EdB

What's the general opinion on global warming over there across the pond? The overall temps on this side the last few years have really been on the cool side. This winter is going down as one of the snowiest and coldest in many many years over here. Think Spring! And Think Summer too!

Nice pic Mike! I caught my first salmon off the Manistee pier in 1973 with my dad. I got hooked good then. I had my own 14 ftr rigged up with two home made downriggers from washing machine pulleys and a flasher depth finder by 1979. Had to count the turns and put big nails through the pulleys to set my depth. Getting a 5 king limit was not hard if you timed it right around the pier heads but I had more skunks than limits then because I didn't time it right. Once I had a double on by myself right off the Ludington north pier. When I got the second one in, about 30 tourists walking the pier all started a round of a applause for the lucky punk in the little boat. I learned a lot the hard way and I can remember more than a few 2-4 hour drives to get to a big lake port to watch the waves crashing or just to big for my little rig. Got to fish some bigger boats with friends through the 80s and there was no looking back.

Matt, Sounds like a great class. Did you learn anything you are going to apply this summer?

qdm .

Clair, I sent you a PM with the details ( I will for any member here) but got an error after sending it. If it didn't come through, let me know. I won't post specific river locations for lurkers.

We had the little boat out yesterday: http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12291

My buddy and I hit the river yesterday, I hit one and lost it. He hit one and landed it. We were drifting spawn. The river is in good shape but it's cold.

Very nice, that big steelie is a hog! Winter is my favorite time on the rivers for steelhead. The bite is not as always consistent but the lack of crowds and long stretches of water to yourself make it worthwhile.

Merry Christmas to all for here too!

One of my good friends had a golden retriever for many years. His boat is named Retriever. His dog Bo loved to be on the boat. Goldens really love water. Make sure you plan to spend some days at the lake or a beach where you can play some water fetch. They are a great duck dog, you might want to get into that too with your sons and the new dog. Congratulations and enjoy your new addition to the family!

Found this print of hawk on my deck. Looks like a song bird had a bad day.

That is a great pic of that bedded buck!

Congratulations!

Check the release for grooves, cuts or nicks. I had this happen with it breaking at the rod tip. After I inspected it, the ceramic eye was cracked and was quite sharp. It was cutting the line. After I fixed the tip, it never happened again. I use power pro as core back and I've never had it happen on a board release. Maybe yours have some groove worn into them? You can buy and replace the release clips if they are.

I'm glad it all turned out ok. I'm glad the barb didn't get into you eye. Quite a few years ago, a buddy my boat on our lake to go bass fishing. He came back with a hook, barb included, through his eyelid and lodged into his eyes. He needed surgery to remove it and only had 75% vision in that eye now.

I wish he would have stepped out broadside in front of you Mike, that's a very nice buck!

That's a great buck, congratulations!

Here's a pic of our deer camp. There's a bunch of goons.

Deer camp was great for the past week. I just got home tonight after a week of hard hunting and lot's of fun with some awesome friends. The hunting was great, the laughs were hearty, the weather was great most of the time, the food was delicious and the Springbrook Deer Co-Op is showing results. Our property is linked to the 4000+ acres of this co-op in NW Jackson County. Everyone participating is trying to let the small bucks live and grow up some. There are 3 of us staying in camp but we have 1 to 3 other buddies hunt with us through the week. On opening day, we all saw lot's of does and let 5 bucks walk for the 6 guys hunting that day. We only buck hunt during deer camp and harvest does later in the season and in December. We had good action on day 2. Some bigger bucks were spotted but no shooters in range for anyone. On the morning of day 3, by buddy John takes this great 9 point. It is a real nice buck! We have all been seeing some smaller bucks each day and good doe movement. On day 4, I let a small 10 point walk by, he had a little basket rack and was only a 1-1/2 year old. He will be much nicer next year. After he walked by, I see a real nice buck that was a shooter but he stays in some thick stuff and doesn't offer a shot. Deer movement slowed some on Wed, Thurs and Friday morning but we still saw some deer. Someone spots at least one good buck on 6 of the 9 days in camp. Some days multiple shooters were spotted. Those reports back at camp sure kept it exciting. On Friday night, everyone had good deer movement. This buck hops the fence onto our property and heads my way. I let him come into about 50 yards, took the shot and got him. He is decent for a 6 point. Saturday morning deer movement was great and a number of smaller bucks were seen and passed. It looks like quite a few are going to make it to another year. I was a watcher for the rest of the weekend but it was great end to see about 15 does and one 5 pt buck walk by in gun range this morning. It was sad to pack up and come home today. Since the Springbrook Deer Co-Op was started, everyone in the area has been seeing more bigger bucks around. Voluntary deer co-ops between landowners and hunters are a great way to manage your local herd. Good luck everyone still hunting! I'm not done;)

That is a well done mount and a real trophy!

I've dabbled in it but have never put a lot of effort into it or been successful. The yotes around here are increasing their population and I'll probably hunt them harder this winter. Thanks for the links Bill.

Good luck next time on those geese. It was kind of slow for us too. My partner got 2 and I got blanked yesterday. We each got a goose today and he got one duck. We both missed a few shots. At least we had more than a few good laughs in the blind!

A Yeck Wart Frog was an oldie but goodie this season.

Congratulations, even more special taking him with a bow!

I've been hunting hard the last 4 days. Saturday, we took a local conservation legend to the duck blind. Martin is 83 years old and he still hunts a lot. Martin has built 100's, perhaps 1000's of wood duck houses in his lifetime. His design is unusual, he builds them from old water softner tanks. They are all over Jackson county. If you're around this area, you probably have seen a few. He has also banded loads of wood ducks in his lifetime. It was bluebird day and I wasn't expecting much but I was wrong. The duck action was great the first hour and we got 8 ducks for the morning. I bow hunted the evenings and no big deal, does and a couple yearling bucks. Back to the duck blind Sunday, another blue bird day and the ducks acted like it. We only shot 2. We chased pheasants on Monday. It was our worst opener ever and we only flushed one rooster out of range. It's kind of sad to the steady decline of pheasants in our area the last few years. I went to a wood duck marsh the last two evenings by myself. This is a honey hole on state land that doesn't get much pressure. Had some good shooting there and I got 3 wood ducks each night. Looking forward to Saturday AM and hopefully some ducky weather.