Ever missed out big time?

YorkFlyGuy

YorkFlyGuy

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Jan 3, 2008
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On the Hoppers in Chile post, I mentioned that I lived in Chile for a year. I lived in Viña del Mar on the coast west of Santiago. I travelled both throughout the north and the south. Yet I didn't wet a line, nor would it have been a fly line at the time. I look back upon this opportunity and feel like I really missed out. Do not get me wrong, I can honestly say that the year was one of the top three in my life (the others being my wedding year and the birth of my daughter this year).
I look back on it and realize how easy it would have been to get out for a week of FFing, not to mention how cheap since I was already down there and had met enough people to have a place to stay in the south.
They say "Hind sight is 20/20". I say "they" don't need to run it in, I know this already. Jerks :p :roll:

There is only one good way to deal with this: :pint:
I guess I could plan a trip back too.
 
Lived in SW Florida for 6 years and did'nt fly fish then.
 
I spent a week in Belize on my honey moon. I managed to fish off the dock for an hour with some old baitcasters the lodge had. Caught two 7" cat fish, and a baby tarpon ( very very small, like 5 ") and a couple small talapia. Wish I could have targeted some bigger fish. I dont regret not fishing by any means, but would have been pretty cool.
 
Around the middle of May in the late 80s I decided to treat my self to an exciting trip to Williston,North Dakota.At the time their casino gambling consisted of punch cards[they hadn't even figured out how scratch offs worked}The most exciting game in town-snagging paddlefish in the Missouri.
On the way home I had booked two days on Fort Peck ,a huge man made lake on the Missouri.The first day we were targeting walleyes,which I had never caught.Freezing cold but interesting to ride in a 60mph bass boat.I caught one skinny sauger-still haven't gotten a walleye.
Second morning was for lakers.The guide for that trip was excited.One of the best days in memory-everybody hooked up all day long-boy were we gonna get them.
You guessed it-weather turned .
Trolled all day,finally hooked one small lake trout.
The high point of the day-
Told the guide I just had to go to shore for a pit stop-he nudged up on what looked like gravel-I jumped off the front of the boat and sank up to my knees in mud-spent the rest of the day being snarled at by the guide for getting his boat dirty.
Thats fishing.
 
Didn't fish the cicadas.

I did in 2002 or 3, whenever they were in Berks. It was fun, but it was nothing like the experience on the limestoners.

I really blew that one.
 
I wasn't fishing at the time, but I look back at my trip to Costa Rica and realize what a great fishing spot it looked like, right off the shore at the resort, which was otherwise the most boring resort ever.

Yep, if I'd known then what I know now.
 
2004 cicada..I fished it once, and did well..I should have fished the cicada more that year...
 
I can't think of any time in particular that I may have missed out on fishing.

Whenever I travel anywhere one of the first things I look into is where I can fish!!!

Work trip to Erie >> fish for steelhead.

Florida to visit my parents >> fish the Gulf.

Golf outing in Myrtle Beach >> fish the ponds and bays.
 
"I don't feel like going up there now. Besides, it's not going anywhere."

That was my attitude toward the Grand Canyon, even though I lived in New Mexico a while, and occasionally traveled to AZ to fish Navajo Nation "lakes". Also lived in Phoenix area for a while, which was even closer.

I'll make it there someday, but if my intent was/is to also hike in and out for some fishing, would have been far wiser to have done so in my 30's.
 
jayL wrote:
Didn't fish the cicadas.

I did in 2002 or 3, whenever they were in Berks. It was fun, but it was nothing like the experience on the limestoners.

I really blew that one.


Yeah Jay, I too can kick myself for not getting out to Central PA to fish them.
 
While fishing the 2008 Cicada, on Penns, I bumped into an older gentleman along the trail one day; I'd say he was in his late eighties, he had this big grin on his face, Like he knew this was his last cicada...We talked stream side for a few minutes. I showed him my unrefined cicada pattern. He gave me a glimplse of his pattern, then quickly covered it up with his hand..I only had a seconds glance. Had an old timey look about it. I want to say acorn body, fabric wing, but not positive..

I'll never forget that smile on his face, and gratified look in his eyes. It was like looking into the eyes of my own, inevitable, future...I'll never miss the cicada again...
 
"It was like looking into the eyes of my own, inevitable, future"

What a great line. I am going to write it in my quote notebook. Thanks Sundrunk!
 
about five years ago I spent six weeks teaching in bosnia bosnia has the most amazing jade-colored rivers and they are full -- you can see them -- full of trout. I didn't fly fish then. loook at this:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_QDYWU8VRi-8/Rr3yLDfxYHI/AAAAAAAAA7U/HKo7hrVGoKI/BosniaProject+502ab.jpg
 
OK that is a fish farm,but the valleys, streams, and water in bosnia are amazing. of course instead of rattlers you might need to think a little bit about ... landmines!
 
DGC I lived in Phoenix for about 8 years and never fished the Canyon or Lee's Ferry either. Did visit the Canyon once though. From what I've heard the hike is miserable and not worth the fishing other than to say you have done it. I have always preferred the smaller streams anyway so I don't really regret it. I did fish the Mogollon Rim streams a lot and they will always be some of my favorite FF-ing locations.
 
I was too wet behind the ears to fish the cicada's. I wish I had gotten into this sport earlier in life. Also wish I had the money to fish while honeymooning in the bahamas. $500 for a guided day of bonefishing. Darn being newly married and poor. I will fulfill my dreams of fishing a few spots around the world though sometime in my life.
 
For the last 10 years my inlaws have lived on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina and all I did was bait cast for large mouth. Now that I fly fish I'm finding out how much more the island has to offer. Large mouth on the fly, red fish, sea trout and much much more. Aside from pa I have found a new playground with better toys.
 
Not really getting into flyfishing till after I graduated from Penn State. I guess I had my mind on other things at the time ;)
 
I went to Penn State and never wet a line. The greatest missed opportunity in my fishing life to date.
 
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