Category: Flashbacks

1,000 Words – 5 Gallon Dipnet

Posted on by Troy Jackson

This photograph depicts the first big fish that I ever landed in a “normal” fashion. Prior to this channel cat, the trophies that me, Brent and our buddies had brought home were a handful of carp from the Lake Bracken spillway during a wave of snagging and bowfishing. Other than those, the fish that I’d been catching legitimately usually consisted of a multitude of bluegill, crappie, green sunfish (mistakenly referred to as rock bass for many years) and small largemouth bass that were normally quite receptive to a smorgasbord of ultralight offerings. While ultralight fishing was the way of our world back in those days, the results from April 14, 1985 turned out to be anything but “normal.”

I still have the original story in an old green spiral notebook that served as my fishing log from January 19, 1985 through August 25, 1985. Back then I would record the date, location, time and results along with a brief overview of the day including who I was fishing with and what we were throwing. However, this occasion demanded an extra entry, kind of like one of those “Special Reports” that we are presently bombarded with in our world of twenty four hour news channels. Unlike some of the ridiculous stories that are nowadays passed along as “important breaking news” (fill in your choice of Hollywood knucklehead) this tale was actually worthy. Here are the original submission and the “Special Entry” just as they were documented close to 35 years ago.

Date: April 14, 1985 Time: 7:00-9:00am Temp: 50F Fish Caught: 16
Location: Lake Bracken, followed north shore from Al’s dock down to the levee by holes #11 and 12. Also went along south shore from levee to directly across from West Point.
Summary: Dad, Brent and I got out early to fish for bass, bluegill and crappie. We had a decent day just combing the bank. Around 9:00 I hooked a big catfish just north of Ron Patterson’s dock and fought him for 15 minutes. We finally dipped him in a bucket; he weighed in at 7 pounds 14 ounces.
Bait: Used white crappie jig with a black head and Dad and Brent also tried a Mepps.
Type of Fish Caught: Bass-8 Bluegill-3 Catfish-1 Crappie-2 Rock Bass-2

Special Entry: Catching My Record Catfish (7 lbs. 14 oz.)
April 14, 1985 9:00-9:15am 50F at Lake Bracken
Dad, Brent and I were fishing at Bracken and were going to hit the cove just west of Al’s dock. I threw my white body crappie jig with a black head in just north of Ron Patterson’s dock and got a hit. I set the hook and saw a big catfish come up and then head back under. It tried to go under a dock but we passed my pole around the boat and got him out. He dove under the boat and we could hear the line scraping on the boat. I let him play for about 10 minutes until he got tired and Dad dipped him up in a five gallon bucket. When we weighed him, he came out at 7 lbs. 14 oz.

We called it a day after landing the fish. As I recall, it was then time to brag. We took the fish up to the golf course and showed it off to a co-worker/golfing buddy/friend of Dad’s, Al Dickson. Al lived at Lake Bracken at the time and his dock served as home port for Dad’s rowboat for a number of years. From the golf course we headed into town, hitting both the baitshops that were in business in those days.

First up was Al’s Sporting Goods located on the corner of Henderson Street and Monmouth Boulevard for over thirty years before closing up shop in 2011. Then it was on to Steve’s Bait Shop on the banks of Cedar Fork on Seminary Street. The building is now gone following construction of an overpass but once housed a baitshop and army surplus store into the 90’s if my memory serves me correctly. At each location I got my photo taken, joining the stacks of pictures that rested on the counter and displayed other fortunate anglers (or downright lucky in my case). I remember stopping in each place later just to check them out even when having no money to purchase anything. It just felt cool to be kind of famous. I even got a mention in the Lake Bracken newsletter, all for an unintended catch.

As far as the bucket that was turned into a makeshift dipnet, it was likely taken along to serve as a livewell. In those days, our arsenal mainly consisted of a wide array of grubs, twister tails, puddle jumpers, Gapen Fishies and the like that were quite effective on the multitude of bluegill, crappie and green sunfish that called Lake Bracken home. As such there was no real need to bring along a dipnet and we never did. For one thing, there wasn’t a whole lot of room in an eight foot johnboat carrying three anglers and even our limited tackle. Besides, back in this primitive era, we often succumbed to the superstition that bringing a dipnet was bad luck: something akin to counting your chickens before they hatch. We’ve since evolved and I would have to say that bringing the dipnet has only a positive effect on success. It has come in quite handy on many occasions, surely saving us from losing some nice fish.

