OM DETTA AVSNITT
The episode opens with Mike and Caitlin publicly correcting a mistake from the Argentina two-parter: the first episode was briefly titled "El Truchador de Patagonia" as a play on words meaning "trout guy," but in Argentina the word actually reads as something closer to con man or untrustworthy person. Julian Cabral, their guest from the last two episodes, gently flagged it, and they pulled the title within a day and renamed it "Massive Trout of Patagonia." They apologize again on air and note they hope to have Julian back for a future episode walking through a full Patagonia fishing season.
From there, the conversation turns personal. Mike shares that he's prepping for a colonoscopy after turning 45, framing it as a serious plug for screening rather than just a punchline, and tells the story of an acquaintance whose early diagnosis was caught in time versus a friend of his doctor's who put it off too long. Caitlin then previews her 40th birthday trip: several days in the Florida Keys for reef and wreck fishing, snorkeling, and night "bully netting" for spiny lobster, staying at Hawk's Cay Resort, followed by a trip to Disney World and Universal Studios that doubles as Robert's 8th birthday celebration.
Mike and Caitlin also talk up the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, which Caitlin's cousin Kate is flying in for, including practical tips for first-timers (plan for 3-5 days to guarantee a good-weather "mass ascension," and consider staying in Santa Fe rather than fighting Balloon Fiesta traffic in Albuquerque every day). They pay tribute to Catherine Schott, a family friend who ran the kitchen at the Lebanon Area Fair for over 40 years and passed away last year, whose fair kitchen was recently dedicated in her honor.
A big piece of news: they're selling their 1976/77 21-foot aluminum center console StarCraft, a boat with 50 years of family history, to friends James and Amanda Pitman in Pearl River, Louisiana. Mike and Caitlin plan to drive it down over Labor Day weekend, fish for a couple of days, and drive back, with hopes of returning to fish it again on future trips. They also tease an upcoming episode with the boat's original owner, family friend Dave Arnold, covering both the boat's history and unrelated Dave Arnold stories.
The episode wraps with a look ahead at a packed fall: a Louisiana boat trip in early September, Kate's visit and Balloon Fiesta in late September/early October, the Florida trip in mid-October, whitetail hunting in southern Illinois with Caitlin's aunt and uncle in mid-November, and New Mexico big game hunting in mid-December, where Mike drew both a highly coveted McGregor Range Barbary sheep tag and a hard-to-draw Coos deer tag in Unit 23's Burro Mountains.
Topics covered:
Public apology and correction: "El Truchador de Patagonia" title mix-up
Colonoscopy prep and a case for early screening
Caitlin's 40th birthday trip: Florida Keys fishing, snorkeling, and lobster netting
Disney World, Universal Studios, and Robert's 8th birthday
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta tips for first-time visitors
Remembering Catherine Schott and the Lebanon Area Fair kitchen dedication
Selling the family StarCraft boat to friends in Louisiana
A planned Labor Day boat delivery and fishing trip to Pearl River
Fall hunting plans: Illinois whitetail and New Mexico Barbary sheep and Coos deer
Illinois's straight-walled rifle case regulations for youth deer hunting
Links
Outdoor Ruhls Podcast: www.outdoorruhls.com
Massive Trout Fly Fishing (Julian Cabral): www.massivetroutflyfishing.com
Connect with Outdoor Ruhls
Email: outdoorruhls@gmail.com
Instagram: @outdoorruhls
YouTube: Outdoor Ruhls
