A CRAZY WEEK OF FISHING

Matt had two on at one time, managed to land this fine channel cat.

For the past week or ten days, we have had some exciting big-fish action at some local waters that are public, yet under the radar. A few panfish, but mostly quality bass and channel catfish. I'll keep it short, and just toss up a few of the better fish we have been fortunate enough to catch.

Catties are long and lean, powerful fighters.

Matt's 27.5 incher weighs over 8 pounds...a good 'un!

Now, let's get that hook out!

Another lean cat at 26 inches.

Yes...I actually think these fish are purdy!

My best cat of the year...a powerful 30 incher that gave me the run around all over the pond!

Another look at the 'thirty'.

Check out the catfish cocktail...imitation crab meat with a chunk of nightcrawler.

Okay...enough of the whiskerfish...here are a few largemouths from the same water, mostly on small earthworms below a bobber and a few on live bluegills.

Bass before the storm on a garden worm.

Another 4 pound class bass!

Matt's best last week was 19.5 inches long.

Back she goes!

Chubby 17 incher is well over 3 pounds!

This fatso bass actually took a piece of crabmeat intended for the cats.

And this was the star of last weeks show...a 'near-five pounder'.

What a week of fishing! 15 bass from 3 to 5 pounds and catties running from 24 to 30 inches....wow! The cats like imitation crab meat and the bass just like worms...easy fishing and quality fish! It was a great couple of days to fish with my son Matt.

I am reminded of the scripture verse that says...' it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man, it is better to take refuge in the Lord, than to trust in princes'  ...Psalm 118:8-9.
The same can be said about trusting in a government, a government that increasingly denies and scoffs at the Lord, one that sees no need in honoring God. The further we separate ourselves from a Holy God, the more destruction and pain this nation will suffer...it's in the Bible, it's guaranteed.

The next time you enjoy a day on the water, think about who really blessed you with that great experience.

FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT...

I must admit it...I am getting soft in my old age. Everybody knows it. They can see it in my gait, my mannerisms and by my selective hearing. When I was in the work force, I was a 'tough ole bird'. But those days are gone now. For example...check out this torn and tattered thumb and palm...

Looks like someones an old softy.

Looks pretty nasty, huh? You can tell I'm a burnt out bluegill fisherman. Soft hands, soft heart...I just had to release all 14 bass I caught last Wednesday just ahead of that big low-pressure coastal storm that pounded the Mid Atlantic. I wasn't fishing for them, rather, I was out for bluegills and close kin. And I caught a pile of fish during the 4 hour tour at a small public lake that is way under the radar. 118 total fish altogether. Great fun on ultra light spinning and 2 and 4 pound test, and all on bobbers and worms with #8 Aberdeen hooks. Just let the wind blow the bobber along with a garden worm 4 feet down...pretty simple. Lots and lots of gills, redears, a few crappie and bullheads. But check out the 'by-catch'...

First big green fish of the day was this pale rider at about 5 pounds.

Followed up by another chubber largemouth!

Hey...this could get habit-forming!

You know, I'm willing to sift through a pile of medium panfish for a few of these!

And all I really wanted was a couple of these.

Been that kind of year...fish for one thing, catch another. Of course, I am not complaining in any way, even with the thumb thing and all. It's just like, well, what does a man have to do to catch a couple of decent bluegills around here? And even last week, when my bro-in-law Paul, hit the same water, the big green fish, and a few other surprises, came out to play...

Paul's 25 inch channel cat put the test to his ultra-light gear.

Paul with a foot-long black-nosed crappie.

Another crappie..this one's a black.

Check it out...black stripe across the head and back distinguish this as a 'black-nosed' crappie.

Fishing in shorts is just about over.

Yes, even the week previous, with temperatures in the low 90's fishing was pretty good for variety. Weather changes, as God always is in control of the heavens, the clouds, the wind , air and the rain. The Weather Channel has nothing on God...for he knows the weather for tomorrow, the next day and for all the days yet to come on earth. He knows the forecast...as pointed out in Psalm 19:5-6...

