"Live to be OnTheWater"
2Bonthewater Guide Service
Historic Oley Valley
Oley, PA 19547
vinny
I have been a hardcore fishing junkie since I was a kid. Growing up in Mt. Carmel, PA, it was sometimes hard to find water with fish in it. I would put on my fishing vest and walk through town with my fishing rod in hand. Everyone I saw would ask: "Where are you going fishing?". I would say--"up the mountains". I would hike a few miles to fish old strip mining pits that still had water in them. I would spend my days catching Bluegill, Catfish and Rock Bass. When my friends would call and ask if I wanted to go to Knoebels, I'd say "NO, but could you drop me off at the creek and pick me up later?". There was something about moving water, fish and the great outdoors that always drove me. It was beautiful.
A few years after high school I joined the United States Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor, HI. I used to take the bus to the mountains, hike for a few hours to find the freshwater streams that were loaded with Smallmouth Bass. It was amazing. Fly fishing for Peacock Bass was a blast. I loved catching all the weird fish that were in the reservoirs. Hawaii was a great place.
I injured my right shoulder and my military career was over. My next stop was Garrett College where I earned my Associates Degree in Applied Science in the field of Natural Resources and Wildlife Technology. I also took many adventure sports classes. During my 3 years of college I landed many trout over 20 inches. I spent most of my time fishing Big Spring Creek and Yellow Breeches in Pennsylvania. The Maryland waters I fished quite often were the Youghiogheny River, Savage River, Casselman River and the North Branch of Potomac River. All these rivers helped to hone my fly fishing skills. I even had a picture published in American Angler magazine, via Maryland DNR and won a few prizes from North American Fishing Club and In-Fisherman. I was a fishing junkie.
I remember my last day in Garrett County, it was a great send-off. I was fishing the North Branch of Potomac River above Jennings Randolph Lake. The first fish I hooked ran me into my backing and broke me off. The second fish I hooked and managed to land was a 20-inch rainbow trout. Not a bad way to end my time in Maryland. It was now time to go home, to return to Pennsylvania.
For me, it was all about becoming a Waterways Conservation Officer for the PA Fish and Boat Commission. I had to wait for the test to open up. In the meantime, I took a job working with adjudicated youths. This was nothing new for me, because during my college days I would return home to Pennsylvania every weekend to work at a youth camp for adjudicated youths. I was also in a metal band, but that is a topic for another day. Finally the test opened up and I had my chance. Waiting and waiting for the call to come was all that I did. Finally, one day at work I get a message that said I needed to call the local police department. Oh boy, I thought--wonder what they wanted? Being the goodie-goodie law abiding man that I am--I wasn't overly worried about the phone call. I called the detective and I was asked if I knew a person named Guy Bowersox? I said,"no". Well, he works for the fish and boat commission and if you want a job with them, I suggest you call him immediately. "Sure thing", I said. Well, my dream was starting to materialize. An interview and a few tests later-- I was offered a position!! Whoo HOOOooo. First thing first--Police Academy. The academy was fun and did two things to me. One, I managed to almost totally remove a fingertip from my right hand. We were lifting weights--I had 45-pound hex weights in my hands. Did my set and was placing the weights on the floor. The guy prior to me did not put his weights away. So, it sort of went-- 45-pound hex weight placed on top of a 20 pound-hex weight with my fingertip right in the middle. It involved plenty of blood and a trip to the emergeny room. The digit was stitched back on and I finished the Police Academy with a metal pin sticking out of my right middle finger. I only missed one day and that was the day after the accident happened. I went to class and Sgt. Locke looked at me and called me into his office. He said, you look rather yellow--you need to go back to the hotel and rest. I said I didn't want to do that and that I needed this--I couldn't take the chance of losing my position. Sgt. Locke stated not to worry. I took his word for it. Two, the other thing the Police Academy did to me was turn me into a Steelheading junkie. The academy was located in Western, PA. I was a 40-minute ride from steelhead alley. While the rest of the class drove home on the weekends to be with family and friends, I drove to Erie, slept in my truck and fished my butt off. What an amazing time. I was hooked. Well, I graduated from the police academy and welcomed my 3-month furlough from the Fish and Boat Commission. I spent my 3-months chasing steelhead and fishing Virginia Trout streams. I spent time on Mossy Creek, Jackson River and the Bullpasture River. I also found the time to visit the Savage River in Maryland. What a great 3 months. I was called back to work by the PFBC and I completed my training. It was great knowing that Spring Creek was in our front yard. I kept a rigged fly rod outside the classroom. At every break I ran to the creek and tried to catch a fish. I would try to scarf down lunch so that I could go fish before classes started again. Then once classes were done for the day, I'd fish. Amazing!!! During the graduation ceremony, I was chosen to give a response on behalf of the class. What a speech. It was a great moment. Now, onto E. Berks and N. Montgomery Counties!
My time spent as a Waterways Conservation Officer was amazing. I was able to protect the environment, enforce the PA Fish and Boat Code and work with kids. I loved the Youth Field Days. The Berks County youth field day was amazing. I would alternate fly tying and fishing education. The fly tying was a smash hit. The kids loved tying their own flies. I must admit, I really loved it when a parent would come over and say that their child still has the fly and has caught a few fish with it. The parent would say how proud their child was knowing he or she caught a fish with a fly they tied. Talk about goose-bumps. Making a difference is something we should all strive to do. The fishing education was also a blast. I would spend the week prior to youth field day catching all kinds of fish and trying to keep them alive. The program was more of a quiz. I would have mounts, live fish, fly fishing gear, spinning gear and photographs. The kids loved it and so did I. It was a blast getting to see all their little faces light up everytime I pulled a live fish out of the tank.
The job wasn't all roses though. But it was what I had chosen to do and no matter what, I loved every minute of it. As with everything in life, nothing is perfect. I finally was forced to retire thanks to an injury. I dislocated my left shoulder while stocking trout. I had one surgery that didn't fix it and has left me with nerve damage to my left arm. The second surgery was intense--hemiarthroplasty. So, with my sudden retirement I was forced to do the guide business way ahead of schedule.
I am hoping that I will be able to share my passion for the outdoors with everybody.
At this moment, I am a father of two adorable children. What more can a man ask for?
A little more about me:
Currently Coach Youth Baseball, Softball and Elementary Wrestling. I write fly fishing articles for the Reading Eagle.
I have coached high school wrestling and high school tennis
I have been in two rock / metal / hardcore bands
I do not smoke
I do not drink alcohol
I have never done drugs
I loved playing baseball as a kid and softball as an adult
I love music, mostly heavy stuff--but I appreciate music
I love tying flies
I love fishing for Salmon in Pulaski, NY
I love writing songs and short stories
I love my two little rugrats-- Zoe and Vinny
I love fishing for anything that has fins and swims
I love teaching people how to fish
I love watching someone catch their first fish on a fly rod
I love photography
I love just going for a hike
I love watching fishing shows on TV
I love my fishing DVD collection
I love horror movies-- Zombies Rule
I love Halloween
I love taking my rugrats fishing
2Bonthewater
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2Bonthewater Guide Service
Historic Oley Valley
Oley, PA 19547
vinny