Beyond the fish there are also a number of other nostalgic details for me in this photograph. The camper behind me is long gone but served us well over a number of years. The deck to my left is also gone, replaced by a cement patio now decorated with the artwork of grandkids. The blue house has been covered with white siding and now sports central air rather than the single window unit. The large willow tree in the neighbors’ yard has been removed and the tree peeking over the roof has disappeared as well. I still remember when my grandpa planted it in the mid-70s, right in the middle of our baseball field. Speaking of baseball, the spot where I’m standing was a stickball home plate for me and my brothers for a few years. We’d tape up a plastic golf ball and use a broom handle for a bat (in fact it is lying on the ground to my right). It was excellent practice for hand-eye coordination that I can’t even imagine coming close to duplicating these days. Besides, it’s now a gravel driveway.

While much has changed, one thing hasn’t. The fish in the photograph still represents the largest catfish that I’ve ever caught as I’ve been more about scales than whiskers for various reasons. These days I definitely would be satisfied with a simple photograph before releasing the trophy to fight again which makes the accidental catch even more unlucky for the catfish.

Regardless, this particular accident and photo will always remind me of an important part of what fishing means to me: fish stories. In this case, the big one didn’t get away, thanks to a five gallon dipnet. Talk to you later. Troy

1,000 Words – Belonging

Posted on by Troy Jackson

I figured it was only appropriate to start my series with the photo that prompted the idea for “1,000 Words.” This photo was taken on November 8, 2004 at a location known as The Cemetery, one of the spots we used to trap at an area we called Moore’s. Trapping season began on November 5 so this snapshot comes after a couple days on the trapline. Our haul of five coons came on the heels of a twelve coon opening day and six on the following day.

The shot was taken with the timer function on the camera so that all of the hardened trappers could be included in the portrait. The camera was likely placed upon a tailgate or trapping box as four of the subjects assumed their places. I then attempted to frame the shot so as not to lose anyone, chop off someone’s head or miss our catch. Once locked on, I had ten seconds to get back and join the others as we struck a pose. I’d have to say that we did just fine while shooting with Advanced Photo System film which didn’t provide the instant feedback of today’s digital photography. No “do overs” back in the day and you had to wait until your film was developed to see if you goofed up.

The image is relatively focused and no one’s blinking although some of us could have used a little work on our “cheese.” At worst, the image may have been a bit off center (which is easy to crop these days but I won’t). However, I find that this slight mishap doesn’t detract in the least from the smallest trapper and, in my opinion, the star of the show. For those who may not know, “the star” is my niece, Natalee. At the time she was three years old, just in case anyone was concerned about her playing hooky in order to hang out with the guys. If you don’t happen to be familiar with all of “the guys” here’s an introduction: from left to right are my brother, Brent, my uncle, Richard Jackson, my dad, Terry, and me.

Of course, those above identifications are relative to each individual’s relationship to me, the one telling the story. Such relationships were the first thing that came to mind after spotting the picture and really got the wheels turning about writing an article. Initially, I thought about the extent of the family relationships in a photo that contained only five people. I started on the left and worked my way to the right noting the relationships solely among the trappers in the photo, missing several during my first pass. Therefore, I went through the process a few more times and I continue to wonder if I’ve indeed got it all figured out. My final list showed that the photo includes four brothers, three uncles, two sons, two nephews, one grandpa, one great uncle, one father, one granddaughter, one niece and one great niece. Without considering that multiple titles can describe each individual, it would seem that there are a great deal more than five people in the picture. Based only on the list of kinship, the total comes to seventeen if I’ve done my math and my evaluation correctly.

Then, if you take into consideration the family roles that each person fills beyond those represented in the photograph, the list continues to expand. I gave up on compiling an all-inclusive list but for starters it would include one great grandfather, two grandfathers, four fathers, four sons, four uncles, four brothers, one sister, four husbands, five cousins, four brothers-in-law, and so on. It’s rather amazing when you ponder the wide range of relationships each of us have upon exploring our extended family trees.

