Fishin report for Lake Iwanttobethere..

[CANOPY SAM]

Bobby. You're writing style is really getting good. I love yesterday's page of grouse hunting with the dog. Brings back a flood of great memories. Thanks.

[Bobby Bass]

Bobby. You're writing style is really getting good. I love yesterday's page of grouse hunting with the dog. Brings back a flood of great memories. Thanks.

Thank you, but I just write what Bud tells me to...

[Bobby Bass]

Rain, we finally got some last night not that you could tell this morning. A few drops left on the windshield and if you drag your feet in the grass the tip of your boots might get a little damp. Wind is still here and today it has shifted so it is bouncing the wind chimes around. The banging of the chimes goes nicely with the sound of the wind through the tree branches. I put the cover on the Puddle Humper, I noticed yesterday that leaves were starting to gather in it. Actually I did get some work done around the cabin as I went and inventoried all my paint and stain in the shop and hauled out almost sixty quart and gallons cans that are headed to the recycling center. The wife drives right by on the way back home from work so I filled the back of her Jeep and just happen to mention it to her this morning. Not much she could say as she is the one who put the chore on the Honey Do List.

I did run the garden tractor down the back trail, I raised the blades all the way up and took a pass down and back. I think I might have heard a grouse take off but hard to tell over the engine noise of the mower. I don't know if Chuck saw the yote again last night as I was away at the grand daughter's last soccer game for the year. That sure went by fast, seven weeks seemed like just a few. I noticed improvement in her play and last night she was really zipping around, of course they were all wearing hoods and gloves as it was cold and windy and some rain did fall. Matter of fact it was just coming up on the end of the first half and the sky was dark and some drops fell. Talk about fair weather fans, by the time the grass was wet the parents had folded up their chairs and were hiding under their blankets. The kids on the field were still running after the ball and laughing when they slid on the wet grass. At half they called the game and the kids shook hands and headed to family vans already warm from idling motors.

Since the game was done early I went to the Lodge and checked in. A pile of phone messages and a stack of mail greeted me. I took them all and put them in a cardboard Hamms box to bring home and look at later. An assortment of hunters in the Lodge or at least hunting clothes. Some orange hats and some duck coats hung off the racks. Hard to tell if they were used for hunting that day or if they were just being worn because it was a duck hunting coat kind of day. Fire going in the small fireplace and there was a dent in the wood pile stacked against the wall. Couple of guys playing cribbage and a few more were sitting on the deck which was out of the wind. Cigar smoke rising straight up till the wind caught it and tore it away. No one out on the lake that I could see, no trailers down at the access. I did see Hammering Hank and Skinny in the work truck drive by with a load of treated lumber with a red flag hanging out the back of the bouncing truck.

I checked the fishing contest board and nothing has changed, no upgrades and no new fish entered. Spoke with a couple of Lodge members and the report is that grouse hunting has been very slow, to many leaves on the trees. Wind is not helping fishing any but this front is supposed to pass and it will warm up some come the weekend. After all it is only the middle of September and we have all of fall to enjoy, from Lake Iwanttobethere {785,473}

[Bobby Bass]

I don't know why but for some reason I needed to have some eggs and bacon for breakfast this morning. No big deal people have eggs and bacon all the time for breakfast. Heck you can even go to the local burger place and get a hot breakfast in the time it takes you to order and then get to the pick up window. But I had a hankering for eggs and bacon cooked on an open fire with some smoke for flavoring.

Last night I had a fire in the pit and I think the idea for eggs and bacon came while I was stirring the fire. I pulled some chunks of wood to the edge so they would go out and leave me some charred wood. This morning I slipped on my flannel and went to the pit. A lite drizzle was falling as I took the charred chunks of wood and pulled them to the center and added some dry twigs from under the wood tarped pile. I put down a few layers cris crossing the small twigs before I added some larger thumb sized sticks and then pulled the charred pieces to rest on top. I took a couple of stick matches from my flannel pocket and scratched them across a flat rock at the edge of the pit. One sparked and burst into flame and a split second later the other one lit and I had fire. I tucked the burning wood matches into the center of my twig pile and a small curl of smoke rose. I fanned the little fire with my hat and the twigs caught sending a puff of smoke and then flames upward. Adding a few more sticks I stood up and looked down at my now crackling fire, now I needed eggs.

I took the damp path to Chucks and made my way around the garage to the recently expanded chicken coop. Feeling like a kid on an apple raiding adventure I made my way to the coop without being seen by Tatter, Chucks dog. As I went past the horses I reached over the fence and fed them both an apple from my pocket. They stayed quiet and just nodded their heads in approval, they don't much care if I am raiding the chicken coop as long as I feed them apples. I made my way to the coop and rustled me up two fresh eggs. I turned to leave when I thought the eggs are a tad small and grabbed a third one. As I worked my way back around the garage I saw the window was open and the shelf with maple syrup was in reach, I helped myself to a small bottle.

Back at the fire the small sticks had burned down to coals and the chucks of wood from last night's fire were a nice cherry red. I knock them level and went in to the cabin and returned with my bacon and the big cast iron fry pan. I settled the pan into the coals and peeled the bacon apart and laid the strips into the pan. The white wrapping paper from Ma and Pa's grocery I rolled into a ball and tucked under the pan where it caught fire and burned quickly. While the bacon cooked I took a forked stick from the kindling pile and using my pocket knife I shaved the bark off and shaped the fork making the ends matching length. I now had something to flip the bacon with. I was getting distracted here as the smell of bacon was heavy in the air along with the wood smoke. The bacon popped and sizzled and curled like a snake in the hot grease. With the bacon flipped I was about to crack eggs but realized I had nothing to flip the eggs, back inside the cabin I went.

A plate, salt and pepper and a couple of pieces of bread along with a spatula and I was back in business. I moved the bacon off to the side of the big pan and cracked the three eggs watching them slide across the bacon grease on the pan till the whites started cooking and the eggs grabbed hold. I moved the pan off the heat and speared the bread with the wood fork and holding the bread over the coals I was making toast, or at least what is close enough to past for toast over an open fire. The toast was not done but the eggs were so everything went on the plate and I sat on a stump and started to eat. Smell of wood smoke swirled around me, smoking bacon grease hot in the pan and the taste of fresh eggs bacon and toast. Was so good I forgot all about the maple syrup.

Was sitting back on the stump wiping the plate clean of the last of the egg yolk with my toast when I thought some orange juice would be good about right now. That is when I saw Chuck cutting across my back yard, Looks like he has a bucket of my apples! From Lake Iwanttobethere {786,925}

[Bobby Bass]

Yesterday was just one of them days, after a very filling breakfast the day just went down hill from there. Somehow I managed to get a little ash in my eye and by early afternoon it started to bug me. I flushed it out again and figured it would take care of itself. I was cleaning the basement since I now had a bunch of room where the paint cans all were stacked. I was going to take that shelving unit down and build a new one. I was standing in the doorway to the kitchen talking with the wife, hands on either side of the opening when Bud came running into the kitchen followed closely by Duncan. Before I knew it one or both of them clipped me behind the knee and I found myself on the floor looking at the ceiling.

Flashback to my football playing days but I had pads on back then, this felt the same as back then except the floor was a lot harder. Duncan finding me on the floor was quickly at my face trying to lick it. The wife stood over me and just asked if I was OK I got up and tested the knee, it seem to be fine. I made my way out to the shop to hide from the wife and catch my breath. I have had days like today before. I know the best thing to do is stay away from hammers and saws as everyone knows bad things happen three at a time.

So after a few minutes sitting on the stool I was feeling better, no pain in the knee and my eye was feeling better. I started moving things around a little and organizing things on the pegboard wall. I had a cabinet that I had been meaning to put up over the radial arm saw table so I got the screw gun out and hung the cabinet. I open the doors on the cabinet and started loading saw blades into it. That is when I walked to the pegboard and returned to the cabinet with my head down. I walked right into the open door and hit the edge square. I saw stars, actually I think I discovered a new constellation. I stumbled back and reached for my head, pulled my hand back and dang if there wasn't some blood. Back to the stool and I sat down.

Youngest granddaughter spent the night and she woke my up by jumping on my back. I was expecting pain but I actually felt pretty good. After a brief wrestling match which she claims that she won we headed for the kitchen to make breakfast. The wife had her day planned and her and the granddaughter were soon out the door to hit the last of the seasons rummage sales. I grabbed the Hamms cardboard box and headed to the Lodge. I actually had a few pieces of mail that had to go back to the Lodge. I arrived at the Lodge parked the Tahoe and headed in the back door. No sooner did the door close behind me and Gus was wiping his hands on a towel and asking me what happen. I guess I was limping a little, had a red eye and a small knot on my head with a cut. Wife forgot to tell me that I looked like I had been in a fight.

I explained what had happen to Gus and he just nodded his head, granddaughter beat ya up eh! I shook my head no and walked out into the bar, right away Hammering Hank looked up from the paper and said "You get in a fight?" I shook my head no and Gus behind me spoke up saying "Granddaughter spent the night" Hank nodded and went back to his paper. I just gave up and headed to my office I needed a few aspirin, from Lake Iwanttobethere {788,412}

[Bobby Bass]

Oktoberfest officially started yesterday and at the Lodge we celebrated it to. Gus brought up the big mugs from the basement and the squared bottom round mugs were soon filled with Hamms and Needabeer. Mindy and Mandy overflowing in their special Oktoberfest dresses stayed busy all evening. I worked the bar as no way was Gus going to be able to keep up with pouring beer and still cook. It being a Saturday there is not much of a reason needed for Lodge members to come in for a beer. Fishermen came in, bird hunters came in, Tourists chasing fall leaves came in and just members came in when they saw the Oktoberfest banner waving off the front deck. Doc Burriem was also in and looking at me he asked what happen. In the time it took me to pour his mug of beer he gave me some free medical advice. Don't rub the eye, stop walking into doors and as for the knee, walk it off.

