Fishin report for Lake Iwanttobethere..

Bobby Bass · February 23, 2011

Silent Sunday was not so silent this past Sunday. With winds howling off the lake at a steady fifty miles an hour the wind chimes sounded like a five year old beating a pinata with a baseball bat. Lucky for me all the shingles held tight to the roofs and I came away with no damage. Now down the road they were not so lucky and shingles peeled off the garage and ended up out on the road. Today Hammering Hank and Skinny were seen on the roof hanging a big blue tarp. South of us and miles away snow fell and no one was bragging about how much fell. This time of year you can have your snow we just want it to melt and lets get on with getting to spring. Shanties came off the ice with help from the wind, some not to pretty like. A couple of guys from down south tried to drag portables out on the ice only to be seen chasing them later.

That time of winter when cabin fever is something to think about, normally reserved for outdoors men and fishermen it can even strike the womenfolk. While us guys are out fishing and avoiding the Honey Do List in the summer the ladies are moving from yard sale to yard sale. Of course this time of year the traditional yard sale is nothing but an idea for warmer weekends yet to come. The local dollar store does fill in the gap some as the ladies walk through the over flowing aisles of dollar goods. They come back home with bags of stuff that we have no use for but eh it was only a dollar or even better yet two fer a dollar. If there was a dollar store for fishermen that would be quite the hit I think. Just think how many guys would be standing shoulder to shoulder looking over table tops covered in plastic baits or assortments of fishing hooks. Would not be a big deal brushing shoulders as guys do it on the opening weekend of steelhead fishing and think nothing of it.

Coming down to the last few days to go chase fish for awhile, then maybe a few days fixing things in the shanty but most of that work will be put on a do list for later in the summer. Shanties will be hauled to the side of the garage and a tarp tied down on top of them for some. Newer ones will make it inside the garage to a section reserved just for them. The boat might have to be taken out so the shanty can get stuck back in the corner then the boat rolled back in place and next in line to be used. Guys will then stand with hands in pockets looking at the boat and the John Deere calendar on the garage wall and ponder how the next few months will be spent.

Boat show has come and gone, football season is nothing but a memory. Nothing on TV to watch as you have already see the reruns of the good shows already. Over on the table sits the Honey Do List and you find yourself glancing from time to time in it's direction. No snow to shovel, the melt that was here last week took care of the snow along the edges of the driveway. Sidewalk is bare and even the solar lights that you forgot to pickup last fall now are clear of snow and actually work. Just the other day the wife asked when I put them out. For me it is still to cold to work in the greenhouse although I should go in there and do some cleaning. Some firewood needs to be cut and maybe some splitting. Branches have already been picked up from around the yard and tossed in a pile in the fire pit.

So maybe I am thinking a little about cabin fever today, not a lot just a passing thought. But I can always head to the workshop and pretend to clean. Once I get a little fire going in the pot belly stove it don't take much to distract me from what ever I went out there for. Maybe I'll start oiling reels or sharpen some hooks. I have been meaning to build a new rod rack and then I still have some plugs that I made last spring and didn't get around to painting. Better plan a trip to the hobby shop for some paint, I am sure there are some new colors out. Well I guess I do have some things to do, busy busy busy here at Lake Iwanttobethere {250,996}

Bobby Bass · February 24, 2011

Talk at the Lodge this afternoon was of course about gas prices. Even here at Lake Iwanttobethere we have to have gas for the boats and the occasional lawn mower. Even though writing or even talking about gas prices borders on politics, which as you know is not to be discussed at the Lodge we do have to address them. First off there ain't much you can do about the price. Got to have gas, so ya got to pay for it. The stinker is other people telling ya you have to tighten your belt and conserve more. Well I have been conserving for years and their ain't much more conserving I can do. More than a few fellows have the same attitude around here. I didn't get this far down the road of life to have to stop running my boat or let my grass grow tall. Every body is so busy blaming everyone else that no one is busy looking for answers.

So as we sat around the old wood tables at the Lodge and we tossed around ideas of what we are going to do to get by this summer. No way in hell are we going to stop fishing or cruising for tourist babes. Nor am I going to be seen pushing one of them push mowers around my yard. I am not going to be using one of them scythe either, only the grim reaper uses them in these parts. I am going to enjoy burning up that fifty cents of mixed gas in the mower and take in deep the blue smoke pouring out the muffler. Of course this may not be political correct but you know what, I don't really care. I can really only take care of my "Back Forty" and that is what I am going to do. I am going to go catch fish and some of them are not going to get return to the water, I am going to release them into the grease along with some home grown tatters and eat them along side a salad I picked from my garden. I am going to keep teaching my grand kids how to catch fish and eat them, how to shoot grouse and fry them. How to make tomatoes last well into summer and pick apples deep into the fall. Now livin at the lake my problem may be just the opposite of yours. I may have to cut down my trips into the big city but that has to be better then cutting down my trips to the lake.

I might have to take the old row boat and travel by water to the Lodge to save some gas, but you know I will be trolling when I am doing it. Several of the guys are already changing plans for far off fishing trips like they had to a few years ago. But you know what them guys said? They told stories of how they caught just as many fish here at Lake Iwanttobethere as they did at them fancy lakes where the resorts put candy on your pillows. Nothing wrong with them resorts, everybody's got to make a livin but you know there are resorts a lot closer to home that you can go to. I always find it funny that when I take the Puddle Humper out on the highway there are boats going in the direction I just came from. Makes you wonder where they came from to go to a place where I just left. Well, I'll get off my peach crate now. Very seldom do I ever get up on it and just ramble on. But after buying gas today and ordering oil for the cabin and then come home and listen to the do gooders on the TV calling for tightening our belts and reading "Ten ways you can save gas" I had to get the crate from the garage and stand on it.

Edd and Eddie the squirrels watched from the power line to my oration, They did not applaud at the end but then again they did stay for the entire performance. Maybe even the squirrels are getting fed up with saving saving and saving their nuts only to find most of them gone come spring. From Lake Iwanttobethere {251,579}

Bobby Bass · February 26, 2011

I was day dreaming today, it happens from time to time. I was thinking back on one of them almost perfect end of the day fishing casts. You know the kind, everyone seems to have at least one of them a season. I was in a quiet bay here on Lake Iwanttobethere, it was late June and I was still fishing well after nine at night. Not a cloud in the sky and the sun was gaining speed as it set into the far away water of a distance shoreline. Water was warm but the air was even warmer, barely a breeze and the water looked like glass reflecting my rod over it. I had just dropped down a top water off the point when farther down the bank I heard a loud slurp. I looked for the tell tale rings of water in the direction where the slurp came from. There to far to cast to several small rings of water each inside the other fanned out till they disappeared, absorbed by the water.

Fishing a devil's horse, a top water bait in a frog pattern I tugged it a few times and slowly worked it back to my boat, the Puddle Humper. I kept glancing back down the shoreline where I had heard the slurp. Checking the sun that was starting to disappear into the lake and the growing shadows along the shore I was figuring I was just going to make it to the spot for a cast or two. Looking down at the carpet I heard before I saw the large splash down the shoreline. No little waves this time, it was like someone had thrown a large rock into the lake and I did look towards shore to see if someone had. No one there other than a couple of ducks swimming the other way with some haste. Another quick check of the sun's position and I decide to point the trolling motor in the direction of the splash and like a harpooner on the bow of his boat I set off in chase.

Before I even made it to with in casting range I started to back down on the trolling motor. Slowly I glided in with the blade on the motor turning just enough to steer. Finally I came to a stop and barely any waves from along the sides of the Puddle Humper left her. With rod at ready and the bail open I waited and watched. I figured I had time for several random casts or just one good cast, I had already decided to make the one good cast and waiting for the fish to show me where she was.

A Loon called out in the growing dusk, it's call echoing through the small bay. The woof woof of a dog on a dock answered the Loon back. I waited, standing as still on the bow as a heron does in the shallows. There out in front, something just does not look right, a bulge in the water or maybe just a dark shadow but enough that I am arching out a long cast before I can think to much about it. The line curls off the reel to travel through the eyelets before becoming a straight line connected to my lure. The lure lands right on the spot and the line lays down on the water behind it. A few slow turns of the handle and the line is straight, floating on top of the water. Coiled and leaning forward I wait and wait some more. The rings from my devil horse fan out and when they are just about gone I twitch the rod making a few small rings that grow on the surface replacing the ones that are already gone.

