As “They” say Now for the rest of the story~~~

This is part of the Winners response to the VALUABLE Gift!

“Here is the REAL interesting thing about that. When I first started going to

Canada that lure (rebel pop-r) was the primary lure that I used.

The 3 biggest bass that I’ve ever caught in Canada I caught using that particular

lure and I’ve got pictures of those fish with that lure dangling from their mouths

hanging in that room.”

~~~~

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww gave me Goosebumps!

Some History HERE!!! CLICK to read more.

The WINNING Fish Story

Give me a condor's quill!

Give me Vesuvius' crater for an inkstand! To produce a mighty book you must choose a mighty theme.

Oops, my bad, wrong fish story!!

Ah, before I start it needs to be said that this fall was not the best when it came to catching large game fish.

I attribute this to the lack of Dee’s famous fish soap.

~~~~

Anyway, my story begins on the afternoon of September 21, 2008 in a small bay on Brent Lake.

~~

It was a relatively uneventful afternoon punctuated by lots of wind and very few

fish. This is not a good combination for the wayward mind. I was with John.

He was fishing the south east corner of the bay.

Since things were not going well I decided to try something different.

I moved to the narrows leading into the bay.

After fishing for 30 minutes or so and without catching much of anything… it

happened!

~

No not a big fish but more of a big thought.

I thought that I would just lie back in the canoe and wait for John to get done fishing and then head back to camp.

Since John was about a mile away I figured I’d be waiting awhile.

~

Now, the key to what happens next is that John was about a mile away.

I figured that once he got through fishing and started paddling back that I’d be sure to see him in plenty of time.

Now, I’m sure you're wondering, plenty of time for what?

~

As soon as he started paddling towards me I put the rather large net that I was

using in the water on the opposite side of the canoe from which he was heading

towards. I had no fish but I wanted him to think that I had a really big fish.

~

To further "sell" this idea I leaned over the side of the canoe with my arm in the

water up to my elbow.

As John approached he started regaling me with stories of all the fish that he'd

caught and lost.

It took him a second before he realized that my arm and the net were both in the

water.

~

When he did he said "but I’m sure you've got something a lot bigger".

I said I did but that I didn't think I could get it in the canoe without his help.

As he came over to hold my canoe I lifted up the net and started laughing.

~

He looked momentarily startled and then started laughing the hardest I’d ever

seen him laugh.

Even though I did not have what you would call a "traditional" game fish in the

net I still managed to catch the biggest "sucker" I’d ever seen!

~~

NEXT Post the response from the WINNER!

Fish Challenge

This year like every year in the Fall, my Sweetie goes Fishing with the GUYS.

Has been like this for well over thirty years.

Last year I sent SPECIAL Soap for all that participated.

The results I was told were gigantic.

Fisherman’s Soap:

The perfect soap for fisherman and outdoor enthusiasts. It keeps the bugs off, masks the human scent, attracts fish, and contains fine pumice for exfoliating. With anise essential oil, this bar makes a great gift for the sportsman as well as a useful household soap, especially when preparing raw fish or meat. The smell of licorice (anise) masks human odor and that fish are attracted to its smell. As an added benefit anise oil has strong antibacterial qualities.

This year I needed something different.

This was what ensued

No Bones About It

Dear Anglers, fly fishers and other Hobbyists of the World’s Oldest Profession [or the Second one]

This is an occasion for you to make a “BASS” out of your legal prowess at finagling words.

It has come to our attention that most of you are known for your verbosity [none of us had a hard time believing that!] In an effort to enhance your forthcoming trip to the lands of our Northern neighbours. WE; your judges, have decided to CAST forth this challenge.

The challenge [Trial] being:

Knowing your propensity to be loquacious and your adroitness to, how shall we say, STRETCH the truth/ facts concerning your exploits / manipulate and dexterity as fishers of men…we set forth to each of you to come up with

YOUR “BEST FISH STORY”

Rules

We ask that you fine Gentle men, you pillars of society, you learned men, you defenders of all that is manly, etc. etc. etc… We humbly ask that you provide us with your best “WHOPPER of a Fish Story.

We could say, that you need to feel free to embellish your story, however we know how well you are able to CAST your

LI [E] NES… ;)

A diverse, politically correct, fair minded and balanced panel will judge all entries.

