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I am just a guy who uses fishing and playing guitar to keep myself sane...or at least try to.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Belly Whopper...

Untitled from Gene Norland on Vimeo.



I took the kids tobogganing. yesterday and I am a wee bit sore...
I have been lifting weights again and it is taking my tired old body a bit to get used to the abuse!


LOL
Probably not such a good idea to follow-up a work out with flying down an icy hill on a crazy carpet with Ella on my back with me on my stomach.
We had a great day out there with this mild weather.


Almost makes up for last years horrific winter.
Back in for work on Monday Tuesday...
It will be the first time on a new shift of 07:00-19:00.
I think I will dig 'em actually.

Untitled from Gene Norland on Vimeo.



Gets me home in time to say good night to the kids and I am traditionally an early riser.

Work is always a great place to get some well needed rest.
:o)

Untitled from Gene Norland on Vimeo.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

The Eye...


Yesterday Morin and I fished.

It was a good day.


A great day to be on the river....except for the fact that Morin caught a demon fish.
Fucking thing had the weirdest eye and it kept following him wherever he moved to...
Gave me the creeps and I was glad when we got the friggin thing back in the water...good for a few nightmares..

The weather so far this year has be unseasonably warm...knock on wood....and as per usual Morin was chomping at the bit to get some fishing in.



Well ..we both were.

Last year at this time we'd booked a trip with Jeff Stuhan.


Jeff is a fishing guide out of Michigans Muskegon area and this time of year he runs jetboat Steelhead trips up the Muskegon and Pere Marquette rivers.


We'd had so much fun and such great success last year that we'd pretty much decided to make this an annual thing. It is a nice way to usher in the new year and it offers a really unique way to fish for the fish that we have come to love so much.

Jeff is more than just a guide. He is a real hoot to fish with and we spent most of the day laughing our heads off and eating the venison pepperettes he brings along.
They are amazing...great big thick muthas with chunks of cheddar....


No iced guides to worry about this year...
It was like a spring day out there on the river and although the river had been fishing slow by all accounts we still put the hurt on them.



The Michigan fish are very strong an rank right up there with our own fish. The first fish I hooked I lifted up on at the end of a drift and fishy just turned and started swimming. By the time we'd decided that we should pull anchor and chase it there was a ton of line out....too much....then....slack line...ugh..


I had even beefed up a bit for this trip.
It was the first day that I have used the Kamasan Sedge Hooks and I am very impressed with them.


There is no relief on the Muskegon and it is a good place to test the gear as well as your shoulders.


Mine are still sore.
Road trips are awesome and this one was a good one.
I managed to pass my recert last week even though one minute I'd shoot like Wyatt Earp and the next Mr.Magoo. Being tested like that takes a lot out of you and a day on the river did wonders to help me unwind and put that shit behind me.


That big old river is a very peaceful place to fish this time of year and even though you can't help but wonder what kind of a smack we'd put on them during the peak times I'll take a lonely old flow with just turkeys and eagles for company any day.
I got lucky on this trip and landed a hen that after some consideration makes the top ten list.


LOL
Oh oh...
I am not sure which fish gets the bounce but this little lady gets the nod for sheer strength and beauty,
Amazing colours on this fish...breathtaking.
I still haven't bagged my Michigan double striper but this colourful girl is way sexy.
With the bigger fish Jeff lifts the anchor and breaks out the oars and yesterday he saved me from disaster a number of times just by maneuvering the boat.


It is a cool thing to participate in and I am glad we've discovered it.
Makes me wish I was back there right now.

Monday, January 11, 2010

I Am Coming Out...

....I admit it.

I love icefishing!

LOVE IT

Especially with Ella.

Icefishing with Ella 2010 from Gene Norland on Vimeo.



She has been bugging me to take her icefishing since like September so today I finally got the gear together and made it happen.
I am really glad that I did.
We had a blast....even though we had a couple of tag alongs.
My Mother in Law offered to watch little Avery and through that Gerry got wind of our little hard water action plan and joined us ...with my nephew Luke.

Gerry is one thing.....he is always welcome.

LUKE?
:o/

I wasn't sure how it'd go with little Lukey-Bear as he is a tad on the wild side but the fish action was constant and gave him very little window of opportunity for destruction.

Untitled from Gene Norland on Vimeo.



We hit the Pond at 10:00 am and had holes drilled 10 minutes later.....pulled the plug at 10:40 and headed for Hot chocolate which we had in hand by 10:55.
The kids got about 20 sunfish between them.. heavily slanted in Ellas favour ;o)
Sunfish are always so co operative when it comes to family fun.
I feel like I really owe them a debt of gratitude.



It was like they were waiting there for us.

I drilled the first hole ... scooped out the slush ...dropped down the line and as soon as the line went straight there was a fish pulling on it!!!!
LOL
Perfect for kids...but it made it tough to get on video.
I had to rush to get the camera ready or they'd have the fish on the ice.

Great day for all of us.

Special thx to Morin for the use of his auger among other things....

On the other side of life I have to recertify with my Duty Firearm this week and that has me a little worked up.
I don't travel well for one thing and I haven't shot very well at my last few practices.
If I fail I will have to travel yet again and probably be gone for a week...and that doesn't appeal to me at all.
I recognize the need for the F/A and I am glad that I have one at work but I don't like guns...gun people or shooting particularly much.
I am hoping that I shoot a decent number and work out whatever bad habits that have settled on my grip...and then I can get on with my real life....
<><
25 metres is a long shot with a pistol.
..Especially for this old fart...

Saturday, January 02, 2010

My Cross To Bear...

Morin loses yet another fish from Gene Norland on Vimeo.


I have been going through some of my old pics and videos trying to get organized...
What a Mess!!!
It is easy to get sidetracked though and get lost on memory lane...
I was amazed at how many million videos I have of Morin losing fish...it is tragic...and nauseating...
This video was from last year on the Muskegon and I am dying to get back there..
Look at this Useless POS...
This was just before we threw him out of the boat!

On an side note ...my son scored his first goal in Hockey today!!!!!
I just about started squirten 'em like a bitch...lol

I am so glad I didn't miss it and he was very proud of himself.

Now back to the files....

:o/