Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3622 Oct. 13-27, 2017 | Page 24

22
FRESHWATER
Oct. 13 - 27, 2017
Column #500 Has Arrived!
O
VOL.36 • ISS. 22
See, trial and error. Reading a lot of
stuff, and later watching hundreds of fish-
ing shows on the outdoor channels helped.
They also provided a base point from
which to start.
After trying to replicate what Bill
Dance or Jimmy Houston did out east, (
I never kissed a fish), with mixed results,
we took their basic premise and re-de-
signed it for California fishing. Flyrodding
for American shad back in the late 70’s
took but 3 seasons for two of us to nail it.
Talk about trial and error.
Sometimes, it’s just BAL. Both with a
flyrod and a spinning rod, when working
topwater baits, something happened that
made us stop the twitch, like picking up
a cup of coffee or observing a female
waterskier.
The splash that we heard but didn’t
see was an eye opener. When we adjusted
our technique to include this particular
Like Cal, I read every
K, so this is column
outdoor mag I could get my
# 500 for the Sniffer.
hands on back in the late
So what ??? That trivial bit of
40’s through their demise.
information, along with about
My introduction to the value
$7.00 might get one a cup of
of scent came when catfish-
coffee at one of those drive
ing with a co-worker back
through coffee emporiums.
in 75.
Speaking of which, a few
He wouldn’t allow any-
years ago 4 of us were over
one to handle his prepared
nighting in Madras, Oregon.
baits. In the late 50’s we
We needed to be on the road
bought anise oil from the
about 5 AM, so we hit the local
pharmacy as a scent con-
Safeway for coffee. Two others
trol. Lesson learned…don’t
ordered one of those frappe,
knock it over in the boat and
cream infested, mocha flavored
never set it down on an open
cappa something or other cups
tackle box unless the bottle
of fizzle with infused cinnamon.
When I asked the “barista”, all of age 18, cap is firmly in place.
for just a cup of coffee, she just stared. My
explanation finally got me what I ordered.
On to # 500. Is there any value to reaching
a milestone? I think not. And is # 500 even a
milestone at all? Who remembers where they
were when Nicklaus or Palmer won their
final major? I don’t even remember where I
was when I penned # 1 back in the early 80’s.
Nor need I.
Sponsored by
There has been a smattering of compli-
ments regarding this column over the years,
to which I always replied, “thanks Mom”.
One time a stranger stopped me at the Sac
ISE show as we were walking the aisle. After
asking me if I was, in fact, me, he mentioned
how much he enjoyed some of the columns.
As he spoke I glanced at my 3 show
mates, all of whom where staring, tapping
their toes and pointing to their watches. A
feeble excuse pulled me away and I won-
Top 50 adult qualifiers from all 2017 tournaments are
dered if his perception was confirmed, what a
eligible for a chance to win the Grand Raffle Prize:
jerk was I.
A New 14’ Tracker boat & 9.9 Mercury motor
A fishing buddy of mine is a middle man
and trailer package!
between his friend and me. Even though his
buddy is an experienced fly guy and regular
angler, he’ll sometimes ask for more info
or an explanation of whatever point I was
Top 25 youth qualifiers from all 2017 tournaments are
making in a column. That’s kinda a back pat.
eligible for a chance to win the Grand Raffle Prize:
Or an unclear explanation?
A NEW SEA EAGLE INFLATABLE BOAT!
As a column is read and re-read looking
for a point or issue not well described, it
sometimes becomes too much afterthought.
There have been hundreds of times we’ve
addressed a particular technique, such as
possibly baiting a hook in a particular way.
It was always intended to be an option rather
than the only way.
You can count on one hand’s fingers
without using the thumb how many times the
Derby hours 7am to 2 pm
suggestion has been my way or the highway.
TOC Entry Fee: $25 per Qualifying Adult
The one that comes to mind, year after year,
Qualifying Kids 15 and under FREE
is netting a big fish in a big river from a boat.
$10
High
Roller
Side
Pot Option (3-Qualifiers Awarded)
How many times have we heard that the fish
FREE
Raffle
after
Weigh-in
for Eligible Tournament Participants
“got away” right at the net?
Could it have been due to operator error?
State Fishing Licences are required and are available at Collins Lake
Quite often the question is asked, how do you
ONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE AT WWW.ANGLERSPRESS.COM
know all this stuff? Am guessing the number
one reason is trial and error, making dumb
mistakes and hopefully learning from them
and/or observing others.
BILL’S TIP
SHEET
by Bill Adelman
presentation, it worked. We fly fish for
largemouth in a farm pond every year.
The best fly is a dark girdle bug with
white legs. A small 3 ½ inch stickbait is
also deadl