The Loon calls again, louder it seems, the dog does not answer. Behind me I hear a splash and I turn just in time to see a hole in the water that a fish just left. In an instant I am thinking maybe I over shot my fish or she swam up the shore. If I reel in quickly enough I can still launch a cast in front of her before she swims away. I lift the rod and start to reel only to feel weight on the line. Looking for my lure it is gone from the surface, the line is tight and that lovely sound is heard. The drag starts to sing for a second, stops and sings again in the quiet of the sumers night. The rod is bowed and I grin as I did throw to the right spot. Thinking I should really set the hook I snap the rod back only to watch and then duck as my lure comes buzzing back at me. A boil on the water winks back at me as the fish is done playing with me and has had enough of my lure.

A single curse word escapes my lips, not loud and not really in anger, more of a acknowledgment that I had been bested. I reel in the line and untangle it from around my rod tip. The sun is almost gone into the water and the sky grows darker. With the rod laying on the deck I go and sit back in the seat and turn the key to start the motor. I will have just enough of the fading light to make it to the landing. Sometimes the best fishing memories are not always of the ones you catch, but of the ones that got away, from Lake Iwanttobethere {251,922}

Bobby Bass · March 1, 2011

Days continue to lengthen here at Lake Iwanttobethere, sun makes it's way across the sky a little higher every day. Snow melts under the hill where the big blue spruce grows and green grass has staked a claim. Of course the grass is from last fall but with the sun shine and warming temperatures the grass will start to shake off winter and grow. Edd and Eddie the squirrels are out and the other night I smelled the strong smell of skunk in the air. I quickly located Bud and Barney to make sure they had not found the source of the smell.

Shanties are off the lake but there are still a few fishermen hauling out five gallon buckets or pulling sleds to the point off Root Beer Island. Crappies are still biting and there are guys who will continue to chase them till the ice is gone. Quiet time for the farmers and they are seen more around town, Down at the general feed store they sit and chat in the sunshine. Dusty trucks with straw covered beds sit quietly in the loading dock. Heavy boots and parkas have found their way back in to the closet and flannel jackets and baseball caps have returned. Leather boots scrape the wood decking of the sidewalk in the front of the mill. The wood bench rubbed clean of any paint from countless hours of bib covered bottoms usually has someone sitting on it. Place looks just like it does in mid July, only it is about fifty degrees colder.

Now that February has come and gone we can work on making March disappear. A few weeks out from Maple syrup time. If the weather holds true the trees will start getting tapped in these parts come the middle of the month. Chuck will be busy and the lights will be on into the wee hours of the morning as he will be boiling down the sap. He has already started to haul wood down to the building, piling it along side the southern wall to get some more drying time from the sunshine that hits there. The clanking of pots will be a common sound in the afternoon and Pepper will be over to supervisor along with Elmer. Once bottling starts I will be over to help some, my pay will be bottles of Lake Iwanttobethere syrup.

Vicki at the Masterbaiters shop has been working hard but with shorten hours. Now she will enjoy the quiet time and will be seen shopping around town. No more opening the shop at six in the morning and answering the phone after dark. During the next few weeks the winter stuff will find it's way into boxes and storage The summer stuff will regain it's place on the front shelf's and spring orders will start arriving. Walking around the store has to be done slow like with all the boxes on the floor and cleaning going on. I think she does it on purpose that way, makes you look at more stuff as you shuffle your way around. Of course most guys are hooked as soon as they come in and hear the sound of the bubblers in the minnow tanks. Then having the furnace kick on and the warm air moves across the wall of lures and they move catching your eye. You don't stay in business as long as she has without knowing all the little tricks.

On the home front I have pretty much run out of excuses and have had to commit to a project on the Honey Do List. The den is my project of choice and I have been sitting quietly in my chair in the center of it. The wife asked what I was doing and I told her I was remodeling the den but I was first doing it in my head to make sure it works out all right. She told me she was way ahead of me and drop down a bunch of awful colored paint chips from the General store in my lap. I know she is using this as motivation as I took them all and ran them through the shredder. I did drag the big garbage can into the room and started to sort through some old fishing magazines on the bottom of the bookcase. I got sidetracked as I started to read some old stories. This may take awhile, from Lake Iwanttobethere {252,916}

Bobby Bass · March 3, 2011

How to fight cabin fever, get yourself a project! So I am now starting to remodel the den here at the cabin, has been at least fifteen years since it was last painted and I have come to an agreement with the wife that just washing walls don't cut it anymore. Trouble is there is so much stuff in here that I am having a hard time even starting to clean it out. Take yesterday, I started to clean off the top shelf on one of the book cases and found a forgotten small cufflinks case with some old silver coins in it. Well, a few hours later and surfing Internet coin sites I was ready to put the coins away. Two hours lost there. Next was several boxes of old floppy disks for the computer, after calling around to see if anyone still even had a computer to use the disks in they were destroyed and added to the garbage can. A few more hours spent on them. I forgot about the wheat pennies I also found and then going through the jar of pennies on the floor to see if I had any more wheat pennies in there. Made a note to myself to go to the bank and cash in the pennies in the jar and stop off at the Masterbaiters Shop to spend the money from the pennies on a fishing lure or two.

So an afternoon later and I had almost cleaned off one shelf in the bookcase. This is going to take awhile. I did manage to do a few other things and of course I did notice a few things. One thing I noticed that sitting in the den working away that the sound of the mixer in the kitchen sounded an awful lot like a dentist drill. Now that might be because I had recently been at the dentist and the sound was fresh in my mind or it might be because the wife was making cookies. Cookies can lead to going to the dentist at least that is how I connected the two.

Men are lucky that we don't have Menbones! I say this because my two dogs Bud and Barney will do anything for a dog bone. We keep our dog bones on a shelf in the kitchen in plain sight of anyone who sits at the table, including the dogs. Whenever we have any company over they usually sit on the table side closes to the shelf with the bones. The dogs will then work the visitors for a bone until they get one. Of course they could have already had two or three or five already that day but they will make it look like they have had none. If that does not work they will come in the den and get me. Doing a Lassie routine I will be distracted from what ever I am doing and have to follow them to the kitchen to see what has happen to poor Timmy. Thinking they need to be let outside I will head to the door only to find them back by the shelf in various positions of begging.

I will get the handshaking paw outstretched, the sitting pretty, the stupid dog smile with matching tail wagging. The scratching of the shelf or the just plain sad eye routine that they are starving and really need a bone bad look. Like a sucker I will fall for one of the tricks and give them each a bone. Usually this is when the wife says that she just gave them one not five minutes ago. They will take their bones and go their separate ways. Bud usually to the living room rug and Barney down the hall to one of his hiding places. The bone will be crushed, eaten then crumbs lick from the floor and paws.

The dogs never help themselves to bones, even if they wanted to they could open the box and help themselves. No, they let the cats do it for them. The two little boys who are both now six year old tomcats have some kind of working agreement with the dogs. From time to time somehow the dog bone box will "Accidentally" be knocked off the shelf and the tomcats will pull bones out of the box, that is if they have not already fell out. The dogs will then take the bones but only if the cats have pulled them out of the box. Must be some kind of honor thing. I don't know what the cats get in return, but then they are cats. From Lake Iwanttobethere {253,369}

Bobby Bass · March 4, 2011

Sorry, I got sidetracked there on the men bone chain of thought I had going. I started to say that men are lucky that we don't have bone treats like dogs do. But then after thinking for awhile I realize I am wrong. Beer, men will do just about anything for a cold beer. Well anything that will last a few minutes or maybe a few hours. If you are trying to get someone to help stain your cabin for ya, beer ain't going to cut it. But if you are trying to get some help doing a brake job on the Dodge, a few beers will do it. Replacing some steps? Beer. Staining a deck? Beer, going to the dump? a beer before and a few beers after. Basically anything that involves breaking a sweat beer is the proper payment of said services.

