I Must Be Gettin Old..

I just about didn't go today.
Ave is feeling better and Kimi gave me the go ahead to fish but when the alarm went off I had one helluva time dragging my tired ass out of bed.
Part of it was the lack of rain.
I talked to my Father in law yesterday and he informed me that there had been very little precipitation since I last fished.
The useless turds at the water site hadn't updated the graph yet so I couldn't be sure what I was heading into if I did go.


The forecast suggested however that if I didn't get my ass out of bed and into the water it could be it for the rest of November.
Screw it I am going.
Truth be told I was running away more than running too.
Ave and I had a rough day yesterday.
Kimi took a teaching day and it was just the two of us.
80O
By 15:00 I was ready to tear my hair out.
She is still not herself and her grumpiness was giving me hives.
Fuck the water...at least I would find some peace and quiet.
Well god or whomever threw me a bone.


When I got to the waters edge I just about fell over....
IT WAS MINT..
I don't know how or when but the river had come up and coloured.....and just like that it was fishing like it is supposed to be.


I just about hiked out in order to fish my home water but it is still Deer season and the guys who haven't filled their tags yet would be desperate at this point.
I do not want to die of lead poisoning...over some fish.
But they sure are pretty.

I saw a couple of Coyotes on the hike in this morning.
It was one of those beautiful but Oh SHIT moments...lol.
One stopped and turned back to get a look at me and my thoughts went out to the story of the person being attacked by Coyotes out east.
Would've been a cool way to go.
Anyway..the water is finally setting up....unfortunately the shitrats will probably have a murderous heyday this weekend.
Sigh..
Hockey dad tomorrow or I would probably roll again.

Jumpin Beef And The Swamp Thing

D(B)eer Camp...
It has become an annual tradition to join my Father and Brother in law for the first Deer hunt.


They happen to hunt not far from where I fish so I am only too happy to join them for some down time at the sugar shack.
This year there were four of us. 3 Hunters and a knucklehead Steelheader.


The river is still shit so I wasn't exactly thrilled about my fishing opportunities but it is always good to get away. There has been some rain and the river is right on the edge...it just needs one more shot in the arm.
The forecast is so fickle that I have stopped checking it for fear that I put a gun in my mouth.
My plan was to stay until Thursday but I got the call last night that I knew I would get.
Avery was sick.
My Wife is capable but I can't have fun when I know that the kids are not well so here I am typing instead of prowling the streams ...
:o/
I got 2 decent days out of it...a few card games, laughs,

good food and a wee hangover.
The boys got three deer and were driving into Goderich this morning for another tag.
One of the deer was right around 3 bills and it took the three of them 2 1/2 hrs to drag it from the bush.
I was conveniently not around.
:o)
This is good news for the Venison hungries...and I am one of them.
I timed it just right this year.
I was having an afternoon snooze yesterday when a shot went off.
Much more effective than an alarm clock BTW. LOL


A few minutes later I got to witness a field dressing.
I wasn't sure what kind of an effect it would have on me and I was surprised at how pleasant it was.


That is a strange thing....but these guys live for this. They hunt responsibly and really revere these animals. The sun was streaming through the trees...the air was fresh and crisp and it was a really peaceful happy moment for all of us.
What these guys find out there in the bush is not that far removed from my own tradition and I felt privileged to share it with them.


As far as the fishing goes I managed better than I expected.
I even beached one that is sure to make the top ten for the season.

It was a great moment.
I had been fishing the darker sections of the frog water and cursing the gazillions of little egg eating smolts.


I had been lulled into a bit of a trance when I set up on what I had been looking for with false hope.
Out the chute she goes and the chase is on.
These fish are tough and it is a minor miracle everytime I bring one to hand.
I don't need much and that was enough for the entire trip.
I have got to believe that better days are ahead.
On day two I bumped into Harv at the Mcdonalds washroom in Goderich....which was kind of weird...
I am pretty sure he was there to pick up guys.
He and his old man asked me to join them on the bigger water and as my own plans were a little nondescript I quickly agreed.