'In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun...It rises at one end of the heavens and makes a circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from it's heat"

Think about that...NOTHING is hidden from it's heat. Nor are any of our deeds or thoughts. That's scary, and runs chills down my spine. God knows it all, all about us, about the weather and about what we truely need... His love, His kindness, and His grace. Rocky shorelines and all, I want to walk with the King!

DAILY BREAD...AND A LITTLE MORE!

Ahhh...I haven't been here in a while. But that's OK...been busy. It's been dry here, not much rain in central Maryland the past 4 weeks. We are shifting gears, going for panfish, keeping a few fillets, eating like Kings!

Matt's 12.5 inch hybrid sunfish did NOT get eaten. Released to fight another day.

Breakfast, errr, supper of champions!

We've been catching gills, crappies a few bass and some huge hybrid sunfish. We release those trophy hybrids, but have found fillets and 'bluegill cakes' to our liking! Add the side dishes or they can stand alone...

Behold...Bluegill Cakes!

Boiling fillets so they flake.

Lots of meat! Add the good stuff and pat the cakes!

I take a bunch of fillets and put them in a slow boiling pot of water and heat them up til the flake easily with a stir. Throw in a beaten egg or two, seasonings and a few bread crumbs and roll them in flour or batter and fry em at 375 degrees. Cook til golden brown, drain on paper towels and serve...YEEEESSS!!!

So...like, is anybody getting hungry yet?

Of course, before you get to the bluegill cakes, you need the bluegills. Here are some select pics of our latest panfish catches for the daily bread line...

Matt shows off a chunky 3/4 pounder.

Nine inch pumpkinseeds make for great Halloween masks!

Another purdy 'seed!

A dozen gills like this will make 5 to 6 nice cakes.

Drop-shot rigs have been doing most of the damage.

Along the way for keepers, we managed a few more trophy hybs...here's a closer look...

This 11 incher is huge, yet small compared to Matt's giant.

Another look at Matt's sensational 12.5 inch hybrid sunfish...a fish of a lifetime! Released!

This hyb shows male bluegill dominance yet green sunfish coloration. Cool!

Of course, these trophy class hybrids came from a private pond, unmanaged and unfed, and were all released. We caught them 8-10 feet deep in heavy weeds with drop-shot rigs and live earthworms. They were bulldozers to land!

One of the great things about panfish is that there are alot to go around. They taste great and are the staple of many a fish fry throughout the land. Keeping the right ones is critical to have fish in the future. We eat 7 to 9 inch fish when they are in high number from specific lakes and ponds. The biggest fish always go back, to reproduce and keep the gene pool of big fish present. Yeah, we know, hybrids don't reproduce much. But we haven't got the heart to kill these giants. Takes about 10 years to get a fish that big.
Much is said in Proverbs and the Psalms about daily bread, having enough, and using it wisely. Fishing, hunting, grocery shopping and buying essentials all fall into that category. Same with other items that we 'think' we 'must' have, but really don't.

Proverbs 30:8 states...'give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
                                   Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you...or...
                                   I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God'




Think about these words, the next time you think you absolutely must have something...something you might just be able to do without.

                                       DAILY BREAD, AND A LITTLE MORE, IS TRULY A BLESSING!

What great blessings!

                                

THEY ONLY COME OUT AT NIGHT

Nightfall on the bass grounds.

All is quiet on the fishing front as the sun settles and the moon rises. Frogs are croaking, bats are flying and mosquitoes are primed to suck blood. Forget about the heat of summer and the local box scores...it's time to fish. Some nights it's hot, and some nights it's not. Prepare to get muddy, loose a little sleep and maybe catch a few lunkers.

Frogs and critters beware!

Scary stuff when it's dark out...loud splashes, sudden impact strikes, surface explosions and a few snakes here and there. The potential for big fish beckons. Are you ready? Are your meds up?

We had a late evening engagement.

