“Not only good lookin’, the girl was so smart, can’t beat her cookin’…”

Use Ta Be My Girl – The O’Jays (1978)

(Note: Always dug this tune and those lines apply to my wife, Julie. Don’t be misled by the title though as she is still my girl.)

Camping fare fave, taco in a bag/bowl – July 14, 2017

What’s a guy look for in a wife?

I guess part of my checklist in terms of outdoor appeal went something like this:

Does she like to fish? Check

Can she set up a tent? Check

Is she okay sleeping in that tent? Check

Is she good with being the one to open gates on occasion? Check

Can she start a campfire? Check

Can she cook without a kitchen? Check

Yep, I got a good one in Julie, all icing on the cake after that stuff I suppose.

And beyond the goods for taco in a bowl/bag as shown above, she also sets us up with camping grub like breakfast in a bag, pizza pockets and omelet in a baggie. Sure beats my old school bachelor camping fare of hot dogs, sandwiches and little chocolate donuts.

We make a good team as her efforts allow me to take the lead on some of the other important camping stuff.

Fishing poles? Check

Tackleboxes? Check

Waxworms? Check

And so on…

Talk to you later. Troy

“When I step out I’m gonna do you in…”

Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top (1983)

Looking to battle some bass – July 22, 2017

Last weekend I went to the QCCA Outdoor Show up here in the Quad Cities. While attending, I took in a pair of seminars including one presented by a fellow named Jim Crowley of Hook & Hunt TV.com entitled “3 Rigs for More and Bigger Bass.” It was an entertaining and informative presentation with the three standard items that I typically take away from such talks.

1. Most importantly, I learned some new stuff. You can’t help but do so when listening to and observing folks who not only know their craft but also know how to convey it.

2. It’s always cool to get some reinforcement that I’m doing something right when I can nod my head along with what the presenter is laying down.

3. Inevitably there is advice or refinements passed along that ain’t gonna happen because I am either too old, too stubborn or too broke. Should I know better in many cases? Absolutely, but I’m in tune with most of what I do and how I do it.

Specifically, one of the comments that stuck with me from Jim Crowley’s seminar revolved around an angler also being a hunter. Technically, I do not hunt if we are talking traditional firearm or bow pursuits but as a fisherman I am sure employing many of the same strategies as I look to cross paths with my quarry. Good point, makes sense and never really thought of it that way before.

Good thing is though, as a fisherman you don’t have to invest in head to toe camo, face paint, hunting boots, a Ghillie suit, scent blockers and so on. Sure, there’s something to be said about a bit of stealth in bass fishing but me and some of the bass population that I chase have become well acquainted over the years.

They know me, I know them, we both do our thing and let the best species win.

So in terms of the attire in today’s pic, nothing too fancy, it’s just me. Floppy hat Version 2.0 dates back to 2009 and those tennis shoes and shorts will make another appearance later this year in a Friday Flashback post from 2009 as well. I am a creature of habit and as frugal as can be; if it ain’t darn near utterly destroyed don’t throw it out. The GoPro, however, is a recent addition but it was a much appreciated gift as detailed in an earlier Blog Banner post.

I will let you in on one secret though when it comes to appearance and bass fishing. A secret that I have been working on and experimenting with for probably close to 35 years.

You see that beard?

Well, I figure that a lot of those bass below the surface are looking up towards many of the presentations in my normal repertoire such as buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, lipless cranks and wacky rigs. So, by continuously enhancing the gray in the beard it blends in well with any sort of cloud cover thus boosting the odds that my presence will go undetected. I will also add that the floppy hat is a must on sunnier days as it eliminates any glare from a steadily evolving thinning hairline (guess that’s two secrets).

Folks, this is free stuff here but I am available for outdoor show seminars and can be reached at the email address or Facebook link at the top of the page. I’ll pretty much be here every night too as this Blog Banner series unfurls.

Talk to you later. Troy

“Ah, sometimes I grow so tired

but I know I’ve got one thing to do,

ramble on.”

Ramble On – Led Zeppelin (1969)

Just another day of chasing those Knox County, IL strip mine bass – April 21, 2018

You know, at the outset of this project I stated that each post would have an associated song lyric and I’m sticking to it. However, this one sure begged for a movie line so I elected to use it for my title.

If you do not recognize the line, it comes from the movie “Field of Dreams”, one of my favorites as baseball is another of my passions. I always have a good time seeing where these posts are going to go and it’s fun when I can work in a little something extra. But we’re sticking to the fishing part of the outdoors today.

