Snow Blind

After a few glasses of vino, sleep was eminent and came upon rather quickly. All the walking and fresh air left me me both tired but recharged at the same time. As all things that we truly love to do their is never enough time and they come to an end and we must push and move on and look forward to the next opportunity.

This became evident on Sunday when I awoke at four A.M> and needed to make the visit to the biff. The biff in the cold takes a little persuasion and it is not from the guys unless the flactuant are so bad in which they all wake you up and ask you to go. In My case the warmth of the bed and the sure solitude which was hard to believe with eleven other guys sleeping away. Maybe it was the peacefulness of the first snow where everything seems a little quite.

Slowly removing one leg at a time to find the floor and my muddies I exited the building to see that the snow was still accumulating and coming down hard..This also meant that the biff would be cold...reaaalll cold!.

To spare details,the trip was a success and I made my way back to the shack and the comforts of my bed.

The alarms sounded about an hour later and the more ambitious arose and started coffee and debated the hunt.

Snow is one thing, Heavy snow hanging from everything is a whole different story.

I lay in bed listening to the conversations which mostly surrounded around how good they slept, A few coffee complaints were lodged and blown off which reminded me of my dad at his camp when he would chime in'

" What do you think this is? Burger King?"

" Good enough for where we are"

or

"Good enough for Chisholm."

A few more minutes a few more bodies and now everyone was up and about.

The body was beyond stiff and I waited as late as I could and arose to meet the day. The snow had stopped and it was quite and a good way. I put on all the under garments and went outside to collect my blaze orange goat wear and the of the magnitude of what one would have to face in order to hunt became evident.

I made a quick call to the bride to get the 411 on how much snow was on the ground back home and figured it would be better to head home a few hours early rather than deal with frozen snow and digging out the snow blower in the dark.

I sat on the back porch and sipped coffee and held mass,. Not in a brick and mortar building but where church should be, surrounded by all the good thing of creation.

I left the camp with the guys waving in the rear view and the knowledge that I would be welcome again next season.

So God Willing,

Here is to next season.  

The final push

Soreness has spread to the legs. Getting up a chore but than there is 22 miles on the legs and today and possibly tomorrow to go. more coffee needed this morning along with something more than a banana and Pop Tart, I'm going all out and have a slice of toast with butter. Juice and the daily dose of pills bring the body bake to life.
I again start the day returning to the home of Mr. Bone himself to see if he will appear, fresh scrapes and rubs indicate that indeed he has been back so I settle in and wait,. Since I am alone I make several small moves looking for the optimum vantage point but realize that I am a guest in this house and he hold every advantage there is. There is weather moving in but you would be hard pressed to tell by the blue bird skies and mild temperatures.
My mind starts wondering back to the trails I was on yesterday and make a late morning decision that I need to be close to water.Leaving was tough but I believe I made this one wary of showing himself again.I tell myself that it gives me something to look forward to next season if he can survive another week.
Refueling for a quick lunch I head North to the Dark River as there are a number of stands not being used today as some of the guys prepare to leave for home. I head the opposite direction as yesterday and and am payed dividends immediately by jumping a deer but no visual other than the white flag indicating he is moving very fast to avoid me. I head North as I feel I may jump him further up the trail. about a mile up the trail I find the stand I have been looking for as it over looks the river and has a very clean view of the river bottoms. i settle in and in a matter of time the sun has disappeared and the clouds begin to thicken. I remember walking past a field with a ditch leading to the river and there was a stand there that would be good and allow me to cover more ground. I climb down and begin to walk as it begins to snow.
In a little less than a half mile the snow has become thick and is heavy and wet, I cover the scope with a bag ,climb the stand and settle in. A half hour passes and the trees and the ground are now covered making the woods more visible. An Hour passes and than two and my rear is crying. I leave the confines of the stand to sit beneath a spruce tree that is blocking the snow and the now North East wind blowing steady. Another hour and the sun is setting behind the clouds and it is time to make track back to the vehicle.
No tire marks ,no tracks no one is out. Back on the highway there are no vehicles with the exception of mine . The snow has been coming down hard for a few hours now and it is amazing on how quick the colors of autumn are covered in a blanket of white. back at camp there is a sense of urgency to stack wood by the sauna and getting the big meal ready.
BBQ Venison Roast served with Carbonara and a salad. Wine to chase it down and for the most part lights out at ten. The snow has now been falling for several hours.......

Goat 2010, The sun rises on another day

Waking up today was difficult as the body not the legs were hurting. The stomach tightens when it is rested and on some mornings it takes up to an hour to loosen up,today the process was a bit longer but it gave me time to have a bonus cup of coffee and check my pack to make sure I have everything needed.With this many guys in camp my mornings have been timed so the out house is empty and know one is waiting on my departure.
Inside the confines of the shack is a board indicating where each hunter is located so one knows who will encounter in the woods. In my case it is good to know as I know where each guy is allowing me to calculate my journey in hopes of pushing a deer in their general direction. It also helps to know in case I myself jump a deer and need to figure out or consider my shot selection, the later being critical since we are not exactly hunting with pop guns.Rule never one ,two and three pretty much cover it. Never shoot n towards fellow hunters in stands, Never shoot blind, and never shoot in the vicinity of building or in our case the hunting shack. Very few hunters possess the skills to shoot an animal on the run or one that is past his range 100 yards for the most part up here,if that. I have been in stands where a 40 yard shot was long distance.
Armed with this knowledge I sprayed an additional amount of no scent on the cloths which hang outside the shack and are quite cold when slipping into the. My decision is to sneak into the area where I last saw the buck and wait the morning out to see if he would return. Walking down the trail and clearing in a large stand of Norway's I come across a large bed. three and half to four and half feet indicating either a large Lew or buck, a few feet ahead and off on another trail some trail scrapes. With the heart beating a smidgen faster I locate a stump and windfall on a slop and make myself comfortable on the ground staying downwind from the site.
The hours passed and I gazed at squirrels and an assortment of birds all gathering and feeding heavy which made sense since the weather mentioned the threat of snow tomorrow.Nature is and always will be a pretty good barometer of what mother nature is going to throw on the plate.The call came and I knew i needed to head back to camp and take care of business and refuel for the afternoon hunt. I have not stayed out later as in my late forties now my eye sight is not getting better and the thought of gutting an animal out in the dark has lost some of its attraction along with having to track an animal for miles which has happened on several occasions hunting with some of my buds from the Mi la Cabina Camp a bit further North.
With a small lunch behind me a total change of venue was needed for the afternoon as a few stands on federal land were available to sit in for the afternoon and one in particular I wanted to sit in as a number of deer have been seen earlier in the week.The stand sits at the end of a field cut out of a spruce patch about 300 yards deep by 100 yards wide with dense heavy woods surrounding it. The walk back to the stand was enough to get the blood going as the field looked like it was used as a buffet for a number of creatures including wolf scat and bear scat piles.
Easing into the stand there was two south facing spolks which were not much to look at but would provide a view of deer if they choose to flank the field rather than walk across the field. The real view was to the North as you looked out over the field and wondered where would they come from. Looking through binoculars I made mental notes of where shots could be placed and where they should be avoided. as there was a farm and a road to my North with permanent residents traveling to and fro.
As I made myself comfortable I gazed away from the field and when i looked back up a deer had appeared at the edge and was grazing casually on the greens closest to the pines. Cross Hairs placed it was a young Lew Calf and would make for fun watching. She kept looking back into the woods so I knew there was another animal out of sight so I kept the sight pinned on her. She kept feeding and was migrating in my direction when her little brother should up directly underneath the stand and made his way out into the field. he kept looking towards his sister and she kept looking back into the woods so Mom was here also but not showing her face.The scope now placed on the young buck the antlers were not even close to making the required 3" allowing me to harvest this Lil roaster deer. I kept the rifle within reach and began to run some video which surprised me as I needed to make some noise in order to retrieve it and turn it on.Mom would not show her self and the two young ones played and frolicked in the field eating until mom summoned them into the woods. OH the relief as my rear ,not accustomed to sitting this long needed a break. As I stood to stretch the two young ones Ran along the edge of the field and my cover was busted. Mom jumped out snorted ,stomped a hoof and trotted to catch up to her kids.
This two and half hour episode pretty much sealed the deal on my hunt and I decided then that if I did not see or shoot a deer that my journey and trip were a success. Another bridge crossed in not only my long recovery but as a complete hunter who can now enjoy what is presented to him.
No longer able to sit I finished off my afternoon walking South along the Dark River looking at the flats one hundred feet below wondering how difficult a drag it would be to retrieve your quarry from there.I made my way back to the vehicle thinking I would make it back to camp to sit by a field but light was fading quick as clouds started to build.
A sauna, quick dinner and tonight I would go visit old friends at their camp and see how the season was going. Tomorrow another day and a plan already forming in my head. Would tomorrow be the day..........