A group of Lodge members were gathered around the TV making noise about not being able to find the local state football team's game. All I could do is hold up my hands and agree, I to am frustrated having to watch games from either coast but you can watch a team from your own state. Some talk was then had about maybe it was time for a road trip, I moved back behind the bar as the Fellows started looking around for Reed the Realtor I am sure to talk him into the road trip and to borrow the bio-disel RV

This morning found me up early and for awhile the winds were calm, not a cloud in the sky but chilly as fall mornings tend to be. The basement is cleaned and I have a load of junk that is no longer considered "Good Stuff" in the Dodge. The wife out did herself cleaning and I don't even have a complaint on what was thrown away, you see I have learned. I did spend time changing out the day pack in the Tahoe, the extra summer shorts and tee shirts have been exchanged for sweat pants and sweaters. Gloves and a stocking hat have been added as well as some hand warmers. Stormy Clearweather is forecasting a warmer week then what we just had. Fishing is back on the schedule but the last week was not wasted as a lot of checks were made on the Honey Do List.

Chuck has not seen the Yote again and he has been sitting on the porch waiting. He has however found out why he is going through so much feed. The crows are coming in and helping themselves of the chicken feed. He now has a ground blind set up and is hunting crows twice a day. I thought the crows would figure it out and be gone after the first volley but they keep coming back. Elmer and Marv are now taking a turn in the evening, they have not hit a single crow but they say they have scared a few.

I did go back out in the shop and paint the edge of the new cabinet door a bright red. I don't think I will be walking into that again. This afternoon I will be picking apples and taking a turn in the ground blind. The wife has promised to make pie and I have promised to eat some. I might even take the row boat out and wet a line, from Lake Iwanttobethere {790,508}

[Bobby Bass]

Woke up this morning to white grass, a hard frost overnight and there is no doubt now that fall has arrived. We were teased yesterday by temperatures that hovered in the middle seventies all afternoon. I had on the calendar that I was going to go with Chuck fishing but my friend the wind took care of that. Steady winds of twenty with gusts to thirty took care of any thought of being on the water. The rest of the week however is supposed to be almost calm wind wise and even though it will not get much warmer then sixty this time of year that is almost ideal. Today fishing is back on the calendar and Chuck and I will be out this afternoon.

Ran errands yesterday instead, down to The General Store for some deck stain and over to the lumber yard for a couple of fence posts. I noticed some road kill along a few stretches of road, mostly skunks. The Leafers have started to arrive, that is what we call the tourist who drive the back roads looking at leaves and stopping their cars in the center of roads to hop out and take pictures. Usually on blind curves so you need to be a little extra careful so you don't hit the Leafers or slow rolling grouse hunters. Every fall brings us a story or two of when Leafers meet skunks and either one or both are to slow to move out of the way of the other. The results are either a dead skunk smelling up a stretch of road or the smelly Leafer trying to clean their car at the car wash.

While I was in town I did make a stop at the Dew Drop Inn, that time of the year when apple pie is on special. A nice thick slice of pie and some conversation over the counter on how bird hunting has been and maybe a hot tip on a bass lake. Since I was close to Amy's Bakery I thought a couple of loose meat samwiches might go good fishing so I went inside. No sooner did the door close behind me then Amy came around from behind the counter with a glass of milk and a very liberal slice of apple pie. She said she saw me walk by and just knew I would be coming in. Well, I can't turn down Amy and it was apple pie.

With two samwiches and two slivers of apple pie in my bag I left Amy's and headed back home. I drove past Quick Sand Point on my way and see that all two hundred and twenty-three pink Flamingoes are scattered around the sand covered beach. HD must have a few hunters up from the cities. No sooner do I get down to the access road to the point then I see a black four door pickup blocking the road and a couple of guys wearing pink camo walking the road. I keep forgetting it is the start of the northern Pink Flamingo season

Driving slow I head back home making sure to keep an eye out for Leafers and hunters when I round turns. I am almost home when I feel a wet nose on my neck and looking up in the rear view mirror I see Duncan has woken from his nap. With all the warm clothes now in the back of the Tahoe Duncan has taken to sleeping on them. I will let him in the truck and he jumps seats to get in the back and rearranges things to his liking and then just settles in for a nap. He is nosing my bag of samwiches and smells the pie, he has discovered he likes apples. I arrived home parked the Tahoe and carried the bakery bag inside. The wife turns to greet me and holds a still warm apple pie. I smile and say I suppose I should try some of that pie, from Lake Iwanttobethere {794,315}

[Bobby Bass]

Warm clothes in the back of the Tahoe don't do you much good when you are fishing on the water. Yesterday my neighbor Chuck and I went fishing on Wrong Lake. Stormy Clearweather had forecasted temperatures in the upper fifties and just a wisp of wind, so light you would have to go looking for it. When I picked up Chuck the fancy temperature readout on the Tahoe mirror said fifty-nine but for every ten miles we drove it would drop a degree. Sixty some miles later it was fifty-three degrees out and the whisper of wind was now a strong ten miles blowing out of the North. We launched the Puddle Humper and turned on the graph, more good news, the water was only fifty-two and I discovered I stepped in a little too deep when launching the boat and I had a damp spot on my pants below the knee. The damp knee would serve us well during the afternoons fishing as I knew exactly which way the wind was blowing by the cold knee.

Fishing on the small little lake was like sitting at a smoky campfire, no matter where we moved to the wind followed us around. We caught a few fish, just enough to keep us interested. Chuck tied on a spinnerbait, copper with an orange skirt and then added a bright red six inch worm to it as a trailer. I ribbed him from the front seat telling him no bass is going to hit that and he should put on a proper trailer. A half hour later and he was picking a 18.75 bass out of the cool water and I could hear him thinking all the way in the front of the boat about his red worm. I took some video of the fish and he released it back into the water and turning to me he sat and said nothing. "OK let me have it" I said. Chuck just put flame to a small cigar and held up his spinnerbait with the dangling red worm and just smiled as he blew smoke in my direction.

A few minutes later and I lipped a 17.75 fish and held it up for Chuck to see, "Notice the proper trailer" and I pointed it out to Chuck. Reeling in his spinner he just held it up for me to see and tossed it out again. We both chuckled some and went back to fishing, neither one of us caught another fish. We spent another hour or so on the water and it was not getting any warmer so we worked our way to the landing and no sooner did we hit shore then the Tahoe was started and the heater turned on high. Puddle Humper was loaded on the trailer and rods were secured. I slipped in behind the steering wheel and made sure the heated seat was turned on. Fancy gage tells me the outside temperature was now at forty-eight. I didn't mention to Chuck where the switch was for his seat.

As we drove home the clouds started to disappear and the sun started shinning low on the horizon. I didn't mention that it was an overcast afternoon and as it always works out the wind died and the sun started to shine after the Puddle Humper was on the trailer. The next time I go out fishing the thermos will be coming with, I will put on the long underwear and I will stop off at the General Store and pick up a supply of hand warmers. The extra sweater and stocking cap will go into the Puddle Humper and I will ignore Stormy Clearweathers forecast of whisper winds and sunny sky. Fall is here and dressing for bird hunting is not warm enough to be sitting in a boat unless I am fishing for ducks. From Lake Iwanttobethere {797,337}

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[Bobby Bass]

Ice Cold Beer, that is a sign you see in almost every bar or tavern you walk into. Here at the Lodge our beer really is Ice Cold. Ever since we started tapping our kegs out in the Ice House and then we run the beer through the hose to the tap handle our draft beer is Ice Cold. Don't know why I am bring this up but it was just something I saw while down in the big city yesterday. Wife had a meeting and I thought I would drive her into the city and that would give me a reason to do a little shopping on my own. We arrived only to find her meeting canceled and found ourselves spending quality time together. This meant we went to stores where she could use my age to get the senior discount and my wallet to pay for the purchases. Of course she promised to pay back into my fishing and hunting gas fund later.

A lot greener in the big city, guess all the concrete keeps thing's warmer longer. I prefer living at the lake as the roads are dusty and bumpy but you know that. Driving in the city on a nice paved road only to hit a pothole that will shake your molars and spill your coffee is not any fun. No sooner do you recover then you hit another hole and what little coffee you have in the cup has now found the carpet. I prefer to drive the Dodge into the city, can't hurt it anymore then it already is. Not to mention any thing spilled in it just drains out the rust holes in the floor. Yesterday we drove the Tahoe because the wife likes the heated seats, OK so do I.

This morning finds me at the Lodge, going fishing this afternoon but I needed to get some paper work out of the way. Place was pretty quiet with just one ceiling fan slowly turning over head in the center of the main room. Drapes were all pulled back and sunlight was creeping deeper into the room. I heard the banging of the dumpster lid and from out back crows took off and flew low over the roof heading down to the softball field. No doubt to harass the seagulls that were marching across the field. A single trailer attracted to an old dark blue pickup sat parked in the access lot. I scanned the waters of Lake Iwanttobethere but did not see a boat, must be around the point or maybe on the other side of Root Beer Island.

