A New Newbie Story

[Muddy Water]

OK, it's my turn.

This is a long overdue introduction.

My Dad taught me how to fish and hunt. We went so often that he believes he burned me out. I don't think it was burn-out, but the fact that I was a young man and had better things to chase.

I grew up fishing in the Great Lakes. There, we caught Coho starting in May. Later in the summer we caught steelhead, and in the fall, big, black slabs of chinook near Green Bay. When Dad wasn't working, we'd be fishing or hunting, (or helping Mom around the house). When we had vacations, we'd usually fish or hunt. Now you know why he thinks he burned me out.

Now I fish in the "home waters" of the same species that I caught 2000 miles away and 20 years ago. I've had my boat for 6 years, and I've learned a lot. My most memorable day of fishing here was when Dad was visiting from the midwest and he hooked a twenty pound springer in the Columbia. I've never seen a guy more excited to be battling a fish in my life. This man, who's caught thousands of salmon, and hooked ten times that many for others, was shaking after we landed that fish. I guess it was a new way to catch salmon,(hog-line), or drifting after the fish that made him so happy. Maybe he was proud of his son--that he wasn't burned out after all.

I could tell you a thousand things about why I love it so much, but fishing is the greatest pasttime. Whether on the ocean, the river or lake, in a 40' fishing machine or wading in tennis shoes, it's the best.

Thanks for all of the great advice I've received from Ifishers in the past week. It's an excellent site, and I can use all of the help I can get. I actually registered with ifish some time ago, but logged on recently to research a new boat. My 17 footer is too small for my family and we've decided to upgrade to a 22' North River Seahawk. It's really a sweet boat, and I've looked at all of them. I can't wait to get it bloody, and then really clean again.

I won't blabber on about the boat, maybe I'll save that for later. It's just all I want to think about right now. Pinch me.

Thanks Get Bent, killertraylor and gimmeumpqua.

[SPAZZ]

Welcome aboard.

[punchout]

welcome, muddy water I can relate to being young and having other things to chase!

[Taildragger]

Welcome aboard mate! Thanks for the story!

[Blazerboy]

Great story, Muddy water. Gotta love fishing with the pops. Welcome and I hope you have many more days like that one

[BigFishFever]

Welcome to a truly awesome site...but watch out its addictive!

[Chromaflage]

Welcome! And before you know it, you will be spending more time on Ifish that on the river....more room for me! Oh, wait, I guess I spend a LITTLE more time on Ifish than the river. :blush:

BTW - gotta furnace?

Glad to see you here!

ORS

[Silver Eagle]

Welcoma aboard and enjoy the site. Ray

[Beerbelly]

Welcome!

[Fishfeet]

Welcome! See, the fishin` out here in the wild old west isn`t too bad is it? Good story. Fishft.

[Sore Back]

Welcome to our family.

[SHOUGALNITE]

Welcome :smile:

[hooked4life]

Hi Muddy water, Welcome.
A twenty-two foot North River. Pinch me too.
Have fun.

[Reel Premier]

Welcome to the board Muddy Water, that is a great story. It was awesome to hear that you could put the post fish shake into the old man. My father isn't with me anymore, but reading your story rekindles many great memories of fishing with dad. :smile:

[shalom]

Welcome MUDDY WATERS great story . i enjoyed reading it . It reminded me of taking my son fishing . Good memorys .

[Muddy Water]

Thanks for the kind feedback. I had forgotten that last summer my 5 year old son & I caught a non-hatchery salmon at the same spot. We left early due to wind and rain, (I don't want to burn him out). This year the kids can stay dry in the Seahawk.

[SKP]

Welcome! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Great story!

SKP