A Very Unsuccessful 10 Day Fishing Trip!

To my darling husband,

Before you return from your fishing trip, I just want to let you know about the small accident I had with the pickup truck when I turned into the driveway. Fortunately not too bad and I really didn't get hurt, so please don't worry too much about me. I was coming home from Wal-Mart, and when I turned into the driveway, I accidentally pushed down on the accelerator instead of the brake. The garage door is slightly bent but the pickup fortunately came to a halt when it bumped into your car.

I am really sorry, but I know with your kind-hearted personality you will forgive me. You know how much I love you and care for you my sweetheart. I am enclosing a picture for you.

I cannot wait to hold you in my arms again.

Your loving wife.
X0X0X0X0X0X0

BE SURE AND SCROLL PAST THE PICTURE








P.S . Your $@#&%^ girlfriend called!

Another Update For the 2008 Missouri Deer Seasons!

I am bringing you all up to date on the Missouri firearm harvest statistics for 2008. During the firearm portion of 2008 , a total of approximately, 200,679 deer were harvested. These numbers were down from last years harvest of 235,054. That's about 34,000 less than the 2007 firearm season.

I believe these numbers were down because of the cold and terribly windy front that came in on us, and lasted pretty much most of the season. I can't remember when it was as cold and windy, as it was this year.

During the muzzle loader season there where 10,254 deer harvested, which was the 4Th highest harvest in its 21 year history. The weather warmed up quite a bit and the wind was a lot less than during the firearm season. There seems to be a lot of hunters , that enjoy the thrill of the primitive one shot muzzle loaders of days gone by.

We still have one more season for muzzle loaders which starts December 13Th for one week and the harvest is for antlerless deers only.It looks as though it is going to be a cold and windy season also. Better dress warm you guys! Although by now most hunters will probably have lots of excuses to stay inside where it is warm. I , myself, will pass on this season as I have worn out my butt and my patience on 2 seasons now , a total of 18 days sitting like a statue and frozen about as stiff as a statue , I might add! ;-)

So there you have it! A pretty good harvest so far , considering the weather and everything. Oh yeah and by the way, Missouri still is reporting that CWD is still not in the 1.5 million deer herd as of yet. I don't know how accurate that statement is. But they have been testing harvested deer and so far so good. If you run across a sick acting deer , call the Missouri conservation department and report it. They want to know WHERE and WHEN. We can all do our part and help them to keep track of our herd here in Missouri. Just a simple phone call and its that easy.

So until next time, see ya out there, and good luck, hope you enjoy the "Great Outdoors!" Oh yeah, we have a winter advisory for tonight and tomorrow, but temperatures should be in the 40s and 50s by the weekend, so maybe that might make a difference for the last season of the 2008 deer harvest. Good luck you guys( and gals) although the gals probably have better sense, and stay warm, if you can.

Venison Jerky

2 lbs Sliced venison 1/8" thick

2 tbsp Soy sauce

1 tbsp Ground red pepper

1 cup whiskey

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp Salt

2 Cloves garlic, sliced

1 cup Water


Procedures


Slice the meat when it is lightly frozen.
The cuts should be long, thin and with the grain.
Cut across the grain if you want more tender, but more brittle jerky.
Trim off all of the fat. Marinate strips in a glass container overnight.

You may substitute 2 cups of red wine for the whiskey and water.

Pat dry and arrange pieces side by side on an oven roasting rack, with- out overlap.Cook at minimum heat (150°F) for 6 hours.
Leave oven door ajar to allow moisture to escape.
Meat should be dark. Dry and store jerky in a cool, airtight container.

Winter Bass Fishing Is Tough-But Can Be Rewarding!

Winter bass fishing can be the toughest fishing of any time of the year. Yes, even harder and tougher than the dog days of summer.
The biggest majority of bass fishermen will roll their eyes, and even make goofy faces when you mention bass fishing when it is COLD!
But there are those who will brave even the most extreme cold , because they know that the odds of catching a trophy bass are a lot better than most any other time of the year!