Gales of November

Mother nature showed why she can be so intimidating. The gales of November got going early this morning so a little extra time was spent consuming coffee and pondering the plight of my quarry.From the moment of stepping out the bunkhouse door it was obvious that listening would prove futile today. The game plan would remain the same as walking has been quite easy and the woods to this point had been cooperative.I needed to slow down and pay more attention with my eyes and using hearing as my secondary tactic.
Entering public land I could see the one hundred plus foot Norway's and white pines swaying already in the morning breeze.At a snails pace I entered the woods and made the decision to follow yesterdays path as there was signs of activity and possibly i could jump a deer or two.
It was not long before I had my answer as a Lew came charging across my sights startled as if she did not see me until the last moment. I whistled as I was taught by my dad and she stopped in her tracks now curious and looked at me. She was only 20 yards out and would have been an easy kill if the zone area i was hunting was not doe by permit only.Pushing East than South I got onto the snowmobile trail and decided to follow it slowly East and explore some of the forest south of the trail. Fifty yards down the trail a grunt and then hoof stomps got my attention really quick to the North. This time I was busted early so I raised my rifle not at the woods but at a small opening leading out to the trail where yet another Lew was staring me down. I slowly lowered my rifle and watched as she calmly walked unto the trail before jumping off into the tall Norway's heading South.She was bigger the the first so instead of walking in the middle of the trail I hugged the South edge hoping it would improve my sight and possibly give me a chance if I was to jump a buck.
It did not take long as I was looking for signs in the woods when I noticed a large tree scrape off the trail to the South that I did not recall seeing yesterday. I inched off the trail and quietly walked 20 yards in to further inspect the scrape and decided that this was a big boy as it was scraped to near eye level on me. Taking a closer look at the area there was a major trail just East leading back to the snowmobile trail and a young grove of pine and grass. I took a picture and punched the location into my GPS so I could come back later and possibly sit and wait but for now I wanted to push on.
I walked back to the trail and was adjusting my pack and bagging my GPS when in front of me appeared the buck. He was standing in the grove of young pines in a opening just grazing and then noticed me.I was able to slowly drop the GPS and inch the rifle down off my shoulder trying to be smooth and not erratic.cold sweat was forming on my brow as i knew I got busted,let down my guard , but i was excited as this is the first time in two years I have been out and now on three days into my journey a trophy buck awaits.I slowly raised the rifle up and the deer amazingly was not moving ,maybe due to the noise of the woods. I leveled the rifle barrel down and picked up the deer in the scope,still there.There was a tree branch in the way and my arms were shaking a bit as i talked to myself asking god to help me relax.I aim just above the heart giving myself some room as I was standing and not sitting.I breathed ,released the safety and exhaled as I squeezed the trigger.
I placed the gun at my side and a smile broke across my lips as I knew it was over for the buck. I looked on in amazement as the buck was looking straight at me put its head down continuing to eat while staring at me. I raised the rifle up put the deer in the cross hairs and slowly worked the bolt action to dispense the expired Shell and put fresh ammo in the chamber.
Now nervous and shaking a little more the deer started to advance slowly but allowed me to follow in the scope. with my open eye i could see he was heading for the trail which curved just ahead of me and would not give me a good line of fire. At this moment I had nothing to lose as i started to walk as i kept the deer in the sights waiting for a better shot. The deer broke the plane of two branches and I picked up the head and dropped the sight until i saw brown and squeezed.
The deer disappeared but I was not confident of the shot at all. I reloaded and ran down the road in time to see the big bodied buck running across the trail into a mature stand of Norway with plenty of nut brush.
Don't panic I dropped the pack where i found the jump tracks and walked back to where I dropped the GPS aimed the rifle at where my first shot was placed and paced it off. Seventy five yards with some branches in the way and no sign of damage to the animal. I followed to the next spot and again nothing. WTF went through my mind as I aimed at a stump and squeezed off to see impact right where I aimed. OK,OK back to the trail, I picked up my pack re-clipped the rifle and decided to pursue, the deer headed straight south and then crossed a small trial and then a major logging road, if there was snow I would continue but at this point there was no need as I could not find any jump tracks in the moos and sand.
I walked back to the trail and sat on a stump for awhile replaying my actions and wondering what I could of done different. it was at this point I smiled and fist pumped as I was just happy that I was given this opportunity and realize how many do not get this chance. I,m back I whispered quietly and resumed my walk making note of stopping back later and set up a ground blind.
I continued my walk East and was poking around and found a few stands which I marked on the GPS and decided to sit in one for a bit. As I approached the stand another grunt and I looked thought the ladder to see yet another Lew.She stood stoically watching my every move as I froze to get a better look at her. No wonder the buck was in this area.She scampered South as every other deer had been that day and made me look smart for planning my walk this way.
Pushing on I walked and decided to take a rest on a rock I cam across. realizing that I have been out for close to four hours I figured a rest and I should start my journey back towards camp where I would try to sit in a stand for awhile.
On my Journey back I would encounter One more Lew and several grouse and see some amazing woods from some well placed portable stands. No one in the woods it was hard to believe.
Arriving at the shack I grabbed a heavier coat as the winds were really cooking now and some trees were coming down in the woods.Walking a Half mile back I sat in a stand on the edge of a swamp and reflected on my day and what I saw more than focus on the shooting lanes. The wind was strong and the stand was being lifted from the ground. I exited the stand and made my way back to camp as two more trees fell .
Sauna, Cheeseburgers , wine and stories and bed, another great day in the woods.     

