Remember to pay attention, mind your manners, and go home safe.
Friday, October 12, 2018
First Cold Front Sit of 2018
It's still early October and this season's first cold front has swept through. These colder temperatures have been known to get deer up and moving more than usual. I'm trying to take advantage of that theory by sneaking into a back corner of some public access. Check out the video to see how this hunt turned out.
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Early Season Strategy
With the opening of Oklahoma archery season only 12 days away, I've been in a mad rush to get everything "ready" for that first hunt. I'm still getting my new IQ bow sight dialed in with the new Bloodsport Punisher arrows I found a good deal on. I am waiting on my new Muddy Stagger steps and Game Winner hang on stand to arrive in the mail, along with the Nocturnal lighted nocks I found on sale. It seems like a lot of new things to worry about with less than two weeks til tree time, but that's pretty much how I operate.
I feel like a good portion of hunters out there are always looking for new gear or methods to gain an edge in the woods, and I'm one of them. Except I'm on a budget. No $300+ tree saddle setups for me, although it's definitely on my wish list. I found budget gear that should check all the boxes I need for this early season.
I'm also guilty of daydreaming about those first sits. If my season plays out like any of the halfway decent scenarios I've thought up, then I'm going to rework my budget for a new freezer! I'm an avid listener of the Wired To Hunt Podcast and have heard so many different ideas for how to hunt the early season. Mark and Dan have interviewed several of the nation's leading "professional" whitetail hunters. Not many of them seem to agree on things such as scent control, hunting early season mornings, or even how often to check trail cameras.
In my very unprofessional opinion, I say do what you think puts you in a best odds situation without mucking up your local deer routines. The herd where you hunt is used to bedding, drinking, and feeding in a pretty regular routine. DON'T MESS IT UP!!! That's my plan. I'm going to start the very beginning of the season on private land, practicing with my new stand and sticks, doing more observation and scent control testing than anything. I would like to fine-tune a few things before I take my setup to the few public spots I think will land me at the very least a fat doe.
I will be looking for transition points on edges of fields, and thick nasty cover type stuff close to any mast trees I locate along a trail. I will not be out there in the mornings until late October. I'm doing this for two reasons. First reason, I like to sleep in and will put off early mornings for after the time change. The second reason, I don't like my odds of not bumping deer going to bed. It's been much easier to get settled above a food source on a field edge before they come out to feed. The downside to hunting the evening sits is tracking a blood trail in the dark. The woods can be spooky at night, y'all. And I'm for real not trying to find come across a possessed owl or some slender man/hillbilly hybrid. I can't run fast enough for any of that.
Anyways...
Evening sits will also help determine where I orient myself regarding the sun's location. Having the sun in your eyes doesn't help you as much as the deer not looking in your direction if the sun is behind you. Keep that sweet tip in mind for hunting morning or evening. Feel free to test out any method you find most logical, but if things keep not working out for you, change your method.
Remember to pay attention, mind your manners, and go home safe.
I feel like a good portion of hunters out there are always looking for new gear or methods to gain an edge in the woods, and I'm one of them. Except I'm on a budget. No $300+ tree saddle setups for me, although it's definitely on my wish list. I found budget gear that should check all the boxes I need for this early season.
I'm also guilty of daydreaming about those first sits. If my season plays out like any of the halfway decent scenarios I've thought up, then I'm going to rework my budget for a new freezer! I'm an avid listener of the Wired To Hunt Podcast and have heard so many different ideas for how to hunt the early season. Mark and Dan have interviewed several of the nation's leading "professional" whitetail hunters. Not many of them seem to agree on things such as scent control, hunting early season mornings, or even how often to check trail cameras.
In my very unprofessional opinion, I say do what you think puts you in a best odds situation without mucking up your local deer routines. The herd where you hunt is used to bedding, drinking, and feeding in a pretty regular routine. DON'T MESS IT UP!!! That's my plan. I'm going to start the very beginning of the season on private land, practicing with my new stand and sticks, doing more observation and scent control testing than anything. I would like to fine-tune a few things before I take my setup to the few public spots I think will land me at the very least a fat doe.
