Fishin report for Lake Iwanttobethere..

March 4, 2011

Sorry, I got sidetracked there on the men bone chain of thought I had going. I started to say that men are lucky that we don't have bone treats like dogs do. But then after thinking for awhile I realize I am wrong. Beer, men will do just about anything for a cold beer. Well anything that will last a few minutes or maybe a few hours. If you are trying to get someone to help stain your cabin for ya, beer ain't going to cut it. But if you are trying to get some help doing a brake job on the Dodge, a few beers will do it. Replacing some steps? Beer. Staining a deck? Beer, going to the dump? a beer before and a few beers after. Basically anything that involves breaking a sweat beer is the proper payment of said services.

Women use the lure or promise of a cold beer to get things done around the cabin. Usually they start off with "If you do this for me today you can have a cold beer when you are done" and just like the dogs with their bones we will sit up and beg for the beer. We have no pride, we will take our beer and gulp it down and then look for more. Can I hang another curtain rod for you? As we get older we sip our beers, making them last. We are old dogs and we know that if we sip our beer it will be longer before we have to do some stupid pet trick to get another. Some of us buy our own beer, but the key there is we had to go buy beer. As we all know beer is always better if it is given and someone else had to pay for it.

Some guys don't drink beer so you would think they are immune from the beer trick, no no the women of the world have other ways of getting their work done. They call it a "Promise" they promise to do something for you in return. The beer drinkers are better off, they get their beer right away. So anyway I am working on the den, cleaning and organizing. The wife is not home, she has gone and left me with the promise of beer if I should get the room empty. As you can see it's not working, from Lake Iwanttobethere {254,159}

March 8, 2011

I don't usually do this but I want to send a big thanks and a shout out to Mike who is stationed overseas. He has written to me that he is a big fan of Lake Iwanttobethere and the guys at the Lodge which reminds him a lot of his uncles. Sitting in a world of sand this brings home a little closer to him. So Mike here is what is going on at Lake Iwanttobethere today.

Some sun shinning here at the lake which means it will be snowing tomorrow, at least that is what the leggy Stormy Clearwater is forecasting. I mention leggy since ankles have started to show up around town again. The warming weather has the fur boots being put in the closet and shoes are being worn again on the dry sidewalks around town. This month we are scheduled to have a Town Hall meeting and already there is talk in the coffee shops about topics. Gas is on everyone's lips and not from the food but from the rising prices down at the Gas-N-Go The Lodge has had an idea on the back burner for a long time and is now prepared to help out with transportation around town. Starting when the ice goes out the Lodge is going to offer a Lake Bus to transport members to and from the Lodge by the waters of Lake Iwanttobethere.

The Lake in the summer already has it mail and morning paper delivered this way so we at the Lodge think it should go over well. We think a mid afternoon run to take guys home who spent the night at the Lodge and then a later afternoon run along with a closing run would be a good start. The guys have a pontoon in the Lodges garage which is undergoing some remodeling. Well maybe that is not the correct word. Maybe fabrication might fit it better. Hammering Hank and Marv head the committee working on the water bus which needs to have a name. I do know they are working on some rather large rod holders that can double as keg holders. The fare has not yet been determined as they don't know if they are going to put the fifteen horse Johnson or the two hundred horse Mercury on it. That might be the reason for the fabrication. Also there is a question of charging a fare and then them all state guidelines go into effect and so on and so on. We also don't know if we should paint it up in bright colors to attract tourists and there fore generate more ridership or go with a stealth look to get members home without their wife's seeing them.

Speaking of fabrication there has been a lot of clanking and sparks flying in the garage next door. Chuck has been working on a project that has been kick started by rising fuel costs. With Dug and Elmer helping they are in the midst of converting an old steamer truck into a Maple syrup boiler/rider. The idea being that Chuck will drive the old steamer truck powered by the boiling sap with the byproduct being maple syrup and good gas mileage. Another byproduct will be the smell of boiling sap as he drives by which he hopes will boost sales. Just another way here at Lake Iwanttobethere that we are trying to help out with the gas problem.

Cleaning of the den continues and I am making some progress, packed up all the books in the past few days. Some will be donated to Marv's bookstore and others will be placed on new shelves in the remodeled den. Next up will be moving pictures and trying to find a place to relocate the computer. So Mike this is what is happening here around the lake. I hope to see you soon and I will buy ya a Hamms at the Lodge and shake your hand for what you are doing. I will say hi to your uncle and try to keep him out of the syrup truck till at least we know that it is safe to ride in. From Lake Iwanttobethere {256,303}

March 9, 2011

Lodge was a pretty busy place today. The orders had arrived at the Masterbaiters shop and there were so many of the boxes and cases that they were moved to the Lodge for pickup. Orders had been placed several weeks ago and I guess I almost forgot all about them. As a matter of fact I may have forgotten what I ordered but when I saw the different colored boxes I remembered. Two tables were set up side to side and the cases were stacked behind, leaning against the wall.

Fishermen and hunters would eye the cases and try to pick up their orders at lunch. Some guys just blew the rest of the work day away waiting to be in the front of the line. It was not till around three when the first of the gals arrived and started going through manila envelopes looking at order forms and price lists. No sooner had they open the small little metal cash box when there was the hustle of guys making two lines and wallets and checkbooks were open.

The snow did not fall as forecasted, Stormy Clearweather was at the Lodge doing a piece for the TV station that she works for part time in the next town over. Her cameraman, Cole Front was with her shooting footage of the cases waiting to be open behind the tables. Stormy interviewed a few fishermen about their orders and they replied that it is just something you have to have when fishing season comes around. Elmer was interviewed and he said he had ordered two cases of the little ones and likes to hide them in the basement. One or sometimes two of the boxes will be in his fishing tackle box for the beginning of steelhead season.

Off to the side a debate was going on about which size and shapes were the best and how many should you have at one time. Finally the cases were open and guys started to pick up their orders of the small boxes. Beers were ordered, nothing better than dipping a Girl Scout thin mint in a Hamms beer. {256,577}

March 11, 2011

Well will ya look at that! I have the desk calendar here and we are already eleven days deep into March. My reckoning that puts us about two short months away from fishing season, give or take a few days. I took a drive around the lake today, was just kind of avoiding doing any work and I felt I needed to get in touch with nature. Hahah at least that is the line I gave the wife, you know refresh my inner batteries. So even though the sun was not really shinny out the red needle on the bass thermometer was still hovering right around the forty degree mark. I had to step around a few puddles of water from melting snow and avoiding slipping on ice hiding beneath the water.

Over by the greenhouse the snowmobile track that we use as a sidewalk has appeared. The heavy black rubber absorbing the sunshine has melted the snow around it. Banks are getting lower and more grass is appearing under the trees on the south side of the yard. Pretty quiet here at the lake as not to many ice fishermen around and unless you live here there is not to much cabin activity going on. A mess of woodpeckers are just inside the tree line. They sound like a bunch of lumberjacks hard at work just no swearing. A couple of big redhead peckers slam their heads into the wood and the echo carries out over the frozen water.

Figured it was time to give the Dodge a drive, don't want it to freeze into it's parking spot with the melting snow. Checked the oil and let it run for a while. I was thinking I might even add some gas, the stuff that is sloshing around in the tank is that under three dollar stuff. With some air added to a low tire a few minutes later I was idling down the road at a grouse hunting pace. A cigar between my fingers with the smoke curling out the cranked down drivers window. That time of year where there is not a whole lot of color in the woods. Lots of white from snow and birch trees, some green from pines and just a lot of gray from branches log ago empty of leaves. Where as in the summer driving down this stretch by the lake you can see but a few yards now you can see clear to the lake.

Ditch is full of snow and a few places where I know running water will flow are nothing but depressions. One side of the road is deep in snow while the other side is almost clear. Piles of last fall leaves and sticks are clearly seen. Pot holes are everywhere, some are empty others hold muddy snow melt water. Come morning they will be frozen again till the heat of day melts them again. Heat of day, if ya want to call forty degrees heat. But every day the sun stays up longer and in a few more days Daylight savings will be here. We will be fooled into thinking the days are longer and we have more time to do outdoor work.

As I slowly roll down the road I encounter no other traffic, So I drive down the middle letting the old Dodge drive itself. I find myself thinking that with all the leaves and grass down I should be able to spot a deer or two and I remember that I should have brought my camera with. Have to remind myself to do that and no sooner do I think it than a small doe appears out of nowhere standing in the ditch under some branches hanging low. She acts likes she does not see me so I do the same and roll right up beside her. Not ten feet away I come to a stop and sit in the Dodge watching her as she noses the dry leaves pushing them aside to get to the damp ground and green grass beneath. She must have found something there to eat because she acts like I am nothing more than something blocking her light. I watch and think about having the camera, would have been a nice picture. O well, from almost the middle of March here at Lake Iwanttobethere {257,264}

March 14, 2011

I had my big fish frying pan out yesterday so I decided to make pizza in it today, see how here..

March 15, 2011

Got busy around here for some reason the past few days, and that is good. Warming trend is continuing and we are making progress lowering the snow banks. Calling for sunshine several days this week and temperatures to rise as high as fifty! The wood box with old towels has found it's place by the back door of the cabin. The box of towels are there to wipe the soon to be muddy feet of Bud and Barney and the occasional wet feet of Pepper on her visits. No sound of dripping water from the eves, all the snow has melted and finally got rid of the ice dam that has been hanging on all winter. Potholes are becoming a problem but I expect that Frank the plow driver will have a busy week grading the area gravel roads. Even my daughter in the city was complaining about them, Told me she was in one of them big super warehouse box stores and her cart hit a few. I sure she was just kidding and it was nothing more than an expansion joint in the concrete floor. Monday and Tuesday were grandparent's day at the Lake Iwanttobethere grade school, kind of like career day, but just for us grand parents.

