Fishin report for Lake Iwanttobethere..

Bobby Bass · March 20, 2012

I keep hearing about this rain but I have yet to see a drop fall. This morning the deck was wet so maybe a few drops fell overnight but it could just have been the fog. Snow is all gone and the ski hill closed yesterday and the driving range at the golf course open today. I figure we have to be at least a month ahead of the normal spring schedule. Things would almost be perfect except for one minor thing, I caught a cold. While everyone around me has been sick most of the winter I have been an island of health. Now I am the one carrying a box of tissue around with me and I am hoping it is just a cold and not the bug that was making the rounds. Yesterday was not so bad, I took a hot shower and was good to go for awhile. Picked up the yard and snow shovels are now hanging from their hooks in the garage and the snow thrower has been shoved deep back in the corner trading places with the tiller.

The day was overcast and I decided that if it was going to rain I should not start any outdoor projects but it was a good day to go shopping. I am in the market for a new rod and I had already been down to see Vicki at the Masterbaiters Shop. There is a pretty nice rod down there that I am watching but with fishing still a few months away I wanted to check out some of the other shops around the lake. Going shopping would also give me a reason to drive around the lake and check out the sights. My first stop was down at the General Store as I know Big Earl always has some rods in the back. From time to time he will pick up rods and he always has good intentions of fishing with them himself but usually they end up getting sold to tourists who need a rod. Today he didn't have anything we could deal on. I did stop off at Del's Pizza and Sub Shop where I got a can of pop and a slice Del told me the bait shop at Four Corners just got some rods in.

Kind of funny I guess but out here at the lake everyone kind of pays attention when new stock arrives. I ran in to Jim Nelson outside of the Pizza shop and he confirmed that there are new rods in at Four Corners. I asked if there was any eight footers and he said to take a right just as I get in the door and go straight back to the back wall. I should find two of them leaning up there and they are not even priced yet. You have to understand that Jim is a retired fellow who at least three times a week makes his rounds of the bait shops. He used to sell tackle but now he just likes to keep in touch with his old customers and talk fishing. I thanked Jim for the lead and sipping the last of my pop I headed towards the Four Corners Bait Shop.

I drove with the window down and although it was not real warm is was warm enough not to have the heater on. Radio was tuned into some sports station that sometimes we can get and baseball was the topic. Not paying to much attention to the radio I drove with an elbow hanging out the window and my coat unzipped. You sure can see deep into the woods this time of year, no leaves and no snow to block your view. A lot of down trees and a little standing water in the ditch. Several ice houses stand lonely off to the sides of garages, I am betting some of them never saw the ice this year. I pull to the side as Frank the plow driver is coming in my direction with the grader. Hands busy at the controls he nods his head as we pass each other. I take the time to grab my box of tissue closer and pull out one to blow my nose. Already the little swinging garbage can is almost full. The threat of rain, shopping for a rod and a cold, Spring must be here, from Lake Iwanttobethere {614,028}

Bobby Bass · March 22, 2012

I'll tell ya, just no love for a guy with a cold. Just because I walk around with tissues hanging from my pockets and occasionally sneeze loudly enough to make crows leap from trees and take wing there is no reason for people to keep their distance. Well it might be because everyone I have come in contact with has already had their cold and they don't want to get it back. I don't blame them at all, I might have been somewhat smug telling people with colds this winter that it is just a cold and it is not that big a deal. Kind of reminds me of my youth when I would get tackled by three guys and the fourth guy would fall on my ankle bending it in a direction that it was not supposed to go. I would hobble to the sidelines where the coach would send in a sub and tell me to "Walk it off" of course that don't happen now a days. Today they would call out the trainer and spend ten minutes cutting away the tape and pads just to find the ankle. Check my card to see if I had insurance and then cart me off to the cold tub.

Guess you figured out by now that I am still walking with my cold and people are keeping their distance from me. Even the house cats are sneezing and giving me dirty looks like I have something to do with them. Today is a little cooler then yesterday and you can't see to far as fog has settled in. Waiting for the phone to ring from Dan's Auto shop as I dropped off the Puddle Humper's trailer tires yesterday and new tires should be mounted and be ready for pick up sometime today. Yesterday was a good day as far as getting ready for fishing as I checked off a few things from my list. With the trailer jacked up I replaced the hubs, the ones that were on there were the original ones and I figured after twenty-three years it was time for a change. The old ones came off and the new ones went on without a hitch so I spent the rest of the day waiting for something bad to happen.

I decided that I better not wait to long on buying that rod so I drove over to the Masterbaiters Shop and bought that new rod I have been eyeing. Took it home and put on one of my old reels and rubbed a little dirty grease from the hubs on the new cork handle and the wife will never notice. It now hangs on the rack with all the others and blends in nicely, that is until Elmer came over today and asked about the new rod in front of the wife. I distracted Elmer by saying we should go over and say Hi to Chuck as today is his birthday. Elmer asked if there was going to be beer and I nodded yes. We cut through the cedar trees to Chucks and it was like going through a big city bird aviary. Every dang bird for a mile for some reason seem to be in the cedar tops shouting to be heard over the top of others. I was following Elmer who stopped, looked upwards and yelled something skyward. It was if someone had thrown a switch and the cedars went silent. Elmer just looked back over his shoulder at me and said "Better"

We made our way through the trees to cross Chucks yard, I was waiting for the birds behind to start peeping but they remain silent. I made a mental note to myself to ask Elmer just what the heck he yelled. We were at the bottom of the back steps when we heard a "In Here" come from Chucks garage. With the side door of the garage cracked open I could see Chuck through the slit. We walked over and were quickly directed to step inside and asked if anyone had seen us. Looking over my shoulder I said we were good and asked what is going on. Chuck closing the door after glancing at the house said his girlfriend is inside and she is planing on a surprise birthday party, thing is she don't know that I know so I am staying in the garage, you know how I hate birthday parties and surprises. Elmer asked Chuck how long he was going to stay in the garage, Chuck said he has chips and beer so he is set for awhile. Elmer replied with "Beer eh! Sounds good enough for me" and headed towards the garage fridge. I pulled three cigars from my pocket and the cabin phone and decided Chucks garage is as good as any place to wait for my call, from Lake Iwanttobethere {615,195}

Bobby Bass · March 24, 2012

When we last left our hero, (always wanted to start a story with that line) Chuck had plenty of beer if he was alone but with Elmer and me in the garage with him the twelve pack was quickly reduced to empties in the recycling bin. Elmer shaking the last of the chip crumbs into his mouth from the upside down chip bag asked Chuck if he was having cake for his birthday. I answered for Chuck by saying that my mother in law was providing one, a cake that is. Several years ago the mother in law had taken one of them senior after school cake decorating classes and actually had become quite good at making them. It might have had something to do with the forty or so kids, grand kids and great grand kids that she bakes cakes for. It has gotten to the point that she bakes a few cakes every week and just finds someone to give them to before they go bad. The wife mentioned Chuck's birthday and she had an "Extra cake" already on hand.

Ever since the openings of the Almost A Dollar store the mother in law has been buying her baking stuff down there. She buys the Almost a Cake Mix, which you just add flour to and the ersheys chocolate frosting. She says the frosting tastes just like the real stuff but some may disagree with her. My grandson who just celebrated his sixth birthday last week got a cake from grandma complete with a toy 4x4 toy truck on top for a decoration. Of course the cake was set off to the side and the grandson discovered it when no adult was around. He proceeded to drive his new toy truck off the top of the cake and across the countertop. By the hole left in the cake top I was guessing it was not in four wheel drive when he first started. Funny how the ershey chocolate frosting mimicked mud in the tiny wheels of the truck. We found the truck and grandson by following the mud/frosting trail of the toy 4x4 through the cabin to the now off white bathroom throw rug.

Chuck standing by the window was peeking through the yellow curtains that the girl friend had hung last week. They had little maple leaves in the pattern which she said went well with the vats for boiling the maple sap that Chuck bottles in the garage. Chuck talking to Elmer said " Yes there is cake and a bunch of other healthy stuff for you to eat. I am sure there will be carrot sticks and celery hearts and maybe a few flavored power shakes. Tofu is a given and some walnuts with them little hammers to crush them open with. What there won't be is any chips or dip. For sure no beer and you can forget it if you think that venison you brought over will be made into any Sloppy Does. I bet she is busy making them little cucumber sandwiches that are OK if you cover them in cheese whiz but she found my cheese whiz yesterday. Chuck turned from the window with his shoulders hunched over, an empty beer bottle in one hand and just an inch of a smoldering cigar in the other. "I hate birthdays" he said.

