Retired From Night Fishing

[Phil Lilley]

74 isn't that old...

In getting "more mature", I've noticed my confidence waning in certain situations. Take my recent trip to Alaska. Taking friends fishing on the Naknek River in my boat for a day, I took off from the dock without checking everything like I should have. Almost got stranded because my oil alarm went off 2 miles from home. Even simple things like walking on the round rocks on the gravel banks, started to think twice, hesitate... little things shake your nerves that didn't before. I tend to blame it on my age... I'm only 54 though. I push it out of my mind and try not to dwell on it.

I'm thankful, regardless of what may lay ahead.

[Old plug]

I am in my 74th year Phil. Your time will come but staying active will help you. I still keep up my little host pant collection( over 100 varieties) besides all the other stuff we have spread around this place including another smaller collection of Coral Bell plants. The thing is it is keep the mind busy. You run your own business it will keep you younger.

[rainbow]

74 isn't that old...

In getting "more mature", I've noticed my confidence waning in certain situations. Take my recent trip to Alaska. Taking friends fishing on the Naknek River in my boat for a day, I took off from the dock without checking everything like I should have. Almost got stranded because my oil alarm went off 2 miles from home. Even simple things like walking on the round rocks on the gravel banks, started to think twice, hesitate... little things shake your nerves that didn't before. I tend to blame it on my age... I'm only 54 though. I push it out of my mind and try not to dwell on it.

I'm thankful, regardless of what may lay ahead.

Phil, good to see you back and posting. I know exactly what you mean about wading on slippery rocks. About 5 years ago I noticed it was not as easy to wade fast water on slick rocks as it used to be. Last year fishing the Frying Pan out of Basalt, CO., I had to be real careful about footing. My fishing buddy who is 20 years younger ran around like a puppy and it didn't bother him. As we get older we just need to understand what we can and can't do and make the best of it and be thankful like you said.

[Guest Brian B.]

Old Plug- nonsense, (I mean that in a frindly way bud.. Nonsense..)

You just have (maybe) (like I do?). Selective memory in choosing to remember your poorer judgement of your youth.

We all have made poor judgements behind the cockpit runnin' around at night- you didn't get hurt, I would encourage you to get back. On that horse brother- the. Night fishing is, what it always was.

(Must I share the story of me running our 2000 Skeeter into a root wad causing pretty severe damage?... Please don't make me, night eyes- night vision... BS.. I "thought" I had a good feel for. "Night eyes, seeing by moonlight", LOL. Right up until I heard gelcoat crushed like an egg and fiberglass splinters forced through my skin on my legs and hip.

Get back on that horse brother, nothing has changes- nightime is spooky, over-confidence gets you -dead-, you are keenly aware of the danger you were in because you are what you were, a smart boater... You simply have been away for too long.. (Nights)

Give it another try, stay off plane, trust me, LOL, I do..

(Edit)... You are on LOZ right?.. That lake can be very hairy at night, there is actually too much artificial light bouncing all over- heck I have been disoriented so badly of an evening another boater in a houseboat tooted for me because he realized I was seeing him as the bank with dock lighting. (I wasn't on plane, and we had a laugh- he saw me struggling to see true bank) it happens- heck I was 28 when that happenned- 34 or so when I shrapnelled my legs with glass)