Not all that much to say tonight. I should be in bed, but am not that tired. I head off to North Dakota for a Duck and Goose hunting trip in the morning. Sometimes its pretty cool to be me. This is one of those times. Plan on heading for Grand Forks at 7:30 so I'm at Cabela's around opening. Not really looking to buy anything, just want to look around. Devils Lake then Jeff's farm. Check out the ponds and look for birds, but I know that they're there. They always are. The SBE is packed and the O/U is also. The Camo job on the SBE looks pretty cool and I think that I may buy some camo face paint so I can match. :) The pressure is on, as Smitty, Shep and Wayne are all making the trip, and this puts alot of pressure on me to shoot well. They are pretty weak when it comes to actually hitting anything. Ah well, more shooting for me!!! Smitty and Corey are meeting Bill and Toby at Hooters in Fargo. It's been along time since I was there. If it was not for the $2.89 per gallon gass, I would swing down there but the 150 extra miles for Orange shorts and cleavage just doesn't seem such a big deal. What the hell did I just say?????!!!!!!! Fuck!!! Hope I kill a Sandhill. I so much want to see one fold up and plummett to the ground. I'm a sick bastard!!! But its true! Gonna eat it up to. People say that they're tasty, hopefully I see in a day or so.
The FLW tour fishing dates and locations were made available today and Devils Lake is on the docket for June 7th -10th. Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me! Eagles Tournament, FLW Devils Lake, then Lac Seul, a week later. Sounds good to me!! Now If I could just win some money.
Well, I have to finish some stuff so I'll sign off now.
Hey Buttercup, enjoy the movies!
Spike is going to unleash the Beast, I'll be performing at the Durham House on Saturday night. and The Wagon Wheel on Monday Night. Rock the House.
Time to Let'r Buck!

Zugbug Lives!!

"Halibut"

The culmination of my Alaskan Adventure was an early morning drive to Seward, the drive is very beautiful, I'm told. However at 4 am, NOT SO MUCH!! We found the Marina and paid for the trip $210.00, and found the boat, the "Pursuit" By now the sun was up, and there was nary a cloud in the sky, and not a puff of breeze. Some times I'm lucky. 2 1/2 hour drive to the fishing grounds. Awesome scenery, Spectacular actually. As in "WOW"!! There were 9 anglers aboard, as well as the Captain and the first mate. We were into fish right away. Ling cod (ugly) Yellow eyed Red Fish (pretty) and Halibut (interesting) I caught a Halibut almost instantly, one about 30 lbs or so and we released it. You can keep 2 and when your done your done. We all got our limit and the biggest was 40 something, no giants, thank God!! After all the Salmon I had caught all week my pipes were beat and after catching 3 denisens of the deep plus some Salmon Sharks I quit and just enjoyed the day!!!! The trip in was also incredeble and the drive back to Anchorage was very pretty, at least until it got dark and Smitty kept getting the head bobs!!! Scary! Spike took the wheel and kept hitting the rumble strips to keep Smitty from sleeping. I'm such a prick sometimes :) I will get down to Seward again someday and maybe take the Fiord and glacier cruise and explore the town. It is seriously, a very pretty place. I'm usually not that interested in that sort of stuff but..... I highly recommend the trip. The Halibut is very tasty also!!! Fed Exing the fish home is spendy tho. I will post some Pix after I'm done here.

Friday the 30th? I head for North Dakota for a waterfowl shooting spree. This is one of the 2 yearly trips I take that give me reason to keep on living. Honest, If I could not get out to chase ducks life would not be worth living. Been that way since I was 12, Havn't missed a year, ever. There is nothing better, and it is less than a week away!!!!!!! Damn I won't sleep all week now. Big Al says, sex is better than chasing ducks, Maybe, but I can't remember.

Bye

zugbug

" SOCKS B"

The morning of September 2nd, found me in the TRFA rookie cabin, discovering a dilemma. Figuring that I would be leaving the Togiak to head back to the BBL lodge, I had only packed 1 extra pair of socks, a pair of sweatpants and a long sleeve T and a dress shirt for dinner. I had worn the sweats and the long sleeve shirt and T the day before fishing and as it was quite warm, now, they did not smell all that great. To start the day I had not much of a choice, so I donned the smelly gear and off I went. Did I mention that it was now raining?

