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

Good times an beautiful weather..WTG

What a great event!  Way to go!

Michael

WTG!! What better way to honor those who preserve our freedom

Congratulations to all the Vet's and those who were there to help.
Whish I could have been there but duty called at the store.
Great group and cause,
Eric

P.S.
Hey Sonny - don't forget Kelsy is private and the fish cought there don't count towards AOTY
(but there are some monster kitty's in that lake)

Thanx Don for setting this up, words cant describe the rewards I felt looking around and seeing the beaming smiles appear on these folks from catching fish, watching their comrades catch, and just being there.
Jack went nuts with some gourmet food-fare, everyone was impressed and stuffed.
BassmanBen showed up with 12 brand new rods n reels and a big pile of his own tackle for the Vets, that caught fish, at one point all was being used and no one was left out-perfect- you rock dude.
Me, Don and Frank had this lake to ourselves the afternoon/night before, stars/bullfrogs galore, nice fire right there, we fished the dock for a few fish and even more hits, then we just laid on our backs to get floored by the stars and shot the sh*t... after hearing the frogs the night before, and catching a fatty, I tied on a plastic one in the AM and nailed a TOAD at the dock in the weeds, AWESOME explosive attack, wow, didnt measure but I would say pushing 19 or 20 ", that was cool!
Fished on the yak for an hour or so before the Vets for lots of missed hits on the frog but I still loved the attacks! I found out I kind of suck at the hookset with a topwater (no braid also...)...always thinking....next time Im gonna get 'im.
When the Vets arrived, we had tons of yaks waiting, rigs, and guides. Jack, Frank and I had cook/food prepare while the guides were putting people on fish, Don running around and making it all happen, putting guides with Vets, getting the Vets into the yaks, and repeating this all morning.
I was very proud to be the guide for Sal, former F-4 Phantom Navy AND Marine pilot-Helicopter Pilot, then went into the C.I.A. to become a Spook- the real deal, and a total comedian, had everyone cracking up, loved to show off his missing toe that he cut off in the field. He didnt want to fish so we just paddled around in our Tridents.
Ill do this again anytime. And I dont want to forget the rest of you guys that showed up overloaded with boats, NCKAers and others with the Bass Boats too and the V.A. staff too, these Vets deserve it all and more.
Don and Jack put out at least 500 bucks of their own money for this, if I could help out more I would love to, you guys are Heros too...
The hot stick of the event, hands down BIG JIM! Great to meet you at last! I was so glad you put Paul on fish, he wanted it bad, I was fishing on the dock with him when they arrived, another comedian!
Cant wait for the next time, and a HUGE thanx for all the Veterans-Ben

Well done guys !!!!  Those were some happy vets. I heard a lot them raving about how much they liked their guides. Don you have a heart of gold brother. Although it is only 14karat; it is solid.

Great event, glad I was able to be there - it was well worth the effort.

Below is Paul F, absolutely stoked to catch this 18 incher. He later lost a bigger one at the boat. The guy worked hard in the wind to get his fish and was seriously ecstatic about it. More pics later on Danglin's Heroes On the Water report. http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,24568.0.html

Congratulations to all the Vet's and those who were there to help.
Whish I could have been there but duty called at the store.
Great group and cause,
Eric

Eric, you came through in a big way: 3 kayaks lent to the cause, complete with pfd's and paddles + a set of spinning outfits donated - those turned out to be invaluable.  

OOOUUCH.  My legs got burned, and they hurt. It was all worth it though. I was a little worried at first about the girl I was going to take out. She is in a chair and needed help in the yak. I didn't know what I would do if she rolled. Well after about 30 secs I realized how tough she is and my worries meant nothing. We paddled against a head wind back to the ramp, non stop, fast. She kicked ass and hauled it too. She has more strength than most able bodied people out there.
     I posted on the public forum for the veterans to see if they visit the site. I'll repost here with pics.

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

Wish I took more pics but here are a few....

I can't believe I posted my thread in MO...

I'm on no sleep, and now out there running 911 calls.... not good...  

here is a cut and paste till the Mods can Move me

Thanks everyone
  

I really want to put out a more detailed report, but I just don't have the time...

I would like to Say that bmb and pisciform saved my behind by getting Yakhoppers trailer o yaks and the fishing poles and having that gear prep SAVED MY ARSE!!!!!

That was Awesome...

and a Stand Alone making a difference without even being there was Yakhopper!!!!

Getting me those yaks, and then those poles .... I did not even know how much I needed them...  The Poles that is...

Just made my situation so much easier, I can't even tell you!!!!

Thank You

if made life so much easier and seconds counted yesterday....

another HUGE shoutout to KayakJack who saved my Behind from the beginning by handling the food...

If I had to deal with any part of that on my to do list...

I might have exploded....  and I usually don't flake...  

Thanks for letting me....  ,  much appreciated....  

I really want to thank everyone personally fro doing what you did...

you all worked so hard... it was amazing....

GuitarZan... Thanks for riding with me and keeping me in check and working so hard, you were there start till finish...

ya had no choice!!!!!  

Planned?????  

Racinrob...stud job out there with that Brave Vet....

 Sunny.... just Amazing... Frank said it best... It was just Beautiful....  

BigJim...  You were my Rock!!!  A Big Smile a can do attitude and then just Can do!!!

 Zisco... You were right there when I needed you, a work horse and thanks for picking up the slack, always spot on...

Scott, I did not think we needed your Bassboat... I was dead wrong and you were the Man!!!

brain1976... lots to say from bringing this to us in the first place to being there over the months getting this up, but the Koolest moment for me was when I had the one vet ready to go on my Hobie... and then realized, he could not work the Rudder because his left hand was Severely injured...

you stepped right in and took him out on another yak towing him around and put him on fish....

