Rogue River Steelhead Tournament.

If you are the semi-competitive type and you are looking for a good cause then you owe it to yourself to sign up for this years Rogue River Steelhead tournament.

This annual event, which is put on by the Rogue Flyfishers helps to raise money for the club, which in turn uses the funds for fish, fishing enhancement, and other projects that help support the fish of the Rogue basin.

This year the event is scheduled for October 29th, which is a Saturday, and costs $150.00 per contestant. Boats consist of two fishermen and a rower,of which many are local guides, volunteers and club members.

This is a flyfishing tournament, and prizes are awarded in various categorys, with the top prize going for largest Steelhead and most inches of fish. The tourney is catch and release, barbless fly,and conventional gear only. Last years winner took top honors with a mere 23 inches as the top fish. I personally have heard of many 30 inch fish being caught this year--so WATCH OUT!!

For your money you will also receive a continental breakfast, as well as the banquet dinner to be held at that evening at the Red Lion Hotel here in Medford, Or. There will also be silent auction as well as the traditional oral auction fundraiser also to be held that evening at the Red Lion. Last year some of the prizes included some nice custom made fly-rods, but the real reason to enter is for fish enhancement.

Seats go fast for this event and they have told me that only six slots are left even as we speak.(Or read in this case.) You can still make reservations for the banquet if you just want to come and hang out with a buunch of fishy guys.

Last year the event brought in over $8500.00 dollars and even though it is not as famous as some of the other Trout and Salmon fundraising tournaments held in other places--this one is low key and a little more comfortable feeling.

So, if your late October schedule is missing some excitement, come join in the Annual Rogue River Steelhead Tournament.

You can find more information at: http://www.rogueflyfishers.org

We Need More Disasters....

Wouldn't it be great if we could have major disasters every day?

Now before you think I have lost to many brain cells or the ability to reason has left my person ,which is debateable anyway, let me explain.

The recent natural disasters in Thailand, Louisiana and Mississippi have proven once again how very giving the human race is.

Although, it is true that the best and the worst come out during these events(see looting and rape)--once the "dust" is settled-- it is always amazing how the human spirit of giving is displayed in all corners of the world. Everywhere you turn, nations,churches,businesses,sporting events, concerts, schools and even people on the street corner are out there raising funds and supplies to help mostly faceless and nameless victims rebuild their lives.

It is always encouraging and heartwarming for me to see people who want to make the world better and help their fellow man get up off the canvas, dust them off and get them back into the game of life.People and cities have offered to house the displaced, schools have offered to absorb the extra children left without a place to educate themselves, and helping hands are flocking to the disaster areas to lend both physical and moral support.

Let's hope this human emotion never leaves the human spirit!

So what makes this so very interesting to me is...... why do we hesitate to do this on a regular daily basis???

Why is it when our schools ask us for more money to educate our children or to help lower classroom size, it is met with the opposition of a homeowner protecting his property from vandals??

Why is it when our enforcement agencies ask us for more money to help protect our neighborhoods or build more prisons to keep the dysfunctional off the street, they are treated like the homeless vagrant standing at the freeway off ramp asking for spare change??

Why is it when local charities and social services ask us to help those who can't even process or cope with the very basic of human responsibility, we turn our backs rather than count our blessings?

Can a land developer or investor not live comfortably on one million dollars rather than two million dollars and include a park or school in his planning?

Can a community not grow and prosper without forgetting to include funding for new schools,roads,and services?? Aren't these things part of the planning process??

Do you really need to have 2 boats, six quads, or four extra vehicles in a two or three person household??

When does it feel like you are going overboard on your luxury items?

Look, I like my toys as much as the next guy, and I certainly believe in the reward system for hard work, risk taking and smart investment.

I certainly don't live like a pauper myself.

BUT, I also believe that if everyone does there share and pitches in on a regular basis--much like we do during periods of crisis and catastophic events, we could have better schools,roads, law enforcement agencies,communities and ultimately nations and planet.

