My time was from 1968 to 1973.

One of the best things the Navy did for me was station me in upper Maryland for 3 years. I found out just how fun shad fishing was and the crappie fishing in the spring was second to none.

Snipe? That's a small waterbird that goes "awk..awk.. awk" as it flies off in a low, weaving path. I shoot at them with my 12 guage and hit most of them. If they're flying high overhead.. I missed most of them.

Yeah.. I do remember what "snipes" were. Red stripes is the key.

I had a trip of 5 minutes to get from where I lived to one of my fishing spots in Maryland. After I moved to a different town I had a spot I could walk to.

Trout fishing wasn't too hot there as the close-by streams were "put and take" fisheries and the trout keyed on "velveeta cheese balls" as it was close to the hatchery food. I once caught an eel on a cheese ball.

The "Dark Side" almost had me as I embraced their ways, but luckily I moved out here to Washington and re-discovered the "Way of the Fly".

signed,

Luke