Shamed into writing a post

Every year in February and March, my blogging slows to a crawl. Unless I get a chance to ice fish - like this year - I just don't have anything interesting to write about. Even so, I know that the demise of many blogs is a lack of posting frequency. (As a matter of fact, I just noticed this evening that I LOST a Follower! The nerve!!) So, in the back of my mind, I've been planning a post.

And then, it happened. From the most unlikely of sources. A virtual beat-down from a well respected and admired blogger. She ripped at the very soul of this pathetic little blog, stating unequivocally that I was not worthy of following, or even reading, due to my lack of writing. I was devastated. When you get called out by a legend, and you have no comeback, there is nothing to do but curl up quietly in a ball, close your eyes, and hope that, when you wake up, it will all be just a dream. No such luck. Kari Murray - the famed Huntress Extraordinaire author of I Don't Wear Pink Camo in the Woods - had cut my blogging ego to the core with her vicious attack.

[OK,OK - the actual comment was: "Oh and Mr. Wolfy. I notice you don't post on your blog... get with it you!!!!" But I know that she's just too nice to say what she really means. Oh, wait a minute - she ALWAYS says what she really means. Oh well)

Looking back over the past few years, I usually get out for panfish in March, so I will have something to write about. Actually, I have PLENTY to write about. I'm taking my Dad and Son to Alabama in 3 weeks fishing for bass. This is the same place my son gt an 8#, 4 oz. bass 2 years ago, and last year I got a couple over 10. The ponds keep getting better, and I can't wait to see what happens this year. My Dad has only ever caught 1 bass over 3 pounds - he got a 6# in Okeechobee about 6 years ago. Nice fish, but pretty uneventful. He was fishing a spinnerbait when the fish hit, and it dove into the weeds. He pulled in about 40 pounds of weeds, we peeled them away, and - voila - a nice bass. So - I will be doing some trip planning posts and an extensive recap in the next month.

In the meantime - THANK YOU, Kari Murray, for shaming me into posting on my blog!

Since I don't have any fish pictures to show, I'll do the next best thing. Here is our cat:

Still batting 1.000 on meeting great bloggers

I did a couple of really good things this past Sunday - I broke a 2 year drought by going ice fishing, And the person who invited me was a fellow blogger who I've come to "know" through the OBN. Ed Schmitt from Four Season Angler asked me to meet him at a local subdivision pond for a few hours of fishing. When I say "local", I mean it- this particular pond that Ed has access to is about 1 mile from my house! And - the temperature was over freezing. I had forgotten what warm weather felt like. (Warm being a relative term)

I have always enjoyed ice fishing, but really have little experience. When I lived in PA, ice was a rare occurrence. I moved to Syracuse and spent 10 years there. Perfect ice conditions for 4 months of the year. Except - I rarely got out. Winters were among the busiest times in those years, and I just didn't have time. Now, in IL for 10+ years, I'm back in an occasionally good ice area - like this year. the reason for all this background? I ALWAYS have enough gear and equipment to outfit myself and anyone who wants to join in any fish related endeavor. Not this time, though. I showed up with a 5 gallon bucket, some waxies and spikes, a little box of jigs, 2 small ice rod/reel combos, and a 20 year old Schoolie plastic rod/reel. That Schoolie is my favorite panfish rod for the ice. Go figure.

Ed, on the other hand, was set. Frabil sled, electronics, underwater camera, tip-ups - the man knows how to go ice fishing.



Pond bass with my cheapy Schoolie rod - I love it!



I remember now why I like ice fishing - it's a great social sport. There is always some back and forth banter, even when chasing flags. The fishing was OK - flags going off periodically, with a few bass coming up. We jigged up a bunch of panfish, and I got a couple of bass jigging, too. I finally got a perch, giving me the coveted "Pond Trifecta" (I made that up). All in all, a really nice way to spend a morning - meeting new people, and catching some fish.









We already have a follow-up trip or two planned. Should be really interesting.

