bigugli

Celebrated, as always, fishing with the clan.

Not a chance. Had me a 4 hour nap, cleaned the fish and ran out to the farm for the day.

Well, the daughter and I got out for a few hours Thursday evening on 16 Mile creek. The fish were biting. We caught bullheads and bluegills aplenty. More importantly we found a school of big crappie in the 11-12" size. Now for the crappy part. As we are packing up and loading the car, my fishing rod catches me. Somehow the jig that was set in the hook keeper got stuck deep in my finger and as luck would have it,I did not have my sidecutters in the van. So here I'm sitting in the parking lot with the jig and fishing rod stuck to my hand. Thankfully there was a boy scout troop, 97 Hamilton, on hand and they had a pair of cutters so I could cut off the head of the jig and free myself from the rod. So I drive home with hook embedded in the right hand, get my fish home and on ice, then run down to the Emerg by 9:30. I am typing this report out now at 3:30 in the morning. The nurses and doctor were a little unsure and hesitant to just push the hook out. For all this hassle they better be the best crappie I've ever tasted.

Nothing brats family time together. Great report.

Guess I was away when the crap was happening. A pity too. I loved reading "the adventures of Solopaddler". Can't blame Mike for backing away. P.S Great report.

Nice looking fish. Past couple of days have been just gorgeous

Temperate bases definitely have a different taste. Somewhat stronger than perch/walleye. Key to mellowing out the flavour is the same for cats. Bleed them, cut out the blood line, soak in milk. The bite was not super fantastic, but the fish were there. Even better, no white perch, and all bigger fish.

Finished from market, 10:30 Sat night, and had the family, gandkids included, all packed up and on the road by 2am for the 4 hour road trip to Windsor. It was a very long and busy day.. Over the course of the day, we would catch smallies, walleye, and, the target of the day, silvers. Made several donations to the river gods on the rocks, but the fishing was great for every one except the daughter's fiance. Guess he'll be on pink glove duty for the next little while. Pity we had to go home the same day .

For 3 years, there was a group of people trapping painted turtles at Charles Daley. I would call the MNR every spring, then they stopped showing up. I would like to believe they finally got caught.

Down here the big market is for those cute little painted turtles the pet stores always have.

Monsanto is a chemicals/synthetics giant. Long before they became the big GMO crop specialist, their claim to fame was all the synthetic yarns and wools we all wore in the 60's and 70's. The original formulation of Roundup is no longer permitted for agricultural use in Ontario. Glyphosate, however, is still in use as an herbicide. You want disturbing. Many chemicals banned in Canada are still in use worldwide. Canada will not inspect for, or ban foodstuffs treated with such chemicals, that we import. The government argument being that those chemicals are not illegal in the country of production. So it is OK for those producers to poison us, just as long as it is not a Canadian doing it. Think S American, India, China, South-East Asia Yes, but we do have genetically modified livestock.

I also know of a number of lakes without sunfishes or bass. Not that uncommon.

Larger house and much smaller yard. So I should have a little more fishing time. Even have me a room just for all my, and my grandkids, fishing swag and tackle making.

Great haul Simon

I think Brian hit it on the nail. We all choose to accept, or reject, the influences our elders have on us. Same goes for our children. I never had a father. A stepfather who was never a "Dad". Didn't fish, hunt, swing a hammer even, and was more married to his job than my mother. But I had fantastic uncles and a wonderful grandmother as I grew up. I chose to accept their influences and reject the role models of the stepfather and deadbeat dad. And there were some choices in life my mother was not thrilled with either. My kids have been taught what I could teach them in word and deed. It is entirely up to them what path they end up choosing. My kids did not start out as model sons and daughters. Like me, they've made mistakes aplenty. That's all part of growing and learning. I do see more and more of me and my values in them each and every day

George is my pal..... That is my granddaughter's nickname, and that is the exact Mel Blanc voice she hears when I call her name.

Took 3 days, but we are finally in our new digs. Smaller yard to look after, which means more fishing time. Also a roomier house for my granddaughter to grow into. I even get a dedicated fishing room. Now to spend a week unpacking so I can get back to making tackle.

Some beautiful pieces of work Chris

Just remind me in September

The only problem would be losing what's left of my fishing time.

In the words of the legendary George Carlin "It's OK to prick your finger, but.... "

There isn't a roadway in southern Ontario, short of the few kept clean by volunteers, that is not a pigsty. I cashed in $250 in aluminum last year picking up cans on my morning walks with the dog.

What he said! Was out on Sturgeon today and we could not keep the bluegills off the hook. Lots and lots in the 8-10' size. We were catching 4 gills to every crappie all day long.

Fresh crappie and gills for supper tonight with sides of homefries and slaw. Had to do something with the 2 dozen we caught last night.

Got out for the evening bite, yesterday, ahead of this latest cold front. Got a few blacks and whites in the 10'' range. I'm sure this latest front will have things screwed up for another 4-5 days.