Yet, within these formal blood and marriage ties lie even more roles that we fulfill. At various times, “the guys” have been teammates, co-workers, role models, teachers, coaches and mentors to me and countless others. Hopefully, “the star” will someday be able to mention us in some of those same roles if we’ve fulfilled our responsibilities. Additionally, outside of the basic definition of one’s family, everyone also leaves their mark on a multitude of friends and acquaintances while being influenced in return. We all touch many more lives than we could likely ever imagine.

Dad (right) and Uncle Dick (left) with me and my cousin, Julie, back in 1970

Along these lines, I found it rather amusing when looking at the poses of the subjects in the photograph. Apparently, the Jackson men are all genetically predisposed to plant the right knee and raise the left. From such a foundation it would only seem natural that we would rest the left elbow/forearm upon the upraised knee. However, we then observe what I suspect represents the inevitable generation gap. The older generation prefers the right hand at the side, perhaps even stuck in a pants pocket while the middle generation crosses the right arm over the left in their expression of solidarity. Finally, our little trapper utilizes a trapping box as a booster seat with a fist planted resolutely on the hip as she makes her own independent statement.

Clad in her camouflage she looks the part of a budding outdoorswoman while a stocking cap and pair of gloves demonstrate that she’s still young enough to listen to grownups. These items also go a long way towards ensuring that she will probably be allowed to tag along again as her grandpa and her uncles show some semblance of responsibility (although I’m sure we also let her drive the truck). And the green boots that resemble a dinosaur gained fame thanks to Uncle Brent endowing them with special powers. He rendered them “cow poopie proof” in an effort to spare Natalee the pain of a harrowing encounter with a cowpie that has haunted him for roughly forty five years. Brent maintains that he was tripped by one of the members of the older generation while his uncle steadfastly denies involvement, typically with a wry grin.

Natalee’s mom (left), her Uncle Brent (back) and her Uncle Bubba (right) in 1976

Such are the experiences when the little kids get to join the big kids. The youngsters are rightfully the center of attention and Natalee is certainly the focal point of one of my favorite outdoor photographs. Five coons and over 150 combined years of trapping experience play second fiddle to a new generation being indoctrinated in the ways of the outdoors. The opportunity to learn firsthand about nature at a young age is a family tradition, as evidenced by the additional pictures.

But for me, this particular photograph will always be special. The pose and the look of determination make her look like she belongs.

And she does.

Talk to you later. Troy

1,000 Words – Intro

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Hello, 2020, and let’s keep the blogging rolling with plenty of ideas for another year.

First up, before the regular “Friday Flashback” posts kick into gear next month, I am going with a different series of turn back the clock submissions. For each of the Fridays in January I am delving into the archives for a revisit of some ground that I originally covered beginning back in 2008.

As shown in the snapshot above, I have thousands of outdoor photos contained in albums and baggies or stored on hard drives and devices.

From such a collection how in the world would a guy be able to pick out his five favorite outdoor photos of all-time?

After all, these pictures span the 1970s to present and cover various pursuits including fishing, hunting, trapping, camping, hiking, nature and more. Not only are the hobbies varied but so are subjects as they feature a wide range of family and friends.

Well, back in 2008 I did select my top five favorite photos from the collection on hand after spotting a copy of one of them on the mantle at my sister’s house. The picture (below) immediately brought a smile and inspiration simultaneously struck in that good old cartoonish light bulb fashion. That particular moment, frozen in time by the photo, brought to mind the old adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

Sounded like it was worth a try.

First, I set about mentally selecting my all-time favorite outdoor photos (scattered here throughout the post) which did not prove to be too tough. In fact, I was pretty certain after electing to pursue the project as to what pictures would make the cut. However, when the image of a group of hearty young trappers/coonhunters (below) proved to be more elusive than I anticipated, I found myself combing through decades of family pictures. My search was not in vain as the image in my mind truly did exist on paper. And while the other four photos proved to be much easier to track down, the search for the lost photo was quite rewarding and entertaining. In the end though, I found that my five original selections were still my personal favorites for the series.