Finally, a word about Ed's Four Season Angler's Writer's Network. Ed spearheads the group that consists of Ken Gortowski's Waterdog Journal, Cory Yarmouth's Legend Outdoors with Cory Yarmouth, Travis Brasfield's Simply Fishing , and Rob Piorkowski's Outcasting. there is no shortage of good reads from these Illinois writers. Check them out when you get a chance.

Bass Contest Winner

Halftime of the Super Bowl was 7 PM CST, so I logged on went to the RNG. There were 25 comments, so everyone had a4% chance to win the package of Bass Gear.

I figured I ought to take a picture of the screen when the RNG drew the Lucky number, so there would be no disputing the results.





This time, the lucky winner was the LAST comment entered!! Congrats go out to Functional Fishaholic. Shoot me an email with your address and I'll get your stuff out to you.

Thanks to all who entered and especially my new followers.

Joe

My First Gear review - Glacier Glove Alaskan Pro gloves

A month or so ago, the OBN featured Glacier Gloves Alaskan Pro model gloves. They sent the gloves to me to distribute to our winners. They sent an extra pair, which I've had in my garage for a month. I planned to give these away to a deserving blogger to do a Gear Review on. But - the best laid plans sometimes go awry.

Enter the Great Chicago Blizzard of 2011

Our forecast for last night was ominous - 20" of snow, 40 mph winds, blizzard conditions. It was pretty bad when we went to sleep. And I knew the bad stuff would be waiting for me in the morning. It was.


The fence is 4' high

The snow was drifted over my fence in the back yard - it is a 4' fence. The driveway was buried. I got my snowmobile suit on, a wool hat, and went out to fire up the snow blower, when I saw them - the un-used gloves. Time to put them to the test.

The snow IN the driveway was 6" - 2-1/2' deep. The really bad stuff - the piles they plow into the end of the driveway - was a solid 3' of wet, heavy snow and ice. Due to a timely conversation with a newly divorced couple who used to live down the street from us, I was able to procure a big, powerful 2-stage snow blower at a really good price about a year ago. The good part - it works great in even the worst snows. The bad part (well - not really that bad)- it is the biggest snow blower in the neighborhood, and there is an unspoken understanding that you will help everyone else with their driveways. Which, of course, I did.




In total, I spent 3-1/2 hours outside blowing snow. No matter how hard you try, some of the snow plume ends up blowing back in your face/ on your hands/ covering you in a fine layer of ice and snow. You get wet. And cold. there is no getting around it. My wool hat kept my head warm. The snowmobile suit kept me warm and relatively dry. But the gloves - THE GLOVES - things of beauty!! My hands were completely dry and toasty warm. The outsides were covered in a layer of ice, but my hands were warm and dry. The whole day. I LOVE these gloves.




Now, I realize that this is not what the gloves were designed for. I wasn't hunting or fishing. But I promise you - I would not have been hunting or fishing in these conditions. This was worse than anything I would ever put these gloves through in the field.




I love em, and I'm keeping them!

Are you a Bass Fisherman? Flowing Waters Giveaway!!

A few posts back, I made note of the fact that I had passed the 100 Followers threshold. It still amazes me that more than 100 people would find this blog interesting enough to follow, but I digress. I also mentioned that I would probably hold some kind of a Giveaway. Well - the time is now!

I'm sitting at my computer, listening to the howling winds outside as the Chicago area braces for what is forecast to be one of the worst snowstorm / blizzards ever. Up to 20" of snow is forecast tonight into tomorrow, with winds up to 50 mph. It is blowing like hell right now, and I'm glad I'm inside. With a nice glass of red wine. And a little buzz.

So, Joe - tell us about this GIVEAWAY!!





Here's the deal - this one is for you if you are a BASS FISHERMAN. The product shown below is what is being offered to a lucky reader. The rules to enter are incredibly simple and easy:

1) If you don't already FOLLOW this blog - sign up as a Follower
2) Post a comment telling me the size of your biggest bass, and what you caught it on. If you've NEVER caught a bass, but want to - state just that in the post!

It's that simple. Could it be any easier to enter to win this lure pack??

I will use the famous RNG (Random Number Generator) on Sunday, February 6 at 7 PM Central time and announce the winner that night.