I will be looking for transition points on edges of fields, and thick nasty cover type stuff close to any mast trees I locate along a trail. I will not be out there in the mornings until late October. I'm doing this for two reasons. First reason, I like to sleep in and will put off early mornings for after the time change. The second reason, I don't like my odds of not bumping deer going to bed. It's been much easier to get settled above a food source on a field edge before they come out to feed. The downside to hunting the evening sits is tracking a blood trail in the dark. The woods can be spooky at night, y'all. And I'm for real not trying to find come across a possessed owl or some slender man/hillbilly hybrid. I can't run fast enough for any of that.
Anyways...
Evening sits will also help determine where I orient myself regarding the sun's location. Having the sun in your eyes doesn't help you as much as the deer not looking in your direction if the sun is behind you. Keep that sweet tip in mind for hunting morning or evening. Feel free to test out any method you find most logical, but if things keep not working out for you, change your method.
Remember to pay attention, mind your manners, and go home safe.
Thursday, September 13, 2018
Bucks Be Creepin'
If you have ever had the opportunity to observe a group of unpressured deer, you may notice that young deer act a bit different than the older ones, and mature bucks act differently than all other deer. In my experience, this behavior difference is year round.
Last year was my first season to bow hunt, and I was very lucky to have a private piece of land to set up on and arrow my first whitetail. This is a two man ladder stand sitting on the edge between a large wooded area and an overgrown hay pasture, right over a food plot. I didn't know which direction the deer would come from, but I knew they like this particular spot.
I got in the stand super early and fought mosquitoes almost the entire time (that's why this year I invested in a Thermocell) and I was sweating a whole bunch from wearing long sleeve camo. As typical, that golden hour around sundown brought the first movement of the evening. It was a doe and her fawn, just out of spots, making their way to the food plot. I debated on whether to take the mother doe, and my excitement told me the fawn was old enough to run off and join up with her sisters.
Well, due to some bad luck along the lines of not making sure I had space around my cams, I missed way low. This spooked both does, but not enough to skedaddle, just enough to get the mom to stomp and snort a whole bunch. She was out of range so she got a pass. I was a bit relieved and a bit upset, but it was a new experience for me.
I still had 20 minutes of legal hunting light and decided to use it to make my way back to the truck. No way any more deer were going to come through there after that stomp and blow session.
I was wrong.
After getting down and passing the end of the food plot 60 yards ago, I see him in the corner of my eye. I froze and slowly turned to look at him. Once this 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 big bodied buck realized I was looking at him, he about-faced and crashed through the woods. I could hear the leaves and branches crunching the whole way to my truck.
That different behavior exhibited by mature bucks I mentioned earlier? They are the last ones out, almost every single time, not including the time around and during the rut. They are back in the woods, observing the does and fawns, waiting till those last few minutes of shooting light before they tentatively make their way to the food plot.
Now I know why these pro hunters wait in their stands for 30 to 90 minutes after shooting hours. They know if the buck didn't show up during daylight, then he was most likely out there after, happily grazing in the dark. You don't want to spook them from your stand, because then they will have a reason to be cautious around that area. If you can't wait that long in the stand, then have someone drive up to come get you. That way the vehicle spooks them from the opposite direction of your hunting spot.
Like a lot of the most important life lessons, this is one I've learned the hard way. So, take it from me and force yourself to be patient, and you just might give yourself an opportunity you didn't know was available.
Remember to pay attention, mind your manners, and go home safe.
Last year was my first season to bow hunt, and I was very lucky to have a private piece of land to set up on and arrow my first whitetail. This is a two man ladder stand sitting on the edge between a large wooded area and an overgrown hay pasture, right over a food plot. I didn't know which direction the deer would come from, but I knew they like this particular spot.
I got in the stand super early and fought mosquitoes almost the entire time (that's why this year I invested in a Thermocell) and I was sweating a whole bunch from wearing long sleeve camo. As typical, that golden hour around sundown brought the first movement of the evening. It was a doe and her fawn, just out of spots, making their way to the food plot. I debated on whether to take the mother doe, and my excitement told me the fawn was old enough to run off and join up with her sisters.
Well, due to some bad luck along the lines of not making sure I had space around my cams, I missed way low. This spooked both does, but not enough to skedaddle, just enough to get the mom to stomp and snort a whole bunch. She was out of range so she got a pass. I was a bit relieved and a bit upset, but it was a new experience for me.
I still had 20 minutes of legal hunting light and decided to use it to make my way back to the truck. No way any more deer were going to come through there after that stomp and blow session.
I was wrong.
