Time to end up this years effort with a few notes and acknowledgements.
First, I was contacted by Damien, of Disco Tackleworks earlier this year and offered one of his plugs to try.
I was happy to receive one that he left with Bob at the Tyee Clubhouse for me, but I never swam it this year, for a couple of reasons.
One, by the time I got it, it was evident there were few if any, fish in the pool, and I want to try it under normal circumstances when there are fish around.
Second, it is only a four-inch plug so seems very small compared to what I normally use, although a grizzled old vet told me he has taken Tyee on a four-inch plug back in the day, so I will give this one a good workout, but not until next year.
I must say the quality of the plug, both in construction and in the painting, seems excellent to me and I'm interested to see how it works.
Thanks, Damien.
Next, I was slow off the mark when first told where fish were holding, plus had zero experience downtown so didn't give it a go until I had a really good rodman with me, and I knew we could experiment with depths (number of pulls after the weight) and do it quickly.
As noted elsewhere, once we found the magic number we hooked up. It was an obvious under and we would have released it, but it saved us that task by leaving on its own.
The next night we went straight to that area and again hooked up. This fish was bigger and put up a great scrap but in close and on a tight line.
The darn thing seemed to want to hide under the boat.
We lost it eventually and I am still annoyed at myself for that, but it will never happen again that way, so lesson learned.
Both fish bit my treasured Rex Field Shovelnose, so I know it works still when there are fish about.
Two people need to be mentioned here and applauded as well.
Peter Wipper took the time and made the effort to pump out numerous boats, including mine, when we had a good rainfall a couple of weeks ago. A big THANK YOU from me and others too, I'm sure.
Just a couple of days ago the gentleman who caught the first Tyee of the year and the biggest of the season, the handsome Greg Askey, also took the time and made the effort to bail out most of the boats on the dock, something that also deserves a big THANK YOU.
My apologies to the rod holders I'd lined up but then didn't take out, for one reason or another.
I have you all in my records and will try to make amends going forward.
Kudos to Bob and Judy at the clubhouse who kept the grounds looking beautiful again, and for the whole season were great hosts, as usual.
In the end, it was a terrible disappointment to have the worst year in the history of the club be its centennial year, but that's the way it was.
Got the boat home today with a huge assist from Owen as he was retrieving his boat also and his timing was such that he helped four or five other people to get their boats out too. Thank you, Owen, you made the task as easy as could be.
Given my boat didn't move much this year, I rowed but 12 nights and twice others rowed it, it sat at the dock and grew a good beard.
I'll give it a good shave shortly.
Here are a few random pics for your perusal.
Peter Wipper and crew last night.
Once again, I decorated my boat on the last day with a blonde and a brunette, although the brunette this year was not Diane, my usual one, but rather a woman named Delia, originally from Rumania.
Might be a bit of a gypsy. LOL
In the end, I was so depressed by the season I became determined to not have it ever happen again, so I went crazy and blew up the clubhouse, as you all can see here.
Sorry about that.
Catch you all next year.
I should be released by then.
Take care.
