BilletHead

Pleasure was ours too. Have not forget an e-mail you will be getting. Got to visit with Lancer also. White bass day was neat at Plateau fly shop. The talk by the fellow from MDC about the striper plan for Bull Shoals was interesting. Bill Butt's talk was good as always. A bit nosy in the venue where the talks were held but it was tolerable. We did not stay for the iron Fly, BilletHead

Mr. Red, This will be the third year for this patch. Yes they are thornless. Started with a dozen plants. Got almost two gallons of berries last season.

Well Ness got the garden thread going last year so I suppose I will get it going this season. JD had shared his valentines failure so lets hope no one has any more debacles. We have three 72 cell trays planted. Sounds like a bunch but any extra non used plants will be going to neighbors, friends and for anyone else that need plants. We have four types of tomatoes, four types of peppers, four types of lettuce and some broccoli. Here we have some of the lettuce and broccoli sprouting, Kind of been dreading doing the outside thing but the sun and warm breeze got me out there some today. Started by pruning the blackberry shoots that had produced last season. Easy to find and clip but a pain to get out of the hog panels where I had trained them. Easier by cutting them in sections. Then I did some training of the new ones that will produce this year. I then started removing the straw bales from around of the expensive winter lettuce bed. We did have fresh salad on new years but one night after that the bulb went out under the cover one night and that was the end of that patch. The bales were still frozen but I was able to break some apart to mulch under and between the blackberry canes, Under the hay bales were some of the Mrs. Flowers coming up, Low and behold in the lettuce patch was a soul survivor, This got me to looking around the yard, A crocus and some daffodils. It is time and I am so ready. So as I am working in the front there is a party going on out back of the house. Some of the yard deer and then we have now a hen turkey that has showed up. She came one morning early right out the window during the last snow. We seen her just standing there on one leg then down she went to a laying position. Then back up to both legs and one of her feet was swelled up big. We went outside and she hobbled off to the edge of the woods and she lay back down as it began to snow harder. We went to town and when We got back she was gone but you could see where she had been. I figured she would soon be predator bait if not already. Well she had been here for a few days and may be getting better. I suppose she feels safer close to the house? Don't know but she is fun to watch and is not so afraid of us. So a couple more pictures from today, BilletHead

We are still planning on going. Will be looking for some of you. I am the bald headed guy By choice! Wrench we may have to spend the night this being said a motel would be cheaper than a lawyer. Mrs. BilletHead is the long distance driver especially if we drive her unit. So staying will be up to her. Plus I will be able to hug the kid and grandchildren which is much needed after this week, BilletHead

Thanks Phil! My friend Kent Campbell is looking good on the oars. Looks like the work he had done did the job and he is back on the job! BilletHead

Nice ties Scott, Seen them in your post on Beaver. All you have to do is let me know when I can get a fly in front of your Beaver pets and I will make the trip down. It looks as though as the weather is turning towards the better. BilletHead

Yes it is Wrench!

So Scott will a few work for your stripers? BilletHead

I have a thing for clousers. Especially BIG ones. Your generic clousers are kind of anorexic, yes I know this is the way they are tied and I do them this way. Now we get to the more beefy half and half. They are actually tied this way with saddle hackle and a kind of double tandem belly. I call them more of a full figured lady. I like them and they are fun to tie. This being said I have caught bigger fish on them. Maybe because they are one of the first I grab when chasing larger game. Actually I had one of my best white bass days on a 3 and a half inch half and half. When I target hybrids and they are not on top I throw five to five and a half inchers. I would throw bigger but finding bucktail with hair really long has eluded me off the shelves. So I have been on a clouser kick during this colder weather. Here are some pictures of some from lately. The plateau fly shop is having their white bass/ temperate bass day Saturday and if we make it to it they are working up a box and I have a couple of the full figured girls on the epoxy drying wheel to go into it. I may have to put a BilletHead popper in there too, I know the world does not revolve around all clousers so I have done other things also, Some ASP streamers Meat whistles and a couple of other bass catching critters, And finally some smaller minnows and a few small Boufaces BilletHead

Ok We had our son when I was 12 NOT! Yes I am old but young at heart. BilletHead

Daryk , My mom is going down hill pretty fast now a days and I tell her I love her daily. Our son is now 34 and I tell him that too. Can hardly wait until I see him for a hug and the grand kids too. Ness, yes things can go wrong fast. Kids should never go before their parents. This thread should put make everyone think hard, BilletHead

Yes it was Deadstream, Thanks also for everyone's kind words, BilletHead

I want to bump everyone today. Hug and hold your children and grandchildren tight first time you get the chance. Mrs. BilletHead and I attended a visitation last night and the funeral today of an eight year old. In the blink of an eye an accident took this young ones life. I cannot imagine the way this family feels or how one would deal with this. I am having a hard time myself dealing right now. Please say a prayer or two for this family. Hold them tight and tell them how much they mean to you, BiletHead

Thanks, Nice article I have always enjoyed catching all species that will put a tug on my fly rod. Rough fish included, BilletHead

Yowza, Right there is some good eats, BilletHead

Ahhhh looks good don't ya know. I think like you suggested using something we have been "chooting" out of the sky We will be trying this, BilletHead

Just what I read. I have no opinion except I am happy for the guy who caught him his smile says it all and if he is happy so be it, http://flyfishingarkansasandmissouri.yuku.com/topic/9745/38lb-7oz BilletHead

Yum everyone. Ness soup looks fine. Yesterday it was a pot of good old brown beans with a side of corn bread. Plain, simple, tasty and good for you. Not too sure about today. Mrs. BilletHead feels kind of puny so I guess I will heat up another bowl of beans. Bon Appetite , BilletHead

JD google up tohee. I would guess that is the bird in question. We used to feed the birds big time. Used to go through over fifty pounds of black oil sunflower seeds in less than a week. That is when you could get them for less than ten bucks a bag. We quit that. Right now we have an elderly neighbor couple that feed. I bet he goes through more than that. He buys eight dozen suet cakes when he goes to town. The woodpeckers eat four cakes each day. BilletHead

Freshwater seviche, We all know they don't recommend uncooked freshwater fish so as the recipe suggests there is some quick cooking involved. I did not have my flip flops on and we weren't under a palm tree so in front of the pellet stove on this cold day would have to do. It was very good and can hardly wait until we can use fresh from the garden produce this summer. This was a first time try, recipe out of the cooking wild book by Bernadette Dryden available through the Missouri Conservation Department. We have done several dishes out of this book, Can I like my own post? Well I do this one, BilletHead

OOOOhh Ahhhh nice. it is time to be doing things like this, BilletHead

That's a great gift! Cool Beans (and weenies). Nice report and well done, BilletHead

Gumbo looks good Ness, I do need to try that with some waterfowl. Today for an early lunch had to do leftover fish Po'boy sandwiches again. Then later on today during the last part of the race we had spicy goose stew. I'm telling you it was great! Instead of jalapenos we subbed some of the hot chili peppers I had smoked this Fall. It gave the dish a smoky taste and aroma. The diced goose breast pieces were so tender,

Nice Ronnie and thanks. I've been tying some Meat Whistles up, BilletHead

Sounds good RPS. I could do thanksgiving four times a year. Yummy Ronnie, You have been holding out on us haven't you?