The Fling has flung…

Roper

Idiot Savant, still
Forum Supporter
Well folks the Spring Fling has come and gone, a great success if I may say. @Buzzy joined us for the first time and is a great addition to the gang. It was a full house with six of us. Pat got there a day early from the others and we had a chance to reacquaint.

Let’s talk fishing first, the lake above the house was a challenge at first with lots of wind. When it finally calmed down we started catching rowdy 14-16 inch bows that would rocket out of the water when tagged. They look like little footballs.




FullSizeRender.jpeg

They were hard to keep on due to their aerial antics. But over the couple of visits we all got into the action. There were even a couple of bigger pigs caught.

Aeneas is a curious mix this year, they’ve stocked the heck out of it. Browns, tigers and bows. You have to search for the larger fish.

Blue North fished well. Tim and Steve had a fun time at the island across from the trophy house. Pat and I each tagged two in “turtle cove”.


IMG_8931.jpeg

We ran into @Shawn Seeger on one of the lakes and he swung by the house in the afternoon for the social hour, good time seeing him.
He warned us but we didn’t listen and went to Lost Lake, it’s dead. I won’t be in a hurry to go back. Tim and Steve hit another nearby lake and Tim got some nice fish and Steve got the skunk.

If we weren’t fishing we were eating, tacos one night with Esquites. Steak and pasta salad another. Pastime put out some cod, and Trino’s and Los Rancho some good Mexican food. Rick brought shrimp, salmon and smoked salmon that was to die for.

The bling this year was etched Glencairn classes compliments of Tim, I brought the Dingle single malt.




IMG_1067.jpeg

We had rain and some great sunsets as always…


IMG_8954.jpeg

I’ll let the others chime in.
 
Being the New Kid in Town I wasn't sure what to expect; what I found was a great time, good stories, good food, at times good fishing (oh, the wind) and a trip that exceeded my expectations. Roper's place is amazing (look at the view from his house in the above photo). I really enjoyed spending time with @Roper, @Rickt, @Islander, @Tim L and @Scott Salzer. Rickt, Steve (Islander) and Tim were new acquaintenances. Roper and Scotty I've known for a few years.

So here's the dirt: Islander is just like a kid in a candy store; retired so he's no spring chicken (You're younger than me, Steve!) but he's one hearty go get 'em fisherman. Tim L - I've got his first book but don't remember him talking about using a float tube sans stripping apron. Tim, while stripping in, lets the line sink (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, Tim) next to his float tube. When it's time to cast the line, he's superman getting that full sinking (sunk) line out of the water. It looks like a lot of work to me, Tim! Rickt covers a lot of water, his raft is good sized and he gets around and catches a lot of fish (man, those shrimp were freakin' amazing!). I didn't get to fish with Scotty as he was a day late getting to the Fling and I had to leave early but it was really good to catch up with Scotty.

Great to see my friend @Shawn Seeger when he stopped by The Ranch (Shawn shared several of his trademark Seeger-Cators™ and gave out a few of his flies).

Roper roping one in:
IMG_3917.jpg
(crummy cell phone picture)

Thanks for inviting me to the Spring Fling!
 
COOKIES AND BOOZE...SF24

I'm dried out, but give the weight a week. Spring Fling '24 was epic as always, thanks first and foremost to Roper, our loving and longstanding host. Already looking forward to the next one, Rick (Sláinte!).

Buzzy, so glad you could join us! I really enjoyed hanging out and getting to know you. About the apron, I did away with those years ago since they always disagree with me on the size of my catch. Anything that keeps a fisherman honest should be burned immediately.

Scotty, how did we manage only one lake together? I seem to recall something about work and you having to arrive late. Would you retire already! Btw I owe you a puzzle or two - Peg and I are rounding up on our end. Meantime, I have a cat puzzle to work on 😺👍

The Hand that Feeds Me - Dr. Todd, did you see how friendly I was once I found out you were throwing down on BBQ salmon (planked!) and shrimp. Oh, and I owe you one for the hunk of steak. I'll have to try and be nice to you from now on!

Tenacity - SM have I ever told you you're tenacious? But damned if, in the end, you didn't get the hog and I didn't get the shot. Well earned, and you successfully tired me out 😵

Shout out to Shawn: Mr. Seeger, great to finally cross paths, bummer so short! Huge thanks for the tipoff, I hadn't jumped in there in a while. So of course I had to go "roll the dice." (Btw, STRIPPING LEECHES!!...sorry buddy 😉)

Host and Hogchaser - Both hating life as usual
IMG_1063.jpeg

The dice landed right
IMG_2453.jpeg

Stopping off w/ RT and JJ
IMG_1228.jpeg

Mooney goes from Hogquest to Hogfest in an instant
IMG_1208.jpeg

Meanwhile, back at the Rancho (Grande), Oroville was having a Hogfest of its own
IMG_1212.jpeg

The view indoors was even better
IMG_1034.jpeg

Chopaka sunset - no two are alike 👍
IMG_1134.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Being the New Kid in Town I wasn't sure what to expect; what I found was a great time, good stories, good food, at times good fishing (oh, the wind) and a trip that exceeded my expectations. Roper's place is amazing (look at the view from his house in the above photo). I really enjoyed spending time with @Roper, @Rickt, @Islander, @Tim L and @Scott Salzer. Rickt, Steve (Islander) and Tim were new acquaintenances. Roper and Scotty I've known for a few years.

