vernon

Yeah that ain't too recent. That's before the renovation. It's not even painted yet in that shot and the new side barriers aren't in place.

Hate to hear that.

Yep, exactly. No problem whatsoever over there though. First time at that particular resort though so didn't really know the deal going in.

We had to use an alternate ramp last night at Still Waters to load up. The one we launched from last Saturday went from about 70' foot of exposed concrete to not even being able to tell where it was yesterday. The water would have been over the hood of the Tahoe before the trailer would have been deep enough.

Don't go all "Space Cowboy" on us here!

Wow. Not what we were wanting to hear that's for sure.

I liked her better anyways until I realized that she wasn't her!

I clicked the "like" button but should probably clarify. I "like" how you said what you said just not what it was about! Hope tomorrow works out for you guys.

Don't take any of this wrong Wrench - I'm a fan of yours - but I still say that there's a discernible difference between "extreme" conditions, for which the best of our gear and boats is designed, and downright dangerous. I think that lightning is always a showstopper, especially when everyone involved knew well in advance that it was not only likely but imminent. That being said, I got no issues with these things taking place on a day like today, if we're talking the inherent challenges of wind, rain and plunging air temperatures. That is, had the environment not already been pushed to acceptable limits. At what point is it reasonable for the Coast Guard, Water Patrol and other first responders to say that if you go out there you're going at your own risk. We're not coming to get you if something happens. In the (way) bygone days of my youth, skiing the back bowls at Vail was something I loved to do. However, when preceding weather events rendered these areas prone to avalanches, they were closed to everyone until conditions were deemed reasonably safe. It was an "extreme" activity to be sure but with limitations. I just don't believe that extreme should ever include what most any reasonable person would otherwise define as unsafe and I just think that the existing conditions on that lake today were unsafe by most any definition of word much less to go fishing. Again, just me and obviously from a totally different perspective.

Considering some of the earlier prognostications I think that might actually be good news. I hope so anyways.

You, sir, are NO gentleman! AND, if I recall correctly, I've already had to point that out to you a time or two before!

Man, good for you. Sounds like we were living parallel lives to a degree. I kept thinking of all the other things I could be throwing and different places I could be throwing it but I just couldn't bring myself to leave those dang smallies. Travel home safe and I hope you get back soon. None of us should be forced to leave that place against our will. I still think it has something to do with "The Man". You know, "The Man always trying to keep me down"!

A favor? What's that they say about "with friends like this who needs enemies"? The last thing I need is another excuse or encouragement!

What a great report. Too bad you didn't get a chance to put it in motion. We experienced a lot of what you described except I just couldn't quit catching fish on the Ned long enough to give anything else a decent chance. As I read some of the other reports from the week I can't help but wonder why I didn't do what y'all did - it wasn't like it never occurred to me. I just couldn't leave those freight train brown fish to look for something else that might have been bigger. In fact, the biggest waste of time for me all week was time spent taking non Ned rigged rods out of the box and then putting them back at the end of the day! Of course, I wasn't trying to accomplish what you were either and I would have finished last in any tournament I would have entered anyway so there's that........ Again, sorry for what had to be a considerable disappointment. Hope you get another chance soon.

Just got home about an hour ago and am heading back down next Saturday. I can't say that I'm not at least a little concerned about what conditions might be like when we get back down there but canceling is not even a consideration. We've been there at some point or another during all of the epic flood events of the last 100 years (well almost all) and can always find something to do that's better than being at home. As Ketchup said, there's always some place to fish, you just might need to trailer to get there. Plus, if those fish get back up in the flooded trees and bushes you could be in for the trip of a lifetime! Heck, just driving around and sightseeing is better than leaving. Whenever it gets like this we always take a drive down to below the dam just to witness the awesome power of the water coming out of the flood gates. It's really something to see if you've never been down there. No matter how many times I visit that place, I'm still always sad when I have to leave and can never stand the wait to get back. No way I'm ever gonna cancel or bail early if it's up to me! Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Good luck Phil - I hope you get thru this thing OK. Thanks for all of the updates. Factual information can be hard to come by these days. Be safe and, again, best of luck to you and everyone else down that way.

