Fishing Bucket List

I've caught a lot of fish in my days and a lot of species too. I've caught large and small mouth bass, rock bass, trout (rainbow, brook and brown), pickerel, sunfish, bluegill, crappie, catfish, fluke (summer flounder) and striped bass. I even caught skates and dogfish. But there are a few species that have eluded me over the years for one reason or another. So I've put together a 'fishing bucket list'; a list of fish I want to catch before I 'kick the bucket'. Here they are in no particular order....

1. Northern Pike- I've tried to catch Northern Pike a few times to no avail. I've tried in lakes and rivers. Even some 'hot spots' but nothing. My last attempt was the Pompton River in Lincoln Park, NJ. The latest hot spot I've heard about. I hope to get on soon.

2. Muskellunge- Ahhh, the 'Fish Of 1,000 Casts'. Or as I refer to them, the fish of unlimited casts. I've tried time and time again to catch a musky. There are few places in New Jersey to fish for them and I've only tried a couple. My last attempt was rained out. Me and my buddy were going to try Lake Hopatcong in north Jersey but the weatherman was calling for some bad weather...which never happened!!.

3. Walleye- I've never really tried to fish for walleye although I fish in some waters known for them. One of the places is Monksville Reservoir in Ringwood, NJ. Monksville is also known for muskies. The only time I really concentrated on them was a few weeks ago fishing the Delaware River.

4. Tarpon- If I had to pick a #1 bucket list fish, the tarpon would be at or near the top. Especially with a fly rod. Since I live in New Jersey, I won't get the chance to fish for them any time soon. But I would love to see a giant tarpon jump with my fly in his mouth.

There are some more species I'd like to catch but not as much as these. Some include, halibut, salmon, gar, and sturgeon. Although I have been fishing for over 20 years, I have been taking it very seriously the last year so I hope to be taking some of these off my list.

Till next time, tight lines.

Customer Service Alive And Well At BASS

Back on September 12th I joined BASS ( Bass Anglers Sportsman Society ) for 1 year which includes a subscription to their magazine, BASSMASTERS. I got my BASS packet, which included an ID card, a BASS window decal, BASS patch and a free tackle bag (given away with every new membership). I was looking at my ID card when I noticed it had an expiration date of July 2012. I e-mailed their customer service to let them know about the wrong date and that I didn't want it to affect my year subscription to the magazine. I got a response back stating that they will adjusts their records to reflect the error and send a new member kit out to me.

I get home today and find the member kit in my mailbox. In it I find an updated ID card with the correct expiration date, another BASS window decal, BASS patch and a free sample pack of Berkley PowerBait 7" worm. They could have just sent out the corrected card and nothing else. But they went the extra step to satisfy me and I really appreciated that. I guess good customer services is still alive and well.

Thank you BASS!!!

What happened to 'Customer Service'

I was going through some bass rods and reels I haven't used in a while and getting them ready to put back in service. I came across a reel I haven't used in about 5 years or so, a Rhino bait cast reel model# RBC20. I don't exactly remember when or where I bought the reel but do remember using it a lot a liking it. It was an easy bait casting reel to cast. If any knows bait casting reels, they are not the easiest reel to cast.

While I was cleaning it and putting new line on I noticed that the spool adjustment cap (which later on I found out is really called a clutch adjustment knob) was missing. I e-mailed Zebco, the parent company of Rhino, the following e-mail:

'I have a Rhino bait cast reel model# RBC200 and I lost the spool adjustment cap. Would it be possible for you to send me a new one? If so, I have included my address. Please let me know either way. Thank you.'

3 days later, I receive this response from Zebco:

'We are sorry but this is a discontinued model and we no longer have the part available.'

I could not believe that was the response I got. The fact that the part is missing (which shouldn't have come off on it's own)makes the reel very difficult, if not impossible, to cast without getting a birds nest. So, I sent the following e-mail back to them:

'So that's it? You don't have one that is compatible? Or make any suggestions? Just sorry we can't help? Well, when it comes time to buy new rods and reels, I will have to look at some other brands.'

A little while later I get:

'We are sorry but we do not have one that is interchangeable for your reel. This reel has been discontinued since 2002. We would be happy to send one to you if we did. The reels made now are completely different. You might try 4R rod and reel at 317-773-7723. he carries some older parts and might have what you need.'

Why did it take threatening to buy another brand of rods and reels to have them tell me about 4R Rod and Reel? Why couldn't Zebco have just told me about them in their first response.

I guess days of Customer Service with a smile are long gone. Hell, I don't even need the smile, just some good old fashioned customer service.

10 years later......

It's hard to believe that the terrorist acts of 9-11-01 were 10 years ago. Just like most (if not all) Americans I still remember where I was when the events took place. I also remember the entire day as if it were only last year. It seemed that everything was put on hold for a day as we as a nation mourned the massive loss of life. Just like many, I was angry, scared, upset and confused by what had happened. To this day the New York skyline looks weird. I don't think I'll ever get used to the way it looks now.

