Friends, Fun and Fishing!

And not necessarily in that order!

Fishing is a sport that spreads out worldwide and joins people together that might not connect otherwise. I meet new fishing friends on Twitter, Facebook and the likes daily. I also meet them at the river and local fishing shows I attend yearly. I make a point of talking with as many as I can when at these shows. I chat with the people who attend; the guide’s in the booths and the rep’s who display products. As most of you know I am a Rapala freak, so I always stop in to see the new products from Rapala. This past year was no exception to my yearly ritual. I made a point of asking some questions I needed answered this year and conversed with Steve Gower. I introduced myself and gave Steve my business card stating I was a fishing guide on the Bow River and use Rapala’s by the boat load. Steve shook my hand and was happy to answer my questions I had for him. We chatted for at least fifteen minutes and when we were finishing up, I offered Steve a fishing trip with me this year on the Bow River. He was kind enough to accept and gave me his card to keep in touch. And so a new friend was born, right then and there on the floor of the boat and sportsman show.

Steve had asked me to come up to his home another day so we could chat further and I gladly accepted. I E-mailed him shortly after the show to stay in touch, and he was kind enough to reply. I thanked him for the two hats he gave me at the show and proudly displayed both of them on my head. A month passed and it was time for the spring classic at Bass Pro in Balzac, where I ran into Steve again. We chatted again for a good twenty minutes, must be a fishing thing! It was time for me to go but I wanted to walk the isles and scan the shelves while there, a fisherman like me can never have too much tackle. I glanced to my left and saw a man standing who looked very familiar to me. I turned and said, “Hey is your name Cory”. He replied yes and I stated my name. Another fishing freak form my past was standing next to me. I have not physically seen Cory since high school. Cory is on the Alberta Walleye fishing trail and targets big eyes’ to win cash and prizes. He offered me a trip in his new boat this spring and I gladly accepted. This summer is shaping up to be a very busy fishing season.

I called Steve and went to his home where he gladly offered me some products to try and keep. A new Rapala Trout series fishing rod, a handful of fishing lures, a Luhr Jensen hat that is very rare, a line stripper to peel all that old line off my reels with, and two full spools of fishing line to try out. Once I left Steve’s home I felt like I died and went to fishing heaven. Steve had asked me to try the rod and the line and write a feature here on my Blog for others to read. He asked me to be honest and provide feedback to you the reader. I will gladly attach a spinning reel to the rod, spool up the new Rapala fluorocarbon line and make several hundred casts.

I would like to thank Steve for his kind generosity! Please check back for a review of the new Rapala products I will be testing very soon. I am sure they are going to work like a charm; after all it says Rapala on it! I continue to make friends in the fishing world daily, so don’t be shy and leave me a comment here or join me on Twitter @bowriverblog or come by the Facebook page at Bow River Blog guided fishing tours page and say hello.