FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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A Life Well Lived

It is with a heavy heart we start the New Year.  My father-in-law Jack is 95 y/o and after his big stroke he is slowly slipping away.  Today he is resting more comfortably and it won’t be long.

In his shop where he was happiest.  Always a smile.

He has lived a full life, been married to Joy for 69 years,  (Wow.) and raised 4 great children.  If it was made of wood he could make it, and we all got a good laugh moving them last week.  We all have the same hat rack, lazy Susan, magazine rack, and a host of other things from his shop.  And thanks for never making me the big woman’s butt for the flower garden.  It was important that all the kids and grandkids were able to get there and see him last week when he knew and recognized everyone.

As we packed them up I found a package of watermelon/red worms, my favorite color, that he bought to hang off the other folks doors in the assisted living place.  Always a joker.  He smiled when I told him that not only was I “confiscating” them, but that they were my favorite color.  And next time out I will catch a fish on one, and forever keep the rest on the wall in the tackle room as a reminder that not only is life short, but it can be well lived.

So he may not be able to hear me but I wanted to say thanks.  Not only for being a good man but for giving me the love of my life.  You did a bang up job with your life and you are loved by all.  It is ok, you are tired from that long and productive life, your peace is right around the corner.  Plus I hear the best shop in the world is in heaven and God might just need a lazy Susan.  (He doesn’t wear a hat you know.)  You could not meet a better man.

******************Fresh or salt it has a place in your arsenal.

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It is hard right now to talk about the future as nothing is written in stone.  But as I said life goes on, and with that thought in mind here is the “plan” for the year around here.

What I hope to accomplish this year –

1.  Get back to fishing for the simple love of it.  Stop letting the blog make the decisions.  I get so wrapped up in getting that big fish picture, or catching a mess, simply for the blog.  Easy to forget the very thing that got me here, that little guy who always knew that the “Tug is the Drug.”  As I have said many times, it is in the doing.
2. With that, get back to more of the things I love to catch, which is anything with fins.  There is a world of fish out there and I hope to take advantage of every single one of them I can.  Guess you could say my bucket list now includes anything that swims.  To fish for them when the time and place is right.  To just go fishing.
3. To quit giving a rats ass about the numbers.  In the grander scheme of things who comes and why is irrelevant to my fishing journey, which is the reason I started this.  To those of you who have been here since the beginning, you hold a special place in my heart.  And to the new ones, welcome aboard.  Your readership means the world to me.
4. To write more.  As the blog evolved it ended up being mostly reports with little else.  I want to do more how-to stuff, more comments on the fishing world, and of course the occasional rant.  There are areas where I feel fishing is off the rails and in the spirit of Tred Barta, the King of the Fishing Rant, I intend to tell you about it.
5. To spend a little more time with a camera in my hands.  A shame to let that photography degree go to waste when I spend that much time outdoors.
6. As usual, to fish with more folks, to explore new places, and try new things.  The Boss always talks about our tendency to nestle in that Warm and Fuzzy Spot.  And if you are happy with that good for you, but I want more.
7. And last, to remember every time I start the boat, put on the waders, or sit on the bank, that life is privilege and not a right and to say my thanks for another day on the water.

And on a personal note:

1. I will be kinder.
2. I will pay it forward.
3. I will continue to thin the herd of those around me now that it dawned on me that you do not have to suffer fools.  There are some folks you are better off without in your life.
4. To tell my lovely wife how much she means to me every chance I get.  It always pays to butter up the Boss and with a wife like mine so easy to do.
5. To keep wearing my life jacket and kill switch, if not for me then for those that love me.
6. And last to quit drinking beer.  Whao….wait a minute here, lets not get carried away!  If I keep to the list I will be a better person.  And by doing all that the reward – a beer!

