Laker 67’s Flyrod

[Ham]

 As y’all might know, I bought a 3 weight Flyrod Laker67 was selling. I hated that his cancer came back and he was selling his gear, but I understood why.

I wrote Rick a note and promised to take of the rod and try to catch a bunch of fish on it. He passed away the day after I got the rod in the mail. I didn’t get a chance to tell him I got the rod. I’m not sure that he even read my note. He probably mailed the rod before he got my check.

I never met Rick. Marty says he was Good People and that’s Good enough for me. I wish I had met him, but that’s the case with a lot of the Good Fishermen on this site.

so I went to Norfork today. I planned on Power fishing the flooded brush for bass. I rigged out Rick’s old 3 weight just in case. The bass didn’t want to play so Waldo and I headed up a creek off the map. I ran until I found a riffle I could not run.

I found spawning Gizzard Shad. Spawning Longnose Gar. Micros. And I found the last of the White Bass run. I tried for the Gar and Shad. Not surprisingly, they were to busy having sex to eat.

I saw that distinctive White Bass surface strike and fired a small swimbait over there. It got whacked immediately. I confirmed the location and tied up a new leader (12 pound fluro/10 lb fluro/6 pound fluro tippet) and one of Marty’s perfect Clousers. 
I missed the strip set on the first cast strike, but I made up for it on the second, third, and fourth casts. 

my first fish on Rick’s rod

it was fun watching them eat and figuring out where they were holding. The bite got tougher as the day wore on, but I can be stubborn. 
I caught quite a few. more males than sows, but I caught some of those too. they are Marty’s Clouser really well. I never changed my fly. 
I stumbled across a Hybrid too!

I am Very Happy with the rod. I planned to stop at 60 fish, but I had to rig a rod to make sure it did not get tangled with loose line.

I made one cast and it got eaten.

Phil’s House rods are pretty darn Good for trout, crappie, and White Bass.

RIP Rick! Carpe Diem everybody ; Life is Short,  Fish All You Can!

[fshndoug]

Rick was as good as they come.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Nice report, Ham.  I had no idea that this was the reason for the sell-off of the gear.  He sounds like a first class guy and I'm sure he would approve of a fine outing like this.  Carpe Diem and cheers to Rick.  

[rps]

Good karma Ham. I am not a bible guy, but the book frequently says it all.

Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows,

because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.

[BilletHead]

           Most excellent Ham,

  I told you there was much power in that Fly rod!

[jdmidwest]

Great trip.

[Johnsfolly]

@Ham congrats on a great day on the water!

A great way to honor the man that had it before you. You know that I have a rod or two that also has a life of memories. Still making memories. I hope that some of my rods may get similar treatment in the future.

[Foghorn]

Great tribute to Rick-putting one of his fly rods to use and catching fish.

[FishnDave]

Rick's rod, Marty's fly....Ham's skills.... If ever there was a perfect moment when the fish didn't stand a chance, THIS was it!