Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post

Crafty Angler · 10-14-2008, 01:24 AM

I 'd like to thank everyone who made the first annual Habs Fall Classic a success.

For those of you who fished the tourney, you know how tough the fishing was all over - and the winning fish was a fat beauty under difficult condions. I'm going to get in touch with Scott who took 1st Place and see if I can get a shot to post here.

For me, personally, it was what I had wished it would be and it was as nice a gathering for the Awards Ceremony and Raffle and as fitting a tribute to John as anyone could have possibly hoped for.

Mike Laptew's compilation of clips that he did was pretty moving and at one point I just had to go outside for a smoke and sit for a bit. I know it touched everyone in the room.

You know, I joked with Joe that it was the kind of tourney that only a pair of Portagees like us could come up with - no rules other than shore fishing only and the only divisions were 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place. Period. The K.I.S.S. principle at it's finest - I just wish the action had been a little better for everyone, but like Joe said, it was about a lot more than the fishing.

I want to say thanks to Joe, Jeff, JohnR, and everyone else who helped to get it rolling along the way it did. It turned out pretty well I thought for an event that was executed in almost 30 days flat and that was only with a lot of work and generosity of spirit for John and his family.

To those of you who donated to the raffle for The Tomorrow Fund for critically ill children, I don't know what to say beyond thank you all so much. The donations were generous and heart-felt - I never cease to be amazed at the way the members of S-B.com come together when they're called upon and I'm proud to be a member here. It's a damned fine family.

Myself, I'm still pretty crisp - me, Joe, JohnR and Kevin took The Long Walk

Friday after the Meet and Greet and then I followed that up with an eel-slinging marathon by myself from just before midnight on Saturday to almost 9 the next morning on Sunday.

Somewhere around 4 in the morning I ended up in a spot you've probably seen in some of those old photos I have and got to watch an orange moonset between the Beavertail and Pt Judith lights. A small coastal freighter was leaving the bay in the foreground and when the big light in the sky went out, the stars came out even brighter than they had been before. I kept casting for the horizon and a warm gentle swell surged in and out around me. And there wasn't another living soul anywhere around but me.

I never did get the bass I had hoped and worked for. Like I told Clammer, I didn't end up getting what I wanted but I'm pretty sure I got what I needed.

Thanks again, you guys - you really are the best.

See you all again next year.

10-14-2008, 01:24 AM	#12
Crafty Angler Geezer Gone Wild iTrader: (2) Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,397 Blog Entries: 2	I 'd like to thank everyone who made the first annual Habs Fall Classic a success. For those of you who fished the tourney, you know how tough the fishing was all over - and the winning fish was a fat beauty under difficult condions. I'm going to get in touch with Scott who took 1st Place and see if I can get a shot to post here. For me, personally, it was what I had wished it would be and it was as nice a gathering for the Awards Ceremony and Raffle and as fitting a tribute to John as anyone could have possibly hoped for. Mike Laptew's compilation of clips that he did was pretty moving and at one point I just had to go outside for a smoke and sit for a bit. I know it touched everyone in the room. You know, I joked with Joe that it was the kind of tourney that only a pair of Portagees like us could come up with - no rules other than shore fishing only and the only divisions were 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place. Period. The K.I.S.S. principle at it's finest - I just wish the action had been a little better for everyone, but like Joe said, it was about a lot more than the fishing. I want to say thanks to Joe, Jeff, JohnR, and everyone else who helped to get it rolling along the way it did. It turned out pretty well I thought for an event that was executed in almost 30 days flat and that was only with a lot of work and generosity of spirit for John and his family. To those of you who donated to the raffle for The Tomorrow Fund for critically ill children, I don't know what to say beyond thank you all so much. The donations were generous and heart-felt - I never cease to be amazed at the way the members of S-B.com come together when they're called upon and I'm proud to be a member here. It's a damned fine family. Myself, I'm still pretty crisp - me, Joe, JohnR and Kevin took The Long Walk Friday after the Meet and Greet and then I followed that up with an eel-slinging marathon by myself from just before midnight on Saturday to almost 9 the next morning on Sunday. Somewhere around 4 in the morning I ended up in a spot you've probably seen in some of those old photos I have and got to watch an orange moonset between the Beavertail and Pt Judith lights. A small coastal freighter was leaving the bay in the foreground and when the big light in the sky went out, the stars came out even brighter than they had been before. I kept casting for the horizon and a warm gentle swell surged in and out around me. And there wasn't another living soul anywhere around but me. I never did get the bass I had hoped and worked for. Like I told Clammer, I didn't end up getting what I wanted but I'm pretty sure I got what I needed. Thanks again, you guys - you really are the best. See you all again next year. Last edited by Crafty Angler; 10-14-2008 at 01:43 AM..
	"There is no royal road to this heavy surf-fishing. With all the appliances for comfort experience can suggest, there is a certain amount of hard work to be done and exposure to be bourne as a part of the price of success." From "Striped Bass," Scribner's Magazine, 1881.