Month: October 2017

Bigfoot – Legendary Legend Hunters

“Who are those guys?” – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

I’ve got this image of Bigfoot exasperatedly uttering this phrase repeatedly (similar to the movie) as he peers through the thickets and undergrowth at the ever encroaching human presence. Of course, I also suspect that he knows all too well who we are in a general sense and it’s no wonder he avoids us. After all, a handful of us decimate his forests, burn up his stomping grounds, leave our trash laying all over the place and make a heck of a racket in and around his woods.

And we mustn’t forget the “hunters” who have been chasing his legend since 1958 when the Bigfoot phenomenon is generally acknowledged to have gone mainstream. The discovery of large tracks in northern California led to the coining of the creature’s name and when the Associated Press later picked up the story, “Bigfoot” captured the imagination of the nation.  .

And the hunt was on.

That hunt is still going strong some fifty years later. Just turn on the tube or search the web and you can follow some new band of legend hunters who are out there looking to solve the mystery with all of the latest high tech gear at their disposal. However, my heart lies with a band of old school Sasquatch seekers that have been collectively referred to as “The Four Horsemen of Sasquatchery.” Unfortunately, three are no longer in the hunt and the lone survivor is in his nineties. But these guys ruled the 1970’s when they helped hook a wide eyed eight year old boy for life.

 

Peter Byrne (born 1925) – Byrne, an Irishman, personifies my version of the big game hunter of yesteryear. Which he was for a time in the 1950’s and 60’s, and I suppose still is considering Bigfoot is a larger than life quarry. A slight Irish accent and polished delivery is as much a trademark as his typical safari guide garb which often consists of khaki pants, a button up shirt beneath a hunting vest, a fedora perched on his head and a scarf wrapped about his neck. Byrne is part Indiana Jones and part Marlin Perkins (the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom guy who, by the way, also searched for the Yeti), He has utilized a charismatic persona to raise plenty of funds to support his habit throughout the years. After spending a number of years trekking the Himalayas in search of the Yeti, he later joined a Pacific Northwest expedition with a couple of the hunters below. His being an “outsider” contributed to a rift which lasted a lifetime. For a time he also operated the now defunct “Bigfoot Research Project” based in Mount Hood, Oregon. Notable quote (regarding his ability to raise funds for research/expeditions): “I’ve done it three times to the extent of possibly $3,000,000 I have spent of other people’s money.”

 

Rene Dahinden (1930-2001) – Born in Switzerland, Dahinden relocated to Canada in the early 1950’s and claimed to have caught the Bigfoot bug after hearing a news story on the radio. He would briefly join Peter Byrne and John Green (see below) as part of a 1960’s Pacific Northwest Bigfoot expedition before personality conflicts and creative differences sent him packing. He would then continue his solo pursuit and was known for doggedly guarding his research. However, he was much less secretive with his opinions on the topic as well as his thoughts on the other hunters. Such tidbits were entertainingly delivered with the combination of a noticeable accent, slight speech impediment and often colorful language. He pulled no punches and at times came off as more than a little bit rude, for instance referring to Dr. Grover Krantz (see below) as “meathead” in one interesting exchange. Yet, he was not without a sense of humor as shown in his role as a spokesman for Canada’s Kokanee Beer (video here). In addition, he was rumored to have been the inspiration for the Bigfoot hunter in the 1987 film, Harry and the Hendersons. Notable quote (concerning others not viewing footprint casts as physical evidence): “How would you feel if I hit you over the head with one of them footprint’s plaster casts? Don’t you think that would be physical?”

  

John Green (1927-2016) – Green kept the lowest profile and remained the most low key of this foursome. However, he was not averse to sharing his feelings on the quest; he just always did so with less flair or publicity. A retired journalist from British Columbia, he amassed one of the largest Bigfoot sighting databases in the world. After taking part in the previously mentioned Pacific Northwest expedition, he would relate that the group consisted of too many high strung and stubborn individuals. Even that brief joint effort of Green, Dahinden and Byrne was long enough to foster some lasting animosity despite fifty years of water under the bridge. It is also worth noting that with Green’s passing, there are no longer any surviving witnesses of the 1958 Sasquatch tracks in Bluff Creek, California that put Bigfoot on the map. Notable quote (concerning some of the fringe hunters equating Bigfoot with UFOs or interdimensional travel): “I don’t find anything attractive in explaining a mystery by bringing in another mystery.”