After getting down and passing the end of the food plot 60 yards ago, I see him in the corner of my eye. I froze and slowly turned to look at him. Once this 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 big bodied buck realized I was looking at him, he about-faced and crashed through the woods. I could hear the leaves and branches crunching the whole way to my truck.
That different behavior exhibited by mature bucks I mentioned earlier? They are the last ones out, almost every single time, not including the time around and during the rut. They are back in the woods, observing the does and fawns, waiting till those last few minutes of shooting light before they tentatively make their way to the food plot.
Now I know why these pro hunters wait in their stands for 30 to 90 minutes after shooting hours. They know if the buck didn't show up during daylight, then he was most likely out there after, happily grazing in the dark. You don't want to spook them from your stand, because then they will have a reason to be cautious around that area. If you can't wait that long in the stand, then have someone drive up to come get you. That way the vehicle spooks them from the opposite direction of your hunting spot.
Like a lot of the most important life lessons, this is one I've learned the hard way. So, take it from me and force yourself to be patient, and you just might give yourself an opportunity you didn't know was available.
Remember to pay attention, mind your manners, and go home safe.
Thursday, September 6, 2018
My Scent Control "Strategy"
Scent control is a major portion of whitetail hunting. Hearing and scent are two powerful tools deer use to remain safe, especially during the time of year humans are flooding the woods with scary smells. Managing your scent risk by treating yourself and your gear, along with observing wind direction, can be the difference between getting close enough to harvest a target buck, or only hearing him snort and crash away through the woods.
Here is what I do to prevent getting winded.
Personal Hygiene
Since the scent coming from me is scarier than exhaust or gun oil, I like to make sure I have as many details covered as possible. I start with a shower using Scent-A-Way hair and body soap to block the odor from my "hot spots" and my hair. I also use Dead Down Wind's toothpaste because the taste isn't bad and it helps control that morning mouth funk. I'm pretty fond of the Scent Killer Gold deodorant to avoid too much odor generation. Also, to prevent cold morning winds from sapping all of the moisture from my face, I use the lotion from Nose Jammer. The lotion isn't a scent blocker or preventative. Instead, it uses natural scents to overwhelm senses to keep from spooking the animals.
Clothing
Not too long ago, most people would hang hunting clothing outside a few days or a week before heading out in order to rid the fabrics of unwelcome scents. But now there are a bunch of treatment products such as laundry detergent, dryer sheets, and field spray. I like the convenience of the laundry treatment, followed by storing with a scented wafer. There are other options such as carbon mats to absorb odors or the increasingly popular use of ozone treatment.
These methods don't take near as long and can be repeated after each outing to remove odors deposited from hiking and long sits. I also like to throw my towel in with the laundry so that I'm not using anything that fragrance has been in contact with.
Personally, I like Dead Down Wind's laundry detergent and odor-less dryer sheets. I then store them in a Hunters Specialties Scent-A-Way Scent-Safe Deluxe Travel Bag with a scent wafer. I will be looking into a small ozone generator for my storage bag instead of the scent wafers. I like "no scent" better than a cover scent for my gear to prevent my closet distinctly smelling of dirt or acorns.
Gear
Before I get all of my gear packed to go to the field, I get some scent control cloths and give everything a liberal wipe down. Anything that goes to the stand with me will get wiped down or sprayed with field spray.
In the field
Once I'm parked, and getting geared up I like to do a final spray down of everything. I especially concentrate on the soles of my boots. For this season, I have also invested in the Hunter's Kloak Electronic mist system. I will be using it for cover scent around my stand. The system also has food and estrous scents for attractants. Depending on the time of the year, I will either use earth scent or acorn scent for the system to pump downwind of my location.
I'm not gonna say that my strategy is foolproof, but it's worked for me in the past. I'm always looking to learn a bit more and invest in better equipment. The main goal is to stay off the nose radar as long as possible. Everyone who bow hunts should take some steps to mitigate how much scent you generate and leave behind, so maybe what I do can help you think of some ways to do that better.
Good luck this season!
Remember to pay attention, mind your manners, and go home safe.
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Getting better is my goal.
Recently I was listening to a Wired to Hunt podcast, good stuff by the way, and one of the gentlemen said something that really felt familiar to me. I believe it was Andy on episode 223 that mentioned feeling anxiety about becoming stagnant in his hunting skills. It felt familiar because I have those same types of feelings about my skills as well. I think there is a large majority of sportspersons in the field that feel this way. A feeling that what you did last year is not going to be enough to get you through this year. A feeling that this year will require a sharper skill set, or an updated skill set, or even a brand new skill set altogether.
