Trip to Arkansas / November 2008

What a trip! Traveling from Utah in a van for 26 hours straight, one way with two toddlers, was my idea! Someone should have slapped some sense into me! Luckily I had Chelsea as a wonderful partner for the trip! Well, this is a hunting and fishing blog and not a blah, blah, blah, poor pitiful me girlie stuff blog. Well, I was able to go hunting at my grandparents place with a crossbow. Man it was cold! I saw nothing but turkey's. It was Thanksgiving! The girls were able to stop by and I took Cambree "hunting" and "fishing". It was great to take her out! I took the girls for a 4 wheeler ride! I love my girls! I hope they will be my buddies when they get a bit older. We are pregnant again and it is another girl. I just need to one to hang out with daddy!

We were able to head down to the pond a catch a few crappie.

Well, no deer at Grandpa's but I still knew I had deer camp in Southern Arkansas. The first evening there I was able to get a doe out of my system. It was pretty dark when I shot so I hoped it was a doe and I lucked out! I don't usually hunt like that but I felt pretty confident.

Let me back up and set the setting.

Dad and I left after church and headed to deer camp. It is about 2 hours from my parents place in Arkansas. I have been going to this camp for years and have always been able to take a few deer. Dad and I arrived with temps in the 50's and it felt like fall. We quickly set up camp and went out to find a place to hunt. Dad had a place in mind. Not many acorns left because of the all the wild pigs and deer around. We decided to place my stand on an edge of hardwoods adjacent to some pines. I could see at some points around 60 yards. All the leaves already had fallen and made listening easy for any movement. Dad found a skull of an 8 point just below the tree were I placed my stand. There were a few acorns left and a bit of deer poop around. I was more interested in a decent buck rub just behind my stand. The deer rut had just started and we anticipated some bucks chasing does. This might help out in seeing more active, "stupid" bucks chasing some lovin. I did not see any deer the next day. A cold front moved through and seemed to slow down everything. The next morning the wind calmed down and a nice frost was on the ground. I was able to be up and ready in the stand at daybreak. Around 7 am, I hear a buck grunting towards the east around 75 yards away in a patch of hardwoods. I can only catch glimpses of deer moving because the sun is now directly over the trees and placing a glare in my scope. I am thinking to myself, is this really happening? They have to come out where I can't see. On and off for an hour, I hear and see them occasionally. At this point I am frustrated and I want to kill a buck. The next thing that happens has never happened before in my life. I brought Chelsea's blackberry because it takes photos and video and it was turned off. Unbeknownst to me, she had it programmed to come on at 7 am Mountain time which it was then 8 am Central time. A nice tune was echoing throughout the woods and if the words that crossed my mind were spoken, the deer would've learned a few "new" words! I sat in disgust. Did that really just happen? I thought for sure that any animal within a mile would be gone. I mentioned that the bucks were "stupid" because they had women on their minds. About 15 minutes later, I catch some movement in the area where all of this activity is happening. A doe is walking quickly and I quickly focus on movement behind her. I see a buck and take no time to pull the trigger and send the buck on his way. He runs about 40 yards and stops, I decide to put another one in him. It is a solid hit and he runs off into the pines. When I shot the second time, I notice more deer than I initially saw. Two smaller bucks were too chasing as well. I quickly come down and go and see my prize. By the way, we had tenderloin two days later. Delicious! The buck was a nine point with 15 1/2 inch spread. Nothing huge, but the largest I had ever killed.

Man I had a great time! Dad and Scott(oldest brother) also were able to harvest some deer for their families. I miss the South. I miss my side of the family. I am a bit homesick! It is like having only one slice of pie, just enough to know how good it is and leaves you wanting.

Bear Lake, UT 10/18/09

A buddy of mine grabbed me at basketball and invited me to go fishing. We have taken this trip last year for lake trout or mackinaw and have had some success. Bear Lake is located in Northeast Utah and Southeast Idaho. Basic Information: -Elevation: 5,923 ft. -Length: 20 miles -Width: 8 miles -Shoreline: 48 miles surface miles -Depth: 208 ft. -Volume: 6.5 million acre ft.

The lake trout spawn this time of year over the rocks. People go out and try to illegally snag and keep the trout. We were able to keep two that actually bit. What a ride. The trout come in schools at night and cruise the shallows. All of the sucker fish come and eat the eggs. I did catch 3 of those unwanted.

We started the day with a 5 mile boat ride from the marina to the rockpile. We fished for over 3 hours and only had one taker. This is a picture of Mike, my buddy. Funny story- when he set the hook, his fireline broke. His line just sat there and he grabbed it so he was able to land the fish without the pole. It weighed around 7 pounds. At dark we were able to head back to the marina and fish from the bank and catch a few others. Here are the two fish we kept.

We had a great time! We didn't get back home until after 3 a.m. It was hard to get up this morning for church.

Mantua, UT 9/13 Bluegill ACTION!

As we sat around the house looking for something to do, we called the in-laws to see if we could grill some steaks. This of course is a family day and wanted to have quality time. The in-laws suggested we go out to Chili's and eat. Cambree and Tyler were up to it. The food was great! During the meal, I mentioned maybe we could go fishing. The men agreed! So after a few hours of family time, it was time to head out. Mantua is a 200 acre lake up in the Rocky Mtns. inbetween Logan and Brigham City. It is about a 25 minute drive from the house and is free to fish. We launched around 5:15 with a slight breeze from the NW. First fish was in the boat by 5:30. I rigged up a small lead headless jig with a small 1 inch black/chartruese jig tipped with a nightcrawler. I used this the entire time. We stayed till dark and kept 41 bluegill and 3 perch. It was a hoot and those things fight really hard for their size. Looking to head back later on this week if all goes according to plan.