Smitty at the helm we headed down stream, rain drops streaking the sunglasses. Down we went to the 3 fingers area. Pulled into a gravel bar and quickley got into salmon. As we had only kept one fish the previous day, we unleashed the dogs of war, and let the killing begin. Quickly we had 9 fish tied up to the boat with rope to bleed out. All died from blunt force trama. (a pipe to the head) The fish came fast and furious! So did the rain. It was hard to get the camera's out. but I still got a lot of footage on the new video recorder, and the trusty old Minolta. Rain or no rain, I captured the scene. Our Rods were bent constantly and my knuckles got seriously shredded by my fly reel and a really pissed off Silver. (it took a pipe to the head) Bastard!! Soaked and hurting Smitty and I headed home. Realizing we had not even taken time to eat lunch. We each had a can of root beer and that was it. We cleaned fish and packed them and I headed to the cabin to peel off my waders and my soaked shirts and the incredebly, nasty smelling sweats and of course "Socks B" A quick shower and into my pants and semi-cleanest shirt and well, commando all the way. Off to dinner! Then exhausted, into the rack, 9:15 pm. The sun still shining. How in the hell did I do this for 115 days straight? Man , I'm old.

Left: BBL Dock Right: Spike w/Silver Middle Left: Togiak River Fishing Adventures Camp Middle Right: Bristol Bay Lodge Bottom Left: Smitty and a Silver Salmon

"THE TOGIAK"


Thursday morning Sept. 1, found the sun rising up over Jacknife mountain and streaming light in to my side of the Humpy/Dolly cabin. My sister Michelle stopped by the cabin to wake us up. But we were already awake. I don't know if Smitty slept or not, but I know I did! An order off the menu breakfast and Michelle packed us a lunch for the journey to the Togiak. It turns out that Laura, a member of the BBL lodge staff was going with us to the River were she will be helping the staff there for the remainder of their season (10 Days) I am excited to see Brad and Karla and their Kids, Rebecca and Austin. Rebecca was just a small baby when I last saw her and Karla and Brad back in "88" or "89" (I sound like Hutch there) Jimmy flew guests to the "Pak" and came back for us. Steve piloted us and Jimmy was righthand. Smitty and I middle and Laura tucked in back. It was her first time in a Beaver and she was nervous, but Steve did a great job. Steve is picking up hours where he can, so he can get the ability to fly customers/guests at the Lodge. So we were in a sense ginny pigs or crash test dummies, if you will on this trip. I have no doubts about Steve tho. And as I said he did a great job. I have to step back a bit and let you know about our plans for the week. We were to hit the Togiak, on Thursday, fish it until Saturday afternoon then fly back to the lodge and spend the rest of the week there fishing the Agulawok and Sunshine Creek and Icy Creek, and fly out Wednesday the 7th back to Anchorage. Travel to Seward and fish for Halibut on the 8th and drive back to the city and fly out at 11 am on Friday the 9th. All in all a good plan. Well you know about plans, they are just that. Since I am kind of a fly by the seat of your pants guy we tossed out the plan for the most part and well.......Here we go.
As I said earlier, it was a beautiful day for flying to the Togiak. Bright sun high puffy clouds 67 degrees little if any wind, about as good as it can get. We landed at the Pongo and we boated down stream to Togiak River Fishing Adventures camp (www.togiakfishing.com) Brad and Karla were there and after hugs all around Karla showed Smitty and I to our quarters. We were put up in the rookie guide cabin on the far end of the island. After storing our gear Smitty and I helped Austin and Brad get shore lunch supplies together and we hopped into Brads new Smokercraft jon boat (sweet!!) and headed down river. Past BBL's river camp, Mission lodges camp and Tikchik's camp. Down to the three fingers where the guides had their compliment of anglers deployed on the beach casting to scores of bright silver salmon holed up in the slack water. Hundreds of silvers, porposing and finning, hookup's were almost nonstop, Smitty and I could not keep from smiling. After Introductions and handshakes a client asked me "just what does it take to be a celebrity guide in Alaska? (Brad had told the guides and his guests that I was coming in and just wait till they met me.) I told him that the first thing was "that it helped to be a celebrity" and secondly that it helped to be a "Fishing God" At this first glance I could tell he was not impressed. After Shore lunch Brad took us back to TRFA, on the way down Brad showed us the wreck of the Mission Lodge Beaver, that had crashed the week before our arrival. (all walked away) We also looked at, at least 10 spots that held good numbers of fish either Dollies or Silvers. Once back at camp Brad showed Tom and I our boat, tossed us a net and told us that dinner was at 7:30 and Breakfast was at 7:30 and recommended we get out and hammer some fish. We almost ran back to the cabin to don our battle gear. Minutes later we were heading down river at full speed. We stopped at the BBL hole and I stuck our first salmon of the trip. I was using a Gander Guide series IM7 6'6" Baitcast rod, 2piece MH, a Gander Guide Series 56 reel, filled with 12 Trilene XT clear. Sampo snap swivel and a Blue Fox Pixie spoon. Silver/Orange. Smitty was using a St. Croix Premier 6'6" H Rod and a Shimano Calcutta 200 reel filled with 14 Trilene XT Clear loaded on it, and a Blue Fox Vibrax spinner size 5 Silver with a Pink body. We kept one and released the rest and headed for camp around 5:30 as we had seen the rest of the guides, one by one heading back. We watched the guides clean and package the fish in expert fashion, I cleaned our fish and Smitty and I helped package up the fish, and off we went for a shower and dinner! Life is good! It was good catching up with Brad and Karla, They run a great camp and I am fortunate to call them my friends. If you ever get the opportunity to plan a trip to fish Alaska, I would say that you would be hard pressed to find a camp that offers you the opportunity for unparalleled fishing in a casual and relaxing atmosphere, all on one river. Dinner was great and later, I found myself in the same place as I was the last time I was on the Togiak, Hanging out with guides listening to tunes and drinking shots of whisky until it was to dark to see the trail back to the cabin,(some things just don't change!) stumbling all the way. I fell in to bed and thus ended my first day on the Togiak in 12 years! That my friends was AWESOME!!!

