N9BOW

you first

Well I don't ever wish to top that poor dudes "Skivvie lounging, smokebreak, pouch bitten, taint removal partial pucker recluse experience...." ouch!

The neighbor showed me a picture of a cream colored female (I think) in her flowerbed. The folks I bought the new house from said they only saw it once but the yard was full of the boys crawling towards the river in the fall (old golf course) to get lucky. Not sure I am looking forward to that... especially since my cat likes to race into the house with her harvest (alive) in her mouth trilling all the way. She just doesn't get it when I don't appreciate the gesture. I've seen several Brown Recluse and had a close call in Indiana with one letting me know I should not have grabbed her dried flower arrangement in the shed. My friend lost a good bit of his calf muscle from a recluse bite... (dont put your bare feet into boots was the lesson I learned and clap them out before donning them)

She was dead outside my garage door from the insecticide treatment… One down… waiting on the tarantula and scorpion and the water moccasin sightings (not in a hurry)… And all the other nasty stinging biting creatures that come with this little bit of paradise. In the process of rolling her over, she broke in half…, But I thought it was a black widow and the only way to be sure it was to check the abdomen

Thanks for sharing your boat and fishing with me today! Looking forward to more excursions with you now that I am officially here!

Peach (My old girl - Yellow pointing Lab) sleeps there with me when I go there... we're dog friendly...

I have a place in Mountain Home 11 mile roughly from every boat ramp. Close to food and shopping. It comes with wifi, TV, kitchen, full bath and 1 bedroom sleeps 2-4 (living room or workshop area sleeps (a lot with cots you could sleep a small army)... Ask some of the guys on here that have stayed at my place... Not bad for a man cave! It's pretty much a Bardominium / garage with living area.. Bedroom has two futon/couches. The Full bath has great water pressure, Kitchen has working stove, Coffee makers, Espresso machine, Microwave, Fridge, The main center section is the living room and kitchen, the right side bay is for boat storage or whatever.. its where I keep my boat when not rented out. TV is 65 inch has Amazon Prime, Disney + and Hulu. The left bay has putting green and driving/chipping net for fun.. There are several fly tying vises and tying stations.. If you need to use these, we can discuss materials and deposits. Covered vehicle or boat bay, room for an RV, no RV hookup yet. I just moved down here and am starting to remove a bunch of personal effects to the new home. Its 150.00 a night using the inside climate controlled boat/car bay. If just needing a roof over head its 120.00 a night.

Thanks for all the kind words and calls and text messages... You guys are the best! Cant wait to fish with you guys again and others I have yet to wet a line with... I'll be down to my place Feb 12-19th

So far off to a poor start. Lost Mom last Monday. She had been going down hill real fast after her fall last Aug. Got to served with a Covid-Divorce in 2020.. still having fun in that department so 2021 is still a crap shoot so far! Woohoo.. (hey look sometime you have to laugh. and poke fun at your situation!.. otherwise there is only crying and that dont really help! and who the heck wants to hear it. I choose looking at the brighter side) Anyway, Mom has gone on to be with Dad and I got to spend her final years dotting on her like she did to me as a pup as should be. And was able to comfort her as her days grew dimmer. Last journey is to get Mom interred at Arlington next to Dad. Hopefully this fall. Covid has pushed things to the right everywhere.. we'll see how the schedules pan out for services there... I will be moving to AR (maybe Southern MO) before the end of the year and get on with life.. Count your blessings! Belated Happy new year to all... Hope to be closer neighbors to many of you! Eric - N9BOW

Late reply here. Had a terrific time this year fishing and meeting up with everyone. The Food was awesome. I didnt take any pics this year. Worked on my boat (added a front centerline bunk) Thurs morning and fished solo at at Wildcat in the evening. Met up with @gotmuddy and had Thai for dinner then Fished Reds on Friday, Met his lovely wife at the Mexican restaurant. We caught lots of fish. I forgot my rain gear and wading boots in Iowa so we had to make a stop at wally world that morning. Cody and I discussed my cursed ADD - I think we align here somewhat. I left the new rain gear and some new cheapo waders down at the shop so when I pull that bone head move again I'm covered. (I did this on purpose - not because of the ADD) Struggled with the front articulating bunk again even after adding a center bunk. Going to replace the front articulating bunk with a V roller so the bow eye does not get hung up due to all the weight from the accessories installed (big problem on steep ramps). Fished Wildcat Sat with @JestersHK and @BrandonSTL. Boated lots of fish. DJ hooked up on some dandies. I think the M&M peanut spitting failure on my part kept me out of the big fish. Either that or I forgot to bring the Twinkies... who knows. The big fish mojo was not on me that day but still a blast. We boated lots of fish at Reds, then on to Rim.. Watched Brandon eat some rainbow eggs , then finished up at Wildcat. A great time and glad I got to fish with DJ, Brandon and Cody! Looking forward to doing it again!!! Eric

Not in my boat but I did catch a river chub

How many mouths do we have to feed? anyone have a definitive count?

Got word from my Buddy Mike (Wounded One) is not feeling well and wont make it down. That leaves me with an Empty boat. I can take an angler (or 2) with me. My plans were to fish south of Norfork the first couple days and see what its like.