The thought of cake and cucumber sandwiches was finally to much for Elmer and he made his way to the back door of the garage and out. He promised he would not tell Chuck's girlfriend where he was but no sooner had he made it into the cabin then the girlfriend was at the garage door. Wearing her cute little Suzy homemaker apron she was in the garage before Chuck could duck behind the boiling vat. Nodding at me she tucked her arm in the crook of Chuck's arm and escorted him to the cabin, I heard her say " Now act surprised honey" and the storm door slammed behind them. I stood in the driveway getting the last few puffs from my cigar when Skinny drove up. He was carrying two greasy white bags from Burger Bobs in his hand and he handed me one. "Double cheese" I asked? Skinny nodded yes. We sat down at the picnic table right under Chuck's kitchen window. I set the handful of white napkins off to the side and I unfolded the wax paper holding the burger. A little steam came up from the cheese burger and some of the mustard covered diced fried onions spilled out from under the bun. As I rased the burger to my lips I could hear the singing inside, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, from Lake Iwanttobethere, Happy Birthday to you. {616,689)

Bobby Bass · March 26, 2012

Today is a reminder of what a lot of spring days are like when they are not sunny and warm. Today the sky here at Lake Iwanttobethere is overcast and gray and the threat of rain is real. Strong winds are making the tree tops that are covered in new buds sway across the sky and except for the sound of the wind it is quiet. Dogs were let out to do their thing and after a brief visit of favorite spots around the yard they were soon back at the deck door waiting to be let in. One by one they came through the door to head to the living room where they each found couch pillows to rest their heads on. The idea of an afternoon nap is looking like a good idea to me to.

The open waters of Lake Iwanttobethere are lapping against the shore. No one out crappie fishing today at least none that I can see. The Puddle Humper trailer is now sporting a new set of tires and hubs and I can check that off my do list. The new graph needs to be installed but I am going to wait for a warmer day for that. Not many things that a day like today is good for working on. Of course if this was fall a windy day with temperatures in the upper thirties would be a good day for stacking and splitting wood but not in the spring. No days like today are made for sitting near a fire and looking over seed catalogs or waiting on delivers of fishing tackle. Hot cider with a cinnamon stick close at hand is better then the cold damp handle of a splitting maul.

Yesterday I did put new line on the fishing reel I bought and mounted reel to rod I took it out to the yard and tossed a few.. Actually I tossed several casts as I made adjustments and stretched the casts out farther and farther. It's official, the new reel is sweet! And it was hard to put the rod back in the rack where it will have to sit for a few more weeks. Of course having a cold does not help anything and is a good excuse for not doing anything. Glad it is not a nice day as that would make be feel like I was wasting it by not doing anything. I did haul a few sticks of wood from the pile down to the cabin. The rack on the deck is half full now and that should be enough for a few fires if needed. Fire pit needs to be cleaned up as there are ashes to be hauled to the garden and the lopers hauled out to trim broken branches down to size. Duncan thinks the pile at the fire pit is his personnel stash of fetching sticks. If we could just get him to bring them all back at the end of the day that would be a good thing.

I was sitting at the desk with only the sound of the wind and snoring dogs when I realize something was missing. Looking out the window I could see the problem and I went out and untangled the wind chimes. Now sitting back in my chair the sound of the wind chimes banging away fills in the quiet spots that the wind going through the trees was leaving. A crow added to the racket and now it was beginning to sound a little more like spring. Four geese are seen flying out over the lake, knifing through the wind in a hurry to get somewhere. Edd the squirrel is hanging upside down in the bridfeeder, trying to find the last seed. Birds that have been coming through have worked the feeders over and they are getting filled twice a day, but not today. Nope today I am thinking a nap might be just the right thing. I pull out the To Do List and add nap, I make a check mark behind it and close the cover, from Lake Iwanttobethere {618,308}

Bobby Bass · March 29, 2012

Today I was messing around with my new fishing graph and of course the new lake chip that I bought. Sure enough on the package it said nothing about Lake Iwanttobethere as being one of the thousands of lakes supported. But I fired up the graph and sure enough Lake Iwanttobethere open up on the screen! I was really impressed but yet concern about how well the lake was displayed. As I worked my way around the screen all of my little out of the way bays were being shown and named. Bacon Bay and Raspberry Bay, Grassy Point and Passing Wind Point. It even showed the main boat landing just below the Lodge and a very clearly defined Root Beer Island. I'm thinking I might have to use some kind of code to talk about my fishing places but then Elmer looking over my shoulder told me that you have to be on the lake to open Lake Iwanttobethere so I needed worry.

It did get me thinking about the names of places around the lake though. A lot of fishing spots are known by the locals and passed on through the years from father to son or drinking buddy. Some of the places I have mentioned before like Blowing Wind Point or Bacon Bay. Still others are just spoken about by mentioning the names of the resorts that are still standing or in the case of the old guy's, memories of them. A lot of names are very common and you can go to just about any lake and hear the names mentioned in a local drinking establishment. Whispering Pines or Twin Pines come to mind. Any directions that have a red barn in them or that creek that dumps in from the West. Girl Scout camps and Bible Camps are also common points of interest, maybe more so on the girl scout camps.

There used to be a resort owned by a guy named Bill Nuts it was on a part of the lake that had it's own stand of oak trees. Not very common to have a stand of oak trees up this way and it was a favorite place for young hunters to sneak into come fall and shoot gray squirrels. One season the entire resort was rented out by a promoter who was into calf roping and was using the resort as a training hideout for his ropers. Besides the oak trees it also had an old farm that was just perfect for riding horses and still had a fair amount of fence still standing. Didn't take to long before the locals started to refer to the place as Roping Nuts resort. No sign was ever posted saying that but everyone on the lake knew when you talked about roping nuts you were talking about the resort. Tourist would come in to town looking for a few fishing hot spots. Someone would mention that fishing had been good down by Roping Nuts and the tourist would pay for their bait and kind of back their way back out the door. Guess it did not help matters any by saying they were catching ten inchers down that way.

Cold and windy today, rain in the forecast and maybe even our first thunderstorm. Could really use a good down pour to clean things up some. No birds out and not even Ed or Eddy the squirrels are in the bird feeders. Am thinking we might just see that rain and maybe I should go down to the Lodge and see what is going on. Chuck has already gone to town looking for parts for his well which he has been having problems with and Elmer and Pepper left to spend time in Marv 's Shop. Nothing left for me to do around here but work so I think the Lodge is looking good. Maybe I'll even go drive by the Roping Nuts or what used to be the Roping Nuts, it's a band camp now. From Lake Iwanttobethere {621,793}

Bobby Bass · March 29, 2012

Mid afternoon here at the Lodge and the weather can't make up it's mind. I suppose not that it really has the ability to do that but it sounds good. A few brief rain showers that turned into snow then back into some sleet. The Lodge deck is wet and some water is dripping off the eves. Wind chimes are banging as the wind is throwing the sleet against the tubes making a constant ringing. Almost sounds like a bunch of grade school kids practicing before the curtain rises. The late afternoon crowd is sitting around tables and a few are playing cribbage and nursing warm beers. We have been spoiled with the rapid snow melt and the lake ice is all but forgotten. Days like today remind us that we are still several weeks away from the opener and there are things to do.

Guys trade chores that they have on their Honey Do List and others are reminded of things that should be added to their lists. Sitting behind the bar at the end where we have the laptop I listen with my glasses low on my nose. The honey do lists are different and almost can be classified under age groups. There is a difference between the old guys, retired guys, married guys and the working guys. Everyone has the common ground between them, yard clean up, pulling the boat out, putting the snow thrower away. For some guy's turkey hunting is high on the list while yet others are looking forward to steel head. A few new pups have been bought and those guy's kind of sit off to the side trading stories of how much trouble the new dogs have gotten into. I might add that the new dog owners tend to brag on how many problems the dogs have created for their wives, but they would never tell their wives that.

My new dog Duncan is at the Lodge today with me. As the months have gone by he is now starting to spend more time at my side. It was touch and go there for awhile as he was constantly under the feet of the wife but now that the snow has left and I spend more time outside he has taken to following me rather then spending time in the kitchen. He is thirteen months old and I thought he would be thicker in the chest but then I am comparing him to Bud and Barney who are twelve years old and no one would never call them skinny. He is a smart dog and he is working on his personality. I don't bird hunt nearly as much as I used to so I have been pretty lax on training him for birds. He has been out with Bud some and he has an idea what is going on and right now I am satisfied with that. He is way too active to take in the boat as I keep to many rods lying about and I don't need to hook him. For now I am just fine having him at my side and he has shown great interest in my story telling. Matter of fact he just came back from a round around the Lodge to lay next to the bottom of my stool, one paw on my foot. His way of making sure I don't go anywhere if he falls asleep.