  

Dr. Grover Krantz (1931-2002) – The late Dr. Krantz was a professor of physical anthropology at Washington State University and represented one of the first (and few) academics to take an interest and later offer up a belief in a creature that might not even exist. As a result, he caught a fair amount of grief from his peers and wound up seeming rather weary from this burden in his later years. Krantz investigated the subject with a scientific approach carefully analyzing and measuring the evidence presented to him, primarily footprints and the Patterson-Gimlin film. He also theorized that Bigfoot was a surviving population of an extinct genus of ape that formerly inhabited eastern Asia some 300,000 years ago. Notable quote (concerning a life of academia paired with a drive to find Bigfoot): “This hasn’t been fun at all. It’s something that’s got to be done. I will be very happy when it’s all over.”

The degree of conflict and unwillingness to share notes at times among this bunch was legendary itself. Yet despite a significant amount of agreeing to disagree, criticism and bad blood over the years, this group actually had much in common due to their passionate pursuit. Among the similarities was the fact that none of the four ever provided indisputable proof of anything. But their tales still tell of a most excellent adventure.

I’m unsure if there are any such fireworks among the latest breed of Bigfoot hunters but it would certainly be tough to top the relationships between these four legendary figures who have left the quest to a new band of hunters.  Some of the current major players in the ongoing mystery include Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum, an Idaho State University professor of anatomy and anthropology, Daniel Perez, longtime publisher of Bigfoot Times newsletter, Matt Moneymaker, head of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization and apparently some fellow called “Bobo” (almost sounds like a regional name for the creature, perhaps from New Boston, IL or somewhere).

Okay, so I’m admittedly out of touch with the current Bigfoot crowd but as far as I can tell, they haven’t found anything more compelling than the old guys. Today’s world is considerably heavier on showtime, glamor and saturation than back in the day, and while the pursuit still excites, I truly don’t know how many “hunting” shows I could take. Good, old Sasquatch still appears to be an elusive sort though, so perhaps he can evade yet another generation. I kind of hope so, as I know a couple young boys who has somehow developed quite an interest.

Talk to you tomorrow. Troy

Bigfoot – Kith and Kin

“Oh, baby, baby, it’s a wild world.” – Wild World, Cat Stevens (1970)

Turns out, Bigfoot has a worldwide batch of kinfolk.

Or would that be kinfolklore?

The “wildman” has been a staple of folklore around the globe for centuries. But despite thousands of eyewitness reports, there is yet to be an indisputable, recorded appearance or any hard evidence allowing such a creature to cross the bridge from mythology to reality. However, if witnesses are to be believed, it sure looks like Bigfoot has the potential for quite the annual family reunion.

Reports routinely surface across the country and around the world as our subject continues to play a perpetual game of hide and seek.

And, speaking of hide and seek, I can’t help but be reminded of the “Olympic World Hide and Seek Final” which concluded in 1972 with an unfortunate tie between Paraguay’s Francisco Huron and England’s Don Roberts.  I won’t spill the beans on the outcome but if you’ve never seen this Monty Python sketch I’d say it’s definitely worth the five minutes on You Tube. https://youtu.be/Q4upY8UWrsU

While an entertaining, make believe bit of comedy there, I’d certainly say that Bigfoot and his kin have got those fictional fellows beaten, hands down.

“And now for something completely different;” actually more of what I’d originally planned on writing about.

According to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization website’s (www.bfro.net) “Geographic Database of Bigfoot/Sasquatch Sightings & Reports”, every state except Hawaii has submitted reports of some type of apelike creature roaming the area. Most of the Canadian provinces and a number of other foreign countries have also made contributions to the database. Some of the more common creatures around the world are as follows.

Almas – These wildmen of Central Asia and Mongolia are reportedly five to six and a half feet tall and covered with reddish-brown hair.

Mapinguari – South America’s contribution to the collection is reportedly a sloth like creature in the 7’ range with an anger problem and a foul odor.

