Andy Giannini wrote:The trophies are awesome!
Yes, but we will be 'cutting and pasting and sending these awards via e-mail', as no 'actual prizes' will be give out, per our understanding that if nothing is given away, monetarily, or prize-wise either, no permits would be required (thanks Kwin), saving us all money in the long run.
I've had the pleasure of fishing with some of the WB greats, and the not-so, at these over the past three or so years I've been attending, such as:
CLEAR LAKE
Cooch- who, after fiddling with something in a box on his front deck, came diving back to his seat and ducked behind his windshield while a rocket launcher sent a humongous firework skyward, just about reaching the moon and then exploding and turning the morning darkness into a sunlit day for about three seconds, with the quietness equally disturbed, thus announcing to the world that the summer NutCase rally had indeed started (scarring the wits out of myself and his dog Delta). BUT, I did get to see him in action with that jig, he swung, fought and landed a branch faster than anyone I've ever seen do it, (not that I've seen it all that many times actually).
Gator- who announced to me before our launch that "I'm on a good topwater bite, hope you like that style" (heck, not that he knew it, but I had seven rods on the ready, everyone of them with a different topwater bait on, "so what kind of question was that?" I thought) "and since I'm in first place, and since everyone thinks I'm going south, they all going there too. And I am too, but not deep south, just to the first slough south!" He said with a sly smile, and we got on 'em good, problem was I got the big ones, and he came in second (not to me, almost getting skunked with Cooch earlier stopped any chance of that). What a blast, topwater swimbaits worked great, and then the frog.
sTony - Another Clear Lake summer rally, more recent- "Got a good pattern, sit on a hump and wait for the big girls to show, toss C/R and jigs"!?
My heart sunk as we came to a stop, looking at my seven topwater rods and shore about 100 yards away. Never discouraged, we had a good time swapping stories for about three hours during the summertime winter storm, freezing and getting blown around like a dandelion in the wind, and then decided maybe a pattern that would get at least get us a bite might be the thing to start searching for.
And then the winter NutCase two years ago, where it got it's name (bunch of guys going out the first of the year in rainy, below freezing weather on the Delta; all in search of an elusive green fish that was hibernating at the end of some slough where only one guy, that couldn't even count, could even find them- 1/2 pounders at that!). Even Marty bassanova couldn't get me on fish, not that he didn't try, nor get any himself (nor did 95% of the field for that matter, some never left the local pub if I recall) !!!
But the weather was as explained, and one run through Franks left my wool hat at the bottom of that lake and I never even knew the waves, hitting me full force from the wind with each bounce, had even washed it off the top of my head!
Food has, indeed, been great, as well as the camaraderie, and I've learned a lot from some excellent sticks, that's for sure. And great times pre and post fishing them with the likes of Brian D., Derek, and many others.
Can't wait to see what Perris dishes out. Had a couple more sign-ups in last couple of days, lots more room guys/gals, come on out and join us.