My status has officially changed this spring to as I am now officially retired! Taken me a few months to get used to the idea of not having to go to work and sleeping in if I want or staying up late. Almost like being in school and going on vacation except now I realize that vacation is not going to come to an end. Still busy but now there is no pressure to get things done. Matter of fact I may even get the cabin stained this summer but you know what? If the fishing is good I just might not get to it either. I think me and Duncan are going to enjoy each other's company, take some naps and watch some sunsets. If we want to chase some birds well Duncan can run and I can watch. Barney can help me show him how to fish from the dock and Bud can teach him how to keep an eye on everything. Bud and Barney are going to enjoy their retirement to and if that means cookies are involved well they are going to get their share. From a typical Spring day here at Lake Iwanttobethere {623,071}

Bobby Bass · April 1, 2012

At the Lodge today there were several conversations going on about the scuttlebutt of opening the fishing season a week early. Seems a few legal officials from down south want to get out on the water a week ahead of everyone else. Not as simple as they make it out to be, you just don't put an open for business sign up on the resort mailbox. That is what the conversation was about. Everything from the local CO talking about having to find the time to put docks in a week earlier then planned. Garbage cans delivered to landings and all the new signage that has to be put up. Bait guys were talking about having to move up their deliveries to the bait shops and whether they would have enough bait trapped for an early opener.

Some of the resort guys say they would not even bother opening a week early as many of their guests for the opener come up a few days early and expect to get in their full seven day or eight day reservation. A week early would mean a short week for that group and the resorts would have to spend money to change their ads over at KCUM radio. Vicki at the Masterbaiters shop said she is in the middle of a mess stocking shelves and waiting on tackle orders that are scheduled to come in right before opener but would not be here if the opener was pushed up a week. Does not even want to think about the license mess that would be created as someone is always complaining about changes. Even Frank the plow driver got into as he has just enough time to grade and get roads in shape as it is.

At the Lodge here we could be open in time because we would not have to change much other then getting food deliveries in early and hire staff. Might be a problem there as a lot of staff would now have to come in a week early and they would have to change their plans, some are still in school then. Seems like there are a lot more things that should be thought over not to mention what do we do when next year we are frozen in solid and we are back to a normal or maybe even in a below normal winter. Guys just scratched their heads and watched the light rain fall, up north it was snowing yesterday.

Heard they are calling it the Mothers Day Bill sounds to me just a couple of guys trying to get some votes and trying to catch some walleyes when they are all cornered in the honey holes. Might be better if these guys started thinking with their heads instead of where they hang their wallets. If it ain't broke...... So we will have to wait and see, already have had a few calls asking if we are opening early and we reply we never closed. It just the fishing opener and we have fishing all summer long.

Trees have buds on them and grass is starting to get a little green, you can get a whiff of a skunk or two at dusk and I am careful and look around before I let Duncan out the back door. Matter of fact last night we pulled a tick off Bud that had already started to feed. Tomorrow I will get the hose out and spray the grounds down with the tick killing spray. Don't know if it will help or not but it seems like the thing to do. Mark the mailman was asked if he is going to start delivering mail to the docks early and his reply was nope, we are going to stay on the same schedule that we have been on for over fifty years, from Lake Iwanttobethere {628,283}

Bobby Bass · April 2, 2012

About 3 AM this morning I woke up to the sounds of Spring! Not the robins calling you or the smell of skunk in the air but the sounds of a good middle of the night thunderstorm. Rain was splattering against the bedroom window and I had all three dogs in bed with me. Bud because he usually sleeps with me and Barney because he is scared of thunderstorms. Ever since he was a puppy we could use him to forecast coming rain. If a rainstorm was on it's way Barney would find a way to get close to you or would sit in a corner with his head facing the walls. Bud on the other hand would sit at the door waiting for us to go out and sit on the swing and watch the rain. So far Duncan likes the rain and I think will replace Bud as my swing dog.

This morning I laid in bed and listen to the howling wind and the rain being driven off the glass. The lightning flashes lite up the room and the wind chimes were banging against one another like a four year old was beating them with a wooden spoon. The wooden spoon is a real comparison as I have had grand kids do it and at that age they have no rhythm. A lot of energy with this storm as the winds continue to drive rain and after a while I got up to look out the window. Tree tops were bent over and the wind was not giving them any chance to stand back up right. Not a lot of rain but with the wind everything was getting wet. This morning a lot of small branches are on the ground and Duncan did his best to drag each and everyone of them around the yard.

Had to get the hose off and rinse down the trucks, they were covered in buds and easier to wash them off then let them dry and stick to the paint job. More rain in the forecast and I know we are asking for it but one sunny day or even two would be nice. Six weeks out from fishing season and we seem more on track now. Nature has a way of adjusting itself over the long haul to finish up pretty much the way it always does. Have not seen any skeeters yet but ticks have replaced them as the bug to watch for. Down at the General Store Big Earl has a big display of sprays and dog care products that you can't miss when you walk into the store. Easter is a few weeks away and candy has appeared at the General Store along with the row of metal water tanks that serve as holding pens for chickens and bunny's. As you enter the store you can hear the quiet peeps and can see the reflected light coming from the heat lamps.

Fishing section is busy now as the high school part timers work at hanging fishing lures from peg board and Big Earl has traded in his red apron for a fishing vest. Along with his hat with a half a dozen flies hooked in it he looks like he is really to slip out the back door any moment. A lawn mower and a new rear tine tiller sit out front with their yellow tags tied to handles. The tags as always say they are on sale and they are the last ones. No one fishing over at Mystery Creek, wind and waves are just too nasty. The river has climbed its banks a little higher as the run off has found it's way to the river. Already some talk of what this years smelt run will be as there are a few around these parts who really look forward to the beer battered critters.

As I mentioned the other day I am officially retired and one of the many things on my new do list is getting more walking in. My excuse will be that Duncan needs to be walked but I am really the one who needs to get in better shape. I will be spending time out here on Bass Point but I will also from time to time take some strolls in town. It has been pointed out to me that Lake Iwanttobethere is bigger than just Main Street and there are places that even I have not been to. Look forward to some reports on different business and eating as well as some drinking establishments. Thing about Lake Iwanttobethere it can and does have just about everything. From Lake Iwanttobethere {633,025}

Bobby Bass · April 4, 2012

I decided that it would be a good idea if I did an inventory of all my fishing tackle before I ordered more. I knew this already, but I have a lot of tackle! I went out in the shop and put a sheet of plywood down across a couple of saw horses. I did it in the shop for a couple of reasons, no cats to worry about running across the tackle and getting hooked, no dogs to jump up on the edge and flip the table over and it was somewhere the wife would not be able to look over my shoulder and count my lures. I emptied every tackle box I had and also a few shopping bags that had found their way into the back of the closet over the winter. I found fish hooks in bags of two's and threes, must be where I took a hook out and never return the little bag to the tackle box so I bought more to replace the hooks that I was missing. Spinner baits seem to have been in every box that I had, which is kind of funny because I have two boxes just for spinner baits.

Top water lures were scattered every where and I have pounds of plastic worms. Must be a dozen spools of line with only thirty yards on each one of them, don't know why I keep them. Painted worm sinkers in different sizes and stick baits. I am sure you have the idea. I did get sidetracked for awhile cleaning rock hard dried out gulps from hooks. Got to remember to take them off at the end of the day. Small plastic bags with extra skirts keep popping up, I seem to buy some every time I see them. A leaking bottle of scent in one tackle box had mixed with some plastic baits and skirts forming some kind of modern art. I don't know if I should throw it away or bring it to the Lodge and put it in my office as a decoration. I only say that because my granddaughter thought it was cool and asked if she could have it. My daughter took one look at it and told her daughter to give it back to grandpa.

With the tackle boxes empty I put them in the back of the Dodge and went to the car wash. Easier to put a couple of dollars in quarters in the wall control and use the self service wand to wash the tackle boxes out. Got to rinse the truck off at the same time and an excuse to stop at the Lodge for lunch. I am cutting back on the Coney's as I only had one today, but I did have two wieners in the bun. While I chatted with some of the guys in the Lodge my tackle boxes drip dried in the sun shine of the truck bed. When I came back out to the truck I noticed a few of the tackle boxes were in pretty rough shape, broken hinges, cracked lids so I pitched them in the dumpster. No sense in doing that back at home where the wife might stumble across them. I brought the boxes to the shop and stacked them on the saw. Off to the side of the table I had dumped all the loose things from the tackle boxes and now I pulled up a stool to sort.

