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CatfishKev

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Posts posted by CatfishKev


  1. So after posting a thread on guide schools about whether they are worth it or not a few people mentioned Duwane's apprentice program. Then after doing other research on optics I came across his name on other websites and how he was well known for being the guy that was known for using 15's off a tripod to glass for trophy deer. Then again on this site his name had been mentioned pertaining to glassing and the lessons he gives. I recently upgraded to 15's off a tripod and the whole set up was new to me so I wanted to speed up the learning curve and gave him a call.

     

    Immediately on the phone I got a feeling that he was the kind of dude that loves to help people and he called me "son" a lot during the conversation (gave me warm fuzzies, hadn't had a lot of compliments as a kid I guess). We set up an appt. for the next weekend since I wanted to try and get out before the deer all lost their antlers.

     

    He came and picked me up from the motel in San Manuel and off we went to the backside of the catalinas. We talked about our accomplishments as hunters and he gave more "good for you son's" (more warm fuzzies), of course mine were a few hundred short of his. I could already tell it was gonna be a great morning.

     

    Once we got to the top of the ridge he started to explain things like where the deer will be and where they're going as well as why. He talked about food sources and when they are available. He stopped here and there to show me some of the food sources and what made them unique. He also gave a few tips on how to set up my own little honey hole. After glassing up a bunch of deer and getting pats on the back and some "good job sons" (more warm fuzzies) we headed back and he pointed this and that out on the way things to look for and whatnot.

     

    It was a great morning, and I'm looking forward to doing some volunteer work for him and in a couple years I hope to guide for him. I can tell you he is a great dude and I hope for him to be my mentor as a hunter. This is getting a little personal maybe but I could even see him as somewhat of a father figure. I would encourage anyone thinking about guide schools or anyone that just wants to be a better glasser to give him a call. He is a great dude.

    • Like 14

  2. I picked up some pygmy sunfish (elassoma gilbert), White Fin Pupfish (cyprinodon albnelis) and a pair of aphyosemion australe.

     

    I looked up those fish they're really nice. They kind of have similar body shape to mollies. Are they aggressive like the african cichlids? I'd like to have a colorful tank thats non aggressive. I like the cichlids for their color but hate seeing them kill each other. What are they like to take care of maintence wise?


  3. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I tried Fore fathers it was awesome. Woke up with a hangover sunday morning disappointed I didn't get to try Barro's pizza. Then my wife informed me that we did in fact have it and that i was a real pain in the arse last night. Thats what happens when you quit drinking then decided to "let loose" one night. It's literally the only time in my life not remembering the night before. I tried some of the leftover which was good but not my style.

     

    I made it to cabelas and they have a crap ton of vortex scopes for like $300 off sticker price (bargain cave) if anyones interested. They also had a pair of razor 10's for like $800 and a pair of leicas for $1200 I think. Not bad.


  4. Thanks everyone. My wifes ears perked up over the candy factory. Lots of good food options, we stayed in a hotel near sky harbor once and the only menu in the room was for Rossatis. Thats pretty close to what I miss from home, not perfect but pretty darn good. I will have to stop by each place and get at least a slice, I've been on a 15 year mission to find the best pizza.

     

    Tried the fish event link and it's not lettin me in, says "forbidden". The store ones worked, we will have to check them out.


  5. Trump will be here in Fountain Hills on Saturday. I can't go since I am already committed to the yearly Southwest Aquarium Keepers Event in Phoenix but it should be an event not to miss.

    Not sure there would be room for my wife's stomach and his huge ego. I used to like the idea of Trump but his inability to play nice with the other kids in the sandbox frightens me a little. You remember the Christopher Walken movie I think it was the dead zone. Trump will fly nukes when Putin mocks his combover.

    Besides the fish keepers event sounds more fun. What exactly is this event? I'd also be interested in finding a badass fish shop with nice cichlids. Had an ick outbreak and lost all my favorite fish.


  6. A guys out sitting on a trail huntin one morning. Along comes this smoking hot blond jogging on the trail, as she gets close they see each other and their eyes lock. She looks at him with a big smile like she knows EXACTLY what he's thinking. She says "Hi" and he replies "Hi, are you game?" She looks at him and says "Yeah, I'm game". So he shot her.

