Wish me luck....finding lost gun
Well Sir, I went fly fishing yesterday afternoon, the last couple of hours before dark. Caught two good sized bass and lots of bream, wading the river dressed in waders and fly fishng vest.
In the left hand pocket of my vest, resting beneath my little wet fly box, was my WALTHER P22, which has taken to accompanying me on these little fishing trip outings.
As I returned to the bank and my van, I found my gun missing. You talking about a sinking feeling? Well, I had one, big time. And even though it was almost completely dark, I threw the flyrod into the van, and ran back to the river, retracing my steps up through the middle of the river to the area I suspected I had dropped the gun. I know it couldn't have simply fallen out, and that I must have lost it when leaning way over at some point or other.
I had two primary suspects for places to look. At one spot, I had tried to exit the water, since it was getting too deep, and I had plenty of bank to stand on, with sufficient clear backcasting area. However, when trying to exit the water, I fell OUT of the river, and UP the bank. If you wear waders you know what I mean. Sometimes it's just easier to fall, than to walk. Anyhow, I checked that spot and with it being dark and the bank covered with weeds and so forth, I failed to find the gun.
Next spot was a point on the little gravel bar where I had sat down to re-tie my leader. I could see well enough to know it isn't there.
So, I'm sitting here, dreading dressing up to go back in a few minutes. I've got some options. First, the river has a layer of dark mud or wet dust on the bottom, and when you walk in it, you leave a pretty clear trail of fairly clear, sort of light colored steps. For the most part, I can easily retrace my exact path. I also have three of the magnets folks use to hold steel pieces together for welding. I can tie the three of them on a stick, about six inches apart, and drag them behind me as I go up the river. That may help if I actually lost the gun in deep water, and not in one of the two places I've picked as most likely.
So please, wish me luck. The gun is in good shape, shoots like a charm, and I hate the thought of spending another three hundred dollars to replace.
When I find it (note the voice of confidence here) I'll hereafter tie it to my vest in some fashion, as I do everything else.
Later!
Sahagan
In the left hand pocket of my vest, resting beneath my little wet fly box, was my WALTHER P22, which has taken to accompanying me on these little fishing trip outings.
As I returned to the bank and my van, I found my gun missing. You talking about a sinking feeling? Well, I had one, big time. And even though it was almost completely dark, I threw the flyrod into the van, and ran back to the river, retracing my steps up through the middle of the river to the area I suspected I had dropped the gun. I know it couldn't have simply fallen out, and that I must have lost it when leaning way over at some point or other.
I had two primary suspects for places to look. At one spot, I had tried to exit the water, since it was getting too deep, and I had plenty of bank to stand on, with sufficient clear backcasting area. However, when trying to exit the water, I fell OUT of the river, and UP the bank. If you wear waders you know what I mean. Sometimes it's just easier to fall, than to walk. Anyhow, I checked that spot and with it being dark and the bank covered with weeds and so forth, I failed to find the gun.
Next spot was a point on the little gravel bar where I had sat down to re-tie my leader. I could see well enough to know it isn't there.
So, I'm sitting here, dreading dressing up to go back in a few minutes. I've got some options. First, the river has a layer of dark mud or wet dust on the bottom, and when you walk in it, you leave a pretty clear trail of fairly clear, sort of light colored steps. For the most part, I can easily retrace my exact path. I also have three of the magnets folks use to hold steel pieces together for welding. I can tie the three of them on a stick, about six inches apart, and drag them behind me as I go up the river. That may help if I actually lost the gun in deep water, and not in one of the two places I've picked as most likely.
So please, wish me luck. The gun is in good shape, shoots like a charm, and I hate the thought of spending another three hundred dollars to replace.
When I find it (note the voice of confidence here) I'll hereafter tie it to my vest in some fashion, as I do everything else.
Later!
Sahagan
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Good luck!
BTW...where around here do you fly fish? I'm guessing up around Trigg?0 -
Good luck from here, too!
On the other hand, if you don't find it, at least it wasn't a real valuable piece. When I first started reading your post, I thought it was a Walther PP in .22 caliber. Now, that would have been a loss.
This is sorta like shutting the barn door after the horse is gone, but how about using a good shoulder holster under your vest, instead of carrying the pistol in an unsecured pocket?0 -
Sounds like a good recovery plan. Good Luck 0 -
G'luck, and update us on your success (note the confidence).[:)] 0 -
Good Luck.. but I doubt you find it. Undercurrent probably already has it downstream. 0 -
I think you have better days of than my dad ever did working for the old Post Office. Good luck finding the Walther. 0 -
Hey Folks;
Well, I'm back and without my P22. I did catch a few fish, in fact, doubled up once with a 2 pound bass, and a 10 ounce Bluegill, with the bass taking the popper on top, and the Bluegill taking the wet fly on the 10" long dropper (tied to the popper eyelet). Note to ichthyological behavioural analysts....a 2 lb bass cannot jump out of the water, if towing a 10 ounce Bluegill, even though they'll give it a good try.
So I have options. 1) Forget it, and go ahead and report it as lost to the sheriff's department (and endure their guffaws) 2) Rent or borrow a metal detector and do my best to retrace my steps, which I did this morning towing a pair of powerful magnets behind me. However, in some of the places I waded last night, the weedy/algaey undergrowth on the bottom reaches 18 to 20 inches deep, so the magnet is at best a chancy try, 3) Do as Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer recommended, that is, throw another gun over my shoulder, backwards, in the general area I think my lost gun is, and when I find my just now tossed gun, the lost one will be very close by. I've got a Taurus .38 revolver, a Taurus .357 Magnum, and a Hi-Point 9mm (I doubt a rifle would work in this case). Wonder which would serve best in this endeavor? or, 4) Fish there as much as possible, dragging the magnets, or if not fishing, continue to drag those blommin' magnets through the water anyway.