And, for you Fly Fishermen out there - don't fret - there is a GIVEAWAY coming for you too!!





(Package includes: Strike King Pro Buzz buzzbait, Strike King Bitsy titanium Elite Spinnerbait, Blue Fox Vibrax #3 spinner, Harrison - Hogue Big Eyed Pro Frog, Rapala Rattling Suspending Shad Rap #5, Rapala CD 7, Rapala Deep Running Minnow Rap 9, Lucky Craft Staysee 90 SP, Eagle Claw Trokar EWG hooks - 4/0, Yamamoto SW 5" Swimbait, Yamamoto 4" Senko, Kalin 5" Lunker Grub, Strike King 4.5" Bleeding Tubes)

GOOD LUCK

The Nerve Center of my blogging universe

Over at the OBN, a photo prompt went out to have the bloggers post some pictures of their computer areas. Do you have a great, inspirational view? A pigpen of a work area? What does that area look like where you unleash your creative talents??

I decided to take them up on the challenge. (Actually, my last couple of posts have been in response to OBN suggestions. Thank God Rebecca throws out these ideas, or my blog would be a barren wasteland over the winter)





This is my work station. What is the first thing you notice? I STILL use a desktop! Everyone else has pictures of them with their laptops. Not me. Even when I do something progressive - like use computer - I use the old-fashioned style. I have a laptop, but don't use it unless I have no other choice. I guess I'm just a computer curmudgeon.

Our computer "lives" in an armoire in the living room. This way I can be online blogging or doing OBN stuff, while my wife can be relaxing and watching TV, and we're both in the same room. It works well for us.

I have no view to speak of - just the neighbors house on the other side of the fence. My connection to the outdoors lies in the print shown below. It hangs above the computer . It is titled "Minipi Brookies - Labrador, Canada" and is done by a friend of mine, Harry Robertson. The print is signed, re-marqued, and is a limited edition of "Friends of the Artist". It shows 3 heavy brookies, with one rising to a swimming lemming. In my mind, I've have spent many hours in Labrador casting to those trout, even landing a few. It's one of my favorite prints.


"Minipi Brookies - Labrador, Canada" by Harry Robertson

Now you know where these wonderful words of wisdom are born. Pretty pedestrian, actually, but I like to call it HOME.

My Favorite Place(s)

I'm looking out the window at more fresh snow, and, quite honestly, I'm sick of it. So, right here, right now, is definitely NOT one of my favorite places. Which brings us to the beauty of a photo prompt from the OBN which asks us to post a photo of our favorite place. Since I can't narrow it down to one, a few photos will have to do.



This photo quality is poor at best, but I don't care. It is one of my favorite trout streams, a beautiful stream in Utah full of brookies, cuts, cut-bows. I caught my first grayling here as well.



I love high mountain meadow streams full of trout. This Colorado stream, at around 10,200', qualifies.



Fly fishing for arctic sheefish - Inconnu - in the Yukon.




And, finally, a little something to chase away the winter blahs.

Happy New Year, a Milestone, and a couple of resolutions

Happy New Year to all who manage to stumble over to this blog. I appreciate your company over here.

Like most of the people in the blog-sphere, I look back on the previous year when the New Year rolls around. This has been a whirlwind, different kind of year for me. I recently passed a personal milestone - 100 Followers to this blog. That stuns me. When I started this little writing project, I had no set goal or idea about people following me. Having 100 people sign up to follow Flowing Waters is truly humbling, and greatly appreciated. Especially when you consider that, for the past 3 months, I have failed miserably at keeping this little blog interesting, or even up to date. For that reason, I will try to make amends by holding some sort of a giveaway to mark the 100 Follower milestone. Watch for upcoming details.

Sure, I've had a lot less time to dedicate to the blog since the OBN started. And - I haven't really gotten a chance to do any fishing in that time, either. But if I'm going to maintain a blog, then I need to do it right. What a perfect segue into a Resolution!!

