Challenges and Changes

Challenges and Changes are what it is all about this week and last. A big shift has taken place with Bernie Keefe and myself.  I have shifted my entire fishing experience to the waters of Grand Lake. It is a cool place to fish with a variety of things to entertain ourselves with, with antique Chris Craft Boats, Bears on shore, oh and fish: Lake Trout of all sizes with most being 15"- 20", Rainbow 12" - 14", Brown trout from 12" to a few larger at 18". 

The challenge is that this is a shift form my standard lake trout bite at Lake Granby. I am loving it, it feels like practicing for a tournament. It will take a few more trips and experiments to create some additional comfort on my part. As I experience Grand Lake boy am I glad I use the Trokar hooks provided by Eagle Claw. After beginning to use these hooks a few years back I have the confidence that if the fish has the hook in his mouth he is in da boat.
 :  ) 

We are catching 8 to 10 fish in a day with a mixed bag of techniques. So far all of the clients to experience the lake with me have been really happy. Here are two testimonials from this weekend:

7-7-13 Bob C from Kentucky, " Steve was a great guide - took us to where the fish were. He was helpful with casting and jigging tips. Personable & lots of Fun."

7-8-13 Kerry H from Colorado, " I had a great time with my two young nephews!! Steve is a wonderful guide and great company."

The dark spot in the upper middle of the photo is a large male bear 
strolling along the shore.

Fishing Is Such A Wonderful Metaphor For Life

Folks, 

This is a sad blog post for me, my family lost a close friend, more of an angel recently.  He had been ill, we all had prayed and wished, but God said it was time. I always find it interesting how fishing is such a wonderful metaphor for life.  I guess it is my coping mechanism. 

I truly have little to say about fishing this week and more about how a man can live quietly and touch so many lives.  BV lived in East Texas, I knew something was up when I could never beat him to a door to open it for others, this is the quiet type of politeness folks now call pay it forward and crap like that, for BV that was how a man was given the opportunity to love someone before himself.  It really is that simple.  Thank you  BV for being such an angel to our family, your family and most of all your lovely wife D.

Ok I gotta put a little fishing stuff in here, so if I am to fish the way BV would have it would be:

1. BV would say "Cast right there I just caught one over by that stump."
2. When asked at the dock how was fishing, I would tell em how to catch em. ( there is enough fish for all of us.)
3. I would let the other guy have first crack at the spot.

Thanks for reading and please take sometime to think of those who teach us by example how to live and fish.

Thanks to Eagle Claw and staff, PK Lures and staff and Fins Premium line for the relationships which make this lifestyle possible to touch other folks lives with the craft of fishing.

Thanks,
Steve G


Oh P.S.
You want a good laugh at a professional moment of a fishing guide with lots of experience?  I was guiding an existing client and her sister whom had never caught a fish in her life. Well I got so excited when she caught her first fish, I knocked it off with the net while netting it. Now that is a professional moment.  I keep telling myself passion for the sport is far better than being calm, cool, collected and professional. : ) 

                                          It's about the time we spend together!

Good Tired

What is good tired? When you wanna go fishing but you know you should spend a day out of the sun and just be. 

The last week was filled with old clients and new ones, the fun-est trip for me was watching a couple with a 18 month old (yep) on board take turns fishing and caring for their daughter, ya and Mom caught the largest fish of the day. It continues to amaze me the types and variations of folks whom choose to charter a fishing trip. 

The best compliment I have ever been given also happened last week,  "This is the best time, I have had in a boat since my father passed away." If you wonder if our words carry weight into people's souls they do mine (Tears of Joy for me as I use the gifts given to me by Our Loving Father).

The other item in an awesome week is a student angler, I had offered that if he gets an average A or 4 point level in school, he'd fish for free. Well, I have offered this many times and this is the first time I have had someone accomplish it and take me on it; and he pulled  his average up in one semester. I can't wait to fish with him. FYI you will most likely see this young fellow fishing in some form of a professional setting some day. The first time he fished with me was for 8.5 hrs, no food only water. I know a few other folks with passion like that.

The fish are biting well at Lake Granby and becoming more predictable, fish well folks.