This year, just like the past 9 years, I ask that everyone remember not only those heroes who gave their life that day (and continue to do so years later), but also the people who perished doing what they did everyday; going to work. It seems that they are all too often forgotten or not mentioned.

Also this year, my wife and I were faced with the task of explaining 9-11 to our 6 1/2 year old daughter. As I was explaining what had happened and how our country, as well as other countries, came together to mourn, I started to get teary eyed. I guess I always will. I think for the most part she understands what happened but doesn't fully understand why. It's hard to explain to a child why there are terrorists and why they want to do bad things to our country.

God bless all the firemen, policemen, EMTs and other first responders as well as all the civilians who perished on that day. But most of all, GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.

Kevin Boss

Tonight, my wife and I met Kevin Boss of The New York Giants at the Park East in Hazlet, NJ. We got a couple of autographs, including one on a picture of the 3 of us!.

While we were waiting for the picture to be printed we talked with Kevin for a few minutes. About 1 1/2 years ago my father-in-law, Gene, met Kevin. At the time, Gene was battling cancer. When he passed, Kevin tweeted about his passing and refered to him as 'a long time Giants fan'. I asked Kevin if he remembered meeting him and he did!

I haven't met many famous people but I can say for sure that Kevin Boss was the nicest one. Even before I met him, Boss was my favorite Giants player. After meeting him and finding out first hand how nice he is, he is my favorite athlete. There should be more guys like him in sports. He is a class act and a stand up guy!

Also, I can't thank Mike (@8straightsports) enough!! And my wife said thank you too.

Coaching And Softball

This year Baileigh played softball with the HYAL (Hazlet Youth Athletic League). She played in the clinic which is a teaching league. Coach Brian 'Beef', asked at the first practice if any parent wanted to assist him in coaching the team. I was the first parent onto the field. I helped coach her T-ball team last year and had fun as did Baileigh. At this practice, only one other parent helped.

By the first game game, we had two more parents helping, one of the dads on the field and one of the moms in the dugout. While the team is playing the field, the coach and assistants go in the field as well to help the girls know where to throw the ball, when not to throw it etc. When the team is at bat, the coach pitches to the batters. During the last 5 or so games, I was the pitcher and the girls were hitting me left and right. I guess this is the only time a pitcher doesn't mind having a high ERA. LOL

Baileigh's team was supposed to be the Mets but Coach Beef doesn't like the Mets so we became the Orange Crush. Due to the coaches work schedule, we were only able to have 2 practices. By the last few games you would have thought we practiced a few times a week. The girls improved so much. In fact, Baileigh has improved the most (of course I'm going to say that but I really think she did). She was really hitting the ball and made a few awesome plays in the field. On the last day of the season they had the all star game. Baileigh didn't make it this time but with practice who knows, she may make the next one.

For the first time the HYAL is offering a fall ball season and Baileigh wants to play. I am also going to look into coaching one of the teams. If they have enough coaches then I will definitely be an assistant again!

Remembering Gene 'Big Guy' Stroz

I can't believe it has been a year since we said goodbye to my father-in-law. Not a day goes by when I don't think of him in some way or another. Life without him has been and still is strange. There are times I still can't believe he is gone. There were times last summer, and I'm sure there will be some this summer, when I was sitting by the pool and was expecting him to come home from golf and grab a beer and smoke a cigar with me. In the short time I knew him he went from the father of a girl I was dating, to my father-in-law to my friend and in some ways, a second father.

In the last year we shed a lot of tears remembering him as well as a lot of laughs remembering the good times and the things he did and said. He did a lot for us. He was always there when you needed him- unless he was playing golf, then you had to wait until he was done, but he'd be there.

Whenever I start to miss him I would think of something that he did or said that makes me laugh. Like the time we were playing golf and he gave me a tip. He told me to roll my right hand back so I could see my knuckles. I did it and it felt very unnatural. I asked him if he was sure it was my right hand and he said yes. He was absolutely certain. So I swung and hit the ball. It went about 30 yards out then turned and went about 150 yards into the woods. He watched it, then looked at me and said, "Shit! I forgot your left handed. It was your left hand you were supposed to turn."

I miss hanging out with him watching the Yankees, Giants and golf. I even miss him busting my chops about how big a Jeff Gordon fan he was. I knew he did it just to get me riled up and most times it worked. LOL I miss that shit eating grin he'd get when you realized he was joking or trying to get one over on you. I miss playing golf with him.

There are plenty of good times to think about that make me smile and laugh. The trip to Vermont, a couple of Wildwood vacations, Yankee games and just having dinner with him. He is sorely missed.

Not only did I lose my father-in-law, I lost my beer buddy, cigar chum, my friend, as I used to call him, Big Guy. Tonight, in his memory, I am going to smoke a cigar and have a couple of beers.

R.I.P. Gene 'Big Guy' Stroz. Always loved....forever remembered.