Among the items in the tagline for the blog are “fun”, “family” and “foolishness.”

Check, check and check on this photo of my nephew, Bryar, and a giant s’more from several years ago.

Let’s run down that list starting with “fun.”

Fun is camping and we still kick it old school as we roll out the tents, cook over a fire and live out of coolers and picnic baskets. And, of course, those picnic baskets house the parts for the traditional campfire treat, the s’more.

Family is pretty much the crew that I run with almost exclusively and not only includes our bunch but also extended family as displayed below.  My folks often stop out and my siblings either join up for the trip or visit which means a whole batch of cousins in the youngest generation.

Foolishness comes with the territory when you can potentially have up to eight kids from ages six to sixteen around the campsite. And this giant s’more is right on target, although if I recall correctly those super-sized marshmallows were actually the brainchild of one of the “big kids.” My wife, Julie/Aunt Julie, is more than adept at enhancing the menu and initiating some silliness. She’s also prone to extending our family for these outings as our current record is taking six kids along for an overnight. Hey, we gotta bring two tents anyway, so why not fill ‘em up. Honestly, I used to view such an idea as daring, perhaps even bordering on that foolishness concept, but Julie’s got it all under control and it gets easier as the kids (and s’mores) get bigger.

Talk to you later. Troy

Today’s pic features a Victor #1 Long Spring trap and is one of several Blog Banner photos that pay homage to trapping. I’ve spent the last several months posting a weekly “Trapping Tuesday” item detailing trapline flashbacks dating back to 1973 but those submissions barely scratch the surface in regards to potential trapping posts.

This shot actually comes from a series of “how to” photos that I took back in 2011. That collection of pictures provided the visual accompaniment to a detailed description of making a coon set (a “set” is the specific technique and placement of a trap). That article was part of a series that I submitted during my time blogging at Heartland Outdoors covering three highly effective sets for the trapline. Perhaps someday I will revisit those postings as part of an expanded exploration of my trapping experiences.

For now, the Blog Banner pic above and some action shots from over the years below will have to suffice.

Shot from 1987 of me making a set

Dad in 2002 making a set along a “coon highway”

Plenty more Blog Banner pics headed your way daily along with an added bonus posting later today as we have our first submissions of 2018 for year five of our Top 5 fishing project. Good stuff, hope you’ll stop back in and talk to you later. Troy

Life changes when you become parent. Duh, right?

But no matter the prep and observation, when that first one comes along it’s a real eye opener. Scared for sure, even though you might not openly admit it.

So, what do you do?

Cross your fingers, do your best, provide, set a good example…and take ‘em fishing.

Our oldest, Helena, pictured above with a catch and a smile shows that we must be doing something right. Of course, now that she has hit the teenage mark, other interests supersede fishing and hints of independence provide glimpses of what lies ahead when Mom and Dad don’t call all the shots.

And just the other day I commented that the little girl casting beside me in the photo below is darn near as tall as her Mama. Just as pretty too. Bet her Mama can outfish her though.

Talk to you later. Troy

Back in June of 1973, Dad and Mom welcomed a set of twins (boy and a girl) to their family, doubling the total offspring count in joining me and my younger brother, Brent. I share this to convey that Dad is quite familiar with twins so the pair of Lake Storey bass he’s holding in this photo weren’t anything new. However, these bass were actually a lot closer to the identical variety than his youngest kids.

And here’s the scoop via an excerpt from the original report I submitted back in 2007.

Date: 9/25/07
Site: Lake Storey – Knox County, IL
Time: 6:30am-1:00pm
Weather: Partly cloudy/windy
Air Temp: 75F-80F
27 Bass (Dad – 16 Troy – 11)
Top 5 Weight: 11-7 (2-11,2-10,2-9,2-1,1-8)
Top Bass: 2-11 (Dad)

“Dad got us on the board with a 2-9 on his Rapala Rattlin’ Rap (firetiger) off of Dump Point at 7:30 am (photo above). At 11:48 I took over the title with a 2-10 on my Bomber Flat A (baby bass). My claim lasted less than a minute before Dad weighed in a 2-11 that he’d hooked only seconds after my fish. Before we released them, I took pictures of each of us holding the pair just like at a real tournament weigh-in.”

Thus, a pair of the photos that you are looking at today. Two fish separated by one ounce and coming on board darn near simultaneously (note: my brother arrived eight minutes before my sister, by the way, not sure on those weights).

A perfect place to start my rundown of the banner pictures as this one speaks volumes about digging the outdoors. A favorite fishing hole, a favorite fishing partner and a fish story that reinforces why I am thankful that I developed the logging and writing addiction/habit. For I am pretty certain that most of the details above would have faded by now. And while a pic of Dad with two quality fish is still cool, it’s even better when you know the whole story.

27 more to come, hope you’ll stop by. Talk to you later. Troy