This is the first one that I have gone to as it is a new idea from the principal who transferred from the big city this year. It was a tad different then I expected it to be. On career day it can turn out to be a long day as some parents get to be long winded telling everyone what they do for a living and then use the day to "Network" Right away I could see grand parents day was going to be different, first day was grandma day and it seems that all the grandmas do is bake. So by the end of the day the kids were all sugared out from eating all the samples that the grandmas brought in.

Second day was grandpa day which started a lot different then grandma day. First off it looked like all the grandpa's had gotten together and wore the same uniform to school. A flannel shirt, kaki pants, suspenders and a belt, Well-worn soft leather boots and half of them had whitish beards. They stood outside in the hall with small little white foam cups that they sipped cold coffee from and took turns going in to stand in front of the class to give a brief presentation. A typical speech went something like this.

Hello, My name is Bobby and I am Steve's grand pa. I fish, any questions? The next grand pa would then take his turn and we were pretty much all done in less than an hour. Of course recess was held early as the principal though that this was going to last a lot longer than it did. After the grandma's he thought the grandpa's would take it to a third day. So with recess bell the kids and grandpa's headed to the playground. A kick ball game was started by the boys and the grandpa's joined in, holding their Styrofoam coffee cups and occasioning taking a few steps to kick the ball over the fence so the game could be stopped and the grandparents could rest.

Grand daughters took their grandpa's to the swings and the girls showed off to each other how much their grand dads were wrapped around their little fingers. Grandpas didn't mind a bit. Recess bell rang and kids return to class, grandpa's remained on the playground gathered in a few small circles. Still holding coffee cups they sipped and chatted. Stories were told and maybe some of them were of how they remember standing as kids on the same spot they stood now. A gust of wind rolls the kick ball off the picnic table, it bounces off the seat and rolls to the center of the first circle. One fellow in the other circle makes a loud challenge and the other's laff. Cups are set down on the table and hats pulled down tighter on balding heads. The ball is kicked and the game is on. Grand kids stand behind closed windows and one little girl says " That's my grand pa" from Lake Iwanttobethere {258,039}

March 20, 2011

Well, we all know mother nature is not done pulling our chain. Woke up this morning to a couple of inches of fresh snow on the ground and it even looks kind of pretty out. Then Barney and Bud came flying out the door and ran across the deck and hit the yard. In a few minutes there was not a clean white spot to be found as they quickly mixed up the new snow with the mud below. Shovel leans against the garage as I am betting the snow will melt before there will be a need to use it. Overcast day and no one is on the ice, at least as far as I can see from the dock. Chuck is up and I can hearing the clanking of buckets in the Maple building and smoke curling out from the chimney. A slight breeze is taking the smoke away from me so I can't even smell any of the sap cooking down.

No activity over at Elmers cabin. I can see a set of foot prints and a single set of dog prints from the back door to a clean spot where his truck was parked. Tire tracks head down the drive, it being silent Sunday I am guessing Elmer went down to open the bookstore. No birds flying, not even them pesky crows that have returned in force this past week. Spring is here officially as of today so the snowfall is no surprise.

Loopers are being caught off Mystery Creek and there have been trucks parked along the road for most of the week. Guys in waders work along the shore or will wade out to climb on the ice and fish from there. Someone always brings a small boat with just in case the ice moves away from shore. For now a couple of 2x10's span the open water where the ice is close to shore. Not for me, I weigh to much for them 2x10's I would just bow the board and sink into the icy water. Fish are being caught and they sure are pretty. Kamloops Rainbow Trout, known in these parts as Loopers is what some guys wait all winter too chase. A nice four pound fish is something to brag about and not many will turn down a dinner invite when they hear it is a looper.

Around town we are slowly making the transition to spring. Saint Patty's day has come and gone. The Lodge held it annual party and surprising how many of the Lodge members become Irish at least for the night. As is out tradition we held a booze buffet table where it was all you can drink. Morning breakfast special was potato pancakes served with butter and sugar along with a Guinness stout. An Irish stew simmered all day long and of course pints of green beer were served with platters of chicken wings. Green was the color of the day and some interesting clothing was worn by members. Some guys just went down to the locker room and just put on their plaid golfing attire. The fine fiddlers Fred and Fiona were on hand to play the bagpipes and after awhile most of us wished they had brought along their fiddles instead.

March madness is of course here, you can't have a bunch of guys in a lodge without some kind of betting going on. The TV is always on over in the corner and as long as no game conflicts with Elmer watching his soap opera it is pretty calm. Still one local team in hockey playing but we will not be able to see any of the games. We are just to far away from the big city to get a signal. We will just have to listen to the radio for updates. That new guy who is working with Stormy Clearweather, I think his name is Cole Front is a part time sportscaster so we may have an insider to feed us scores. I hear he is a fishermen also, so he can't be all that bad.

Well, that's it for here on the lake, Nursing a cold so I have not been out to much. Still working on getting stuff out of the den so I can start the remodeling. Still getting side tracked reading old magazines and sorting through stuff. Am making progress though and I suspect sometime this week I will be going off line while I have to reroute the cabin's network. Figure this is a good time of the year to do it as I have hardly any cabin fever at all! So from Lake Iwanttobethere enjoy the first day of Spring. {259,076}

March 22, 2011

If this the calm before the storm than this might just be a doozie! Already here at the lake the winds are banging things around. Forty miles an hour with gusts on top of that. Stormy Clearweather and Sunshine Ray are both predicting a blizzard to bury this part of the lake today into tomorrow. Like most guys and a lot of kids I was out running errands that I could have put off just so I could be in the weather. Down at the General Store Big Earl had to pull the lawnmowers back into the store and push the snow blowers back out from storage. The last of the snow shovels are stacked up against the wall with a cable running through the handles. Not that he is worried someone is going to take them, it is to stop the wind from blowing them down main street. A few bags of sand and salt are stacked alongside along with some long handled smelt nets that have come in early.

Windy the Windmill is spinning like a Ferris wheel with a turbo. Good thing the guys from the power company were out last week to service it. It still runs quietly and unless you are looking in that direction you don't even notice it anymore. Now today the civil defense siren mounted on top of the Lodge was suppose to be serviced and tested but I don't think even Skinny will try to go on the roof today. The wind chimes that are hanging under the eve just outside the Lodge deck doors are banging away. No quiet little dinging calling you to look at the lake they are more like someone throwing silver salutes into a garbage can.

Guys in parkas and rain gear and of course the duck hunters are happy to have a reason to wear their gear started showing up at the Lodge at lunch time. Pine trees are swaying and you have to fight to even hold your coffee mug out on the deck, just the way I like it! With nothing much going on, a board was quickly made on how much snow would fall and wagers were placed. Guys with plows on their trucks sat facing the windows with smiles on their faces, waiting. More snow, more plowing equals more fishing money come summer.

Bud and Barney both had come into town with me. The cooler temperatures and wind having dried up the mud so they could walk without getting covered in it. Sitting in the back of the Tahoe they both held their heads out the open back windows. At the Lodge they made the rounds getting ears rubbed and picking up a few dog biscuits. Now they stand out on the deck facing into the wind. Noses up high, I guess it is just like riding in the truck only they don't have to move at all. The strong winds brings in who knows what kind of scents to them. Ears flapping they dare each other to blink or turn away. Being brothers you know that ain't going to happen and they will stand there all day if I let them.

Crows pass by the Lodge deck, not flapping their wings they are driven by the wind going where ever it takes them. I idly wonder how long it will take them to fly back here. A few pigeons hideout on the lee side of the chimney out of the wind. I gather some snow and making a few snowballs toss them at the pigeons. They do nothing till I finally get one right in with them. They open their wings to move and the wind catches them and in a blink of an eye they are swept away. Rubbing my shoulder from the pain of not having thrown anything all winter I smile to myself, Dang pigeons will be gone for at a least a little while. Well time for lunch and the storm is officially supposed to start here in two more minutes. Guess I better get ready for it, from Lake Iwanttobethere {259,713}

March 27, 2011

Peace and quiet, just like a silent Sunday should be. Our big blizzard came and went and left us with.. About an inch of new snow. Across the lake there were reports of up to ten inches of snow but it never made it across to us here. But the wind was something, gusts up seventy miles an hour and for about thirty-six hours it was a constant thirty mile an hour breeze. Was so windy that most of the birds were standing in the trees with one wing around the trunk and the other holding onto their tail feathers. Took several days for the pigeons to make it back to the roof of the Lodge and they looked tired at best. A lot of branches down and Hammering Hank and Skinny were busy collecting them from the park and the hillside below the Lodge. Back at the cabin the fire pit is stacked high with branches and when the snow melts a little more I will put some flame to it and enjoy the heat and the crackle of a good outdoor fire.

Temperatures have fallen and I think we are behind the Spring curve. Going to have sunshine for the next several days and that makes a difference. With the wind all but gone and sunshine in your face sitting out on the deck is almost bearable. I have noticed that the deer are coming out of hiding and when the sun is setting you once again have to keep an eye out for the deer along the sides of the road. Landing below the Lodge is quite a mess as the wind did throw some water up on shore and ice covers everything. The sun is making quick work of melting it though and soon the walkers will be back down there making their rounds. Already guys in pickups pull close to the landing at noon and park for awhile. I am sure they are hoping for ice to melt quicker and thinking of fishing while they eat their lunch while parked at the launch.

More grass is showing or should I say more bare spots where grass will be growing are showing. Down at the General Store Big Earl has once again put the snow thrower back in storage and rakes and shovels now sit on display outside the main door. Long handled smelt nets lean against the wall and a small sign directs you inside to where the seines are located. Looper fishermen are back fishing off Mystery Creek and the ice has moved out well away from shore. The 2x10 that was there is long gone. Hopefully someone picked it up.

