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| Tickled with my first book! |
I'd like to just say that this was a great year in 2016 and I am looking forward to what 2017 has in store! Besides catching a bunch of new 'personal bests' I finally was able to release my first book effort...THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BLUEGILLS. It is a collection of 40 short stories about fishing, fun, friends, family and faith. The book covers good and bad times and many fishing stories along the East Coast and in the Mid Atlantic region. Here are a few choice morsels...
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| Ken Smith knows his crap about crappie! |
My good friend and crappie guru Ken Smith, of Sharon, PA. is part of the chapter...TRAVELING FOR SLABS. Ken knows his crappie and sure did put me on the fish in May of 2014 and again in 2016. Great guy, great friend and a great inspiration.
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| Bob Elias...the Carpfather. |
Carp Whisperer Bob Elias gives sharp wit and funny applications to modern day carp fishing in southern Pennsylvania waters. He jokes, pokes fun, and even lets me reel a fish in now and again. He is the Carpfather of the local Carp Mafia clan, so not all secrets are revealed!
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| Stipple pen & ink drawing of the big one! |
Additionally, besides the stories of some local and national 'heavy hitters' like Dr. Bruce Condello, Jeffrey Abney and Shad guru Ron Munshower, I threw in a couple of my most recent pen and ink drawings just to prove I could do more than fish or play a guitar.
Much credit goes to many people for this project, but know that this is a book, first and foremost, about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the impact His relationship has had on my life. There are chapters about catfish, bass, crappies, shad and a little about striped bass. Throw in a couple funny moments and some great family fun...that is the Gospel...According to Bluegills! They are $14.95 each and ordering info can be obtained by emailing me at jimgronaw@gmail.com.
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And on the fishing front this past fall and early winter, I must say that we had a great series of trips catching monster rainbow trout at a small Pennsylvania lake. My man Hunter and I used small hairjigs to coral several hatchery giants in the 6 to 10 pound class...great fish on UL tackle. Here are a few pics...
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| Hunter with one of our several trophy 'bows. Wow! |
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| Is that net big enough? |
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| Another 2-footer! |
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| Some way cool palomino trout were in the mix as well. |
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| My 1st PR of the day at 24 inches. |
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| My 2nd PR rainbow was this rogue male at almost 28 inches. |
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| And this 26.75 inch female was easily over 8 pounds. |
In one day, I caught and released my personal best rainbow trout, upping it three times, with fish over 24 inches. Two big hook-jawed males...one going nine pounds and a stunning heavyweight female over 8 pounds. Incredible fish! And on 4 pound test! Wow! A trip, and fish, of a lifetime!
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I managed some nice crappies and bluegills with my son on a few local trips as well. Here are some highlights...
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| This 15.5 inch crappie was my best in 2016, released. |
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| We kept a few for the pan. |
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| Vacuum sealed and ready for the freezer, then hot-oil bath! |
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| Matt with a good 'un! |
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| A late December bull gill! |
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| Can't you just smell em? | |
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Yes...a great fall and early winter. Me and Alvie picked up some nice Potomac blue cats along the way. Nothing huge, but check em out...
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| A lot of big bottom feeders in the Washington DC area..Ha Ha! |
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| Big cats...twist and shout! |
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| Best fish of the trip was this 33-pounder that was long enough to be a 50! |
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And finally, I ended the year with a few more bluegills for the pan...they taste so good coming out of that cold 38 degree water!
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| Keeper gills from late December. |
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| These will do me and Linda for two meals...plus! |
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| Yeah baby! |
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Yes, it has been a great year on many fronts. Got to take a long overdue family vacation to Deep Creek Lake, nobody had to spend a lot of time in the hospital for any length of time and my precious wife Linda has lost 32 pounds and is walking better than she has for the past 20 years! Praise God for His provisions and blessings.
As I write this, it is my hope and prayer that at least one person, and maybe many more, would come to the saving grace from my Lord Jesus Christ as a result of my book or any of my blogs. It is not about me, about fish, about any of that. Rather, fishing is now my outreach tool and I hope the Lord allows me to land a few. As the scripture says...
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" ..."for He will make your path straight".
Yes...God is so very good, all the time!
