THE FIRST OF THE LAST?
Well, the 2010 version of the New Hampshire trip is in the can. The sun is setting, and this could very well be the last time we five get together to fish for the fabeled Landlock salmon.
Landlocked is a correct term, but perhaps water-locked is more appropriated this time. We spent from last Wednesday afternoon until this past Saturday night without a hit, strike, bight, bite, look-see, follower, or nibble from old "Salar Sebago".
Now, for all you very brighter than average followers of this dribble and who have had nothing of merit to read for the past seven days, that means we caught nary a salmon. Oh! I did catch a 2.5 lb smallmouth bass but that doesn't count. Although it was the only fish caught on a flyrod all week. Our host's son did claim some bragging rights by catching a small (read: small) lake trout on Saturday, on metal, on a downrigger.
Doesn't count!
All anglers have excuses. The weather was terrible. It took a day and a half to get both boats on the water. We were a month late for Ice Out. There are fewer fish.
OK, one at a time.
A front blew in on Wednesday night and lasted well into Friday. We did have fifty mph winds on the lake sustained and gusts up to sixty mph. That's 50 and 60....yep Five O and Six O. No fish in it's right mind would be feeding in that mess. Most of us were in our right minds by not venturing forth in such chaos.
It gave us a chance to catch up on old times, learn what was what with each other, and play some serious cards. And it gives me a chance to introduce the "Playas".
From the right and going around the table is our host, Abe. Aka, Boat Ride Bell. Next two are the pretenders, Abe's two sons' --- Tommy and John David. At the end of the table is the "House MagPie", Aka Green, Green thing, John. Next to John's left is Bill, Willy, Willy the Cape, (As in Capon), Aka the "Bead Merchant". And finally on the left corner is Paul, Pauley, Cop, Fuzz, DC. We are missing one Dave, Davey, Aka the "Tumbler" who could not make the trip. And we miss him. Normally we are seated at this table for breakfast, lunch, and dinner only. On this trip I think we spent almost two days there, and it did get tedious.
Just kidding.
Here is one of the few photos we have with myself as part of the old group. Normally the only photos of me are in the post office, but we felt that since we had a couple camera men we would put them to work and I was able to attend.
Now, dear reader, you have to remember that the first trip up there was in 1969. We're old! And it is a real accomplishment for all of us to just to be alive.
We need, I have to admit it, the younger fellows there to do some of the heavy lifting. When we put the small, 14 foot aluminum, boat in the water the motor would not start. I rowed the thing about a hundred yards and they all wanted me to pull the cord to get it started. My answer was "Two words....John David!" He's forty and about a hundred pounds heavier than me. We never did get it started as some repairs have to be made and I needed a nap.
Not only did we wake up to wind on Thursday and Friday, but the mountains in the vicinity were covered after a night time snow fall Wednesday night. This is another first for us. Sure it's been cold up there and we have arrived with some snow in the woods, but never have seen the mountains covered. So here's the argument for you global warming guys. The ice went out in March, only the third time since 1860 something and we had snow on the first of May. Kinda contradicts itself I would say.
That's Gunstock Ski area
And to the east!
To my dear friends and anglers that have made this trip to the big lake in the last 42 years, all I can say is thanks.
Maybe when we are reincarnated, we'll come back as nets and not anglers. But then that would take all the fun out of it.
It's been a great ride!
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