A MONTH OF FISHING MADNESS

One of my first fish of the season...and it may be my biggest!

The first month of 2016 has had it's ups and downs, with unseasonably warm conditions, several single digit night time lows and a record setting blizzard...back to 60 degree days again. Crazy up and down stuff, but not so bad that a determined angler can't catch a fish or two. Here's how the past month of fishing has evolved in the Mason Dixon...

MUSKY ATTEMPTS...

Heavy gear for heavy muskies...one day.

One of my first trips of the year was at the Brunner Island Power Plant on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania in an attempt to hook and land a musky. Rumor has it that there are big, toothy critters to be had in the winter on the Susky so I thought I'd give it a shot. Unfortunately, there was very little hot water coming from the plant into the river, which usually draws the muskies. However, a few hours of fish-less casting of a big bucktail made me think I was at least playing the role of a musky angler. Despite a skunking, I'll be back to try and get me one!

Creek mouths are prime locations for winter muskies.

I took a moment to admire God's handiwork.

OPEN WATER PANFISH...

After striking out on the musky effort, I fished a local public park lake that had some co-operative panfish and bass with cilly 39 degree water temps. Micro-gear, micro-jigs, and darn near micro fish as well! Still fun catch 20 to 30 fish a trip, to include bluegills, crappies, bass and hybrid sunfish. Lookie...

Dead calm on a early January evening.

Late evening was prime time for a variety of fish.

Decent bluegill from 39 degree water.

Nice hybrid joined the party...

And a crappie or two as well.

Yes, a couple afternoons of decent panfishing got the blood flowing for this winter angler. Nothing big, but big on fun...barely moving the bobber.

CARP CAPERS...

My good friend the Carp Whisperer had a few spots baited up at the local lake and put me on this giant...

As mentioned earlier...likely my biggest fish of the entire season.

Mr Bob, the Carp Whisperer, shows that January carping ain't all bad!

I like the body dynamics on this one.

This long female is developing eggs. She took corn.

The net is ready should the bite alarms scream.

MY FLING WITH ICE FISHING...

I had an ever-so-brief icefishing season that came to a screeching halt almost as soon as it started. Warm weather today and the rest of the week will put the kabobs on the minimal 4-5 inches of hard ice below the slushy snow. Still, a trio of afternoon trips resulted in 10 bass and 4 bluegills that came from amazingly shallow 3 to 5 foot depths on a gold Kast Master tipped with a meal worm. In the mix was my largest ice-caught bluegill to date. Let's look at the highlights...

Game-winner of my brief ice fishing season was this magnificent bluegill at 11 1/4 inches.Wow!

Another good 'un went almost 10.

Just a couple here and there.

Yes...the plastic glove keeps my hand warm.

Quite a few bass this size crashed the party. Fun!

Yes, January was an up and down month with both the weather and the fishing opportunities. Warm, then cold, good fishing, then bad. A few here and a few there. You take what you get in the world of fishing...and be happy with what you have.

And speaking of ups and downs, much of the same applies to life, and how you live it, and look at it. Some days it's hot, some days cold. Some times are tough and some are good. One day you're up, the next you're down. Some days you worry and some days you don't. Life can be a roller coaster.

So...what's the secret to smoothing all this out, making it bearable and surviving? My plan is simple...I trust that God, and my Lord Jesus Christ, has a perfect plan for my life, and for my eternity. And once I knew for sure that His plan was not only perfect, but that His divine plan for my life since the begining of time led to 'freedom', I was at peace...with all things. Doesn't mean there won't be trials, tragedies, sickness or death, for all of that is very, very real. Our family has had our fate tested, and we have cried. But we have overcome the darkness and enjoyed true freedom. Last year was difficult, as my wife Linda developed heart issues and struggled with another knee replacement surgery. I endured back surgery, lost some use of my left hand and had emergency heart surgery to repair a 95% blockage in a main coronary artery. I am lucky to be alive...and I know it! But God has answered many prayers. I have lost 34 pounds, lowered my blood pressure, dropped my cholesterol levels significantly and totally changed my lifestyle for the good. All of this is impossible without my Lord's help. His timing is perfect, His Blessings are great. I really dig what it says in Psalm 139, verse 16...

                   'your eyes saw my unformed body
                         All the days ordained for me
                               were written in your book
                                    before one of them came to be.'

Yes, knowing that gives me freedom, freedom to know that His Plan is the Perfect Plan for my life. If you want to smooth out the ups and downs and get true freedom in your life, to ditch guilt and cleanse your life, then embrace Jesus Christ and step out of death and enter life. It's not a 'religion' or a checklist of  'do's and don'ts with a angry, punishing God. It's a relationship, and Christ wanted that relationship with you so badly that He was willing to die to get it. And that, my friend, is real freedom, and true love.

Real freedom and true love goes far beyond the darkness of this world. Be Blessed.