| High fuel prices got you down? | | | | my waders--I decided a bigger rig was in order. |
| Imagine how most of us feel in the recreational | | | | Didn't seem like a big deal at the time, back when |
| fishing world. | | | | diesel fuel was at about $1.29. |
| Let me explain. | | | | ....$3.19 this morning!! |
| Here we are rounding into September, the time of | | | | Ranger Kurt is not talking to me anymore. |
| year that all true "sport fishermen" look forward to. | | | | I have decided to make some drastic changes in my |
| The weather is changing, and most summer crowds | | | | life--at least my fishing life-- and the next time you |
| have gone home, leaving the rivers and lakes | | | | see me.... I will be driving a Vespa. |
| uncrowded and filled with frisky hungry fish readying | | | | That's right, one of those tiny Italian jobs that sound |
| themselves for the fall spawn and feedfest that | | | | like an underpowered weed wacker. |
| takes place in fall. | | | | I realize this will make it impossible to carry all the |
| Most of us are not lucky enough to have a river or | | | | "necessary" gear I need to be ready for "impulse |
| lake out our back door, so that means traveling to | | | | recreation"-- but what's a guy to do? |
| our favorite fishing spots is mandatory. Two hundred | | | | From now on, I will only carry the essentials--fishing |
| miles or better is nothing when it comes to our | | | | rod, fly box,perhaps a sleeping bag--and wear all my |
| passion. | | | | necessary clothing, including waders,vest,wading |
| Most fishermen -and outdoor types in general--are | | | | boots and possibly a change of underwear. |
| usually heading for the great outdoors hauling their | | | | Everything else stays home! |
| gear in SUVs , trucks or campers/trailers. | | | | I know this sounds drastic, but if I am to continue |
| Not exactly what you would consider "economy" | | | | my passion for fishing --this may be the only way to |
| cars. | | | | make it affordable to do so. |
| I can still remember the conversation I had with | | | | I also know that the visual image of a rugged |
| Ranger Kurt about three years ago, when I | | | | outdoorsman on the back of a Mo-ped is not exactly |
| convinced him to purchase an old Ford Diesel f350 in | | | | the vision Madison Avenue would like to sell to Orvis |
| place of his trusty Toyota fishing rig. | | | | or Jeep Cherokee and is more akin to the image of |
| He would love the extra room, and heck- diesel was | | | | Jim Carrey in "Dumb and Dumber"--but I don't care!! |
| about a dime cheaper than regular to boot!! | | | | Look out Deschutes River Steelhead... we're LEAN, |
| He like I, always seemed to just fill the back of his | | | | MEAN, and riding WHINY MACHINES... |
| pick-up with just about every piece of sporting good | | | | Whad'ya think?Kinda catchy, huh? |
| equipment that languished in his garage.On the off | | | | So, until the price of crude drops back down to a |
| chance we might feel the urge to break into a | | | | reasonable level, which may be never, you will |
| spirited game of Badminton, shoot clay pigeons, ride | | | | recognize me as the guy out on Highway 97 wearing |
| mountain bikes, or take an impromptu twenty mile | | | | about fourteen layers of clothing and a pair of |
| hike into the high desert, we were ready!! | | | | Hodgeman neoprene waders. |
| So, as our state of readiness has increased with age, | | | | My poor Ford F250? Well, I suppose it will become an |
| our truck beds have shrunk. | | | | expensive dog house for my Yellow Lab-because |
| Much like our spines and uhhhh hummm... other things!! | | | | unless I have AAA tow my vehicle around town--I |
| But I digress... | | | | can't afford to drive it anymore. |
| Anyway, as I ran out of room and had to spend | | | | I sure hope they don't catch on to me!! |
| thirty minutes each time loading and unloading | | | | Oh-- and Ranger Kurt--give me a call, there's room on |
| basketballs,hockey sticks and barbecues-- just to find | | | | the back of the Vespa for you... |