Orang-Pendek – These reported primates have short fur, are said to be 30-60” in height and reside on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

Yeren – China’s version is covered in reddish hair and ranges from 6-8’ in height.

Purported Yeti scalp and hand from Nepal

Yeti (or Abominable Snowman) – This beast is the Bigfoot of the Himalayas and has made quite a name for himself over the years.

Yowie – From down under, the Australian version is also smelly and can range from 5-7’ tall.

And it doesn’t stop there, but I will, at least for the unknowns from beyond the United States. For its all kind of the same if you simply change the remote geographic locale. However, even within the United States there are numerous regional nicknames, if you will, for Bigfoot. And aren’t our mysterious fellow Americans more fun anyway? After all, what’s the likelihood that you’ll wind up running into a smelly ground sloth in the Amazon anytime soon? But Illinois or Missouri or Florida or Arkansas, well, that’s a whole different ballgame.

Big Muddy Monster Brew Fest returns this weekend http://ow.ly/Iom230fVVxj

Posted by WSIL News 3 on Tuesday, October 17, 2017

(Note: Thanks, Mike, for the tip and link above earlier this week on Facebook regarding today’s event)

Big Muddy Monster – Southern Illinois’ Big Muddy River is the favorite stomping grounds of this creature. And what a cool place for a mysterious beast to call home, rivaling Boggy Creek (see Fouke Monster below).

Bukwus – Among some Pacific Northwest Native American tribes resides the “wild man of the woods.”

Cohomo – Illinois’ Tazewell County was home to this “monster” during the summer of 1972.

Fouke Monster – During the early 1970’s this beast stalked extreme southwest Arkansas and would spawn The Legend of Boggy Creek movie as well as another pair of equally cheesy “Boggy Creek” films.

Grass Man – Ohio’s contribution includes sightings ranging from a two-toned to a white creature.

Jacobs Creature (above) – Pennsylvania joined the fray with some unusual trail cam photos snapped in September of 2007.

Momo – The 7’ tall “Missouri Monster” was sighted during 1971-72 near Louisiana, Missouri.

Skunk Ape – This creature most commonly reported from Florida in the 1960’s and 70’s got its name due to being, oddly enough, smelly and ape-like.

Of course, there is also the ever popular and interchangeable “Sasquatch.” But he still remains elusive no matter what you call him. I believe it was Shakespeare who once addressed this confusion in nomenclature many, many years ago in writing, “What’s in a name? That which we call ‘Bigfoot’ by any other name would smell just as foul.”

Talk to you tomorrow. Troy

Bigfoot – Happy Anniversary

Fifty years ago today, Bigfoot was reportedly shot.

On film, that is.

“Baby what a big surprise, right before my very eyes.” – Baby, What A Big Surprise, Chicago (1977)

Or was it?

That all depends on which side of the fence you are on in regards to something called the Patterson-Gimlin film.

Former rodeo rider turned Bigfoot hunter, Roger Patterson (1926-1972), and his friend, Robert Gimlin (b.1931) were exploring the Bluff Creek area of Northern California on the afternoon of October 20, 1967. When the pair later emerged from the wilderness, they carried with them perhaps the most intriguing and likely the most controversial piece of Bigfoot evidence yet produced. This startling video, while only fifty three seconds (953 frames) in duration, has given rise to decades of debate.

All of these years later, the Patterson-Gimlin film continues to raise eyebrows and questions. Is it hominid or hoax? Is it an unknown primate or a guy in a monkey suit? Why didn’t they shoot it? Was one of the pair hoodwinked? Why does the creature simply saunter off rather than bolting from the intruders? The list goes on and on.

The pro- and anti-Bigfoot camps agree to disagree on the legitimacy of the clip with a fervor often reserved for debates over politics, religion, Cubs vs. Cards, Ginger or Mary Ann and so on. The pros view their opponents as close-minded and unwilling to listen while the skeptics label the believers as crackpots or dreamers. Regardless of allegiance, only one crowd’s belief is ultimately correct.

The story of the film goes like this.