First thought at camp

Wednesday found me sleeping in,which is usual as of late. Not what I would prefer but it is what it is for now and feels good.A casual breakfast with mom and dad, grocery store for essentials,Tom and Jerry's for a cup of coffee and advice from the experts.In 30 minutes I would arrive at the Wegner North Forty Camp which would be home for the next four days.
Group Meals,Group sleeping quarters, Group chores. The way of life at camp.Not knowing my sleeping arrangements would be my biggest worry but not before hunting.
Duffel bags unloaded and truck organized for efficiency as it would be my storage area for extra cloths, Food and supplies.
A quick layering job of not so winter type clothing as temps would be near fifty today but there was a chill non the less.
The Day pack was supplied with first aide, deer processing, snacks, extras ammo, knives, saw, compass. and general supplies which could handle any emergency I would encounter . My belt was stocked with a Buck Knife, A GPS and a pouch containing Candy Bars and water proof matches.
I was not going to push myself today but the plan was to walk and get to know the woods again and just generally see how I was feeling. The plan was not to get back until last light and then asses how the entire body was feeling. If I saw deer it was going to be a bonus as it was not a priority today.With hundreds of acres of State and Federal land waiting for me I left camp ad started my journey. Walk slow,take your time,use your eyes and your ears, sit and take in the woods.
As I topped the slope and accessed the public land through a series of trails I heard the hoof echos and as I looked up and caught glimpse of my first loo she stopped briefly to check me out and in two bounds disappeared into the forest ahead of me.
My first stop was the trailer stand and the plan said stop at any stand that was not occupied and spend some time in it. GPS its coordinates and move on. No straight paths or trails just keep changing it up and learn the lay of the land.After leaving the Trailer Stand  I first headed East than cut South until I hit a snowmobile trail which brought me East some more and the headed north. As I walked I was focusing on signs that animals had been in the area and I was not disappointed.
Deer are not supposed to be in Big woods but yet there had been 13 Bucks harvested from this area over the weekend.
Six and a half miles  and 12 stands and a few rest stops complete it was time to head back to camp for the evening,
With the sun setting and the temps noticeably cooler I entered the camp and the talk of the day. My brother made his way over to ask how the day went at which I could only reply fine as that is what it was. Would he or the others understand how excited I was just to be here and be walking in the woods again.
A hearty beef roast with all the fixings and a few glasses of wine were all this boy needed to put him to sleep on this,his first night at camp.

The Road Less Traveled

Arriving home for the hunt was anti climatic as the opener was four days earlier. Not precisely knowing my arrangements made me leery but I was still filled with the excitement which I thought i may have lost. Everything seems so different this year or my recovery year as I refer to it.Fishing which was the center of my life now seemed not to important and the excitement and edge were gone. Does this mean it is over?A question which has surfaced a few times but usually is answered with the thought that this feeling is temporary and the body and minds way of saying.. "Don't rush it buddy".
I spent the weekend going over equipment and checking out my rifle and a quick bore sighting indicated everything was good to go, Business being completed, bags packed and the all essential supplies were packed and my trip was about to begin.
Usually an event like this requires phone calls to buddies informing them of your plans and trying to think of those last minutes I forgot lists.This one would be done under the radar by choice. Not wanting to disappoint people I just wanted to go out on my own and do what I felt I needed to do to prove to myself that things were good and distraction would not be conducive to what I was thinking should be the perfect weekend.When I arrived in town I had that night to stop and visit some people and blow some steam off, which I felt was needed since the weeks prior involved a series of doctors appointments and a visit to the lovely  surgeon for what will be more appointments in the near future.
Somethings Never change and as I approached the Iron Range I could feel the pressure lifting and that relaxed feeling i have come accustomed to took over and a smile came across my face as if seeing an old friend for the first time in awhile.
Pulling into town my thoughts changed to a glass of Sangria  and hopefully catch my brother whom was in the basement of the Old Moose Lounge playing Bocce Ball and celebrating his birthday. As luck would have it his games were complete and he was occupying his usual stool at Tom and Jerry's. An hour  later the vehicle was parked in front of moms for the evening and this would now be time to visit and rest for the big day tomorrow...

Hammock thoughts

From the Dash Board:
A buddy of mine said it sounded like a song.
You know windshield wipers slapping.....
This time of year brings so many feelings to the surface.
In one sense it makes you look back and wonder if yo did all you really wanted to do this past summer.
In my case the answer was no.
As much as I want to think I am better the recovery process has been long and there were things I avoided doing because of that.
I did find some things out though about myself.
I love hammocks,
I mean really like Hammock.
The moment you lay your ass in the sling and lay back you start to feel it.
It is like getting the wind knocked out of you only better, because your filling your lungs with fresh air..
You immediately find yourself re-adjusting your body to get a better look at the sky.
Boring you say..
If you can sit in front of a television for hours on end watching the tube you would get the same experience...Except that you  have the wind blowing in your face, sun shining on you between the branch of a tree you once thought invincible, the birds animals and the occasional visit from the neighbors dog to take a leak on the brides Hosta Plants.
It never gets boring as you can move the hammock with around to get a different perspective on the yard or the clouds.
The sky takes on its own character and the character changes as the Hammock is moved from one location to the next
A little on the heavy side you say...
Yes of course it is, but I have had time to think about it.,you haven't.
I even took the hammock on the road with me and set it up at various location which were not in my back yard.
My own Island experience every time and town that I have traveled to.
When you lay in the hammock you cannot see the ground
You are floating, gliding ,floating.
gently rocking away. You can of course read but you will lay the book down to just stare at the clouds and wonder ..How Fast are they really moving? Or could I follow that cloud forever or will it eventually disappear.?What the whole Hammock experience gave me was the realization that I could relax and not worry that I was not doing nothing, cause in the end I was, I was thinking at a different level or place. A good place that I like visiting frequently.
What will i do over the winter without my Hammock?
Will i forget it?
Will it forget me?
Maybe I will start a hammock Club....
Yeah I can see it now, Kind of a hammock,wine and book club,maybe poetry!!
Think about it.

