Like Jerry, I grew up in that other country below Oregon. Southern part.

Was a fishing nut when I was a kid...constantly after my dad to take me fishing, and he did too! He loves to fish also, and every chance he had he took my older brother and I out chasing bass, trout or ?

Fished the ocean (Huntington Beach pier, Seal Beach pier) for bonito and the occasional barracuda.

Younger years we always went to Donner Lake, near Reno, for vacation, and I spent a summer there (I was 12/13) working for one place we always stayed at. Great experience, as the owner was retired from the Marines (DI) and was quick to "correct" me when needed. Damn, that guy could out-cuss my second wife.

We kept a boat in Searchlight, Nevada, for many years, leaving just the short haul from there to Cottonwood Cove, which sadly (I hear) is now some big resort spot.

We would pile all of our camping gear in the boat, head up-lake (Mead) about 6 miles and find some nice cove to set up home in for a few days at a time. Caught bass, tons of trout, the odd carp at night. My brother and I used to sleep out under the stars near the boat, and would take a hunk of liver on a big hook (about a 1/0) and then tie the line to our big toes...waiting to see who got woken up first with the carp...what a hoot that was!

Fished most all of the local lakes (Cachuma, Castaic, some of the San Diego lakes) for bass...caught some good ones. Best was a reservoir in Anaheim Hills - was supposed to be closed to fishing, but my high school buddy and I (14-15 yrs. old) would hike down a fence line and get into the place. It had been stocked with bass since the 1960's, and we hammered 4-9 lb+ bass in there till we got tired. Finally got caught one night (helicopter with spotlight...ya can't hide!) and that was the end of that...been "legal" ever since.

Ahhh...memories.

Gotta admit though...fishing now is lots more fun than it ever has been. I guess I enjoy the whole experience of being out in the wilds more than I did as a kid.

Mike