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lobally, humans have faced drastic, life changes
in the span of only one quarter. It is hard
to believe that at the time of this writing, a lookback at only 90 days ago, we lived in an entirely different
reality – physically, emotionally, mentally and financially.
As anglers, our ability to fish our favorite lakes, practice
with a fishing partner, launch boats, sell tackle or potentially
even, just continue to make a living within the sportfishing
industry has been compromised in one way or another.
Regardless of where we fall on the political sides of this
situation, the fact that we all just want to fish, (for many of
the same or different reasons) is our common factor and
what brings us here to this digital mag.
Without political debate of fault, overstep of power or
any of the various convos that can divide us as anglers,
WesternBass would like to thank all of the individuals within
the fishing industry that have straddled the COVID situation
in a dual capacity, as an angler and an affected worker.
There are many of you… hospital workers, paramedics,
law enforcement, grocery store associates and so many
more that face the daily “nine to five” challenge of this
situation as well as the challenges it has made to our
passion for fishing.
In this issue, we highlight Clara Ricabal as an angler with
a love of our sport that is also a Registered Nurse working
and fishing through our unprecedented times.
You may know Clara from her time with Angler
West TV, her multi-species cover features
or Catchin’ California column in Western
Outdoor News or FishSniffer, her ISE Kayak
(fishing/hunting) appearances, her co-
angler catches on the Wild West Bass
Trial or her 7-pound, 2-ounce personal
best spotted bass from Bullards that
circulated social media
spring 2019.
If you don’t, here
is your chance to meet
her. If you do, here is
your chance to get to
know her better.
Again,
WesternBass thanks
all of the anglers…
essential workers,
product reps, brand
manufacturers,
tournament
organizations, fishing
guides, boat dealers,
delivery drivers and
the rest of you that
we haven’t named
specifically. Thank you
for your continued
work to support
our community and
for your support of
WesternBass.
WB: Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way and ask how has COVID changed your life as a healthcare worker and as an angler.
CLARA: Currently, I am a Registered Nurse and work in a Santa Clara County urgent care. At first, we didn’t know what was going on. Things were changing daily regarding masks and symptoms. Things were just different, preparation, PPE shortages, stuff like that. It was stressful.
The first few weeks I was keeping my scrubs in the garage, so I didn’t mix laundry. I didn’t let my kids in the car. I didn’t see my parents. But in the end, my work didn’t change too much, because people just didn’t come in. It almost seemed like people would rather have a heart attack and stay home than come in and get exposed.
As for fishing, the Delta never closed, and I went with Alex (Niapas) to Salt Springs, Kelsey Bass Ranch and Tulloch. We also went to New Melones until they closed and Amador. Where there is water, I will fish.
The biggest thing was the tournaments getting cancelled. That was really different having a boyfriend (Alex) that fishes them and now, we’re just waiting. Also, some of the guys that I would fish with kind of changed. At first, they were “Oh yay, you’re a nurse!” and then it turned into “Ewww, you’re a nurse get away from me”.
And, I love saltwater fishing and the charters were all closed.
WB: Okay, so nurse is the “day job”; but what is your dream job?
CLARA: I would like to guide someday. I have
talked about that with Lunker Larry Hemphill
in the past. Maybe, I would guide on a kayak
before a boat. Who knows? I don’t think I would
ever give up being a nurse, though. Everything
seems like an
unknown right now.
WB: How did you get started fishing?
CLARA: I grew up trout fishing, because my dad worked for PG&E and we would spend summers at family cabins that PG&E made back in the ‘20s. They had manmade lakes for energy, and they planted them with trout. My family would always go there. We still go with my kids now. I started fishing hardcore about four or five years ago and tournament bass fishing three years ago.
Summer 2020
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