Saturday- what was supposed to be the rotten weather day turned out to be blue ribbon, with multiple fish ranging from crappie-size with my 3rd or 4th cast (as Keith was pulling away from the drop off- I shouted to him "what the hell ya been feedin' um, Keith?") to my very first keeper (and largest fish ever)- 34 inches- that I battled a good 5 minutes as Keith was pulling in to pick up the 12 noon departures. Held up for Keith and the rest to drool at before releasing back to the haven of the drop off. Burnt that little spot on the back of my head (you know, that SHOULD be covered by the cap, but ISN'T) something fierce, but it was worth it....
Sunday- met up with MarkS and his dad (as well as Jim Simms and his OTHER son...got to know his son Brad well at a Rip Trip last year)- we started at the drop off where I had such great luck the day before- this time I brought the Atlantis. Mark was instantly into mucho fish (none huge, but hooked up on practically every 3rd cast), with his dad making a good showing as well. I caught...ONE. About half the length of my keeper the day before. To make matters worse, I...(1) forgot my sunglasses (although didn't matter until about 11AM), then (2) much to my and every one else's amazement, snapped my one year old Atlantis almost perfectly in half during a forward cast. :Eyecrazy: I had been dutifully checking the joints/ferrules every 10th cast or so and they were rock solid....the snap occurred HALFWAY BETWEEN the joints/ferrules!!!! The only thing I (or any one else I spoke with about this that day) could come up with as an explanation was that while casting on the surf side for a while the wind shifted on me suddenly, sending the fly dinging into the rod. Still, this has happened to me with this rod (and others) in the past without such disasterous consequences. To add insult to injury, I got word today that my order for the new Airflo lines for the Atlantis has finally come in to the local shop; now I have to take the rod up to Smitty's place in Kingston (where I got it last year) and wait for a replacement, which may/may not arrive prior to the next Rip Trip. Guess now is a good time to work on my double haul.....
Doc Shep
P.S.- John- missed ya buddy- have a little donation for the CAC saloon sitting at my place- I'll look for ya this Saturday at the 8AM.
Sunday- met up with MarkS and his dad (as well as Jim Simms and his OTHER son...got to know his son Brad well at a Rip Trip last year)- we started at the drop off where I had such great luck the day before- this time I brought the Atlantis. Mark was instantly into mucho fish (none huge, but hooked up on practically every 3rd cast), with his dad making a good showing as well. I caught...ONE. About half the length of my keeper the day before. To make matters worse, I...(1) forgot my sunglasses (although didn't matter until about 11AM), then (2) much to my and every one else's amazement, snapped my one year old Atlantis almost perfectly in half during a forward cast. :Eyecrazy: I had been dutifully checking the joints/ferrules every 10th cast or so and they were rock solid....the snap occurred HALFWAY BETWEEN the joints/ferrules!!!! The only thing I (or any one else I spoke with about this that day) could come up with as an explanation was that while casting on the surf side for a while the wind shifted on me suddenly, sending the fly dinging into the rod. Still, this has happened to me with this rod (and others) in the past without such disasterous consequences. To add insult to injury, I got word today that my order for the new Airflo lines for the Atlantis has finally come in to the local shop; now I have to take the rod up to Smitty's place in Kingston (where I got it last year) and wait for a replacement, which may/may not arrive prior to the next Rip Trip. Guess now is a good time to work on my double haul.....
Doc Shep
P.S.- John- missed ya buddy- have a little donation for the CAC saloon sitting at my place- I'll look for ya this Saturday at the 8AM.