@A-Jay & anyone else who would care , unfortunately our foster puppy that we were hoping would be a foster failure didn’t work out. He bit our veterinarian who admitted to some of the blame but then tried to bite our son’s friend which thankfully he was okay and the final problem was he bit our son who was thankfully wearing a winter coat but it was the way he went about it with a carefully coordinated plan that was unfortunately his demise. We wound up working with our favorite GS rescue who is still having a problem placing him as he develops a deep bond for one or in our case 2 people and feels the need to protect them at all costs. Also he is very unsure of anyone he meets and doesn’t warm up quickly. My wife and I felt and still feel horrible about the whole situation.

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

term "foster failure" is running rampant around this place.

Exactly why we don’t foster. We would be out numbered two fold in no time. 😁

Just got the word that both Inga & Gisela have been claimed by some lucky humans.

As expected, they are skipping the foster stage and going straight to their forever home, together.

It's always a good feeling when littermates are not separated.

Wishing them the best.

A-Jay

Weather has been Horrid in Michigan. On the nice days the wind blows and when the wind doesn’t blow it’s raining.

Last time I went fishing was last Wednesday and It was miserable. It was 34 degrees, 20 mph wind and muddy on the river. Needless to say zero walleye were caught that day. I tried though.

Than the rains came last Friday and mid-Michigan received 3 inches of rain. The Saginaw river just started to drop below flood stage today.

So for the last 1.5 weeks I’ve been doing stuff around the house so it frees me up when the weather turns nice. Even though, I want to get a couple more walleye trips in. Due to the river conditions I’ll probably go bass fishing Tuesday around the Crystal area. It is my long week to work so I have to work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 12 hrs. Winds are supposed to be 10-15 and 60 degrees F on Tuesday.

On what was his birthday, we're remembering my Dad today ~

Growing up this date was also "Opening Day"

After I gave him his gift #apairofsocks,

he would always take my little brother and I fishing.

A-Jay

Flooding up north is still keeping of the goby lakes. Plan B in effect.

Starting a two day local Lake Menderchuck mini marathon. A bit of a late start this morning but we'll be testing out the sunset bite. Today's results will help me decide on making tomorrow a first light, last light or both trip.

Either way, weather looks fishy for April.

A-Jay

Busy weekend so far, and that will mostly continue through this coming week.

Dropped the first run of fertilizer this morning.

I'll finally get to wash this past winter off my truck later today.

Looking forward to that.

Detailed the interior yesterday; it came out pretty sweet.

Then there is an early Monday morning trip to Local Lake Menderchuck again, but I do expect the winds to blow me off by noon.

Tuesday is a training day.

And then the REST OF THE WEEK is looking so fisherman-friendly; it's actually scary.

I'm planning on making my first pilgrimage to some big water on Wednesday.

Depending on how that goes will dictate where, when, and with what I'm making my next cast.

Could be boom, could be bust—time will tell.

I've put in some serious time & effort waiting for quite a while to get on something like this.

It would be nice if it paid off.

A-Jay

First pre dawn launching of 2026.

As I head out into the cool, crystal clear skies of this dark north woods morning, I am stepping back for a second to count my many blessings.

Can't say what Lake Menderchuck may have to offer, but being on the water as the sun peaks over the horizon, is a view that soothes my soul and Never gets old.

Here we go.

A-Jay

Looks like tomorrow's another fishing day.

I'll be making a hike to one of the lakes that, until recently, was closed due to the crazy snowmelt/big rain flooding insanity that's been terrorizing Northern MI for weeks now.

Only two things I know for sure are the ice is melted and the boating access is open.

After that I'm winging it.

Leaning towards a morning deal.

But not too early, as the air temps to start the day are expected to be well below the Mendoza line again.

Add in the north wind, and I'll be in layers.

Hoping for the best either way.

A-Jay

I am making it happen on a cold and windy Lake Menderchuck.

First fish went 5.77 lbs.

Report to follow and I hope that's the dink of the day.

A-Jay

As the mostly epic snow/ice melt river & lake flooding here continues to slowly recede,

The number of open Lake Menderchuck boat access points remains reduced.

This limits my 'choices' rather dramatically and also puts many other like-minded bassheads all in the same few places.

Weather, mostly the rain & wind, is giving everyone fits too.

Either way, I'm prepping today for an afternoon/sunset bite tomorrow.

Hoping the rain predicted before & after a possible 'bite window' might keep the boating traffic down a bit.

These big girls are real spooky in shallow water.

So we'll see how it goes.

The rain gear will be on when I leave the house.