Did I mention that I have a lot of tackle? The 4x8 sheet of plywood was soon covered by piles of fishing lures. Kind of looks like a reenactment of some civil war battle. Top water lures were stacked to the North and along the flank a group of jerk baits rested. Spinner baits formed a picket line to the West and were neatly organized by weight and color of skirts. Bobbers with bullet weights around to stop them from rolling off the table were stacked to the East. Bags and bags of plastic worms and trailers and other creature baits were lined up like bunkers by color. Loose hooks were placed in the small hook box and I still had a pile of stuff that was so old I didn't know what to do with so they made a kind of dump pile in the center. I had to clear a work shelf so I had space for the beetle spins and stinger hooks. The wife called from the deck asking if I was sorting tackle, hiding the table behind me I peeked out from behind the shop door and said "Maybe" The wife stood on the deck with Duncan at her side and said "You missed one" and she held my big travel tackle box up for me to see. From Lake Iwanttobethere {635,660}

Bobby Bass · April 5, 2012

Took a stroll along one of the banks of the Mystery River this morning, water is dark and looks pretty cold. Had Duncan with me on one of them long retractable leashes that the people in the city are so found of. Of course around these parts they just call it a length of clothes line that ya loop around your wrist. Anyway as soon as I was up river far enough I took the rope off and let Duncan roam with just a warning to stay out of the water. Thirty seconds later Duncan was wet as I guess he didn't hear the warning. A few sticks in the water and a few ducks swimming about, a few more with their rumps in the air searching for what ever ducks search for underwater. A couple of geese flew in low and close, looking like a couple of bombers in formation. They followed the river and were soon out of sight. I didn't walk to far up the river as this walking for your health is somewhat new to me. Matter of fact the other night I was taking a walk and one of my neighbors who was driving by asked if I had broken down and needed a lift back home. I told them thanks but I was just taking a walk. They smiled and said OK and then and drove off. I could see them exchanging money between them, I think they had made a wager.

Soon as Duncan was dry we headed back towards the Tahoe, Duncan tight against my knee as a couple of guys were spotted carrying rods and heading for the mouth of the river. I saw that one of the guys was Johnson. This Johnson is the brother to our Gus Johnson that runs the kitchen at the Lodge. You already know his sons Barley and Hopps who run the Needabeer brewery up stream on the Mystery River. I was a little surprised to see Johnson on the river as he usually spends his winters down south chasing redfish. Muskie season here does not start till early June and that is what he does, he is one of the better Muskie guides on Lake Iwanttobethere. Good Muskie guides are hard to come by as you need the combination of a guy that can put you on fish and keep ya busy with stories when you aren't catching any. Good advice with Johnson is to make sure you go to the bathroom before you start talking to him because it will be awhile before you will get a chance to go. One of the few guys who can actually out story tell me on the lake.

You already know Johnson is going to be something special when he meets you at the landing and explains his name. He will shake your hand and introduce himself as Johnson, you will ask is that his first name or last and he will reply with that it is both, His full name is Johnson Johnson, the story is his father had a thing for Johnson outboards when he was born. His brother, you know him as Gus, well his given name is Mercury but he goes by Gus now. You can spot Johnson from a distance just like Duncan and I just did, he wears socks with his sandals and always has a dip of chew tucked away in his lip. Likes to let a little dribble down his bait, says it gives it that little something special. Must work as he gets a lot of repeat business and has a waiting list for his fishing and his story telling. His shore lunch leaves a little to be desired though as most of his clients don't share his love for chew on their sandmiches.

Not having a lot of time this morning to chat I give a wave to Johnson and Duncan barks once and we continue on our way to the shoulder of the road to where the Tahoe is parked. Part of the reason for taking a walk this way today was that I had heard the Chicken Shack was open for business and I am thinking maybe Duncan should try some biscuits and gravy. Not a whole order mind you but I might share part of one with him. The wife will be none the wiser as I know she slips Duncan cookies and acts innocent around me, from Lake Iwanttobethere {638,266}

Bobby Bass · April 6, 2012

Yesterday I had to drop off a well point up by the golf course and as I drove back I decide to swing into the course. There were a few cars and trucks parked near the practice putting green and although there was no one at the starters shack there was a sign directing you to the Club House. I gave my clubs away a few years ago but for some reason I had the urge to whack a few balls and I walked over to the driving range. A few older guys were there spending more time chatting and resting on their drivers then hitting balls. Out around the three hundred yard sign I saw a few guys walking and looking back toward the tees. There used to be a shed where the buckets were stored but one of the guys told me I have to go to the clubhouse now. I headed across the dirt parking lot and made my way into the clubhouse and to the counter.

Sign there said buckets of balls four dollars, empty buckets fifty cents with wavier. I got the attention of a gal working there and she came over and asked if she could help me. I pointed to the sign and asked what is the difference. She told be a bucket of balls is four dollars and I am welcome to use a driver or iron from the box of mismatched clubs by the door. The empty bucket is only fifty cents and you need to sign the waiver. I must have given her a funny look as she went on to tell me that I would need to sign the wavier then I can take the empty bucket out on the driving range and pick my own balls. The waiver was in case I got hit by a ball or two while on the range. I chuckled at this and said "Really" she went on to say that the older guys collect balls in the morning and are pretty safe out around the three hundred yard stripe where as the young guys put on batting helmets and work the two hundred yard stripe.

Not feeling that young I opted for the full bucket of balls for four dollars and grabbed a big headed driver from the wood box. I went out to the last tee and started spraying balls all over the driving range. Took a few before I got them in the air and finally I managed to hit one far enough that the old codgers collecting balls yelled in my direction. One of the guys down from me came over carrying his empty bucket and a few irons, "Working on your short game are ya " I bounced another ball in the direction where a third baseman would have had a chance at it and just held what I thought was a perfect follow through. "Yup" is all I said.

With just a two balls left in the bucket I finally slowed down and relaxed. I took my time and addressed the ball and with an easy swing I heard the click of the club hitting the ball and watch the ball soar away like I knew what I was doing. Couple of the old guys down from me watched the ball arc out to the two hundred and fifty stripe, take a big bounce and roll. " Nice Ball" one said. I put my last ball on the rubber tee and took aim at the two old guys out on the three hundred stripe, I figured I was not going to hit it that far but if I could get them to move that would be good enough. I addressed the ball, waggled by club back and forth a few times and took a mighty Casey at the bat swing. Guess I forgot to keep my head down as I buried the club into the ground and felt a bang in my hands that went up my arms to stop at my shoulders. " Old guy down the line yelled "Nice Hit" I picked up the empty bucket and walked with club in hand back to the clubhouse. It was all coming back to me why I stopped playing golf with old guys, from Lake Iwanttobethere {640,299}

Bobby Bass · April 7, 2012

Another sunny Spring day but it is feeling more like fall, Sun is shinning but the air is cool and crisp. Today's walk found me and Duncan off Main Street and on Loggin Street. Have not been on that street for years and I have forgotten all about all the old store fronts that line the street. With all the TV shows about Pawn shops and Auction guys I guess I had not noticed that Loggin Street was full of these kind of shops. Loggin Street is one of the old streets in town and like Main Street it was built with logging wagons in mind. The street is wide enough for a wagon to turn around in and now the store fronts have as much stuff stacked out in front of their store as they do inside, with still plenty of room for cars to park.

I was walking past the Close Enough Shop when I spotted a couple of wooden deck chairs out on the street. I was in the market for some new chairs for the deck as last fall we had broken one. Well actually the daughter and Duncan had as he jumped up on her and it collapsed. The chairs might just match the ones at the cabin on the deck. A young feller came out and offering his hand he said his name was Jim and he was the owner of Close Enough. We talked some about Duncan who is always an ice breaker as far as conversations go. I am finding out that taking Duncan for walks is an advantage as people comment about how handsome he is. I told Jim that I was in the market for some outdoor wood chairs and I was looking at the ones he had on display. We talked for awhile and Jim said "Well are these Close Enough" He smiled at me and I told him he had a nice close.

Having worked as a salesman we all know the "Close" is the most important part of a sale. I almost said yes but explained that I was just walking Duncan but I might be back with the Dodge and the wife. I went on my way and Jim headed back into his shop. I walked down the street and took note of all the signs for places like, Twice is Nice, Savers, Rewear Sportsware, Tick Tock Thrift Shop and even a check cashing place that I never knew we had. Another store caught my eye advertising LP's and cassettes for sale. I was about to turn the handle when I saw a small handwritten sign in the lower right hand side of the door window state "No dogs allowed" I looked down at Duncan and no way was I going to be tying him outside to a tree. Duncan and I continued on our walk and I was thinking this person who owns the record shop, can't be a local, no dogs aloud, Really.

