OBN and USAL

I have not had a pleasant experience with what is called the “Outdoor Blogger Network.”  For whatever reason both times I have attempted to promote some of my posts, it hasn’t worked.  I was able to create a profile the first time but that was all. I remember waiting for them to promote my post and nothing.

This time around I updated my profile and added myself to the directory and figured maybe that is what I was doing wrong. I was wrong. I added myself to the directory, checked and realized I was nowhere to be found in the directory. 

I tried once again to promote my posts but this time I posted two of them and for whatever reason it just doesn’t happen! I have checked everyday since and nothing. 

Well, considering that it doesn’t seem to work for me, I removed the badge and am leaving this network that shows no evidence of me ever having been there! 

If you have any ideas about what is going on, let me know. Otherwise, I’m perfectly okay with not being part of this network.  Either way, I have all of you and folks that  find my blog through the Kienes  board and The Fish sniffer. 

As for fishing, I haven’t been in a while. With the recent storms and cloudy weather, I’m a bit hesitant to even go out and risk getting rained out. It is supposed to clear up next week so next Wednesday I might try to make my way out to Putah, Boss pond or Butte Pond. I guess I will let you guys know.

 I also have the (now) yearly  trip to Usal  trip with my Chico buddies coming and I am pretty excited about that! If any of you have any tips on crabbing from the beach or surf fishing, please let me know!

That’s it for me. Get your fish on, folks!!

Fishing Goals for 2014

"I dare do all that may become a man" - Macbeth, Shakespeare

Oh man, he's getting poetic! That must mean it's time for some crazy fishing goals!! Here we go folks, time to do it big in 2014!

1. Catch 5 Salmon
This is five times last years goal (just to catch one) I told you I was feeling confident! I have yet to even catch one salmon but this year I WILL catch five!

2. Catch five Steelhead
Similar to my salmon goal, I am not only going to catch my first of these but I will catch multiple fish. Go big or go home!!

3. Catch 50 Trout
Oh man, I debated with this one. Last year I caught 10 trout total! I have never really been a trout fisherman and that is seen in the fact that I have only caught 11 in my entire life! But I am feeling confident today. I’m ready to shoot for the stars here. This definitely means focusing a lot more on trout fishing. I figure I will go a few more times this winter and I will be fly fishing a lot during small stream season so this goal is attainable!

4. Catch a new personal best striper, and then do it again!
I LOVE Striper fishing; It’s in my blood! Last year I slacked on the striper but this year I will be fishing the run, big time! I plan to break my previous personal best and then best that again, all in one year! I could have just tried to break my record once, but what better challenge could there be than beating your record twice in one year?!

5. Catch a 7 lb largemouth
I went huge last year in my largemouth goal. I went for a 10 lber. I figured this year I would lower that goal a bit and shoot for a 10 lber again next year.Who knows, maybe I will get into the 10 lber while pursuing the 7 lber!

6. Find 5 new fly fishing spots.
Who am I kidding, I LOVE fly fishing and I’m addicted. Every time I look at my fly fishing equipment, I want to fish! This year I will force myself to exit my comfort zone and search for new fly fishing spots. As a result I figure I will find some beautiful scenery and take some great pictures.

7. Catch my first fish in the ocean
I have been surf fishing once and did not do well. This year I am going on the Usal trip with my buddies again and this time I intend to spend more time hitting the surf. I figure even if I don’t catch one here, I can always try fishing off of a public pier or something.

8. Take a trip somewhere JUST to fish!
I JUST came up with this one while writing these goals so its new and exciting! Alaska , Montana , Idaho, Oregon? I haven’t thought this one out at all so I guess we will see!!

9. Catch my first Largemouth and Smallmouth bass on the Fly!
I have been wanting to catch a largemouth on the fly for a while. Why not commit it to paper and also add a smallie in there?!

10. Catch 70 Panfish
If you’re not breaking the bank, you’re not living!! It’s time for me to live up to my blog name. This is 10 less fish than I caught in all of 2013! I am going to catch 70 panfish in a year; bluegills, crappie, red ears, green sunfish, etc. If I accomplish this one and the trout one I will have caught more fish in one year than I have in any other year of my life!

