DOCK TALK
April 2009

April Meeting

Everybody that’s ready for this month’s newsletter raise your hand. Okay I was kidding, put your hands down. Really, put them down. Unfortunately our guest speaker Carol Martens was not able to be at the meeting. I was introduced to Carol at Lake Castaic about a week before the meeting and she promised to reschedule. We are going to try again after Cachuma. That brings me to the next subject. Our first two day tournament of the year at Lake Cachuma is the weekend of May 16th and 17th. We will need to know at the next meeting on May 14th, if you plan to attend. Late sign ups are a definite logistical problem for this tournament.

Our membership continues to expand with three new members coming on board this month. Debra Maki of Castaic was not able to fish this month but promises to be dynamite from the back of the boat. Chuck Valenzuela and his son Chaz were able to fish. Chuck was partnered with David Sanchaz and unfortunately got skunked. Chaz (our new 13 year old superstar) was partnered with Roger Larocque and got his first tournament keeper within sight of his father. Their 3 fish were good enough for 4th place.

It is time to start thinking about our next two day tournament at Lake Lopez in August.

Tournament Results

It’s official. The best thing about Lake Pyramid is The Hot Dog Guy.
Talk about a change, last month we were freezing, this month we were shedding layers by 9:00 which is unfortunately about the time we got on the water. I know I’m exaggerating but it was late. As always at Pyramid there was wind and it started early. We had 11 boats and almost everyone caught fish. First place went to Ron Licari and one of our new members Calvin Matsui. Their 5 fish limit was 12.06 # and included Ron’s tournament Big Fish at 3.07#. Coming in second place was a pair of our new members Steve Derbyshire and his partner Wyatt Zollinger with another 5 fish limit at 10.05#. The secret is out. Steve and Wyatt hit it off so well that they have decided to try their talents in other tournaments outside of the club. Finishing up the top 3 were Brendon (welcome back) O’Dell and Tony Franks. They had the last limit of the day with 9.04#.

Mike's

Well it’s time to start thinking about next year’s fishing schedule. After our meeting in June, those that are interested are invited to stay after the regular meeting and decide on the 2010 lake schedule. This must be finalized so that we can put in our lakes and dates at the D.F.G. Jamboree in July. I am very close to the magic number needed to place an order for our club jackets. Place e-mail me with the size that you want and the way you would like your name put on the front, first and last or first only. Cachuma is just 2 weeks away !!!!!! Lopez is just a short time after that so start making plans to attend.

Happy days,

Mike

The end of the line…

I guess I was 5 or 6 years old when I went fishing for the first time. My Grandpa had a little grocery store close to where I went to Sunday School. He would pick me up and bring clothes for me to change into. We would drive to Santa Monica Pier over Sepulveda Pass, there was no 405 in those days (just after the horse and buggy). We could get enough shrimp to use as bait for about 25 cents. It would last us all day. About 4 in the afternoon Grandpa would ask me what time it was (even before I wore a watch). I would tell him I didn’t know and he should look at the watch he was wearing. “Oh, it doesn’t run,” he would say and when I asked him why he was wearing it he told me, “to keep my wrist warm.”
I am not sure when grandpa and I stopped going fishing together. I guess I had more important things to do. Grandma went to live in a care facility. I guess I was in my early 30’s, but I thought it was about time Grandpa and I went to Santa Monica Pier, bought some bait shrimp and went fishing for the day. When it started to get late, I realized I had forgotten my watch and I asked grandpa what time it was. He said he didn’t know. “What time does it say on your watch,” I asked. “Oh, this watch doesn’t run, I only wear it to keep my wrist warm.”
Over the years the family had bought grandpa a number of watches both fine and those that you could wear everyday, and yet here it was 20+ years later and he was still wearing that watch that kept his wrist warm.

Grandpa died a short time after that fishing trip and I realize now that I missed a very special opportunity. I never asked what made that watch so special. I am not sure where I was going with this story. We all have moments that we have missed. If you have the chance, go back and ask, don’t let the good ones get away.

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT.

THIS just in to Dock Talk. Your intrepid editor has uncovered a misstatement of fact that requires immediate and decisive action. The 3.07# Big Fish from the April tournament at Pyramid, purported to have been caught by Ron “Wonderman” Licari was actually caught by his partner Calvin Matsui. I have this information from a reliable source not to be embarrassed here. Suffice it to say all he could say was “my bad."

No material on the Castaic Bass Club website may be copied without the express written
permission of the Castaic Bass Club unless permission is clearly stated on the page.
Please send all comments and questions about this website to the site webmaster.

Contact Us