Johnsfolly

Ok so this will sound a bit funny, but I figured out and cooked most of my Birthday dinner. I picked up a couple of thick T-bones and seasoned them with montreal seasoning, garlic, and onion powder - kept at room temp. The longest dish to make was going to be the au gratin potatoes (Livie requested these). I picked up a block of Kerrygold Dubliner cheddar cheese and shredded half of the block and we mixed it with another shredded sharp cheddar cheese. This cheese is one that we used to enjoy when we lived in N. Ireland. We cooked down some minced onion, garlic, then added flour, some dried basil. then about two cups of milk. I greased a casserole dish with butter and layered sliced potatoes. I added half of the onion/milk mixture then topped with half of the shredded cheese. Then layered the rest of the potatoes, the onion/milk, and the rest of the cheese, a little more basil on top followed by a bit of parmesan. We covered the casserole with foil and into the oven at 350 for 35 minutes, then another 45 minutes uncovered. While the potatoes cooked, I mixed sesame seeds, golden flaxseed, green pumpkin seeds, and some sunflower seeds. I toasted them until the sesame seeds were golden. In another bowl I mixed about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar, about a tablespoon of honey, a tablespoon of mustard, and about two tablespoons of oil. I blanched green beans and cold shocked them. Once down I mixed the beans with the seed mixture and the vinegar mixture. When there was about 20 mins left on the potatoes, I began grilling the steaks. As they were on the hot coals, I dry sauted sliced mushrooms. I also added a few dried porcinis into 1 1/2 cups of beef stock and heated in microwave to make a mushroom and beef stock. I pulled the steaks off of the grill and put them in the oven for a couple of more minutes. I added a couple of tablespoons of corn starch and poured the stock into the pan with the mushrooms and cooked until thickened. I let the steak rest for several minutes, sliced, and served.

It's nice to think that they are still present. It's very improbable that they would go unnoticed for this long. Who knows. There was a big excitement about 12 to 14 years ago about the possibilty of ivory billed woodpeckers were alive as well in Arkansas and also in Florida. Haven't heard much about them since then. I get caught up in watching a lot of those "search for" shows and end up more disappointed than not. Only one that I watched so far that was successful was the search for the giant squid.

If there is decent forage then thinning the bass should help. I do know that there are ties between BH and a known koi pond stocker .

Of couse the cave is critical only if you have the poles to get into the cave! I would love for someone to try to explain how they could slide down a pole, get out of their mild manner clothing, and change into their tights and cowls while still holding the pole. Do you have poles going off of your deck ?!?!

From my umderstanding you would need an old butler, a young ward, and a confused older aunt to pull off the stately Ness manor !

Looks like a nice day catching those green fish! Pond managememt can be a bit more challenging than just keeping a few. I would suspect there may not be a lot of forage in that pond. Catch any bluegill in the recent past? May need an influx of prey like baby carp .

Even Ness should enjoy your wildlife meals just as long as it was killed and cleaned before he gets there !

Daryk too bad you didn't catch a fish. Like BH said getting out with your son makes it special. You see any micros in that creek? PM me if you want to try to get after some the 17th or 18th.

Soinds like you've hit on a great tag line. "Tide cleans all the way from beginning to end!"

Very nice smallies!

And to think the only 20 incher that I caught when fishing with you last year was a walleye. Now its my PB walleye so I'm not complaining! Sounds like you're now becoming the Taney guy that folks will want to fish with assuming that they survive their first trip .

Great job guys! Thanks for taking us along on you Taney trip!

Sounds like a great day at the park. Congrats Seth!

Awesome photographs! Thanks for sharing. Makes me want to get there. Just spectacular.

We just have to see if we can get together a "big year" type fishing adventure.

Plans changed and I will be MO next weekend, but my betterhalf is limiting my fishing to day or half day trips. If you've read any of my posts that could mean a 300 mile round trip . She never mentioned when my day trip could start. Unfortunately I'll still be out on this tourney. Have a great time! My money is on Quillback or Donna !

I did a similar technique to catch brookies in Wyoming. Out there they are invasives. It seems that if you don't spook them they are have pretty aggressive takes.