0 for 1.
That river hates me....but it is very nice to look at.
Back to home court for me.
I always manage to catch fish there even when the cons are grim.
There are a few big fish kicking around and tons of little ones.


The salmon are still on the redds and it is special to just stand there and watch them.

Untitled from Gene Norland on Vimeo.

The clock is ticking and we are all waiting for water.
Now back to the real world..
...as in real shitty.
( Baby crying in the background )
lol

At least its nice to look at

I went for a walk through the woods yesterday.
The fall colours were inspiring against the blue sky, the air was crisp and clear and I saw loads fo wildlife.
The solitude was good for the soul and the peace and quiet really gave me some great time to think and unwind.
....If only I hadn't brought the fishing rod.

The river is a swamp

There are fish in it and it was cool to watch the salmon spawn. I should've shot some video...I don't know what I was thinking. The water was gin clear and it look liked they were hovering over the redds.


I did manage to catch some fish but they were all wee little egg theives. They are pretty in their own right but I am dying for some real sport especially after being teased with some early season Steelie histrionics a few weeks back.

There was rain in the forecast and I had booked some leave around it but it looks like mother nature is giving us the old up and under again.

Very frustrating.

On top of the shit weather it looks like my son has become the latest flu victim.
We called the school this morning and they told us that there are 17 kids off today and that 33% of all grade school kids were off with this shit last week.

I used to love OCtober....

Pretty Thin..

Well,
Make the best with what you've got I suppose.
After the success I had the other day I was dying to get out again....
However...
Kimi had half a day of teaching today which kind of euchred me.
I would never complain.
We can really use the extra dough and I know she feels good about getting back to work.

I am usually a morning person when it comes to fishing but you do what you gotta do.
The river was really dropping and I knew that if I didn't get in there today I would have to wait for the next big rain.
....So I have the gear in the car and the waders on when she gets home from school.
Kiss on the cheek and I am gone...LOL
She is a good girl.
I didn't get to the waters edge until 2ish and it wasn't pretty.
Very Skinny...
The fish would be hunkered down in the deep pools and most likely unco-operative.
I was all alone again today.
Morin was again... working..ugh...useless.
I was the only one stupid enough to fish these conditions.
The walk through the woods was very pleasant even though I had to bushwhack a bit to get where I was going.

It is a much easier go in there when the snow has crushed everything...but no one said it was easy.
I caught more fish than I thought I would but they were mostly single year fish or parr. I tried to be as gentle as I could with them and only took one picture.

The future looks very bright.

Lots of spawning salmon....loose salmon....but I didn't have the heart to.
It took me until the end of the day to land a decent fish.

Sometimes the trip to the river is about perseverance and 1 or 2 good opportunities.
Quite a contrast from the previous trip but I enjoyed today just as much in its own way.
I am just happy to be out there doin it.
This beauty and I hooked up at right around 6:30 pm ...which is I think the latest I have ever caught one of these fish.
I think that I can relax a bit now.

The fish are here and all is right with the world....at least my world...knocking on wood....

I am glad the water will be shit for the meathunters this weekend...
4 days of rain in the long term....
:o)

Sent To Me Via Email

I finally got around to going fishing this morning but after a while I ran out of worms.

Then I saw a cottonmouth with a frog in his mouth, and frogs are good bass bait.

Knowing the snake couldn't bite me with the frog in his mouth, I grabbed him

Right behind the head, took the frog and put it in my bait bucket.

Now the dilemma was how to release the snake without getting bit.

I grabbed my bottle of Jack Daniels and poured a little whiskey in its mouth.

His eyes rolled back, he went limp, I released him into the lake without incident, And carried on my fishing with the frog.

A little later I felt a nudge on my foot.

There was that same snake with two frogs in his mouth.

A Little Bored Today...

Avery is napping so I threw this together...
I can't get the river out of my mind.

Untitled from Gene Norland on Vimeo.

I'll send this out to my workaholic buddy mired in the plastic/human quagmire....
Oh to win the lotto...