Fishing and What We Are Reminded Of

First I must say as I write this a close friend who is more a brother than a friend is fighting for his life in a hospital in Longview Texas.  

I was reminded as to why I guide and what it means to those who travel and fish with me.  Most of all it is the companionship and the experience of sharing nature and God’s creation. I know it seems we are all focused on fishing but when we break it down it is as this photo of a family shows, its about the grins and giggles of what might or does bite your string.  Sharing the moment of joy when you accomplish the difficult task of mastering the soft and rapid bite of a Lake Trout.

In the second photo of Sean it’s was about a day of new skills and the reminder of others, the joy of sharing a craft that has been passed down for centuries by show and tell. 

Please pass along or pay it forward with the gifts and skills you have, it does not matter what they are our world thrives on this joy.

          

The fishing at Granby Resv. has been amazing this last week with opportunities for all species available.

Please remember if you would like to bring a youth fishing with you, they fish with me for free up to the age of 15.  I encourage you to take advantage of this offer and create a day of memories and adventure.

Steve G.

Projections & Goals

Ever since being in the horticulture business, my year financially cycles in the spring. I have always thought this to be a great time as this is when our world is coming out of it period of rest and is fresh and new. The 2013 fishing season looks fun and exciting with some new challenges. The lack of snow this year will change fish locations and how we as anglers look at our reservoirs.

Goals always come to mind this time of year also, I seem to always think I can accomplish more, although this year I am thinking more of accomplishing more with faith, family and friends. As I continue to guide, I learn so much about myself and this craft of fishing. One item always seems to be poking me in the side, it’s the experience of being with those you like and or love in an outdoor place.  This is how I structure my trips and the

way I am called to my offering to get and keep our youth angling and just being outside with those who care about them. I will continue to offer the discount of if you have a youth angler age 15 or less, who you would like to expose to a guided fishing trip all you pay for is the accompanying adult. My regular price for 2 is $450.00 so this is a savings of $150.00 down to $300.00.

On a trip this year it back fired though, and I met an amazing young man who loves to fish. This is how it went, I booked them at the youth discount rate and Mom called to let me know that the other adults had no interest in fishing and normally just enjoy helping him find an opportunity to enjoy his passion and hang with him while he does so outside. Mom then informed me that he saves his own funds to create the opportunity. ??? Now what was a fellow to do, I have an offer to take him free if the other folks fish ?? the decision was to discount the trip to half price and do it. What a great day it was, truly one of those days where you want to pinch yourself and say I really get to do this for a living.

 So what is my goal for 2013 fishing season:

Help our youth experience the joy of fishing and being outside with friends or family.

Please help me spread the word and please take me up on this offer to share my craft with our youth.

Recent Lake Granby Trip

Photos from a recent trip with a Christian brother Brian C, we had a great day of fellowship and good fishing at Lake Granby. The lakers were really happy to see our spawn sacks and PK Spoons. 

One of the new ways I am using the PK spoon in firetiger glow and red dot glow is using the glow color to attract fish into a spawn sack, while using a bobber to detect the bite. Who would think a jigging spoon under a bobber, but it is proving deadly.

Mobridge Ice Fishing Tournament 2013

Some Cool Photos of Ice Fishing while sponsoring the 12th Annual Mobridge Ice Fishing Tournament on Lake Oahe, South Dakota.  Folks this is one of the best run tournaments I have ever been involved with; 500 teams leave the start in 23 minutes, weigh-in has 3 lanes and 3 scales, live leader board and a live video feed at a separate location. 

While on the road we met folks in Valentine Nebraska and fished some of the sandhill ponds, the fish were happy to see our hooks.  This is a fishing community and the folks at Motel Raine had a place to clean our fish inside how sweet is that.

What an opportunity to to enjoy a sport.  Jim T and I went to Mobridge, SD to sponsor the ice tournament.  We got to meet some great folks and share in the fishing and learn a little about this wonderful area and community.  We also had time to harvest a bunch of walleyes while we weathered a mild SD storm with 20+ winds and temps in the single digits.  Of course we fished the PK spoons and the 3/8 oz. FF in glow colors as well as gold produced well for us.