Women use the lure or promise of a cold beer to get things done around the cabin. Usually they start off with "If you do this for me today you can have a cold beer when you are done" and just like the dogs with their bones we will sit up and beg for the beer. We have no pride, we will take our beer and gulp it down and then look for more. Can I hang another curtain rod for you? As we get older we sip our beers, making them last. We are old dogs and we know that if we sip our beer it will be longer before we have to do some stupid pet trick to get another. Some of us buy our own beer, but the key there is we had to go buy beer. As we all know beer is always better if it is given and someone else had to pay for it.

Some guys don't drink beer so you would think they are immune from the beer trick, no no the women of the world have other ways of getting their work done. They call it a "Promise" they promise to do something for you in return. The beer drinkers are better off, they get their beer right away. So anyway I am working on the den, cleaning and organizing. The wife is not home, she has gone and left me with the promise of beer if I should get the room empty. As you can see it's not working, from Lake Iwanttobethere {254,159}

Bobby Bass · March 8, 2011

I don't usually do this but I want to send a big thanks and a shout out to Mike who is stationed overseas. He has written to me that he is a big fan of Lake Iwanttobethere and the guys at the Lodge which reminds him a lot of his uncles. Sitting in a world of sand this brings home a little closer to him. So Mike here is what is going on at Lake Iwanttobethere today.

Some sun shinning here at the lake which means it will be snowing tomorrow, at least that is what the leggy Stormy Clearwater is forecasting. I mention leggy since ankles have started to show up around town again. The warming weather has the fur boots being put in the closet and shoes are being worn again on the dry sidewalks around town. This month we are scheduled to have a Town Hall meeting and already there is talk in the coffee shops about topics. Gas is on everyone's lips and not from the food but from the rising prices down at the Gas-N-Go The Lodge has had an idea on the back burner for a long time and is now prepared to help out with transportation around town. Starting when the ice goes out the Lodge is going to offer a Lake Bus to transport members to and from the Lodge by the waters of Lake Iwanttobethere.

The Lake in the summer already has it mail and morning paper delivered this way so we at the Lodge think it should go over well. We think a mid afternoon run to take guys home who spent the night at the Lodge and then a later afternoon run along with a closing run would be a good start. The guys have a pontoon in the Lodges garage which is undergoing some remodeling. Well maybe that is not the correct word. Maybe fabrication might fit it better. Hammering Hank and Marv head the committee working on the water bus which needs to have a name. I do know they are working on some rather large rod holders that can double as keg holders. The fare has not yet been determined as they don't know if they are going to put the fifteen horse Johnson or the two hundred horse Mercury on it. That might be the reason for the fabrication. Also there is a question of charging a fare and then them all state guidelines go into effect and so on and so on. We also don't know if we should paint it up in bright colors to attract tourists and there fore generate more ridership or go with a stealth look to get members home without their wife's seeing them.

Speaking of fabrication there has been a lot of clanking and sparks flying in the garage next door. Chuck has been working on a project that has been kick started by rising fuel costs. With Dug and Elmer helping they are in the midst of converting an old steamer truck into a Maple syrup boiler/rider. The idea being that Chuck will drive the old steamer truck powered by the boiling sap with the byproduct being maple syrup and good gas mileage. Another byproduct will be the smell of boiling sap as he drives by which he hopes will boost sales. Just another way here at Lake Iwanttobethere that we are trying to help out with the gas problem.

Cleaning of the den continues and I am making some progress, packed up all the books in the past few days. Some will be donated to Marv's bookstore and others will be placed on new shelves in the remodeled den. Next up will be moving pictures and trying to find a place to relocate the computer. So Mike this is what is happening here around the lake. I hope to see you soon and I will buy ya a Hamms at the Lodge and shake your hand for what you are doing. I will say hi to your uncle and try to keep him out of the syrup truck till at least we know that it is safe to ride in. From Lake Iwanttobethere {256,303}

Bobby Bass · March 9, 2011

Lodge was a pretty busy place today. The orders had arrived at the Masterbaiters shop and there were so many of the boxes and cases that they were moved to the Lodge for pickup. Orders had been placed several weeks ago and I guess I almost forgot all about them. As a matter of fact I may have forgotten what I ordered but when I saw the different colored boxes I remembered. Two tables were set up side to side and the cases were stacked behind, leaning against the wall.

Fishermen and hunters would eye the cases and try to pick up their orders at lunch. Some guys just blew the rest of the work day away waiting to be in the front of the line. It was not till around three when the first of the gals arrived and started going through manila envelopes looking at order forms and price lists. No sooner had they open the small little metal cash box when there was the hustle of guys making two lines and wallets and checkbooks were open.

The snow did not fall as forecasted, Stormy Clearweather was at the Lodge doing a piece for the TV station that she works for part time in the next town over. Her cameraman, Cole Front was with her shooting footage of the cases waiting to be open behind the tables. Stormy interviewed a few fishermen about their orders and they replied that it is just something you have to have when fishing season comes around. Elmer was interviewed and he said he had ordered two cases of the little ones and likes to hide them in the basement. One or sometimes two of the boxes will be in his fishing tackle box for the beginning of steelhead season.

Off to the side a debate was going on about which size and shapes were the best and how many should you have at one time. Finally the cases were open and guys started to pick up their orders of the small boxes. Beers were ordered, nothing better than dipping a Girl Scout thin mint in a Hamms beer. {256,577}

Bobby Bass · March 11, 2011

Well will ya look at that! I have the desk calendar here and we are already eleven days deep into March. My reckoning that puts us about two short months away from fishing season, give or take a few days. I took a drive around the lake today, was just kind of avoiding doing any work and I felt I needed to get in touch with nature. Hahah at least that is the line I gave the wife, you know refresh my inner batteries. So even though the sun was not really shinny out the red needle on the bass thermometer was still hovering right around the forty degree mark. I had to step around a few puddles of water from melting snow and avoiding slipping on ice hiding beneath the water.

Over by the greenhouse the snowmobile track that we use as a sidewalk has appeared. The heavy black rubber absorbing the sunshine has melted the snow around it. Banks are getting lower and more grass is appearing under the trees on the south side of the yard. Pretty quiet here at the lake as not to many ice fishermen around and unless you live here there is not to much cabin activity going on. A mess of woodpeckers are just inside the tree line. They sound like a bunch of lumberjacks hard at work just no swearing. A couple of big redhead peckers slam their heads into the wood and the echo carries out over the frozen water.

Figured it was time to give the Dodge a drive, don't want it to freeze into it's parking spot with the melting snow. Checked the oil and let it run for a while. I was thinking I might even add some gas, the stuff that is sloshing around in the tank is that under three dollar stuff. With some air added to a low tire a few minutes later I was idling down the road at a grouse hunting pace. A cigar between my fingers with the smoke curling out the cranked down drivers window. That time of year where there is not a whole lot of color in the woods. Lots of white from snow and birch trees, some green from pines and just a lot of gray from branches log ago empty of leaves. Where as in the summer driving down this stretch by the lake you can see but a few yards now you can see clear to the lake.

Ditch is full of snow and a few places where I know running water will flow are nothing but depressions. One side of the road is deep in snow while the other side is almost clear. Piles of last fall leaves and sticks are clearly seen. Pot holes are everywhere, some are empty others hold muddy snow melt water. Come morning they will be frozen again till the heat of day melts them again. Heat of day, if ya want to call forty degrees heat. But every day the sun stays up longer and in a few more days Daylight savings will be here. We will be fooled into thinking the days are longer and we have more time to do outdoor work.

As I slowly roll down the road I encounter no other traffic, So I drive down the middle letting the old Dodge drive itself. I find myself thinking that with all the leaves and grass down I should be able to spot a deer or two and I remember that I should have brought my camera with. Have to remind myself to do that and no sooner do I think it than a small doe appears out of nowhere standing in the ditch under some branches hanging low. She acts likes she does not see me so I do the same and roll right up beside her. Not ten feet away I come to a stop and sit in the Dodge watching her as she noses the dry leaves pushing them aside to get to the damp ground and green grass beneath. She must have found something there to eat because she acts like I am nothing more than something blocking her light. I watch and think about having the camera, would have been a nice picture. O well, from almost the middle of March here at Lake Iwanttobethere {257,264}

Bobby Bass · March 14, 2011

I had my big fish frying pan out yesterday so I decided to make pizza in it today, see how here..