What is coming your way are examples of the type of pictures that stay imprinted on your brain, magically transporting you back through time in the mysterious way that memories get stored upstairs. Four of these pictures were originally from my collection while the fifth was borrowed from Mom and Dad and has since been added to my stash. These five photos span nearly 30 years, from the fall of 1976 to the fall of 2004. Coincidentally, or possibly subconsciously, their stories also represent much of what my writing has evolved to encompass since I took up the hobby back in the spring of 2002: fishing, trapping, hunting, camping, family, friends, tunes and sports.

Be warned that you will encounter a decent dose of nostalgic tangents along the way, but in my world that’s all part of the picture. If you’ve been around this blog for any stretch, you are already aware. If not, or if you would like a refresher course on my blog, click on any of these 2017 introductory posts: Who, What, When, Where, How and Why.

This updated version of the “1,000 Words” series did require a few slight edits to make it current. However, the personal thoughts, emotions and memories that each picture brought to mind during the original write up are all intact.

Tune in tomorrow and each following Friday this month for the tales behind the snapshots. For as Rod Stewart crooned, “Every picture tells a story, don’t it?” I’m all about that and I’ll leave it up to the beholder as to whether it rates “1,000 Words.”

But who’s counting? Talk to you later. Troy

Rewind 2009 – Family

Posted on by Troy Jackson

The “Rewind” post series wraps up on a day where I have the good fortune to celebrate what is arguably the most exciting day of the year with my family (IRAP strip mines opening on April 1 is quite exciting too). And yes, today’s excitement will certainly rouse me and Julie from bed in the pre-dawn dark. But hey, I just need to remember that I was once in the shoes of those youngsters who will soon show up at bedside rearing to go.

So, without further ado, here’s the final 10 year flashback.

July 4, 2009 – Fireworks in Galesburg, IL

Funny to look back and realize that we were The Jackson 5 as the other little brother was still two years away.

July 4, 2019 – Hanging on the deck in Silvis, IL

Sure would welcome some of this weather again although you certainly can’t complain about 60 degrees in the Quad Cities on Christmas Day.

And speaking of Christmas, Merry Christmas to all from The Jacksons.

Talk to you later. Troy

Rewind 2009 – Yours Truly

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Does anybody get a kick out of those “spot the differences” activities? You know, two similar pictures where there’s a striped shirt in one versus a spotted shirt in the other?

Well, today’s “Rewind” post is kind of like that. I chose this pair of pictures as I found it fun that they essentially contained the same pose (beyond sitting and standing), ten years apart.

So, let’s have a look at the details behind the pictures before the reveal of the seven items that I find to be different (the bass are essentially the same size as noted below).

IMPORTANT! Guess now if you wish to play along as the differences are revealed at the end of this post.

August 15, 2009 – Spring Lake – McDonough County, IL

6:28am Length: 18.5” Weight: 2-15 Lure: Rapala DT6 Crankbait

October 14, 2019 – Little John Conservation Club – Knox County, IL

2:28pm Length: 18” Weight: 2-11 Lure: Booyah Blade Spinnerbait

Well, here’s my list of seven things that are different in the pictures.

  1. August attire in 2009, October attire in 2019
  2. Floppy hat Version 1.0 in 2009, Version 2.0 in 2019
  3. Shades in hand 2009, no shades as in the shade in 2019
  4. Lure reveal in 2009, no lure present in 2019 pic
  5. Goatee trim and dark in 2019, longer and not so dark in 2019
  6. Well over 200 pounds in 2009, over 30 down in 2019
  7. Ringless in 2019 when fishing, falls off my finger, scared I’ll lose it.

Hopefully, the slimmer look will remain in 2020 as winter and the holiday season typically conspire to pack on some pounds. Getting close to that good, old resolution time though. But first, one more “Rewind” post for the big day. Talk to you later. Troy

Rewind 2009 – Jayce & Papa

Posted on by Troy Jackson

While both of these fishermen have already made an appearance on the “Rewind” series, how could I pass up this pair of photos? They epitomize much of what the outdoors and fishing in particular represent to me. A healthy, interactive activity that spans generations, fosters bonding and creates lifelong memories in an expansive and fascinating classroom.

May 28, 2009 – St. Mary’s Hospital – Galesburg, IL

Excerpts below from the original June 6, 2009 post entitled “Here Comes the Son”

Jayce tipped the scales at 7-2 “and just like his sisters, he only topped my personal bass record (5-15) among the five major species in the record book.” 