    • Like 2

  7. Me and wife are making our way up to the valley this weekend from Sierra Vista, it will be our last chance to get out away from the kids before she gives birth to #5. Were gonna check out Cabelas but also trying to find something interesting to do or check out while were up there. Any events going on or something really cool worth checking out? Any place to eat thats got something unique about it. Keep in mind she's ready to pop so walkin around a whole lot in the sun might not work.

     

    PS: Anyone from PA that could recommend a legit cheesesteak or pizza place?


  8. Not mad at all. The world is in desperate need of a**holes and your helping bridge that gap.

     

    Thanks everyone for the advice. Certainly a lot of things to consider. I like the camp cook idea. Maybe just volunteering to help out and tag along as much as possible is the way to go. The spotter ideas pretty good as well. Definitely not looking to guide right out the gate, I know I'm not qualified. I just want to learn and home my skills and maybe guide in the future.

     

    Maybe for a family guy it just ain't a good fit, 5th kid will be here in a month. In my head I was thinking be gone a week or two, Come home a week and repeat. That might not be realistic at all so I will learn from whoever i can in the meantime.


  9. Kills a couple a couple elk, is a guide now.

    Don't know if thats directed at me, if it is it seems like an a-hole comment. If I was claiming to be a guide or anywhere near I wouldn't be asking about guide school now would I?? It's simply to establish some sort of base line of where I am as a hunter. Not totally green but wanna soak in as much as possible. But thanks for your useless contribution.

    • Like 1

  10. Went to parker last night with the wife and kids since I hadn't been there in such a long time. I wish they had flatheads there it's so much nicer there then patagonia. During the days it seems warm enough to go catfishing but last night at parker and a couple weeks ago at patagonia, it's still pretty cold at night. That being said my wife did catch what looked to be a nice channel cat and it got off right as we tried to pull it out of the water, other than that it was pretty slow.


  11. My want to be a part time guide really isn't about the money and I totally get that when it's work the fun does fade away. It's really about scratching the itch and becoming a good hunter to teach my wife and kids and help friends. I'm not wanting to spend the entire winter away from my wife and kids. If I cant be a guide and be there for my family I just wont be a guide.

     

    I figured I could pay a guide $4-5K to take me on one guided trophy bull trip or pay to learn the basics and work with a few outfitters on a part time basis just to learn the ropes in AZ vs Montana.

     

    Once it becomes a chore I will stop and happily walk away with the knowledge learned. I get that helping other people hunt is a great way to learn but I'd rather learn from actual guides. With the personality I have I suppose I would carry that pressure for wanting to fill a clients tag.

     

    Edge, the picture of the horses with the range in the background is awesome. I would love to go on a couple trips to at least get my feet wet and see if it's something I really want to pursue. My main reservation with some of the apprenticeships is being "owned" and then expected to work for the same guy forever or be expected to "overwork" myself and ended up hating it all together. I love to hunt and I love the outdoors and never want to find my self in the position where I no longer love it. That being said I will definitely take you up on the offer. Do you do many weekend trips?


  12. So I've Gotten to the point where I want to make a major change in my life. I own my own company but I'm sick of the stress of running it not to mention the issues with employees etc. I have a friend that I can work for making more money as a sub where I just go do the work and don't have to run the biz side of things. His work slows down from oct. to jan. And since my dream job would be to be a guide I feel like I'm ready to give up my company go work for my buddy and guide during the winter. I've been looking into guide schools and I'm perfectly willing to pay to learn as much as possible in a short time but is it really worth it? I've seen ads for guides wanted where the outfitter is willing to train so would I be wasting my money? For the record I do know how to hunt, I've killed a few elk and several deer, however I know nothing about packing or horses and and love to learn anything that I can.


  13. There's native bullhead there and they started stocking channel cats a few years ago. You can drop straight down around the dock at night and do ok for the bullheads. I haven't been back since they started stocking channel cats though. I prefer going to patagonia for the big flatheads. I hear all those ponds in St David are chock full of fish. Ask around eventually you'll find someone that will let you fish on there property.

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