BilletHead

So now to Friday's trip report. When pairing up for Fridays excursion I ended up with that JohnsFolly character. Not sure why but I did not complain as he was my roommate for the fest and was very afraid if I cried fowl . After some discussion and asking Ham is we could follow his boatload this is what we did. Again I am not familiar with this fishery and running new water with the jet is a bit spooky. I promised John not to play bumper with rocks like that Duane guy did with D.J. IT was cold when we got up, He said is gate control was froze up. I checked mine and yes, yes it was too. I grabbed the cable and bent it a bit. Crackle, crackle I could hear ice in there . Then I tried to unlock the rod locker. Froze too. Got a lighter and heated the key, worked it in and out until the lock worked. We knew where Ham was going and met him there, as we left the lodge the truck thermometer said 13 degrees ! I am so glad it was recommended we dress real warm and then go ahead and put on waders weather we got into water or not. Face got a little cold and fingers too but as soon as sun hit you all was good. At ramp Ham was getting ready to launch. I parked in the sun and soon the black cables warmed and thawed. Everyone launched we worked out for a drift. Motor was not peeing water, that was froze too. Ran it a bit and drifted. Next start it began to spray as it thawed. Water was a bit trashy here and we did not catch much, well I did not catch anything but my partner popped a brown and rainbow. A few more drifts and Ham said we needed to drag up and relocate to clearer water. We did and ended up way up river. Got back on the water and I finally began to catch. As we drifted and worked sections I kept an eye on Ham and how he ran the shoals. This gave me a line to know where to run my rig. I even got John behind the wheel some. We finally all found a float there were many fish on and we pretty well pounded that area until it started to get darker. Ham had told us we may get a white bass or two. They had hit some and a guy on the bank had been catching a few. Sure enough the BilletHead got one and they were some big fat ones, I will say things went pretty smooth on these drifts. There was only one issue with my fishing partner. I don't know what to call it, a condition, a curse or something else? I will let him elaborate if he wants. I have seen this with other fishing partners so I was used to it although I did poke at him once and awhile about it. All in jest of course. We kept catching and saying one more time, just one more run until I finally said this was the last drift. By this time the Hamster was way off and I could see him motor up and head down river. We secured gear and fired up for the run back noticing the water had fallen quite a bit since we started. On plane I noticed Ham had made another drift in a section but I kept on top and rounded a corner, ran one shoal and then a split in the river I had not noticed on the run up. There was now an island with a run on both sides. I in a loud voice said to John which side did we go up? It happened so fast I had to make a decision and took off to the left side. I may of made the Folly cringe or pucker a bit, well I know I did but we made it fine and back on the trailer we headed back to camp. We kept seeing deer all along the road. They are like rabbits down there. John finally asked me to use my high beams so we could see better. He told me he wanted another deer for the freezer but not that way. Found out number wise no one did real well that day and I figured out I did pretty well in that category. Fun times. Now to the feast that was getting ready. I think they said we had 25 for the dinner that night. I have never seen so much fish cooked up. Duane brought Walleye and Crappie, Brett (little red fisherman) brought flathead. When the giant fryer got lit it sounded like a flame thrower on a WW2 flick had the trigger pulled. Then there was oyster and baby Portobello mushrooms battered and fried. Griz was at the table with his potato gizmo slicing potato chips. I have never seen a never ending supply of fish coming in. It would pile up and disappear again and again. Until no one could eat another bite. There was also summer sausage and cheese and a meat tray to snack on before meals. Some adult beverages were consumed but there was never a problem. I am proud of my new friends. More visiting and deals with the Zig Jig man commenced until I decided to retire for the evening and again I was lulled to sleep by laughing, BilletHead

Yes and the Arkansas subspecies is very elusive so I have heard. BilletHead

Ok back on track before I ruffle more feathers. Don't need some puffing up like a bantam rooster, Shout out to Quillback now. Every evening he took a paper plate and started listing available boats and made sure everyone had a seat in each craft. What a deal thanks buddy! He is the man organizing lodging and keeping things running again many thanks. So Evening of Thursday JohnsFolly and I followed Griz and his crew to Buffalo Shoals to fish. Pretty poor water floating moss and weeds, off colored as we caught the high generation flow. If I remember I got skunked and John got a couple. When we got back to camp we found out Duane and D.J. had smashed them earlier in that section. Heard a story Duane took D.J. for an eye opening ride up through the shoals . The Bragging part of this post? The Evenings meal! There was Griz chili that had been in the smoker, pasole from Rick , need that recipe . Then there was bbq from Eric I believe. More than any tribe could eat, deserts and sides. Cookies, cupcakes, those bars John brought , chips etc. , Mike and I had brought some smoked sharp cheddar cheese. We got to compare notes on out methods smoking it. Two of the evenings Zig Jig man showed up with his goodies. Rods and Jigs. It was looking like a drug deal going on. Hard to describe. He would bring out the goods and anglers would swarm him to get the goods. Wallets opened and the trade would commence. It reminded me of other transactions I have witnessed. I thought back to my past when I attended MoJam the selfbow jamboree. As soon as someone showed up with a truckload of osage orange staves the same swarm would gather to pick out the best stave to make a self bow, then when I flint knapped a load of heated and raw chert came in to the knapp in. Out came the scales and rock would be sold by the pound then the knappers would see what they could get out of their rock making the best point! In this case what fish and how big was being thought by each angler , Again as I retired each evening I was lullabied by the laughing and fellowship of like minds from the group below, BilletHead