Bobby Bass · March 15, 2011

Got busy around here for some reason the past few days, and that is good. Warming trend is continuing and we are making progress lowering the snow banks. Calling for sunshine several days this week and temperatures to rise as high as fifty! The wood box with old towels has found it's place by the back door of the cabin. The box of towels are there to wipe the soon to be muddy feet of Bud and Barney and the occasional wet feet of Pepper on her visits. No sound of dripping water from the eves, all the snow has melted and finally got rid of the ice dam that has been hanging on all winter. Potholes are becoming a problem but I expect that Frank the plow driver will have a busy week grading the area gravel roads. Even my daughter in the city was complaining about them, Told me she was in one of them big super warehouse box stores and her cart hit a few. I sure she was just kidding and it was nothing more than an expansion joint in the concrete floor. Monday and Tuesday were grandparent's day at the Lake Iwanttobethere grade school, kind of like career day, but just for us grand parents.

This is the first one that I have gone to as it is a new idea from the principal who transferred from the big city this year. It was a tad different then I expected it to be. On career day it can turn out to be a long day as some parents get to be long winded telling everyone what they do for a living and then use the day to "Network" Right away I could see grand parents day was going to be different, first day was grandma day and it seems that all the grandmas do is bake. So by the end of the day the kids were all sugared out from eating all the samples that the grandmas brought in.

Second day was grandpa day which started a lot different then grandma day. First off it looked like all the grandpa's had gotten together and wore the same uniform to school. A flannel shirt, kaki pants, suspenders and a belt, Well-worn soft leather boots and half of them had whitish beards. They stood outside in the hall with small little white foam cups that they sipped cold coffee from and took turns going in to stand in front of the class to give a brief presentation. A typical speech went something like this.

Hello, My name is Bobby and I am Steve's grand pa. I fish, any questions? The next grand pa would then take his turn and we were pretty much all done in less than an hour. Of course recess was held early as the principal though that this was going to last a lot longer than it did. After the grandma's he thought the grandpa's would take it to a third day. So with recess bell the kids and grandpa's headed to the playground. A kick ball game was started by the boys and the grandpa's joined in, holding their Styrofoam coffee cups and occasioning taking a few steps to kick the ball over the fence so the game could be stopped and the grandparents could rest.

Grand daughters took their grandpa's to the swings and the girls showed off to each other how much their grand dads were wrapped around their little fingers. Grandpas didn't mind a bit. Recess bell rang and kids return to class, grandpa's remained on the playground gathered in a few small circles. Still holding coffee cups they sipped and chatted. Stories were told and maybe some of them were of how they remember standing as kids on the same spot they stood now. A gust of wind rolls the kick ball off the picnic table, it bounces off the seat and rolls to the center of the first circle. One fellow in the other circle makes a loud challenge and the other's laff. Cups are set down on the table and hats pulled down tighter on balding heads. The ball is kicked and the game is on. Grand kids stand behind closed windows and one little girl says " That's my grand pa" from Lake Iwanttobethere {258,039}

Bobby Bass · March 20, 2011

Well, we all know mother nature is not done pulling our chain. Woke up this morning to a couple of inches of fresh snow on the ground and it even looks kind of pretty out. Then Barney and Bud came flying out the door and ran across the deck and hit the yard. In a few minutes there was not a clean white spot to be found as they quickly mixed up the new snow with the mud below. Shovel leans against the garage as I am betting the snow will melt before there will be a need to use it. Overcast day and no one is on the ice, at least as far as I can see from the dock. Chuck is up and I can hearing the clanking of buckets in the Maple building and smoke curling out from the chimney. A slight breeze is taking the smoke away from me so I can't even smell any of the sap cooking down.

No activity over at Elmers cabin. I can see a set of foot prints and a single set of dog prints from the back door to a clean spot where his truck was parked. Tire tracks head down the drive, it being silent Sunday I am guessing Elmer went down to open the bookstore. No birds flying, not even them pesky crows that have returned in force this past week. Spring is here officially as of today so the snowfall is no surprise.

Loopers are being caught off Mystery Creek and there have been trucks parked along the road for most of the week. Guys in waders work along the shore or will wade out to climb on the ice and fish from there. Someone always brings a small boat with just in case the ice moves away from shore. For now a couple of 2x10's span the open water where the ice is close to shore. Not for me, I weigh to much for them 2x10's I would just bow the board and sink into the icy water. Fish are being caught and they sure are pretty. Kamloops Rainbow Trout, known in these parts as Loopers is what some guys wait all winter too chase. A nice four pound fish is something to brag about and not many will turn down a dinner invite when they hear it is a looper.

Around town we are slowly making the transition to spring. Saint Patty's day has come and gone. The Lodge held it annual party and surprising how many of the Lodge members become Irish at least for the night. As is out tradition we held a booze buffet table where it was all you can drink. Morning breakfast special was potato pancakes served with butter and sugar along with a Guinness stout. An Irish stew simmered all day long and of course pints of green beer were served with platters of chicken wings. Green was the color of the day and some interesting clothing was worn by members. Some guys just went down to the locker room and just put on their plaid golfing attire. The fine fiddlers Fred and Fiona were on hand to play the bagpipes and after awhile most of us wished they had brought along their fiddles instead.

March madness is of course here, you can't have a bunch of guys in a lodge without some kind of betting going on. The TV is always on over in the corner and as long as no game conflicts with Elmer watching his soap opera it is pretty calm. Still one local team in hockey playing but we will not be able to see any of the games. We are just to far away from the big city to get a signal. We will just have to listen to the radio for updates. That new guy who is working with Stormy Clearweather, I think his name is Cole Front is a part time sportscaster so we may have an insider to feed us scores. I hear he is a fishermen also, so he can't be all that bad.

Well, that's it for here on the lake, Nursing a cold so I have not been out to much. Still working on getting stuff out of the den so I can start the remodeling. Still getting side tracked reading old magazines and sorting through stuff. Am making progress though and I suspect sometime this week I will be going off line while I have to reroute the cabin's network. Figure this is a good time of the year to do it as I have hardly any cabin fever at all! So from Lake Iwanttobethere enjoy the first day of Spring. {259,076}

Bobby Bass · March 22, 2011

If this the calm before the storm than this might just be a doozie! Already here at the lake the winds are banging things around. Forty miles an hour with gusts on top of that. Stormy Clearweather and Sunshine Ray are both predicting a blizzard to bury this part of the lake today into tomorrow. Like most guys and a lot of kids I was out running errands that I could have put off just so I could be in the weather. Down at the General Store Big Earl had to pull the lawnmowers back into the store and push the snow blowers back out from storage. The last of the snow shovels are stacked up against the wall with a cable running through the handles. Not that he is worried someone is going to take them, it is to stop the wind from blowing them down main street. A few bags of sand and salt are stacked alongside along with some long handled smelt nets that have come in early.

Windy the Windmill is spinning like a Ferris wheel with a turbo. Good thing the guys from the power company were out last week to service it. It still runs quietly and unless you are looking in that direction you don't even notice it anymore. Now today the civil defense siren mounted on top of the Lodge was suppose to be serviced and tested but I don't think even Skinny will try to go on the roof today. The wind chimes that are hanging under the eve just outside the Lodge deck doors are banging away. No quiet little dinging calling you to look at the lake they are more like someone throwing silver salutes into a garbage can.

Guys in parkas and rain gear and of course the duck hunters are happy to have a reason to wear their gear started showing up at the Lodge at lunch time. Pine trees are swaying and you have to fight to even hold your coffee mug out on the deck, just the way I like it! With nothing much going on, a board was quickly made on how much snow would fall and wagers were placed. Guys with plows on their trucks sat facing the windows with smiles on their faces, waiting. More snow, more plowing equals more fishing money come summer.

Bud and Barney both had come into town with me. The cooler temperatures and wind having dried up the mud so they could walk without getting covered in it. Sitting in the back of the Tahoe they both held their heads out the open back windows. At the Lodge they made the rounds getting ears rubbed and picking up a few dog biscuits. Now they stand out on the deck facing into the wind. Noses up high, I guess it is just like riding in the truck only they don't have to move at all. The strong winds brings in who knows what kind of scents to them. Ears flapping they dare each other to blink or turn away. Being brothers you know that ain't going to happen and they will stand there all day if I let them.