Patterson and Gimlin were allegedly out on an expedition to film some background footage for a proposed Bigfoot documentary and wound up in the right place at the right time. Both men were on horseback when the creature was spotted in the creek bed and Patterson’s mount spooked causing him to fall to the ground. He was then able to grab his camera from a saddlebag and proceeded to shoot the film as he ran towards the creature. The initially jumpy footage shows Bigfoot walking from left to right seemingly in no hurry at all to ditch his pursuers, both of whom were armed with rifles (although they had previously agreed not to shoot in the event of an encounter). Towards the middle of the footage, the film stabilizes as the creature continues on his way and eventually disappears into the trees as the film runs out.

This was the clip that sold me on Bigfoot back when I first encountered it in a documentary, The Mysterious Monsters, at the old West Cinemas in Galesburg, IL. Even now, it’s somewhat creepy to watch the hulking, hairy creature lumbering across the screen. And of course, Frame 352, which has become “the” Bigfoot icon, can still make the hairs on the back of the neck stand up even though I’m well beyond that nine year old kid. There’s just something eerie about the subject nonchalantly turning to look directly at the camera (and me) before continuing on his way.

    

Frame 352 and close approximations provide a lasting image.

The debate over the authenticity of the film’s star continues to this day. Some special effects experts state it is clearly a man in a monkey suit and point out flaws. One man later came forward with the allegation that he made the suit while yet another individual has stated that he was the man in the suit. Others in this field dismiss such statements citing the shortcomings of the techniques and technology in 1967.

Bigfoot researchers, skeptics, academics and amateurs utilizing modern technology have analyzed various aspects of the footage only to wind up with differing opinions. Gimlin sticks to the claim that he wasn’t duped by his partner and the late Patterson steadfastly maintained that the subject in the film was the real thing. Noted Bigfoot researcher Peter Byrne relates that a dying Patterson did express one change of heart in stating, “You know we should have shot that thing: then people would have believed us.” Whatever the case, it’s still a pretty cool piece of video that leaves a lasting impression.

In putting together today’s posting, the lead in lyric was the first bit of song that came to mind and despite considerable reworking of this piece I never once considered changing it. I did find it interesting though, upon later realizing that the first two lines of the song are as follows;

“Right before my very eyes, I thought that you we’re only fakin’ it.”

What do you think?

I also can’t resist adding one last tidbit of information although it is potentially useless in the future to anyone beyond me and my wife, Julie. Today marks the sixteenth anniversary of my asking Julie to marry me and she said “Yes” on the first try. You see, I’m no dummy as I wisely chose an important date so as not to wind up forgetting as the years go by. Not that there’s anything wrong with choosing mythical holidays like Valentine’s Day or Sweetheart’s Day. It’s just that, for better or worse, I’m admittedly more Bigfoot than Cupid.

Talk to you tomorrow. Troy

Bigfoot – A Dozen Days

“Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. We’re so glad you could attend. Come inside! Come inside!” – Karn Evil 9, Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1973)

I suppose that this whole thing started back about 1976 while looking up at a piece of grainy, shaky video footage on the movie screen of the West Cinemas in Galesburg, IL. And here I am over 40 years later, somehow winding up with a forum that allows me to share a subject which captured the imagination of a nine-year-old kid back when America was caught up in a Bicentennial wave.

  

But before I get this ambitious (one way to describe it) stunt rolling, here are a few important notes regarding what is heading your way every day from now until Halloween.

• While I have been unsettled in the woods a few times, I have never personally seen Bigfoot. Thus, there will be no conscience clearing revelation regarding some encounter that I’ve harbored for years out of fear of people questioning my sanity (you may be apt to do so along the way anyhow and that’s fine).

• Henceforth, I will refer to Bigfoot as “him” and hope that this does not offend or strike anyone as sexist or politically incorrect. I just figured it would ultimately be easier and if having to choose a gender with which to describe a giant, hairy, reclusive and reportedly foul smelling creature, I’m going with male.

• I’m pretty old school, cheap, relatively low tech and haven’t had cable television for nearly all of the last twenty years or so. Thus, I have not seen many of the newer Bigfoot programs beyond some recent (and somewhat futile) attempts to catch up on the internet. Overall, I don’t think a disconnect with the latest info really matters. After all, it seems we’re still “this close” to an answer, just as it was when I was a kid.