Easter is a month away but I have a feeling this next month will move rather quickly by. Opening day for baseball is here and already there is talk in the Lodge of taking a road trip to the big cities to take in a ball game. Reed's bio-disel RV just needs a little cleaning and we are already stocking up enough cooking oil to get us down their and back. It has been two years since our last trip and we are pretty sure that all the security guys will have forgotten our faces by now. Last of the green beer is gone at the Lodge, guess we might have ordered two more kegs than were needed. But then again they were all drank up so nothing went to waste.

Some more ice was cut for a special event we hope to hold this summer. We went and cut a bunch of blocks that are only about ten inches thick. These are stored in the ice house buried in sawdust to be used later. One of our new members said that as a kid in the summer he remembered taking ice blocks and draping a rug on it and then riding it down the grass covered hills. Well we have ice and we certainly have a nice steep hill here in front of the Lodge so we figured this was a no brainer. We will add some beer to the mix and a hot summer's day and we put it on the calendar. So from a quiet day here at the Lodge enjoy your day, from Lake Iwanttobethere {262,646}

March 29, 2011

Laughing Day! That is what my youngest granddaughter calls Silent Sunday. If you have been reading about the lake you know of the tradition of Silent Sunday. Sometimes it is very hard to stay quiet and not talk on Sundays but from time to time a few words do slip out. The grand kids have all grown up around silent Sunday and know they might as well give up trying to get me to talk on that day. But that does not mean they don't still try! As time passes by even Lake Iwanttobethere has to change. Now with computers and lap tops common around town the new cell phones were not to far behind. There has even been some talk of building a cell tower to cover this end of the lake better. The Lodge was made an offer, since we sit on the highest hill to be the site but we have declined. With windy the windmill and our CB tower we don't want the hill behind the Lodge to look like some city antenna farm by adding a cell tower.

The new cell phones have text messaging, the kids say they are going to get me one so then I can just text to them on Sundays. We had a sit down and I flat out told them that I did not want one of them phones and texting was not an option. I had to explain to them what Silent Sunday is all about. Not talking is just part of it. Silent Sunday is suppose to be a day you can have to yourself and others should either do the same or respect that you want a day to yourself. I have mentioned in the past how back in the day Silent Sunday was a common day event though it was only a half a day long. Menfolk and their ladies would drive into town first in horse drawn buggy's and then in cars or dusty pickups. Church was first on the list and then the ladies would gather and catch up on what ever ladies talk about. Kids would play kick the can or maybe get a ball game up. Teenagers would form two groups one of boys and the other of girls and then dare each other to visit the other group.

Men would head for the big willow along the stream and someone would take a jug from the cool waters of the stream that had been placed there the night before. Out of sight of the women and out of ear shot of the kids the men would lean against the tree or sit at the well-worn picnic table that had found it's way to the shade of the tree. Passing the jug they would take turns cradling the jug in the crook of their arm and take long pulls of the cool liquid. Depending on who had hid the jug it might have been dandelion wine or ale or sometimes even some shine. You never really knew till you stopped drinking and then tasted what was left in your mouth. The jug would make a second trip around the circle and some would take but a sip while others would take a long pull.

The men would sit quietly, nothing needed to be said. Working six days on the farm milking cows and tending to crops an afternoon doing nothing was a just reward. From time to time a comment was made, some might even call it a joke these days. The men would laff like men do, deep and from the belly. The sound would carry up from the stream bank and the ladies would hear it and smile to themselves. The kids would ignore it as they were laffing between themselves. The grand kids sat on the deck and listen to me talk, The grand daughter than stood up and announced that laffing On Sunday is OK then. Chuckling I said laffing is good on any day, but especially good on Silent Sundays.. From Lake Iwanttobethere {263,682}

March 30, 2011

Getting ready to unplug the computer today, remodeling the Lodge office and I have gone as far as I can go with the desk in the way. It has been 20 years since the office was last done and after two weeks of just getting it empty and having the dumpster parked just outside the window I can agree that it needs a little work. Not a total gut but walls are going to be open up to reroute cable lines and some heating issues are going to be addressed. Some new lighting and ceiling and more shelving to be added. For now the computer will be relocated but I will try and stay off it so I can get the remodel done. Will be back up and I hope it will be with a story of how things went smoothly. Wish me luck, Bobby

April 5, 2011

HIYA from Lake Iwanttobethere. Remodeling is moving at a snails pace, mostly because I keep changing plans or am offered ideas from people who will not be using the room but yet they feel they need to tell me how it SHOULD be. The change in plans are all for the best as the longer I sit and look at a problem the more ways I think of to fix them. Eventually I find the correct solution to the problem. I have been making shopping visits to the lumber yard and to the General Store. I have not been doing to much buying though, contrary to the way my wife shops. You see you can shop without having to spend money. In part my defense has been the weather as we have gotten high winds, snow and rain mix the past several days. Don't want to be hauling carpet and ceiling tile in wet weather.

The snow pile that was up and around the red dodge has all but disappeared. This also meant that I had to go see Dan at the auto parts store and buy a new battery for it. One of those things that was on my Spring do list. So a new battery in the Dodge and she started right up, burning that old cheap gas from last fall. So today found me down at the General Store, they to are in the middle of a remodel as they are changing the store around from winter to spring. Always nice to go into the General Store and actually have a purpose. Makes all that time wandering the store looking to spend no money worth while now. I made quick work of picking up some screws and hinges for the new cabinet I am building, A quart of stain and some sandpaper that was on sale, can never have enough sandpaper.

Place was actually pretty busy, met several fellow Lodge members who were checking out clearance items. Couple of guys were scattered on chairs in the boot aisle trying out some winter boots. A few more looking over a new tractor in the garden center. Ice fishing aisle had a few more guys with carts looking over 1/64 oz jigs. I don't know how many they were planning to buy. Back in the garden section and right next to the animal supply section a few more guys were standing and chatting by the baby chicks. Several empty hundred gallon metal water tanks sat on the floor with netting over the tops and heat lamps on and pointed down inside. The quiet peep peep of chicks can be heard. I took a peek and saw nothing in the tank that said ducklings.

Couple of high school kids are working in the fishing department, Hats down low and buds in their ears I can hear faint music as they work on stocking pegboard from a cart filled with fishing lures. Boxes of peg hooks are scattered on the floor and you have to walk around keeping an eye out for things that at my age want to come out and trip ya. A pallet of marine batters sits half empty already and I give a passing thought to how old the battery in the Puddle Humper is. I look over a replacement LED trailer light kit but put it back on the rack, I am here to shop for the room. I pay Barb at the desk and head to the lumber yard to pick up a couple of oak boards I had called in for. Looking over the boards I reject one and have to go out to the pile and find a replacement. Into the back of the Dodge it goes and I make the drive home I am already figuring how many pieces of trim I am going to be able to mill out of the wood.

As for the great outdoors here at the Lake I did notice today a few lazy bald eagles working their way northward. Perhaps it is not fair to call them lazy as in reflection they have been flying for a long time. As the weather improves I am sure the sky will show more and more birds winging their way overhead. I am looking forward to not hearing the sound of the furnace turning on and sleeping with the bedroom window open. Warmer days are coming, we just have to be a little patience. From Lake Iwanttobethere have a good day. {266,770}

April 10, 2011

Awe the sweet smell of wood smoke in Spring, along with wet grass, mud and several hundred pounds of used dog food. Actually the mix is a lot better than the stale cabin air of the last few months. Weather has been pretty decent this past week and the yard has been raked and the fire pit has had a fire going most afternoons. The broken branches and the odd scrape of wood not deemed useable for anything have found their way to the fire. Deck furniture has been set up but cushions remain in storage. Bug candles sit on the table top just in case they are needed. Already a few wieners have been burned over the fire and they tasted just fine to me.

Robins search through the grass and a few small bunnies have been seen along the tree line. Not straying to far from where I am guessing their mother is at. For now Bud and Barney have ignored them choosing to spend their time lying on the deck in the sunshine. The only time they move is when the shade covers them and they have to roll over to get back into the sunlight. Ice is pulling away from the shore but when you stand on the dock you are greeted by the cold coming off the ice still. Geese in twos and threes fly high over the lake, their honking quiet from the distance. Elmer told me on his way to town the other morning that he saw three baby skunks at the end of the drive. Another reason to keep an eye on Bud and Barney, you would think at their age they would have learned to stay clear but...

Hammering Hank and Skinny have been working down in the park. The hockey boards are all down and back in storage till next winter. We are still looking for our first sixty degree day and some of the old timers will be asking why the bocce courts are not ready when it comes. County street cleaners came through yesterday. Main Street is cleared of sand and Big Earl has traded his shovel for his corn straw broom. He stands outside the main door of the General Store greeting customers. Rakes and long handled smelt nets lean against the wall behind him and yellow tags flutter in the breeze hanging from the handles of not one but two new lawn mowers.

Last night or actually early this morning a band of thunderstorms rolled over the lake. Not having the swing set up I just stayed in bed and listen to the rolling thunder and saw the flashes of lightning through the half drawn curtains. Barney who is not a real big fan of thunder jumped in bed and tried to lay as close as he could next to me. First real rain storm of the new year and it was a good one. I did get up after awhile and crack the bedroom window open. I was greeted with a little spray and the deep smell of a spring rain. With the window now open I got back in bed and Buddy joined the gathering. Nice to hear the pounding rain coming off the roof and hitting the deck. The dogs both pressed up next to me and Buddy being Buddy was soon back to sleep and snoring.