True Class My Man and Thank You!!!

KMStorm!!!  Talk about not being possible with out!!!  Your the one who finally got me the attention I needed and someone who would work with me...

and driving that HUGE rig out there...

Thank You!!!

 Charley, My Old Friend... Your not even gonna see this, but I will buy your boat for pennies on the dollar....  

probably still couldn't afford it...  

If I forgot someone, my brain is like a siv right now, and I will get to you...

 and Finally Frankfishing...

well, Your just Frankfishing,  nothing more need be said.....    

oh, other than, " Wait for me at The Santa Rita Exit..... "  

The VA staff were top notch, there is no way this would be possible with out them,

Thanks Miriam and Andy          

 SSG Jones, you were there from the beginning,,, we all need to talk soon!!!!

 Jon and Dreidre Kelesy for being such Great Hosts and letting use their Beautiful Lake

 Jim Dolan for answering my 1000's of questions and guiding me thru this....


But most of all...

  The Biggest Thank You to the Vets!!!!

  You Guys are Awesome!!!!!    

       

Don and Jack put out at least 500 bucks of their own money for this,

 Boy that's no joke.... wasn't quite that much, but I am about $250 out o pocket...

 if anyone feels like helping the cause and for future events, which will be soon,

Tax deductible donations can be sent to the National Heroes on the Water site, just specify it's fro California and Jim will get it to me...

Thanks....   

  http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org

Don and Jack put out at least 500 bucks of their own money for this,

 Boy that's no joke.... wasn't quite that much, but I am about $250 out o pocket...

 if anyone feels like helping the cause and for future events, which will be soon,

Tax deductible donations can be sent to the National Heroes on the Water site, just specify it's for California and Jim will get it to me...

Thanks....  

       http://www.heroesonthewater.org

Thanks everyone
  

I really want to put out a more detailed report, but I just don't have the time...
 but I'll try..... 

I would like to Say that bmb and pisciform saved my behind by getting Yakhoppers trailer o yaks and the fishing poles and having that gear prep SAVED MY ARSE!!!!!

That was Awesome...

and a Stand Alone making a difference without even being there was Yakhopper!!!!

Getting me those yaks, and then those poles .... I did not even know how much I needed them...  The Poles that is...

Just made my situation so much easier, I can't even tell you!!!!

Thank You

if made life so much easier and seconds counted yesterday....

another HUGE shoutout to KayakJack who saved my Behind from the beginning by handling the food...

If I had to deal with any part of that on my to do list...

I might have exploded....  and I usually don't flake...

Thanks for letting me....  ,  much appreciated....

I really want to thank everyone personally fro doing what you did...

you all worked so hard... it was amazing....

GuitarZan... Thanks for riding with me and keeping me in check and working so hard, you were there start till finish...

ya had no choice!!!!!  

Planned?????    

Racinrob...stud job out there with that Brave Vet....

 Sunny.... just Amazing... Frank said it best... It was just Beautiful....  

BigJim...  You were my Rock!!!  A Big Smile a can do attitude and then just Can do!!!

 Zisco... You were right there when I needed you, a work horse and thanks for picking up the slack, always spot on...

Scott, I did not think we needed your Bassboat... I was dead wrong and you were the Man!!!

brain1976... lots to say from bringing this to us in the first place to being there over the months getting this up, but the Koolest moment for me was when I had the one vet ready to go on my Hobie... and then realized, he could not work the Rudder because his left hand was Severely injured...

you stepped right in and took him out on another yak towing him around and put him on fish....

True Class My Man and Thank You!!!

KMStorm!!!  Talk about not being possible with out!!!  Your the one who finally got me the attention I needed and someone who would work with me...

and driving that HUGE rig out there...

Thank You!!!

 Charley, My Old Friend... Your not even gonna see this, but I will buy your boat for pennies on the dollar....  

probably still couldn't afford it...    

If I forgot someone, my brain is like a siv right now, and I will get to you...

 and Finally Frankfishing...

well, Your just Frankfishing,  nothing more need be said.....    

oh, other than, " Wait for me at The Santa Rita Exit..... "    

The VA staff were top notch, there is no way this would be possible with out them,

Thanks Miriam and Andy      

 SSG Jones, you were there from the beginning,,, we all need to talk soon!!!!

 Jon and Dreidre Kelesy for being such Great Hosts and letting use their Beautiful Lake

 Jim Dolan for answering my 1000's of questions and constant guide thru this

But most of all...

  The Biggest Thank You to the Vets!!!!

  You Guys are Awesome!!!!!      

Excellent job men, glad everything came together Don.


Thank you to all that served, hope to meet you fellas at a future event.   

Finally was able to get my pictures up...Not gonna give much of a report but will let the pictures do the talking.  I ended up catching quite a few fish after the vets left, probably around 25 total landed with x2 lost/missed hooksets.  Me and pisciform stayed out until 830pm or so, so that he could finally catch his second fish of the day.

Unfortunately my vet Mack was unable to get any fish when he was out with me.  We tried but the wind was making it too hard for him to get into position to cast to where the fish were holding.

I'll just caption these pics a bit to tell my story

Prepped the night before - Safety first!  My loading skillz makes me feel like Andy/FM1


Aaron also ready to go:


KBR registration:


The ranch's terrifying guard dog in action:


Kayaks ready to go and waiting for some vets!




Big Jim surveying the surroundings:


some of the vets started to arrive:


Big Bertha is here!  Captained by none other than our own kevin storm


Racin rob getting his shore action on


My vet - Mack in action, trying to hold in the wind:




Racin rob and his vet:


Mack looking for fish:


Me and Mack grubbing it up for the camera:


A little standard bass action after the vets left:


Aaron finally caught one!!