• Like most of my postings, this project will have plenty of pics to accompany the words. Just no personal images of the real deal, for if I had alleged Bigfoot pics I’d either be famous, some sort of sideshow attraction or have my own sensational webpage. Well, actually, I do have my own sensational webpage, it’s just not about how I proved the existence of Bigfoot. Not yet, at least.

Okay, here we go.

During my 15-year blogging “career” I’ve been down this road on a couple other occasions but figured it was high time to ramble again. After all, tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the most iconic bit of Bigfoot evidence in the larger than life history of our elusive creature. A piece of evidence that left such a mark that it still gives me pause in the woods from time to time. You know, those hair on the back of the neck, feels like something is watching me, what was that noise sort of moments that will make you stop, look, listen and maybe run?

Been there, and been having a good time with Bigfoot for over forty years, thus it is fun to kick it up a notch in putting together this batch of postings. If I’m fortunate, perhaps they will provide you with some daily entertainment or escape along the way and hopefully allow any who share my interest to relive your own Bigfoot memories. As always, I’m glad to have you aboard and hope you’ll stay for the ride.

      

Instead of using the remainder of this introductory posting to outline exactly what is coming your way, I’m going to leave the whole thing up in the air. The element of mystery is paramount in the exploration of our subject so each day’s offering will be a surprise. However, I strongly encourage any daily comments here or on the Facebook page even if they beat me to the next punch as I’d have to believe that anyone who’s roamed the outdoors for a fair amount of time has pondered this subject at some point. Even better if that thought process took place as you looked over your shoulder while making your way to the treestand in the pre-dawn, sat around the campfire telling tales with your back to the wooded darkness, nodded off between catfish bites on a moonlit stream bank or heard something other than your coondog’s howl ring out through the pitch-black night.

“Come along if you care, come along if you dare, take a ride to the land inside of your mind.” – Journey to the Center of the Mind, The Amboy Dukes (1968 – featuring a young Ted Nugent on lead guitar)

Talk to you tomorrow. Troy

Top 10 Trip Tunes 10/8 – Part II

Top 5 gets a little heavier than yesterday’s offering.

5. My Kinda Lover – Billy Squier (1981) – Hey, what do you know, another love song? This one rocks a bit more than any of yesterday’s offerings but love songs come in all shapes and sizes to get your motor racin’.

4. Couldn’t Get It Right – Climax Blues Band (1977) – Contrary to the title, I’d say these guys got it real right with this one. What I couldn’t get was that this wound up being some white dudes from England. At any rate, a standard on the jukebox at Galesburg’s Skate Palace.

3. Magic Man – Heart (1976) – A solid rocker from the Wilson sisters that always brings to mind a bit of trivia offered up by my buddy, John Junk, many years ago. According to John (a bit of a lyricist himself back in the day), this song represents perhaps the first usage of the term “home girl.” Entirely unintended I suspect, but still brings a smile.

2. Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne (1980) – Killer rocker that my kids can all identify, perhaps because it appears in the animated film, Megamind, and is sung by the voice of the deer lawn ornament in another animated flick, Gnomeo and Juliet. Hey, I’ll take my kids getting exposure to some classic rock wherever they can get it.

1. Watching The Wheels – John Lennon (1981) – A great tune relating Lennon’s relative absence from the music scene upon his return to the music scene. My favorite Lennon cut ever and probably more than any of my other old tunes, it takes me back to a lot of 80’s places, from carefree days to rough glimpses of mortality. In regards to the latter and Lennon, such a shame we never got to see what more was in store.

Lots more stuff to come in October, hope you’ll stop by again.  Talk to you later.  Troy

Top 10 Trip Tunes 10/8 – Part I

At the risk of beating a dead horse, Top 10 Trip Tunes from my strip mine trip last Sunday.

10. Easy – Commodores (1977) – The very first song I heard as I pulled out of the driveway about an hour before dawn. Thought that was pretty perfect, lyrics matching life on my way to the fishing hole, “Easy like Sunday morning.”

9. Penny Lane – The Beatles (1967) – Think I mentioned this one other time but not enough Beatles on the airwaves so always cool. Fun, classic, a half century old hit (even older than me by about five months).