My first resolution is to fish more often. This will, by definition, lead to more fishing posts!! 2011 is shaping up to be a pretty good fishing year, at least as it looks at the moment. I will be doing a big pike / laker / grayling trip to Misaw Lake in Northern Saskatchewan in June, spring largemouth bass in Alabama, and smallmouth in Quebec in September. there is a good possibility that I'll get out to the Rockies a time or 2 for some fly fishing. So - good things are on the horizon.

Next, I want to continue meeting some of my blog buddies. Last year was a great one for me in that regard - I met Kari - I Don't Wear Pink Camo in the Woods - , Mike -Troutrageous - and Rebecca - the Outdooress. It would be pretty tough to top the quality of those three folks, but I think most of the bloggers I follow and interact with would be equally terrific.

I hope the OBN continues on its meteoric success path, even though I have no idea where I'll find the time to dedicate to it. Oh well - less sleep, I guess. If Owl Jones can live on no sleep, I can at least try it!

Finally, my interest in Tenkara fly fishing has been piqued this past year, and I might need to give it a try. Just what I need - something else to take up my time.

Most of all, I hope to continue reading and admiring the blogs and blog buddies I've found. All of you make me better through your writings and friendship.

Thanks

Wolfy

Christmas Greretings

Thank God for the Holidays - without them I'd never have anything to post!

Actually, I have a pretty full slate of fishing planned for the coming year, so hang in there through these dry months. It will be worthwhile come spring (I hope)

A Merry Christmas to all my cyber-family friends and followers!

Joe

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year . . .

Our first snow of the year







And why is it the most Wonderful Time of the Year???

My son shoveled the driveway today - not me!!!

Thank God for stocked trout

Yesterday, Nov. 22, the temp in suburban Chicagoland topped out at 70 degrees. It poured in the morning on the way to work. But , rather than be dismayed by the crappy weather, my thoughts were "Hmm - this is a lot of 50-60 degree rain hitting the cold ponds. Ought to make the fish a little more active.

Luckily, around noon, the skies cleared up a little, and I made it out to the ponds for one last open water fling. Yes - the same ponds that kicked by butt the last 2 times I was on them. Driving out there, I felt like Charlie Brown, running up to kick the football.

I started out with - and kept on the whole time - a sz. 0 Mepps Aglia with a squirrel tail. The first 15-20 minutes were uneventful - no hits, no sightings. I was fishing the upper few feet in the water column over the deeper (10' - 15') parts of the pond. These areas have been good to me in the past.



First trout of the day






I moved around, and finally got a viscous strike in about 15" of water by the spillway. When the trout came in, it was being followed by another one. Hmmm. I landed the trout, took a picture on my phone (a first for me) and kept casting. then I decided to try another shallow area I had ignored earlier.

Well - the shallows were the key. I landed 3 trout, missed 3 others - including one BIG fish - and saw a few others. All were shallow, and related to wood / brush in the water. It was actually a springtime bass pattern. I have no idea why they were so shallow. Food? Warmth? No idea.



Another one comes in


This will probably be my last Illinois open water fishing of the year. And I really didn't want to end up the year with 3 skunks in row. I'm trying to get out to the Delta in CA or maybe FLA for a day, but we'll have to see how the cards fall.

Finally - please excuse the photo quality. It's a new phone that I am struggling to learn to use. I can barely make a call, let alone take pictures with it.

Finally - a Happy Thanksgiving to all. Enjoy your turkey day in whatever you manner you wish to celebrate.

A much needed, very overdue makeover to Flowing Waters

The look on my blog has been unchanged for the past 26 months. To be honest, I never really cared about the look. The blog was simply something I liked to do. But now that I've been exposed to a myriad of blog looks through the Outdoor Blogger Network, I realize how anemic mine really was. So, I decided to do a face lift. Nothing drastic - just the equivalent of a nose job and a tummy tuck. So far , I think it's OK. PLEASE let me know your thoughts, particularly if you think it sucks.

The other component to the makeover was a much needed re-creation of my Blog List. I broke down my one previous list into 4 lists - one for Fishing Blogs, one for Fly Fishing Blogs, one for General Outdoor Blogs, and one for Photo and Art Blogs. There are a lot more blogs listed than there used to be, and there are many more noteworthy ones who are not found here. Yet.