“Papa once again made sure that another of our kids had a fishing pole prior to leaving the hospital. Superman will now tag along with Mickey Mouse and the Disney Princesses.”

May 11, 2019 – Lake Storey – Galesburg, IL

One of 50 plus crappie landed on this outing by a crew of seven anglers spanning three generations

Excerpts below from the original May 13, 2019 post entitled “A Really Crappie Day”

“Plenty of practice for the youngsters in terms of casting, catching and fish handling and always fun to watch their confidence grow in regards to each aspect. Also fun to teach in the same outdoor classroom with the guy who taught Brent and me the same lessons well over 40 years ago.”

“One other impressive observation was the fact that the only devices in use were in the hands of me and Brent as we preserved some quality memories for posterity (and a blog posting). Never heard a peep from the kids either as they were too busy having some old fashioned, low-tech fun, gotta love it.”

How far back do your “fish stories” extend?

For the two anglers above, I suppose the combined answer would reside somewhere in the 75 year range. And while one of the fellows covers most of that ground, it is equally exciting when either starts up an outdoor conversation with “Do you remember that one time..?”

Thanks to both of these outdoorsmen, I actually remember lots of “one times.”

Talk to you later. Troy

Rewind 2009 – Brent

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Fishing with a partner is good for a variety of reasons. There’s stuff like someone to help open a gate or load the boat as well as conversation on the road and on the water. In addition, you’ve got two lures in the water to up the odds of fooling a fish and its often wise to start with two different presentations to find what the fish want. This last point gets kind of weird when fishing with my brother though as the details indicate below.

August 15, 2009 – Spring Lake – McDonough County, IL

Length: 18.5” Weight: 3-12 Lure: Spinnerbait

This photo comes from a tag team effort with Brent on a lake I’d never fished and he’d fished for only a few frustrating dog day hours the previous day.

Excerpt from original September 5, 2009 post below along with the stats for the day.

Fishing together for the first time since July 2005 “there we were once again with Brent tossing a spinnerbait while I relied on a crankbait just as my 2005 log entry had also recorded.”

August 15, 2009 with Brent at Spring Lake
6.00 hours with 11 bass (Troy = 6 bass Brent = 5 bass)
Top 5 Weight: 16-8 (3-12,3-12,3-11,2-15,2-6)

October 13, 2019 – Snakeden Hollow – Knox County, IL

Weight: 4-5 Lure: Spinnerbait

Excerpt from original October 15, 2019 post below along with the stats for the day.

“It only took about 10 minutes before Brent got us on the board with his old reliable spinnerbait. That spinnerbait would go on to land all but one of his bass.”

October 13, 2019 with Brent at Snakeden Hollow
5.25 hours with 23 bass (Brent – 12, Troy – 11)
Top 5 Weight: 11-9 (4-5,2-1,1-15,1-10,1-10)

Brent is as good a bass fisherman as I know and I also know that most of the year he is going to come in wielding a spinnerbait. And most of the time it works. The odd part is that I can throw a similar bait and find myself unable to cash in on the bite. Just one of those fishing things that are hard to explain. Perhaps it’s touch or maybe, as Dad is known to say, “You’re not holding your mouth right.” Talk to you later. Troy

Rewind 2009 – Jayce

Posted on by Troy Jackson

The next featured participant in this series just narrowly made the cut as my boy, Jayce, made his appearance back on May 28, 2009. It sure didn’t take long for the little guy to get a look at the big boys of bass fishing at barely two weeks old. Fast forward and he is presently getting it done himself.

June 12, 2009 – Fort Madison, IA – Bassmaster River Rumble

Me and my newest angler pose with Kevin VanDam’s truck and boat.

This shot comes from a family outing to watch the Bassmaster Elite Series weigh-in at Riverview Park in Fort Madison, IA. Quite a trick with a four-year old, a two-year old and their brand new, fifteen day old little brother.

Quotes from the original June 17, 2009 post:

“At various times during our journey, I felt like patting myself on the back with one hand and slapping myself upside the head with the other.”

“The spectacle for me was what I would call a ‘Wrigley Field moment.’ You can watch it on television, look at the pictures or see it in print, but being there takes your breath away every time. One of those goosebump, loss for words and can’t wipe the smile off of your face experiences; I felt like a fourth little kid in our party despite being a month away from turning forty-two.”