An infomercial with a keyboard!

I'm really not that concerned about the guys actually fishing - going out there under those conditions is their choice. I'm thinking about all of the local folks that are working the event, that are likely volunteers and probably have better things to be doing under the circumstances like taking care of their own homes and families. But being the good, hard working people they are, they ain't about to reneg on an obligation so they're traveling back and forth during a flash flood warning and hanging around outdoors all day during an electrical storm. Some of the others just might be too dumb to know any better but why give them an excuse to be out there? Heck, even MLB, NASCAR, the NFL and the PGA Tour to name a few occasionally suspend play or postpone events when the elements become unsafe for participants and spectators. Now, granted, even I ain't so naive as to think they don't compromise safety left and right on even more occasions than not when the dollars are significant enough. But if this deal today doesn't qualify as unsafe I don't know what does. And, I hope one of these guys who's fishing for his "livelihood" doesn't hit a log and flip his boat cause now somebody else who is at work at HIS/HER livelihood is at risk since somebody has to go out there and rescue the fool. As much as I love fishing and as many crazy, irrational things as I've done in my life I'm old enough now to recognize stupid a little bit more readily than I used to. I'd like to think that predominantly rational people are in charge of this FLW deal and that they would put life and injury above some "show must go on" mentality. I guess my point is if you, me or anybody else wants to go out there in this stuff whether to prove a point or just be a tuff guy that's our business - to an extent anyway. But to put so many others at risk under such unrelenting and threatening circumstances I believe is irresponsible and just asking for trouble. I really hope nobody gets hurt. Sorry for being such a fuddy-duddy but this thing just seems to have poked me in my good eye.

Man, that just seems nuts to me to put all of those people working that event in that kind of danger just so those guys can go catch some fish. Between lightning and flash flooding this just doesn't pass the common sense test in my opinion. But as usual, what do I know? Fishing is really important after all.

Man, I don't know if I'd bet on that just yet. All these suckers might be closed next weekend.

Well, I got my way (alert the media) and we stayed. Fishing was still pretty dang strong although it seemed like I had more lulls than the previous days. Lots of smallmouth again but the size was a tad smaller than all the other days as well and only had five keepers and none were over sixteen inches. The Ranger is now loaded and covered in anticipation of tomorrow morning's departure. Although (as I knew I would) I now wish we'd have beat feet earlier and got home before the storms. Even when I'm right I'm wrong. Nonetheless, it was a great week with outstanding fishing throughout. While I'd normally already be getting excited about coming back next Saturday, the impending rain/flood event has certainly taken the edge off. Whether or not the lake is even fishable by then is the least of my concerns. I'm really worried about all of the great people that live down here that make trips like this possible. Like many others, I'll be following the events of the next couple of days very closely and all of you will be in my thoughts throughout the weekend. Stay safe and I will be hoping for the best for all of you. See you again next week.

Yeah but you can easily drink a dozen and a half Busch Lights! Well, maybe not exactly easily but you could drink 'em....... But like you said, I wouldn't know anything about that - but a buddy of mine.......

Yep. There's only a couple of us focused on keeping the economy moving! Thanks for doing your part.......

That's too bad. Can't say as I blame you though. I'm still fighting the good fight to stay till tomorrow but we'll see I guess. I'm coming back down with my brother a week from tomorrow so either way that takes a lot of the sting out of leaving for me I guess. Glad you had such great success while you were here and thanks for the many great reports. I for one definitely benefited from them. Travel safe!

Aha! An "outlier"! A government guy that actually knows what he's doing and talking about. Usually looked upon with disdain by coworkers for making them look bad by establishing unrealistic standards for others to live up to. Just kidding - that's some really interesting stuff and extremely well presented. It's reassuring to know that there's still people like you out there. Thanks for sharing.