New Look

Hope this make it easier to read.
Had a great week of traveling. The appropriate amount of work mixed with pleasure . Who could argue
The primary of course and the factories but than all work and no play........ well we all can conjure up that image of Jack Nicholson axing through the door...
 Fished with one of the nicest pro anglers you could want to meet, Dave Van Oss of Appleton WI. His no nonsense approach and easy demeanour allowed me to actually enjoy the day in the boat even though Dave was busy looking for fish for the upcoming AIM Walleye championship later this week on Winnie.
Dave brings his work ethic to the water and fishes. Yes he is always looking for better spots but he actually wets the line.
Most guys now will rely on their electronics Tell them how many fish are holding on a spot forgetting that the cone angle is only giving them a small picture of what their spot looks like. Dave like myself like to wet the line even if we have not marked fish.
Also had time to spend with the Breeze. His new property and dreams of building his home were shared overlooking the Little Fork River and a Beer. Doe not get any better than that . The solitude of the woods still amazes me and the whole experience was enhanced due to the lack of flying biting insects.The company and conversation is always good and I am blessed to know so many good people.
Finally the walks are what I usually look forward too back home is it allows me to reflect on friends and faces from the past as you walk past their homes and wonder where life has or will bring them. It is sad though to know so many would travel home but no longer have ties o family living their to draw them back.

Hope everyone has had a great summer.

Where does time go

August was upon me before I realized July had passed.
It was the long ride home after the reunion when the thoughts raced and wondered and laughed and were sad that it was all over.The people I had wanted to be able to see,that I worked so diligently to get back in shape for one day.Boy, but what a day.And i thought about what we would all look like like in ten years when we next meet and whom would not be with us.All i had to do was look in the mirror and realize that anytime it may be my time.A visit to the dentist and a few day trips to Menomonie,Wi., helped break up the week and take my mind off the past week.It was by far some of the best personal time that I have spent and it was alone.
Another busy week ensued with Monday being another buzz kill and an impending road trip to visit another client and side trip to Chicago with Danielle which was good. That girl keeps way too much inside. jeez whom does she take after.A day of people watching ,viewing urban art. and a 9 hour drive back home with some newly designed play lists.
The following week was another meeting,followed by another meeting which were UN-important as I cannot remember them.A school board meeting which left me wondering how many people does one meet in life for a short period and never see again?
A busy weekend found me on the outside looking in at a local tournament and realize that even in a non glamorous sport one can be only remembered for his last performance on the water.Good friends and plenty to talk and catch up on but another test on my way back.
My visits to church were not as frequent in August which made me feel bad except for the words of the pastor that said don't go because you feel you have to go.I like to believe that I have been going to listen and search for guidance which has worked quite well to this point.
More windshield time to come for August which I am not looking forward to but in the back of my mind it will do me good to hit the road alone and clear my head of all backed up thoughts. I truly never thought a person could think as much as I have been and realize now why people do not sleep well.Especially when you get those stomach turns like going over a hill really fast with your dad in the car. Thank goodness for books and music to help keep everything level.
And speaking of time the guitar awaits as it has for four months along with my blog and a few other things.
September will be busy but i hope to plan my winter and set aside e time for more serious writing and things,and guitar.
Maybe this road trip will inspire me to stop and take pictures and share the trip with friends.

Where did summer go?

Part 2 of 3;
As busy as June seemed to be. July blew in and blew out and left my mind spinning.
The fourth of July kicked off the month and time was spent with family at the lake and visiting with those family not living in the area any longer. It was relaxing as I recall and we were able to enjoy fireworks in the back yard thanks to our neighbor Jim.
The official holiday found me traveling to a distributor meeting to discuss product for 2011. The meeting I remember was a good one and the ride home an eye opener as traffic into Chicago was backed up for 58 miles .The balance of that week was preparation for the annual ICAST show in Vegas.
My trip to Vegas was memorable for one thing, the extra time I had to sit and enjoy the sin city which in the past never happened.Most likely due to a younger partner whom would keep late hours and spend the day time hours working and searching for sleep.
A family picnic was held in a remote Wisconsin fishing village and bean bags were tossed in a brilliant display of competition amongst blood. The sangria went down smooth and we tried to capture mother nature through the lens in the form of lightening.
For a three week period the job duties called and time went by quickly preparing for post ICAST meetings.A relative passed away and allowed the family to gather for one of those brief reunions which under the circumstances is always nice but at the same time uncomfortable in its surroundings.
More meetings at the end of the month and the much anticipated class reunion of which I had planned and worked for since November when I realized that there would be a reunion but at the time I was not sure if I would be there.
It was great to see everyone who attended an as summer the time went by way to quick and left me wondering if there is more one can do to make reunions last longer, But there are others whom will argue to cut it back to a day.Lessons to be learned and plenty of time to prepare as the next is ten years away.
I met with an old friend while home briefly how ever and made me wish I had more time to spend, as it was probably the last time to visit with her in my life time.Her mother always charming is to planning a move which will be a happy but yet sad occasion but I guess that what life brings to the plate and we never know why some things happen or need to happen.
July ended wayy to quickly and brought on August with to much running through my mind to realize the month had changed.