Gobble Gobble

In a way I was dreading today.


The home river was probably going to drop into shape for the first time this year....on a Stat Holiday....with no rain
I figured it would be a freak show.


Sometimes you just can't call it. The water was less than optimum and I didn't run into a soul on the river today.


I mean I bumped into a couple of guys on the trail but I don't even think they were fishing. Weird....but I'll take it.

Anyway... I caught a few fish and it felt really nice to get back on the horse.


Last year winter came early and I am determined to savour this fall as much as I can.
This is a cool little release clip which would look better on Vimeo...but Vimeo and I are not getting along.
I was 0 for 5 to start the day and this little beauty took all the weight off.
October Chrome can really put the hurt on ya and I got schooled a few times today.

I made a concerted effort to stop and look around at the colours.
I really do live in a beautiful corner of the world.

I saw Morins Bald Eagle today and just missed it with the camera.
Truly amazing.


I was flying solo today...which is alright. Morin is working his ass off and with every fish I hooked my heart went out to him.

As gay as it sounds...the river is not the same without him. ...Even though he is a POS.


Great start to the season.

Kim is teaching tomorrow and I have Avery all day by myself.....could be very interesting
lol
I had better get some sleep.

Golf Alpha Yankee

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

I don't what happened to Kimis mouth but she still looks cool...blood and all...and man what moves...

Not much going on fish wise yet.

The home river needs one more good bump of rain....

I fished it yesterday for about 15 frustrating minutes...3 suckers and a beautiful PARR..
That little fella just about brought me to tears....

I fished a wee farther north and managed a smolt and a beat up old boot of a KING but that was it.

Harv made out way better than I ...good on him...that POS....
He was only about a km downstream to boot.

The day was rife with drama which is typical for my life...the kids are sick and I got home from my trip just in time to take an OT midnight shift which just about killed me.
Make hay while the sun shines indeed...and pray for rain...

I am in the next 3 days for Union Management meetings....

I just threw up a bit in my mouth....

It Is Just About Time...

I am starting to think that maybe the Blog thing isn't for me anymore.

I may feel differently once the leaves start falling and the floats hit the water but I certainly don't have the enthusiasm for this that I once did.

One of the few things that keep me at this are the many other Blogs that I enjoy reading...fishing and otherwise.

For the few knuckleheads that check in here once in a while, don't be surprised or offended if this little fishing corner disappears in the near future...

I am thinking it may be time to pull the plug on 'er.

It has been a great outlet and I have had fun with it.

Later

Gene

My God! ...The Stories Are True

Yesterday I stood in line at the Disneyland Steelhead ride.
At least thats what it felt like.


I had heard the Erieau stories. They all were consistant enough to finally develope the ring of truth ....but some things just have to be seen to be believed.
Well,...as the song goes I am a believer.
LOL
This tale is not for the faint of heart.
It is rife with death of beautiful fish...and to be honest...I found it very difficult to stomach...even though we were within our legal limit and none of the fish harvested went to waste.
When in Rome....


I have some in brine as I type this and there is a giant fish fry event on the books for this evening with the main entree to be the caustic yet yummy Hot and Sour Steelhead.
The little fish should have their revenge early am tomorrow right after my coffee...
:o/
The story goes like this..


My father in law gave me a call the other day to invite me out on his boat which would be the last kick at the cat at Erieau.
He qualified this invite with the unfortunate news that things ...as far the Steelhead were concerned were "dead" according to all the connections.


Gerry, Mike and I had all been trying to get out on a fishing trip together this summer but the weather had conspired against us so much that I had just about given up hope.
Regardless of the doom and gloom prediction I eagerly accepted.
I hadn't been fishing for months and I needed a getaway something fierce.
We hit the water at day break and by 11:00 all we had to show for our efforts were 3 walleye and right around 30 Sheephead....

I was trying to stay positive.
The radio chatter was low and the boats were scattered which is a good indicater that we were doing about as good as anybody.