8. Dance With Me – Orleans (1975) – Harmonies, a love song, lyrics that just beg singing along, a fantastic, mellow 70’s pick me up tune. Man, it don’t get much better than that.

7. With Your Love – Jefferson Starship (1976) – Pretty love song heavy on this batch but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, can’t go wrong with a love song. Great Marty Balin lead vocals and just plain fun musically from start to finish.

6. Long Distance Runaround – Yes (1972) – I readily admit that I know nothing of how composers, lyricists, musicians and singers do their thing. But when they do it like this, it just plain sounds and feels good. And that’s good enough for me.

Top 5 headed your way tomorrow. Talk to you later. Troy

Strip Mine Report 10/8

Public strip mine fishing access is fading fast at my stomping grounds in favor of the waterfowl so had to get some casting in before me and my fellow anglers get cast aside.


7:39am First bass 14″ 1-7 Chatterbait

Stats
Date: October 8, 2017
Locations: Knox County, IL strip mines (2 public, 1 private lake)
Time: 7:35am-2:20pm (4.25 hours fishing, the rest walking or driving)
Weather: Sunny/breezy
Air Temp: 50-76F
Water Temp: no reading
Totals: 16 bass
Lures:
Swim Jig with hammertail trailer – 4 bass
Mann’s Baby 1- crankbait (rainbow) – 3 bass
Stanley Vibra Shaft spinnerbait (blue glimmer) – 3 bass
Strike King Red Eye Shad (sexy shad) – 2 bass
Booyah Counterstrike spinnerbait (salt & pepper) – 1 bass
Chatterbait (bluegill) with Zako trailer (smoke) – 1 bass
Rapala Shadow Rap (blue back herring) – 1 bass
Strike King KVD 2.5 Rattling Squarebill crankbait (natural pumpkinseed) – 1 bass
Top Bass: 2-2 Blue Glimmer spinnerbait
Top 5 Weight: 8-2 (2-2,1-12,1-9,1-7,1-4)


A real Smorgasbord with my 16 bass coming on these 8 different baits, lots of one and done, a rather odd performance from the bass

Notes & Nonsense

Good Start – It took only four minutes on my first lake to get on the board with a 1-7 which was followed up twelve minutes later with a solid 2-2. An encouraging start on a lake that had produced three keepers including a 3-8 a month earlier in only 30 minutes of casting. My aim was to invest a little more time and have a closer look so it was cool that my first two bass were quality and the second was bigger than the first. I was hoping that sort of trend would continue but it did not pan out in terms of size although eleven bass in two hours was a darn good success rate.


7:51am Top Bass 16″ 2-2 Blue Glimmer spinnerbait


8:54am 13″ 1-4 Mann’s Baby 1- crankbait

Top 5 – Of those first eleven bass, seven came in at 12” or better and five of those would make up my Top 5 for the day. Sure thought I would be on my way to double digits and beyond with two bass at 3-9 in less than 15 minutes of casting. As it turned out, my first two hours on the water resulted in my Top 5 and I spent the next two hours failing to catch a fish meeting the 12” mark.

Wasted Walk – I fished a spot in September that I hadn’t visited for many years and caught a couple bass while prowling a limited stretch of accessible bank. On this trip I took a second shot at the lake while fishing from my little johnboat and never had a single bite. Very disappointing to say the least as I really had high hopes on this lake as I cannot see it receiving much pressure due to a somewhat remote locale and only a few spots offering decent bank access. Turned out to be a lot of work for nothing, literally.


8:58am 15″ 1-12 Mann’s Baby 1- crankbait


9:22am 14″ 1-9 Swim Jig

Smorgasbord – It was really a kind of strange day as I could never truly get anything going in terms of getting a lure or two dialed in as my sixteen bass came on eight different lures. In fact, my first four bass all came on different baits over the course of 45 minutes on the water. The first on a chatterbait, then nothing further. Switched up to the Blue Glimmer and hooked up right away, then nothing. Same scenario with a KVD Rattling Squarebill followed by a Shadow Rap and then another lull. I then found three on the 1- and was about to relocate when I happened upon a swim jig bite for four more before the lake shut down altogether. The variety was fun but also a little frustrating as I just couldn’t find a consistent and lasting winner.