Stay tuned for the winning story

ABC Wednesday Letter " L"

Lure and that is NO LINE… ;)

~~~

Feel free to Join in here!

~~

Go To Mrs. Nesbitts Place

Fishing has been in my blood for years… This is the first photo of memory… I learned so much from this man; fishing was one of the many skills he offered… Just ask me how to operate a Band saw, or a Table Saw etc… there is so much more… I wish I had listened HARDER…Now.

~~ My Sweetie and I even went Fishing on our Honeymoon… ~~~ OH yes you may laugh…but tiz true… ;) Fisherfolk ~~ BY Robert Service

~~

I like to look at fishermen And often times I wish One would be lucky now and then And catch a little fish. I watch them statuesquely stand, And at the water look; But if they pull their float to land It's just to bait a hook. ~~ I ponder the psychology That roots them in their place; And wonder at the calm I see In ever angler's face. There is such patience in their eyes, Beside the river's brink; And waiting for a bite or rise I do not think they think. ~~ Or else they are just gentle men, Who love--they know not why, Green grace of trees or water when It wimples to the sky . . . Sweet simple souls! As vain I watchMy heart to you is kind: Most precious prize of all you catch, --Just Peace of Mind.

In terms of recreational fishing, a lure is an object attached to the end of the fishing line and designed to resemble and move like an item of fish prey. The purpose of the lure is to use movement, vibrations, and color to catch the fish's attention to make them bite the hook. Lures are equipped with one or more single, double, or treble hooks that are used to hook fish when they attack the lure. Lures are usually used with a fishing rod and fishing reel outfit. When a lure is used for casting, it is continually cast out and retrieved, the retrieve making the lure swim. A skilled angler can explore many possible hiding places for fish through lure casting. ~~~

History/Methods/Types I happened onto a great sale the other day. 75 % off fishing Lure Christmas ornaments. How Kewl is that! ~~ Here are the ornaments along with my tackle box~~

A Fishing line is any cord made for fishing. Important parameters of a fishing line are its length, material, and weight (thicker, sturdier lines are more visible to fish). Factors that may determine what line an angler chooses for a given fishing environment include breaking strength, knot strength, UV resistance, castability, limpness, stretch, abrasion resistance, and visibility.

Early Developments

~~

Fishing lines were often constructed from horse hair or silk thread, with catgut leaders. From the 1850s, modern industrial machinery was employed to fashion fishing lines in quantity. Most of these lines were made from linen, silk, and more rarely cotton or flax, sometimes with a waterproofing compound added during line manufacture

These Awesome RED HOOKS…

~~

well my Sweetie bought those for me last weekend…they are just to neat.

In my Tackle box is a Mini first aid kit and of course hand sanitizer. YUP Laugh again if you wish. Ever since I was a little girl and Daddy would pull those worms apart and there was this ICKKY STUFF…

~~

YUP I had to have clean hands, Goodness sake what if I wanted to play with my hair… HA HA!

~ ***An aside, I used a knife to cut the worms apart so their insides would not spill over onto my hands… Tee Hee

Some Where Over the Rainbow?

Finally some pictures from UP North! Still waiting for others to send more to me…

###############

“Over the Rainbow" is a popular song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written to showcase Judy Garland's talents in the star vehicle movie The Wizard of Oz, and it became her signature song. She would forever be called upon to sing it in all her public appearances.

###########

Katharine Hope McPhee (born March 25, 1984) is an American pop singer and actress who was the runner-up to Taylor Hicks on the fifth season of American Idol in 2006.

###########################

No bluebirds, but EAGLES! Of course gourmet meals over a crackling fire!

Bird Cookies?

Continuing my Late Summer walk I was able to get these photos of the Great Blue in our Creek. Memories of the first time we saw this large bird and “Stories”!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ummmmmmm wonder if my Sweetie is catching fish as well?

~~~~~~~~~~~ Great blue heron Ardea herodias Pronounced ARE-dee-ah her-ODE-ih-as

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~And ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Sacred Mallomar a sublime and elusive blend of graham cracker, marshmallow and a pure dark chocolate coating.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As for The Sacred Mallomar, OUR Version, ask our children!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The great blue heron is the largest heron in North America. It stands three to four feet tall and has a wingspan of almost six feet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Listen to the Call.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ardea means "heron" in Latin. Herodios means "heron" in Greek.

~~

Is it all Greek to me?

~~~~~~~~~~ SO EVERY FALL, amid the kind of hype that typically accompanies the return of the swallows to Capistrano, Nabisco rolls out the red carpet for the beloved Mallomar. Because the chocolate would supposedly melt during shipping, Nabisco says it can only offer the Mallomar from early October through April. So every September, publicists for Nabisco wisely distribute case upon case of fresh Mallomars to editors around the country.