During one of the brief radio exchanges some dude suggests running the leads off the cannonball back only 10 ft in order to give the spoons more action.
This is pretty far removed from anything that I had ever heard about fishing these fish open water but at this point we thought we'd try anything.


After making the switch within 5 minutes we started hitting fish.
From noon until about 1:30 we hooked well over 30 Steelhead all of which were ballistic screamers.


Double and triple headers consistantly.
I have never in my life seen anything like it!!!!!
I had more fun yesterday than I have had in a long time and it really opened my eyes to just what a ridiculous fishery that Erie is these days.


I thought my head was going to explode and my face is tired from smiling.
I can believe the stories now.
Wow.
Now get me to the river.

Everyone Loves Marineland

Indeed,
My kids are crazy for the joint.
Dough was a little tight this year and Marineland was the one extravagance we allowed ourselves.
My kids are awesome and they don’t need much….but if I don’t find a way to get them to Disneyworld before too long my heart will break.


The worst of the storm is over moneywise but it will be a long road back.
Avery is one and soon to be off the boob and Kimi can start working again.
I am accepting all the OT I can eat…well before the Steelies roll in….and with any luck we should be able to right the ship.
This past year has been hard on all of us. I fucking hate being broke and it has been a tough go with only one income for the past two years.
Now there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
...If I can only control my semen.


I have my referral slip for the snip job but ironically I don’t seem to have the stones for it.
When it comes to hacking open my nut sack I get a little squeamish …oddly enough.
It doesn’t help that one of my co workers just got it done and has been limping around with a nasty grimace for weeks now.
:o/
I am not getting much sympathy from my wife. Go figure. Lol
No worries yet really.
If I need any birth control I just look at my bank account online and I don’t get an erection for weeks…
Ah well,
WTF…here I am complaining about working too much in an economic downturn….three beautiful healthy kids…and a wife that gives me a hard-on still after 12 years…
I may be the biggest arse I know…..
Next to Morin
Yesterday was a blast!!!
The rides made me sick and the yellowjackets just about gave me a nervous breakdown but we still had a great time.
Owen and I got soaked by the crazy killer whale …very cool. That mutha can jump!!!
I debated whether or not to try and take a picture of him leaping but I am glad I decided not too. I am sure the tidal wave he threw at us would’ve had me buying another camera.
Ella turns 5 today and Kim is upstairs decorating her cake.


It seems like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital.It is events like these that really make you feel how quickly time is passing.
Unreal…
October is just around the corner and I can’t wait to hit the rivers again.

Whats goin' on...

Whats goin on...
The Dog days of summer...thats what...
But it really won't be long now.
It has been a rather good summer full of family fun.
I never did make that flyfishing trip to the Maitland for Bass...but I still might.


I was watching Bill Spicer fish for smallies on the WFN the other day and it was tuggin at my heart strings.
You have got to MAKE time sometimes....but you also have to pick your spots.
The smallies aren't going anywhere.
My son competed in a Ironkids Triathalon recently and actually did pretty good finishing just above the middle of the pack for his age group. Most of the kids were a bit older and I am sure almost all of them had more experience.
I was very proud of him and he really semed to enjoy it.
Good health has been a common theme this year.
My wife has started running again and one of my closest friends has lost about 40 lbs.


Yesterday I rode my bike to work. It is right around 32 kms round trip...and I was in for midnights.
It was a real test this morning ....I was whipped.
I am a little stiff but it wasn't as bad as I'd thought it would be.
I will definately try it again.
Gerry and I are trying to plan a trip to Erieau.
He and my Brother in Law were there last week and beat up the Steelhead pretty good.
Bastards.


The wind has shut us down and things don't look good for the weekend. It could be our only opportunity and I am pinning my fishy hopes on it.
My luck has been poor fish wise lately....but no sense in wasting it on the summer.
I have been dreaming of Steelhead lately....
WINTER Steelhead....
tick tock...

HERO

This link just about made me cry
I suggest you click on it.

Speaking of Canadian Power Trios''

Here is a group that I miss a lot.
One of the best live acts that I have ever seen.

Truly Cool...