First Swim Jig bass of 2017, one of my earlier resolutions accomplished


Are you kidding me? The old Blue Glimmer spinnerbait I’d just brought back into the starting lineup bites the dust.

Lure Highs and Lows – I would say that the highpoint of my outing was fooling several on the swim jig. This neglected lure was on the list to throw in 2017 but I had never gotten around to it and really kind of tied it on as a whim to simply try and fool at least one. Wound up with four in about twenty minutes including one of my Top 5. The lowlight would be busting off the top blade on the recently resurrected Blue Glimmer spinnerbait while reeling in a short bass near the end of my day. Crazy, as I had just posted a bit about the return of this bait, opening it from a package I’d had sitting around for better than fifteen years. I’d never busted a blade off in all the years I fished these things but here in 2017, after less than a dozen catches, it was broke.

So, it’s getting to be that time where thoughts of that “last bass” begin to enter my mind. My goal every year is to start with a March bass and end with a November bass. Well, the shot at that latter bookend is only three weeks away. I am not sure what lies in store for the next month or better as much depends on weather and responsibilities but I hope to get in at least a couple more days on the water before I call it quits for 2017. As always, I’ll keep you posted. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Ample reason this week to not put those poles away just yet.

Weight: 4-3
Angler: Paul Kessler
Date: October 7
Location: Banner Marsh – Johnson Lake
Lure: Tandem spinnerbait (white) with silver/gold blade combo

Weight: 3-2
Angler: Paul Kessler
Date: October 7
Location: Banner Marsh – Johnson Lake
Lure: Tandem spinnerbait (white) with silver/gold blade combo

Weight: 2-12
Angler: Paul Kessler
Date: October 7
Location: Banner Marsh – Johnson Lake
Lure: Tandem spinnerbait (white) with silver/gold blade combo

Weight: 2-0
Angler: Paul Kessler
Date: October 7
Location: Banner Marsh – Johnson Lake
Lure: Tandem spinnerbait (white) with silver/gold blade combo
Angler Comments: Made it to Banner Marsh yesterday for about five hours. Was very windy and had to anchor my kayak in weed edges and throw into the wind to find them but did catch 10.  All were on a white spinnerbait with two spinners – one silver and one gold.

Top 5 Weight: 16-1 (4-3,3-4,3-2,2-12,2-12) culls 2-10,2-5,2-4

Outstanding day, Paul, nothing like a good, old white spinnerbait to get it done in the fall. Great to see some late season bass in the Inbox and hope to see a few more before 2017 runs out. Best of luck to all as we head into the home stretch. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Trip Tunes 9/23

How about another scan of the radio dial? An abbreviated version this time around with a “Top 5 Trip Tunes” as the round trip to my Iowa fishing hole is about half the time of my regular Illinois trips.

5. Didn’t We Almost Have It All – Whitney Houston (1987) – Honesty is the best policy but this one feels a little like admitting that I also dig some MeatLoaf or Air Supply. Over the top sort of Broadway number here, but the lady could flat out sing without the vocal histrionics looming on the horizon from the likes of Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, my departure point from contemporary radio.

4. Shine A Little Love – ELO (1979) – Not being made of money growing up, my vinyl collection was rather limited but the Discovery album containing this cut was worth the investment of some yard mowing money. Just learned an interesting fact about it recently too, as the menacing figure on the back cover is Brad Garrett, later of Everybody Loves Raymond fame, kinda cool.

3. Let’s Go – The Cars (1979) – Ah yes, a junior high summer with this tune playing on cassette over and over, rewind required. And a real high quality version that I recorded by placing my cassette tape player in front of my clock radio and hoping my younger siblings would be quiet or elsewhere for three and a half minutes, right.  (Note: this is the back cover of the Candy O album containing “Let’s Go”, front cover is a classic and more risqué).

2. Brilliant Disguise Bruce Springsteen (1987) – A pretty dark look at relationships from “The Boss”, a real grownup song. However, my love of lyrics combined with an inability to resist some sophomoric humor finds me forever chuckling as “The Boss” uses “wee wee” in the tune. Of course, his line “But come the wee wee hours, well maybe baby the gypsy lied” refers to late night/early morning. But as a lyrical nut, I can’t resist, just adds a little something extra to what is already a favorite cut.