We walked till we got to Baits Avenue and turned back to Main Street. Back on familiar turf so to speak Duncan and I strolled along Main Street. Sun was leaving us as dark rain clouds rolled in from across the waters of Lake Iwanttobethere. Looks like the rain in the forecast was going to happen as predicted. Hammering Hank and Skinny drove by, a load of green treated lumber with a bright red flag hanging out the back of the work truck. The two handymen have been busy working on docks this spring and I hear they are building a big one down off Loon Point. I walk past Reed the Realtor store and he is busy behind a stack of papers on his desk. Last week of tax season is almost here and the lights will be on at Reed's as he works late every night till the 16th I had parked the Dodge in front of Marv's Book and Cigar Shop and I opened the door for Duncan to hop up and sit in the passenger's seat. I went around to the drivers side just as a cold drop of rain hit my hand as I reached for the handle, talk about timing. By the time I put my seat belt on and started the Dodge I needed to turn the wipers on as drops splattered on the windshield. Easter tomorrow and Sunshine Ray says the rain will be done, from Lake Iwanttobethere {642,456}

Bobby Bass · April 9, 2012

Easter has come and gone and we are all that much closer to fishing. Like everyone we kind of have events that act as markers to be passed leading up to the fishing opener. Easter is behind us and up next is taxes, we won't talk about them. The wife hid forty-eight plastic eggs in the cabin and we set off to meet up with family to go to THE EAGLES for brunch. I don't know why we just can't call it late breakfast but no we have to humor the daughter and call it brunch. Anyway this year as in past years we headed down the road to a resort that has a pretty laid back owner and some really good pancakes.

THE EAGLES resort is spread out along the banks of Mystery River up past the brewery. With out spending to much time describing the owner I can do it in just a few words. He looks like Dude from the Big Lebowski and his cook is the spitting image of Walter. Well maybe spitting is not the right word in describing a short order cook. We drove down the road and turned in at the mailbox being held up by a wood carving of a flying Eagle. The gravel road makes a few turns and wanders down towards the river. We drive past plywood sided cabins each with their own swinging name plate. Eagle Roost, Eagles Landing, Eagles Lair, Where Eagle Dare and the Eagles Nest until we reach the main building where a big sign in capital letters that says THE EAGLE hangs from two posts.

The resort is pretty typical of what you will find around the lake, Orange stained peeled logs with a cedar shake roof. A round river rock wall holds up the wrap around front porch and an Eagle chain sawed out of a log with an American flag on a pole alongside guards the main stairs. Pea rock gravel covers the small parking lot and tall pines sway a little in the breeze and you can hear the sound of the river just a rock throw away. A normal Easter would find snow banks and maybe some cold coming off river ice but not this year. The sun is shinning and if you stand in it out of the wind you do not need a jacket. I follow the wife up the stairs and head into the restaurant side of THE EAGLES.

The place smells like pancakes, sausages and beer, not a bad combination if you have not been drinking the night before. Family is already here and a few of the big tables have been pushed together to form one long one. Walter waves at me with a spatula in hand and I return the wave. He is standing behind the counter with the big flat top grill behind him. The apron with an Eagle on it hangs from around his neck, there is barely enough string to tie it around his waist. The Dude, as locals have come to call him is chit chatting with my aunt, no doubt exchanging stories over her experiences back in the sixties and her Woodstock days that they both claim to share. Adding to the atmosphere of the place some Creedence Clearwater Revival's Suzy Q is playing on the Wurlitzer jukebox that sits next to the wall where the postage stamp dance floor is. The place is called THE EAGLES and not because of the band, just Dude likes Eagles. Funny thing is, no one has ever seen an eagle on this part of the river.

So we did brunch and headed back to the cabin, the grand kids were turned loose in the cabin to search out the forty-eight easter eggs hidden inside. We stood outside on the deck and could hear shouting and yelling and of course the running of feet. A few minutes later the oldest grandson came out with what appeared to be all the forty-eight plastic eggs. He told his grand ma that was too easy, all the eggs were in Duncan's crate. Seems Duncan collected all the eggs while we were at brunch, from Lake Iwanttobethere {644,890}

Bobby Bass · April 10, 2012

Sure is hard to get excited about fishing opener when there is snow falling. This morning the daughter had a dentist appointment and I had to drive her in to town. First thing I noticed it was cold enough that I had to go back in the cabin to get some gloves. As I headed to town we ran into a stretch where snow was falling, nothing that was going to stick or amount to anything but never the less it was snow. The night before I had the youngest grand daughter in her car seat and we were heading to the cabin when we ran into a snow shower. From the back seat I heard her in a disappointing tone tell me she thought she was done with winter and done wearing boots. Guess that kind of says it all, even the kids have had enough of winter.

Mike the family dentist invited the daughter back behind the closed door to his waiting chair. I was left in the waiting room with a stack of old magazines to thumb through. Kind of different when the wait is going to be for an hour instead of a few minutes as you wait your turn. Being a kind of guy who takes pride in noticing things I noticed that all the reading material in the waiting room was female oriented. Movie mags, Hollywood star mags, People Mag, Us Mag one garden mag and a well worn year old ESPN magazine were my only choices. I made the mistake of saying out loud what I was thinking, that being the ladies behind the counter must do all the magazine subscriptions. I received a look from the receptionist that I think was reserved for customers behind in their payments. I hid behind the ESPN cover reading about who was going to win last years World Series.

It being a slow day Mike the dentist came out a couple of times to ask me if I had the Puddle Humper in the water yet. Came out again to tell me he had his dock in and the water was down about four feet from normal. A third trip was made to have his receptionist print out a couple of pages of jokes he had on the computer. The receptionist was not to thrilled and I think she left printing the punch line off the last joke on purpose. I took my jokes and read them, good thing I knew the punch line to the last joke, I chuckled as the receptionist was watching. A little while later the daughter was done and we were out and on our way, a return appointment planned for a few weeks. I am thinking I will stop off at Burt's barbershop and bring a few of his months old sporting magazines over to the dentist, they would be new there.

I arrived back at the cabin to hear a high buzzing noise coming from Chuck's I took the short cut through the trees to find Chuck standing in knee deep pine sawdust at his portable logging mill. Chuck wearing his ear muffs was walking the band saw down the length of a pine log and a stack of boards rested on the forks of the tractor. I asked him what he was doing between cuts and he just replied with a grin on his face "Just cutting board's man, just cutting boards" I grabbed the extra ear muffs hanging in the tractor and put them on. I leaned up against the forks of the tractor and when he was done with the next cut I helped him stack the board on the forks. He pulled his muff off one ear and I did the same. "What ya doing man?" He asked. I replied, " Just stacking boards man, just stacking boards" Just something we do here at Lake Iwanttobethere {646,031}

Bobby Bass · April 12, 2012

Yesterday after letting the dogs run in the yard for awhile I was looking them over and found a tick on Duncan. I had already pulled one off Bud a few days before so time to spray the yard down. I went to the basement to find barely enough of the spray left from last year. Time for a road trip so Duncan and I headed down to Diggers Garden Center. Diggers is across from the golf course and as we parked in the lot there were a few people in the greenhouse. I could see them moving behind the shaded glass. I left Duncan in the Tahoe and he sat in one of the grand kid's booster seats with his head out the window sniffing the breeze. I went in through the greenhouse entrance and saw a lot of talking going on but not much shopping. On a sunny day the greenhouse is a meeting place for those who want to get outdoors in the sunshine but stay out of the cold.

Digger met me as I came in the door, we chatted for a few minutes and then he directed me in to the main building where the tick spray was. I quickly found the red bottle and headed towards the direction of the cash register till I was distracted by the wall of leashes and collars. On an impulse I bought a new red collar for Duncan as his blue one is getting a little tight. Besides a red collar is a better look then a blue one for a chocolate lab. I paid for the spray and collar and walked back to the Tahoe, Duncan was waiting for me. I slipped on the new collar and I was right, he looked good in red. The blue one he held in his mouth all the way back home.

Today it is sunny but cool out yet again. I am so looking forward to getting up some morning and putting on a tee shirt and some shorts. Sunshine Ray is calling for today to be sunny but rain for tomorrow with a chance of thunderstorms the rest of the week. Not going to get much warmer either so it will be iffy if the rain is going to make any difference down at the mouth of Mystery River. There have been a few guys dipping for smelt but they are catching hardly enough for a meal a night. Hammering Hank was in the Lodge last night and said they are thinking of putting up the smelt fry tent up down in the park this weekend, but if it rains they will wait. I started to clean the hull on the Puddle Humper yesterday but did not get too far. The only way to really clean it is to rub it down with some aluminum cleaner then buff it. Guess I didn't do it last year so I have twice the grime to clean off the year.