Zugbug

Hey Buttercup! You owe me $5 :)

Next time "Socks B"

Worked Late, and work early, and i'm in a crappy mood. So this is a short one tonight. My store was the hottest place in Bemidji today. Temperature wise, is was a sweat lodge. I swear I had a vision. I got my truck back tonight. $710.00 DAMN!!! Almost bought a new one. It was the same color and well, then why change? Waiting for the scratch for a King Ranch. Maybe keep the truck and buy a car and save the truck for hunting and fishing and such.

I think I made a good friend mad at me, for saying what was on my mind. I thought it was a good move but guess not. So I'm in a bad ass mood. and I'm hot and tired. Best I go to bed and sleep. Get out of bed on the right side tomorrow!

Have a great weekend folks, I'll see how I do tomorrow, Until then, .....................

Zugbug

Good to hear from you "King of Schrubs" Say Hello to your bride for me.
Buzz, Smitty and I caught a couple for ya, in the rain with cookies in our mouth.

"THE RIDE"

Lets see, where do I start? 7:00 am Humphery terminal, Sun Country Jet, Row 1, seat C, FIRST CLASS! Leg Room! Ass Room! Hot Towels! Real Breakfast! Pounding down screwdrivers as the flight attendant gave us the preflight speech. Getting Cut off of screwdrivers around Calgary. I thought she liked me because every time I looked up she was checking me out. If it wasn't the fact that it ws me, I would have sworn.... but, now I realize that she was wondering, how a hopeless loser like me was in first class, sitting next to the guy who looked like a preist with the DVD player tuned to the Matt Damond flick! Cut Me Off! Dumb Ass! Obviously she did not know with whom she was dealing with, Hell, I'm the Founder of Bemidji's Drink like a Fish Night! She was even more shocked when Smitty answered all their Crossword Puzzle problems, and then they tried testing us by playing sports trivia with the first class passengers. Who was the original Senior Smoke? "Why Arealio Lopez" Spike shot at her. "and you'll have to do better than that" smugly she eyed me up and asked " What team did Billy Waddy play for?"

"LA Rams early to mid 70's" "Wide Receiver" Stunned silence in the in the cabin.

"OK smart guy" "Who was the Quarterback that threw to him?" she asked with her eyebrow raised. No longer so smug.

"First or last, with the Rams" Spike asked.

"Last" she said, now with her eyes averted to the floor

"John Hadle" Spike said quietly, not wanting to rub it in.

"Fast White boy that Billy Waddy was I recall" said Spike, to no one in particular.

"Not anymore" said the flight attendant "He's my husband, and now days he's quite slow"

"What were you drinking? Screwdrivers, Right?"

Anchorage here I come!!!!!

2 hours later

Penn Air, Bratwurst with wings, winging our way to Dillingham. Looks the same. The Aleknagik road is now paved? The lake now has an access? 12 years is a long time. WOW, I'm old. Sunny boat ride across the lake. The lodge comes into view, Plane hanger, Boathouse Gazobo Bar, New Cabin, Lager Rainbow Cabin, Screen Porch. I toss my gear in Humpy/Dolly cabin, I'm Back. I am Back! I look at the walls, signed by the many guides who had been there. I remember signing long ago, but can't find the spot. My eyes do however quickly spot and old friends signature and his immortal words of wisdom. "My advise to you, is to drink heavily." So true Mr. Struif, so true.

