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I met Dave Rossberg when he moved to Bend several years ago from Crane for his Diabetes treatments. He had gotten to the point of needing dialysis every other day and Bend had the facility to meet his needs. Unfortunately, the progression of the disease had taken a toll on him the last two years and he lost a leg back in the winter of 2011 and then the other leg this past winter. He has been dealt a tough hand but his faith sustains him.

In spite of his limitations, we figured out how to get him in and out of my boat and got him up to East Lake last summer for a day of fishing for brown trout. Paul Hathaway, a good friend of his from Portland, came over to assist me and we had a great day. You can read that report dated 7-21-11 on the fishing reports page.

For a change of scenery this year, we decided to hit Wickiup on our second annual trip. I met Dave and Paul at the Brookswood Store just south of Bend at 6:00 a.m. and they followed me to the lake. Neither had been to Wickiup before.

Wickiup had been producing some nice browns of late so it was an easy choice where to go. Also, Dan Stewart, a fellow Brownbagger buddy from California, was on his way up and would be camped at the lake for awhile.

We got out on the water right before 7:00 a.m. and got to an area that had been holding some browns on my last couple of trips. Right out of the gate, we hooked up on a nice hookjaw that was right at 8 LB. Dave and I had a good system where he held the rod and I reeled. After a few photos, we dropped the bad boy back in so he could be spawning in another month or so up the Deschutes Arm.

Paul's turn came next when a 4 LB. hen hit on the rigger. When we got her right to the boat, she spit up two 4 in. kokanee! I guess she was still hungry! We had a couple of short strikes and then decided to call it a morning. I talked with Dan before we got off and learned he had stuck 4 browns up to around 6 LB. during the same time frame. I may be fishing with him later this week when I make it back up there.

All in all, a good outing and I was thrilled to get Dave onto a nice buck......his best brown to date. Look for more reports as I will have my uncle out later this coming week.

Screamin' Drags,
Rick