Christmas wrapping

All my children and grand children came for lunch and gift exchange on the Sunday after Christmas. We had a wonderful time with great food and fellowship. Isaac stayed overnight on Sunday and Monday so he was able to assemble and start working with his new rod wrapper and accessories. He has caught on very quickly! He will be going with me to the International Custom Rod Building Expo February 25-27 in High Point, NC, and will learn a great deal there. I'm happy he is showing an interest in something I've enjoyed for many years! Happy New Year everyone!

Isaac's First Deer

My Grandson shot his first deer yesterday (12-19-2010) - from 185-yards! From a small child he's always been my main fishing buddy and enjoyed everything "outdoors." My son took him hunting yesterday out by Shelbyville. Congrats Bud - you da man!

The weather hasn't been cooperative for fishing but I have managed to tackle tinker and add some new reels to my stash! I got 2-each Citica and 2-each Symetre at my local hardware store. He added fishing supplies about a year ago and only buys what us locals like - makes it real handy. He also gave me a deal to match the lowest internet price I could find. In the near future, I'll also be changing all my mono to Silver Thread Copolymer and also my flourocarbon to Silver Thread. I used Silver Thread for years then drank the "try others" Kool aid and have now come to my senses - back to Silver Thread for me! I have 4-more older Quantum bait casters to replace with new reels but hoping to find some good deals after Christmas. Hopefully I'll have a nice commission check as November and December have seen increased sales...finally!

I do hope you and yours have a wonderful and blessed Christmas Season and a faithful, prosperous New Year!

Thanks Giving Weekend

Our family gathered on Saturday, Nov 27th, for our Thanks Giving dinner. We met at my second daughter's house near Cookeville, TN. After lunch we took the kids to a nearby pond to fish - all but 2 of them caught fish and those 2 actually had bites but failed to connect. Issac caught 4-nice catfish out of 6-hits. Ryan caught the only bass. We all FROZE. A good day with ALL of the kids and Grand kids there!

Old Hickory with Son and Grand Son 10/2/10

About 3-weeks ago I enjoyed a day on Old Hickory with my Son and Grandson. A very nice day with high skies, warm temps and little wind. We caught fish with Spro frogs, Carolina Rigs, Jigs and flukes. The fish in the picture was almost 5#'s and of course, the largest of the day. My son caught it crawling & popping the frog in 2-ft of water over emerging weeds. Really enjoyed the day!

Center Hill Lake - Oct 9, 2010

The weather/conditions have finally made a turn on Center Hill. Went out Saturday afternoon about 2:30 PM and under high bright skies, 85-degree temperatures, water temps of 76 with a slight breeze was able to catch a nice 4.5# Largemouth, a 3# Smallmouth (should have weighed more but had a flat belly) and 2# Spot. They all came within a 100-yards of each other on a non-descript point in 8-12 ft. I was using 17# test Trilene Sensation with a piece of 17# Trilene Flourocarbon leader, a Stan Sloan Football jig (Dale Hollow Shad color) and Zoom green/gold/chartreause trailer.

I also caught a few other spots.

Old Fenwick fiberglass rods

I had fun rebuilding two old fiberglass Fenwick Rods. Finished them yesterday. They're great for small crankbaits and Charlie Brewer Slider system fishing. One is 6'6" and the other is 5'6" - Tennessee Handle style (you tape the reels to the rod). I think I got these at a flee market about 15-years ago. I stipped,re-finished and installed new line Fuji Hardloy (the best guide at the time these rods were original) guides.

Foolin' with rods

Tahoe has a new A/C compressor and new front brakes and rotors and the boat is in the shop getting a new pressure gauge and some other things checked out. So, I did a mid-season cleaning of all my reels and then cleaned up some rods. My son and one of my SnL's had some old nasty looking rods, so I stripped them and cleaned them up - put a new reel on my son's as the SnL already had a good Shimano on his. They turned out ok. This Saturday is my youngest G'Son's birthday party...he'll be one on Sept. 22nd, but we're all getting together on Saturday the 18th. He's a charmer!

Just a few more pictures of our Labor Day weekend at Lake Guntersville.

Labor Day Weekend at Guntersville

The family had a great time at Lake Guntersville - we had a beautiful home right on a calm bay off the main river channel, 2-boats to fish with and beautiful weather. Fishing wasn't fast & furious but everyone caught something and that was fine. We're already making plans for next year.

Redwine Lake, Georgia

My colleague in Georgia was kind enough to invite me to his private lake for an afternoon of fishing before our meetings with Delta. It was hot and blue bird after the heavy rains they received Monday but we still managed to catch some fish. I had a great time and am thankful for the opportunity. Thanks Keith!

Old Hickory with M & M

Had a great time today on Old Hickory Lake with my youngest daughter and her husband. We met by I-40 and Hwy 109 @ 7:15 and launched about 7:35 - We fished until about 1:30 PM and all of us caught at least 2-bass. Total was 8 bass and the largest about 2.5#...yes, caught by yours truly, LOL. Overcast most of the day with water temp about 83 (having dropped from 91 due to 3" of rain over the last 36-hours) and ambient temperature about 83. Fish were caught on break lines in 12' with jigs, senko's, Skitter Pops and even Mepps Spinners (SnL). It rained on us the first hour but after that, only the occasional sprinkle. A good day with family on the lake!

Saturday Fishing July 10, 2010

I took off this morning about 9 AM, drove to the Fall Creek Falls Lake and was fishing from 10 AM until 4:40 PM. I caught a limit...4-each 1# bass and 1-each 4# bass. Caught 2-on a Strike King KVD Silent Stalker 17' Crankbait, grey with white and red, 1-on a Yum soft platic stick bait, 1-on a blk/blu Zorro Buzza Bug Jig with Zoom Trailer and the #4 bass on Zorro "Dale Hollow" football jig, 3/4-oz.

Perfect! Fished all day, came home to BBQ spare ribs and there's a NASCAR Sprint race on tonight - Sweet!

Alex & Addie

My Sister's husband was visited by his Grand Kids this month - Alex & Addie - I took them out on the boat (Center Hill Lake, TN)and taught them to drive - they went from dead still to plane and then each drove about 15-minutes. Great Fun! They're from Arizona and will be making their first trip flying home alone this week.

A few hours @ FCF

Isaac spent the night Friday so today we all went to FCF State Park and fished for awhile. All tolled, I guess we caught 6 in 3-hours. Here's Isaac with his.

Da Boat

Finally here - here are some pictures.

Isaac's Rod

My Grandson visited over the weekend and reminded me I had not built him a rod as I have my other Grand children. Well, that is now remedied. He wanted a Nashville Predators Hockey Team theme and here's what I came up with.

More Rods

Just a couple of rods I've played with recently - trying to learn a few new things every time.

The new (to me) Tahoe

I've really been wanting a 4-wheeled vehicle for hauling the trailer around the Ranchito and also for hauling the new (to me) boat I'll be fetching from Guntersville this month. Well - My son came through for me with this 1999 Tahoe - new tires, brakes, detailed and checked out, full leather, heated seats, loaded - high mileage but after driving it and "kicking the tires" it's a sound and great riding vehicle. Proud of it and of my son! Thanks, bud!