Side note: I really have a great wife who deserves everything! She puts up with me and is the best mother in the entire world! I am so selfish and I wish I could give her the world or a maid so she wouldn't have to clean the house ever again!

Hopefully I'll get the pictures from the trip downloaded soon.

Elk Hunt 9/03

Buddy called me up at school. Happened to be my shortened day of teaching and I called home to get permission to go. Actually I said, "Woman, I am going huntin' and you ain't stopping me!" We headed up to the top of the mountains in pursuit of elk. We drove to where the ATVs were parked previously and hopped on. After an exhilarating ride of 12 miles over humps, bumps, rocks, and streams, we were there. BEAUTIFUL! My buddy had a stand over a water hole and I sat 70 or so yards on the ground from him able to see only a limited amount of area. About an hour before dark a few does showed up and fed through. A short time later an elk began to bugle only 150 yards away up over a bowl of pines. Man that was cool to hear 10 plus times! Unbeknownst to me, 2 elk were about 50 yards from me on the other end of the water hole. My buddy was concentrating on them as I was focused on one some 70 yards behind him he couldn't see. The two spike elk were in front of him around 60 yards and would not come in any closer. He wanted to shoot but it was getting dark and didn't feel he could put the arrow where it was needed. He let them walk and they went their way. Nighttime arrived and we made our cold 40 minute ride back to the truck. No elk but what a blast! Great riding, great views, great weather, great friend, and a great time. Can't wait to get out again!

Twin Lakes, Idaho 8/30/08

Answering the call of my father-in-law, we decided to go fishing. History-been fishing this lake for the past two weeks and have caught nearly 500 crappie. I have only been there 5 times and man it has been great! This fishery is primarily used for irrigation purposes because here out West, it is dry. The lake level drops daily and it can move the fish around. The first trip we had a blast with the bluegill and jumbo perch. It was fun! The times after, I had managed to find the crappie more precisely and targeted them. The crappie are no slabs but will fry up nice. The largest caught has been just around a pound. We catch a few bass here and there and some trout. Anyone who knows me understands that my desire for trout is limited. Nonetheless, sometimes they bite.

TODAY
Temperature
Morning Low: 50 degrees
High: 93 degrees
Water Temp: 68-72 degrees
Barometric Pressure: 29.66 and falling

A Low Pressure is centered over the Northwest into Canada. It is making its way into the state this evening causing high winds from the South. Temps will decrease substantially over the next few days with snow likely in the mountains on Monday. Highs Monday will be around 58 degrees and low around 40 on the valley floor.

My personal take on the Weather and Fishing

Man I hope I can go fishing. If the front comes in on Sunday, I will be at church and it will not matter. Maybe the fish will bite ferociously before the front. The past trips have been great so why not today. We have been going and staying only around 3-4 hours and catching over a 100 crappie. Today this pattern should continue. The lake is very clear and not too much fishing pressure. Depths vary but fish are being caught in around 10-12 ft of water just off the weed lines. The water temp is not very warm so the fish should not be heading deep. They are only deep now because the water is so clear.

The Outcome

Beautiful morning! Arrived at 7:30. One hour drive and No wind! Yet. Water has fell 2 feet since Wednesday and the weedline is very visible. Launched the in-laws boat and forgot to put the plug in. Started to fill with water. Had to stick my finger into the plug hole until we found the plug and load up and drain out. A disaster diverted but lost 30 minutes. Could not find fish. The spots that produced only 3 days earlier were empty with no fish arriving for breakfast. Man, I felt so anxious! I knew they were there but no takers. Finally found a few scattered along weed edges and nothing to brag about. Wind kicked up around noon. We stayed until 5 pm (die hards) and we kept around 50 fish. Most were crappie that I caught all but two, 5 trout, 3 perch, and 4 bluegill. Not a great day but fish were caught. My neighbor buddies fished today as well and kept around 60 fish. They seemed to find them better in a smaller boat and with a trolling motor and left two hours before we did. It was nice to have good time with family and be fishing.

My poor wife

She is stuck home all day with the kids and she doesn't feel well. I'm screwed. I help play with the girls a little more to give her a break. Get them ready for bed. Say prayers, brush teeth, get drinks, get binky twice after falling out of crib and crying. As I write this, Chelsea is putting away the dishes. She cooked dinner by the way. She is the best and really deserves a maid. :) I wish I could give her more. Maybe that will be another topic for another day.

Lanee

Picture for the day:

Brother-in-law John, Jonny, me in the boat, and father-in-law Dennis taking the picture!

Introduction

I love to Fish & Hunt! Chelsea (wife) thinks that I am addicted. I probably am but I think there are worse things out there. This blog will be an archive for my adventures of outdoor activities. I have a passion for the pursuit of game. I love fishing because every fish is a rush and could be a the next state record. No fish in the books yet. Hunting is the caveman coming out in me and I often think I was born in the wrong century because I would not mind fishing and hunting everyday to provide for my family. I hope to share my "truthful" fish stories and exaggerated hunting tales from Utah, Idaho, and Arkansas.

I grew up in Arkansas where my dad taught me how to crappie fish. I have caught a lot of fish and have been taught by a master. Man, Dad not only taught me to fish, but taught me respect, love, and confidence in myself. Being a teenager I remember how Dad would turn on the oldies on the punch car stereo (you physically push a button in and the dial would go directly to that station) and how I hated it. By the time I was seventeen, we would play "Name That Tune". My Dad p l a y e d me. Anyway, I hope this blogging will be fun and a good laugh to others. Grab your rod and put it in the back of the truck. Put your rifle behind the truck seat and let's go fishing and hunting. Lanee