Stolen Gear...

[BobLoblaw]

Hey, gang...

On Thursday night (Aug 7th) some dirtbag helped himself to some fishing gear from the trunk of my car..

Dirtbag got my vest, filled with about 95% of the flies I own, plus my big streamer box.

Also gone are my Simms raincoat, bear spray, big arse knife, small net with lanyard/magnet connector,
as well as my favorite spinning rod & reel.

If someone tries to sell you any of this stuff, kindly bear spray the dirtbag & cut his balls off with the knife. Or, if you prefer, contact me and/or the police.

Thanks!



Vest is not expensive, but the contents will cost a crapload to replace; easily several thousand dollars worth of flies!!!

Vest looks like this...



It's made by Allen, and every dang pocket is stuffed with fly boxes!!!

The jacket that's hanging off the back of the vest is gone, as well.

It cost a small fortune & looks like this...





This is probably the only box I have a photo of. This pic was taken last year; every slot has a fly in it now! The vest has two foam lined pockets containing several hundred nymphs, plus, by my best recollection, at least 10 other boxes/containers of flies!



This reel is gone...



...but, it is attached to my 20 year old Fenwick Willow Action rod; my favorite spinning rod, ever!!!



Keep an eye out for this stuff, folks. (Even though we all know that I'll never see any of this gear again... )

I already got started replacing flies.I fished with a fellow from Arkansas the next day. He's here visiting family for a while; got in touch with me through another forum, I said i would get him out fishing.

We went to my favorite creek. While we were gearing up, he handed me a big box of streamers, mouse patterns, etc.

He said, "I effin' hate fishing streamers; might as well get your fly collection started back up."

He wouldn't take "no" for an answer. Something for me to pay forward sometime, I guess.

Today, I was talking to an AO member, trying to set up some fishing trips. Told him what had happened. He offered me a vest/backpack thingy to replace my vest.

Faith in humanity- restored!



Thanks for keeping an eye out, y'all!



(You know what really sucks? There was no forced entry. Pretty sure there was a strap from a pack across the trunk latch when I closed it Thursday night, it didn't catch & popped open as I walked away.

I ALWAYS double-check my trunk, because there's usually a bunch of gear in there. Well, almost always... )

[chriscosta]

awe crap man im sorry to hea4cabout this massive loss ... I couldnt imagine how hurt id be if I lost all the fishing gear in m neep ... what an effin burn ...hope you get your hands on the clowns that did it ...

[Norman]

I'm very sorry to hear this Bob, I'm up at work right now ( will be home late this week) I'd be happy to put a fly box together with a whole bunch of flies for you, I have a brand new two sided waterproof box that you can have and I'll fill it with an assortment. I think I have a net as well that you can have. I'll do some searching around my place when I get home.

[Scott N]

Ah, that's ****ty, I hope you get your stuff back. Thieves are scum.

[Lund rebel]

That sucks, I am sorry to hear that makes me upset to hear. Pretty bad now a days where you have to chain everything down or it gets legs and finds a new home. It's a good reminder for everyone here to make sure we remember to lock our stuff.

They are going to have to start to increase punishment to people caught stealing. I am sure in some of the Middle East countries where they cut you hand off when your caught crime rates are low.

[Darren N]

That's sickening. Keep a look out. This thief is not a true fly fisherman.

[Chris84]

Steve,

Sorry to hear about your stolen gear. I know that I would be crushed if the same happened to me. Hopefully this low life gets caught.

Chris

[Geezle]

Sorry to hear about your loss Steve...there's nothing I hate more than thieves!

[4D7]

I'm sorry to hear this, I will keep my eyes out!

[Pudelpointer]

I lost a box of small dries one year on the crow. Probably 100 flies that I tied, including lots of quill bodies and upright winged ties. Still hurts.

Can't imagine losing ALL my flies at once. Brutal.

And you know the douche who grabbed them will probably sell all of it to some other douche for $50.

[Mackinaw]

Sorry to hear about the gear.



Mack

[Rumtan]

I have a crap load of flies and I would be glad to share some with you. But I should warn you that most of mine dont catch fish, they just get washed a lot.

[Kokanee9]

Your welcome to have a look through my stuff and if I have doubles, grab some.

[Trout Addict]

Really sorry to hear that, one of my fears is having all my gear stolen.

I'm a bit of a degenerate fly tyer and I'd be more than pleased to ship you a collection some of some of my finer creations to restart your collection.

Shoot me a pm with a mailing address, it's the least a fellow bug chucker can do and I have way more than I can use

[Redfrog]

Well that news put me in a foul mood. I can only imagine what it did for you.

The SOBs should be waterboarded. and given a high five, in the face, with a tire iron.

