TR: fishing wth Timmaay

A short story about two fat guys in canoes, praying on the weather, teasing
some fish. Don't bother reading if you only like that small stream/hike up
a freakin' mountain kinda story.

Timmy and Jimmy and I all decided that we had to go fishing today. Jimmy
and I have been fishing the same pond the first week of April for a really
long time. We've known each other for 30 something years (and we're
starting to look used, you know?) We've taken occasional long breaks for
traveling time, family life, etc., but we always come back for this
tradition. Not the least reason being that it's his birthday week, and the
day out includes a bottle of Tequila to enhance (or make) the occasion.

It's way too early to be fishing here in Western Mass. Jim called me at 10
and told me it was snowing in Belchertown where we planning to go, so I
ducked out on that plan. Besides, he had to go to a 'meeting' at 3, so not
only was he planning on splitting early, but he wouldn't be up for the
alcohol, so f* him, we'll make it up later.

So I called TimJ and we decided to meet up at my 'secret pond'.

The weather was not bad at noon - almost warm at 45 degrees, no real wind,
occasionally a hint of sun. Tim showed up with his brand new red canoe, and
I was looking forward to seeing how he could handle it solo. Not bad!
Aside from almost sinking himself in the 40 degree water once, and paddling
for 10 minutes with an anchor down.

Fishing is mostly what we expected for so early in the season. We started
to see some tan caddis coming off, and I noticed Tim staying put in an area
that is choked by weeds in the summer, and when I paddled over I saw the
rising fish he was intrigued by. I ditched the damsel nymph I had been
trolling and put on a tan snowshoe caddis. Every couple of minutes there
would be another caddis skittering on the surface and eventually something
would snatch it. I cast my caddis out and let it wriggle on the waves.
Occasionally I'd twitch it under and wait as it bobbed back up. I was
getting ready to flip it back upwind, turned my back on the fly, loaded the
rod, and fish on. It turned out to be a 12+ inch stocked rainbow, nicely
colored. A few minutes later, we both had fish on. Tim's wrapped the line
around a submerged entangler, and I brought the most beautiful pumpkinseed
to hand. I've caught a lot of pumpkinseeds in my time (after all, it's been
a *lot* of time), but this was the biggest I've seen, and outrageously
colored. The belly was a fluorescent yellow, extremely bright. As usual
when something like that happens, I became elated because I "had the right
fly" and now I would start slaying them, but as usual, it turned out to be
random chance and not a trend. That was the end of catching for the day.
At around 4 the sky darkened, and the wind came up and it got cold enough to
force us off the water.

As a capper. we found out that the bar next to the pond has Stella Artois on
tap now and we finished off a few to finish off a good day out.

--Stan

Stan,
Wonderful fishing story!!! Now, if I can only get my butt out of the house in
the coming week, I will try to contribute something as well!
Tom
p.s. Will we see you at Penn's?

"Tom Littleton" wrote in message
...
Stan,
Wonderful fishing story!!! Now, if I can only get my butt out of the
house in
the coming week, I will try to contribute something as well!
Tom
p.s. Will we see you at Penn's?

Very long shot, maybe. If Pirate Dave is lurking out there, I could only go
the first weekend, so maybe we can work out a plan where I deliver Roger and
you pick him up? And if Scooter's lurking, are you still considering the
weekend of May 22 camping on the Westfield? Many bottles of Port will be
consumed that weekend, my friend.

Stan Gula wrote:


As a capper. we found out that the bar next to the pond has Stella Artois on
tap now and we finished off a few to finish off a good day out.

--Stan

and, whatthehell, let me finish off one too...very satisfying. thanks...

jeff (capped)

"Stan Gula" wrote in message
...
A short story about two fat guys in canoes, praying on the weather,
teasing
some fish.

by god, i wish i'd been there!

yfitons
wayno

"Stan Gula" wrote a story that needs some detail correction...
A short story about two fat guys in canoes,

I'm not fat! I'm big-boned.

praying on the weather, teasing
some fish. Don't bother reading if you only like that small stream/hike up
a freakin' mountain kinda story.

Timmy and Jimmy and I all decided that we had to go fishing today. Jimmy
and I have been fishing the same pond the first week of April for a really
long time. We've known each other for 30 something years (and we're
starting to look used, you know?) We've taken occasional long breaks for
traveling time, family life, etc., but we always come back for this
tradition. Not the least reason being that it's his birthday week, and the
day out includes a bottle of Tequila to enhance (or make) the occasion.

Stan says, "Instead, I got stuck with Tim, who only brought diet coke.

It's way too early to be fishing here in Western Mass. Jim called me at 10
and told me it was snowing in Belchertown where we planning to go, so I
ducked out on that plan. Besides, he had to go to a 'meeting' at 3, so not
only was he planning on splitting early, but he wouldn't be up for the
alcohol, so f* him, we'll make it up later.

