Perfect Storm Of Traffic; Extra Innings Please



Mark C. ready to do a table top (ha)

It was the perfect storm of traffic for me today with a Tiger baseball matinee that ended too soon in combination with the I-96 tear down. Today is mountain bike day and as my bus leaving downtown was crawling on Bagley with sad Tiger fans surrounding us, mountain bike day was in jeopardy! I actually hope for extra inning games on matinee days. Keep the fans in the stadium until about 6 PM would be just fine thank you.

I would not be denied, however. The mountain bike gods somehow made 696/96 heading west flow somewhat good so once we escaped the Lodge, I got to my truck, did some creative maneuvers and before I knew it, I was at Brighton Recreation Area. It was worth the effort as a fine night it was.

Trail Head
 

Badwater Bass Club Opener - Pontiac Lake

A new Badwater fishing season started yesterday on Pontiac Lake under optimal conditions. Based on my preseason showing (and the fact that I've never won a session in the history of the club), I made the business decision to opt out of the big bag/big fish kitty. A fine decision it was as the only fish hitting my line were just shy of the 14 inches needed for weigh-in. Skinny Spurge (no sarcasm, the fella lost a lot of weight) took home the big bag money and Jeff V. brought in a two-plus pounder for big fish.

Fish on BBC.

Trail Head

minutes prior to the session start

 

big fish

13 3/4" - story of my day



The Stringer Kings out of Hartland

Good To Be Fat Sometimes



I always thought the term "Fat Tire" referred to all mountain bikes (and good beer) but I saw in person last night at Island Lake what a "fat" tire really looks like. This guy's bike had tires that were roughly double the width of a normal mountain bike tire. He said he rides it all year round, snow included.

Once you go fat, you never go back.
Trail Head

Highland Scots Slaying On St. Clair

five pounder

We had three-fifths of the starting lineup for the undefeated 1980-81 8th grade HJH basketball team in attendance Sunday on Lake St. Clair. As on the basketball court, these former Scots had the mojo going. Jim M. gets the award for most coverage, or as I like to call it, hogging (ha). If there was a fish out towards the east side of the boat, one of his poles was going to get it. And get it he did with about 20+ fish among us with Jim topping all with a five pounder (pictured). He also gets the award for best fall as gravity took him down late in the morning; a penalty for excessive multi-tasking I guess.

Good fishing, good friends, good to be in the U.S.A!

Trail Head

the Multi-Tasker!

this lake has it all

Meeting My Quota For Charity

 

I think I'm going to change the name on my fishing shirt to "One" as that is my daily output these days and today's no-mo tournament at Proud Lake Recreation Area was no exception. I was close to breaking through for that elusive second fish but the whopper that was on early in the session fled for safety before I could bring him in.

Needless to say, I didn't win the tournament but a charity gets some cash and I had a soul cleansing day on the the lake so all was not lost.

Trail Head

chilly start

Saturday registration

rule discussion

meeting the quota

results (yeah, my 15" total was just a bit short...)



Chickamauga Lake - Week Wrap

The boats are coming in for the last time this afternoon as the search for the 10 pound bass will have to wait for another day. Missing the whopper isn't the end of the world, however, as views like below were the norm. A beautiful body of water.

Trail Head

some beautiful docks (nice creativity on this one)

chair lift up to the house

dream house

 

who needs a "no trespassing" sign?

cool tiki bar

Chickamauga Lake - Our Crib

Fishing woes aside, we can't complain about the lodging and the meals (thanks for supplying the lasagna Linda O. - good stuff). Seven dudes have managed to not stink up this sweet place too bad.

Trail Head 

front lawn



screened in porch looking out the front

every kitchen needs some Jim Beam