FINISHING STRONG

My biggest fish of the year was this post Christmas carp.

I have to admit that I didn't catch a whole lot of 'big' fish this past year. So when Bob the Carp Whisperer invited me to try for some Lake Marburg bruins, I couldn't resist. He had been catching fish from 15 to 20 pounds at the lake, maybe 1 to 3 per day, so I knew that action wasn't going to be fast. Still, it was worth a shot on a balmy, late December day and I need to catch up with Bob on family and fishing fronts.

Bank sticks and bite alarms...cold carpin'.

Bob's an expert carp angler and he put me on this nice fish, somewhere between 16-18 pounds, and it was our only fish, and only run, of the day. We consumed a bag of mini donuts and drank some sodas and shot some bull. Chatting with a few other assorted low-lifes helped the day go by. This was on December 26...a day when most are just dreaming about fishing, and spring.

Paul moseyed down the bank and found the 'sweet spot'.

The next day my bro-in-law, Paul, invited me to hit a couple ponds. Weather was 55 degrees and calm and at our second pond, a small public venue, he found the fish close to an incoming runoff seep and it was 'game on' with our float-n-fly efforts with micro-jigs tipped with wax worms and meal worms. We scored an unusual winter slam...bass, crappie, red ear sunfish and bluegills on our ultra light spinning sticks. Here are a few of the highlights...

December bass on a jig & wax worm.

Paul with a nice crappie on December 27, 2014.

I like crappies any time of year!

Most gills ran 6 to 8 inches.

Paul with a near citation red ear sunfish!

It was a great trip, and easily the fastest action I have ever experienced for a December fishing trip, as water temps were at 42 degrees. Non -stop action for over 90 minutes as we totaled 104 fish, mostly bluegills from this catch and release, small lake that is pretty far under the radar. Other December efforts looked like this here...

Foot-long crappie in the cold.

These guys always crash the party!

Red ears in 40 degree water...sheeesh!

My 'personal best' December bluegill at 10.25 inches, from 38 degree water.

Purdy!

Yeah,,,I could go for a mild winter!

We caught numerous crappies throughout the month of December.

Finishing strong...something we accomplished in December with local fishing and the help of God's blessing with warm weather from time to time. We managed to land 3,971 fish altogether for 2014...our best total ever. But wouldn't it be cool to finish strong in our work, family and faith life? I believe it to be a great and worthy goal.  We just finished up a study on Steve Ferrar's inspirational book "Finishing Strong'. In it, Ferrar points out that only one in ten men who enter the ministry to proclaim Gods Word actually finish strong. I thought that was an exaggeration, but it is indeed, and sadly, true.

As I have watched Godly men all around me fall victim to greed, fame, money and sexual sin, I realize that none of us, no matter how deeply rooted we think we are in the Holy Scriptures, are exempt from this potential tragedy. We are weak, but Christ is strong, and we need that strength to 'finish strong' in every aspect of our lives, no matter what the conditions are. As the scripture says...'the enemy roams about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour'. All of us, man, woman and child, carpenter, politician and pastor...are vulnerable to the ememy. Be prepared, suit up, and as it says in Ephesians 2:8...put on the whole armor'...including the 'breastplate of righteousness'. I want to finish strong...how about you?

Be thankful for the calm...rough waters could be ahead.

PERSONAL BEST

Bluegill...2 pounds 4 ounces...12.5 inches. Richmond Mill, NC.

Interesting topic...personal bests. Doesn't have to be a record to anyone but yourself...the best you have done, or, the best you have to offer. A goal, a benchmark...something to shoot for, new heights to reach. But...does that mean that we are never satisfied with what we have caught, or accomplished, or have done in our lives?

Charlies'  PR blue cat at 60 pounds. James River, VA.

Seems like there's always new species to catch and conquer. Is a 60 pound blue cat big enough? Or do we quest for that 70, maybe 80 pounder? Is a 2 pound bluegill good enough for our own personal achievements...or do have to have a 'three'? Is there ever any end to it all? Worse yet...are we ever really satisfied? Ten pound bass? Thirty inch rainbow? Forty pound carp? What makes you happy?

