Troutmanic
11-17-2010, 09:56 PM
Hi Everyone!
It has been a looooooong time since I checked in on FNN and the other Trout fanatics. After 3 wonderful winters of learning to get on the Trout at Irvine...thanks to so many of the guys and gals from FNN, I was eagerly looking forward to another exciting winter. Unfortunately, on August 17, a call from my doctor telling me that I had Cancer changed all those plans. Or, at least, I thought, it would. After three surgeries and enough tests, labs, scans, etc., to choke five 80 lb 'Vine cats, the chemo therapy started a regimen of treatments that will finish with six weeks of combination chemo and radiation. With luck, I will finish all these treatments near the end of this upcoming February.
But, I never let go of my dream and desire to have my Irvine Lake fishing back. During the healing period after my first heavy-duty chemo cycle, I convinced my wife to drive me out to the Lake; just to be there to see the tackle shop and my friends on the work crew, the smells, the lake loaded with opening weekend fishing fanatics. Unfortunately, the chemo makes my skin way sensitive to sunlight so actual fishing was out of the question. That trip set the hook, though. I was coming back, freaking cancer or no cancer. My definition of being alive has included and will AGAIN this year include fishing with the Irvine Lake trout fishing fanatics.
I kept my promise to myself and made it back to Irvine on November 10th. I really did not give a darn that I could only fish for 2-3 hours before I had to get out of the sun. My whole focus was getting in the gate lineup about 4A to feel that anticipation excitement, getting into the tackle shop to say Hi to the staff friends, order up a bacon burrito and coffee, grab some nightcrawlers and get back in the truck until the gate opened at 6A. It was fantastic! My body condition was pretty embarrassing and awefully fragile so when the gate opening, I headed for a spot half way between Trout Island and the Flats knowing there would be very few people wanting to compete for a shore spot in that area. The very last thing in the world I wanted was for someone see me like that and maybe feel sorry for me. For sure I did not want to distract from anyone else’s fishing fun! It was quiet, beautiful, and incredibly stimulating baiting up to get those first two casts out there. I quickly realized the ol’ Chemo Brain had messed me up; I forgot to bring rod holders and a chair! lolol Of course, those things were a total non-issue.
A nice 4+ lb Trout was mine by 7A and a smaller but also good Trout joined that one at 7:30A. I was one VERY happy 'Vine fisherman. The sun did finally tell me to head to the cleaning table and head home. When I did depart, I was smiling ear to ear. I had a picture or two in my camera thanks to Nick and Whitney. I also had a determination to go back to the cancer fight and then get my rear-end back to Irvine as soon as the ol’ body does some healing from the second round of chemo.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VtUsFJtz2iA/TN3sjDlo0yI/AAAAAAAAACw/1aJIoxiSeKc/s640/fishingtackleshop
We are lucky to have Irvine Lake so close and staffed with such great people. I will never ever ever take the 'Vine for granted again. I hope you do not either, my friends!
Take care and good luck….Ya Gotta Believe! / Dennis Motschenbacher / Trout-manic
PS: I started a blog so my friends could keep track of me until I am well enough to get back amongst them and once again and make their lives a bit more miserable.
http://k7bvcancer.blogspot.com/
It has been a looooooong time since I checked in on FNN and the other Trout fanatics. After 3 wonderful winters of learning to get on the Trout at Irvine...thanks to so many of the guys and gals from FNN, I was eagerly looking forward to another exciting winter. Unfortunately, on August 17, a call from my doctor telling me that I had Cancer changed all those plans. Or, at least, I thought, it would. After three surgeries and enough tests, labs, scans, etc., to choke five 80 lb 'Vine cats, the chemo therapy started a regimen of treatments that will finish with six weeks of combination chemo and radiation. With luck, I will finish all these treatments near the end of this upcoming February.
But, I never let go of my dream and desire to have my Irvine Lake fishing back. During the healing period after my first heavy-duty chemo cycle, I convinced my wife to drive me out to the Lake; just to be there to see the tackle shop and my friends on the work crew, the smells, the lake loaded with opening weekend fishing fanatics. Unfortunately, the chemo makes my skin way sensitive to sunlight so actual fishing was out of the question. That trip set the hook, though. I was coming back, freaking cancer or no cancer. My definition of being alive has included and will AGAIN this year include fishing with the Irvine Lake trout fishing fanatics.
I kept my promise to myself and made it back to Irvine on November 10th. I really did not give a darn that I could only fish for 2-3 hours before I had to get out of the sun. My whole focus was getting in the gate lineup about 4A to feel that anticipation excitement, getting into the tackle shop to say Hi to the staff friends, order up a bacon burrito and coffee, grab some nightcrawlers and get back in the truck until the gate opened at 6A. It was fantastic! My body condition was pretty embarrassing and awefully fragile so when the gate opening, I headed for a spot half way between Trout Island and the Flats knowing there would be very few people wanting to compete for a shore spot in that area. The very last thing in the world I wanted was for someone see me like that and maybe feel sorry for me. For sure I did not want to distract from anyone else’s fishing fun! It was quiet, beautiful, and incredibly stimulating baiting up to get those first two casts out there. I quickly realized the ol’ Chemo Brain had messed me up; I forgot to bring rod holders and a chair! lolol Of course, those things were a total non-issue.
A nice 4+ lb Trout was mine by 7A and a smaller but also good Trout joined that one at 7:30A. I was one VERY happy 'Vine fisherman. The sun did finally tell me to head to the cleaning table and head home. When I did depart, I was smiling ear to ear. I had a picture or two in my camera thanks to Nick and Whitney. I also had a determination to go back to the cancer fight and then get my rear-end back to Irvine as soon as the ol’ body does some healing from the second round of chemo.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VtUsFJtz2iA/TN3sjDlo0yI/AAAAAAAAACw/1aJIoxiSeKc/s640/fishingtackleshop
We are lucky to have Irvine Lake so close and staffed with such great people. I will never ever ever take the 'Vine for granted again. I hope you do not either, my friends!
Take care and good luck….Ya Gotta Believe! / Dennis Motschenbacher / Trout-manic
PS: I started a blog so my friends could keep track of me until I am well enough to get back amongst them and once again and make their lives a bit more miserable.
http://k7bvcancer.blogspot.com/