Kelsey Bass Ranch Report 6/2/2012

P.S.     Headwaters Kayak shop in Lodi is also the real deal. Those guys GET IT.  and they stepped up in a huge way for the people who have sacrificed so much.

SO COOL!!!

 

THANK YOU to ALL of you involved!!!!!

Love that place!!

Super cool of Dan and Headwaters to step up as well!!!   

Proud of all of you!!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Guys I can't tell you how happy I was to be a part of this event. Getting people with barriers into kayaks has always been near and dear to my heart. Working with these vets was a real treat. One story that stuck with me was a large gal that was scared to get in a kayak. She explained to me her fear of water and that she could not swim. She decided to get into a tandem kayak with a guide and paddle close to shore. I see her an hour later rod in hand screaming with excitement about the bass she hooked. Something about being on the water changes people. You guys from HOW get that. I was honored to be a part of it. Sorry I didn't make it back to say goodbye to everyone. I flipped my kayak in the wind at the end of the day and dropped my most expensive rod into the drink. I swam around for about an hour before we found it. By the time I got back the vets were gone.

All and all I'm pretty sure I had more fun than anyone, and I can't wait for the next one.

P.S. Catching Bass under the full moon was Epic! Thanks Mr. Kelsey for letting us camp out.

Sorry I couldn't make it this year.  Glad the fish there cooperated this time.  Thank you all who involved and for a job well done.

Thanks to everyone from NCKA and especially the Veterans who showed and let us do our thing (FEED PEOPLE!!!) and braved the wind on tiny little boats!  This day will be with me for the rest of my life.

I didnt get a chance to guide this time and listened to the Blue Star Moms (and Randal, etc...) by sitting down with my foot up (after helping with food for a little while).  I feel honored to have been able just to be there and talk with some of the country's finest (both NCKA members and Veterans in transition).  Next time I can I will be back to help out any way I can, what an awesome day!!

did I mention the food?  Skipro3 sure made some amazing pork, Jack supervised the kitchen like a pro, splashdown, made Killer beans, Bigfoots grilled corn was amazing.....  and the cookies, OMG, the cookies, WOW.

I only got a couple pics, but Hojo and everyone else pretty much nailed it

I would like to point out that Franks lovely wife Diana spent life an hour cutting potatoes while a worm squirmed right next to her on a pole without even taking notice, and when I pointed it out, she just laughed and said "we're camping"  LOL

again, Thank you to NCKA FAMILY for doing this for the vets, and I really cant say how much this means to me to be able to take part in it without getting tears....

Jim

One More

Forgot to mention///

Yester, Racidracinrob and I got out on the yaks last night before dark...

Kelsey Ranch is not known for especially large bass, mainly because of food supply I guess, but they do have florida strain ...

Well, I ran into the LMB Zilla last night...  I hooked a monster, pretty much right in front of the camp....

Hit my lipless Yozuri and pretty much took me where ever it wanted... darting for the shallows, it was very smart...

I got her close at one point, saw half the tail come out of the water,  about 8" of half the tail, saw another outline as it came under the yak...

well over 10lbs and probably closer to 15lb.... hard to say, just huge and powerful....

snap!!!!   

would have loved a pic...  never felt anything like that before....

Danglin, that lake screamed for braided line. So many places for a fish to break you off. Sounds like a fun fight. Now we have to go back and find her!

This is the third time we have been invited to Kelsey Ranch and it was the best yet.  The volunteers, Skipro3, daleshart, hojoman, Kayakjack, racinrob, splashdown, frankfishing, babymanben, shicken, vwool and danglin did a stellar job. Please forgive me if I missed your name.   Paddleboy the his crew from Lodi really came through was over 20 kayaks.   I thinks all of them were out at one time.

The posts have said it all, so just enjoy the pictures. 

More pictures

Such a great event. All that went had a blast...a lot of hard work, but to see a vet with a genuine smile having a great time is priceless. Thanks to all those who participated and helped out God bless you all for what you did.

Don, that fish.....no picture so I guess it didn't happen.

I love the photo of the lady in the Yellow tandem holding the Bass. She was soooo stoked.

Don, that fish.....no picture so I guess it didn't happen

I saw the tail wake from a little bit away. It was definitely a big fish. Now you all know why I use heavier line than most. Just in case.

Seeing Paddleboy and buddies arrive with all the kayaks was like seeing the cavalry arriving to save the day. Thanks, Dan.

I had a lot of fun too in my short time out there.  unfortunately i wasnt able to come and help the night before or clean up after since I had to get going, but hopefully I'll be able to pitch in a little more next time.  Olivia was happy to come out and see all of the nice people, and she seemed to enjoy sitting in the kayak even though she didn't get to paddle anywhere