Good To Go !!!

She is good to go. Spent some time working on the "yak" today, mounted my pole holder and paddle holder. It is looking sweet. Went to the rents to borrow dad's drill... and lo and behold... I found my surprise from him... for those of you who dont know I have the BESTEST, GREATEST, SWEETEST, ROCKINEST parents in the world... you SHOULD be jealous. We got a kayak/canoe carrying cart... it is the sweetest thing!!! Now we dont have to drive the car five seconds down the street with the canoe on the roof!!! Thanks to my folks! That ROCK! Did I mention that already? Love you guys!!! Tomorrow I am going to take her out... still have to rig up the anchor system. Anyone know where I can get some bungee cord... on a spool,not the type with hooks already attached. Peace to you all. Thanks for reading.
Fish On!
Do I not have a smile on my face like a kid who just got their first bike?

New to the fleet.

The newest member of the Parias fleet...
Soon, she will be transformed into the hippest fishing kayak on Sawdy Pond...
For the days when Shug can't make it...
Keep popping in for pics of the progress.
Thanks for reading.
Fish On!

Jitter Bug! Do the Jitter Bug!

The headline is to be read to the beat of the WHAM! song Jitterbug... When the fish are really bitin' on the jitter bugs I sing that song to Shug... it drive him craze... ha ha ha
Just the same... last night was such a great night for fishing, the pond was like glass from one end to the other, the fish were jumping all over, and the heat from the afternoon had them looking to attack some serious bait... so we thought, this may be a good night to start with the jitterbugs... and how true it was... nothing but 2lb fish... we weighed each of them.
Happy Memorial Day everyone! Enjoy your burgers and dogs... I am heading to work... Dont drink and drive either... no nee to drum up any business for me.
Thanks for reading.
Fish On!

Round two!

Round two consisted of me essentially wanting to keep the Wookie happy because I know how badly she wanted to fish. So it was around 1230am and we were still at Kevin and Chris' house when the Wookie started with the lets go fishing lets go fishing poke... you know, like little kids do ;) Now I know that she has been "praying for fish" at church, and it has been killing her to see if the praying was going to bring her any luck... so I thought agggh what the hay... we can fish from the dock.. shortly there after I was stuck... damn those rocks... it is pitch black... all i have is my head lamp... uggghhh but wait, this rock is now moving?????? so i began to reel in... and damn it was like reeling in a pile of wet rags... then there she was... in alllll here glory... my biggest fish EVER!!! I was speechless... It was hooked in the gill, slightly, by one hook out of six,for all you folks who are like "oh my god look at all the blood, that is so mean" and when we released her she swam off to live another day... so, please, you can breathe easy now. We weighed her and she only came up as 2lbs 15oz... I was so surprised!!! She felt and looked sooo much heavier than that.
After that fish, I was done... I couldnt imagine catching anything after that so I went back to the fire... and left the Wookie on the dock to test out the power of prayer! Then came a loud, Wookie voice, at 130am, " I got a fish! I got a fish! Come help me! I need tools! I need tools!" So we head over to the dock and sure enough the Wookie has her first fish and her first disturbing the peace ticket if she doesnt stop yelling about it. So here is the Wookie's first fish picture.
Thanks for reading.
Fish On!

The rest of Shug's fish...

Here are the rest of Shug's fish that he caught in round one of the double header.

Fishing double header!

Well, this is going to have to be a double post, because apparently we caught too many fish in our fishing double header to post all at once... they are only allowing me 5-6 at a time. Oh well.
I got home yeserday morning from a MISERABLE night at work... I can't even begin to get in to it, well because I just dont want to re-live it honestly. When I got home and unlocked the door I noticed the May flies swarming alllllll over the place... this I knew was a GREAT sign... the fish would be starting their feeding frenzy VERRRRRY shortly... so I called up Shug to let him know that "tonight was the night". I fell into bed and CRASHED... until 530pm!!! Unheard of for me... but apparently my body was telling me otherwise. When I finally came out of my coma Shug and I called up the Rents and made plans to meet them for dinner... it was too windy to start fishing and we needed to eat. Once we were finished dinner it was on the pond we went... and sure as pie... May flies were on the water and the fish were eating. Shug had a great streak at one point... 4casts 4fish.. the kid was on last night... Im telling you... he was ON! Me, I caught them here and there... including a MONSTER pickerel, which I got right up to the side of the boat, just enough so we could see how big he was and shaaaazammm he was gone! UGGGHHH! I damn near cried... ha ha ha. We stayed out until about 1000. Kevin and Chris were having a fire at there place on the pond so we hung out there for a bit... The Wookie joined us and after a few hours we decided to start round two of the fishing double header.... Wait until you see what the brought on!!!!

