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| September! For a second, I’m going to sound like every cities local news and weather reporters on the 1st of every month! “Can you believe it’s September already!” Lol, I for one actually am one of those that can not believe that it really is September already. Where did this summer go? In fact, my next report here in two weeks will be my final report for this fishing season of 2024. Two weeks after that will be haul out weekend for me and as always I will be way too busy winterizing the camper and the boat and getting everything cleaned and wrapped up to be doing any kind of fishing report. Again, where did this summer go? |
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| After a lousy two weeks leading up to my last report, these past two weeks were much more pleasant in the old weather department. We had no blow days that kept us off the water. In fact, it was rather delightful every day! The fishing is still going as strong as it’s has been this whole summer and ever really. We've never seen a year where the Walleye fishing was so easy and consistently good. Limits have been almost guaranteed! Not that I would ever guarantee anything when it comes to fishing but it’s been a pretty safe bet this year. At least thus far that is. I see nothing changing anytime soon out there though. There are just too many fish out there everywhere for all of them to just disappear overnight like sometimes they have later in September in past years. Ok, many years past now. But still, I’ve seen it happen. |
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| So I’m going to change the subject just for a moment. All of my past guests that have fished with me for about the last 4 years here in the Ashtabula Harbor have watched the progress and the building of the new hotel right across the river from where I am docked at River Marine and the lift bridge going across the Ashtabula River. Well, FINALLY... FINALLY the Riverbend Hotel is now officially open for business! They were gracious enough to give Joyce and I a little tour of the brand new facility and I’m telling you it’s BEAUTIFUL! And the views from the upper floors of the hotel overlooking the drawbridge and the river and River Marine where THE TROPHY is docked is simply stunning! This hotel has 43 spacious rooms, a rooftop bar and restaurant and other features that might be attractive to some of my fishermen. I’m sure it will be a little pricier then some of the other choices here in the harbor but to some that aren’t that worried about it, it will give us yet another choice when it comes to lodging. |
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| You can learn more about this brand new hotel by looking up Riverbend Hotel by Wyndham Ashtabula, Ohio. Also by visiting: www.theriverbendhotel.com August rates and opening week rooms were going for a little over $200 bucks but I see rooms in September like Sunday thru Thursday that are under $150 bucks! For the location and the view, I think that is quite good! Also, I’ve reached out to management and I am trying to get a charter fishing special discount going for my guys. Maybe a special promo code that would make this rate even more attractive to some. If I can finagle something I will let everyone know! Maybe a little late for this season but hey, Just like my Cleveland Browns... there's always next year! Ha! So that’s about it for this 1st of September report. Check back again in a couple of weeks when I start to wrap everything up for the year and send out my usual farewell messages and thank-yous. Did I mention, where did this summer go? *UPDATE! I WROTE THIS REPORT UP LATE IN THE WEEK FOR THIS WEEKENDS POSTING. UNFORTUNATELY THINGS HAVE CHANGED FOR THE WORST FOR US SINCE THEN AS WE HAVE HAD A CATASTROPHIC SEASON ENDING ENGINE FAILURE ABOARD THE TROPHY RUNNING IN AFTER A TRIP. SADLY IT MAKES NO SENSE TO KILL OURSELVES IN PULLING THE BOAT AND TAKING IT HOME TO TRY AND RUSH A ENGINE REPLACEMENT JOB AND RE-LAUNCHING THE BOAT FOR MAYBE A CHANCE AT A COUPLE OF MORE HANDFULS OF TRIPS. THERE ISN’T EVEN ANY GUARANTEE THAT WE WOULD GET OUT A LOT OF THOSE DAYS AS BAD AS THE WEATHER HAS BEEN SCREWING ME THESE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND THINGS USUALLY REALLY START GETTING IFFY IN SEPTEMBER WITH WEATHER. THEREFORE I’VE MADE THE SAD DECISION TO CUT MY LOSSES AND JUST CALL IT A YEAR. THIS WILL BE THE EARLIEST THAT I'VE EVER WRAPPED IT UP. I AM TOTALLY BUMMED OUT OVER THIS DEVELOPMENT AND THE EXPENSES TO COME BUT SUCH IS LIFE AND IT COULD ALWAYS BE MUCH WORST. A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ALL OF THIS IN MY FINAL POSTING HERE TO COME IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS... Capt. Walt Trophy Charters |
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