Jump to content

Russia - Pic Intensive!!


highdrifter

Recommended Posts

Okay, it's been almost a couple months or so since I’ve been lurking.. I shall forever be the great procrastinator... :rolleyes:

 

Pretty cruddy summer so far eh?! Steady rains have mucked our beloved harbor and the fishing has been slow to say the least. I’ve been plugging away at her lately with a big zilch to write home about… It’s truly depressing and it’s probably obvious from some of my posts or lack thereof. It’s a downer when you read about all these awesome adventures and you got nothing. Forget writers block; the fishing just plain sucks nowadays.

 

The best months for piking have gone by too quickly without much action, partly because the water has been too dirty. It’s been so stained that the weed growth has suffered a lot, and no cabbage means less hidy holes and ambush points for esox. It almost seems as though the fish had moved to the Islands and to clearer water where they could bulk up a little after the spawn. Recently, the water has cleared up some and we’ve been seeing fish, but there’s no interest in what we’re throwing at them. Thank the huge masses of baitfish still hovering around and the ever increasing fishing pressure for that one. Even larger fish scatter at the sight of pricey minnow baits thrashing enticingly just a tail shot away. Worst downer yet is the feeling that I’m partly responsible. Either this or there's too much on my chest and my technique is suffering. Good chi plays a big part in being successful. :dunno:

 

On the upside, me and the lass have recently started an HVAC Filter business together, a venture proposed to us by her father, and things are starting to pick up. In June, we acquired a new facility complete with a large storage/production space and a nice office for Tanya. She takes care of accounting and sales, and I'm in charge of production and stock, so I’m the man of the house you could say; the shop is mine. Drop me a PM for all your HVAC filter needs lol!!

 

Some more good news, Tanya and I are engaged! I admit; it’s taken some time get adjusted to the non-bachelor lifestyle and to grasp the big picture, but it's great to be part of something bigger than yourself and the idea of adding ten years to my fisher lifespan is pretty good. And oh yeah, I’m crazy about her. Manhood is at hand, my friends.

 

Was up in New Liskeard in early June and it was down by the big pond, at one of my favorite shore fishing spots, that I popped the big question. And she said YES!!

 

gallery_439_445_60942.jpg

 

 

Thought I’d include a pic of our sale boat, Claire de Lune (Moonlight).

 

gallery_439_445_134458.jpg

 

 

The fun begins. A week later, we were off to Moscow for Tanya to see her mom and dad and make the big announcement. We would be busy sightseeing and visiting her father’s filter production business where I was to be put to work, so fishing would be out of the question. However, half of our trip was to be spent visiting Tanya’s aunt and uncle, who live in the neighboring country of Latvia, who as it turns out happen to own a small summer home out in the country, the Dacha!!

 

Tanya assured me that there would be the opportunity to do a little fishing, so after some translated google research about local species and tactics, I made sure to pack some baits and a stradic… Pike, walleye and perch it appears have very similar counterparts there, all with their own special characteristics and names. I got all giddy thinking about the possibility of hooking into a monster pike in another continent, so I awaited this part of the trip with great anticipation.

 

I should mention that the furthest I had ever travelled in the past was to visit family in the UK (I’m half brit doncha know), so this trip was going to top it up a big notch. Flying doesn’t agree with me, so the idea of being stuck in a plane with screaming kids for almost 12 hours had me feeling a little queasy.

 

But fly we did, with a plane full of antsy tourists and a connection in Prague. Total travel time, with layover; approx 12 hours. It didn’t help much that the brand new airport that we landed in was in the far outskirts of the city. Once we cleared customs, we ran to catch a train, subway, another train, public taxi… It was a total rat race of tired confusion.

 

Apart from the constant hustle and total culture shock, Moscow is an incredible city. I find myself getting into it more as I recount our experiences and things I am privy to have seen. One in particular; Tanya’s father has a filtration production in a war torn part of Moscow, located in an industrial complex that someone had acquired after the war. The lower levels had been restored and were now being rented. The premise was heavily guarded and was encircled with high cement walls and trench wire. I needed to flash a fake Russian ID at the gate and the entrance to the office. My name was Sergei Lobachov!

 

The production and office were some ways apart so I got some good photo opps while we shuffled between the two. What an eerie feeling to walk amongst such a place.. Even snapping pics had to be done in a covert fashion, so as not to raise any suspicion...

 

gallery_439_445_40759.jpg

 

 

Of course, some of the lower units had not been restored and were utilized in a more sinister way...

 

gallery_439_445_40675.jpg

 

 

gallery_439_445_71897.jpg

 

 

gallery_439_445_125959.jpg

 

 

A plack commemorating 2 consecutive visits from Lenin in 1920 and again in 1921.

 

gallery_439_445_77375.jpg

 

 

Another freaky memory; on the very first evening we had arrived, Tanya's parents took us for a walk on the grounds of an old mansion that had been allowed to reforest. There was still light at 11pm and we were returning to the apartment, when we stepped past a scantily clad young girl lying face down in the grass beside a curb. I was told not to utter a single word as we walked past several uniformed police officers. It wasn’t until we passed them that I noticed the creased body bag behind her. Apparently, the girl had OD’d moments earlier. This deeply disturbed me and Tanya’s parents made their best to explain that this sort of thing happens in the big city.. That I should be so lucky. Guess I'm very lucky to be here.

 

The good part of the trip was truly awesome though. We visited the Kremlin, Red Square, Moscow University and their HUGE bazaar to name a few, all the while being pampered by Tanya’s very gratious parents. We saw the circus, went shoe shopping (I drew the line when we walked into a suit store HAH!!) and Nick got us the best table at the Yar restaurant, where the quail I had cost more than the shoes. Talk about lavish!

