Fall battles - 180 degrees

[MJL]

I haven’t been fishing much this fall – Probably only 7 or so trips from the beginning of October. Despite the lower than normal water conditions, the fishing for the most part has been great with some nice fish coming out.

 

 

 

 

 

Been fishing a fair bit with Frozen Fire...He lives down the street from me and fishes daily anyway

 

 

After a year of pretty intensive research, and a lifetime of reading about it in books, I finally made the pilgrimage on the weekend to one special steelhead river I still had yet to fish – Frozen Fire would be my partner in crime for our maiden voyage. Large in both length and width (compared to most other rivers I regularly fish), I was pretty jazzed and blown away by the scenery. We treated it like a scouting trip and trekked through as much territory as we could humanly possible and drove the backroads, highways and concessions we could find to safely reach the river.

 

Didn’t start out so good though. The first hour was spent playing fetch with a lost German Shorthair Pointer who adopted us as playmates and followed us around – By fetch, she tried to retrieve our drifting floats as they went down river. High energy is an understatement. She just wouldn’t quit!

 

 

With so much prime looking water, it certainly was a little tougher river to read but insanely fun to fish – I can’t remember the last time I was as excited to go fishing. We didn’t get into any large fish but we did manage to pull out some hard fighting, wild, chrome fish from the various pools and logjams. They were still a bit of a handful even with the down & dirty technique

 

 

 

 

 

I have to give many special thanks to Buckster, Solopaddler, and Wallacio for their wonderful words of wisdom they gave me prior to the trip . They certainly boosted our confidence and we both managed to land some fish.

 

 

~

 

 

The below text may not be as easy for some to read compared to the above - Especially for my closer partners in crime on the water to whom I consider as much a part of my family...On a personal note, it wasn't as easy for me to write compared to the poetry and DIY washing machine manuals I've written in the past.

 

I may be hanging up the steelhead kit for the next little while. From the looks of it, I may be battling another adversary shortly where my knowledge of rivers, drifting floats, tossing spinners, steelhead, and the down & dirty technique may not come in as handy. After visiting a couple of doctors/specialists the last few days, and being poked & prodded a number of times in some uncomfortable places, there’s a more than probable chance that I will be battling testicular cancer (Not 100% sure yet). How aggressive or whether it has already spread in some way, shape or form, I don’t know yet either but it's pretty nerve racking thinking about it. The doctors seem to be quite concerned about the case. I go for an ultrasound tomorrow.

 

I promised a few people on the board that I’d hook up with them this fall for steelhead (to big, distant rivers as well as to a few smaller local ditches...possibly with the prospect of a burger afterwards) but that may have to wait for a bit depending on the results of the ultrasound tomorrow.

 

I'm currently finding solace in my loving family, close friends, listening to my Mozart MP3s and spinning a couple of my centrepin reels around in front of the computer while surfing OFC. I'm not usually one to ask for anything that I couldn't find or get myself first, but if you can spare a bit of Luck and Karma and send it my way, I’d greatly appreciate it.

 

 

Many thanks in advance

 

Mike

Edited November 11, 2010 by MJL

[mercman]

Be positive bud.Speedy recovery and i pray those docs are wrong.Keep us updated and i will ask my higher power to see if he can pull some strings for ya

 

 

Paul

[ctranter]

Stay positive man. The best thing to get through tough times is support from the community. Your reports always impact me and make me rethink how I fish, and this one is no different.

[tb4me]

Wow MJL I dont know you but you will be in my thoughts and prayers my friend. Good luck tommorow. Good Karma sent your way..

[irishfield]

That was a great report Mike.. right up 'till the end! Waiting for diagnosis is the worst part.. hopefully they are wrong, but if not you can swing over and share a Chemo drip with Jennifer. Best wishes from all of us here.

[SRT8 smoker craft]

Sorry to hear I really hope they are wrong .sending thoughts and prayers your way hope your back on the river soon.

[hammercarp]

Mike

My thoughts are with you and I hope for a good outcome. It must be a very uncertain time for you. Stay positive.

[perchslayer666]

I know of several people who had an encounter with TC, and all have beat it.

You'll be fine bud.

 

Keep er' positive.

[bigfish1965]

We already talked, Mike, but I want to say that as a testicular cancer survivor (we like to call ourselves Uniballers) the word is scary, and sometimes the treatment sucks..but the survival rate is among the highest there is..about 99% if caught early.

I am glad you posted this. More guys and parents need to be aware of the high incidence of this disease amongst young men.

