a few years go by

this blog has been dormant for a few years, but hopefully no longer.  J has been wanting to keep track of our camping adventures, okay really he wants to keep track of his food menu but whatever, so we'll kick this off again and see how it goes.

Camping 2009

Camping season is almost upon us. The camper should be coming home soon and I know the kids are excited for the end of June when we go for the first camping trip of the summer.

Adult Only Camping Trip - 2008

Well, it's been a while in posting to this blog. We decided not to do a lot of camping this year since we're taking the kids to Disney World at the end of August.

Anyways, our adult only camping trip is still on and approaching fast. Aug 14 - 17. Can't wait. Our time to get away from the kiddies for a couple days, drink and not worry about driving, etc.

The Disease They Call Musky Fishing

I posted this 'story' on the message boards at Lake-Link.com. The Musky outing referred to was on Lake Wausau in August of 2006. Enjoy.

The Disease They Call Musky Fishing
Up until last summer all I've really fished for was LM bass and panfish. Last summer I got to talking with a couple of my neighbors about fishing and in particular, musky fishing. That got me thinking, what would it be like to actually land a 40/50 inch fish?

After convincing my wife I needed another hobby ;-) I started doing some research. With help from my neighbors and people here at Lake-Link, I put together a small arsenal of tools to dable in musky fishing. One thing I noticed was that musky fishing was sometimes referred to as a disease. A disease? It's a fish.

So I got myself a 6 1/2 ft Gander Mt IM7 rod and Abu Garcia Ambassedeur C4 reel, a couple choice lures, some tools, and headed out. I've fished all my life with spinner reels and it took a bit to figure out bait casters. The first couple times were used figuring out how to detangle bird nests :-)

Then it happened. I went out by meself on our local resevoir in early August. I started drifting with the current, working an emergent weedline 150/200 yds off the main channel with a bright colored Northland Tackle bucktail.

Within a couple casts I had what felt like a hit, but no hookup. About 20 minutes went by when I got my first taste, my first follow-up. I'm not sure if it was a musky or northern, but it was definitely bigger than anything I had gone after previously.

I kept throwing the bucktail out and bringing it in. About half hour later I felt a tug on the line. In the past this meant a snag, but this tug was pulling back, going down river away from me. What the...... I set the hook and started bringing it in toward the boat. As I brought it up alongside the boat, the fish surface, a massive head full of teath with a bucktail hanging from one side. Damn. I actually hooked a musky. As I reached for my net I realized the net was too small. A minor detail I neglected to address before venturing out on this experiment. Without having another option really, I tried netting the fish. The bucktail immediately got hung up. With a couple headshakes, the lure was loose and the musky was gone. Holy s*&%. What a rush. The only other time I've experienced that kind of addrenaline rush was during deer hunting. I like to think that fish was in the 35/40 inch range, but obviously I don't know for sure.

My hand was shaking with excitement as I realized the trailer hook on the bucktail was beant, causing it to not function properly. I dug into my limited tackle and found a black/silver Mepps Musky Killer bucktail I had bought when I was 12/13. I bought it because it looked cool, not to actually catch fish with. In the years since I got that lure I never caught anything with it. So I thought, what the hell. Tied it on and started throwing. I started the run down the weed line again. Fifteen minutes into the run I felt that tug again. Damn. I started reeling in and this time was able to land a 27 inch northern. Biggest fish by far I can remember ever catching. I was pumped. I took a couple quick pictures and released the fish.

In those couple hours I understood what it meant when people referred to musky fishing as a disease, an addiction. In those couple hours I caught that disease.

So now May 26th 2007 is circled on the calendar. A small fund has been collected over the winter months to expand my small arsenal. And yes, I ran out and got a bigger net the next day.

Camp songs with Dad

Growing up Mom and Dad would take us camping up to Star Lake north of Sayner at least twice a year. Some of my fondest memories of those trips were when we would sit around the camp fire and Dad would pull out his guitar. 'Country Roads', 'Rocky Mountain High', 'The Wreck Of The Endmund Fitzgerald', and many more take me instantly back to those memories. One year it seemed we had the entire campground in our campsite creating a large circle around the fire while Dad entertained us. Campgrounds are supposed to be quiet by 1l:00 but it felt like we kept going for much later.

