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Jay Gardner
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| Joined: | Thu Jan 6th, 2005 |
| Location: | Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 691 |
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Posted: Fri Jun 12th, 2009 03:19 pm |
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Last week I had the pleasure of spending a day with John Dallas who, in spite of not owning a single Parker, is a heck of a fishing guide and a true gentleman. I had ask John to teach me to handle an AuSable boat and trusted me at the helm of his beautiful boat.
As you can see, the day was spectacular and there were a variety of hatches throughout the day. Unforthnately the fish were pretty uncooperative but the day was otherwise perfect.
Lunch break:
John told me that I passed my test and am now certified to pilot a river boat. (My wife is thrilled).
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Weathered corn, an apple left unnoticed on the tree, the crunch of frosted stubble underfoot, wood smoke in the evening - these things remind me of the wild, fall days of boyhood...the best of those days were the Saturday's, afield with my dad.
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John Dallas
Member
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Posted: Fri Jun 12th, 2009 06:18 pm |
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Jay is a great boat partner. He also makes a great shore lunch, complete with wonderful Italian meats and cheeses.
Regarding Jay's new status as a certified Au Sable Long Boat captain, one of his rights and privileges is that, like any boat captain, he is now authorized to perform weddings, baptisms and divorces (all either temporary or permanent) on the boat.
Brown Drakes are now on - my favorite hatch. Big quandry tonight - to fish, or watch the Wings win another Stanley Cup. Decisions, decisions.
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Dean Romig
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| Joined: | Fri Jan 7th, 2005 |
| Location: | Andover, Ma |
| Posts: | 4887 |
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Posted: Fri Jun 12th, 2009 06:32 pm |
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You can watch hockey anytime . . . but God doesn't subtract from our time here on earth those days spent fishing and hunting . . . seems like a no-brainer to me 
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Jay Gardner
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| Joined: | Thu Jan 6th, 2005 |
| Location: | Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 691 |
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Posted: Fri Jun 12th, 2009 07:01 pm |
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John, thanks for your kind words. Perhaps a follow-up or advanced class might be in order late in August or in September (I'll bring lunch).
I have to agree with Dean (especially after that thug of a trout broke me off last Thursday night just upstream from your cabin). I am sure a small transistor radio would be just the ticket and would tuck easily in your shirt pocket. That or I'll be happy to text you so you can fish and keep up on the score.
BTW: hooked and landed a 22-1/2" brown below Mio late Saturday night. No bamboo though. I was armed with a 9', 7-wt, Sage RPLXi, loaded with a WF line and a sinking head topped with a big gawdy streamer. Just about that right set-up for that fish in that flow. I sm at present concocting the perfect set-up for big browns on tht section of the river, one that will enable me to cover most of the river, get down in the big pools and not require shoulder surgery at the end of the season. Stay tuned... this is going to be good.
Tight lines,
<*){{{{{{{-<
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Weathered corn, an apple left unnoticed on the tree, the crunch of frosted stubble underfoot, wood smoke in the evening - these things remind me of the wild, fall days of boyhood...the best of those days were the Saturday's, afield with my dad.
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Richard Flanders
PGCA Member
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Posted: Fri Jun 12th, 2009 10:39 pm |
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Nice boat! Last time I waded and fished the Ausable would have been in about 1962.... Still remember it clearly. Have they succeeded in getting grayling back in there yet?
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Jay Gardner
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| Joined: | Thu Jan 6th, 2005 |
| Location: | Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 691 |
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Posted: Fri Jun 12th, 2009 10:56 pm |
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Richard Flanders wrote: Nice boat! Last time I waded and fished the Ausable would have been in about 1962.... Still remember it clearly. Have they succeeded in getting grayling back in there yet?
No grayling. I am sure John (who knows as much about the history of the river as does anyone I know) can provide a detailed answer.
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Weathered corn, an apple left unnoticed on the tree, the crunch of frosted stubble underfoot, wood smoke in the evening - these things remind me of the wild, fall days of boyhood...the best of those days were the Saturday's, afield with my dad.
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John Dallas
Member
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Posted: Fri Jun 12th, 2009 11:32 pm |
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| No Grayling. There was an abortive accidental "attempt" about 25 years ago, when a tank truck filled with Grayling (don't know where they were destined for) had a pump failure, and rather than have the fish die, they dumped them into the Manistee River (about 20 miles from where Jay and I were fishing). As it so happened, I had bought a float trip for my daughter and I from a Trout Unlimited Dinner, and we fished that strech the following week. She may be the only living person in Michigan who has caught Brook, Brown, Rainbow and Grayling on a dry fly in one day ( she was about 13 or 14 at the time). Talk about a Grand Slam!
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Dave Fuller
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| Joined: | Thu May 24th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 344 |
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Posted: Sat Jun 13th, 2009 02:18 am |
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| That is one cool wooden boat. Although much lower-tech, we had a great day on the Wakeman River in BC in this tub last year... Attached Image (viewed 145 times):
 Last edited on Sat Jun 13th, 2009 02:33 am by Dave Fuller
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Dave Fuller
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Posted: Sat Jun 13th, 2009 02:22 am |
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| Here's a nice Pink caught about 3 miles from salt water with a fly rod using said tub... (to stay on topic both occupants of tub own more than one Parker) Attached Image (viewed 143 times):
 Last edited on Sat Jun 13th, 2009 02:23 am by Dave Fuller
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Dave Fuller
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Posted: Sat Jun 13th, 2009 02:26 am |
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| The Wakeman is a beautiful, wild, and scenic river.... Attached Image (viewed 139 times):
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Dave Fuller
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Posted: Sat Jun 13th, 2009 02:32 am |
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| She flows into the ocean somewhere around here... Attached Image (viewed 136 times):
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Dave Fuller
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Posted: Sat Jun 13th, 2009 02:41 am |
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| This American probably caught the most fish that day... Attached Image (viewed 132 times):
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John Dallas
Member
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Posted: Sat Jun 13th, 2009 11:42 am |
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| The next time you see Jay, he'll probably be wearing his official Grayling guide's hat - a sweat-stained cap with a logo which says "Grayling, a quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem"
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Current time is 06:51 pm | |
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