Gus came in from out back, wearing his apron and rubbing his hands together, we both said HIYA at the same time. Gus walked over to the white board for the lunch menu and just wrote in big block letters B-B-Q today. Then headed into the kitchen where I heard the sound of the walk in freezer door open then close. I poured juice from the cartoon and walked around behind the bar, If Gus is planning a BBQ then maybe the weather just might be right for fishing. I eyed the tap handles for the Hamms and Needabeer and thought again about the Ice Cold Beer signs in the city. Maybe we need to get a big sign telling everyone we have real ice cold beer. But I had second thoughts about that as it is more fun to watch tourist come into the bar, order a draft and then try to slam it down. Beer head freezes are so much fun to watch, especially when they are not happening to you.

Even the radio stations down in the big city are forecasting nice weather for the next week, no rain and above average temperatures. Going to get a lot of Laefers heading this way this weekend. I made my way out onto the Lodge deck and the sun felt warm coming off the siding. Only a few clouds in the sky and the top of the trees are barely moving. Might just be a good day, heck maybe even a good week to be fishing, from Lake Iwanttobethere {799,520}

[reinhard1]

another great read. cold beer is a good thing. years ago my grandfather from Germany came to visit. came about 3 times until he passed away. i made sure i had some good German beer and that it was cold when served. well, he didn't like it that way. he said a good beer is only good in room temperature. so he let it sit for awhile and then drank it. so from that point i just left some out on the counter so he could help himself. i have never met anyone prior or up to this point that liked his or her beer room temp. good luck.

[Bobby Bass]

Sixty-five and calm, a few clouds and barely a russle of leaves in the trees, the perfect day to stain the deck, so I went fishing instead. My friend Jerry showed up at the cabin just ten minutes after the planed one o'clock leaving time. I had the trailer hooked to the Tahoe and my lunch was in the cooler inside. I was sitting on the covered swing with Duncan sitting next to me, just waiting. We exchange HIYA's and his gear was transferred from his truck to mine and we were on the road heading to Bacon Bay. According to my log this time last year Bacon Bay was turning over and fishing was poor but I had a feeling today that I was going to do well and I told that to Jerry as the yellow lines on the blacktop were a blur as we sped down the road.

We arrived at Bacon Bay to find the winds had not found us and the water was calm and inviting, a good sign. A few minutes later and we were tossing buzz baits and waiting for that first fish or even a miss to let us know there were fish. I was the first one to have a fish smack at my buzz but even though I felt some weight I didn't hook up. We spent some time speculation on whether it was a bass or a northern, I was saying it was a bass. We worked our way down the shoreline with nothing to show for our first hour on the water. It was not a total loss though, someone had a fire going in a pit and you could smell burning leaves across the water. A shotgun blast was heard a few times and we listen for second shots. We made small wagers on whether someone had shot a grouse or missed not having anyway to prove or disprove our guesses.

We move to the far shore and fished quiet water, the banks were showing as the water has dropped with the heat of summer and the lack of rain. Good trees that were covered in water now stood with naked branches above the water. A few small northerns were boated, those sixteen inchers that seem to throw themselves at the spinnerbait just before it is lifted from the water. They are released quickly and a check is made in the little leather notebook that a fish was caught. Time passes but it is not wasted, we catch up on family and friends and laugh at old jokes and things that we share in our past. A few more northerns are caught and finally a bass, it jumps a few times and pulls hard. I lift it over the side and admire it before putting it back with a message for him to tell his ma to come see me.

We fish some of our favorite spots but boat just a few small northerns. A bigger fish flashes at the boat but does nothing more than take the tail from my spinnerbait. With the sun starting to settle quickly we are getting more hits but we are the ones being played. Yet another bigger fish hits my spinner and swims right at me, I can't reel quick enough to take up the slack to set before what ever it is gone. With maybe fifteen minutes of light left we are at a long finger of reeds that pokes out into the bay. I never can pass up a point so we work our way along side of it and throw back into the reeds. I am talking about something when I feel a tap and weight and I hit the set hard. Fish on I tell Jerry and I turn the trolling motor off but we continue to glide along in the water, the fish is pulling the Puddle Humper and line is being pulled off the reel.

I play the fish one handed and turn on my camera to catch the action, a few seconds later and I nice bass is on the surface and we both comment that this is a nice fish. Jerry reaches over the side and lips a bass just a few ounces shy of five pounds, a nice bass for Lake Iwanttobethere or anywhere. We quickly take a few pictures, weigh her and then I ease her back over the side. I whisper thanks for the memory and tell her to thank her son for sending her, from Lake Iwanttobethere {801,098}

[Bobby Bass]

They are back, and not by popular demand, sheeters! I thought we were done with the little buggers with the heavy frost that we got last week but this must be a new strain. These guys are big and we have gotten to calling them the Woolly Skeeter. Saturday found myself and several other Lodge members seal coating the parking area at the rear of the Lodge. We have a Honey Do List for the Lodge and this is something we have been putting off all summer long. A local county street cleaner was bribed, I mean persuaded to take a few passes through the parking lot and clean it up for us. A converted snow blower made quick work of throwing the rocks and left over sand deep into the woods. Buckets of sealer had been bought late in the spring and stored in the garage and with Hanks spreader we made quick work of the lot. Trouble is these big skeeters came out of nowhere and were a pest. No matter how hard you try to stay clean when you are seal coating you always get some on your hands. When you start swatting skeeters you now get the black, tacky stuff everywhere. Good thing we had a keg outside so we didn't go inside and make a mess.

A few guys were working slow on Saturday morning after eating and drinking to much on Friday night. I don't think I have mentioned it but the last Friday night of the month is Gizzard and Geezer Night here at the Lodge. Now some people call others "Old Geezers" and I am sure we have some of them around town but the dictionary defines geezer as a strangely-acting person, and we have a lot of them around town for sure. Take fly fishermen, on Friday night a group of them were sitting around one of the round tables dipping their deep fried gizzards in honey mustard sauce. While another group of Lodge members were watching a football game and dipping their gizzards in a Louisiana hot sauce that Gus had prepared. Guys at the bar were just using barbecue sauce while all of the had mugs of beer in their hands to wash the gizzards down. The gizzard's are a change of pace around here and Gus gets a deal on them. We put them on the menu just once a month and with a draft beer special they go quick.

I was working the bar and gathering information, leaves are changing color and some are dropping, a few bird hunters were bragging about seeing grouse. They didn't shoot any but one said he did manage to get a shot off. The past several days my friend the wind has all but disappeared, perfect timing on it's part. Some wind would have been nice to dry the parking lot and to keep the woolly skeeters off of us. Northerns have been on the bite and the fishing board shows a few new entries. I have been seeing traffic down at the Masterbaiters Shop as I am guessing guys are coming in to buy big suckers to toss off the dock. Always a good way to pass an afternoon in the fall fishing with a big sucker off the dock while you feed leaves to the fire pit.

I was planning on fishing this afternoon but instead I will be power washing the deck at home. Kind of been putting that off for most of the summer. The wife informed me that she had a feeling I was going to catch a nice fish on Friday when I went fishing and she now has a feeling that I should be doing the deck. If nothing else I am in touch with my wife's feelings that and the fact that the power washer is leaning up against the Puddle Humpers trailer tongue, from Lake Iwanttobethere {806,660}

[Bobby Bass]

The deck is power washed, along with the front porch, outside chairs a bench and a concrete pad that serves as a small patio near some flower beds. I am sure the wife has some more things that she wants cleaned but I announced I was out of time if I wanted anything to dry. Today finds me watching the sky to see if the forecasted showers are going to come or not. Everything is about timing, if the showers come then I will not stain but if they are just lite showers then I might go fishing. If it does not rain I will stain then I can go fishing tomorrow and maybe Wednesday to. Let the dogs out this morning and they looked over the empty deck and just sprawled in the center of it. All the chairs and tables and the covered swing are down on the grass but no one is interested in them. Grand kids were over briefly last night and wanted to move the portable basketball hoop onto the deck. The wife said it was OK till I reminder her that I had just cleaned it and ball marks would not be what we want to stain over.

Of course there was a price to pay for all of this work, I started before the football game and was half done by game time. I went and watched the first half and came back out to wash a little more at half-time. Not thinking I put on my new black carhart and sprayed some deck wash down not realizing I had gotten some on the hoodie. Found out that the deck wash turns the black material of the hoodie into a nice rust color. A big wet spot on the front dried making it look like I had been gut shot. The wife is none too happy about it. Guess I now have a new work hoodie.

After the game was over I finished washing the deck and thought about picking some apples for pie, one look at the wife and I decided against it. She was on the phone telling her ma what stupid did today, I have a feeling that I am stupid. So I took the trail over to Chucks, I found him sitting in a lawn chair facing the wood shed admiring his work. He had received a couple of loads of firewood from Hammering Hank and had spent the afternoon and morning stacking the shed. Guess I had timed it perfectly as he pointed at a small cooler at his feet and I found me a Hamms under the cold water and floating ice. I sat down on one of the elm chunks that are never going to be split and admired the stacking job. Oak on one side with some maple and birch on the other side with some slab wood tossed on top for kindling.

The top of the Hamms can made that nice cush sound as I open it. The first sip was cold and went down easy, guess I developed a thirst washing the deck. Not many leaves to look at over at Chucks, he has a lot filled with these big pines. I looked back towards my place and saw that a lot of trees had gone yellow but I had not really noticed. I watched as a few leaves fell and I thought I might have a problem staining if the wind shows up. After awhile Chuck grabbed his chair and I grabbed the cooler and we relocated down to the dock. Time to watch the sunset even though it was a few hours away. I sat on the dock chair and Chuck set his next to mine. We sat and watched a few pontoons go by and waved when people waved at us. Didn't talk too much, sometimes old friends don't have to.

