grizwilson

See the Taneyfest Foot post on the Taney forum, Thanks g

Ok, communication from room 15 at Lilley's, The plan is a meal for Saturday for around 2 pm(1400) plus or minus, with a time for Michael @WoundedOne, His Widow and ??? are planning on attending. Ladybear and I will bring potatoes, onions to add to @Seth crappie fry, hushpuppies and a dessert. And anything else we need. Duane has made a beautiful memorial for the family.....we will have plenty of food, just need Love for our friend's family. Thanks Friends.

Peggy has a broken foot and is in a boot, the snow and cold are a challenge. We might make it by for a while Saturday afternoon???? Will keep you all posted.

Sorry @Flysmallie the forecast high of 24 on Saturday does not bode well for me to wade fish, let alone bring the boat. If I would smarten up should just stay here and put wood in the stove. Sorry, maybe next time.

First, I am not a very good Taney fisherman, could likely get a ticket for trying to impersonate one. But yesterday afternoon (1/20/26) I tried a bit, and admittedly had read this thread. So I started off with 7x, broke a good fish off, wore another to near exhaustion and had trouble getting them hooked up. Was throwing a #16 gray scud so not a jig. I switched to 6x(My version is 4# maxima) my take rate fell a bunch, but my catch rate went up. Likely need some of that #3 @snagged in outlet 3 speaks of.

First for those looking for one of those detailed reports from an expert...this is not it. I had a very good afternoon on Taney...for me. I am not in practice of catching those "sea monsters" like DJ, @Ryan Miloshewski or @Bill Babler. This is the first time I have fished since 10/31/25, a record for the past 55 years of going that long, but deer season and heart procedures and test in addition to the weather has got in my way. I had drive Ladybear to a gathering at Big Cedar this afternoon. She has a broken bone in her right foot, has a boot and cannot drive. It has been traumatic for both of us. I am afraid she is going to break a bone in her left foot, stomping the brake on the passenger side. I dropped her off about 1300, figured I would just look around and go down to #Lilleysriverside and spend some money and visit. I looked at the generation chart, water off at 1300, none forecast for the afternoon. Drove by the dam, 2 cars in the parking lot????? Wind not bad, took a walk and assessed the situation. I think I can at least give it a try. So about 1400 I have a rod rigged wadered up and ready to give it a try. First cast, missed what I thought was a take. Second cast, hooked up, but came unbuttoned. Caught a couple of stockers, and had multiple come unbuttoned, was trying to be easy with a 7x tippet, got a bit more aggressive... got a good fish on... after a few minutes of fight he broke me off. I got another decent fish on, and fought it, too long, took some revival for it to swim away. So, I switched to a 6x (which is 4# maxima for me) my hit rate decreased by at least half, but my hook up and land rate went up. The only fly I threw was a size 16 gray scud. I would cast let it settle and slow drift then SLOWLY strip in. Do not have a counter but lost count at 14 or 15 to hand in 2.5 hrs of fishing. There was another gentleman from Minnesota he switched to a gray scud under an indicator and did very well. It was great to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

Hey Ryan, I will do a pot of gumbo (sorry DJ but I use bacon grease in my roux) but have some shredded wild turkey meat I can share that has been smoked, but cannot guarantee it did not get some drippings from pork butt when I smoked it though????? Just let me know.

Wild Turkey and Andouille are my ingredients on hand. alpha gal is above my pay grade, tried to do that for a friend, shoot he could not even use my toilet paper "it had lanolin in it" . You are on your own for chicken sausage, they call it "foul" for a reason. Sorry DJ

Well, I smoked 3 sets of wild turkey legs and thighs. I know now that one set is enough for a pot of gumbo. I froze some. I am thinking that I do not want to drag stuff to cook rice..... so a pot of Wild Turkey and andouille(good stuff from Wisconsin) Jambalaya? Not nearly as refined as @gotmuddy Maybe experiment with brown rice?

We are really needing some rain @vernon what does your schedule look like?

Peggy and I went down and spent some time with Lisa and Ian this afternoon. She and Michael had been together 36 years. She did not see this coming....she is as shocked as the rest of us. She said he enjoyed Jigfest so much and was looking forward to Taneyfest. She will need some time to heal, but thinks we need some type of "Celebration of Life" to help the family and "us" with closure. She is considering "Taneyfest" and will keep us posted as she gets a handle on things. Hold your loved ones tight, and keep those prayers coming. g

Friends, normally I would start a post such as this, "with a heavy heart..." but my heart is broken into too many pieces to be heavy. Our friend and fishing buddy, Michael @WoundedOne was overcame by this world Friday afternoon and left us. I would have posted earlier, but was waiting on his wife and children to decide their next step. They have made the decision not to have a service, "that was just not him." There may possibly be some type of celebration of life sometime after the first of the year. We will post if/when we make it happen, (Possibly in conjunction with Taneyfest???) Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. If any of you need someone to talk with I have open ears.