The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: fightingquaker13 on February 05, 2010, 01:25:14 AM
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The quaker is feeling guilty. My dad traditionally (and has since I was small) taken big summer trips. He plans and researches them all year. Some mundane, some pushing the borders of sanity. However, the last three years or so I have declined do to go, just not feeling social enough to deal with a cruise ship in Alaska or a rafting group in Argentina. This last year though, the old man is starting to look, well, old. I don't need to explain to any guy on this board what a kick in the balls it is to see your dad that way or how many woulda, coulda, shouldas it brings up. So, while he's healthy enough and relatively flush (though not rich, lets figure $3k max for a week, which is better than his under employed son can bring to the table, my role is to be the man Frriday. ) where do we go? The objective for him is cool scenery, low hassel, friendly people and fish. Me, I would prefer not to test my claustrophobia against an airplane longer than necessary, but for this trip I'll make an exception. Neither of us are wimps. Where do we go? And I do mean anywhere. Peacock bass in Brazil, sail fish in Panama, tiger fish in Kenya? This has the feeling of being a Bucket Club sort of trip. I want to do it right. The Old man has made me the travel agent. Help me out. Where do I take a healthy 72 year old that has seen all 49 continental states, catch him some fish, give him an adventure, and not kill him off?
FQ13
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Absolutely no question for me: the Southern coast of Ireland, offshore. Partly due to wonderful memories of the place and partly due to the warmth of the locals (and their great little pubs!). It's been 35 years since I last fished in Ireland but I still have those memories and miss it almost every day......hmmmm.........maybe I'll meet you there?
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wow where to start I have a bit of a list on what I still need to do.
Marlin fishing in Cairns QLD
Bluefin Tuna Fishing @ PT Lincoln
Barra up in the NT
Trout Fishing in Tasmania
try out this Lake fishing I here about wall eye
need to also try Ice Fishing in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
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Relatively close to home (short air trip), very friendly locals (Spanish speaking, but a lot of 'em speak English, too), tremendous fishing for marlin and sails, relatively low cost for charter trips (where English is universally spoken), exceptional accommodations (condo, hotel, cabin on the beach, tent, whatever), really good food, and day trips to a rain forest when you want a break from catching all those fish...
The answer: Golfito, Costa Rica
Been there. Done that. Would do again in a heartbeat.
Crusader
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New Zealand and Scotland are both renowned for their fishing, I'm not a fisherman so I can't really give advice.
Good luck, you are doing a good thing for you BOTH.
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bone fishing with a fly rod down on the flats in FLA
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I'd have to go with Alaska...
http://www.alaska-fly-fishing.net/
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FQ....
You live in Florida with world class fishing right outside your back door. I'm sure it would mean more to your Dad to have you with him then what amount of travel and money you spend on your trip.
3K doesn't get you out of the country let alone afford a guide, boat, tackle, etc.....
If my Dad were still alive, I'd love to have a 6 weight fly rod with 1/2 lb 'gills or crappie to fill the boat with and then argue about who was gonna clean 'em.... ;)
It's been thirty years since I fished with my Dad.....but I can still smell the panfish fryin'...
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Every March my Father and I take a week long trip to Blood River on KY lake. The fishing is unbelievable, the people are friendly, but the beauty of the area is lost for sure during the cold months. Also would recommend southeast TN. Killer deep water resovoirs make for killer Smallies.
If I had to leave the US i would go peacock bass fishin in Brazil like you mentioned.
There are killer Pike lakes and scenery in Canada.
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Ok...another local to think aobut.
In the 70s, I used to guide canoe trips down the Spanish river in Ontario.
I always had a couple day layover scheduled at Pogamasing Lake. It was beautiful country and reportedly great fishing. There were two rustic lodges there which had some cabins..very basic. No electricity, no showers in the cabins, but a shower was available at the lodge.
Have no idea if either place is still in business or what the cost is. Folks would fly in and land on the lake. Sudbury was the closest major city and it was 60 miles away. At that time there was no road access, but a railway did make stops across the river to drop supplies. Not sure about passengers.
I did google the lake and found several entries. Some pics from 2007 showing the 'Duck' that they had way back in the 70s still being used.
Maybe not what you and your Dad would enjoy, but another option.