Here she is our new "boat". We had been searching for an aluminum boat with trailer, motor, troller.... you know the typical small boat fishing package... however, after much searching and looking at a few boats we decided that it was a bit more than we really wanted or were looking for. Included are also the first fish we caugh in the new boat.
We made a trip to Dick's sporting goods and we saw a couple of "boats" we were interested in and had dad come by to check on them and see which he thought were up to snuff. After a short stint of research we decided to go with the Mad River Canoe... or as dad prefers to call it the Canoyak... I have to agree... here is there link... you can check out better pictures there if you like... http://www.madrivercanoe.com/zoom_boat.php?img=Adventure_16_tt.jpg We have he sand color, and our seats are not plastic... but padded and made out of a neoprene material... VERY comfortable on the rearendus let me tell you...
Wookie and the Shug picked the boat up at Dicks' about a week ago, along with a trolling motor, battery and charger. Dad made us a custom arm to hold the trolling motor and we were good to go. Monday was our maiden voygage... and after a few gliches, you know just getting used to a new boat and all, we were off and running and catching some fish. Shig caught the first fish in the new boat... however, you know my rule, it didnt make it in the boat... but love strikes agian and I allowed for it to be noted at the first fish in the new boat... :)
Needless to say... we are loving our new boat... it is EXACTLY what we needed. It is very portable, and fits atop of our Forester like it was MADE for the vehicle. If we are driving down the roaf and we see a spot we want to fish in... all we have to do is pull over and put the boat in. No need to worry about boat ramps, gasoline and all that other stuff... We made a good choice... a great buy... look out fish!
Thanks for reading!

Fish On!

The Master and The Grasshopper

Today was great... Beautiful weather, I worked in the yard all day and then tonight mom and dad came by for kabobs on the grill... grampa came too... which was very nice... we made a fire and had some desert of lemon pie and strawberry shortcake. I went with the shortcake... I am not a fan of lemon anything. It was just about dusk... when I offered up a 'anybody want to go fishing?" Mom and Dad were willing. I gathered up the gear and we walked down there to fish off the dock... on his THIRD cast of the year... Dad caught a LUNKAH! He actually thought that he was stuck on a rock...
I managed to rope in a 2inch large mouth... the size of a grasshopper... appropriate when you are fishing with your master i suppose... love ya dad.
Thanks for reading!
Fish On!

In honor or Mother's Day!

In honor of Mother's Day here are a few pics of Pam's fish from a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I dont have any pics of my mom fishing on my computer... but hey, she gave birth to this master fisherwoman... that's proof enough.... Happy Mother's Day everyone! Thanks for reading.
Fish On!

No pictures?

Don't know if it is just me or not... but the picture of my Lunker is not showing up on my last post...
So here they are again... I hope.

Bring on the lunkers!

I am giving credit to the Wookie for my fishing success tonight. Here is why... I had a busy day at work today... long and well... annoying just the same. Came home and the Wookie and I went for a run/walk at Town Farm. After we finished up there we were STARVING... so we went back to the Fish House... yeah that is what Pam has dubbed this new house.... When we got home Shug was still working... and we wanted to wait for him to eat... So Wookie looked at me and said with big, three year old's eyes on Christmas morning... "Wanna go fishin?!". Well, hell, when have I ever turned down fishing. Honestly, though, I was ok and content with not fitting any fishing in tonight... but all it took was for someone to ask and the poles were in the water.
We decided that secondary to the thick fog that was rolling in, quite quickly,(which if you would like to learn about fog Wookie Petraca can tell you all about it.... she taught me tonight ) we would just fish from the Shoeman's dock, rather than venture out in the canoe... turned out to be a wise decision... it got real foggy, real quick. We initially started off with some top water lures... jitter bugs... I am dying to use those damn things and I try EVERYTIME I go out... but no go... not just yet... So I switched us back to the Crank bait... and what do you know.... SLAM! It's amazing to me... I have had such great luck with that lure this year.... AMAZING! They love that little thing. Shug acutally bought it at the end of the season last year... its a little 4ft perch crank and they cant get enough of it.
My first fish was that nice lunker... I like to call it my first lunker... others may not think it a "lunker" but I do :) As I am typing this I realized that we have a scale and tape measure this year and I didnt even use it! UGGGGGGHHHH! I MUST remember to use it. My second fish was a decent size too... However, that poor Wookie.... she didnt catch anything... but she's got the spirit... and well according to her she is going to start going to church and praying for fish! Too funny! I told her tonight... look Wook, you can't just saunter down here and expect to catch fish... You have to do time ...
Just the same we had a great night out on the Shoeman's dock. Just goes to show you don't need a boat, or even a canoe to catch yourself a lunker in good ole Sawdy.
Tomorrow I am making an Emergency trip to Dick's because I lost the last damn 4ft perch crank tonight !!!!
Thanks for reading.
Fish On!

Booked solid... and it's only May.