 

gallery_439_445_99898.jpg

 

 

There was even an elaborate cabaret show to keep us entertained, and to keep the Vodkah from getting stale.

 

gallery_439_445_18870.jpg

 

 

A few more pics before we move on...

 

Russian Space Shuttle, along the banks of the Moscow Rivah!!

 

gallery_439_445_215975.jpg

 

 

Typical scene on the train...

 

gallery_439_445_176139.jpg

 

 

Rush Hour, downtown Moscow..

 

gallery_439_445_141558.jpg

 

 

Inside the Kremlin. Tzar cannon. The balls I'm told weighed a ton each!!

 

gallery_439_445_56481.jpg

 

 

Tzar Bell...

 

gallery_439_445_124135.jpg

 

 

Leningrad. Now the city of Saint Petersburg.

 

gallery_439_445_188132.jpg

 

 

Local beheading station!!

 

med_gallery_439_445_173944.jpg

 

 

Lenin and Nickolai the 2nd, or whas it the 3rd hahah!!

 

gallery_439_445_98796.jpg

 

 

Some ammature birding... A crow. Or is it??!!

 

gallery_439_445_187581.jpg

 

 

 

After four exhausting days of this, we were finally off to Latvia and freedom!!

 

Tanya’s mom knew it would be a long grueling transit to our next destination, so she rushed to get me some tall suds before we embarked. Apparently, alcohol is permitted as long as it’s not spirits and you don’t get sloshed on the bus!!

 

gallery_439_445_28167.jpg

 

 

There's never enough suds.. Four hours later and I'm half in the bag, and there's still another 8 hours to go and I gotta get through customs, a lost Canadian with no courage!!

 

I did get through though, with no issues save an agent who seemed annoyed that I didn't speak Russian or Latvian. No random strip searches for me this time!!

 

 

Finnaly, a sign we're getting close. It's 4am and I've yet to get a wink of sleep, so I'm going on pure adrenaline at this point...

 

gallery_439_445_180486.jpg

 

 

If ever one travels to the country of Latvia, they can't help but to be impressed by the vastness of the countryside... Just an incredible expanse of Bohemian Landscape. I had no interest in the scenery though, my eyes were tuned to the sight of fresh water. I saw several lakes and rivers along the way that just had to hold monsters, including the Daugavpils river on the edge of Town, but all I could do was stare out the window, slobbering . I was told there were lots of fish here, but that I had to wait until we went to the summer house to wet a line. What a tease!!

 

Daugavpils Rivah!!

 

gallery_439_445_11788.jpg

 

 

Fast forward to Dacha.

 

To heck with it, I need to get back at her and I can't let this sit again for another month. I’ll let the pics speak for themselves. There's a few of em!!

 

Nothing too exciting, as the only fishing I did was in the swamp behind the house LOL. It turns out this was all I needed to get inspired. The neighbour's pond was the largest so we started there.

 

 

Fishing is way too easy, all you gotta do is string up and send it. Simple as that. Uncle Erick helping me set up this retractable beast of a pole. It was 7 meters long!!

 

gallery_439_445_143994.jpg

 

 

Chummin..

 

gallery_439_445_208010.jpg

 

 

After an hour of fighting with the pole and that blasted duck weed, I caught my first fish!! Hopefully, someone out there can give me a positive ID..

 

 

gallery_439_445_204793.jpg

 

I caught several of these, including lots of what appeared to be gobbies, but this was the best pic taken.

 

 

Erick would promptly release some of them in his newly dug out pond. The gobbies were tossed in the bushes of course.

 

gallery_439_445_124149.jpg

 

 

I swore I could see some stick figures hanging from the trees... Creepy!!

 

gallery_439_445_140346.jpg

 

 

A little colour. The garden was a sight to behold!!

 

gallery_439_445_39522.jpg

 

gallery_439_445_12468.jpg

 

gallery_439_445_113530.jpg

 

gallery_439_445_200140.jpg

 

 

Some wild strawberries..

 

gallery_439_445_75766.jpg

 

 

We ate our fill and drank our fill too!!

 

gallery_439_445_6534.jpg

 

 

And that's it.. Oh, we stayed in Riga, the capital of Latvia, for one night before flying back to Toronto. It was great to finally have some time to ourselves. Not surprisingly, this is the only picture I took here...

 

gallery_439_445_143221.jpg

 

 

Hope you enjoyed.

 

cheers

HD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First off, congratulations on the engagement Fidel!

I'd have to say, that was a stellar report mang! It's too bad you didn't get into some big water fishing, cuz I'm sure there are some brutes to be had out there. But I have a feeling that your time will come out there again. That is an experience and a half and looked like fun, I think next time it'll be more chilled for you and some big fish to be had. BTW, how was the brew out there?

Edited by Hooked
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice catch!

Tanya, that is :D

 

She's way out of your league. What a cutie!

 

You've definitely been a busy boy these days. Hopefully the fall will be kind to us.

 

We have to arrange a business meeting soon :rolleyes::Gonefishing:

 

 

Congrats on the pending wedding :thumbsup_anim:

 

Tip:

Register gifts at BPS, LeBarons, JB's etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What do you know about the drink on this picture?

Just checking you as I am very familiar with it and it has nothing to do with Latvia or Russia for that matter :P

 

Cheers,

Ice Fisherman

 

Yeah I know. Uncle Erick is Polish... and he just loves his Polish Brandy!!

 

As it turns out, I love it too. B)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recent Topics

    Popular Topics

    Upcoming Events

    No upcoming events found

×
×
  • Create New...