Jeff R

Looks like you did a great job with the rink Cliff...Bring lots of smiles for sure

Congratulations Roy, and a Very Happy Birthday to the both of them...

Outdoorguy and GCD......if you go in the summer, I was told that the action is so good that the water actually appears to be bubbling with all the activity.. and as a forewarning, the CO's are out in full force on the weekends. We were visited twice on the water, and another waiting at the launch... Yes Shawn, they do keep them. I was told they are great eating. Once they hit about the 4-5 pound mark, then the flesh along the lateral line has to be removed, or else they get a strong fish taste to them...There quotas are very liberal there as well. They have increased the limits after there stocking program was super succesful. It is figured that just over 60% took and spawned. So now you are allowed 10? over 20" and unlimited under 20. Apparently, there are not enough people fishing to keep the numbers down, so they have increased the limits.

Hey all, hope all is good in the new year. Haven't been around much lately, as work has been extremely busy. Have been averaging 84 hrs/ week since we got back from the Quinte G2G. Well enough of the boring stuff. Decided to book some time off, and after much internet perusing, got my g/f a trip to Vegas for Christmas. I have never been, and after doing some reading up on Lake Mead, it was pretty much a done deal. .....Fortunately, the weather stayed nice for the trip. and was lucky enough to have a sunny 57 degree day to do some striped bass fishing. Apparantly it is a slow time of year down there, so it wasn't to hard locating a boat.....The lake scenery was beautiful, considering the lack of vegetation, and the water was crystal clear blue. The water temp was 52 and we were fishing in 100-120 FOW....You have to catch your own bait, as you can't buy it for some reason..I was told that during the late spring and through summer months, you throw out your casting net, and pull out enough shad to last 2 days. We however, threw for 1/2 hr, and managed 9 shad. It didn't help that there was stripe tourney going on.. We finally got to the first spot about 7:15, dropped anchor and set up...We were using L rods, with 6 lb test, 3/8 oz weight about 18" above the shad. Just before 7:30 I managaed my first stripe, almost 2 lbs, good fight from 90 ft down Managed a few more about the same size, before the anchor came loose, and we headed off to a new spot...Didn't take very long to get into some more action this one hit on the way down at about 60-70', had to hold him a little closer to the camera, came in at about 1 1/2# this was my big one of the day and a PB I guess, 3#1oz... We managed some smaller ones after that and headed in about 1:30.. We were going to try and hit some trophy size but a 35 mph wind came up on us from the south. With 30 miles to blow along, it didn't take long to get some big rollers happening.....No complaints though, managed to boat 18/23 fish, with only 2 ( that we saw) lost to bladder burst... As a couple of points of interest, 10 yrs ago Lake Mead held 28 acrefoot of water ( I had never of such a measurement. 1 acrefoot equals approx 325,800 gallons) just over 9 million gallons. While it has lost 12 acrefoot, many spots are still over 300' deep. It is also home to 11? different species of fish. This bank is somewhere in the 80-90' high range with a channel marker on top Was hoping to get out ice fishing before I headed down there. But those plans didn't work out so well...Maybe soon Jeff

Awesome start on the New Year with a PB...Way to go Joey!!! Many Congrats

Good Morning Lew, and A Very Happy New Year to you and yours as well..

Congrats to you and the family Shelley...That's an awesome way to bring in the New Year...Best Wishes

Off Boxing Day and the 29th (so far)...don't mind it this year as the boys are with their mom for the holidays this year except Boxing Day..

Good news for sure Rick...Alot of vets I've dealt with over the years are more humane than some of the doc's..He will be in very good hands, and it won't be long before it's a distant memory...best of luck with the surgery

Just got home from my last call, and if no more come in before 8 am, then I will have 25 1/2 hours off. So we would like to to extend Best Wishes and Best of Health in the coming year..Hope your Christmas was awesome Jeff and Family

Not to worry Photoz, there is no best before date....As long as they are stored properly, not left in sunlight, or abused then they will last for a long time...But just like life jackets and float vests, toss it in the water once a year anda make sure it floats Hope that helps ya

Well done Cliff, looks very creative and some mighty fine hadiwork with the tools

sounds like a good night Gerritt, will have to check work schedule to see if I can do a trade or might even have night off

welcome......there used to be a good place to go for turkey, haven't been there in a few years, but wasn't on private property....have to look and see if it's still public...but worth the drive (about 1 1/2 hrs from Miss.)

