Valentine’s Day features a pic of my wife, Julie, thanking a cooperative bass. Her catch came from Drake Lake at Jim Edgar Panther Creek near Chandlerville. IL back in July 2013 during a three day/two night getaway from the kids.  While this reaction dates back to Jimmy Houston in the 80’s and has resurfaced with some of the YouTube generation, I personally find it much more attractive with this lady.

Thinking back, I pretty much could’ve kissed the fish too after the trip had a few early hiccups. A flat tire before we left Galesburg on a day when our route to the service station was about to go on lockdown due to a visit from a fellow named President Obama kicked off our getaway.

Then came the futile wild goose chase to get Julie a fishing license only to come up empty handed along the Illinois River of all places. Finally found one the next day after I’d had a disappointing solo, 4 bass outing on The Emiquon Preserve. I’d also unknowingly flirted with trespassing on the Virginia City Reservoir the previous evening as I later discovered that it was no longer an IDNR property.

On the plus side, family members had pitched in to take the kids in order to allow our getaway and a friend I’d met through a previous blogging gig had offered up some free lodging in the area.

 

So, after the rough start it all worked out in the end with an enjoyable and all too short getaway. Worth it to get to spend some quality (and quiet) time with this fishing partner and steal a few kisses myself. Talk to you later. Troy