Johnsfolly

Anywhere that you can catch wild or naturalized trout is a special place. I would rather catch a 7" brook trout that has lived its whole life in a little stream than a 16" stocker at a trout park (unless that one was due for the skillet☺). When I lived in PA a 20" trout was the equivalent to a 10 lb bass. The state didn't stock fish larger than 10 to 12" at that time. So if it doubled its size it had been in the stream a pretty long time and a special fish. A 20" fish in Bennett's or in one if the urban lakes could have lived its entire life in a concrete run then dumped in the stream or pond the morning that it was caught. That changes how it should be considered as a trophy. Dont get me wrong I would still love to catch it on 2 lb test. Just would not consider it as much of a trophy as the 15" rainbow that I caught out of Barren Forks creek or the one I caught out of Crane creek. Those are special memories.

Thanks Everyone! I know that he does not even know anyone on this forum, but he would appreciate all of the support being given on his behalf. It is this part of this forum where OAF differentiates itself from others online communities. Thanks Phil!

So do you think they caught this guy in the urinal or the toilet ☺?

That is a great buck. Congrats to your friend for making a good shot and for you to let him take it! Hope that you get a chance at the other buck.

Now that's just funny! I just got several perch photos yesterday from Ham. So he's got that species on his list for 2017! He is so close to getting 52 species for the year it must be driving him crazy. I am a bit calmer since I need a few more species to meet a milestone goal, but I have until the end of Feb to get that done and not end of Dec. Also I have highlighted at least 7 species that I have caught in the past and are active in the winter. A couple of those could be caught during Jigfest !

Today I was supporting a good friend, hunting, and fishing buddy that I have known for the last 17 years as he buried his wife of nearly 50 years. She was diagnosed with ALS this last spring and the disease progressed faster than anyone imagined. She passed away on Tuesday. Please consider a prayer for Mike and his son as they go forward with their lives.

Last night was a venison dish. When I was butchering my doe, I put aside some select pieces of meat including the thin end of the backstraps. I cut the venison as thin as I could. I also sliced some onions, minced garlic, and thinly sliced young portabella mushrooms. I made a mushroom liquor / beef stock using boullion cubes and dried porcini mushrooms. I browned the venison in two batches with a little olive oil and a pat or two of butter. Added Worchestershire sauce and salt & pepper. I removed the meat and then cooked the onions and mushrooms. Once the onions were translucent, I added back the meat, a little more S&P, a 1/2 cup of red wine (Pine Ridge - Petit Verdot), and the mushroom / beef stock. I covered the dish and let simmer 20 -25 mins. I then added sour cream and smoked paprika. We served the stroganoff with wide egg noodles and topped with chopped parsley. I like making this dish with beef as well. However, venison adds a greater depth of flavor than you can get with beef. It is this kind of dish that makes me a meat hunter. If you don't like venison this dish could change how you think about venison.

My Betterhalf and Livie have made stuffed sourdough a couple of times so far. We have been using brie and mozzarella. Something that Ness should think about the next time he makes sourdough and if he likes these cheeses. Definitely could stuff with other cheeses that you prefer.

Here is one of our dirty T-shirt dishes from earlier this week. Kielbasa with caramelized onion and green peppers. Served with hash brown potatoes.

Looks like a great time! Lots of comfort, great food, and some nice fish! Can't go wrong there! You guys have a great tradition. Can't wait for a post from your spring trip!

I've had a couple of years of German. So that helps in our case. If I knew how to post videos I would post the Wilder/Feldman argument from Young Frankenstein☺. Is it Frankenstine or Frankensteen?

RPS am I seeing some carrot in the meatloaf as well? If so do you precook the carrot before adding it to the meat mixture? If not carrot, what have gou added to the mix? We love a good meatloaf at the Folly household☺! The cheesey polenta is interesting.

Not much of a polka dancer but you know me I just have to show off my legs☺!

I was in former east Germany many years ago and even though most folks didn't speak English I felt very at home. Lots of grilled meats, fine beers, and the Saturday flea market had vendors with all kinds of antlers (red stags, roebucks, fallow deer, etc.) and beer steins ! Of course it helped that I never once had to spell my last name .

That is a DANG spread!

Some of my favorites lines. "I was feeding you Jack!" "He'll see the Big Board!" "Let me finish Dmitri. Well listen how do you think I feel about it? Can you imagine how I feel about it Dmitri?" "Don't say that you are more sorry than I am, because I'm capable of being just as sorry as you are... So we are both sorry all right?" Definitely one of my favorite Peter Sellers movies of all time!

Nice bunch of fish Dan! I might have done better fishing than deer hunting. Did get a couple of shot opportunities but didn't pull the trigger. Fried crappie sounds really good right now!

How about the pucker factor when you are in a major inlet on a falling tide, ripping past the jetty, headed into 4 to 6 foot standing waves, and then out to the ocean and the engine won't start. Then your host wonders why you don't go fishing with him again since this happens evert time he goes out.

Only if the hatchery is feeding them contaminated pellets☺!

I have caught 31 different species of shiner, minnow, sculpin, darter, topminnow, silversides, etc. since March 1. Twelve of them were new species. I do track them with a spreadsheet. I have had folks tell me that I need a hobby when they hear that I track all of the fishing events on a spreadsheet. I just smile and tell them that it my hobby ! Notice that I did say obsession previously!

"He'll eat well!" That when there is some ground shrinkage ☺! My problem is that I don't often pass on a legal deer regardless of it's rack if its got antlers. Saw four this morning had one shot obscured by the sun in my scope.

Very nice buck. Congrats!

I certainly do enjoy a good kick in the shins especialky when I try to land a greemside darter. Or worse a stoneroller ☺! You would think that at least one of the hundred or more fish from that school would bite and not just disperse when my bait hits the water!

It's a challlenge, a great time with my girl and friends, an education, a great use of a spreadsheet,, a boon to the red worm bait market, a need for a good map, a reason to fish the small creek next to your house, a kick in the shins when the one fish that you are targetting won't bite, and most of all an OBSESSION☺! Not that I would know anything about that☺!

That is a giant. Congrats on a great brown trout!