Thanks buddy. I thought about "going" several times but just tied on something else or got around the next bend to make a cast. Or in many cases checked that I didn't break any gear or myself as I extracted my leg out of the deadfall brush and logs.

I very much doubt the "rookie" comment but we can and do all get schooled by fish. Good luck buddy. I want to see some new videos soon .

I now have a couple of different trout spots in MD to satisfy your need to catch a trout in different states ! I looked at Delaware and they have only a handful of inland trout stocked streams. Sea trout or weakfish is the state fish of Delaware. Just saying.

I wish i had a photo of the first one. This year has been the coldest initial temps trout fishing that I remember. In the teens fishing at Jigfest. Then in the teens/twenties twice down at Bennett's for c&r season (including my trip with BH and Ham). And yesterday in low twenties. It was.a balmy 38 by 4 pm yesterday . I guess that's why its winter fishing. I will have to get BH to show me how to fish a hopper in these tiny streams and overhanging branches. They might tear up some dry flies.

Hope to see some walleye and bass photos soon. Too bad that I can't get down to the tourney. Was looking forward to fishing with you.

That's funny right there ! HW - hope you guys have a great trip, can't wait for photos and that the fellow OAFers have limber backs. .

I hung up on that snag when the water was higher last time I fished that spot ! Good thing that he was able to set up next to the snag! Was a nice fish. Brian sounds like a western PA guy.

I have been reviewing opportunities for possibly catching some native brook trout in Maryland. I have been skunked the last three outings, one in Maryland and two in Missouri. I settled on trying to fish Poplar Lick Run in Garrett CO. This creek feeds into the Savage river. The Savage and it's tributaries are known for having wild and Native brook trout. The one problem is that I would have to cross almost the entire state of Maryland to get there a trip over 4 to 4 1/2 hour trip. With my past luck I was a bit concerned. Also the temperatures in the mountains was going to be in the low twenties. Didn't know if I would have enough warm clothes with me. Decided to give it a shot. Left the hotel at 5:15 am. I checked out New Germany state park, which is the source of Poplar Lick. I was surprised about two things, the snow on the ground as well as a pay phone booth! The stream was a bit smaller than I had anticipated. I decided to head down towards its confluence with the Savage river. As I was heading to that creek, I was running the length of the Big Run creek. It looked to hold some promise if I could fins some pockets or pools with a little water depth that could hold a few trout. It was 22 deg at my first stop. This stream has a fairly high gradient and is surrounded by rhododendrons. This will be a recurring theme through out the day. I now remember why I hate them ! The first spot that I tried did not have great water depth. Fortunately there were some plunge pools below the culverts where the creek crossed the road. The third cast into this pool with a 1/64 oz olive marabou jig with a black head got bit. This was my first native brook trout and the first fish that I have caught for my 201/2019 season. It came unbuttoned as I was trying to net the fish. So as BilletHead always says - if there is no photo it doesn't count ! So now I needed to catch another one to get a photo. I didn't try to catch another fish in Big Run creek and headed to Poplar Lick. Poplar Lick was a little smaller stream in sections than Big Run. I weaved my way through more rhododendrons, hemlocks, and other brush all day. I tried to be as stealthy as possible due to the small stream and how spooky brook trout can be. Kept looking for deeper pockets and a little slower water to be able to fish my baits effectively. I fished for several hours. I missed a few fish on my way upstream. I only had one that seemed to be partially hooked on a 1/32 oz olive and orange Zig Jig, but I think that it was only holding the tail of the jig. I fished a pistol pete in that same hole a couple of hours later as I headed down stream. Unfortunately I had a fish follow the bait through the entire hole and down in the fast riffles where It lost interest. I did not catch any fish in Poplar Lick run. I tried to microfish a tributary of the Savage River. I saw several darters and minnows and was sure that most if not all would be new species for me. I fished them for about 45 minutes and did not get a hook up. I was getting worried that I would not have photo verified catch for the day . I tried a few baits in the Savage river itself and lost a countdown, nearly broke my hand and ankle while traversing logjams, etc. It was getting to be a really tough and discouraging day. I went back to Big Run creek and made a couple of casts in a larger plunge pool near the confluence with the Savage. I got bit on what would be my last cast. This time I landed and released this native brook trout. Not as well colored as the first one, but I got the photo. Take that BH !