Don't forget about me!

Lately, I have been having a hard time finding the time to get to the keyboard. Juggling life, work, my Pig Farm Ink - Iron Fly event, trips, and fly tying orders has my plate pretty full.

This is just a friendly reminder, that I am still around, and looking forward to catching up with all of my blogging buddies.

For now, enjoy some underwater shots!

A friendly carp that would not eat a fly.

Let 'em go, to let 'em grow!

Lake X

I met up my buddy FishDank at 9 am this past Sunday. It was cloudy, windy, warm out (to me anyway), and so damn windy. Did I mention that it was windy? Good thing I had an anchor. It's not a very good anchor, but it does the job, sort of.

I brought out 3 rods. My 10 wt fly rod (I haven't sent in my 9 wt to get fixed, yet.), my baitcaster, and my spinning rod. Eventually, I just gave up on my fly rod, because, it was just too damn windy.

My buddy FishDanK was the first to hook up, on a jig and craw trailer...and what he hooked up with was a freakin' Sherman tank! HOLY SMOKES!!!!

He caught 2 more later in the day. Around 11 am a few more guys from the fishing forum that we post on showed up. DanK knew them from some of the tournaments he's fished, but it was my first time meeting them, and they're a bunch of cool dudes. Always nice putting a face to the screen name. One of the guys Kevin was nice enough to bring a grill and some sausage and hot dogs for a quick shore lunch. How awesome is that!!! Thanks, again, if you read this!!!

I caught 2 bass on the day. Both of them came on a KVD rattle trap. The lake was about 6-8 feet deep with some nice weed beds that I ran the lure right over the top of. The 2nd bass I caught was a nice healthy one, and put my landing skills to the test. I really thought I was going to lose it boat side.

Action Shot!!

Hello and Goodbye.

The fishing is starting to heat up, and I'm getting excited!!!!

Sick and Sunshine

My GF passed on whatever sickness she had last weekend to me, so, I can be miserable this past weekend. With temps in the 40-50s and the sun shining, I watched from our 2nd floor bedroom window as all of the snow melted away, and ice start to retreat to corners of the backyard lake.

Saturday afternoon I had it. I just had to go outside and make a cast, and to get some fresh air for me and Bo (One of our dogs. The other is visiting my mom.). My GF eventually came outside and enjoyed the sunshine, as well.

I casted a square bill lure in a natural colored pattern with my baitcaster. I hooked something 10 minutes in, and to my surprise it was a carp!! It was hooked on the outside of the mouth with the front treble hook, and on the side of the head with the back treble. Is it a catch? - I'll allow it.

Right behind me is my GF's townhouse. Pretty sweet!

...and here's the face I'm sure everyone makes when a fish is set to flop right out of your hands. Luckily, this one didn't escape my grasp, but you can definitely see the concern on my face. HAHA!

This picture is definitely a wall hanger!

Off it goes. Hopefully, the next time I hook up with that carp, it'll be with my fly rod, and I won't be sick. Don't you just love a good release shot! I know I do. Not bad for a 15 minute outing. Oh, Happy Days!!

**It started to snow again on Sunday afternoon, and as of this Monday morning, I can see that we accumulated about 3 inches of heavy wet snow. When will it end!!!

Hoo Rag

I won another contest!

3 weeks ago, I entered another contest on Instagram on Hoo Rag's page. This one was simple, because, I was only needed to comment on the photo. They chose 4 people to win, and yours truly was one of them. Hilarious! I couldn't stop laughing. This is borderline ridiculous. The winners got to choose which Hoo Rag they wanted.

I received my Hoo Rag the same day I decided to make another appearance at the warm water discharge to get my fishy fix in.

That guy hates me so much.

Upon arrival at the WWD, I was surprised to see I was the only person there, but that was short lived. The kid/teen in the background showed up, and he is notoriously annoying to all of the fishermen that fish the discharge. I had a few encounters with him last year, but he didn't recognize me with my new Hoo Rag on. My superior skills in annoying certain people proved to be too much for him, once again. I win!

I fished for 15-20 minutes, caught a few bluegill, took a few pictures, and beat a pest at his own game. I'd say that was a successful outing.

Secret Spots

Don't ya just love seeing photos like this!

Taken sometime this summer, as you can tell by the fluttering butterfly.

I caught this walleye on a spinnerbait rigged with a Stankx Bait Company swim bait. I caught another one a few casts later. Such a beautiful fish! I was really shocked when I caught it. I haven't caught a wally in probably over 3 years. It's a fish I rarely target. If you couldn't tell, this walleye was caught on Planet Earth, and more specifically, North America.

Where's your secret spot? You can tell me :)

I BELIEVE IN DRAGONS

"HELL FUCKING YEAH!!!!" - Justin Carfagnini

There really are no other words that could express my excitement, except for those above, in bold capital letters. 

I've been hunting this fish for awhile now. Every outing in musky waters I have gotten closer and closer to landing one. From the follows, swipes, blisters, broken leaders, lost flies, broken rods, sore shoulders, and beaten down confidence, I finally caught my mythical creature, I finally, got my musky.

This was such a special catch for me. Not only did I just catch my first musky, it was a wild musky. I caught it while utilizing my preferred method of fishing - fly fishing, and on a fly that I tied! EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS!!

It was also my first outing with my brand new 10 wt rod that Ed over at FSA Custom Rods finished just days before. The rod is now named "Dragon Slayer."

I'm not really big on weighing or measure fish, but I estimated this one to be about 20 inches, but who cares...it's a musky!!!!

I have stared at these pictures multiple times a day since the catch. It's hands down the most beautiful fish I have ever caught. Nothing I have ever caught before compares to the emerald green shimmer and markings of this apex predator - Beautiful Violence.

I can see how guys become totally obsessed with this fish. I believe, that I have just become one of them.

It's known as the fish of 10,000 casts, and to quote my friend, The Fat Gordo - "Now that you got your first, every one after, is just a bonus."

I hate it, but not really....

Is there a body of water that you absolutely hate, but can't seem to stay away from?

Well, Busse Lake is that place for me. It's a large body of water that offers a variety of species.  An angler can catch bluegill, crappie, carp, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, and musky...and it's only been 10 to 25 minutes from me for the past 15 years, so, what's not to like!

2005

I have yet to hook something huge at Busse, and my visits to the lake have decreased throughout the years. I was proud of myself for only fishing there 5 times last year. It was a challenge, because, every week I would read reports on a local fishing forum of guys consistently killing it over here, catching huge bass, keeper walleye, and musky!

Fast forward to my heavier days a few years later. One of the first fish I caught on the fly.

Now that I have a kayak, I can now fish off the beaten path that is usually crowded. I can get to those places that I could only see from a distance. This is the year that I make Busse Lake my bitch!

After work today, I headed on over to the lake. As I was unloading a guy was just finishing up his day on the water from his kayak. He told me he landed a 30" musky on a night crawler. Awesome - I brought my 9 wt and musky flies :) 

4/0 single.

Beefcake

I floated around and tossed the usual musky meat. I hooked up with a few downed trees, but no fish. Paddled around some more. Saw some activity near some downed trees, so, I slowly and silently made my way to what looked like baitfish trying to get away from something. I casted. Thump. I could feel something with significant size on the other end...could this be?!?! Then as fast as it happened, the line went slack. I felt broken. I made more than a few casts back into the area, but there was nothing. Could that have been a Busski (Musky from Busse)!! I'll never know....

Crotch Shot!

Finished the day skunked for the 3rd time in the past 2 weeks at Busse.

Sunset.