So here's the dirt: Islander is just like a kid in a candy store; retired so he's no spring chicken (You're younger than me, Steve!) but he's one hearty go get 'em fisherman. Tim L - I've got his first book but don't remember him talking about using a float tube sans stripping apron. Tim, while stripping in, lets the line sink (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, Tim) next to his float tube. When it's time to cast the line, he's superman getting that full sinking (sunk) line out of the water. It looks like a lot of work to me, Tim! Rickt covers a lot of water, his raft is good sized and he gets around and catches a lot of fish (man, those shrimp were freakin' amazing!). I didn't get to fish with Scotty as he was a day late getting to the Fling and I had to leave early but it was really good to catch up with Scotty.

Great to see my friend @Shawn Seeger when he stopped by The Ranch (Shawn shared several of his trademark Seeger-Cators™ and gave out a few of his flies).

Roper roping one in:
View attachment 115818
(crummy cell phone picture)

Thanks for inviting me to the Spring Fling!
Buzzy, ya gotta come back in the fall…
 
Big “Thanks” to Roper as always! It was great meeting Pat and Shawn. Fishing was stellar, the food and company memorable! Here’s a few pics I was able to get when I wasn’t eating, drinking or fishing. 😆

The view in the morning.
IMG_2477.jpeg

Aeneas was a hoot with the 3wt.
IMG_2481.jpegIMG_2483.jpegIMG_2480.jpeg

On one windy morning I was Tim’s “official photographer”! @Tim L
IMG_2462.jpeg

Keeping an eye on things.
IMG_2470.jpeg

Some of the many “Okanogan Carp”.

IMG_2437.jpegIMG_2446.jpeg
 
@Roper Thanks for the invitation! It was really great getting to meet and visit with you and the others!!

I am glad that I was in the area with my family and friends so I could come by and crash dinner one night. Getting to meet and talk fishing with some of the "forum" legends was really great. I kind felt overwhelmed trying to decide how to spend my time, since there were many conversations going on. I tried to stir the pot a few times with "hot topics" like "which is harder river/ stream fishing or lake fishing?" 😄 or "bobber watching or trolling?" (In a room with a master @Tim L ).

I was on the same lake with the group one day, and technically fished by them (half a lake away). I was just about to pull my anchor and rowed down to where you all were trolling and Drop anchor in the middle of you all to visit but my indicator went down again with more big fish so we will visit again another time. 😉
20240520_112742.jpg

Roper, you place is awesome and the area is really calling to my wife and I, we are looking.
20240516_203912.jpg

I hope you all put those Seeger-Cators™ to good use, and remember indicators don't just sit still give them some action. Not quite stripping @Tim L .

Tight lines and thanks again for the welcoming!
 
sounded like an awesome time was had. life time memories.
keep it up!
 
Yesterday I fished Aeneas twice, 4 hours in the am and 3 in the pm. Not a single bite with fish everywhere. Tried every ant pattern I own during a termite hatch-nothing. Tried tiny dries on top, emergers, soft hackles and leeches on intermediate, sculpin and baitfish on sinking. Nothing worked. At times the fish jumped out of the water right next to me. Beautiful lake but now I’m committed to trying to catch one fish there!
 
Yesterday I fished Aeneas twice, 4 hours in the am and 3 in the pm. Not a single bite with fish everywhere. Tried every ant pattern I own during a termite hatch-nothing. Tried tiny dries on top, emergers, soft hackles and leeches on intermediate, sculpin and baitfish on sinking. Nothing worked. At times the fish jumped out of the water right next to me. Beautiful lake but now I’m committed to trying to catch one fish there!
Surface temp?
 
Yesterday I fished Aeneas twice, 4 hours in the am and 3 in the pm. Not a single bite with fish everywhere. Tried every ant pattern I own during a termite hatch-nothing. Tried tiny dries on top, emergers, soft hackles and leeches on intermediate, sculpin and baitfish on sinking. Nothing worked. At times the fish jumped out of the water right next to me. Beautiful lake but now I’m committed to trying to catch one fish there!
Lakes will do that. Keep going back - once you learn Aeneas you'll never get skunked.
 
Yesterday I fished Aeneas twice, 4 hours in the am and 3 in the pm. Not a single bite with fish everywhere. Tried every ant pattern I own during a termite hatch-nothing. Tried tiny dries on top, emergers, soft hackles and leeches on intermediate, sculpin and baitfish on sinking. Nothing worked. At times the fish jumped out of the water right next to me. Beautiful lake but now I’m committed to trying to catch one fish there!
Surprisingly enough, you can find them in the shallows.
 
Back
Top