Often, just before sundown, the big girls come out to play. Stick worms and frogs catch a bunch, but some like the Jitterbugs and buzz baits for a top water treat. Sometimes you have to get wet and muddy to get a fish in. Here's a couple 'pre-dusk' fish that made our highlight reel...

My bro-in-law Paul with giant, just prior to the 'magic hour'.

Decent fish on a plastic frog.

My son Matt with a good 'un  on the frog and in the twilight.

The so-called 'magic hour'...that time of grey between sunset and total darkness...is not always as magical as advertised. Some evenings the bass stop hitting right at sunset. Sometimes it will last another 20 minutes. Then again, sometimes it dies completely, and won't pick back up until 10 pm or later. You might have to loose some shut-eye. And you should check with you doctor before proceeding with any form of night bassing.

Paul scores in total darkness.

More tails from the dark side.

Wading for bass at night may be hazardous to you health.

Indeed, night time is very special, and exciting, to all the creatures of the earth, including bass, including man. Check out this truth from Psalm 104: 19 - 22...

'The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.
You bring darkness; it becomes night, and all the beast of the forest prowl.
The lions roar for their prey, and seek their food from God.
The sun rises and they steal away, they return and lie down in their dens.'

Think about this...the next time you see the moon in full, hear an owl in the forest, or see a flash of lightning in the distant sky on a hot summer night. As it states further in verses 24 & 25...

'How many are your works, Oh Lord!
                     In wisdom You made them all;
                                    There is the sea, vast and spacious,
                                                 teeming with creature beyond number--
                                                             living things, both large and small'.

                                  
                                                        Behold His handiwork and detail!

SMALL WONDERS

My love affair with small lakes, little kids and giant panfish continues. I am blessed with about 30 small venues within a 45 minute drive of my house. Most have big bluegills or redear sunfish in them, some have big bass. All have charm and character...

Way back in the sticks of our memory, there's this little pond...

Some are way back in the sticks, and some are right along the public highways. Many of them are overlooked, ignored by the masses. Some can be fished effectively just with pole and line efforts, a bobber and a worm on the hook. Others require a more sophisticated approach...

Looks like someone's gonna eat sunnies for dinner!

More often than not, the bulk of the catch is modest.

Decent sized red ear sunfish sure do make it a good trip!

My friend Loren with a quality-sized pole-n-line largemouth !

Little gems of water that dot the countryside are almost too numerous and slight to draw the attention of 'real' anglers. You don't need a boat or a permit or a long wait at the ramp...because there is none. You might need a little guts and fortitude to tramp though the high weeds, sticker bushes or biting deerflys to catch a few fish. It's called work, but it has it's rewards...

New angler Jessica with one of her many bluegills. Cool!

To young anglers, the tug of a bluegill can start a lifetime of outdoor memories that are just around the corner, not many hours of driving down the interstate. Economic times are tough, and we need to fish where we can to get the most out of it.

My 3-year old grand daughter Elena puts the squeeze on red ear destined for the frying pan.

Elena is the 'quality inspector' of this nice catch.

As a kid growing up, ponds held a special place in my heart. They still do, and when I can get away with my son Matt for a little bit of fishing it remains a precious time in my life, with precious memories to go along. A recent trip provided some special moments with some stunning hybrid sunfish...

Matt's remarkable hybrid sunfish taped out at 11.5 inches. Fins are stunning!

I got in on the act with this 12 inch hybrid...what a fish!

This one held still just long enough for a mug-shot.

Check out them pecs! Wow!

Yes, these are special times, special places, and, were fashioned for us, before the begining of time, to enjoy before any one of these days came to be. As it points out in Psalm 139: 'All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.' How comforting it is knowing that a Loving God has guided me to such joy without my ever asking for it. Like His Grace and Goodness, He just rains it down on me, blessing me time and time again.

Our precious Abby

I PRAISE YOU BECAUSE I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE,
                                       YOUR WORKS ARE WONDERFUL, I KNOW THAT FULL WELL.
                                                               Psalm 139:14

                                                    Indeed...small wonder!