Return to Long Lake - Volume IV

My fishin' partner Mike and I have been going back to our old stompin' grounds since 2011. The wives decided to stay home this year so, as I often do, I decided to expand our little foray. John, my buddy Kurt and my old neighbor and good friend Jim and his son Jason joined us this year for our annual pursuit of crappies. As always, the fish cooperated and we pulled our limits in crappies and caught many, many nice sunnies as well. I'm guessing we each boated over 200 fish.
I've been going up to that area for over 40 years. Funny how the time flies by. How long will I keep doing this? Well, I've reserved a cabin for next year and as long as I've got guys willing to make the trip, I'll keep on a going up there.
Next week it's a local lake with a neighbor boy. Fishing won't match Long but that's OK. As long as the guy in the boat with me is having a good time, I'm having one as well.

Huntin' Turkeys

Hard to think of something better to do than hunt turkeys with good buddies. John, Kurt and I were at it again in SW Wisconsin last week. There are a lot of turkeys down that way and even though we had some tough weather, we heard and saw a lot of birds.
Kurt shot this nice 23+ pounder Saturday morning. It was his first bird and he did a good job of calling it in and making a nice shot. Opening morning I had three toms walk in with their harem of hens. I shot, I missed and they ran away. Uffda! Only shot I had during the whole hunt. Johnny saw birds but didn't have one close enough to shoot. We wanted Kurt to get one so were real happy with his success.
I was driving home last Monday thinking about the shot I missed. I was listening to The Byrds "My Back Pages" when I drove by the spot where Al was killed 22 months ago. I like that song. I miss my buddy......

Springtime in the Country

If you look real close you can see a grouse in the tree. Took this shot out the window this morning. He, or she, was busy eating buds off a tree. Grouse like snow and thrive in it so he, or she, should be real happy cuz we've got ANOTHER FOOT heading our way!! Gotta love that global warming.
Finally got out to the meadow and set up a trail cam. Woods still difficult to walk in and it's gonna get worse before the week is out. Saw a few sets of deer tracks and did capture one doe on the camera. When I was walking Cody on the road last week I did hear two gobblers. First season starts today and I pity the guys who have to hunt in this mess. I used to but finally wised up. Gobblers have a couple more weeks before they have to worry about me.
Went out to the garage and looked at my boat. Thought about cleaning her up, installing the trolling motor and putting new line on a few reels but after hearing the weather report, said screw it. Think I'll go read a book.....

March 27, 2001

Eric - There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you. Life has never been the same.
You were, and are and always will be my hero. I love you my son.....   Dad

"Where Have All the Flowers Gone"?

Great song by Peter, Paul and Mary. Think I'll have to include that in "Dewey's Greatest Hit Volume III"
What a winter!!! Went ice fishing in 65 below wind chills, smashed up my truck on black ice and then drove to Texas to get out of the cold. Oh, they had a huge ice storm while we were there and we even lost power where we were staying. Uffda!! At least we got to spend a week with good friends, more on that later.
The DNR has a formula by which they gauge winters and how that effects game populations. The numbers are off the charts. The locals tell me this is the worst winter since 1992 and since I was hunting up here then, I remember it well. I'm guessing it will be bucks only up here as they expect a large number of deer to die because of the cold and snow depths. The wild turkeys are being hit hard as well. I hunt in southern Wisconsin so should be OK down there but we also have a license for up here. Hopefully there will be some survivors.
Cody and I still manage to trudge out to do a little walking in part of our woods. We have been jumping a grouse now and then. Grouse actually like deep snow so maybe I'll have to do a little bird hunting this fall, or maybe do some fall fishing. Once I get all my trail cams out I'll have a better idea as to what I'm faced with up here.
I mentioned our friends in Texas. PeeWee just this last year received a kidney from one of here sons. She was on home dialysis for the longest time and has had some serious health issues because of her failing kidneys. Though at some time I will post it on Facebook, I did want to mention that because of her, I have signed up to be an organ donor. I don't know who would want any part of me but once I'm gone, why should I care? I had her send me an organ donor magnet sticker which I will place on the tailgate of my nice, fixed up truck. I normally don't advertise or promote things but this is important. It costs me nothing but maybe I can help a person or persons once I am gone.