So today I am just kind of wandering around the property. Clouding up so I don't think I will be staining. Wind is calm and the lake is quiet. I went down to the dock and Duncan followed his nose low to the ground and he is sniffing. From time to time he will stop and hold his head up into the slight breeze coming off the water. He is starting to look a little older and that puppy look is disappearing. With Bud and Barney back in the cabin he is not so rammy. He walks slowly in front of me and checks to see if I am following. Maybe Duncan and I should take a little walk down this bird trail I know of. I'm pretty sure it would be OK with Bud, from Lake Iwanttobethere {811,678}

[Bobby Bass]

The decks are stained, I took a chance that the forecasted showers would not appear and I stained the decks. Now I will be able to get out and fish this afternoon and tomorrow before the weather changes and the cover goes on the Puddle Humper. Still lots of work to do around the cabin but I am counting on a few more nice days to still be coming. After the deck was done and the brush cleaned and the roller tossed I sat on the covered swing in the yard. The wife took both Bud and Barney to the daughters along with two apple pies leaving me with Duncan. I checked the counter in the kitchen and dang if she didn't leave me any apple pie but I did find one hidden behind the milk in the fridge. After a respectable slab of pie, which I shared a small piece of crust with Duncan, don't tell anyone I checked on the drying decks.

I went to the back glass deck door to find Duncan sitting and whining soft like. I was figuring he wanted to go outside but I can't let him out that way, the deck was wet. I called him to come with me to the front door but he just looked at me and then looked back out the glass door. I walked over to see what he was so intently looking at and there walking on the railing of the deck was a grouse. Thinking photo I went back to grab the camera but when I returned the bird had flown, or more likely hopped to the ground. Duncan was still whining so I figured it was time for us to take a walk. I grabbed the single shot and my hunting boots and ten minutes later we were in the Tahoe driving to a little tote road that I have been saving for Duncan.

On the way over Duncan knew something was up as he was all over the Tahoe pressing his nose up against the glass. I lowered windows all they way around and he went from one to another with his nose out sniffing. This is when I noticed I needed to clean windows, they are all smudged from dog or grand kid's noses. We drove pass the golf course and there were a few guys getting in a round of golf. With the leaves on the golf course chaining colors and dropping their outfits did not look so out of place. The red checker pants and yellow plaid polo shirts almost look like camouflage with all the leaves on the still green grass.

A little while later we arrived at a turn off that would hide the Tahoe from the road. I made sure no one was behind me and no one coming and made the turn. A hundred yards in and I was behind a clump of pines and out of sight. I let Duncan out and put on his collar with his bell on. I sat on the rear bumper and put my boots on and slipped into my vest. I checked for shells and the whistle and we were off down the trail. The smells, were heavy in the air for me so I can't image what it was like for Duncan, it has to be like walking into a bakery. Duncan does not walk far before he is totally involved with a scent on the forest floor. I take the time to adjust the old twenty in my arm and look around. We are in the center of a trail that meanders in and makes several sharp turns in some young popple. I have been watching the stand grow for the past few years and I am thinking it should be ripe to hold some birds.

Duncan is distracted from the first scent by something else that his nose tells him is more interesting and he starts down the trail. I follow and we walk maybe twenty yards when I see not one but two yellow shotgun shells lying on some yellow leaves. I bend over and pick them both up, still a bright yellow and I sniff to smell the burnt gunpowder. I look around and say out loud for Duncan to hear. "Someone else has found our spot" I put the two spent shells in my vest pocket, and old habit. Don't want anyone else to know that someone was shooting here. Down the trail Duncan has stopped, head down in the trail I can hear him snorting. I walk up behind him and see feathers on the trail, grouse feathers. Guess that answers the question about the two spent shells. Now we need to see if there are any more grouse here, from Lake Iwanttobethere {815,159}

[Bobby Bass]

Just a terrible time of the year for the outdoorsman, and today might be one of the worst days of the year. Stormy Clearweather is forecasting a high in the mid seventies and winds out of the Southwest at a manageable ten miles per hour. What should I do? You see tomorrow the weather is going to make a big change with wind and rain and much cooler temperatures and it is going to last for perhaps a week or more. The weather for sure will effect the waters of Lake Iwanttobethere and they will cool quickly now and fish will be long gone from their summer haunts and even the good fall spots will change. Leaves are changing color quickly and with wind and rain they will drop and the colors will be gone. Good for bird hunting but them warm afternoons are nice to take walks on.

Cooling temperatures and winds will bring the turnover to the small lakes and fishing will be poor. Of course I could take this last warm day and work around the cabin, a lot on the Honey Do List and even some stuff from the summer list that a day like today would be fine to work on. But yesterday I made a return trip to Bacon Bay and even though it was windy I caught fish. I was hoping for another big one like last week but I started off slow until I found a sweet spot of some green weeds. Two passes through the area and I landed three fish just shy of three pounds each. I'm thinking today that those three and their buddies are going to be in the same place and maybe just maybe their big sisters or ma will be there too.

As soon as I got back to the cabin last night the battery charger was plugged in and I think I had already made the decision that I was going fishing again today. The trouble was where do I go. With good fishing days about done do I take the chance and try another bay or return to Bacon Bay? I spent time looking through my little leather note books that I record my fishing trips in and compare fishing entries for this time of the year. Of course I get sidetracked by notations about bird hunting and I do have the distraction of both Buddy and Duncan lying on the floor here wagging their tails and looking at me. I catch both of them glancing at the gun cabinet and then at me and I can almost hear them saying to pick me pick me and lets go hunting. I don't want to say they are jealous of the Puddle Humper but this time of the year but they do seem to pee on the trailer tires a lot.

Well I just stepped out on the deck and the wind is calm, it's warm out and sunny. I am going fishing and it is Bacon Bay that I am heading to. Got to wrap this up as I need to make a lunch and get on the road. I am sorry to say that for all of you in your offices reading this that I will be gone fishing. But I will keep the back seat open for ya and if you would like to come fish from it and enjoy the day you certainly can, from Lake Iwanttobethere {818,352}

[Bobby Bass]

Stormy Clearweather was wrong, again. I arrived at Bacon Bay to find flat water and not a breeze, so much for the ten mile winds. Calm water can be hard to fish in during the day, would rather have it late in the evening to work topwater baits in but I am not complaining to hard. The Tahoe said the air was seventy-three and the graph said the water was sixty, a couple of degrees warmer than the day before. Water was clear and I set off from the landing in search of northern, I have been looking for a nice northern all summer but have had no success. Bacon Bay is known for some nice northern and I thought I would take advantage of the calm water and head to a weed covered flat where I could hunt them.

Fall northern hunting is a lot like spring hunting. I go back into the skinny water and look for boils and vee wakes where fish give away their position. Then I make long casts in front of them and the game is on. Yesterday I caught six fish doing this but nothing bigger then about three pounds, fun catching in the shallow water but not what I was looking for. I worked a deep weed line but no takers then off to the big reed bank which is a special spot on Bacon Bay. Working the outside edge I picked up a couple more small northerns till I past the point and started down the other side. Here I had a very nice northern come completely out of the water and did a northern version of a cannon ball right at the side of the boat. If he was trying to hit the lure he missed, if he was trying to get me wet, he succeeded. I wiped the water from my glasses and guessed it was a lower thirty inch fish, I marked the spot on the graph so I can return to it later.

I figured it was time to go after some bass so I pulled the trolling motor up and cruised to the other side of the bay. I worked down the barren shoreline and didn't even get a tap. I took my time and fished the green weeds that I found the day before and caught those three seventeen inch fish but nothing today. I was having some thoughts about calling it an early day, I was planning on going to the car wash and cleaning the Puddle Humper. When a bass rocketed out from the edge of the weeds and smacked my spinnerbait. I just happen to be looking down in the water at the right time. A moment later and a seventeen and a half inch bass was hanging from the scale. Three pounds and four ounces of bass looked me back in the eye and I eased her back in the water and told her thanks. Catching a nice fish can make you forget all about washing your boat and I was back fishing again. Sitting on the edge of the seat and looking for another nice fish.

Down the shoreline I went and not another fish did I catch, a few taps by some small northerns trying to steal my trailer but no takers. When I got to the base of the long reed point I switched over to my northern rig. An eight foot rod with a big half ounce spinnerbait with a red blade and red skirt. I had a five inch white paddle tail for a trailer and the whole lure has to be all of eight or nine inches long. I started working up the edge of the reed bank throwing the rig out in front of me. A few minutes up the bank and I had a big boil and heavy weight on the line, I set the hook and I was thinking I had my northern on. That is when this bass launched herself from the water towards me. Right away I knew it was bigger then the 4-14 I had caught a few days ago. She dove back into the water and I had her hooked up we danced for maybe ten seconds and I made my mistake. I turned in the seat to reach behind me to grab my video camera and that is when she went under the boat to wrap the line on the big motor and she was gone. NOOOOOOO I shouted out and in the quiet of the evening and it echoed back at me. Dang it, I reeled in the slack line and the lure was still there, she had not broken off but she had gotten off.

