2 hours ago, Harold Scoggins said:

By golly, I'm going after some trophy bass!

Wow, that is one serious hook

Well that was the most fantastic fishing trip. I've had some great ones, often with Tim, but this time we really surpassed ourselves. 
The weather was, on the whole, perfect. Warm days and slightly cooler nights, only a couple of little storms, and even the deer flies weren't too annoying. The fishing was probably more difficult than on previous trips, but that was almost advantageous as it made us try a little harder and expand our range of techniques and styles of fishing.
Early in the week we discovered some crappie, which have always been an enigmatic fish on the lake and as they're so delicious, they became a bit if a target when we were in certain areas. We never fully worked out how to catch more than the occasional one out of the schools, but that was good enough for a couple of meals.
Later in the week as the largemouth became more awkward we discovered smallmouth and finished the week in absolute style with a 20lb bag the morning before I came home. What a way to end the trip! Lots of memories to keep us going while grinding away at the day job.

 

The mantra for the week, when things were getting difficult, was "What would Lenny do?" an homage to Lenny Devos who fishes the RBT in Canada and was completely dominant with his partner a couple of seasons ago. Kept us amused. 

 

Massive thank you to Tim and Mary Johnson for making it possible. Very special times, hugely appreciated.

5 hours ago, Harold Scoggins said:

By golly, I'm going after some trophy bass!

Should work well during the bluegill spawn.

"Catching flies" at the ice cream stand. He was pointing towards fly's and saying "Got 'em!" It made him so happy. The simple things in life. 

While this is a meme, I do have a friend that has a shelf next to the hopper for folks that carry IWB.  That said he is a retired E7 from Vietnam and retired State cop.

When they're not biting on anything else...

I don't usually make dessert after I get done making dinner, but last night I was feeling fancy and made a cream cheese lemon crumble cake.

The new building is coming along nice.  Can't wait to work there!

 

I see this magnificent animal standing at the same rock outcropping every morning as I'm leaving the wildlife refuge.

9 hours ago, NHBull said:

I want to see that actually penetrate a fish's mouth without bending now, I don't see it happening except maybe on a crappie or some other really thin lipped fish. Good thing is, it's shiny enough it would probably attract fish just on it's own. I guess in a survival situation, just bait it with worms or something and let them completely swallow it and hope it holds on long enough to get them on shore.

 

Riding in the car is hard work

The wife and kids are out of town, and I'm working 12 hours tonight, that means a looonnnnggg time in the house for the puppies. So they got a 2:30AM police escort potty break

Took the kid out for a paddle this afternoon. No rods, just “exploring nature”. Went as far as these falls, about 2 miles from the truck, could’ve portaged and gone further but it was threatening rain and we didn’t have any suits so we just flipped rocks and chased crayfish for a while then paddled back into civilization. 

 

 

 

When I bought my boat it had no G3 badging on it, thanks to the previous owner. So I got in contact with Iguana Graphix out of Miami told him what I had, the colors I had on my boat and he made me some custom G3 decals. I couldn’t be happier! If you ever need some custom graphics done check them out. 

 

 

6 hours ago, Way north bass guy said:

Took the kid out for a paddle this afternoon. No rods, just “exploring nature”. Went as far as these falls, about 2 miles from the truck, could’ve portaged and gone further but it was threatening rain and we didn’t have any suits so we just flipped rocks and chased crayfish for a while then paddled back into civilization. 

 

 

 

Get 'em hooked while they're young

Yesterday's sunset on the refuge. (Photo: Saxon Smith)

8 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Fred said this stick was big enough so here goes.....

My nephew getting his 39' boat, the Calypso, ready for his "round the world" trip starting in October. "Make your life extraordinary, young man."

Today is National Airborne Day! The first Airborne jump was made on August 16, 1940, at Fort Benning, Georgia. The Airborne School trains 10,000 soldiers a year to become military parachutists. "All American!"

Destination ~ Bassville

A-Jay

 

22 years ago, almost to the day.  My dad:

 

 

A-Jay

Spotted these giant fungi while hiking to a pond today... 

 

 

 

We enjoyed a baseball game today. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone. Really enjoyed it!