rps

Lead core is very effective. I know several good fishermen who swear by it because it works. Sadly it makes landing the fish like cranking a bucket out of a well.

Probably, although the Fishing Hot Spots map I bought marks that area as hybrids as well.

Last night's effort. The pesto is leftover from the pasta dish a couple of days ago, and it included spinach and tomato in it.

Went up to the lake after the early morning T-storms. I wanted to explore. I ran upstream from the dam area about 13 miles. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Skiatook+Lake/@36.3784956,-96.2191624,13z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x87b6d9974d77380f:0xe31d69896beb7a3c!8m2!3d36.3730253!4d-96.1500474 If you find the Tall Chief Rec marker, the marina is in the next pocket to the right. 13 miles is right where the lake forks. Above the bridge, the lake changes. The water color turns brown with about 2 feet visibility. The lakes becomes acres of rolling flats of 20 to 35 feet deep with wildly wandering channels about 50 feet deep. It appears I will need to become a specialist in channel swings. From the fork on upstream, much of the area is flooded timber cut by wandering channels. In the Spring, I would imagine the power fishermen flock there. And the crappie folks. I went under a smaller bridge not shown on the map and followed a 35 foot channel to a inundated road bed beside a flooded pond. The picture is typical of what I found - bait fish with larger fish beneath. Fished there over an hour with a jig, a vertical spoon, and a swimming Keitech. Nada. Of note, underneath the bridge shown on the map, four boats were tied off and fishing bait. Methinks that must be a hybrid area and I may need to find brooder minnows. And get up earlier than the crowd.

You guys are the best! All I can do is show the final service of my tomatoes. Roasted shrimp to finish the meal.

Part of tonight's dinner. Tabouli stuffed heirloom tomatoes from the farmers market.

Did one a bit different today. Spinach and tomato pesto with penne, asparagus, and grape tomatoes. Miso salmon on top.

I guess yesterday was a grilling day. I rubbed a skirt steak with a garlic and southwestern spices paste. I got the fire in the egg to something over 700 degrees. The steak took less than 3 minutes.

Thank you. Right now I am naming this "the summer of no fishing."

Last Friday, in the middle of the night in a dark bedroom, I stepped on one of the Corgis. He squealed and in the ensuing fracas, I wound up on the floor. The wife awoke suddenly from her sound sleep. As God is my witness, her first words were, "Are the dogs alright?" By Sunday the pain in the right wrist has become less than fun. Monday morning I went to see the nurse practitioner. I wound up at an emergency care place for an xray. No broke bones but a diagnosis of ligament strain. They gave me a brace and told me to avoid using my dominant hand. You would be surprised by how many things you do solely with your dominant hand. Shave. Open cans. Pour juice. Dice onion. On and on. I missed any fishing trips this week as I cannot cast with a brace and with instructions not to use my right hand. Maybe this next week I can get out again and let Skiatook kick my butt again. If I were still on TR, I could at least troll for walleye.

I made it in the morning, wrapped it in foil and put it in the refrigerator. I took it out to warm to just cool for dinner. The time for the salad to leak into the bread makes a difference, to me.

Muffaletta made using Ciabatta since I could not find a soft Italian loaf. Now that I am in Tulsa, I was able to use mortadella, sopressa, and capicola. I made the olive salad using the Serious Eats recipe. The combination that Ness posted when he made his previously was very similar. Note: I could not mince the capers easily so I mashed them with the side of my chefs knife. I know, it was recipe heresy, but I made an executive decision.

Other half of dinner.

This entire thread makes my heart feel good.

I love E-Tecs! One of the joys is the simple and easy break in protocol. Have fun!

Dang! Glad you are still with us. I hope the Skeeter jumps up and down and wags its tail when you come back to it.

I haven't been on the lake since May 😒. I know each year is different. Sounds like this year is similar to last year - the fish have not bunched deep yet. If I had to take friends out, I would slowly stroll Neds or split shot crawlers and/or I would spoon vertically and also as a flutter on long casts to flats and on off the edge. Of course, I haven't a clue what I would after that did not work. BTW, on the occasions I hire guides, I ask for two things: teach me how to find fish and give me a chance at a good one. On one of my best guide trips ever, I took my 70 year old father and fished the Redbud Shoals through Crooked Creek area of the White River. We caught three fish. Browns. The small one was five pounds. That was the only one I caught.

I have started preparing for tonight.

Tagliatelle a la Bolognese

^^^^ Oh my! Do I need to be here? OK. Maybe I fit in. Just a salad tonight.

Just before serving.

Good idea, but I did not.

This will become a version of Arroz con Pollo. Think paella.

You bet ya. And EVOO. Notice the small amount of prosciutto. The green is mint and basil. I highly recommend the combination.

Stuffed pork tenderloin with mustard pan sauce and a cantaloupe and mozzarella Caprese salad.