rps

I have yet to fish one. Fishing should be fun - not labor.

Left over smoked turkey from September turned into a version of Chicken Divan. The base recipe is on my blog, Living Well in the Ozarks.

While I was out, the only shad I saw were suspended over the channel at the mouth of creeks. I should have pretended it was winter where you see that pattern and dropped a spoon.

I went out shortly after noon today. Before then it was chilly. I fished a HD jig with an HD craw. I fished a Rockstar in Red/Orange. I fished a Ned. I think a fish bumped the crank - maybe. Still, I loved being on the 64-65 temp water with next to no one there. You should go!

I put together the brisket and beans with a salad.

A dog in your lap? Heaven does not worry about meals.

Did not post last night. I made a dish I have posted before, enchilada casserole. Picture below. I also put a brisket on for an overnight smoke. I tried out a different method of charcoal arrangement and management. It did not work. When I woke up for my mid-sleep bathroom visit, the fire was out and the meat was warm and not cooking. I wrapped it in foil and put it in a 230 oven. I wound up with a very tasty, over cooked brisket that has a bottom I could use as house siding. The cliche is correct. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I will salvage and reheat for this evening and serve with the pinto beans I put in the slow cooker this morning. Picture of last night: Edit: I just put two chunks of the wall board brisket bottom into the beans to add additional smokey flavor to the bacon base. I vac sealed the rest and it went in the freezer to perform the same task in the future.

Bridge is back open.

An Ozark Anglers Cookbook, heavy on mushroom and game recipes!

The bridge is closed until further notice. They were already doing repairs from 8 to 4 pm weekdays when the incident occurred (two buses btw) The bridge is damaged though no one yet has stated the cause. People in Beaver are forced to take the long way via 62 or Roaring River if they want to work, shop, or go to church. Many will leave their cars on the Holiday Island side and walk across to avoid the detour. If the buses caused damage, more than a ticket will be at stake.

Total approval for sour dough!

Using left overs -> half a baked potato with queso and bacon.

Pork fried rice, no egg (they went in the Boston Cream Pie), but basil.

As I was out on the lake today, I saw all this goose fat:

It's National Dessert Day! My Nancy wins!

I went out from 9 to 2 today. Water temp was 69-70. The air was 50 to 60. Very little wind blew. The problem was that I could not find a pattern.I fished 5 feet to 25 feet of water and tried steep and flat areas. I caught one on a top water. None on a blade. None on a jig. 4 on a Ned. All were small. I did enjoy the total absence of "pleasure boaters."

Pesto shrimp gnocchi.

Best recipe I have found, courtesy of Frank Stitts, Highland Bar and Grill, Birmingham, Alabana: https://books.google.com/books?id=waN-ezOLeVgC&pg=PA82&lpg=PA82&dq=stitts+crab+cakes&source=bl&ots=8H1En_lIP0&sig=62frt3mD4IGV9fNq7pOrt4AetVI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwis5PPp2v7dAhVBWqwKHXFHDQAQ6AEwCnoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=stitts crab cakes&f=false

1/2 onion minced three cloves garlic minced and turned to paste 2 tins (6.5 0z each) chopped clams with juices 3 Tbs. EVOO 1/4 cup dry white wine 2 Tbs butter 1 Tbs. Italian herbs pinch crushed red pepper saute the onion, garlic, and red pepper in the EVOO until the onions turn translucent and the garlic hints at turning brown add the herbs, wine, and clams with juice and simmer on low until the alcohol mellows add the butter and add the sauce to the hot pasta mix and serve

Linguini with white clam sauce.

Very few, if any. The only source would be if they came through the Beaver dam and survived. However, Jeff Fletcher caught an Arkansas record striper, 64.5, in the river below Beaver dam in 2002.

As do I. Tonight I relied on Harter House (Shell Knob branch). Chicken Kiev over chicken broth rice with a good salad on the side.

Smoked Turkey breast with corn pudding and an arugula apple salad.

Not a lot to report. Fished from noon to 4:00. Only a few small fish. Water temp 74. The Bikers, Blues, and Barbecue weekend has attracted a crowd here in Holiday Island.

The lures I make are much too large to interest you folks, but that is an interesting part of the river. For several years in the late 80's - early 90's, back when Rim Shoals resort was less than wonderful, our group stayed there and fished from there down to Buffalo Shoals. I had more than one good day between Ranchette and the Shoals. Enjoy yourselves!