This morning finds the ground soaked and what little patches of snow that were left have been washed away. The air is heavy and smells of woods and there is a breeze off the lake that is chilling to the bare skin. Looks like more weather is on it's way and I debate on bring out the cushions for the covered swing. I think I will wait till it gets a little warmer. From a silent Sunday here at Lake Iwanttobethere. {269,045}

April 12, 2011

Garage doors are wide open all over here at Lake Iwanttobethere today! The red needle on the bass thermometer hanging on the wall of the cabin went right past sixty to stop just past seventy degrees. Was heading to the Lodge when I was sidetracked by the call of the swing and the warm breeze. Yesterday was another warm day and the cushions were taken out of storage and beat up some to get the fluff back into them before putting them on the chairs. Stormy Clearweather is calling for some rain showers overnight tonight so they will get put into the storage box to stay dry. After sitting for a spell I was thinking of going in and getting a cigar and really sitting back when the wife reminded me I am wasting daylight. So I got into the old Dodge with the new battery and headed down the road to the Lodge. No dust coming up off the road as the ground is still real damp and that means no dust came up through the holes in the floor boards.

Driving down the road I was traveling kind of slow, enjoying the view of the lake and not in any great hurry to get to the Lodge and the painting that was waiting for me there. From time to time I would slow even more to toss a wave at someone working on their driveway with a rake or checking the mailbox looking for seed catalogs. Just outside of town I pulled over to the shoulder to let a pickup pulling one big pontoon boat get by. Pretty early I thought for a pontoon boat but then maybe someone got themselves a good deal. I was a little surprised to still see some snow hanging on the south side of some hills as all the north faces are clear. Even the golf course has the open sign up for the driving range, must have did that yesterday.

Pulled up to the Lodge and parked in my spot by the rear door. No sooner had I gotten out of the truck when I could smell the BBQ grill. Gus was around the corner and he was standing in an apron, a white tee shirt and red shorts with a beer in one hand and long handle tongs in the other. He was turning polish sausages on the grill and the smell was, well just perfect! The sizzle of the polish the spats of juice hitting the coals a little uncontrolled flame leaping upwards. A picnic table with the checkered blue and white table cloth staple to the wood top flapped a little in the breeze. Catsup, mustard and dice sweet onions held down paper plates and the small cash box had a brick on top of it. A large box held a variety of small chip bags and big cooler held ice and sodas. Today's lunch special was coming from the grill and the first choice was polish sausage but Gus would make ya a hot dog or a cheeseburger if there was enough of a demand.

Gus said HIYA and I returned the greeting, "Can ya eat?" He asked and I patted my belly and said "I have room for a taste" A bun was added to the grill and after turning it twice a polish was added. Saving a plate I took the bun in a napkin and adding onion and mustard I took my place near the table as I took my first bite. The warm bun held the onion just right and the taste of mustard greeted me before I heard the snap of the casing on the polish sausage and the juices exploded in my mouth. A little gasp as the sausage was hotter than I expected but I fought through it to chew and swallow before going for the second bite which was just as good as the first. My third bite had me thinking of a second Polish and I looked at Gus and nodded. Gus grinned back at me and added a bun to the grill. The painting could wait a little while longer. Sooner or later I'll get the office remodel done, but for now it's seventy out and there is BBQ in the air, from Lake Iwanttobethere {270,438}

April 15, 2011

Well, the perfect day here at Lake Iwanttobethere to finish up and file taxes. Mother nature as is her way teased us some earlier in the week with a couple of days in the seventies. Today it is forty out with brisk winds off the lake and trees are swaying and the bird feeders are swinging wildly in the breeze. As I sit in the living room I can look out at the lake and the bird feeders and amuse myself as I watch Edd and Eddie the squirrels try to jump from the fence to one of the hanging feeders. Normally this would be an easy task for them but with the swinging feeder and the occasional extra wind gust they are miss timing their jumps to miss the feeder completely and land on the ground in a heap. With a disgusted look on their face they run back to the apple tree, climb it to jump to the fence run across it to get to a position where they can try again at the swinging feeder. I find it amusing and cheap entertainment, and after sending the IRS my check it is about all I can afford today.

Yesterday the youngest grand daughter who is four was over for a few hours. The daughter had some things she had to get done and I had forgotten that I had agreed to baby sit. So after the granddaughter was dropped off and her mother was down the drive and out of sight I told her we were going shopping. With car seat in the Tahoe we headed into town, first stop was the bank for some pocket cash. Nothing new there for her as she has been to the bank before. Next stop was the Gas-N-Go where the granddaughter told me what I needed to do to put go juice in my truck. With that done I made a stop at the post office for some stamps and mail a package. Mark was working the counter and he and my granddaughter had a long discussion on dance class as his granddaughter is in the same class.

Driving down main street I told the granddaughter the next stop was the bread store, " The Bread Store, they have a store just for bread?" My granddaughter asked. "Yes, just for bread and donuts and pies and rolls, actually it has a lot of things" I answered.

" So why do they call it a bread store then?"

"Well actually it's called a bakery, Amy's Bakery" Looking in the rear view mirror I could see her looking back at me and thinking about a bread store with more than just bread. A few minutes later after parking and helping her climb out of her car seat which has more latches and straps on it then a dirt track race car we headed into the Bakery. No sooner had we entered into the shop then she stopped and got that deer in the headlight look as she stood in front of the long glass counter with trays of donuts, pastries and decorated cupcakes. I chuckled to myself as she reminded me of my daughter the first time I took her to the butcher shop in the big city and the meat counter stretched out before her for maybe a hundred feet. More steaks and chops then she had ever seen at one time. I told her she could have anything she wanted and it took her forever to find the perfect steak.

I picked up a couple of loafs of bread and the granddaughter picked out two small pies, some hamburger buns and a package of crackers and cheese that we had to have because we were out! She followed me to the counter and placed her pile next to mine. Joking I asked her if she was going to pay for all of this stuff and she looked at me all serious like and said " She had forgotten her wallet" Amy rang up our purchase and I paid her. The granddaughter took the change and put it in her Jean pocket, just like her Nana does to me. From Lake Iwanttobethere {271,755}

April 17, 2011

If I didn't have the office remodel to keep me busy this weather would be bugging me by now. Overnight a few heavy wet inches of snow fell but by mid afternoon it was melting and just making the ground wet. A little sunshine and then some more dark clouds made their way in rolling across the lake. I had the garage door open and had the table saw and the miter saw outside on the drive. I was busy going back and forth cutting rails and face boards for the new cabinets I was building for the office. I was nearly done when it started snowing again, big wet fluffy flakes that soon got the saw dust damp and I started tracking it back into the Lodge. Gus standing behind the bar gave me a few looks like we were married and I started making a point of wiping my boots off.

Between Gus and the falling snow I decide to call it a day and hauled the saws back into the garage and rolled up the powercords. Baseball game was on the radio so I took a stool and had some late lunch. Gus looking over the top of the paper with his glasses down low on his nose said that Friendly Freddie was having a rummage sale. Between bites of my Coney I asked if it was a one day or two day event. Gus said " It says one day here in the paper" Hmm, I mumbled. Last year Friendly Freddie's wife had a rummage sale, it involved a lot of Freddie's stuff. Seems over the years Fred has been telling his wife he has been paying nickels on the dollars on fishing rods and hunting things that he has brought home. On one of his many fishing trips his wife had a sale and sold just about all of his gear that he had not taken with him. Her thoughts were that he would have taken his 'Good stuff" with him and everything else was disposable, and she needed the room.

It took most of the summer for Freddie to recover from his lost. Luckily he did have a lot of stuff with him and his locker here at the Lodge was full of stuff that he had not yet brought home. He was caught not being able to tell her that the rods she had sold for 2.50 he had actually paid over a hundred dollars for on sale. She on the other hand was happy and bragged to him how she sold them dollar rods for a profit. Normally the Lodge members keep track of rummage sales and try to get to them, this way we can buy up equipment and then return it to the unlucky member. But Freddie's wife had disguised the sale as a Garden sale and wife's had dragged their husbands along who normally are not fishermen but did know a good deal when they saw them. That and she advertised in a lot of the tourist haunts. I was thinking maybe I would stop by on my way home, might find something.

Well, as luck would have it I was heading out to the Tahoe and my daughter and granddaughter pulled up. The daughter was heading to Ma and Pa's grocery for some cold cuts and the granddaughter seeing me asked if she could ride home with me. A few minutes later the granddaughter and I were heading home but we made a side trip to go see Friendly Freddie. I made a quick walk along the tables and saw that there was nothing I was interested in. Matter of fact everything seems to be lady like. I looked around for Freddie's wife and I didn't see her, a small bell went off and I thought it would be a good idea to just walk away. The granddaughter said she be right behind me. I got back to the truck and turned the baseball game back on, a moment later the granddaughter pounded on the door to get in and she was carrying several scarfs and a dollar. I helped her into her car seat and asked about the dollar. She said that uncle Freddie gave her the dollar to take the scarfs. He was giving everyone money to take stuff away. Something told me that this rummage sale was not going to end well. Just another quiet day here at Lake Iwanttobethere {273,476}

April 19, 2011

Mystery creek is wide open and it was calling my name yesterday. I put on the waders and grabbed my long rod and along with Elmer we drove down and found a parking spot. Slipping and sliding a little and since we are both getting to be old guys we took our time getting to the bank of the river. Of course Elmer denies that he is getting old and will give you his best dirty look when you even mention the word old. Not wading in to deep we got our boots wet and started making some drifts through the snow melt water. Working upstream we would make a few drifts in each hole before moving on. We finally ended up under the bridge pretty much out of the wind and the few snow flurries that had started to fall. I had what might have been a bite and the more I think of it I will count it as one to Elmers none.