~~~~~~~~~

"On November 13, 1913, another famous cookie was born.

~~~~~~~~~~ Or make your own

Take Off and Reflections

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Was to have been 9 am yesterday…they pulled out at 4 PM Seems the painters will be outta here Saturday Whooooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

@@@@@@@@@@@@@

As I began missing my Sweetie I honed in of some vines around the Koi Pond. Morning Glories, Cardinal Climber (Ipomea x multifida) and BLACK-EYED SUSAN VINE ( Thunbergia alata ). The Koi were so active that they made the reflections look so awesome. Hope you enjoy.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 8:30 am a call on September 13, 2007 location ~ Rice Lake, Wisconsin All is well at 55 degrees.

@@@@@@@@@@

Now I am off for the dentist…he is such a GAS, my dentist…Pun intended

Sunlight

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The reflections from the pond bathed the lilac tree in resplendent waves of gold. The trunk shimmered in an elegant undulating gossamer gown. ~~~~ The grapes heaved a sigh to entice being picked and the Mayflies swam the breaststroke in the sky. ~~~~ The cooling fall air temperatures bring on thoughts of The Boundary Waters. More on my Sweeties yearly visit to the Boundary Waters later…

~~~~

"Fly fast, mate quickly, die young." If mayflies had a motto that would probably be it. That's because these elegant insects have among the shortest adult lives of any insect. Indeed, scientists have named this group of insects the Ephemeroptera, Latin for "short-lived flyer."

~~~

Mayflies are insects which belong to the Order Ephemeroptera (from the Greek ephemeros = "short-lived", pteron = "wing", referring to the short life span of adults). They have been placed into an ancient group of insects termed the Paleoptera, which also contains the dragonflies and damselflies. They are aquatic insects whose immature stage (called naiad or, colloquially, nymph) usually lasts one year in fresh water.

~~~

The California poet Darren "Gav" Bleuel, for instance, had this to say about the insects

~~~~

“The mayfly never sees the dawn

But once before his end.

To think he’s born

Upon the morn

Yet not see one again.”

~~~~

The leaves from the Wild Cherry tree drift lazily down as if they are butterflies in no hurry for their descent.

~~~~

The Koi are dining in splendor!

Will and "Pond Orca"

After a grueling day of pushing, toting that barge and lifting that bale, it was time for our sons to CHILL OUT. It is amazing what one small container of worms, a pole, and a farm pond can do for the soul. Followed by grilled steak, fresh corn on the cob and potatoes. Plus promises of letting them sleep in tomorrow. ;) The leveling out for the patio by the little Koi pond is progressing. I had to chuckle to my self when I learned of the different levels of STUFF before the Flagstone is placed. Here it is ~ G. P. S. Yup bet ya could guess what I chuckled about. Not [Global positioning system] but Gravel ~ Pea Gravel ~ Sand ~ HA, I am easily amused. Here is to the efforts of our sons and my Sweetie. Pictured is the 3.7-pound Large Mouth Bass our other son got one on his line but it was only a 6 # test line, so that one got away with some dangling monofilament. Our guess is that it was larger, but who knows? Could just be a good FISH Story.

Announcement on this Father’s Day

After a lovely lunch of homemade Chicken Salad placed on a bed of mixed greens and garnished with pecans and surrounding this a medley of seedless green grapes and sliced cantaloupe. Back to the little Koi Pond. While we are re working the older Koi pond [getting ready to put in a flagstone patio area] our youngest son came upon three fish Baby Koi. The three have now joined the rest of their family in the newer pond. How Kewl is that? Also my Sweetie still needs to locate two more cards before he can open his “wrapped” gift. I finally bit the bullet and got the Red Chinese Maple of the other side of Sarah’s Pond. Hopefully we can get it planted today. Its color will work perfect with the color scheme of our home. Gray with trim and darker gray trim but the Soffit is a deep burgundy, perfect with the tree… But that is yet another project to begin after the roof is replaced. Soffit: The boards that enclose the underside of that portion of the roof, which extends out beyond the sidewalls of the house. Fascia Board: Wide board, which trims the edge of the roof and carries the gutter round the eaves.

Koi Names

Our youngest son and I were working on the new pond area and took time to watch the fish. With his help I had moved three from the little Koi pond over to this one. We had placed the three in the upper part. The next day I noticed the largest one nosing at the waterfall. The next day this one fish was in the lower pond. It hit be then Toulouse, because he/she had done the same thing in the little koi pond. I, of course shared this with him and he scoffed at my choice of names. He inquired what of the others? At that point we had only three and I said I had not thought of other names as yet. He suggested some names and the day went on without resolution. Then Rich brought out the new plants and four new koi on Saturday. By the time the third and most elusive of the original koi was nowhere to be seen in the upper pond. Again name bantering and the day wore on. Yesterday we came up with a tentative list of names. The jury is still out but I figure a few will stick.

1. Toulouse [too-looz'] the first escapee, a play on words for sure 2. His partner in crime possible named, Lautrec [loh-trek'] 3. The two fish that are mostly gray and hard to tell apart, Click and Clack the Tappit Brothers (aka Tom and Ray Magliozzi). 4. Something oriental… 5. Hondo, for a fish my son had, but then one daughter had a fish called Beer…

If you have any suggestions please feel free to share…