Re: Thoughts on Secret Lakes---Long Post

[Ffishnfly]

I totally agree about the quality of the post from Vladimir.  Mike, I gotta tell you a story (the rest of you can listen in), which I still chuckle about regarding the "locals."  I had never been to the St. Joe River before, but a friend who fished it every year after Labor Day, to avoid the summertime crowds,  invited me along.  We got over there on  Sunday, with Labor Day being the next day.  Couldn't even find a spot to park the tent trailer, and ended up at the end of a logging road for the night.  Next day, after noonish, probably only 4-5 outfits left fishing the river.  We pulled into the Fly something or other, memory fails me, campground and had our choice of spots.  Fishing was fantastic anywhere we went and we were having a great time.  The second day we were at the campground, three big motorhomes pulled into a camping spot about 100 yards from us.  There were at least 6 guys and their wives.  They never bothered us until one afternoon when we had come back to take a nap ! and each lunch.  These guys walked by our camp on the way to the outhouse.  We said hi, and all said hi back except for one guy who peeled off from the group and came over to us.  Older guy, probably retired.  He pointed at the Washington plates on the truck and then proceeded to give us a scotch blessing about how we were ruining the fishing for the people of Idaho, and why didn't we stay in our own damn state.  We were caught a little off guard, but finally, since this guy was on a roll and gave no appearance of ever stopping,  my buddy told this guy that since I had been born and raised in Idaho (which I was) that I was merely coming back to the great fishing of my youth and had brought him along for the ride.  The guy stopped, took the scowl off his face, and said it that was the case then welcome home.  We both had a good laugh after he left.  By the way, this guys wife came over later and apologized for her husband's actions.&! nbsp; She said his blood pressure goes through the roof when he sees out of staters partaking of Idaho's resources, and that we were not the first he had ranted and rave to. But it did serve to illustrate the depth of the feelings of those who see their fishing spots overrun.  When we initially arrived there, I looked at the various license plates, and Wash. plates constituted probably 80% of the units on this 15 mile stretch of river.  So when we hear the reactions of the natives, be understanding.  We would probably do the same, or at least feel the same, as this gentleman.  If my post wasn't already so long, I would share with you one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed, which happened on this trip.  Perhaps another time. Thanks, Roger