A time to reflect

redhawk · 07-05-2008, 09:56 AM

Don't know if any of you saw this or not but I gotta wonder, given the 4th and all, how many people in Iraq fished this pond regularly? Maybe a lot, maybe none. I'm glad I am where I am and should be better at reminding myself of it.

ESPN - An enlisted man pursues the fish of a lifetime

skeeter85 · 07-05-2008, 10:48 AM

I was stationed in southern Iraq and we had a small lake to fish in. It got quite a bit of use but nothing that big was pulled out of it. I never had time to fish there but I guess they did alright there...they would take lunch meat and stuff from the chow hall for bait.

Camp-N-Fish · 07-05-2008, 11:43 AM

What an awesome story! Freedom is not free, and I am very grateful for the sacrifices of our armed services members. With the stress of a dangerous environment, extreme heat and heartbreak of being away from one's loved ones, it is nice to hear that these service men have some short breaks from "reality".

I found the following site/blog a couple of months ago and there is another nice story on this "catch".

Baghdad Fishing

waleygator · 07-05-2008, 11:45 AM

Redhawk...thanks for putting this site up, great article and photos. Never got to fish in Iraq, did manage to fish in Saudi both tours. The guy in charge of the Riyadh zoo would call the base commander when the tilapia needed thinning out in their huge open "tank" and we'd gladly oblige! The Phillipinos working there were prohibited from catching them by Saudi rules, but we could, and always gave them to them. You've got to find pleasure and comfort whereever and however you can...

holdemplyer · 07-05-2008, 12:00 PM

wow, those are some awsome stories and fish. It's great to see some of our troops over there are able to get out and fish.

Thanks for sharing and of course a huge thanks to our troops!

srmrn2 · 07-05-2008, 03:58 PM

Wow great story

LincolnLunger · 07-05-2008, 04:16 PM

Thanks for posting this article

bassnbaseball · 07-06-2008, 12:52 AM

That is a real feel-good story. Thanks for posting!

07-05-2008, 09:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
redhawk Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE Nebraska Posts: 78	A time to reflect Don't know if any of you saw this or not but I gotta wonder, given the 4th and all, how many people in Iraq fished this pond regularly? Maybe a lot, maybe none. I'm glad I am where I am and should be better at reminding myself of it. ESPN - An enlisted man pursues the fish of a lifetime

07-05-2008, 12:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
holdemplyer 2008 Catch and Continue Finalist Join Date: May 2007 Location: omaha - want to live in the country again Posts: 1,221	wow, those are some awsome stories and fish. It's great to see some of our troops over there are able to get out and fish. Thanks for sharing and of course a huge thanks to our troops! __________________ Want to Volunteer at the NEFGA booth at the Nebraska State fair? Shoot me a PM!

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07-05-2008, 10:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
skeeter85 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bellevue, NE Posts: 35	I was stationed in southern Iraq and we had a small lake to fish in. It got quite a bit of use but nothing that big was pulled out of it. I never had time to fish there but I guess they did alright there...they would take lunch meat and stuff from the chow hall for bait.

07-05-2008, 11:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
Camp-N-Fish Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Omaha Posts: 13	What an awesome story! Freedom is not free, and I am very grateful for the sacrifices of our armed services members. With the stress of a dangerous environment, extreme heat and heartbreak of being away from one's loved ones, it is nice to hear that these service men have some short breaks from "reality". I found the following site/blog a couple of months ago and there is another nice story on this "catch". Baghdad Fishing

07-05-2008, 11:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
waleygator Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Weeping Water, NE Posts: 732	Redhawk...thanks for putting this site up, great article and photos. Never got to fish in Iraq, did manage to fish in Saudi both tours. The guy in charge of the Riyadh zoo would call the base commander when the tilapia needed thinning out in their huge open "tank" and we'd gladly oblige! The Phillipinos working there were prohibited from catching them by Saudi rules, but we could, and always gave them to them. You've got to find pleasure and comfort whereever and however you can...

07-05-2008, 03:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
srmrn2 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Milard Posts: 43	Wow great story

07-05-2008, 04:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
LincolnLunger Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: on the water 24/7 Posts: 244	Thanks for posting this article

07-06-2008, 12:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
bassnbaseball 2008 Catch & Continue Champion (18 and Under) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Fremont Posts: 188	That is a real feel-good story. Thanks for posting!