For some people, it's the newest bow, a new ozone generator, attractants, and calls. These products are advertised by those in the industry that have proven to be entertaining when they get in front of a camera and so easily harvest a giant elk or a Booner buck. If you've ever spent a pretty penny on some of this gear, you'll have found out that it, by itself, cannot make you a better hunter. Maybe they've increased your odds... maybe not. I think the best investment is in knowledge. Scouting can tell you way more about your area than any expert on a show or podcast. What you CAN learn from those experts are things to look for while you're out there. Those professionals do have the advantage of time spent in the woods, swamps, and hills. They can tell you what they've seen and how they've found deer. These things combined with what I know of my own hunting areas are how I've been successful in the past.
The definition of success is different for everyone. Here is mine: A hunt is successful if I made it home safe, knowing more about how to harvest deer than I did before I left. Sure, it seems a bit high browed, but unless you are depending on a harvest to eat then what can be more permanent than that experience being used as a building block for more enjoyable trips in the future? Especially since that experience can't be lost or taken away.
Combine this with taking someone who is new to the hobby, like a child, grandchild, friend, or neighbor. You actually have the opportunity to experience all those firsts again and again. Hunter numbers are dwindling for many reasons. Recruiting the next generation alone can't replace all those that are leaving. Inviting friends that haven't grown up in the culture to go on an evening observation sit could be all it takes to get them hooked. You're basically investing in a future hunting buddy that knows exactly how you think things should be done. This is the same as teaching your kids, except the adults you bring in can pay for their own equipment. Teaching someone about the culture and skills needed to be a moral conservationist is one of the best ways to review and cement your own knowledge about the wonderful game species in our state.
I end up reading books, watching videos, and listening to podcasts every season, looking for the next thing to try or to get better with, trying to quell that anticipatory gut feeling. It will never end because there will always be some way to improve either yourself, your surroundings, or the next generation. This season will be my best season because I've already learned new things.
What new thing will you learn to make this your best season yet?
Remember to pay attention, mind your manners, and go home safe.
Combine this with taking someone who is new to the hobby, like a child, grandchild, friend, or neighbor. You actually have the opportunity to experience all those firsts again and again. Hunter numbers are dwindling for many reasons. Recruiting the next generation alone can't replace all those that are leaving. Inviting friends that haven't grown up in the culture to go on an evening observation sit could be all it takes to get them hooked. You're basically investing in a future hunting buddy that knows exactly how you think things should be done. This is the same as teaching your kids, except the adults you bring in can pay for their own equipment. Teaching someone about the culture and skills needed to be a moral conservationist is one of the best ways to review and cement your own knowledge about the wonderful game species in our state.
I end up reading books, watching videos, and listening to podcasts every season, looking for the next thing to try or to get better with, trying to quell that anticipatory gut feeling. It will never end because there will always be some way to improve either yourself, your surroundings, or the next generation. This season will be my best season because I've already learned new things.
What new thing will you learn to make this your best season yet?
Remember to pay attention, mind your manners, and go home safe.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Deciding Where To Hunt
How often does someone need to find a place to hunt that is different from last year? So far I have been pretty blessed to have access to a private property that holds a good number of deer. I love it out there, but since it's not mine, it's not guaranteed to be available forever. Also, it's shared between several other people, some of whom are serious hunters who go out and clear brush, fix stands, fill feeders etc. While others show up the evening before opening day, smelling of cologne and corn dogs, to walk the property to find the "best spot" regardless of having done any work or not. You won't know about this latecomer until opening morning when you see him dragging his son to the stand you spent a whole weekend preparing. I would like to save myself a bit of frustration this year by starting bow season on public property.
Strangers coming in at all hours, from all directions, with all kinds of smells, is an absolute SURE THING when on public lands. I happen to think that going in with this in mind can be used to your advantage. Not everyone will be willing to put work in finding crossing routes, bedding areas, watering holes, or feed plots. You can always better your odds by outworking everyone else, which I will try to do this year. In order to put myself in the best position to see any deer, let alone the possibility of a trophy buck or a fat doe, I will put my focus will be on scouting and arrival times.