Some of the fellers were on the bank under the bridge, they had started a fire and stood facing the crackling flames and the river. An assortment of waders with patches pretty much identified each wearer. The group stood with the dry part of their waders towards the fire and the damp part away from the fire. Jackets that men had out grown now fit just fine when worn with waders. Forceps and clippers hanging from little spools clipped to pocket flaps were common. Fly's that would not be used till midsummer bulge in little tackle boxes secured in pockets with Velcro flaps. Metal thermoses were close by and hands held the metal cup tops with steam rising from them.

There is an old thought that anytime fishing is not lost time and does not count against you. I think anytime watching or tending an open fire should be treated the same. Now if you are fishing and watching a fire then the clock hands should travel backwards. Since no one seemed to be catching anything the fellows were gathered around the fire talking about times when they had been catching. The group was shy two on this day. During the past week two of the older fellows had moved on to better fishing waters.

Two of Lake Iwanttobethere residents have moved on, both just a short cast from hitting ninety they fell short of another fishing opener. The fellows under the bridge normally would not be fishing on a day like yesterday. To cold, to windy and the fish were not yet thick in the river. But the passing of the two old guys reminded everyone that sometimes you just don't have the time to be choosy. So with a crackling fire and some wet boots the guys stood on the river bank, they talked of the old guys and of the fish they caught and the fish they lost. From time to time a quiet would settle in and nothing would be said. The rush of the passing water took over and echoed from the bottom of the bridge over head. The sharp whine of a drag was heard over the water and heads looked away from the fire to see the bent rod of a fishermen. Then the tell tale signs of a snag. Some quiet chuckling and then eyes back to the fire and another story told about one of the old guys. And so it goes from Lake Iwanttobethere {274,343}

April 22, 2011

Was an overcast day here at Lake Iwanttobethere and we are just a few days short of three weeks before fishing starts. Well fishing has started as some guys are working Mystery creek for steelhead and others are getting ready for the smelt season. Robins are every where you look and seagulls are down every morning at the softball field marching across in a picket line. Crows fly in two's and threes calling to each other and Geese are flying high in the gray sky. Blue jays have returned and as usual are the bullies of the bird feeders. For a few evening's frogs could be heard in the ditches and the small wet ponds away from the lake and hidden in the brush. They are quiet now as snow is a real possibility again for tonight.

Easter is but a few days away and Stormy Clearweather is calling for some rain but it will be clearing on Sunday and it should warm up some. I am looking forward to the warm up as I don't want to have to haul more wood down to the cabin. Spring break for the grand kids all this week, well we don't call it Spring Break, we call it by what it always has been in these parts. Easter vacation! Each night this week a different grand kid has spent the night which means I am just about all out of gummy bears and home made cookies. All the goodies are gone and we will have to stock up in time for Easter and the egg hunt. A few fires in the fire pit have been made this week and all the scrap wood is gone. Even all the saw dust has been vacuumed up around the saws and I have found some missing tools that I could not find under benches and tables but are easy for the kids to locate.

Bobbers with small minnows hanging below them were tossed off the dock and the grandson watched and waited for some movement. No bites but Elmer was over at his dock and he was doing the same thing. The grandson and Elmer had a rather loud conversation about how fishing was going. I think it was because Elmer was having a hard time hearing and was shouting back so the grandson was shouting back in return. In the spring with no leaves on the trees the yelling echoed well around the bay. Barney seeing fishermen on the docks had to go and sit and watch and as people drove by they saw Barney on the dock and others started fishing off their docks. Everyone knows Barney don't fish unless someone is catching fish.

Business picked up down at the Masterbaiters shop as there was a small rush of people looking to pick up crappie minnows. Vicki the owner, called the cabin and asked how many we landed. Not being one to fib about fishing I simply told her that I had not yet had a chance to count yet. Nana distracted the grandson with the promise of marsh mellows for the fire. He put his pole away and headed back to the cabin. Elmer yelled at me and lifted a decent crappie from the end of his dock. Barney looked at me and then walked over to sit on the edge of Elmers dock.

A few drops fell and I made the walk up the hill to the cabin and then grabbed the wheelbarrow. I followed the path to behind the garage and loaded it with some split firewood. A few more drops fell as I covered the pile with the tarp and rolled the wheelbarrow back down the path to the cabin. With the wood in the outside box I put a few pieces in the crook of my arm and carried them inside. I dropped them in the empty wood box and added two to the fire after poking it a little with the poker and adjusting the screen. I just sat down in the easy chair when the wife yelled at me from the kitchen that I had better go out and get some wood for the night, it looks like snow. "Yes dear" I answered, then turned on the radio and settled back for the baseball game. From Lake Iwanttobethere {275,556}

April 23, 2011

The call came just after dark, the Smelt are running! I was not doing anything and nothing was on TV so I looked out the window at Chucks cabin and saw the lights on. I was just reaching for the phone when it rang, picking it up and Chuck was on the other end. 'Smelt are running" he said. "I'll be ready in ten" I replied. I headed to the kitchen where the wife was looking over her cookbook, glasses resting low on her nose she looked at me with raised eyebrows. " Smelt are running" is all I said. She nodded and went back to her reading. I turned on the outside flood lights and walked into the drizzle falling. Opening the garage door I picked up a couple of five gallon white pails and a custom long handled hoop net. Waders were already in the back of the Tahoe from fishing the river and I had my backpack with those things that always make trips with me.

Back to the cabin and I made some hot cocoa for the thermos and grabbed the ever present packed lunch in the brown paper bag from the fridge. I added a few extra cookies from the cookie jar as I know Chuck will ask if I have a few extra ones. Bud laying on the living room floor looked at me and then outside at the falling mist and laid back down. Barney came to the door and looked outside and then back at the wife who was getting mixing bowls out. He went and flopped on the kitchen floor. So both dogs picked staying in rather than going smelting, I was hoping this was not a bad sign. Back out to the Tahoe and Chuck was just coming off the path from his cabin. Dip net and pail with waders found their way into the truck. I was just opening the driver's door when I heard "Shotgun" and Elmer appeared from the path from his cabin. No waders, no pail, just a thermos and a flashlight in hand. He climbed into the passenger seat and Chuck slid into the back and we were on our way to Mystery creek.

With everyone having put flame to cigars we made the trip to the creek in decent time. Windows rolled down the smoke curled out and disappeared into the night. I guess we were not the first ones to get the call as already there were several trucks parked along the shoulder of the road and a few fires were scattered along the shore. Slipping into cold waders we gather the pails and with Elmer leading the way with his flashlight we made our way down to the creek. Dippers were standing waist deep in the water and the glare from headlamps bounced off the water. Walking along the shore we spotted several pails with the silver fish in various sizes and amounts. Elmer left us when he spotted Marv with some of the Fellows standing around a bonfire and passing a jug around. They were not doing any dipping but were busy "Directing"

Chuck and I headed into the water and made a few swipes with our nets, to my surprise I came up with a half dozen or so of the tasty little morsels. I waded out a little farther and Chuck took up position between me and the shore. After every few passes I would transfer my catch to Chuck's hoop net who would then turn and dump them into the pails on shore. Down stream dipping seems to be better and there was some shouting and yelling going on. Thinking tourist I was just telling Chuck that somebody must have caught more than a dozen on one dip. I was sweeping my net through and when I went to lift there was definitely some weight to it. With the top of the net just above the water I turned and waded past Chuck to shore. He asked where I was going and watched as I lifted and dumped the net into one of the pails, One scoop, one full five gallon pail!

We were done, Chuck came up on shore and we watched as guys who had been just standing around grabbed nets and waded into the water. Pails were filling fast and in a few minutes everything that could hold fish was full. Lots of laughing and soon guys were all out of the water and standing around the fires. Backs were slapped and guys were talking about the good old days and how catching smelt like they just did was common. Not to many guys get to be in on a real Smelt Run, from Lake Iwanttobethere {276,252}

April 26, 2011

So are you surprised? April 26 and as I look out the cabin window here at Lake Iwanttobethere big snow flakes are falling. Of course there is also some rain and driving wind and the sound of creaking branches. Not a bird to be seen as they are all hiding out somewhere. Yesterday was a delightful seventy degree day and it looked like spring might actually be here, heck it might have even been mistaken for a summer's day. I went down to pick up the mail and watched as the local motorcycle chapter thundered their way by. Dressed in leather chaps and colorful bandannas and fishing vests. You see the big local motorcycle gang in these parts are the "Bikes for Bass" and yesterday it was even a nice enough day for them to come out in force.

They drove down the dirt road side by side with their wives or girlfriends hanging over the back ends of the bikes wearing their hooker shirts. Fishing vests adorned with patches from Lake Okeechobee, Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn. I even saw a few patches from Lake Guerreo and of course the Lake Iwanttobethere patch was on everyone's back. Rod holders mounted on fenders and converted trout baskets hung from the handle bars. Tail lights looking like big ole bass with bright red eyes blinked on and off. Riders gave me brief nods as they trolled on by, in a few week's rods will be in sticking up in holders and the gang will be out riding in search of the next fishing spot over the hill. Yesterday was just to nice of a day to be sitting at home doing nothing.

I worked on the Honey Do List getting oil changed on old Red Dodge and even got the Jeep done for the wife. Telling her we were going to take a ride I got her inside the Jeep and I drove into town and the car wash was not to busy so we pulled in. Giving her a handful of quarters I told her to make sure she washed the wheel wells out. I then closed the door and walked over to a few fellows I knew hanging on the side of a pick up truck talking fishing by the way they were holding up their arms. Keeping an eye on the car wash door it opened and I excused myself and went back in time to catch the wife before she drove off without me.

