Has anyone been watching it?  I've enjoyed it so far as it kind of reminds me of more of a "Fellowship of the Ring" type of story for GOT which will ramp up as the seasons move on.  The characters really nailed their parts IMHO.

What's your thoughts?

Well, since receiving another rejection letter on Friday, I have to think outside the box.  Travel is not really an option as living away from home for months at a time in sub-zero weather is not enticing at all.
I took my notebook down as well as my gear to the lakes to soak some bait and try to brainstorm other options or possibilities that are out there.

Being there when the park opens usually means early bites dying into the doldrums before I leave.  Well, it wasn't long before I got my first nice trout of the morning and it was a big old hookjaw to boot!  Long and skinny sucker!





I rebaited and started to see what was out there which could match my experience... as a career pivot in sort of a way.  Not many options out there and then I noticed my SI drop like an anchor!  Fish on!
Triploid stocker and a fairly nice one!



I went back to work and exhausted all of the options I could think of so I was ready to pack it in when I see the SI laying in the water.  Fish on again!

This one wasn't big and 1.5# at most.... more like bass bait.

I helped a guy near me that was in need of help and he said he saw a giant trout, like 10 pounds that jumped out of the water.  I was instantly thinking it was probably one of the swimming ducks diving or poppin up like they do but I wasn't going to not investigate just in case.  Then we were both looking to where he was pointing and a 10+ pound bass smashed the surface!  I was like "That was no trout"  lol.  It was in the same general area I saw a kid catch and weigh his first 10 pounder so guessing it is the same fish since I can't imagine they leave their territory when they get that big.

Oh well, time to go home and try to enjoy the rest of my Sunday.  I have some fish to clean.



Thanks for reading!

Quote from: Tim524 on February 01, 2026, 07:24:15 PMYou are addicted to them Lakes more than Janie is to Bass Pro    

It's cheap and convenient when you're not bringing in a paycheck.

You are addicted to them Lakes more than Janie is to Bass Pro    

Glad you are enjoying the down time even if the locals are bothering you, you seem to prevail ! 

Two handfuls of nice fish always feels great. Cool to see a hook jaw one like that.

Solid session. Good luck with the shoulder! I always enjoy seeing a parrot flock out here.

Looks so good, what's for Dessert ?

After a nice stringer like that, you should celebrate and take your wife to Bass Pro, she deserves it !

I pulled more lobster and made more Lobster Mac-N-Cheese but coated it with toasted crushed macadamia nuts!  Then I put lobster, crab, and halibut into fish cakes and added some remoulade sauce!



I also pan seared some squash just to get our veggies in and voila!  One hell of a paper plate ginner!

I ran back in the morning, but the same guy who saw me catch at my first spot yesterday was there again holding the area hostage... Grrrr

I ran to my next spot and there was another person holding that spot down.... Now it's time just go full Ninja...

I set up and hoped for something... anything... considering there's nowhere to hide around here and they all gang up on you soon as a rod is bent.

Within 15 minutes and my rod doubles over!  I was really hopeful it was going to be a big trout, but my strike indicator only goes "Up" when a Catfish hits for some reason. 

Sure enough!  At least a big one!



Next bite and my strike indicator drops so definitely a trout... and it was!



Then came my moment of pain.  One rod went off and it felt like a nice trout.  I was fighting it in when my other rod went off but I stuck to the rod in hand.  I get a nice trout in and run to my other rod and I KNOW it's a much bigger fish.  I saw it slashing at the surface, but that brought the pelicans and cormorants...  It was way too big to just muscle it in and I had it about 2-3 feet from the end of the net a few times, but the bird wasn't scared at all and kept cutting him off from beaching himself.

I saw the bird swipe at the trout's head (The fish was big as the bird by the way) and friggin clipped my line.  Thank god I don't have my BB gun with me or that bird would have been headless and the mad birders would have called the cops.

The parrots were tormenting me that a bird bested me from above...



Oh well... I kept Dave posted and things slowed down, but had one last flurry before I left with another cat and another trout.  Got my limits and had to head back to get on the horn with some more recruiters and get a few resumes out.  I want to go back this afternoon, but the wife says I need to take her out for dinner tonight since she's basically the bread winner in the house these days.



Oh well.  My shoulder is ruined and I hope this PRP shot helps.  I'm going to wait until the end of the year to get my surgery in and just keep my fingers crossed, I don't make my shoulder situation worse.

Thanks for reading!