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This mornings results:

Another fish I like to eat.

In the London markets the fishmongers would have a monkfish on display to get the attention of the crowd. And you are right. It is one of my favorite fish to eat.

If you saw a monkfish you would throw it back. Uglier than a flathead and sculpin cross.

I caught a sauger across the channel from Fletchers Devils Dive about 5 or 6 years ago. I guess they are hold overs from when the lake was a river.

No pepper? You may have your opinion, but science has proven that salt AND pepper are required to fully enjoy cottage cheese and cantaloupe.

We had grilled bratwurst tonight. I made a salad as well.

The secret was a really long cast and a drag retrieve, not a hop.

Went out early with a new plan. I decided that since the bass fishermen were catching walleyes, I would fish for bass, and maybe I would get lucky. I fished down as far as Emerald Beach while trying to replicate the water others have described. I never did see a school of fish, although I saw scattered individuals. I finally put something together. I parked the boat in about 30 feet of water and threw a 5/16 jig with a HD crawdad trailer. I tried to semi parallel the contour lines and land the bait in about 24 feet of water. In about an hour I caught six fish, of which three were legitimate small keepers. One of the keepers was a handsome brown fish. No walleye. Water temp 85-86. Many, many, many watercraft. I am sure some of them were driven by sober people with a brain, but I saw no evidence of that. The most cringeworthy? The 18 or 19 foot skiboat with 12 people in it. Of course that included the three small children without pfd. I will regain my courage by Monday.

If you have a spare refrigerator and access to lake or rain water, you can order them online. http://www.knutsonlivebait.com/leeches.html

Can't match Ness. Won't even try. BTW I love lamb fries. If you are in or near Krebs, OK, stop at Pete's Place and try them. Last night.

I had a super productive morning yesterday that included a trip to the local farmers market. Several items will show up during this next week. I spent the afternoon engaged in another project. The middle picture shows the ribs after three hours at 250 degrees in hickory smoke. I had cut the rack in half as my egg is a baby one. I wrapped them in foil at that point and they spent another two hours in the smoker. When they came out, I put the foil packets in a brown paper bag and wrapped the bag in a thick towel. We ate about 90 minutes later. The ribs were, if anything, too tender. I like them when the bones do not just fall out. Yes that is a homemade sauce on the ribs.

Smoked brats, potato, sauerkraut, and cheese casserole with a side salad.

For those of you who care to indulge, I have come to love a different combination than I once recommended, an old school martini. Th original martini used far more vermouth than what you expect now. After I read an article in Serious Eats, I tried the old school style. 2 parts gin or vodka, one part good vermouth (Martini and Rossi, Noily Pratt, Cinzano) and a splash of orange bitters (Fee Brothers or Reagans). Shake the spirits and vermouth hard and strain into your glass. Then splash a dash of the bitters on top. You won't regret this.

BTW, if wrench were less than 3 hours away, I would be on his door step.

I wasn't going to discuss the state of my underwear, Bill, but you had to go there. 🤣

Today I went down to the boat with real tools and re-spliced the wires in a better fashion than what I did yesterday on the water with side cutters, a knife, and tape. Surprise, surprise, the TM came on the first time I pushed the button. I appreciate the professional advice and I will decide whether to replace the burned vinyl and carpet or just patch the vinyl until I plan to sell the boat. As for making the changes suggested, I do not know enough to drag the boat to Ulrich (who I trust) and tell them what I want done. Check me to make sure I have it right: 1. Check to make sure all electrical runs are 6 gauge wire or heavier. 2. Hardwire the trolling motor into the system. 3. Make sure the TM is wired into the battery cutoff switch. Does that cover it?

Walleye fish burgers with mango salsa and tabouli!

The battery cutoff switch does not include the troll motor. It should but it does not. I guess they assume I will unplug the motor when dock or put it on the trailer. There are fuses on the troll motor batteries. They did not trip.

This morning I was dragging a worm harness on the flat outside Stubblefield branch. I heard a sizzle and looked forward to see the splice between the troll motor plug and the troll motor wires shooting sparks and catching fire. That splice was the one done originally at the dealer when i ordered an Ulterra for the new boat. The fire extinguisher, of course, was in the bow storage on the other side of the fire. Moments before I bailed to the water I was able to get the plug out and stamp out the burning vinyl floor. I only singed a few hairs on my arm. A pair of gentlemen motored over to see if I was ok. Now the next problem was the troll motor. The Ulterra is the auto deploy auto recover model. You cannot recover it without electricity. I had side cutters and found a roll of electrical tape in my boat bag. I cut out the damage wire and spliced red to red and black to black. I wrapped each splice separately. The troll motor was back in business. The first picture below is the shorted and burned splice. The second picture is the damaged floor and melted carpet on the side of the boat. BTW, no top water bite today, caught only spots while working the 28 to 30 foot depth, and water temp was 87.

I have caught 2 or 3 on artificial leeches. Nothing to rave about.

A little simple salad tonight.

I think that is true for the both of us!

My Goodness! Frame the pictures, write the date and location on the back, and give them to her when she is grown. Some day her children will marvel over them. Your grandchildren and great grandchildren will remember her and you. Life is good.