Posted on 02/28/2008 8:38:33 AM PST by girlangler
Darryl E. Owens | Sentinel Staff Writer February 28, 2008 Ray Combs thought he'd witnessed the wildest fishing action that the world had to offer. But that was before the Orlando videographer hopped a military cargo plane to Baghdad. There, as Black Hawk helicopters flew overhead, he watched soldiers cast lines into a man-made lake near where Saddam Hussein reputedly kept his harem. "I have been on boats shooting video as an 18-foot hammerhead ate a 200-pound tarpon mere feet away from me," said Combs, 32. "But . . . it doesn't compare to the surreal feeling of watching soldiers fish while holding their rifle in one hand and a spinning reel in the other." Related links "Operation Catch Fish" in Iraq Video Combs, creative director of Reel Time Productions, recently took a small crew to Iraq to film for television a morale-boosting tournament called Operation Catchfish. He wanted to explore the odd juxtaposition of fishing in a war zone. "Nobody thinks of fishing in Iraq," he said. "You think of desert, you think of the war; but you don't think of fishing. "It's the one thing that ties everyone together," said Combs, who returned recently from the 10-day trip. "No matter where you are, where you're from, it's something kind of primordial, catching fish out of the water. It's something that's been done as long as man's been around." The soldiers likely wouldn't be fishing if not for Saddam, who ordered the digging of several lakes that he stocked with fish as part of a private hunting reserve. After the invasion, it didn't take long for the occupation forces to figure out where the fish were biting. Soon they were casting with tackle donated from back home.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
What is Saddam dug out those “lakes” and buried more treasure at the bottom, and then filled the lake and stocked it with fish?
He was a very devious man.
>>>>>I wonder if these were the same fish?
Yea, well... sometimes the fish would yell “Allahu Akbar!” at you, so there may be something to it.
It is great some of our military folks can take a short break and just relax, doing something many of them probably love to do.
I certainly wouldn’t eat them. But if I was there, it sure would be a neat thing to fish them on off time.
I would eat them, but then I live in Louisiana.
Oh I love Rattletraps. That small lake I fish in east Texas — the Rattletrap was invented by a small company located near there in Louisiana.
The Rattletrap is one of the most consistently successful baits I’ve found. I like both the blue backed and brown backed ones, but haven’t had much success with the crawfish colored ones up here (TN) where I now live.
The ex PR director for Rattletrap company gave me an LSU rattletrap, which I have hanging on the wall in my cabin (collectors item, since only so many were made). They sold, briefly, a school themed one.
LOL.
(Who me loves, loves also my dog?)
It is sobering to think of how something as innocent as our men relaxing by fishing is still touched by the evil that our forces have been fighting against and is still completely lost by the main stream liberal media who has forgotten things like people plastic shredders that we went to war for.
LOL. Like my coon ass brother in law. EVERY fish ends up in his freezer, including trophy bass. I have tried to talk him into catch and release . . . it ain’t happening Shaa!!!
Some of those Lousiana bayous are full of chemicals, etc.
lol
Bookmark.
Gotta go review my latin conjugation...amo, amas, amat...
I caught a big musky once, he might as well as been saying “Allah Akbar” when he was snapping those teeth at me in the boat LOL.
As tough as I am, and fishing my entire life, I made that fishing guide take that sucker off the hook.
Great story and I love what the mission is called.
Lol. The muskie is the Wisconsin State Fish and sometime I'd love to catch (and release) one with the right guide.
As tough as I am, and fishing my entire life, I made that fishing guide take that sucker off the hook.
I don't blame you. Those babies can get to the size of small children.
You know what would be really fun? Catching a muskie on an ultra-light ; )
They do put up a fight. I caught mine in Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee while smallmouth fishing (DH has produced two world record smallmouths), and I thought I was reeling in the next world record.
Visions of endorsements danced in my head.
Then, when that thing broke water snapping those teeth and hissing, I jumped clean over the guide’s head to the other end of the boat. He laughed so hard he almost fell out. Still teases me about it. It was a big one, we released it so I didn’t weigh it, but I’d guess eight pounds.
I can’t imagine hooking one of these on ultralight. It would be a blast, but I ain’t taking it off the hook. You’d need some extra strong line to keep those razor sharp teeth from snapping it.
Thanks for your service angkor.
Just curious, what all kinds of fish do these lakes hold? What is the primary food source for them (besides Saddam’s enemies at one time). Do you know of any program in Iraq where soldiers can receive gifts of lures/tackle?
Would LOVE to see your photos.
I don't blame you. I would've done the same thing. Their teeth are like mini daggers.
RE: smallmouth
I've caught some smallmouth bass but mostly largemouth.
Bass are great sport fish but my all-time favorite is crappie fishing. They hit and can sometimes fight like a mini bass, but once I catch a good size one I get to keep it, scale, fillet it, fry it and eat it. Them are some good eats!
There was a cool picture of me with a stringer of large crappies. I'd post it but unfortunately I don't have possession of that picture.
If you're the holder of the Fishing Ping List can you please add me to it.
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