Hop Slamming Some Buggers!

One of my favorite craft beers was recently released - Hop Slam by Bell's Brewery. A few of my friends took a road trip to the brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They informed me that the brewery and local stores were sold out of the beer, so, my only hope was to wait until it was distributed to the Chicagoland area, and even then I wasn't guaranteed to get it.

Fortunately for me, my GF and her mom are awesome, and were able to find a 6 pack for me! Woo-Hoo! A big THANK YOU goes out to them!

Hop Slam glassware

Poured myself a few of those that night, caught up with a show I started watching with the GF, and tied up some buggers for my personal stash. Loving the Vedavoo bench basin! 

These buggers do well for me on the lakes and ponds that are in my area.

Here's the material list:

1. Black Marabou tail

2. Two Strands of silver crystal flash

3. Olive medium chenille for the body

4. Black Saddle Hackle Feather for the head

5. Cone bead (put on before any of the other materials)

Sticker from @WYCOFLYCO on Instagram

Warm Water Discharge

With the temperature in the high 30's, again. I just had to wet a line, so, I went to the only place that I knew would have open water. It's a place we refer to around here as the WWD (Warm Water Discharge). The water never freezes there, and all of the fish congregate to the area....bluegill, crappie, bass, huge shad, carp, goldfish, and musky.

While the fish are clearly visible with a good set of polorized sunglasses, they are not incredibly easy to catch, to me anyway. I have a friend Geo who is an excellent angler and the big fish always seem to find the end of his line. Check him out on Instagram - GEOFISHING 

I did manage to hook up with a bluegill before moving to a part of the WWD that I have never fished before.

Whoa! I caught a heart shaped bluegill, just in time for Valentines Day! My GF is surly going to love this freak of nature. :)

After moving to a part of the discharge I have never fished. I finally got a solid hook up!!!! It was like I was stuck to a log....and it turns out I was. Oh well. I absolutely hate when this happens, and I try my best to retrieve the line and lure. I could care less about the jig, but I don't like leaving line out there, but sometimes you really don't have a choice. It unfortunate.

But if it's line left in a place that reachable, like the ground, I pick it up, and stuff it in a pocket. I hate seeing pictures of birds and other animals caught up by these lines that are just left out there. I mean really, is it that hard to take back with you? Apparently, it is, and I wish I could give them a swift kick in the ass for not picking it up themselves.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Cube Life

My cubicle at work was bland and lacking some flare. So, I decided to tie up a fly to display at my desk, to show off my craft, and to remind me spring is not far away.

I went with the cotton candy pattern that has brought me great success this past year. I'm hoping it'll bring some of that mojo to help me succeed in my new position. 

...but I am certain, it will be coming along with me for an outing up north, to chase those emerald green monsters. So, it's stay is temporary.