…five pounds of bass,
four kids all fishing,
three weeks of winter,
two Northerner boots,
and one transistor radio.

2018 marked the first year since 2014 that I was unable to fool a bass of five pounds or better. It wasn’t for lack of effort, just wasn’t meant to be as I was able to get ample time on the water and chase them in a few places where some quality bass swim.

The best I could muster was a 4-8 although I did have the good fortune of being along to witness a five pounder. Same outing as my 4-8 in fact and landed by my brother, Brent, after allowing me to stake a claim to 2018 Top Bass for just over two hours.

September 23, 2018 and 4-8 was as close as I could get for the year, did see Brent nab his 5-1 though to hit the mark.

In addition, our 2018 Top 5 allowed me to ogle several in this range or better thanks to the efforts of Mark Balbinot and Jim Junk throughout the year.

Mark Balbinot (left) made the mark with 8 bass and Jim Junk (right) posted a pair of five pounders

Oh yeah, I also watched a bank angler reel in a 5-9 back in October within shouting distance of my boat, even pitched in my scale to assist with the weigh-in. Good for him though, as I also know a thing or two about being the guy on the bank.

So, while I did get my fix, this wish for five pounds of bass specifically and selfishly means all at once and on the end of my line. Not too much to ask I figure for a guy who has paid his dues. I’ll even walk many a mile to find one…but I’m getting ahead of myself on this here project.

Day Six tomorrow, hope you’ll tune in and talk to you later. Troy

…three weeks of winter,
two Northerner boots,
and one transistor radio.

Images from a much too early 11/26/18 snowstorm that dumped over 13″. I’m ready to move on to spring now.

Okay, so I know that I live in the Midwest, have for my whole life and you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit. Just get out the shovel, the scraper and some ice melt and have at it.

But hey, this is kind of a wish list sort of thing. Besides, the seasons continue to get a bit weirder all the time.

So, I’m saying there’s a chance.

It’s already ruined for this year though thanks to just under 14” of late November snow to go with a couple more inches from earlier in the month. However, if I had my way it would go something like this.

Winter and all its trimmings would start right about December 16 and run its course by January 6. A white Christmas is still appealing and I do like the sight of a freshly fallen blanket of snow but once or twice a year on the latter would be just fine. Otherwise, I want my lakes, ponds and strip pits open through mid-December and ready again by the beginning of February. Along the way I’m willing to shovel my driveway once or twice, debate about when to put the sandbags in the bed of the truck and keep my fingers crossed that we dodge the seemingly annual ice storm.

Oh yes, I’d certainly make the most out of those three weeks in order to not be left wishing I’d done this or that outdoor winter activity (yeah right). The first week would be spent stripping line, respooling reels and restocking tackle as you can’t fool around with such a short season off the water. My second week would encompass celebrating Christmas and perhaps a few vacation days to coincide with school break for some family time minus a bit of the hustle and bustle. The final week would be used to welcome the New Year, build a snowman, go sledding, drink some hot chocolate, throw some snowballs and then start drawing up plans for a garden with warmer weather right around the corner. I might even make one ice fishing trip just to say I did it as long as there’s at least six inches of ice and forty degree air temperatures (perhaps an unlikely prospect during such a short winter but a wish list isn’t always realistic).

Whew, I’m worn out just writing about such a wonderful and fun filled winter.

Now back to reality and the Fourth Day tomorrow. Talk to you later. Troy

…a new transistor radio.

I really have no idea how old my old radio is but it’s certainly old enough to say that it has seen better days. It features a busted handle, no antenna, a finicky on/off switch and a slightly corroded (but still functional) battery compartment. None of these items put it out of commission but sometimes you do have to wiggle that on/off switch to get it back in gear or sit with your finger on the broken antenna hole to get a station in tune.

So, as tough as it is to replace, the time has come. Actually, I probably won’t throw the old one out but will just use it in one of the few spots that are radio free at home. The most likely location would be my little basement corner of the world where I occasionally retreat to compose and peruse my archive of logs, notes, photo albums and other stuff.

You know, if I do use that old radio for basement coverage I should pretty much have a seamless transition around our locale. You see, I’m much more of a radio than television guy as evidenced by our home featuring at least a 10:2 radio to television ratio. I can go from room to room to garage to deck to driveway to vehicle and even to bicycle without a loss of radio coverage via strategically placed devices. While I often go days or weeks without turning on the television, radio is a constant daily companion in the home and on the road and it’s been that way for as long as I can remember.

I’ll try not to keep you too long on these posts as I’m sure you’ve got better things to do. But before I sign off on this first day of Christmas, just for fun, let’s have a look at my Top 11 songs that have “Radio” in the title (couldn’t make a cut for a Top 10).

Top Radio Songs

11. Mexican Radio – Wall of Voodoo (1983)
“I wish I was in Tijuana, eating barbequed iguana.”

10. Life Is a Rock but the Radio Rolled Me – Reunion (1974)
“Gotta turn it up louder, so my DJ told me.”

9. There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong with the Radio – Aaron Tippin (1992)
“The older she gets, the slower we go but there ain’t nothin’ wrong with the radio.”

8. Turn up The Radio – Autograph (1984)
“Turn up the radio, I need the music, give me some more.”

7. Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio – The Ramones (1980)
“Do you remember lyin’ in bed with the covers pulled up over your head?”

6. The Spirit of Radio – Rush (1979)
“Begin the day with a friendly voice, a companion unobtrusive.”

5. Video Killed the Radio Star – The Buggles (1979)
“Lying awake intently tuning in on you.”

4. Listen to the Radio – Don Williams (1982)
“The songs they play, that’s how I really feel, so, listen to the radio.”

3. I Watched it All on my Radio – Lionel Cartwright (1990)
“At the crack of the bat, I knew how far it’d go and I watched it all on my radio.”

2. Radio Land – Michael Martin Murphey (1984)
“I remember summer evenings, late night rock and roll.”

1. Radio Gaga – Queen (1984)
“Let’s hope you never leave old friend.”

New radio or old radio, here’s to more Cubs games while rowing around the strip mines, classic Casey Kasem countdowns over breakfast at a picnic table and late night rock and roll around a campfire with one of the best old friends anyone could ask for. Talk to you later. Troy