Super User Alpster Posted March 31, 2007 Super User Posted March 31, 2007 OK Folks, sit back, relax and listen to how it went......... Like most of the pilgims headed to Lake Fork, half the fun was getting ready. I spent the weeks leading up to the trip packing the tacklebox, carefully sorting plastics, hooks, jigs, etc., looking at maps, dreaming of the bass of a lifetime and meeting friends without a face. The 'Bass Bus' was prepped and loaded. Craigaria's awesome Bass Resource stickers adourned the windows. Hard to believe it's time to go. 40 degrees on the East Coast with a steady rain when I fired up the 'Bass Bus' at 5:00 am on Friday. Drove 150 miles in rain & snow to the Bass Pro Shop in Harrisburg, PA to Pick up Muddy Man & Brutus for the trip to FORK! YEA!! We sneaked out from under a big Noreaster that dumped 14" of snow on Muddy & Ron's home town. We did about 600 miles to Bristol VA and camped for the night. Saturday we headed out early to make it to 'Riskkid's' in Nashville to have lunch. Carl (Riskkid) grilled us a steak that was so tender you could suck it through a straw. Carl is a man among men. His hospitality and generosity sets him apart. Thank you Carl! We left Carl's place in the afternoon en route to the abode of our very own 'Road Warrior' in Memphis. I'm not sure if I have ever laughed so hard as I did listening to the MOOK stories on the road to Kent's. We arrived at 'Road Warrior's' house in the early evening and dined on the best BBQ ribs I have ever had! Road Warrior and his lovely wife are the consumate hosts and treated us like family (maybe better LOL). In our excitement, we woke up very early and headed to FORK. We are now a convoy, the 'Bass Bus' and Road Warrior's' SUV. The Mooks switched places at each stop so they could take turns visiting with Kent (RW). On Sunday afternoon, we arrived at "Fisherman's Cove" and plugged in the 'Bass Bus'. We learned quickly that LBH, Cigar Lover and NBoucher were having travel trouble (airline schedule) because of the storm that we had narrowly escaped. Although we were bummed about the plight of LBH & crew we were gratefull to meet many of the Bass Resource Crew. Monday, Ron & I (we are both named Ron) met with our guide at the 'Lake Fork Marina' and ordered breakfast while we waited. I asked for a sausage & egg sandwich on white toast, Ron (what a mook) asked for a "pork roll & egg on a hard roll" the Texas waitress asked " you want a what? on a what?". A lesson learned about cultural cuisine. LOL We fished untill about noon without catching anything (our guide caught 1 dink) I won't mention his name because he seemed to try hard to put us on some fish. He brought us back in at noon and confessed we would not likely catch any fish. Ron & I had a good time fishing anyway. In the evening I made Gumbo & rice and Carl (Riskkid) imported some 'Boudin' and it was cajun niight at FORK. Like 'Crocodile Dundee' said, it tastes like #@%$, but it will keep you alive. LOL Tuesday! Muddy man and Ron (Brutus) have been friends for many years and we had planned to share a boat together ( all three of us). Ron is moving to Florida soon and this was one of the last times they (the mooks) would fish together, so I took advantage of Bert's (Bighead) generous offer to fish with him on his awesome Triton boat on Tuesday so Muddy and Ron could fish together on Fork. The mooks had quite a day (see the Lake Fork Video) thread. Bert & I fished hard all day. He caught a few small fish & I remained skunked. Bert (Big Head) is an over the top fisherman with an awesome attitude and a great pleasure to fish with. Thanks Bert, for your generosity. I hope to fish with you again someday. Muddy_Man & Ron (Brutus) sevred up some Italian meatballs & pasta for dinner that would make you slap your mama. WEDNESDAY! We could make a sitcom out of this day. LOL. The mooks (Muddy & Ron) are fishing with other members of the group. Craig (Cigarlover) & I are going out to fish in the rental boat provided by "Ricky's Boat Rental". We motor out to a little island to fish for our new PB and somehow the trolling motor doesn't seem to want to work, not a little bit, not at all! We push ourselves (with a paddle) out into enough water to get the out board to get us back to the dock. I call Ricky and he comes out to get the boat. He has the audacity to proclaim "pilot error" " "it's set on 5, you are burning up my motor". This is funny to me because this is the EXACT SAME TROLLING MOTOR that is mounted on my boat at home. I am figuring out now, that doing battle with ' Ricky the Boat' will only cause me to wind up in a Texas jail, so I give him back his boat and accept a refund for only the last day the rental. He beat us out of Tuesday's rental. Nobody fished from his boat on Tuesday, except Craig & I for about 1/2 hour & neither of us ever casted a lure. At the end of the day, Keith (Flechero) took me out on his boat and we got to spend a couple of hours fishing together before dinner. Hours I will treasure for a long time. Thanks Keith! Wednesday night, Kent (Road