Pouting I switched back over to the baitcaster with the double willow blade and continued up the reed point. I put the hatcam back on and figured if I was to catch another fish I would not lose it by reaching for the camera this time. I was thinking what a terrible way to end the day on when I got another hit just a crank turn from the edge of the reeds. Well look at this, it is another nice bass, this one I play right up to the boat and swing her over the side. When I go to reach for her I see she is a lot bigger then I thought. Nineteen and a half inches and she lights up the digital scale at four pounds six ounces. I hold the camera so I can watch her swim away and now I am not so upset about he big one that got away, from Lake Iwanttobethere {820,354}

Go here to see the action..

[Bobby Bass]

The gentle breezes sway the branches of the colorful red maple tree, squirrels scamper in the leaves that float downward finally coming to a rest in small soft piles like mattresses at a bed store. Kids walk home from school dragging their feet in the leaves on the sidewalk leaving wakes like sailboats behind them. The smell of a fall BBQ is in the air and the chatter of a son and his father tossing a football and the all to familiar Go Long call. Yes fall is here, just to bad it is nothing like that here.

One day it is seventy out and calm and the next day there is a howling wind outside and the sound of small branches hitting the deck from trees on the other side of the yard. The windows that were not closed now have curtains that look like they are breathing. The wind blowing them in then sucking them back out again. Cold, not mid winter cold but cold enough to put on a cap. Gloves find their way on to hands and shoes and socks are a must. A sweatshirt just don't cut it and a jacket has to be put on over it. Heater is turn on in the truck and the window is cracked open just a tad, forget the a/c no need for that.

I spent the morning closing windows and looking for gloves. Before I went out I set bread out to rise and filled the crock pot with chili fixings. I had a long list of things that needed to be done but I was hoping that I would be able to drag them out over a couple of weeks. Not just a couple of days. Air conditioner came out of the bedroom window and attic fan was sealed. I had to start a shopping list for the General Store, plastic window kits and extra double sticky tape. Out to the shop to carry in cans of spray paint and anything else that could freeze. Small tomato pots were put in the greenhouse and the bigger ones wrapped in plastic. Ripe small tomatoes went into the coat pocket to later find themselves added to the crock pot.

Apple picker was put to use as the last of the apples from the big tree were picked. The wind made things interesting as already there was a fair amount of apples on the ground. The ones left on the tree were a tuff bunch as not even the wind could take them down. I would have to shake the branch with the picker and for every five I got one would fall to the ground. A few hit me in the noggin but most just glanced off the heavy coat. Duncan would help me out with the ones that fell and picked them up and carry them to me. I put them in a separate cardboard box, one that I will not be using to make pies with. I may just give them to Chuck, he would not think twice about a little dog drool. For awhile there some snow fell at least I think it was snow. It didn't feel like rain but felt colder and it fell slowly, snow showers I guess.

Apple boxes full I carried them in the house, bread went into the oven and the chili was stirred in the pot. I added a few sticks to the fire in the fire place and rubbed my hands briskly, I don't know if they make your hands get any warmer quicker but it does feel good just the same. Timer goes off in the kitchen and I take the bread out of the oven. A couple of pats of butter smeared on the hot loafs of bread gives it a nice golden brown color. I tap the pans on their sides and the loaves fall out onto the waiting cutting board too cool. I scoop up a sample of chili in a bowl and cut a slice of warm bread, just a taste mine you. Can't have supper till the wife gets home, from Lake Iwanttobethere {821,732}

[Bobby Bass]

The Puddle Humper sits under a tarp, resting. Not yet empty of fishing gear it waits for that one last chance to go fishing. Straps are loose and the winch handle has no strain on it, the boat waits to show it is not done but hunting calls. The back of the Tahoe has changed. The milk crate to stand on is gone and the life vests and rain coats are missing. Instead a heavy moving blanket covers the back and a water bowl sits empty. A small crate sits with odds and ends that bird hunters carry, at least this one does. A box of shells and a first aid kit, a couple of juice pouches and a bottle of water. Some dog biscuits and some zip lock bags hold a couple of pairs of socks and a towel.

Duncan the young chocolate lab has now taken his turn out bird hunting, the other day he got his first bird and I would like to say it was a big event but it was not. It was the kind of bird that you would like to have your dog be his first. The two of us came down the trail where it made a sharp turn to the left. There was some wind but it was blowing right at us and some sunshine but there were clouds so it was not to bright when you looked up. We came around the corner and not twenty yards away a bird was sitting facing the other way. The tote road long ago had stopped seeing logging trucks and was now just kept open by the occasional four wheeler and ATV's. Instead of a wide road it was just a narrow trail and the bird was standing in the brown grass in it's center looking the wrong way.

Duncan was distracted checking something smelly looking and I eased my way around the corner and brought the gun up to my shoulder. Duncan with his head down on the right side of the trail caught the scent I am guessing and froze. His head came up and the nose was testing the breeze. The grouse got nervous and decide something was up and stretched his neck and started looking about. Duncan must have seen the movement and headed down the trail at a lope. The bird had enough and leaped upward with a clapping of wings and it was an easy shot as the bird tried to fly straight away. It fell in the center of the trail in a puff of feathers and Duncan was on it.

I traded Duncan part of a biscuit for the bird and he jumped around some. I called out "Hunt em up" a few times and we continue our walk down the trail. Duncan now acting like a teenager that figured something out. No more birds seen that trip but Duncan has the idea and we are past the hard part. Now we just have to share time with Bud who is not done hunting just yet. So this morning I took both of them out for a walk. Bud walking slow and close, nose working the brown grass and the new piles of leaves along the trail. Duncan walks close by and checks every pile that Bud does. We get to a birdy spot and Bud pauses and watches, he looks up at the swaying trees and I do the same. Duncan does not have a clue and just sits and looks at me and Bud.

We take a few steps and a bird from behind us takes off. We all watch as the bird hits the afterburners and zips and dips behind a birch tree and around a pine before it is gone and quiet returns. Duncan tries to stand taller in the grass to watch the bird and looks back at me his eyes asking why we are not chasing. Bud looks at me and just kind of rolls his eyes and I can hear him thinking "Puppies". Hour later and we are back at the Tahoe. I open the back doors and Duncan jumps up like a deer to settle down on the moving blanket. Buddy comes around to the front door where I help him up onto the front seat. A little while later and we are back at the cabin sitting on the couch with a football game on. Duncan's head in my lab sleeping and Bud leaning hard up against me on the other side. His paw is up on my leg and my fingers stroke him under his ear where he likes it. Looks like I got myself two bird dogs from Lake Iwanttobethere {824,491}

[Bobby Bass]

Just when I think I have myself a new hunting dog Duncan does something to make me scratch my head. I was sitting in the den this morning getting some mail out of the way when I see Duncan chasing one of the big black tomcats, no big deal they have an agreement. If they, the cats run then Duncan is allowed to chase. So I glance up and see Duncan chasing Smokie across the dinning room and into the kitchen. A few seconds later and Duncan is heading back in the same direction he came, but now Smokie is chasing him. I get up and walk out of the room and yell at both of them. They both stop and sit side by side like they are in the principle 's office. The three of us stare at each other and Smokie offers a few weak meows, I suppose to tell me that Duncan started it all. I turn and walk back towards the Den thinking there worse then the grand kids when I hear them both running back down the hall, I didn't turn to see who was chasing who.

Overcast day here at the lake today, rain is on it's way and it is anyone's guess as to how much will fall. Yard is a mess, after several days of strong winds there are leaves everywhere. Small branches already fill the fire pit but it has been to windy to start a fire. Tomato plants that were not brought into the green house did not survive the cold nights and the flower pots hold just dead plants. Good thing the decks got stained and I make a point to point them out to the wife every chance I get. A couple of pumpkins from the patch have found their way to the deck and grand kids will be over later tonight to pick some more to take home. The fridge is filled with apple pie as yesterday the youngest granddaughter and the wife went on an apple baking binge. Apple pie, apple turnovers, apple cake and apple crisp was all made. Chuck and Elmer have both been over today looking for samples, I gave them both a pie with instructions not to come back with a dirty pie pan.

I did take the leaf blower out and clean off the leaves from the Puddle Humper, batteries are charged and rods tucked under the cover. If a warm day presents itself I can be on the road in fifteen minutes. Does not look good for this week but next week there may be the chance for a few sixty degree days which is warm enough if you ask me. Chuck is getting a new puppy, should be picking it up this week. I know it is not a lab but some little yelper that he is fond of. A terrier perhaps? I was not listening when he was talking to me as I was eating some apple pie. Should be an interesting fall over there with the two hundred pound Tatter and a new ankle biter running around.

I have my list ready and I might as well head into town, Catch lunch at the Lodge and then I have shopping to do. Out of dog food again, think Duncan is on a growing spurt or maybe it is the cooler weather emptying the bowl. Might be Smokie the big tom raiding the dry dog food to. Have to stop at the General Store and get some hand warmers and at the Gas-N-Go for some gas for the leaf blower. Going to have to fill the tank a few times in order to blow all these leaves into Chucks yard. Might even stop in at the Masterbaiters shop and pick up a few big suckers for fishing off the dock. Barney is still spending time down there everyday watching the water. Speaking of Barney it looks like his infection has pretty much cleared up and he has regained some of his hearing. Not a lot but enough that he seems to hear high pitched voices, like the wife's, poor dog, from Lake Iwanttobethere {826,377}

[Bobby Bass]

I knew it was coming sooner or later and I would have preferred it to be later, snow. Not a lot and it might even be gone from the deck by the time I write this but this morning there was snow on the deck and on the pumpkins. Must have been a passing cloud that dropped it over night as the sky is clear now. Water in the outside dog bowl was froze this morning and the little birds made crash landings on the bird bath. As the sun gets higher in the sky the snow will be gone and most people will not even see that it fell. Dogs made quick work of tracking up the deck and not till you have a little snow do you realize how much ground they cover.