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FQ:
As has been mentioned there are a myriad of destinations here in the US that could provide you and your Dad with a wonderfully pleasurable, and highly memorable bonding experience.
From the Okoboji's here in northwest Iowa (glacially formed blue-water lake) to the fishing resorts of Minnesota, there are an abundance of opportunities.
Might I suggest one of my favorites, "Break On The Lake". http://breakonthelake.com/ (http://breakonthelake.com/) located in Cass Lake, Minnesota, just east of Bemidji, or about 210 miles northwest of the Twin Cities.
Good luck with your vacation plans, and say a little prayer of Thanksgiving every day that your Dad is still with you.
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If you're planning this for summer,. how about Boundary Waters/Quetico? If he's looking for a fight, how about sturgeon/Muskie fishing in da UP, eh?
Of course,t here's always piranha fishing on the Amazon for a little excitement. All you need to do is swim around for the old man, then let him net whatever ain't nibbling on you! ;D
Nice thing you're doing for him, though. Let us know where you end up, and, of course, post the obligatory pr0n.
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Path, I think, considering the subject, that should be "of course, post the obligatory prawn. " ;D
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There is some great smallmouth fishing in Lake Winnipesaukee up in NH.
Be real careful though....."The Bogan" is stockpiling rope at an alarming rate!
;D
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Hey FQ, grab a rod, stay local save your money and buy an AK...... 8)
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Hey FQ, grab a rod, stay local save your money and buy an AK...... 8)
Its all about the trip TW. The Old Man lives at Port of the Islands between Everglades City and Naples, off Tamiami Trail, with a really sweet Action Craft flats boat. If all he wanted was to catch fish, I'd buy some live bait and sit on his dock. This is about an adventure.
FQ13
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I have always wanted to do the Peacock bass thing on the Amazon, that's the dream trip. I had good luck in Mexico, Puerta Vallarta, deep sea, went for Marlin but ended up catching a lot of Bonita, of which the captain made the best ceviche I have ever had. I did not believe him at the time, but I caught a world class Roosterfish, they were telling me to get it mounted and I thought they were just trying to get more money out of me. As it turns out, a 60 kilo, 4'9" rooster fish is quite a catch. Canada and Alaska for some of those huge salmon, and Halibut would be grand, or some of those fly in camps for pike, walleye and trout in Canada, where they cook you fish breakfast on the shore. Here in NA, I would like to do a Montana fly fishing trip for big trout. You have great large mouth Bass fishing in FLA, or I would suggest Lake Saltillo in Mexico. From Fla, some Bahama fishing seems like it ought to be reasonable, for barracuda, amberjack, grouper, swordfish and Marlin.
Good for you, say hi to Dad from all of us. HAVE FUN!!!!!
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There is some great smallmouth fishing in Lake Winnipesaukee up in NH.
Be real careful though....."The Bogan" is stockpiling rope at an alarming rate!
;D
I thought of that and the Salmon but right now we have 18 inches of Ice on the lake and when that goes it can get kind of crowded.
PS, The rope supply doesn't seem to be alarming the right people, BO and congress, "my" reps in particular are still being meatheads, but my down stairs neighbor is worried about her ceiling giving way ;D
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FQ, still looking for a link to one of the lodges on Pogamasing Lake in Ontario and came across this link.
http://www.baywolfcamp.net/fishing.html
Might be nice.
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In all seriousness FQ.....you want an adventure? You want to spend a few days with some of the friendliest people on the planet? Beautiful women? Great fishing? Breathtaking scenery? The oldest Parlimentary Government in history?
I've "been there, done that", though not since the seventies...since their economy is in the toilet, it might be more affordable.
Iceland Trout fishing....
http://www.nat.is/nateng/angling_in_iceland.htm
p.s. stay away from the Brennivan and the "skata"....(putrified shark)...think of it as the nastious thing you could ever eat...
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:) FQ: THIS WAS TOUCHED ON BEFORE BUT THE MAIN THING IS TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR DAD. I LOST MY "POPS" JUST OVER 10 YRS. AGO. I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING(EVEN ALL MY TOYS) JUST TO SIT AT THE RIVER OR LAKE AGAIN WITH HIM :'( :'( . WHEREVER YOU GO, TAKE PLENTY OF PHOTOS & TELL'EM YOU LOVE HIM NO MATTER WHAT!! :) :)