These days my “Field of Dreams” is an expanse or two of strip mine terrain pockmarked by a bunch of fishing holes. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of covering such overgrown, undulating, eroded landscapes on foot you understand that the stuff of dreams can sometimes turn into a bit of a nightmare.

Too many times I have found myself fishing my way into the mess, hopping from pothole to pothole while reeling in solid numbers of bass only to have reality holler at me that it’s a long way back to the truck. Yeah, but there’s one more spot I’d like to hit since I’ve made it this far…and maybe that other one to the east is worth a shot…

Nothing like being well over a mile from the truck, sweaty and beat but with no choice but to put your head down and wade your way back. And that mile plus estimate is the old “as the crow flies.” Folks, there is no such thing as a straight line in this environment. Nor is there anything that resembles “flat” for more than the length of a long cast.

Nope, if you’ve elected to go the distance out, you’re stuck with going the distance back. Every time I do this thing I always wind up with another familiar lyric playing in my head as I kick myself for trying it again.

“I do believe that I’ve had enough.” Time for Me to Fly – REO Speedwagon (1978)

Sure would be nice to fly, too.

Anyway, on the specific trek recorded in today’s screenshot I wound up landing 19 bass. So that’s what, roughly 637 steps per bass? That’s a lot of work, makes you wonder if it’s worth the effort to go the distance.

Stay tuned for the 2019 verdict as those fishing holes open up again in April. Talk to you later. Troy

“He’s gonna get caught, just you wait and see,

Why’s everybody always pickin’ on me?”

Charlie Brown – The Coasters (1959)

Bigfoot sighting, Macomb, IL – July 4, 2017

Bigfoot was introduced to our children at a very young age. It’s just one of those things that you do as a parent, pass along some of your interests and see if they stick. And with a couple young boys joining the family it didn’t take much arm twisting to get them hooked on this furry fellow.

The photobomber in this picture, our boy Jayce, developed a particularly keen interest at an early age. I hesitate to guess how many Bigfoot hunts he’s undertaken in his near ten years. Tantalizingly close on numerous occasions to capturing the elusive beast but always an amazing escape or some sort of misstep foils the quest. A near miss at dusk at the Lake Storey campground, within reach just beyond the campfire at Little John Conservation Club, seemingly fenced in in the backyard and even cornered in the living room but suddenly gone.

So, when we spotted old Sasquatch along the main drag in Macomb, Illinois we definitely had to stop (that main drag happens to be named “Jackson Street” by the way). Exiting the van with phone in hand I captured this shot of Bigfoot and one of his most ardent pursuers. Of course, a picture was as good as we got, for actually nabbing a Bigfoot comes with a rather hefty price tag.

And thus, the hunt goes on…Talk to you later. Troy

“It’s in the way that you use it, boy don’t you know.”

It’s in the Way That You Use It – Eric Clapton (1986)

Dad, Zac and Jayce on a Knox County, IL strip pit – July 8, 2017

I think about it every once in a while, am I a writer or just a guy who likes to write?

Tough to say, kind of depends on the day or the mood. Perhaps not for me to even say at all.

I can say, however, that I am armed with a pen, a clipboard, a keyboard and a computer and I’m not afraid to use ‘em.

I can also say that ever since I developed this writing affliction, spellcheck has given me some grief. You see, I’m a compound word guy and when it comes to outdoor writing there are plenty of terms where me and spellcheck just don’t see eye to eye.

Tacklebox, baitshop, lawnchair, bassboat, baitcaster and so on. Each of those get the old red underline. I disagree and keep them as one word since I have the benefit of being my own editor (bad idea by the way as you can never effectively proofread your own stuff).

However, today’s picture presents an interesting dilemma as you can’t go wrong either way.

On one hand, Papa and my boys are checking out the “livewell” to inspect their catch. And yes, spellcheck has red flagged my spelling even though it’s correct. Per Wikipedia, “A livewell is a tank found on many fishing boats that is used to keep bait and caught fish alive.” Right on, a credible source even, kinda, sorta.

But splitting the word also works just fine in this case as “live well” applies just as well. For the definition of “live well” sure doesn’t get much better than some fresh air, some fishing and guy sharing his love of the outdoors with a couple of his grandkids hovered over the livewell.

So, spellcheck can generally getlost on this blog. While rules certainly serve a purpose, sometimes you’ve got to cast them aside and let sentiment trump syntax and feeling win out over spelling. Thus, as a writer I may never hit the bigtime in my lifetime but I’ll have a goodtime in the meantime. Talk to you later. Troy