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All posts for the month April, 2012

My 100th

Posted by thosnut on April 5, 2012
Posted in: Trout. Tagged: , , . 2 comments

Not a giant, but my 100th trout for the season

At breakfast, my wife asked me what I had planned for the day, and I couldn’t help but grin. The sun was shining and it was less windy than the day before. It’s been a crazy past week and a half with weather, working as a kindergarten aid for a day, a failed trip to Chicago, and lots of weird errands. Knowing that today was my day to head out early and be unburdened made the smile pop out.

My last job was taking my daughter to school, so I suited up in my waders and drove her there. I noticed that I didn’t quite get that big hug that I’m use too- must be the waders I thought. It was a cold morning and I had to wear gloves to keep my hands warm. My hands were down right failing to tie the easiest of knots. I was hoping the sun would warm everything and maybe even bring some caddis flies. I caught a number of small trout early on, but than everything slowed to a halt. The wind picked up and I was glad for my Tenkara rod, so that I didn’t have to strip in wet line.

I managed a few more hook ups, but could not bring them under control. I’ve almost felt cursed as of late. I have struggled lately to land any good fish. I have hooked into to plenty of them, but just when all seems well, the fish sheds my fly and swims away. The last nice fish that I caught was about 16” and he slipped from my fingers as I tried to take his picture.

The weather warmed up a little and I put away my gloves and the fun began. I didn’t catch anything greater than 12 inches today, but I did catch my 100th fish since the season opened on March 3rd. The caddis never showed up, but it was still a good day. I caught several more Brown trout and decided to head home.

On the way back to the car after fishing for about 3 ½ hours, I saw this skull and took its picture. The rest of the body was no where to be seen. The day ended warmer, but the caddis flies never showed for me. In all, I caught 14 Browns, but the day felt like it could have been better with some larger fish.

People are the Worst Beavers

Posted by thosnut on April 3, 2012
Posted in: Life. Tagged: , . 2 comments

I’m picky, but I believe that we should leave no trace of ourselves in the wild. When I am out in nature, I want to see nature and not evidence of people. Granted that I live in Wisconsin and not some remote wilderness or national forest, but when I venture out to lands designated for natural areas by the Department of Natural Resources, I like it to be natural.

I see so much waste out in the wild. I understand that the spring melt water has more than the usual debris, but it was a mild winter this year and there is still plenty of it. There’s the bait fisherman who leave the their bait container at the side of their fishing hole. The empty bottles and cans on the ground and the bottom of the stream bed. Once I fished a deep pocket with a submerged kiddy pool. Yesterday, I saw a rain gutter from a house on the side of the creek, and there is always fishing line within easy reach. Of course the hike to the river is never without evidence either. Gun shells, used condoms, one sandal, food wrappers, the milk crate in the middle of nowhere and you name it are always to be found.

I always say that humans are the worst beavers for their ability to take down all the trees and mess up a perfectly good area. I was taught to pick up after myself if you make a mess. This should be even more evident in nature.

That’s my gripe. Most of us get this, but the ones know don’t really stain that nature’s beauty moment.

Feel free to post your worst human beaver sign in the comments to share with everyone.