Arriving back at the cabin I didn't say anything to the wife about the few spots she missed. They were on the passenger side and just like me I don't get in that side so I don't much care about that side. I have a big dent on the Dodge on the back passenger panel, I always forget about it because I don't get in that side of the truck, I should fix that, one of these days. So after getting back home I put furniture out on the deck and emptied some forgotten flower pots and stacked them back near the greenhouse. The wife brought out cushions for chairs and even the big ones for the swing. I suggested she might want to wait on them as it is still only April but she said we would be fine. Today finds soaking wet cushions spread across the lawn and my flower pots almost rolled all the way to the water's edge.

So another rain day here at the lake and it looks like tomorrow will be more of the same. I do have a feeling it is going to be a banner year for mosquitoes this year and not so good for the gardens. I guess I can go out in the garage and start working on the old rowboat. We dragged it up to the garage this winter and I thought I might clean it up some and actually put a coat or three of paint on it. Will have to look to see if I can find some scrap wood to start a fire, might be a tad damp and cool to work out there. From Lake Iwanttobethere {279,054}

April 28, 2011

OK, so it's raining here at Lake Iwanttobethere, I am not going to complain to much as fishing season has not yet started so the day is not a total loss. However I am starting to get a little nervous that this spring that has been really slow to arrive is going to extend into summer making it a damp start to the fishing season. I am leery when the golf course is open and you can still see snow on the ski hill. Snow shovels are stacked back outside of the General store resting alongside rakes and smelt dip nets. Hammering Hank was parked down at the Lodge and he had a snow thrower in the back of the work truck, thing is he had a lawnmower alongside.

The son has his boat stored here at the cabin and he was over today to dump the water out that had made it past the storage cover. The water drained for a while, running down the drive to join the water coming off the garage rain gutter. I did have a fire going in the little potbelly as I gave up on finding any wood scraps in the shop and went out and split up some kindling from the wood pile and tossed it in the stove along with some real fire wood. The little stove was glowing red and we had to keep the door open to regulate the heat. The son was kind of hiding out since he was taking a day off from work. He is really going to try and commit to fishing at least one day a week this season and Wednesday is his day of choice.

We sat on the little three legged shop stools and with the door open and heat coming off the potbelly we watched the rain mixed with some falling snow. The wife lets the dogs out and after doing their thing they saw the door open and soon joined us. Bud sitting on my feet and Barney sucking up attention from Del. I thought the once a week fishing was a good idea and told him I will have to see if I can arrange to spend a few Wednesdays on the water with him. Of course I have Thursdays penciled in for my fishing along with Tuesdays and some Friday nights. Sundays are always good and calm Monday mornings are nice. About the only night I will not be fishing is Saturdays unless the lodge league picks that night. Then again any day is an option if the weather is nice, can't be to picky and turn down a day to go fishing.

A little over two weeks to go and I am not the only one to be thinking about fishing, some of the diehards have already been working in their garages for the past few weeks. Polishing and cleaning hulls, trailer wires checked, hooks sharpen, reels oiled and line changed. Internet searches made for how to remove odors from live wells and bait buckets that things were forgotten in last fall. Map books with raged edges from being turned over again and again looking for a lake not fished before. Logs reviewed, fishing buddies bribed with cold beers for their special little spots. Stops made at the Lake Iwanttobethere retirement home to chat with old fishermen who if you catch them in the moment will give you secret honey holes. Not that I would go so far as to just visit the homes for that reason. I sometimes sneak in cigars for the residents and maybe I might have had a map of the lake in my pocket that I forgot about.

As we were hiding out watching the rain fall and pretty much doing nothing which is totally acceptable when in a garage. We all know there is no such thing as wasting time in a garage. The wife called for the dogs and they headed back to the cabin. A few minutes later and the wife came out with an umbrella and a pot in her hand. She gave a hug to her son and handed me the pot. " If you are just going to be sitting out here you might as well be cooking" The pot had a stew in it and I hung it so that the bottom just rested on the potbelly stove. The wife headed back to the cabin and now me and the son had a reason to sit in the garage and watch the rain fall, We were cooking supper! From Lake Iwanttobethere {282,033}

April 30, 2011

So the title of this thread is " Fishing report for Lake Iwanttobethere" but lately I feel it is more like the " Rain report" and guess what? It's raining, again. Matter of fact it has been raining for quite awhile and it is going to continue to do so. Guess it could be worse, like snow or I could really have something that needs to be done outside, which I don't. I have given up on the thought that I would be done hauling firewood for the season. Yesterday I made a few trips from the wood pile with the wheelbarrow and filled the inside wood box and the rack outside of the cabin door. I also hauled a load to the work shed and another to the garage. Heck I even threw a couple of sticks in the ice shanty just so they would stay out of the rain and be there if they are needed.

Yesterday also found me spending time at the Lodge, place has been quiet but with all the rain guys have to have somewhere to go. Yesterday afternoon when I drove up I saw an interesting sight as Wilbur was being escorted out of the Lodge by his lovely wife. I say lovely because you never know who may be reading this. Anyway Wilbur was wearing his bibs and his John Deere cap, pretty much his normal everyday attire. The wife on the other hand was all dressed up in what I am guessing was her yellow Easter dress and had one hand on Wilbur and the other on this wide brim white hat with daisies sticking out the top. Wilbur was stumbling a little as he was guided across the parking lot and into the passenger seat of the pickup. His lovely wife seem to be in some kind of huff as she turned and spotted me shook her finger in my direction. I shrugged my shoulders as I did not have a clue as to what the problem was.

I entered the Lodge through the back door and heard a lot of noise for a lunch hour. Guys were gathered three deep around the TV and a few were sitting at tables with their heads resting on their arms. Hammering Hank was tending bar which also was a little unusual and Gus was no where to be seen. I was thinking Gus had another one of his lunch specials going on and I ducked past the plastic on the office door and went inside. I really should get back and start working on the office but I was staining and I like to have the windows open, with all this rain that has not been possible. I made my way back to the bar to find Hank had now joined the crowd at the TV. Mickey who runs the tavern in town was sitting at the end of the bar which was another surprise. I walked on down and saw he had a beer mug and a shot glass both empty in front of him.

"Can I get ya a refill there Mick" I asked. Mickey looked at me and nodded yes. I turned to the back bar and saw a small placard that said Royal Wedding Special, a shot of Crown Royal and a pint of beer. I poured a shot of the Royal in the glass and then filled the mug with Hamms. I turned and set it in front of Mickey. "Whoa buddy, you got this backwards" said Mickey It's a shot of beer! And a mug of Royal. "Why do you think I am drinking here for?" My first thought was Hank and now a lot of things made sense. Everyone at the TV was smashed, the guys at the table were passed out and Wilburs lovely wife had come to bring her drunk husband home. That still did not explain Mickey being at the Lodge till he told me that his wife had taken over his tavern so the ladies auxiliary could dress up and watch the Royal wedding on his big screen TV

I took the empty Crown Royal bottles and filled them with beer and still served anyone who asked for the special with a pint of beer instead of the Royal. The placard found it's way to the garbage and soon the regular lunch crowd starting to come in. Gus appeared having to run down to Amy's bakery for Coney buns. The replay of the wedding came to an end and guys found themselves empty spots on the couches and deep back chairs. Snoring soon blended in with the sound of falling rain, from Lake Iwanttobethere {286.371}

May 1, 2011

First day of May is finally here, seems like it took a long time this year but it is here. Weather, well it's not raining but there is a cold wind off the lake and a cloudy sky overhead. Here at the Lodge a fire is going and more than a few chairs are angled towards it. Center of attention is the baseball game on the TV and the half full box of nerf balls are close at hand. After losing a few TV sets in the past we purchased some big nerf balls. Now if you get to upset and want to throw something at the TV you toss a nerf ball at it. Last night's game was a real stinker and this morning nerf balls were still scattered around the Lodge. We find that the nerf balls are a much better choice then having Elmer come in and blast the TV with his shotgun, which he did over a bad football game. There was the point that Elmer had donated the TV but we can't have Lodge members coming in and shooting up the TV especially when we were not done watching the game.

So the TV is on, the drapes are wide open, a fire is burning, a few windows are cracked open and a few Lodge members are sneaking in some cigar smoking. Down in the park the smelt fry tent is up and the wind from time to time brings up the smell of deep fried smelt and onion rings. The tent has been up for a few days but the rain has kept people away. Now with no rain but just wind there is a trickle of cars trading places in the parking lot. Mindy and Mandy's van is parked off to one side and I am sure they are selling some of their Lake Iwanttobethere Root Beer. Telephone has been ringing here at the Lodge. As if on clue once we get to May 1st the calls start coming in asking about weather conditions and what we think about the upcoming fishing season. The same thing is happening down at the Masterbaiters Shop and many times the callers talk to us and then call the bait shop to double check. We try to take the time and chat but I can see by the number of calls today that soon we will have to put the answering machine on and record our daily messages.

Baseball game is now 5-1 and the first nerf ball just bounced off the TV Gus retrieved it and tossed it in the box. He then went and added a few sticks to the fire and stirred it some. I motioned to make sure he puts the screen up close, don't need a flaming nerf ball bouncing around the Lodge. The Krump! Krump! Of shotguns can be heard from time to time. A few guys are out back shooting a round of skeet. Why they are doing it in this wind I have no idea but they say it is better than watching the baseball game.

Last night it did stop raining and for a few hours the wind died down. Was thinking of starting a fire in the pit but everything was pretty wet. I did grab a mug of hot cocoa and treated myself to a few marshmallows and a walk. Watching the footing I made my way down to the dock and sat down on the wet bench. The old goose and his mate have been seen a few times and I looked along the shore but didn't see any sign of them. I did hear a loon and his call sounded more like he was complaining about how cold it was. Bud came down and jumped up on the bench with me. As is his habit he leans into me and looks to get his ears rubbed. I rubbed his ears and welcomed the body heat.