Warrior) constructed some (Hoagie) sandwiches and homemade chille that had to be eaten to be believed. A contented, full stomach was had by all! Thanks Kent! THURSDAY! Anyway, God bless LBH and Art Pasley for feeling sorry for Alpster. They set me up for one of the highlights of my trip. Art took Craig (Cigarlover) and myself in his rock & roll Ranger to some of the fishiest spots on Lake Fork. Craig caught a couple of fish and Art did too, but I had to change my avatar on the last day of fishing. I have to tell you, I have caught 1000s of fish in my life and I have met a lot of people, but few as amazing as the BassResource.com friends I will remember on this trip. RW and Riskkid extended the same hospitality and kindness on the return trip. Lastly, everyone laughs and enjoys Muddy_man and Ron (Brutus) doesn't post a lot, but I have to tell you, these two mooks are genuine, caring, awesome, self sacrificing gentlemen who are the REAL DEAL! I am proud to call them friends! That's my story and I'm stickin to it! God Bless! Ronnie - NO EXCUSES 08. Quote
Low_Budget_Hooker Posted March 31, 2007 Posted March 31, 2007 Excellent story Ronnie. I think between the writings of yourself, nboucher, muddy,triton21,etc, that the members are getting a great feel for what the week was like but I'll be the one to say it....words just don't cut it, you had to be there, and hopefully, next year you will be!! Thanks for sharing! Quote
Painter Dude Posted March 31, 2007 Posted March 31, 2007 Hey Alpster It sure sounds like you had an excellent trip. FUN: FELLOWSHIP: FISHIN you can't beat that there will be CATCHIN in your future I'm sure! Quote
bighed Posted March 31, 2007 Posted March 31, 2007 Ronnie, it was a real pleasure fishing with you! Let's hook up again next year and get some revenge on those fish! The wind and weather change had things jacked up pretty good. I went from hammering them good the week before to squeeking out a few dinks by the time we fished together. LBH, we need dates for 08. Time to start the count down, lol. bert Quote
Guest the_muddy_man Posted March 31, 2007 Posted March 31, 2007 Hey Ronnie you may have been skunked by the bass but we all benifite in so many ways by your presence and friedship at the fork we are now called THREE MOOKS IN A BUS Dominick Quote
Super User Redlinerobert Posted March 31, 2007 Super User Posted March 31, 2007 Excellent story Alpster. I'm planning on next year! Quote
Bassassasin12 Posted March 31, 2007 Posted March 31, 2007 great story, it's too bad about the skunk but it sounds like you still had a great and memorable time. Quote
Gotta Love It Posted March 31, 2007 Posted March 31, 2007 Great story! Thanks for sharing your experience! Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted March 31, 2007 Super User Posted March 31, 2007 Well done, my friend. Although I enjoyed meeting everyone that came to Fork this year, a few stand out and you are certainly one of those that made this trip so memorable. It was fun to hook up with the Three Mooks in a Bus, believe me, that sure made the traveling easy. Thanks for the post. Another chapter in the BassResource.com Special Edition: Lake Fork 2007. Quote
nboucher Posted March 31, 2007 Posted March 31, 2007 Good tale, Ronnie. You're a class act. For those of you who've never met him, Ronnie's about as big-hearted and honorable a man as you'll ever meet. By the way, Ronnie, BPS is replacing that rod I broke. It's less than a year old and they have a one-year no hassle warranty on their rods. Best, --N Quote
Super User flechero Posted April 1, 2007 Super User Posted April 1, 2007 Ronnie, Next time it will be a different story, we'll have a working boat available if you can't bring yours- I promise!! If it comes down to it, you got my boat. You were an absolute class act and a heck of a lot of fun to hang with. I can't wait for next year!! -keith Quote
BucketmouthAngler13 Posted April 1, 2007 Posted April 1, 2007 Sounds like you had a blast! I can only amagine driving for days in a car with Muddy. ;D Quote
Super User senile1 Posted April 1, 2007 Super User Posted April 1, 2007 Good story, Ron. These tales are making us all hungry for next year. Quote
Guest avid Posted April 1, 2007 Posted April 1, 2007 Hey Ronnie, Great story, but I didn't know they had furry black and white bass in Texas. whodathunkit Quote
Troutfisher Posted April 2, 2007 Posted April 2, 2007 Honorable man, honorable story. Well done, Alp. Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted April 2, 2007 Posted April 2, 2007 great story thanks for sharing it with the ones that couldnt go. Quote
RiskKid. Posted April 2, 2007 Posted April 2, 2007 Ronnie, Enjoyed your recount of the trip......I like the touch up on your photo ;D.......I'm thinkin next year there will be a big ol hawg in that photo! Even more I am priveledged to have such a great guy as a friend. I enjoyed the time spent at my house as well as the time at the Fork.....I will look forward to the time we can see each other again. Carl Quote
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