There are trips and then there are some that are outstanding one way or another. These moments in time are memories that will forever have a place for recall. I see and experience many things with clients like great catches or something unique or not so common happenings while on the water. Everyday has potential of being a lifetime memory. Here unfolds the story of Joshua's Great Delta Adventure...
Chris Taylor and his 11yr old son Joshua had booked me for a couple of days for my "all-day" LmBass session. They came up from the San Diego area to fish for Delta LmBass. Last year, they had made the trek towing their boat from down south so they could fish a day after spending a day with me. Chris used his flyrod and Joshua brought a spinning rod. This trip however they left the boat at home, and booked me for 2 days with a "day-off" in-between. The program is fishing in the morning and returning to the dock around noon. After a 3-4hr break(lunch-nap) we meet up again and go out for the afternoon session. Chris had been teaching Joshua how to flycast since their last visit and this time Joshua showed up with his flyrod in hand, committed to catching a fish preferably a bass on his flyrod.
On "Team Taylor's" first day out we worked hard for the few bites we had in the morning and looked forward to a better evening bite later that day. Joshua was still looking for that first flyrod fish. He was doing pretty good with his casting and i was thrilled for him.
That afternoon proved to be better fishing as we were into some grabs almost immediately. Chris had been doing all the catching while Joshua kept working on getting his casts in the zone. Josh's casts were getting more consistent and he started hitting the target more and more. I knew it was just a matter of time until he was hooked up. Working along a weed edge in about 4ft of water a fish of about 2lbs finally hammered Josh's popper. He struck and hooked his first ever flyrod fish. He was thrilled as was his father and myself! We caught a few more fish by the last light of evening and ended the day with smiles all around as we pulled up to the dock.
On "Team Taylor's second day, things were a little different. The morning session saw Joshua catching most of the fish. Just prior to heading back to the dock for the mid day break we ran into some trouble. As i tried starting my engine to head back i heard a big "snap!". After a few more attempts to turn the engine over i realized we had just lost a starter motor. With a quick call to Capt. Phil @ Vessel Assist, and about 40 minutes later, Capt. Kev and Team Taylor were in tow back to the dock. I was really disappointed that we were unlikely going to finish out the day. Joshua was catching some fish and i really wanted him to be able to fish the evening bite. It was about 3pm by the time we tied up at the dock. I'm sure Josh was a little hungry!
Once back at the dock it was time to go into "salvage" mode....we got the boat on the trailer and i headed straight over to the mechanic to see if they had the part i needed. Chris and Josh were probably already napping back at the hotel when i found out they didn't have the part in stock and the parts were backordered at the factory. Bummer. I checked with a few other shops in the area and came up with nothing.
My hopes of getting Josh back on the water were all but done. I had one last chance at a dealer in Modesto and made the call. They had it! Wow!...now i just had to get there before they closed. I unhitched my trailer and drove as fast as i could to Modesto. I had about an hour and a half roundtrip and it would only take about 10 minutes to change the part. I might just be able get them on the water just after 6 o'clock if it all worked out. Things were looking up. Team Taylor must have certainly been enjoying an extended nap as i headed out onto the freeway back to Stockton with part in hand.
I returned to my boat just about 6pm. Chris helped me install the starter and we were back at the ramp and in the water in short order. Josh was ready to go and we raced off to the fishing grounds. Josh was up front as we started fishing and doing a good job with his casts. It felt like the bite was just not going to take off like it can in the evening on the Delta. We were covering some great water and making good presentations, but no grabs. Hmmm....i just worked my tail off to get these guys back on the water and the fish are treating me like this?! Rude..very rude. I'm persistent though, I also have a lot of patience...Joshua does too.
WHAM!!,... a BIG swirl and crash on Joshua's deerhair popper! It was a good fish. This was the one Josh had been hoping for. He came tight and didn't give an inch. I immediately turned up the troller and pulled back away from the weedline. Josh was yelling and screaming as any 11yr old has a right to in this situation. I was coaching him as i watched Chris finally put a lip lock onto his son's largest fish ever. The fish weighed in at just under 4.5lbs. A fine Delta topwater bass.
Josh was in a very happy place...how cool to see him catch the biggest fish of his young life and on a topwater fly! Excitement is an understatement. This was one of those lifetime moments. We had been through it all that day. Surrounded by adversity, wanting to see this day through, and a young fly fisher that just wanted to catch a bass. Josh was pumping adrenalin for at least an hour or two after that fish. I'm sure his dad and myself were getting a shot of it as well. The day had taken from us but gave it back in a most rewarding way.
It was a day that i will always remember and I'd bet that Josh and his dad will too. Thanks Josh!
