Fishin' stories.

Finally gettin' around to posting this stuff. It's been a busy week, and it's not over. I have to go to San Saba tomorrow, and next Friday, to make up for the classes I missed last week when I flew to Syracuse NY to go fishing with my cousin Bob and the guys.



I fly in and they drive by from Pensylvania the next morning and pick me up on the way to Gananoque, Canada. It's always great to see Bob again. You can get a great feel for our relationship from this little video.





The lake is beautiful, and the fishing is usually good.



We upgraded to a little nicer cabin this time, paying a little extra for a place right down by the water and the dock.



The food is always great too. I knoiw, you're thinkin' "hotdogs and mac-n-chese out of a box?" Yea, but it's all cooked with love! And this is just the first nights meal.



The second night we had Pike filets (from two decent sized fish the guys had caught), and more mac-n-cheese out of a box (LOVE that stuff).



The third night we had steak and baked potatos cooked on the grill, and the last night we had chili. So, as usual with anyone in my direct vascinity, we ate well!



We fish hard when we go on these trips... Up early and out on the water, back for lunch, then out again till dinner, and then out again till sunset. But in the meantime, we relax. We're probably better at that than we are at fishing. Well, I am anyway. And when we relax by the shore, there are usually critters there to join us.



This Blue Heron is a regular visitor. When it's not taking Chipmunks or Bluegills from near the water, it's wolfing down scraps from out table.



A few Seagulls even joined in on the fun. And we even had another little visitor who slithered by a few times.



We even saw this one, or one like it, slitherin' across the lake towards out dock one day.



Of course, we also love the scenery up there (click on this one, or any of the others, for the larger version). The natural beauty of the place is amazing to behold.



There's nothin' like slowly drifting down a river, lookin' for just the right spot to wet a hook.



When it comes to bringing in a good fish, there's no tellin' how many hundreds of casts can go into each catch. But in the end, it's all worth it. Now and then, the gods reward your patience.



Like last year, I didn't catch too many big ones this time. But nether did the other guys, so I didn't feel so bad. I caught enough to have a great time, and that's what really matters.



Anyway, most of the fun I derive from these trips is found in the quiet times, sittin' around after a great meal with a cigar in one hand and an adult beverage in the other, or a spare brat, solving all the worlds problems with my friends.



Eventually, sadly, the time always comes to hit the road for home. I Hate that road, but I also look forward to the welcome home I'll get from my special little lady. And then I look forward to the next years adventure. We've been coming up here for a long time, and there's no sign of it ending. In a few years, it'll all be made that much more special when Bob's Grandson (Scot's son) Gabe gets old enough to join us.



Sunday morning, after paying the bill, we drove back into the USA and back to Syracuse, where my return flight was awaiting me. Who knew the return flights would be so screwed up by this very rainy weather? I didn't get home until almost 4AM Monday morning, but that's another story.

The trip, Gananoque 2010, was a wonderful time. If you want to see more pictures and captions, click over here. Enjoy. Cheers!

Goin' Fishin'.

Time to head back up to Canada again, as I do every year (most years) about this time. Time to get together with my cousin Bob, his son-in-law Scott, and Bob's long time buddy Jim, drink some good booze, eat some good food, smoke some good cigars (maybe even a few Cubans), and see if we can catch the mother pike... Pikezilla.



We're goin' back to the same lake and lodge we always go to... Griffin's Lakeside Lodge on lake Gananoque, near Kingston Ontario. It's a beautiful place, with nice folks runnin' it. We've been goin' there for about five or six years now, so we pretty much know the lake, and where the fish are. It makes it really fun, goin' back year after year.



While the other guys use their high dollar fancy gear, baitcasting reels, with a birds nest for every eighth or tenth cast, I stick with my trusty spinner. Well, Bob's spinner. He provides the gear. I just have to show up, cigars in hand. Pretty good deal if you can get it.



I was really lucky a few years ago (this was maybe 2007 or 8). You're lookin' at the largest Pike of that trip. I went through several years where I really didn't catch much of anything, and then all of a sudden I was catching all the fish and the guys were pissin'. That felt GOOD.



Last year though, I was the only one who didn't catch a big one. It sucked, but I had fun anyway. After all, it's not just about bringin' in the big ones.



Hell, when things get slow I pull out a little ultralight rod and hit the pan fish along the bank. Maybe try dippin' for Croppy. I have just as much fun catchin' them as I do the big ones.



Well, no, that's bullshit. I do have fun with the littluns, and with a few illegal lunkers that hit the little worms I toss for the pan fish (they have a season on Large and Small Mouth Bass up there, and this ain't it). But it does suck when my luck runs dry and I have to see all the other guys bringin' in the nice fish.



One of these days... One of these days I'm gonna hook ol' Pikezilla. That bitch is gonna die and go on my wall. It's gonna be mythic... Homeric... Old Man and the Sea type shit.

But, until then, I'll just enjoy the good times, and great company, and the blessings of my life as it finds me these days. I love my cousin Bob to death. He's like a big brother to me, which is something I always yearned for but never had growin' up. But hell, now I have a hand full of close friends who fit that bill. Have I said that it's really, really good to be me right now?

So, you guys try to have a good week while I play. I'm takin' the laptop with me, so maybe I'll be able to post a few good pictures during the week. We'll see. You guys enjoy yourselves and we'll get together again on the other side of this one. Cheers.