[spinN'flyfish]

Sorry to hear that. I hate thieves, went back to the pond recently and no scissors. why cant they just leave people's things alone?

[Rascal4now]

Originally Posted by Lund rebel

That sucks, I am sorry to hear that makes me upset to hear. Pretty bad now a days where you have to chain everything down or it gets legs and finds a new home. It's a good reminder for everyone here to make sure we remember to lock our stuff.

They are going to have to start to increase punishment to people caught stealing. I am sure in some of the Middle East countries where they cut you hand off when your caught crime rates are low.

I completely agree. My dear friend Larry, now passed, used to have an excellent expression;
"Thieves are lower than snake s...t in a wagon rutt!!" He applied this to numerous types of scum :-)

[iliketrout]

Sorry to hear about that Steve. I'll keep an eye open if I see anything for sale on Kijiji etc.

[Speckle55]

Wow .. that hurts...hope karma visits someone

thanks for sharing

David

[The Reel Deal]

You know what they say about karma.
Wish I was the one to find your trunk open and kindly close it.

[Supermag]

Ohhhhhh!


That sucks. That really is a downer, just thinking about it.

Hopefully the guys that took it get a hook in the cheek or something appropriate.

[Bobby B.]

Here's how I deal with this type of situation.

Scream obscenities until you're hoarse. Vow to locate the stealing POS and peel his skin off starting at the middle most frontal apendage. Pour a healthy amount of your favorite alcohol drink. Gulp it down and pour another. Begin to return to a calmer, more rational state. Reminisce about the Good Ole Days when men were too honorable to snatch anything that didn't belong to them. Accept fishing gifts of flies and streamers. Go fishing. Remember to double check trunk. Laugh.

Bobby B.

[huntsfurfish]

Sad to here.

Maybe a bunch of members can tie up a bunch of flies this winter to help you get back to where you were. I am not much good at tying but would try. Would be like an exchange but to just one member. Lots of good tiers on here.

I would be in/up for that.

[schmedlap]

I'm with you. I'd like to catch them in the act just once and exercise my "right to self defence". I've been very lucky with fishing gear. The only time this sort of scenario occurred, some buddies had borrowed my Zodiac, with battery, electric motor, PFD's, and oars, to go to Muskiki, when I could not go (late '80's). Camped at a different location. "Fellow fishermen" camped on the shore of the lake. So, as they were coming back next morning, they left all their gear, with the Zodiac, at the lake. Next morning ... "fellow fishermen" gone with all their rods, tackle boxes, net, etc. Oddly (?), they took almost none of my stuff - the boat, motor, battery, oars, etc. - just the PFD's (maybe too much effort involved in dragging it up the hill in those days?). The Mounties in Edson, where they reported it, actually knew who it was, once the vehicle and personal descriptions were in, but, apparently (incredibly?), never managed to charge the perps. One friend lost some very valuable gear and his entire tackle selection (spinning and fly) built up over many years - it's not just the value, it is the sheer effort and time needed to replace. And those idiots, like your thief, will probably sell it all for very minor $ (?), or just scrap it because it is not very "salable" in a pawn shop environment.
I sincerely hope you somehow catch the morons. Doubting that, it is rewarding to see the AO people who are offering to help you replace some of the end tackle - there are way more "good" people than "bad". My own fly-fishing stuff is so old, minimal, and tattered ( I just haven't done any for many years) that you would not be assisted. I would happily give most of it to you if I thought you would want any of it.

[BobLoblaw]

Originally Posted by Lund rebel

I am sure in some of the Middle East countries where they cut you hand off when your caught crime rates are low.

I don't know how low their crime rates are, but I'll bet there aren't a lot of repeat offenders!

[BobLoblaw]

Originally Posted by The Reel Deal

Wish I was the one to find your trunk open and kindly close it.

Yep, that would have been nice. Then, you could have kicked me in the arse & said, "Quit leaving all your gear in your trunk, dummy!!! Or, at least make sure it's closed properly, moron!!!"
Yep, that would have been nice.

[BobLoblaw]

Thanks y'all!
I appreciate the commiseration & offers of flies, etc.
Great group of folks here on AO, as per usual!

You all are awesome!

[Cory1]

Was at upper kananaskis on Wednesday and found a tackle box, walked back to the boat launch and luckily found the owner... I recommended that he write his name and number on it in sharpie and I would encourage the rest of you to do that as well in the unlikely event you leave something laying around.

Cory

[slivers86]

what a piece of crap.

I guess I'll have to tie you some new ones. I also have a box you can have, as I don't use the one box anymore!

glad they didn't get your fly rods...

was this at frenchmans?

[Badback]

Sorry to hear about this...