Sorry for the loss of your friend

Most here know i am Canuck and are also aware that tensions between our countries are currently "elevated". I am consciously choosing to ignore that and just post my stories like normal so that they can be enjoyed for their outdoor content regardless of politics. That being said:

Thursday after work my son and i headed to the cottage for another planned 3 day trip on Nip. Plan was to fish Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday morning dawned sunny and about -16 so at 7 am we headed out for bait and then to the Government dock and headed for the Manitous. Weather forecast was for snow in the afternoon but looking at the expected hourly fall rates i wasn't too concerned - mistake.

Anyways we got set up and had lines in about 930 am. By 3 pm we had about 25 fish caught including a huge burbot taken on the Jaw Jacker with a Kokemachine mini-clapper. That 25 fish included a smaller (24 inch) burbot, one slot eye and 17 jumbos between 10 to 12 inches. The rest were under size and went back

The 34 inch burb:



The tiny hook set rather precariously:



Landing that guy was a team effort - my son had the rod and i was adjusting the drag in real time and then used the gaff to get him out of the hole.

Slot eye:



Typical perch:



At 1 pm on Friday it still wasn't snowing yet. Then i went out to take a pee just before 3 pm and i was greated with howling wind, heavy snow fall, and 0 visibility. My neighbor's seasonal hut which was only 25 yards from us was no longer visible at all. This was the view in every direction:



I told my son we are leaving now before it gets dark and becomes even worse. I got out the GPS and guess what - no satellite reception. So fall back plan - my Suunto orienteering compass that replaced my old Silva Ranger that got destroyed last year when i flipped the sled.

Rode 11 km completely blind and driving the machine one handed so i could watch the compass in my other hand and navigate. Took 1 hour and 20 minutes to cover the 11 km including crossing 2 pressure cracks completely blind. I ended up putting us on shore 300 yards south of the parking lot where the truck was parked - called it a win.

Friday night my son came down with Norwalk and spent the night puking. It was making the rounds through the family and fortunately i got spared. Saturday morning he was some better but we decided to take the day off and rest as honestly we needed it after the ride from hell on Friday - i smashed my left foot when we rode off a 4 foot drop blind at one of the cracks/ridges.

Sunday morning my son was feeling better and the swelling in foot had gone down so we headed out at 7 am to get bait and return to the Government dock. It was sunny and clear and forecast looked good this time - just cold. Was -28 air plus whatever wind when we left the cottage:



Fishing was much the same with about 25 fish. No burbot on Sunday but my son caught a beauty 23 inch eye:



Some pike entered the mix as well:



Sunny cold beautiful day:



Last highlight of the trip was this guy on the road this morning driving home:

Trump

Looks fine to me. Half these guys suffer anal prolapse just driving by a Taco Bell.

Green Chile Queso

I had buddies from all over the country on this trip. With families and schedules I just could not make the logistics through Los Mochis work. Hopefully this cartel nonsense settles down soon!

To inform me that another old friend of ours had passed away. Not a good surprise. The man that passed was one of the 2 guys that I worked with that were Special Agents while I was still in the Customs Patrol (Patrol is now long defunct) on a major case that was one of the first cases under the R.I.C.O statue. He was one of the reasons that helped me become an Agent. Hoping to see the other old bud that helped at the funeral down in the Valley. I feel a lot older today.

A lot of changes in the top 25 today.

fourtrex will not work on a ultrex you can put a four trex on a ultrex mount i have some new ones

Boerne City Lake has DD bass...good luck catching one. Those bass have seen every lure made twice and that's just from last weekend.

Kerrville has a stretch of 3 small lakes, damed up Guadalupe River. They also have DD bass but again...good luck catching one.

They all get heavy fishing pressure.

The Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, did nothing to make healthcare more affordable. Prices and premiums only went up, way up. Thanks to that [censored] we all have a version of major medical at an inflated price Yipee.

Anyone who was a fan of Choke Canyon would cry if you went down there now. I went 2 weeks ago to Caliham with my yak. Soon there will only be a river left. It still looks like a bunch of water but when I got out there it was all 3-4 foot deep except the creek/river channels. The deepest water I could find was the old bridge crossing between the Island and the park...the river there showed 17 foot. But yeah 3-4 foot lower and all that will be left is river channel. Crazy seeing it like that!

TTT

I walked down the bank of a big private lake adjacent to Lake Fork couple days ago. Walked up on a 25 sq ft bed with ~20 BIG Crappie in less than two FOW. The bass won’t be far behind.

It looks like the chik fil a chart guy was there also.

Up for sale is a Sight Mark Wraith HD 4-32X50 day/night night vision scope. I have several thermals now and really have no use for this. In great condition and works as it should. Included is a Sniper Hog Lights 66LRX light. Light add ons are the IR, Green, red and white lenses as well as the adjustable and pressure switch tail cap. All original accessories are also included (2 batteries/charger, mounts) Original boxes for both are included along with a Milwaukee pack out with custom foam. Only thing I don’t have are the rubber eye cup and possibly the original IR light. I’ll see if I can find it. However, the original light is by far inferior to the Sniper Hog Light.

Asking $450. I live in Denton and work near 635/Skillman. I also travel to Young County often along 380. Will ship on buyers dime after payment received.

The way you posed the question, No One. You and a “few” buddies. This time of year. Seriously? I thought your post was a joke when I first read it. May still be.

But again, NO ONE can guarantee you big ones. Ever.

Could be the Taco Bell slogan “I don’t know if I’m coming or going”..

Josh, you Loco Gringo 😆 how come you guys had to fly into Culiacan? I would think that’s the last place an airline would fly right now. Glad you had a great trip.

The worst is Swingin by John Anderson.

That used to make my ears bleed and they played that record all day and all night.

Looks like it can make a baby.

I always wished Kitty Wells would have married Conway

That sauce looks a little gross to me.

I got the bubble guts just by opening this post