 

I am crossing my fingers that it is just a hydrocele!! If not, we are here and we will support you..and probably make fun of you when we can

Call me if you need anything!

 

Rick,

Uniballer since 1998.

[KelfuN]

good luck with everything Mike!

give me a call anytime you want to go for a drift

[Victor]

even knowing the issues you've had in the past I'm still shocked. I hope everything is fine.

 

we still need to go for those lakers!

[discophish]

Maybe that dog wasn't really lost Mike ... I sometimes take little events like that as good omens. Perhaps it was a sign of good things to come and a message to tell you that everything will be just fine. The community will stay strong for you Mike. It's relieving to hear such reassuring words from people like Rick, who has been down the same path.

[spinnerbaitking]

Great report Mike & stay positive you can have all the Karma you need, sending it your way

Richard

[asdve23rveavwa]

Sending you much good karma, Mike!!!!!!! Beautiful chromers in the first part of the report, but, that second part definitely makes you stop and think.

Best of luck on the diagnosis!

[Joey]

Nice report, and I'm very sorry to hear about your possible prognosis Mike. I wish you all the best with your future challenge with this. Lets hope it is not as bad as may be thought,but if it is, we'll be here for you.

 

Stay strong!!!

 

Joey

[aniceguy]

Hey Mike my prayers are with you on a positive outcome

[Bly]

Mike,

 

Excellent report and pictures. Your other news, not so wonderful. As many have said and will say, stay positive and do not hesitate to lean on family and friends when needed. You mentioned having never seen a large walleye up close, when you feel up to it, maybe we can do something about that. If not this year, then next Believe Mike and keep us posted.

[ehg]

Great steelies there Mike.

 

Sounds like the possibility of recovery is high from the medical condition.

 

Looking forward to future great reports from you(especially creek brookies)

[Nipfisher]

Passing you some MJL (Master Jedi Luck). I know some uniballers and they are doing fine now. If it is "C" I hope it was caught early and the surgery and recovery goes well for you. Blair

[Beans]

I've been communicating with my Higher Power a lot lately for Jack (Nanook) and Wayne's daughter Jennifer...

 

You are now on the list my friend...

 

We still have some carp to do battle with...

[wolfville]

Mike, my prayers are with you, hope everything is fine and the doctors are wrong as usual.

[Leecher]

Wow Mike.... you sure are an inspiration when it comes to putting a fishing report together!!! Truly enjoyed the first part of it

 

Second part was a little tough to swallow.... and was shocked to hear the news Thoughts and prayers are sent your way for as long as you need them.

 

Good luck to you my friend and keep us posted.

Jacques

[MJL]

From the bottom of my heart, I truly appreciate all of your kind words posted on this forum as well as through PM. There isn’t much I can eloquently write without getting somewhat teary eyed. The good Lord blessed me with a pretty sick and terrible sense of humor and that seems to be getting me and my family through things. As I've told a few others, I first logged into OFC back in 2005 and can't think of another community I'd rather be a part of - I came for the tips but stayed for the people.

 

I'll let you guys know how it goes

 

Mike,

 

Excellent report and pictures. Your other news, not so wonderful. As many have said and will say, stay positive and do not hesitate to lean on family and friends when needed. You mentioned having never seen a large walleye up close, when you feel up to it, maybe we can do something about that. If not this year, then next Believe Mike and keep us posted.

 

Walleye have always been my arch nemesis...If you catch one, can I touch it?

 

Thanks Carole

 

 

hopefully they are wrong, but if not you can swing over and share a Chemo drip with Jennifer. Best wishes from all of us here.

 

Being the gentleman that I am, it would only be proper after the first or second date (j/k)

 

Thanks Wayne for the kind words and thoughts and hope all goes well with Jen.

 

 

We still have some carp to do battle with...

 

Absolutely...No question about it

 

Thanks again guys. I really appreciate all the support that you've given me.

 

Cheers & Smiles

 

Mike

[fishnsled]

Great report and pics Mike. Almost makes me want to hit the rivers again. Now that the boat is on the D.L. list I may have to make a point of it.

 

A few of years ago I was also poked and prodded in places most likely similar to what you have been through. My outcome was good and I only have a yearly check up on the prostate and a PSA test at this point in time. It can be hell going through the waiting but be strong and positive. Not easily done but it sounds like you have a great support group. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers along with a few others. Here's hoping for good news!

[highdrifter]

Nice chromeage bud!!

 

Tough breaks about your possible cancer.. I hope the results are negative and wish you all the best. I'm confident that your die hard steelheading life style will keep you strong and healthy.

 

cheers

HD