No problem with the gun washing away, since the river is low and the current isn't bad. Fact is, I doubt I'll ever see the gun again. The river is the lowest I've ever seen it, and when it comes back up, there'll be no wading some of the areas in which I may have dropped the gun. When the river comes back up, THEN it'll probably wash the gun into the Ohio River, along about year 2525 a.d. I'm absolutely certain no one had been on the river since last night. I'm the only guy who fly fishes it while wading, and I'd see new tracks if anyone else had been around.
And iluvguns? Nope, never have fished Casey Creek. In fact, I've never hooked a trout in my life, although they're now stocking Clark's River near Murray. And that's where I was fishing, just south of the bridge on the little road (used to be Squire Holland Rd) behind what is now Fleming Furniture, but used to be Wiggins Furniture. It's only about 5 minutes from my house, and has given me several years of wonderful fishing pleasure.
Of course, now the place is ruined for my fishing, although I'll try. But if I don't find that gun, I'll end up looking down and into the water all the time, every time I fish from now on. And as you know, a body needs to look at his popper, or his flyline if he's gonna fish.
If I do find it, I'll let you know. And my thanks for the wishes!
Sahagan0 -
...IF the magnet fails.
...I don't know if they can be rented or not (buying one for a "one-time" deal would be prohibitive)...but there are a lot of metal detectors that are waterproof, the head that is. A gun should be really easy to "pick-up" w/a detector.
...Check and see if there is a Metal Detector Club close, usually nice guys that will look for your gun for nada; just enjoying "finding" it will be payment enough...though a "tip" might be in order here, a nice lunch maybe...luck...[;)]
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I've been there before. The gun is there. Don't give up. It's just right there. This is not an impossible search. It came out where you fell down.
Ben0 -
SahaganBeta.......The first thing that popped into my head was the metal detector. [:)][:)] Colt gave you some good advice there......IMO [^][^]
rider0 -
Okay, I just have to ask, and if I get flamed for it, so be it..
BUT,
Why on earth would you take a gun with you when you knew you were going fishing using hip waders??....You already knew you were going IN the water, why didnt you leave the gun in the car?..or better yet at home?0 -
Don't think this is the right answer here but I go fishing with a 500S&W strapped to my chest when you fish 30 ft away from brown (grizzley) bears it is a must do. Bear spray my a ss. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by BlackRoses
Okay, I just have to ask, and if I get flamed for it, so be it..
BUT,
Why on earth would you take a gun with you when you knew you were going fishing using hip waders??....You already knew you were going IN the water, why didnt you leave the gun in the car?..or better yet at home?
BR, please excuse me for butting in, but, you never did see "Jaws" did you? It's something you just don't get over easily......[:)][}:)][;)]0 -
YEs rider, I have seen Jaws.....I also live in Florida, go fishing in lakes where gators also make their home....BUT the gun stays in the car... 0 -
quote:Originally posted by BlackRoses
YEs rider, I have seen Jaws.....I also live in Florida, go fishing in lakes where gators also make their home....BUT the gun stays in the car...
[:D][:D][:D][:D]0 -
No problem I already found it..
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=825467020 -
Good luck and hope it doesn't rain up river to give you a better chance 0 -
...Most rental places have detectors. About 30 years ago, my wife lost her wedding ring, playing volleyball. It had been stomped into the ground by all of us searching for it. The one day rental fee was well worth it. Good luck. 0 -
Hey BlackRoses;
"Why on earth would you take a gun with you when you knew you were going fishing using hip waders??....You already knew you were going IN the water, why didnt you leave the gun in the car?..or better yet at home?"
Good question....and one with a more or less local answer. Around here are lots of Copperhead snakes, and occasionally a rabid animal. The trip through the weeds from the car to the water could be bad, snakewise, and a body just never knows with animals, which are like people, some amiable, some mean, some just plain vicious.
One day this past summer, just up river from where the gun slipped out of my pocket, I found a dog trapped in a little cul-de-sac in the bank on the other side of the river. I rescued the dog and returned him to his owner (had been trapped there at least three days), but what if it were a vicious sort?
Anyhow, when it's all said and done, I'd rather have a gun along with me, and not need it, than to need one and not have it.
Finally, next to California, Kentucky is the biggest pot growing state in the union. They say it is way and beyond Kentucky's biggest cash crop, beating the other drug (tobacco) by a wide margin.
And, purveyors and producers of pot can be onery, as well as downright mean (of course, that could as rightly be said about tobacco farmers I guess, some of them anyway)....so wondering around in the woods, national forests, and along streams and rivers could gain unwanted attention from folks who'd as soon you stayed home.
Thanks!
Sahagan0 -
I'd try the metal detector. you can cover ground faster thaan the magnet.
quote:I find my just now tossed gun, the lost one will be very close by. I've got a Taurus .38 revolver, a Taurus .357 Magnum, and a Hi-Point 9mm. The only way this will be successful is if you toss the Hi Point. If you use any of the others you will be out 2 guns. Everyone knows the only guns you CAN'T loose are the cheap junky ones.[:)]0
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