We are pretty fortunate in Oklahoma to have thousands of acres set aside for public hunting. It also increases the chances of a decent WMA or the like being a relatively short drive from your house. I have a few places like Skiatook Lake, Oologah Lake, Candy Creek, and Deep Fork Refuge all under an hour away. Narrowing it down to exactly where you hang a stand or even ground hunt is the toughest part. I'm going to start with 3 spots I think are good deer habitat, that also seems difficult to access for the normal weekend blaze orange warrior. I'm looking for creek crossings, steep hills, and long hikes. I'm willing to get in further and haul out that fat doe or mature buck the whole way back with a sweaty and exhausted grin on my face.
These hikes mean I won't be close to the vehicle for any forgotten gear or a nap, which means extra preparation ahead of time. Not only will I need my hunting stand, sticks, harness and possibly waders, but I intend to bring a small provision of emergency supplies as well. I would rather pack the extra weight back and forth without ever needing it than suffer a nasty cut without a first aid kit.
After I find my hard to reach areas on maps, I need to scout. While scouting I'm looking for Heavily used trails with deer tracks that go to and from bedding, food, and/or water. Finding and following these trails to their destinations is the most time intensive part of scouting. Knowing where they lead can tell me what times of the day or night they are most likely to be used. Signs like scrapes, rubs, and licking branches just tell me that bucks have been there, probably overnight. My money is on catching them transitioning between areas in the evenings. This also means tracking and then hauling my harvest by starlight.
The whole ordeal sounds tough, but I'm tough. And when I tell my hunting story to the guys, I'll be sure to let them know it was uphill both ways. With this being my first season, I'm expecting a few setbacks and lessons learned, but I will count eyes on deer as a win. Are you excited? Cause I'm excited.
Remember to pay attention, mind your manners, and go home safe.
Strangers coming in at all hours, from all directions, with all kinds of smells, is an absolute SURE THING when on public lands. I happen to think that going in with this in mind can be used to your advantage. Not everyone will be willing to put work in finding crossing routes, bedding areas, watering holes, or feed plots. You can always better your odds by outworking everyone else, which I will try to do this year. In order to put myself in the best position to see any deer, let alone the possibility of a trophy buck or a fat doe, I will put my focus will be on scouting and arrival times.
We are pretty fortunate in Oklahoma to have thousands of acres set aside for public hunting. It also increases the chances of a decent WMA or the like being a relatively short drive from your house. I have a few places like Skiatook Lake, Oologah Lake, Candy Creek, and Deep Fork Refuge all under an hour away. Narrowing it down to exactly where you hang a stand or even ground hunt is the toughest part. I'm going to start with 3 spots I think are good deer habitat, that also seems difficult to access for the normal weekend blaze orange warrior. I'm looking for creek crossings, steep hills, and long hikes. I'm willing to get in further and haul out that fat doe or mature buck the whole way back with a sweaty and exhausted grin on my face.
These hikes mean I won't be close to the vehicle for any forgotten gear or a nap, which means extra preparation ahead of time. Not only will I need my hunting stand, sticks, harness and possibly waders, but I intend to bring a small provision of emergency supplies as well. I would rather pack the extra weight back and forth without ever needing it than suffer a nasty cut without a first aid kit.
After I find my hard to reach areas on maps, I need to scout. While scouting I'm looking for Heavily used trails with deer tracks that go to and from bedding, food, and/or water. Finding and following these trails to their destinations is the most time intensive part of scouting. Knowing where they lead can tell me what times of the day or night they are most likely to be used. Signs like scrapes, rubs, and licking branches just tell me that bucks have been there, probably overnight. My money is on catching them transitioning between areas in the evenings. This also means tracking and then hauling my harvest by starlight.
The whole ordeal sounds tough, but I'm tough. And when I tell my hunting story to the guys, I'll be sure to let them know it was uphill both ways. With this being my first season, I'm expecting a few setbacks and lessons learned, but I will count eyes on deer as a win. Are you excited? Cause I'm excited.
Remember to pay attention, mind your manners, and go home safe.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Night Fishing the Bluffs of Bull Shoals Lake
As kids, my brother and I often got to spend a week with our grandparents every summer. Over the years there were many things that we always ended up doing on those visits such as feeding the horses, checking on the cabin over at Peel, picking blackberries, and shooting a single aluminum arrow into a large chunk of Styrofoam with our beat up hand-me-down bows. But one of the most memorable things we tried to every year was to go night fishing.