As you can see, folks, I mean business this year! I have researched a lot, studied a lot and asked a lot of questions and it’s time to test my limits. Don’t get me wrong I am not trying to be the expert or act like I know it all but it’s time to really challenge myself. It’s time to break the bank, folks!

USAL!!!!

The trip of a lifetime, that’s all I can say about our beach trip to Usal. This would be me, my buddies lee, mike, dave, alex, brian, ryan, sam, cole and tyler. I was meeting ryan, brian and tyler for the first time and for me, first impressions are always intimidating. Fortunately all of these guys turned out to be really cool so the trip was a real blast. We drove out at 6pm and after a few windy miles, being lost for a bit, and many hours in a car, we arrived at usal campground. Usal campground is located in sinkyone wilderness state park and is actually right off of the beach. Two small creeks run into the ocean right next to where we were camping, it is quite the campground.

We set up our tents, we ate and drank and it was time to pass out. The next morning we woke up and went fishing. Unfortunately I have no pictures with a rod in my hand but trust me, I did fish. We didn’t do well at all! Haha the waves were way too high and we couldn’t get our lines out far enough.  The waves would pull our sinkers in and out of the water so it looked like we constantly had fish on… but we didn’t lol!

Later on that day we went out shooting. My buddy ryan had a raised up 4x4 jeep Cherokee that he used to take us all across the creeks and onto an area of the beach that was a bit more secluded. There we drank beer and wasted bullets! Nothing quite like shooting, drinking, hangin with buddies on a sunny day on the beach. That evening we witnessed a small herd of elk walking around and two of the males locking horns over the females! It was just about the coolest thing we had ever seen. 

By the time the sun set all of us were super tired and people were going to bed as early as 9pm. By 11, some of the guys who had passed out early sprang back to life and continued to party. I went to bed at around 1030 which was perfect because I woke up around 5. As soon as I woke up I started packing my stuff up which made things easier because I was able to help out the others when it was their time to pack up.

After we loaded up the vehicles, we finished off a few brewskis and just stood around. We took some group pictures as well and I decided that it was a good idea to play Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Tuesdays gone.” The song hit the moment perfectly Everybody stayed quiet and listened to the song. Even though nobody said it, I think we all felt the same thing; we were sad to be leaving and really wanted to stick around as long as possible. We all waited until the last possible minute and then headed out in a caravan. We stopped to take pictures over a cliff with an extraordinary view! We tried to get everybody to go eat together at a restaurant but some guys were just eager to get home. A few of us stuck around and ate some fresh fish and chips together and then finally headed home. After a few hours of windy driving, we finally arrived back at home. 

Its funny how there are moments for which you have low expectations and others high. Sometimes the ones for which we have low expectations turn out to be the best. Although I was excited to go to Usal, I had low expectations since I didn’t know who would be there. As it turns out, this was one of the best trips I have had with the chico buddies. Its trips like these that slap me upside the head and remind me to enjoy life while I am still young. This trip was only three days out of my entire life but they were three days that will stand out forever.

Update and Beach Camping!

Happy Spring and tight lines to all of you!

I have been away for a while. Went fishing with my buddy Sean a while back in his boat. it was a good time but no fish. Also hit the sac a couple of weeks ago with Ol' Pops (my dad). Got a few bites but didn't hook into anything either. a ton of sturgeon jumping all around us though, that was quite a sight!

Its been a rough start to the year. First Quarter is almost over and not a fish to my name! I am really hoping that I will get more opportunities during spring and that I am able to catch a lot of fish.

This weekend I will be taking a trip out to the Lost coast to camp out with my buddies on the beach. We will be camping out on Usal Beach which is located in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. I camped out on the beach once, but I was too young to appreciate it. This will be my first beach camping trip and I intend to enjoy every minute of it! AND I will be taking my fishing rod out so I will also be surf fishing for the first time in my life. I have gotten tips from a few folks on how to fish out there so hopefully I will hook into something out there. I will definitely let you guys know how I do and how everything went. Thanks for reading, folks! Pictures to come!!