Still have tackle spread across the table in the shop, was looking for a warmer day to do some more sorting but that has not happen. Might have to go in later this week when it is raining and just start a fire in the little potbelly stove and make an afternoon of it. Am slowly thinking more and more about fishing as the days go by. A month away now unless the boys down state play around with the season opener. I never go out on opening weekend myself, have too much to do working the Lodge and watching the crowd at the public access. I may toss a few off the dock but at this rate it might be snowing as it is in the forecast for Friday. This afternoon I am going to go down to Marv's and order up a box of cigars for the fishing season. I have a few brands that I have narrowed it down to and I going to try one last one before I decide. Marv will order me a box and time it so they will come right before season starts. Fifty cigars, one for each fishing trip I hope. From Lake Iwanttobethere {648,067}

Bobby Bass · April 14, 2012

Last night since it was raining out I went and saw a movie, it has been awhile but as soon as I walked in the door I was overwhelmed by the smells of the movie house. Made me think of other smells and things that instantly can take you back in time.

The smell of a newly diapered baby, much better than the smell before.

Coffee and bacon and the hissing sound of a propane stove at first light on the fog covered shores of lake campsite.

The damp rich smell of the woods as you walk down a grouse trail, the tinkling of the bell on a dog in the brush just out front of you.

Fresh cut grass with the sound of buzzing bees, the clinking of melting ice in a glass of ma's ice tea.

The creaking sounds of a porch swing as it glides back and forth.

The sight of a crash landing by a loon in the night, his call going out that he is all right.

The heavy sigh of a dog as it lies down on his side, eyes closed and tongue hanging off to the side.

The crackling of a fire bright with light, the sparks climbing skyward to wink out in the night.

A choir of crickets and peepers singing just at twilight.

The crack of a baseball bat, a ball soaring out of sight, a beer vendor yelling that he has a cold one just for you on this night.

The twang of a guitar plucked by someone who can play.

The lonely call of a goose heading alone across a cold and wavy field of grain.

The smell of cigarettes heavy in the air, the dim light and crashing sound of pins on a league night final somewhere.

The hum of trailer tires on a black topped lane, soon to be cooled in water by a dock, alongside a forgotten bay.

The smell of a bakery with the bread all in back, you have to walk through the croissants and donuts and once again on your way back.

But the thought that triggered it all was walking through the door to the movie house. Stepping from the light rain and darkness to the glitter of lights chasing themselves across the marque. The posters of coming attractions and the candy girl with her smile. No waiting for the popcorn because you are next in line. Fresh popcorn and hot dripping butter are mixed in the box, the sound of soda spraying out under pressure to splash in the bottom of your cup. The candy girl who looks like Vana stands to the side and lets her arm arc across the counter showing you the display case of Dots and Hot Rocks under the lights. You remember when you were young and could only watch and listen, now you can buy them all if you could only get her to listen. One of those and two of them with popcorn and pop you are on a mission. Down the carpeted runway past the old arcade games, you follow the cloth ropes to a door with a big number eight. No cell phones, no talking is prominently displayed as you walk through the door to yesterday. You find your old seat and sit back in the cushion, your favorite movie is on, it's Bobby Bass in "It's Time To Go Fishin"

From Lake Iwanttobethere {650,008}

Bobby Bass · April 16, 2012

What a difference twenty-four hours can make. A day ago I was sitting on my chair outside along the Puddle Humper cleaning the hull and giving it a good polish. I got one side done and the transom clean and ready to mount the new transducer. Between moving the chair down the hull I played a game of hide and go seek with the grand daughter, we shared good juice on the deck and counted birds. Bass thermometer was resting just above seventy and I was thinking it might have been a good day to put on some shorts, then yesterday came.

Heavy wind and rain and a thirty degree temperature drop changed things real quickly. Went to bed with the sound of rain on the windows and the cabin bustle up to keep the wind at bay. This morning finds a few missing shingles on the roof, down branches across the yard and snow. The dogs and I head out for an inspection and find metal trim from the work shed twisted and hanging by a single screw. The new shop came through it just fine but the wood shop needs some love when the weather clears. Snow is melting quickly but ice on the deck and steps makes you walk with your eyes down. Other side of the lake has reports of as much as twelve inches of heavy wet snow and down power lines. I have a feeling no one is talking about an early fishing opener today.

Over at Chucks he had a busy night, he had just put out his new chicks in the coop and he brought them back in the cabin for the night. Like a doting daddy he didn't want to lose his new chicks to a storm. Rain gage shows a little over two inches and we need the water so there will not be to much complaining. I was thinking of putting the rain barrels out and I forgot to do that, they would have been filled if I had remembered. I lost a big limb on one of my apple trees and that is bad, already I am thinking how many apple pies I will lose. When the wind dies some I'll go out with the saw and trim it back. The wood will be saved to get burned in the fireplace come thanksgiving. At least we will get the rich apple smell of the burning limb that I will cut to fireplace lengths.

Yesterday was a reminder that it is still spring and we are away from summer weather, water in the lake is cold and leaves are still budding. When I was out with the grand daughter we saw two bees, I'll bet they are hiding out somewhere trying to figure what happen to. So I guess I should put my boots on and head outside and do some cleaning. I really don't want to have to go to the shed and find a snow shovel, I thought we were done with them. Suppose a pair of gloves would be a good idea too. From Lake Iwanttobethere {651,670}

Bobby Bass · April 18, 2012

Clean up is complete, at least till the next storm comes along. Duncan helped drag branches to and from the fire pit and I trimmed up the apple tree that lost the limb. The limb is now in fireplace lengths and tucked behind the shop so as to not get mixed in with the general firewood. Had to climb the ladder and replace a couple of shingles on the cabin and over on the shop a few pole barn screws were used to secure the metal trim back in place. Even put the rain barrels out so when the next storm arrives I will be gathering water. I actually came out pretty good as there were others on the lake that loss power overnight and a few cabins loss some siding. Hammering Hank and Skinny will be busy working on insurance claims for the next couple of weeks. I was at the Lodge yesterday and one of the guys who lives down by the narrows said the wind was so strong he thought he was in a remake of the Wizard of Oz. He spent the better part of the morning looking for a stack of plywood pieces that he had stored out by his barn.

This morning I helped out the son as his clothes dryer died the day before. We hauled it out of his house and tossed it in the back of the Dodge along with another dryer that I had been meaning to get rid of. I made the run to Mike's scrap yard with the dryers and a few tires. Very satisfying to toss the dryers out the back of the truck and watch them break open when they hit the concrete apron. We then went to go see Big Earl's brother in law who owns the appliance store in town. Big Earl must have called ahead because his brother in law was not around but a lady clerk found us at the door and escorted us back to the dryers without being asked. She kind of gave off the attitude that us men would need help in selecting a dryer. I have bought a few dryers in my time for myself and have been along for the son and daughter when they bought theirs. If ya have a pick up truck you get invited a lot to go buy appliances.

Took us about five minutes to find a floor model that fit the son's price range and lucky for us it had dent on it so we worked a little on getting the price down some more. After asking the clerk about how well the dryer would work for wet boots and boat cushions she raised her eyes some and mentioned something about the warranty. We loaded our selection on to a flat cart and rolled it to the front of the store. We paid at the front counter and she asked if we needed help in loading the dryer. Since she was the only one there I was tempted to tell her yes, just to see how she was going to do it. I was thinking we could deal on the price some more after she scratched the dryer up some. The son told her we would be just fine and we loaded it in the Dodge and we were on our way. As we were driving back to Del's I told him that he was getting old, "How is that" he said. " Well, you look to be excited over getting a new dryer" He just gave me a look and nodded, I think he agreed a little.

As we drove down the road with him pointing out potholes to avoid he told me to swing in to the Masterbaiters shop, there was a rod there that he wanted to look over. Since he just saved some money on the dented floor model what he saved would just about cover the price of a rod he had been eyeing. For a moment there I was thinking like my wife and I was going to mention that he just spent a bunch of money to buy the dryer so he had not saved anything but then I thought a new rod is a good idea and turned into the bait shop lot. From Lake Iwanttobethere {653,613}

Bobby Bass · April 20, 2012

Every morning the dogs Bud and Barney get a vitamin C tablet hidden in part of a piece of sliced cheese. Yesterday the wife came back from the store with some "Cheap" cheese saying there is no need for me to give the dogs their pill with "Good" cheese. This morning I rolled some cheap cheese around Barney's pill and gave it to him only to watch him drop it on the floor. Bud sniffed at the fallen cheese and left it where it lay. With the wife looking over her steaming cup of tea I went back to the fridge and got a slice of good cheese out. I picked up the pill from the floor and wrapped the good cheese around it. Offered it to Barney who ate it from my hand and sat looking for more. I looked at the wife and just said "Nuff said"

Yesterday afternoon there was quite the racket over at Chuck's his niece had brought over nine chickens that she no longer wanted. She had gotten them for Easter for her kids and now that they were no longer chicks they were not so cute. With the rooster making a racket and the four hens complaining about the new additions add the fourteen chicks that Chuck already has and it sounded like I was living next to a school yard. Of course the two horses got into it and Chucks dog Tatter starting baying for no reason. Duncan wanted to go over and see what was happening, the next thing I know and Duncan is back on the deck with a chick in his mouth. Duncan had the look of a kid with a "What is this" look, I might add the chick had the same look. I took the chick away and called Bud over. I gave the chick to Bud and told him to bring it back to Chuck. I then called and told Chuck that Bud was bring a chick back. When Elmer came through the woods and asked if I wanted to go to town I yelled at the wife I was leaving and followed Elmer back to his place.

