Lost - Fishing Vest

[Don Allenbaugh]

I am glad you got your vest back, there are a lot of honest fishermen around. I was fishing Norfork a couple of years ago and saw something along the bank. Walked over and saw that it was a fly box. Opened it up and there had to be 500-600 flies in it. I asked everyone that I saw if they lost it but no takers. About 3 hours later a guy came down river and asked if I was the guy that found the flybox. I replied yes and if he could identify it I would give it to him. He hit it right on the head and I gave it to him. He said to stop and see him sometime and he would give me some flies, I guess I should go over to the Beaver Dam flyshop and tell the manager he still owes me some flys. Before he came down the river I thought I would put a notice on here and Wilsons site and hope that the owner would see it but alas he found me and I didn't have to do it.

[laker67]

Fantastic news Don!! I mentioned the hatchery earlier because a friend of mine recovered his rod from there. Same as you, just walked off and left it lay. An easy mistake to make with all of the gear we pack each fishing trip. It's hard to find a more honest bunch, than a group of trout fishermen. Thanks for letting us know.

Laker67

[jjtroutbum]

Great news Don and your positive attitude regarding its possible loss. Leads me to believe that it was no accident in your returned good fortune

It's hard to find a more honest bunch, than a group of trout fishermen.

Unless your talking length, weight, or numbers of actual fish.....lol

[Wheatenheimer]

In the early '90's I was living in Eugene, OR. One day I fished the McKenzie River, wade fishing, none the less and was skunked! Tucking my tail, I went back to my apartment close to the campus (University of Oregon.) The next day, I was bouncing a tennis ball off of my rod tube and realized that either I was feeling really strong that day or my rod tube was really light. Well, the later was more correct! I then remembered that I left my 490-4RPL Sage with an Orvis CFO-III attached leaning up against a tree next to the parking space in the state park in which I parked!

In a great panic and more than 24 hours later, I drove back to the State Park (which was now closed) and hopped the fence with a flashlight and combed the area looking for my prized possession! Not a chance...................gone!

I posted an ad in the Eugene paper, stating that I'm a complete bonehead and that I would put forth a reward to the good samaritan that found my baby! Well, Karma must have been on my side! I received a call from an elderly gentleman that found my rig, right were I left it. He was donating his time to the park service, patrolling the area for people parking illegally in handicapped spaces, when he noticed my rod and reel! At first he didn't want to accept the reward money and after I insisted, he said that he would pass it on to the park service as a donation! What a great experience!

Yes, great fisheries draw great people......whether they are fishermen or volunteers!

I'm so happy for you, Don! That's a great story!!!!

Kevin