Crows pass by the Lodge deck, not flapping their wings they are driven by the wind going where ever it takes them. I idly wonder how long it will take them to fly back here. A few pigeons hideout on the lee side of the chimney out of the wind. I gather some snow and making a few snowballs toss them at the pigeons. They do nothing till I finally get one right in with them. They open their wings to move and the wind catches them and in a blink of an eye they are swept away. Rubbing my shoulder from the pain of not having thrown anything all winter I smile to myself, Dang pigeons will be gone for at a least a little while. Well time for lunch and the storm is officially supposed to start here in two more minutes. Guess I better get ready for it, from Lake Iwanttobethere {259,713}

Bobby Bass · March 27, 2011

Peace and quiet, just like a silent Sunday should be. Our big blizzard came and went and left us with.. About an inch of new snow. Across the lake there were reports of up to ten inches of snow but it never made it across to us here. But the wind was something, gusts up seventy miles an hour and for about thirty-six hours it was a constant thirty mile an hour breeze. Was so windy that most of the birds were standing in the trees with one wing around the trunk and the other holding onto their tail feathers. Took several days for the pigeons to make it back to the roof of the Lodge and they looked tired at best. A lot of branches down and Hammering Hank and Skinny were busy collecting them from the park and the hillside below the Lodge. Back at the cabin the fire pit is stacked high with branches and when the snow melts a little more I will put some flame to it and enjoy the heat and the crackle of a good outdoor fire.

Temperatures have fallen and I think we are behind the Spring curve. Going to have sunshine for the next several days and that makes a difference. With the wind all but gone and sunshine in your face sitting out on the deck is almost bearable. I have noticed that the deer are coming out of hiding and when the sun is setting you once again have to keep an eye out for the deer along the sides of the road. Landing below the Lodge is quite a mess as the wind did throw some water up on shore and ice covers everything. The sun is making quick work of melting it though and soon the walkers will be back down there making their rounds. Already guys in pickups pull close to the landing at noon and park for awhile. I am sure they are hoping for ice to melt quicker and thinking of fishing while they eat their lunch while parked at the launch.

More grass is showing or should I say more bare spots where grass will be growing are showing. Down at the General Store Big Earl has once again put the snow thrower back in storage and rakes and shovels now sit on display outside the main door. Long handled smelt nets lean against the wall and a small sign directs you inside to where the seines are located. Looper fishermen are back fishing off Mystery Creek and the ice has moved out well away from shore. The 2x10 that was there is long gone. Hopefully someone picked it up.

Easter is a month away but I have a feeling this next month will move rather quickly by. Opening day for baseball is here and already there is talk in the Lodge of taking a road trip to the big cities to take in a ball game. Reed's bio-disel RV just needs a little cleaning and we are already stocking up enough cooking oil to get us down their and back. It has been two years since our last trip and we are pretty sure that all the security guys will have forgotten our faces by now. Last of the green beer is gone at the Lodge, guess we might have ordered two more kegs than were needed. But then again they were all drank up so nothing went to waste.

Some more ice was cut for a special event we hope to hold this summer. We went and cut a bunch of blocks that are only about ten inches thick. These are stored in the ice house buried in sawdust to be used later. One of our new members said that as a kid in the summer he remembered taking ice blocks and draping a rug on it and then riding it down the grass covered hills. Well we have ice and we certainly have a nice steep hill here in front of the Lodge so we figured this was a no brainer. We will add some beer to the mix and a hot summer's day and we put it on the calendar. So from a quiet day here at the Lodge enjoy your day, from Lake Iwanttobethere {262,646}

Bobby Bass · March 29, 2011

Laughing Day! That is what my youngest granddaughter calls Silent Sunday. If you have been reading about the lake you know of the tradition of Silent Sunday. Sometimes it is very hard to stay quiet and not talk on Sundays but from time to time a few words do slip out. The grand kids have all grown up around silent Sunday and know they might as well give up trying to get me to talk on that day. But that does not mean they don't still try! As time passes by even Lake Iwanttobethere has to change. Now with computers and lap tops common around town the new cell phones were not to far behind. There has even been some talk of building a cell tower to cover this end of the lake better. The Lodge was made an offer, since we sit on the highest hill to be the site but we have declined. With windy the windmill and our CB tower we don't want the hill behind the Lodge to look like some city antenna farm by adding a cell tower.

The new cell phones have text messaging, the kids say they are going to get me one so then I can just text to them on Sundays. We had a sit down and I flat out told them that I did not want one of them phones and texting was not an option. I had to explain to them what Silent Sunday is all about. Not talking is just part of it. Silent Sunday is suppose to be a day you can have to yourself and others should either do the same or respect that you want a day to yourself. I have mentioned in the past how back in the day Silent Sunday was a common day event though it was only a half a day long. Menfolk and their ladies would drive into town first in horse drawn buggy's and then in cars or dusty pickups. Church was first on the list and then the ladies would gather and catch up on what ever ladies talk about. Kids would play kick the can or maybe get a ball game up. Teenagers would form two groups one of boys and the other of girls and then dare each other to visit the other group.

Men would head for the big willow along the stream and someone would take a jug from the cool waters of the stream that had been placed there the night before. Out of sight of the women and out of ear shot of the kids the men would lean against the tree or sit at the well-worn picnic table that had found it's way to the shade of the tree. Passing the jug they would take turns cradling the jug in the crook of their arm and take long pulls of the cool liquid. Depending on who had hid the jug it might have been dandelion wine or ale or sometimes even some shine. You never really knew till you stopped drinking and then tasted what was left in your mouth. The jug would make a second trip around the circle and some would take but a sip while others would take a long pull.

The men would sit quietly, nothing needed to be said. Working six days on the farm milking cows and tending to crops an afternoon doing nothing was a just reward. From time to time a comment was made, some might even call it a joke these days. The men would laff like men do, deep and from the belly. The sound would carry up from the stream bank and the ladies would hear it and smile to themselves. The kids would ignore it as they were laffing between themselves. The grand kids sat on the deck and listen to me talk, The grand daughter than stood up and announced that laffing On Sunday is OK then. Chuckling I said laffing is good on any day, but especially good on Silent Sundays.. From Lake Iwanttobethere {263,682}

Bobby Bass · March 30, 2011

Getting ready to unplug the computer today, remodeling the Lodge office and I have gone as far as I can go with the desk in the way. It has been 20 years since the office was last done and after two weeks of just getting it empty and having the dumpster parked just outside the window I can agree that it needs a little work. Not a total gut but walls are going to be open up to reroute cable lines and some heating issues are going to be addressed. Some new lighting and ceiling and more shelving to be added. For now the computer will be relocated but I will try and stay off it so I can get the remodel done. Will be back up and I hope it will be with a story of how things went smoothly. Wish me luck, Bobby

Bobby Bass · April 5, 2011

HIYA from Lake Iwanttobethere. Remodeling is moving at a snails pace, mostly because I keep changing plans or am offered ideas from people who will not be using the room but yet they feel they need to tell me how it SHOULD be. The change in plans are all for the best as the longer I sit and look at a problem the more ways I think of to fix them. Eventually I find the correct solution to the problem. I have been making shopping visits to the lumber yard and to the General Store. I have not been doing to much buying though, contrary to the way my wife shops. You see you can shop without having to spend money. In part my defense has been the weather as we have gotten high winds, snow and rain mix the past several days. Don't want to be hauling carpet and ceiling tile in wet weather.

The snow pile that was up and around the red dodge has all but disappeared. This also meant that I had to go see Dan at the auto parts store and buy a new battery for it. One of those things that was on my Spring do list. So a new battery in the Dodge and she started right up, burning that old cheap gas from last fall. So today found me down at the General Store, they to are in the middle of a remodel as they are changing the store around from winter to spring. Always nice to go into the General Store and actually have a purpose. Makes all that time wandering the store looking to spend no money worth while now. I made quick work of picking up some screws and hinges for the new cabinet I am building, A quart of stain and some sandpaper that was on sale, can never have enough sandpaper.

