DAN SIMMONS Sportsman's Quest MORE COLUMNS Advertisement

It's a new year and many of us have a habit of making the same resolutions we made last year, and the year before.

Let's do something different this year and reflect on the positive things we did. Make an effort to do more of these, and avoid doing those things that didn't work out so well.

One of the most positive things in my year was the opportunity to travel, fish, hunt, and meet new and interesting people along the way. The year started in Nicaragua and ended on Brazil's Amazon River, and there was plenty of hunting and fishing in between.

The most memorable aspect were my fellow travelers and the people we met along the way. There were many and I'll introduce you to some of them this year as we march along.

One of the most recent was a gentleman angler I met fishing peacock bass on the Amazon; his name is Gary Rupp. I'd have to title his story, "From Hot Rods to Hot Fish."

You see, Gary retired from racing fast dragsters out of Dayton, Ohio, to chasing fast freshwater and saltwater fish from his new, and warmer, Florida home.

You may have heard of Gary and his driver, Pat Dakin; they were in the top 10 of NHRA teams for many years and were the number two team in 1976. He hasn't changed that much, though, as he ended our peacock bass trip number one, with a 21-pounder, a 19-pounder and several other large fish.

His fishing experiences go back a long way, too. At the age of five he was all over the Ohio creeks, rivers, and ponds with his dad, fishing for bluegill, crappie, and catfish. Then he graduated to larger bass, walleye, and northern pike in Tennessee and Michigan.

This led him to Florida in 1973, where he and his fishing buddy, Jim Armstrong, discovered their fishing paradise. Neither one has spent a holiday at home since. Jim was on this Amazon trip too. They became known as "The Odd Couple" because of their well rehearsed portrayal of Oscar and Felix, who were also fishermen.

Gary finally made the move to Florida full time when he informed his patient and (to say the least) understanding wife, JoAnn, that he had bought a blueberry farm. Now he fishes and helps her take care of the blueberries when he's not fishing. We're talking here of one good woman.

He now fishes the Florida coast and the Keys year-round and recently added an annual trip to Brazil for peacock bass.

He first learned of this fish from a fishing convention and vowed one day to try it. He mentioned it to his fishing friend, Dave Richardson (Lawyer Dave), who responded, "Okay, Let's go." He made a call to Amazon Tours, Rio Negro Lodge. Then a call to Jim Armstrong and they were on their way. He and Jim have fished it every year since.

Last year they tried a "fly out" from the Lodge and were dropped off, with their guide, to be picked up that evening, but when the time came to fly back the weather was such that they spent the night in the jungle. That got my attention, too.

The truth of the matter, though, is they went to a nearby native small village where they dined on fresh piranha and rice, slept on hammocks in the open walled church, and were entertained by church songs played on handmade instruments, and kids singing.

The next morning, the plane arrived for our adventurers.

From Gary and Jim's point of view, "the people and the music were worth the price of the plane ride." It was certainly the highlight of the fishing trip, and that's the point of this story.

It's not just the fishing or hunting. The best is the unexpected, and the people you meet along the way. I'll look for you along the trail and hope you have a great new year.

What's new

The native village where Gary and Jim spent the night is one of 19 sponsored by Amazon Tours, Rio Negro Lodge Foundation.

I saw first-hand how life's necessities are distributed one-on-one through the Lodge's staff. They also operate a well-organized school, outreach educational program and medical clinic as part of the Lodge's operation, which offers the sole support to the region's indigenous peoples.

If you're looking for a place you can trust to do the good work, take a look at their Web site or give me a call. I support them and welcome you to join me.

For more information log on to www.rionegrofoundation.org

Events

The Safari Club International Desert-Las Vegas Chapter has announced banquet will be held Jan.17, 2009 at the Rio Convention Pavilion. For more information call Dave Small at 702-383-0321.

* The Safari Club International Convention is in Reno, Jan. 21 - 24. For more information go to www.safariclubinternational.org.

Recipe of week

We enjoyed a delicious shore lunch of peacock bass, as you saw in last week's article, but here's one given to me by a new friend. If it's a little tough to get peacock bass in your area, as it is mine, you can use bass or cod from your local fresh fish purveyor.

Amazon Grilled Peacock Bass

Two small peacock bass; 2 tsp salt, 2 tsp fresh ground black pepper; juice of one each lemon and lime; 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves; 3 Tbsp olive oil; 6 shallots, thinly slices; 1/2 cup white wine; 3 Tbsp butter; 1/4 cup fresh dill sprigs; segments from one each, grapefruit, lemon, lime and orange.

Slash the skin of the peacock bass, sprinkle inside and out with citrus juice, salt and pepper; place a few basil leaves, the fresh dill sprigs and a few shallot slices inside; grill over medium heat for 3 - 5 minutes per inch; prepare sauce by melting butter and olive oil in small sauce pan; add shallots and cook until translucent; add white wine and cook until liquid is reduced by half; add grapefruit, lemon, lime and orange segments; cook for 10 minutes over medium heat; remove from heat and add remaining basil leaves; serve over hot fish.