Thoughts of June

How fast does time go by.
In terms of life we often measure it by hours,minutes ,days, months and years.
But looking at my last posting and the date I realize that a great deal of time has gone by and much has happened.
Mind boggling when we can look at it on a piece of paper or scribbled on napkins used as a note pad in ones vehicle.
You wonder exactly how you did it but cannot remember much of the details.
Looking back I can see with clarity some of the events but yet others are a blurry.
so lets take a look at what we have done and missed.
I had a meeting I now have forgotten with Kenny whom was putting on a walleye tournament on the St. Croix River.
( Wonder how it turned out) I sincerely hope it went well but so much has happened that the importance of the event was lost.
May and June also found me fishing my first tournament since 2008 and I remember it vividly as it was a test of my recovery.I survived the day and we placed 58th place and I was stiff and sore in bed for two days.But it felt great.
I worked on a grad speech for Trio which is posted here. It took 30 days to write and edit. I did not need the speech at commencement but wondered if it fell on idle ears. Do you remember your graduation speech?
My daughter graduated from High School and was just happy to put it behind her, not excited,not cherishing the moment.Will she miss it. I often wondered this myself as i missed my graduation by choice.We were given a choice to participate in the State Track Meet or graduate with our class. We looked at each other at the time and said ,"What kind of question is that?". We passed on the ceremony and for the most part passed on good byes to our classmates and friends whom in many cases we never would see again. No regrets but thoughts as to how other people felt. So thirty years later as we gathered for our reunion at Tom and Jerry's I asked the question,What did we miss? the answer surprised me as know one could really remember other than they wanted it done,which made me look at my daughter and say.Normal.
We attended many graduation parties of friends of which one half had plans to further educate themselves and the others were undecided and getting jobs....so they hoped.
My daughters boy friend and my sisters daughter also graduated, The later a family affair and a reunion of sorts.
As for Mike a small town party and well wishes as he was off to the Army.This was also a part of summer struggled with as I watched my girl lose her first job because she felt it important to spend all of her time with her boyfriend.But I learned that I am a dad through and through as I did not add fuel to the fire.
I traveled for work in June and conducted meetings for clients on new programs and products for 2011 without seeing the products first hand. Not unusual but also not memorable.and still working on to this day.Part of the job but not the way one wants to conduct his/her job.
Fifty student graduated from Trio Wolf Creek Charter School and I was asked to speak. Many excited students and parents.Once the ceremony was done the building cleared,which made me wonder ;Why is it so hard for people to slow down.
There was a fishing trip in early June with the gang from Mid West outdoors busily getting ready for the Wave Wacker Invitational Walleye tournament. Another test for the body and a new technique learned and it was good to be excited and actually giddy about it. Another 2 days in bed though.
Three days of teaching Middle School Students the finer points of fishing and taking them fishing. I am always nervous about losing someone Else's child and that is my memory of this event. The thank you card says they all had a good time though.
There was Danielle's grad party which was put off to later in the month and was memorable because some of the people I had not seen for awhile and I remember the feeling of really enjoying my visits with them and listening to what was up in there lives which showed my I have slowed down some in a good way.
There were events I could not attend because of time. The Minnesota Bass Federation Youth Tournament and The Rick Meverden Memorial.
There was a guide trip with the Finns which was a wonderful day were if you are a fishing guide this is how every trip should be.
The month of June was complete but July was fast approaching............

Quick plum or cherry tomato sauce.

The hours before dawn find me either working, reading, walking or preparing to go fishing. This of course is after getting out of bed which is no easy chore and brewing the morning blend of coffee. On occasion I may surf the television to see what I am not missing as was the case today.
For those that know me , The Food Network and anything Giada is making at the time is my favorite.From a strictly heterosexual stance Tyler Florence gets the nod and than there is the Pamela Anderson of the cooking world Sandra Lee or I think but who cares. If you listen closely most cooking shows they either directly tell you what ingredients you need creating and driving business for their sponsors or they calmly explain that if you do not have this ingredient use whats lying around your house.
A quick inventory of my immediate surroundings revealed two dogs, gecko,  hermit crab, chips left behind by daughter along with three partially empty soda cans,a sucker and warm milk. Immediately  my imagination took me back to the hospital with some unknown ailment which would finish me off . The episode included chicken in panko crumbs and artichoke hearts and the famous line use what you have lying around.
Fast forward now and I am hungry and have been thinking about this recipe all day long but do not want to go shopping and spend twice as much on the UN-planned food . I resist temptation and go directly home to find my bride is visiting with an ole college friend, I need to be polite and spend some time talking but food has been branded on the brain.
Now I can only eat pasta every seventh day and truly look forward to the experience.I will not make comparisons to being a junk, needing, wanting and craving the next fix but admittedly I am.
I exit to the kitchen and inventory my needs.
Barrilla, Penne Ragatti
Cherry Tomato's
Garlic
Butter
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
carrots
Onions ,but at the last second put them back as my youngest has not learned to appreciate the wonderful onion.
I walk to the deck where I cut some chives, basil  and rosemary.
I finally check the freezer and find a package of Jubilee Garlic Sausage Links which I keep at least six packages of on hand.
Now back in the kitchen I can asses my inventory and it looks like a go. I run to the basement and grab one can of diced tomato's of the Green Giant Variety.
Holy crap ,they were right use what you have at home. I don't know about you but I can usually find that I do not have all the ingredients that my favorite chefs have at an arms reach on their shows.But today the stars are aligned and now I am cooking.
Slice the baby carrots thinly.
Press and Chop garlic cloves (3) removing the shell.
Chop a small hand full of chives or onion.
Chop Basil, 5-6 leaves
Chop the Rosemary.
In a large skillet preheat olive oil and a pad of butter.
Pad is highly technical for chunk,hunk,slice or glob.
Add cherry tomato's.
How Many?
Enough to cover the bottom of the skillet.
Mix with oil and butter.
Add Garlic and mix.
Salt and Pepper and cover.
Pre-heat a second skillet.
Melt two pads of butter.
Slice sausage links and add to the skillet. cook on medium heat until done.
Add chives ,rosemary and basil to the tomato mixture,mixing well and covering.
Cook until juices of the tomato's burst.
Add can on diced tomato's.
heat through and taste for flavoring.adjust if needed.
Remove from heat and set aside.
Finish cooking the sausage.
Remove sausage into a bowl with a paper towel and set aside.
Save drippings in the pan.
Heat one gallon of water to a boil. once boiling add salt to the water.
Cook the Penne to aldente .
Drain Noodles.
Using a food processor place your tomato mixture in and cover securely.
Grind the mixture by pulsing  until all ingredients are blended the sauce will be a orange hue.
Taste, add a little sugar a small glass of white wine mix again.
Pour contents back in the pan.
Pour dripping from the sausage over the sauce.
Place sausage in the sauce.
Stir in Penne noodles and cover with sauce.
Sprinkle with Parmigiana serve with your favorite wine.
The bride like to have a nice salad with hers.
Grapes for desert with more wine.
You cannot go wrong.

Visions

Visions

Opening Thoughts

One cannot help but get stoked about the opening day of fishing.

The childish banter that grown men display and the planning that could only be compared to a wedding.

And whether your day includes family,friends or annual gathering of buddies whom over the years have drifted apart and for whatever reason are busy being whatever they need to be ,which is the case for myself.

Not so much with my brothers ,but it is the only time we get together with dad and go.

As for Andy and John there is 25 years of history and growing up.

Many things have changed but the one thing that remains the same is the exuberance which is displayed by the group when it comes to this weekend.Sure we have changed the weekend a few times and for a spell it was just me but the band is together and this trip gets more special each year.

This year was no different as my dad and brother Bill were not in attendance,My dad for health and my brother because ,well he is my brother and he is not always on our page.Nothing wrong with it but it would be nice to have him around, But we gladly take him in when he decides to drop in on with his visit.

This opener meant the most probably to me as it not only was the opener but an anniversary in which most would assume forget but will always be part of me.It was during this trip  in 2009 I became very ill and frankly close to not being and was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time and having the right people working with me that brought me back and allowed me to return for another trip,another sunset and some more memories.