Place was actually pretty busy, met several fellow Lodge members who were checking out clearance items. Couple of guys were scattered on chairs in the boot aisle trying out some winter boots. A few more looking over a new tractor in the garden center. Ice fishing aisle had a few more guys with carts looking over 1/64 oz jigs. I don't know how many they were planning to buy. Back in the garden section and right next to the animal supply section a few more guys were standing and chatting by the baby chicks. Several empty hundred gallon metal water tanks sat on the floor with netting over the tops and heat lamps on and pointed down inside. The quiet peep peep of chicks can be heard. I took a peek and saw nothing in the tank that said ducklings.

Couple of high school kids are working in the fishing department, Hats down low and buds in their ears I can hear faint music as they work on stocking pegboard from a cart filled with fishing lures. Boxes of peg hooks are scattered on the floor and you have to walk around keeping an eye out for things that at my age want to come out and trip ya. A pallet of marine batters sits half empty already and I give a passing thought to how old the battery in the Puddle Humper is. I look over a replacement LED trailer light kit but put it back on the rack, I am here to shop for the room. I pay Barb at the desk and head to the lumber yard to pick up a couple of oak boards I had called in for. Looking over the boards I reject one and have to go out to the pile and find a replacement. Into the back of the Dodge it goes and I make the drive home I am already figuring how many pieces of trim I am going to be able to mill out of the wood.

As for the great outdoors here at the Lake I did notice today a few lazy bald eagles working their way northward. Perhaps it is not fair to call them lazy as in reflection they have been flying for a long time. As the weather improves I am sure the sky will show more and more birds winging their way overhead. I am looking forward to not hearing the sound of the furnace turning on and sleeping with the bedroom window open. Warmer days are coming, we just have to be a little patience. From Lake Iwanttobethere have a good day. {266,770}

Bobby Bass · April 10, 2011

Awe the sweet smell of wood smoke in Spring, along with wet grass, mud and several hundred pounds of used dog food. Actually the mix is a lot better than the stale cabin air of the last few months. Weather has been pretty decent this past week and the yard has been raked and the fire pit has had a fire going most afternoons. The broken branches and the odd scrape of wood not deemed useable for anything have found their way to the fire. Deck furniture has been set up but cushions remain in storage. Bug candles sit on the table top just in case they are needed. Already a few wieners have been burned over the fire and they tasted just fine to me.

Robins search through the grass and a few small bunnies have been seen along the tree line. Not straying to far from where I am guessing their mother is at. For now Bud and Barney have ignored them choosing to spend their time lying on the deck in the sunshine. The only time they move is when the shade covers them and they have to roll over to get back into the sunlight. Ice is pulling away from the shore but when you stand on the dock you are greeted by the cold coming off the ice still. Geese in twos and threes fly high over the lake, their honking quiet from the distance. Elmer told me on his way to town the other morning that he saw three baby skunks at the end of the drive. Another reason to keep an eye on Bud and Barney, you would think at their age they would have learned to stay clear but...

Hammering Hank and Skinny have been working down in the park. The hockey boards are all down and back in storage till next winter. We are still looking for our first sixty degree day and some of the old timers will be asking why the bocce courts are not ready when it comes. County street cleaners came through yesterday. Main Street is cleared of sand and Big Earl has traded his shovel for his corn straw broom. He stands outside the main door of the General Store greeting customers. Rakes and long handled smelt nets lean against the wall behind him and yellow tags flutter in the breeze hanging from the handles of not one but two new lawn mowers.

Last night or actually early this morning a band of thunderstorms rolled over the lake. Not having the swing set up I just stayed in bed and listen to the rolling thunder and saw the flashes of lightning through the half drawn curtains. Barney who is not a real big fan of thunder jumped in bed and tried to lay as close as he could next to me. First real rain storm of the new year and it was a good one. I did get up after awhile and crack the bedroom window open. I was greeted with a little spray and the deep smell of a spring rain. With the window now open I got back in bed and Buddy joined the gathering. Nice to hear the pounding rain coming off the roof and hitting the deck. The dogs both pressed up next to me and Buddy being Buddy was soon back to sleep and snoring.

This morning finds the ground soaked and what little patches of snow that were left have been washed away. The air is heavy and smells of woods and there is a breeze off the lake that is chilling to the bare skin. Looks like more weather is on it's way and I debate on bring out the cushions for the covered swing. I think I will wait till it gets a little warmer. From a silent Sunday here at Lake Iwanttobethere. {269,045}

Bobby Bass · April 12, 2011

Garage doors are wide open all over here at Lake Iwanttobethere today! The red needle on the bass thermometer hanging on the wall of the cabin went right past sixty to stop just past seventy degrees. Was heading to the Lodge when I was sidetracked by the call of the swing and the warm breeze. Yesterday was another warm day and the cushions were taken out of storage and beat up some to get the fluff back into them before putting them on the chairs. Stormy Clearweather is calling for some rain showers overnight tonight so they will get put into the storage box to stay dry. After sitting for a spell I was thinking of going in and getting a cigar and really sitting back when the wife reminded me I am wasting daylight. So I got into the old Dodge with the new battery and headed down the road to the Lodge. No dust coming up off the road as the ground is still real damp and that means no dust came up through the holes in the floor boards.

Driving down the road I was traveling kind of slow, enjoying the view of the lake and not in any great hurry to get to the Lodge and the painting that was waiting for me there. From time to time I would slow even more to toss a wave at someone working on their driveway with a rake or checking the mailbox looking for seed catalogs. Just outside of town I pulled over to the shoulder to let a pickup pulling one big pontoon boat get by. Pretty early I thought for a pontoon boat but then maybe someone got themselves a good deal. I was a little surprised to still see some snow hanging on the south side of some hills as all the north faces are clear. Even the golf course has the open sign up for the driving range, must have did that yesterday.

Pulled up to the Lodge and parked in my spot by the rear door. No sooner had I gotten out of the truck when I could smell the BBQ grill. Gus was around the corner and he was standing in an apron, a white tee shirt and red shorts with a beer in one hand and long handle tongs in the other. He was turning polish sausages on the grill and the smell was, well just perfect! The sizzle of the polish the spats of juice hitting the coals a little uncontrolled flame leaping upwards. A picnic table with the checkered blue and white table cloth staple to the wood top flapped a little in the breeze. Catsup, mustard and dice sweet onions held down paper plates and the small cash box had a brick on top of it. A large box held a variety of small chip bags and big cooler held ice and sodas. Today's lunch special was coming from the grill and the first choice was polish sausage but Gus would make ya a hot dog or a cheeseburger if there was enough of a demand.

Gus said HIYA and I returned the greeting, "Can ya eat?" He asked and I patted my belly and said "I have room for a taste" A bun was added to the grill and after turning it twice a polish was added. Saving a plate I took the bun in a napkin and adding onion and mustard I took my place near the table as I took my first bite. The warm bun held the onion just right and the taste of mustard greeted me before I heard the snap of the casing on the polish sausage and the juices exploded in my mouth. A little gasp as the sausage was hotter than I expected but I fought through it to chew and swallow before going for the second bite which was just as good as the first. My third bite had me thinking of a second Polish and I looked at Gus and nodded. Gus grinned back at me and added a bun to the grill. The painting could wait a little while longer. Sooner or later I'll get the office remodel done, but for now it's seventy out and there is BBQ in the air, from Lake Iwanttobethere {270,438}

Bobby Bass · April 15, 2011

Well, the perfect day here at Lake Iwanttobethere to finish up and file taxes. Mother nature as is her way teased us some earlier in the week with a couple of days in the seventies. Today it is forty out with brisk winds off the lake and trees are swaying and the bird feeders are swinging wildly in the breeze. As I sit in the living room I can look out at the lake and the bird feeders and amuse myself as I watch Edd and Eddie the squirrels try to jump from the fence to one of the hanging feeders. Normally this would be an easy task for them but with the swinging feeder and the occasional extra wind gust they are miss timing their jumps to miss the feeder completely and land on the ground in a heap. With a disgusted look on their face they run back to the apple tree, climb it to jump to the fence run across it to get to a position where they can try again at the swinging feeder. I find it amusing and cheap entertainment, and after sending the IRS my check it is about all I can afford today.

