Three Ventures Forth

Trout Waters Where Two Forks Converge

            I’ve written and posted at least one entry every month since I’ve started this blog.  I’m at the bewitching hour this month; on the last day, in the last few hours, in this month of September.  I know they say life is an adventure, so I suppose that alone could qualify if I put those memories to words.  It’s just that sometimes it’s difficult to write simply on life stuff.  Not that I haven’t written about life at various times; either in its purest form, or intermingled within the confines of time spent outdoors.  When I think about it though, it’s been more of an issue of time than motivation that’s kept me at bay from typing in an entry this month, because I have had adventures over the last few weeks.  It’s with these thoughts, and the hope that by getting this in before midnight, that I’ll be able to reopen the flood gates of creativity and continue blogging into the future. 

Tonight I’ll type up a few outings I’ve had while trout fishing.  The outings in which I ventured forth came from three specific excursions; an entire day spent before the first week of school kicked into gear, on the morning of Labor Day itself, and throughout an afternoon following a full day of teaching school.  They are ventures complete with pictures and videos.  Unfortunately my phone died a few weeks back and I lost all of my pictures from the end of June until mid-September.  Yup, I was just about to save them to an alternative folder, but as Maxwell Smart used to say, I “Missed it by that much!”  I’ve had some family members send a few of them back to me the last few nights, however, so I should be able to aptly share what I experienced.  This entry will be comprised of pictures, videos, and captions.

            See you along The Way…

-----

 Friday, August 11, 2017

Mid Wisconsin's White Pines, Oaks, And Trout Streams

            After waking very early, I drove North for a couple of hours.  I was in the water shortly after sunrise.  I fished an area that was familiar, but within water that was new.  It was an upper branch to a creek that I've fished many times before.  At one point, seconds after taking a video of the creek's moving water, a huge beaver came around the bend and swam within two feet of me before lurching backwards, sweeping over to my right, and following the current on passed me.  I just missed capturing it (figuratively and literally).  That day I caught a "Trifecta" of trout; a brook trout, a brown trout, and the fabled tiger trout.  The tiger is a sterile hybrid that can occur when the egg of a female brown is fertilized by a male brook trout.  I have heard about these hybrids, but had never caught or seen one before.  I took a picture of this trout and then released it.  That day I caught enough fish to keep it interesting. Once I got back to my Jeep, I cooked up some food in my little "Emberlit" stove.  I had a great picture of me kneeling beside it cooking a delicious meal, but it's been lost at this point.  I may have sent it to one person, so if it shows up, I'll post it here later.  Following the meal, I took a nap, read from a book I'd been reading throughout the summer (Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge), and then headed south.  I did stop and fish one more creek until I couldn't see anymore.  It was my last outing of the summer.

The Tiger Trout

Resting, And Recharging In The Back Of My Jeep

-----

Monday, September 4, 2017 (Labor Day)

            On this day I drove northwest, and arrived early.  My hope was that I would cover a lot of water, and get into some big browns at some point.  The score that day was 12 to 7; brook trout won over the browns.  The "Brookies" were entering their brilliant fall colors.  Soon after a lunch on the bank, I caught what would be my last trout; a spunky 16 1/2 inch brown.  While thrashing through the brush trying to find a way back to something resembling a trail, I caught my boot on some sticks and sprawled spread eagle onto the ground.  It would be just a few days later that I would notice big bruises on my shins and arms. Waders are a blessing and a curse.  For dinner that evening, my wife Cindy and I ate two of the fish for dinner.

I Love The Coloring On Those Brook Trout

I Also Love Those Autumn Browns

Monday, September 11, 2017

            After a day of teaching, I headed back northwest.  I didn't leave school as soon as I would have liked, but I had some things I needed to do first, and then I stopped by the house to let our dog out and grab my fishing gear.  When I arrived at my destination, I fought off the mosquitoes, and fished a different section of the creek than I had back on Labor Day.  The section was further up stream.  I again caught some brookies.  I also managed to hook into a twelve and fourteen and a half inch brown.  It was enjoyable being out on the water until dark.  The sounds and smells of the woods and creek always give me energy!