“I also killed some time watching Takahiro Omori (Japanese born angler and 2004 Bassmaster Classic winner) as he checked his equipment and filled his reels with fresh line as Julie was nursing Jayce (discreetly) in our car a mere fifteen feet away. How cool is that?”

July 26, 2019 – Lake Storey – Knox County, IL

So the kid I was holding in the first picture is now holding his own bass. One that he caught by selecting a lure, choosing a spot, making a cast, recognizing a bite, setting the hook, winning the battle and hauling his catch aboard. In fact, he did it four times under less than ideal dog day conditions on a challenging lake as those Lake Storey bass are a wary bunch. A proud Dad moment and from the look on Jayce’s face in this photo I believe he was also feeling pretty good about his accomplishment.

Oh, by the way, Jayce outfished me four to zero on this day, didn’t bother me a bit.

Talk to you later. Troy

Rewind 2009 – Dad

Posted on by Troy Jackson

While you never quite know what social media is up to, this year’s “10 Year Challenge” kind of sounded like a good fit with an outdoor twist. So, before we wrap up 2019, here we go with a new post each day through Christmas.

First up, is Dad as he is an important reason that I am here. Physically, of course, but also for instilling an appreciation of outdoor pursuits. All these years later that outdoor introduction has led to something called “blogging.” And as we head to 2020, Dad gets to kick off the latest blog series as the lead man.

September 21, 2009 – Lake Storey – Knox County, IL

Length: 14.5” Weight: 1-10 Lure: Mann’s 4- Crankbait

This photo comes from the 2009 edition of something I used to call “Day on the Lake” which found Dad and me taking on the annual challenge of the Lake Storey fall drawdown. The concept was to document every bass with a log entry and a picture. This was bass #15 and our final catch during a seven hour day on the water.

Excerpt from original September 28, 2009 post below along with the stats for the day.

3:32 pm – Dad continues his string with the crankbait as a 14.5” (1-10) matches his largest bass of the day. Roughly another half hour on the water fails to add to our creel and we decide to call it a day.

September 21, 2009 with Dad at Lake Storey
7.00 hours with 15 bass (Dad = 8 bass Troy = 7 bass)
Top 5 Weight: 8-11 (2-10,1-10,1-10,1-9,1-4)

July 27, 2019 – Little John Conservation Club – Knox County, IL

Length: 16” Weight: 1-15 Lure: 5” Yamasenko wacky rig (smoke)

Excerpt from original July 31, 2019 post below along with the stats for the day.

Another good day on some familiar water, a spot that we first fished together over 30 years ago. Was sure glad that Dad decided to give it a go as the last time we shared time in the boat was July 8, 2017. Understandably not as nimble or durable a team as we once were but still a dynamic duo on the water.

Date: July 27, 2019 at Little John Conservation Club
4.25 hours with 29 bass (Dad – 17 bass, Troy – 12 bass)
Top 5 Weight: 9-13 (3-14,1-15,1-7,1-6,1-3)

Pretty cool, a pair of pics featuring a pair bass from a pair of trips for a pair of fishermen who have been doing it for decades longer than the 10 year scope of this project. More to come over the next several days. Talk to you later. Troy

Friday Flashback Finale

Posted on by Troy Jackson

So, I like to write, right?

And whether or not there is any financial gain or compensation, I do take pride in my efforts and strive to post quality, regular content. (Note: just for the record, my blogging hobby actually costs me money at present).

A significant part of that regular content is my “Friday Flashback” series which wraps up its second year with this wrap-up post. Nothing new here as you’ve seen these pics before if you tagged along in 2019. If so or if not, feel free to search the archives here and have another look.

Nope, this is strictly one of those “pat myself on the back” recaps and also allows me another opportunity to address my penchant for stats.

42 Straight Fridays spanning February (pic above) to November (pic below)

Hundreds of pics including plenty of guests

Did I mention there were guests?

Lots of lures

Faces, places, logs and more

And, yes, I got in on the flashbacks too

It’s been fun and I’m looking forward to another batch of reminiscing in 2020. But I’m getting ahead of myself as this year isn’t quite finished yet. So stay tuned as I just went to great lengths to see about that elusive 2019 November bass. Talk to you later. Troy