Sitting in the front seat of Elmer's pickup truck we bounced along the dirt road heading into town. Elmer's old crossman bb gun on the seat between us. We were heading to Henry's Guns, Gears and Granola Shop where Henry was going to look over Elmer's BB gun which Elmer was claiming was "Not shooting straight." Henry's Guns, Gears and Granola Shop I know is an unusual name even for Lake Iwanttobethere but as Henry puts it " You need to diversify" when you are in a small town. We arrived at Henry's to find a few other trucks parked on the street and a few guys inside eyeing Henry's selection of bb and pellet guns. It being Spring time the second squirrel season was in full swing. Not to be confused with the fall small game season the second season is more of a battle of property protection fought over bird feeders and bird nests and not really sanction by the state.

Not everyone has squirrels like Ed and Eddie in their yard. Some of them dudes can really clean out bird feeders and make a mess. Elmer was here not because of the Ed and Eddie but his ongoing battle with the groundhogs that work his garden over. Pepper is not as quick as she one was and the ground hogs have her pretty much figured out. This year Elmer was going to use his bb gun to 'Persuaded" the ground hogs to relocate. Henry greeted us at the door and taking Elmer's gun we followed him back to the work part of the shop. There on the bench was a big shinny BB Gun connected by an hose to an air compressor. "Wow, what have we here" Elmer said. Henry with a smile on his face said " I am working on my machine gun BB Gun" I rolled my eyes but followed Elmer to the bench. I could already see Elmer with ground hogs and his new mini gatling BB gun, from Lake Iwanttobethere {655,244}

Bobby Bass · April 21, 2012

Raining here at Lake Iwanttobethere and there is some wind and it is cool out. I thought I saw a few snow flakes earlier this morning and the robin on the deck railing did not look to happy. I am sure he was upset with his wife for talking him into coming up north so early this year. But even with the rain there is always something to do or something is going on. The youngest grand daughter spent the night but she has already left this morning. She had a Play Date planned and could not be late. I don't ever recall having a play date, just something they do currently I have been told. When I asked the grand daughter why we don't have play dates she told me we can't because I don't run.

So after watching season three of Scooby Doo on the dvd player with her I engaged her in a conversation of why I can't have a play date. I thought I had a pretty good argument, I mean I can still swing, go on the teeter totter and play trucks in the sand box. Granted I would have to be the road construction foreman and any road I started would be completed on time and under budget. I can go wading and I can even eat a happy meal, I explained all this to her and the fact that I can drive. She took it all in and as she was eating her peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I could see her thinking it over. In the end she said "But you can't run, maybe you could have a play date with Uncle Chuck, I don't think he can run either!"

Just before bedtime we had another event, she lost her first tooth! The wife blames me and the peanut butter sandwich I made but the grand daughter said her tooth was loose and she just started to wiggle it back and forth and out it came. The wife took her tooth and taped it on a recipe card and wrote down the day and time. Grandmothers think teeth should be put in the scrap book whereas the granddaughter asked me how much do I think the Tooth Fairy will give her for it. Seems the granddaughter had been talking with her cousins and knows all about the Tooth Fairy, putting the tooth under your pillow and finding cash in return. Also something about getting more if you do it at dad's house instead of at grandpa's house. When bedtime came she took her tooth and put it on the dresser far away from the bed. I asked her about putting it under her pillow and she said it is better on the dresser where the Tooth Fairy can't get it. This morning it was the first thing she looked for when she got up.

So the cabin is quiet again and all I have is some water dripping off the eves. Dogs are all sprawled in their favorite spots catching some well-deserved zzz's I think they like having grand kids visit but the quiet is nice when they are gone. I looked over the Honey Do List and there is not really anything on it that I want to do. I could grab a book and do some reading but even that does not sound appealing right now. The wife seeing that I am restless heads into the kitchen and I can soon hear the sound of banging pots and pans. The phone rings but she answers it and I can hear her laughing and then she comes in the den and tells me that I need to go over to Chuck's. I get up out of my chair and ask her " Something break, does he need a hand with something?" ' O no" she says " I just made a play date for you to" from Lake Iwanttobethere {656,250}

Bobby Bass · April 23, 2012

Some sun shinning this morning and I am hoping that it stays. Cool the past few days and that is in the forecast from Sunshine Ray. I almost thing he just repeats the same thing every day. Partly cloudy sky, chance of rain and temperatures a little below normal. I think it has been well over a week since we had a really nice day out and that was just to tease us I am thinking. I still have the other half of the Puddle Humper to clean and the chair sits alongside it just where I left it. I have been waiting for a nice day to put the rest of the deck furniture out but that has not happen. The worse part is I still have that cold hanging on, the one that everyone says last six weeks. Mine is now into week five and I am hoping the six week is the correct call. I don't want to start fishing season with a cold.

After what was looking to be an early start to spring people have reined things back now. I have not heard a lawn mower running for a while and I did see a snowmobile on a trailer the other day. Now at Big Earl's all of his chicks are gone, sold to customers and the water tanks used as pens are stacked out back of the store. Fishing department has a few people wandering through it but more seem to be in the outdoor living section of the store. There always seems to be someone lifting the lid and kicking the tires on a BBQ The Chicken Shack open up on Saturday and a decision had to be made. Chicken Shack or down to the park and try some smelt at the Smelt Fry Tent. The only fair was was to try them both so lunch at the Shack and dinner at the fry.

The county has already come and taken all of their orange barrels from storage, all except the ones that Hammering Hank hid behind the Lodge garage. On Saturday with some help from some bored Lodge members the picnic tables and fire rings were all placed along with the fifty-five gallon garbage cans. The docks have not been put out yet, well there is just the one that rests on shore and some of the guys put it in themselves. The pink fish cleaning house is open and Skinny took the power washer to it. It has already been used a few times as some crappies are starting to be caught. Water is not warming up as quick as everyone thought it was going to just a few weeks ago. Seagulls are back working the park in the morning, not a big group but I imagine they will grow as the weather improves. Geese are swimming just off the bank and they are for the most part paired up.

Deer have disappeared, no doubt back deep in the woods again. I have heard the drumming of some grouse back behind the cabin. Duncan's ears perk up when the drumming starts and he tilts his head from side to side trying to locate the sound. He looks at me and the woods but I don't make any move. He will learn that he has to leave the birds alone in the spring so we will have something to chase come fall. Sun is still shinning, maybe it will warm up today and I can get back to work on the Puddle Humper. If I don't do something here soon the wife will put the winters do list back out and point at a few things that I could be doing. From a quiet Monday here at Lake Iwanttobethere {657,887}

Bobby Bass · April 24, 2012

The other day I was looking for something to do but not really looking too hard or too far. The past week I have been doing some research for some traveling music. I thought that since I am going to be on the road everyday during the month of June heading to a fishing spot I need some traveling tunes. I took one of my pocket size fishing notebooks and started writing down tunes that I would like to hear, I figure about a hundred songs would make for a pretty good base to work with. Some Eagles, some Doors, got to play some Doors music when heading home from the lake. Dark night maybe a little light rain falling and that warm summer breeze coming through the driver's window with the sound of a piano rip from Rider on the Storm.

Anyway so when I would hear a tune or think of one I would write it down in the little notebook. Of course people would see me writing and I would tell them what I am doing. Everyone has a song or two to add and once they have given me one they will stop me on the street to add a few more. Some I will write down and hit myself in the head for not thinking about them and others will be rejected but I will make It look like I am writing them down. It has gotten so bad that people will drive by and shout at me a song title, wave and keep on driving. On more than one occasion who ever I have been with at the time will ask me what that is all about and I will tell them. They then add a few more songs to my play list.

Yesterday afternoon I was at the DMV to pick up my fishing license and tabs for the truck. The gal waiting on me took my driver's license and printed up my fishing license. When she returned she handed me my license and said "A horse with no name" I looked at her blankly and just said "What" guy behind me snickered and then she said "For your song list" I took my note book out of my back pocket and added it to the list, put a little * by it, that one I might use. I already have a hundred and twenty-five songs and I am thinking maybe a hundred and fifty might be doable. But they keep coming, almost going to have to separate them into rock songs or old rock. The other thing is everyone tells me that when I get all the songs together they sure would like a copy of the list or maybe I could burn a few CD's for them?