I have but a few red apples still in the trees, There are hanging from branches that make them difficult to pick. I am surprised that there are still apples on the ground. Several fell when I was doing the last picking and I thought the deer would have clean them up by now. This morning they look a little like fancy snow cones, red apples with a snow top. Could hear the rooster over at Chucks this morning, normally I don't even notice but with the cabin windows all closed now when I step outside the rooster sounds loud. I sip from a glass of orange juice as I watched the dogs take care of their morning business. I am wearing slippers, the mornings of going out bare foot have come to an end. No longer do I make the walk down to the dock to get the morning paper, Jessie has stopped delivering a few weeks ago. Now I wait for Frank the mailman to come and go down to the road to pickup the paper and mail at the same time.

Last night I was at the Lodge for awhile, checking mail and doing office stuff. My door was open and Bud and Barney came with me. I left Duncan back at the cabin sleeping upside down on the living room couch. The wife was doing some needle work and he, Duncan is content just to sleep and get the occasional pat from the wife. He is twenty months old now but still has a lot of puppy in him, naps I think are still his favorite thing. Might be right up there with the cookies that the wife sneaks him when I am not around. So my office door is open and guy's seeing that stop in and we chat. Fishing mostly but also some Lodge talk about the Halloween party and the Lodge meeting at the end of the month. Membership drive will be starting soon and the Lodge is also thinking about getting together with Ma and Pa's grocery store and holding a meat raffle. From time to time I would hear some loud laughter coming from the main room.

With billing all caught up I head to the bar to pour myself a well deserved Hamms and I see the Fellows are gathered at one of the big round tables. Gus who is working late slides a beer down the bar to the waiting hand of Skinny who is with his latest girlfriend Dotty. Gus wiping his hands on his apron nods at me as I shuffle over. "What is with the Fellows" I ask. Gus tells me that they are having the first meeting of their new Falconer Club. I have mentioned the Fellows several times in the past, a group of life long friends who through several divorces, minor brushes with the law and dating each others girlfriends and sisters still hang out together as only true friends can. If they have any real problem it is when they are drinking, they tend to not quite think things through all the way.

I take my beer around the bar and head to the Fellows table. I arrive and exchange HIYA's with the group and am invited to pull up a chair, so I do. Bud wanders over and lies down at my feet, several of the guys ask about Duncan and I tell them about his first bird. We toast Duncan and I bring up that I heard they were starting a Falconer Club. They all start talking at once about how maybe the Lodge might be interested in sponsoring the Club and what a great thing it would be to promote the Lodge with. Gus comes over with two pitchers of beer and I tell the Fellows it is on the house. Mugs are filled and they start telling me about how they hear that the state has real liberal laws in regards to hunting with falcons. You can hunt game birds and rabbits and if you have a big falcon you can even go after deer! Sipping on my beer I am getting a feeling so I wait as long as I can then ask the question. So who has a falcon? The fellows all point at Steve. Steve with a big smile on his face says " Yup, a 1970 orange four door" from Lake Iwanttobethere {828,559}

[Bobby Bass]

Number one son's birthday today so yesterday I was in town doing shopping from the wife's list. Nothing really special to write about there, we are having family and friends over this evening and we are making spaghetti and meatballs and homemade bread and of course apple pie for dessert. I went to Ma and Pa's grocery store to pick up a few things and then got sidetracked. Stan and Jeans mobile ice cream and tackle truck was parked just outside of Burt's Barbershop. Not a lot of ice cream sales this time of year but like all small business you need to adjust to stay in business. Stan and Jeans truck now sells fishing tackle out of one side and caramel apples out the other side. I had to stand in line to get my hand dipped apple with crushed walnut sprinkles which I am told is about as basic a caramel apple that you can get. Big Earl was munching away on a oreo cookie covered caramel apple with a gummy worm.

I must admit I enjoyed the caramel apple as Jean uses ripe red apples that are good enough to eat all by themselves, the caramel is just extra. Most of the time when you buy the caramel apples in the store they smother a green apple that is not really ripe and package it with a shelf life of forty-five days, your only choice is with or with out nuts. Having the ice cream/tackle truck sell caramel apples is a no brainer. They already have all the toppings on hand and they will build you a caramel apple to your specs. Junior was deep into a banana split caramel apple, three apples covered in caramel, nuts, cherries, pineapple, banana slices and whipped cream, and the best part it does not melt! They even sell small tubs of caramel so that you can dip apples or your fingers whenever you want to.

Next stop was the bank and I had Duncan with me. Duncan likes the bank as the tellers like him and he always gets extra biscuits. When he makes the bank runs with Bud he gets no treats as that is work but when he is with me the tellers make it up to him. I pull up to the window to get a check cashed and Duncan stands with his back feet in the passenger seat and his front paws on me. Was not that long ago when all of him would fit into my lap. The drawer opens and I take out a biscuit and the money envelope. I hold them up in my hand for Duncan to take the biscuit and instead he takes the envelope with the money in his mouth and heads for the back seat leaving me the biscuit. I think he has been spending to much time with the wife.

A quick stop at the Lodge to pick up a case of Hamms and I am on my way back to the cabin but I notice the Fellows are once again gathered at the big round table. After our discussion about the liberal hunting rules for flying falcons the birds, the fellows took it well and it appears their interest is now on some other project. We exchanged HIYA's and I was invited to sit for a spell. I told them I was in a little bit of a hurry but asked what they were up to. They were looking at pictures from their trail cam that they had set up at their deer hunting camp. Steve was bragging how they were really going "Hi-Tec" this season. I looked at pictures as they explained the upgrades. First off where the camera was posted they had nailed wooden yardsticks from Big Earls General store to the bottom of the trees. I was told that this way they can take pictures and see how tall the deer are in the pictures. Kind of like what they have at the Gulp-N-Go on the door for robbers Steve explained. I nodded, made sense, what are all of these square things scattered all over the ground? Tiny with his thumbs in his hunting bibs said "That is the High Tec part, them are our old ladies digital bathroom scales so we can weigh the deer" From Lake Iwanttobethere {829,984}

[Bobby Bass]

Six weeks, that is all there is, Forty-two days. The way I figure it there are about forty-two days of really nice weather in a year. I hate to be the one but I think we have had our forty-two days this year. This morning I had to get up and drive into town, the sun was just coming up and as I walked out onto the deck it was dry, no snow, no frost. The red needle on the Bass thermometer hanging on the siding of the cabin was at twenty-eight degrees. I tapped it with my finger and fell to twenty-seven I tapped it again and it fell to twenty-six, I stopped tapping. I walked over to the Tahoe and saw the windows were all frosted up, open the driver's door reached in with the key and stuck it into the ignition. Started the Tahoe adjusted the blower and walked away to the garage. Went is search of a scrapper, on my do list but I had not gotten around to it, yet.

So as I get to the garage I am thinking to myself that forty-two days is all the really nice weather we get up here, Of course my idea of good weather is different then others. Some people like hot weather which I am pretty sure this past summer was hot enough for most as we set a record for most days over eighty, eighty is a tad too hot for my liking. Still others look forward to ice making days when you can stand on shore and watch water freeze before your eyes. I prefer to listen to ice making tinkling sounds in a glass with a couple of splashes of Wild Turkey. Some like rain storms and I do enjoy a good thunderstorm a couple of times a season. Of course getting that ten inches of rain in one storm this spring put a damper on rain storms as we are still cleaning and fixing up.

I get to the garage and find the door locked, key is hanging on the ring in the ignition of the Tahoe. I turn back to the Tahoe and make the walk thinking about winter snow storms which can be OK but the shoveling out is getting harder every year. Forty-two days, I didn't really add them up and come to that number, it just sounds about right, six weeks. There are a couple of nice weeks in spring when everything works out just right, sunny but not hot during the day and it cools down just right at night where you can open the bedroom window and sleep just right. The ground is dry and there is no mud and more important there are no bugs. Everyday the buds on trees grow thicker then one day the leaves appear and it is time to go fishing.

A few nice days during summer to when it is not to hot and the wind is light, just enough to keep skeeters off you. Them days when the aroma of freshly mowed grass from your neighbors drifts your way, you get the smell but not the work. Evenings with BBQ smoke drifting around sizzling fat steaks and the whole summer left to do the work that was supposed to be done that day. Summer ends to quick and you can never count on it slowly sliding into fall, sometimes like this year someone just turn the page and fall was here.

I get to the Tahoe and see the blower has cleared two big rings on the windshield. I open the door get in and watch the rings get bigger. I hit the window wash and the spray covers the glass only to frost over. Guess I need to add some of that winter window wash to the tank. This could be day number forty-three, but I think it is going to have to get a lot warmer, from Lake Iwanttobethere {830,505}

[Bobby Bass]

It has warmed up some, enough so that it is raining out instead of snowing. Hardly a breeze so even though it is early afternoon and only forty-five out it is not that bad. Was under the cover of the boat house roof doing a little cleaning on the Puddle Humper. Took a few things out of the boat that I will not be needing if I get another last chance to go fishing. A few days next week are forecasted to be in the sixties so I will have a tough decision on whether I use the days to work around the cabin or go fishing, who am I kidding. If I get a decent day I will be fishing.

