Leaderboard

Biden might be the name on the desk but he hasn’t called a single shot since day one

We got back July 3 from a family vacation in Belize. We spent all but the last two full days/day we left on Caye Caulker, leaving early for the mainland because of the predictions at the time for Hurricane Beryl. It was predicted to hit our area the day we were leaving (7/3) before slowing down and changing course. I told my wife I'm not going to Caye Caulker and not going flats fishing. Everyone was on board with the plan, so I booked two boats with Chasin' Tail. Jacob and I were paired up in the other boat for our flats fishing day on Caye Caulker. This would be my 4th time chasing bonefish, my third time with a only a fly rod. Jacob and I worked out a deal that he had first chance at any tarpon we came across if I could have first chance at bonefish. He's hooked and jumped a tarpon, but never landed one. I've been through all three stages of tarpon fishing, and did it with my Orvis 9wt, so I get that he wanted to land one. We were in rolling tarpon right away, but casting a 12wt fly rod is tough. I've never cast a 12wt, so I can't blame Jacob for switching to spin gear quickly. Unfortunately, the tarpon weren't cooperating after the switch to spin gear/live bait, so we moved to the bonefish flats. I grabbed my Orvis 8wt, stepped up to the platform, and made sure our guide and I were on the same page for communicating fish locations and distances. Full disclosure: I've never been good at casting long distance with saltwater fly rods. It took a minute to find bones in the sea grass, but our guide called out 50-60 feet at 11 o'clock! I laid out a beautiful cast and remember thinking "I did it! There's my victory for the day!" Then a bonefish took my Crazy Charlie, but I missed the hookset. The tug got my heart racing, but I kept stripping and missed a second hook set on the same cast. I felt this one on better and even saw the fish off the bow. We moved around, looking for another school when it happened. I laid out another 60-foot cast, felt the take, and set the hook. I managed to pay out the line and let the fish take the reel. It’s true what they say about bonefish. They are smaller, but they are extremely powerful. It put up a helluva fight, made one reel-screaming run, and put a serious bend in my 8wt rod. We boated it, took some pictures, and (my favorite part), I was able to remove the fly and set it free myself. It barely left the water. I fought back every emotion I've ever had on this journey. I sat down, told Jacob it was his turn, and only left my seat again to help get him those longer casts. I found what I needed and wanted. I tried my best to make it about the fish, but I realized it never was and never will be. I spent the rest of the day, and a big part of the rest of the trip admiring that beautiful fish and all it stands for. We couldn't get the bones to cooperate for Jacob, despite our best efforts. We ended up going back to tarpon spots, where our guide handed me a spinning rod and told us both to cast out. Who am I to say no? Jacob caught a Spanish mackeral at our first stop and then hit the motherlode. A tarpon hit his line shortly after it hit the water, but the hook didn't get set. Jacob and the guide saw the tarpon jump, but I was busy admiring the bend in his rod and the sound of line peeling from the reel. Jacob got rebaited, cast back out, and was hooked up within minutes of his line hitting the water. It wasn't a tarpon, but he landed a nice Jack crevalle. He rebaited again, cast back out, and was hooked up again! Another, bigger Jack crevalle. It happened two more times with the rebaiting and hooking up within a couple of minutes of his bait hitting the water, landing a grey snapper and dogtooth snapper. All told, Jacob landed four fish within 20 minutes, all while my line was 20-30-feet from his line. I wasn't even upset. I had what I needed, and I never ever get tired of watching my kids find fishing success. My wife and daughter were in the other boat, and they had an awesome day on the water, too. My wife never fails to amaze me. Their boat stopped for bait for tarpon on spin gear, and my wife hooked up instantly. She hooked into and landed a 50-60", 60-lb tarpon! I'd have loved to see that play out. Sydney got some fly-casting pointers and cast to and landed a nice bonefish! Syd caught a few snapper, too. Minnie has now landed one more tarpon than I have (2 total for her) and both of hers really showcase how mine is considered a baby tarpon. Sorry for the sideways pics. This always happens to me and I don't know how to make it not do that.

Mine will load 5 but usually jam the first 2 rounds. I did hear a rumor savage would replace them but I haven't tried. The newer mags are supposed to fix the issue.

On order,,,, "7 PRC" Axis M5 AICS bottom HS Precision Stock Weatherby 307 long magnum action New (m16 extractor, threaded kbob, 700 footprint side bolt release) Bartlien Carbon Barrel 7mm 1:8 finish at 24" 4 port custom Break (5/8-24) Triggertech Trigger MDT AICS 5 rnd mag ARCA rail for Tripod mount point 2" pic rail for bipod mount (may use long Arca for both tripod and bipod) 4 boxes Federal Prem 175 grn ELDX

Meal Team 6

Selling my Remington 700 LR 7mm mag. Its a fantastic rifle and has treated me well! I am only selling it to try to start getting components to build a custom rifle. I have had it since roughly 2015 and used it on 5-6 hunts. Its hard to estimate how many rounds I have shot through it but if I had to guess it would be around 40 a year. It has a few scratches that I can send close up photos of if you'd like but overall its still in great condition. I would like to sell it with the scope (Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 MRAD FFP) and the case. Ill also throw in a box of Precision Hunter ammo. The rifle itself weighs about 8.5 lb. according to Remington. Link to specs below. I did glass bed the action but other than that its a "factory" set up. $1100 for everything. DM with any specific questions and I will respond within 24 hours. https://www.remarms.com/rifles/bolt-action/model-700/model-700-long-range

Posting this for a buddy of mine. located in McNeal, Az Blue and red heeler puppies looking for good homes. These are high energy and very highly intelligent dogs. They need lots of exercise and training. They have their first vaccinations… new owners will need to get them their second vax at 9 weeks. They’ve had two veterinary checks. Super happy & healthy pups. 2 males & 2 females left from litter of 7. Asking $350. Pure bred but not AKC registered. Father is blue heeler, mother is red heeler. Text him at (520) 604-6093

Their quality control has been non existant for decades. Amazes me they are still in business.

Russ, Do the ones you have feed ok? With the factory mags I have I can only load two rounds at a time. Anymore than that and they won't feed.

Thanks Shawn. They are definitely on of the classics of the long range glassing game. They are getting harder to come by nowadays that’s for sure.

I remember as a kid in early 80s one of my dads buddies had a pair of Zeiss 15x60 and I would drool over them and think one day. The binocular that started it all. Still great binoculars at a very good price.

.

Big 30 cal for the win we kill every thing with a light 300wm

One and the same.

Sounds like you're building a badass elk rifle instead of a coues rifle!

That's a nice trailer.

My favorite is 270wsm for whatever I'm shooting at, except for a bull elk.

Let's go! Kevin text me when you got a couple of days to hunt

On the Biden side is the old man going to give up the race? It does finally sound like the 🐫 may be in .Either way Trump is polling better than them bolth.

Might as well use a 7/08 if you're gonna handicap a PRC with a 20" barrel! 🤣

I know it wrecks the fun of ripping on the big money guy, but this says it’s the Super Raffle Bull, so the only money needed to qualify for this one was $20.

Some of you are jealous morons. Guaranteed a velvet bull of that size wasn’t left overnite. Ever hear of sunset? Can take some time to move and pose an animal of that size. And you photo scorers are amusing, you can’t tell the overall mass from these shots, but I guess you’re the expert. Sheesh, typical CWT BS

There are very few elk by Clay Springs right now... Ask me how I know? Most of the tanks are dry. I'm doing my best to grow something to keep them close. IMG_6308.mov