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#1 Jul-13-23 11:22AM

hookup
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Jan-31-12
Posts: 2348

Celebration of Life trip

Been on the road the past month and busier than a one armed paperhanger with fleas.

Two days before Leon & I would start the 17 hour drive north I get the call.  My Dad's not doing good.  15 minutes later the nurse calls me saying he took his last breath.  Dad's in SoCA.  I'm in VA.  So started hitting the phones and put the whole funeral together in 24 hours.  Fortunately he was miliary and already had a plot.  And when I was in CA last December, I contacted the funeral home and let him know I'd need their services. I was. back mid March to finalize everything.  Getting on the plane home was sad because I knew this was probably the last time I'd see Dad alive.  Since he was buried in a military cemetery, it would be three weeks until the funeral.  They're very busy.  Dad had altheimers and was slipping fast.  To be totally honest, it was a blessing when I got the news.

So decided nothing I could do and finished getting my gear and stuff together and off we drove.  At that point I called it my Celebration of life trip.  And man, it was a trip.  Best ever in Canada.Temps were in the 40's at night and 60s to 70s during the day.  Fishing started out hot and heavy and just continues for 8 solid days. 

Day 1 we got bass thumb.  Day 2 we got skin coming off the thumb.  A gripper or boga became a must.

Scenery was epic.  God's country. 

https://i.imgur.com/E1t6Ymy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XPxtFF8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ucEEX10.jpg



Surprisingly the bugs were tame.  Well until after 2100 - but then it was time to sleep to rest for the next day

We fish these lakes for smallies, but still got some bonus fish

https://i.imgur.com/ipIuRpp.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/A9R1LPM.jpg

Released this one because it was outside the slot limit, but caught a few more and had appetizers and a nice dinner.

When I get Leon's pix, I'll post them but here's a taste of what Canada, on fire, can provide

https://i.imgur.com/wFWwWJz.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/MD3KBLx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/e9GuA13.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/U1rqzNG.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/d84dmG7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8WsDbMR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/o0dVZah.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/GAcyqVi.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2G3cI3V.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/L6PnEOf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/HdIfKIY.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BxAXLlP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/B3hYlxG.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6ypRhVC.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/P4WB16q.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8406tES.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3g8AzHK.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/jj3g17K.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/cSyRIFC.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Chts8GU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BwXn6HO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/VXeXKOE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8QdUU5z.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xbWjVXT.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FNkcfTU.jpg

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#2 Jul-13-23 11:37AM

drxfish
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Sterling
Registered: Jan-04-14
Posts: 3023

Re: Celebration of Life trip

So sorry to hear about your dad.  It is never easy losing your parents.

FISH, lots of fish!  BIG fish!  Congrats on a great trip!


Always wishin' I was fishin'

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#3 Jul-13-23 12:10PM

backtofuturetoyota
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Stafford
Registered: Jan-12-12
Posts: 872

Re: Celebration of Life trip

G, sorry to hear about your pops.  Mine is actually in hospice now, so I get the feeling.

You my friend are making it a valuable trip and wow.....what a day!!

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#4 Jul-13-23 12:53PM

hookup
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Jan-31-12
Posts: 2348

Re: Celebration of Life trip

backtofuturetoyota wrote:

Mine is actually in hospice now

So was mine.  91 and altheimers.  To be honest, I viewed his passing as a blessing.  Very sad but no way to live.

John - the joke of the trip became:

Me:  Want a pix?

Leon:  Nah, it's just another 18"

We got lucky and hit the lakes at the right time

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#5 Jul-13-23 1:56PM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15634

Re: Celebration of Life trip

Holy smokes (no pun intended since you were in Canada)!

Your dad was an American hero.

Those fish are ridiculous. I'm checking with the authorities to see if the pics are photo shopped lol lol!

Excellent way to honor your pops. Well done! And welcome back.


Time to go fishin' again!

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#6 Jul-14-23 5:35AM

Bryan
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Bealeton, VA
Registered: Mar-18-11
Posts: 1204

Re: Celebration of Life trip

Great report and beautiful fish. Sorry about your dad. A cure for alzheimer's can't come soon enough. Terrible disease.


tight lines

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#7 Jul-14-23 6:59AM

Oubassman
Northern Snakehead
From: West Virginia
Registered: Jan-11-23
Posts: 125

Re: Celebration of Life trip

Definitely sorry to hear about your dad, still tough even though he has.had so many health issues.  From those pictures and report, it was definitely a celebration trip.  Couldn't imagine a trip like that

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#8 Jul-14-23 7:47AM

AndrewDo124
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Alexandria
Registered: May-27-08
Posts: 981

Re: Celebration of Life trip

Sorry for your loss. Glad you were able to have such an amazing trip.

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#9 Jul-14-23 10:03AM

hookup
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Jan-31-12
Posts: 2348

Re: Celebration of Life trip

Leon didn't want any pix of dinks posted .....

https://i.imgur.com/uogbozw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vTfSE3a.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WxxMBgh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/M6ceBBu.jpg

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#10 Jul-14-23 10:30AM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15634

Re: Celebration of Life trip

Double Holy Smokes!

You guys must be spoiled now, by those beauties!!

So what were the dinks? 15, 16 & 17"ers? lol


Time to go fishin' again!

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#11 Jul-14-23 12:13PM

Kayakist
Member
Registered: Sep-26-20
Posts: 19

Re: Celebration of Life trip

After being Hookup's personal photographer for so long I'm glad to be on the opposite end of the lens for a change :-).  Best trip in six years going to Canada, ready for next year!

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#12 Jul-14-23 12:21PM

drxfish
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Sterling
Registered: Jan-04-14
Posts: 3023

Re: Celebration of Life trip

Wowsa!  Those make you look small.  Congrats!!


Always wishin' I was fishin'

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#13 Jul-14-23 1:51PM

hookup
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Jan-31-12
Posts: 2348

Re: Celebration of Life trip

Ernie wrote:

So what were the dinks? 15, 16 & 17"ers?

Me:  Want a pix?

Leon:  Nah, it's just another 18"

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#14 Jul-17-23 5:19PM

darbrewe
Member
From: Fairfax
Registered: May-31-12
Posts: 68

Re: Celebration of Life trip

George,
My sympathies for your loss. Yes, your dad is an American hero. RIP sir.
Those are some good ole Beauchene tanks. Miss that place like crazy. What was your best lure?

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#15 Jul-18-23 11:19AM

hookup
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Jan-31-12
Posts: 2348

Re: Celebration of Life trip

darbrewe wrote:

My sympathies for your loss. Yes, your dad is an American hero. RIP sir.

Thank you.  Lost it twice.  First time was when his casket was pulled out of the hearse and the soldiers stood at attention and saluted.  Second time was when they started playing taps.


What was your best lure?

White fluke with tail dyed chartreuse

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#16 Jul-18-23 6:27PM

Oubassman
Northern Snakehead
From: West Virginia
Registered: Jan-11-23
Posts: 125

Re: Celebration of Life trip

Is there any other color of fluke you should throw!!?!

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#17 Jul-19-23 4:13PM

hookup
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Jan-31-12
Posts: 2348

Re: Celebration of Life trip

Oubassman wrote:

Is there any other color of fluke you should throw!!?!

All white ....

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