More to come, Stay tuned......

I have a question for you all, what do you do when you find out that being the best you can be, is not good enough?

September 14th, 2005

Wobble Trap

Tonight was the annual sponsor outing at the Bemidji Trap and Skeet Club. I shot the Member competition at 23 yards, I sucked, but did not finish last in my group. I actually tied with Skeeter for first in our Quint, with a 16 out of 25. AS I said, I sucked. After shooting standard trap at 16 yards all season and finishing as top gun on the Gander Mountain team with 22.7 birds per round, this handicapped wobble stuff was an eye opener. Oh, well, practice is practice, and in 15 short days the real deal begins, North Dakota Duck and Goose Opener for Spike and the gang. Cando here I come. This is the best time of the year! Fat Man Weather! Spikes peak operating temps. The Benelli super black eagle is no longer black, as it has made its way back from the gunsmith lab with a spiffy new Max4 camo pattern. It's sweet!!! Oh, so pretty! I'm worried about setting it down in the grass and finding it again. It should come with a pager so an oaf like me can locate it again. In the past I have had difficulty finding my gun when it was straight Black Death! I may have to tie a string to it. Today I also put a Browning Citori 20 ga. Lightning on layaway at the store. I have always wanted one and soon it will be mine! There have been requests to hear more about my recent trip to Bristol Bay, Alaska and so I shall for you all, but not tonight. Soon though! Be patient! I rarely disappoint! Stay Tuned!

Quick computer note, a while back I somehow downloaded a thing, that about every minute pops up a variety of fine looking ladies onto my screen in very miniature sizes, and they do a quick striptease then go away. At first it was cool, but now it's annoying(at least a little) I'm going to leave now and try to delete it, or enlarge the image, I can't decide.

The Halibut arrived today! The freezer is packed and on Friday at 11:00 am I will be grilling Salmon and Halibut for the Gander Gang here in Bemidji! Yummy!!!

Zugbug/Spike

Sept.13th 2005

"LUCKY"

Well, It's come and gone. Like a false spring sunset, or a really, really good drink, you anticipate it, savour it and wish it would last forever then with that last red glow in the western sky it's gone, ice cubes in a glass. Only the memories remain. Thank God for the memories.
I had not been back to Alaska, since I flew out on the freedom beaver back in 1993. Twelve long life experienceing years. Honestly, every spring you think about it, even if it's just a minute or two. Life goes on for the most part, you experience new great things, you take up new past-times, maybe get married, maybe divorced, maybe live in a box, but you still think about it. Wether you remember the Surging raw power of a Nushagak King, or the roar of the Beaver at take off, or maybe it's the sipping, slurping of a Rainbow taking a dry fly on the "Pak" or the "Wok" It may be the colors of a spawned out chum, barely alive yet protecting those precious eggs until he death takes him. For many, myself included is the acrobatic antics of the magnificent "Silver". Finning and rolling their way up the Togiak, Alaska takes a hold of you and just does not let you go. Ever. I have just returned from the "big land" a trip for the storybooks, followed by a special weekend of quiet relaxation and wonderful company. Some do not understand when they see me why many, as well as I, call myself "Lucky" But if you had been with me these last couple of weeks, there would be no doubt that my life is certanly blessed. Blessed with Great Friends, Great Family, and Lots of Luck. Three Years ago on September 4, 2002, I was laying in a Cleveland, Ohio Operating room with a small and very talented man cutting my chest open with a shiny circular saw. I still remember when they told me what they were going to do, and how I told them to, Get Bent! (clean version) I also remember Mom telling me to believe in their skill and have faith. Let me tell you I was ready to walk. Glad I stayed. Without some help I may not have been able to have this last cool big trip, which will hopefully turn into another, and then another. There I was 3 years to the day, sitting on the Togiak, with one my my best pals, catching silver after silver, sitting in the all day in bone drenching rain, wearing socks B, and jockey A (we will get into that on another day) (soon) Taking time to sip a mug's rootbeer and nibble on a snickerdoodle. Boy life can be good. Thanks, Steve. and all the BBL crew. Thanks, Brad and Karla, Rebecca and Austin and Diva and Laura, and all theTRFA homies. Thanks Steve and Josh and the Pursuit. Thanks Missy and Michelle. Thanks Smitty, man was that great or what. and of course Thanks Buttercup, you are really something!
I gotta go. I have to pack some fish in my freezer before it thaws and of course the Halibut arrives tomorrow!
More Soon!
Say tuned.