For that I am grateful.

Fishing from the comfort of a pontoon boat our main plan was to get on fish that everyone could catch.Easy enough before you take into the fact that this group is a very accomplished group of individually talented anglers and that includes Black.

We took the hard lessons learned from the past and figured the post spawn bite was on so that would mean finicky fish .

We are Jig fisherman and trollers for the most part,we experiment but rely on the mighty jig to pick up our fish.

This bit us in the rear the past two years as we arrived at our lake at a time when the fish are tentative and need time to decide what they will eat and how aggressive they will be.

Backed with an array of rods and tackle we decided to keep it simple and rig slip floats for our day.Using our experience we thought that our efforts would be best rewarded if we stuck to main lake points near bays or areas we knew were spawning areas. We have always had success with these areas so they were not new ,just our presentation .

The first spot produced 5 fish and we learned they were not aggressive and it would take time to catch them.

Upon anchoring up on the next spot we wanted to concentrate on covering the area thoroughly and accomplished this by anchoring up wind of the point which allowed us to spread our floats and let them drift over and past the structure. this produced actions and some of our biggest fish of the day. The bite slowed and we kept with the plan and moved.

We anchored off one of the many flat faced sloping boulders we were not doing much until Johnny started popping fish one after the other leaving US wondering what we were not doing right.

" Hey Johnny!You gonna tell us how you are catching those ?"

"Why?'

"Cuz we would like to catch a few"

He said" Look at the graph"

The graph showed fish suspended 3 feet below the surfaceover 6 feet of water.

Your sh@$! 

The Opener

Music playing in the background,A man sits in a chair under the light of an old lamp tying a simple loop not on the reel spool.
"I need this one spooled with six pound test".
"And the next one eight pound test".
 "I should really throw some extra line in the bag."
"Lets see..eighth ounce jigs,quarter ounce jigs and my Winnie jigs..I'll need all of those."
"Better call Dave he will have some,he always does this time of year"
He turns the volume up as one of his favorite songs plays on the fresh CD he just laid out the night before.Things have come along ways since cassette and eight tracks.His thoughts now focus on food.,Porketta, Buns and yes the garlic sausage that he can only pick up at the Jubilee store across the street from his favorite watering hole.
The bar is a think tank of information, advice, and of course how to do it information that is dispensed at a rapid pace and one must be paying attention to multiple conversation all at once or he may miss the all important. "What are they biting on?"
His thoughts now back on his gear he selects his favorite stick and matches it with his favorite reel. The favorite stick is like a magic wand ,as it has powers that no other rod in his collection has. He can feel things that he cannot feel with his other rods.Its lighter,therefore more sensitive, Matched with his favorite reel he can cast his jig a mile unlike his other rods which are far inferior to what the magic stick can do. Of course the real magic of the rod can only be shared with the closest of friends and is only whispered off to the side in a crowded room.He did not pay what it was worth. "The guy at the big show gave him a deal and well, practically gave it to me.Got me a good deal on the reel to." Life time warranty and made here in the US.
Carefully he threads the line through the eyes of the rod and then carefully selects the jig that will be displayed on his favorite. The other rods will also have jigs but not this jig, this is the jig that caught that big fish the last two years at camp. The paint is chipped but I touched it up with a sharpie, A tip he picked up in his last issue of In Fish, The holy Bible of fishing to this angler.
He will place the rods in order by height up against the work bench table with a towel carefully draped over the side in order to protect the rods from any damage that may lie beneath.He will push the stool back and cross his arms and lean back with a slight grin and admire his work, his creation and put himself on the water popping that first whitetail.
The phone rings in the background and he picks it up while turning down the volume slightly and greets the caller in a friendly tone.
"yep"
"Got it"
"Not a problem"
"See ya in the morning buddy"
He hangs the phone back on the receiver and looks out the window of his garage and is thankful that yet another season is upon him. He is also thankful that he is here to enjoy it.
He looks to the sky and says "thanks,you won't see me in church on Sunday, but I will be thinking of you"
He glances over his shoulder and takes one more look at his rods ,His hand sweeps across the light switch he turns the handle of the door and exits the garage. He smiles and thinks he is a lucky man.

Have a great opening weekend .

Thought of the Day

Hell is where;

The Police are German.

The Chefs are Brits.

The Mechanics are French,

The Lovers are Swiss.

And its all orginized by the Italians

A Breif encounter

John "The Lunge" Laimon of Smokey's Musky Shop on the shores of beutiful Lake Pewaukee sat down for a bit and talked on a recent visit. John's take on anything and fishing can be looked upon as Right or Left wing theroys but ones I enjoy listening to non the less.
I asked how his radio show "The Cutting Edge" was doing ? he replied that it was doing fine, growing and he has added live coverage and quickly changed the conversation to his web site. All the while John fights with violent body twitches of Terrettes(sp) syndrome and in obvious pain which at his best happens once in 4-5 minutes of talk and days like today 5-6 per minute as we converse.
He was excited about the new site layout and was walking me through the video segments of "John's Take" an editorial view of the issues burning in John and one of Dan Bush, his radio partner, selling the virtues of Johns Newest Bait design and again the subject changes to Meeting his daughter ,which I had not. He runs through the story that she brought an fella from New Zealand Home at Christmas and was told in none to many term that he got his daughter pregnant and she was with child.He told me of the time spent with this fellow and how he kind of grew on him and at first his daughter had no intention of marrying him. The conversation quickly changed to how much the lass could drink and that they were not supposed to be drinking because of John,s Medications, Conversation quickly goes back to his daughter and how the two day visit turned to seven days and a wedding happend.
The conversation than went an entirely different direction and he explainded how he had gotten some new customers to his shop via the web and his show and admitted that if he is not reaching the people of Milwaukee that he has been around for 20 years than he was not doing a good job of advertising.
John went through a tough few years when he almost lost both of his shops first to flooding and than tothe banks as he couldn't get loans to pay for repairs. John before that advertised in Trade publications and his own catalog.He proudly proclaimed to be the Number 2 Musky shop in the world right behind Jim Stewart at Rollie and Helen's.
I made comment on how the upstairs was shaping up and it is as John cleaned up after one of his famous Monday cook what you kill breakfasts.We talked business breifly until the bell sounded and Guide Mark Krmpotich enterd and was talking to John about an upcoming promotion in which he thought his daughter would like to be involved if she didn't have to wear a swimsuit.The bell rang yet again and John glanced at the camera and said Shit I don't have bait. She comes here all the time looking for bait as she fishes from her dock just down from the shop a bit. He exits to talk and Mark and exchange greetings and the fact that he was originally from Duluth but has not been there in some time his Uncle or brothers being decorated olympic atheletes.
John enters the room and the conversation goes to a video we must see of this toothless southern fella whom swims in the nastiest ponds around and catches snapping turtles by the tale.He said "Jeff you look in awe" I replied that I was in fact awed that this guy did not drink,smoke or use illicite drugs but found great thrill in his trade.
The phone rang a few times and I kindly excused myself as John had township business to attend to.I told to tell my buddy bait boy hello and I would catch him the next time through.
It is the shops oand the owners with charector that attracted me and keep me involved in the fishing trade.
I dearly enjoy these visits and listening to the stories of these truely one of a kind charectors caleed fishermaen.

