Well, it's still all work and no play but have some news, and a couple of pictures:

First the news. I am retiring. I took an early buy-out. My last day is April 18th and I have no intentions of even looking for a new job. My wife has agreed to support me for awhile. What a great lady! My goal was always to retire at 52. I made it with 2 weeks to spare!

Once I get past April 18th, and get my travel trailer moved to Missouri, I'll be back in Texas off and on for awhile and ready for some carp fishing. It will definitely be carp fishing (or cats) 'cause the boat is already in Missouri.

Now for a couple of pictures. These were both taken from the back deck of my new place in Northwest Missouri.





Eat your hearts out people!

When we pulled in just a few minutes before those pictures were taken there were 8 beautiful white-tail deer standing by that tree to the left of the second photo. I'm going to love it!

There is another lake the same size over the hill. It's not mine but the only access to it is across my dam. It is owned by some guys from Pennsylvania that only come back twice a year: spring turkey season and fall deer season. I've got access to it, too.

Later,

Kevin

thats awesome congtats on the new place

Awesome!

Quality mate

Great looking lake. Now get some nice carp stocked in there.

Frank

And over feed them HNV boilies!!!

i am super jealous!!!!!!

you gonna stock it with carp?

the deer...NICE! I am an avid deer hunter. You are living me dream!

Nice place Kevin!!!! I wish the best for you in retirement (I'm one lotto ticket away from it myself)

The 'vine is flooded again this year & much earlier than last year, but let me know if you are back in town & you want to hit some of your "old stompin' grounds" & possibly teach me some new spots - hehehe

Yeah! I might want to make one last trip over to "Stinky Beaver"!

I am still not sure about stocking carp. The Missouri Department of Conservation paid to have the lake built (flood control) and they also stocked it 6 years ago with LMB, Channel Cats, Green Sunfish and Fathead Minnows. According to their rules, the only way I can stock anything on my own, other then adding the same species, is: 1) Drain the lake, remove all fish then restock. 2) Get their approval to stock a new species. 3) Wait another 9 years.

Since they didn't stock any bluegill I am going to ask permission to stock them. At the same time I'll drop in the carp question. Knowing the MDC, they'll say no. They still treat the carp as an invasive species.

It doesn't really matter. There are some fantastic lakes within 10 miles of my place with carp in them. My dad built one of them (285 acres) in 1965 and it was stocked with carp then. Might be some big'uns in it.

Kevin

(I am thinking about building a small Koi Pond in the ditch to the left in the second photo. Maybe some of them might "accidentily" get washed into the big lake. )

Kevin,

Where at in MO? I went to Mizzou and have family in St. Joesph.

Awesome lake, too. If it was stocked with LMB, I bet there are some good ones in there!

I was going to say throw some koi in there. nice place man

Krista,

If you know the St. Joe area you probably know exactly where I'm at. The name of the town is Bethany. It's right on I-35. My place is 3 miles southeast of there.

If you can't place it you take highway 36 east out of St. Joe to Cameron. You get on I-35 North there.

If you are ever up there visiting and want to spend a day fishing get in touch with me. I have a good feeling about some of those small lakes up there. They have had carp in them for over 40 years and they will be stupid. No one has ever fished for them that I am aware of. Give me a year and I'll definitely know more.

Kevin