Yes I finally got my source to share photos. Really funny what you can see on the river when jig fishing gets slow? There was no alcohol involved either. Just good sense of humor and good skills. I suppose since I know these guys I am guilty by association? see what happens when Phil is not there to control his children? We missed you Phil and hope you are feeling better and maybe this will make you smile . It did me and my compadres , Happy post jig fest guys, BilletHead

Thanks and good to meet you too man! I made so many new friends this weekend. A guy can't have too many friends, BilletHead

Personally I did not hear the call of the wild I too was fast asleep but heard through the grapevine there was a rogue gigger in our bunch , BilletHead

The BilletHead's perspective of Jig Fest, I cannot begin to tell you how much fun I had at my first Jig Fest attendance. Not a selfish person on site. A big share of everything and anything. Food knowledge and friendship. Two things stood out. Terrierman said to me, " Marty it isn't all about fishing, just look at this group of good people". Yes I seen that a bunch of guys of various ages and all walks of life together with a common goal friendship and fishing. Then Stein said. " Look at this group of guys. All getting along. You couldn't put a group of women together like this and their not be some competition for pecking order, Men and women are wired different" I can see this to be somewhat true and Mrs. BilletHead agreed with me as I told her about what I had heard!. BTW she is extremely jealous of what I got to do . I may have to treat her special for some time! I never heard a cross word between anyone in this bunch of guys. I was about the first one to turn in for the evening. I could lay in my bed and hear nothing but laughing. Then their is the fishing. I was on my way down early Thursday morning. I knew some were there day before. I was hoping to fish when I got there. So I start getting texts and calls from GrizWilson. Where are you? What way are you coming down. What is your ETA ? Meet us at the Cotter access . I get there and here comes a boat with Griz, Mike (Wounded one) and I think Ron? (hey these guys know each other and I have to remember them all being a newbie) Up comes Griz and Mike. Griz to make sure my drift chain is made correct and Mike to be my fishing partner for awhile. Griz says we are going to drift this section for awhile and go get into room, pick up JohnsFolly and fish a bit more. Mike and I become acquainted and we all launch from the ramp. I tie on a jig and ask Mike for pointers. We fish parallel to the bank as we drift with the current? Yep he says.(Keep in mind for the last several years I pick up conventional gear maybe a half dozen times a year) We began to drift. My first cast, my first hook up and first fish I was blessed with, Yep first fish a cutty . More coming time for dinner, BilletHead This post has been promoted to an article

Another factoid, Just like you It is noisy and it smokes . Other than that you are right, BilletHead

Wake up Quill! I would bet there is room for sure Stein, BilletHead

What's better down there for boat and wading? Felt or rubber? Ham your seedlings/ baby chestnut trees are loaded and ready to transfer to your rig , BilletHead

All this good eats, Mrs. BilletHead is going to be so jealous . BilletHead

BilletHead

Case of water in my truck too . BilletHead

And you need to fish for your trophy carp with a stick and cordage you have woven from natural materials. BilletHead

Besides the oil and BBQ sauce I will bring some sharp cheddar cheese I smoked yesterday and Mrs. BilletHead made some dark chocolate Thai pepper and sea salt chocolate bark for all of us, that is if I don't get into it today . Starting to load up the truck today. See you guys tomorrow, BilletHead

Yellow dog washing his own face, BilletHead

If you eat it and it is a lawful take do so and enjoy. BilletHead

Wyoming is the same as Colorado. Stream bottom belongs to landowner. Float through but don't drop anchor or touch the bottom. Montana is way more forgiving just stay below high water mark. Lots of public ground available both places. Truly impressed with Utah and fishing last August. Defiantly not finished fishing that state, BilletHead

Dang, Notice the BilletHead has stayed out of this ? Well until now but I will keep my trap shut so as to not make anymore enemy's . Besides I have something good to cook in the fox hole. Wally and Ness move over I diving in. Are you guys hungry? I am Sous Viding a T-bone. Oops that topic belongs in the cooking forum. Sorry Smalliebigs, BilletHead

Would a cow be able to moo with out a tongue? One of life's mysteries like to gig or not to gig, BilletHead

Basically how I clean turkeys, Hang by leg . Pull off skin. Fillet of each side of breast. Cut out "oysters" back meat. Cut off leg and thigh on floating leg. Yank out heart and gizzard if keeping. Separate remaining carcass from hanging leg and thigh. Pretty easy w/o messing with guts. Mrs. BilletHead when I was gone and did her own says I make the process look easy. It is I told her and she frowned . I also if not keeping fan whole and intact cut tail feathers in matched pairs opposing sides for fellow fly tiers. Same with wing secondary's. Primaries got to fletchers that do their arrows. Not much left of a turkey when I get done with it, BilletHead

You are a hunter gatherer in the city. I understand that and you do well. That and the Ness Brewery in your basement! I still think you killed and ate the bunnies from your yard though. Just don't want to admit it . BilletHead

That will not be tolerated . That is bullying and it is not right to treat kinfolk like that, BilletHead

Looks good buddy. I will double dang it, Did the peas come from your garden? The rosemary on my woodie and the lettuce salad came from my garden. :). Harvest your meat at HyVee? Mine came from a muddy timber pond full of acorns. I need to try shepherds pie sometime, BilletHead