Keflapod Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 (edited) It's not often that I fish with other people these days. Am I becoming antisocial or perhaps I think I know everything already and that no-one can teach me anything new? It's a question I've had time to ponder for a while. And yet I can't say I know the answer. Perhaps the fact that it's become my routine to fish alone and that as I get older, I am becoming less and less welcoming of a change, seeking refuge from the unknown in the safety of my tried and trusted procedures, whereby the only person with which to talk is my reflection on the other side of the gunwale, in the surface of the water. Saturday night saw an intruder into that reflection, as the sun set over the heavily wooded western horizon. That intruder was Pongrass 18ft (AKA Chris) and as a funny coincidence, his boat is named intruder as well. The evening began with a lovely female voice telling me "after 300 metres, cross the roundabout, second exit". Unfortunately her name was tom-tom and she didn't want to talk about anything other than getting me to Chris's house. Some women are all business and no sense of humour ! Then I shook hands with Chris and said G'day, as he sheepishly said to me that Tom-Tom's are not real people. They are not even voice-recognition systems so having a conversation with a GPS isn't going to get me anywhere…. I met his lovely family, his neighbours, their neighbours, in fact most of the street. They all said they will keep an eye out on my car for me while we fished the dark hours. I never felt so secure ! I even left the club lock off the steering wheel. After loading up all my gear into his boat, we drove off to Grays point boat ramp. God's country ! The place is beautiful and unspoilt, with clear waters and land based fishos by the hundreds. I was filled with awe at the sheer beauty, especially in the dwindling light of the evening. The setting sun set the trees ablaze with hues of crimson, red and orange. But being winter, we both knew there was no warmth in the blazing trees, and that the temp was soon to drop to teeth-chattering lows. But we were prepared. I had my thermal undies on, but I wasn't going to discuss underwear with another guy I just met. Gotta have a few little rules you know. We don't want to create afalse impression.... Then I look forward as we navigated the channel out and I realised that we were just about to side-swipe a port channel marker pole. "Look out Chris – you just missed the pole". So Chris replies – "No worries mate, I'm a pole hugger". Well I thought to myself that I won't twist his words and turn it into a bad joke. If I can resist talking about male thermal undies, I can resist hassling him about his choice of words. We pushed on into the falling tide. Fishing with someone new also has it's little 'rules'. No rod-grabbing. No crude jokes. No farting. No lot's of things until you settle into a routine. I had beans in my Mexican lunch.... I had to break the ice on that last rule, so while Chris set the anchor, I hit the afterburners and basically turned the boat 180 degrees! Jet propulsion ! Net result, I pushed the boat off our mark so I had to reset the anchor. That was my punishment. The sun had set and it was then that I realized how dark and quiet it was. The cold had set in and every time I exhaled, the steam would cloud my vision and obscure visibility of my rod tip. This was also something I was not used to. Fishing after dark with steamy breath.... It was then that Chris broke out the coffee. His lovely wife had made it for us. I kid you not, that coffee was made in a nuclear reactor as it was so hot. It warped the plastic cup, but it warmed us up a treat... So did the thermal undies....oh there I go again.... We looked around us and could see people in their billion dollar mansions sipping champagne and eating canupes as they entertained their dinner guests in their spacious balmy rumpus rooms. They didn't know what they were missing. We didn't know what we were missing. The fish didn't know what they were missing because THEY were missing ! No-one knew much of anything that night because no-one caught anything. Chris was stumped as his beloved spot was quiet. We moved to spot number 2 and he assured me he has caught heaps of fish here. Out went the burley, the baits and more methane/sulphur. I had a hookup on a decent bream but it buried me. Chris's wife calls to give him some reassuring words. "Think positive and the fish will come" she said. Wow, what a nice sentiment. I wish my wife would say that instead of laughing and suggesting that I pack it in for the night… Moving again, Chris was gobsmacked that we hadn't done any good. We moved back upstream, closer to the ramp and tried one more spot I managed a couple of nice 40cm+ whiting but no bream. We headed back to the ramp on a dead low tide – 2ft of water under the transducer. I wasn't going in to drag the boat across the shallows at 9:30pm. Back at the house at 10:00pm, we parked the car in the driveway and opened the doors. We were greeted by a loud party a few houses away, playing AKKA DAKKA at 1000 decibels. Chris was heading out the next morning (again) and needed his beauty sleep. Not with that ruckus going on. Us fishos think that there are some deck-heads on the water, but they don't compare to those that stay on land. The music went all night, but Chris still managed to get organized…. It was a beautiful evening, in spite of catching only two fish. It's not often that I fish with other people these days. It's a question I've had time to ponder for a while. And now, I think I'm getting closer to the answer. I haven't met enough people like Chris in my life. Perhaps the reflection with whom I've talked over the last 7 years can embrace another. I think it's the answer. Tony Edited June 26, 2011 by Keflapod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tide'n'knots Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 beautifully written tony, you had me in from the beginning to the end! thoroughly enjoyed every word! bad luck on the fishing side of things. pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsswordfisherman Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Now THAT is a report. You have a real flair for descriptive writing Tony and thanks for taking the time to put finger to keyboard to take us on your journey It is not always about the catches is it. Take some time to smell the roses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Incredible Hull Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Nice whiting and LOL @ thermals I got the thermal pants and top, never knew about the undies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helliconia Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 MrsS - you clearly didn't read the story properly, it was NOT roses they were smelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keflapod Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 MrsS - you clearly didn't read the story properly, it was NOT roses they were smelling Hey emptyhooks, Mrs S was speaking figuratively, whereas you are speaking fartuatively..... Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooker435 Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 What a great read enjoyed every word!!! Sounds like you had a great time with Chris good on you Chris for being a great host!! Tony are you a professional writer??? cause if you are not definately worth looking at as reading your report was like being there with you and chris, Well done to the both of you, Regards, Nathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabefisho Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 another awesome read Tony- a true spoken word to move the emotions there isnt much like it- the fishing is just a bonus IMHO. keep em coming mate Tight lines always Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hey Tony, That is a great report, I enjoyed reading it very much. Thanks, Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cut_loose Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Talk about a great report, who said reports were all about pictures of fish ? that's the best report i've read in ages and i enjoyed it more then some reports with pictures Keep it up, i love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bardy Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hey Kephlapod.. That second picture of the boat coming in to the wharf is me !!... We had a good afternoon out the front landing a feed of flatties and Jackets.. Next time i will come and say high.. Cheers Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce the Postie Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 G'day Tony, Great report,but bugger,I was hoping you would introduce us to another new superlative or at least a clever collective noun. Seriously,sounds like fun was had by all. Cheers, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keflapod Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 G'day Tony, Great report,but bugger,I was hoping you would introduce us to another new superlative or at least a clever collective noun. Seriously,sounds like fun was had by all. Cheers, Bruce Hey Bruce, I'm not a vocabulary engineer as such but I do try. There wasn't much quantity of anything to which I could refer in the collective in a more clever way..... So I had to fall back on the imagery I created of the evening. Its a truly magnificent place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supsucc Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 It's not often that I fish with other people these days. Am I becoming antisocial or perhaps I think I know everything already and that no-one can teach me anything new? It's a question I've had time to ponder for a while. And yet I can't say I know the answer. Perhaps the fact that it's become my routine to fish alone and that as I get older, I am becoming less and less welcoming of a change, seeking refuge from the unknown in the safety of my tried and trusted procedures, whereby the only person with which to talk is my reflection on the other side of the gunwale, in the surface of the water. Saturday night saw an intruder into that reflection, as the sun set over the heavily wooded western horizon. That intruder was Pongrass 18ft (AKA Chris) and as a funny coincidence, his boat is named intruder as well. The evening began with a lovely female voice telling me "after 300 metres, cross the roundabout, second exit". Unfortunately her name was tom-tom and she didn't want to talk about anything other than getting me to Chris's house. Some women are all business and no sense of humour ! Then I shook hands with Chris and said G'day, as he sheepishly said to me that Tom-Tom's are not real people. They are not even voice-recognition systems so having a conversation with a GPS isn't going to get me anywhere…. I met his lovely family, his neighbours, their neighbours, in fact most of the street. They all said they will keep an eye out on my car for me while we fished the dark hours. I never felt so secure ! I even left the club lock off the steering wheel. After loading up all my gear into his boat, we drove off to Grays point boat ramp. God's country ! The place is beautiful and unspoilt, with clear waters and land based fishos by the hundreds. I was filled with awe at the sheer beauty, especially in the dwindling light of the evening. The setting sun set the trees ablaze with hues of crimson, red and orange. But being winter, we both knew there was no warmth in the blazing trees, and that the temp was soon to drop to teeth-chattering lows. But we were prepared. I had my thermal undies on, but I wasn't going to discuss underwear with another guy I just met. Gotta have a few little rules you know. We don't want to create afalse impression.... Then I look forward as we navigated the channel out and I realised that we were just about to side-swipe a port channel marker pole. "Look out Chris – you just missed the pole". So Chris replies – "No worries mate, I'm a pole hugger". Well I thought to myself that I won't twist his words and turn it into a bad joke. If I can resist talking about male thermal undies, I can resist hassling him about his choice of words. We pushed on into the falling tide. Fishing with someone new also has it's little 'rules'. No rod-grabbing. No crude jokes. No farting. No lot's of things until you settle into a routine. I had beans in my Mexican lunch.... I had to break the ice on that last rule, so while Chris set the anchor, I hit the afterburners and basically turned the boat 180 degrees! Jet propulsion ! Net