Baseball game is now 7-2 and a couple of the guys are looking around to see if there are any real baseballs around. I look up from the lap top and watch. It being Silent Sunday I don't say anything and no one talks to me. Gus looking through some boxes comes up with two old softballs and holds them up for me to see, I shrug my shoulders and than Gus and a few of the guys grab coats and head out the back door. I already know where this is going. The Krump of shotguns goes quiet on the skeet range.... Wait for it.... From Lake Iwanttobethere {296.914}

May 4, 2011

At the Lodge early this morning, as much as I wanted to sleep in a little this morning after last night's baseball game. The nerfs balls were out again last night but this time they were being thrown in joy. A No-hitter, now you don't see them very often and I just happen to watch the whole game. That is pretty good by itself as I was telling myself that this summer I needed to watch less baseball and the way the home team has been playing it looked like it was going to be easy to do. Then they go out and throw a no hitter, well the non believers just had to have a few nerf balls thrown at them during the game.

A nice sunny day yesterday and I did not want to miss it so I spent the day working on the Lodge office, I even got a few big panels outdoors and stained, Making Gus happy as he did not have to smell the stain. Today is supposed to be a repeat of yesterday so the rest of the staining will be done and I will be able to cut some of my trim outside to. I was going to do that this afternoon but the dang cheeseburger bird woke me up this morning and I could not go back to sleep. I am sure you have heard the cheeseburger bird. It's call sounds like a bird calling for a cheese.....burgerrr they are good for business at the Lodge as we have tourist out on the deck and they hear that bird calling for a cheeseburger and that is usually what they order. Some members say the bird call is not Cheese... burger but is Pe....tri as in Petri brandy and use that as their excuse to order both.

Ten days from fishing and there is a little quickening pace in the town. If you live here you notice the subtle changes. Conversations on the street corners or outside shops are a little quicker. People seem to have someplace to go to or are needed back. General store is loud when you walk in with baby chicks peeping away from the back. New ladders sit outside the main entrance along with a few lawnmowers and a tiller. Rakes, shovels and a double stack of garden hoses are also out there. On a nice day like yesterday some big rolling racks filled with potted flowers are sitting in the sunshine.

A few buds are finally forming on trees and you can hear the sound of chain saws from time to time around the lake. Over at Dug's garage the sound and smell of outboard motors being tested in the tank can be seen and heard. The telltale blue smoke rising out of the bubbling tank. Snowmobiles are now in the back row with boats on trailers closer to the door. A good day yesterday at the Smelt Fry as the warm weather and the baseball game brought people to the park and tent for supper. With the game on the parks speaker's people hung around to sip on Mindy and Mandy Lake Iwanttobethere Root Beer and enjoy what many hope is the beginning to summer. A few boats slid of trailers into the lake water, some crappie fishing for some others just checking their boats out. Two wheel bikes found the trail and more than a few couples took leisurely walks along the lake.

Still snow on the ski hill but it is nothing more then skinny ribbons of snow now. The telltale sound of balls being smacked at the golf course can be heard when you drive by, and the warning sign about watching out for golf balls is up as you drive by the driving range. I got the widows all open here at the Lodge and the smell of woods is thick, no longer with that chill the air smells good. No fire in the fireplace and I hate to say it, but it's about time. Got my saw horses all set up on the deck and I am just about ready to do some staining, but... That dang cheese burger bird has followed me and keeps calling out.. Chesseee burggerrrr Got me thinking maybe I should have a cheeseburger for breakfast or maybe a Petri. From Lake Iwanttobethere {303,550}

May 7, 2011

That time of the year for sure, you can almost watch the buds on the trees form. Lilacs are turning a little green and the frogs are singing in the evening. Robins are busy looking for places to build their nests. I always have an ongoing problem with the robins trying to build nests under the roof of the boat house where the ladders hang. Every day I go out and take a nest down and by late afternoon another nest is well under construction. I used to just knock the nests down but then I figured I was just making it easy for them. They would fly down to the broken nest, pick out the best building material and just fly the few feet back up to the ladders. Now I bought one of them long handle grip thingies that you use to get cans from tall shelves. I saw them down at the General Store and a light bulb went off. With the long handle grip thingies I reach up and take the entire nest down at one time and just put the whole thing in the fire pit. No more nest and it makes a nice fire starter.

A couple of decent days and nights the last few days. Not yet summer like because as soon as the sun starts to go down it gets cool in the shade. Have been cleaning up the yard and every night there is a small fire going in the pit. Leaves and small branches and twigs that burn quickly just at twilight. The cushions are on the swing and with a fire going I lean back and light up a short cigar. When the sun sits low in the sky it gets quiet and even the sounds of the frogs disappear. The robins give up for the day and go where ever robins go. Dogs scratch at the storm door to get in, they would rather lay on the living room floor then the cooling deck. Looking out over the lake you can see lights click on in a few of the cabins. No longer is this end of the bay dark at night.

Baseball game on the radio tonight, small fire going in the fire pit and a cigar glowing in my hand. I was sitting outside just wearing shorts and a tee shirt but after a few minutes pants and a jacket were fetched. Bud is sleeping up on the swing with me and Barney is over at Elmers checking out the big garden with Pepper. Elmer took the tiller out and was working at cleaning up the garden and getting ready to plant some tatters here soon. I did manage to get the greenhouse cleaned out as the daughters called today wanting to know what they should get their mom for Mother's day. Lots of room for them to go down to see Earl at the General store and bring home flowers and tomato plants, they can hide them in the greenhouse till Sunday.

Vicki at the Masterbaiters shop has been doing some brisk business this week. Even I went down and bought my new license and eyed a few new swimbaits hanging on the pegboards. Got to love that sound of bubbling water in the minnow tanks and that smell you can almost taste when you come through the door. Mostly just crappie minnows swimming in the tanks but I expect by midweek the minnow truck will be in and the old fellows will follow it in. Elmer will be there as he always likes to have first pick. I swear if you gave him the chance he would set up a rod and fish for his minnows. No crawlers for him, he hires some of the local kids to do his picking then puts them in his compost pile behind his garage.

Tomorrow is iffy, Sunshine Ray is saying it will be sunny out of course Stormy Clearweather is calling for showers. . Either way this will be the last weekend for the Smelt tent so I will have to make at least one more visit for smelt and onion rings. Although the Chicken Shack is supposed to open tomorrow, so I might have to make a decision on where to eat lunch and then where to have supper. Ya, summer is coming, from Lake Iwanttobethere {307,516}

May 7, 2011

It's a sweet shirt day! Well actually it's a sweat shirt day but my granddaughter likes calling these kind of days sweet. Fishing opener for the folks on the other side of the lake and I think it might be a decent one. Sunny with some light breezes should make for a good walleye chop on the water. As I write this at noon time it is a little cool if you are out of the sun, but sitting behind an island with the sun shinning on you it would be a very nice day to be out on the water. I am betting that fishing in some small out of the way bays will be even considered pleasant. Some of the guys in town have licenses for both sides of the lake and the early morning found trailer lights heading for the other side. If the fishing is good we will see members return to the Lodge in mid afternoon with stories and maybe a few fish in the cooler.

For the rest of us on this side of the lake it's another week of waiting and this week is calling for rain, again. With a quiet Lodge this morning I have windows open and hope to get the last of my staining done and start hanging some stuff back on the walls. If I time this right I should have the office all back together and the carpet down just in time for fishing next weekend. I will not mention to the wife my timetable as she will point me in the direction of the Honey Do List. Granddaughter is over for the day and after looking for stuff to throw in the fire pit and taking a walk with Bud and Barney she is now baking with Nana. When they are done they will be off to some rummage sales as that season has already started several weeks ago.

Elmer and Marv left early this morning, I thought to go fishing but the wife told me they go to Amy's Bakery and get donuts and then drive over to the strip mall. A few weeks ago the health club their started to hold outside exercise classes. The guys got wind of it and now they go over and sit on the tailgate of the truck and eat donuts, drink coffee and watch other people work out. One of the instructors told them they could not do it and of course they being old coots now look forward to doing it every morning till they decide to stop. I think they are hoping for the view to improve as the summer goes on and the weather gets warmer. Today I am sure is a sweetshirt day. Come to think of it maybe later in the summer it really will be a sweet shirt day...

Well, this here report is short and sweet as I need to get back to work, just wanted to say the wait is over for at least the far side of the lake and soon the boats will be trolling on this side to. From Lake Iwanttobethere {308,140}

May 9, 2011

No Sweet shirt day today! Chilly and damp and rainy and cold and rainy and damp and did I mention Rainy? At the Lodge here and it is lunch time. Some quiet complaining can be heard as the topic of weather is a common one. Duck coats hang from the pegs dripping water on to the wood floor and more than a few brows are damp from hands pushing back wet hair. Here is where being bald is an advantage, just a few runs with a handkerchief over the top of your head and you are dry and good to go. Elmer sit's on the wicker couch in front of the TV and is watching his soap opera. He and Marv did not go to the strip mall and watch the morning exercise class today, what fun is there watching someone doing jumping jacks with rain coats on, you can't see anything.

As predicted a few guys did catch fish over the weekend on the other side of the lake. Nothing really big but this afternoon they are in here boasting of golden pan fried walleye with sweet onions and American fries that they ate. One guy even brought in a walleye sandwich and thought he was going to eat it in front of the other guys. Gus escorted him out the door and now we can see him sitting under one of the big pines at a picnic table. Thing is he actually looks like he is enjoying himself out there.