Fish Gillz Floating Sun Glasses

Good Glasses are essential on the water and you do not have to spend a fortune to own a pair.
39.95 for Fish Gillz which will provide you the same protection as Costa or Solar Bats.
Fishing, Skiing, Biking, Hiking, Triking,
One of my favorite lines has a new spot.
They actually float.
You still have to find them.
I suggest using the Fish Gillz Chum Line with them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FhduGr1IEQ

Fishing Line Continued

It used to be that the use of Super Lines and Flurocarbon were speciality lines to used used for specific techniques or applications, one did not over use because not enough was known or with the knowledge that it was very expensive to do so. Well that was 10 years ago,Now fast forward and lose the the tie dyed hemp shirt and sea shell shell necklace and join the modern angler. Spool an entire reel with carbon ,YES! Use braided line in every day applications,FO SURE!
What happened? What changed our simplistic and common views that extruded nylon line was the best and always will be?Back then my line of choice was made with Boron just as my rods were.
As the LP gave way to 8  TRACK which gave way to Cassette Tapes, Which led to CD and now I POD.so has the accepted use of braid and carbon for our everyday use.The have come down in price as raw materials become more readily availible and competition has increased. The products have also gotten much better over time in return adding value and quality to the mix. Most super lines that were around 10 years ago are either in the grave or on their seventh or eighth generation and still evolving.
In the past one could feel the difference in quality of these products making it easy to disserninate which were of superior quality. Now it is very difficult to disseminate the difference unless you put them under a microscope.The simple fact being, there is a lot of quality product out there. So how does one choose which super line to buy or flurocarbon?
Ask 100 anglers and you will get 50 or 60 different responses. it may be loyality or sponsorship but from a marketing stand point brand name is the reason and this happens through advertising and people who read or watch that advertising buy that product.
My two cents meaning nothing.My choice is simple, Power Pro is by far the best braid in which I have used , it stands up and holds a knot and has not failed me. Triple Fish Flurocarbon for the simple reason which may be obvious by my job, but I can show you my history with carbon material as the unused spools sit in the garage and collect dust. Triple Fish is spun in Germany long known as the leader in manufacturing quality line .Now I do not or ever or  will recommend spooling up entirely with flurocarbon but choose to use it in part for some of my dailey applicationsWhile braided lines I tend to dedicate a reel or two to certain applicationes and for the most part rely on next generation quad polymer lines such as Triple Fish X Rated for the majority of my use  and although there are others which will most certainly get the nod, Big Game by Berkley, I have confidence in the line in which I use and that being said it allows me to fish with confidence and that is the bottom line on line.

The line on line

There are many choices for an angler to make in regards to fishing line.
monofilament,quad polymer, braided, fluorocarbon.
The current market is flooded with choices and if you do not like what you see there most major retailers have branded their names on various styles of line and if that does not help your favorite tv fishing personality may have hiss and or her name applied to it.
Tournament tough,Incredible impact strength,enhanced smoothness,excellent castability,High abrasion resistance,color changing technology,especially designed to dominate fresh water,virtually invisible,no spool memory and we could go on and on......
The manufacturing process for nylon based lines is typically the same and is processed via extrusion.Monofilament being a single strand.Of course there are multiple strand products availible but those too are extruded to create a single strand of line to be marketed under the name such as, Viscous,Stren, Seaguar, Triple Fish,PLineTrilene.Color is used to enhance vision or claim that they are or will appear invisible to the fish.
Most line purchases are brand related and value oriented. I say most because as in every segemnt of industry there are sub cultues amongst the masses that search premium product and premium price usually affirms that this is the best. You have been part of those conversations, "Well I paid a little more but it is a far superior product" and yet there are those that have the same bulk spool that they purchased at K-Mart fifteen years prior think there line is superior because they only have to change it once a year and sometimes its good for a additional season and paid a fraction of the cost.
Line will go bad and fail you for all kinds of reasons and always at the worst times but there are precautionary actions one can take to help prolong the lines life and keep you from losing that big one.
First, all line is created equal as long as you are comparing apples to apples. Meaning mono vs mono and quad polymer vs quad polymer. The difference are subtle but once you have a little experience you will become an old pro.
How the line  drops from the spool is my first test. Unwrap 4-5 feet of line from the spool and see how it hangs.I donot want my line to have a coiled look but hang straight down or close to. Next I will place the line between my thumb and forefinger and run the line through checking for smoothness and seeing how the line reacts when I remove my fingers from it. There should be no coiling and the line should look straighter than before you did this inspection. Tensil strength is tough to check and there is all sorts of gimmicky ways to demonstrate this. Pulling the line away with your hands is a most tried and true method, if the line starts cutting in than it is strong enough. Knot strength is the important test and you will not know this until you hook up.
Spinning gear is generally tough on line as the line is twisted on and off the spool and shot through eyes that may not be clean or have damagee to the ceramic or burrs that fray the line.Smooth line with little memory is important because of the spinning reel, Even if spooled correctly the repetitive act of casting and retrieving will deteriorate the lines quality. Run that same line through the fingers test at the end of the day and you will understand why tournament pros at the end of a day strip 20,30,40 yards of line or completely re-spool for the next day.If the average angler fished 10-15 hours a day several days in a row they would realize how easy it is to go through 3000 yards of line. Thats why I am a big fan of bulk spools and not filler spools, that generalyy give you 2-3 fills per spool that cost more over time especially if you fish everyday.
Casting Reels are more forgiving but the same care must be taken when performing regular maintinance on your gear.
There is no magical  what line is better and most consumers if forced to give an honest answer will tell you they use brand X because they have never had a problem with it. And if they never had a problem with it they will be hard pressed to tell you they will use your line over their line.