The other night we celebrated the oldest son's birthday at the cabin. The mother in law was here and I had some fun with her. We took one of the grouse that we shot on a recent walk and took the wings and tied them to a training dummy. I use the dummy when working with Duncan as it is good for him to get the feel of feathers in his mouth. I also kept the tail feathers and I hide them around the yard for Duncan to catch the scent and search out. The dummy is kept in the shop and every time Duncan is let outside he checks the shop to see if it is open, he knows what is inside. I took one of the tail feathers and when the mother in law was looking the other way I slipped it in her back pocket of her jeans. Duncan followed her around all evening and would not leave her side when she was sitting. If she got up and walked Duncan was right there sniffing away. It was not till she was about to leave that I told her to take the feather from her pocket. Just a reminder for her that I am her favorite son in law.

I also attended the last football game of the season for the Lake Iwanttobethere eighth graders. I thought I had dressed properly but I forgot to bring something to sit on and the cold stone of the hillside bleachers sucked the heat right out of me. Last night I went to the local college hockey game in the big city and walked away a lot warmer. Of course that was indoors and I had the little flask on the inside pocket of the parka. Leaves continue to turn color and the further you get away from the lake the more you will find leaves on the ground. Been awhile since I have seen a boat trailer around town but plenty of atv's. Sneakers have been traded for hunting boots as the common sight around town. Fur caps have made an appearance as I noticed several of them being worn at the football game.

I also have met the new pup at Chuck's but it is going to be awhile before it will grow up to be an ankle biter. Half terrier and half French bulldog, a breed that I have never heard of. If all goes well it will grow up to be a protector for the chickens. Her name is Echo and she is eight weeks old. Tiny, tiny and it is hard to remember that Duncan was once that size. On a sad note my uncle who lived out on the west coast past this week and just a few days later my favorite aunt past here at the Lake. One of those forecasted sixty degree days will be the day of her funeral and I will be there. But I am willing to bet if she had a choice she would rather be fishing with me. So as my aunt would always say "I'll race ya for it" from Lake Iwanttobethere {831,557}

[Bobby Bass]

Having a young dog is like having a young kid, they always want to be doing something or going somewhere. Early today I was chatting with my neighbor Chuck and he told me I should bring Duncan over and take a walk on the back forty. I asked him if there was some grouse back there and he told me yes and something else to. I had a funeral to attend but I was thinking a nice little walk might be a good to clear the head afterwards.

I arrived back at the cabin right around four and thirty minutes later Duncan and I were taking the trail over to Chuck's. Chuck was busy working on his water pump in the horse shed and told me to follow the trail out back and he would chat when I got back, no sense in wasting time with him. Duncan knew something was up as soon as I coaxed him out the front door and I had the shotgun leaning up against the cabin wall. I feel bad fooling Bud but I will take him out tomorrow, Sunshine Ray says it is going to be in the sixties with a chance of rain so I may not be fishing. I was carrying the side by side double twenty gage and I stopped as soon as we were clear of the horse pasture and dropped in load of #6's on one side and some #8's on the other side. I closed the barrels and it made a nice solid click and I lifted the shotgun up to rest on my shoulder.

I followed the ranger trail back through the high grass and the dried mud. Duncan getting the hang of this hunting stuff worked ahead of me but kept stopping to see if I was still with him. As we enter the tree line I put the shotgun in the crook of my arm and moved a little slower. I know there are grouse back here, Chuck's says he sees them all the time when he is back here logging. No one else has hunted it and Chuck's says the birds are all Duncan's. I see the parking area where the Ranger is left and follow the narrow trail with heel marks left from Chuck. Lot of brush back here and I have to duck around some branches that cover the trail. My head is down when a grouse flushes off to my right and I don't have a chance. I take a few more steps to clear myself of brush and another takes off following the first. I raise my gun but I just get a glimpse of bird before it is gone. I'm thinking this is going to be a good spot after deer season ends and the leaves are all down, some snow would help to.

I keep moving and the ground is getting damp, there is the edge of the swamp coming up soon as there is a spring back here. I am moving a branch out of my way and I see what Chuck was talking about. Up ahead a Timberdoodle is busy poking around a down log. Duncan does not see it and runs right up to it. The bird jumps in the air like woodcock tend to do. Looking more like a helicopter it spirals upwards then heads right before turning hard and flies left. I didn't even raise my gun as I was watching Duncan turning himself inside out trying to follow the flight of the bird. Actually the more I think about it the Timberdoodle looked more like a malfunctioning harrier jump jet. Duncan ran back to me with a what was that look and do we hunt it? I rubbed him behind the ear and chuckled some. I sent him back out and promised I'll shoot next time, from Lake Iwanttobethere {833,100}

[Bobby Bass]

Sixty-eight degrees yesterday and I looked at the red needle on the bass thermometer and looked at the Puddle Humper and said what the heck. Been nursing a head cold the past few days and the wife question if it was a smart move on my part to be going fishing. I figured I can be miserable on the water just as well as on the couch and told her that. Cover came off the Puddle Humper and brown bag lunch went into the small cooler and I was on the road a few minutes later. The rain had fallen as forecasted in the morning but by one in the afternoon there was not a cloud in the sky. I drove down the drive and stopped at the bottom, decision time, where do I go. I could go to Bacon Bay, it has been good to me this fall or I could head the other direction and maybe get into some eater size fish. I could go to Wrong Lake but I decided to let the Tahoe decide. I hit the pavement and the wheel turned right, guess I was heading to Bacon Bay.

I dug in the console and found my cigar case, I had one left and just enough fuel in the lighter to get it burning. With the window rolled down I was soon on my way with the cigar smoke sucked out the window. Bacon Bay is about a cigar away and I was getting a few looks as I went down the road. A few thumbs up by guys driving work trucks and a few hunters having second thoughts as they trailer their ATV's in the other direction. I arrived at the bay and it was calm, warm and no one else at the landing. Trees were bare of leaves, as a matter of fact the drive up was kind of dull. Tahoe said the temperature had held at sixty-eight and when I got the Puddle Humper in the water the graph said the water was a respectable fifty-four.

I dropped the trolling motor in the lake and headed out, it started beeping away at me, not a good sign. I thought I had charged the battery but maybe I had forgotten. I had just enough juice to make some headway but going through the dead weeds was going to be a problem. An hour later and I had hit a few spots that I thought would hold fish and I had nothing but a missing tail from a trailer to show for it. Water temp was now forty-six and that is getting cool, guess when I started I was in some shallow warmer water. I fished for another hour and did not even get a tap, I was hearing shots being fired around the lake so the grouse hunters sounded like they made the right choice.

So I made one last cast and pulled the fuel line. The outboard sputtered and died and I used the push pole to go the last few feet to the landing. Boat loaded on the trailer and I made the walk around to pick the last of the weeds off. Goes a lot quicker with daylight vrs all the times this past summer when I would be cleaning weeds with a flashlight. I drove down the single dirt lane heading out to the road and had to pause and let two does cross in front of me. No fish caught but I was OK with that, I got on the water one last time and there was going to be enough light to make it to the car wash. This morning I put the batteries on the charger, just in case. Who knows maybe there still is one last nice day and this time maybe I'll head south, with charged batteries, from Lake Iwanttobethere {835,139}

[Bobby Bass]

I think we missed it, Indian Summer that is. The past few days have been overcast and damp. A few showers here and there and just enough rain to get things wet and with no sunshine things never get dry. The leaves have taken a beating, all they needed was to get wet and heavy and the winds had easy pickings. I glanced out the window yesterday and I thought it was snowing till I looked back and saw it was just leaves falling. It took awhile but the deer have finally appeared and cleaned up all the fallen apples around the trees. To bad they do not eat leaves as the yard is covered with them. When I let the dogs out they take their time, noses down rooting around in the wet grass and leaves. Duncan especially is working his nose, head down and butt in the air, tail wagging he weaves his way around the yard sniffing something.

Supposed to dry up and warm up on Sunday, I had a thought of maybe fishing but I look at everything that needs to be done and I have second thoughts. Oil changes on the trucks and the Puddle Humper needs to be emptied. Have to winterize the outboard and put the tarp on. Rods and tackle boxes need to be brought in and life vests hung in the shop. Gardens should get tilled and there might actually have been enough rain that the ground has soften up some. If things dry out the mower will be run across the yard to mulch leaves and I will try and get everything put away so I don't get caught by the first snow storm like last year. Lake Iwanttobethere has been quiet, no one fishing that I have seen. A lot of docks are up on shore and with the leaves down you can see the blue of tarps dotting the shoreline covering pontoons and wood piles.

Out on the highway the produce stand is busy as a big tarp lays on the ground covered in assorted size pumpkins. Bales of straw are stacked at the edge and stalks of corn tied in bundles to be used for decorations lean against the hay wall. The place seems to be pretty busy just at dusk as city folk come out to get pumpkins. I expect Saturday will be a busy one as we are like ten days away from Halloween. The pumpkin patch was bigger but as the days go by the selection gets smaller and the prices a little better.

Elmer has been a little under the weather, he has the cold that had been going around. I saw him yesterday down getting his mail, good thing the school bus had already gone by. He was wearing his leather hunting boots with the laces dragging on the ground, flannel bottoms and a white sleeveless tee shirt. He had on a candy striped bathrobe that he was holding partly closed with his right hand while he was holding his cigar with the other. His fur bomber cap was firmly perched on his head and the flaps were sticking up. I gave him a wave and he returned it without a lot of enthusiasm. I mentioned that I saw Elmer to the wife and she said that she was going over later with apple pie and chicken noodle soup. I perked up a little at that, means she will be making pie.

