The Northern Contest that wasn't....

Unlike in the Cities, Saturday was a beautiful day up here. A light NE breeze and mid 60's. Today was more of the same. It figures.....
Was in the porch at dusk last night and watched a boat with two guys in it slowly work their way by the house. They left before it got totally dark. They missed out... Would have liked to have joined them but my boat is in Alex for the winter. Next year we'll join them Mikey!
Hey Stone! I managed to pull those front dock posts one last time, and with the help of two young guys we pulled everything out of the lake. Now I've got that big old dock sitting in the back yard. Oh well, this is the country.
Time to hunt grouse now. My shotgun was acting up last year. It wasn't shooting straight. Hope it works better this year....

Fishin' sometimes hurts....

The plan Friday evening was to fish from 6:30 until dark to see if we could pick up some crappies. I caught a nice bass right away. Those of you who fish in my boat know that I always have a couple of extra rods and reels set up ready to go. Well, in releasing the bass, I managed to impale a finger on a jig from one of those rods. I looked down and couldn't see the barb. It was totally imbedded in my trigger finger, no less. Glenda helped me pull the trolling motor and we made a dash back to the dock. I got a wire cutters, cut the hook and tried to push it through. That, unfortunately, didn't work. I had to take a pliers and pull it out the way it went in. As I was stopping the blood, Glenda got some band aids and asked "what next"? I told her to mix me a high ball as we were heading back out! Never did get much action afterwards. Caught a few small crappies and more of those ^%%$%^%^ bass.
We were the only boat on the lake and it was a beautiful sunset. Everybody else missed out. I wonder what the poor people were doing dad.....

Goodbye.......

I know this will be tough for some of you. I know how many years you've struggled pulling this albatross out of the water each fall, risking life and limb just so I could save a buck. Well, you won't be doing it any more. I'm having some young bucks pull it out this fall and I have purchased a new aluminum dock. A lot lighter and it comes in two pieces with removable decking. Hey, maybe you guys won't mind pulling that one out?? Maybe??
Had to use all my smarts to find some crappies yesterday. Fished until I could hardly see my rod. The fish were biting right at sundown and thereafter. Caught some nice ones and tossed back one that had to go a pound and a half. Next time I'll bring my headlamp. Guess that will be the plan the rest of the fall until it's time to chase a grouse or two...

Blowin' In The Wind...(And other stuff)

Well, Labor Day weekend was a repeat of the 4th of July weekend. Wind, wind and more wind. Only had the boat out for an hour in three days. You see, my canopy likes to fly and I didn't want to chase it all the way to Dalton. I bought a bunch of nice minnows Friday night. The bucket is still at the end of the dock. Betcha most of those minnows are toast...
I did, however, have one revelation today. I stopped at the liquor store because Tuesday is "Senior Citizens Day" and I get a 10% discount! The girl kinda eyed me and I said that yes, I qualified. She said she hated to ask people as some were offended by the question of age. She said she wasn't sure with me. When I told her how old I was going to be next May, she said"Wow, you sure have nice skin". WHHAAATTT?? How come no one's ever told me THAT before?? Throw me a bone folks! I could use it.
Hey, tomorrow's hump day. Maybe, just maybe, I can go fishin' next weekend.......However, I will wear a hat and sunscreen. Don't want to damage the skin.....