So I called TimJ and we decided to meet up at my 'secret pond'.

That's the pond that's adjacent to the main road between Springfield and Boston.

The weather was not bad at noon - almost warm at 45 degrees, no real wind,
occasionally a hint of sun. Tim showed up with his brand new red canoe, and
I was looking forward to seeing how he could handle it solo. Not bad!
Aside from almost sinking himself in the 40 degree water once,

Stan is being generous on this point - it was *damn* close!

and paddling for 10 minutes with an anchor down.

It was only 1 minute, but it was still funny as all hell. I'd paddle on the
left, the canoe would go hard right. Paddle on the right, canoe goes hard left.
All the time I'm watching Stan make a straight beeline for the shore and saying
to myself, "Stan's canoe is much faster and tracks a lot better than mine."

Fishing is mostly what we expected for so early in the season. We started
to see some tan caddis coming off, and I noticed Tim staying put in an area
that is choked by weeds in the summer, and when I paddled over I saw the
rising fish he was intrigued by. I ditched the damsel nymph I had been
trolling and put on a tan snowshoe caddis. Every couple of minutes there
would be another caddis

I wish you'd use the latin name so the people here would know WTF you're talking
about. . .

BTW, this part was soooo cool. We had both expected to be dragging wooley
buggers around the pond all day, and it was a real treat to be able to fish with
a dry.

skittering on the surface and eventually something
would snatch it. I cast my caddis out and let it wriggle on the waves.
Occasionally I'd twitch it under and wait as it bobbed back up. I was
getting ready to flip it back upwind, turned my back on the fly, loaded the
rod, and fish on. It turned out to be a 12+ inch stocked rainbow, nicely
colored. A few minutes later, we both had fish on. Tim's wrapped the line
around a submerged entangler, and I brought the most beautiful pumpkinseed
to hand. I've caught a lot of pumpkinseeds in my time (after all, it's been
a *lot* of time), but this was the biggest I've seen, and outrageously
colored. The belly was a fluorescent yellow, extremely bright. As usual
when something like that happens, I became elated because I "had the right
fly" and now I would start slaying them, but as usual, it turned out to be
random chance and not a trend. That was the end of catching for the day.
At around 4 the sky darkened, and the wind came up and it got cold enough to
force us off the water.

As a capper. we found out that the bar next to the pond has Stella Artois on
tap now and we finished off a few to finish off a good day out.

OK, I'll agree with that. It *was* a good day out.
--
TL,
Tim
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

"Tim J." wrote:

"Stan Gula" wrote

and paddling for 10 minutes with an anchor down.

It was only 1 minute, but it was still funny as all hell. I'd paddle on the
left, the canoe would go hard right. Paddle on the right, canoe goes hard left.
All the time I'm watching Stan make a straight beeline for the shore and saying
to myself, "Stan's canoe is much faster and tracks a lot better than mine."

Hilarious. Good to hear you boys are havin' fun.

JR

"JR" wrote in message ...
"Tim J." wrote:

"Stan Gula" wrote

and paddling for 10 minutes with an anchor down.

It was only 1 minute, but it was still funny as all hell. I'd paddle on
the
left, the canoe would go hard right. Paddle on the right, canoe goes
hard left.
All the time I'm watching Stan make a straight beeline for the shore and
saying
to myself, "Stan's canoe is much faster and tracks a lot better than
mine."

Hilarious. Good to hear you boys are havin' fun.
JR

Grin. . . I can make a canoe go all strange directions without any anchor.
When I still had a canoe I solved my "canoe challenged" difficulty by
getting a motor mount and attaching an electronic trolling motor. (
generally then got me in the approximate grid square
BestWishes,
DaveMohnsen
Denver

"Stan Gula" wrote in
:

"Tom Littleton" wrote in message
...
Stan,
Wonderful fishing story!!! Now, if I can only get my butt out of
the
house in
the coming week, I will try to contribute something as well!
Tom
p.s. Will we see you at Penn's?

Very long shot, maybe. If Pirate Dave is lurking out there, I could
only go the first weekend, so maybe we can work out a plan where I
deliver Roger and you pick him up? And if Scooter's lurking, are you
still considering the weekend of May 22 camping on the Westfield?
Many bottles of Port will be consumed that weekend, my friend.




I'm still up in the air Stan. I'd like nothing better than to join you
guys, but I am committed for the 6th in the Beamoc area, and its a little
close. But it still is very appealing. I'll mull it over a tad longer

Scooter

So I called TimJ and we decided to meet up at my 'secret pond'.

Did youse guys also take a 'secret lunch break' at the 'secret cabin'
too? :-) Seriously, is there any peace and quiet to be had while wading
the pond? Is it fishable from shore or do you need a boat?