By LOREN BROOKS
“There is more to fishing than catching fish.”
When I read that statement years ago, which is a quote from Isaac Walton’s book, “The Complete Angler,” I have never forgot it.
Let me explain how true that statement is and what happened at Echo Bay. There was quite a gathering at the dock last week. I knew most of the boat captains and their fishing buddies on this occasion. There was a lot of talk about how many fish were caught, where they were caught and what was used to catch the fish.
As we secured the boats back on the trailers, and pulled up the ramp, the trucks and trailers pulled up alongside each other for additional work to secure the rods and equipment, a young man from Las Vegas by the name of Cristen Valentia came up to me seeking information on how to catch the fish. He said he had spent the day in his boat without catching a single fish.
I walked him back to my boat and showed him my rods and reels and explained the techniques used by most of the fishermen who fish for stripers. My brother Roy, said I must have spent about 30 minutes talking to Cristen about fishing. My brother had taken a fall in the boat and was at this point sitting in the cab in a lot of pain. I apologize Roy, for the delay, but “There is more to fishing then catching fish.”
I actually got back in the boat and baited up an anchovy, explaining that a lot of the fishermen use leaded line, treble hooks and sinkers when trolling for stripers. I handed Cristen a 24 inch leader, with a threaded anchovy, explaining that a “half hitch” on the tail of the anchovy, helps keep the bait on the hook. I had a spare threading device which I shared with him. We exchanged names and phone numbers and I wished him the best of luck.
This young man from Argentina, now living in Las Vegas, sent me this photo this week of he and his friend, and their success in catching stripers.
If you get a chance, read the book which was written in 1651, or thereabouts. “The Complete Angler” is a story about Isaac Walton meeting a man along the roadway in England, walking the banks of a river. The man had never been fishing. He called him an apprentice.
You never know who may show up on the Overton Arm of Lake Mead. The following week Lloyd Thayne, of Las Vegas and his friend Joyce from Wisconsin said they had a great time fishing the shallow waters up on the north end. Lloyd said he caught the biggest crappie of his life, using crank bait and also caught several Stripers.
I too had some great fishing this past Tuesday with my friend John who outfitted me for a day of striper fishing. We caught 25 stripers. It was quite a day. About 35 strikes if one was to count the action up in 29 feet of water. Lots of boats on the water. It was a fun day and I believe every boat caught a lot of fish.
Well that’s my story.
