Happy Veteran's Day

[Caddfly]

To all those who have served or currently serve in the Military - YOU ROCK! May the fish gods bring ice early to the lake and heavy midge hatches on the rivers.

I can't wait to be active duty here in a couple months. I just got my assignment to Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany yesterday and will be heading out sometime in January. Now I've done a little research on fishing over there, and by the looks of it, the regulations are pretty heavy. To all that have fished over there and/or lived in Spangdahlem or any other base, HOW IS the fishing? I'm not just a trout guy either, so fill me in. Although the castles, fast autobahns, chocolate, and various other products will be awesome, fishing must happen. If you have any contacts, I'd be more than happy to have them.

Steve Peterson
caddfly@yahoo.com
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[Theekillerbee]

I'll second that. You guys and gals are awesome. Thanks for covering for us.
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[hookemup]

Thanks, to the MEN and WOMEN in the armed forces.
It`s very hard not to elaborate on my political feelings, but I`ll leave it alone and just say again, THANK YOU ALL!!
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[Out4Trout]

[cool]Agreed. Happy Veterans Day to all that are serving, and have served our country. Hope a lot of you on this board that have served are out fishing today!
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[neveronsunday]

[red][size 3]I'm stationed at Ramstein a little south of Spangdahlem. Let me know when you are in the neighborhood. The fishing report is really not the best. In fact I haven't gone since I've been here. I'll PM you some info. All water and fishing access is private here. You first have to take a conservation course before you can get a German fishing license. You then have to find and contact the proprietor of the water you want to fish and pay them for access. It is customary to share your catch with them as well, if allowed to keep any. Hunting and fishing are not considered a "sport" here - they think that is a weird concept - but a means of conservation. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of opportunity, just takes a different approach. The days of driving around with six different rods in the trunk so you could swing by whatever water caught your eye on the way home from work are gone but there are a lot of fun looking bed and breakfast "gasthouse und forelle" packages that look to be lots of fun. [/size][/red]
[red][size 3]The MWR has a few fishing opportunities for military that you don't have to get the German conservation license for. There are some trips that take you to Amsterdam where you can catch a boat out on the North Sea for about $120.00 but all you catch are some smallish mackerel and an occasional cod. For about $40.00 they take about 20-30 folks to a little pond to catch trout. You have to use their equipment and bait - you are compelled to "meat and sink". There are some big fish to be had but the way they work it is when you get there they see how many folks are there, weigh out that many kilograms of trout from the hatchery, then dump them in the catching pond and hand you a pole with a hook to go get 'em. My work schedule has been such that I couldn't make all of the classes for the German license and could never line up with one of the MWR trips so I have spent most of my days with a secondary hobby, mountain biking. Here is a picture of a guy fishing the Blies River on a bike trip I took through France. Some things are international, like the grimace he had when he brought one right up to shore and it got off. He let me take his picture anyway. Notice the 12-foot pole. When you get here hook up with the rod and gun club, they will get you squared away. Enjoy your tour! [/size][/red]





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