Little Did I Know.

Headed to Kona for my brothers wedding and after that my family spent a week in Kauai. I was excited about this because I wanted to go bonefishing. I didn't get out on my honeymoon when I was there last year, so I was going to make up for it by fishing all week.

I called Rob and had the Monday of that week booked to go fishing a couple weeks before we left. Then after paying what I already thought was too much money for a guide for 4 hours I would make up for it by fishing all week and getting into larger than average bones. Little did I know....

We got there on Sunday and it was raining hard, Monday rain too. We arranged to go later in the week when it was better weather. I was thinking Tuesday or Wednesday, but we didn't get out until Friday, not because the weather, but for whatever reason. I think it had to do with him knowing I was planning on fishing all week, so he wanted me to go the last day I was there.

He called me at 10 at told me to meet me at the beach at 11. I thought it seemed a little late, but he's the guide right? I traveled from 2,000 miles away and accidently forgot my glasses. I thought oh he does this everyday he should have an extra pair, nope. Not an extra pair of sunglasses and he's a bonefishing guide. My fault, but still not an extra pair for clients? WTH?

So we went out I had the first cast on a good bone and it hit, but didn't take all the way and didn't get it. I had about 8 or 10 other shots but I couldn't see what I was casting at/or cast wasn't where it needed to be. After 3 hours of fishing guide called it quits, ya thats right $350 for 4 hours and he quit at 3 hours. NO drinks, no snacks, no glasses, no real advice given. Don't waste your $ on Rob in Kauai, he's the only guide there and I am wondering why now.

If your serious about going to Kauai don't book Rob for the insane price, We can work out a trade or something $50 or so and I will tell you how to catch a bone, even though I didn't catch one. I will even tie you the flies that he uses for the bones there and send them. If I was there one more day I would have, but guide strategically planned for my last day there.

Also, the reason he fishes late in the day I found out randomly enough is he is an artist on the island making shell necklaces that sell for a lot of money, so he spends the prime fishing hours in the morning on finding shells. Then hoses tourist on his insane prices for fishing. I wouldn't have found this out, but my family met him in the morning on the beach finding shells the same day we went fishing.

I was unprepared by not having glasses. Flies I knew I was going to buy some from guide when I was there, but when paying that much $ the little things should be taken care of, especially when you are a destination fishing guide.

This post will lead into my upcoming post about picking the right guide.

Never Know If You Don't Look

The Chucko was in true form last week. After Mike, Matt and I got skunked on the pond, we started looking around at the nearby stream that feeds the pond. In this concrete valve box we spotted a bass. After dropping three flies in to get it, it finally took it! Well kinda, but Matt hauled it in. I knew he wouldn't give me the pics off his camera because he is not proud of this, but I am. It was a good bass too, probably around 5lb's. So top 3 pictures are from phone. The bottom two are from another trip a few days before the epic canal fish.

The monster holder

Smile of a true Chucko

Chuckos doing there thing

Had a piece taken out of its back.

Mustache and all.

Silly Putty Spoon Flies

Fly Tyer magazine had a how to on spoon flies, so I gave it a shot and here are my results. I was really surprised at how easy it was to do. Using the silly putty as a mold is a great help and made it very easy. I intend to do some really creative spoon flies, but just wanted to see how it would work out at first. Now I have fingernail polish in an array of colors to add to the cluttered fly tying table. I hope the bass enjoy these little guys, but I do think they are intended for saltwater. I used silly putty for mold, and clear cure goo as the body. Use a toddler spoon to make shape fill with goo, put slightly bent threaded hook in goo, cure and then design. Next spoon fly will be a New York Jets Spoon Fly.

Best Catch Yet!

I've caught bigger fish, but this is my best catch yet at 7lb 3oz at , We named him, Augustus Kyle Ballard and will call him"Gus". He has changed my life and can't wait to take him fishing. I'm thinking in a month or so we will hit the water for our first time. Were already best friends, He loves to get kisses from his dad and watch our favorite teams the Jets and the Jazz. Looking forward to spending the rest of my life with this guy.

I have been hitting the water recently, but haven't got any pictures back yet, so those are soon to come

Guns, Ribs, Brookies.....

Headed for the mountains for a quick overnight trip with the fellas for some fishing. We haven't gotten out much this year all of us in school, even though Matt's school is a piece of cake. We fished into the evening the first night and I caught that football of a brookie, only 19" long but it was darn near that wide as well. We all caught some really colored up Colorado River Cutthroats, but nothing to big.
After hiking down the trail in the dark pistols out and flashlights covering ever inch of tree line we made it back to camp for some awesome Lloyds Ribs, for your info you can get the knock off version at Costco, but they are not as good;) for you Mike.
When we woke up we had to build a fire to thaw out our boots and warm up from the frigid mountain air. Poor Matt had to cuddle up to Mike all night to stay warm. I think he was sucking his thumb when I saw them. It was so cute though I didnt want to wake them....

We hiked to a couple different small lakes that had some fish that weren't cooperating, but managed to get some tigers and cutts throughout the day.
On our way back we ran into a couple good ol boys on the trail that had a supposed awesome secret brookie lake that was supposed to be awesome. We were planning on heading home, but we figured we better do this since it might be pretty soon before snow flies and we can't get back up there. We got there and could see the bottom of the lake the entire way across and saw two fish. Dirty SOB.
Ended up being a good trip, but it is always better when you catch the biggest fish of the trip.

Magic Mushrooms

Why We Went..........

The old fart above went on a scout trip with his son's scout troop and they ended up catching lots of fish this size. Worst part of all is this sob fishes about once a year and always catches hogs.

What we Caught

beginning the journey

calm before the storm

viking doing what he does best

fish on

ruined picture with my fingers as usual, doesn't look 19" but it was

cuttie

if we had only known there powers

super mario bros style, these guys were all over the mountain

first tiger

17"

skinny tiger

This trip was suppose to be a bunch of guys from work, but it ended up just me and Lyf. WE took off after work and got a little fishing in the first night. We only fished for around 6 hours the nex day, where the guys in the top pics were there 3 days. It was our first time fishing this part of the mountain and when we go back our next trip we will kill it or rape it, whichever you prefer. Lyf was new to the area in general and I think enjoyed it and the tiger trout was a first for him too. I hope after seeing the camp host he will at least consider watching, "Deliverance". I hummed the tune of that song most of the trip after meeting that fangled tooth redneck.