Kind of like--" one less four wheeler for education" or "donate a television to social services"!!

Yes, I know it is easy to criticize government leaders, civic and organizational leaders who don't always measure up to our hopes and trust--but that doesn't seem to stop us when there is a clear and visible disaster at hand that needs immediate action.

Besides if we don't have the right people leading us on a regular basis---whose fault is that??

Yep--what we need to do is lead our lives like there has been a natural disaster everyday-then maybe we can rally together and help one another to make this planet a better place.

Oh yeah--and go fishing more!!!!

Join The Vespa Fishing Team....

High fuel prices got you down?

Imagine how most of us feel in the recreational fishing world.

Let me explain.

Here we are rounding into September, the time of year that all true "sport fishermen" look forward to. The weather is changing, and most summer crowds have gone home, leaving the rivers and lakes uncrowded and filled with frisky hungry fish readying themselves for the fall spawn and feedfest that takes place in fall.

Most of us are not lucky enough to have a river or lake out our back door, so that means traveling to our favorite fishing spots is mandatory. Two hundred miles or better is nothing when it comes to our passion.

Most fishermen -and outdoor types in general--are usually heading for the great outdoors hauling their gear in SUVs , trucks or campers/trailers.

Not exactly what you would consider "economy" cars.

I can still remember the conversation I had with Ranger Kurt about three years ago, when I convinced him to purchase an old Ford Diesel f350 in place of his trusty Toyota fishing rig.

He would love the extra room, and heck- diesel was about a dime cheaper than regular to boot!!

He like I, always seemed to just fill the back of his pick-up with just about every piece of sporting good equipment that languished in his garage.On the off chance we might feel the urge to break into a spirited game of Badminton, shoot clay pigeons, ride mountain bikes, or take an impromptu twenty mile hike into the high desert, we were ready!!

So, as our state of readiness has increased with age, our truck beds have shrunk.

Much like our spines and uhhhh hummm... other things!!

But I digress...

Anyway, as I ran out of room and had to spend thirty minutes each time loading and unloading basketballs,hockey sticks and barbecues-- just to find my waders--I decided a bigger rig was in order.

Didn't seem like a big deal at the time, back when diesel fuel was at about $1.29.

....$3.19 this morning!!

Ranger Kurt is not talking to me anymore.

I have decided to make some drastic changes in my life--at least my fishing life-- and the next time you see me.... I will be driving a Vespa.

That's right, one of those tiny Italian jobs that sound like an underpowered weed wacker.

I realize this will make it impossible to carry all the "necessary" gear I need to be ready for "impulse recreation"-- but what's a guy to do?

From now on, I will only carry the essentials--fishing rod, fly box,perhaps a sleeping bag--and wear all my necessary clothing, including waders,vest,wading boots and possibly a change of underwear. Everything else stays home!

I know this sounds drastic, but if I am to continue my passion for fishing --this may be the only way to make it affordable to do so.

I also know that the visual image of a rugged outdoorsman on the back of a Mo-ped is not exactly the vision Madison Avenue would like to sell to Orvis or Jeep Cherokee and is more akin to the image of Jim Carrey in "Dumb and Dumber"--but I don't care!!

Look out Deschutes River Steelhead... we're LEAN, MEAN, and riding WHINY MACHINES...

Whad'ya think?Kinda catchy, huh?

So, until the price of crude drops back down to a reasonable level, which may be never, you will recognize me as the guy out on Highway 97 wearing about fourteen layers of clothing and a pair of Hodgeman neoprene waders.

My poor Ford F250? Well, I suppose it will become an expensive dog house for my Yellow Lab-because unless I have AAA tow my vehicle around town--I can't afford to drive it anymore.

I sure hope they don't catch on to me!!

Oh-- and Ranger Kurt--give me a call, there's room on the back of the Vespa for you...