A very big congratulations to Erik Van Vliet who submitted this entry below! Erik will be sent his choice or a new 1106 Depthpower or 2500 Line Puller this Christmas! Thank you to everyone who participated in this years' Holiday Fish Wish Giveaway! Stay tuned for other great customer stories!
"My best memories of fishing begin with my father and grandfather, aboard our 17” Boston Whaler Montauk. My Dad built her between 1987-1990, (myself being born in 1989), and my grandfather was just down to fish, anytime -anywhere. I specifically remember early mornings at our house in Delta, BC. It would still be dark outside when Dad woke me up, but he would already have the boat hooked up to the truck out in the driveway, lit up by the headlights from my Grandpa’s car as he was pulling in. Of course our boat was outfitted with Scotty products since new, the choice of my Dad’s. Scotty Manual-Crank Downriggers, Scotty Rod Holders, and the appropriate Scotty hardware to hold it all onto the boat. We used that boat religiously until 2006 in the waters of English Bay, Tsawwassen, Point Roberts, Port Renfrew, Bamfield, Malcom Island, and so on. When Dad got a fish on, I would crank up the downriggers, and vice-versa when I got to the rod first. We’re still using those same downriggers today, albeit we’ve switched from the original cable-line to more modern, Scotty microfilament fibre braided downrigger-line.
We restored and re-fiberglassed our boat, together, in the Spring of 2016 and fished Howe Sound and Port Renfrew that summer. On our trip to Renfrew, we bounced a down-rigger ball off a rock at 45ft deep and bent the arm of our trusty starboard-side downrigger. Still fully functional, albeit not aesthetically pleasing, it runs the ball up and down just fine. While we are looking for a replacement downrigger, we’ve always talked about uprading to Electric one day, and my Dad tells stories of when Electric Downriggers first hit the market.
These days, Grandpa is gone but my Dad and I still love fishing. We live for hardcore weekends on the water, when finances and work allow us a reprieve for afew days of getting up at 5am and rolling out in the waves of Port San Juan or Barkely Sound. We also share our love with my brother Joe and his 8 year old daughter, Peyton, who is much happier watching the seal’s play in a hidden cover rather than trolling, anyday.
Thank you for considering me as an applicant for the contest, I really appreciate the opportunity to upgrade our Scotty’s! Attached is a picture from our trip to Port Renfrew in 2016, about our Montauk. ~ Erik Van Vliet" #TheWayToFish
