Heroes on the Water... NCKA Rocks!!!!

Got only 3 hours sleep last night so I'll make a short report before hitting the sack.  Thank you Don for organize this event.  I believe everyone enjoyed the fishing/kayaking today.  The food was great, fishing was slow due to the strong wind.  I caught only one 17" LMB (miss several good strikes on the frog) and my team mate Jerry caught a 15" LMB too.  Here are some pictures of the day...

More pictures...

Some more...

WTG you guys .

I had a great time today. When I arrived the wind was blowing, but not too bad. Went out and caught 9 real nice bass. As the wind increased it got a little harder to fish. After lunch I went out with my new fishin buddy Jean. She did real good on the yak. We fished a bit with no luck. Then I hooked her up with my "go to bait". Couple casts later she had a nice 16 incher. Then we fished and fished and fished....Headed across the lake in the wind storm, with the wind, and I picked up one more 17 inch fish. Headed back into the wind to get back to the ramp. Darn wind. Overall it was a real good day OTW and meeting new friends. Thanks to Don and all who made this happen. All the new yak fishers are ready for another trip already it sounds like. I hope we found some "new blood" for NCKA.
        Here are a few pics. Good night.

  Never Been so Proud, So Impressed of what we as a Group,

            and Individuals are made of...

 All of You Guys Worked So Hard Today to Make this First Event Such a Huge

  Success...  I'd like to Give Honorable Mentioned...

But Everyone Shined and Performed,,,

  Well Done Guys!!!    

 You Really Gave these Brave Men and Women a Very Special Day...

 Very Tired....

 More to come....

 Thanks Again Everyone!!!!!


  Out-Standing!!!!!!!!!!!!    

 

Thank YOU Don for all your hard work, organization and leadership!!

I had a BLAST and the three Vets I spent time OTW with did as well!!

Quick question for folks who were there...Francisco couldn't find his PFD (wit his VHF on it) when we got home...can you guys look through your stuff and see if you maybe picked it up???

Thanks again Don...was a real honor to get to be a part of something so special...and I got to catch my very first Bass!! 8 of them!!    
 

Sincerely,

Jim

Really enjoyed the NCKA brotherhood as well...was great to meet new friends, put faces to names and spend time driving up and back and fishing with Francisco (zisco).  You are a good man Francisco and I look forward to many more shared adventures together!!! Email me those pics to jimpcnica@yahoo.com and I will down-size them and post them for you!!

The bite was GREAT when I first got OTW and I picked up 7 fish between 16 and 18 inches before the vets even got there using a Texas Rigged, Weedless Creature Bait...at least that's what they told me it was called...I thought it was a greeny-brown plastic critter-ma-bob...

Then the fish heard the Vets were coming and went into hiding!!  

Went back to the same areas, with the same techniques and had a hard time getting them to bite!! The first guy I was with (Harlon) had a nice one on, jumping, but then got broken off in the weeds!!

Then I was with Kat!! Very special woman with some form of TBI/PTSD from what I could gather...we had a BLAST and she was so stoked to be out there!! We got one fish together and she was so PROUD that everytime we would paddle past somebody she would yell out, "WE CAUGHT ONE!!!!!"
 

She somehow rolled off her yak, but stayed calm and I helped her back in with no problem...I wanted to take her back in to get dry, but I could tell she was embarrassed and didn't want to quit, so I made her promise to tell me if she started getting cold and we stayed out for like 2 more hours together!!!

Then I hung with Paul and he battled a NICE fish for awhile, ripping drag and everything!! But then it popped off right before we got it up to the yak...he didn't care, he was grinning from ear to ear!!

Thanks again Don for allowing all of us to get involved and help out with such a worthy cause!!

Sincerely,

Jim

Wow, how cool is this, u guys rule.

WTG, Guys!   

Right on Guys!   

Nicely done, looks like a great event!

Quick question for folks who were there...Francisco couldn't find his PFD (wit his VHF on it) when we got home...can you guys look through your stuff and see if you maybe picked it up???

I have it, I'll find a way to get it back to zisco if he ever catches a bass.    i was just about to post up that I found it after the event ended and wanted to know who it belongs to.  we'll get it taken care of.  it might have to go through a couple of hands first.

I also came home with one extra water-ski type pfd.  If someone is missing one let me know.

Here is the Article in The Merced Sun-Star

   http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/06/05/1447723/mike-tharp-all-gave-some-some.html

WOW!
From the point of view of a vet that needed to see others who truly appreciate what vets go through, I am proud to say that I am part of NCKA.

 As I watched you guys gather to help these  vets in and out of kayaks I realized how much more you were actually doing. From the vets with lost limbs to those who have been scared by combat I saw them open up to a group of caring and compassionate individuals that I am proud to call my friends.  Their was a glow on their faces that shined on you guys that was abnormal and cleansing. The feeling I saw of camaraderie was very present.  A gift that so few feel in this present day of self and would heal all with it's nurturing power.
From the sharing of food to the sharing of fishing I was impressed by my fellow kayakers,who gave and presented themselves with such selflessness that at times was overwhelming.
I was present to watch incredible situations like a Vietnamese Kayaker help a Vietnam veteran share history of times passed. PTSD vets who were so closed that some would not respond to their counselors but talk to you guys about kayaking is unforgettable. Still others who put themselves into the hands of complete strangers to do what we do (kayak fishing) in itself was just amazing.
You, NCKA, caught more then I think we will ever catch in our kayaks fishing. You got it when so many others just don't. To you a great debt of Gratitude that I hope we can share again and again.
Just one Vets perspective..... Thank You!