Yesterday the youngest grand daughter who is four was over for a few hours. The daughter had some things she had to get done and I had forgotten that I had agreed to baby sit. So after the granddaughter was dropped off and her mother was down the drive and out of sight I told her we were going shopping. With car seat in the Tahoe we headed into town, first stop was the bank for some pocket cash. Nothing new there for her as she has been to the bank before. Next stop was the Gas-N-Go where the granddaughter told me what I needed to do to put go juice in my truck. With that done I made a stop at the post office for some stamps and mail a package. Mark was working the counter and he and my granddaughter had a long discussion on dance class as his granddaughter is in the same class.

Driving down main street I told the granddaughter the next stop was the bread store, " The Bread Store, they have a store just for bread?" My granddaughter asked. "Yes, just for bread and donuts and pies and rolls, actually it has a lot of things" I answered.

" So why do they call it a bread store then?"

"Well actually it's called a bakery, Amy's Bakery" Looking in the rear view mirror I could see her looking back at me and thinking about a bread store with more than just bread. A few minutes later after parking and helping her climb out of her car seat which has more latches and straps on it then a dirt track race car we headed into the Bakery. No sooner had we entered into the shop then she stopped and got that deer in the headlight look as she stood in front of the long glass counter with trays of donuts, pastries and decorated cupcakes. I chuckled to myself as she reminded me of my daughter the first time I took her to the butcher shop in the big city and the meat counter stretched out before her for maybe a hundred feet. More steaks and chops then she had ever seen at one time. I told her she could have anything she wanted and it took her forever to find the perfect steak.

I picked up a couple of loafs of bread and the granddaughter picked out two small pies, some hamburger buns and a package of crackers and cheese that we had to have because we were out! She followed me to the counter and placed her pile next to mine. Joking I asked her if she was going to pay for all of this stuff and she looked at me all serious like and said " She had forgotten her wallet" Amy rang up our purchase and I paid her. The granddaughter took the change and put it in her Jean pocket, just like her Nana does to me. From Lake Iwanttobethere {271,755}

Bobby Bass · April 17, 2011

If I didn't have the office remodel to keep me busy this weather would be bugging me by now. Overnight a few heavy wet inches of snow fell but by mid afternoon it was melting and just making the ground wet. A little sunshine and then some more dark clouds made their way in rolling across the lake. I had the garage door open and had the table saw and the miter saw outside on the drive. I was busy going back and forth cutting rails and face boards for the new cabinets I was building for the office. I was nearly done when it started snowing again, big wet fluffy flakes that soon got the saw dust damp and I started tracking it back into the Lodge. Gus standing behind the bar gave me a few looks like we were married and I started making a point of wiping my boots off.

Between Gus and the falling snow I decide to call it a day and hauled the saws back into the garage and rolled up the powercords. Baseball game was on the radio so I took a stool and had some late lunch. Gus looking over the top of the paper with his glasses down low on his nose said that Friendly Freddie was having a rummage sale. Between bites of my Coney I asked if it was a one day or two day event. Gus said " It says one day here in the paper" Hmm, I mumbled. Last year Friendly Freddie's wife had a rummage sale, it involved a lot of Freddie's stuff. Seems over the years Fred has been telling his wife he has been paying nickels on the dollars on fishing rods and hunting things that he has brought home. On one of his many fishing trips his wife had a sale and sold just about all of his gear that he had not taken with him. Her thoughts were that he would have taken his 'Good stuff" with him and everything else was disposable, and she needed the room.

It took most of the summer for Freddie to recover from his lost. Luckily he did have a lot of stuff with him and his locker here at the Lodge was full of stuff that he had not yet brought home. He was caught not being able to tell her that the rods she had sold for 2.50 he had actually paid over a hundred dollars for on sale. She on the other hand was happy and bragged to him how she sold them dollar rods for a profit. Normally the Lodge members keep track of rummage sales and try to get to them, this way we can buy up equipment and then return it to the unlucky member. But Freddie's wife had disguised the sale as a Garden sale and wife's had dragged their husbands along who normally are not fishermen but did know a good deal when they saw them. That and she advertised in a lot of the tourist haunts. I was thinking maybe I would stop by on my way home, might find something.

Well, as luck would have it I was heading out to the Tahoe and my daughter and granddaughter pulled up. The daughter was heading to Ma and Pa's grocery for some cold cuts and the granddaughter seeing me asked if she could ride home with me. A few minutes later the granddaughter and I were heading home but we made a side trip to go see Friendly Freddie. I made a quick walk along the tables and saw that there was nothing I was interested in. Matter of fact everything seems to be lady like. I looked around for Freddie's wife and I didn't see her, a small bell went off and I thought it would be a good idea to just walk away. The granddaughter said she be right behind me. I got back to the truck and turned the baseball game back on, a moment later the granddaughter pounded on the door to get in and she was carrying several scarfs and a dollar. I helped her into her car seat and asked about the dollar. She said that uncle Freddie gave her the dollar to take the scarfs. He was giving everyone money to take stuff away. Something told me that this rummage sale was not going to end well. Just another quiet day here at Lake Iwanttobethere {273,476}

Bobby Bass · April 19, 2011

Mystery creek is wide open and it was calling my name yesterday. I put on the waders and grabbed my long rod and along with Elmer we drove down and found a parking spot. Slipping and sliding a little and since we are both getting to be old guys we took our time getting to the bank of the river. Of course Elmer denies that he is getting old and will give you his best dirty look when you even mention the word old. Not wading in to deep we got our boots wet and started making some drifts through the snow melt water. Working upstream we would make a few drifts in each hole before moving on. We finally ended up under the bridge pretty much out of the wind and the few snow flurries that had started to fall. I had what might have been a bite and the more I think of it I will count it as one to Elmers none.

Some of the fellers were on the bank under the bridge, they had started a fire and stood facing the crackling flames and the river. An assortment of waders with patches pretty much identified each wearer. The group stood with the dry part of their waders towards the fire and the damp part away from the fire. Jackets that men had out grown now fit just fine when worn with waders. Forceps and clippers hanging from little spools clipped to pocket flaps were common. Fly's that would not be used till midsummer bulge in little tackle boxes secured in pockets with Velcro flaps. Metal thermoses were close by and hands held the metal cup tops with steam rising from them.

There is an old thought that anytime fishing is not lost time and does not count against you. I think anytime watching or tending an open fire should be treated the same. Now if you are fishing and watching a fire then the clock hands should travel backwards. Since no one seemed to be catching anything the fellows were gathered around the fire talking about times when they had been catching. The group was shy two on this day. During the past week two of the older fellows had moved on to better fishing waters.

Two of Lake Iwanttobethere residents have moved on, both just a short cast from hitting ninety they fell short of another fishing opener. The fellows under the bridge normally would not be fishing on a day like yesterday. To cold, to windy and the fish were not yet thick in the river. But the passing of the two old guys reminded everyone that sometimes you just don't have the time to be choosy. So with a crackling fire and some wet boots the guys stood on the river bank, they talked of the old guys and of the fish they caught and the fish they lost. From time to time a quiet would settle in and nothing would be said. The rush of the passing water took over and echoed from the bottom of the bridge over head. The sharp whine of a drag was heard over the water and heads looked away from the fire to see the bent rod of a fishermen. Then the tell tale signs of a snag. Some quiet chuckling and then eyes back to the fire and another story told about one of the old guys. And so it goes from Lake Iwanttobethere {274,343}

Bobby Bass · April 22, 2011

Was an overcast day here at Lake Iwanttobethere and we are just a few days short of three weeks before fishing starts. Well fishing has started as some guys are working Mystery creek for steelhead and others are getting ready for the smelt season. Robins are every where you look and seagulls are down every morning at the softball field marching across in a picket line. Crows fly in two's and threes calling to each other and Geese are flying high in the gray sky. Blue jays have returned and as usual are the bullies of the bird feeders. For a few evening's frogs could be heard in the ditches and the small wet ponds away from the lake and hidden in the brush. They are quiet now as snow is a real possibility again for tonight.

