Grandparents Camper

Helped open up my grandparents camper at Fish Lake. Did some cleaning and helped with all of the heavy lifting to get it all ready for Memorial day weekend when the whole family usually goes up to get together.

Lot's of memories at this camper, and it's very hard to believe they've owned it for 14 years now.

Before this permanent camper/trailer, they had an old pop up camper. They belonged to a camping group that went to different campgrounds every year around the states of Illinois and Wisconsin. They're one of the reasons I learned to love and appreciate the outdoors.

Looking forward to making more memories with the family sharing laughs and stories around the campfire, taking my cousins fishing at the lake, and just having a good old time with the family.

Yak Bass

Finally - I found a bass at the lake I have a love/hate relationship with.

Got out early to beat the storms that were in the forecast. With some tips I received from my buddy Geo over at Geo Fishing on Facebook, I headed toward an area he had success in the day before. I brought both my fly rod, and spinning rod. I was casting a double willow spinner bait along the edges of the weed beds, and what do ya know...I hook up with my first largemouth bass on the new kayak. It was also my first decent bass of the year. I was stoked!

Not the biggest of bass, but that doesn't matter to me.

I had a few misses later on before calling it a day. On my way back to the boat launch it seemed the fishing was starting to pick up, because, I saw a few guys fishing from shore hook up multiple times with bass tossing spinner baits.

Catch - Photo - Release

Slowly but surly I am starting to figure this lake out.

I am also starting to really need/want an anchor trolley on my kayak, but I need to hold off, because, there is a possibility of me upgrading to a Hobie. Negotiations are in the happening as I type.

Abel Nippers

$50 for a pair of nippers…. You must be out of your damn mind!

That was my initial reaction when I saw the price tag on the Abel nippers. In fact that is still my reaction to the price tag on the nippers. One day I was just browsing around and found the nippers for $25. That still seemed overpriced to me for something that is just going to cut line, but I caved and bought them for the discounted price to find out what all of the hype was about.

I have been using them for 11 months now, and I must say…I absolutely love them! I like to think of them as the Lamborgini/Ferarri of the nipper world, because, of their performance. They cut line of any test with ease. It’s like you’re cutting line with a mini light saber. The teeth/blades on the nippers are replaceable, so, if they ever do get dull, you can try to sharpen them yourself or order a replacement set from Abel (Cost unknown to me).

Another great use for the nippers is cleaning the eyes of hook or small jigs. There is a place on the nippers that was made for this. Come in handy when you forgot to clean the eyehole of a fly you just tied, and got a little carried away with the head cement or Clear Cure Goo.

There have been a few days where I have forgotten them in my truck on an outing, and I needed to use my spare $5 Orvis clippers…let’s just say I was not a happy camper. Not that it would ruin, rather one of those thoughts in your head that you just can’t let go of – “Damn it, I forgot my clippers.”

Sounds absurd, right? Well it is…. They’re clippers for crying out loud!! What the hell is wrong with me? Haha

If you’re ever presented the chance to purchase them for $25, I’d say do it. I guarantee that you will enjoy them. Hell - if you don’t care about money, do it, and buy me an extra pair while you’re at it! :)

I don't even want to get in to how much the custom painted ones. Sheesh! They sure do look pretty though.