Linda's best black crappie at 13.5 inches.

Personal best bowfin at 30-inches and ten pounds.

My 'first ever 2-pound bluegill.

How about these personal records...personal earnings, personal number of medical procedures in a given year, or personal deepest snowfall in recorded history? Sometimes a personal record can be a 'worst' rather than a "best". Personal bests come in a wide range of things, including fish...

Paul's best ever largemouth bass.

Matt's 12.5 inch hybrid sunfish another personal best. Local pond.

Black-nosed crappie at 13.25 inches.

Flier sunfish at 9 7/8 inches, Little River, NC.

A 22 inch largemouth bass through the ice from February 2014.

'Best' way to eat fish!

My 'new best friend'...Ken Smith from western PA.

Yes indeed, we all have goals, benchmarks, destinations and desires that we have either reached or are still trying...'striving' to accomplish. Nothing wrong with setting our sites high and staying the course to reach them. In many ways, it is what we live for...a house, a job position, a family, or perhaps an athletic goal.

Is there abetter setting than this?

Some of my goals are life-long in achieving...they are the goals of pleasing my God, Lord and Savior...Jesus Christ. Some days, I do very well at reaching them. At other times...not so good. Things like lust, greed and selfishness get in the way of these goals. I'll admit that I don't need the help of the devil. I can sin just fine on my own, thank you. And am I ever glad my Savior pours grace and forgiveness over this broken down, train-wreck of a man who constantly needs His guidance, but doesn't always seek it.

I really like what it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17..'If any man be in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come. All things have become new'. Wow! Can you or I really grasp what God is saying to us? He is telling us that, by simply accepting His free gift of salvation, by accepting Him as Lord of our life, that we are no longer slaves to sin. We can work dilligently on removing sin from our lives. And when we do screw up and do fall, He will forgive us and renew our minds and hearts with the Holy Spirit within us, enabling us to conquer the evil one and triumph over our once sinful lives.

THAT, MY FRIEND, IS THE 'PERSONAL BEST' I WANT TO HAVE! MY PRAYER IS THAT YOU WOULD DESIRE THE VERY SAME THING AND ACCEPT JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR OF YOU LIFE.

May you never thirst, for the living waters of God will satisfy.

As waters flow full and high in the spring, God's intentions for our lives are also high, but they don't recede and dry up when times are tough...the waters continue to flow. Let His Love, Grace and Mercy fuel your life. Let Jesus Christ be your own 'Personal Best'.

ELEVENTH HOUR GILLIN'...AND MORE

Matt with a pair of 10-inch plus gills from the local big gill factory.

Well, it's mid November, the wind's blowin' and the snow has already started to fly in the Mid Atlantic. Guess it's time to call it a season on fishing...NOT! Actually, I dig 11th hour panfishing, as that is when we get the largest majority of our keeper fish for those mid winter fish frys. Most guys are hunting, and you kinda have to if you want to get deer, rabbits , squirrel or waterfowl. It's a winter thang...but so is fishing! Check out some willing assistants...

Pink Shrimp Auto jig in 1/32 oz. slew the gills.

Some nice fish on Sonny's Super Minnow.

Small, pesky bass get in the way of good gillin.

Yeah, we're looking for bluegills, and as the water temps dip below 50 degrees we know that these fish will still be catchable...just have to down-size to tiny jigheads and smaller bait options below smaller, more sensitive bobbers. Small largemouth bass are always in the eleventh hour mix...usually 10 to 14 inch fish. But once in a while we collar a good 'un on the mini-jigs. Our bluegill/panfish total has eeked over the 3000 mark for the year. Here's a couple recent participants that came to the party...

This 9.5 incher joined me on the selfie.

Matt's first gill on a 44 degree day.

Did the drop-shot gig at another lake for a bunch.

Caught a few jumbos on Gulp! Alive 1 inch minnows.

 Yes...the fishing has been quite good as the crowds thin out and the die-hard fishermen stick with it through the cold. Our jig sizes are from 1/32 oz down to the 1/200th oz Trout Magnet head. We tip them with tiny pieces of garden worms or maggots. Mild days are nice, but the cold front of 11-13-2014 put snow and upper thirties in the region. Mason-Dixon Weather can be crazy...we hope to see moderation and cash in on a few more slabs...like these...