You know it will not rain if I'm prepared.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

I just can't take all this shore-side sitting around stuff.

Calling an audible !

"Omaha" "Omaha"

I'm leaving right now.

🏈

A-Jay

5.99 lb.

That is all.

😁

A-Jay

Two days ago I made the legendary, commercial-grade Honda HS1332 track-driven snow blower available for sale. Purchased new in 2012. We have a potential and fairly motivated-sounding buyer scheduled to come and see this unit along with my asking price—cash in hand.

A successful sale will provide half the funding toward the new replacement unit.

Essentially the newest / updated version or model of the same unit.

The HS1332 ATD adds a few important features, mainly easy maneuverability.

The additional option of an electric start with the pull start backup will be nice as well.

Fingers crossed.

🤞

A-Jay

On 5/22/2026 at 10:51 PM, A-Jay said:

Two days ago I made the legendary, commercial-grade Honda HS1332 track-driven snow blower available for sale. Purchased new in 2012. We have a potential and fairly motivated-sounding buyer scheduled to come and see this unit along with my asking price—cash in hand.

A successful sale will provide half the funding toward the new replacement unit.

Essentially the newest / updated version or model of the same unit.

The HS1332 ATD adds a few important features, mainly easy maneuverability.

The additional option of an electric start with the pull start backup will be nice as well.

Fingers crossed.

🤞

A-Jay

That didn't take long.

Unit sold in two days—young man got a solid unit with many years of service ahead.

Good Times.

A-Jay

There's been a possible pivot.

While conducting due diligence on a replacement snow blower, a different model is piquing my interest.

The newest and closest Honda model to what I recently rehomed is the HSS1332 ATD.

Totally a solid machine and one that is still a strong contender to be the next winter storm mover here at the 45th parallel.

However - I came across the HSM1336i - sort of insane.

This is about as big a unit as there is—without a seat and an in-flight movie.

The nearest authorized dealer/service center is just under 90 minutes from me.

(like everything else up here)

Planning a meet & greet with them maybe next week.

My last unit was basically a toy compared to this monster.

I have the means & the space; the question is, do I have the need ?

Well, I need something because right now I've got nothing.

Either way, at some point in the next month or so I'll be taking a white glove delivery.

Just not sure how much room I'll be giving up in the garage this coming winter.

More to follow.

A-Jay

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

the question is, do I have the need ?

Do you have the need? 😂

You get more snow than anyone on BR.

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

Do you have the need? 😂

You get more snow than anyone on BR.

Not today we didn't.

😉

A-Jay

Fair point

On 5/31/2026 at 5:52 PM, A-Jay said:

There's been a possible pivot.

While conducting due diligence on a replacement snow blower, a different model is piquing my interest.

The newest and closest Honda model to what I recently rehomed is the HSS1332 ATD.

Totally a solid machine and one that is still a strong contender to be the next winter storm mover here at the 45th parallel.

However - I came across the HSM1336i - sort of insane.

This is about as big a unit as there is—without a seat and an in-flight movie.

The nearest authorized dealer/service center is just under 90 minutes from me.

(like everything else up here)

Planning a meet & greet with them maybe next week.

My last unit was basically a toy compared to this monster.

I have the means & the space; the question is, do I have the need ?

Well, I need something because right now I've got nothing.

Either way, at some point in the next month or so I'll be taking a white glove delivery.

Just not sure how much room I'll be giving up in the garage this coming winter.

More to follow.

A-Jay

GO BIG OR GO HOME!!! Wait... You are home.... Hmm... NEVERMIND. 😂

It's been a little hectic on the home front lately.

Nothing really bad, just busy stuff that comes up.

I haven't been able to venture out on several of the The Best Lake Menderchucks at all this spring,

as the historic flood damage trashed all the boating accesses, so they are CLOSED.

And will be for the foreseeable future.

Ginormous bummer.

However, this is the time of year when my wife and I paddle around Lake Minichuck and catch a few green bass.

As noted above, I'm a little late getting my act together and prepping the Old Town Canoe.

Pulled it out and checked the trailer the other day.

Resulted in new wheels & tires as well as new (pre-greased) hubs coming tomorrow in the mail.

Also rewired a new plug into the deal, as the lights on the trailer were operating intermittently.

The original connector had at least one broken wire.

All good now.

I'll be setting the rest of this up and expect to be floating maybe later this or next week.

And man do I need it.

More to follow.

A-Jay

Looking forward to the report. I hope Lynn sticks some biggins.

46 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

I hope Lynn sticks some biggins.

Oh you know she will! She never fails to produce some biggins.