I had dinner last night again down at the smelt fry tent, nice basket of smelt, onion rings and some French fries. Mindy and Mandy had some of their Lake Iwanttobethere Root Beer on hand and I ate my fill of the little buggers. Almost made it through the entire meal without anyone offering me any song tips when a loud argument broke out over by the root beer keg. Couple of guys were arguing over who was the better lead singer for Journey, Steve Perry or Steve Augeri I thought it was going to come to blows when they both stopped and pointed at me. The group came over to my picnic table and standing there waited for me to speak. Licking my fingers I just sat and looked up at them. "You decide" one of them said. " Why me" I replied. "Well your the one with THE LIST" I took a big bite of onion ring and looked away, all I wanted was a little traveling music, from Lake Iwanttobethere {658,936}

Bobby Bass · April 26, 2012

Blue sky, nothing but blue sky's, blue sky's is all I see... Got that tune stuck in my head for some reason. Perfect timing it looks like, have to make a trip and see Doc Burriem today, Still coughing away from the cold that just does not want to go away. I figure the weather will clear just as I get ordered to bed or something. So yesterday it started off wet but got decent by midafteroon. I hit a few stores in town working on my list for fishing opener. Went to Dan's Auto and got a quart of oil for the outboard and to the Masterbaiters Shop to look at some lures and bought a new cup holder for the Puddle Humper. Bug spray was on the list but I never made it over to the General Store. I got side tracked looking to find some spray paint that would match the lower unit on the Puddle Humper's outboard. I did get the hull all cleaned and I noticed the paint wearing away on the motor so I thought I would touch it up.

Dogs finally are all up and waiting at the door to get out, I let them out and stepped out on the deck myself. The blue sky is deceptive, it is not all that warm out. Matter of fact a pretty stiff wind is blowing and you can hear it in the trees. No leafs yet but they, the trees are full of buds. I can see pretty clearly out to the dirt road and as I move to get out of the wind I watch a gray four door car zipping down the road. A rooster tail of dust behind it, I have see the car a few times, it belongs to a new fellow on the lake. Story is he works in the big city and makes the commute from the lake in. Guy always seems to be in a big hurry which really does not fit in to the more relax life style out here. I'll have to talk to Frank the plow driver and see if he can put down a few dirt speed bumps in front of my place.

Two weeks till fishing opener and there is that feeling growing in the air. More boat trailers being pulled around town heading to the car wash or down to the lake. Guys in boats just off shore running motors and just getting wet. Few empty trailers driven by wife's pacing pontoons driven my husbands to waiting docks. Wife's in warm trucks sipping flavored coffee while husbands with hats pulled down tight take cold spray in their faces. Dusty trucks at the feed store jockey for position to be loaded and the lumber mill has the second shift going. At night a few more lights can be seen across the lake as people slowly start coming to the lake to open cabins for the season.

From our vantage point at the Lodge we can look down at the landing and see trucks and cars pull in to park or just to drive up to the water's edge. Sometimes guys will get out and walk on the dock to look down into the water. Hands in pockets like little kids they will kick at something on the dock we can't see then pause to watch a goose fly by. After a few minutes they will make their way back to their pickup and slowly drive back up the access road to go where ever they were going. Within a few minutes someone else will roll down the hill and the scene will be repeated. Old guys at the Lodge will make nickel bets on what kind of truck or car will appear next. Elmer is pretty good at this but then I know he is looking out the side window and watching cars turn in from Main Street, from Lake Iwanttobethere {661,252}

Bobby Bass · April 28, 2012

As you know there are a few subjects that are just not written about here at Lake Iwanttobethere We tend to stay away from religion, even father away from discussing mother in laws and we leave our politics at the door. Having said that I am pondering how to address the uproar over a sticker that needs to be attached to our boats and another to be stuck to the side of our trailers. Sticker phobia has even reached the shores of Lake Iwanttobethere. The thought of guys having to go to school to trailer their boats sold a lot of beer in the Lodge last night. I guess all I wanted to say is that even here at the lake we are concern, but remember this is the government and nothing is ever done quickly.

So, I still have this nasty cold, saw the Doc who said "Bobby, you still have a nasty cold" Normally I would nurse the cold and it would get me out of doing stuff around the cabin. But we are but two weeks out from fishing and I don't need no cold to bother me out on the water. If the cold ain't bad enough when is this wind))))))))))))) going to stop? The wind was another topic of discussion at the Lodge. The number one culprit in ruining a good fishing day was voted to be wind. Rain was doable and even cold you can dress for but wind, wind is a real pain in the... I found some spray paint for the Puddle Humpers outboard and I want to get a few coats on it. But with the wind I can't even get some primer down. During the round table discussion last night about the only thing wind is good for us to take the leaves from your yard and sent them down to the neighbors. Of course at times this also works in reverse with his leaves finding a home in your yard plus the neighbors.

With Spring having been here for a few weeks the ladies of the town have gotten together like they do. Warmer weather encourages them to gather in small groups on street corners or at the ever growing number of rummage sales. No longer content just to wave at each other from behind the glass of warm pickups on snow covered streets they now stop and chat. They chat about everything that has happen to everyone else over the long winter. I like many other men on the lake find themselves hearing about things they don't want to hear about over the supper table. In two more week's supper will be eaten from a brown paper bag in a boat floating on the lake, alone. No longer will I have to hear about divorce, new born babies, the coloring of hair or what the Miller kid did. No more conversations will be started with "Well I heard that" all I want to hear is who got a new puppy and what kind is it, which I already hear first hand at the Lodge.

This has been an unusual post, I have flirted with talking about mother in laws, and even hinted at politics. Reading the story to the wife she gave me a look over the top of her nose that I might be flirting with danger in regards to her girlfriends and gossip. All the more reason for the wind to die so I can go work on the boat and go fishing. Even Duncan knows something is up as he has been spending more time out in the shop because that is where Bud and Barney are hiding out from the wind. I had to finish writing this on the laptop sitting at the work bench, the wife was wandering around with her wooden spoon in hand mutterings something about gossip and just having conversations with her friends. It's been a long spring, I need to go fishing, from Lake Iwanttobethere {663,490}

Bobby Bass · May 1, 2012

Timing is everything, ain't that the truth! Yesterday the wind finally died and I spent some time outside, actually most of the afternoon. I started a fire in the pit and with the big loppers close at hand I did stuff that needed to be done around the cabin. I would pause from time to time to cut down fallen branches smaller and feed them to the fire. As we all have done when doing anything you get sidetracked, most of the afternoon was like that. I didn't really step out the door with any project in mind I just kind of wandered from one job to another. With a fire started I added down branches and did some pruning. Some scrap pieces of wood found their way from the wood shop to the fire and a passing thought was given to hauling out some deck furniture.

For some reason I set off in search of a missing gas can, which I did not find but did find the can labeled for mix gas. I had just enough gas in it to fill the small tank of the leaf blower and of course I started it. Next thing I found myself blowing gravel off the sidewalk and cleaning up around the boathouse. With that done I looked for some oil for the gas can and found none. A list was then started, with two-cycle oil penciled in along with a new gas can. Some where in there I got a couple of coats of primer on the lower unit of the boat motor. Took a chunk of skin off a knuckle when trimming a branch and snuck a soda out of the cabin without being seen. Got the cover off the BBQ and moved it on to it's place on the deck and added propane to the need list. Fed more branches to the fire and added a couple of pieces of birch.

Fogged the snow thrower, I think we are safe from having to use it again. Pulled the tiller from back under the garage stairs and pushed the snow thrower in it's place. Added a couple of more hooks to the rafters in the new shop and hung two step ladders that have been in the way all winter, added more branches to the fire. Looked at hauling out the garden tractor but decided I would save that for another day. Did get the push mower out and added fresh gas to it, thought about starting it but then I would be mowing and I thought I would save that for another day to. Sometime in the past few day's dandelions have appeared so I got the weed spray out and hosed them down. Added more branches to the fire and stood near the flames for a while letting the heat dry my pants from the over spray.

Got distracted when Mark the mailman dropped off the mail, a few catalogs there and I sat down on the deck and leafed through them. One was a cigar catalog which reminded me of my cigar order. I called down to Marv's Smoke and Magazine shop and told him to go ahead with my order. With fishing season less then two weeks away the stogies should be here on time. Grand kids came by after school and I put them to work. Them little fingers are just the right size for picking up twigs and feeding the fire. Not to mention they are closer to the ground then I am and have an easier time doing all that stooping and picking. They were rewarded with some sticks to cook hot dogs on and we didn't add any more wood to the fire. Soon the sound of sizzling dogs could be heard and with buns and a bag of chips we all sat on the deck and watched the fire burn.

Today it is raining, from Lake Iwanttobethere {666,227}

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