Mom was well enough to come to the window today to visit. If she is doing ok tomorrow I will head down and be there Wed - Sat and head back early Sunday morning. Plan to take the boat to the river on Wed afternoon, I need to adjust the bunks on the trailer so the boat does not get bound up on the front bunk when loading... Adding a trolling motor, two batteries and an electric anchor winch made Herty Gerty a bit heavy in the nose. Hope to see all soon.

Hi All, Just wanted to give a heads up. The plan is still to be down Next Wed - Sun, however my Mom is not doing very well at the moment so I am taking things day by day. There is a possibility I will either be late arriving, leaving early or have to cancel all together. As I get closer to next weeks departure time, I will have better handle on Moms progression. I will as mentioned previously order the pulled pork if I cant make it down to smoke it. Hope to see all soon.

Get well Buddy!

Im still planning it.. I desperately need this time away. I may resort to just staying at my place and not socialize in person if I feel under the weather. (I would purchase instead of cook the pulled pork and have it delivered or scheduled for pickup from someone at the lodge so I can honor my commitment ...should I feel under the weather)..I will fish by myself if I have too! Plus I have work to do on the place.

Were good. I would say I am at capacity indoors... plenty of room for a trailer or two. I'll call you later today when I get off and sort out any details.

@JestersHK I'm still planning on being at my place for the JigFest! I will arrive Wed afternoon and try to get some work done on the place. I would like to get a handle on whos on first and whats on second (and I dont know whos on third) I have space for campers. and could take a few indoors as mentioned earlier. I will certainly plan on hanging out in the evening at the lodge. Next up food thread? has anyone started that? I can do some pork again if you guys would like. Eric - N9BOW

Agreed Cody...I've decided to just stick with a tiller... But I am putting in a small Vance hydraulic jack plate on it and mount an actuator under the captains seat. it's gonna be fun. I'm coming down next Wed - Sun and plan to do some much needed fishing.... and scouting of new un-fished territory with Mike. I may even bring the little boat down and stop by @fishinwrench place and check out his motor and work on it a bit in the evenings.

Yeah true..but this is a project boat and whatever I do to it, especially if I go the route of remote steer would be to make the remote steer install removable with just a few turns of the wrench to take it out and go right back to tiller for HP restricted waters. I know its pie in the sky thinking but.. I like pie and I like the sky The remote steer setup while cool may just be too much money.... also when all is said and done. I ever part with it would I get back out of it what I put in? So that's part of the plan.. to cost everything out and then decide on the actual build path... I don't count my labor, as this is the sort of thing I enjoy doing.

Ohhhh. will keep this in mind! I am looking at possibly putting in the narrow gunnel version of this swing away remote console (http://www.ganatswingaway.com.au/) as part of the project.. This should give me my limited floor space back vs building a bulkier fixture. Gonna get her painted to match my Topwater..kinda like the flake and seafoam but in the original design of the lightning stripes This is a pretty cool setup... (still investigating if i go this route)

Should be perfect to scoot up the smaller rivers here to hunt and fish. Test rode her with my little lehr 5hp. Propane. Very maneuverable craft. Might actually be scary with a 25. I know people race with this hull with a 40-45hp. Plan to make this a winter project. May even pull her down for jigfest if I get a 9.9 and go up the Buffalo. Not a bad deal (I don’t think) Boat and trailer for a grand. Registered till 2022. Also came with custom fabricated drop in decks to stand on up front and one for the rear (not shown). Found a remote steer yr. 2000 mercury 9.9 for 500.00 - low hrs... may build a small side console just for that motor. i decided to get this over the soloskiff. I can do lots more with the bigger beam than the solo. Fish two people easy..and me and the dog for solo outings will be awesome. let me know if anyone knows of a decent deal on a 9.9 -20hp tiller.

Hi Gavin! Sorry your Mom had to transition into a nursing home but sometimes its for the better. I understand. I think the facilities have learned how to deal with Covid-19.. My mom has been isolated every time she leaves the facility or they have shut down visits if a staff member tests positive and they test the residents weekly.. Hope they do that where your Mom is.. if not give em hell! 2020 has sucked and I have seen the same thing. I had been taking care of my Mom in my house for over 16 months. She had been borderline able to do anything but put in her dentures and navigate with her walker from the bathroom to the lift chair in the living room and feed herself. Fell constantly which we recorded. 3 months ago she fell at 1:30 am in the bathroom and caused a hemotoma that caused her bleed internally 4 units of blood. we almost lost her just waiting for the ambulance. She spent weeks in the hospital, the Drs took her off the blood thinner as bleeding was still happening.. I had to make the tough call to say Mom I cant give you the care you need or Deserve! its a tough call.. you did the right thing! but it does not stop the diligence on our part.. keeping the facility in line and make sure they take care of her the way you did! Peace - you did the right thing!

I’ll bring my generator... but there are several 120v outlets (inside) some on the exterior that could be used. Bring your own extension cords and adaptors. Should be able to handle it. Each bay has 240v but I don’t think AC (air conditioners) will be an issue that typically trips the breakers when plugging in an RV.