Both Bud and Barney came into the Lodge with me today. Bud is sprawled out in front of the fireplace with a little steam coming of his drying hair. Barney is over sitting by the guys talking about the fish they caught, fishermen just always seem to find other fishermen. Windows are cracked just a little, it is after all May and we do need to smell the woods. Crock pot is bubbling with Coney sauce and Gus is keeping an eye on the wieners on the grill, turning them as needed. Sound of spoons clinking in chili bows can be heard and every so often the main door opens and another wet jacket comes through.

Looking on the bright side of things it is not yet fishing season on this side of the lake so a rain day or in this case a rain week is not all that bad. Rain is good for the lake, we have all been through low water openers and fishing is always better when you can get back to your 'Spots." If the weather warms up some, which Sunshine Ray is forecasting to happen later in the week the night crawlers will be thick and easy picking on the golf course. On a good night you can pick enough to load into the compost pile and have a supply for the rest of summer. If you are really good you can get so many that come late summer you can barter with Vicki at the Masterbaiters shop and trade them for minnows. I am getting ahead of myself here, right now we just need to get through one more week and fishing season will be here again.

Speaking of the bait shop, there has been a run on white spinnerbaits there. Something about a local fishing challenge and you have to have a white spinnerbait to be in it. Good thing I bought my supply this past winter, I brought in several and have them hanging behind the bar. Of course the price is three times what I paid for them but then again they are in demand. Already three of them have been sold and the guys were very hush hush about what they needed them for. I think it is another one of them resort secret challenges that they don't want the tourist to know about. Well back to the office, I have some shelf brackets to mount and then decision time starts. What to put back up on the walls? I will have to just sit in there for awhile with a Hamms or two and visualize. The only spot for sure is the area where someday my mount of Mister Big will hang, I even made the space a little bigger since I am sure he has grown over the winter. From Lake Iwanttobethere {316,567}

May 11, 2011

Sun is trying to burn through this morning, just a bright spot in the sky for now out over the lake. Last night the lake was the center of attention as on the far side the first big thunderstorm of the season was doing it up right. Reports of heavy rain and hail came in over the CB between the crackling on the old speaker. Sitting at the Lodge with our antenna on top of Windy the windmill we can reach out quite a ways over the lake. I headed back to the cabin before the expected rain and made myself comfortable on the deck swing. Just a few drops fell and the storm stayed on the other side of the lake. Bud sat with me for awhile while Barney found a bed to go hid in. Barney does not like the thunder but Bud sits with me and searches the dark sky for the lightning.

Today is dog day, kind of a secret but today I go and pick up my chocolate lab puppy. Should be an interesting day as the boys Bud and Barney don't know he is coming and I might have forgotten to mention it to the wife also. Have been working on bring this pup home for the last few weeks and I have Chuck sworn to secrecy. We are going to try the approach that Chuck got the dog and is giving it to me as a early birthday present. Hoping that the puppy will do it's part and win the wife over before we let her know it is staying.

With three cats in the cabin and the two older dogs I am sure this will be a mad house for the next few days or maybe even months. I have to go see Earl at the General Store and pick up the dog crate I ordered. Figure the pup will need a safe place to hideout and I may need one to. Dog food and a collar is needed and of course a name. The hard part has been coming up with a name. The daughter, who is in on it by the way has vetoed any of the ideas for names that I have come up with. Heck we might just call it DOG in honor of John Wayne.

So this is going to be a short and sweet message. If you hear a lot of noise out your way later this afternoon, it is not the storm but just merely my wife expressing herself over the addition of another dog. If you see someone walking a chocolate lab pup with an umbrella kind of heading nowhere, that might be me. Have a good day from Lake Iwanttobethere {320,636}

May 13, 2011

Kind of a dark gloomy day here at Lake Iwanttobethere, some light drizzle is falling and the wipers on the Tahoe have to flick across every few seconds to clean the water away. I drove into town and right away you can see the place is busy. Three pickups with toppers and boats on trailers with canvas covers were in line at the Gas-N-Go. Sheriff Tim with his dog Balift in the back seat waved at me as they drove by heading in the opposite direction. Coming down main street both parking meters had trucks parked in them. Earl at the General Store was standing outside of his place wearing his fishing vest and sporting a hat with lures dangling from it. The Sunshine Cafe has a large sign covered one window completely "Welcome Fishermen" in print so big you could see it down the street.

At Amy's Bakery you can not see the counter as a group of fishermen are blocking the view. Some were coming out with bulging white paper bags which I am guessing held loose meat sandwiches and Danish. The sight of the bags made my stomach grumble a little but I knew I would be waiting in line for awhile if I stopped now. I did have a list of things that needed to be done but I might have picked the wrong time of the day to do it. No parking in front of Ma and Pa's grocery and I could hear the jingle of the bell over the door as some more fishermen came out loaded down with cardboard boxes.

I figured I would just come back later in the afternoon and so I drove on down the street and headed for the Lodge. Where the road has the fork I had to wait as a few trucks pulling trailers were backed up waiting to get down to the campground. Already the smell of outdoor fires was in the air and as I finally drove by I could look down toward the lake and see several places already filled with campers and clotheslines. The Lodge parking lot was even half full, it being almost lunch time explained some of the cars and trucks and when I walked in the back door the rest were explained.

Today was the drawing for the lakes fishing challenge. Gus was busy behind the bar pouring beer and a few shots were slid down the polished top to waiting fingers. The deck doors were standing wide open and another group of guys were sitting on the wood chairs. Smoke rose in puffs from cigars and pointed fingers made jammim motions at different campers setting up below the Lodge in the park. The mist had all but stopped now and except for the man made sounds of clanking metal and at least one argument about a campsite it was quiet.

The quiet was broken by the roaring sound of a float plane has it flew right over the top of the Lodge and out towards Lake Iwanttobethere. Tinker and his float plane appeared and with waging wings it flew out over the lake and banked towards the West. Looks like Tinker was already giving sight seeing tours of the lake. Everyone was watching the plane and I was not even noticed. I stood with Duncan in the crook of my arm and headed for the office. I was stopped by Elmer as he called out Duncan's name. I put the pup down and he ran as best as he could with tail wagging from side to side to Elmer.

Men treat hunting puppies like women treat newborn babies, soon several guys were taking turns picking up Duncan and petting him. Duncan was sucking it all in and Gus found him a dog bone, breaking it into smaller pieces Duncan quickly chewed and looked for more. Someone walking in the door to the Lodge might have thought the place was a mad house. Guys gathered around a pup, more guys out on the deck shouting directions to other guys who could not hear them. Still more guys at the bar and still others deep into bowls of chili. But the rest of us know, it's just the day before fishing season starts here at Lake Iwanttobethere!{325,396}

May 14, 2011

Was so tuff to get out of the sleeping bag this morning. Woke up well before the alarm clock was set for, don't even know why we bring one. On the spur of the moment Elmer had convinced me last night we should go and camp out on the lake and get an early start on fishing. Now Elmer thinks his tent is like other peoples deluxe campers. Truth be told it is a pretty basic old tent that was already about twenty years old when a rain fly was added to it. Since I am no spring chicken any more I don't sleep on the ground so the cots were brought along. Now these cots are nothing new either, as Elmer would say "They are broken in" Laying in my sleeping bag with my butt sagging in the "Broken in cot" I was almost comfortable.

It was not cold enough to see my breath, I know because I blew a few breaths upward to see if I could see. I watched as I saw the top of the tent sucked up on the tent poles then came back down again. This is a good sign that there is some wind blowing. Turning on my side I could look out the door and see damp ground and not much else. I relaxed back into the cot and pulled the sleeping bag up a little tighter. Chuckling to myself a little I was reminded of fishing trips when I was young and I thought the camping part was the best part. Back then the sleeping bags were huge and you could pull them over your head and even with your pillow you still had lots of room. Sleeping bags today are a lot smaller, my wife just tells me I am a lot bigger.

I close my eyes and think about just going back to sleep but now sounds are keeping me awake. The rain flag flapping, the tent roof getting sucked up on the poles. An occasional drop of water that I am sure is much smaller than it sounds. Creaking of a tree somewhere close and then the clanking of a tin coffee cup. I know it is a coffee cup because I have heard it hundreds of times before and I looked over and saw that Elmers cot was empty. I unzip the bag and swing my stocking feet out onto the tent floor. Yup, it is just as cold as I knew it would be. Pants and heavy shirt are pulled on with my rain jacket zipped I exit the tent.

What a surprise! Light rain was falling and there was wind, there is always wind. Elmer wearing his yellow rain slicker stood with his back to the tent facing a decent size fire. Blacken coffee pot off to one side with a few flames licking at the bottom of it. Turning to me he stood with steam rising from his coffee cup and pointed out at the lake " Just the right chop" he said. I took my cup hanging from the tree branch and tipped it upside down so the rain water could drip out. A splash of coffee in the bottom and I held it in both hands. The warmth of the coffee finding it's way through the cup to my waiting fingers.

As we sipped on coffee with our backs to the wind Elmer convinced me that it was no longer raining but was just water coming off the pines around our camp. Chuck drove up and we watched as he made his way out of his truck with a sack of what I was hoping were Danish from Amy's bakery. Mornings were exchanged and the sack did hold some bearclaws. Elmer asked Chuck if he was going out with us and Chuck said he was just here to watch the fire. Elmer and I made it to the shore and Elmer checked the minnow bucket. He climbed in his boat and I followed, Chuck gave us a push off and we were on the water for opener. Fifteen minutes later Elmer pulled in a fifteen inch walleye over the side. Elmer had lied to me, it was still raining and now away from the protection of the Pines the wind drove the rain into any open crevice in our coats. I agreed we had caught a fish and now we could go back in. When I got back home I checked off Fishing Opener on the fishing calendar, from Lake Iwanttobethere. {325,928}

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Fishin report for Lake Iwanttobethere..

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