In my life I use that term a lot, for me it means being as good as you can be, a 100 percent guy. After I had guided a few years I got to realizing that taking people fishing wasn't really 'important' work like being a doctor or a lawyer or just somebody that contributes to the overall good. And I also new that I was pretty much a steward of peoples recreation time and in all cases part of their hard earned vacations. So....I new that in order to have any pride in myself and my life I absolutely had to go at it 100%, do the very best every time I go fishing and live by a simple rule...no laziness. So thirty some years later that mind set has served me well not just with my job here in Alaska but it's also helped me to be included with the elite of the fishing world in Mazatlan. I told my buddy Ernie one time after a day of 6 hours straight hurling a 2 ounce lure just as far as you can after being up at 5 am, " ya know Ern, there's lots of people who fish but not a lot who fish like you and me".
That pic is a virtual who's who of some of the best surf fishermen in Mazatlan, Sinaloa Mexico. A couple months ago our friend Stan on the left invited everybody out for breakfast. He's had back surgery and just couldn't fish this year so it was his way to get together. To be included with these guys to me is like a team photo of the New York Yankees. Stan, Ramon, Tino, Bernardo, Slah, Ernie and myself. Of course I'd been fishing that morning so I had my gear with me. At one of the nicest restaurants in Mazatlan we had lures laying on the table, showing knots and talking story, fish story. Everyone knows these guys and by the time we were done the owner had dropped by, all the staff and a few people from off the street all swung in to say hi. Pretty cool.
I took these pics of Slah at Marmol one day to show you the athleticism and experience it takes to get right after fishing the surf fishing 100 %. He's a machine. He knows when to be where and does all the little things I've noticed through the years. Watch the rocks before you crawl out on them, don't move your feet when the waves hit, time your casts and let the rod do the work. When he casts it makes this fantastic 'wheeeshing' sound and goes an easy 100 yards and 150 when he really needs it.
Although we have this team approach to our surf fishing it really is a loners way, I like that. Unlike being in a boat there's really not much anybody can do to help you and except for our designated breaks you spend the day alone, in your own thoughts. Not only are you separated from your team mates but most of the time we're separated from town, we're all alone, miles from anywhere. This pic kind of illustrates.
Slah has a nice fish on in the pic above, the point on the right is still 30 miles from Mazatlan.The next pic is me working hard for that extra distance that can make all the difference. There's days when we take extra clothes for the days end, some of the guys like my friend Jason are as at home in the water as the fish .
This next pic is one of my favorites. The guys tease me for several reason, one of which is that I take lots and lots of photos...and every so often you hit a homer.
And here's a picture of us wrapping things up.This day we were at Marmol and caught some nice toro and I caught one fairly small snapper that Bernardo took home to his wife. Most of the guys look at this blog so I just have to say one thing....thanks guys, its one of the highlights of my fishing career and my life in general, to share and have you all share with me. I made the team and it feels good to playing varsity. Gracias.
AND....well, here at Mile 14 spring is slowly but surely showing its face. This morning we have our first open water on the river, a little lead opened up right in front of the launch. Of course I was happy to see it but I'll bet the little critters that left all those footprints around it were happier...pretty cool is all I can say. I wonder what and where they were drinking before it opened up????
Ah yes!
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