Epic fail...

I was given a pair of new offshore  fishing rods for my Christmas present this year.  Since then, I’ve been scouring discount fishing merchandise websites to try to find the best match for my new babies. Well, I eventually found a match…or rather, I thought I had found a match... until a massive box showed up in the mail, which I immediately discredited as not possibly being my little reels,  the little reels I ordered. “No... it couldn’t be… this box is way too big to be my new reels.”  Yup, they were my new, massive reeIs. I now have two big “tuna” type reels for sale…just in case any of you have been in the market.

Skulls

Along with tanning the gator hides, I whitened and cured the skulls. I’ve now finally finished them and they’re ready for distribution. I think they turned out great.  You guys up in MN start checking your mailboxes!!!

first ever Doc's bait house tourney

The bar/ bait shop I frequent has been hosting a monthly fishing tourney since January.  I’ve really enjoyed doing those; they're a ton of fun.  I think there’s one this weekend I might try and win. Just a note: Adam and I fished the first-ever organized fishing tournament hosted by Doc's and we didn't do too badly, coming in (I think) 5^th and 6^th place in the trout division. The tourneys are a $20 buy in and only a first place in redfish, trout and sheepshead pay out (about 200 bucks in each division).  It's a good way to make some gas money at the end of the month...except that i haven't won yet...so I'm losing my gas money every month...oh well.

http://www.docsbaithouse.com/

The owner (left) and the winner of the first place trout (right).

NMZ banana river

I should change my fly out...



The eyelets are tyed on, at least...with what, I'm not too sure...twine, maybe?

I’ve hit the No Motor Zone several times lately in the canoe with the old fly rod with not much success.  The winds have been relentless so hugging in tight to the east shoreline has been just about the only option for a river rat like me to get on the water. Adam and I have seen lots of fish, but moving at mach 7 with the wind pushing at our back makes it tough to get a fly in front of a fish.  Every time I get out there I’m filled with envy and jealousy thinking of the anglers that have mastered the art of fly fishing. I ponder whether or not to challenge myself by grabbing the fly rod more often and making it a staple to tell people, “yeah, I caught it on fly.” But my confidence seems a bit freighted for some reason.  I know for one thing my rod is a hand-me-down from my brother-in-law that he got at a church garage sale for ten bucks ten years ago…and my reel…well, let’s just say I’ve had it since I was 13 years old. I, on the other hand, kinda like the fact that the rod and reel are only a step up from what the monks use in the medieval times and yet I can still catch occasionally fish...

If you ever wondered what a fishing reel made of piss and vinegar looked like...well...here it is. I can't tell you how many fish this has caught... 35 maybe in the last 15 years? That's a lot for me.  Most have been in the St. John's River.

A Super Late Winter Update, kinda.

I had a wonderful winter on the water this year having a heavy hand with pigs and ducks more than deer or anything else for some reason. Here are a few pictures from trips I didn’t write about for some reason.  One side note- this was one of the hottest winters I’ve ever hunted…really HOT.

Cora was a big help with the gator hides!!!

Sold the John Boat.  bummer.

As you know, everthing we do out in the mighty St. Johns is via the use of a canoe or kayak. This pic is me sweating my way back to the main boat with two sows in tow. On a nice HOT January day.



Rufus died the other day. The day before Easter. It was a bummer for our family.

...and it shall be named... "The Brown Recluse"

  I hit the water with a new addition to the quiver today. A completely unexpected favor. Ross, the beast of a brother-in-law, MADE ME A ROD!!!!! I know, couldn't believe it either! How amazing is that?! Crazy! The reel he paired it with is absolutely perfect. I've already caught a big 22 inch trout and a bunch of smaller ones on it.
 

Opening day 2012

April is here, which means for a matter of hours the Cubs aren’t in last place…yet.  It’s April 10, 2012 and they are once again allowing other teams to feel what it’s like to win. That’s so nice of them.  Nonetheless, I’ve maintained my one year old tradition by eating the one Chicago dog this far south of the Mason Dixon Line. Yes, the mustache is real.