Night fishing with Grandma and Grandpa was always wrapped up in a mix of feelings. From the excited anticipation of the chance to catch fish to the outright worry you might earn a "pop-knot" for stomping around the boat one too many times. I'm sure my brother would have rather not gone, but he soldiered on anyway. Grandpa was very specific about how tasks were to be completed. And there were many tasks to be completed before the actual fishing could start. Communication was key. A scowl meant you were doing it wrong. A glare meant you were flat out doing it wrong. Silence meant it was good enough. A crooked grin meant he was satisfied. If you got a half wink, well then you did exceptionally "OK". If words were used, you can be sure he was about to just come to do it his self. Pop-knots may or may not have been delivered in those cases.
After getting packed up, headed over to Bull Shoals, and the old pontoon boat loaded, it was off to our annual fishing spot. You had plenty of time for sightseeing on the way to the bluff where we would eventually tie off on the decades-old standing timber. The motor wasn't very large, so we didn't go very fast. Grandpa was never much for getting anywhere in a hurry, and Grandma preferred to proceed at a leisurely pace to make sure she didn't end up overboard. Once at our spot, we had to get through the most difficult task of the evening; tying off.
You wouldn't think tying off on some trees could be the most difficult part of the evening. Technically it wasn't, The difficulty came when you had to tie off just the exact way Grandpa wanted it. I know he had his reasons such as making sure we were secure so that we wouldn't drift or get loose while riding out the wakes of passing boats. Or worse yet, get tangled up between the timber and the looming rocky bluffs Bull Shoals is famous for. Back the boat toward one tree, tie off. Idle forward to another tree, tie off. Make sure the appropriate slack was given to maneuver between the two until reaching the correct distance between them, then take up the slack and secure the lines. Done.
After our gourmet dinner of deviled ham sandwiches, cold cucumber spears, and an icy Coke, we could bait the hooks with minnows and get our lines in the water. We were always cautioned to make sure we were keeping our bait at a deep enough level. I wasn't ever quite sure why until a long nose gar snatched my bait. If you've ever had the pleasure of fighting a gar on your line, you know that they go sideways when they have a bite. That's fine when you're bank fishing, but when you're on a boat with a dozen lines in the water you are going to be untangling lines to the random bursts of curses from a creative man who served in the military.
Barring that happening, the night was mostly quiet. After the sun set behind the hills, Grandma would help Grandpa get the Coleman lanterns pumped and primed so they could hang off the side of the boat to attract the bugs. Hanging the lanterns provided some ambient light for us, but as Grandpa explained, it also created a local and artificial ecosystem to bring crappie from the surrounding areas. Water lapping on the boat and the bluffs would be the only thing you could hear besides the faint hiss of the lanterns almost all night. At least until someone would get a bite. My brother and I would be completely beside ourselves with excitement any time something happened, it wasn't very entertaining otherwise. Grandma would have to shush us to avoid "spooking the fish" but she always did so with a wink, knowing how bored we could be. If there were no bites, we would have to settle for watching the stars or the massive ball of thousands of baitfish swimming around the boat to eat the sinking remains of bugs that got too close to the hot glass on the lanterns.
It was a yearly competition between us boys to see who could stay up the longest. The loser was generally the one who ended up at the back of the boat, under the Bimini cover to keep from being damp with evening dew. There was no prize for winning, other than viewing the sunrise. Seeing daylight meant the trip was almost at an end, except for the part I looked forward to the most: swimming.
On the way back to the dock, Grandma and Grandpa would stop at this little island and fix breakfast over an old camp stove. Not even brisk morning air and chilly water typical of that part of Bull Shoals would prevent us from getting in the water and splashing around while bacon and eggs were frying just beyond the reach of the waves. I know this pit stop on the way back was more for us kids than it was for them to make breakfast. Grandpa would occasionally wade out and throw us around while Grandma tended the skillet. We enjoyed it while we could, considering we still had a long drive home, and plenty of fish to clean after we unloaded the boat.
Looking back, I suppose getting through the tough parts at the beginning of the evening was as much a part of the ritual as the nap we all took when getting home. Nothing we had or did was fancy, but I loved every minute of those trips. I'm glad that I had the chance to spend that time with my grandparents, and that they were able to pass knowledge down to me that I can further pass down to my kids and grandkids someday.
Do your best to make good memories with those you love while you can.
As always, remember to mind your manners, pay attention, and go home safe.