1. Who Are You – The Who (1978) – Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can catch the uncensored version of this one on the radio which I suspect has prompted many a listener who is unfamiliar with the tune to raise an eyebrow and utter, “What did he just say?” Yep, Roger Daltrey just dropped that “bomb” and in another nod towards never growing up, I still get a kick out of the old school songs with bad words that have long been “snuck by” on the airwaves. This one rocks anyway, just an added bonus that keeps me on the edge of my seat every time it comes on the radio.

Dig my tunes and always fun to head off on a tangent that may be a bit of a stretch for an outdoor blog. But the drive has always been an integral part of any outing, whether fishing, trapping, camping or a family day trip. As I frequently fly solo these days, the radio serves as a welcome outdoor traveling companion. And I’m back on the road to the fishing hole this morning, so…Talk to you later. Troy

The Blue Glimmer Returns

Yesterday’s Lake Storey report featured a note on the reappearance of an old lure, a 3/8 oz. Stanley “Rainbow” Glimmer Vibra Shaft spinnerbait. Once upon a time a mainstay in my presentations, it was so successful that it came to be known simply by the nickname of “The Blue Glimmer.” In fact, the productivity of the lure garnered it a spot in a batch of 2012 postings detailing what I referred to as “Legendary Lures.” Fooling a few earlier this week got me to reminiscing which typically results in writing as well.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you “The Blue Glimmer.”

I first cast this lure over 20 years ago, but I must say that the heyday of the Blue Glimmer started in 1998 and ran through 2003. It was my number one spinnerbait so, of course, with more time in the water it certainly had ample chance to fool some fish. The good thing is that when called upon for duty, it came through like a champ.

And it wasn’t just successful in terms of quantity as a number of quality fish joined the log book along the way. Here are some of the stats from the log and record book.

It has registered seven of my top ten spinnerbait bass catches of all-time.

At one time, it was responsible for my largest May and October bass of all-time (May record stood from 2000 to 2003 while October record lasted from 1998 to 2015).

It still holds my Top Bass mark for Banner Marsh (3-15 on 5/3/2000, pictured above) and Gladstone Lake (2-4 on 10/2/2001).

4/14/1999 saw two four-pounders in one day on Lake Bracken (4-10 and 4-0, pictured above)

10/29/1998 it produced a pair of three-pounders on Lake Storey (3-10 and 3-1)

It also fooled a couple Lake Storey muskies back in October of 1998 (pictured above).

I really can’t recall exactly how or why The Blue Glimmer faded from use but I suspect that it had to do with the fact that this particular bait and color scheme went out of production sometime back in the 2000’s. Got a couple stories on finding a few of these post-production but those will have to wait for another day, perhaps as a revisit of the Legendary Lures series. I will say, however, that having a pair of these baits in unopened packages stashed away likely led to throwing something else considering I only had a limited supply.

Whatever the reasons for leaving this bait behind, all these years later I finally decided to pack those two “brand new” lures along with me during my visit to Lake Storey earlier this week. Just for old times’ sake, and just in case.


A busted blade on this bait brings back The Blue Glimmer

Well, as fate would have it, hauling an 11.5” bass onboard at 7:58am wound up forcing my hand. The second bass on my Terminator spinnerbait in the firetiger pattern managed to flick the upper blade of the tandem spin off and into the drink. Thus, it was time to bring back the old fishing companion. At 8:29am, The Blue Glimmer came through in its return with a 13” (1-1) bass off some sticks in a typically reliable area. The rest of the day would see the lure be the top producer with a total of seven bass and even a bonus crappie.

Still a winner in 2017, multispecies success to boot, Comeback Lure of the Year?

The notes on the Blue Glimmer package I opened are a tale for some other time. 

All in all, a triumphant return to the lineup and likely a starting role the rest of the way in 2017 as it was a very productive fall bait back in the day. It was also fun to discover some notes jotted down on the package of the lure I used .  But that is a story for another day. Talk to you later. Troy