Easter is but a few days away and Stormy Clearweather is calling for some rain but it will be clearing on Sunday and it should warm up some. I am looking forward to the warm up as I don't want to have to haul more wood down to the cabin. Spring break for the grand kids all this week, well we don't call it Spring Break, we call it by what it always has been in these parts. Easter vacation! Each night this week a different grand kid has spent the night which means I am just about all out of gummy bears and home made cookies. All the goodies are gone and we will have to stock up in time for Easter and the egg hunt. A few fires in the fire pit have been made this week and all the scrap wood is gone. Even all the saw dust has been vacuumed up around the saws and I have found some missing tools that I could not find under benches and tables but are easy for the kids to locate.

Bobbers with small minnows hanging below them were tossed off the dock and the grandson watched and waited for some movement. No bites but Elmer was over at his dock and he was doing the same thing. The grandson and Elmer had a rather loud conversation about how fishing was going. I think it was because Elmer was having a hard time hearing and was shouting back so the grandson was shouting back in return. In the spring with no leaves on the trees the yelling echoed well around the bay. Barney seeing fishermen on the docks had to go and sit and watch and as people drove by they saw Barney on the dock and others started fishing off their docks. Everyone knows Barney don't fish unless someone is catching fish.

Business picked up down at the Masterbaiters shop as there was a small rush of people looking to pick up crappie minnows. Vicki the owner, called the cabin and asked how many we landed. Not being one to fib about fishing I simply told her that I had not yet had a chance to count yet. Nana distracted the grandson with the promise of marsh mellows for the fire. He put his pole away and headed back to the cabin. Elmer yelled at me and lifted a decent crappie from the end of his dock. Barney looked at me and then walked over to sit on the edge of Elmers dock.

A few drops fell and I made the walk up the hill to the cabin and then grabbed the wheelbarrow. I followed the path to behind the garage and loaded it with some split firewood. A few more drops fell as I covered the pile with the tarp and rolled the wheelbarrow back down the path to the cabin. With the wood in the outside box I put a few pieces in the crook of my arm and carried them inside. I dropped them in the empty wood box and added two to the fire after poking it a little with the poker and adjusting the screen. I just sat down in the easy chair when the wife yelled at me from the kitchen that I had better go out and get some wood for the night, it looks like snow. "Yes dear" I answered, then turned on the radio and settled back for the baseball game. From Lake Iwanttobethere {275,556}

Bobby Bass · April 23, 2011

The call came just after dark, the Smelt are running! I was not doing anything and nothing was on TV so I looked out the window at Chucks cabin and saw the lights on. I was just reaching for the phone when it rang, picking it up and Chuck was on the other end. 'Smelt are running" he said. "I'll be ready in ten" I replied. I headed to the kitchen where the wife was looking over her cookbook, glasses resting low on her nose she looked at me with raised eyebrows. " Smelt are running" is all I said. She nodded and went back to her reading. I turned on the outside flood lights and walked into the drizzle falling. Opening the garage door I picked up a couple of five gallon white pails and a custom long handled hoop net. Waders were already in the back of the Tahoe from fishing the river and I had my backpack with those things that always make trips with me.

Back to the cabin and I made some hot cocoa for the thermos and grabbed the ever present packed lunch in the brown paper bag from the fridge. I added a few extra cookies from the cookie jar as I know Chuck will ask if I have a few extra ones. Bud laying on the living room floor looked at me and then outside at the falling mist and laid back down. Barney came to the door and looked outside and then back at the wife who was getting mixing bowls out. He went and flopped on the kitchen floor. So both dogs picked staying in rather than going smelting, I was hoping this was not a bad sign. Back out to the Tahoe and Chuck was just coming off the path from his cabin. Dip net and pail with waders found their way into the truck. I was just opening the driver's door when I heard "Shotgun" and Elmer appeared from the path from his cabin. No waders, no pail, just a thermos and a flashlight in hand. He climbed into the passenger seat and Chuck slid into the back and we were on our way to Mystery creek.

With everyone having put flame to cigars we made the trip to the creek in decent time. Windows rolled down the smoke curled out and disappeared into the night. I guess we were not the first ones to get the call as already there were several trucks parked along the shoulder of the road and a few fires were scattered along the shore. Slipping into cold waders we gather the pails and with Elmer leading the way with his flashlight we made our way down to the creek. Dippers were standing waist deep in the water and the glare from headlamps bounced off the water. Walking along the shore we spotted several pails with the silver fish in various sizes and amounts. Elmer left us when he spotted Marv with some of the Fellows standing around a bonfire and passing a jug around. They were not doing any dipping but were busy "Directing"

Chuck and I headed into the water and made a few swipes with our nets, to my surprise I came up with a half dozen or so of the tasty little morsels. I waded out a little farther and Chuck took up position between me and the shore. After every few passes I would transfer my catch to Chuck's hoop net who would then turn and dump them into the pails on shore. Down stream dipping seems to be better and there was some shouting and yelling going on. Thinking tourist I was just telling Chuck that somebody must have caught more than a dozen on one dip. I was sweeping my net through and when I went to lift there was definitely some weight to it. With the top of the net just above the water I turned and waded past Chuck to shore. He asked where I was going and watched as I lifted and dumped the net into one of the pails, One scoop, one full five gallon pail!

We were done, Chuck came up on shore and we watched as guys who had been just standing around grabbed nets and waded into the water. Pails were filling fast and in a few minutes everything that could hold fish was full. Lots of laughing and soon guys were all out of the water and standing around the fires. Backs were slapped and guys were talking about the good old days and how catching smelt like they just did was common. Not to many guys get to be in on a real Smelt Run, from Lake Iwanttobethere {276,252}

Bobby Bass · April 26, 2011

So are you surprised? April 26 and as I look out the cabin window here at Lake Iwanttobethere big snow flakes are falling. Of course there is also some rain and driving wind and the sound of creaking branches. Not a bird to be seen as they are all hiding out somewhere. Yesterday was a delightful seventy degree day and it looked like spring might actually be here, heck it might have even been mistaken for a summer's day. I went down to pick up the mail and watched as the local motorcycle chapter thundered their way by. Dressed in leather chaps and colorful bandannas and fishing vests. You see the big local motorcycle gang in these parts are the "Bikes for Bass" and yesterday it was even a nice enough day for them to come out in force.

They drove down the dirt road side by side with their wives or girlfriends hanging over the back ends of the bikes wearing their hooker shirts. Fishing vests adorned with patches from Lake Okeechobee, Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn. I even saw a few patches from Lake Guerreo and of course the Lake Iwanttobethere patch was on everyone's back. Rod holders mounted on fenders and converted trout baskets hung from the handle bars. Tail lights looking like big ole bass with bright red eyes blinked on and off. Riders gave me brief nods as they trolled on by, in a few week's rods will be in sticking up in holders and the gang will be out riding in search of the next fishing spot over the hill. Yesterday was just to nice of a day to be sitting at home doing nothing.

I worked on the Honey Do List getting oil changed on old Red Dodge and even got the Jeep done for the wife. Telling her we were going to take a ride I got her inside the Jeep and I drove into town and the car wash was not to busy so we pulled in. Giving her a handful of quarters I told her to make sure she washed the wheel wells out. I then closed the door and walked over to a few fellows I knew hanging on the side of a pick up truck talking fishing by the way they were holding up their arms. Keeping an eye on the car wash door it opened and I excused myself and went back in time to catch the wife before she drove off without me.

Arriving back at the cabin I didn't say anything to the wife about the few spots she missed. They were on the passenger side and just like me I don't get in that side so I don't much care about that side. I have a big dent on the Dodge on the back passenger panel, I always forget about it because I don't get in that side of the truck, I should fix that, one of these days. So after getting back home I put furniture out on the deck and emptied some forgotten flower pots and stacked them back near the greenhouse. The wife brought out cushions for chairs and even the big ones for the swing. I suggested she might want to wait on them as it is still only April but she said we would be fine. Today finds soaking wet cushions spread across the lawn and my flower pots almost rolled all the way to the water's edge.

So another rain day here at the lake and it looks like tomorrow will be more of the same. I do have a feeling it is going to be a banner year for mosquitoes this year and not so good for the gardens. I guess I can go out in the garage and start working on the old rowboat. We dragged it up to the garage this winter and I thought I might clean it up some and actually put a coat or three of paint on it. Will have to look to see if I can find some scrap wood to start a fire, might be a tad damp and cool to work out there. From Lake Iwanttobethere {279,054}

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