Night fishing with Grandma and Grandpa was always wrapped up in a mix of feelings. From the excited anticipation of the chance to catch fish to the outright worry you might earn a "pop-knot" for stomping around the boat one too many times. I'm sure my brother would have rather not gone, but he soldiered on anyway. Grandpa was very specific about how tasks were to be completed. And there were many tasks to be completed before the actual fishing could start. Communication was key. A scowl meant you were doing it wrong. A glare meant you were flat out doing it wrong. Silence meant it was good enough. A crooked grin meant he was satisfied. If you got a half wink, well then you did exceptionally "OK". If words were used, you can be sure he was about to just come to do it his self. Pop-knots may or may not have been delivered in those cases.
After getting packed up, headed over to Bull Shoals, and the old pontoon boat loaded, it was off to our annual fishing spot. You had plenty of time for sightseeing on the way to the bluff where we would eventually tie off on the decades-old standing timber. The motor wasn't very large, so we didn't go very fast. Grandpa was never much for getting anywhere in a hurry, and Grandma preferred to proceed at a leisurely pace to make sure she didn't end up overboard. Once at our spot, we had to get through the most difficult task of the evening; tying off.
You wouldn't think tying off on some trees could be the most difficult part of the evening. Technically it wasn't, The difficulty came when you had to tie off just the exact way Grandpa wanted it. I know he had his reasons such as making sure we were secure so that we wouldn't drift or get loose while riding out the wakes of passing boats. Or worse yet, get tangled up between the timber and the looming rocky bluffs Bull Shoals is famous for. Back the boat toward one tree, tie off. Idle forward to another tree, tie off. Make sure the appropriate slack was given to maneuver between the two until reaching the correct distance between them, then take up the slack and secure the lines. Done.
After our gourmet dinner of deviled ham sandwiches, cold cucumber spears, and an icy Coke, we could bait the hooks with minnows and get our lines in the water. We were always cautioned to make sure we were keeping our bait at a deep enough level. I wasn't ever quite sure why until a long nose gar snatched my bait. If you've ever had the pleasure of fighting a gar on your line, you know that they go sideways when they have a bite. That's fine when you're bank fishing, but when you're on a boat with a dozen lines in the water you are going to be untangling lines to the random bursts of curses from a creative man who served in the military.
Barring that happening, the night was mostly quiet. After the sun set behind the hills, Grandma would help Grandpa get the Coleman lanterns pumped and primed so they could hang off the side of the boat to attract the bugs. Hanging the lanterns provided some ambient light for us, but as Grandpa explained, it also created a local and artificial ecosystem to bring crappie from the surrounding areas. Water lapping on the boat and the bluffs would be the only thing you could hear besides the faint hiss of the lanterns almost all night. At least until someone would get a bite. My brother and I would be completely beside ourselves with excitement any time something happened, it wasn't very entertaining otherwise. Grandma would have to shush us to avoid "spooking the fish" but she always did so with a wink, knowing how bored we could be. If there were no bites, we would have to settle for watching the stars or the massive ball of thousands of baitfish swimming around the boat to eat the sinking remains of bugs that got too close to the hot glass on the lanterns.
It was a yearly competition between us boys to see who could stay up the longest. The loser was generally the one who ended up at the back of the boat, under the Bimini cover to keep from being damp with evening dew. There was no prize for winning, other than viewing the sunrise. Seeing daylight meant the trip was almost at an end, except for the part I looked forward to the most: swimming.
On the way back to the dock, Grandma and Grandpa would stop at this little island and fix breakfast over an old camp stove. Not even brisk morning air and chilly water typical of that part of Bull Shoals would prevent us from getting in the water and splashing around while bacon and eggs were frying just beyond the reach of the waves. I know this pit stop on the way back was more for us kids than it was for them to make breakfast. Grandpa would occasionally wade out and throw us around while Grandma tended the skillet. We enjoyed it while we could, considering we still had a long drive home, and plenty of fish to clean after we unloaded the boat.
Looking back, I suppose getting through the tough parts at the beginning of the evening was as much a part of the ritual as the nap we all took when getting home. Nothing we had or did was fancy, but I loved every minute of those trips. I'm glad that I had the chance to spend that time with my grandparents, and that they were able to pass knowledge down to me that I can further pass down to my kids and grandkids someday.
Do your best to make good memories with those you love while you can.
As always, remember to mind your manners, pay attention, and go home safe.
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