Well, it is looking like it is going to be a busy summer for me. On Sunday I started playing in a Co-Ed softball leauge. Then tonight I started in an all Woman's Leauge. So I am looking at three games of softball a week. This is exciting to me... I miss playing so much. Sadly, this is going to cut into some serious fishing time... but hey, there is always night fishing and early in the morning fishing (which we can be sure to count shug out)
As you can probably figure out... I didnt fish tonight... and last night posted that shug was teaching tonight... I had my days crossed... he teaches on Wednesdays not Tuesdays... I knew that part... but I was confused and thought it was Tuesday night. Back to work tomorrow... but Wookie and I have plans to head out to fish when I get home.... so here's to hoping there will be some new fish pics on here tomorrow night. Until then... I am posting a stolen fish picture of the Wheeler boys and their catch... Need I even say anything?

Wishin' for Fishin'

Tonight we put aside fishing on this beautiful night to go and look at a boat that we found on Craigslist.... it didnt pan out too well, high price for something that just was not worth it...to us anyway. So, we will keep looking... and hopefully something will come our way. Until then... it will be the canoe... which is perfectly fine with me... that canoe has been with us since high school and has not let us down yet! :) Tomorrow night I WILL fish. Shug has work until 830pm... so I will be looking for a partner... going to try and talk Dad into going with me... (wink, wink if you are reading Dad) if not then the Wookie or Allie are likely candidates.
Thanks for reading.
Fish On!

SON OF A *&^%$

I typed out an ENTIRE blog... and then wandered off to search for something that Shug requested... and THEN when I was done I clicked the DAMN RED CIRCLE and SHHHHHHAAAAAAZAAAAAM!!!!! Gone everything... all of it. Sucks! And I refuse to go all through it again. Yeah, because well it just doesnt seem like it will mean the same. This is all streaming consciousness to me... falling onto a keyboard and well... it will all change now... so forget it.
NUTSHELL: We had a super busy day. We didnt fish. Some days you have to admit : I can't go fishing today.
Right now we are sitting by the fire... and that is just fine with me.
Thanks for reading. Fish On!

All work, no fish

No fishing tonight... work. Boo Hiss!!! What a beautiful night too. Since sending out an email to let everyone know that I have started this lil' fish blog, I have received a few of your own fish pictures... keep them coming I would LOVE to post them... Tonight's fish.... caught by the ORIGINAL FISH DOCTOR, the man who taught Bob and I everything we know... from casting lessons in the front yard to keeping warm out on the ice... BP Sr.
Here's to you dad!!!!

Da' Wookie learns to fish... goonie goo goo

After a relatively decent day at work, I came home to find Shugah had made dinner and all I had to do was sit down and eat it! Afer finishing up a delicious dinner of grilled portabella mushrooms, pork tenderloin and veggies... Looking out the window I spied a very calm atmosphere... barely any wind... It was at this point that I looked at the Wookie and said " I am going to do my best to convince Shug that we should all go out in the canoe tonight." Well, that ended up not working out so well... he suggested that I just take out the Wookie... so I looked at her and said "Are you ready to learn how to fish?" i think she had the gear out the door faster than I ever have.
So off we went... when we got down to the pond we found it was the calmest and most serene it had been all year.... No waves. No wind. Just glass. So off we went... and SLAM! Wookie caught her first fish... a good size SMB. She reeled it in with just the right grace and finesse , no beginners panic... there it was, her first fish right by the side of the canoe... and here it comes, right into the canoooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!!!!! It does the infamous SMB freak out and off the lure it comes. Oh, poor Wookie.... I thought. She handled it well though... a few swears and she was over it and on her way back to casting.
After about a half hour or so, I was on... a 6 inch perch... not much bigger than my lure. Cute little guy just the same... but go tell all your big friends we are out here...
We spent another forty minutes or so out there... and caught nothing but a good time... which sometimes is the thing that I like best about fishing... you can not be catching anything but you are still enjoying yourself just the same... because there is no peace like being out there on that pond with the sun setting, the frog orchestra playing and the canadian geese flying overhead.
As for the lack of photos... the batteries were dead on the camera... and Wookie did all she could to try to snap the shot before the camera woulf shut off... but no such luck... so I am going to dip into the archives and post a picture of brother Bob... the fisherman i aspire to be and post one of his beauties from last year...
Thanks for reading.
Fish On!

Two fish and a whole lotta wind.

Well we made it out to the pond tonight... even if for only about an hour or so... man did it get awful windy really quick. It was a successful trip... ma' boy caught two nice sized lmb and boy that first one sure was fiesty.
I, however, was not as successful and came home empty handed. It was just too damn windy out there for our little canoe... so we had to call it quits. Good news about the boat situation however, we are in contact with someone who is selling an old LUND aluminum 12' with trailer, motor, trolling motor, oars and vests... Keeping our fingers crossed on this one for sure.
Working tomorrow until 5pm... maybe some fishing tomorrow after work... and some better luck for me.
Thanks for reading.
Fish On!

Weather: Partly sunny, WINNNNNNDY
Bait: Crank, Spinner
(the crank baith was the winner tonight)
Fish: 2 LMB