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And after that bit of introspection it is back to work.  The weather today in South Texas is a high of 46 degrees with a cold north wind and rain.  No fishing today.  But after today the weather shows a really nice pattern of stable and relatively warm conditions.  With that comes the white bass run on area lakes and rivers, the crappie spawn, bass spawn, and the beginning of the trout spawn with big girls feeding.  No better time to catch a big fish of most any species as spawning puts them in reach like no other time of the year.  With the guns being put up, the holidays over, fishing will take over the outdoor world.

Last time I picked up the boat my mechanic was telling another customer that he wished he had more customers like me.  Why?  He told him I take care of the little things before they become big things.  Maintenance is the key to happiness.  With that in mind it is time to take a little bit and look over all your cool fishing stuff.  There are tons of things to do before the bite is on.  Definitely time to do a serious walk around the boat trailer.  Tires, hubs, numbers, safety chains, spare, lights, the list is endless.  Really look and if it needs fixing do it.  You don’t want to be sidelined doing some fixing that could/should have been done earlier.  A little time getting squared up will save hours of misery.  (Read $$$)  Plus, your local boat mechanic is swamped in the spring and your emergency is just his number 27 on the list of things to do.

Having towed thousands of miles I have learned my lessons the hard way.  The last thing you want is to be along side the road waiting for the $600 tow truck.  It happens sometimes no matter what, but sitting on the side of the road with something that could have been nipped in the bud is sauce on the wound.  Why I have Tow Boat USA with the trailering package.  Always someone to save me if all else fails and the peace of mind is worth every penny.

Then start on the boat.  Lights, bilge pump, life jackets, fire extinguisher, horn, throwable device, batteries, paperwork, along with a host of other things.  And of course the motor, when was the last time you had it serviced?  Like the trailer, just a little prep will make your life a whole lot better.  Plus when the warden or Coast Guard checks you they will say thanks – or pay up.  Your choice.

Buy new line, organize the tackle boxes, check guides, clean reels, and that list goes on.  Poor planning = poor performance.  Amazing what you will find by getting organized, and then know where to find it when you need it.

It is all important, any of these can make or break your day, or your wallet.  So get out there and get organized.  Some of us are happy to help you out when you are broke down, but why mess up a perfectly good fishing day?

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This year’s fishing destinations are starting to jell.  Of course the Chandeleur trip, Grand Isle La, and a new one, Montana for pike and trout.  What makes the Montana trip so special is we will also be on a 3 day wolf tracking expedition.  And the April timing is great, along with wolves we will see everything else the mountains have to offer.  Bears out of hibernation, elk, moose, mule deer, and if it happens maybe a Bighorn sheep or a lion.  (I have always said that those signs by the highway telling you to watch out for the Bighorn sheep are just kidding.)

And as far as where I hope to fish I plan on hitting Florida for a couple of weeks, it has definitely been to long.  I might even try a couple of new places while there.  We all also considering Colorado.  I will tow the boat out there and fish a week on the many lakes then pick her up at the airport for week 2.  (Not sure what is wrong with her, she does not like to tow the boat a thousand miles.  Dang woman!)  And Falcon, maybe in the next 2 weeks depending on how it goes, and Amistad.  Both are close and there is no good reason to not tap some of the best bass fishing in the country.  When fall comes I am trying to figure out how to do a trip to Lake Vermillion in Minnesota for a muskie or two, and some walleye for the Boss who loves eating them.  Hopefully some stripers on Texoma with Terry, fish more with neighbor Jesse, even a little debauchery with the Austin Boys, and anything else someone comes up with.

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That is all for today.  First I want to thank you all for another great year.  To those I have met, and those that I will, stop and say hello when you see me at the ramp, I would love to meet you.  And feel free to comment, send me your pictures, or never read me again if it does not work for you.  I will strive to make it interesting.

I hope to be back on the water tomorrow, depending.  But if not you will know where we are.  The spring bite is so close I can taste it and my casting arm is getting twitchy just wondering what is next.  Hug your kids, tell someone you love them, and take advantage of every day on the water.   Yell “Fish on!”, help a kid catch his first fish, take some filets to the neighbor, have a great time enjoying this sport we love so much.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines