Spring Is Here!!!

Well I got the boat out from behind the house this weekend. Of course, there are some issues, looks like I need to replace the tires and I think I am going to have to replace a seal for the gear case. Foxy's dad seems to think that replacing the seal shouldn't be too big of a deal, just need to take the prop off to see. It's pretty nice to walk into the garage and see the 'ole boat sittin there, just gives me a warm feeling inside. I might even take her out on Sunday for some walleye or crappie action.
I also went to La Crosse to pick up our new dressers this past weekend. Saturday was much crappier then we thought it was going to be and the fishing was slooooooooooow. I got one short crappie and that was it out of three of us. Hardly worth the $3 in minnows and 4 hours. Oh well, maybe next time. I'll post my results if I go this weekend.

Biggest Trout Eva

Well, not the biggest trout ever but for me it was. Now I've really only caught a handfull of trout, but I've really only been fishing them for about two years and in those two years have probably only gone fishing for them 10 times. I stopped by Token Creek on the afternoon of March 21st. It was probalby 35-37 degrees outside and sunny. I've read you are supposed to fish the early trout season during the warmest part of the day, I was there around 2:00. I managed a couple small ones in the 5-7" range. Then suddenly from out of nowhere this pig just slams my spinner, I saw him flash and said out loud "It's Huge!!!" I fought him for a good 2-3 minutes, on my 4lb test line and ultralight rod. She was probalby 15-16", I think it was a brown. I am having trouble determining what species I am catching. I took a quick pic with my phone, that turned out pretty poorly and released her. I was shaking and had to take a minute just to compose myself. What a fight!!! I continued on for a bit, but was down to one spinner. I managed another two small ones. I then decided I better head to the bait shop before I lost my finale spinner. White was the hot color, 1/16oz weight, I had already lost one other spinner and two mimic minnows. I went and bought three more white ones, from the bait shop in DeForest, nice old guy runs the shop. Anyway, by the time I got back it was really starting to get cold and I couldn't find any more fish. I did have a swing and a miss in the pond. I was quite happy with the day over all. Even the little guys fight like they have something to prove. Man would have loved to get that baby on the fly rod, but I have no idea how I would have gotten where I was in the trees with my 8ft rod. If I ever find my Bluetooth adapter for my PC -> Phone connection I'll post the pic, but thats not likely to happen any time soon. Not to mention the Pic is pretty poor.

On another note, if you are looking for a tasty listening treat. I picked up the Arctic Monkeys disk which I happened to hear about on some VH1 show Rox was watching about a week ago. It's actually really really good. The show hinted at a Strokes likeness and it's definately there, with a little more British tones to it. Anyway, good disk check it out.

Cold and Lonely

Welp, Foxy went on her first long trip since Boo was born. She left Saturday and won't be back until Thursday. In the previous weeks I was somewhat excited about the idea of potentially getting the boat out and taking her for a day trip somewhere. Well, Mother Nature in her cruel and unusual punishment ways has decided to delay spring a couple days. Average March Temps are generally in the mid 40's currently it's 34 and tomorrow is supposed to be 35 high. I have to decided to take the day off tomorrow regardless. I was hoping for warmer temps and the forecast looked to be fairly good for today and tomorrow so I scheduled some things for tonight, like playing computer doctor this evening for a former coworker. Foxy's Parents volunteered to take Boo overnight so I can pay this gentleman a visit. Hey, it's probably going to be worth $75 so I'm not complaining too much. The lower than normal temps have delayed the river walleye runs as well. I stopped by Indianford Dam yesterday for a couple hours and 0'd on walleye and snagged a carp....yay. So since I have the day off tomorrow I have decided to pull out the boat and just get her ready to go. I may hike over to Token Creek for a few hours in the afternoon for some trout action. I am also hoping to post my jig pic maybe tonight or tomorrow. Anyway, I have a few more lonely days left without the wife. I have to admit I do miss her quiet a bit, and I think boo is starting to miss her as well.

Make Your Own Jigs

This past weekend we went down to visit my Grandparents and have dinner at my Parents house for my Birthday. Since we were going to be at my GP's house I thought I would have my Grandpa teach me how to make his jigs. He was very excited. It's not real hard, and the best part is I already have a lot of the stuff I need from a Fly Tieing Kit my parents got me for Xmas a couple years ago. While Grandpa and I were downstairs, Foxy and Boo were upstairs teaching Grandma how to knit, although I think it was more of a refresher course. Foxy was very excited. I am really glad that I got a chance to learn the art of Jig making. I need to set things up in the basement so I can practice and maybe start making jigs next winter. I will have to get some lead, a lead melting pot, some jig molds, deer tails, and some other little supplies, but I have a bunch of that stuff in my kit. I will post a picture of my jig and one of grandpa's jigs for comparison soon.

Early Trout Season

Got to do a little fishing this past weekend, was supposed to hit the ice, but do to the snow storm on Sunday Charlie and I had to postpone. Seeing how I was all geered up to go fishing, I really wanted to get out, so I decided to head over to Token Creek, and try and find some trout. I needed to blow off a little steam after our plumbing adventures. We had our main sewer line backup into our laundry room, how I love wading in poop water. Turns out we had tree roots in our main that were blocking drainage. Then I was helping Rox and her Mom hang some new curtains in our kitchen and I broke a drill bit off in the wall. It wasn't a very pleasent day. So anyway, I head out to the creek. It was pretty cool walking in the woods while it was snowing pretty hard. At the first major bend I landed an 8" brown on a white Panther Martin spinner. That was my only fish, but considering I suck at catching trout I'll take it. I decided to use my GS Ultra light, to get around the trees.

Seeing how I had to take the day off of work yesterday so the Plumber could come excavate the weeds from our poop drain, I decided to hit the creek again. Had one swing and I miss just past the first bridge. Had a bit of a fiasco, because I didn't have my trusty Leatherman with me. During the early trout season, you have to use barbless hooks. Well, most lures have barbed hooks, so you have to use a pliers to squash the barbs. Of course I broke off and didn't have any lures with squashed barbs, I then had to run back to the house and grab a pliers so I could do some more fishing. I got skunked, but it sure felt good to be out. I also had a real nice chat with a guy who was fly fishing. He told me about a Trout Unlimited seminar coming up at Salmo Pond, it's free so I might have to head over there and get some casting lessons. He also told me about some changes to the new Lake Link website, that include topo maps for members, that also include lake structure and cover. You can actually click on the map and get the exact GPS coordinates to that point. Just in time for my new GPS unit. YESSSSSS!!!