Probably the biggest reason for the accuracy of that last statement is the lack of fishing and boating pressure on the lakes and streams at this time of the year is practically zero! Despite what most fishermen believe , BASS do bite and require food even during this time of the year. Bass are not as active and have slowed down considerably, but they still feed.

Here are a few key points to be made about winter fishing!

1 Bass will , as a rule, be deeper than in normal months!

Though generally an accurate statement , is not always found to be true, as there is always an exception to every rule. But if not deeper will be very close to deeper water, like a point or a drop off , next to deep water .

2 Fish slower than normal with subtle or teasing like movements !

Jig n pigs, shaky head worms, tubes , spoons, or anything that you can sit right in front of the basses nose and tease him into striking your lure.

3 Winter normally has a lot of low pressure systems which can cause bass to feed heavily!

4 Make sure to watch you line closely and watch for movement , because the bite can be almost undetectable.

I usually watch the weather closely for a warm up or sunny days. 2 to 3 days in a row is super! I love to hit shallow points next to deep water, usually on the main lake points. I have great success from 10 to 20 feet deep points or flats next to deep water. Bass have a tendency to come shallow and feed on sunny days where the water can warm up a little faster , 2 or 3 degrees makes a big difference.

Bass have a tendency to gather up or school during the winter , which can make them hard to find. Keeping this in mind when you catch a good one stay with the locality of the bite and you will more than likely catch a few good ones, or even limit out, in one hole if the cover is right and you don't spook the fish. I have found that in rivers if you find a deep hole with lots of cover you will find a lot of fish too. This is about the same as on the lakes , more so than not.

Winter bass fishing is probably more a mental challenge , than anything else, as Mr. Bass does have to eat or perish. Keeping this in mind and slowing down our presentation is vitally important for a successful outing. I have had to fish so slow that it seemed like it took 10 minutes for one cast and retrieve.

I mainly use a jig n pig, and I fish it so slow that even the coldest and slowest bass in the lake can catch it and inhale it. In the winter bass very seldom hit a lure and run with it. They just suck it up of the bottom and you don't hardly feel anything. Your line just gets a mushy feeling. No telling how many bass inhale a lure and spit it out before a fisherman even realizes he has been bit, if he at all, realizes it.

Presentation is probably the most important thing about winter fishing.
Winter bass normally move slowly and will feed better on slow moving baits. When you think you are fishing slow, slow down even more. I sometimes let the bait sit for a minute or two and then not moving the bait forward, just shake it in place and that sometimes produces a bite. I can't stress this enough slow down, slow down, slow down!
This is more mental than anything and is harder and requires more patience than anything.You really have to concentrate hard and remember that you probably won't hardly feel the bite. Most of the time you just feel a mushy feeling and/ or see your line move. Reel in the slack and when you feel the fish set the hook!

As I stated earlier , I usually use a jig n pig , a shaky head worm , or a 1/2 oz spinner bait. I slow roll the spinner bait , bouncing it of the bottom , or rocks or logs. I like to put a grub or some other kind of trailer on the spinner bait to add bulk and add a little more action , which also offers Mr. Bass a bigger meal, so to speak.

Winter fishing is cold and very uncomfortable, but with gortex and thinsulate, staying warm is not very difficult, but can be costly. The cost is worth it , just to make the cold weather more tolerable. Mr. Bass can and will be caught , if you can dress warm and slow down your fishing techniques. Winter bass fishing can be very productive and more often than not , will produce bigger, quality bass, than in any other time of the year. Bass are not as aggressive and the odds of getting a bigger bass in the live well, is more in your favor at this time of the year.

I hope you have picked up some tips you can use, from this article. If you can mentally prepare yourself , dress warm, and slow down , slower than slow, you will catch bass in the winter time and more than likely catch that trophy bass that you have always dreamed of. As my grandpa always said, " You can't catch fish unless your fishing" A lure in the garage wont catch fish. A lure in the water will!

So until next time, stay dry, warm and slow down, for a successful winter bass fishing trip. See ya out there, good luck , and remember if you're fishing slow, slow down even more so that, slow ,cold ,bass can catch your lure and make your dreams come true!