One of my all time favorites is 'Cats In The Cradle' by Harry Chapin (covered by Ugly Kid Joe). I've always been able to relate to the lyrics and sort of saw my relationship with my father in those lyrics.

Now whenever I head up to the northwoods Kenny Rogers or John Denver or Gordon Lightfoot or whoever is playing on the stereo. Denise doesn't care for John Denver so I try and limit his playing when she's along, but those songs bring back so many memories.

Adults Only Trip

Every August, some friends and us have a "adults only" camping trip. There's always a lot of laughs, good food, and some tasty bevvies. ;) Here are some of the photos I can share.

July 07 Camping Trip

Yes, we did it again. Camping with the kids and the family. It was quite the adventure, let's just leave it at that. Here are some pics.

Ooops, I forgot

There always seems to be at least one item that we always forget when we go camping. What do you seem to always forget?

Bring Your Own Toilet Paper

Unless you like wiping your arse with one ply sand paper, bring your own two ply quilted bliss. Your arse will appreciate it. Sure, everyone in the campground will know what your doing when you walk to the can carrying your quilted bliss, but it is you who will be laughing when you walk out with a spring in your step and the others walk out itchy and iritated.

Camping Etiquette Rule #3

This one comes from my Aunt Maxine:
Clean up after your pets. No one likes to step in dog doodoo or have the kids come home with messy shoes.

Everybody sing!

Johnjacobjingleheimerschmidt, that's my name too. Whenever we go out, the people always shout, there goes Johnjacobjingleheimerschmidt...La la la la la la la!
-repeat
- repeat again louder!

Nate's Tips

1. If making out with a girl met at the campground, you will post a sign at least 50 feet away as to not cause embarassment to the oblvious moron who stumbles into your passionte kiss face session. (This is one I learned the hard way, right LEE??!!)

2. If you bring beer it better be good beer. Also, it become community beer. If more than 6 beers are consumed within a 2 hour time frame, naps are required.

3. No skinny dipping when the temperature is less than 80 degrees. (Except for the Ladies)

On Top of Spaghetti

Remember this one?

On top of spaghetti,
All covered with cheese.
I lost my poor meatball,
When somebody sneezed.

It rolled off the table,
And onto the floor.
And then my poor meatball,
Rolled out of the door.

It rolled in the garden,
And under a bush.
And then my poor meatball,
Was nothing but mush.

The mush was as tasty
As tasty could be,
And early next summer
It grew into a tree.

The tree was all covered
With beautiful moss,
It grew lovely meatballs
And tomato sauce.

So if you eat spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
Hold on to your meatballs
And don't ever sneeze.

Dawn's camping tips, suggestions and other odd ideas:

When your child has to pee, make sure he knows to go in the woods/grass away from the tents, and away from all the dirt that will then turn into pee-mud.

Tent camping can be nice and rustic, but be sure to open the zippers for the windows, or all the various smells throughout the night stay INSIDE the tent!

If your marshmallow falls into the fire, don't think you're actually fast enough to quickly get it out with your fingers!

When you get drunk while camping, your neighbors can still hear you, and when you're especially loud, the park ranger WILL come and visit you!

For those who think it's cool to watch plastic melt in a fire-QUIT IT! It smells and is bad!!!

When using the public showers with a toddler, keep a towel very close. They will bolt out of the shower stall unexpectedly!

On the same note...when showering with toddlers, watch your feet...they will pee on them and think it's funny!

Bring your dog. They like to be outside, and will eat all the food that spills on the ground!

Always remember to spray mosquito repellant on your ankles before sitting by the fire for the night. Mosquito bites on the ankles are horrible!!!

When your child needs to go potty in the middle of the night while camping, make sure your flashlight has good/new batteries. There's nothing worse than having that damn flashlight go dead while trying to navigate those paths through the woods.

While on this topic: The more you drink before bed, the better your chance of having to pee in the middle of the night.

I must really have to go, I've mentioned enough about pee in here, huh???

Finally, If you zip 2 sleeping bags together, you can make the most of keeping warm with your honey by cuddling close all night...until the kids wake up and climb in the middle!

Favorite Camping Food?

What is YOUR favorite camping food?

Mine has to be the smore. And cherry pudgie pies.

Please post your answer as a comment. You may create or use a Google account, or post as anonymous and just sign you name at the end of your comment.