To Be continued>>>>>>>

Getting Ready

Now that you have been to the Big Sport Show and spent that little nest egg you built up on tackle, rods, reels and accessories it is time to ready for the season.Most men would stuff their new purchase in a cornor and not worry about what they got into until the night before they are to depart on that big trip.Or worse yet bring it with them to do in the tent or the cabin.
The problem with the later is that guys being pack animals tend to hang in clusters upon reaching said destination. Not entirely our fault since most of us will admit that we are poor in staying in touch and the opening weekend is the first we have seen of each other since last season. Beer usually prevails over any preparation for the big day, causing delays in keeping the line wet.
I can think of no better activity this time of year than to hang in the man cave with the doors open and fresh spring breeze blowing through while working on my orginizational skills taught to me by my mother of course,whom can do thirty six things at once and never miss a beat.
So a quick list of the Cave Guy to Do list. Todays topic is rods and reels.
1. Make sure the fridge is in working order and is appropriately stocked for Man meetings.
2. A clean work area is important to us as the alter is to a pastor and a clean operation room is to a surgeon.
3. Start with your rods, Check the eyes and make sure thay are not bent nicked and clean. Bad eyes should be repaired by a skilled rod surgeon. Check the actual rod blank. Rods are made from graphite. Graphite is used on the space shuttle. When a shuttle mission goes into space an inspection is done to make sure the panels are in good shape.Hey, if it is good enough for NASA it is good enogh for me.
Small scratches an knicks can spell trouble in your rod. The rod construction process has changed and we are making some incredibly light blanks but this comes at a price and with some basic knowledge that care and maintinance are needed. Clean the blanks and eyes with a mild solution of warm water amonia,soap all which will help coat and protect the rod and help improve casting.I prefer a cotton rag and light application , wax on wax off.
Check the condition of your cork,foam, carbon handles and reel seats.Clean the handles with a mild cleaning solutin of water and baking soda or amonia based product which will get the bait grease and other materials that have built up off.
If you have not checked your reels now is a good time to add some oil,grease and clean the surface areas which collect all kinds of grit in a season.
Finally, You spent 150-300 on that new space aged rod don't trat it like a Yugo.
Buy a rod sleeve.
Would you leave your vette out in the rain or cover it and put it in the garage.......
Tomorrow we will talk about line.

Early Ice Out

Driving through West Central Wisconsin today my first thoughts were the ice was hanging on.
After a few dealer calls and back on the road a noticable absence of ice in a matter of hours most lakes were clean.The few that still had some ice the wind was making quick work of.
With the Minnesota opener stil 45 days away and the Wisconsin opener a month away the local rivers will be the early battleground for game fish as most lake will crowded with pan fishermen. I counted no less than 4 trailers at my local landing today.
Good bets this time of year is to stay out of the wind on near the first major drop of. whether you are fishing amouth of a bay or a protected shore line you will find fish at or near where you last caught them on ice.
If you were catching fish in a basin and the basin leads towards a bay and the bay is on the North and or West side of the lake chances are you will easily find your quarry.  Many times the crappie will move into the remnants of last seasons Lily Pad beds searching for warmer water which attracts bait fish and starts that spawning clock ticking.
For the most part you can throw conventional wisdom out the door this time of year ,when as far as specific spawning  temperature I have found this can fluctuate considerably.Trust your gut and if the wind is howling yard work is my choice, if the day is fair and I feel I can read the water I will for go the chores and head to the lake.
My bait choices are Beetl Spins and plain hook and minnow under a float.

Prepare for the experience

Oh by gosh by Golly,
We got Panfish and Walleye, Bass Pike Carp all just waiting to be caught.
Most pro anglers have taken the Pledge issued by our industry to introduce someone to fishing.
Each year I can claim that approximately 100 new people in which I reach out to and introduce to my hobby, my passion.
Admittedably most of my peers try to make this proces harder than it needs to be.
The process of fishing is easy.But as a chef has passion for the meal he is preparing a degree of passion should be shown towards the preparation of fishing.
Just as the chef relys on ingredients to prepare the meal an angler relys on key ingredients to help make his day successful.
Rod, Reel, Line, Hook, knots, files, bobbers, bobberstops, jigs, color selection are all keys to ones recipe for success on the water.
Success lies in the individual ability or desire to catch fish. Most clients lack the experience of their guides or buddys and therefore to a degree need to concentrate more on the process.If not succesful the experience can be negative.
Working with those people and providing one on one guidance is one of the pure pleasures of our past time.
The tendancy is for the guide to spend to much time fishing and not enough time teaching and demonstrating techniques and styles of fishing.To many times the emphasis is on catching big fish when it should be on just catching fish.
The spaghettimans tips for success.
Keep it simple.
Take Your time,
Take in the sites.
Watch your guide.
Watch your clients.
Let them experiment.
Keep it fun.
Growing up , my genration was on the water early and always the last one off.
But it seemed we were always scrambling to put a meal up.
Times have changed and for greatlyand we are not driven by being a supplier of food.
Take the time to share .
The rewards are bountiful.


I

NorthWest Sport Show

After a mild weekend we all had that feeling.
The anticipation and guessing of not if it will happen but when it will happen.
Ice out this afternoon will rank as one of the earliest here in East Central Minnesota but also brings to mind that we are experiencing one of the worst droughts in some time as our lakes look depleted.
We made it though, coming off the second straight season of good ice.
And second season of good shows, despite the sagging economy.
Last weeks sport show, although people will argue attendance figures there is no mistaking that people came to the show to buy.Most of the vendors on the tackle side would agree that fishing related products sold.
We even heard rumors that a few boats were sold.
Resorts owners were quietly optimistic but coming off a third consecutive season where people dcided to stay closer to home there will undoubtably be more woes in the resort industry this year.
Fishing rods were the ticket all winter as well as reel purchases.
Combo packages ruled while rods in the 29-59 dollar range did well.
Rods in the 89-112 did good also,with higher end rods lagging but were the best value. If a person was looking to get a quality rod this was the year to do it. The show specials were good. The few domestic rod manufactures remaining responded with price minded domestically constructed rods. Lamiglas for instance introduced it's Excel Rod series, produced domestically with prices from 99-120 dollars. The company, employees and factory personnel all took a hit to get these rods to market.
Marine electronics sales were strong, and the value minded consumer took advantage of the many show deals and competitive nature of the dealers competing for business while dealers settled for razor thin margins and pushed volumne instead of margin.
Lures and Terminal Tackle  sold well all season .
Consumers proved that price was not an issue when it comes to catching the big one.
5.00 lighted bobbers, 3.00 for a hook and  12-15 dollars crank baits.
Flurocarbon line continued to sell well in an ever growing category of manufactures.
StowMaster Nets was another surprise as before the seaon I personally thought we would see a drop in the high end landing net category 79-200  dollar nets.The consumer said otherwise as the need for quality and portability was confirmed and saw our numbers in line with last season.
What I have learned is that people will not give up activities in which they are passionate about but instead find a smarter way in which to participate in them. 
It was also nice to see the likes of Gary Roach, Tony Roach, Ron Al Linder,Chris Gilaman, Tommy Skarlis, Mark Courts and many others out sharing their continued excitiement about our favorite past time besides swatting skeeters.