Having a Hay Day

Today was one of those days that could be described as simply awesome.

Started things off heading out to Norwood at about 5:30AM ith my buddy Chad Hardy to spend the morning putting up some hay on John Bartelson's farm (John is another bud from my days at UPS).

It was a great morning for loading hay...fairly cool, and a slight breeze. We loaded about 450 bales into John's barn and then enjoyed a hearty "cowboy breakfast" cooked over an open fire.

Afterwards, Chad and I set out for Mankato for the Waterfowl Expo at Scheel's Sporting Goods. Phil Robertson (the Duck Commander) and Fred Zink were the featured seminar speakers for the day. Phil and Fred are two of the premier waterfowl hunters in the country.

Benelli, Avery Outdoors, and Dakota Decoys all had booths displaying some of the latest and most trustworthy gear.

I think I learned more about waterfowl hunting, decoys and calling from this one day than from anything else. Cannot wait to put some of the techniques to work this Fall when the season opens.

Me & The Duck Commander

Chad & The Duck Commander

Fred Zink

Today was just enough to whet the appetite for Minnesota's upcoming waterfowl season. To keep the excitement going, the Game Fair is coming up August 8-10. I am definitely planning to go, being the market for a layout blind for early goose season this year.

If you are a waterfowl hunter and have not yet been to the Game Fair, you need to make plans to attend. It is an event well worth the time.

Yep...it was truly an outstanding day.

A Crappie Day

Okay...now before you think I saying what I'm not saying...the word is pronounced "croppie" as in the fish.

Went into work early this morning so I could take off early this afternoon so my wife and I could go fishing.

We made the trip out to Spring Lake and spent a great evening on the water. Found a hot spot just off Thornton's Point. The action was fairly constant, but nothing of any size worth keeping. Still...it was good just to be out, drowning minnows, hooking fish and spending time with my wife.

Gear for the day was my trusted panfish rig...a 5' Daiwa Black Widow Ultra light rod, fitted with a Quantum XL Ultra light open face reel spooled with Berkley Fireline (2 pound diameter) and a bucket of crappie minnows.

Yeah...its a small fish, but it still beats being in the office.

The makings of a happy day!

Hoping to get out on the river on Saturday for a bit of catfishing. Just picked up a new batch of stink bait and a new bait caster. Can't wait to give it a try!

Playing Hookie

Took a bit of time off on Monday to play a little hookie...for real.

Spent the day on the Minnesota River with my buddy Chad, a couple of bait casters and big jar of stink bait.

Having spent most of my life as a lake fisherman, Chad has converted me to being a certified "river rat"!

We spent the day just floating the river and catching fish...a perfect day! Here are a couple of pics of the day's catch.

Chad and a dandy 5 pound cat!


A fine 2 pound cat (and a handsome fisherman too!)

Sometimes you just have to forget the office for a day and just go out, relax and do a whole bunch of nothing. Playing hookie is good for the soul!

Family Reunion

This past weekend was awesome in many ways.

First, got to spend all of Friday night catfishing with a good friend.

On Saturday, spent some time working on my boat and hanging out with my wife later in the day.

Then, of course, got to spend Sunday morning at church with some of the most awesome volunteers and friends at Meadow Spring. Sunday mornings at Meadow are the best!

And then...to wrap up the day, spent some time on Sunday afternoon with some cousins I haven't seen in over thirty years...Debbie Jones and her husband Jess, and Linda Garrett and her husband Robert.

They were up from Texas for a graduation party and other family stuff. It was great to be able to see them and catch up on life. Linda's husband is a "rocker" and musician...so he and I spent a good chunk of time talkin' guitars, bands, favorite concerts, etc. It was a lot of fun!

Just hope it isn't another thirty years until we meet again!

Here's a couple of pics to commemorate the day.

Debbie, Uncle George, Dad, Mom Aunt Mary, Linda, Uncle Herb

The whole clan with husbands and kids...that's me in the middle back row.

The Cat Hunter

No...not that kind of cat...I mean catfish.

Got home this morning from an all night catfish tournament on the Minnesota River. The tournament was a fund raiser for the Relay For Life.

My buddy Chad and I launched out of Shakopee at 7PM, motored upstream to look for a spot to camp on the river bank for the night and then set to some serious fishing. We found an awesome campsite by Chaska.

The river level is about 12-15 higher than normal and the current was really swift, so it was tough going...the cats were not in their normal haunts...but hey, that is what makes it a sport.

It was an awesome night...nice spot to set up base camp, found a good amount of firewood, good food and great company!

I got lucky for fishing the river for the first time. Caught two nice channel cats between 2AM and 5AM...the first one was 22" and weighed in at 5 pounds. The second cat was 25" long and weighed in at 6 pounds. (Chad, unfortunately got skunked).

The tournament was catch, photograph, measure, release. When you caught a cat, you snapped a pic with you, the fish and a tournament flyer (to prove you caught it that night), then measure the fish and release. About 30 guys participated. My 6 pounder was good enough for second place in the Channel Cat category.

Fishing the river is a lot of fun. Once you launch from the boat ramp and head out, you really have no idea the city is just on the other side of the bank. It really feels like you're out in the deep woods. What a great way to spend Friday night.

Anyway...here's a couple pics of the fish.