will definitely go back again.
Thanks again Dusty. I had a blast fishing with you and talking photography.
Dusty with his [s:1c6vketd]Monster[/s:1c6vketd] small largemouth.
Me playing around in the water. Photo by Dusty Montgomery.
IA food shot – Texas BBQ 😀 ;D :). Shot with my iPhone.
Chapter Two: Kayak Cool.This weekend I fished with Bob Riggins at his home in Tampa. Fortunately, my wife Julie joined us for the weekend. She and Bob’s wife had a great day shopping Saturday while we loaded up the kayaks and hit the saltwater flats. I WANT A KAYAK BADLY NOW!!! 😮 😮 :o. Seriously, Bob is a master kayaker and a wonderful teacher on all things kayak. I would have been totally lost without his instruction. That was some kind of fun fishing stealth in the back flats while redfish, rays, dolphin, sharks, and birds were popping all around. It was a whole new experience for me. We got into a mess of reds but unfortunately they were not eating (what we had at least). I did manage to scrounge up a lady fish on a spoon fly. If you ever get the chance to go kayak fishing jump at the chance.
Thanks Bob, that was an incredible experience and I can’t wait to get back out with you. Also, you will all be happy to know that Bob has fully recovered from his illness and paddling like a champion.
Bob and his kayak, early morning light.
I call this one “Small Man Syndrome” as coined by Bob’s wife. (Bob, it is still tough for me to post this picture, I had to remeasure my height to make sure I’m not shrinking, hahahaha).
Self Portrait – Wading with Stripping Basket.
Peace and Calm in the Kayak.
Beach fishing for Snook on Sunday.
IA food-shot from Tampa – fresh oysters, yum.
Chapter Three: Tarpon me Crazy.Sunday night I met up with Brett Hoskins in Bocca Grande. Hold on TIGHT everyone, it’s going to get [s:1c6vketd]interesting[/s:1c6vketd] EPIC. This was our first Tarpon trip and Captain Austin Lowder was nothing less than heroic when it came to putting us on fish. It is difficult to describe this experience in words, so let the pictures do the talking.
Thanks again for inviting me to Bocca Brett. It will take some time before it all sinks in. I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!
This was my first Tarpon, she measured an estimated 160-180 pounds and pulled us over a mile and under a bridge. An experience that will last a lifetime.
Over the three days I hooked/jumped 9 Tarpon, all over 80 pounds and most over 120 pounds. Landed three. Brett Jumped three total but learned a hard lesson when a monster broke off due to wrapped line around the ankle :'(.
Photographing this experience was “almost” as exciting as the fishing. Brett and Austin did a great job on the zoom once we got the settings plugged in. Unfortunately I forgot my Circ Pol :-/. On with the show. Photos of jumping tarpon taken by Brett and Austin unless otherwise noted.
Tarpon Toad in upper lip.
Shaking in the boots.
Battle of wills.
The Toad fly again.
Brett on the glass.
Brett’s MONSTER!
Untangling the line after the break off. 😛
More fun than a guy deserves!
Landing shot.
Captain Austin Lowder.
Bocca IA food-shot. Fresh Mackerick.
The End. Back to work :-/.
Neal…ill-matic set. Looks like a great line up of trips. I almost thought you were Aaron Otto for a second.
Thanks Neal. Great way to start the day.
This is the best part I think.
This was my first Tarpon, she measured an estimated 160-180 pounds and pulled us over a mile and under a bridge.
Glad your odyssey ended on a high note. Brenda and I had a great time with you and Julie. Good food, good friends and (not so) good fishing. Believe it or not, there actually are some fish around here. At least you got some casting practice in so you were ready for the tarpon.
The kayaks are ready anytime you want to try it again.
P.S.:
Neal is certainly being very gracious in his reports of our outing. I simply could not find fish that day, but it looks like he made up for it in the following weeks.
Many of us, I would imagine, try to keep the mindset that being out-of-doors and in good company is enough to create an awesome day. So we tell ourselves when we are unsuccessful that not all days can be stellar and we give thanks for the good that the day did bring. Typically, I am not this thankful angler. I did not buy all that damned equipment to commune; I want some fish! However, on this one day, searching dried up rivers and casting around drunken adolescents in float-tubes, I truly had an awesome day. Neal’s angling prowess is second only to his knowledge behind the lens and his sharing attitude. In truth, I think I had more fun conversating through rural TX than I did on the water.
It was a great time, Neal, and you will have to let me make up for that day’s fishing sometime in the near future!
Dusty
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