Matt's gill was number 3004 on the season.

November daily double as the sun goes down.

Bro-in-law Paul scores a 9-plus incher.

Some seriously big pumpkinseeds pulled the bobbers under.

BFOD was a 10 5/8 incher that crushed the Pink Shrimp Auto

Yeah...I'd fish here!

Yes, every year we look forward to fishing in November and early December as the fish start feeding heavily to hold them over for the winters chill. Sure, it's cold and windy and takes a little effort. Runny nose and watery eyes along with cold fingers...it's all a part of the game. But when it comes to really good fishing...it's never too late to cash in on the blessing.

Just like the gift of salvation from our Lord Jesus Christ...it is never too late to redeem your life, cash it in, if you will, for an eternal reward that will change your life and the lives of those around you. Check out this cool truth from the book of Jude: 12-13...as he describes those who deny and scoff at the Lord...

'they are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind, autumn trees without fruit and uprooted-twice dead.They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame,wandering stars for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.'

Then, it points out in verse 23...

'snatch others from the fire and save them, to others show mercy,...'

Is this the 'eleventh hour' of your life? Do you wish to be 'snatched from the fire'? Or, are you just gonna' put it off until you are on your deathbed? For many of us, that deathbed may never come, your leaving this earth may come quickly, without warning. You may have no time to prepare for anything. Is you life not worth more than a memory for others? Is eternity a goal for you? But more importantly, is grace, blessings and love from a gracious God something that you desire? My friend, if you are absolutely sure you will live beyond tomorrow, than you know more than I. Today, tonight, may be the only chance you will ever have to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ, your only chance for eternal salvation worshipping a Loving God and Savior. Give your life to Jesus tonight...it is the only reason you were devinely directed to this blog. The ELEVENTH HOUR has arrived.

Don't let the sun set on your life before embracing Jesus as Lord.

BEST BASS...SO FAR!

This is just going to be a quick post with some of our more impressive bass catches of 2014. We still have a couple months to go, and I managed a few lunkers last year in December. But for now, here are the best of 624 bass, a new personal single-season tally, from 2014...

March was a great month with Rat-L-Traps and Mepps spinners!

Plus-sized, pre-spawn gal hit the trap in 38 degree air temps.

Biggun three days after ice-out!

Ole SwoopTail has been caught 7 times in the last three years. Will she ever learn?

Judson's best fly rod bass, not quite 20 inches!

Piney Run Giant...24 incher took a trolled shiner intended for stripers!

Ralph with a fine Monocacy River smallie!

Another fine stream bass!

I seem to only fish for bass when the panfish bite slows down, but this year I just had more opportunities to catch quality fish. Here are a few more blessings...

Judson's smallie pushed 18 inches.

Linda's 19-incher on the Stank X Stix.

Billy Decoutea with a Shenango smallie on the Scrounger. 19 inch, pushin' four.

Luke with a lean 19-incher.

My best ever largemouth on 2 pound test...bobber and a worm, go figure!

Matt with a good un on a live bluegill.

Paul with a fine bass on a gill.

Chubbo...16.5 inches and 3 3/4 pounds.

A 20-incher, gaunt and thin, took a spinnerbait.

Late evening lunker on the Stix went 22 inches.

Yes, great times with great friends...and a lot of memories made. Blessings...God just pours them out on us, no matter whether we deserve them or not. I believe that the best fishing, and the best that God has to offer, is still ahead. His anger last only for a moment, but His grace and forgiveness is eternal...

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR BLESSING ME, SAVING ME AND PULLING ME OUT OF THE MIRRY PIT AND GIVING ME NEW LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST. THERE IS NO 'CATCH' ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH THAT CAN MATCH YOUR LOVE AND FORGIVENESS. MAY I NEVER, EVER FORGET WHAT YOU DID FOR ME ON THE CROSS. I LOVE YOU!

Even through the storms of life, He is a great and loving God!