The typed fall honey do list sits on the desk and there is not to many things with a check mark along side them. Matter of fact there are a growing number of entries written in hand at the bottom making the list even bigger. If Indian Summer would appear I could make quick work of the list but the forecast is calling for more rain then sunshine, from Lake Iwanttobethere {836,006}

[Bobby Bass]

Running errands today and even though the grass is wet it looks like it is drying finally. The drive into town on the damp dirt road didn't leave a rooster tail of dust in the rear view mirror. Took it slow around the bends and sure enough there are bird hunters out, trucks parked alongside of the road or blocking tote road entrances. The Leafers are all but gone, nothing left to see on the trees. Should be a couple good weeks of grouse hunting before deer season starts up. I have heard that the Timberdoodles are moving through and some guys have been at the Lodge in the evening reporting they have shot their limit of three everyday this past week.

Last night I spent some time at the Lodge and got some card playing in and also caught the hockey game on TV The local college team lost but it is just the beginning to a long season. No one watching baseball, as soon as the Yankees lost there is no one to root against. Hammering Hank came in shouting that he saw a deadly otter. Guys sitting at the bar waved him off and told him he has been watching to many shows on the History Channel. I would tend to agree as it seems that every time one of them shows goes to commercial break there is some deadly animal closing in. There was a two hour show last night on after the hockey game named after a big river up north. Did you know that the king salmon is an important part of life on that river? They only tell you that about every two minutes. With some proper editing they could have made the two hour show about fifteen minutes long.

Could you imagine a History Channel show about Lake Iwanttobethere? We get that Mike guy to do the narrating and maybe some pickup truck company to sponsor it. Before every commercial break they could talk about the deadly Pink Flamingoes on a stick that we have here at the lake. Actually if they did a show on Lake Iwanttobethere they could cancel a lot of their other shows. We have logging up here and watching Hammering Hank and Skinny topping pines while standing on ladders in the back of the work truck could be pretty exciting, especially when the trucks are still moving. We don't have any hog hunters but them ground hogs are just a smaller version. Could be a pretty good segment with Elmer and Pepper chasing groundhogs through Elmers garden. We could go to commercial just as they corner a deadly hog in the shed.

Instead of the King salmon they could film the wild smelt run down at Mystery Creek, but they would have to put in a disclaimer right before they show someone biting a smelt head off. Leech roundup and the deadly catch of the rusty crayfish. Attacks of otters on swimmers and winter snowstorms. The more I think of it I think every show on the History Channel could be shot right here at the Lodge. We could also have a beer brewery show and what could be more dangerous then the ice house fling or harvesting ice from the lake. Tractor races and making bio-disel fuel with Reed in his garage. We have not even gotten to what a spin off show featuring the Fellows would be like. I'm just saying that it could be interesting, If I was in charge I would make sure we would never go to commercial talking about deadly moles, and return about how close a call we just survived, from Lake Iwanttobethere {836,864}

[leechlake]

great report. The difference between many of our lives and tv shows is the editing. We don't get the edit the slower times in our lives and showcase the comedic or interesting parts.

I think if you took a three day deer hunt with 8 guys and edited it into a 22 minute tv show it would be priceless and probably more interesting than 95% of things you see on tv.

[Bobby Bass]

Kind of a lazy weekend but that is good. Went to a football game on Saturday and it is hard to beat watching football outdoors on a Saturday afternoon. A little sunshine lots of blowing leaves and some hot cocoa not to mention the scenery was pretty good. Guess I should mention I went to the big city and saw a college game. Sunday was more football at the Lodge and it was a little busy. It helps business when the local pro team wins a few games. The Fellows are getting pretty excited about going on a road trip down to the big twin cities to watch a game and maybe even stay over night. The staying over night is always factored in on any road trip that they have to use Reed's Bio-disel RV.

Today finds me back at the cabin with a sharpen pencil ready to check off things from the Honey Do List. Have already been down to the General Store where I bought some lower unit oil for the Puddle Humper. I have the screws out and it is draining as you read this. The forecast has changed once again and what was to be a sunny week is now going to be a wet one. I have to finish picking up the yard and then I am going to get the lawn tractor out and mow. Still some leaves blowing into the yard from Elmer's but with him fighting his cold I am just going to go ahead and mulch them instead of blowing them back into his. I have to put a new sign up that I bought from Big Earl today sometime to. He had a few extras left over so I bought one for two dollars. The signs are white with red lettering that state the premises are under radio surveillance. Ya I know makes no sense to me either but it sure does make you stop and scratch your head trying to figure it out.

Big Earl has a couple of the signs on the wall near the loading dock and also out by his parking lot. He says he watches people all the time read the "You are under video surveillance " signs and then they look for the cameras. Now with the radio surveillance sign's people are stopping and cocking their heads listening. Big Earl watches them on his cameras and chuckles. Little more than a week out from Halloween also Town Hall meeting and Lodge meeting, going to be a lot of meetings going on. County trucks were here today with the first load of orange barrels, looks like construction is coming to an end for this season. Hammering Hank and Skinny were busy rolling the barrels to the back of the parking lot and sorting through them.

Back at the cabin when I came in Smokie the big black tomcat was looking to get outside. Duncan was with him so I let them both out. Smokie made a beeline to the shop and went inside, Duncan was right behind. I stood on the deck and watched, I don't trust the two of them together. I gave them a few minutes then I heard the metal coffee can of screws hit the shop floor. I yelled for Duncan but Smokie was the first out the door and he was not alone. In his mouth it looked like he had a field mouse which he carried a few steps away from the shop door. Duncan charging out the door hit the brakes when he saw Smokie. Smokie dropped the mouse which headed for a pile of leaves with Duncan now in pursuit. Smokie walked to the deck climbed the steps and went to the back door of the cabin. He then sat and stated cleaning his paws like bored cats tend to do. Duncan head deep in the leaves was making a mess of the pile, the mouse no doubt was long gone. I felt a rain drop and I came in to kill some time and see what happens, from Lake Iwanttobethere {838,363}

[Bobby Bass]

Plans change things happen and the Honey Do List remains the same. Yesterday I had good intentions of beating the rain and mulching the leaves in the yard with the garden tractor. After posting a story I put on a hat, grabbed some gloves and headed out to start the job. I got about ten feet onto the grass when the tractor shuddered and the mower blades came to an abrupt stop. I'm thinking I flung a drive belt so back to the shop I went and up on the ramps. I was not so lucky, I had laid waste to a spindle on one of the blades. So much for mulching the yard. Tractor off the ramps and I drove it into the shop and I started a little fire in the pot belly stove, first fall fire in there. With Duncan on the floor along side of me watching intently I pulled the mower deck off. A few ball bearings rolled around me and the blade spindle was shot so I took it off the deck and sat it on the work counter, will have to get a replacement.

As long as I had the deck off I fired up the compressor and started chipping away at the deck cleaning it of packed old grass and flakes of paint. The other blades were taken off and set by the grinder to be sharpen when I put the mower back together. After an hour of cleaning I was debating if I should just go ahead and paint the deck as long as I had it off but I thought getting a new spindle should come first. I went back to the cabin and told the wife I was headed into town, do we need anything? "No" was her reply and I was out the door before she could come up with something.

No dogs came with me, as a matter of fact I didn't even see any. I think the wife was baking cookies and they were all in the kitchen, the dogs no doubt looking for hand outs. I arrived a while later at Big Earls General Store, a big yellow Grand Opening Banner was flapping from the flag pole. Every time Earl has a new display in the store he announced it as a Grand Opening so I was wondering what he had going on today. I walked past Barb at the check out and continued my way down to the garden section which on my arrival was gone. No mower no trimmers no rakes just a big yellow sign hanging from fishing line from the ceiling announcing the Grand Opening of the TOILET PAPER PALACE

I scratched my head and looked at the corner of the store that just yesterday housed the garden center but was now filled to the ceiling with what appeared to be cases and cases of toilet paper. Big Earl came out from behind a wall of double strength, double padded flower print toilet paper with his arms outstretched and a smile on his face, " Welcome to the Toilet Paper Palace" I was speechless and before I could say anything Earl went into a well-practiced sales pitch on how he was now offering toilet paper in case lots, at a discount mind you to his customers. I raised my hand with a single finger pointed in the air to get his attention but he put an arm on my shoulder and walked me down a aisle of toilet paper.

Single rolls, double rolls, triple rolls. Rolls in fragrance, padded rolls. Flower prints with matching paper towels, single strength, double strength, industrial strength. Single strength single rolls he stopped to take a breath and I interpreted him, Earl I need a spindle for my garden tractor. He patted me on the back and waved his arm to follow him, I did. He continued his pitch, four packs six packs, twelve packs and of course right now the best deal is on the full cases of blaze orange or camouflage. With that we made a turn around some zebra paper to find the lawn and garden order desk. I must admit I was getting a little worried there but a minute later and I had a new spindle on order and was working my way back to the front of the store through the toilet paper maze. I arrived back at the cabin to the smell of cookies in the air and the wife hearing me at the door shouted out "Are you back" I closed the door and shouted out "Yes" the wife came out from the kitchen with all three dogs closely behind her, "You took off so fast I was going to tell you we are running low on toilet paper" from Lake Iwanttobethere {839,612}