Sorry there are no pics, but unfortunately when you pile 60 lbs layering on an already 2(um)00 (and a LITTLE +) guy, then slide him into a pair of size 11 kamiks, well the plastic battery holder for the camera doesn't fair so well stuck to the sole of said size 11's. For those of you who don't know, this trip was a b-day present ( thank-you Gerritt and Roy for the help) for my oldest son Kyle. Between that and getting to meet and hang out with some great people from this board, it was hard not to be amped up...................We arrived just after 7 am Fri, and was not liking the look of the water....We slowly made our way around for introductions, with the help of DouG, and made our way to over the cabin with Joey, Paul, Shelley, Chuck, and BMMike...............I'd say meeting them first thing in the morning was better than a morning cup of coffee, but the way java was going down, there'd prbably be few arguements to the contrary......After helping them switch cabins, we hung out for bit more, getting caught up in the cheering and booing everytime the flag down at the water changed direction................by about noon, we had pretty much given up on getting any fishing in, as the water was just crazy. So instead we hung out and tried to meet some of the late arrivals, and some of the ones who had managed to venture out in the water.............amongst all the mingling, we managed to sample some of GCD's amazing fish cooking techniques. Mighty fine meal Glen................. After a nice bonfire and more chat, it was off to Saturday...............A big thank-you to Oldphart and Slug for letting us fish with him. They were great company and we had a great time. Although we were marking fish everywhere, we just couldn't put them on the hooks. The best I could manage was 45 ft of 20# line with a few twigs in it............. the afternoon fish was almost as uneventful, but a few eaters were landed. We tried to stay as long as possible so Kyle or I could bring one in in, but after seeing the menu for the potluck, well, fishing was just going to have to wait.................I would like to send a big THANK-YOU to Mike the Pike and and his cabin for hosting the potluck and each and every for the fine fare they brought...I was full just looking....ok, maybe not...But I could have been...............Also a huge thank-you to Joey for organizing the Dave Mercer T-shirts and running the OFC General Store.................Sunday, unfortunately, proved to be as unsuccessful in the fishing department. Well, at least we only have up to go for next year...................I want to thank-all who were there for making it a pretty memorable trip for Kyle. HE hasn't stopped talking about it since. He even spotted Chuck and Shelley across a parking lot on the way home and went running over to say hello...................You all made us feel welcome and feel like we have been part a long standing tradition................If you can't hook into a fish, then try and hook up with this group...they are all amazing Thanks that didn't get fit in: Corey, Gerritt, Bill P, Bitsmith for letting us crash with them Shawn for the technical poop chat Paul, Joey, Chuck & Shelley, for the warm welcome Goodbye's that got missed: Roy, you were gone by the time we got loaded up, hopefully we'll get to see you next time GCD, pleasure meeting you, and really enjoyed your cooking, DouG, lot of fun hanging out with you and sharing stories Cliif & Carol, Weekend went to quick, but looking forward to see you and my fav fellow WOLVERINE again For those that I missed, I look forward to meeting you all again Jeff

Awesome...Thanks all.... Jeff

Just catching up here....Kyle and I were also part of Gerritt's cottage, hoping someone has some room left...we can bring an air bed... Jeff

Way to go on the first.... That water looks clear enough to be a backyard pool....that is a sweet sight

Awesome scenery ec.....that truly is an amazing way to start the day...

Very nice fish and thanks for a great read....way to keep upping the PB..... don't think it will be long until you're reporting a triple

Very nice openeing day....and have to admit, jealousy setting in here too

I confused Gerritt's dates on the calendar and booked the Thurs and Fri off. If oldphart is ok with a Fri morning pick up, then we will be up there Fri morn............ Also wondering if there will be anyone from the GTA going up early that would be able to take a couple of presents up for me so they are in the cabin when we get there. My service route goes from Warden and 7 down to Pape and O'Connor....any help would be appreciated Jeff

If only to have the problem of Bass thumbs ...nice fish....looks like a few good days out there...congrats and thanks for sharing

It's never easy when a friend is as close as family. Be strong and keep the faith. You and you're friend are in our prayers Jeff

Don't have WFN, so first time I have seen it. Well done