Sunday, July 27, 2008

Summer time on the river

I was glad to get a chance to take Tate to the hunting lease on Friday night. I don't really like to tent camp (too hot, can't take my 3 showers, dirt in the tent, etc), but, I want Tate to get to do it as we've always stayed in our "cabin" before. -Not that that's exactly upscale but at least you have a bed and a window unit a/c, right?

So, we arrived at the lease around 6 pm after eating a subway sandwich in the car and telling every story I could think of to Tate who loves to hear a story. I sighted in my new Zeis scope on "Tate's" rifle (which he still thinks is too loud to shoot) and was happy w/ the result. Saw a fair amount of doves in the BIG field. Saw a very large buck who was still in velvet near my hunting area. Caught about 15 perch w/ Tate to use as bait in the river. Put the john boat in the river (forgot the plug and had to use a stick) and paddled to the trot lines. Bait the hooks and went to set up the tent by the river. Did this (easier than I thought) and then fished w/ Tate in the river. Put out 3 rods but did not get a bite. Had lunchables for dinner and put Tate to bed at 10pm. I think the river needs some rain to get the fishing back to being good again. I could not sleep with all the river noise (frogs, racoons, coyotes, cows, etc, etc). Slept a couple of hours and got up at sunrise.

Had a great drive of the lease at sunrise (68 degrees) and saw many deer, about 12 turkeys, a group of hogs w/ babies, 2 blue herons, and a fair amount of doves. Checked trot lines and only had 1 gar fish. Fished from boat for about 1/2 hour w/ no luck. Tate's patience w/ fishing is great!

Had a terrible time getting the boat up the bank by myself (won't do that again). Packed up tent and went to fish beaver lake. Was glad to see Tate shooting his BB gun very well (left handed). He was almost hitting the carp and gar fish. We did well on the catfish here. I think the baby fish I put in here grew up!

Found a huge 8 pt buck and a large cow dead in Pocdock creek (stuck in the mud). Left around noon (93 degrees).