result, I pushed the boat off our mark so I had to reset the anchor. That was my punishment. The sun had set and it was then that I realized how dark and quiet it was. The cold had set in and every time I exhaled, the steam would cloud my vision and obscure visibility of my rod tip. This was also something I was not used to. Fishing after dark with steamy breath.... It was then that Chris broke out the coffee. His lovely wife had made it for us. I kid you not, that coffee was made in a nuclear reactor as it was so hot. It warped the plastic cup, but it warmed us up a treat... So did the thermal undies....oh there I go again.... We looked around us and could see people in their billion dollar mansions sipping champagne and eating canupes as they entertained their dinner guests in their spacious balmy rumpus rooms. They didn't know what they were missing. We didn't know what we were missing. The fish didn't know what they were missing because THEY were missing ! No-one knew much of anything that night because no-one caught anything. Chris was stumped as his beloved spot was quiet. We moved to spot number 2 and he assured me he has caught heaps of fish here. Out went the burley, the baits and more methane/sulphur. I had a hookup on a decent bream but it buried me. Chris's wife calls to give him some reassuring words. "Think positive and the fish will come" she said. Wow, what a nice sentiment. I wish my wife would say that instead of laughing and suggesting that I pack it in for the night… Moving again, Chris was gobsmacked that we hadn't done any good. We moved back upstream, closer to the ramp and tried one more spot I managed a couple of nice 40cm+ whiting but no bream. We headed back to the ramp on a dead low tide – 2ft of water under the transducer. I wasn't going in to drag the boat across the shallows at 9:30pm. Back at the house at 10:00pm, we parked the car in the driveway and opened the doors. We were greeted by a loud party a few houses away, playing AKKA DAKKA at 1000 decibels. Chris was heading out the next morning (again) and needed his beauty sleep. Not with that ruckus going on. Us fishos think that there are some deck-heads on the water, but they don't compare to those that stay on land. The music went all night, but Chris still managed to get organized…. It was a beautiful evening, in spite of catching only two fish. It's not often that I fish with other people these days. It's a question I've had time to ponder for a while. And now, I think I'm getting closer to the answer. I haven't met enough people like Chris in my life. Perhaps the reflection with whom I've talked over the last 7 years can embrace another. I think it's the answer. Tony Great reading and really nice photos, thanks Tony. Loved your report Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hawkesbass Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 whose the ugly bloke walking down to the wharf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keflapod Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 whose the ugly bloke walking down to the wharf Steady on Hawkesbass, If you reckon HE is ugly, you would turn to stone if you saw me..... Either that or you're just too hard to please when you're evaluating the good looks of other men... Chris said a few things about you. I can't quite remember what he said though, so I can't hassle you. But I do realise Chris himself didn't reply to my post here.... Perhaps I said something I shouldn't have.... Wouldn't be the first time. I have been accused int he past of being all mouth and no brain. I shall exact revenge upon my wife someday.... Just kidding. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce the Postie Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Hey Bruce, I'm not a vocabulary engineer as such but I do try. There wasn't much quantity of anything to which I could refer in the collective in a more clever way..... So I had to fall back on the imagery I created of the evening. Its a truly magnificent place. G'day Tony, You did good mate. Wordsmithing is not an easy lot,but you seem to have it in spades mate.You seem to posses that much needed touch of inventive silliness that makes a passage a pleasure to read. Looking forward to your next installment. Cheers, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pongrass18ft Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Steady on Hawkesbass, If you reckon HE is ugly, you would turn to stone if you saw me..... Either that or you're just too hard to please when you're evaluating the good looks of other men... Chris said a few things about you. I can't quite remember what he said though, so I can't hassle you. But I do realise Chris himself didn't reply to my post here.... Perhaps I said something I shouldn't have.... Wouldn't be the first time. I have been accused int he past of being all mouth and no brain. I shall exact revenge upon my wife someday.... Just kidding. Tony Hi Tony Firstly, I have to say your report was excellent, you have a way with words. You had me laughing from beginning to end... I loved it. I'm glad you enjoyed my company as I did yours.......even though I am told I'm UGLY Sorry to scare you the other night with the channel marker hogging. I definately make sure I stay on my side of the river. Where were all the fish that night? I was amazed that it was so quiet.....guess they were in sleeping mode after all the rough weather they have gone through lately. Don't worry, our next fishing trip together will definately be more productive, will fish a better part of the tide, also I will make sure I have a "Mexican Bean" lunch to help you equalize the boat out....might even throw in some garlic, I hear that's good on the production line also All in all we had a good night out and the company was great. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hawkesbass Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I know im no oil paintng either bit of fun with mates. Always catch fish with chris when out in the boat knows the hacking very well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mgourlas Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 What a wonderful report. you should take up writing novels (seriously) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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