Johnsfolly

Marty congrats on a great pond fishing trip! Ultra simple and so rewarding when you reel in a bull gill! I got into a few nice bluegill today, but that's a different story !

I have said it many times I don't think it's possible to land a 10 lb bluegill! Such great fighters.

Looks good Marty. General Tso's chicken is one of dishes that my betterhalf and I have used to determine if we like a Chinese restaurant. I wonder how we would rate Billetheadville! Based upon a mexicali dish, turkey carnitas, it's all good. Would love to try General Billet"s turkey!

Very nice Lance! Congrats you have those crappie figured out! Always love your photos.

I usually look at the cost of a 3 or 7 day license versus a full year and may get the full year nonresident license if I plan on going back more than once. Most states are pretty reasonable. Right now I have three states covered. Will likely get a license in one or two more throughout the year.

Quillback - glad to see you covered their faces to protect the innocent ! Sound like a good day. Congrats buddy. Good luck on the one bass tourney!

Can't have a Bday without a cake. My betterhalf and Livie made a black forest cake.

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.